Food coloring?!?!?

I try to keep things funny and light-hearted around here, but today I wanted to ask you to take a few minutes to read this in lieu of reading my rambling stories about my goofy family.

I know that I have been labeled a "health food nut" by most of you, but you don't have to be an extremist like I am to be upset by that information.  I urge you to think carefully about eating and serving food that is chock full of food coloring.  Here are some safer options that I have posted in the past....

• homemade cereal bars
• fruit granola bars
• granola bars
• peanut butter chocolate granola bars
• power balls

And you guys know that I can't leave you without a new recipe for the day, so I thought I would share my new favorite veggie dish with you.

Zucchini and Carrot sticks

• 2 zucchini (sliced into sticks)
• 5-6 large carrots (peeled and cut into sticks)
• sea salt
• pepper
• italian seasoning (or any seasoning of your choice)
• olive oil spray (or cooking spray of your choice)
• olive oil

1.  Preheat oven to 425.

2.  Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.

3.  Spray waxed paper with olive oil spray.

4.  Put your sliced veggies in a large bowl.  Drizzle with olive oil (no need to over-drizzle).  Season with salt, pepper, and seasoning.

5.  Lay out on the cooking sheet.

6.  Cook for about 20 minutes or until golden in color.  Flip the veggies halfway through cooking time. 

Slice your veggies and drizzle with oil.

Season your veggies and lay out on your baking sheet.

Bake until golden.

These veggies are delish!!!  We all loved them!  I particularly enjoyed them the next day along with a cup of brown rice.

TGIF dinner

TGIF.  Heids McGhee needs a drink.  And a fantastic dinner.  Preferably prepared and cooked by the handsome Mr. McGhee while the mini McGhees play quietly and puppy McGhee does whatever well-behaved puppies do (guessing this is not jumping, biting, and peeing indoors).

And because I know Mr. McGhee reads this blog faithfully every single morning as soon as he gets to work, I am going to spell out for him what I want him to make me for dinner tonight.

Grilled shrimp and veggies.

Papa McGhee's (that's the mini's papa) grilled shrimp and veggies

• uncooked shrimp, lots of it because I love shrimp
• veggies (mushrooms, onion, zucchini, squash, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes)
• olive oil
• chopped fresh garlic

1.  Marinate shrimp and veggies in the olive oil and garlic all day.  (So Mr. McGhee, you're going to need to get to the store NOW).  (Make sure you marinate the veggies separately from the shrimp).

2.  Grill the shrimp on skewers until they turn pink.

3.  Grill the veggies in a grill basket until they are brown and crispy on the edges.

Enjoy.  Poolside.  With well-behaved minis.  And non-jumping-biting-peeing puppy.  With handsome Mr. eagerly refilling your beverage  and actively listening to you obsess over whether you should sign up to run another half or full marathon.