June is Here! June is Here!!! Summer is around the corner

Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit.  A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with with world. ~Ada Louise Huxtable

Oh, the days when the temperatures rise, the days are beautiful with bright blue skies, and the smell of summer is just around the corner.  You know the smells of summer....snowcones, fresh churned ice cream, heady scents of flowers, deep dark nights with bright twinkling stars with faint aromas of outdoor grills...the sounds of summer...laughter,dancing, outdoor movies, outdoor concerts, outdoor activites abuzz with your friends..the smell of the lake, swimming holes,boating,  the beach, the sand, the rocks..Ahhhh..the crisp clean summer will arrive with the Summer Soltice.  Are you ready????

When I embrace the season upon us I find that I want to make each day filled with adventure.  The Gypsy's Table is always ready to be creative!

Over the few months of summer we will explore simple ideals to decorate your outdoor living area, lake home, beach house, your home with just a few simple touches of summer so you can enjoy all the season has to give to you, your friends, family and loved ones.

Concerts in the parks have recently begun here in my hometown.  A great early evening to gather your friends to have a picnic, a great chilled glass of wine and enjoy the local music.  I always enjoy taking quite a few little morsels to enjoy while listening to those great tunes.

Picnic 

Roasted Red Pepper Grilled Chicken Sandwiches

2 Multigrain baguettes
6 Red Leaf Lettuce leafs
1 small pinch of Arugula
Red onion sliced
6 Small Grilled chicken breasts * these can easily be picked up in your Prepared Food section of your market if you do not have time to grill.  1 Large breast can be cut into 2
2 Sliced Roma Tomatoes
Pesto Aoili Sauce
6 slices of Roasted Red Peppers
2 Slices of Mozzarella Cheese

Grill your chicken breasts season with lemon mixed with a little olive oil, garlic salt, sea salt and pepper or pick up grilled chicken breasts from your market prepared food section.

Cut the baguettes into thirds then split to open.  Take a heaping tablespoon of the pesto aoili sauce to spread evenly on both sides of baguette,1 slice of roasted red pepper then  chicken on one side , 2 slices of mozzarella cheese, 1 leaf of red lettuce, a pinch of arugula, roma tomatoes with 1 to 2 slices of red onion, season lightly with sea salt and pepper.

Pesto Aoili Sauce

3 T Pesto
2 T lemon
1 C Mayo

Mix well.

Serve with fresh fruit salad, sea salt pita chips or your favorite salad.

I hope you will take the time to stop by to visit me at The Gypsy's Table on your travels during the summer.  My table always has an extra chair or two...let's create together the perfect summer season!

Rain Falls

Ahh.... the deep aromatic scents of rain..earthy, seedy, rich, heady, sweet...just a few descriptives.  However, there really is a scientific term or two that actually describe the scents we smell and react to when we experience the good rain that creates those downpours actually brings to our Mother Earth.

I love rain.  I love the clap of the rolling thunder, the dance of lightening, the amazing changing colorful palette of the sky, the happiness of the birds singing, and the great rewards we receive from Mother Earth.  The way the raindrops pelt against my windowpanes reminding me that this is liquid sunshine.  Yes, I love rain.

We, in Texas, have been in a drought for so long.  We have experienced the loss of beautiful lakes, farmers crops,cattle ranchers livestock loss, loss of livestock and water reservoirs have suffered extreme loss.  I know that the torrent rains can bring serious damage with sheets of rain causing flooding, animal and people needing to be rescued, hail, tornadoes, high winds..oh yes the wrath of the storm.  Yet when the storm faces us we quickly gather as we heighten our natural direction to survive, to protect, to assist others in need and we see that through the storm we are refreshed, rejuvenated, stronger, and grateful.  Grateful...I am grateful.

This picture is taken by an awesome photographer (credits in lower right corner of pic) of my hometown, Austin.

I hope that you find the path to gratefulness of the beauty of the rainstorm.  The rainbow is always at the end of the storm.  Just look for your rainbow.

Rainy Day Recipes


French Bread Pizzas
Yield: 16 slices
Prep time:  45 minutes
Bake time: 10 -15 minutes
Oven: 350 degrees

2 Large loaves of french bread
Cut veggies to include red onion, heirloom tomatoes, spinach, basil, rosemary, eggplant, yellow squash
Saute or oven roast veggies with
1 C of cooked chicken or other meat
2 T olive oil * you may need to add 2 T of olive oil to saute
Sea Salt to taste
1 T of Italian Seasoning
Grated Parmesan, Cotija Cheese
Pesto or your choice of spread



Marinate veggies in olive oil with sea salt for around 30 minutes. Pan saute veggies to bring to a "tender state" but do not overcook.  Brush sides of bread with pesto or you choice of spread.  Spread veggies evenly over 4 split french loaves.  Add your cooked meat, let bake for 10 minutes then add cheese for the last five minutes to baking time.

You may grill these on your personal grill as well.  Just place over medium coals to grill bread first then add toppings to finish grill time of around 10 minute to 15 minutes

Cut into slices horizontally.

Grilled Dessert Delights
Prep Time:  30 minutes
Grill Time:  3 minutes
Yield:  6 or 12

2 packages  Angel Food Dessert Shells * 6 per package usually
Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, mangoes, strawberries - toss with honey or agave.  Let rest for 30 minutes
Heavy Whipping Cream - 1 pint  equals 2 C.  I am not listing whip cream amounts as you may wish to make more for personal use.
Powder Sugar

Whip heavy whipping cream with powder sugar.  Whip till peaks form.

Grill dessert shells on stove top griddle, grill, or George Foreman Grill.  Use a high heat non-gmo spray for your griddle or lightly brush personal grill with an oil over medium coals.

Remove dessert shells.  You may serve 1 dessert shell for each guest topped with fruit and whipped cream or you may stack dessert shells.

Enjoy!!

Cinco De Mayo

The merriment of Cinco De Mayo celebrated on May 5th, is  filled with festivals, traditions, music and great food!  I am posting  a few recipes for you to join in the merriment.

 We do not really celebrate Cinco De Mayo at work however there are is plenty a buzz to bring the merriment to the people who live and visit the local places peppered throughout downtown Austin. Our store is located near buildings housing businesses, condos, and of course our  everyday shoppers come to visit us reguarly.  

My job is a fun job at work.   I am a Sales Driver which is to create with our local, sustainable, own brands and exclusive products simple meals, special events, wine tastings, craft beer parties and just about any other event you would love to create.  I love to create simple offerings from our vast resources to show our guests that they can keep within their budget by choosing our offerings and to create the event with a minimal time of prep to the time to serve.

Today my merriment will include a pop up event.  A pop up event is where I create a simple meal, appetizer, or dessert for our guests to purchase.  I showcase our  local, sustainable, healthy food selections for my creations to bring knowledge to our guests about our products with simple recipes to recreate the menu at home!  I love that the products we use provide local in house prep from our departments, local or exclusive, our Health Starts Here program, own brand, and sustainable to guide our guests to a  awesome experience while in our store.

Yes, I love my job!  I am a baker, cake decorator, wet scratch baker, and pastry 1 baker with the mix of a cook.   An awesome experience each day that brings a never ending opportunity to learn and share my knowledge with our guests and my team members.


Black Bean Corn Salad
Yield: 12 servings
Prep time:  15 minutes

1 20 oz can of black beans (organic or you can make your own)
2 c of frozen corn (organic, non gmo or shuck from husks of corn * need to cook first if from fresh)
1/4 c of fresh chopped cilantro * you can chop or find chopped prepackaged in produce
1/4 c Lime vinaigrette
 2 T Gourmet Chili Lime Seasoning (or your own brand or your own recipe)
1 T cumin
1 T smoked paprika
3 T chopped red onion ( you can use more to taste)

Combine all the ingredients together to marry the flavors a day before or the morning of the day you are going to serve.  All the seasonings above can be adjusted to your own personal tastes.

Spicy Coleslaw

Yield: 12
prep time: 15 minutes

1 1/2  large packages of coleslaw * prepackaged or cut your own vegetables
Lime Vinaigrette to taste
1 to 2 T cumin
3 T cilantro
Gourmet Chili Lime Seasoning

Combine all the ingredients the night before or 5 hours before event to marry the flavors

Green Sauce Pulled Chicken 

Yield:  20 servings
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 6 hours
Warm time:  30 minutes

5 frozen chicken breasts
1/4 c chicken broth low sodium
2 T cumin
2 T Gourmet Chili Lime Seasoning
1 can green enchilada sauce * make your own if you do not want to use canned

Place chicken  in crock pot with ingredients on low for 6 hours.  Remove chicken from crockpot to shred using two forks.  Remove broth from crockpot.
Place chicken back in crockpot, pour the green enchilada with 2 T of stock, and 1 T cumin to mix and warm until serving.

Serve with soft flour tortillas, corn tortillas, flavored tortillas, or a mix of half flour/half corn tortillas.  Be sure to warm your tortillas for around 5 to 10 minutes.  Wrap your tortillas in foil to warm in your oven set at 350 degrees.

Serve soft tortillas with pulled chicken, spicy coleslaw and avocado crema sauce

Avocado Crema Sauce
Yield: 12 servings
Prep time: 5 minutes

2 large avocados or prepared avocado dip/cream sauce located in produce section
2 T cumin
1/2 C Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt
Lime Vinaigrette dressing to taste * I used around 1 T to 2 T
1 t cilantro * used to your taste

Be sure to serve with my Raspberry Lemonade Sangria posted earlier.


Feliz Cinco De Mayo!