Proscuitto-Wrapped Figs Stuffed with Blue Cheese and Drizzled with Honey, originally uploaded by krisalis903.

I saw Tyler Florence make this on one of his shows several years ago back when I was a poor college student in Denton. For some reason, I remembered that recipe probably because it seemed so "gourmet" and sounded like such a complex mixture of flavors that it intrigued me.

So last week I was at my favorite asian market and I saw they had brown turkey figs on sale for 2.99 a container.

And seeing as how I’m near an affluent part of north Dallas, picking up proscuitto and blue cheese from my grocery store is as easy as finding ham and cheddar.

This appetizer was very easy to make–so simple and with very few ingredients. What did it taste like?

It really was very good though. The second you pop it into your mouth, you get the saltiness of the proscuitto followed by the sweetness of the fig and honey, and finally finish with the tanginess of the blue cheese.

It was a complex mixture of intriguing flavors

Tyler Florence’s Proscuitto-Roasted Figs

40 small fresh mission figs
4 ounces manchego or blue cheese
20 prosciutto slices, halved
1/3 cup honey
Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Make a small slit in the side of each fig and stuff a raisin-size piece of cheese in the opening. Wrap a piece of prosciutto around each fig to enclose it. Stand the figs on a baking sheet. Bake until the prosciutto melts slightly and forms a skin around the figs, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle with honey and season with lots of pepper. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Scrapbook.com was having a 40% off sale on the Fiskars Threading Water border punch last week so I jumped at the chance to own this hot new scrapbook punch. At the same time, I decided to get the Fiskars Lacy Days of Summer border punch since I wanted to get that one anyway.

The punches are a little awkward to use at first, but once you do a couple test punches you start to get the hang of it (view the finished layout using the Threading Water border punch). Also if you don’t already have a self-healing cutting mat, now would be the time to get one especially if you want to get one of these border punches. And if you’re wondering how a border punch like this works, you can actually see a demo video of the punch here at Scrapbook.com.

Work in Progress, originally uploaded by krisalis903.

I can’t take complete credit for this layout. Huge thanks to Jenn for introducing me to the wonderfulness that is Becky Fleck’s Pagemaps. I just about died when I saw that there were pagemaps available for download for FREE. I’ll never create another scrapbook layout without them.

I was actually still working on my 2007 scrapbook when I looked at a calendar and realized 2008 was almost halfway over with. This is my layout for July. I’m going to have a layout for each month. Or at least I’m going to try to. I’m not sure what I’m going to do about the earlier months though.

Seeing as how this is my first year to attend Search Engine Strategies, I may not be able to provide a good comparison between this year’s SES San Jose and the conferences of years past. However, I can provide a rundown of the major points from the sessions I attended this year (major thanks to The Boss for giving me the opportunity to attend). Since I’m an unbelievably slow writer and I have a lot of blogging to catch up on, I’m going to have to break it down day by day.

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Just to let everyone know. I’m really not lazy at all. I’m sitting in an SEO and blog feed session at SES San Jose realizing I don’t blog enough. I promise I will have a huge update when I get back.

BTW the Google Dance was awesome.

Precious Cargo, originally uploaded by krisalis903.

C’mon. Did you honestly think just because it’s a business trip that I WOULDN’T take Portable Izzie with me?

I’m going to be at Search Engine Strategies this week. And it’s the bigg’un. My bags are sorta packed. I have my carry-on almost packed–complete with my session itinerary, a couple books, and of course Portable Izzie. How could I leave her at home?

My flight leaves tomorrow morning and I’m really excited. I’ve reviewed the session details and am looking forward to attending some of them. Oh and I’m bringing my camera with me of course.

So, first priority: Get a photo of either The Boss II or D. with a lampshade on his or her head.

Or a makeshift, hotel-sheet toga. Whichever comes first.

Somewhat Jealous of the Fact that I Get a Late Night Snack But SHE Doesn’t, originally uploaded by krisalis903.

This diet has it’s perks. I get to eat several snacks and meals a day (all healthy stuff). Last night, my bedtime snack was hard boiled egg whites, hummus, and grapes.

Can you tell Izzie was a little envious of my late night snack?

Salmon and Spinach with Balsamic Honey Sauce, originally uploaded by krisalis903.

THIS WAS SO DELICIOUS AND REALLY EASY! I actually got it off the Zone diet website here so of course I didn’t feel guilty eating it.

Mmm… Rabbit Food…, originally uploaded by krisalis903.

Ok, so I’ve half-heartedly started on the Zone diet again. Not that I don’t want to, I do, because clearly the pros just outweigh the cons. But I am, by nature (and probably genetics), a food person. I love delicious food. Food that makes me go, "OH MY GOD GIVE ME MORE." Unfortunately with the Zone diet, my response to the food is, "Oh my god, what else do I have to eat in this stinkin’ meal plan?" BUT… I cannot complain too much because I’m eating less processed food, and more lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables… all of which I know are so good for me. Plus this is only the introductory week so I know it won’t last long. Still it’s tough when you love things like deep fried stuff. Mmm fried stuff.

A Little Bit of Sunshine, originally uploaded by krisalis903.

I’ve been feeling extra blue the past couple days so I bought a bouquet of flowers today. Adds a nice touch to my computer desk.

Portable Izzie, originally uploaded by krisalis903.

I’ll be heading down to Houston this weekend to visit Jabari so Izzie will be staying with my coworker, his wife, and they’re 3 unbelievably awesome dogs (a border collie, westie, and blue tick coon hound). I brought her over to their house this evening and at first she didn’t know what to do with so many unfamiliar dogs in an unfamiliar place, but after being there for a couple hours, everyone sniffed everything they needed to and were now settling down.

The really funny thing is I think Izzie now has a new boyfriend. Tuffy, the westie, was so smitten with her. He kept following her EVERYWHERE. Occasionally he would bark at her and want to play. She hadn’t warmed up to him just yet, often avoiding his advances. But I figure by the end of the weekend, she would be in love too.

Anyway, this is a picture of portable Izzie (aka Farley) who I’ll be taking with me. Since coming home to an empty apartment this evening, I’ve been feeling so lonely, I’ve kept Farley nearby to help make the sadness of Izzie’s absence a bit easier to bear. He reminds me of her

Mom’s Little Helper, originally uploaded by krisalis903.

After the whole washing machine debacle last week (which got fixed btw, finally), I’ve been hesitant to start unpacking. However, after realizing I couldn’t logically live out of cardboard boxes the rest of my stay here, I figured I should get on with it.

I’ve unpacked several boxes, the remainder of which is only craft stuff. I plan on putting that stuff together last, starting with my desks at least. I’ve already put up a couple curtains. Now I just have two more left to hang.

Putting everything back together slowly but surely. Piece by piece.