Crackers? hmmm... Flatbread? YUM!

I mixed up some home made chicken salad from some left over rotisserie chicken for lunch today.  A little bit of onion, some celery, dried sour cherries, salt, pepper and lite mayo all stirred in with the leftover chicken and mmm, makes a great lunch.  But what made this so good today - new Flatbread Crisps from Town House in the Sea Salt & Olive Oil flavor.  Crispy, crunchy and the perfect blend of seasonings.  Much better than the usual wheat toast or traditional cracker.  I think these would be wonderful with many kinds of dips, spreads or cheese - or even just a small handful with a glass of wine.

Clear Glass Cylinders - a grown-up toy!

I have a small collection of clear glass cylinders of various sizes. My mom got me started several years ago with a set of three for Christmas. Then I picked up a short squatty one at TJMaxx last year, and added a couple of others that contained candles at one time that I recycled and cleaned out once the candle was burned up. I used these at Christmas for a easy, fun and festive centerpiece. Other times, I have filled them with cranberries with a floating candle on top. Use your imagination! To brighten things up in the spring, fill them with citrus - either whole fruit or slices. Maybe acorns in the fall? They are nice to have available for a quick, interesting centerpiece.

Our New Family Favorite ~ Lawry's Teriyake Marinade over boneless, skinless chicken thighs

My boys love this so much, that if I ask them what they want for dinner, they always pick this, even if we had it for dinner the previous night! My husband likes it because the boneless, skinless thighs are a uniform thickness and grill up quick and easy. I like it because it is relatively healthy and much more flavorful than chicken breasts. Just toss them in some of this marinade for at least 30 minutes, then on to the grill. It's a great main dish to accompany fresh summer vegetables like sweet corn or green beans. Try this - you will not be disappointed.

Corkscrews for Dummies

This is it – a dummy proof corkscrew. The grips wrap around the bottle and the lever gently eases the corkscrew down then up and out. Perfect – every time. No cork floaters in the Chardonnay any more. You can find these under a couple of different brand names – Houdini, Rabbit, or Screwpull – and a variety of price points. I think mine was in the $20-25 range from Target. If you, like me, are a total klutz when it comes to traditional corkscrews, you will love this one.

'Cause It's All about the Presentation...

I know what you're thinking - - - it's just a white plate. But there is just something about the crisp square shape and clean white finish that makes any type of food look special. I've used it for a grilled vegetable salad last August, sliced melon with a mint-lime dressing, empanadas for an Argentine wine tasting, and turkey taquitoes at the Super Bowl party. You can pick one up at Target for around $5. That 's a lot of style for a little price.