My vacation is over…
Phew… I’m tired! I need a vacation from my vacation!
I did a lot of walking, so tiring…
I did a lot of eating, so tiring…
Wait! Actually that part was kinda nice. Except when I over-ate and I felt kinda bloated. Then it wasn’t that nice. Overall, though, I did have some pretty good food.
Let’s see if I can motivate myself to sort through the hundreds of photos to share with you. I might just post them on Instagram and my other blog TheNoviceGardener.
This isn’t the last trip of the summer, however. I have another one coming up next week. I’m actually debating if I should cancel it. So tiring…
I wish I can just stay home and not do anything. A backyard staycation sounds perfect to me right now. But when you have bored kids at home, you want to take them places, you know.
Anyway… Last week’s fiesta was relatively quiet. Not many of you came back to vote for your favorite links. I don’t think I set it up properly. So, let’s give it another try, shall we?
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And here are the posts you voted as your favorites from last week:
Caramelized Onion Sourdough Biscuits from Judi @ Cookingwithauntjuju
Mocha Genoise Cake with Coffee Caramel Frosting from Dini @ The Flavor Bender
Homemade Cheez-It Crackers from Tracy @ Served From Scratch
Lentil Spinach-Eggplant Fritters from Anjana @ At The Corner of Happy and Harried
Lemon Mousse Cake from KitchenSpells
Peach Mango Pie from Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
Lychee Cocktail with Raspberry Caviar from Dini @ The Flavor Bender
There you have it! All are amazing, amazing posts! Check them out!
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Now, let’s party! Join Fiesta Friday #81 by adding your link. Then come back on Tuesday and cast your vote for your favorite links (up to five). If you’re new to Fiesta Friday, please read the guidelines
[inlinkz_linkup id=554456 mode=1]
Dini @ The Flavor Bender says
Thank you so much for the features Angie and everyone!! 😀
I had a hard time voting because there were so many awesome things to choose from! Can’t wait to see everything this week too!
I would LOVE a staycation too Angie… it’s easier because there are no kids (unless you count me as a bored kid!), but I would be SO HAPPY if I could have a vacation where my husband does ALL the cooking, and I take a nice break with LOTS of cocktails! 😉
Angie says
Now that’s an idea! But then I’d be scared to eat what the hubs cooks, haha… Although I can live on cocktails most likely. That’s what I’ve been living on these days!! It’s been so hot all I can think is drinks! 😀
Quinn Caudill says
Hey Angie, I know what you mean. Vacations are so tiring…… I am still recovering. Luckily my kids went back to school yesterday. Finally I can get some blog work done. Thanks for hosting.
Is it possible to send a reminder email out on Tuesday to vote. Not sure about everyone else but by Tuesday I am knee deep into other projects. It would also drive more traffic to Fiesta Friday. Just a thought. Have a great weekend and Happy FF!
Angie says
Back to school already?! And here I am complaining that we’re two weeks away. I work in a school so it’d mean back to work for me, boo hoo…
Sure I can send you an email reminder on Tuesday. Not sure if InLinkz would generate that so I’d probably have to do it manually.
Quinn Caudill says
Don’t do that just for me. Just thought it might help everyone since you didn’t get much follow up. I would be happy to co-host again if needed. Preferably sometime in September.
Angie says
I can just shoot a group email. Copy paste is all it takes. And I’m putting you down on my list right now. Let me know which week is best for you.
cookingwithauntjuju.com says
Thanks Angie and everyone who voted for my post. These biscuits are not only delicious but another tribute to Selma and Twinkle 🙂 I hear you about vacations, kids or not, we all need a change of pace and scenery. Go next week and have fun!
Angie says
I saved your recipe. I need to do something with Twinkle!! I did make the pancakes but they were a little on the chewy side. They were good but not fluffy like the regular pancakes. Maybe because I used bread flour for the starter?
cookingwithauntjuju.com says
Could be Angie – I used King Arthur Flour all purpose to revive the starter, keep it going and to make recipes. I mentioned it in my post and even took a picture of it but I will add it to the recipe itself since there are so many different kinds of flours and you can get different results 🙂
Angie says
I also added whole wheat flour. I think that and the bread flour contributed to the chewiness. They were still very good! Just more bread-y than pancake-y, if you know what I mean.
cookingwithauntjuju.com says
Yes, that would do it as both my recipes were light and fluffy 🙂
Angie says
Will try again with AP flour and maybe even cake flour to get them fluffy. Btw, would you be able to co-host next week? I have Kaila@GF Life 24/7 penciled in as the other co-host but I need to talk to her to confirm. Will let you know.
cookingwithauntjuju.com says
I can co-host if you need someone 🙂
Angie says
Thanks! I’ll talk to Kaila and will let you know.
Jhuls says
Yipee!!! Thanks to you Angie and to everyone who voted for my Peach Mango Pie. My reminder worked and voted my favorite entries. Glad to see some of them here. 😀
I thought I am the only one needing a vacation from vacation. Is it normal to feel that? But it just feels good to get away for a while from work. Backyard staycation sounds wonderful as well. 😉
Happy FF, dear Angie. xx
Angie says
Your mango peach pies sound delicious, Jhuls! I haven’t done any baking since it’s been so hot but I plan to make them. I think my family would really love them.
I always feel like I need to recover from a vacation. You’d think I’d feel relaxed, but apparently a vacation can be exhausting. But we did have fun, that’s what’s important, right?
Jhuls says
Yeah. I also feel the same about vacation. You enjoy and you feel exhausted at the same time…. unless we are really doing nothing and someone’s gotta do the things we need to do.
Angie says
I didn’t have to do any cooking which was nice but unfortunately I still had to take showers and put on clean clothes, haha…
Lili says
Lovely features Angie! It was interesting voting, as once you’ve voted you can see the points each dish is getting…fascinating and nice to see the variety of stuff that’s appreciated. 🙂
Angie says
I’m glad you enjoyed the experience, Lili. Please come back and vote again next Tuesday. The more voters the better. More democratic or fair that way, shall we say? 🙂
Lili says
Will do! 🙂
Suchitra says
So true Angie!! We always need a vacation from the vacation. We are leaving this weekend and I am yet to pack!! I have suitcases and stuff to take spread out in both my bedrooms. I figure as long as I have them near the suitcases, it’s just a matter of putting them in and organizing it!!;)
All the features are lovely as always! Happy FF!
Angie says
You are pretty organized, I’d say. I do everything last minute! 🙂 Have fun and take lots of pictures!!
Suchitra says
Angie, being that I am going on vacation and come September have new commitments, I am inviting guest posts for my blog. If anyone is interested they could shoot me an email. Thanks very much.
Angie says
Everybody, listen up!! Su is looking for guest posts!!
Loretta says
Great features Angie. I wonder why I did not get an email about FF #81. I usually get it and then link, but today I just happened to see Jhul’s link and clicked on that. Wierd eh? Anyway, I shall go link now. I’m glad you had a good vacation, it’s been crazy hectic with vacations here too, and it doesn’t end till October. Didn’t realize I’d be grumbling about vacations :). enjoy your weekend.
Angie says
That IS weird! Of course I’m clueless as to why 🙂 Glad you made it, that’s all that matters. Vacations can be a double-edged sword. It’s great to get away sometimes but it can be stressful trying to decide what to do, eat, see, etc. I’d be happy just lounging around the hotel, but my kids and especially my husband won’t let me! They always want to explore, even at night!
Flourish and Knot says
That lychee and raspberry cocktail… Wow!
Angie says
I know, right?! I need to get lychee! It’s been so long since I last had them!
Arl's World says
I am glad you had a good vacation Angie! It is always so hard to go back to “the real world” …our summer is almost over here. It is back to school in less than 2 wks! Of course, weather wise, it still feels like summer and will for awhile longer. Good features were chosen for last weeks FF. All look yummy! Hope you have a wonderful day & weekend! Happy FF! 🙂
Angie says
I can’t believe we’re just 2 weeks away from the next school year!! I want more time!! Time flies when you’re having fun, that’s what they say. How about time flies, period, fun or no fun, haha… Don’t mind me, I’m just bummed I have to go back to work in 2 weeks 🙂
Arl's World says
LOL, yes I agree! We are not ready! Of course I didn’t get a summer break like my son did …but, it is still a break for me, even when I work, during the summer. Because my son is off for summer means I get to sleep later, no homework …well you know what I
am saying! Well, we shall enjoy the time left I hope! Ha! 🙂
Elaine @ foodbod says
I loved Judi’s biscuits and Anjanas fritters, so good to see they were chosen 🙂
Ah…the joy of my child getting older…he plans his own activities these days! It’s whole new world, but he’s happy and enjoying his summer which is all that matters xx
Angie says
I picked both, too!! 🙂
Elaine @ foodbod says
PS can you please remind me when we can vote?
Angie says
Sure, will send everybody an email this time. If you don’t get it by Tues night, pls bug me!! I’m so lazy these days!! It’s been too hot, that’s my excuse 😀
Elaine @ foodbod says
Ha ha! No worries xx
Sarah 'n Spice says
Welcome back! Isn’t that the truth, we always need a vacation from our vacations! And eating is hard work!
I love the idea of getting an email to remind me to vote, my brain is scrambled most days, and any little bit helps 🙂
Angie says
And also to decide where to eat! That’s even harder than the eating! 😀
I’ll send everybody an email reminder. Look for it on Tuesday.
Ginger says
I know how you feel! We got back this morning after 24 hours’ of travelling… I’ll look into last week’s posts once I have caught up with GMT and am looking forward to relaxing in the back yard 😉
Angie says
Sounds like a plan to me! Enjoy the back yard! XOXO
eclecticoddsnsods says
I’m recovering from my vacation, but i need another one now, I loved mine, was only exhausted when I got home hehe. But you had a good time right? x
Angie says
We had a great time but too much walking for me! I just wanted to stay put but the hubs wanted to explore, even though we’ve been there before. We went to Niagara Falls, Canada. Beautiful place.
eclecticoddsnsods says
sounds amazing though, time to rest now though I think lol x
Loretta says
WE could have waved to each other at the Falls Angie, only I wouldn’t know who I was waving to LOL! We were in Toronto, attending a memorial that we organized for my ma in law who passed away in March. It was at a pub, so fun times! :). The Canadian side of the Falls is much better in my opinion 🙂
Angie says
I think they’re different. The Canadian side has better views of the falls and is a more exciting place to hang, but the American side is perfect if you want to get away from the crowd and prefer a more natural setting. If you saw a group of rowdy teenagers with equally rowdy parents (except me, seriously!), that would be us. We went with another family and their kids.
coconutcraze says
My summer is not complete if I don’t go to Niagara at least once every year. Hope you enjoyed it! I went to St Catherine, very close to Niagara falls to see the Welland Canals between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie where ships cross by raising and lowering the water level. Very interesting and time consuming experience!
Btw, I did not know how the voting was done and did not check on Tuesday so I missed it. I will surely try next Tuesday! All the selected recipes are lovely!
Angie says
St Catherine sounds interesting. Will check it out next time.
Voting starts when linking ends on Tuesday. There will be a heart icon on each thumbnail link and you cast your vote by clicking on it. I will send an email reminder to all participants.
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says
Glad you had a good vacation Angie, it’s definitely good to plan some down time after though – recovery time is a must! I guess that’s not so easy with kids though haha
I’ve been a bit absent from FF lately, and I’m afraid that’s going to continue 🙁 I’m going to be taking a break from blogging for a while 🙁 🙁 I do have one more recipe I want to post first though and I’ll hopefully be doing that tomorrow, so will drop by and share it! Will still do my best to pop along to the party empty handed when I can though!
Angie says
No problem, Michelle. I understand completely. Sometimes I feel like I’m losing steam, too. So many things I want to do other than blogging. But every time I have this fiesta and start talking to all the lovely people, I always feel so glad that’s it’s hard to stop. Maybe a break every now and then is a necessity, so you have the right idea. Just don’t be a stranger! 🙂
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says
You’re definitely right! This party and the wonderful people in it are a big reason my break willl be as short as possible!
Thanks Angie x
Kaila says
I missed the voting because I was away at camp without Internet! (Actually, my sister linked up my post today, I just got home, so I’ll have to catch up on this week’s Fiesta as well!) I’m glad you had fun, even if your trip was exhausting, and I’m sure you’ll love the next one too. Just be sure to give yourself some time to breathe this week!
Angie says
That’s ok. We’ll be voting again this week. As soon as linking ends on Tuesday, you can vote by clicking on the heart icon which will show up on each thumbnail link. Btw, would you be able to co-host FF82 now that you’re home?
Food Daydreaming says
Voted, Miss Angie! Hope you have recovered from your holiday 🙂 give me a couple of weeks to settle in and I can help co-host another FF if you need it.
Angie says
Thanks! I’ve recovered alright, except I’ll be traveling again in 2 days! It’ll be my last summer fling 😀 I can definitely use your help co-hosting. How bout FF84, Sept 4?
Food Daydreaming says
How’s the last summer fling going? FF84 sounds good, lock me in Miss Angie!
Angie says
Not so great. It’s been raining, bummer! I’m locking you in.