Echoes of the Southwest

Who says you have to have the typical meal for dinner. Sharon and I like to shake it up now and then. One of the nights I stayed at her place, we made a spinach/avocado bread dip and chased it down with a chocolate cocktail. This is how each was created and the recipes: Stretch crescent roll dough on cookie sheet. Pinch seams together. Mix in bowl 8 oz. cream cheese cut in cubes, 1-1/4 c shredded mozzarella and 1 c parmesan, 1/2 c chopped spinach, 1/2 c. Diced artichoke hearts, clove minced garlic, red pepper flakes, salt pepper. Form into ball. Put on dough and pull it up around the ball and put seam down. Brush with melted butter, parsley, garlic powder. Cook at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cocktails: homemade caramel sauce on rim then cocoa powder. Ice, coffee liquor half and half. Caramel sauce: 1 c brown sugar, 4 T. Butter, 1/2 c. Half and half cook low medium 7 mins on stove. Add pinch salt and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Store caramel sauce in fridge

Sharon and I found a couple of awesome antique shops in Phoenix AZ. The area along 7th Avenue, between Camelback Road and Indian School Road is known as Madison. You can find several antique shops, restaurants and other places to find unusual things. A couple of the antique shops we liked were Figs Home & Garden and Sweet Warehouse Salvage. Figs Home & Garden was wall to wall items. Some were old and vintage, while others were new. I would suggest you take you time wandering around there because there is so much to see. Location: 4501 N. 7th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013 (602) 279-1443 Store Hours: Monday: Closed Tuesday: Seasonal (Call for seasonal hours) Wednesday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm Sunday: 11am - 4pm Sweet Warehouse Salvage is two large building pack full of antiques and other one-of-a-kind objects. There is also a yard with more unusual stuff to decorate your home or yard. This is another place you need to take your time roaming around. There is lots of i

Me, Sharon and Mom

Tuck behind the Merchant Square in Chandler, AZ, is another gem of an antique shop. This place had many antique and vintage Christmas items. We felt like we were in a magical Christmas wonderland. The place had many other bits and pieces as well. Outside in the courtyard were booths of handmade items and interesting foods. This is definitely a place worth checking out. Their Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/Highlandyardvintage/ I got this vintage snowman for myself. I got these for my bestie for Christmas.

Sharon and I set off to check out a place near her house called the Salvage Company. We drove up and down the street near it, until we finally saw a vintage sign along the street. We drove into the dirt drive and sitting near bales of hay was four or five shipping containers. Outside we notice lots of antiques and other salvage items. Jackpot, we found it and boy did we. This place has so much stuff to decorate, repurpose, and just many vintage bits and pieces inside and outside the containers. I love things like this and wanted many of the items I saw. I did buy a couple of things, but plan to return. Their Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/thesalvageco/