Posts
InstaFriday
It's Spring Break! I am over the moon. Sleeping in, walks in the park, no schedules. Happy Friday.
We had Abby shaved. She looks miserable here but trust me she is a new dog. AND the kicker? She was NOT FAT! she looks 20 pounds lighter. She was ALL HAIR. I wonder if I shaved my head if I'd look 20 pounds lighter? somehow I think NOT....
I love my neighbors tree in the Spring.
What else do I love about Spring? It's bounty, asparagus and sugar snap peas. Sauteed in a little butter, salt and pepper. So. Good.
Beer in the rear chickens on the grill, a sure sign of warmer weather.
Thursday morning sunrise.
A field trip to Raleigh with my middle rascal. I was in charge of 5 boys! I assumed the worst and it ended up being a great day. Funny how that works.
No-Bake Energy Bites
Many variations of these little guys are popping up all over pinterest lately, you can switch out any of the ingredients and get very creative. They are very versatile.
Recipe from Smashed Peas and Carrots
1 cup oats
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (I used regular size)
1 tsp vanilla
Mix everything in a bowl until thoroughly incorporated. Let chill in frig for half an hour. Roll into balls. Enjoy. Store in an airtight container in the frig for up to a week.
Recipe from Smashed Peas and Carrots
1 cup oats
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (I used regular size)
1 tsp vanilla
Mix everything in a bowl until thoroughly incorporated. Let chill in frig for half an hour. Roll into balls. Enjoy. Store in an airtight container in the frig for up to a week.
Cheesecake
I must admit I never make cheesecake, my kids don't eat it and the mister prefers chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, (BORING) but I had this recipe printed a few weeks ago and I finally got around to making it. This cheesecake is so delicious. It is so light and fluffy, and with a subtle hint of almond flavoring, it was just divine.
Oh and the crust is made up of fudge stripe cookies. H E L L O! The only thing I will do next time is spray the bottom of my spring form pan,(I forgot this step) the crust stuck on pretty good, nothing a sharp knife and a little elbow grease couldn't fix.
Recipe by Pam Buller
Crust
24 fudge stripe cookies
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
melt butter in microwave and let cool, slightly. Put cookies in a large ziploc bag and use a rolling pin to crush them into fine bits. Add butter and sugar right into bag and mix well.
Spray the inside of your Spring form pan with non stick spray. Press the crust into the bottom of the pan.
Cake
4 pkgs cream cheese room temperature (it's very important the cheese is at room temp or it will not whip up smooth and you will have tiny lumps.) You can put it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes if your in a hurry. I would not use fat free cream cheese, it changes the texture.
Scrape the softened cream cheese into a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed, add 4 eggs one at a time turn mixer on high and mix for 4-5 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add 1 small tub of cream cheese (8 ounces)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
Keep mixing until all combined and the batter is very smooth.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minuted. Leave in the pan and let it sit on the counter for about an hour, then cover and refrigerate overnight. Before serving, use a sharp knife and slide it ll around the edge of the pan before releasing the spring form. Top with fresh whipped cream.
whipped cream
1 cup heavy cream
1/2-3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment beat the cream on high until it starts to thicken, slowly add the sugar and vanilla, continue mixing until it is the consistency of cool whip.
Oh and the crust is made up of fudge stripe cookies. H E L L O! The only thing I will do next time is spray the bottom of my spring form pan,(I forgot this step) the crust stuck on pretty good, nothing a sharp knife and a little elbow grease couldn't fix.
Recipe by Pam Buller
Crust
24 fudge stripe cookies
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
melt butter in microwave and let cool, slightly. Put cookies in a large ziploc bag and use a rolling pin to crush them into fine bits. Add butter and sugar right into bag and mix well.
Spray the inside of your Spring form pan with non stick spray. Press the crust into the bottom of the pan.
Cake
4 pkgs cream cheese room temperature (it's very important the cheese is at room temp or it will not whip up smooth and you will have tiny lumps.) You can put it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes if your in a hurry. I would not use fat free cream cheese, it changes the texture.
Scrape the softened cream cheese into a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed, add 4 eggs one at a time turn mixer on high and mix for 4-5 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add 1 small tub of cream cheese (8 ounces)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
Keep mixing until all combined and the batter is very smooth.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minuted. Leave in the pan and let it sit on the counter for about an hour, then cover and refrigerate overnight. Before serving, use a sharp knife and slide it ll around the edge of the pan before releasing the spring form. Top with fresh whipped cream.
whipped cream
1 cup heavy cream
1/2-3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment beat the cream on high until it starts to thicken, slowly add the sugar and vanilla, continue mixing until it is the consistency of cool whip.
InstaFriday
Monday Musings
1. Our bathroom plans are underway, things are on back order so a little more patience is needed on my part, but it involves a claw foot and a chandy so I CAN DO THIS...I will be sure to post lots of before and after pics.
2. Headed uptown to the St Patrick's Day parade this weekend. Does anyone else enjoy a man in a skirt? No? just me?
The Golden Retriever Rescue Club always marches in the Parade, that's where we got Abby from. Tracy said we could never bring her because he would have to carry her on his back she would not walk the whole way....so.lazy.
Oh and I realized I want to be a roller derby girl, I think I would be good at it. For a few minutes anyway.
3. My brothers and our families got together yesterday to try and plan our summer vacation and I realized after 3 1/2 hours that I think we all have ADD (my brothers and I) cause we left with nothing accomplished. we still have no idea what we're doing.
4. Reading this right now and can't put it down.
5.This makes me happy in so many ways. http://www.howsweeteats.com/
2. Headed uptown to the St Patrick's Day parade this weekend. Does anyone else enjoy a man in a skirt? No? just me?
3. My brothers and our families got together yesterday to try and plan our summer vacation and I realized after 3 1/2 hours that I think we all have ADD (my brothers and I) cause we left with nothing accomplished. we still have no idea what we're doing.
4. Reading this right now and can't put it down.
5.This makes me happy in so many ways. http://www.howsweeteats.com/
InstaFriday
Mac and cheese
I was so intrigued when I saw this recipe for 5 minute mac and cheese. My middle rascal would eat mac and cheese 3 meals a day, everyday if he could. I am so glad I made it, he LOVED this. Of course you need to have some already cooked noodles ready in your frig to cut down the prep time. I read some reviews of people that said their cheese was dry and got all hard. I used a little prepackaged shredded and freshly grated, I didn't have any problems. I also think whole milk is key, for the creaminess factor, also you really have to stir it good, like..really good. Twice.
Recipe by Jenny at Picky Palate
2 cups cooked pasta of choice
1 cup whole milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 tsp salt (I used seasoning salt, I love it in mac n cheese)
1/2 tsp black pepper
Place all ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and stir. Cover with plastic wrap and cook for 3 minutes. Stir really good and cover and cook again for an additional 2 minutes (I did 3). Stir until all the cheese is melted and creamy. Serve.
Recipe by Jenny at Picky Palate
2 cups cooked pasta of choice
1 cup whole milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 tsp salt (I used seasoning salt, I love it in mac n cheese)
1/2 tsp black pepper
Place all ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and stir. Cover with plastic wrap and cook for 3 minutes. Stir really good and cover and cook again for an additional 2 minutes (I did 3). Stir until all the cheese is melted and creamy. Serve.
Tuna melt
Lunch doesn't have to be expensive or boring, it doesn't have to be time consuming, it can be fast, without being fast food. Lunch deserves the same attention as dinner, it deserves the same respect as breakfast. This is what I had for lunch yesterday....I will probably eat it again today.
Tuna salad
6 ounces water packed tuna, drained
1 heaping Tbsp mayonnaise
1 tsp dijon
2 Tbsp finely minced celery
1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
salt/pepper to taste
bread of choice
cheese of choice
sliced tomato
Pop your bread of choice under the broiler until crisp. I used pumpernickel. Pile tuna on top of crisp bread, top with sliced tomato, cheese of choice, I love pepper jack but I had colby jack, so that's what I used. Place back under broiler until cheese is melted and starts to bubble.
Tuna salad
6 ounces water packed tuna, drained
1 heaping Tbsp mayonnaise
1 tsp dijon
2 Tbsp finely minced celery
1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
salt/pepper to taste
bread of choice
cheese of choice
sliced tomato
Pop your bread of choice under the broiler until crisp. I used pumpernickel. Pile tuna on top of crisp bread, top with sliced tomato, cheese of choice, I love pepper jack but I had colby jack, so that's what I used. Place back under broiler until cheese is melted and starts to bubble.
Snickerdoodles
My mom baked a lot when we were kids, it's where this passion really all started for me, the seed was planted. Coming home from school to a fresh batch of snickerdoodles was so absolutely normal. It was comforting, it was love, and it made the cloudy days seem brighter.
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp cream of tarter
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
cinnamon/sugar mixture
In a medium bowl sift the flour, salt, baking soda and cream of tarter, set aside. In a separate bowl cream the shortening and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mix well. Slowly add the flour mixture to sugar mixture and mix until combined. Roll into balls then roll into cinnamon, sugar.
Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp cream of tarter
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
cinnamon/sugar mixture
In a medium bowl sift the flour, salt, baking soda and cream of tarter, set aside. In a separate bowl cream the shortening and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mix well. Slowly add the flour mixture to sugar mixture and mix until combined. Roll into balls then roll into cinnamon, sugar.
Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
Monday Musings
1. Can I just say people PLEASE do not post MAJOR spoilers of shows on FB. Some of us lame people can't stay up late to watch their favorite show (Walking Dead) in real time so we DVR them. I do not enjoy waking up to statuses that ruin my Mondays. Grrr.
2. It didn't really ruin my Monday I just wanted to say that. Still...NOT COOL.
3. Another productive weekend. Yay. We were outside the entire weekend, thank God for beautiful sunny days.
I am attempting potatoes again. I actually had some grow last year they were just reeeeally tiny. The guy at the Hardware store said I pulled them too early, so I will wait...longer. I also threw in a bag of yukon golds from under my cabinet that were growing eyes, we'll see..
My beauties, found some plump and juicy worms yesterday, they also found a baby snake, Freaked me out! They would have eaten it but the mister wouldn't let them... he "got rid" of it.
These two, enjoyed the fresh air too.
Abby is sooo lazy, this is how she plays...laying down.
they really do love each other.
I am so excited over my new garden boxes the mister built for me this weekend. They are almost done, he's going to add a little bench seat all the way around them. He is so special :)
2. It didn't really ruin my Monday I just wanted to say that. Still...NOT COOL.
3. Another productive weekend. Yay. We were outside the entire weekend, thank God for beautiful sunny days.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
