tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64675105208620148172024-03-13T03:58:30.431-07:00Liz's LivelihoodLiz's LivelihoodAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.comBlogger393125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-38524658370413212102017-12-06T21:59:00.002-08:002017-12-06T21:59:16.114-08:00Korean Beef Bowl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HpC_aKGVn5w/WijVTERQt_I/AAAAAAAAH30/0rsvo2VxAuw5fEet7aw3QTas8xw61OlhACLcBGAs/s1600/DSCN1730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HpC_aKGVn5w/WijVTERQt_I/AAAAAAAAH30/0rsvo2VxAuw5fEet7aw3QTas8xw61OlhACLcBGAs/s320/DSCN1730.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Korean beef ribs are absolutely delicious, they are sweet and savory and awesome! However, the actual Korean short ribs are hard to come by and so once upon a time I came across this recipe to create a ground beef bowl with the Korean BBQ beef marinade and I never went back to the ribs. This is so easy and so delicious and satisfying. I highly recommend. </div>
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Ingredients:<br />1/4 cup brown sugar, packed<br />1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce<br />2 teaspoons sesame oil<br />1/2 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes, or more to taste<br />1/4 teaspoon ground ginger<br />1 Asian pear (peeled and finely grated) (cheat version: I use puree a pear fruit cup)<br /><div>
1 tablespoon vegetable oil<div>
1 yellow onion, chopped<br />3 cloves garlic, minced<br />1 pound ground beef<div>
veggies of your choice (optional) (pictured: bell pepper and broccoli, I love to use broccoli slaw)<br />2 green onions, thinly sliced<br />1/4 teaspoon sesame seeds</div>
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2-3 cups white rice, cooked<br /><br /><br />Directions:</div>
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1. In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, ginger, and asian pear.<br />2. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant and onion is translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 5 minutes, making sure to crumble the beef as it cooks; drain excess fat.<br />3. Stir in soy sauce mixture, vegetables of your choosing, and green onions until well combined, allowing to simmer until heated through and veggies are tender, about 3-5 minutes.<br />4. Serve immediately on a bed of rice, garnished with green onion and sesame seeds, if desired. Enjoy!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-70702324858205950222017-01-18T12:45:00.002-08:002017-03-20T11:28:12.339-07:00Peanut Pad Thai<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W_-T0X031Fg/WH_SMsMr5qI/AAAAAAAAGUA/beo-B4tBuFgv-5Qk-6GmVITOfqMNjARywCLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W_-T0X031Fg/WH_SMsMr5qI/AAAAAAAAGUA/beo-B4tBuFgv-5Qk-6GmVITOfqMNjARywCLcB/s320/FullSizeRender%2B13.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Ingredients:</div>
7 ounces pad Thai noodles (linguine sized rice noodles)<br />
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2 eggs, scrambled (optional)</div>
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1 cup cooked chicken, cut into bite sized pieces (optional)</div>
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1/4 cup soy sauce</div>
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2 Tbsp fish sauce</div>
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2 Tbsp sambal oelek (or sriracha) (or more if you prefer it spicier)</div>
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1/4 cup fresh lime juice</div>
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1/4 cup canola oil</div>
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2 Tbsp brown sugar</div>
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1/4 cup peanut butter (optional if you don't like the peanut flavor)</div>
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1 cup fresh bean sprouts</div>
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1 cup cilantro</div>
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3 scallions, thinly sliced</div>
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1/2 cup chopped peanuts</div>
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Lime wedges (optional)</div>
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Directions:<br />
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1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Remove from heat and add the noodles. Follow directions on box for cook time. Drain and rinse under cool water. Set Aside.<br />
2. Cook scrambled eggs and/or chicken to your liking. Set aside.<br />
3. To make the sauce, combine in the empty pot you used to boil pasta, the soy sauce, fish sauce, sambal oelek, lime juice, canola oil, and brown sugar. Whisk until combined and sugar dissolves on low heat. Remove from heat and add peanut butter and whisk until emulsified.<br />
4. Add the noodles to the sauce and toss until pasta is evenly coated with sauce. Add in bean sprouts, scrambled eggs, chicken, cilantro, and scallions. Toss until combined.<br />
5. Serve garnished with peanuts and lime wedges. Enjoy!!!!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-42991547461400148892016-11-19T19:26:00.002-08:002016-12-03T11:52:59.223-08:00Chocolate Cream S'mores Pie (Surprisingly Lower Calorie)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wSDeuaWXJN0/WDER0JYa9ZI/AAAAAAAAGTc/3vexy7bPZqc8DG8BM2nI8EjHGwBdqF3AgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wSDeuaWXJN0/WDER0JYa9ZI/AAAAAAAAGTc/3vexy7bPZqc8DG8BM2nI8EjHGwBdqF3AgCLcB/s320/IMG_6490.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Honestly I know it's been awhile since I have posted, I guess that means I found a great recipe worthy of posting again. Seriously, this pie is made with tofu! Can you believe it? It's a chocolate cream pie made with tofu rather than heavy cream. It is equally delicious but packed full of protein and none of that unhealthy fat, except from the dark chocolate and marshmallows of course. This is a delicious and quite easy recipe for a very pretty good looking and scrumptious pie. Perfect for any upcoming holiday get-togethers! I hope you will give it a try!<br />
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Ingredients:</div>
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Graham cracker crust (store bought or made with 1 cup graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/4 cup sugar all combined together, pressed into pie pan, baked at 350 for 7 minutes)</div>
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12.3 ounce silken or firm tofu</div>
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1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder</div>
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1/4 cup powdered sugar (other sweetener can be used, i.e. honey)</div>
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1 Tbsp strong liquid coffee</div>
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1 tsp vanilla extract</div>
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1/8 tsp salt</div>
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2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips, melted (either on stove or microwave-do not scald)</div>
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2 cups small marshmallows (or use large but halved)</div>
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Directions:</div>
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1. Combine the tofu, cocoa powder, sweetener, coffee, vanilla extract, salt, and chocolate in a food processor and blend on high until super smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Pour over pie crust and level out with spatula. </div>
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2. Turn on oven broiler to high. Place a layer of marshmallows over the top of the chocolate pie. Put entire pie into the oven with broiler on until marshmallows get toasted, no longer than one minute (make sure you watch through oven window so as to guarantee it does not burn - it happens fast). Remove promptly and set aside. </div>
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3. Place pie in fridge to cool for at least 2 hours or overnight until ready to serve, Enjoy!!!!!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-69548241934966813572016-01-21T18:35:00.000-08:002016-01-21T18:35:45.467-08:00Spicy Crab Salad Bowl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jeOmWY4Sv4M/VqFDrS0ozEI/AAAAAAAAGO8/ZOD5H1opsZk/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jeOmWY4Sv4M/VqFDrS0ozEI/AAAAAAAAGO8/ZOD5H1opsZk/s320/IMG_0095.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Over the years my love for sushi has grown exponentially. My first experience with sushi was in the form of a California roll, which consists of crab, avocado, and cucumber. The flavor combo is pretty great and while I do not order California rolls anymore because I prefer something a little more authentic with raw fish inside or on top, the flavors of a California roll never bore me. This dish is basically an open-faced California roll with a kick, it is easy to make since imitation crab can be bought anywhere and everywhere and is so cheap, especially in comparison to any other seafood. This is definitely a delicious dish that requires not much effort at all...give it a try!</div>
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Ingredients:<br />
8 oz package of imitation crab meat, flaked<br />
2 Tbsp mayonnaise (we use Japanese mayo)<br />
2 tsp Sriracha hot sauce (you can use more or less for your desired spicy-ness)<br />
1/4 cup green onion, chopped<br />
3-4 cups sushi rice (Calrose), cooked<br />
1/2 cup nori (seaweed), crumbled (the seaweed snack pack from Trader Joe's works great for this)<br />
1 Tbsp sesame seeds<br />
1/4 cucumber, chopped<br />
1 avocado, sliced<br />
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Directions:<br />
1. In a bowl, combine the flaked crab meat, mayonnaise, Sriracha, and green onion and mix until all the ingredients are evenly mixed and coated. Set aside.<br />
2. Mix together the rice, nori, and sesame seeds until evenly distributed.<br />
3. Assemble bowl into four portions with rice combo on bottom, then cucumber, then crab salad, and topped with avocado. Serve and enjoy!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-27214219445706457602015-12-13T10:07:00.002-08:002015-12-13T11:01:58.920-08:00Ramen Chicken Noodle Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GHT9yFui3mE/Vm3AnRIKIyI/AAAAAAAAGOY/5C3unZGQEsI/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GHT9yFui3mE/Vm3AnRIKIyI/AAAAAAAAGOY/5C3unZGQEsI/s320/FullSizeRender%2B4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am not that big of a fan of chicken noodle soup, I never make it because in the end I have to force myself to eat it because I've never had one that was good enough for me to want seconds. I saw this recipe for an Asian chicken noodle soup and I was quite intrigued and so I decided to make it and I was truly impressed. This was a delicious soup and it was so easy to make this flavorful broth especially since I just happen to have all these Asian ingredients in my pantry. This will definitely become a winter staple in our household. </div>
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Ingredients:<br />
2 Tbsp vegetable oil <br />
1 cup diced carrots (about 2 large)<br />
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6 green onions, sliced (1 1/2 cups) <br />
4 garlic cloves, minced<br />
2 Tbsp minced peeled ginger<br />
6 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth <br />
2 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce, or more to taste<br />
2 Tbsp mirin<br />
2 Tbsp rice vinegar<br />
1 Tbsp Sriracha<br />
1 Tbsp sesame oil<br />
1 Tbsp granulated sugar <br />
3 cups slightly packed chopped Napa cabbage<br />
6 oz crimini mushrooms, sliced</div>
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2 cups chopped cooked chicken (like rotisserie chicken or leftover turkey)<br />
2 (4.3 oz) packages dry ramen, seasoning packets discarded<br />
1/2 cup chopped cilantro<br />
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Directions:<br />
1. Heat 1 Tbsp vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add carrots and saute 3 minutes then add green onions, garlic and ginger and saute 2 minutes longer.</div>
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2. In a large saucepan, pour in the chicken broth, soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, Sriracha, and sesame oil, then pour carrot mixture into soup mixture and bring to a boil then simmer.<br />
3. Next stir in sugar, cabbage, mushrooms, and chicken and return soup to a boil. Add noodles and cook 3 - 5 minutes longer until noodles are tender. Serve warm sprinkled with cilantro. Enjoy!<br />
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Recipe adapted from <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/asian-chicken-noodle-soup-recipe.html">Food Network</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-68508116851364646322015-12-09T18:33:00.000-08:002015-12-09T18:33:05.243-08:00S'mores Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tP6I8LWQCM8/VmjiuZN7RUI/AAAAAAAAGNs/-kTxvD8Ckn4/s1600/IMG_8066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tP6I8LWQCM8/VmjiuZN7RUI/AAAAAAAAGNs/-kTxvD8Ckn4/s320/IMG_8066.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I definitely have an obsession with s'mores desserts and so when I saw this recipe I knew I had to give it a try and that was the best idea ever. These are so delicious and they taste like a real s'more without all the messiness.</div>
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Recipe yields 3 dozen<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
1 cup graham cracker crumbs<br />
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour<br />
1/2 tsp baking soda<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature<br />
1/2 cup light brown sugar<br />
1/3 cup granulated sugar<br />
1 large egg<br />
1 tsp vanilla extract<br />
20 large marshmallows, cut in half<br />
About 40 chocolate kisses<br />
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Directions:<br />
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.<br />
2. In a large bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.<br />
2. In another bowl, beat the butter and sugars together until creamy and smooth. Add in the egg and vanilla extract and mix until combined. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. 3. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto a baking sheet, 1-2″ apart. Bake for 6-8 minutes or until edges are just getting golden brown. Remove from oven and gently press a half marshmallow, sticky side down, onto each cookie. Let cool completely. <br />
4. Once all cookies are cooled down, preheat broiler. Place cookies back on baking sheets and broil for 1-2 minutes, keeping a close eye on them so they don’t burn. Once marshmallows are golden brown, remove from the broiler and place a chocolate kiss on top of each cookie. Enjoy!<br />
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Recipe adapted from <a href="http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/08/smores-hersheys-kiss-cookies-recipe.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+sixsistersstuff/TUsn+(Six+Sisters'+Stuff)">SixSisterStuff</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-40557362866430263412015-11-15T19:20:00.002-08:002015-11-15T19:20:21.692-08:00Fall Cheese Ball<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_G-TDzRY_Yk/VklHlzMhygI/AAAAAAAAGMg/PGBIPgf3rcc/s1600/IMG_8311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_G-TDzRY_Yk/VklHlzMhygI/AAAAAAAAGMg/PGBIPgf3rcc/s320/IMG_8311.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I made this festive cheese ball for Halloween and it tasted great. It is a Mexican flavored cheese ball that is quite impressive with looks and taste, yet really easy to make. I think this turned out awesome (even with my mini pepper stem garnish) and it really is great for any festivity during the fall season. </div>
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<a name='more'></a><br />Ingredients:<br />16 oz cream cheese, room temp<br />2 cups cheddar cheese<br />3 Tbsp green onion, chopped<br />3 Tbsp salsa<div>
1 Tbsp hot sauce (optional)<br />1 tsp ground cumin<br />2 cups nacho cheese chips, crumbled<br />top of 1 bell pepper for stem garnish</div>
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Directions:</div>
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1. Mix together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, green onion, salsa, hot sauce, and cumin until well combined and creamy. </div>
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2. Scoop mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap, use wrap to form the mixture into a ball and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. </div>
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3. When ready to serve, remove cheese ball from fridge and plastic wrap and roll in the crumbled nacho cheese chips until the outside is fully coated in chip crumbles (to make it orange). </div>
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4. Place the bell pepper stem on the top and serve with tortilla chips. Enjoy!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-64836299012664158692015-05-05T18:55:00.001-07:002015-05-05T18:55:39.675-07:00Caesar Salad Dressing/Wrap<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4iGHFitjN0o/VUllCoYlOWI/AAAAAAAAF2s/2hgEyfwNeXE/s1600/DSCN0328.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4iGHFitjN0o/VUllCoYlOWI/AAAAAAAAF2s/2hgEyfwNeXE/s1600/DSCN0328.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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I never realized how easy it is to make homemade Caesar Salad dressing until I found this recipe on Pinterest. It truly is so easy and delicious when made at home. Also, I have learned that I usually tend to have all the necessary ingredients on hand at all times and so it is really easy to whip up for a meal, especially for these Caesar Salad wraps I have grown fond of making. </div>
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Ingredients For Caesar Dressing:<br />
1 cup mayonnaise<br />
⅓ cup sour cream<br />
1 large clove garlic, minced<br />
2 Tbsp lemon juice<br />
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce<br />
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated<br />
pepper to taste<br />
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Directions For Caesar Dressing:<br />
1. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, mix well to incorporate. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to blend flavors. Refrigerate until needed.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jSFEInDb5MU/VUlk-3-cVNI/AAAAAAAAF2U/sdF5VIBsEJo/s1600/DSCN0324.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jSFEInDb5MU/VUlk-3-cVNI/AAAAAAAAF2U/sdF5VIBsEJo/s1600/DSCN0324.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6XuIFE-mBYY/VUllBAwi3mI/AAAAAAAAF2g/zAoFh23bUTc/s1600/DSCN0325.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6XuIFE-mBYY/VUllBAwi3mI/AAAAAAAAF2g/zAoFh23bUTc/s1600/DSCN0325.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jSFEInDb5MU/VUlk-3-cVNI/AAAAAAAAF2U/sdF5VIBsEJo/s1600/DSCN0324.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Ingredients needed for Caesar Salad Wraps (measurements are based on personal need):<br />
Caesar salad dressing (ingredients above)<br />
Romain Lettuce, chopped bite size<br />
Kale, chopped bite size<br />
Croutons<br />
Cherry Tomatoes, sliced<br />
Carrots, shredded<br />
Popcorn chicken, cooked and chopped (optional)<br />
Flour tortillas <br />
Cheese mix (cheddar, jack combo), shredded<br />
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Directions:<br />
1. Combine all salad ingredients in a bowl: Salad dressing, romaine lettuce, kale, croutons, cherry tomatoes, carrots, and popcorn chicken. Mix together so that the Caesar salad dressing coats all ingredients in salad.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MpdFqaZ5sbk/VUllAnQT9aI/AAAAAAAAF2c/YFsN7jtM48g/s1600/DSCN0326.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MpdFqaZ5sbk/VUllAnQT9aI/AAAAAAAAF2c/YFsN7jtM48g/s1600/DSCN0326.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
2. Heat up a frying pan to cook and warm the flour tortillas. Once the tortillas are halfway cooked, sprinkle with cheese mix and continue to warm up the tortillas until cheese is melted. Remove from heat.<br />
3. Fill heated tortilla with salad mixture like a taco. Enjoy!!!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EnXDJXfHZf4/VUllD6S11hI/AAAAAAAAF20/JhCX9GD2LKk/s1600/DSCN0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EnXDJXfHZf4/VUllD6S11hI/AAAAAAAAF20/JhCX9GD2LKk/s1600/DSCN0329.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Recipe adapted from <a href="http://spicysouthernkitchen.com/caesar-pasta-salad/">Spicy Southern Kitchen </a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-76554367491553661452015-04-22T19:24:00.001-07:002015-04-22T19:24:49.381-07:00Homemade Cookies On A Whim<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B1XKe6ZRv0Q/VThPRh-RlLI/AAAAAAAAF1Q/Z4fGw0bgS4M/s1600/DSCN0309.JPG"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B1XKe6ZRv0Q/VThPRh-RlLI/AAAAAAAAF1Q/Z4fGw0bgS4M/s1600/DSCN0309.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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We love to bake cookies on a whim and so I used to prepare cookie dough and then freeze it until I realized how difficult it was to spoon out cookies from frozen cookie dough. I then came up with a better idea to prep my own portioned sized frozen cookie dough so that I can easily prep and cook just the amount of cookies I want without having to wait for the dough to defrost to scoop. I have started to do this and it really is a game changer. Once I prepare the <a href="http://lizslivelihood.blogspot.com/2011/06/best-chocolate-chip-cookies-ever.html">dough</a>, I use a cookie scoop to scoop out perfect portion sizes and set them on a plate/pan to stick in the freezer to allow them to freeze individually. Once each portion is frozen, usually it takes 4 hours minimum (I usually just leave them overnight) then you can combine all the frozen portioned cookies together in a ziplock bag. It is important to freeze them separated first so that they don't all stick together. Then when you are ready to bake the cookies, place the desired amount of cookies on a cookie sheet while the oven is preheating. Sometimes depending on how long it takes for your oven to preheat, it could take an extra one or two minutes in baking time to reach the correct consistency. Enjoy!!!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FQqoe727i48/VThPRWHiVJI/AAAAAAAAF1M/n9qcSgvd6LI/s1600/DSCN0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FQqoe727i48/VThPRWHiVJI/AAAAAAAAF1M/n9qcSgvd6LI/s1600/DSCN0306.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step One: Prep Cookie Dough</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vw6q55Y11s0/VThPPorEoiI/AAAAAAAAF1E/XvXoIK6kD3M/s1600/DSCN0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vw6q55Y11s0/VThPPorEoiI/AAAAAAAAF1E/XvXoIK6kD3M/s1600/DSCN0308.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step Two: Scoop Individual Sized Cookies for Freezing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B1XKe6ZRv0Q/VThPRh-RlLI/AAAAAAAAF1Q/Z4fGw0bgS4M/s1600/DSCN0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B1XKe6ZRv0Q/VThPRh-RlLI/AAAAAAAAF1Q/Z4fGw0bgS4M/s1600/DSCN0309.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step Three: Combine The Frozen Cookie Dough in One Freezer Safe Bag</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tFmqrIKS__E/VThPTcpeOrI/AAAAAAAAF1c/DvQixlsQYmw/s1600/DSCN0310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tFmqrIKS__E/VThPTcpeOrI/AAAAAAAAF1c/DvQixlsQYmw/s1600/DSCN0310.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step Four: Store Cookies in Freezer Until Ready to Bake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-72sRaJ0YJFs/VThQ1Dxlp_I/AAAAAAAAF1o/W7l8wgoQpyA/s1600/IMG_2354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-72sRaJ0YJFs/VThQ1Dxlp_I/AAAAAAAAF1o/W7l8wgoQpyA/s1600/IMG_2354.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step Five: Place Cookies on Cookie Sheet While Oven Preheats, Bake </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6eFhMCQ1FGY/VThQ1ZS5_9I/AAAAAAAAF1s/2zl3uFzVrho/s1600/IMG_2355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6eFhMCQ1FGY/VThQ1ZS5_9I/AAAAAAAAF1s/2zl3uFzVrho/s1600/IMG_2355.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step Six: Enjoy!!! Homemade Cookies On A Whim</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-59251801182854796802015-03-18T19:19:00.002-07:002015-03-18T19:19:37.208-07:00Reuben Quesadilla<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-icxZZtuU3co/VQow-3DtJcI/AAAAAAAAF0A/W8wRqumAZcE/s1600/IMG_5496.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-icxZZtuU3co/VQow-3DtJcI/AAAAAAAAF0A/W8wRqumAZcE/s1600/IMG_5496.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reuben Quesadilla</td></tr>
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Well yesterday was St. Patty's day and so of course we made some corned beef and cabbage for dinner even though neither of us is Irish, but it's a good excuse for some good eats. I was especially excited because Costco was selling some organic corned beef with no added nitrates, etc., which is great for preggo me. The corned beef and cabbage was delicious yesterday but tonight's Reuben Quesadillas were truly the best. I highly recommend that everyone give this a try with their leftover corned beef, so delicious!</div>
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Ingredients:<br />
Flour tortillas<br />
Corned beef, prepared and cooked, shredded<br />
Saurkraut or cooked cabbage, shredded<br />
White Cheddar cheese, shredded or Swiss cheese<br />
Thousand Island dressing (I made my own and added some horseradish for a kick)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1u4zK_lDRt8/VQoxKdsaj-I/AAAAAAAAF0Y/PWh7H895fbc/s1600/DSCN0305.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1u4zK_lDRt8/VQoxKdsaj-I/AAAAAAAAF0Y/PWh7H895fbc/s1600/DSCN0305.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open Face Reuben Quesadilla</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_i7SAhodu28/VQoxJgkLYLI/AAAAAAAAF0Q/HiNaEd8rUmo/s1600/DSCN0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_i7SAhodu28/VQoxJgkLYLI/AAAAAAAAF0Q/HiNaEd8rUmo/s1600/DSCN0302.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reuben Quesadilla</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-14899424719205899692015-03-10T17:00:00.000-07:002015-03-10T17:00:23.508-07:00Beef and Noodle Bake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4sQYjVTM3d0/VP9_MjQN9kI/AAAAAAAAFzg/Q4H6nUCp5ls/s1600/DSCN0301.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4sQYjVTM3d0/VP9_MjQN9kI/AAAAAAAAFzg/Q4H6nUCp5ls/s1600/DSCN0301.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I found a recipe on Pinterest for this interesting casserole dish, I had looked up the ingredients but when it came time to prepare the dish, the link I had pinned no longer worked. So, instead I prepared the dish how I would have thought it to be prepped. This was very easy to make and pretty delicious. As Nick put it, the flavors are unique but in a good way. Just a different taste than the dishes we usually prepare. It was a nice change of pace. </div>
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Ingredients:</div>
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1 (8oz) package wide egg noodles </div>
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1 onion, chopped</div>
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1 Tbsp garlic, minced</div>
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1 Tbsp butter</div>
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1 Tbsp oil</div>
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1 pound lean ground beef</div>
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1 tsp salt</div>
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1/4 tsp black pepper</div>
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1/4 tsp garlic salt</div>
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1 cup tomato sauce</div>
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1 cup cottage cheese</div>
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1 cup sour cream </div>
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1 cup green onions, chopped</div>
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1 cup frozen peas</div>
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1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded</div>
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Directions: </div>
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1. Prepare noodles by cooking according to package directions. Rinse in cold water and drain.<br />2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).</div>
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3. While the noodles are cooking, saute the onions and garlic in the butter and oil in a saute pan. Once onions are translucent, add ground beef. Brown meat; add salt, pepper, garlic salt and tomato sauce and simmer for 5 minutes. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mm-bg0Qo0BE/VP9_NN155cI/AAAAAAAAFzk/di2itT9UPqI/s1600/DSCN0293.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mm-bg0Qo0BE/VP9_NN155cI/AAAAAAAAFzk/di2itT9UPqI/s1600/DSCN0293.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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4. Combine cottage cheese, sour cream, green onions, peas, meat sauce and noodles. Place in a casserole dish and sprinkle with cheddar cheese.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rmeg-uZli70/VP9_GBB-XnI/AAAAAAAAFy8/_pbWyBVNboU/s1600/DSCN0295.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rmeg-uZli70/VP9_GBB-XnI/AAAAAAAAFy8/_pbWyBVNboU/s1600/DSCN0295.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aHrr2d-kPJM/VP9_ICpjyrI/AAAAAAAAFzI/j0iXgtGu0n4/s1600/DSCN0296.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aHrr2d-kPJM/VP9_ICpjyrI/AAAAAAAAFzI/j0iXgtGu0n4/s1600/DSCN0296.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DhBRnoqrFCQ/VP9_JvV0ntI/AAAAAAAAFzQ/UdrLUs2y6ws/s1600/DSCN0298.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DhBRnoqrFCQ/VP9_JvV0ntI/AAAAAAAAFzQ/UdrLUs2y6ws/s1600/DSCN0298.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br />5. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot, enjoy!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-33054335150167058622015-02-09T19:09:00.000-08:002015-02-12T05:54:13.609-08:00DIY Nursery Alphabet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ii6-NZm03BE/VNl1foRCX1I/AAAAAAAAFxs/-hkNkCJPJNU/s1600/IMG_5240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ii6-NZm03BE/VNl1foRCX1I/AAAAAAAAFxs/-hkNkCJPJNU/s1600/IMG_5240.JPG" height="157" width="320" /></a></div>
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For my recent baby shower, I found this wonderful
idea on Pinterest to have guests decorate a letter from the alphabet to
put up in the nursery. It seemed like a good idea and a fun activity to
have available. I also figured we might not
get enough participants but that’s okay because then I could just
decorate the remaining letters myself. Well to my surprise, this
activity was a huge hit. Not only did we run out of letters (because
some people did more than one each), but the craft table
was busy the entire shower. We had a co-ed shower and so even more
surprising was how many men participated in this activity. There was a
moment where I was worried we would have too many pink letters, but my
girlfriend who helped with hosting, stepped in
and removed the pink paints after she saw there were 5 letters in pink
already (great job Meggie!!!). Another complete shocker was how well it
all came together, not a single letter was the same color as the one
next to it. This seriously is my most favorite
thing in our little girl’s nursery now and we will treasure it forever. I just love the fact that every letter was crafted by one of our loved ones
just for her, it is just so wonderful. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzI-l6d6XtU/VNlxds8D0vI/AAAAAAAAFxQ/pr-MJHggM-M/s1600/IMG_5350.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzI-l6d6XtU/VNlxds8D0vI/AAAAAAAAFxQ/pr-MJHggM-M/s1600/IMG_5350.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Everyone should do this activity at their baby shower. It was so simple to prep and the supplies weren’t too expensive. </div>
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Supplies:</div>
<ul><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JMTmZ4K4AbE/VNltvtdiFvI/AAAAAAAAFw8/DNoJTVsc6s8/s1600/IMG_5344.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JMTmZ4K4AbE/VNltvtdiFvI/AAAAAAAAFw8/DNoJTVsc6s8/s1600/IMG_5344.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>
<li>Wooden letters of the entire alphabet (we bought a
set with some cute random fonts and sizes from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/159883587/wooden-letter-alphabet-unfinished?ref=related-4">Etsy</a> for $30, they were
not painted white, so we (my friend Meggie) did spray paint them all
white so that the base would be the same color
for all the letters and not the wood color, they sell white sets too
for more money)</li>
<li>Assorted acrylic paint colors (you can be as limited or broad as you want with these)</li>
<li>Paint brushes</li>
<li>Some sharpies (to write on the back)</li>
<li>Craft glue</li>
<li>Assorted buttons, legos, jewels, etc.</li>
<li>Your creativity</li>
<li>Mounting tape (we used Scotch permanent foam double sided mounting tape to hang the letters on the nursery wall - it worked really easily and took a small piece for each letter) </li>
<li>That’s it! <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IadAHjIHffc/VNliMBsRF2I/AAAAAAAAFws/NGgqjiXyjec/s1600/IMG_5154_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>
</li>
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They set up a craft table at the shower, covered in
plastic, and laid out all the letters and materials and we included a
paper with directions (you want to make sure your guests sign the back
of the letter, so you know who did what) and
a photo of the ones I found online to help with creative inspiration.
They turned out so good!!! I am so proud of my family and friends <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IadAHjIHffc/VNliMBsRF2I/AAAAAAAAFws/NGgqjiXyjec/s1600/IMG_5154_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IadAHjIHffc/VNliMBsRF2I/AAAAAAAAFws/NGgqjiXyjec/s1600/IMG_5154_2.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UoRu9FFhK88/VNliKlvzJ1I/AAAAAAAAFwk/iVkLxf3OmDc/s1600/IMG_5188_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UoRu9FFhK88/VNliKlvzJ1I/AAAAAAAAFwk/iVkLxf3OmDc/s1600/IMG_5188_2.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IadAHjIHffc/VNliMBsRF2I/AAAAAAAAFws/NGgqjiXyjec/s1600/IMG_5154_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-14259110611863477492015-01-28T17:34:00.002-08:002015-01-29T07:20:39.736-08:00Home Improvements<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As my avid followers (mom and dad) already know, Nick and I
relocated to Michigan over the summer, bought a house, started new jobs, and found
out we were expecting. It has been quite the whirlwind getting our lives
settled in Michigan. So far so good though. I promised I would share some
pictures of our improvements we’ve made on our house and so I bring you this Home Improvements post. Later I will post our Before and After furniture projects, etc. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we bought the house, we knew there was some stuff that
needed to be done right away by us but also by professionals. Some of the
things we needed done right away were: add a gas line to the laundry room,
repair the water heater, replace fascia boards on the house, repair sunken cement
block, replace garage door, paint, refinish the deck, etc. Honestly, the list of
repairs was quite small at first but quickly grew once we moved in. Luckily we
met a handyman contact through our realtor and they were truly amazing and
fixed most of the stuff on our list for payment of course, but nonetheless they
were able to do all the big stuff while Nick and I tackled the smaller things. </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h41sZdu8hEI/VMmIGLuGQHI/AAAAAAAAFtQ/3p7irLRcFzE/s1600/IMG_3799.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h41sZdu8hEI/VMmIGLuGQHI/AAAAAAAAFtQ/3p7irLRcFzE/s1600/IMG_3799.jpg" height="153" width="200" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-niDTmXzajfA/VMmLEn5LxXI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/89-_mYKvFUk/s1600/IMG_4705.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-niDTmXzajfA/VMmLEn5LxXI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/89-_mYKvFUk/s1600/IMG_4705.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New garage door, new fascia boards, red painted shutters to match red deck and garage trim</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cgwaml_vZl0/VMmIoSpVg6I/AAAAAAAAFvA/uT74ReyN1s0/s1600/IMG_4662.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cgwaml_vZl0/VMmIoSpVg6I/AAAAAAAAFvA/uT74ReyN1s0/s1600/IMG_4662.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New cement step</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">The biggest and most beneficial of our improvements has been
opening up the wall from our kitchen to upstairs living room. This update has
been a game changer for me, especially since I spend so much of my time in the
kitchen (because I love to cook). Once
we opened this wall, it truly made the place homier and overall just better. We
had thought about doing this improvement ourselves but decided we wanted it
done ASAP and so we had our handyman do it for us. They did a great job and it
was completed in one day.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RaiEbkxdFBU/VMmIMsgIjGI/AAAAAAAAFt4/aA2pUv_Gw20/s1600/IMG_4017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RaiEbkxdFBU/VMmIMsgIjGI/AAAAAAAAFt4/aA2pUv_Gw20/s1600/IMG_4017.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S3UE9-PA3Hk/VMmIOqmynOI/AAAAAAAAFuQ/JwvIg-x333U/s1600/IMG_4319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S3UE9-PA3Hk/VMmIOqmynOI/AAAAAAAAFuQ/JwvIg-x333U/s1600/IMG_4319.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open Concept</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DBm7VKo8NO8/VMmIQXCjXDI/AAAAAAAAFuY/Xw7AUkQr92w/s1600/IMG_4322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DBm7VKo8NO8/VMmIQXCjXDI/AAAAAAAAFuY/Xw7AUkQr92w/s1600/IMG_4322.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We repainted and organized our laundry room, it started
as an icky bright yellow that I quickly painted a nice calm grey. Plus, there was some missing drywall that my father replaced when he came out for a visit. It is crazy
how much changing a wall color and adding some décor can improve the overall
feeling of a room. Don’t you agree?</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q92QjRUmG9s/VMmID8XU5gI/AAAAAAAAFtA/AFnLzm08y4o/s1600/DSCN9747.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q92QjRUmG9s/VMmID8XU5gI/AAAAAAAAFtA/AFnLzm08y4o/s1600/DSCN9747.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JhdnctGGayE/VMmINEpaZGI/AAAAAAAAFuA/tlizAUJnT6o/s1600/IMG_4111.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JhdnctGGayE/VMmINEpaZGI/AAAAAAAAFuA/tlizAUJnT6o/s1600/IMG_4111.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We also power washed, stripped, and repainted our entire
deck. The previous owners probably hadn’t treated the deck in over 6 years, so
we wanted to be sure to refinish the deck right away, in anticipation of the
winter ahead. It took a lot of time and elbow grease, but we completely
repainted and weatherized our deck. We can’t wait for this spring to buy some
nice deck furniture so we can sit outdoors and enjoy our lovely backyard (one
of the main reasons we wanted this home). </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Eb4TKn9m81E/VMmIJGc1usI/AAAAAAAAFto/YcZazGIeTSI/s1600/IMG_3984.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Eb4TKn9m81E/VMmIJGc1usI/AAAAAAAAFto/YcZazGIeTSI/s1600/IMG_3984.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MDfB2JDJHnk/VMmIKpC7fWI/AAAAAAAAFtw/HmLvLrHMYxo/s1600/IMG_3983.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MDfB2JDJHnk/VMmIKpC7fWI/AAAAAAAAFtw/HmLvLrHMYxo/s1600/IMG_3983.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Refinished Deck</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-67412010997063474312015-01-26T18:17:00.001-08:002015-01-26T18:17:16.925-08:00Oreo Pops<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Oreo Pops</u></td></tr>
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Our families recently held a baby shower for us back at home in California. I wanted to do my part in helping by adding to the party favor aspect of the shower, a candy bar. I found this easy recipe to make these impressive yet easy Oreo pops. I decided to give it a go. The process was quite easy, just time consuming. It took me 3-4 hours one evening to completely make around 40 Oreo pops including wrapping them up ready to fly cross country. The best part about these is their WOW factor, they are so impressive looking and ridiculously tasty. I will do this again the next time duty calls. </div>
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Ingredients:</div>
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One pack of Double Stuf Oreos </div>
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30-40 Lollipop Sticks</div>
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1 Cup Assorted Candy Sprinkles</div>
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Melting Chocolate:</div>
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Combine 2 cups Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips with 2 Tbsp Coconut Oil</div>
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Directions:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1MQ31mP05E/VMbtA1LLARI/AAAAAAAAFrk/zPVzBZeeqoc/s1600/DSCN0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1MQ31mP05E/VMbtA1LLARI/AAAAAAAAFrk/zPVzBZeeqoc/s1600/DSCN0152.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carefully twist open the Oreos to keep the cream on one side of the cookie. Gently place one lollipop stick per cookie in the center of the cream side. Be sure to get the stick evenly surrounded by cream.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SCPTF6JpHyw/VMbtCYqkmNI/AAAAAAAAFr0/e9ptYU3wXKA/s1600/DSCN0153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SCPTF6JpHyw/VMbtCYqkmNI/AAAAAAAAFr0/e9ptYU3wXKA/s1600/DSCN0153.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add a small amount of melted chocolate to the lollipop stick in the cream and cover with the cream-less cookie to glue the cookie back together with the stick inside. Allow it to harden before moving onto the next step.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-groxqf6MU3I/VMbtA2ll5lI/AAAAAAAAFro/-vHIc90M3BA/s1600/DSCN0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-groxqf6MU3I/VMbtA2ll5lI/AAAAAAAAFro/-vHIc90M3BA/s1600/DSCN0155.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take the assembled cookie on the stick and dip into the melted chocolate before dipping into sprinkles. Set down on wax paper or silicone mat to harden. To quicken the process, place in the fridge (or outside in the winter cold) to cool and harden chocolate quicker. for about 5-10 minutes. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lp5ytfkphoU/VMbtGAwDvsI/AAAAAAAAFr8/mF83fXwbyww/s1600/DSCN0158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lp5ytfkphoU/VMbtGAwDvsI/AAAAAAAAFr8/mF83fXwbyww/s1600/DSCN0158.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Done!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VBqSjralqCU/VMbtMYt17SI/AAAAAAAAFsc/VffwG70eIxs/s1600/DSCN0171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VBqSjralqCU/VMbtMYt17SI/AAAAAAAAFsc/VffwG70eIxs/s1600/DSCN0171.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Place pops into plastic bags and tie with a bow. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A8tuL4nhfgQ/VMbtGrL69YI/AAAAAAAAFsA/vdm9IUaiZsI/s1600/DSCN0164.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A8tuL4nhfgQ/VMbtGrL69YI/AAAAAAAAFsA/vdm9IUaiZsI/s1600/DSCN0164.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final Product: Oreo Pop w/Rainbow Sprinkles</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ryBag2Btp9I/VMbtpIR0pEI/AAAAAAAAFsk/MKLpJo003GM/s1600/IMG_1127.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ryBag2Btp9I/VMbtpIR0pEI/AAAAAAAAFsk/MKLpJo003GM/s1600/IMG_1127.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely candy bar from our baby shower, complete with a bun in the oven cake :)</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYxo4mHZuGY/VKISsr2T75I/AAAAAAAAFrA/c7_1RIbLX9w/s1600/DSCN0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYxo4mHZuGY/VKISsr2T75I/AAAAAAAAFrA/c7_1RIbLX9w/s1600/DSCN0137.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I haven't tried very many new recipes lately but when I wondered across this recipe online, I knew I had to venture outside of the box. My husband is definitely a connoisseur of all things Whiskey and so I figured he would love these and that he did. The bourbon flavor was quite prevalent in these goodies, which made for one really rich treat. While Nick's favorite whiskey of all is Maker's Mark, we had a bottle of Elijah Craig bourbon, from our whiskey tour in Kentucky, that I decided to use instead, which turned out just as tasty.</div>
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Ingredients:<br />1 cup dark brown sugar<br /> 1/4 cup butter<br /> 1 cup flour<br /> 1 teaspoon baking powder<br /> 1/2 tsp. salt<br /> 1 egg<br /> 1 Tbsp vanilla<br /> 2 Tbsp bourbon<br /> 8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped<br /> 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. fleur de sel or coarse salt [to taste] <br /><br />1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch square pan, and line pan with parchment paper.<br />2. Heat brown sugar and butter together in a saucepan until sugar is melted, stirring occasionally. Let cool.<br />
3. Whisk flour and baking powder together, and set aside.<br />
4. Add egg, vanilla, salt, and bourbon to the cooled butter mixture, and beat together. Stir in the flour mixture, and then the chocolate, until just combined.<br />
5. Spread batter in the pan, and bake 18 to 22 minutes, until light golden brown, and a toothpick comes out clean, being very careful not to over-bake. Sprinkle with fleur de sel. Let cool in the pan, then carefully lift parchment from the pan and cut brownies into squares. Enjoy!<br />
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Recipe adapted from <a href="http://thevanillabeanblog.com/">The Vanilla Bean Blog </a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-91830635760327402432014-12-22T16:29:00.000-08:002014-12-22T16:29:12.362-08:00Merry Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!</div>
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Photo courtesy of <a href="http://judithcamerondailypainting.blogspot.com/">Judith Cameron</a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-2616097521555007952014-12-05T18:29:00.001-08:002015-01-28T10:18:00.146-08:00Hello Again!<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Hey
there blog world, sorry for the long absence. Maybe you
missed me, maybe you didn’t, but here I am again. This past summer, my
husband
and I relocated to Michigan for his job. With the move and the new job
came a
new house. With the new house came a lot of new house work. Therefore,
during
the time I was unemployed, I managed to spend most of my creative time
working
on the house, unpacking, restocking, organizing, designing, etc. While I
was
still cooking, I stuck to things I knew and didn’t try many new recipes,
hence
the absence of food posts. Thankfully, I did get a job in
Michigan within a month of looking and we have had many visitors, which
have kept us pleasantly occupied. While we are finally feeling settled
into our home
and Michigan 4 months later, I feel that I have finally hit my stride
and
I hope to bring back some more food posts but even more likely, some DIY
posts
for things we’ve done around the house. I appreciate your patience as I
took a
break from the blogosphere, but hope to jump back into it real soon. For
now,
enjoy this lovely pick of our new home that we love so much (more on
that later).
</span></div>
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-4969312431284626352014-07-20T18:47:00.000-07:002014-07-20T18:47:25.710-07:00Swedish Meatballs<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swedish Meatballs</td></tr>
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Have you ever had the Swedish meatballs at Ikea? Well, this recipe puts those to shame. I have never made this type of recipe before and I have really been missing out. These are so tasty and delicious, they would be great served with rice the next time so as to soak up all the sauce, mashies work well too. Seriously give this a try!</div>
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<br />Ingredients:<br />
For the meatballs:<br />2 Tbsp olive oil, divided <br />1 onion, diced <br />1 pound ground beef <br />1 pound ground pork (I used ground turkey)<br />1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs<br />
2 large egg yolks <br />1/4 tsp ground allspice <br />1/4 tsp ground nutmeg <br />Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste <br /> <br />For the gravy :<br />1/4 cup unsalted butter <br />1/3 cup all-purpose flour <br />4 cups beef broth <br />3/4 cup sour cream <br />Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste <br />2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley leaves<br /><br />Instructions:<br />1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and cook, stirring frequently, until onions have become translucent, about 2-3 minutes; set aside. <br />
2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, ground pork (or turkey), Panko, egg yolks, allspice, nutmeg and onion; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Using a wooden spoon or clean hands, stir until well combined. Roll the mixture into 1 1/4-to-1 1/2-inch meatballs, forming about 24 meatballs.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kxEuD9vGMgQ/U8xdgtioFJI/AAAAAAAAFmk/Lp8brzB-RnI/s1600/DSCN9717.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kxEuD9vGMgQ/U8xdgtioFJI/AAAAAAAAFmk/Lp8brzB-RnI/s1600/DSCN9717.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xXKbi66iM08/U8xdohoNMdI/AAAAAAAAFms/LH07_zXXgxs/s1600/DSCN9719.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xXKbi66iM08/U8xdohoNMdI/AAAAAAAAFms/LH07_zXXgxs/s1600/DSCN9719.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
3. Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Add meatballs, in batches, and cook until all sides are browned, about 4-5 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.<br />
4. To make the gravy, melt butter in the skillet. Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in beef broth and cook, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in sour cream; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in meatballs and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through and thickened, about 8-10 minutes. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X3DmkZaN6m0/U8xdqGZ0UBI/AAAAAAAAFm0/nzjV0t_uN3I/s1600/DSCN9722.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X3DmkZaN6m0/U8xdqGZ0UBI/AAAAAAAAFm0/nzjV0t_uN3I/s1600/DSCN9722.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X3DmkZaN6m0/U8xdqGZ0UBI/AAAAAAAAFm0/nzjV0t_uN3I/s1600/DSCN9722.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>5. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired. Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XrANCIBJIqM/U8xdxb_m9VI/AAAAAAAAFm8/5OJ94IyT5Ws/s1600/DSCN9723.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XrANCIBJIqM/U8xdxb_m9VI/AAAAAAAAFm8/5OJ94IyT5Ws/s1600/DSCN9723.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Recipe adapted from: http://damndelicious.net/2014/02/21/swedish-meatballs/ Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-60994724310544104532014-07-13T18:06:00.001-07:002014-07-13T18:06:13.359-07:00Birthday Cookie Brownie Surprise <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday Cookie Brownie Surprise</td></tr>
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Assemble in prepared 9 by 13 pan<br />
Layer of chocolate chip cookie dough <a href="http://lizslivelihood.blogspot.com/2011/06/best-chocolate-chip-cookies-ever.html">(recipe found here)</a><br />
Layer of Birthday Cake Oreos<br />
Layer of brownie dough <a href="http://lizslivelihood.blogspot.com/2011/11/dark-chocolate-brownies.html">(recipe found here)</a><br />
Topped with rainbow sprinkles <br />
Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes<br />
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<img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wW1834LrVDY/U8MdbQynqBI/AAAAAAAAFlU/g11uiQv5ZII/s1600/DSCN9651.JPG" height="150" width="200" /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tc5RuZIzPdg/U8MdjZm_OmI/AAAAAAAAFlk/V6Wv3AJ47ns/s1600/DSCN9652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tc5RuZIzPdg/U8MdjZm_OmI/AAAAAAAAFlk/V6Wv3AJ47ns/s1600/DSCN9652.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-40562620779967223182014-06-15T18:56:00.001-07:002014-06-15T18:56:47.340-07:00Carne Asada<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s-1Y1bvLmxU/U542a-f6a5I/AAAAAAAAFjo/VLBAf42Af_o/s1600/DSCN9681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s-1Y1bvLmxU/U542a-f6a5I/AAAAAAAAFjo/VLBAf42Af_o/s1600/DSCN9681.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carne Asada tacos with onions, cilantro, guacamole, and Cotija cheese</td></tr>
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Carne Asada is a delicious Mexican staple that Nick and I really enjoy. Carne Asada literally means "grilled meat" and in Southern California it is always referring to beef, even though it can be used for other types of meat. We love Carne Asada beef in our household because of the citrus and flame grilled flavor, especially when served as Carne Asada fries. In fact, I think Carne Asada fries are one of the best food creations ever made, but sadly they only exist in Southern California and so when we want them we have to create them at home from scratch, it is a lot of work but it is so worth it.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carne Asada fries with homemade Idaho french fries, Mexican cheese mix, onions, cilantro, tomatoes, salsa verde, cabbage, sour cream, and guacamole</td></tr>
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Ingredients: <br />
1/4 cup olive oil<br />
1/4 cup white vinegar<br />
1/3 cup lime juice (fresh squeezed)<br />
1/3 cup orange juice (fresh squeezed)<br />
1 cup water<br />
2 Tbsp fresh garlic, minced<br />
1 1/2 Tbsp salt <br />
1 Tbsp ground pepper<br />
1 Tbsp ground cumin<br />
1 Tbsp chili powder<br />
1 Tbsp oregano<br />
1/4 tsp ground cloves<br />
1/2 cup cilantro leaves, chopped<br />
2 pounds beef, your choice of cut (skirt steak or flank steak recommended) <br />
1 orange, sliced<br />
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Directions:<br />
1. In a large bowl, whisk all ingredients together except beef and orange slices. This is the marinade.<br />
2. Place your meat in a gallon-sized zip-lock bag, a shallow baking dish or a
non-reactive (plastic or glass) container with a lid. If using a thick
cut of meat, score meat but making small cuts about 1/4 inch deep. Pour marinade sauce over beef. Lay
orange slices across the meat. Marinate for a minimum of 4 hours to 24 hours (overnight) before grilling.<br />
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3. Prepare grill for cooking. Keep in mind that the thinner the meat the quicker it cooks, therefore make sure the grill is hot and ready to cook before removing meat from the marinade to grill. We don't have a grill at our current home and so we opt for our grill pan to grill meats. This meat definitely tastes better with a flame kiss, therefore do your best to grill on an open flame. Grill until thoroughly cooked, about 4 minutes each side.<br />
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4. Remove meat from grill and let it sit for a couple minutes so that juices rest before slicing for your meal. Carne Asada meat is great as the main component for tacos or burritos or you could opt for our favorite Californian Mexican treat, Carne Asada Fries! Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jbQJyNGjci0/U542M0oX5uI/AAAAAAAAFjQ/6RNPxgylfZA/s1600/DSCN9679.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jbQJyNGjci0/U542M0oX5uI/AAAAAAAAFjQ/6RNPxgylfZA/s1600/DSCN9679.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Recipe adapted from <a href="http://www.secretsfromthecookieprincess.com/2012/06/carne-asada-marinade.html">Secrets From the Cookie Princess </a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-70691107452579757112014-06-11T19:59:00.002-07:002014-06-11T19:59:42.300-07:00Craft Corner - New Babies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">In the past year we have moved from that phase in our life
where all our couple friends are getting married to all our married
friends are having babies. It's funny just how many babies have been
born recently. Being far away from all our friends who are having babies
makes it harder to give gifts because if I was in the same city and
didn't have to pay for shipping, I would make big elaborate gifts like a
diaper tower or a onesie bouquet. Since we are far away and on a tight
budget, I have decided to invest some of my time and effort into
creating unique gifts for our new baby friends. I have made enough
onesies now that I want to share them, plus I think we are at a
standstill for awhile before anymore babies are born. <br />
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I hope some of you out there in the interwebs are inspired by these simple gift ideas for the growing families in your lives. These are simple, yet time consuming, ways to gift a unique personalized gift that can really impress on a budget. Sometime it's not how much you spend on a gift, but the thought that's behind it instead ;) </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sTtm2SY9reM/U5jzPj4qydI/AAAAAAAAFgg/XKX1yCta1pw/s1600/IMG_1800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sTtm2SY9reM/U5jzPj4qydI/AAAAAAAAFgg/XKX1yCta1pw/s1600/IMG_1800.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eliana </td></tr>
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For Eliana. Eliana's parents are both in the medical field, hence the stethoscope onesie.
Plus, they had an owl theme for Eliana's nursery and so I had to incorporate owls somehow. These were my first attempt at homemade unique onesies. I used felt with washable fabric glue reinforced with stitching. I also used beading fabric paint for the dot design.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nash</td></tr>
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For Nash. These onesies ended up being perfect for baby Nash because his parents chose a Chevron themed nursery. I think that little boy's dressed as men are super adorable, therefore I had to make him a cardigan and bowtie onesie. Lastly, I found the cutest polka dot felt that looked great as a tie. I used felt with fabric glue reinforced with stitching. I also quadruple double threaded the buttons so as to guarantee they would not become a choking hazard, you could also opt for felt buttons instead of real buttons. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KARmzn9gcL8/U5j2k6U9n0I/AAAAAAAAFiI/j9Wm0VW0hlQ/s1600/IMG_2200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KARmzn9gcL8/U5j2k6U9n0I/AAAAAAAAFiI/j9Wm0VW0hlQ/s1600/IMG_2200.jpg" height="320" width="257" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ch_irHjX9N4/U5kR2JZkikI/AAAAAAAAFik/SRb8ma48b38/s1600/IMG_2184.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ch_irHjX9N4/U5kR2JZkikI/AAAAAAAAFik/SRb8ma48b38/s1600/IMG_2184.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KARmzn9gcL8/U5j2k6U9n0I/AAAAAAAAFiI/j9Wm0VW0hlQ/s1600/IMG_2200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kai</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ch_irHjX9N4/U5kR2JZkikI/AAAAAAAAFik/SRb8ma48b38/s1600/IMG_2184.jpg"></a> For Kai. My childhood friend is Kai's mother and so there was no way she wasn't going to get some cardigan and bowtie onesies from me. I also found the cutest "Auntie's Little Monster" set that worked out perfect for my new little nephew, I just had to buy it. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-25tnbFpHyGU/U5j2v-YQn4I/AAAAAAAAFiU/Y7vW-U8UUPE/s1600/IMG_3729.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-25tnbFpHyGU/U5j2v-YQn4I/AAAAAAAAFiU/Y7vW-U8UUPE/s1600/IMG_3729.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zane</td></tr>
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For Zane. Zane's father was the guitar player in Nick's band and was one of Nick's groomsmen. These parents decided to wait to find out the sex of their baby for the day it was born and as soon as I found out it was a boy, I knew exactly what to do. I think this guitar turned out pretty great, the sad part is I used an 18 month onesie (because I know parents tend to get a lot of newborn sizes, I try to make older months), therefore it will be quite awhile before I see that one in use, I can't wait. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gsRJ4D751SQ/U5j2Hfh1aCI/AAAAAAAAFh0/SeRa9VAw3kg/s1600/IMG_3589.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gsRJ4D751SQ/U5j2Hfh1aCI/AAAAAAAAFh0/SeRa9VAw3kg/s1600/IMG_3589.jpg" height="237" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-plw4nwc3vGw/U5j2r0DlfBI/AAAAAAAAFiM/zaGirGkFVRI/s1600/IMG_2415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Aside from the onesies, I wanted to make something special for my nephew and for our best neighbors ever. I came up with this idea to use my scrapbook supplies to make a really unique and personalized picture frame with the babies' full name and birth date, where the photo could be swapped out easily for updated photos (if desired). I enjoyed putting my scrapbooking skills to use since they have been in hibernation for quite awhile. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-20881576491324970902014-06-07T15:47:00.000-07:002014-06-07T15:47:17.522-07:00Slow Cooker Stroganoff (crockpot recipe)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7RKD48RxRtE/U5OQvmN8lnI/AAAAAAAAFdo/XIwcw98poOw/s1600/DSCN9643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7RKD48RxRtE/U5OQvmN8lnI/AAAAAAAAFdo/XIwcw98poOw/s1600/DSCN9643.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Stroganoff is already a fairly easy dish to make but with this slow cooker recipe it is absolutely the easiest. Plus it is tastier than the Stroganoff recipes I have used in the past. This is definitely being added to the rotation. </div>
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Ingredients:<br />
1 can cream of mushroom soup <br />
16 oz sour cream<br />
1 envelope of dry onion soup mix (I use Trader Joe's brand, but Lipton works too)<br />
1 lb. of frozen boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into strips or steak<br />
1-2 cups mushrooms, sliced<br />
1 package egg noodles, prepared <br />
green onions for garnish<br />
fresh cracked pepper for garnish <br />
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Directions:<br />
1. Combine in the slow cooker; the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, and Lipton onion soup mix. Mix until fully incorporated. Add the mushroom and chicken and stir until fully coated.<br />
2. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours or LOW for 6-8 hours. Stirring occasionally.<br />
3. Combine noodles and slow cooker mix in bowl. Serve warm with green onion and cracked pepper on top. Enjoy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-49490805117628296552014-05-07T18:53:00.003-07:002014-05-07T18:53:50.114-07:00Easy Pull Apart Pizza Bread<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8uNj3IuxuWQ/U12j45RuWCI/AAAAAAAAFcY/EQPJdvHNtvU/s1600/DSCN9582.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8uNj3IuxuWQ/U12j45RuWCI/AAAAAAAAFcY/EQPJdvHNtvU/s1600/DSCN9582.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a> </div>
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We love pizza in all shapes and forms! Enough said.</div>
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Ingredients :<br />2 Cans of Pizza Dough or Biscuits (I prepared my own pizza dough, <a href="http://lizslivelihood.blogspot.com/2011/06/grilled-pizza.html">recipe found here</a>)<br />2 cups Mozzarella cheese<br />
2 Tbsp of parsley flakes<br />⅓ cup olive oil<br />1 – 8 oz package of pepperoni<br />1 cup Parmesean cheese<br />
½ tsp of fresh garlic or garlic powder<br />
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Instructions: <br />1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray the Bundt pan with cooking spray. <br />2. Cut pizza dough or biscuits into quarters. Cut the pepperoni into smaller pieces.<br />3. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and toss so that the oil is spread evenly on each piece of dough<br />Bake for about 30 minutes (or until the top is brown and the center is thoroughly cooked) TIP: Be sure to check it in the middle before you pull it out. If the middle is still not cooked thoroughly be sure to leave it in another 5 minutes at a time until it’s done.<br />
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4. Flip over on to a plate while it’s still hot.<br />5. Serve with a side sauce and enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6V2GP9hAIPI/U12iPRyEp0I/AAAAAAAAFcM/-KTn7z21yqg/s1600/DSCN9579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6V2GP9hAIPI/U12iPRyEp0I/AAAAAAAAFcM/-KTn7z21yqg/s1600/DSCN9579.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pUngu-bdsFc/U12j77JiKKI/AAAAAAAAFcg/N8Gvhh5aups/s1600/DSCN9581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pUngu-bdsFc/U12j77JiKKI/AAAAAAAAFcg/N8Gvhh5aups/s1600/DSCN9581.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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Recipe adapted from <a href="http://sweetandsimpleliving.com/easy-pull-apart-pizza-bread/">Sweet and Simple Living</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-80550074148854196032014-04-14T19:00:00.002-07:002014-04-15T08:38:01.284-07:00Trader Joe's Favorites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KeJewpXwJrM/U0HofzYpmcI/AAAAAAAAFbM/j8GCgkHD9dU/s1600/DSCN9549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KeJewpXwJrM/U0HofzYpmcI/AAAAAAAAFbM/j8GCgkHD9dU/s1600/DSCN9549.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I love Trader Joe's. Over the years my love has grown and now that I no longer live near one, my obsession has come full throttle. We currently live 90 minutes away from the closest Trader Joe's and so we make a trip to Indianapolis once every other month so that we can get my Trader Joe's fix along with a visit to Costco (since they are near each other). Since I am not able to visit Trader Joe's whenever I feel like it, I have come up with a list of necessities that I have come to need every time I visit. I have truly become dependent of Trader Joe's especially as I become more and more of a foodie, they just have so many gourmet and unique things for such reasonable prices. For this reason, I am extremely thankful that when Nick starts his new job, we will move to a place where we will be close to Trader Joe's and Costco again. <br />
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My Trader Joe's Must-Have's:<br />
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Matcha Green Tea Latte Powder<br />
Mango Black Tea <br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Afl2P1c9gc/U0Hoj8la96I/AAAAAAAAFbU/TDNalTUg9kc/s1600/DSCN9550.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Afl2P1c9gc/U0Hoj8la96I/AAAAAAAAFbU/TDNalTUg9kc/s1600/DSCN9550.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a>Hansen Sodas (Root Beer, Ginger Ale, Tangerine Lime) <br />
Peach Cider<br />
Two Buck Chuck Wine<br />
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Steamed Lentils<br />
Romano Parmesan Cheese Blend<br />
Garlic Herb Pizza Dough<br />
California Sundried Tomatoes <br />
Bruschetta<br />
Mini Heirloom Tomatoes<br />
Basil Plant <br />
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Frozen Langostino Tails <br />
Frozen Shelled Edamame <br />
Frozen Basil and Garlic Cubes<br />
Frozen Mandarin Orange Chicken <br />
Frozen Garlic Naan<br />
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Organic TriColor Vegetable Radiatore<br />
12 Grain Mini Snack Crackers<br />
Organic Creamy Tomato Soup<br />
Organic Brown Rice and Quinoa Fusilli Pasta<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HTaFXL4_ou0/U0HooPs61pI/AAAAAAAAFbc/g2tBNgQtnwY/s1600/DSCN9551.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HTaFXL4_ou0/U0HooPs61pI/AAAAAAAAFbc/g2tBNgQtnwY/s1600/DSCN9551.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a>White Cheddar Corn Puffs<br />
Ezekiel 4:9 Bread<br />
Raw Almonds<br />
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Yellow Thai Curry Sauce<br />
Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce <br />
Rustico Pomodoro Sauce<br />
Taco Seasoning Packets <br />
All Natural BBQ Sauce<br />
Salsa Authentica <br />
Salsa Verde<br />
Corn Chili Salsa <br />
<br />
Instant Coffee Packets - All Dressed Up <br />
Organic Moo Chocolate Sauce <br />
Cookie Butter<br />
1lb. Dark Chocolate Bar<br />
Candy Cane Joe-Joe's <br />
Chocolate Orange Sticks<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467510520862014817.post-16474863160554443142014-04-02T19:06:00.002-07:002014-04-02T19:06:50.645-07:00Korean BBQ Beef<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkfxP3RjoSg/UzynR6jandI/AAAAAAAAFa8/I8DGPPLj-aA/s1600/DSCN9543.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkfxP3RjoSg/UzynR6jandI/AAAAAAAAFa8/I8DGPPLj-aA/s1600/DSCN9543.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkfxP3RjoSg/UzynR6jandI/AAAAAAAAFa8/I8DGPPLj-aA/s1600/DSCN9543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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I have been craving Korean BBQ ribs but haven't really searched for any local restaurants that serve them, instead I decided to make my own with some flattened rib eye steaks we had. This recipe was so easy and it turned out absolutely delicious, just like any Korean BBQ I have ever had in a restaurant. This was quite the treat and now that I know it is simple to make, I will definitely use this marinade again and I hope that I can find some short ribs so as to enjoy Korean BBQ ribs as they are are supposed to be. </div>
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Ingredients: </div>
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2 1/2 pounds rib eye beef, thinly sliced or Korean style short ribs<br />2 Tbsp soy sauce<br />2 tsp sesame oil<br />2 tsp crushed garlic<br />2 Tbsp brown sugar<br />1 Tbsp rice wine (sake)<br />Pinch of black pepper </div>
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1 Asian pear, juiced in a blender or grated fine</div>
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<br />Directions: </div>
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1. Trim the fat off the beef with a knife. Distribute the sugar evenly on the beef by sprinkling it on each piece. Allow beef to sit for 10 minutes. <br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DI5sNN76yr0/UzymSvrDJiI/AAAAAAAAFak/OnpRW72GMTE/s1600/DSCN9532.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DI5sNN76yr0/UzymSvrDJiI/AAAAAAAAFak/OnpRW72GMTE/s1600/DSCN9532.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
2. In a separate bowl, mix together the soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, sugar, sake, and black pepper. Put aside. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4uRv-2KKy_A/UzymbGLCuEI/AAAAAAAAFas/Q7uRTH8_j4k/s1600/DSCN9535.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /> 3. Massage the beef with the pear juice/pulp using your hands. The pear works as a tenderizer. Add the soy sauce mixture and mix. Allow the beef to marinate for 10 minutes. Because the beef is thin, it doesn't require a long marinating time. </div>
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4. Barbecue the meat. It is ideal if grilled over smoked wood but is
just as good in a frying pan or grill pan. Cook until browned, being
careful not to overcook. <br /><div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BtcuqTvUoDE/UzymiVoUIBI/AAAAAAAAFa0/d3LTNGQluWY/s1600/DSCN9537.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BtcuqTvUoDE/UzymiVoUIBI/AAAAAAAAFa0/d3LTNGQluWY/s1600/DSCN9537.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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5. Serve with rice and kimchee if you have any, enjoy!</div>
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Recipe adapted from <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Korean-Barbecue-Beef-Marinade-1-109586">Epicurious </a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01418662242367078119noreply@blogger.com0