Keeping up with the Joneses

Pink and Red

2012-02-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

I honor of Valentine's Day, I've added a few pink and red accents to the kitchen area. I shopped the house and moved things around. It's nothing all that creative, just a few touches to brighten up the house!

I swapped out my cookbook on the stand, and added a bow to Mr Pig. Usually my cookie jar is more full of homemade cookies!

This scent from Williams-Sonoma is my favorite! Pink Grapefruit. Amazing!

These tulips were on sale at Walmart for $4, so I took off the mylar wrapper and added my own ribbon. I can't wait for these pink beauties to bloom!

Keith and I have dinner plans at home on Tuesday. He'll be in charge of dinner, so I can't wait to see what he fixes. It is sure to be fabulous!

I put out some of my quirky placemats and hot pink napkins. We'll see if Keith leaves them there or switches it out for something more manly for his dinner :)

I found a box of Valentine's cookie cutters and set them out on display. They're cute... and the thought of actually using them is nice, but I just don't have time for that!

A little chalkboard sign on the decanter is spreading a little love message.

In the corner of my kitchen counter, I've gathered a few of my favorites.

These bunnies make me happy.

Fresh out of the oven, some blueberry coffee cake muffins - mmm. Those are heart liners from Wilton. They have several out now with flowers and other designs. I found these at my local Walmart.

The month of February on our calendar is one of my favorites. I made this on MixBook.com and loved the customization options!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope your Valentine's Day is full of love and hugs from those close to your heart!

XOXO - Kendall

Chicken, Brussels Sprouts and Mustard Sauce with Rosemary Potatoes

2012-02-12T20:44:00.001-06:00

How do you feel about Brussels Sprouts? It's one of those vegetables you either love or hate. I have discovered a love for them. My mom hates them, or as I like to say - she thinks she hates them. But, it's all in the preparation. I am certain that prepared the right way, anyone can be converted. The best version I've ever had is at Restaurant Iris here in Memphis. I would go there just to eat their sprouts.

This recipe was the first time I've prepared them at home, mostly because I feared Keith wouldn't touch them. I was wrong. This is an excellent dish that we both just devoured. Thanks, Cooking Light, for yet another winner!

Chicken, Brussels Sprouts and Mustard Sauce with Rosemary Potatoes

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Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
3/8 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth, divided
1/4 cup unfiltered apple cider
2 tablespoons whole-grain Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
12 ounces Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved

Potatoes:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried)
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 ounces quartered red potatoes

Preheat oven to 450°.

Heat a large ovenproof skillet over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil. Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper; add to pan. Cook 3 minutes or until browned. Turn chicken; place pan in oven. Bake at 450° for 12 minutes or until done.

Meanwhile, prepare potatoes by combining 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried), 1/2 tsp minced fresh rosemary, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 12 ounces quartered red potatoes in a bowl. Spread mixture on a jelly roll pan and add to oven. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

*I added the potatoes to the oven while the chicken was in there. and just pulled the chicken out first to finish the recipe. Everything was ready right at the same time.*

Remove chicken from pan; keep warm. Heat pan over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 cup broth and cider; bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 4 minutes or until thickened. Whisk in mustard, 1 tablespoon butter, and parsley. I added about 1 more Tbsp of mustard at this point to thicken it up.

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add Brussels sprouts; sauté 2 minutes or until lightly browned. Add remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup broth to pan; cover and cook 4 minutes or until crisp-tender. Serve sprouts with chicken, sauce and potatoes.

Enjoy!

Wine Friday: Milbrant Vineyards Traditions Cabernet Sauvignon

2012-02-10T09:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday! This has been another whirlwind week, so I'm excited for a weekend with very little plans. Keith, on the other hand, is taking part of his state dental boards on Saturday morning. So, wish him a bit of luck, although I don't think he needs it :)

It's time for Wine Friday! Here's a cab I opened on Tuesday night this week. Usually I get into the vino closer to Thursday, but some stress relief was needed sooner than expected! I quite enjoyed this variety.

Milbrant Vineyards "Traditions" Cabernet Sauvignon

Year: 2009

Origin: Washington

Average Price: $12-15

About the wine: The 2009 Cabernet is a dark, harmonious and complex with flavors of black cherry, plum, cassis, coffee mocha, and a hint of mint. Open a bottle with roasted meats, stews, lamb kebabs, cassoulet, hamburgers, barbecue, ribs, sloppy joes, tacos or pizza. - Milbrant Vineyards

Enjoy your weekend!

Shrimp, Asparagus and Pesto Gnocchi

2012-02-08T23:02:00.001-06:00

Gnocchi. Oh, how I love some gnocchi. I tasted my first gnocchi dish in 2007 at a restaurant in the same building where my first job was. I remember thinking, where has this been all of my life? Gnocchi are small Italian dumplings made from potatoes. They are tender, fluffy and hearty. And I heart them.

If I were ambitious, and not working late most nights, I'd make it from scratch. But, this is a busy world and pre-made gnocchi exists. It's a great item to keep in the pantry when you need dinner ready ASAP. This is a yummy Cooking Light recipe that was ready in a flash.

Shrimp, Asparagus and Pesto Gnocchi

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Ingredients:

2 quarts plus 1 tablespoon water, divided
1 (16-ounce) package vacuum-packed gnocchi (such as Vigo)
4 cups (1-inch) slices asparagus (about 1 pound)
1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp
1 cup basil leaves
2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

Bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a Dutch oven. Add gnocchi to pan; cook 4 minutes or until done (gnocchi will rise to surface). Remove gnocchi with a slotted spoon; place in a large bowl. Add asparagus and shrimp to pan; cook 5 minutes or until shrimp are done. Drain. Add shrimp mixture to gnocchi.

Combine remaining 1 tablespoon water, basil, and next 4 ingredients (through garlic) in a food processor; process until smooth, scraping sides. Drizzle oil through food chute with food processor on; process until well blended. Add salt and basil mixture to shrimp mixture; toss to coat. Add cherry tomatoes. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Menu Monday 2/6/12

2012-02-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

I hope your week is off to a great start! What did you think of the big game yesterday? The Super Bowl wasn't all that exciting to me until the very end. I thought Madonna was great, and the commercials were average. I much more enjoyed two good movies we watched this weekend: 50/50 and Courageous. Both had me laughing and tearing up and different parts!

Anyway, it's time for Menu Monday!

Here's what we've got cookin' up. Can you tell that chicken is a theme? I don't think I've ever made so much of one type of meat in one week, hopefully we can handle the repetition! From top left:

Caprese Chicken: We make this all the time. It's so simple, you don't need a recipe! Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt & pepper. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Grill until cooked through. Top with mozzarella slices, tomatoes and basil. Drizzle with a bit more EVOO and balsamic.

Chinese Chicken Salad: This recipe comes from a Better Homes & Gardens special edition magazine "Eating Well," and I couldn't find this online to link to. It uses a slow cooker to cook the chicken during the day. We'll see how it turns out!

Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Mustard Sauce with Rosemary Potatoes: Here's a Cooking Light recipe I've had bookmarked to try for a long time. I am confident this will be tasty! The positive reviews on My Recipes are pretty reliable. I'll be sure and share our photo and thoughts after we've tried it.

What are you making this week?

Hot Crawfish Dip

2012-02-05T18:50:00.001-06:00

Happy Super Bowl Sunday! I personally think today is little bit overrated, but I do enjoy watching the commercials being that I work in advertising. Here's hoping Madonna's halftime performance lives up to the hype!

Undeniably, the super bowl is great for one thing (no matter who is playing) and that's FOOD. We had a party last year, but this time around we're taking it easy. That didn't stop me from making a scrumptious appetizer! We are currently snacking on this:

I'm a recipe junkie, but the appetizer section of my cooking binder is totally bulging with magazine tear-outs. I didn't even crack it open today, I went straight to my most recent Southern Living magazine on the coffee table. This was calling my name! There are some recipes that you read and just know they're going to be amazing. This is one them!

Hot Crawfish Dip

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Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1 bunch green onions, sliced (about 1 cup)
1 small green bell pepper, diced
1 (1-lb.) package frozen cooked, peeled crawfish tails, thawed and undrained
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (4-oz.) jar diced pimiento, drained
2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
French bread baguette slices
Garnishes: sliced green onion, chopped flat-leaf parsley

Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat; add green onions and bell pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 8 minutes or until bell pepper is tender. Stir in crawfish and next 3 ingredients; cook, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cream cheese until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Serve with toasted French bread slices.

I served the dip in ramekins that I had warmed in the oven.

Enjoy!

Giveaway Winner and Wine Friday: Redtree Cabernet Sauvignon

2012-02-03T09:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday!! I'm so excited for the END of the week. Can I get an Amen? I'm also announcing the winner of the giveaway today which is always fun for me! Thanks so much to everyone who participated!

The winner is the lovely Mallory over at The Laceys! I happen to read her blog and she and her husband are adorable, not to mention their precious little girl, Elting. Congrats, Mallory! I'll email you to get you address.

I wish I could give a cookbook to everyone, Oprah-style :)

It's ironic that all week long I've been reading your comments about how often you cook, and this is one week that I haven't cooked a single thing. I haven't even made a sandwich! After getting a stomach virus on Sunday, food just hasn't appealed to me. I've eaten because I need to, but I couldn't bring myself to cook, and nothing sounds good. I definitely had to control my gag reflex earlier in the week when Keith reheated the same meal that I had last eaten before the attack. It didn't cause it, but still ruined that dish for me for a while! Don't you hate that!? That may be too much info....sorry! :) Anyway, after my vacation from the kitchen, I'll be back in full-force this weekend.

Alright, back to an important matter: Let's not forget Wine Friday! Here's a good solid keeper that I have purchased several times:

Redtree Cabernet Sauvignon

Year: 2009

Origin: California

Average Price: $8

About the wine: Wine Enthusiast gave this wine 85 points. I think it's a very good versatile cab that would be good to have on hand as a house wine. It pairs well with most foods, especially pasta, burgers, and pizza. Plus, the bottle is pretty cute and looks good in your kitchen. Just sayin'...

Happy weekend to all my blog world friends!

Giveaway: Cooking Light - The Complete Quick Cook

2012-01-30T08:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Mine was great, aside from having the stomach virus starting in the wee hours of Sunday morning. It's still got me down and out, but things are looking better! Hence, no Menu Monday today. The last thing I wanted to do yesterday was think about food or plan a menu! But, I couldn't leave you guys hanging....

I just reached 400 followers this weekend, so that means it's time for a giveaway! I have done my own giveaways at the 200 and 300 mark, and it's just so much fun. I couldn't wait to do another one! So here's what's up for grabs:

Cooking Light - The Complete Quick Cook: A Practical Guide to Smart, Fast Home Cooking

Created with the time-pressed cook in mind, Cooking Light The Complete Quick Cook is about tasty, good-for-you food, made quickly and easily. With this cookbook in hand, readers will be armed with strategic ways to cook smarter, make the most of their precious time, and--best of all--ensure readers' efforts deliver incredibly delightful dishes day after day. Readers will find simple procedures, realistic quick prep times, and useful kitchen tips. Unlike the competition, every recipe has a short ingredient list and straightforward, easy-to-follow instructions along with ingredient information and tips on preparation, cooking, and storage.

Features Include:

The Top Ten Secrets of a Quick Cook
Over 200 recipes that can be prepared in under 30 minutes
Even Faster: easy tips within the recipes for making that particular recipe even faster!
On the Side: short sentence recipes for super-quick side dish ideas
Savvy in a Snap: ingredient spotlights of where to find certain ingredients and how to use them

This sounds right up my alley!! I really love Cooking Light and some of the very best recipes we've tried have come from their books and magazines. I've decided to order one of these for myself, too. So, if you'd like a chance to get one of these cookbooks, here's how to enter:

Leave a comment telling me how often you cook! Are you an every-night of the week cook, a weekend chef, or once or twice if you can find the time?

I'm hoping this handy cookbook will inspire one of my readers to cook more often :) So - comment away! And, become a follower over on the right, if you are not already!

Giveaway ends Thursday 2/2 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Winner will be announced in my Wine Friday post!

Wine Friday: Malbec

2012-01-27T08:30:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday! The weekend is almost here! I can taste it...

Speaking of tasting, it's time for Wine Friday!

This week, I'm featuring a bottle of vino that I reach for often (not too often), but you know what I mean. It's a popular brand that you can find in most places. You've gotta have a handful of standbys that you know you can count on. This is one of mine!

Alamos Malbec

Year: 2009

Origin: Argentina

Average Price: $9-11

About the wine: This robust young red wine from Argentina offers excellent quality for the price. It offers juicy flavors of blackberry and blueberry, and a rounded, smooth texture. It's not enormously complex, but it has a friendly approachability that would make it perfect for an evening barbecue. -The Baltimore Sun

Oh, and a P.S. for you wine lovers out there. A sweet reader, Robbie, sent me an email about Undercover Boss on CBS. This Sunday, they'll be featuring Kendall Jackson wine company and vineyards. I've already set my DVR! Thanks, Robbie!

Enjoy the weekend, everyone!

The New Digs!

2012-01-26T21:54:00.003-06:00

Folks, I've had a makeover.

What do you think? If you're reading this in feed reader, then click on over to see my new look!

I love the new blog design. I think it fits me/us so well! There are new features and ways to find things, so I hope you'll explore a bit. The navigation categories below the header make things simple, and I have a couple of new sections I plan to add more content to when I can. I also LOVE the recipe index page. Do you know this exists? It's a nice, neat organized list of all of my recipes. Check it out!

I have wanted to do a complete overhaul for a while, but never seemed to take the time to choose a designer and proceed. The old design was cute and created by a friend of mine. But, I feel like my blog has evolved with me and this re-design was just a next step in that process. I had a huge bookmark folder of blog design websites and free templates, and ultimately decided to go with a pre-made template that I could have customized to fit my needs. After much deliberation and comparing costs and services, I went with Cappuccino Factory. I stumbled upon one of her pre-made templates that was almost exactly what I was looking for. I emailed about a few customizations and away we went! I had a wonderful experience working with Cappucino Factory and it all came together pretty quickly! I highly recommend her services.

Ok, now a challenge to you readers out there:

-Grab my button over on the right and add it to your blog, if you like.

-Even easier, become a "follower" over on the right. I know from my stats that I have so many more readers than are listed in my follower section. So, click follow so I can see your pretty face! Also, I have a giveaway for each time I reach a hundreth mark. I'm almost at 400, so just 9 more followers for another awesome giveaway!

-Subscribe via email, follow me on Pinterest, Twitter, Flickr and more - check out those links over on the right, too!

Thanks to my sweet, sweet readers that leave me so many nice comments and send lovely emails. I treasure each of your messages!

XOXO - Kendall

Under Construction

2012-01-25T12:15:00.000-06:00

Hey friends!

This blog will be under construction for the next few days. Bear with me as it's being transformed. I can't WAIT for my new design to be up!

I've had plans to do a new look for a while, but it took me forever to finally choose a source and proceed. It's gonna be awesome, so...STAY TUNED!

And because a post is better with a photo, here's a little something for you:

This is a recipe inspired by Pinterest: Garlic Chicken Puffs via Tidy Mom. They are incredibly quick, easy and taste great, too. Give them a try for Super Bowl Sunday!

Vegetable and Spicy Sausage Soup with Cheese Crackers

2012-01-23T22:31:00.000-06:00

Cold weather and storms call for warm, comforting soup. After I made this dish last night, we settled in for a good thunderstorm and even some tornado warnings! Thankfully, everything turned out fine. This soup turned out more than fine. It was awesome! For a healthy soup chock full of veggies, this was fab, and Keith loved it!
Source: Ellie Krieger via Cooking Light

Vegetable and Spicy Sausage Soup with Cheese Crackers

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Ingredients:

4 ounces light pork sausage (I used the whole 10 oz package)
1 1/2 cups onion finely chopped (My onion was bad on the inside, eww, so I substituted 6 chopped green onions)
1 1/4 cups zucchini finely chopped
1/2 cup carrot finely chopped
1/3 cup celery finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt divided
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
3 cups fat free chicken broth, divided
2 (15.5 oz) cans cannellini beans rinsed, drained & divided
1/3 cup half-and-half
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
5 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Heat a large Dutch oven over med-high heat. Add sausage to pan and brown, stir to crumble. Remove from pan and keep warm.

Return pan to medium heat. Add chopped onion, zucchini, carrot, celery, 1/4 tsp salt and garlic; cook for five minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring frequently. Stir in 2 Tbsp tomato paste and red pepper; cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Place one cup vegetable mixture, 1/2 cup broth, and one can of rinsed, drained beans in a food processor or blender and process until smooth.

Return pureed bean mixture to pan. Add remaining 2 1/2 cups broth and second can of rinsed, drained beans; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes or until veggies are thoroughly cooked. Meanwhile, make cracker recipe below. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining 1/4 tsp salt, half-and-half, rosemary and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Cover and keep warm.

Preheat oven to 500.

Combine cheese and 1/8 tsp black pepper in a small bowl. Drop cheese mixture by tablespoonfuls to make five mounds, four inches apart on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Pat mounds into three inch circles. Bake for three minutes or until golden and bubbling. Cool on pan for three minutes.
Ladle about one cup of soup into each of five bowls; top each serving with about 2 1/2 Tbsp sausage and one cheese cracker.

Enjoy!

PS - I'm linking up to Tasty Tuesdays at 33 Shades of Green. Hop over to check out other great recipes!

Fudge Walnut Brownies

2012-01-22T22:17:00.000-06:00

This recipe had a lot to live up to. The current issue of Cooking Light (one of my favorite issues so far) has a feature on their best chocolate recipes of the last 25 years. They narrowed it down to 16 of their most-popular chocolate dishes and had a bake-off to choose the queen of chocolate. This recipe won. So, of course, I had to try it!

The verdict? Holy brownie.

These are rich and delicious. Insanely delicious. A small piece is all you need to satisfy your chocolate craving. Our pan of brownies has lasted us a week in a sealed container. They are still tasty today! A glass of milk is strongly recommended to wash these down.

Make them, seriously.

Fudge Walnut Brownies

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Ingredients:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup bittersweet chocolate chunks or chips, divided

1/3 cup fat-free milk (I used 2% which isn't as light, but it's what I had)

6 Tbsp butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 cup chopped walnuts, divided

Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°. Coat 9-inch square metal baking pan with cooking spray.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl. Combine 1/2 cup chocolate and milk in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave at high 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds. Stir in butter, vanilla, and eggs. Add milk mixture, 1/2 cup chocolate, and 1/4 cup nuts to flour mixture; stir to combine.

Pour the batter into pan; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup nuts. Bake at 350° for 19 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Mine took closer to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack. Cut into squares.

Enjoy!!

Wine Friday: Cabernet Sauvignon

2012-01-19T22:06:00.000-06:00

Well, hello Friday. Nice to see you again! I think I'll be celebrating your arrival with happy hour libations this evening! Hence....Wine Friday!

How is it already the weekend? I love a short week so much. Packing in 5 days of work into 4 is typically crazy, but worth it. This weekend, we'll be relaxing together on Friday night, then headed to Nashville on Saturday with friends for a one-night getaway to enjoy some good food, cool scenes and hopefully some great live music. I'll have camera in tow and will be sure to document the adventure.

Here's a wine that I enjoyed during the holidays at some point and snapped a pic on my phone (it's the only way I can keep up with the various bottles of vino I sample). This was quite good. I also LOVED the bottle. This was a label that made me think (again) to myself: I need to start re-purposing bottles and making candles out of these. I've saved this bottle with the intention to do that on a rainy day in the future. If I ever get around to that, I'll let you know. :)

Matchbook Cabernet Sauvignon

Year: 2009

Origin: Lake Country, California

Average Price: $12-14

About the wine: Critics say, "The price is ridiculous for wine of this quality." I say, "What a cool label!" and "Mmm, this is yummy!" This wine earned 94 points at the California State Fair and scored 100 in my book. Would pair really well with a tangy-nutty cheese like Manchego or a tomato bruschetta, or even with spicy sausages (like this pasta dish I posted yesterday!).

Have a FABULOUS weekend!

Creamy Jambalaya Pasta

2012-01-18T22:52:00.000-06:00

Food and wine. Wine and food. That's all you see on this blog these days! Sorry about that to the folks that like the life updates :)

In a nutshell - things are great! Busy, but great. After the holidays, we've spent these last few weekends at home just relaxing, cooking, seeing movies and spending time with friends. We try to hit the gym as many weeknights as possible, and try to cook as many nights as we can, too. But, otherwise, no news to report here! I'm also working hard to blog more in 2012 than I did in 2011, and to share more recipes. Oh, and I have a blog redesign in progress that I've been working towards and researching for a while. Can't wait!

For this dish, I'm going back to the archives to post a recipe that I made a while ago and continue to make often! This comes from Plain Chicken, another one of my favorite cooking blogs. This is delicious and a little decadent (thanks, white wine and cream!). Make this, and you (and any men in your life) will be quite pleased.

Creamy Jambalaya Pasta

(click here for printer friendly version)

Ingredients:

1/2 pound bowtie pasta

1/2 lb smoked sausage, cut into bite-size pieces

1 cup heavy cream (or half & half)

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning

1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup white wine**

4 tablespoons tomato sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped parsley

Parmesan cheese (I like to grate it fresh myself)

In a large pot, boil water for pasta. Salt water. Boil pasta and cook until al dente. Set aside.

Brown sausage in a small skillet over medium heat until browned. If there is lots of grease in the pan, soak some of it up with paper towels. Add onion and saute for two minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add white wine to skillet, making sure to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom. Let wine reduce by half, about two minutes.

Stir in Cajun seasoning, paprika, salt, pepper and tomato sauce. Add cream and heat to almost bubbling, then reduce heat to low. Allow the cream mixture to reduce by half, about 5 minutes. Drain pasta and add to skillet. Toss with parsley and freshly grated Parmesan.

Yummmmmmm

**recipes like this are an excellent excuse to enjoy a glass of pinot grigio. so, cheers :)

Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Chip Cookies

2012-01-16T22:22:00.000-06:00

We are big chocolate chip cookie fans at our house. I've made several recipes over the years and varieties with M&Ms, oatmeal, and more. This version with peanut butter cups just may be my new favorite!

Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Chip Cookies

(click here for printer-friendly version)

Ingredients:

2 sticks softened butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup packed light brown sugar

2 extra large eggs

2 Tbsp pure vanilla

3 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsps baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

12 oz bag peanut butter and milk chocolate morsels mix

10-12 individually-wrapped Reece's Peanut Butter Cups, roughly chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a stand or with electric mixer beat the butter and sugars until well blended. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well combined. Place flour, baking soda and salt into another large bowl; mix until blended. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients along with the peanut butter and chocolate chips. Use your muscles to stir! Don't add in the chopped Reece's yet!

Line several baking sheets with parchment paper or baking liners. Using your clean hands, grab small chunks of dough and place on cookie sheet. I prefer to not roll my cookies in perfect balls so they look a little more natural. Place the chopped Reece's chunks on the dough blobs. Top with as much as you like!

Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges start to turn golden brown. Mine are always perfect right at 13, but I love my cookies to be soft.

These are delicious-o!! Enjoy!

I'm linking this up to Tasty Tuesdays at 33 Shades of Green. Click on over to check out lots of other great dishes!

Menu Monday 1/16/12

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

I am in baking mode. I don't know what has gotten into me, but I'm gonna have to balance the cups of sugar and butter with some gym time! I have been obsessing over cookies lately and would love to make a new batch every other day. So, to stop the cookie madness, I fixated on brownies yesterday and will be making bread today. Not exactly a shift in the right direction, but ehhh, whatever!

Here's what's on the menu at our house this week!

From top left:

Classic-Fudge Walnut Brownies - This is a Cooking Light recipe that I made yesterday. The January/February issue of the magazine claimed it was the best chocolate recipe in their 25 years of publishing. I must say, it was pretty fantastic! Post coming soon with my photos!

Glazed Strawberry Banana Bread - What do you do with leftover strawberries and bananas that are going bad? You make this bread, duh. I posted this recipe last year, and today is a great time to make it again. I love three day weekends and the extra time for baking!

Sesame-Ginger Slow Cooker Chicken - This is my most popular recipe on Pinterest for some reason. It is all over the place! I remember it being pretty darn tasty, but I wouldn't say it's my favorite dish on the blog. Who knows why it's so popular with pinners?! I've decided to make it again this week and serve with jasmine rice. Click here for my post with the recipe.

Gnocchi with Shrimp, Asparagus and Pesto - I recently bought some packaged gnocchi and wanted to find a creative way to serve it. This Cooking Light recipe should be pretty good! Sounds quick and easy for a night after hitting the gym.

Verdict: Delicious!! Recipe post coming soon.

Slow Cooker Parmesan Honey Pork Roast - This is a Pinterest find that I'm excited to try from Six Sisters' Stuff. I can't believe I'm using my slow cooker twice this week. I never use it, and I have no idea why! I'll be serving this with mashed potatoes and sweet and sour carrots.

Result: Average. The pork was great, but Keith and I agreed that the sauce was weird. I won't make again.

What recipe sounds the best to you?

Wine Friday: Cabernet Sauvignon

2012-01-12T21:39:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday! This is an especially good way to end the week as it kicks off a 3 day weekend for me! Are you off on Monday for MLK Day? The weather here is pretty chilly, so I envision some comfort food, movies and wine this weekend!

This week's wine hit the spot tonight when I came home late from work. When you don't make it home until 8 o'clock, a glass of wine is definitely in order! My sweet husband had Italian take-out waiting on me and this Cab paired perfectly with it. I am enjoying glass number 2 as I type this post, and snacking on small piece of Dove dark chocolate. Life is good!

Windmill Cabernet Sauvignon

Year: 2008

Origin: Lodi, CA

Average Price: $12

About the wine: This is another San Francisco wine that is quite good. This come from the same company of wines as 7 Deadly Zins, another favorite of mine. This would pair well with some Memphis pulled pork, or a hearty pasta. Right now, mine tastes pretty darn good just as it is.

Let me know if you give this one a try!

Shrimp Stuffed Shells and Creamed Spinach

2012-01-10T22:16:00.000-06:00

I have found a new favorite recipe for Mr Jones! This pasta dish was a huge hit, and the leftovers were just as good. In fact, we sort-of fought about who got to eat them :)

This is a Cooking Light recipe, which makes it even better. I don't know if you've seen the January/February issue, but it is fantastic. I probably dog-eared every other recipe! I altered the recipe slightly based on what I had, what was available at my store, etc. I also made a side dish of Creamed Spinach that paired perfectly with it. These are great to make together as some ingredients are shared. Both recipes are below......so, MAKE THIS MEAL! :)

Shrimp Stuffed Shells

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Ingredients:

18 uncooked jumbo pasta shells (about half of a 16 oz box)
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped shallots
2 tablespoons minced garlic (about 6 cloves)
1/2 cup 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
1/4 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley or basil
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled, deveined, and coarsely chopped (I had 10 oz and it was enough)
1 tablespoon corn starch
Cooking spray
3 cups lower-sodium marinara sauce, divided
1/3 cup grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Preheat oven to 400.

Cook pasta 7 minutes or until almost al dente, omitting salt and fat. Drain well.

Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add shallots; cook 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add cream cheese, milk, and pepper; cook until cheese melts, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in parsley. Place shrimp in a bowl. Sprinkle with corn starch; toss well to coat. Add cream cheese mixture to shrimp; toss well.

Coat a 13 x 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with cooking spray; spread 1 cup marinara over bottom of dish. Divide shrimp mixture evenly among pasta shells. Arrange shells in prepared dish; top with remaining 2 cups marinara. Sprinkle shells evenly with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Bake at 400° for 30 minutes or until shrimp is done. Sprinkle with more parsley or basil.

**If you are not a fan of marina, I am confidant that Alfredo would be just as delicious!

Creamed Spinach

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Ingredients:

1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
Cooking spray
1/2 cup thinly sliced shallots
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed dry
1/4 cup (2 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Combine milk and flour, stirring well with a whisk; set aside.

Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add shallots and garlic; sauté 2 minutes or until tender. Add spinach, and sauté 1 minute. Stir in milk mixture; cook 1 1/2 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring occasionally. Stir in cheese, salt, and pepper, stirring until smooth; cook 1 minute.

Enjoy!

Roasted Almond Crusted Salmon

2012-01-09T23:46:00.000-06:00

Salmon. We're addicted to salmon, I tell ya.

Here is a delish recipe adapted from How Sweet Eats (only the most swoon-worthy food blog on the world wide web). This salmon is very tasty, and we served it on a salad of spinach, goat cheese and topped with pomegranate vinaigrette (Simply Dressed has a very yummy version).

Roasted Almond Crusted Salmon

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Ingredients:

1 pound of salmon (cut into 4 pieces) or 4 salmon filets

2 egg whites, lightly beaten

1 cup crushed roasted almonds*

3/4 cup panko bread crumbs

1/2 cup regular seasoned bread crumbs

1/3 cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place aluminum foil on a baking sheet, then set a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with non-stick spray. In a bowl, combine flour, panko, almonds, bread crumbs, and a half teaspoon each of salt and pepper. In a separate bowl, add the egg whites and lightly beat with a fork.

Season the salmon with the remaining salt and pepper on both sides. Dip each piece in the egg white and coat thoroughly, then set in the bowl filled with bread crumbs, covering each piece completely and lightly pressing so the coating adheres. Gently place on the wire rack. Spritzing each piece of salmon with non-stick spray or olive oil gives the crust a nice crisp.

Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and fish is flakey. As long as you use a wire rack, the fish should not need flipped during cooking. If you do not have a wire rack, place the fish on a baking sheet and gently flip halfway through cooking – you may lose a bit of the breading though.

*I followed How Sweet's advice and roasted whole, raw almonds at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, tossing every 3-5 minutes. I then crushed them in the food processor.

This is a great recipe, and the breading technique is one I will use again and again for many dishes!

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

2012-01-08T21:07:00.000-06:00

I'm a little behind in sharing this dish as I made it over Christmas break, but you could make this dessert any time of year. It is absolutely, decadently, richly delicious, like a totally insane chocolate heaven!

This was my first attempt at a real, from-scratch cheesecake, and it was pretty easy. I picked up several tips from searching online, and now I can bake cheesecakes with confidence! :) This is a Southern Living recipe, and the white chocolate garnish on top could be any shape: a heart for Valentine's Day, a monogram for a shower, a letter for a birthday...just print any shape or letter from the internet, place under wax paper and pipe over. Voila! Another excellent way to eat this cheesecake is with a drizzle of raspberry sauce - magnifico! Here is the recipe...

Chocolate Cheesecake Truffle

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Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups crushed dark chocolate-and-almond shortbread cookies (about 18 cookies; I used Keebler Dark Chocolate and Almond Shortbread Sandies)
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 (4-oz.) semisweet chocolate baking bars, chopped
1 cup whipping cream
4 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large eggs
Ganache Topping:

1 cup whipping cream

1 (4-oz.) semisweet chocolate baking bar

1 (4-oz.) dark chocolate baking bar

Garnish: fresh raspberries, raspberry sauce or White Chocolate Snowflake

Preheat oven to 300°. Combine crushed cookies and butter. Press mixture on bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.

Microwave chocolate and cream at HIGH 1 1/2 minutes or until melted, stirring at 30-second intervals.

Beat cream cheese at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer 2 minutes or until smooth. Add sweetened condensed milk and vanilla, beating just until combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition. Add chocolate mixture, beating just until blended. Pour batter into prepared crust. Place a 9x13 pan halfway filled with water on the lowest rack in oven.

Bake at 300° for 1 hour and 5 minutes or just until center is set. Turn oven off. Let cheesecake stand in oven with door closed 30 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven; gently run a knife around outer edge of cheesecake to loosen from sides of pan. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack (about 1 hour). Cover and chill 8 to 24 hours.

Bring cream to a light boil in a saucepan over medium heat.

Process chocolate bars in a food processor until coarsely chopped. With processor running, pour cream through food chute in a slow, steady stream, processing until smooth. Let mixture cool until slightly warm (about 20 minutes). The Ganache is ready when it drops from the spoon.

Remove sides of pan, and place cheesecake on a serving plate. Slowly pour warm Ganache Topping over cheesecake, spreading to edges. Chill 1 hour before serving. Garnish, if desired.

Look at that CHOCOLATE. Oh, yummm.

This is so rich that a very thin slice is all you need. One cheesecake could potentially serve 18-20 people if you slice it thin enough!

PS - I am linking up to Tasty Tuesdays at 33 Shades of Green. Click over to find lots of other delicious recipes!

Wine Friday: Petite Sirah

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

Happy first Friday of 2012! I hope your first week of the new year has been a good one and that you have plans to relax this weekend. Our beloved Arkansas Razorbacks are playing in the Cotton Bowl tonight, so we'll be watching that and cheering them on. Go Hogs Go! I'm sure there will be a glass (or two, or three) of wine present in my weekend plans. If you will be indulging in the vino too, here's a great one to try!

Hence, welcome to Wine Friday!

My friend, Jessica, brought a bottle of this over on Wednesday night for us to enjoy while we cooked together. I must say, I looooooooved it.

Drops of Jupiter Petite Sirah

Year: 2009

Origin: San Francisco, CA

Average Price: $9

About the wine: Does 'Drops of Jupiter' sound familiar to you? Yes, this is wine by the band, Train. They launched a brand called Save Me, San Francisco Wine Company and this is their inaugural product. The guys in the band are huge wine-os and even tweet and blog about their favorite bottles. And, I have to say, this is an excellent petite sirah!

“Wine and music tell stories and connect those who share it,” says Jimmy Stafford – the band’s lead wine explorer and founder of the Train Wine Club. Save Me, San Francisco Wine Co. crafts wines that evoke the emotions and human connections experienced through its namesake songs.

This bottle of Drops of Jupiter is named after the Grammy-Award winning song written by lead singer Pat Monahan after the loss of his mother to cancer. The song is about the journey of self-discovery experienced through the loss of a loved one. I didn't know that until I did a little bit of research tonight, and it makes the song that much cooler.

I'm a big Train fan as of recent years. I've always loved their earlier stuff, but I heard them play 2 years ago here in Memphis before the release of their latest album featuring Hey, Soul Sister. I immediately fell in love and bought the album. I've grown to love a lot of their songs, especially some that aren't Billboard hits. Below are my favorite Train jams in no particular order:

Marry Me
If it's love
Meet Virginia
I Got You
And, of course, Drops of Jupiter

Head out, buy a bottle of this delicious wine and put on some tunes. It'll be a great start to your weekend!

Garlic Parmesan Edamame

2012-01-05T21:42:00.000-06:00

Hungry? This edamame is outstanding. You will become addicted.

No, seriously. It'll change the way you think about eating those delicious little pods of goodness. This is yet another find from Pinterest from 28 cooks. I made this last night when my friend Jessica came over for us to cook wok-style together. It took us so long to make this Sweet and Sour stir-fry because we kept snacking on this edamame, licking our fingers, washing our hands, rinsing and repeating. Our creative juices were flowing thinking of all the items we'd like to put this garlicky crumb coating on: chicken, squash, eggplant. Yum!

Make this edamame. It takes 15 minutes and you'll be in love.

Garlic Parmesan Edamame

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Ingredients:

1 (16 oz) pkg frozen edamame in shell
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
salt to taste

Steam edamame in microwave until slightly warm and not frozen. The kind I buy at Sam's comes in microwave steaming bags, but 28 cooks says you can throw the edamame in a ziploc bag with about a tbsp of water, seal it, leaving a small opening for steam, and heat it on high for 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.

In a small food processor or blender, combine olive oil and garlic. Process until well-combined. Heat a wok over medium high heat. Add edamame and toss for a few seconds. Add garlic oil and saute for a minute or two, stirring constantly. Add breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and salt and toss until well coated. Serve immediately. Eat like regular edamame, eating the pods and leaving the shell.

Smoked Salmon Canapes

2012-01-03T22:29:00.000-06:00

Heaven.

This appetizer is pure heaven. It looks fancy, glamorous and gourmet. It's incredibly easy and will definitely impress your guests! This is a recipe adapted by my lovely mom. She made these when I was at my parent's last week and I was suddenly addicted. Bookmark or pin this recipe for your next dinner party! Trust me!

Smoked Salmon Canapes

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Ingredients:

1/2 of an 8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup sour cream

1 Tbsp honey

1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

1/4 tsp salt

24 slices party rye or pumpernickel bread, cut into triangles

12 ounces smoked salmon

48 very thin slices cucumber

Minced purple onion

Freshly ground pepper

Garnish: fresh dill

Beat first 5 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer until thoroughly blended. Separate salmon into thin slices and cut into slivers.

Spread 1/2 teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture onto each piece of bread.Top with cucumber, a folded piece of salmon, a small dollop of the cream cheese and top with the minced red onion, freshly ground pepper and dill.

Your taste buds will thank you! This appetizer is surprisingly light and pairs well with a yummy Pinot Noir. If you're feeling crazy, you could top this with a little bit of caviar, or capers, but the above ingredients suit me (and my budget) just fine! Enjoy!!

Auld Lang Syne

2012-01-02T00:11:00.000-06:00

I don't know about you, but I'm excited about 2012! The clean slate, new beginnings and possibilities that a new year represents are welcomed thoughts in the Jones home. 2011 has been a good year and we've made so many wonderful memories, but it's also held a lot of stress. Plenty of work and school worries have been heavy on us, so we're optimistic for a more positive 2012.

We're not big on 'resolutions', but in short we are aiming for: less working late, less laptop and phone addiction, more quality time together, more gym time for Kendall :), more regular attendance at our church, less stress and good health. Keith is superstitious and says even years work in his favor as opposed to odd ones...we'll see!

Here's how we celebrated the New Year's Eve weekend holiday:

On Friday night, I went to our annual ornament exchange with my dear friends from my high school bible study. We counted and I think this was our 8th or 9th year. I love this tradition and I love these ladies!

For the big countdown night, we enjoyed dinner with friends in Little Rock and partied at Next Level Events. A great time, indeed! These are a combo of iPhone and pics from my camera...

Me with Cassie, Lauren and Hannah - such a fun dinner bunch!

Extra, extra, extra dirty Grey Goose martini.

What better couple to toast to the new year with than the Strothers!?

At the party, we saw lots of folks we knew, and I'm so thankful to have seen sweet Rachel! Rachel was really close to my brother, Kyle, and lost her own younger brother less than 2 weeks before Kyle's accident. She and I have a bond that will never go away! I love you, Rach!

Mr Jones plays with party paraphernalia...

Those glasses are honestly impossible to see out of!

Lauren and I got festive with our glow sticks! Too bad I played with it too much later and it leaked glowing chemicals on my shirt! Off to the dry cleaners we go....

Right after midnight!

Keith with one of his best buds, Caleb.

It was a fun party and a perfect way to ring in a new year. Being that we aren't 22 anymore, we dashed out of there just after midnight! You know you're getting older when most times the thought of your pajamas makes you more excited than the thought of one more drink....hah!

Cheers to 2012! May it be a blessed year for all of us.

Roasted Salmon with Walnut-Red Pepper Relish

2011-12-30T14:36:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite recipes that I made over the holidays was this very tasty salmon dish. We have been addicted to salmon lately and I love trying new ways to prepare it. This was so easy to make and tasted so fresh! Thanks, Food Network Magazine, for another big hit!

Roasted Salmon with Walnut-Red Pepper Relish

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Ingredients

1/2 cup walnuts
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey
2 tablespoons diced roasted red pepper
1 tablespoon walnut oil (I substituted with vegetable oil)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

2-to-3 1 lb. pound pieces of salmon

Make the relish:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and bake until toasted, 7 to 10 minutes. Let cool, then finely chop and transfer to a bowl. Add the cayenne, lemon juice, honey, roasted red pepper, walnut (or vegetable) oil, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons parsley. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper to taste and toss to combine. (The relish can be made up to 1 day ahead; cover and refrigerate.)

Make the salmon:

Raise the oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Combine the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons parsley, the chives, lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper to taste in a bowl. Rub the herb mixture all over the salmon. Lay skin-side down in a baking dish and roast until just cooked through, 12 to 14 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes, then transfer to a platter and top with the walnut-pepper relish.

We served this with our go-to favorite side dish: Grilled asparagus. We simply trim the rough ends, and let them soak in olive oil and kosher salt for a few hours. They are always outstanding!

If you like salmon, this is a great recipe to prepare at home. Enjoy!

Sugared Cranberry Brie Bites

2011-12-27T11:03:00.000-06:00

Of all the dishes I prepared over the Christmas holiday, this treat may be my favorite. It was so easy, and so festive. This is yet another idea inspired by Pinterest, particularly from Yummy Mummy. Check out her blog - so amazing! I made a few adjustments to the recipe based on what I had. This would be a perfect appetizer for any holiday gathering, especially New Year's Eve!

Sugared Cranberry Brie Bites

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Ingredients:

2 cups fresh cranberries

1 cup good maple syrup

1 cup granulated sugar

Crackers

Spreadable brie

Cranberry sauce or relish of your choice - I used a pomegranate balsamic drizzle
Fresh mint leaves

Rinse cranberries and place in a medium bowl. Heat syrup in a small sauce pan just until warm. Pour over cranberries when syrup is warm, not hot, or cranberries may pop. Cool, cover, and let soak in the refrigerator overnight.

Drain cranberries in a colander. Place sugar in a large bowl or baking dish. Add cranberries in 2 batches and roll around until lightly coated in sugar. Place on a baking sheet until dry, about 1 hour. Note: try to drain the cranberries as best you can. The excess maple syrup can get your cranberries too loaded down with sugar, so I had to use a fork to get my cranberries out of the sugar without too much excess.

To assemble the crackers, just spread brie on them, drizzle with sauce, top with cranberries and garnish with mint. This recipe makes plenty of extra sugared cranberries that you can use to drop into champagne or use in another dish. I stored mine in a plastic container at room temperature and snacked on them occasionally, too!

Everyone will go crazy for these - they are fantastic!! Enjoy!

Our Christmas in Pictures

2011-12-26T18:58:00.000-06:00

We had a wonderful, relaxing and love-filled holiday. We are feeling so very blessed! Here are the pictures!

On Christmas Eve, we went to our church's candlelight service, and then had appetizers at our house before a delicious dinner. We managed to have a little photo shoot while everyone looked so pretty...

It's not easy to take a picture with your family giving you a hard time:

"You guys already have tons of pictures together!"

"Keith, put your hand in your pocket, it looks awkward."

"Kendall, your bangs are in your face, honey."

"It's not flashing....I can't figure out this camera!"

My Dad pointed out that I always pose with my hand on Keith's stomach. So, he joined to demonstrate. I guess I am guilty of that!

Keith with his good-looking siblings, Ryan and Meagan.

My parents and I happened to accidentally coordinate in our grey and gold.

There I go with my hand again!

Christmas Eve dinner was at Paulette's in Harbor Town. It was delicious, intimate and so very enjoyable. At this stage in our lives, going out to eat for Christmas Eve is really perfect and I never thought I'd say that! No hours in the kitchen, no clean up, an excuse to dress up....wining and dining. Good times.

Keith's parents in lovely Christmas colors.

My Dad approves!

Christmas morning breakfast is at our house and it is such a treat to host! We all sleep in and eat breakfast around 11. We don't even get to the presents until after noon. I love the leisurely pace. I know it won't last forever!

Among many other things, I made my Spinach and Bacon Quiche and made lots of crust snowflakes to embellish it with using a set of cookie cutters from Williams Sonoma. YUM!

A simple table setting...

I love our new Christmas pajamas from Keith's mom!

Keith's family has a longstanding tradition of opening matching pajamas on Christmas Eve. The girls get coordinating sets and the guys get their own look. It's somewhat cheesy, but we all LOVE it. After the big Christmas Eve dinner, everyone looks forward to opening their new pajamas and putting them on! These polka-dot versions are from Victoria's Secret.

The boys look handsome in their plaid pants and polo t-shirts. Getting them to be serious for one picture is a challenge!

Oh, could this qualify for an Awkward Family Photo? Perhaps!

My mother-in-law found the Christmas Vacation moose cups somewhere online and we all enjoyed punch in them the night before while watching our favorite holiday movie. We were so relaxed we didn't take any pictures, so she insisted we get a group shot the next morning, even though our punch cups were empty. So funny!

Keith got tired of the photos and finally started handing out gifts!

Meagan loves her Hobo wallet!

I ordered Keith's mom some of these custom binders that my friend originally designed for me last year to give to my grandmother. Want a set for yourself? Order them here.

My dad looooooved his whiskey stones and special holiday edition of Jack Daniel's.

Keith started layering on all of the clothes he received. He is such a kid at heart...

I gave Mom a new hand mixer. Her current mixer has one speed: TOO FAST :)

The last gift Keith and I opened was a beautiful set of new Daniel Cremieux luggage. This was a big surprise, and I just love each piece! We didn't get a picture of it opened, but they are so pretty! My mom gifted them to us in these cool large felt drawstring bags. The one I'm holding says 'smile if you've been naughty" - and I guess I have been!? :)

And, in the tradition of Christmas, my dad was a total goofball. It wouldn't be the holiday season without him doing something silly! But, we like it that way...

It was a wonderful holiday, and I made so many delicious treats that I'll be sharing soon!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas with Love

2011-12-25T22:50:00.002-06:00

From our hours to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Holiday Scenes

2011-12-24T15:09:00.000-06:00

Christmas Eve is here! The last two days of no-work-all-play have been fabulous. I've been busy in the kitchen and wrapping presents. Christmas music plays non stop. Keith and I have enjoyed making dinner together the last few nights, followed up by lots of rented movies. It's been pretty perfect! Mom and Dad arrived today and the festivities begin tonight at 5:00 with the Christmas Eve service at church.

In the meantime, here are a few scenes from around our cozy holiday house...

The presents are wrapped with love under the tree.

Inspired by Pinterest, I used parchment paper and various ribbon from Michael's. I stamped each person's name on their gifts. I had fun doing that this year!

I think this style of gift wrap is my favorite. Casual, rustic and sweet.

The ribbon at Michael's this year was fabulous! I bought a lot when it was on sale one day.

I can't wait for our loved ones to open these gifts tomorrow morning!

Yesterday, my parents sent us these beautiful tulips with evergreen. I also love looking at the Christmas cards on the wall.

I've really enjoyed this advent calendar sent to me by my friend Kelsey. The various scripture verses each day have been so powerful to read as Christmas Day approaches.

The house smells amazing thanks to this concoction on the stove. Also inspired by Pinterest!

These delicious Chocolate Chip M&M cookies may not last until tomorrow at the rate that Keith is eating them :)

But, you'll have to excuse me now. This cozy blanket from Target is calling my name. Time to get some rest in before the evening.

Merry Christmas to all!

Almond Bark Drop Cookies

2011-12-23T16:51:00.000-06:00

The holidays are a perfect excuse for excessive baking and over-indulging, as if I ever need a reason! I've been baking a lot of goodies over the last couple of days. Here's a recipe for one of my favorite treats that also happens to be one of the easiest to make! My friend Lauren brought these treats to a cookie exchange I had a few years ago and I've been making them ever since. Thanks, Lauren!

Almond Bark Drop Cookies

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Ingredients:

2 packages of white almond bark coating

1 cup crunchy peanut butter

2 cups dry roasted peanuts

2 cups Rice Krispies

4 cups miniature marshmallows

Melt the bark in a microwave for 2 minutes, stir and microwave 2 minutes more until melted. Stir in peanut butter until well combined and smooth. Add remaining ingredients. Drop by tablespoons on wax paper and allow to harden.

These are insanely good, but this recipe makes a ton! If you are taking a bunch to an event or giving as gifts, the amount listed above is perfect. It would be easily halved for your family, or you can freeze extras in an airtight container.

You know you want a bite! :)

Enjoy!

Sun-Dried Tomato Bacon Chicken

2011-12-20T23:35:00.000-06:00

Hey there! I'm sharing a recipe tonight that I've had archived to share for a very long time. There just aren't enough hours in the day to post all of the things I'd like on the blog :)

This is a very healthy chicken dish that tastes amazing with bacon and a delicious tomato mixture on top. The recipe comes from Tablespoon and we've made it several times.

Sun-Dried Tomato Bacon Chicken

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Ingredients:

2 slices bacon, chopped

1/4 cup sun-dried tomato vinaigrette dressing

4 (1 lb) boneless skinless chicken breast halves

2 tomatoes, chopped

1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp dried

2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese

a picture of the almost-finished chicken

Cook bacon in a large pan until crisp and drain on paper towels.

Add chicken to large pan and brown on each side for about 2 minutes on regular heat. Pour sun-dried tomato dressing over chicken and sprinkle with basil. Continue to cook chicken for 8 minutes or until done.

Remove chicken; place on serving dish and keep warm. Save the remaining dressing in the pan and add the chopped tomatoes to the pan cooking until heated through. Stir in the bacon.

mmm, tomatoes

Pour tomato mixture onto chicken and top with Parmesan cheese.

**If you have time to marinate the chicken ahead of time, it's even better after spending some time soaking up more dressing**

Enjoy!

Homemade Gift Goodies

2011-12-18T15:37:00.000-06:00

Christmas is one week from today. How is that possible?! Time is just flying by. In the midst of being so busy, I am so glad I took the time to make some homemade goodies for my friends at work last week. The smell of these nuts roasting in the oven made me finally feel like I was slowing down and doing something festive for the season. Plus, I love to get my craft on!

I bought inexpensive bottles of wine and downloaded free wine label printables from Better Homes and Gardens and Martha Stewart. I simply cut them out and applied to the wine bottles with double-sided scrapbook tape. I didn't even need to remove the existing labels - easy peasy!

Aren't they festive!?

The only thing to be mindful of is selecting wine bottles with labels that aren't gigantic so that the wraps will cover it.

To go with the wine, I wanted to make an easy snack and these 2 nut recipes sounded so delicious. It's just a coincidence that both have chipotle in them. It does happen to be one of my favorite flavors though! I packaged them in cellophane gift sacks tied with ribbon and a tag.

Below are the recipes!

Chocolate-Drenched Chipotle-Roasted Nuts

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Ingredients:

3 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp water

2 tsp minced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (I removed seeds)

1/2 tsp salt

2 Tbsp butter, melted

1 cup pecan halves

1 cup walnut halves

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels

1 Tbsp shortening

1/4 cup white chocolate morsels, melted

Note: I doubled this recipe to make a larger batch

Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium-size nonstick skillet. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in butter. Add nuts, and gently stir to coat. Spoon coated nuts in a single layer onto a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake at 250° for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread nuts on wax paper or parchment paper to cool, breaking apart large clumps as nuts cool.

Melt semisweet chocolate morsels and shortening in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Toss cooled nuts in semisweet chocolate until well coated. Return nuts to wax paper, and let harden. Drizzle white chocolate over nuts (do not toss). Let harden.

Tip: Speed up the chocolate hardening process by popping the jelly-roll pan into the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes.

Recipe from Southern Living

Chipotle & Rosemary Roasted Nuts

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Ingredients:

Vegetable oil
3 cups whole roasted unsalted cashews (14 ounces)
2 cups whole walnut halves (7 ounces)
2 cups whole pecan halves (7 ounces)
1/2 cup whole almonds (3 ounces)
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
2 teaspoons ground chipotle powder
4 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves, divided
Kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Brush a sheet pan generously with vegetable oil. Combine the cashews, walnuts, pecans, almonds, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, the maple syrup, brown sugar, orange juice, and chipotle powder on the sheet pan. Toss to coat the nuts evenly. Add 2 tablespoons of the rosemary and 2 teaspoons of salt and toss again.

Spread the nuts in one layer. Roast the nuts for 25 minutes, stirring twice with a large metal spatula, until the nuts are glazed and golden brown. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with 2 more teaspoons of salt and the remaining 2 tablespoons of rosemary.

Toss well and set aside at room temperature, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking as they cool. Taste for seasoning. Serve warm or cool completely and store in airtight containers at room temperature.

Recipe from Ina Garten in Food Network Magazine

Happy gifting!

Menu Monday 12/12

2011-12-12T15:51:00.000-06:00

Happy Monday!

I feel like it's been ages since I've posted a Menu Monday. Things have been so busy that I've been having on and off weeks with cooking. If we have plans for 2 or more nights a week, I don't even mess with groceries. But, this week is a cooking week! Keith is out of school for Christmas, so I can rely on him to get dinner started if I'm at the office later-than-my-normal late :)

Here's what we have cookin' up!

From Top Left:

Chicken Tortilla Soup - I made this vat of soup last night and it was pure heaven. It is one of the best soup recipes I have, and it feeds an army! Click here for my post with the recipe.

Wasabi and Panko-Crusted Pork with Gingered Soy Sauce - A title that long can only mean one thing: it's gonna be yummy! This is a pork dish that is one of our very favorites. I like to serve it with some jasmine rice and steamed veggies. Click here for the recipe.

Chicken Tetrazzini - I am looking forward to making this recipe of my mom's that is based on a Southern Living dish. She includes prosciutto and tops hers with tomato slices. It's divine. I am making it with the intention to blog about it, so stay tuned!

Christmas Gifts - I included this last picture as an inspiration for some Christmas gifts I'll be whipping up this week. I was inspired by all of the free wine label downloads you can find on the internet these days. I plan to make some homemade treats that pair well with wine and package it all together nicely. I will, of course, blog about my end results! Labels pictured above are available via Better Homes and Gardens.

Check back this week for new recipes, Christmas decor pics and more! :)

Tis the Season to be Married

2011-12-11T22:26:00.000-06:00

This weekend, we headed to our old college town of Fayetteville, Arkansas to see two friends get married. I always love a trip back to the city where Keith and I met and where we spent some of the best years of our life! One of Keith's fraternity brothers got hitched, so the wedding was also a reunion of the Kappa Sigmas. Fun times! Here are a few pics, and I really should have taken more than I did....

We had a great time with Brandon and Melissa! Brandon caught the garter, so the pressure is ON!

Dr. Boone was looking stellar in his suit and tie combo

Catching up with my long-time friend, Allison

I got so many questions about this black lace dress from the last wedding I wore it to, so I might as well tell you where it's from! It's an Adriana Papell from Dillard's. The website has this variations of this, but you'll need to check your local store for the black version. Hope that helps you gals that were looking!

Another Kappa Sigma friend, Mr Brick, was the life of the party!

I managed to chat so much that I didn't carry the camera around, and also missed a pic of the bride and groom. It was one of the sweetest ceremonies I had ever been to - they read letters to each other before the vows. Not a dry eye in the church! :)

These last two pictures are just for Robert Shaw, one of Keith's hilarious roommates in his time in the fraternity. He was gracious enough to let us stay with him this weekend...

He also specifically requested to 'make the blog.' I love hearing that from our friends :)

Keith made Robert an omelet to a) prove that he could and b) make up for not bringing him anything back from McDonald's for breakfast. I don't know about you, but I'd take a homemade omelet over a McGriddle any day!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Congrats to the Bride and Groom, Channin and Katie. We are so happy for you!

2011 Pictures

2011-12-07T22:33:00.000-06:00

Every year, we get our pictures taken to use on our Christmas cards, and it's something I always look forward to. My grandparents used to have their professional photo taken each year on their anniversary. I just love looking back at their 'official' picture through their many years of marriage. So, our goal is to do the same thing! We'll see how well we can keep it up. So far, so good!

Here are our 2011 pictures by the fabulous Lindsey Lissau. Memphis friends, if you need a photographer for anything, she's your girl! Not only is she incredibly talented, she's sweet as pie and cute as a button. How southern was that!? :) Really though, I can't say enough about her and I look forward to her taking more pics of our family over the years.

Anyway, here are a few that I love! I'm not posting my 3 favorites that I put on my Christmas card. I'll just have to share that later :)

It was a very dreary day, so we started by taking some inside. I didn't think I would like studio shots, but I'm loving these!

Keith was rockin' a full beard after this Montana hunting trip. It's a good thing I don't mind it!

We took the rest of our photos around the Brooks Museum under some covered areas.

Lindsey was a trooper to step out in the rain to snap photos!

When the rain drizzle subsided, we grabbed a few pictures completely outside. These ended up being some of my favorites!

Thank you for the pictures, Lindsey!!

Vanilla French Toast

2011-12-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and were able to sneak in some time to relax. We definitely did! Our Saturday was amazing - no agenda, no to do list, nowhere we had to be. That never happens!

Here is a delicious french toast recipe that is super easy and very tasty. Perfect for a weekend. Yummmmmm...

Vanilla French Toast
click here for printer-friendly version

5 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup half-and-half or milk

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

10 slices country buttermilk bread

2 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil

Toppings:

Butter

Maple Syrup

Banana Slices

Blueberries

Powdered Sugar

Any fruit would work!

Instructions:

In a shallow dish, beat together eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Dip bread slices into the egg mixture, coating both sides.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Place a baking sheet or serving platter in the oven. In a skillet, or on a griddle, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat and spread over cooking surface.
Add half of the bread slices and cook for 4-6 minutes or until golden, turning once. To keep the toast warm, transfer to the oven.
Repeat with remaining butter and bread slices.
Serve with additional butter, maple syrups, bananas, blueberries and powdered sugar.

Happy Monday!

Kitchen Favorites

2011-12-01T13:31:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday! In lieu of my (sometimes) regular Wine Friday post, I'm participating in a really fun Linky Party! One of my favorite blogs, 33 Shades of Green, is hosting a Kitchen Favorites Party today.

I've been meaning to do a post about some of my favorite kitchen gadgets for a long time now. As many of my friends have been planning weddings and setting up registries, I've thought that this would be a really handy list to have if you were starting out! So, great idea, Alissa! Here are my Top 12 favorite kitchen gadgets that I look forward to using and get the most help from:

Salt and Pepper Grinder Mill

There is a big difference in fresh-ground salt and pepper and the regular stuff. These are really fun to use and ours even light up. My parents get a kick out of them! They are from Williams-Sonoma.

Microplane Herb Mill

I LOVE THIS. I have fresh herbs in the warmer months and love this gadget. It's dishwasher safe and is very convenient when you need a large amount of chopped herbs.

Nut Chopper

I am a recent addict of this nut chopper. My mother-in-law grabbed me one from a Williams-Sonoma outlet sale and I thought "I'll never use that." Well, I was wrong. It is so handy and has a fine or coarse grind option. I am a big fan!

Apple Peeler-Corer-Slicer

I remember registering for this and my mother saying something like "oh, you don't really need that." Well, I have grown to adore this classic contraption. When making an apple pie, or my Taffy Apple Pizza, this is a huge time-saver and is just plain FUN to use. I get excited when I have an excuse to pull this out of the cabinet!

Avocado Pitter and Slicer

This is another prep tool that I like. We love avocados in the summer and the slicing end of this tool is great. It leaves nothing to waste!

Strawberry Set

I am a strawberry fanatic. I can't get enough of them. They are my absolute favorite food! When I saw this set at a store, I had to have it. The pitter has become my favorite tool. It hulls the top out so easily, and wastes less than just chopping the top off with a knife.

Cuisinart Immersion Blender

An immersion blender is a MUST. I repeat, a MUST. I also get excited when I get to use this gadget. I love to make this salad dressing, and it's really handy for soups.

Pampered Chef Coating Trays
I am a big fan of breaded things. These coating trays make it easy for dredging and it all goes into the dishwasher afterwards. Bowls are not always the best for dredging and these are just perfect.

Calphalon Multi-Pot
We are big pasta lovers in our house. This multi pot is super convenient for cooking and draining pasta. It also has a top steamer basket that I use for broccoli and other vegetables. Second to my skillets, this is the piece of cookware I reach for the most.

Grill Pan
A grill pan is a gal's best friend if you don't want to use a full grill. My husband is great about firing up the grill, but sometimes we only want to grill one thing, or the weather is cold. I love the convenience of this item and the clean-up is a breeze.

Pampered Chef Baking Stone
Every kitchen needs a good, seasoned baking stone. I really like the line that Pampered Chef has. It is great for pizzas and cookies, among other things.

Herb Keeper
When I'm not growing my own herbs in the warm months, I want the get the longest life out of purchased herbs. This little item keeps them fresh for as long as possible in the fridge.

I hope you have enjoyed my Top 12 round-up! I'm all about items that make life in the kitchen easier and these products have become favorites of mine. I could also easily do a Top 12 list of pieces that I've found to be totally useless :) Maybe I'll do that post soon, too!

Now - head on over to the Linky Party for more ideas!

Have a great weekend!!

Our Christmas Home

2011-11-28T22:53:00.001-06:00

Ahhh, Christmas is here! The 31 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas are some of my favorite days of the year. I absolutely love how the house looks when it's decked out for the holidays. It's so nice to sit in the living room and look around at all of the lights! I love it so much that I have accumulated a plethora of goodies to decorate with and I add to it every year. I continually add ornaments, good ribbon, nice picks, and vase filler. With these basics, I can switch things up easily!

Here is our 2008 decor, 2009 decor and 2010, if you're in the mood to re-live Christmas past! So, this year, I decided to take a slightly different route. For two years in a row, I did pretty much the same thing. I wanted a change, but didn't want to spend much money, so I brought out the best in items I already had and added only a few new items. I took a little bit of a rustic approach, and didn't pull out anything overly glittery or too sparkly. I do love those things, too, and they will get their time to shine again! I'm REALLY happy with the results and feel like this is very 'us.'

Without further adiue, here is our 2011 Christmas Home!

Welcome!

This is the buffet in the foyer, and I really kept it simple here. I had everything already, except the amaryllis that my mom loaned me and some of the ribbon I used for accents, which I bought 50% off at Michael's - score!

I used the cream-colored ceramic pieces all year long and fill them with various things. They came from Garden Ridge and were a great purchase. I added a few ribbon accents to the topiaries to spruce them up.

I also have lots of cream candles on hand and use them year-round, too. For the holidays, I lined my wooden tray with moss and wrapped each candle in various holiday ribbon and secured with a stick pin. No need to buy anything new!

Right off the entry way is the dining room. One of my favorite rooms in the house, and also one of the most under-utilized.

The walls are a warm brown, and our china in the hutch is Spode Delamere, with accents from the Woodland collection, so I like to keep things natural and rustic in here to compliment. The furniture is hand-me-down from his family, too.

I can't decide if this is my favorite new spot or not as I have several! The Merry Christmas banner came from Target last year, and I thread it onto nicer ribbon. Practically everything on the top of the hutch are things I already had.

My mother. She is a wreath wizard. I believe I have said that on this blog at least a dozen times! She helped me make this wreath out of an old basic wreath I had. We added pinecone and spruce branch picks, bells that I bought from Hobby Lobby, ribbon from Michael's and skates and burlap from a floral shop in Little Rock. I LOVE it.

I was hesitant to put so much stuff on the hutch near the wreath, but I liked how it turned out. I add to the containers with fake snow, pine cones and potpourri pieces.

On the dining room table, I layered a burlap Pottery Barn runner (a new gift from mom), with a plaid runner from Target I picked up last year. The antler candlesticks were wedding gifts, and Keith loves them :)

I filled a large bowl with decorative feather balls

In the corner, near the front door, is our woodland tree.

We decorated with burlap strips, feathers and a cute goose.

I love the outdoorsy ornaments we have on this little tree! I also made some yarn balls to add to the rustic feel.

Snow trek Santa!

Next up, the living room, with the Christmas tree!

Besides the ornaments, this was totally different! I didn't use any of my red and green deco-mesh (I'm a little tired of it) or any of my very sparkly picks and candy canes. Instead, we used rustic burlap and plaid ribbon.

I also bought some of these cotton bolls and berry pics from a craft show earlier this year. We live right beside cotton fields, so I love the tie-in inside the house.

For the topper, we wrapped berry pics and garland around the top for a natural look. I also wrapped lots of styrofoam balls with various colors of yarn. That was an extremely easy craft that added a lot to the tree!

On top of our entertainment center, I kept it the same. I love our nativity scene!

Now, this may be my favorite spot. Still not sure! The snowflake pillow was a new addition from Pier 1 that I had-to-have-and-could-not-stop-myself-from-buying.

The Santa canvas scroll is something I've had since our first Christmas, and I am so glad I bought him when I did. A good Santa is hard to come by! I changed the mantle this year and used ALL things I had around the house already. Woohoo!

I filled the glass vase with mixed nuts from the grocery store. The blue artichoke vase came from a local antique shop earlier this year and I always keep corks in it in the kitchen. The other glass vase has goodies from a Target vase filler package I bought in September and have been using this fall. The button garland was a surprise addition from my mother-in-law! She bought it at an after-Christmas sale at a local shop because she remembered I said I liked it. What a sweet treat!

I used potpourri to fill the glass vase. The red ceramic piece came from a Trees N Trends store and the aqua and red vase is from Anthropologie - a birthday gift from my mom!

Near the couch, I added a simple burlap tree.

On the coffee table, I added some ornaments to a red bowl, and brought out my favorite crate 'o candles ;)

I found this at a TJ Maxx last year and it is one of my favorite items!

The kitchen is still a work in progress as I'm not quite happy with the kitchen table. More to come on that!

On top of the hutch, I moved a few things around and added a wreath and berry sprigs.

My Southern Living Christmas Cookbook is now front and center!

I obviously have a thing for wine bottle stoppers!

PS - that is an awesome book about wine!!

On the bar, I added my other burlap tree with a ribbon accent and a new picture frame. I can't wait to replace the generic family with a picture from our new photos from Lindsey Lissau! We took them yesterday and I can't wait to see them!!

And, behind the kitchen sink, I've put out a few holiday items to get me in the baking spirit.

Now, let's head back outside... during the daytime...

On the front porch, we used an old-fashioned red and black plaid pattern. It's one of my favorite changes to my decor of Christmas past :)

This old-fashioned wheelbarrow is a new item my mother-in-law found for me at Rachel's floral shop in Memphis. I've been on the lookout for a big wooden wheelbarrow that I can decorate year-round, and I'd still love to find one. But, the unique craftsmanship of this little handmade guy stole my heart. We had real poinsettias in it for about a week, but the cold killed them. Keith was sweet enough to replace with some fake ones for me - he did a pretty good job, I'd say!

The frosted berry branches came from Michael's and really round out the outdoor garland. I imagine we'll be using this garland for years to come!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out our decorations! I'm heading back to the window to check out the snow fall. Yep, that's right. It's snowing on November 28th in Memphis. Just 5 days ago it was at least 72 degrees. How is that even possible? Maybe this means we'll have a winter with lots of snow days!? One can only hope...

Merry Christmas!

I'm participating in the Nester Tour of Homes - stop by and check out lots of fabulous Christmas homes!

Maple-Bourbon Glazed Salmon

2011-11-27T23:38:00.000-06:00

Hey there! I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was just wonderful. Thank you so much for all of the sweet comments on my last post. I treasured each of them!

This is a delicious salmon recipe I made a few weeks ago. It was very easy and tasted SO amazing! It comes from a Pampered Chef cookbook I've been using more of lately. I've been pleased with the results of everything I've made.

Maple-Bourbon Glazed Salmon

(click here for printer-friendy version)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 cup cider vinegar

2 Tbsp whole-grain Dijon mustard

2 garlic cloves, pressed

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 Tbsp bourbon

4 skinless salmon fillets

1 Tbsp Crushed Peppercorn and Garlic Seasoning (this is a Pampered Chef product, any garlic-pepper blend will work)

Combine syrup, vinegar, mustard, pressed garlic, salt and black pepper in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high 6-8 minutes or until reduced by half. Cool slightly; add bourbon and set aside.

Heat a grill pan over medium heat 5 minutes. Season salmon with rub. Lightly spray pan with nonstick cooking spray; add salmon top side down. Cook 10-12 minutes or until salmon flakes easily with a fork, turning once. Brush salmon with glaze during last minute of cooking using basting brush. Pour any remaining glaze over salmon before removing from pan.

I served this with the Pecan-Crusted Mozzarella Salad - it was heaven! We only did 2 salmon fillets, but made the same amount of sauce so we would have plenty of extra to top them with.

I have so many things to post over the next few days! I have recipes backed up and pictures of our house decorated for Christmas coming soon....stay tuned!

Thankful Heart

2011-11-23T11:19:00.000-06:00

I struggle with starting this post every year. I'm filled with emotions, memories, thoughts and things I want to say. I want to say them right, say something beautiful, or profound. I want to do this person I love justice. How do you put into words the weight of a heavy heart?

Today marks the 8th year that my little brother Kyle has not been on this Earth. Eight years ago today was the worst day of our lives, and yet the most bittersweet of his. Pain and sadness don't even begin to capture the way it feels to hear news like that.

Your heart is ripped from your chest and you're gasping for air. I have fleeting memories of those moments on that Sunday in 2003. I think my body physically rejected the thought that this was possible....that a car wreck would take his life at the young age of 16.

Kyle's 16th Birthday in 2002 - his last

This is a photo my dad took of my a few days later. He was taking pictures of all of the flowers that had been sent. I remember being so angry. Angry about everything. Angry about this photo.

The hours and days that followed are a blur, with the months to come being the hardest. We were and still are so blessed to be loved by so many. The outpouring of support and prayers blew us away. Without others to lean on, we would have been lost. Without our faith, we would have no hope.

A day or two later, we woke up to find orange balloons lining our sidewalk. Orange was Kyle's favorite color.

Kyle was loved by so many people.

Especially by me.

We were 15 months apart. As kids, we did everything together and were often dressed alike. We had a wonderful childhood with loving parents. There were many vacations, weekends on the lake and birthday parties, made extra special by mom.

We fought like crazy, too. I thought he was extremely obnoxious and he did everything he could to set me off. Typical sibling stuff. I would say that I regret every fight, but I don't. I look back now and laugh at our ridiculousness.

Our last photo together

In our teenage years, we became really close as friends. My heart breaks, selfishly, for all of the memories we didn't get to make together. I could make a long, long list of the things I would have loved to have seen him do, or do together. I have to remember that he isn't missing anything though. He is here in our hearts and I can only imagine what he is experiencing now.

The best caption for this photo is: HAIR!

This is one of those life things that happens to other people, and you're so sad for them, but you don't expect it for yourself. We all often say 'I don't know what I would do if that happened to me,' whether it be a death, cancer, injury, etc.

Well, it happened. I didn't know what I would do. I don't know what I did. But, here I am, breathing and living. I knew immediately that I had a choice, and a fork in the road. I could spend the rest of my life angry, bitter, resentful, depressed, and sad. Or, I could try to make the rest of my life count. Kyle wouldn't want me to be sad all of the time. So, I soldiered on and I try to honor his memory.

I miss him all the time. I think of him every day. I'm thankful that time has brought peace to my heart. But, I'm sad with each passing year as those vivid memories become fuzzy around the corners. I'm thankful for my parents and their strength, and that I can say with confidence that we are all okay. And, we are blessed richly.

Dad tied all of Kyle's ties for parties

Kyle and I were in a wedding when we were little. I love the fruit punch rim on his upper lip!

Kyle with my sister, Jennifer on her wedding day in August, 2002

On this day, we have a bigger lump in our throats than normal. It's painful, of course.

Flowers my Dad sent Mom today.

We smile at our memories of Kyle. We cry because it's still sometimes unbelievable. We pray for the day we'll see him again and hug his neck.

In the meantime, I love you, little brother. I know you're here and messing with the lights. Thanks for the sign :) Save a place for me, and I'll see you soon.

-Big sister

PS - Thank you to my friends who give me love and support every day, including the readers of this blog. I know I don't typically go this personal here, so thanks for reading and commenting, whether it be on a recipe or a personal reflection. Thank you.

Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta Carbonara

2011-11-20T22:14:00.000-06:00

Yum in a bowl. This pasta dish made me feel all kinds of fall warmth and home-y comfort.

I haven't been to the grocery store in 2 weeks. We haven't spent a weekend at home in 6 weeks. The miles on the car have racked up, too! We've had a great time heading to weddings, showers, and football games and I can't wait to go to my parents for Thanksgiving... and for my husband to get back from his big Montana hunt trip. But, I am in desperate need of a slow down. That may not happen anytime soon seeing as how December is not known for it's low-key nature! In the meantime, I'll relish in random nights like this when I find the time to cook dinner.

So, anyway, our kitchen is pretty empty. I really didn't think I had enough to scrounge together a dinner for myself, but I noticed I had a leftover butternut squash from a few weeks ago, some apple wood-smoked bacon in the fridge and a few pasta basics. A quick search in my Google Reader turned up this recipe from Closet Cooking. I wish I had some fresh sage as I know that really would have set it off. This was quite tasty and I can't wait to make it for Keith!

Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta Carbonara

click here for printer-friendly version

Ingredients:

1/2 pound pasta (I used penne)

6 slices of bacon, cut into 1-inch slices (I recommend apple wood-smoked for extra flavor)

2 cups butternut squash (cut into small pieces)

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 Tbsp of fresh sage, chopped (or 1/2 tsp dried)

Pepper to taste

2 egg yolks

2 Tbsp heavy cream

1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano cheese, shredded

Directions:

-Start boiling water in a large pot for the pasta

-Cook the bacon in a saute pan until crisp, drain on paper towels, but reserve about 1 Tbsp drippings in pan.

-Add the squash to the pan, and toss to coat in grease. Saute until tender, about 8-10 minutes.

-Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook as directed on the package.

-Meanwhile, mix the egg yolk, heavy cream and cheese in a bowl with a whisk or fork.

-Drain the cooked pasta, reserving about 2 Tbsp of the water

-Add the garlic, sage and pepper to the squash and saute until fragrant, about a minute

-Add the pasta to the pan and toss.

-Remove the pan from the heat and wait for the sizzling to stop.

-Add the egg mixture and toss to coat.

-Add a bit of the pasta water and toss mixture to coat.

-Top with the bacon, fresh sage and more cheese.

Enjoy!!

Pecan-Crusted Mozzarella Salad

2011-11-16T11:16:00.000-06:00

Happy Wednesday!

This is a delicious side salad I made one night last week for the two of us. It is so tasty, and combines a lot of my favorite flavors! It would make a lovely presentation for company, too.

Pecan-Crusted Mozzarella Salad

click here for printer-friendly version

Ingredients:

1/3 cup pecan halves

1/2 oz Parmesan cheese, grated

8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese

1 Tbsp all-purpose flour

1 egg

1/3 cup Panko bread crumbs

2 tsp olive oil

1/2 cup prepared balsamic vinaigrette

2 tsp Dijon mustard

1 cup grape tomatoes

6 cups mixed greens salad blend

Finely chop pecans. Grate Parmesan cheese and slice mozzarella cheese into eight rounds about 1/2 inch thick using a santoku knife. Line up 3 dishes or trays. Place flour in first dish. Lightly beat egg in second dish. Combine pecans, Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs in third dish. Lightly dredge each mozzarella round in flour, shaking off excess; dip into egg and then into pecan mixture, coating evenly.

Add oil to a non-stick pan; heat over medium heat 1-3 minutes or until shimmering. Cook mozzarella rounds 1-2 minutes on each side or until coating is golden brown and cheese begins to soften around edges. If you do the mozzarella in batches, be sure to add more olive oil to your pan or they will burn quickly.

Add vinaigrette and mustard to a small bowl; whisk until well blended. Cut tomatoes in half lengthwise. Divide mixed greens and tomatoes among serving plates; drizzle with vinaigrette and top with mozzarella rounds. It's best served when the rounds are warm.

Enjoy!!

Source: Pampered Chef

Book Review: My {not so} Storybook Life

2011-11-14T22:27:00.000-06:00

I just read a really great book! This book made me laugh out loud, numerous times. It also had me tearing up moments later. My {not so} Storybook Life is written by Elizabeth Owen, author of Mabel's House. If you haven't stopped by her lovely blog, you should bookmark and add to your feed reader right now. She is a beautiful person, inside and out. And, I feel pretty cool to be able to say that I know her, like in person know her. AND this amazing gal has published a gem of a book!

My {not so} Storybook Life, a book based on Elizabeth's life experiences, is a blend of Anne Taintor-style retro humor and classic literature stories. This book is fresh, hilarious and touching. The description on Amazon says that Elizabeth and Matt think of themselves as a modern-day Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, and that's pretty spot-on. I used to work with Liz's hilarious husband, Matt, and her tales about their adventures as a newlywed couple had me cracking up over and over again.

Right along with the humor is a story of a beautiful friendship between Liz and Angela. Angela was diagnosed with cancer at age 33 and the novel follows Elizabeth's journey as Angela's friend, supporting her and learning to really pray for her in the process. Liz learns meaningful lessons along the way and begins to realize that domestic perfection doesn't exist. Pink bathroom tiles, dusty baseboards and a man cave with a plastic budha are all part of what makes her house a home. After all, Martha Stewart isn't stopping by any time soon.

I could totally relate to Elizabeth's book. I, too, have struggled with wanting everything about my house to be 'perfect' - a sparkling and clean home, gourmet meals set on the table all while wearing a crisp apron and pearls. But, that's not reality, nor is it very fun. To steal a passage from the book's epilogue:

"There is much happiness in a successful dinner party, a lushly planted garden. and finding a free buffet table on the curb. But when the quest to transform our domestic realities into an unattainable level of perfection becomes a lifestyle, that's where we lose our joy. Domestic reality is salty and sweet, irritating and comforting, sad and funny. But above all, we have to learn to live without ladders to climb, without levels of perfection to attain, to throw away the shame that comes with perceived imperfections. In short, we need to allow ourselves to simply be blessed."

Well said, Liz. Well said.

These are the reasons I can comfortably fall asleep every night with dust bunnies all over the house and a sink full of dirty dishes. I'd rather snuggle with the man I love than worry about that stuff night and day!

I also related to the difficult times Liz faced with Angela. Fear, sadness, guilt, worry... and struggling with her faith. It's those dark moments when God really meets you. She tells this story beautifully and I know Angela is thankful for this tribute, too.

What a wonderful book, Elizabeth! I encourage all of you to read it!

Elizabeth and Brock's Rustic Farm Wedding

2011-11-14T08:00:00.001-06:00

I went to the coolest wedding on Saturday! One of my sweet friends from high school, Elizabeth, married her love, Brock, on her family's farm near Searcy, Arkansas. It was so charming and quaint. Here are the pics!

The welcome display as you pulled into the farm - love it!

The setting

Every detail was perfect!

Love the burlap and canvas curtains with the bunting

For the ceremony, everyone sat on cute hay bales

The bridesmaids and bride making their way down the hill

The beautiful bride!!

Sweet, teary expressions

Love the first kiss!

The food in the barn - very cute set up

I wanted to take these candlesticks home!

The flowers were Ah-mazing!

Allison (my date) and I pose with Jessica Corley, a recent newlywed herself!

This picture is funny because Jessica is always the tallest....

...but, we let her be the shortest using these stumps! hah.

High school friends! I love these girls so much and the fact that we have stayed close.

Congrats, Brock and Liz! I'm so happy you found your perfect match in each other, and the wedding was the perfect reflection of your relaxed personalities. Just wonderful!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Streusel Muffins

2011-11-13T15:35:00.000-06:00

These muffins are the perfect fall breakfast item. The combo of the pumpkin flavor and the surprise cream cheese inside is wonderful. They are probably the best muffins I have ever made! Supposedly, they are a Starbucks knock-off, and they are definitely worth the effort.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Streusel Muffins

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Ingredients:

For the filling:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

For the muffins:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

4 large eggs

2 cups sugar

1 15 oz can of pumpkin puree

1¼ cups vegetable oil

For the topping:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup flour

3 tbsp softened butter

1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

To prepare the filling, combine the cream cheese and powdered sugar in a medium bowl and mix well until blended and smooth. Transfer the mixture to a piece of plastic wrap and shape into a log about 1½-inches in diameter. Smooth the plastic wrap tightly around the log, and reinforce with a piece of foil. Transfer to the freezer and chill until at least slightly firm, at least 2 hours. The mixture will still be somewhat soft but firmer. (This is an important step, so be sure to allow time to chill)

To make the muffins, preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line muffin pans with paper liners. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pumpkin pie spice, salt and baking soda; whisk to blend. In the bowl of an electric mixer combine the eggs, sugar, pumpkin puree and oil. Mix on medium-low speed until blended. With the mixer on low speed, add in the dry ingredients, mixing just until incorporated.

To make the topping, mix together the brown sugar, flour, softened butter and cinnamon with a fork and set aside.

To assemble the muffins, fill each muffin well with a small amount of batter, just enough to cover the bottom of the liner (1-2 tablespoons). Slice the log of cream cheese filling into 24 equal pieces. Place a slice of the cream cheese mixture into each muffin well. You want to put the cream cheese lower than you think because it will rise a lot during the baking process. Divide the remaining batter among the muffin cups, placing on top of the cream cheese to cover completely. Sprinkle a small amount of the topping mixture over each of the muffin wells.

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before serving.

Recipe adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything and Annie's Eats

A Warm Bowl of Chili

2011-11-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

Everybody needs a good go-to Chili recipe. There are some great recipes that take a long time that are delicious. But a quick, easy dish is good to have on hand, too.

This is basically how my mom always makes chili. It's comforting and simple. Two of my favorite things! I've added a few things to it and we really love it!

Mom's Chili

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Ingredients:

2 lbs ground beef

1 yellow onion, chopped

1/2 tsp dried oregano

2 cans Bush's Chili Beans, Mild (don't drain)

1 regular-sized can diced tomatoes (don't drain)

1 regular-sized can tomato sauce

1 can of Rotel (don't drain)

2 packages of Chili Mix (mild)

2 Tbsp brown sugar

toppings: cheese, corn chips, green onions, sour cream, etc.

Brown beef with the chopped onion. While cooking, add the dried oregano. Drain the beef.

In a large pot, combine the beef mixture, beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, Rotel, and chili mix. Stir well and allow to cook on low for 25-30 minutes. Stir occasionally throughout. Halfway through, stir in the brown sugar.

Serve with all the fixings. I like to use a mixture of cheese blends, too!

Enjoy!!

Scampi-Style Halibut with Artichokes and Bell Peppers

2011-11-08T11:18:00.000-06:00

Here's a delicious and easy dinner recipe that is ready in less than 30 minutes. It's also a great way to try a new fish recipe.

When it comes to seafood, we tend to do a lot of shrimp. It's easy and I always have some on hand. I'm working on expanding our regular fish routine to include more tilapia, salmon, halibut, scallops, etc. If you want to try something new, here's a great dish! The recipe comes from Pillsbury, and you could easily try out other vegetables along with the bell peppers.

Scampi-Style Halibut with Artichokes and Bell Peppers

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Ingredients:

2 large shallots, thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)

1 small red bell pepper, sliced into bite-size strips (about 1 cup)

1 can of artichoke hearts, quartered and drained

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

5 Tbsp butter, melted

1 tsp garlic-pepper blend

1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

4 halibut fillets (about 6 oz each), skin removed

2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley (could use fresh basil or oregano instead)

Heat oven to 450°F. Spray 11x7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.

In medium bowl, mix shallots, bell pepper, artichokes, lemon juice, 3 tablespoons of the melted butter and the garlic-pepper blend. Spoon into baking dish.

In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter. Lightly spray halibut fillets with cooking spray. Pat 2 tablespoons crumb mixture on top of each fillet. Place fillets on vegetables in baking dish

Bake uncovered 12 to 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork and crumb topping is golden brown. To be sure fish is done, use a food thermometer and bake until the thermometer reads 140°F. Sprinkle with parsley.

A great side dish to this recipe would be a simple greens salad with tomatoes, sliced red onions and this delicious salad dressing from Pioneer Woman. Make some to keep in the fridge; I like to double the recipe. You will love it!

Enjoy!

PS - I'm linking this recipe up to Tasty Tuesdays at 33 Shades of Green. Click on over to check out lots of great recipe ideas from other bloggers!

A Razorback Homecoming

2011-11-06T22:24:00.000-06:00

This weekend was amazing! Keith and I traveled to Fayetteville, Arkansas for the Razorback Homecoming game versus South Carolina. Being that both teams were ranked in the top 10, it was very exciting! But, in addition to the great game, I got to be part of some special Homecoming festivities....

First, a blast from the past:

This is me in 2006! I had the honor of being the U of A Homecoming Queen my senior year of college. This wasn't something I would have ever imagined for myself, nor did I seek it out. It was pretty amazing to me that I was nominated by my peers, selected to advance in interviews, narrowed down to a group of 5 girls by the football team and then voted as the queen by the campus! Totally mind-boggling and a complete honor.

My parents were (and still are) extremely proud. I'm sometimes in disbelief that it happened to me. I'm not a fan of pageants and never would have thought I would seriously wear a crown for any reason! So, this was a pretty crazy thing to me.

Look at how young we look! My role as Homecoming Queen pretty much consisted of an exciting week of campus events, a parade, pep rally and being crowned queen by the chancellor at the homecoming halftime show. I also got to come back the next year and crown the new queen. There weren't any 'duties' otherwise. Perfect gig!

I was really excited this year to be notified by the campus that they were inviting back all former Homecoming Queens to participate in the festivities around the theme of "Journey Through the Decades". This was the first time they've ever brought the ladies back. It was SO awesome to meet queens from the 50s, 60s, 70s, etc. Here are the pics from our re-living-the-glory-days weekend!

Ready for the parade with former Tridelta queenies!

My sweet hubs - he was an awesome photographer for all of the events!

Me with my brother-in-law's sweet girlfriend, Shelby. They are college freshman just living it up!

This was the 2007 queen that I got to go back and crown, Katy O'Connell Allen. Her husband is Kris Allen, as in he-won-American-Idol Kris Allen. Pretty amazing! Best of all, she is an incredibly sweet girl!! It was really nice to catch up with her.

My parade car for the night. It was definitely the coolest corvette convertible there!

We also got to wear some cute vintage-y mum pins. So festive!

My parade partner, and the 2005 queen that crowned me, Courtney Backus. We were already friends and Delta sisters in college when we were both queens. It was exciting to share the fun back then and re-live it together, too!

Off we go!

The parade ended at the Greek Theater for the pep rally. The queenies had a row of chairs right in front!

We lined up from the oldest to the most-recent. We had a queen from 1959! Amazing and so adorable.

Out of the group of 20+, we had 5 Trideltas - way to represent, ladies!!

Up on stage for our introductions.

Cheering for the new queen on stage!

On game day, the weather was beautiful!!

We love going back to campus!

Guy friends: Kevin, Clint, Keith, Jarred, and Brandon

Hugs from Joanna!

Game time - this was a huge game and the crowd was so fired up.

A new favorite picture of mine!

With Page and Courtney on the field for the halftime show.

Beautiful Katy!

That's me with sweet Ms Bettye. She was the oldest queen there and probably the most energetic!

Group picture!

Waving from the field.

It would have been really fun to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines!

The game was incredibly exciting and we WON! It was a great win for the hogs.

Needless to say, if they ever invite back the old has-been queenies of long ago, I'll be there in full force wearing Razorback red! I had a wonderful time and couldn't be more proud of my Alma Mater, the Hogs, my sorority and the tremendous honor I had to be the U of A queen.

Fun times!

Wine Friday: Malbec

2011-11-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

TGIF! I'm so ready for the weekend. With the cooler weather, I'm also ready for a big, comforting glass of red wine....

This is a delicious Malbec that I enjoyed a glass of last night after an all-day marathon business meeting. It was so nice to unwind afterwards with some of my favorite co-workers and recap the day. I found it to be quite tasty!

Tilia Malbec

Year: 2010

Origin: Argentina

Average Price: $10

About the wine: Named after the Tilia (Linden) tree commonly found throughout Argentina’s wine country, Tilia wines possess true varietal character and embody the rural Mendozean lifestyle. For years vineyard workers have used the flowers of the Tilia to make an herbal tea for enjoyment after a hard day’s work. The name Tilia is chosen in honor of this wine country tradition.

Cheers to FRIDAY!

Tortellini with Peas and Pancetta

2011-11-01T22:40:00.000-05:00

Mmmm, tortellini. Add peas and pancetta and you have a masterpiece. This is a delicious recipe! I picked this out of my Food Network Magazine Cookbook. It was incredibly easy, took less than 30 minutes and was very tasty. The leftovers were also good!

Tortellini with Peas and Pancetta

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Ingredients:

1 lb meat-filled tortellini (I did a mix of chicken-filled and spinach-cheese-filled from Buitoni - I liked the color variety)

1.5 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

4 ounces pancetta, finely chopped (or prosciutto)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp tomato paste

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 cup frozen peas, thawed

2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

The only down-side to this dish is you have to buy tomato paste and heavy cream to only use a small amount... Which in my book is a plus - it's an excuse to make another Italian meal!

Instructions:

-Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the tortellini and cook as directed on package.

-Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and pancetta and cook until crisp, 3-4 minutes.

-Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

-Ladle in about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and simmer until reduced by about half, 3-4 minutes.

-About 2 minutes before the tortellini are done, add the peas to the boiling water and cook until just tender. Drain the tortellini and peas.

-Add the cream to the sauce and simmer until slightly thickened, 2-3 minutes.

-Combine sauce with pasta and peas in drained pot and toss to combine.

Toss with chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.

Magnifico! Enjoy!!

Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T23:43:00.000-05:00

Things have been so busy lately, I just assumed we wouldn't be doing anything for Halloween (which is a far cry from last year). We've been out of town a lot and haven't heard of any plans. I was excited to hear there was a dental school party tonight! It was last minute for us, but we pulled our costumes together and had a great time.

I was a pirate and Keith was Keith Stone, so smooth.

Surely you've seen the Keystone Light commercials. If not, take a look and you'll understand. Keith doesn't really drink, so it's funny this was his costume - everyone loved it!

Ashley and Jaycob - Black Swan and Allstate Mayhem. Both are excellent costumes!

Keith and Jaycob. I have to say, Keith was diligent with his beer box prop. He didn't set it down for long!

Posing with Amanda and Ashley, two very authentic swans!

One of my favorite costumes of the night: The giant inflatable deer. This is probably not comfortable at a a busy party, but it was hilarious!

I also have to share this photo from work today. We had a costume pairings contest and my partner and I went as Hawaiian punch - a luau girl and a boxer! Fun times!

All in all, it was a great Halloween. I love any excuse to dress up! I hope yours was safe and fun, too.

Another one ties the knot!

2011-10-30T19:21:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday, folks!

I'm currently very cozy on the couch with a warm blanket, football on in the background, laundry going, and a heart full of love from being around some long-lost friends this weekend. Collin is the last of my 'Magnificent 7' Tridelta sisters to get married. I have loved being a part of each of their special days. Here are the pics from our weekend down in Texarkana!

Our group, minus Bekah, at the rehearsal dinner enjoying our tasty margaritas! From left, here are the gals and where they live: Stacia from North Carolina, Meredith from Fayetteville, AR, Collin from Fayetteville, Jeni from Indiana, Kelsey from Dallas and Kendall from Memphis. Bekah came the next day from Fayetteville, too. It takes a wedding or a vacation to bring us to one spot!

Sipping margaritas reminds me of our college Cinco de Mayo traditions :)

Getting a hug from the beautiful BRIDE!

And, of course, a squeeze from the hubs.

The brunettes of the bunch - We've spent lots of time over the years teasing that Tridelt hair!

Speaking of hair....

Hah. I did not do this to myself! In preparation for an updo, the stylist gave me an impressive tease job. This is the largest I've seen it go! Don't worry, it was tamed...But, if I ever want to be Medusa for Halloween, at least I know it could easily be done.

All dressed and ready with Jeni! We were in the 'house party' group. I know most people haven't heard of this because I'm always asked what that means, and really - it's a southern thing! We helped out on the day of the wedding with welcoming guests to the church, handing out programs, making sure that guest book was signed, wrangling presents, etc. I had girls dedicated to this at my wedding and it was great!

But, back to what is most important!

The bride! Collin looked so beautiful!

(She texts with the groom)

Her dress was perfect for her coloring, slim figure and her personality. Loved it!

Stacia and Mere give her a hand before the ceremony - which was short, sweet and just simply perfect!

At the reception, the Deltas sing our song and pose with the bride.

The Zachs toast the day - The groom is on the left, and he is such a sweet, smart fella. I couldn't be happier for Collin!

Keith with Dr Clint - our dear, dear friend! They are inseparable.

The reception was in a beautiful, old arts building that was so cool! I should have taken pics of the space.

These are wonderful friends that I just don't get to see enough!

College Besties! I love you all.

The super-cool Hencys

One more pic with my precious husband.

What a great time! We danced until our feet ached and the shoes came off. It was a wonderful time celebrating an amazing couple. Best wishes to the new Holderfield couple!!

PS - thank you, Whitney for letting me barrow that gorgeous lace dress. It got so many compliments, I'm now ordering one for myself :) <<<< For all those that asked, the Dress came from Dillard's and is Adrianna Papell. The website only shows the Navy one, so call your local store for the black version!>>>>

Southwestern Pizza Con Queso

2011-10-27T22:04:00.000-05:00

Hey there, folks! I've got another pizza recipe for you. This is so incredibly easy and takes about 20 minutes to pull together. That's my kind of weeknight dinner! For us, a 20 minute meal is faster than driving anywhere for take out.

This is a Pampered Chef recipe that I stumbled on earlier this week when I was looking for a specific recipe. I skimmed the ingredients list and realized I had just about everything on hand except the chicken and the queso. After making the sausage pizza last week, I had an extra crust from the package of 2 to deal with soon. This was the perfect solution! I also learned a new technique that I'll be using in the future for prebaked crusts.

Southwestern Pizza Con Queso

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Ingredients:

1 pkg prebaked pizza crust

8 oz (about 2 cups) cooked chicken breasts, shredded (I bought a rotisserie chicken on sale and pulled most of it off

1 tsp vegetable oil

1 small red bell pepper

1 small green bell pepper (I bought a small container of pre-sliced bell peppers in all colors)

1 small red onion

1.5 Tbsp Southwest seasoning mix (I used Mrs Dash Southwest Chipotle, which was spicy!)

2/3 cup prepared Monterey Jack salsa con queso dip

1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend

Preheat oven to 450.

Place pizza crust top side down on round baking stone (or greased cookie sheet). Bake 4-5 minutes or until crust is golden brown and crisp. Remove baking stone from oven; turn crust top side up.

This technique keeps the crust crisp even after the saucy toppings are placed on it.

Cut bell peppers and onion into thin slices and toss with seasoning mix in a bowl. Add oil to skillet and heat over medium heat 1-3 minutes of until shimmering. Add vegetable mixture to skillet and cook 2-3 minutes or until tender.

Add chicken, cook 1 minute or until heated through. Remove from heat.

Spread the queso over the crust evenly.

Top with the chicken and veggie mixture and sprinkle cheese on top.

Bake 7-9 minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove from oven and cut into wedges.

Enjoy!!