Racin’ Bears

0 comments on this article Posted by admin in Kids corner, life, sweets, Uncategorized on May 17th, 2012 , tagged with , , , .

My baby turns 7 this summer.  Yes, my heart is breaking into a million pieces.  Time is just flying by and it’s making me nervous.  But it’s the little moment’s like snuggling in a chair watching Disney Junior, riding bikes, skipping through mud puddles when it’s pouring down rain that make me slow time down and appreciate her innocents.

Her birthday is not until June but her class is celebrating summer birthdays early.  Tomorrow is her day and she is taking these adorable bear cars.  She was so giddy.  We could bear-ly  contain ourselves.

I found this idea on Pinterest.  I have a serious love/hate relationship with Pinterest.  It consumes my free time like no other.

If you have a fun end of school event coming up make these adorable treats.  Everyone will go mad for them.

Racin’ Bear Cars

{ingredients}

1 bag Three Musketeers candy, fun size

2 packs of M&M’s

20 pieces of teddy grahams

¼ C chocolate chips, melted

{directions}

Cut a small space into a Three Musketeers.

Insert one teddy graham.  Be gentle.

Using a toothpick add a small amount of melted chocolate onto the four M&M’s and place them around the candy bar, for the wheels.

Repeat.

Store in an air-tight container

 

I hope you enjoy them BFF.


Gluten-Free Lemon Short Bread Cookies

0 comments on this article Posted by admin in sweets on May 15th, 2012 , tagged with , , , , , .

I always associate shortbead with Christmas.  My sister makes these wonderful cranberry pistachio shortbread cookies that are so good. Christmas is nowhere in sight and I’ve been craving shortbread like crazy for about a month.  Finally, I broke down after seeing an amazing looking recipe in my Bake in the Day cookbook.  I have adapted this recipe because I wanted something a little lighter and more Spring-like.

Bob’s Red Mill sent me Gluten Free almond meal to try out.  I have been sitting on pin and needles for the right recipe to use it in.  The addition of almond flour in these cookies is incredible.  It adds a light wonderful texture to them.  I’m not claiming these cookies are the healthiest, but they sure are good.

I can’t wait for you to try these gluten-free beauties.

Gluten Free Lemon Shortbread Cookies

Adapted from Back in the Day Cookbook

{ingredients}

2 sticks butter, softened

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

¼ tsp sea salt

1 ¼ C powdered sugar

1 C Bob’s Red Mill Almond Flour

1.5 C Bob’s Red Mill GF AP Flour

{directions}

In a medium bowl beat together butter, lemon juice and salt until creamy.

Slowly add in powdered sugar.

Add in almond meal and mix until just combine.

Slowly add in GF AP flour.  After 1 cup add a little more at a time until batter thickens and is just coming together.

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and place in fridge for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350*

Remove dough from fridge and let rest for 5 min.

Divide dough into two balls.  You can roll 1 tablespoon of dough out at a time and flatten on cookie sheet.  I formed my dough balls into long square shapes and cut 12 slices, each.

Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes.

*Bob’s Red Mill provided me with the almond flour used in this recipe.  My opinions of the product are my own and I wouldn’t share it with you if I didn’t think it was great!


Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles

1 comment on this article Posted by admin in Kids corner, Snacks, sweets on May 3rd, 2012 , tagged with , , .

For Easter Ava received a Zoku popsicle maker from William and Sonoma.  I’m not sure who gets more giddy over it, her or I.  We get it out pretty much every night. :) It’s so easy to use and the varieties are endless.

These popsicles are so festive for spring.  The vibrant pink color and sweet slices of strawberries will liven up any occasion.

If you do not have a zoku maker you could use any popsicle mold or even tiny paper bathroom cups with a popsicle stick in the middle will work.

Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles

{ingredients}

1/2 C chopped fresh strawberries

3 T water

¾ C lemonade

½ lemon zested

3 Strawberries, thinly sliced

{directions}

In a small food processor blend ½ cup fresh strawberries and just enough water to moisten.  Puree strawberries until smooth.

Using a fine mesh strainer strain strawberries and juice in a small bowl

Add lemonade and lemon zest to strawberry juice.

Using your Zoku popsicle maker place a few thinly sliced strawberries in.

Pour in your strawberry lemonade and let freeze.


Renew Yourself

0 comments on this article Posted by admin in life on April 30th, 2012 , tagged with , , , , .

Sometimes we need a little reminder to take care of our bodies.  When you get hit head on with a nasty sinus infection or virus listen to what your body is telling.  Slow down, take time to relax.  Rest your voice, your mind and your body.

Being healthy and always on the go is something we all take for granted from time to time.  Being forced to slow down isn’t always a bad thing.  A reminder is sometimes needed.  This weekend I woke up with my head feeling like it weighted a ton, my throat on fire, my voice almost gone and my whole body feeling weighted down.  I can’t say this feeling was welcomed with opened arms.  But a few days filled with rest, warm tea and honey, old movies and nutritious food was very needed.  I had stretched myself too far and forgot to take time to renew my mind and body.


Southwestern Spring Rolls

0 comments on this article Posted by admin in appetizer, Dinner on April 24th, 2012 , tagged with , , , , , , , .

Some days you just need a good tex-mex spring roll. It just makes life a little more manageable. When all things go hay-wire and you don’t know what to fix for dinner on a rainy weekend you can always count on southwestern spring rolls to pull through. They fix everything.


Tex-Mex food warms me. It makes me smile, a lot. It’s slightly spicy but nothing over the top. Kinda like me. ;)


The combination of black beans and corn go together like milk and cookies. {Or Sonny and Cher.} It’s just meant to be. I used some left over grilled corn and, boy oh boy, did this add some yummy flavor.

Southwestern Spring Rolls


Makes 12 rolls

 {ingredients}
12 corn or flour small tortillas
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
½ C corn
½ C salsa
1 C Colby jack cheese
¼ C sour cream
2 T cream cheese, softened
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
Juice of ½ lemon
3 T cilantro, chopped
Salt and pepper, to season
{directions}
Preheat oven to 400*
Combine black beans, corn, salsa.
In a small bowl combine sour cream, cream cheese, ½ C jack cheese, and seasonings.
Add black bean mixture to the sour cream mixture.
Fold in cilantro, lemon juice.
Adjust seasonings.
On a medium baking sheet place tortilla’s and put 1-2 T of the bean mixture on them. Add a sprinkle of jack cheese.
Gently fold up and repeat with remaining tortillas.
Spray roll ups with pam cooking spray or brush with a light coat of EVOO.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until shells are brown and crisp.
Serve with salsa and sour cream.


Finding your Beauty

0 comments on this article Posted by admin in life on April 23rd, 2012 , tagged with , .

“Real beauty isn’t about symmetry or weight or makeup; it’s about looking life right in the face and seeing all its magnificence reflected in your own.” —Valerie Monroe, writer

 

For today, stop worrying about how you look, the checkbook, work, that piece of cake you ate last night.  For today, enjoy the beauty that surrounds you.  Enjoy just living and breathing.  Surround yourself with pretty things, good/nourishing food and the best company you can find.


Balsamic Asparagus

0 comments on this article Posted by admin in Dinner on April 18th, 2012 , tagged with , , , .

All year long I sit waiting on pins and needles for asparagus season.  To me, there is nothing more perfect than tender asparagus with a light coat of olive oil.  I could eat this all day long.

This simple side dish is perfect for any spring occasion.  The balsamic vinegar adds a beautiful, unique flavor.  Make sure to bake until just tender, nothing is worse than soggy asparagus.

It’s the simple things in life that make is so gosh darn enjoyable.

Balsamic Asparagus

{ingredients}

1 bunch asparagus, trimmed

1 T olive oil

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper

{directions}

Preheat oven to 400*

On a large baking sheet place trimmed asparagus.

Drizzle on olive oil, balsamic and season with salt and
pepper.

Toss asparagus until completely coated and spread back out.

Bake for 10-12 minutes.


Operation Organizing School Work

0 comments on this article Posted by admin in Kids corner on April 13th, 2012 , tagged with , , .

With the school year coming to a close I was feeling pretty overwhelmed with a drawer full of Ava’s school papers.  I try to save as much of her art work, tests and writing papers as I can.  I can’t even imagine what those of you mom’s do with more than one child.  Kids do so much at school these days and I feel bad throwing out papers Ava worked hard on.  All the clutter it creates though was driving me nuts.  I’m not good at scrapbooking or keeping a journal about her accomplishments.  So I came up with a plan to fix all these problems.

I punched holes in all her papers, art work, tests, writings and put them in a three-ring binder.

I got these great binder separators that have numbers on the labels.  Every year I will add her papers for that year.

There is also a place on the back of the separators for ‘notes’ –which will be great for noting her accomplishments, school year and teacher.

This will be a great keepsake for Ava and me years to come.


Roasted Red Potatoes

0 comments on this article Posted by admin in Dinner on April 10th, 2012 , tagged with , , , , , .

It’s been chilly here lately.  I’m not sure what I expected for April, but the 80* teaser we got in March makes these 30* nights hard to handle.  Ava is on Spring Break this week!  She has been busy making mud pies and enjoying the green green grass we have here in VA.  Which makes our nights a little rough…Ava is allergic to grass.  I’m serious, she breaks out in horrible rashes every time she is out in it and her big blue eyes get all puffy and nasty.  Poor little tyke.  I tried to explain to her this morning before I darted out the door that she needed to stay out of the grass today.  She looked up at me with her bed-hair and puff eyes, “How will I get to the swing set?  I need fresh air you know!!!” LOL  I’m sure she will be getting plenty of fresh air today and we will be up all night with itchy broken out skin. 

Most people think of tulips, bright colors, crisp white capris when they hear the word Spring.  I tend to think of red potatoes, sweet peas, asparagas and strawberries of course. 

New potatoes are tender and have such a mild creamy taste to them.  I just adore them.   Growing up my mom used to cook them with sweet peas in a creamy white sauce.  It was heaven. 

These roasted red potatoes are simple and flavorful.  A perfect side dish for any occasion.  These are fancy enough to impress your company as well as your family. 

 

Roasted Red Potatoes

{ingredients}

5-6 medium red potatoes, scrubbed and diced

1-2 T olive oil

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

½ tsp dried basil

{directions}

Preheat oven to 400*

Coat potatoes evenly with olive oil

Season with salt, pepper and basil.

Bake for 15 minutes.  Flip potatoes, careful not to tear crisp off of the potatoes.

Bake for an additional 20-30 min or until tender.


Love Yourself

0 comments on this article Posted by admin in Uncategorized on April 9th, 2012 .


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