Thursday, January 28, 2010

New Rosaries




I have been busy working on new rosaries. I love how these came out. The rosebud rosary is the faintest of blues. Very pretty and very delicate. I have also been making rosaries for our boys school. They are auctioning off a dozen rosaries for our second grade class. I made 6 pearl rosaries for the girls and 6 blue rosaries for the boys. It was fun to make them. I unfortunately I forgot to take any pictures.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Menu Wednesday Week #4

Here is this weeks menus. Bon Appetit!

Wednesday: Turkey meatloaf, potatoes, cut up vegetables

Thursday: Tofu parmigiana/Chicken parmigiana, pasta, salad

Friday: Grilled cheese sandwiches and broccoli cheddar soup

Saturday: Grilled salmon, rice, carrots

Sunday: chicken enchiladas, Mexican rice, beans, salad

Monday: hamburgers

Tuesday: teriyaki chicken rice bowl

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Valentine preview




I was checking out all the crafty blogs I follow and came across this idea with the hugs and kisses frames. So cute! It is from Taterots and Jello and she has a very cute and creative blog. I love how simple and cheap the project was, but the results looked like something I would see at Pottery Barn. I bought the frames at the dollar store and added valentine themed scrapbook paper. I picked up some petite marbles at Michaels and glued them on. I also found at Michaels these cute little red heart ornaments. I tied them onto a ribbon with scraps of burlap and toile fabric. I like how festive it looks. Check out Tatertots and Jello. She has great ideas and wonderful tutitorials.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

A teenager in the house



I can't believe we are almost already through January. We have had a lot of activities already.
My oldest son had his birthday this past weekend. He is now officially a teenager. Unbelievable! I think he has grown up overnight, at least that is what it feels like. He is funny, outgoing, sensitive, smart and all around great kid. Happy birthday kiddo!

Menu Wednesday Week 3

I wanted to give feedback on last weeks menu. The two Rachel Ray Magazine recipes were okay. I don't know if I would make them again. Here is this weeks menus. Bon Appetit!

Wednesday: Appetizer Dinner

Thursday: Shrimp & Chicken Etouffee with rice, veggies

Friday: Chili & Fixin's

Saturday: Ham & Cheese Crepes, Parisan Salad

Sunday: Grilled flank steak, rice pilaf, salad, green beans

Monday Sausage & Cheese Quesadillas

Tuesday: Baby Back Ribs, potatoes, salad

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Menu Wednesday Week 2

Oops! I didn't get a chance to post yesterday. I wanted to give some feedback on last weeks menu. The crepes were fantastic. My family really liked them and they were easy to customize. I will make them again. The beer braised steak was not as good as I had hoped. I will have to play around with that recipe to see what I can do to make it work. Here is this weeks menu (a day late).

Thursday: spaghetti, garlic bread, salad

Friday: Dinner out (Pizza)

Saturday: chicken gyros, pilaf, salad

Sunday: Birthday Celebration (my oldest turns 13!) Grilled flank steak, raviolis, garlic bread, salad

Monday: grilled 5 spice shrimp, rice, veggies

Tuesday: Vegetable noodle stir fry

The last two days are recipes from Rachel Ray's Mag. I will let you know the verdict. Have a great week!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Honey & Goat Cheese Filled Fig and Flaxseed Muffins





Oh, are these good! They are also good for you. I was browsing the new Eating Well magazine and came across this recipe for honey & goat cheese filled fig muffins. They sounded too yummy. You can click here for the original recipe. When I started to make this recipe I decided to omit one of the eggs and add ground flax seed as a substitute. I used Meyer lemon zest with the goat cheese filling. I also didn't have any white whole-wheat flour so I just used regular unbleached. I would absolutely make this again.

Honey & goat cheese filled fig and flax seed muffins (adapted from Eating Well Magazine)

3/4 cup crumbled soft goat cheese or reduced fat cream cheese
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
2 cups of unbleached flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 large egg
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon ground flax seed( mixed with 3 tablespoon of water and let sit for 2 minutes to gel)
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup lowfat buttermilk
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons of turbinado sugar

Preheat oven to 425 degree F. Line muffin cups with paper liners or coat with cooking spray.

Thoroughly combine goat cheese, honey, lemon zest and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla in a small bowl. Set aside.

Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Lightly beat eggs, egg white and flax seed mixture together in a medium bowl; add brown sugar and the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla and whisk until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in buttermilk and oil until smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined; do not over mix. Fold in figs.

Spoon half the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Add 1 generous teaspoon of the reserved cheese filling to the center of each muffin, and cover with the remaining batter. (The filling should not be visible.) Sprinkle the muffins with sugar.

Bake the muffins until the edges start to brown and the tops spring back when gently pressed, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool.

Meet Audrey




I was able to go and visit my cousin and see her new baby over Christmas break. She is so cute and adorable. I really enjoyed holding her and listening to her coo and talk. I spent most of the time playing with her and smelling that new baby smell. Love it! My boys loved seeing their cousin as well and playing with her big dog, Wiley.

It was a fun visit. I can't wait to go back and spend more time with them.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Menu Wednesday, Week 1

Wow, this is our first menu of the new year. Here it goes.

Wednesday: pizza

Thursday: crepes with ham and cheese
crisp salad

Friday: deconstructed sushi bowls

Saturday: Grilled Fish
brown rice and sweet potatoes

Sunday: Beer braised sirloin tips with mushroom sauce
Yukon gold mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli

Monday: homemade tamales

Tuesday: Slow roasted pork shoulder with carrots, onions and garlic
potatoes
crisp salad with amazing dressing

Bon Appetit!

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Happy Birthday Little Guy!





My little guy is eight years old. I can't believe another year older! He is my daredevil, my fearless one. That is what gives me more gray hair. I love your sense of humor, your compassion and your joy for life. Happy Birthday my love!

Happy New Year!

Wow, I am so happy to say goodbye to 2009! What a rough year. I have a very optimistic heart for 2010. We all had a really nice Christmas. The boys received lots of nice gifts and really enjoyed their time off from school. I thrive on routine and will be happy to get back into one. I don't know why I always get so harried with time leading up to Christmas. My hope for this year is to slow down and enjoy the time with family. I am not one to make resolutions for the new year, however I plan to have a goal list. I decided that instead of saying or thinking I wish I had done that, I am just going to set it up as a goal. Nothing to huge, just things I have wanted to try.


I did do some baking this Christmas. The one thing I made that got me into trouble were these little candies.

They are called Buckeyes and they are deadly. They are a peanut butter centered candy enrobed in chocolate. Too good! I got the recipe here.

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