Thursday, February 4, 2010

Red Lentil Soup


Sometimes
it just feels
like a
"soup day"

You know
what 
I mean?

Today
was perfect
for a 
good
bowl of
soup.

 


Red Lentil Soup 

5 slices bacon, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
4 medium carrots, diced
6 fresh sage leaves, minced
1 cup lentils
1 tsp ground cumin
5 cups chicken stock


1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, cook bacon until crispy. Remove bacon but keep the bacon drippings in the pot.

2. Add garlic, onions, and carrots to the pot and cook until softened (about 5 minutes). Add sage and cook another minute.

3. Add lentils, cumin and stock. Simmer for 30 minutes.

4. Season with freshly ground pepper before removing from stove. And then garnish with bacon bits.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Homemade Samoas Bars


I always
got so
excited
whenever the 
Girl Scouts
came around.

Because
that meant
 COOKIES!

But why
wait
all year...

when 
you can
make
these.

 


Samoas Bars

Cookie Base:
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt

1. First make the crust. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar. Add the egg and vanilla until well combined. Then add the flour and salt. The dough should be crumbly.

3. Press the dough in prepared 9x13 inch baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes.

4. Completely cool on wire rack before topping.


Topping:
3 cups of shredded coconut
12 oz chewy caramels
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp milk
10 oz semi-sweet chocolate

1. Toast coconut under broiler until lightly browned.

2. Unwrap the caramels and place in a microwave safe bowl with the milk and salt. Cook on high for 2-3 minutes, stopping to stir frequently to help the caramels melt.  When smooth, stir in the toasted coconut.

3. Spread coconut/caramel mix evenly over the cookie base and let set until cool.

4. When bars are cooled, cut with a sharp knife or a pizza cutter.

5. Once cut, drizzle melted chocolate over the top.




Posted 1 Year Ago: "Spicy Dinner"

Kitchen Love


This is
the most
wonderful
kitchen
ever.


I found
it at

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Monday, February 1, 2010

Ruche Giveaway!




My favorite
store
is having a...

GIVEAWAY!!!

 

Go check
it out.
I love Ruche!

Gabrielle Kai



I love these
dreamy
photographs...


 

 

 


They are
created by...


and they
make me
long for
summer.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Baked Turkey Meatballs



For dinner
tonight
I made
Baked Turkey
Meatballs.

And they were
delicious!



It was my
first time
making
meatballs...

and this
recipe
was so
easy
and
quick.

I would
definitely
make them
again.

 


Baked Turkey Meatballs
Adapted from Gourmet  

1 cup Italian bread, torn to pieces
1/3 cup milk
3 oz pancetta, finely chopped (you can also use canadian bacon to save on the cost)
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
1 large egg
1 lb ground turkey (you can also use ground chicken)
2 tbsp tomato paste, divided
3 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

2. Soak the bread pieces in the milk until softened. About 5 minutes.

3. Cook in 1 tbsp the pancetta, onion, and garlic in a skillet with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper until softened. 

4. Squeeze the bread to remove the milk, then discard the milk. 

5. Lightly beat the egg in a large bowl, then combine with the chicken, 1 tbsp tomato paste, pancetta mix, bread and parsley. 

6. Form into meatballs and arrange on a baking sheet. 

7. Mix the remaining 1 tbsp of the tomato paste and olive oil together and brush over the top of the meatballs. 

8. Cook 20 minutes (sprinkle Parmesan on top 5 minutes before taking out of the oven).


 





Valentines Day Dress


Valentines Day
is quickly
approaching...

which means
that Micah
and I
will
hopefully
be going
out to
dinner.

Which leads 
me to 
think...

I need
a new
dress!
What do you
think of
these...

 

  

  

  

Which 
dress
would you
choose?

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Au fil de


Here is
another
wonderful
photographer...


 

 


And you can
check out
more on
Au fil de's
beautiful
blog!

Friday, January 29, 2010

Cranberry White Chocolate Scones


Why would you
buy scones
anywhere else...

when you could
make them
yourself!

 


Cranberry White Chocolate Scones
1 1/2 freshly grated lemon zest
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp cold butter, grated 
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1 lg egg
1 lg egg yolk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup half & half
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, lemon zest and butter until it looks like coarse meal.
3. Add the cranberries and the white chocolate.

4. In a separate small bowl, beat the eggs and heavy cream together. Add to the flour mix and stir until just combined.

5. With floured hands, form small round mounds on prepared baking sheet.  
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden on top.

A Vintage Gift



During the
Christmas
season...

I was so
blessed
to be
given...


8 pairs of
vintage shoes!


The are now
one of my
favorite
things
to wear.

Spring Lookbook



Ruche
has created
their...



 

 

 

Love it
Love it
Love it


Posted 1 Year Ago: "Dreaming of Summer"


Thursday, January 28, 2010

Cobb Club


I don't 
necessarily
consider
myself
to be a
"sandwich person"...

but lately
I have been
eating
so many
delicious
sandwiches!

For example... 



I made a
"Cobb Club"
today
for
Lunch.

So good...

you should
try it
too!


Cobb Club Sandwich
Adapted from Rachael Ray 


4 slices bacon 
4 slices white or wheat sandwich bread
Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), for drizzling
Two 8-ounce pieces skinless, boneless chicken breast, halved lengthwise
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
1 small avocado
1 tsp granulated garlic
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
1/4 cup sour cream 

2 leaves green-leaf lettuce 
4 slices tomato 
2 thin slices red onion 


1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Bake the bacon on a broiler pan until crisp, about 15 minutes.

2. While the bacon is cooking, toast the bread.

3. In a large skillet, heat a drizzle of EVOO over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning once, until golden, about 6 minutes; season with salt & pepper. Stir in the butter and hot sauce.

4. In a small bowl, mash the avocado with the garlic and lemon juice. 

5. In another small bowl, mash the blue cheese with the crème fraîche. 

6. Spread the avocado mash on 2 slices of toast and top each with a lettuce leaf, a chicken breast half, 2 tomato slices, an onion slice and 2 bacon strips. 

7. Spread the blue cheese dressing on the remaining toasts and set on top. Slice and serve!





Monogrammed Mugs



I have
posted
about these
monogrammed
mugs
before...



 but this
from Snippet & Ink,
inspired me
to get them
and spell out...

HANSON


Posted 1 Year Ago: "Finally"

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Crostini


Tonight for dinner
we made...

Sauteed Chicken w/Artichoke and Angel Hair

and

Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Crostini...



The pasta
was good...

but the crostini
was great!



Here is the
recipe
so you can
make it
yourself...


Roasted Red Pepper Pesto Crostini
Adapted from: Williams Sonoma

1 baguette cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 tbsp butter, for brushing the baguette slices
1 small clove of garlic, peeled
1 red bell pepper
1 tbsp pine nuts
1 1/2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp fresh parsley
1 tbsp fresh basil
1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice
pinch of cayenne pepper
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

1. Preheat oven to broil. Spread a small amount of butter on one side of the sliced baguette. Toast in oven until edges turn slightly brown.  


2. In a food processor, pulse garlic, red bell pepper, pine nuts, Parmesan, parsley, basil, lemon juice, cayenne, salt and pepper. Pulse until well mixed and all chopped up. 


3. Spread on toasted baguette.


4. Enjoy your Crostini!

 


 

Yummy!








My oldest and dearest.


I am so
excited
to announce
on my
blog...

that one of my
very best
friends
was featured
on the
wedding blog....





Kelly is a
very talented
artist,
florist,
cupcake extrodinare,
and
wedding planner!

And P.S....
it's her
Birthday
today!

Happy Birthday
to one of my
oldest
and dearest
friends.




Le Jarden Girl


I found
a new
photographer
who I
love.



 

 

I find
this
photography
so inspiring.



Posted 1 Year Ago: "Red Velvet Cupcakes"

Monday, January 25, 2010

Marie Antoinette


Do you like
the movie

I love it.

It is
one of my
favorite
movies.



Well,
when I
was on
today...

I found
this
shoe maker...



 

 

I think
that these
Marie Antoinette
inspired
shoes
are wonderful!