November 9, 2015

Pinecone Craftin'

My sister has TONs of pinecones in her yard so I gathered a few (bags) up and took them home.  I didn't know what I wanted to make but I knew I could do something fun with them.

Eventually, they turned into 2 beautiful fall/winter wreaths!  I used left over spray paint to jooosh them up a bit and then finished them off with a satin sealer which adds a beautiful depth and helps protect them from the elements.

I kinda love them...

November 2, 2015

Homemade Chocolate Syrup (just like Hersheys)

When I saw Slow Roasted Italian post her Hershey's  Copycat recipe I HAD to try it.  I've loved chocolate milk since the day I landed on earth!  Seriously.  Chocolate milk.  Always.  Forever.

It was around 5:00am when I started and when my son came down to the kitchen around 7:00 the house smelled like heaven.

Its perfect.

(No, it didn't take 2 hours to make, it actually cooked up rather quick....the smell lingered, see.... told ya it was heaven).

 
Here's your link....

http://www.theslowroasteditalian.com/2012/07/super-simple-homemade-chocolate-syrup.html

October 13, 2015


SLOW COOKER
Cauliflower and Broccoli in Swiss Cheese Sauce
 
You know me and my slow cooker..... we are one.
 
http://www.bhg.com/recipe/vegetables/cauliflower-and-broccoli-in-swiss-cheese-sauce/

September 27, 2015

Slow Cooker Burrito Bowls

 
Slow Cooker Burrito Bowls
 
Absolutely perfect for fall. 
Can you imagine how yummy your house will smell while this is cooking?
 

 
 
 

August 9, 2015

July 17, 2015

Organizing Finds

Totally forgot I had these!  I've been cleaning out cabinets and bam, there they were.
Love 'em.
 

Everything tastes better with Bugs!

July 5, 2015

Propagating Sweet Potato Plant

 
(Sorry, not the best pic)
Sweet potato plants are my favorite.  I LOVE how they spill over the edge of planters and their lime green color is so refreshing during Utahs hot, hot summers.  Around here theres only one nursery that sells sweet potato plants so every spring I head there as early as possible, they are the first to sell out.  This year, which isn't unusual, I didn't buy enough of the plants so I thought 'Hmmmm, I wonder if I can make some starts of my own like I do with my gorgeous wondering jew??'  Yup, it worked!
 
 Yay me!
 
There is one little trick....
 The new roots sprout off from where new growth has started so be sure to cut below and make sure that area of the stem is kept in water.  The roots in this above pic grew in less than a week!

June 21, 2015

Moroccanoil Treatment AKA Liquid Gold! Review

Moroccanoil.... What can I say, it is liquid gold.  Seriously.  My poor hair has been through heck due to all the medications I have to take.  THIS is the ONLY product that actually made a difference.  It makes my hair soft, silky, shiny and just plain yummy. 
 
This stuff is a bit expensive but its so worth it.  I've tried so many different products and have accomplished nothing but wasting money and further damaging my hair. 
 
Heaven forbid they ever stop making this product, I don't know what I'll do!  Ok, not going to think about that.  
 
I buy my Moroccanoil from Amazon and with their 'Prime' I have it in 2 days. Yay Amazon!
 
 

ACV (apple cider vinegar) Review

I LOVE THIS STUFF!
 
My skin feels amazing, its clearer, brighter, softer.... Ya, I love it.  I've been using diluted ACV after washing my face twice a day.  Love, love, love it.

June 11, 2015

Apple Cider Vinegar


I've been seeing more and more articles related to the benefits of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar so I've finally decided to give it a go.
 
Tonight (night 1) I decided to put a little in my bath water, use it as a rinse for my hair and also diluting it and using it as a facial astringent.  According to Scarlet Johansen, this stuff is her secret to flawless skin.  What can it hurt right?
 
So far, its actually worked.  My skin does feel softer and I'm not carrying my lotion bottle around with me.  I'm really surprised that I like it on my hair.  I can definitely see and feel a difference.  My hair is soft (almost too soft) and really shiny. 
 
I plan to keep using it in various ways over the next week and will keep updating my progress........
 

 
Here is a link to a site listing several ways to use ACV, check it out!

Frozen Slow Cooker Meal Facts...

HELLO! 
I loved this post from the beautiful ladies at How Does She.
I swear I live for slow cooker meals.
Thanks ladies!
 

Click here for all the info.....
 
 
 

June 6, 2015

Overnight Oatmeal

My family LOVES oatmeal, don't know why or how but I'm sure as heck not gonna question or mess with it in any way!  I bought instant oatmeal for a long time and my mom would always tell me that instant isn't as good for you however the 'instant' part was super convenient come 6am. Right mammas?  So I've been noticing all these recipes for overnight oatmeal, literally my first thought was 'Duh!'  What a no-brainer yet I never once thought of it on my own.

 
Tonights recipe is simply oats, strawberry banana yogurt and a little milk.
 
You can do any flavor you choose.
 
Brilliant.

May 30, 2015

Applebee's Copycat Spicy Queso Blanco

Slow Roasted Italian strikes again!  My heavens, how yummy does this look?  Its a copycat from Applebees, I've never had or heard of it but I am certainly going to try this one out.  SOON.




Applebees Copycat Spicy Queso Blancomakes approximately 2 cups

1 tablespoon refined coconut oil (or other neutral oil)
1 small onion, divided
2 - 4  jalapeno peppers, seeded, deveined, and minced (divided)
½ cup heavy cream
8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, cut into chunks
4 ounces white American cheese, cut into chunks
1 ½ tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro, divided
1 Roma tomato, deseeded and diced

Cut onion in half and mince one half.  Set aside. 

Warm oil in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Add 2/3 of minced jalapeno and grate ½ onion into pan.  Stir to coat and cook for 3-5 minutes until tender.  Add cream and bring to a bubble.  Add cheese a little at a time, stir until cheese is melted.  Stir in 1 tablespoon cilantro.

To create a simple pico de gallo:  Combine chopped onion, tomato, ½ tablespoon cilantro, and remaining jalapeno in a bowl.

Pour queso blanco into a medium size serving bowl (2 ½ cup or larger).  Top with pico de gallo.  Serve and enjoy!

COOK’S NOTE:  Adjust jalapenos according to the heat you would like.  For mild heat, add less.  For a spicier dip add more.

Amazing Summertime Floats!

Oh wow, check these out.  How fun and refreshing!
 
Thanks People for offering up such yummy goodness...

May 28, 2015

Grilled Lemonade


I cant believe what a difference grilling makes in fresh lemonade!  Ah! So yummy and the smell while the lemons are grilling is like heaven.



I sliced the lemons in half, dipped the cut edge in sugar and threw 'em on the grill.  I let them grill for about 10 minutes before bringing them to start juicing.  You wont believe how easy it is to juice hot lemons.  The caramelized lemon and sugar adds amazing flavor.




Tin Can Flower Pots


I bought too many flowers and didn't want them to go to waste, I also didn't want to spend more money on pots so I painted up a few tin cans. Easy, easy, easy.

May 27, 2015

Canvas, Lace & Spray Paint Art Project

Since I'm a 'cake lady' my cake room needed a break from all the cake.  It was screaming for something different.  I had 2 big canvases hiding in the basement, some lace scraps and spray paint in the garage.......
 
This is what happened.


 
 
I simply laid the lace over the canvas until I had it placed just so, then secured the lace to the back so that it didn't slip or move in any way while I painted.  Next I just grabbed the can of paint and went to town.  So easy its ridic. 
 







 
Side note....
 
The blue spray paint just happens to match my favorite comfy shoes (also the cheapest trainers I've ever owned). 

May 14, 2015

More... Slow Cooker Recipes

The lovely folks at Pick Your Plum posted slow cooker recipes on FaceBook, 100 of them in fact.  Who wants to spend time cooking in a hot kitchen during summer?  There are so many
better things to be doing. 
Slow cookers to the rescue!
 
 

Pallet Planter

This took me forever to finish....because I couldn't decide exactly what I wanted to do.  After checking on line, gathering ideas and a few discussions with my son (my helper in the attached pictures) this is what we came up with and we are quite happy.  Originally we were going to fill all the little 'boxes' but then we came up with this alternating idea.  We just put the flowers in today but in a few weeks as they start to grow and fill in, the whole planter will look lush.
 
I think this project is progress report worthy.  I'll do my best.
 
 


Mexican Slow Cooker Recipes

Here are a whole bunch of yummy Mexican Slow Cooker Recipes (lets call them MSCR) from one of my favorite blogs 'How Does She'.  Its no secret I LOVE slow cookers, throw everything in, turn it on, put on the lid and tada, come dinner time its ready to go.  Oh ya, and lets not forget how the house smells heavenly all day long.
 
 
 
 

May 13, 2015

Tiramisu Mousse

Browsing through Facebook tonight and THIS pops up.  My goodness, its like a gift from heaven, tiramisu mousse without the cake part (lady fingers).  Its quick, easy and certainly sounds yummy - Dough Style, for sure!
 
I cant wait to try this, I hope, I hope, I hope I have time this weekend to whip some up.
 
Jump over to Crazy For Crust blog for ingredients and instructions.
(Link below)
 
 

Pallet Planter

So.... I started this project a few weeks ago and just haven't had the time to work on it.  Tonight I stayed up a little late and was able to line and plant 2 sections.  My goal is to continue doing a little at a time and by next week it should be done.  So far, I'm loving it.
 
(Does anyone know where I can buy a few more hours for my days?)


 
 
 

Strawberry Habanero Spread from The Slow Roasted Italian

Wow.
I've never seen this before but I have to try it.  I think I just found my weekend project. 
If this turns out yummy I just might have found my Christmas neighbor gifts too.
Yay me.
Winning.
 
 

May 2, 2015

Blueberry Zucchini Cake!

 
Uhm, WOW.  I am baker has done it again.   This looks amazing and I cant wait to try it!

April 8, 2015

Marvelous Molds Review



I LOVE this product from Marvelous Molds and I've finally had the time to sit down and play with it and perfect my technique.

My first few tries were incredibly frustrating.  I watched several instructional videos, all done by different people and they made it look so easy....I however....ya, I had a few issues.  My biggest problem was how to get a clean sharp cut edge.  Finally I realized that fondant and gum paste has to be rolled thin so that the silicone mold cuts through completely.  Once I figured that out, I was golden.


(There's a little gold spot on my white fondant, this was FIXED prior to the event)

For this cake I used 50/50 mix (fondant/gumpaste) and colored it a deep yellow then painted it gold with Aztec Gold luster dust.  It took a few coats to get the shade of gold I was looking for but it went much faster than expected.

So at the end of the day, I really enjoy this product my only complaint is price!  My heavens they are so over priced its silly.  I paid around $28 bucks for a flimsy little piece of silicone.

April 4, 2015

Slow Cooker Jalapeno Popper Chicken Taquitos

I just tried these out on a group of young men and they APPROVED.  Enthusiastically.
 
They are super easy and I admit I enjoyed them as well!  These will be showing up on my dinner table quite often.
 


 
 
 
I also made a batch of CafĂ© Rio's Creamy Tomatillo Ranch Dressing.  To Die For.
 

 
There are many recipes on the net which are all very similar.  This is my own combination of what I have found online and what my boys like.
 
 
1 packet dry Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
1 C. buttermilk
1 C. mayo
1 jalapeno chopped, remove seeds
juice of 1 lime
2 tomatillos, husked and roughly chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 bunch cilantro leaves coarsely chopped
 
Place all ingredients into a blender.
Blend on high for 2 minutes
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving
 
*****
 
*My boys like to see a little 'chunkiness' in their dressing so I pulse the mixture a few times until I have small enough chunks that will pass through a squeeze bottle.  I remove about 1/4 cup of the dressing and set it aside.  Now I blend the rest of the dressing for the full 2 minutes.
After 2 minutes I add the reserved dressing back into the blender and pulse everything together a few more times. 
This is mainly for appearances.
 
**This dressing will go FAST.  I always make a double batch or more.