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July 2, 2010

Garden update, yada yada

echinacea!!!

I just realized that it’s been awhile since I updated my backyard garden progress. So what’s going on with that? Parts of my garden are thriving & other parts…not so much. It’s definitely been a learning process and I’m so fascinated by it all. I planted some Echinacea in the backyard and it’s finally blooming! It’s soo pretty! I love it.

What have I learned so far?
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July 1, 2010

Corn & Basil Tart

corn basil tart with tomatoes & basil topping

Here’s a little recipe that produces a very pretty & tasty result! I found it in a recent issue of Better Homes & Gardens. I am really starting to get into that magazine! Does that mean I’m a grownup? It’s a nice & light dinner option for summer. It would also be a hit at brunch with the ladies! The real star of this dish is the corn and the sliced tomatoes with basil! The recipe says the tomatoes are optional, but I beg to differ! They made the corn pop with sweetness. If I had it to do over again, I’d splash a few goat cheese crumbles on top! But that’s just me!
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June 28, 2010

Pin it Forward:

Good Afternoon!

Today I have the honor of being apart of Pin It Forward project that was started by Victoria of sfgirlbybay. There are ten groups of participants, and each day one blogger from each of the groups will write about our theme-

“What Home Means to Me

We all signed up to use our own pin-boards at pinterest! It’s a really cool website that helps a categorizes images on the internet.  It comes in handy for a hardcore internet browser, like myself!  It’s totally fun and you can follow the boards of some pretty inspiring people too!  You should check it out!  Here’s my own pinterest page!

So yeah…What does home mean to me?

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June 26, 2010

Raspberry Linzer Cheese Danishes

oooooh yeah baby!

I am rushing to get this post out to you because I want to give you enough time to gather the ingredients for your breakfast tomorrow! Pay attention. These danishes are AMAZING. Crispy flaky outside meets chewy gooey inside. Raspberry jam, marzipan & cream cheese unite to give your taste buds a happy dance! You will be amazed that you made these! You will also realize how much these trump the tired old store bought fruit/cheese danishes you are used to eating. Just wait until you taste one that’s still warm! Prepare to be thoroughly impressed!

You shouldn’t worry about folding the puff pastry. I was nervous that they were going be totally ugly because I made quite a mess in the process. I went through like 3 different styles of folding the dough on the first batch to see which one worked best. They all did. The combo of the toasted almonds and the sugar drizzle on top will mask any imperfections. And if they are still not perfect, one bite will tame that O.C.D. beast you have inside you. When I say YOU, I really mean ME. The end.
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June 25, 2010

Brazilian “lemonade”

brazilian limeade

We are enjoying this tasty beverage in our sunny backyard right now. Not only is it refreshing, but it’s super simple to make. No juicer is necessary. All you need is a blender! This limeade… has such a pretty color, huh? Opaque and slightly green…like lime colored milk glass. It also reminds me how much I love limes! It was the sweetened condensed milk that intrigued me to try this recipe in the first place! Any excuse to open up a can of that stuff and I’m soo ready! The slight bitterness of the zesty limes and the sugar in the ‘ade will compliment some gin nicely! Second round, prepare to get boozed!

Happy Friday to us!

Only 4 ingredients! Limes, water, sweetened condensed milk & sugar.

what's involved
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June 24, 2010

Coconut Date Rolls

I’ve never been a fan of dates until I tried one of these rolls. A few months ago, my coworker introduced me to the Whole Foods coconut date roll and I was hooked. I immediately liked dates! Who would have thought?! Two days ago, I had a MAD craving for them and immediately drove to Whole Foods to pick some up. I must have spent 30 minutes looking for them in the bulk aisle & produce section. WHERE THE EFF WERE THEY?!! I stared at the shelves for a long time, hoping that they would magically appear. Nope. They didn’t!  So I went home and obsessed about these rolls and decided to throw in the towel and make my own. I took another trip to Whole Foods and picked up the ingredients, whipped some up and and they turned out pretty awesome! The nuts weren’t in the original roll I tried, but they make a fantastic addition.  I’ve eaten like 5 today and Cooper has had two!  They are all natural and pretty guilt free (all the fat is good fat). It makes me feel good to know that something this good is not only simple, but free of heavy processing and unnatural sugars. It makes this momma happy.
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June 23, 2010

Brown Sugar Berry Cobbler

brown sugar berry cobblers!

I made this recipe on Father’s day primarily because I know my dad loves blueberries and is not a huge fan of super sweet desserts. I also knew that it would be a good medium for his whipped cream loving tendencies!  Although he spends most of his time denying it, he does like dessert. When I see him indulge, it makes me sooo happy; I could scream!  He loved this Brown Sugar Berry Cobbler and so did the rest of the fam!  We had a very few leftovers after the 5 of us were served, and no whipped cream was left in sight!  Strong work, Dad!

get your own!

I should note that I was able to whip up this recipe, take pictures, carry on a conversation with my mom in the kitchen, and put away dishes during the whole process. If that doesn’t give you an idea of how easy it is, then I don’t know what will! This recipe also has a lot of room for improvisation. Because I didn’t have enough of the blueberries & blackberries for the original recipe, I added 4 yellow peaches to the mix. It added a nice texture to the end result. A perfect summer dessert, for sure! Let’s get our cobbler on!
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