July 5, 2010

Peach Rosemary Spritzers

Happy 5th of July! I am currently fostering a headache right now. It’s not a result of this cocktail, I promise. It was the beer that tempted me…and then hung me out to dry. Damn you, hot weather and beer! Why are you such a great combination??! Liquor before beer and you’re in the clear? Is that right? What about wine? Wine spritzer before beer and what happens? Headache the next day? Check!

OK my brain is mush. The point is…this spritzer is SUPER good. The best part is eating the syrupy rosemary peaches when you finish your glass! The rosemary does a nice job of cutting the sweetness of the drink. It’s also super good without the wine too! I sampled a little bit of the drink I made my pregnant friend. Tasty business. Make some!
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around the home, Uncategorized

July 2, 2010

Garden update, yada yada

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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recipes, Uncategorized

July 1, 2010

Corn & Basil Tart

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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around the home, Uncategorized

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?

recipes, Uncategorized

June 26, 2010

Raspberry Linzer Cheese Danishes

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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recipes, Uncategorized

June 25, 2010

Brazilian “lemonade”

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.

recipes, Uncategorized

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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