Stromboli

After watching the food network I decided I wanted to make a stromboli! This ones even healthy with homemade sauce and whole wheat dough!

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Baked Potato Soup

This weekend Thomas and I decided to recreate one of our favorite soups at a restaurant, baked potato soup. The nice thing about making your own soup is that you can tailor it to your own liking.

UNCLE!!

Uncle Thomas holding baby Lauren!
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The life!

This is the life! I wish I had this all year!
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A very nervous kitty!

Laika is preparing for the worst at the vet. What you don't see is that right before I took this he was growling at me.
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Moving Day!

So much work! Thomas and I decided this will be the last time we move before we buy our forever house! You can see we have our work cut out for us today!
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Airport funnies!

I am sitting at my gate waiting to board my plane to New Orleans. The older couple next to me are cracking me up. The two of them keep complaining about everything starting with how long its taking to what the flight attendants look like. But the funniest thing that has been said was two girls walked by with strapless tops and the older man looks at his wife and said I think there ladies of the night! This is why I eavesdrop!
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Brussels sprouts!

On Sunday night I decided I was going to try a new vegetable brussels sprouts! I just cut them in half placed them on a baking sheet with bacon, olive oil, salt and pepper. I also put chunks of garlic in the oven for about 10 minutes. They were so delicious! Everyone should try them roasted!
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North West Pacific Trip

We just got back from our trip to Seattle, Washington it was a blast! While we were there we also went to Vancouver and Victoria B.C. It was great to see all the sites that I have never seen before.

Places in Seattle that were great to visit:
On the first day in Seattle we went to Pike Place Market. It was wonderful, you could get anything that you want there. We also went to the aquarium in Seattle that was great. While we were at the aquarium we bought these city passes that were 60 dollars each and gave us access to many different sites in Seattle. I would definitely recommend buying this if you are ever in Seattle. Some of the sites it included were the zoo, two visits to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Aquarium, a harbour tour and the EMP. All of these sites were amazing, there very typical Seattle sites. We also went and walked around the University of Washington. The campus was beautiful, a lot of the buildings were old and had wonderful architecture.

Restaurants in Seattle:
We ate at many different places while we were in Seattle. Seattle has a wonderful variety of restaurants that are super yummy. Lowell's a breakfast place with in the Pike Place Market, was wonderful. The restaurant had a water view from the top floor. The restaurant can become busy so just be prepared to stake down a table. When we first arrived we decided to go down to the waterfront and eat at Ivar's. Ivar's serves northwest cuisine, such as seafood. The seafood was very yummy, fresh and local. All the things that I love when trying out new things in a new city. I would also recommend going to the Pike Place Brewery, also located in the Pike Place Market. The brewery was very good food wise, but even better in beer. I got a sampler of beer and loved almost everyone. All of the beers are local to Washington State. For breakfast most days we went to a popular local doughnut place called Top Pot Doughnuts. The doughnuts there are very light and yummy. While we were visiting the University of Washington, we started to get hungry and decided to eat at a Mediterranean restaurant near campus. The restaurant is very yummy and best of all super cheap! Which of course by that time we were starting to get tired of spending money, so the fact that it was cheap made the food taste that much better. On one of our last nights in Seattle we ate a Thai restaurant in the downtown area called Wild Ginger. They served there food family style, which was great since Thomas and I love to order things and share them. All the food was very good, spicy and delicious. We'll just say that by the time we left I looked as if I had a food baby!

Here are some pictures from Seattle, Washington:

The cool fish hanging out at one of the fish markets at Pike Place Market.

The view from Lowell's, the restaurant in Pike Place Market.

A view of Seattle from the Harbor Tour.

Thomas and I from the Space Needle.

One of the beautiful sites at University of Washington.

Places to visit in Vancouver, B.C.

While we were in Vancouver we decided to walk around the city most of the time while we were there. While we were walking downtown we walked by Chinatown, Gastown and the water. We also walked along the English Bay and hiked in Stanley Park.

Pictures of Vancouver, B.C.

A view of the city from the harbor.

Chinatown!

Hiking in Stanley Park

Thomas and I at English Bay.

Places we visited in Victoria B.C.
Victoria is more of a smaller tourist town. We saw the Royal Museum of B.C., we went and saw a real castle, and the Parliament building. We walked all over Victoria and saw many beautiful places.

Restaurants in Victoria:

A few places I loved to eat at Victoria is this small waffle shop, there I ate a Belgian waffle with ice cream it was super yummy! We also at at a fry shop which was really yummy too. Both of these places were in the Market in downtown Victoria. The day we spent there was a lot of fun and full filling.

Pictures of Victoria B.C.

Beautiful Parliament building in Victoria.

Me at the castle in Victoria.

Cherry Blossom Festival

This year we finally made it down to D.C. for the Cherry Blossom Festival. It was very beautiful! I hope we can make it down to the festival again next year!

Layover in Chicago

We're going stir crazy waiting for our flight to Seattle. Its about hour 3 now!
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Low fat muffins!

So I am always trying to make the baking goods that I love low fat! Tonight I decided to make some! To make the muffins low fat I used greek yogurt instead of butter!
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Dinner in the slow cooker!

Our yummy dinner! Asian ribs, rice and salad!
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Nests!

In my class we have been talking about how things grow and change. So on Friday we made a chocolate peanut butter birds nest using marshmallows as the eggs. This cooking project was fun and easy. The kids loved getting messy and then eating there nest.
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The ways that I am on my way to getting old!

I just went to the eye doctor and was given glasses. The doctor told me that I not only need to wear them for reading but any other time that I am not driving. It just reminded me that I am getting old!
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ice cream for breakfast

This morning I decided to take the advice of my friend Brittney and made a fruit smoothie for breakfast. Except that mine came out more like fruit ice cream. I put frozen fruit and greek yogurt into my food processor. As I was blending it the yogurt and the fruit were really blending because the fruit was so frozen. I thought the only way I was going to get the fruit to defrost a little in a short amount of time was to add juice. I added the juice blended and it came together but super thick. So I decided to eat it with a spoon. It felt like I was eating bad because it was like ice cream for breakfast. It was the best breakfast ever!

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Manhattan

Our view of Manhattan from the Jersey turnpike. If you squint and look hard you can see the chrysler building.
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Fat Cat

This is my fat cat waiting patiently for me to get out of the computer chair. That way he can pounce on me and make sure that I feed him. As you can see he does not miss a meal!

Vacay!

I just used hot-wire.com and it was an amazing thing! I did the blind buying were it guarantees you a wonderful hotel for a low price, it really works! We booked a hotel that was a three star, king size bed for only 94 dollars a night! I only wish we would have booked all of our hotels this way!

Cheap Valentines Date

Well this year Thomas and I decided that we weren't going to give out gifts. So instead I decided that I would make him something, what has he been asking for, German Chocolate Cake. It was very delicious. This an easy way to show him how much I love him because if you don't know German Chocolate Cake takes along time. So just like always I looked to Tastespotting for a recipe. I then changed it to fit our needs. This is how I did it.

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces baker's chocolate (preferably: Baker's German Sweet Chocolate)
•        1/2 cup water
•        2 cups cake flour
•        1 teaspoon baking soda
•        1/2 teaspoon salt
•        1/2 pound unsalted butter, room temperature
•        1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
•        1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
•        1/2 cup brown sugar
•        4 eggs, separated
•        1 cup buttermilk    

For the Coconut Filling or as I do the Coconut Icing:

• 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
• 5 egg yolks, slightly beaten
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup butter
• Sweetened Coconut Flakes (however much you would like)
• Pecans Chopped (Toasted or not its up to you)

Steps:

The first thing you are going to want to do is melt the 4 ounces of chocolate. Place the chocolate pieces in a microwave safe bowl add the 1/2 cup of water, and put it in the microwave for 30 second intervals until it melts. Stirring after each interval. When you are done place it to the side for a moment.

While you are microwaving you can prepare the flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl and sift it together. In your mixer you are going to cream together the butter, sugar, vanilla extract, and brown sugar. Once its all mixed together and has a creamy look you are going to add the egg yolks one at a time. Making sure that after each yolk is added that they are well mixed in before adding the next egg yolk. Then blend in the chocolate that you have recently melted. Once the chocolate is blended, you can start adding the flour mixture and the buttermilk by alternating them into the cake mix. Do this until its all combined.

In a separate bowl put the egg whites in and get out your handy mixer and mix until your egg whites have stiff peaks. My suggestion is to place your egg beater on high, it will go a little faster.

Once you have stiff peaks you are going to slowly fold it in with the batter. You are going to do this until mixed in well. This will make your batter airy.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Place the batter into 2 (9 inch) cake pans.

Put in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes checking with a knife or toothpick to see if its ready. When it comes out clean its ready. It actually took me 35 minutes, and for the last ten minutes I had it resting in the oven while turned off, to make sure it didn't over cook. Let it cool.

Once cooled you can add your Coconut Pecan Filling. To make the filling first add butter, evaporated milk, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, egg yolks, into a large sauce pan, low heat. Keep on low heat until the butter melts. Once the butter melts turn the heat up to medium, stirring constantly. Your going to do this for about 10 minutes or until it thickens. Remove from the heat and add the coconut and pecans. Once cooled you can put on the cake.

I then add I heart you in pecans! Its wonderful!

Black Beans

So I've been trying to figure out how to make beans from scratch with out having to go through the big ordeal of soaking them for many hours. My friend Whitney sent me a recipe that just didn't seem to work out for me. So tonight I had an euphony. I would do the same thing all over again but just boil them for longer. I now finally have a big pot full of cooked black beans. I first washed them with the hose and gave them a shower as you will say. I then put them in a large pot and covered them with water. I then consistently boiled them for 2 hours, adding more water to cover the beans every 20-30 minutes, along with stirring them. I now have black beans that are not from the can. I am very excited!!!

Granola!

Yesterday between running errands to get ready for the week, and the super bowl festivities, I decided to make homemade granola. YUMMY! I love to look through cook books and find new things that I can make. I was flipping through Alton Brown's Good Eats (The Early Years) cook book and found a recipe for granola. I did change it a little bit just to adjust it to the ingredients I had in my cabinet and wanted to use.


Ingredients:
10 oz of rolled oats
silvered almonds ( put as many nuts you would like, it depends on how you like your granola)
pistachios
pecans
1 1/2 oz of sweetened coconut
3 oz of brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon of salt
3 oz of honey
2 oz of vegetable oil
cranberries (or any other type of fruit you would like)

Pre-heat the oven to 250 F. 

First put the rolled oats, nuts, coconut, brown sugar, and salt in a large bowl.

Next you will measure the honey and the oil and add to the dry mix. Make sure you stir really well to combine.

After you stir the mixture place it on a small sheet pan and spread out evenly.

Place the mixture in the oven for an hour, making sure that you stir the mixture every 15 mins.

It's very IMPORTANT that you stir every 15 mins to make sure the granola cooks evenly.

Once the granola is cooked let it cool for about 30 minutes. Then place the granola in an air tight container. I put mine in a gallon Ziploc bag.

Once in the bag add the cranberries and shake well to mix the cranberries with the granola. After you mix, eat and enjoy. The granola should last for up to a week, it also makes about a pound in a half. I really hope you enjoy the granola as much as I do.

LoNgAbErGeR!

On the side I like to sell Longaberger, which is a company that sells baskets, pottery (dishes) to sum up home decor. On February we started the new spring line. I was super excited about it! I had just gotten my catalog the month before and was ready to show everybody, and get my new stuff of course. Since it was a new line the home consultants were allowed to get a few samples. I decided to get the new cake stand, a party tray basket, and a potpourri basket. I love to bake so I was really excited to get the cake stand to be able to display all of my beautiful bake goods. Plus the best thing is that I can use it to display a center piece if I decide to have one of those fancy shmancy parties.





Once I got the new items in I was ready to show the world, then I decided maybe I should show all of my Longaberger items in home that one of you out there like something you see and would want to buy one of these great items or at least see what else we have. All the pieces are useful for many different ideas not just what they are designed for, of course you have to think outside of the box. For example I bought the utensil caddy, I don't really have the need to have something to hold my utensils for, isn't that what a drawer is for? So I decided that it would be great to use it as a sponge and soap holder for next to my sink. It was perfect! I was tired have the sponges fall down off the edge of the sink at times that I didn't really want it to. To be frank I was starting to get really mad! Then I saw this caddy and a light bulb went off in my head. There are many things that are in the catalog that have many uses. Click here if you want to check out my website.














 These are a few of the other Longaberger items that I have obtained. I love all of them. They help make the decor of my house perfect.