Going Green...

I have a special place in my heart 

for St. Patty's Day...

and it's well on it's way.. 

Here are a few things that I want to try

this year...

All found from fabulous Martha.. 

Lime squares with Pistachio

graham-cracker crust.. 

yummm

Simple and cute cupcakes... 

A stout float... 

Maybe something a little hearty...

like cheddar topped shepherds pie...

I think this year I need to actually pick

the things to make our family traditions.. 

I think that I will try a few things 

then pick the best!

Light Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup...

Confession.....

I am a food network junkie..

I do not partake in those Jersey shore kids' craziness..

or roses from the bachelor..

but if there is a food competition on.. 

I am there..

(chopped.. you are my love!)

So as any loyal follower should do..

I started getting the food network magazine..

This last edition revamped 

some dishes to be a little bit lighter...

and I just loved this one... 

for Split Pea Soup...

So easy.. 

especially with a little tweaking.. 

here is the original recipe...

All I changed was that I didn't bother

tying up the parsley stems.. 

with the thyme.. 

(because I forgot to buy thyme!

and all my string is colored.. 

anyone see Bridget Jones?!?)

so I just threw in some parsley..

and I didn't have a turkey leg.. 

plus.. 

I am a little weird about meat on bones.. 

yes, 

strange I know.. 

so I just cut up about 5 pieces of turkey bacon

(uncooked)

and let it cook with the soup.. 

and it was delish.. 

I also cooked some turkey bacon to put on top, 

and added a little bit of cheddar cheese.. 

so yummy!

And it's pretty close to 400 calories.. 

so that keeps the new year resolution demons far away!

Sunday Sweets...

I adore lovely Sundays...

The weather was beautiful.. 

and we went on a bike ride 

by Santa Monica's pier..

so lovely.. 

Then when we came home..

I knew...

it was time for some cupcakes!

I found a box of cupcake mix

with Paula Deen's

lovely face on it.. 

and how could I resist!

Plus,

it was nice because 

it was a small box..

just enough to make 12 cupcakes..

so perfect!

It was my first time using a piping bag!

I wasn't going for spectacular.. 

Just wanted to get a feel for it..

and it was quite fun!

Happy Monday!

Eat a cupcake!

Valentine Baking...

My true love 

lies in baking...

I love the whole experience.. 

the smells..

the little tastes here and there.. 

beautiful product afterwards.. 

and the fun of giving it away.. 

I love it.. 

even when it comes from a box 

and only takes 30 mins.. 

In fact, 

sometimes that is the best kind!

Here are some Valentine baking inspirations 

from Martha Stewart, of course!

Handwritten sentiments, 

on chocolate and nothing else!

Romantic Pecan Linzer Cookies... 

Fancy Heart Pops.. 

For something more simple, 

but just as lovely.. 

Cupcakes!

xoxox

Well, hello there 2011...

Welcome New Year, 

I plan to fill you with many new projects, 

flour and sugar, 

gifts for friends and family, 

and much more goodness.

A pleasant way to start.. 

would be with the champagne cake truffles 

which I made for our little family New Year's.. 

I used the recipe for the champagne cake and frosting

from Sprinkle Bakes.. 

which I posted here.. 

They were super yummy.. 

especially when dipped in Ghirardelli's white chocolate

and sprinkled with edible gold glitter stars! 

The cake turned out so perfectly tasty...
it was almost too sad to crumble it..

in fact I would make this cake for any occasion
it was so good!

Hope your New Year started with some 

bubbly goodness!

Chocolate Covered Orange-Peels

I was so excited when I saw these

on Cupcakes and Cashmere .. 

and when my son ate an orange the other

day.. I just couldn't stop myself.. 

I used the recipe she linked to 

which was originally posted on

Smitten Kitchen.. 

for Orangettes.. 

And a fun little gift for the holidays!

Not too hard.. 

just a little bit of time.. 

and soooo yummy!

Mini Pecan Pies....

Last year I made these amazing 

miniature pecan pies.. 

simple, cute, and tasty as all hell... 

I plan on making them again this year.. 

I even bought an actual mini muffin pan

instead of just using a disposable.. 

and I found a great way to spice it up a bit.. 

Chocolate-Cinnamon Whipped Cream

by Rachael Ray.. 

(picture from food network)

I might just eat it by itself.. 

yumm!

Today...

Today.. 

I'm feeling a little bit quiet, 

a little bit calm.. 

Thinking of beautiful things.. 

deciding what would be a good next project..

deciding when I should bake those 

chocolate chocolate chip cookies 

for my friends coming over tonight.. 

It's all a bit whimsical.. 

Hope you are having a pleasant day!

(image from twelve 22)

Linguine with Roasted Garlic and Pepper sauce..

To try and budget a little better

we have been eating at home more.. 

which can sometimes become a little boring.. 

especially if you recycle the same recipes over and over.

So I have been just searching all my cookbooks

and the fabulous web

for new recipes that are still nice and easy

I found a new recipe in a cookbook that we got

for just a buck.. 

my goodness.. 

I am finally unearthing all it's potential.

Linguine with Roasted Garlic and Pepper sauce!

Tyler Florence once said on his show that 

he always uses San Marzano tomatoes..

and I must say they add something special to every dish that 

they enter, maybe a little extra sweetness.. 

roasted garlic

yummy sauce

ta-da

Recipe for Red Pepper Sauce:

6 large garlic cloves (I only used five.. and was garlicy enough for me)

14 oz bottled roasted red bell peppers drained

7 oz canned chopped tomatoes

3 tbsp. olive oil

1/4 tsp. dried chili flakes

1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme or oregano (I used dried cause thats what I had)

Pasta (I used fresh linguine, yum)

Parmesan

First, you need to roast the garlic for 7-10 minutes at 400 degrees

Then start the blending.. 

the drained peppers, tomatoes, and oil 

then add the garlic, sans peels

and add the rest (chili flakes, thyme or oregano, and salt and pepper to taste)

Then heat up the sauce for your lovely pasta.. 

Nice and easy and new.. 

only took about 30 minutes.

mmm.... Strawberries..

We here in Simi Valley, California 

are pretty lucky.. 

we are right next door to some of the best strawberries

Oxnard strawberries.. 

You know those famous little berries who have their own festival..

Even though we didn't make it to the festival this year

These little berry stands are on every other street corner out here

And those little berries just sit there

Flaunting their cute little self's 

Adorned in such red's I am blushing just thinking of them...

Well, we bought some right up.. 

And we have been seeing red since..

First, and probably my favorite way to have them

was floating in a bubbling bath of sparkling spanish wine from

Trader Joe's.. 

For Five bucks it was pretty swell.. 

And of course, 

I had to try making strawberry bruschetta that Rachel 

posted this week.. 

and really umm.. amazing.. 

strawberries marinated and roasted in balsamic vinegar  

why have them any other way..

And for a Memorial Day's feast of a dessert.. 

I made a berry trifle courtesy of Ms. Martha..

another sweet success...

And finally.. 

The day ended in the perfect bliss of a 

strawberry margarita 

designed by my husband himself.. 

To all those strawberry lovers out there.. 

get busy!

Well Hello there.. 

We are back from vacation.. 

I got sick the first night.. not fair.. 

But when we got back my husband got me some of our favorite soup.. 

yumm..

It was perfect weather out in Palm Desert.. 

Perfect for swimming.. and lounging by the pool.. 

Trying to catch up on some of my magazine reading.. 

While we were there I had some amazing pasta 

with eggplant that just melted in your mouth amazingness

so I was inspired when I got home.. 

and made my first Eggplant Gratin..

Courtesy of the Barefoot Contessa.. 

So Delicious.. 

Now I'm working on the banner for my son's birthday party..

Everyone need's a birthday banner!

Happy Thursday!

Easter Snapshots...

So here are some snapshots to show my Easter weekend..

First,

 some DIY chocolate dipped rice-Krispie eggs..

Umm, can you say delicious.. 

I found the idea on the Rice Krispie Website..

And the idea to form them in the eggs from lovely Better Homes... 

They turned out pretty cute I think.. 

Then.. 

Some strawberries from the local farmer's market..

Delicious.. and of course, 

got to dip those in chocolate too!

Some beautiful flowers from the farmer's market.. 

Can not take any credit here.. 

but they were very pretty.

And some silly chick cookies.. 

I think that the chicks might look a bit sad.. 

But they sure tasted good..

And last but not least.. 

Some fun carrot silverware.. 

(Find the original idea here..)

Hope that your Easter was fun and filled with good things..

I also made my first quiche this weekend.. 

Thanks to Paula Dean!

Umm.. there's no pictures.. but it was amazing..

and there was none left by the end of the day!

*Marshmallows*

So I was watching Ms. Martha on the t.v. and she made beautiful marshmallows on her show.. 

and I thought.. well.. that really didn't seem to bad.. even though it was Martha Stewart.. 

I might just give this a try.. 

And hello peppermint marshmallows in hot chocolate.. it's like a Christmas dream!

So here it went.. and it was easy.. and it was delicious.. I almost don't want to give them away!

Letting them sit for two hours.. enough time to make sugar cookies and snicker doodles!

After coating in powdered sugar.. which made them less sticky

 and ready to package.

Of course I had to try them..

Beautiful!

Ready to go!

Merry Holidays!

*Steph