My new spatula kicks other spatulas' butts!!!

I just got this new spatula and it rawks! I heart anything awesome and this is on the top of my kitchen list. Its by Torolo and I got it at Home Goods.

More of Christmas.....

Maddie and Gavin fixated on the decor.....

Me and Gavin playing around with the ornaments...

This is our DYI Strand of pompoms....just sew the pompoms onto a string of either thread or fishing line....and voila...christmas garland. We also strung popcorn onto the tree too.

Christmas Treats......

Hawaiian Delight Cookies.....
 
This isnt a traditional Christmas food at all, I wanted to do something fun and different and since Winter is not my exact favorite time of year (unless it snows), I like to remember that summer isnt but months away and to enjoy a bit of summertime I decided to make these cookies I came across on a blog I was reading....the recipe is by Kailani from Kauai, Hawaii and she has a blog called Island Life. See the link below...I tried going by the instructions exactly and nailed it. These cookies are so yummy! They take 12 mins to cook and are light and fluffy and full of yumminess! Any amature can do these without burning the batch. The following photos are my take on the recipe and my outcome. Thank you Kailani for sharing your awesome cookies!

http://islandlife808.com/category/local-reviews/recipes/



Hawaiian Delight Cookies

Ingredients:

1 c. sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/4 c. coconut
1/2 c. crushed pineapple
1 c. macadamia nuts (chopped)
1/2 c. butter
2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
16 oz. pkg. chocolate chips


Preparation:

1. Preheat oven at 375 degrees.
2. In a bowl, blend together the sugar and butter.
3. Blend in the egg.
4. Blend in the flour and baking soda.
5. Stir in the coconut, chocolate chips, pineapple, and nuts.

6. Scoop small dollups of the mixture onto a non-stick cookie pan.
7. Cook at 375 for 12 mins. Bottom should show a light brown in color.

Makes about 10-12 cookies.

Chicken Salad Surprise ~ YUM!!!

Chicken Salad Surprise

Ingredients:

1 lb shredded boneless chicken (you can also use pulled rotisserie from your local store)
2 cups red seedless grapes (halved)
1 cup chopped celery (diced small)
Tony's Creole Seasoning (I usually put in enuf to scatter the contents lightly, then mix in, and repeat two more times) (to taste)
Sea Salt (to taste)
Black Peppercorns (crushed) (to taste)
1 cup of Kraft Olive Oil Mayonaise
1 cup Light Sour Cream


Preperation:

1. Mix together the chicken, grapes, celery, mayo, and sour cream in a large bowl.
2. Scatter the top of ingredients with creole seasoning and mix in. Repeat this two more times*This is per my desired seasoning intake* (The seasonings need to be by taste per your liking.)
 3. Lightly salt and pepper the contents and mix in, you may want to skip the salt bc the creole seasoning also has a lot of salt in it. I love salt so I lightly salt and pepper mine seperately than everyone elses.

I served this with French bread from our grocery store, lightly buttered,  with lightly scattered garlic powder,  and sea salt.  Hope you enjoy!

Papa Lloyd: PO MAN's TURTLES RECIPE

How to make "PO MAN's Turtles

Spread mini pretzels on baking sheet, top with a Rollo or Hershey Kiss.  Bake in oven 4 minutes heat 350 until chocolate is melty. Top with a pecan half and mash flat.  Cool for ten minutes then place in refridgerator till chocolate sets, take out serve or keep covered until serving.

These are great to make with the kids!

I *heart* Beer Glasses!

I love these beer glasses! I dont drink often as much now as I used to, but I love them none the less. I pick one up almost everytime I go near the kitchen accesories section of stores and basically use these for all of mine and brians drinking needs. Some are cute, quirky, and down right funny. They are a very durable, thick glass, and very affordable! $2-$4 bucks a glass! I bought these mostly at Home Goods, World Market, Mojo Burrito, and Big River Brewery. You can stack them and at this rate, I have to to make room for them in my cabinets! I love my glasses!

Last Nights Dinner....

                                                           Cheesy Chicken Enchilla Dip



Ingredients:

4- large (1 lb. total) chicken breasts -boneless -shredded
1 cp rice (we use wild rice)
2 cps mixed shredded cheese
1 chunk or 1/2 cup shredded mozerella cheese or (Just enuf for flavor to mix in)
2 1/4 cps water
1 cp milk
1 can kernel corn - strained
1 can black beans - rinsed
1 small can enchillada sauce

Preparation:
1. Boil Boneless Chicken Breasts and place in a small bowl of cold water to settle the temperature. And set aside.
2. Combine Water, Milk, and Rice and Enchilla Sauce in a large frying pan, with temperature at high heat. As soon as the mixture starts to boil, reduce heat to medium or medium-low to a simmer.
3. Shred the chicken and place into the pan as you are shredding it.
4. After the chicken is shredded, combine 1 cup of shredded cheese along with the beans and corn. Let simmer for 5 mins then chunk the mozerella or scatter shredded mozerella in desired spots on top of mixture along with the additional cup of mixed cheese. Let sit and simmer for another 5 mins, then stir.
5. Serve mixture with toppings (Sour Cream, shredded cheese, jalapenos,etc.)

*** u can add banana peppers, or jalapenos if you like.
***If you want it to be more tasty, you can also use whatever tasty lager or ale for the holidays is out to your liking. No substitution needed, just simmer for a little longer than you normally would and the juice will extract as it simmers. A good ale to try is any type of pumpkin spice or thick wheat ale, for example. The flavors add really well to the rice and cheese.

***For a "quick" meal, you can use the "Hamburger Helper" boxed version or off brand of cheesy enchillada and add other ingredients not included and follow the simple directions on the box adding beans and corn in half way through simmering.

We didnt use tortillas to dip it with this time. We normally use "Scoops." The consistancy if thick enough that you dont need to use tortilla chips unless you just want to. If we use less chicken we use the tortillas.

Finnished off with a big glass of milk! We purchased "fun" cups and plates for Maddie and Gavin bc Maddie loves bright colors and Gavin needs extra pushes to eat all his food so making it as fun and presentable for them helps a lot. I got these cups in the $1 bin at Target!

Amys Awesome Chili!!!

                                                                  Amy's Awesome Chili


Ingredients (Yeilds One Large Crockpot)

3 med-large carrots or one bag of baby carrots (chopped)
1 medium onion (your choice as per what kind)
4 cloves of garlic (smooshed) or 2 Tbsp Garlic Powder
1 large yellow bell Pepper
1 large green bell Pepper
2 jalapeno peppers (seeded and chopped)
4 celery stalks (chopped)
2-(14.5oz) cans whole tomatoes (chopped)
2- (6oz) cans tomato paste
2-(15oz) cans black beans w/juice*
2- (5 1/4oz) cans kernel corn w/ juice
1-(15oz) can pinto beans*
1-(15oz) can kidney beans*
2 lbs ground beef (lean w/ 15% fat)
    (substitiute with 1/2 cup bulgur wheat if vegitarian version)
4 Tbsp Chili Spices
4 Tbsp Masa Flour
2 cups Beef Stock (substitute with 2 cups water for Veggie version)
1 Tbsp cumin
1 1/2 Tbsp dried basil
1 1/2 Tbsp dried oregano
2 tspn Kosher Salt
2 tspn crushed black peppercorns
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
(*Substitute beans to your liking, keeping the juices to add to stock)

Preparation:

1. Set uncooked ground beef and chili spice aside.
2. Combine all other ingredients in a large stew pot and leave to simmer.
3. Combine ground beef in a skillet. Once beef turns brown, add 1/2 cup water and the chili spice to the ground beef and mix until spices are fully saturated. (about 15 mins total time)
4. Transfer the contents of the stew pot and ground beef mixture to crock pot. Cook on High for 20 mins. While all of these ingredients are well cooked at least 20 or so minutes, it is edible for quick meals or leave in crock pot for 2 hrs on low heat for all flavors to cook evenly. You may need to add an additional 1/2 cup or two of water or beef stock about an hour in to keep from getting too thick.

(I am addicted to sour cream so I add a dollup of sour cream and shredded cheese on top for yum factor. Remember a lot of this is based on taste. I started with a base recipe and added a little here and there to my liking.)

YUMS!!!

                                                                   

ChattTown....beautimous!

Chattanooga, Tennessee....

Us: Photos of Me, Brian, Gavin, and Madison...

Me w/ Brian, Maddie and Gavin

The two of the most special little humans in this world!

My little bloggy blog!

Welcome to my little bloggy blog! This is my new blog of everyday lifes thoughts. It will mainly consist of my everlong love for photography, my interests in home and graphic design, recipes for awesome food, and consisting of family, friends, and people I encounter along the way. I hope you enjoy as much as I will enjoy posting things :)