cranberry walnut crostinis

cranberry walnut crostinis :: one of the many yummy treats we made for our open house party.  these cranberry walnut crostinis are super easy to make and make wonderful little appetizers for any occasion.  since we moved into our new house that has a rosemary bush, i have been searching for new ways to use rosemary and these crostinis are definitely my new favorite use for the herb.  

ingredients ::

1 baguette of french bread

8 oz of crumbled goat cheese

2 cups of cranberries

2 cups of walnuts

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary

honey

what to do::

1. slice baguette into 1 inch pieces

2. toast pieces at 350 degrees for 10 minutes

3. let toasts cool

4. spread goat cheese on toasts

5. top with walnuts and cranberries

6. sprinkle rosemary on top

7. drizzle honey 

enjoy!

pumpkin chocolate chip muffins

fall is in the air and i am trying to eat slash drink as much pumpkin as possible!  my sweet friend chane over at what the hart likes makes the most amazing pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.  she made them the other day and since we don't live in the same city any more, i decided that it was time i learned how to make them myself.  after getting home from the store and realizing that i didn't have enough oil, i knew it was time to get creative and test out the applesauce for oil trick.  thankfully, it worked! so, here is my take on the best pumpkin chocolate chip muffins in the world!

mix together in a large bowl::

3 eggs

2 TB oil

1 C natural, no sugar added applesauce

(i used the vermont organic brand)

1 can pumpkin

2 C sugar

2 C white flour

1 C whole wheat flour

(3 C white if you don't have wheat)

2 C chocolate chips

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp nutmeg

bake at 400 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes

makes about 24 muffins

yum!

::

 

chunky guacamole

hey there blog friends.

i am here to share with you a little recipe!

i have recently fallen in love with guacamole, specifically the chunky kind.

thank you to my friend al for showing me the ropes.

so, here is what you'll need ::

1 tomato

1/2 yellow onion

2 cloves of garlic

2 avocados

handful of cilantro

1 lime

salt and pepper to taste 

what to do ::

chop up all of the ingredients

place in a medium size bowl

squeeze the lime

add some salt and pepper

mix everything together

enjoy!

easy veggie pasta

i took this picture back in november, in hopes of sharing a new recipe before christmas. alas, that did not occur! i made this dish for supper club a few weeks back, and after rave reviews, i decided it was time to share. i discovered this dish about a year and a half ago in one of my cooking light issues. this dish is a trifecta: inexpensive, easy, and healthy. i have made it so many times, i don't even need to look at the recipe. but, you don't know it yet! so, let's share.

ingredients:
8 oz of whole wheat farfalle pasta (i have also used penne)
1 tsp of olive oil
1 large pack of baby spinach
1 onion, sliced thin
1 pint of grape/cherry tomatoes, halved (2 C)
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tsp dried oregano (i use fresh when i have it...a couple of sprigs)
1 TB white wine vinegar
shaved parmigiano
3/4 C crumbled feta
salt and pepper to taste

what to do:
1. cook pasta
2. in a large pan, saute onion in oil until golden
3. add oregano
4. add garlic, saute' for 2 min
5. add tomatoes and vinegar
6. add spinach and cook down until soft
7. add pasta
8. remove from heat and add cheeses
9. salt and pepper
10. yum!

i have used more garlic before, less cheese, more white wine vinegar, and even some red pepper flakes. it all just depends on what i have in the kitchen :)

lemon garlic shrimp pasta

happy last day of july, everyone.

here is that new-easy-cheap-healthy recipe i had told you about.

i found this recipe here and have made a few adjustments.

it is so yummy and a perfect end of summer dish.

ingredients:

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 TB parsley (6 TB fresh parsley)

1 TB minced garlic

2 tsp red pepper flakes

ground black pepper to taste

1 pound of shrimp, peeled

1 package of spinach

linguine pasta

parmesan cheese

what to do:

1. in a large bowl, stir together the olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, garlic,

red pepper flakes, and pepper

2. remove half of the mixture for pasta sauce

3. add the shrimp to remaining mixture

and marinate in refrigerator for 30 minutes

4. saute the spinach

5. cook the linguine

6. after 30 minutes of marinating, cook shrimp until pink (either on grill or in a skillet)

7. combine spinach, linguine, shrimp, and remaining mixture.

8. top with parmesan cheese and enjoy!

we made it.

to the beach that is.

after we packed up our little ellie, we had a delightful last supper with our small group including my favorite kabobs and twice baked potatoes!

we are going to miss our small group so much! thank goodness we aren't moving that far away.

the drive down to florida was so delightful in the new car! in case you didn't know, cruise control is an awesome invention. the entire trip down i kept thinking about my to do list and my packing list. packing for 100 degree and 50 degree weather in one bag was a challenge for me and i knew i was going to forget something.

after we unloaded and moved into the beach house i realized what i had forgotten: my favorite bathing suit that was hanging in the laundry room. no big deal right? i had packed two others. wrong. somehow in all of my packing and repacking one of my bathing suit bottoms had disappeared. so, i have 11 days at the beach with 1 1/2 bathing suits. every morning i get up and say to myself "gee, i wonder what suit i am going to wear today?" ha. i guess it could be worse... when i was probably in 2nd or 3rd grade my family and i came down to the beach house for a long weekend and somehow my parents forgot all of the luggage. i can remember my mom asking my dad "where is the suitcase?" and then my dad responding with "i thought you put it in the car". i'm sure it was really stressful for my parents, but my sister and i were very excited to get a new bathing suit and outfit from one of the shops downtown. funny how children perceive things!

so, what have i been up to? not much, which is just the way i like it. the weather has been perfect and we have enjoyed relaxing by the pool and dining on the porch. we have also been reading and eating a lot.

currently i cannot get enough of the swan house by elizabeth musser. i am a little over 1/3 of the way done and it is one of the best novels i have ever read. it is so good that i can't put it down, and i don't want it to end. thank goodness there is a sequel!

as for eating, i can't get enough of this dip! black bean and corn dip. we found it on darby's blog and it is the best snack ever. i am not a fan of black beans, but i love this dip. so don't let the black beans deter you.
you are going to want to make this dip, so here it goes.

ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3 cans of black beans, drained and rinsed {15 oz size}
• 3 cans of shoepeg corn, drained and rinsed {15 oz size}
• 1 bunch of cilantro, chopped finely
• 1 bunch of scallions, chopped
• feta cheese {8 oz}

what to do:

1. whisk sugar, vinegar and oil in a large bowl
2. add everything else
3. mix well
4. chill for a few hours {the longer it sits, the better it is!}
5. serve with chips

hope you enjoy :)

little red velvie

tonight i spent some time making this sweet girl. and it was heavenly.

i am always up for a reason to bake this red velvet cake and celebrate. the reason for whipping her up? well, this week is also my friend jenny's birthday! i know, i am surrounded by birthdays this week and i am loving it. this cake will definitely brighten up the lunchroom table tomorrow. happy birthday, jenny!

yummy cream cheese icing

lots of batter

uh-oh, one layer broke. what to do? i think i'll turn it into a cup of cake.

i had to make sure it wasn't poisonous :)

oh, and you are going to want to make sure it isn't poisonous either.

new favorite recipe

last week i mentioned that we were trying out a pioneer woman recipe for tacos. i have to report that they were good and a lot of fun to make, but not something that i will really crave having again. i am not really a huge fan of hard shell tacos and they were a little greasy for my liking.

i do have to report that we tried another pioneer woman recipe last week and it is super yummy! we loved it so much, that we are making it again, tonight!

BBQ Chicken and Pineapple Quesadillas

*we added our own little touch to the jalapenos by frying them*

ingredients:

• chicken
• bbq sauce
• pineapple
• tortillas
• 3 jalapenos
• an egg, 1/2 C milk and bread crumbs {optional, for the batter}
• shredded mexican cheese
• 1 TB of cilantro

what to do:

1. grill chicken and pineapple chunks
2. brush bbq sauce on chicken
3. slice jalapenos thinly
4. mix 1 egg and 1/2 C milk together*
5. dip jalapenos in milk mixture*
6. dip jalapenos in bread crumbs*
7. create quesadillas!
8. sprinkle bbq sauce, cheese, and cilantro on top
9. heat quesadillas in skillet
10. eat and enjoy!

mmm i love grilled pineapple.

chicken smothered in my secret "KC{M}'s Masterpiece" Sauce

let me know your thoughts on the dish!

in gym news, i can't feel my hamstrings and it pains me to walk. thank you leg machines and tread mill.

in american idol news, i am excited to watch the results tonight! hopefully i will be 3 for 3 on my predictions!

off to cook and watch idol. be back soon!

farfalle with roasted garlic and tomatoes

oh my gosh, yum-o! at the cheesecake factory, there is this delicious pasta dish that i have always wanted to know how to make. it's called "farfalle with chicken and roasted garlic" in case your ever there. so, this summer, i googled it, desperately trying to find some kind of recipe. i found this blog that mentioned this dish and included a recipe that the blogger had tried. so excited about this find, i decided to try it out myself! i have made a few adjustments and after making it for the second time tonight, i am ready to share it with you!

what you will need:

• farfalle pasta {aka bowtie}
• 1 pound of chicken
• 5 pieces of bacon
• 1 onion
• 1/2 bulb of garlic
• 4 tomatoes
• 2 C of frozen green peas
• olive oil
• 1/2 C milk
• 1/2 C cream {or 1 C half&half}
• 1/2 C parmesan cheese {more if you are feeling cheesy}
• salt and pepper to taste

what you do:

1. preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. on a long piece of tinfoil, place sliced tomatoes and half of bulb of garlic
3. cover tomatoes and garlic with a generous amount of olive oil {about 5 TB}
4. roast tomatoes and garlic for 45 minutes
5. cook pasta
6. cook bacon {you could also buy pre-made bacon bits}
7. cook chicken {we grilled ours}
8. in a large skillet, saute onion in a little olive oil
9. after the 45 min is up on the tomatoes and garlic, smash up the garlic cloves and add them and the tomatoes to the skillet
10. add the cooked bacon and chicken
11. add the milk and cream
12. add the frozen peas
13. drain the pasta and add it to the pan
14. bring to a boil and then let simmer for about 5-10 minutes
15. salt and pepper to taste
16. add the parmesan cheese
17. enjoy!

okay, so there are a lot of steps, but it is really easy, i promise! next time i am going to add a little bit of red pepper flakes to give it a little kick.

ready to roast!

oh how yummy

spider cookies

i made these fun little treats for our small group last night :) double stuff oreos, pretzel sticks, a lil peanut butter and some m&ms for the eyes. what's not to love?! happy halloween week!

fruit pizza

happy sunday morning! we have been enjoying our morning before church doing some chores and enjoying some time on the porch. i love waking up and doing stuff before we go to church. it makes the day seem longer and therefore the weekend longer! i have been meaning to blog about fruit pizza for a while now. i have been making this delicious dessert for years and every time i make it, i realize just how much i love it. it is super easy and always a crowd favorite. it's also great for breakfast!

what you need:

1. a tube of sugar cookie dough {i cheat and use the pre-made stuff. you could also make it from scratch, but who can beat pillsbury?}
2. 8 oz of softened cream cheese {i use reduced fat}
3. 1 cup of powdered sugar
4. 1/2 tsp of vanilla
5. fruit

what to do:

1. roll out cookie dough onto a baking sheet
2. bake dough at 350 degrees {according to package}
3. let dough cool
4. in a separate bowl, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla
5. after cookie has cooled, spread cream cheese mixture on top
6. decorate with favorite fruit and chill in fridge until ready to enjoy!

birthday picnic

last night we had the harts over to celebrate our july and august birthdays. we had originally planned for a dinner picnic, but due to the constant rain on saturday, we decided to take our picnic inside. we snacked on hummus, bean and corn dip, and honey greek yogurt with berries.

for the main dish, i tried a new pasta salad recipe. now, when it comes to picnic-y foods, i usually struggle with pasta salads, potato salads, chicken salads, etc. because i am not a huge mayo fan. i also was looking for something light and healthy. so, when i found the zucchini and almond pasta salad on smitten kitchen's website, i was excited. healthy, easy, and didn't break the bank. the three requirements that i strive to reach with every recipe. i made a few adjustments and i was very pleased with the results!

ingredients:

• box of whole wheat rotini
• 3 zucchinis
• small package of sliced almonds {about 1/2 cup}
• 3 chicken breasts
• 1/2 TB basil
• parmesan cheese
• 5 TB extra virgin olive oil
• juice of 1 lemon
• salt and pepper

what i did:

1. cook pasta according to package, drain, and let cool.
2. slice zucchinis thinly and cook down for about 5 minutes in a skillet with some olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.
3. toast almonds on a baking sheet in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes at 300 degrees
4. cube chicken breasts and cook in skillet. season with basil, salt, and pepper
5. in a large bowl, combine pasta, zucchinis, almonds, and chicken.
6. in a separate bowl, combine 5 TB of olive oil, juice of 1 lemon, and pepper to taste. whisk together.
7. pour dressing into the large bowl and toss.
8. add parmesan cheese shavings and salt and pepper to taste.
9. chill in refrigerator until ready to be enjoyed!

good saturday mornin'

let me just start off this post professing my love for weekends. after waking up at 5:50 am monday through friday, all i want to do is sleep in. i miss recreational sleeping during the week so much that i look forward to going to sleep friday night, just because i get to sleep in on saturday. well today, i "slept in" until 8:30 {gosh, when did i grow up?} and decided to start the day off with some hearty breakfast. i found a yummy recipe for blueberry pancakes and decided to give it a shot. the best part about this recipe? i had all of the ingredients already. it called for 3 cups of buttermilk, so i got to use more of the buttermilk that i had to buy for the red velvet cake that i made last weekend. here is what you'll need:

• 2 cups of flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 TB sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups of buttermilk
• 4 TB butter, melted
• 1 cup of blueberries

now what?

1. whisk dry ingredients together in a bowl.
2. add the eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter and whisk together
3. add 1/2 cup of mixture to griddle or pan and flip when you it begins to bubble!

what a good morning.

it's always a party when this one comes to town.

ha. no, but really. miss k.t. came to auburn town this weekend, and we had a blast. now, i am kicking myself that i don't have pictures of two things to show you: 1) we went to earth fare for lunch and had amazing sandwiches and 2) then we went to the new cupcake store in town. yep, auburn is cool. i will be going back to both of those places soon, so i will have to document them on my next go around. anyways, back to the weekend. we also hit up the apartment pool {what-what} and partied with the fam at night. the night was over around 8:30, which was perfect because we then got to do what we do best: fall asleep during movies. {lindsay, you should have been there.} tyler rented the book of eli. when he explained it to me after my long nap, it sounded really good. too bad i was out cold. church was fabulous as usual and then katie had to go :( it was a short visit, but a good one. my afternoon was spent at the k-roger and then in the kitchen with this girl:

red velvet. 6 layers, ready to be devoured. this will definitely make monday a little brighter. yay for my co-worker's birthday!

now, is that really necessary?

when i got home from work today, there was an unfamiliar friend in my usual spot. hopefully he is just a visitor...

you better hit the road, big boy. this isn't monster truck rally, ya know. just a parking lot.

after gawking at this jumbo truck, tyler and i worked more on our bar stools. we are almost finished with them. all we have to do is seal them. i will post more about them later and include before and after pics {hopefully tomorrow}. here is a picture of one of them mid-process:

then we made some turkey burgers and sweet potatoes fries. i of course had to make some fried green tomatoes for mine. we went bunless this time and used boston lettuce instead {my fav}. such a yummy dinner. for more on this dinner, check out my previous post.

hope you had a wonderful evening! off to bed.

what's been cooking

why hello there faithful blog readers. i apologize for my delay. for some reason, i just have not found the time to blog lately. a lot has been going on, and i have been in crazy transition. so, this post is going to be a bunch of things all crammed into one. i just need to catch you up on so much! okay, so first off, what's been cooking. i was recently {i say recently, more like 3 weeks ago} was in kroger, aimlessly walking around trying to figure out what to cook for dinner. i knew i wanted shrimp, but what to go with it? i picked up this:

and found a wonderful shrimp dinner. definitely go out and grab it if it is still available! i made the "penne with pistachio pesto and white beans", "spicy chipotle shirmp salad", "farfalle with tomatoes, onions, and spinach" and the "chipotle - lime chicken skewers". it also has great burger ideas {obviously} and everything is yummy and good for you. a lot of the dishes have summery foods in them {think melon, berries} so hang onto summer and make some fresh dishes before things go out of season!

there are too many great recipes that i would be here forever if i shared them all. i will share the first dish i made, the spicy chipotle shrimp salad. i never follow a recipe perfectly, so here is my version.

what i bought:

• 1 large bag of frozen shrimp {peeled and deveined}
• 3 TB chopped red onion
• 2 TB chopped red pepper
• 2 TB chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 TB mayo made with olive oil {i use kraft's version}
• 1/4 tsp ground chipotle chile pepper
• 3 tsp fresh lime juice
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• small head of butter lettuce
• salt & pepper to taste

what i did:

1. grill shrimp
2. while grilling, mix in chopped onion, pepper, cilantro, mayo, chipotle chile pepper, lime juice, and cumin in a bowl
3. add cooked shrimp to the mixture and stir
4. arrange butter lettuce on plates and top with shrimp mixture

this recipe is beyond simple and it is so fresh and healty. serve it with some grilled pineapple and mango and it is delightful! i sadly don't have a picture to show you how beautiful this dish was...i was too hungry to remember to photograph it!

what else have i been up to besides cooking new yummy dishes??? well, lately i have been in a lot of transition. i finished up my babysitting job :(, we moved into our new apartment, and said good bye to the city, my atlfriends, and summer.

{special thanks to tyler's parents and small group friends for all the help! finished photos will be coming soon...hopefully sooner, rather than later!}

we spent the last friday in atlanta with some friends eating alon's take out at the drive in theater {2 movies for $7! what - what} and then roadtripped to asheville, north carolina on saturday for the day {we may or may not have woken up at 6 AM...}

while we were there, we of course ran into this one...

we had to eat at my favorite restaurant in asheville

and eat the best bacon in town

we then walked off a verry late lunch

saw the seights, before heading home

and then we may or may not have been stuck in traffic for 3 hours...

but we didn't care, because the day had been a shopping success!

what a wonderful end to a perfect summer!!!