Appetizer- Smoked Salmon on crackers

Smoked salmon on crackers with sour cream and capers!! Make this for any appetizer and your guest will have something to talk about!! Enjoy!!

 Very tasty!!

BAKED BRIE

Ingredients:

Brie cheese

1 package crescent rolls

jelly of your choice

egg

walnuts

 roll out entire crescent roll
brush with egg
spread jelly on bottom
place walnuts on bottom
place brie cheese in center
wrap entire cheese with crescent rolls
brush with egg yolk
bake on 375 degrees for 12 minutes
ENJOY

This is WONDERFUL for a holiday party dish!! It SOO good!

Chicken Bacon Wraps

 Ingredients:
12 chicken breast halves
2 packs of Cream Cheese chives and onions
12 strips of bacon
salt
butter

Take cream cheese spread and spread over chicken
sprinkle salt and butter on each slice
Roll up chicken
Roll bacon up around chicken
place toothpick in
Back in pan on 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes
ENJOY!

Christmas Cookie Containers

This is the perfect (budget friendly) gift for giving your friends Christmas cookies. Its easy and fun at the same time.

 All you need:

Scrapbook paper
Christmas embellishments (ribbon and stickers)
Paper letters
Mod Podge
Glue Stick
Zip-lock storage containers

 Directions:
Trace and cut paper to fit top of container lid
Glue paper with glue stick to top of lid
cut your embellishments as you want
stick stickers on top
tie ribbon
after your finished decorating your lid, cover all with mod podge (I used a sponge to apply the glue)

Now, bake your favorite Christmas cookies and place in container.

Easy Bake Banana Bread

This Easy Bake Banana Bread is super easy and super good. I made it for my husband and I one night out of boredom and instantly feel in love with homemade banana bread. I never thought I would be able to make something so good and so easy!!

  

Ingredients:

- 1 stick of butter, softened (I use unsalted butter)

- 2 eggs

- 4 very ripe bananas, sliced into 2 inch pieces

- 1 small container of Fage plain Greek yogurt

- 2/3 cup of sugar

- About 3 to 4 shakes of Vanilla extract 

- 2 cups of all-purpose flour

- 3/4 tsp of salt

- 1/4 tsp of baking powder

- 1/2 tsp of baking soda

- 1 tsp cinnamon 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. I placed the following ingredients in my food processor (but if you don't have one you can combine the following ingredients in a medium sized bowl): butter, eggs, Greek yogurt, sugar, and vanilla extract. I pulsed the ingredients about 3 or 4 times or until it was a smooth liquid. (Obviously if you are using a hand mixer or doing it by hand, continue to do so until smooth.)

3. In a separate bowl combine the rest of your ingredients: flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon (or in my case cinnamon sugar).

4. Slowly pour your dry ingredients into your wet ingredients (aka your food processor/mixing bowl) about 1/3 at a time, mixing well between additions. 

5. If you do decide to add in your own mix-ins (i.e. chocolate chips, walnuts, etc.), this would be the time to do so.  

6. Pour the mixture into a greased loaf pan and bake for about 50 minutes or until your test fork comes out clean. 

 7. Once the bread is finished, remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes

CUP CAKE POP'S!!

REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUP CAKE POPS!!!

1 bx	cake mix, devils food or yellow cake mix
1 can(s)	cream cheese frosting
3/4 c	reese's peanut butter, creamy
3	regular sized reese's peanut butter cups (melted)
2 pkg	dark chocolate melts-you can also use peanut butter melts
24	cake pop sticks (michael's sells these in the aisle with the cupcake liners)
24	lollipop bag
24	6" pieces of decorative ribbon to tie bottom of bags
4	ground up butterfingers bars or various decorative sprinkles
1	large styrofoam block or a large box flipped over on its top with 24 holes punched into it (use a screw driver to do this)

1

 You can either make your own vanilla or devil's food cake from scratch or if time is short you can make a store bought mix. Follow box directions and add 1/2-3/4 of a cup of creamy peanut butter. You can add more or less depending on how strong you like it. Allow to cool completely.

2

 Once cooled, crumble the cake with a fork into small pieces. Melt 3 regular size or 6 small Reese's peanut butter cups in the microwave in 30 second increments. Do not substitute any other type of peanut butter cup. The flavor will not be the same!

3

 Add the slightly cooled peanut butter cups to 3/4 of a cup of your own home made cream cheese frosting and gently incorporate into the cake crumbs. Mix with a spoon until frosting is completely combined with cake. You can use 3/4 of a cup of store bought cream cheese frosting. Either will work.

4

 Roll mixture into half dollar size balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet. (Should make 20-24)

5

 Place them in the freezer for a little while to firm up (at least a few hours). Ideally you will want to plan ahead and leave them in the freezer overnight. They are so much easier to deal with then.

6

 Before you take the cake pops out of the freezer, melt chocolate (you will need 2 packages for this many cake pops) in the microwave per directions on package. (30 sec intervals, stirring in between). I like to use the dark chocolate, but you can also use the peanut butter flavored melts. Merckens makes the best.

7

 Once you are ready to begin,remove cake pops from freezer. Dip the tip of your lollipop stick in a little of the melted candy coating and insert into the cake balls. (Insert about half way.) 

8

 Once firm, carefully insert the cake ball into the candy coating by holding the lollipop stick and (using a spoon) pour the melted chocolate over the cake pop until covered. Coat them twice and make sure to make a complete seal around the entire cake pop. Especially the base when the stick was inserted. Once covered, rotate until the excess chocolate falls off. Don’t tap too hard or the cake ball will fall off as well!

9

 When the chocolate is almost set, sprinkle the top half of the cake pop with ground up butter finger candy bars, finely chopped peanut butter cups, or orange and brown decorative sprinkles.

10

 Using a styrofoam block set in a box or flip a large size box over and punch holes in it with a screw driver, set them in the block or box to dry. Do not place them in the block until they are almost set, otherwise you will get a big chocolate mess!

11

 Once completely set, you can use the smaller lollipop bags and decorative ribbon to cover them. I like to coordinate the ribbon with the type of cake pop. I used brown and orange striped ribbon for my peanut butter cake pops. Enjoy!

FOUND AT http://www.justapinch.com/recipe/miranda-gellert/peanut-butter-cake-pops/cake

Chix Pot Pie Muffins!!

Tonight Derek and I got together and made these delicious Chicken Pot Pie Muffins.They are so FUN and so GOOD!!! 

 1 can of reduced fat biscuits (10 count)

- 1 cup cooked chicken breast, diced
- 1 (10 1/2 ounce) can reduced-fat cream of chicken soup
- 2/3 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
- 1 cup of frozen mixed veggies (I use broccoli, cauliflower, corn, peas...anything)
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Separate biscuits and place each biscuit in a cup of a lightly greased 12-hole muffin pan, pressing dough up sides to edge of cup.
3. In a medium bowl, combine chicken, chicken soup, veggies, cheddar cheese, parsley flakes, and black pepper. Mix well to combine.
4. Evenly spoon chicken mixture into prepared biscuit cups.
5. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Remove from oven. Place muffin pan on a wire rack and let set for 2-3 minutes. Serve at once.

Ikea Inspiration

White Derek and I were on our Honeymoon, we went to the Ikea store in Charlotte. WOW, I was in heaven.  They had so many design ideas in the store, you can just buy the entire setup and not even have to decorate yourself. Although, I always love to add my own style into their already set up rooms.

Here is a pic of some of the living room furniture I will probably buy to go in our house but add some of my own colors and tones....Here's the idea

Walls- Medium blue..almost a purple

Coffee table- old wooden crate

sofa- Grey soft as pictured

side chair- as pictured

tv stand- as pictured

sofa table- as pictured

accents and colors-

lime green

medium blue

wood tones

 I do like the idea of having this sideboard in the dining room with the cabinetry above with the lighting underneath. I think it adds a romantic feel to the room

 This is my dream kitchen for sure. I already have a blue kitchen aide mixer that is pretty much my inspiration for the kitchen.

cabinets- white
counter tops- bamboo
appliances- stainless steel
backsplash- blue
sink- as pictured
floor- wood

 I am IN LOVE with the laundry room for two reasons. Its light and fresh looking and love the extra shelving and storage beside the washing machine and dryer.

 This is for sure going to be somewhere in my kitchen (hopefully eat in) and have a dining room on the side. I love the wood tones with the modern white/metal chairs. Its so modern yet old feeling. A MUST HAVE.

If your interested in getting ideas for a remodel or decor project ...check out your nearest Ikea store.

Wall Strips

When we finally own our own home (hopefully soon), I will SO have wall strips in either 1 or 2 rooms. I love the verital and horizontal wall strips. This will probably happen in the hall bathroom and the laundry room. Take a look at these few photos I found online.

Bathroom organization

what a savvy and cute way to organize your bathroom necessities. The importance of having q-tips, make up sponges and cotton balls are a necessity in all bathrooms. I love this idea and it hardly cost a dime.

Wingo Family Binder

Wingo Family Binder. What a GREAT idea for VPI stuff in your family!!!

Things to buy:

3 inch binder

pocket folders

you need your computer and paper for printables

 Each section holds very important information.
Sections to include in binder:
HOME (MORTGAGE INFORMATION AND OTHER IMPORTANT HOUSEHOLD PAPERS)
IMPORTANT (SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, BIRTH CERTIFICATE)
MARRIAGE (MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE)
GIZMO (CAT INFORMATION INCLUDING SITTER, VET, VET PAPERS AND IMMUNIZATION RECORDS)
NURSING (NURSING LICENSE AND CERTIFICATIONS)
TAXES
RECEIPTS
MEDICAL
AUTO
CREDIT REPORT
CHECKS
GIFT CARDS

For the cover of the binder, I just printed out a sheet of paper and glued the paper on with mod podge.
This is a great way of keeping all of our important papers together and most importantly being an organized family!!!:)

More home inspiration pics!!

here are a few blog inspiration DIY pics that i have found and LOVE LOVE LOVE... 

reminds me of built-ins. These cabinets are from Ikea.

 DIY desk top with bottom cabinets from Ikea. AWESOME idea!!!

 Closet workspace. Beautiful wallpaper and desk with white shelving, lamp, and clear desk chair. so perfect and pretty.

 kitchen/dining room table made from wood floor planks and 2x2a. GORGEOUS.

DIY nightstands. original piece from Ikea. Paint, stain, and knobs added. and WA-LA!!! perfect, beautiful nightstands.

Canon EOS

The Canon EOS

Great for picture taking with photoshop!!

NEXT TO BUY!!!