Everyone’s Favorite Brownies
In theory, you can't really go wrong with brownies. That being said, I've had some pretty marginal brownies in my day. Dry, cakey, boring. These brownies are not those brownies. These brownies are AMAZING! I'm talking, uh oh, I just ate half the pan AMAZING! They are fudgey, dense, chocolatey deliciousness. If I was stranded on a desert island and could only eat one thing for the rest of my life it would be these brownies. A nutritional power house? Not exactly, but at least I would be happy while hoping to be rescued. I first had these brownies at my friend Jen's house. So thank you Jen for the introduction and the recipe. Here is what you'll need: 8 - 1 ounce squares, unsweetened chocolate (That's two full packages! ...
Classic Italian Pasta E Fagioli
Let me preface this by saying that this is not an original receipt. It is however one of my family's favorites and one that I get complements on all the time. My mom's family is Italian so I know what real Italian food should taste like and this is the real deal. The recipe was adapted from a book called, Italian Soup Cookbook by: Joe Famularo. It's flavorful and hearty, the perfect bowl of goodness on a blustery day. Serve it with slices of crusty bread and you'll have a table surrounded by smiles and full bellies. Here's what you'll need: 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 pound Italian sausage, casing removed (I mostly use sweet Italian sausage because that is what my kids prefer but I've also made it with hot Italian sausage and it is delcious!) 2 medium fennel bulbs, trimmed, core ...
Quick and Easy Chicken Broth
Store-bought chicken broth has come a long way over the years but I still like to make my own when I have the time. This recipe only takes about an hour and a half from beginning to end which makes time less of a factor when deciding to go store-bought or homemade. This broth also has the added benefit of providing a fully cooked chicken that can be used for a number of other recipes such as chicken salad, chicken enchiladas or white chicken chili. A lot of broths cook for so long that the chicken is basically unusable by the time the broth is done but not this broth. It will yield approximately 20 cups (5 quarts) of broth when you are finished too! That's 5 boxes of store-bought broth. Talk about a money saver. Here's what you'll need: 8-10 quart ...
Money for Nothing – Money Themed Birthday Party
In keeping with my son's usual, for his 7th birthday he requested a birthday party theme that I couldn't just run to the store and buy pre-printed super hero plates and napkins for. In keeping with my usual, I tried to give him the party he wanted without breaking the bank. Literally, this time. 🙂 I told myself that the request for a money themed party had to do with the fact that his dad works in finance and not because we were terrible parents raising the next Ebenezer Scrooge. I scoured the internet for ideas which almost always provides some jumping off point but to my surprise this time...nothing! I found a few Monopoly themed parties and one gold themed party but that was it. No inspiration. I was going to have to come up with this one all on my own. So if your future ...
Easy, Flexible Quiche
The versatility of quiche is undeniable. How many other foods can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Eaten slightly warm, room temperature or right out of the fridge? I love quiche! This easy recipe can be whipped up rather quickly on a weeknight and the leftovers (if you have any) are delicious for breakfast or lunch the next day. I usually double this recipe and cook two quiches side by side to guarantee leftovers. Cook once, eat twice...yes, please! Here is what you'll need. 9-inch pie crust - I used my own recipe but store-bought works beautifully too. About 2 cups of your cooked vegetable of choice - I most often use defrosted frozen broccoli because all you have to do is thaw it out and you're ready to go. Sauteed zucchini and mushrooms are delicious. Cooked or ...
Oregon Love: Graffiti With A Message
One of the things I love about where I live is that I am surrounded by art and artists. You can be going about your day and come across something like this. Graffiti with a cause if you will. Such a wonderful reminder in such an unlikely place. ♥ ...
Backyard Beach Party
What's a mom to do when her child wants a beach party and you live almost two hours from the beach? Throw a backyard beach party. Complete with pool, life size sandcastle and a soundtrack that will make you feel like you've got sand between your toes. For my son's 5th birthday he wanted nothing more than a beach party...at Noni's pool. I immediately started to brainstorm about how I could bring the beach to the valley. Not an easy task but I was up to the challenge. Lots of seashells, bright colored towels, beach balls and sand buckets were the first thing that came to mind. Then, I had a moment of brilliance. At least I thought it was a moment of brilliance at the time. Several hours into constructing it I was definitely second guessing myself but when it was complete ...
Crispy Crunchy Cookies
After having a few glorious days of sunshine the rain has returned to the Pacific Northwest. What do I like to do more than anything when it rains? Bake! Not particularly friendly to the waistline but oh so good for the soul. This cookie recipe has been in my family for years. My great-grandma passed it down to my grandma who passed it down to my mom who passed it on to me. It is very unique and one of the cookies that I most frequently get asked to share the recipe for. The base of the cookie melts in your mouth, sort of like a shortbread or sandy cookie but the added goodies, coconut, oats, rice krispies and nuts give it the most divine taste and texture. Here is what you'll need: 1 cup sugar (plus a little extra for flattening) 1 cup brown sugar 1 tsp salt 1 tsp soda 1 ...
Snowshoeing near Bend, Oregon
This time of year I always like to make a trip to the snow. We had planned on getting the kids on skis this year but after my husband partially tore his ACL and meniscus playing basketball it was advised that he didn't ski on it until further notice. The kids always love a day of sledding but I wanted to try something different. Cross country skiing crossed my mind but when a friend offered to let us borrow a few sets of snow shoes I knew exactly what our weekend adventure would be. None of us had ever gone snow shoeing before but we will definitely be going again. What a fun adventure! We started out our trip by stopping at The Powder House in Bend, Oregon. My friend only had snow shoes for three of us so we had to rent a pair for my daughter. The staff was very helpful and the ...
Finally
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. For quite some time people have been telling me to start my own blog and for almost as long I have contemplated it. I have taken photographs of parties, adventures and projects for years but just couldn't take that first step. I agonized over what I would name the blog, how I would lay it out, what types of things I would write about. You see, the blogosphere is vast and intimidating, their are so many talented people out there. I had convinced myself that the world didn't need another blog but alas I have finally decided that I was wrong. Today, I have finally summoned up the courage to just put myself out there. To push my insecurities aside, forget about intimidation and just write this. My very first blog post. I am not ...