Mediterranean Bean Salad

Inspired by Pinterest I've decided to try blogging again. Since food is my love language, that is where I will start!

I've recently had twins and I don't have a lot of time to be doing ANYTHING, but I love cooking and I need to be in the kitchen, so I choose a simple, clean and refreshing bean salad to start out with.

Very simple ingredients and instructions. Don't complicate it!!
I can of white beans (rinsed)
1/2 cuke, diced
3 Roma tomatos, diced
small slivers of red or white onions
parsley flakes, S & P, EVOO, splash of lemon juice

1. Mix all together in a bowl.
Chill and Enjoy!

 

Before - After post are the best.

Check out this awesome transformation:

This poor brass lantern lamp almost had no chance at a new life. Until I came along and gave it a new lease on life.

After: Shabby Chic Lantern

I removed the bubble glass inserts and cut out the electrical wiring. I then spray painted it with Krylon Catalina Mist. Easy projects like this that are completed with relatively little work bring me so much gratification. :) 

My first before / after post!!!

I'm so excited about my first project that I worked hard to finish just to say that I finished my first project (except that I haven't really finished it because it still needs a clear coat).

I chose a vintage wooden highchair and decided to turn it into a shabby chic pretty little number.

We need a little rain in central Florida. Don't you just love the shade of blue I mixed up? 

Go love on your projects!! They are waiting for you. 

Absent no more!

Ya'll, I've been a busy woman. Since I last posted, I've moved away, I've gotten married, finished nursing school and moved back!

You will be seeing a lot more of my post floating through blog land. I have been working on special projects and I'm going to be re-designing the look of this blog with a new concept in mind.

Keep checking back. I will be back full force. (Let the force be with you!)

We will be trying our hand at CUPCAKERY

Many things inspire us on a daily basis, sometimes its a piece of broken colorful Mexican tile, sometimes its a letter, sometimes its reading a strangers blog. For me sometimes its cooking and baking. 


We plan on diving deep into the cupcake world; discovering variations of the classics and trying new uncharted territories. 


Our first attempt was a success and devoured by co-workers at Chris' job today. 

Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing

These moist pumpkin cupcakes can be tailored to your family's preferences. For a more grown-up version, substitute chopped crystallized ginger and dried cranberries for the walnuts and raisins.

Unfrosted cupcakes will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Once frosted, cupcakes are best eaten within 1 day.

Ingredients:

For the cupcakes:

• 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2/3 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 can (15 oz.) solid-packed pumpkin (about
    1 3/4 cups)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 1 cup canola oil
• 4 eggs

Directions:

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Line three 12-cup muffin tins with decorative cupcake papers.

To make the cupcakes, in a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Toss the walnuts and raisins with the flour mixture. (This will help prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the muffin tins.)

In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, granulated sugar, brown sugar and oil. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking after each addition.

Add the flour mixture in three additions, stirring with a large wooden spoon until just combined.

Fill the muffin tins about three-fourths full. Bake until the cupcakes are golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer the tins to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the cupcakes from the tins and let cool completely. 

For the Frosting:

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), room temperature
• 8 oz of Philly cream cheese (1 package), room temperature
• 2 - 3 cups of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Directions:

1 Cream the butter and cream cheese together, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing.

2 Add the vanilla extract to the mix.

3 Add the powdered sugar, continually taste to get to desired sweetness. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.

Tell us what kind of cupcakes your family loves? Any special recipes? We are on the look out for tried and true recipes.

September and Smokers

The weather in Central Florida has been quite tolerable lately. Although I prefer the actual seasons, I must deal with what we have here now. So the other day Chris texted me telling me he found a super cool smoker and a great deal for it on craigslist ($25) and asked if he could get it (what a good hubby to be!). Of course I said yes!

We scrounged around in the freezer for something to "smoke" and we came up with: 

Chicken leg quarters with Bobby Flays 16 Spice Dry Rub

They sell it already pre-made, but the link has the spices so you can make it from scratch.

Here's some action shots!

Not quite done yet......

Strawberry Ice Cream Time

Julian and Mommy finally got to make some ice cream! Daddy was at work, but we saved his some. 

It was our first time making ice cream and it turned out good and was very simple to make. 

Making ice cream was fun and super easy.
Here is the recipe we used:

2 cups of half and half

1 cup of heavy cream

1/2 cup of sugar

1 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients and shake until sugar is dissolved.

Makes 24 ounces

(We put the strawberries in once the vanilla ice cream had started to harden in the mixer.)

Waiting for ice cream to finish mixing.

All that hard work. Julian finally gets to enjoy his ice cream!

Have you made ice cream? What recipe did you make that turned out good?