Archives for February 2014

Save Money and Get Creative on Valentines Day!

February 8, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Valentines Day is a great time to get creative and make something meaningful for that special person in your life. Last year I was inspired by some ideas I saw on Pinterest. I liked how people were buying chalk boards, putting them in a frame and decorating them to write messages on.

i love you bc

Instead of a chalk board, I decided to purchase a nice picture frame from Hobby Lobby picked out some paper (my favorite color turquoise) and used some stickers and rhinestones to decorate it. We use dry erase markers to write sweet notes to each other. 

My husband and I keep up with this board on a weekly basis. It truly is exciting when you notice something new is written!  We keep this board in our master bathroom so that our messages are private and so that our friends don’t gag over our sappy love notes when they come over to visit.

 

Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies

I love to bake and cook so this was a great way to give him something sweet for Valentines Day!

IMG_1923

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup + 1/8 cup of Strawberry Cake Mix (Pillsbury)

1 teaspoon of Vanilla

I large Egg

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

 

For the frosting I like to use the Pillsbury Funfetti frosting because that is our personal favorite and it comes with sprinkles!

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees

In a mixing bowl combine the softened butter, egg, vanilla and stir by hand or use a mixer on low speed. Add in the cake mix and stir until smooth. If the dough is too moist you can add more cake mix, one tbls at a time to make the dough form.

Make tablespoon sized balls and place on a greased baking sheet with adequate space in between the cookies. Bake 8-10 minutes.

After the cookies are cool, add the frosting and enjoy a sweet treat with your special someone!

Filed Under: Miscellaneous, recipes

Easy Italian Chicken

February 7, 2014 By Leave a Comment

photo-126I love Italian chicken, especially because it is super easy and delicious!

PREP- marinate the chicken breast in italian dressing over night
Pre heat oven to 350 degrees

INGREDIENTS:

2-4 Chicken breast

1/2 cup of Italian dressing

Italian Panko bread crumbs

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Balsamic glaze

 

Mix Parmesan cheese and panko bread crumbs in a small bowl

Dip Chicken into bread crumb mixture and coat completely

Place chicken into a baking dish and bake 40-45mins

Once cooked, drizzle with balsamic glaze

**I love to accompany my italian chicken with bacon wrapped green beans drizzled with soy sauce and brown sugar, baked 30 mins at 350 degrees!

Filed Under: recipes

4 BOURBON recipes that will get you extra points!

February 2, 2014 By Leave a Comment

I think football and bourbon go great together! I have compiled 4 different recipes here with my favorite Bourbon Whiskeys.

Pick your poison and make some great cocktails at your super bowl party! Dont forget folks, drink responsibly!

bourbon

DEVILS CUT-

“Dancing with the Devil”1 Part Fresh lemon sour

1 Part Pineapple Juice

1 Part Devils Cut

A few Dashes of Tabasco

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Pour shaken cocktail into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with a cherry.

MAKERS MARK- 

“Mark and Stormy”

1 and 1/2 Parts Makers Mark

Cold Ginger Beer

Lime

Build in a highball glass over ice, garnish with a lime

 

KNOB CREEK SMOKED MAPLE- 

“The Muddled Creek”

2 Parts Knob Creek Smoked Maple

Ginger Ale to taste

Splash of Triple Sec

Orange Slice

Maraschino Cherry

In a rocks glass, muddle orange slice. Add Ice and pour in Knob Creek Smoked Maple and splash of triple sec. Next add a spash of gingerale to top it off and garnish with a cherry.

JIM BEAM HONEY-  

Chilled shots for when your team scores a touchdown!

 

Filed Under: Drink recipes

The Budweiser Clydesdales, Meet and Greet!

February 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment

 

Last year at the Daytona 500 I was working all weekend at the raceway and had to arrive  ridiculously early. Every morning my girlfriend, Jamie and I would go and visit the Clydesdales and the dalmation.  We would watch the guys groom them, play with them and get them ready to be hitched up for the day. The guys working with the horses started noticing us every day so they told us we could come back at the end of the race and we could do a  “behind the scenes” tour.

photo 2

I was so thrilled to get the chance to play with the Clydesdales because they are like celebrities to horse lovers like me! I have always been a HUGE fan of their commercials but to get to meet them up close and personal was so exciting!  As the race wrapped we went over to the Budweiser display and first we got to play with the dalmation, “King” was his name, appropriate right? This dog was wild! He was running around, not really listening to the guys at all and acting like he was indeed the king.

Finally they took us back to the horse stalls, went into “Prince’s” stall and brought him out to meet Jamie and I. He was huge and magnificent! His temperment was very laid back and easy going and he politely let us do a mini photo shoot with him and King. I told the gentleman helping us that I had horses my whole life and how appreciative I was for this opportunity. He then asked, “well do you want to ride him?” My response was, “um, yes please!” He gave me a leg up and in a second I was on Prince’s back! What an experience this was for me, to be so close to an animal that I have admired my whole life. I will be forever greatful to that kind man who gave us the “behind the scenes tour” and  this was an experience that I will never forget!

 

photo 1

 

Filed Under: horse related

Easy and Delicious Pot Roast

February 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment

I love using our slow cooker and I really love easy recipes! This one is so easy and delicious!

 

INGREDIENTS-

2-4lb Chuck Roast

potroast

Carrots (peeled and chopped)

1 (dry) packet of Hidden Valley RanchPotatoes (peeled and chopped)

1 packet of Brown Gravy

1 (dry) Packet of italian dressing seasoning

1/2 cup of water

2-3 tbls olive oil

Fresh Rosemary- optional

 

PREPARATION-

season the meat with salt and pepper and brown on all sides in olive oil. Place peeled and chopped potatoes and carrots onto the bottom of the crock pot and place browned meat on top. Sprinkle all 3 packets over meat and pour in water. Place Rosemary on top of meat and cook on low 8-10 hours.

Filed Under: recipes

Devils Cut “Spiced” Old Fashion

February 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment

I love a good Old Fashion! I opt for Devils Cut Bourbon or Knob Creek for this cocktail. I made these “Spiced” Old Fashions in the fall and realized they are great for anytime of the year!

photo-125

INGREDIENTS: Makes 2 cocktails

2 Sugar Cubes

Dash of Cinnamon and Nutmeg

8 Dashes Orange bitters

2 Orange slices

1 Part Fresh OJ

6 Parts Devils Cut

Crushed Ice

2 Maraschino Cherries

PREPARATION-

Mix together sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small dish. Place half of the mixture in 2 old fashion glasses. Add 4 dashes of orange bitters and orange slice in each glass. Muddle orange with sugar mixture and bitters. Pour 1/2 oz of OJ into each glass and 3 oz of Devils Cut and stir. Add crushed ice and garnish with a maraschino cherry!

For more delicious Jim Beam recipes check out Beam Global

Filed Under: Drink recipes

November in NEW YORK CITY

February 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment

photo 5This November we went on a trip to New York City with some friends. I was so excited to be back in that city, there is something magical about NYC to me.

I was so excited to see the beautiful changing leaves that I have missed since moving to Florida. We have 2 seasons here for the most part; hot and hotter. We were only there for the weekend but we had a wonderful time.

We stayed at Park Central Hotel  which was a perfect location. This hotel is very modern and centrally located between the theatre district and Central Park.

I love going to comedy shows in the city. You can buy tickets on the street for around $20 and the shows have always been great. This year we went to MOTOWN on Broadway and it was phenomenal. We tried for discounted tickets at TKTS but we ended up purchasing our tickets at the box office. This was my first Broadway experience and I was smiling from ear to ear through out the entire show! We had Lindys Cheesecake,  ate delicious Mac and Cheese from Macbar and went to the oldest pub in America, McSorleys!  Walking around Central Park this time of year is a real treat!

photo 4

Filed Under: travel

Coconut Crusted Chicken

February 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment

I LOVE coconut chicken and I really love it when paired with an Apricot jelly. This dish is easy and delicious

 

cocochickINGREDIENTS- 

2-3 Boneless Chicken Breasts

1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs- more if needed

1 Egg

1/2 cup Coconut Flakes- more if needed. I buy the sweetened flakes

2 tbl olive oil

PREPARATION- 

Pre heat oven to 350

pound out the chicken

Mix Panko bread crumbs and coconut flakes in a large bowl

Dip chicken into egg then bread crumb mixture

lightly brown each side of the chicken in a pan then bake at 350 for 35-40mins.

*I paired mine with a baked sweet potato with cinnamon and roasted garlic broccoli. Dip chicken in Apricot jelly, yum!

 

 

Filed Under: recipes

Mexican Stuffed Shells

February 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment

I found this recipe on Pinterest and I have made it many times. This is one of my husbands favorite recipes that I make and friends and family request this dish often!

INGREDIENTS:

mexican shells

1 lb. ground beef
1 package low-sodium taco seasoning
4 oz. cream cheese
14-16 jumbo pasta shells
1.5 cup salsa
1 cup taco sauce
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 cup monterey jack cheese
3 green onions- optional
Sour cream- optional

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a frying pan cook ground beef; add taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions. Add cream cheese, cover and simmer until cheese is melted. Blend well. Set aside and cool completely. While ground beef is cooking, cook the pasta shells according to directions; drain. Set shells out individually on cutting board/baking sheet so that they don’t stick together.

Pour salsa on bottom of 9×13 baking dish. Stuff each shell with the meat mixture. Place shells in 9×13 pan open side up. Cover shells with taco sauce. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, add shredded cheese and bake for 10-15 more minutes, with the foil removed. Top with any condiments you’d like (green onions, black olives, etc.) Serve with sour cream and/or more salsa.

I got this recipe from Pinterest http://www.thewaytohisheartblog.com/mexican-stuffed-shells/

Filed Under: recipes

Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

February 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment

peppersteak

INGREDIENTS:

2lbs Beef Sirloin, cut into 2 inch strips

garlic powder

3 tbl veg oil

1 beef bullion cube

1/4 cup Hot water

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 large peppers

1 can stewed tomatoes with liquid

3 TBL soy sauce

1 tsp sugar

Preparation:

Sprinkle strips with garlic poweder and brown, place in slow cooker. Mix bullion cube with hot water and pour over meat. Stir in onion, peppers, tomatoes, soy sauce and sugar. Cook on Low 6-8 hours or High 3-4 hours.

* I normally serve this dish over mashed potatoes*

Filed Under: recipes
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