Simple Supper

This is a simple supper (dinner, in Texas lingo) - but it's OH SO GOOD and satisfying.  We just finished working in the yard for hours, and this hit all the right spots!  It was made from literally the few things we had left in the kitchen to cook - and a trip to the store tomorrow is a must!

Baked potato
Pinto beans
Pepper Jack Cheese
Chopped onions
Butter
Season Salt

Make a large pot of beans and use what you have left for this meal.  Bake the potato.  Slice open the potato and add season salt and butter.  Top with a big helping of the hot beans, top with the cheese and onions and you're done!

Herb Cans

I LOVE herbs and I have a cool herb box out back.  However, I love these cute herb cans - a set of 4 - from Uncommon Goods - for a gift or for my windowsill!

Stay in Bed!

A friend told me about this cool alarm clock that she uses with her kids to help them stay in their bed instead of coming into the parents' room - and it works!  Once it's set, the kids know that when it turns green they can get up.

It's found on Amazon and is a bit pricey, but this mom is sleeping longer and her kids are staying in their beds - who can put a price on that??

Crude Salsa

I've made lots of salsas and have one of my own favorite recipes, but I tried this new one today and it rocks!  It includes green olives!

This recipe came from this cookbook I got on a recent road trip! This crude salsa has the BEST flavor!

Stacked Just Right!

After all the Easter fare, a nice and easy sandwich is a great way to start your work week - and this one is so tasty!

Just mix equal parts softened butter and honey, and spread on a baguette.  Top with salami and Manchego cheese.  That's it!

Crosses in a box

Fun for your table tomorrow!


A plastic planter box
Florist foam
Sticks - 3 long and 3 short
Twine
Cookies
Grass

Place the foam in the box.  Using twine, wrap the sticks to make three crosses.
Insert in the box.  Cover base with grass. Arrange your cookies!

Cheetos Carrot Bags!

What a cute idea for Easter that I found on line!

Just purchase triangular bags (I found them in Hobby Lobby in the party goods aisle) and fill about 2/3 of the way with Cheetos (you'll need to shake them so they fall into the point of the triangle.)  Tie the bags shut with green ric-rac!

Raita Dip

I watched Ree Drummond make this on her cooking show and had to try it...It's called Raita Dip.

It was easy to make, and is super light tasting...with the cucumbers and lemon juice and spices mixed in!

Bunny Game

Easter is this weekend, and fun is to be had for all the kiddos!  This idea was on Pinterest, and it wasn't hard to do at all - only took a few minutes!  I wasn't sure exactly how to make it, but once I started it was easy...

You'll need a large cardboard box, construction paper, packaging tape, glue and a black marker.

Using a knife, cut a hole in the bottom, and pull out the flap, cutting and gluing on a red tongue.

Tape the box shut, cutting off two flaps to use for the bunny ears.  Cut inside of ears from construction paper and glue to cardboard, affix ears to back of box with packaging tape.

Finally, cut out eyes and eyeballs, a nose, and cheeks and glue on - then make whiskers with a black marker.

Buy a package of rubber balls for the kids to play the game of rolling the ball to the bunny!

A Little Tassel

Tassels are in...and a little bit is all I can take...I think a little is cute, but a lot is not...

Here's some cute...

Crossbody bag

tassel necklace

tassel wallet

Mel Shoes

Found these shoes today in a small town shop in Decatur, TX and I LOVE them!  You can find these Mel Shoes on line and they're at a great price.  They fit true to size, and are so very cute and comfy!

These are the ones I bought...and they all have a sort of bubblegum scent!  They're like jellies only cuter...

Anzac Biscuits

On our road trip, we stopped at an Aussie Trading Post called "Down Unda" in Adamsville, TX - and we got these amazing Anzac Biscuits (cookies) - that were big and flat and crispy and super good!  They are so light, too!

Here's the recipe and a photo:

Ingredients

• 1 cup quick cooking oats
• 3/4 cup flaked coconut
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tablespoon golden syrup (World Market carries this)
• 2 tablespoons boiling water

Directions

1. Mix oats, flour, sugar and coconut together.
2. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the syrup and butter together. Mix the soda and the boiling water and add to the melted butter and syrup.
3. Add butter mixture to the dry ingredients. Drop by teaspoons on greased cookie sheets (or baking paper).
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 18 to 20 minutes.
5. 
   

Party Time

While visiting a dear friend, we prepared some fun snacks for her adult coloring party.  These skewers were part of the spread...chicken, pepper jack and pickles - turkey, cheddar and grape tomatoes - salami, provolone and bell peppers. Displayed in wide mouth jars or vases with a romaine lettuce leaf tucked inside!

Jitter Bean Coffee

We found this coffee shop a few years back, in Mineral Wells, TX and we just went by again, because my husband, who LOVES coffee, wanted some more.

Check them out on their facebook page - Jitter Bean Coffee - and order yourself a bag or two!

Easter/Spring Dresses!

Did you know Charming Charlie has such cute dresses...for Easter...or spring?

I found super cute ones for under $35 - one was $19!

Check out these three!

Cold Shoulder Dress 

Maxi Dress (I bought this one in a different print with a super cute necklace!)

Sheath Dress (click to see the back of it!)

Roasted Fingerlings and Haricot Verts

Here's the recipe taken from Barefoot Contessa...I added in the bulbs of Bok Choy with the potatoes in the oven for the first bake.

These are absolutely the BEST veggies - extremely tasty.

• 1 pound fingerling or small potatoes
• ⅓ cup good olive oil
• 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 pound French string beans (haricots verts), trimmed
• 1 bunch thin asparagus, ends removed, cut diagonally into 3-inch pieces
• ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat your oven to 425˚.
2. Slice the potatoes in half lengthwise, and spread them out on a baking sheet. Pour the olive oil over the potatoes, sprinkle them with the salt and pepper, and then toss until the potatoes are coated.
3. Roast the potatoes for about 25 to 30 minutes, until they’re tender, tossing once about halfway through cooking.
4. Add the string beans and asparagus to the baking sheet, and toss with the potatoes. Roast for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until the green vegetables are tender.
5. Sprinkle Parmesan over all the vegetables and put back into the oven for a minute or two more, just to melt the cheese.
6. Take the vegetables out of the oven, add a bit more salt and pepper, if desired, and serve hot.

Spicy Cauliflower

This side dish was so easy to make and I was surprised at how tasty it turned out - from Pioneer Woman's cookbook - 

Make sure you break the cauli into small florets.  The soy sauce and lime juice made me want to eat the whole dish when it was done!

Quinoa Salad

This is a MOST delicious  salad, and we ate it with pita chips!  I did flavor the pita chips with italian seasonings and sea salt, which tasted great with the salad.

It's from Forks Over Knives cookbook - Quinoa  Garden Salad

I didn't have fresh mint, so I added in cucumber instead.

I love this, and it's super healthy and tasty.

Cuff Bracelets

I'm really loving cuff bracelets for spring, now that shorter sleeves are appearing.  Check out these three!

From World Market

From Anthropologie

From Forever 21

Race Car Party

My daughter planned a party for her little boy who turned one, and she used the theme of race cars.  The table was set with different snacks and labels along that theme.  It turned out so cute!

green apples and grapes with toothpicks, make little race cars

chocolate donuts are the tires

cupcakes with racing flags for the birthday cake

The other snacks were labeled "snacks for the road." 

And each kid went home with a hot wheel!

It was such fun!

3 Clutches

In love with these clutches for spring - and the price is right too! From Lulus!


grey clutch

fringe clutch 

pom pom clutch 

Pea Guacamole

I tried this recipe from  Forks Over Knives, using the peas as listed in the ingredients instead of avocados.  With the ingredients as they are, I didn't find it creamy enough.  So I did add a bit of mayo - oops - but I did.  I felt it needed something...and be sure to season it well!

My husband despises green peas, so I put this dip in his lunch and didn't tell him what it was - he loved it!  We ate it with veggie chips!

Click here for the recipe.

Minty lentils and spinach

This is a recipe from Forks Over Knives:

Ingredients:

• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 cup red lentils
• 3 medium red-skinned potatoes or 1 large sweet potato, cut into ½-inch dice (2 to 3 cups)
• 6 to 12 oz baby spinach leaves (the more the better!)
• zest of 1 lemon or lime
• 3 Tbsp lemon or lime juice
• 1/8 to ¼ tsp cayenne
• ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
• black pepper

1.  Cook garlic for 1 minute in a saucepan over medium heat, adding a little vegetable broth or water as necessary.

2.  Add 3 cups vegetable broth, lentils, and potatoes and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the lentils are tender.

3.  Add spinach, lemon zest, lemon juice, and cayenne.  Cover and simmer until spinach wilts, about 2 minutes.

4.  Stir in mint and black pepper to taste.

(I added a bit of salt and LOTS of pepper to give it flavor)

This ended up being very delicious with cornbread muffins!

Collard Wraps

This recipe is from the cookbook Forks over Knives...

Cut a few collard leaves off the stems, and place them in boiling water about one minute, then drain and dry.

Spread across the middle rib - hummus, sliced cucumbers, red peppers, shredded carrots, chopped green onions and lemon juice.

These looked really cute, but the collards were a bit tough.  I think I'll stick with lettuce as the wrap next time, or a tortilla!

Meal in a Bowl

This meal in a bowl was super delicious and easy... It's from Real Simple Magazine and you can click here to find it! - Spanish beef and rice bowl with avocado!

You can use brown or white rice, and arrange the meat mixture, rice, lettuce and avocado in a bowl, so that it's not only tasty but pretty to eat!  The olives and peppers added such nice flavor...

Bicycle Pillows

I have seen lots of decor with bicycles painted on pillows, mats, etc. and I'm loving them for spring!  Take at look at these pillows from Target..

Dad's Granola

We bought this freshly made granola at a farmer's market near us, and you can order it on line - it was really good with whole nuts in it - and was great with milk, alone, or stirred in... maybe the best I've ever tasted!

It's called Dad's Premium Granola!

Score!

Shopping tonight with my daughter and daughter-in-law, we found the most things we liked at Old Navy!

Here are three things we scored!

tunic top

swing dress

tank dress

Chicken & Grapes on a Stick

These skewers are so easy and super tasty.  The recipe is from www.grapesfromcalifornia.com 

Whisk together 3 T olive oil, 2 cloves garlic minced, 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, 1 T chopped fresh oregano, 1 T chopped fresh rosemary, 1 tsp lemon zest...

Skewer 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 3/4 inch cubes with 1 1/2 cups green seedless grapes.

Pour the mixture over the skewers, placed in a nonreactive dish about 4 hours or so.  Season with salt.

Grill or just cook in a grill pan or skillet til chicken is cooked through, about 3-5 min per side.

Arrange on a platter and drizzle with lemon juice.

These are great with pasta or rice!

Three Bowls

I don't have a lot of counter space or table space when I serve for a group, so I found this three tiered white bowl set today at Big Lots for $19.99.  You can find it on Amazon for $30. So take your pick...

I love the white bowls, and the shape, and the way it stands - all of it!

Bucket List of Dates!

Look at this!  I love date night, we even have a date night fun column in our magazine, and here's a cute gift to buy and give, or keep for yourself!

It's from Uncommon Goods!