For Your Sofa

Ross has shelves full of fall pillows  - in the seasonal section - and back in the home section.  I found these two pretty pillows for $8.99 each - a steal of a deal!  The thing about Ross is you need to strike while the shelves are full, because the good stuff is gone really quickly!  And you cannot shop on line...  :(

An Acorn for Your Wall

Michael's has all of their fall decor half off and I found this for five bucks!  They had all sorts of things, including kids' crafts for fall, as well.  I'm guessing it's just this week, so go check it out!

Pesto Pizza Delish

I saw this recipe in a magazine and the pesto for the sauce caught my attention - the arugula with hazelnuts - wow!  And it did not disappoint.  This pizza is delicious.  I made it a little different from the directions. I used a pre-made crust from the store, so I followed the directions on the package - since I don't have a pizza stone.  And I added tomatoes.  Not pictured here is torn basil, which we added right before we ate it!

Super tasty!

Black Bean Boo Dip

It's not Halloween yet, but I like to celebrate for weeks ahead of time - and this spooky snack was fun and tasty!

puree 1 can drained black beans with 1 t cumin, 1/4 cup fire roasted tomatoes, 1 T vegetable oil, 1 T hot sauce, and season with salt.

cut off the top of an orange pepper and remove seeds.  carve a face, pour in the dip!

Nesting Boxes

Aren't these cute - nesting boxes for salt and spices or jewelry - and only $15 for three!  Check out this website. 

Pasta Five

I have a recipe by Michael Symon full of recipes that have five ingredients each and can be made in five minutes.  I tried this one and we really liked it:

1 lb penne pasta 
8 slices bacon, diced
3 cups broccoli florets
3/4 c pine nuts
8 oz shredded aged cheddar cheese
dash of red pepper flakes

Cook penne according to directions for al dente pasta.  Reserve 1 c pasta water, and set aside.

Cook the bacon until crisp, then add in the pine nuts and broccoli, cooking about 2 minutes.  Add in the reserved pasta water and deglaze the pan, then add in the cheddar and red pepper flakes.  Stir in the pasta, then serve.

Black Eyed Pea Cakes

This was a great side dish to our pasta entree tonight.  Black eyed pea cakes!

Click for the recipe here.

The corn salsa on top of the cakes really makes these cakes delicious.  It's so fresh, and the cakes are just a bit crispy - so good!

Smartphone Vase

Saw this in a catalog Uncommon Goods and I'm putting it on my Christmas list.  It's such a cute idea - a vase for fresh flowers to sit by your bed, AND it holds your phone!

Skillet Chocolate Cookie

Yum - a skillet cookie baked in the oven.

Here's the cookie and the recipe...(it's as delicious as it looks!)

Sneakers!

Found these oh-so-cute sneakers at Old Navy and snapped them up - I got gray - but they also had black and maybe one other color.  Super comfy and will look great with jeans or skirts!  And...they're felt!

Chicken Amandine

I have Michael Symon's cookbook 5 in 5 where each recipe is five ingredients, and supposedly the meal can be made in about five minutes! (be sure and use a juicy orange so you get the full citrus flavor!)

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, pounded to 1/4' thickness (he uses skin on breasts)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
3 T olive oil
2 T unsalted butter
1/2 c sliced almonds
Grated zest and juice of 1 orange
1/4 c roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

Put a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper.  Add the olive oil to the preheated pan.  Arrange all 4 pieces of chicken in the pan and cook until golden brown about 3 minutes.  Flip and cook 1 minute.  

Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter and almonds and cook until they begin to brown about 30 seconds.  Add 1/2 cup of water, the orange zest and juice and cook until slightly reduced about 30 seconds.  Taste and adjust the seasoning adding salt and pepper as needed.  

Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the parsley and serve.  

Fondue for Two

Fondue for two - always fun and delish - even on a weeknight!

Grate 4 oz of Gruyere.

In a pan over med heat, add 1 T butter and melt, then add 1 1/2 tsp flour and whisk 1 minute, whisk in 1/4 cup dry white wine 1 minute.  Add the cheese and whisk til melted.  Season.

Skewer pickle, cooked bacon, and toast or baguette.

(I used a tiny fondue pot over a tea light)

5 Minute Salsa

I absolutely LOVE my food processor.  I can make salsa in no time flat...

4 med tomatoes
1/3 of a large cucumber
1 carrot
2 jalapenos (seeds removed)
1/2 cup cilantro
1/2 red onion
juice from 1-2 limes
salt and pepper

Just chop all ingredients into big chunks and process away!  Add a bit of olive oil if you need to...

This just tastes healthy and so satisfying - especially on multigrain chips!

Brownie Winner

I found this recipe in an old recipe book that some parents of my son's soccer team players put together - and this one for blondies was a true winner!  I didn't have quite enough brown sugar, so just used regular sugar to finish.  I also used walnuts, and put them in the batter AND on top.

Super delicious!

Simple Soup

Simple soup to make in the crockpot for these pre-fall days...served with cornbread!

1 chopped onion
2-3 sliced carrots
2 sliced zucchini
1 can whole tomatoes
2 cans beef broth
1 1/2 cups water
2 T parsley flakes
1 T oregano
1 1/2 cups small shell pasta
grated Parm

Place all ingredients in the crockpot except the shells and cheese.  Cook on high 5 hours, then the last 30 minutes add the pasta.  Serve and top with the grated Parm.

Bags for Treats

Saw these bags at Burke's Outlet and Marshalls yesterday for $2.99 each.  They can be used for trick or treat bags, to use for gifts, or for decoration in your house!  I loved them all - they are really, really cute!

Pumpkins Everywhere!

Pumpkins everywhere - I love them.  I wanted a tray to stand behind my stove, some cute dish towels to hang on the oven to tie in the tray with the rug in the kitchen.  And I wanted a wreath - but they were outrageous in price - so I opted for a hanging wooden pumpkin that was super affordable...and it went on my porch!

These cool items were found at Marshalls.

Around the Neck

I wanted a few chokers for fall and found these really cute ones at Forever 21 - super inexpensive! I can't wait to wear them!

Pita Pocket Lunch

What a tasty lunch!

pita pockets
cucumber
chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
radishes
cilantro
ground cumin
leftover seasoned chicken (I used rosemary chicken from yesterday's dish!)
olive oil
lemon juice

Just mix the ingredients, then toss with olive oil mixed with lemon juice, for the dressing.  salt and pepper if your chicken is not seasoned. stuff the pocket!

A Great Side

Roasted veggies are a great side dish.  Tonight, these were wonderful:

1 turnip, peeled and cubed

1 large potato, cubed

1 red pepper, seeded and chopped in bite size pieces

2 carrots sliced

rosemary powder

chili powder

S & P 

kale

In a large bowl place the veggies and seasonings, spread on a parchment lined baking sheet and roast at 415 degrees for about 20-30 minutes until veggies are tender, turning once.

Meanwhile, in a skillet place 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil, add salt and 2 cups kale, cover, and simmer about 3 minutes until kale wilts.

Toss the veggies with the kale! (I squeezed a bit of lemon over the kale before tossing)

We also spread rosemary powder on chicken tenders, along with S&P and grilled them stovetop until done.

Savory Carrot Muffins

Found this recipe in an old blender cookbook, for carrot muffins.  Before I made them, I thought they would be sweet like carrot cake. But upon closer inspection (and taste), these are savory - to be eaten with soup or chili!

And to get that great rise in the muffin?  Spray just the bottom of the tins with oil, not the sides - it works!

Salami & Cheese, Please

A super tasty sandwich and so easy to put together:

equal parts honey and butter
salami
manchego cheese
toasted bread

spread the honey butter on the toast and layer the cheese and salami.

that's it!

Fried Spears

I usually make fried pickles with just flour and egg, and I use pickle slices.

I tried this new recipe and I like it SO MUCH!

Heat 2 1/2 inches of oil in a pan for frying.

Cut whole dill pickles into fourths - pat dry.

Set out three shallow dishes:

2 beaten eggs
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 1/2 cups flour

Dip the spears into the flour, then the egg and then the crumbs.

Fry about 5-6 at a time and drain on paper towels or over a baking sheet with a grid on top (I used my cookie cooler racks).  Sprinkle lightly with kosher salt.

We serve with Ranch dressing and salsa.

SO GOOD.

Herb in a Jar

Saw these today at Magnolia Market.  Got two for gifts.  Who wouldn't want an herb plant in a cute jar, growing for dinner each night?
https://shop.magnoliamarket.com/products/garden-jar-herb-kit

Eggplant Pesto

In a skillet, heat 1/2 cup water.

Preheat oven to 425

Add:

1 medium onion diced
1/2 tsp crushed garlic

Cook 5 minutes

Add 1 large eggplant, diced

Cover and cook stirring often, until soft (20 minutes) - add water if needed

When tender, transfer to blender.

Add:

1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup fresh basil, packed
3 T fresh lemon juice
4 T grated parmesan
salt and pepper

Process till smooth - pesto will be thick

Coffee Tees

Cafe Press is a fun website for tshirts and these are great for the coffee lovers in your family - for Christmas!  I'm thinking of getting these two: