Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Thank-full!

We had a nice Thanksgiving last week, once at our house for lunch and again at my dad's house for dinner. Twice the food, twice the fun! And going up a pant size in one day...awesome! I did take a few shots to remember the day...

Love these gold foil napkins from Target along with my Grandma's china plates and flatware

Easy, diy banner

I caught my nephew Derek smiling..,yay!

What my husband is thankful for and I am SO thankful for him!!

Everyone filled out a card to hang on the tree

Here I am with my lovely bearded husband!

Carys showing her step-auntie her favorite Barbie movie


Here she is dancing with my dad after dinner....this was so cute!

Looking forward to decorating the house and getting the tree this week.,
Christmas time is here!
This year I am going for a little metallic, gold, silver, and burlap action....
(Yes, I think I am obsessed with gold, among other things..)

Pinterest Inspiration:


                              Source: myshabbychateau.blogspot.com via Kathy on Pinterest
             

                                 Source: designfromca.blogspot.com via Kathy on Pinterest


                                Source: lemonademakinmama.com via Kathy on Pinterest


Friday, November 16, 2012

How Sweet it Is

Here it goes...I am sharing my not-so-secret sweet potato recipe! This thing always gets oohs and aahs and happy people all around. And there are no marshmallows involved....just some pecan buttery goodness on top. Even if you are a novice cook you can pull this off, trust me.

I found this on All Recipes several years ago, here. The only thing I like to do different from the original recipe is use half yams (the orange ones), and half sweet potatoes (the light brown ones). I like to think that makes a difference, but I'm not even sure.


Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients:
4 cups sweet potato, cubed (I usually use 4-5 large potatoes, almost completely peeled)
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For topping:
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup chopped pecans


1.         Preheat oven to 325. Put sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan with water to cover. Cook over medium high heat until tender; drain and mash.
2.         In a large bowl, mix together the sweet potatoes, white sugar, eggs, salt, butter, milk and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish. (I use a 2.5 qt round baking dish)
3.         In medium bowl, mix the brown sugar and flour. Cut in the butter until the mixture is coarse. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the sweet potato mixture.
4.         Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly brown.



Oh Lord have mercy, this is so good!
Photo from All Recipes

And for even more yummy side dishes, Pioneer Woman just posted her all time favorite Thanksgiving side dishes, here. I may have to try her Butternut Squash Puree....

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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Lovely Leeks

OK friends, for anyone looking for something a little different for your Thanksgiving spread this year, I present to you, creamed leeks with parmesan crumbs. One of my favorite things to eat are leeks, is anyone with me? They are a fun little vegetable that looks like this...
The trick is you pull off the dark green outside to get to the light green and white parts on the inside. They taste like very mild, sweet onions. Even easier, Trader Joe's sells them in packs of 2 already trimmed, so all you have to do is slice them.

Recipe originally from Martha Stewart magazine:

Creamed Leeks with Parmesan Crumbs

2 Tbsp butter
8 medium leeks cut in to 1 inch slices (white and light green parts only)
¾ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
1 ¼ cups heavy cream

Parmesan crumbs:
1Tbsp melted, unsalted butter
1 cup panko bread crumbs
½ cup grated parmesan
¼ tsp black pepper


  1. Heat oven to 450
  2. Melt butter in a 12” straight-sided skillet over medium heat. Add leeks, salt, pepper, and nutmeg, and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until leeks are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer leeks to a shallow 2 qt. baking dish and pour cream over the top.
  3. In a small bowl, combine all ingredients for Parmesan crumbs.
  4. Sprinkle crumbs over the leeks and bake until cream is bubbling and crumbs are golden brown, about 15 minutes.
 *To prepare ahead of time, refrigerate the leeks and parmesan crumbs in separate containers for up to 1 day. When ready to make, warm leeks in microwave, then continue with step 4
*it says the recipe serves 8, but my people like to eat so I double it on Thanksgiving


Seriously, this stuff is delicious!

P.S. One of my other favorite leek recipes is this one from Pioneer Woman, its super easy and wonderful. And you can just add some kind of italian sausage on the side to make it more husband friendly: 

P.P.S. For more side dish ideas, here's a link to Martha Stewart's Best Christmas side dishes, here!
After all, Thanksgiving really is all about the side dishes isn't it?





Monday, November 12, 2012

Happy Monday

Um...Thanksgiving is next week?? Can you handle it?? I know I can. Stretchy pants are on notice. I think I will start exercising now so I can justify it. This week I am attempting to post more than once, including a couple of my top secret Thanksgiving side dish recipes that will rock your world, for real :)

Have you seen these free printables from TomKat Studio for Thanksgiving?
So great!
                                                                        Source: thetomkatstudio.com via Kathy on Pinterest


And here is some more fun from Pinterest...I am thankful for this idea! (See how I am workin' that Thanksgiving theme in there?)
                                                             Source: honeywerehome.blogspot.com via Kathy on Pinterest


Thanksgiving outfit.
Hmm, do these pants come in "stretchy" I wonder?
                                                               Source: musingsinfemininity.tumblr.com via Kathy on Pinterest



Never too early to get your Christmas decorating in order...
Easy: craft store letters painted, with a wreath!
                                                                          Source: heart-2-home.com via Kathy on Pinterest

                                                      Thank God Always!

                             

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Needtobreathe Again

Last weekend I got to go see my favorite band in concert for the 3rd time. I've written about them before, they are called Needtobreathe and yes I pretty much love them. One of those bands where the album never gets old, but they are even more amazing live. These guys just rock, period. I would describe them as southern-y, soulful rock. If you like to have a good time, see if they are doing a show near you, they usually play smaller venues. Recently they opened for Taylor Swift, which is funny because she should probably be opening for them! OK I digress...:)

 I got this shot on my nifty new phone.

This is a cool promo video for their recent album The Reckoning

Acoustic version of "The Outsiders"

Of course there are a bunch of great videos of them on You Tube, I won't be a nerd and post all the ones I like.....Anyway it was great to have a night out with my husband, good friends, good music and no kids to worry about!

Friday, November 2, 2012

I Converted!....to the Iphone

I got my first I-phone a few days ago. I never really wanted one because I didn't one to spring for it, but since the I-phone 5 just came out, they were pretty much giving away the 4 at Verizon, so I thought why not.
The only big improvement so far over the Droid has been the picture quality, but as a mom of 2 I think this counts for a lot! It's pretty awesome.
So this means my new little friend needs himself a case! How is a girl to choose?? 
I turn to Etsy for answers....

Yellow, gray, ikat, chevron....will this ever get old? Maybe...Found here.

Mmm, an ice cream sandwich, who's hungry? Found here.

i think this is my favorite, of course its $50! Whatever confetti dots, you taunt me.....found here

I kind of love this one, geometric with wood, found here

Cannot. resist. grey. stripes.....I have a problem. Hey, this one matches my blog! Found here

I've had a crazy week with lots going on, plus the girls battling colds and stomach flus, thus not being able to post anything all week. Hopefully all of this sickness is almost over!
And here is a pic of Princess Belle from Halloween.....

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