Remoulade Sauce

We bought some huge crab cakes at our local meat market the other day and I mixed up a quick remoulade sauce to serve with them along with a green salad tossed with creamy mustard dressing (click here for that recipe). Such a nice, delish, easy meal!

I make 2 versions of this sauce (both are also good for dipping grilled or baked shrimp into) depending if I want to use mustard or horseradish, they're both good...

version 1 - mix together:
1 cup mayo
a couple tablespoons whole grain mustard
a couple tablespoons ketchup
a dash of lemon juice
a dash of worcestershire sauce
a dash of paprika
black pepper to taste

version 2 - mix together:
1 cup mayo
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons (more or less to taste) creamed horseradish
dash of lemon juice

my "green" salad using all green-colored veggies

Robert Redford Cake

In addition to the requested Buckeyes for my sissy's birthday (click here for that post) I also made this cake in case people didn't want just Buckeyes for dessert. A friend from work gave me this recipe like 20 years ago - it's definitely an oldie but goodie!

Ingredients:

1 package oreos
1 stick butter, melted
1 16oz container cool whip
2 large packages cream cheese
1 T. sugar
1 large box instant chocolate pudding
2 cups milk

Directions:

1. Crush cookies in a large bowl, reserve one cup and mix the rest of the cookie crumbs with the melted butter. Put in bottom of 13x9 pan and press down to form the crust.
2. Mix pudding with 2 cups milk and spread on top of the crust. Refrigerate.
3. Mix cool whip with cream cheese and sugar until it's a creamy consistency. Layer on top of pudding.
4. Sprinkle with remains 1 cup of cookie crumbs and refrigerate. 

This looks suspiciously like the S'more pie I made a couple weeks ago, doesn't it? No marshmallows in this one tho!










one year ago today: tip for repotting plants using a coffee filter for drainage.

DIY To Do List! by Brooke

So I normally make a TO-DO list and they are helpful but boring when they are just a piece of paper. so today I made a TO-DO list that is cute and super easy to make! First, i just took a piece of construction paper and took a birthday card and traced it out on the top of the paper. then I took a sticky note and traced it inside the box at the top, and traced 2 rows of 3 below the box. then I designed the paper to make it look pretty. then finally took sticky notes and filled in the squares with stuff I need to do! I use sticky notes inside the boxed so then you can reuse the list with new sticky notes in the boxes! this DIY is super easy and useful! Hope you try it out!

one year ago today: bling your shoes!

Hoop Earrings with Beads

I saw this earring project on Michaels.com - they used turquoise and mint green glass beads, I didn't want to go to the store to buy their exact beads so came up with my own combination and chain so mine don't look exactly like the inspiration project and I'm good with that! I'm a self-taught jewelry maker so didn't totally understand their directions but by just doing it instead of trying to make sense of their instructions I figured it out - if I did it wrong don't judge hahaha...they turned out good!

For each earring you'll need:
1 hoop earring
3 turquoise beads
3 light green beads
4 small coral beads
1 silver bead
7 silver head pins
5 lengths of silver chain about an inch long each
1 silver jump ring


Here are their directions - one thing I did differently is to put the 5 lengths of chain on a jump ring and then attached the jump ring to the loop (steps 10-13):

STEP 1

String one dark turquoise glass bead and one mint green glass bead onto a Silver head pin. Bend the head pin to a 90° angle and trim the wire down to ¼” in length.

STEP 2

Form a simple loop using your round nose pliers. Simply grasp the wire between the jaws of the pliers and rotate the pliers toward you until a small loop is formed. TIP: To ensure your loops are the same size each time, simply mark the jaws of your pliers with a Sharpie® marker. Start your loop at the mark each time for consistency.

STEP 3

Repeat Steps 1 and 2 three more times for a total of four beaded links. Set beads aside.

STEP 4

String one small pink coral bead onto a Silver head pin and trim the head pin down to ¼” in length. Note: Due to size of bead and thickness of the head pin wire, it may be difficult to bend the wire to 90° degrees prior to trimming it down as you did in Step 1. You can still form a simple loop without bending the wire 90°, although bending the wire does visually give you a nicer-looking simple loop.

STEP 5

Grasp the wire with your chain nose pliers and form a simple loop. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 seven more times for a total of eight. Set beads aside.

STEP 6

To make the remaining bead links, use your wire cutters to cut the head end off of a head pin. Measure ¼” in from the end of the wire and bend the wire 90°.

STEP 7

Use your round nose pliers to form a simple loop.

STEP 8

String a Silver bead, a dark turquoise bead and a mint green bead onto the wire so that the beads rest above the loop.

STEP 9

Bend the remaining wire end 90 degrees and trim the wire down to ¼” in length. Form a simple loop using your chain nose pliers. You now have a simple loop on both ends of the beaded link.

STEP 10

Repeat Steps 6 -9 one more time for a total of two beaded links.

STEP 11

Use your wire cutters to cut a length of Silver chain that is 15 links long. Continue cutting lengths of chain until you have a total of ten lengths.  Note: You can adjust the length of chain, if desired, to suit personal preference.

STEP 12

Open one loop end on the bead link from Step 10 using your chain nose pliers. Hook five lengths of chain onto the loop and twist the loop closed.  TIP: Never pull the loop “out” to open as this will cause distortion. Always twist the loop side-to-side to open and close.

STEP 13

Repeat Step 12 using the remaining bead link from Step 10 and the remaining lengths of chain. You should now have two beaded chain links.

STEP 14

To make your earrings, string the following bead links onto each Silver ear hoop: two small coral beads, one mint and turquoise bead link, one beaded chain link, one mint and turquoise bead link and two small coral beads.

one year ago today: steakhouse wedge salad

Broccoli Salad

 I think of this as sort of an "old-fashioned" recipe, it feels like every church potluck I've ever been to has some version of this (along with cheesy potatoes!); I'd gotten out of the habit of making it but just the other day came across my tried and true recipe and since then have made it twice - I'm remembering how much I like it...sometimes oldies really are goodies! Here's my version:

1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled (I usually just use pre-cooked chopped up bacon 'cuz I'm lazy and it's just fine in this salad)
2 pounds broccoli, chopped into bite-sized pieces
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 cup dried cranberries (occasionally I use golden raisins but I prefer the cranberries)
1 cup mayo (light is fine, you could also substitute half with plain greek yogurt to lighten it up more)
2 T. white vinegar
1/4 cup sugar (I use a little less)
1/4 cup half and half (or I'll use whatever milk I have on hand)

Put the broccoli in a big microwaveable bowl and cook on high for a couple minutes (you can leave it raw but I like it cooked just a little bit - don't cook it all the way though or the salad will be mushy). Add the celery, bacon, cranberries or raisins and mix to combine.

In a small measuring bowl combine the remaining ingredients and add to the broccoli mixture, toss to combine well. Refrigerate 2 hours. Makes 6-8 servings

one year ago today: Moscow Mule

A funny thought for the day...

I don't think this is what it means but it still made me laugh and go "hmmm...." LOL!

one year ago today: make a matching game for kids.

Dutch Braid Pig Tails! by Brooke

Hello, everyone! so two Dutch or French braids are such a big thing now! I do two Dutch braids in my hair all the time! I was braiding my friend's hair into two braids the other day and her hair is so short that it doesn't fit into braids all the way down, so instead, we put it into pigtails! I loved it so much that I put it in my hair and took pictures to show you guys!  first part your hair down the middle, then have one side still down and put the other side in a pony tail (to keep it out of the way). then all I did was start the top into a Dutch braid which does takes a lot of practice. you're just braiding and adding hair each time and it just connects to the head like a french braid. so you just start with a Dutch braid then end it with a pigtail, then repeat on the other side! it looks super good!!

note from Aunt Jill - from what I can tell, a dutch braid is like a french braid but instead of braiding the 3 pieces over top of each other you braid them underneath.


one year ago today: notebook paper frame - perfect teacher gift!

Shelley's Apple Pudding

Today is Dave's birthday so I want to share one of his all-time favorite desserts...Apple Pudding. I have no idea why it's called "pudding" because it's more like a thin spice cake but it's super moist with the pie filling in the batter so maybe that's it - and what can I say about the most delicious caramel-like sauce spooned over top of the warm cake other than it is heavenly. Truly a wonderful dessert!

Back story - early on in our relationship he took a fishing trip with the guys; Shelly, the cook at the lodge, made this one night and he took it upon himself to go back to the kitchen and ask her for the recipe for me. I didn't know him well enough at the time to know this is something he'd never done before, and he certainly hasn't done it since - this cake is that good :) So I have her hand-written recipe on a piece of notebook paper in my file, and Dave drew a little picture of himself on it with a big-ole belly indicating it's what he'd look like after eating this hahaha. I feel bad that I don't know what lodge he was at, or Shelley's last name, to give her credit - and she deserves it!

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 can apple pie filling

Cream sugar, butter and eggs. Add pie filling then remaining
ingredients. Mix thru. Bake 350' for 40 minutes.

Note the recipe doesn't say what size pan - I make it in a 13x9 sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, cut it into squares to serve, spoon the sauce over top. The cake is about an inch tall, you could probably make it in a smaller pan and have it be thicker but it's so good the way it turns out in the 13x9 I've never wanted to experiment with other sizes!

Sauce:

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
pinch salt
2 Tablespoons vanilla

Heat in a saucepan, serve hot.


one year ago today: banana muffins

Buckeyes

Guess what my sister wanted for her birthday dessert (again) this year? The usual Buckeyes of course ;). Last year she "didn't want dessert" but I made her a peanut butter chocolate layered thing anyway...this year it's back to Buckeyes. These are easy, just a little time consuming...

1 1/2 cups peanut butter
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of coarse salt (if using salted butter do not add this salt)

semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 Tablespoons shortening or butter

Combine the peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt (if using); mix until everything is well incorporated and smooth. Using a small cookie scoop or spoon make small balls (I roll them in my palms to make them round); put on a lined cookie sheet and stick a toothpick in the top of each one,  freeze until firm. Note you can skip the toothpick but it's easier for dipping them.

Once the balls are firm, melt chocolate chips and shortening in a microwavable bowl (a few seconds at a time, stir, then continue microwaving until melted and smooth). One at a time dip the balls into the chocolate, covering about 3/4 of the ball so there is a little peanut butter showing at the top. You can either remove the toothpicks at this point and smooth over the hole, or leave the toothpick in. Pop them back in the fridge or freezer until the chocolate is set. I prefer to leave them in the fridge or freezer until serving, once they start warming up they get melty.

To make them a little more "festive" this year for Jen's birthday, I dipped the bottom of some of them in some sprinkles when the chocolate wasn't set yet - and to give them to her I put them in little candy cups (or mini muffin liners) and put them in a covered bowl.

anyone else have a strong need to stick
their finger into a brand new jar of peanut
butter? I cannot help myself ;) Good thing
Dave is allergic so the jar is all for myself
after I've stuck my (clean!) finger in it LOL

one year ago today: how to baste an egg

DIY Chip Clip! ... by Brooke

so I saw this on Instagram and I wanted to try it out! it keeps your chip bag closed so they don't get stale! all you do is take two straws and make a slit in one side of one. then take the top of the chip bag and use the whole straw and roll the end of the bag on it. then once you have it all rolled up take the straw with the slit and slide it over the top! it stays on tight and its super cool! I don't know if that makes any sense but the pictures hopefully will! sorry this was short blog but I needed to share!

one year ago today: the directional sign I made for my sister - I still love this project, she has it "planted" in back of her house.

Ceiling Light Decoration

Remember my motto "if it stands still long enough it's gonna get decorated"? Well here's another example of that hahaha! 

We smoothed an area around the flush mounted ceiling light in the guest room (it had to be sanded which was a little messy, not gonna lie) a couple years ago with my intention to paint flowers and vines and add big sparkly gem stones after seeing the idea somewhere...trying to remember where I saw it is giving me brain pain - I don't know! Anyway, I just hadn't found the perfect thing I wanted to do so have ignored the ceiling until now. I had these removable wall stickers on my filing cabinet and walls of my office, you can buy these stickers everywhere now but instead of getting new ones I just peeled them off and put them up around the ceiling light. I did work up a good old sweat balancing myself on the bed and a stool with my arms up in the air for like an hour trying to get them placed just right, but it was worth it in the end...look how cute this turned out! A silly simple little thing that makes me happy :)

the stickers look cute on the ceiling in this guest room that my niece Brooke has claimed as "hers" haha!

also in this photo is the 3 canisters I painted that Candy and I found at a junk store (click here for that post) ,and I covered the lampshades in white terrycloth material and decorated with giant sequin fringe.

I hung the picture I painted of Sarge up - colors go great!
Click here for a better look at it - this photo isn't great.

One year ago today: stuffed cabbage rolls. 

Potato, Squash, and Goat Cheese Gratin

Searched for something different for a side dish to steaks (I've been making that black bean and corn salad too much, and D doesn't love baked potatoes - sometimes I do not understand that man - which would be my choice!); found a recipe that looked good here - it's a twist on a regular potato gratin so I thought I'd give it a shot. Lucky for me (and now you haha) it's a winner! This is sooooooo good, and adding the squash lightens it up a bit which is not a bad thing hahah.

I followed the directions exactly other than maybe the size of the dish I baked it in - recipe calls for 2 quart and I used a deep square casserole dish; it needed way longer time to bake than the recipe instructed, not sure if that's my dish or their under-estimating the time. Either way give yourself additional time to bake this the first time so you can figure out what works for you. Of course I forgot to take a picture after this was baked, can I just tell you that it looked great and you'll trust me please? Sorry 'bout that!

Serves 6

2 medium yellow summer squash, about 1/2 pound
4 small to medium red potatoes, about 1 pound
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 ounces goat cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup whole milk
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon thinly sliced basil or thyme leaves

Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 1 1/2- to 2-quart casserole dish with a drizzle of olive oil.

Use a mandoline or chef's knife to slice the squash and potatoes into very, very thin slices, 1/8-inch thick or less. Toss the sliced vegetables with the 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large bowl.

Place a third of the squash and potato slices in the bottom of the dish — no need to layer them squash-potato-squash; just spread them evenly — then season with salt and pepper. Top with half of the goat cheese, scattered evenly in large chunks. Repeat with another third of the vegetables, seasoning again with salt and pepper and topping with the other half of the goat cheese. Finish by layering on the final third of the vegetables and seasoning with salt and pepper.

Pour the milk over the entire dish. Top with the Parmesan cheese. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake 15 more minutes, until the top browns. Scatter on the fresh basil, if using.

calories per serving: 199
fat 12.9g
carbs 14g
fiber 1.7g
protein 8g

one year ago today: Brooke and I have a "chopped" competition, I totally failed but hers was great!

Frozen Grapes with a Twist!

A friend brought these to dinner the other night and I could. not. stop. eating. them. It got so bad that I was asking people to not eat anymore so I could hoard them for later! These are very very easy, and very very good.

Red grapes
Sangria
Sugar
Zest of an orange
Wooden skewers

Remove the grapes from their stems and put in a large ziplock bag, cover with Sangria. Let them marinate in the Sangria anywhere from 1 hour to overnight.

In a pie plate combine a scoop of white sugar and the orange zest - then put the grapes in the plate and roll around until they are completely covered. Thread a few grapes on each skewer and freeze.

Enjoy - and tell me that you don't love them and try to hoard for yourself! You'll see.....;)

one year ago today: Brooke decorates notebooks for school

Cute Hairstyle for School! by Brooke

Hello, everyone! I hate to admit it but school is pretty much here. so before school starts I am practicing new hairstyles and here is a really good one! So I need new ways to make 2 braids different! so I tried this! first you do 2 dutch braids on each side - you start out like you're making a regular braid (separate into 3 pieces) - make one braid stitch, then add some hair to one piece, put under to the middle, add hair to the other side, put under to the middle, and keep going! its super easy, you just need practice! I hope that makes sense.- so you have your 2 braids then you just wrap them around into a little bun at the bottom, and add bobby pins! its easy and so cute! everyone loved it when I sent them pictures!! hope you try this out and love it!

one year ago today: 30 day ab challenge (a year later I still need this!)

Caprese Salad

This is a pretty traditional caprese salad - slices of mozzarella and tomatoes layered with basil, drizzled with balsamic syrup and olive oil, sprinkled with coarse salt. I saw someone stand the slices up in a square dish and liked how that looked - I tried it using a deep dish round pie plate and love the result. I will say the only negative is that the bottom of the layers didn't get much dressing and I thought it was a little dry but everyone else gobbled it up and loved it. Next time I will separate the layers a bit so the oil and vinegar will cover more of the tomatoes. Otherwise this is delicious - perfect summer salad...and it's gorgeous!

oops, forgot to take a picture after
drizzling with oil and vinegar! 

Balsamic syrup is simple to make - put a cup of balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan, turn on medium and let it reduce until it's thick like syrup and there's about 1/3 cup reduced vinegar remaining. I drizzle this on my wedge salad too - it's SO good! Different than plain old balsamic for sure.
















one year ago today: the chocolate peanut butter dessert I made for my sissy's birthday.

S'more Pie

Sometimes I get an idea of what I'd like to make and can't find the exact thing I'm looking for, so I end up winging it and most of the time it turns out (thank goodness). In this case I woke up thinking I wanted to make a no-bake s'more pie to take to my sister's cookout - couldn't find the perfect recipe so I made this up. And really, what could go wrong with graham cracker pie crust, chocolate pudding, marshmallow fluff and chocolate pieces? How bad could it be?! Haha, it was yummy :)

1 9" graham cracker pie crust
2 small boxes of instant chocolate pudding
3 cups cold milk
1 small jar marshmallow fluff
2 cups mini marshmallows
1 Hershey's candy bar, chopped into small pieces


I bought a pre-made graham cracker pie crust (feel free to make your own but I was in a time crunch - that seems to be my general state of baking lately!); make 2 small boxes of instant chocolate pudding according to package directions but only use 3 cups of milk, spread it evenly into the pie crust. Top with a handful of mini marshmallows.

Using a mixer gently combine 1 small jar of marshmallow fluff with 1/2 container of cool whip. Mix in a handful of mini marshmallows and spread that over the pudding mixture. Top with the rest of the cool whip; decorate the top of the pie with more mini marshmallows and the chopped candy bar. Refrigerate until ready to serve, I'd say at least a couple hours so it'll set up. Yum.

One year ago today: mashed cauliflower