Pear Obsession

 Let me tell you about my little pear obsession. So lately, they've been added to my water, enjoyed as a snack with cinnamon and thrown into my bag just in case my lunch is delayed.

Guys! They're so dang good.

Eat them.

 My Post Gym Refresher:

1 pear, sliced

3-4 strawberries, sliced

I use my Pampered Chef Infuser Pitcher, but you could seriously just throw all the fruit into a water jug, fill with water and enjoy! My favorite part is eating the fruit when you get to the bottom.

My next mission is to find an easy pear sangria recipe!

A recipe: ham + egg bread bake

 

Okay friends. How about a lovely brunch recipe for your Monday morning?! Sundays I try to make something scrumptious for the boy and I. On Saturday my parents gave us a loaf of bread and a light went off. I had seen this recipe and decided to try my own version of it.

 

This recipe is so easy. And you can pretty much use whatever you have.

I just used the recipe I found as a guideline. So go ahead and create your own!

Here's what you do:

Happy October everyone. Have a lovely Monday!

a recipe: lemon squares

Since we've been getting a dozen eggs every two days, we thought it might be a good idea to buy a recipe book all about cooking/baking with fresh eggs. And I went right to the sweets!

Lemon Squares

From The Fresh Egg Cookbook

Makes 15 squares

Ingredients

CRUST:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

FILLING:

4 eggs

2 cups granulated sugar

6 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Confectioners' sugar

How to make

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9 by 13-inch baking dish

2. For the crust, mix the butter, flour, confectioners' sugar, and salt in a bowl,

then pat into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden.

3. For the filling, beat the eggs in a large bowl and mix in the granulated sugar, flour,

lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla. Beat until fluffy. Pour over the baked crust

and return to the oven for 30 minutes, or until the filling is set. Transfer to a wire rack to cool,

then dust with confectioners' sugar and cut into squares.

NOTE: when I made these I used a baking pan instead of dish. The only problem I ran into was that I couldn't get it out in one piece (I didn't even attempt) and onto a wire rack to cool. I just let it cool for a couple hours in the pan. Once it was cooled, I sliced the squares in the pan and took them out one at a time with a spatula.

Enjoy.

my favorite summer recipe

Variations: ADD CHOCOLATE

This is one of the best summer snacks & a really great way to save the bananas from going bad!
Share your favorite recipes below & enjoy your frozen bananas.

A recipe for the H O L I D A Y S

*Photo by me - Red snowflake bowl from Michael's craft store ($2)*

What you need:
1 box of cake mix (I use chocolate.. but feel free to experiment with flavors - my mom is using Lemon!)
Ingredients needed for cake mix (eggs, vegetable oil & water)
1 container of frosting (I use vanilla, but again.. it's fun to play with different flavors.)
Baking pan
Crisco or non-sticking spray
Butter knife
Mixing bowl
Your hands

Directions: (About 1 hour from beginning to end - depending on variation) 
1. Bake cake according to directions on box. Preheat oven & grease bottom of pan.
2. When cake is done, allow to cool. The cooler the better.
3. With a butter knife slice the cake into small pieces while still in the pan.
4. Dump, or scoop cake pieces into mixing bowl.
5. Set aside plate/serving dish to place cake balls on (I recommend using wax paper)
6. Prepare to get messy.
7. Mix in container of frosting with hands. Feel free to use a spoon, but it's nearly impossible and I find that the cake and frosting blend better with fingers anyway.
8. Determine size of balls and begin rolling in your palms like you would a meat ball.


Variation on ending (#1):      (additional ingredients - melting chocolate & 2 spoons)
9. Once all the cake balls are formed, clean hands.
10. Follow directions on container of melting chocolate.
11. With the spoons, pick up the cake balls one by one and dip in the chocolate.  Place on wax paper.
12. Place in fridge to harden further.
13. Serve. Enjoy!

Variation on ending (#2):       (additional ingredients - sprinkles & 2 spoons)
9. Once all the cake balls are formed, clean hands.
10. Place desired sprinkles in a bowl.
11. With the spoons, pick up the cake balls one by one and roll in the sprinkles. Use the spoons to additionally shape the cake balls. And place on wax paper.
12. Place in fridge to harden further.
13. Serve. Enjoy!


This recipe is super easy and user friendly. A great one to do with the kids! The more creative you can get the better! I used sprinkles for the first time this weekend and it makes them look so festive.
Have fun!

Time for an update!

Yesterday I returned from my trip to Maine.
While visiting with my lovely best friend, several exciting things happened:

1. Alivia and I got into Eclipse Dance Company
2. I spent time lounging, laughing and relaxing with wonderful people
3. Alivia and I bought and two slip n' slides ($5 each.. which we were really proud of) which we set up at her wonderful graduation party
4. I made lots of yummy food with her and her momma

Some recipes I will be using for my own graduation party this weekend
Like..

Cranberry Pinwheels:

1-8 ounces carton of whipped cream cheese
1 cup (8 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup chopped green onion
6 ounces of dried cranberries
4-10 inch flour tortillas

1. Mix cream cheese and feta cheese
2. Add green onion and cranberries and mix well
3. Spread about half of a cup of the mixture onto each tortilla
4. Roll tightly and slice
5. Can be served immediately and/or made a day ahead of time
: )

*Another version that we had this weekend was made with peanut butter, honey and granola (with no raisins). Spread peanut butter on the wrap, then honey and last sprinkle with granola!*


Ice Cream Bomb:
Originally by Jill Silverman

4-5 boxes of Ho-Ho's (aka Swiss Rolls, Yodel's etc.)
2-3 cartons of ice cream - mix up the flavors : )

1. Line the inside of a large bowl (or however big you want the bomb) with aluminum foil.
2. Slice the swiss rolls about quarter of an inch and place along the entire surface of the aluminum foil (some say that it is easier to cut when the swiss rolls are frozen, however we found that they stick better when they aren't).
3. Layer your ice cream as desired. We like to separate each ice cream section with another layer of swiss rolls.
4. Put in the freezer immediately and allow several hours (or overnight) for it to harden.
5. To serve, place the bowl upside down on a plate and remove aluminum foil.
6. Variations on this recipe are endless. Try adding peanut butter or hardening chocolate. Experiment with different ice creams..
I think it's impossible for one of these to not taste delicious!

In addition to making these two things, I will also be making a tomato-bread salad, fruit dip, and maybe a cheese dip. My mom already made the lasagna and today I will be baking a couple batches of cookies and some breads for the party. Luckly, lovely friends and family are also bringing dishes to share! I hope people come to eat all this food : )

I can't express how excited, anxious and most of all nervous I am to be moving to NYC. Since today is June 1st, it suddenly occurred to me that it is only a few weeks away. It seems like everything is happening so fast and all at once. Parties, recitals and orchestrating our living situation is beyond stressful.

BUT this is what I've been waiting so long for.. so it's worth it : )