Oi'u

Wow. Haven't done much posting here lately have I? What can I say....a new school year, more work, PTO, picking up Cookie Lee again....the fun never ends! I am going to try to make time for myself and do something I love by blocking out 30 minutes each day to post to my blogs!

I just had to hop on here real quick and say how excited I am to have recieved my Pink Christmas envelope in the mail today!!! YIPEE!! It was stuffed full of cute little things....including a nifty little tin of peppermint lip gloss, YUM! I am very excited to find out who my partner is and to start shopping! This is going to be so much fun!!!!

I will post more info on PC later for all those who are curious:) For now, I have to run to work:)

Butternut Squash Ravioli

My friend Neepa made this for a girls' night dinner at her house a few weeks ago...I loved it so much that, naturally, I had to ask for the recipe! You can find the ravioli in the freezer section at Publix. This dish is very light...summery....and bursting with healthy flavors! The kids really enjoyed it~

Butternut Squash Ravioli

1 bag of butternut squash ravioli
1 small bag of chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons EVOO
2 tablespoons of sage (more if you like)
pinch of fresh ground nutmeg
1/2 cup of reserved water from ravioli

Boil ravioli according to directions on package. Reserve 1/2 cup of the water used to boil the ravioli and place in a deep saute pan. When ravioli is cooked, place into reserved water along with olive oil, sage, EVOO, nutmeg, and walnuts. Cook just long enough to allow the flavors to blend. Serve with a dollop of marinara on top....you don't have to do this, but I love the flavor blend. I used Barilla Tomato and Basil simply because it is my fav! ENJOY!

On the table this week.....

I am stealing this idea from a blog that I read a lot (http://www.mommychef.blogspot.com) Liz always has great recipes and I steal a lot of those too:)

On my menu this week:

Sunday~ Butternut squash ravioli with walnuts and cream spinach on the side
Monday~ Cube steak with rice and gravy
Tuesday~ Spinach floretine with alfredo sauce and blackened chicken
Wednesday~ Rotel steak and rice with citrus basil asparagus and sweet corn
Thursday~ Homemade eggrolls with white rice
Friday~ cheat night (Brooke's birthday, so we'll just do whatever she wants!)
Saturday~ Fried roast with white rice and sweet peas

I'll post some pics from some of the meals.....probably at the end of the week~ As for now, I have Sunday- Tuesday finished and let me tell you....the butternut squash was a hit with the kiddos!!! I am thinking of toasting it next time and just having them dip it in marinara:)

Check out my Slide Show!

Watch this one!

I tried to link to it but for some reason it's just not working! So go to www.pinkchristmas.blogspot.com and sign up in July~

I'll hopefully be participating in this swap this year......looks like great fun! If you enter, let me know!

Biltmore Estate White Zinfandel

I had this bottle last week...with spinach, mushroom, and feta pizza of all things:) I found that I enjoyed this wine better WITH the pizza, than alone. I was hoping for more of a fruit taste, but thought the acidity was too potent for my liking. Maybe that's why it went well with my pizza?? Brandon really enjoyed this.....I attribute that to the alcohol aftertaste. Too stout for me....and in a zinfandel, which surprised me. Will probably buy again, but will commit a sin and add a bit of grenadine to create my own little "wine cooler". :)

drooling over my bid

I found an amazing selection of quilting pieces today and I've been drooling over them ever since! Once I replace my pedal on the machine, I hope to get started on a quilted purse *well, a few of them!* and these are the pieces that I MUST have to make them! Keep your fingers crossed that I win, otherwise...I'll have to hunt the pieces down elsewhere online *which we all know isn't very hard, I am just lazy about that!* oh Gods of E-bay, please hear my plea....bring these lovlis home to me!

Favorite website of the week!

I came across this website last week and I am hooked! It's called swap-bot. You sign up and join a "swap" to get cool things from people all over the country *or world, if you sign up for an international swap*. There are lists of hundreds of swaps to join....from vintage postcards to fabric to yarn....stickers, wrapping paper, girlie stuff, books, kids stuff......you imagine it, you can swap it on swap-bot! I signed up for my first one today, pink sticker swap. I had a hard time finding a swap that I appealed to me that allowed newbies to participate, but I thoughtI could always use stickers since I have a little sticker gnome that steals them all:)

So here is the site....check it out and let me know what you think! I will be hosting my OWN swap on there once I get a proper rating. So excited about my new find!

http://www.swap-bot.com

Enjoy!

Wine venture

I have decided to add a little something to my blog. I love exploring new wines...love having a glass while cooking dinner....love having a glass with dinner. I am more favorable to whites during the summer *well, naturally!*....and prefer crisp semi sweet to dry peppery wines. I generally buy a bottle a week until I find one I like, then I buy it for a while until I grow bored of it *but it becomes a staple for when I need a reliable taste! I know what I lik hon!*

I am going to try and keep record of those I try and what I think about them. WE'll see if I can stick to it though!

Last week I didn't want to spend more than 10 on a bottle, so I found a bottle of Hardy's *which I love in red, btw*....but I found a bottle that struck my curiosity. Hardy's Shiraz Grenache label '05. Price 5.99. A medium rose color, very pretty. I was very impressed with the taste, very pleasing to the palate with light plum and raspberry flavors. Bouquet was a tad peppery, but raspberry was more abundant...so forgave the pepper:) Found it to be very generous.....and I paired it with pasta and cream sauce. Very fitting;) I think it would be great alongside a rich cheese...perhaps a Dubliner or something stout. Loved it!

Lazy food

The kids are out of town visiting the grandparents, so B and I have been taking it eay in all aspects of life....including that in the kitchen! Salads are a great staple for summer since there are sooo many fresh veges and fruits to throw in! My favorite of the moment is a Summer Berry Salad. You can adapt it anyway you wish, adding whatever fruit that suits your fancy....but the dressing is a must;) Excuse the paper plate....as I said, we are taking it easy and washing dishes isn't high on my agenda!


What you need:
spinach salad mix
blueberries
raspberries
strawberries
plain feta cheese
raspberry walnut dressing *can be purchased at your grocers*
chopped walnuts

Combine all in the amounts to your liking....toss well and enjoy! *told you it was easy;)*

Creamy Pancetta Brussell Sprouts

Here is the recipe that won me third place in a Bakespace cook-off! I won an a cute Bakespace apron that I keep forgetting to wear:) If you like sprouts, try this recipe and I am sure you won't be disappointed because this is the BEST sprout recipe EVER!


What you need:

1 bag frozen baby brussel sprouts
1 small container of whipping cream
6 slices of pancetta
salt and pepper to taste

Heat sprouts through in microwave. Coarsely chop pancetta, place in frying pan, and cook until cripsy. Place sprouts in pan, cook for about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low. If sprouts are too "dry", add a small amount of olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Pour in half of the cream and cook until cream is reduced. This takes about 20 minutes. Be sure to stir every so often so they won't burn. Add remaining cream and reduce again. Again this takes about 20 minutes. Do not cook the sprouts too quickly or cream will burn. yummmm

Teacher's Presents

I was recently introduced to Stampin' Up by a good friend. I posted some projects that I've done at our monthly class, and I ave been SO tickled over each project that we complete. I never thought I could get into stamps b/c I just couldn't see incorporating them much into my scrapbooks....which I must be honest....scrapbooks that haven't been worked on much in quite a while! But who knew that I would become hooked on creating new things....cards and gifts....from this class!? I am completely taken with Stampin Up and I LOOOOVE how I feel when I make something creative.

Here is a picture of the gifts I gave to the kids' teachers on the last day of school. I filled each with different gifts...one with scented tealights, the others with dark chocolate dipped oreos wrapped in colored foil, and the other was full of odd and ends to go along with the bigger present that Bub picked out for her.





I purchased two pop top cans of pears. I used a smooth edge can opener and removed the bottom of the can to empty them. I washed the cans and removed the labels. Then I but out paper to the correct size needed to wrap around the can. Pasted it on using craft tape. I then decorated each can and stuffed them with goodies. To seal the can, I used Scotch tacky glue and let it dry a while. Tied on some pretty ribbon, and VOILA! Personalized gifts in a flash....and I made them myself!

New obsession?

I think I have a new obsession....stamps! I recently joined a stampin' up club and we meet once a month to learn a new technique and create something incredible! This month we made a Mother's Day gift in a can w/ a mini card along with a full sized card. I am most proud of my watercolor work on the purple card. I started with a few sheets of plain paper, added a stamp, and prettied it up with watercolors and a ribbon.

Olive Garden: Alisha style

I love Olive Garden's alfredo sauce. We always order two extra dipping sauces when we go. I've tried for a very long time to make a replicate of their sauce...and after so long without any luck, I have found the recipe for the next best thing! If you are going to try it, please please PLEASE don't use the stinky feet cheese you get from a can:) Save your self AND your taste buds and use the real deal!

What you need:
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 stick butter
2 tbsp cream cheese
1/2-3/4 cups Parmigianno
1 tsp garlic powder

Combine butter, heavy cream, and cream cheese in a med size saucepan. Simmer until all are melted and blended through. Add the cheese and the garlic powder. Simmer on low for 15-20 minutes. I don't add any salt since the parm is salty enough, but I sprinkle a bit of white pepper in just for kicks. Serve over pasta.

Baby it's hot outside~~

Spring has definitely sprung around here! It was a good 70 degrees outside this afternoon, so for dinner I knew I wanted something light. I was already making shrimp creole for Brandon, so I decided to steal some of his shrimp to make one of my favorite dishes: Shrimp Couscous. It's so easy to make and it is super light on your tummy. The kids really love it and they always want me to pack it in their lunch the next day.


What you'll need:
1 pound of shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 leeks, cut into half moons
2 shredded carrots
5 cloves thinly sliced garlic cloves
1 cup thawed frozen peas
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 cup couscous
2 tbls olive oil
2 cups boiling water

What you'll do:
Heat 1 tbls olive oil over med heat, toss in shrimp. Salt and pepper to taste *I prefer coarse salt here, but use what you like*. Saute about 3 minutes *just until cooked through*. Remove from pan. Add 1 tbls olive oil to pan and stir in 1 tsp mustard seeds, cook until seeds begin to pop *takes about 30 seconds*. Add leeks, carrots, and garlic. Cook until leeks are tender *about 5 minutes*. Stir in 1 cup couscous, peas, and 2 cups boiling water. Remvove from heat, cover; let stand for about 5 minutes. Add shrimp and stir gently.

My Anniversary present!!!!

My hubby really surprised me on our anniversary this year~~

I mentioned in passing, a few weeks ago that I really wanted a bicycle so I could ride to school with the kiddos in the mornings. Imagine my surprise when I opened the door to the garage and found a shiny new bike just for me!!!

I rode it last night for about 30 minutes and now my bum is severely sore.....I wonder if I can buy a seat replacement??

Thank you to my hubby for my great present!! I love you~~

Reading now

I have a habit of reading more than one book at a time. For now, since we are in the process of moving, only one has been able to get my attention. It is a book that I started last October, but I ran out of library time before I'd finished it. I plan on buying it, but for now I am still borrowing it from the library. Almost finished, I am thoroughly enjoying this book. I love historical novels...particularly those based on the Tudor family line. The book I am working on now is by one of my favorite authors, Alison Weir. "The life of Elizabeth I" is an amazing account of an amazing woman who took over, and made her own, the throne of England during sixteenth century England. So unparalleled was her reign, the late sixteenth century was aptly named the Elizabethan Period. In a time that men thought women couldn't do as much as blow a feather without the guidance of a man, Elizabeth I proved a woman's worth. She led the country to political and religious stability in the wake of the tyrannical reigns of Henry VIII and Mary, and she (re)directed England's fate so that it became the strong hold among European nations.....without a man by her side (as she never married!!!)

I realllllly love this book...and I hope someone among my family or friends will someday take the time to read about this inspiring woman:)

Fried Roast

Brandon's dad is cajun french, so Brandon grew up eating a lot of creole based foods. When I married him I knew that I would have to master his mother's skills in the kitchen in order to keep his stomach happy. Lucky for me, I LOVE to cook and I truly enjoy trying new things and experimenting in my kitchen. Unfortunately, my husband isn't so adventurous. I tell everyone that he would be happy eating pork chops and fried squash everyday for the rest of his life. After many (okay, only 8) years of marriage, we have finally learned to co-exist....EVEN at the dinner table.

When we first moved back to Florida after being married a year, I was introduced to new foods....via my mom in law. I have finally perfected her gumbo, shrimp creole, dressing, and my personal fav, fried roast. I've told my friend Lori over and over again how amazing this dish is. You probably won't get it JUST right the first time, unless you are extrememly patient, but I want to share the recipe. If you try it, let me know how it turns out!

Ingredients;
your choice cut of beef, I prefer london broil because it's less fatty
roughly two tbls finely chopped garlic
roughly one tbls cayenne pepper
salt to taste
3-5 tbls vegetable oil, depending on amount of meat

You MUST cook this in a cast iron skillet, preferably one that has been well prepared. Mine is more than 20 years old, so it has been well prepared! Trim any fat off of meat and cut into small bite size pieces. Place meat in cast iron skillet along with garlic, salt, oil, and cayenne. The next step sounds crazy, but is a MUST. Cook each side of meat until blackend, almost burned. Toss until all meat is blackened, almost burned. Drain off any excess grease. Pour two cups of water directly into skillet. Lower cooking temp, and cook down until water is reduced to half. Repeat this process until meat is incredibly tender and all of the fry bits on the bottom of the pan have come unstuck. I cook mine at least 3 hours, more if I can get away with it.

Serve over hot rice.