Monday, October 31, 2011

Fright Night

Happy Halloween Everyone! 

If you haven't gotten any Halloween items around and want some last minute, easy ideas check these out!

Try monogramming some pumpkins with black pushpins:

Dollar Store Crafts via Pinterest



If you buy a box of Keebler Fudge stripe cookies, some orange icing, and Hershey Kisses you can have a witch's hat cookie in no time!

Explore.Dream.Discover.


Pop some pumpkins on pedestals or empty candle sticks and you have a decorative item for the house (that will also last until Thanksgiving!)

Better Homes and Gardens via Pinterest

I think a pig in a blanket has never been cuter!  It is a great last minute costume idea!
Real Simple via Pinterest

Friday, October 28, 2011

What is for dinner?

Here is what we are having for dinner next week...we have a lot of food in this house that needs eaten!

Sunday - Leftovers

Monday - Roasted Vegetables (we will roast butternut squash, leeks, potatoes, cauliflower)

Tuesday - Crispy Broccoli Rabe, Chickpea, and Fresh Ricotta Salad

Wednesday -Almond Chicken Soup with Sweet Potato, Collards, and Ginger

Thursday - Fall Vegetable Hash with Poached Eggs 

Friday - Bacon and Swiss Chard Pasta

Saturday - Braised Lamb Shanks with Swiss Chard

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Day Off

So yesterday I was supposed to make the yummy bread for today's post...however after a week of no sleep (who knows why...my mind simply won't quiet) I decided to take a nap and to make the bread next week.  The nap was wonderful and I felt so much better.

Instead, today I bring you a beautiful picture of fall....I hope your leaves are pretty right now, ours have turned, and half have already dropped! 


Pinterest


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Happy Diwali

Wishing all of my friends a Happy Diwali and a Prosperous New Year!

Tantalize.IN

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Queen Jane

"People always live forever when there is an annuity to be paid them."{Sense and Sensibility - chapter 2}


October 30th marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.   Jane sold all 750 copies of the book in less than 2 years and earned 140 pounds for those original books (whose author was listed as 'By A Lady"). 

Amazon.com

I loved reading this book in high school and am making it this week's book to read.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Spooky Ideas

Only one week left until Halloween.  Here are some more great ideas for the holiday!

The Tip Junkie has highlighted four different websites for free Halloween printables!

Tip Junkie


I love the pumpkin decorating ideas from The Party Dress!  I think pumpkins falling out of your fireplace are a terrific way to decorate for Thanksgiving as well!  You can add some squashes in for fun.

The Party Dress via Pinterest

Candy corn sugar cookies are such a fun treat for the little ones!  Kathie Cooks has the recipe.


Katie Cooks via Pinterest

Real Simple has some great DIY costumes for kids.  I think it is Raining Cats and Dogs is terrific, and VERY easy to make.

Real Simple via Pinterest

Friday, October 21, 2011

What is for dinner?

Here is what we are having for dinner this week:

Sunday - Chicken Pot Pie

Monday - Swiss Chard and Poached Egg Salad

Tuesday - Indian Cashew Chicken

Wednesday - Leek and Swiss Chard Tart

Thursday - Roasted Eggplant and Chickpea Soup

Friday - Indian Take Out

Saturday - Lamb Keema with Potatoes and Peas

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Yummy Bread - Week 4

Here is this week's yummy bread recipe.  I made mine with carrots and apples, but you can use whatever combination of fruits and vegetables that you like. 

Fruit, Vegetable, and Nut Bread - Adapted from How To Cook Everything by Mark Bittman
Makes 1 loaf


Ingredients:

4 tablespoons coconut oil
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar
11/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup fruit juice, like orange or apple, or milk
1/2 cup applesauce
1 tablespoon minced or grated orange or lemon zest
1 egg
1 cup any raw fruit or vegetable: small berries left whole, anything else peeled and grated or chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with butter.

2. Stir together the dry ingredients. Cut the coconut oil into bits, then use a fork, 2 knives, or your fingers to cut or rub it into the dry ingredients until there are no pieces bigger than a small pea. (You can use a food processor for this step, which makes it quite easy, but you should not use a food processor for the remaining steps or the bread will be tough.)

3. Beat together the juice, zest, and egg. Pour into the dry ingredients, mixing just enough to moisten; do not beat and do not mix until the batter is smooth. Fold in the fruit and the nuts, then pour and spoon the batter into the loaf pan (make sure to coat it with either non-stick spray or butter).

4.  Bake for about an hour, or until the bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack for 15 minutes before removing from the pan.


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Carving Tips

This weekend we are going to be carving our pumpkins.  HGTV has some wonderful tips for carving pumpkins.  Here are a few highlights:

    HGTV
  • It is easier to cut your hole in the bottom of the pumpkin.  It will be easy to replace your light source and creates a flat surface for your pumpkin.

    Martha Stewart
  • To prevent mold growth in your pumpkin spread it with a thin layer of petroleum jelly in the inside. 

    Martha Stewart
  • Check your local stores for battery-powered pumpkin candles.  They are much safer than candles. 

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Red Stamp

I have just discovered a really fun app called Red Stamp.  It is a free service that allows you to send quick notes, invites, greetings to friends on electronic stationary.  You can add your own photos to some cards, and other cards can be purchased for $0.99.  If you wanted to send a real card via the mail you can do that too for a small fee. 

The notes are so chic and great little pick me ups for you and your friends and family.  Who wouldn't want to get such a cute note on their email.




Red Stamp

Red Stamp

Monday, October 17, 2011

Goblins Abound

This week I have some wonderful Halloween ideas, and you have plenty of time to decorate, bake or make a costume for your little goblin!

I love this pumpkin display from Dress Design Decor.  All you need are a few cans of spray paint, and some stickers or tape to make a design on your pumpkin!

Dress Design Decor


These owl cupcakes are so cute!  Split open an Oreo, grab a bag of Reece's Pieces to use as eyes and a beak and you are set!
a little sussy from nicole hill


This is a terrific costume idea for your little one - or you can even make it for yourself if you need a costume!  Coolest-Homemade-Costumes provides all of the directions.
Coolest-Homemade-Costumes
Good Housekeeping has a fun way to decorate your pumpkins.  To get the templates for the felt masks click here.   
Good Housekeeping


Saturday, October 15, 2011

THANK YOU!

Pinterest

I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to all of you who voted for me in the Circle of Mom's Top 25 Household Mgmt poll.  I am so touched that so many of you supported me and allowed me to be in the top 10! 

I am delighted that Circle of Mom's found me and thought this site was worthy enough to even be considered.  This opportunity has give my little ol' blog some wonderful exposure!  And hopefully I have picked up a few more readers too!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and again, thank you very much!

Friday, October 14, 2011

What is for dinner?

Dad is traveling again this week...so I'll be eating a lot of soup again!

Sunday - Roasted Salmon with Parsnips and Ginger

Monday - Kale and White Bean Soup

Tuesday - Leftovers

Wednesday - Sweet Potato Soup with Curried Cheese Crisps

Thursday - Classic Tomato Soup

Friday - Dinner Out

Saturday - Dinner Out

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Yummy Bread - Week 3

Here is this week's yummy, HEALTHY bread recipe.  This is a favorite around this house, my little one loves this bread!

Healthy Zucchini & Pumpkin Spice Bread - Adapted from Martha Stewart



Ingredients
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 large zucchini (you could even do half zucchini and half carrot)
  • 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan with cooking spray, and set aside. Grate zucchini on the large holes of a box grater (to yield 1 3/4 cups); set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together sugars, oil, pumpkin, vanilla, and eggs.

2.  Into a small bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and salt. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, and stir to combine well. Stir in grated zucchini.

3.  Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes; invert onto a wire rack, then reinvert, top side up. Cool completely before slicing

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Please pass the broccoli

After spending too much time on Pinterest (totally worth it thought!)  I have seen a number of recipes that have been claimed as the Best Ever!  This is a huge honor to bestow on anything.  So, I decided to take it on as a challenge and see if they really are the best.  Last week's challenge was pancakes...which I am still searching for, so please send me your favorite pancake recipe!

This week's recipe is a roasted broccoli dish from Amateur Gourmet.  I thought this would be a great challenge since we had a beautiful head of broccoli from our garden just waiting to be eaten.  Dad can't stand broccoli, so if this passes his test then I know for sure it is truly the best. 




I am happy to report that not only did Dad love this recipe, another friend's husband also adores this dish!

What best evers are you looking for?  I am happy to try out recipes for you!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Paint Inspiration

I have been wanting to redo my laundry room for ages.  Sherwin Williams has introduced a great app for your phones (iPhone, blackberry, or android) that you can use to find your favorite colors.  All you have to do is take a picture of a color that you like, and the app will find the closest color match of Sherwin William's color options. 

You can also create a custom color palette.  This app will be so useful as I start collecting ideas for what color the laundry room should be!

Sherwin Williams

Sherwin Williams

Sherwin Williams

Monday, October 10, 2011

Trick or Treat?

This week's Halloween ideas come courtesy of Martha Stewart and amazing, easy ideas I found on Pinterest.

This marshmallow topped, chocolate ghost cake is such a great easy way to get into the spirit!
Martha Stewart

I think I might get some white paint and try this with my little one.  Wouldn't it make a great inside for a Halloween card to Grandma and Grandpa?
Pinterest

If you have a child who isn't big enough to trick or treat on their own this is a terrific idea!  Especially for the second child that wants to go out with an older sibling.
Pinterest

This is a really easy, unique way to decorate your pumpkins!  I think the black pumpkin is such a great addition to a collection of pumpkins!
Pinterest

Friday, October 7, 2011

What's for dinner?

Here is what we are having for dinner next week...

Sunday - Butternut Squash Salad with Hazelnuts and Blue Cheese

Monday - Spicy Coriander Chicken with Udon Noodles

Tuesday - Eggplant Pachadi

Wednesday - Pumpkin and Couscous Salad

Friday -  Pasta with Roasted Vegetables and Bacon

Saturday - Dinner Out

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Missing A Post?

If you are a regular reader of this blog you might have noticed that I am missing this week's yummy bread post.  I am so sorry, but this week has been busier than I anticipated and I just haven't been able to get around to making the next recipe.  I promise to bring you another great recipe next week.

Until then, I need to get back to cleaning after a very messy week at this house!

Pinterest

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Best Pancake Ever?

This week's challenge "BEST OF" recipe was pancakes.  I make pancakes a lot for my family and we are very partial to buttermilk.  Generally I use Betty Crocker's recipe and it generally turns out pretty good.  I had found the "Last Pancake Recipe You'll Ever Need" pin on Pinterest and we tried it out last weekend.  I am sorry to say, it got a thumbs down from my family.

So, I am in search for the perfect pancake recipe.  Until then we are going to be doing a lot of taste testing of pancakes on the weekends!


Pinterest

If you have a favorite pancake recipe please email it to me at breakfastatmoms!@gmail.com

 

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Leaf Learning

We are working on learning our colors right now...so far everything is red!  To help with our process I found this fun idea from Little Giraffes.  I think it is a very fun, easy game to play outside!  The only change I would make is to color coordinate the labels to help a toddler just learning colors a little bit.


Little Giraffes
-

Monday, October 3, 2011

Booo!!!!

Each week I plan on bringing you some fun Halloween ideas that I have found online.  Here are this week's treats:

The cutest candy corn dress for a little girl!  If I lived in a warm weather local (ahem, N.O. pal!) I would dress my little one in this!
Pinterest
I saw this idea in Martha Stewart Living, and Thrifty Decor Chick has implemented the idea of mice in the house!
Thrifty Decor Chick

I love the idea of hosting a Great Pumpkin Party - I have made my husband watch the Peanuts show with me every year (and last year the little one got to watch!)  A Merrier World has a great tutorial on how to make a Great Pumpkin cake!
A Merrier World

How elegant do these pumpkins look from none other than Martha Stewart!  If you don't have the black chair then head to your local thrift store to pick up a chair and spray paint it black. 
Martha Stewart
Check back next week for more great HAUNTING ideas!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Saturday Statement

Here's to looking harder on those challenging days!

Pinterest

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