Mondays

Sorry I haven't posted for a while.  I won't bore with the excuses.  Needless to say, I am taking a bit of sabbatical from this blog for a while.  I want to spend some time redefining the focus of the blog, get a little of my mojo back, and see what makes the most sense.  I have noticed a nice little uptick from visitors which is great!  I would love some feedback and comments on the blog.  What works for you, what doesn't?  There are days I wonder if I would make a better blog reader vs. a blog writer!

Hoping you have a terrific week...and I hope to see you again soon!

Google.com via Breakfast At Mom's via Pinterest

Monday Musings - Earth Day



Box Play

My little one loves playing with old cardboard boxes.  We have two large washer boxes in our basement to act as her "two room" house.  In honor of Earth Day coming up I thought I would highlight this great website, Box Play For Kids which has all of these great stickers you can buy to put on your trash boxes so the kids can play.  (Please note that I have no affiliation with Box Play For Kids, nor am I being paid to blog about them.)

You can make many things out of milk cartons, such as a fire truck, train, cow or even a piggy:

Box Play For Kids

 
You can have an egg carton piano:

Box Play For Kids

 A bento cereal box:

Box Play For Kids

A rocket ship on a toilet paper roll:

Box Play For Kids

Martha Gets Real

According to the April 2012 issue of Martha Stewart Living, yesterday Martha turned on her outdoor faucets and hooked up her hoses.  Here are some fun hoses and pretty containers for your garden. 

Outblush

Mailbox Collections Etc.

Ballard Designs

Gardeners

Domino Is Back!!!!

Domino Magazine on Facebook

 

 

It is time to run to your local bookstore to grab the special edition of Domino out today!  I loved this magazine and continually read my old editions.  I hope that this means that we might be seeing a little bit more of Domino from now on.  Until then you will have to be satiated with their Quick Fixes magazine:  334 Best Makeovers and Easy Decorating Tips.

 

Domino Magazine on Facebook

 

Reinforcements

I have slipped a bit on my healthy eating goal...so here is my week's reminder!

Striving for Fit and Fab via Breakfast At Mom's via Pinterest

Sinful Saturdays - Birthday Edition

The other week we had a wonderfully sinful Saturday for a birthday celebration.   I saw this birthday cake recipe on Martha Stewart's tv show a while back when she had Matt Lewis on the show.  I have made it a few times and it always turns out moist and delicious!  I have got to get his books.  I have made a few of his recipes in the past and they have always been terrific.

Everyone's Favorite Birthday Cake - Matt Lewis

Ingredients

For the Cake:

• • 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, room temperature, plus more for pans
  • All-purpose flour, for pans
  • 1 3/4 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed light-brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup sour cream

For the Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting:

• • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 5 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 to 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 ounces dark chocolate, melted and cooled (I have also used special dark cocoa powder and it has turned out OK)

Directions

• Cake:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans; line with parchment-paper rounds. Butter parchment paper and lightly dust pans with all-purpose flour, shaking out excess.
  2. In a large bowl, sift together cake flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon; set aside.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and both sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat until just incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Reduce speed to low; add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with sour cream and beginning and ending with flour mixture, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary.
  4. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Set pan on a wire rack to cool for at least 20 minutes before loosening sides of cake from pan and inverting onto a wire rack. Remove parchment paper and reinvert; let cool completely.

• Frosting:

  1. Beat butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth. Add cream cheese and beat until well combined. Add 2 cups confectioners' sugar and salt; beat until smooth. Add chocolate and mix until well combined. If frosting seems too loose, add additional confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it becomes firm. Do not over-beat. Frosting can be made up to 1 day in advance if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator; let soften at room temperature before using.
  2. Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes to make even. Place 1 layer on a cake plate; frost top with 1/2 cup frosting and top with remaining layer. Frost top and sides with remaining frosting to cover. Cake can be kept in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to 3 days. Let come to almost room temperature before serving.

What 's for dinner?

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

Sunday - Pappardelle with Leeks, Sugar Snap Peas and Lemon

Monday - Grilled Steak with Blue Cheese Potatoes

Tuesday - Three Pea Chicken Salad

Wednesday - Tortilla Espanola with a Side Salad

Thursday -  Chickpea Pattie with Tomato and Halumi Salad

Friday - Dinner Out

Saturday - Dad's Night To Cook - ?

Martha Gets Real - Baby and Kids Magazine

Years ago Martha Stewart put out two wonderful magazines.  Martha Stewart Baby and Martha Stewart Kids.  At the time that they came out, I was in no means close to being a mom.  However now that I am one I wish that these publications still came out.  I am continually inspired by what she and her team puts out. 

Lucky for us we have ebay!   The other week I found 10 issues of these magazines for sale and snatched them up for a small price.  There are still a few left online, so go bid on them when you can. 

ebay

ebay

Clay Pot Bird Baths

I saw this clay pot bird bath on Pinterest and thought it would be such a fun activity to do with the kids.  I think we might try painting one next weekend, but I do think I will keep it all one color family.

The Culinary Cougar via Breakfast At Mom's via Pinterest

The Dirty Dozen

I try to buy organic produce, but it isn't always available at my local grocery store, and I am not lucky enough to have a Whole Foods close by.  Lucky for me, my husband enjoys tending to a vegetable garden and my Dad is an amazing gardener and gives me plenty of fruits and vegetables.  After enjoying fresh asparagus from my Dad's garden I thought it would be a good time to review what makes the Dirty Dozen list of fruits and vegetables.

12 Most Contaminated:

My Thirty Spot via Becky Blondell via Pinterest

• Peaches
• Apples
• Cherries
• Strawberries
• Imported Grapes
• Pears
• Nectarines
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Celery
• Potatoes

On the other hand, here are the least contaminated...

• Pineapples
• Mangos
• Kiwi
• Bananas
• Papaya
• Avocado
• Frozen Sweet Peas
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Asparagus
• Frozen Sweet Corn
• Onions

If this list is hard for you to remember, just download the free, Dirty Dozen App available from iTunes. 

iTunes

Good Thoughts

Polyvore via Breakfast At Mom's via Pinterest

Hoppy Easter!

Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday!

Our Humbled A{Bowe}d via Breakfast At Mom's via Pinterest

What's for dinner

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

Sunday - Happy Easter!

Monday - Creamy Asparagus Soup with Poached Egg on Toast

Tuesday - Chicken Pot Pie

Wednesday - Date Night

Thursday - Coconut-Lime Chicken Noodle Soup

Friday - Spaghetti

Saturday - Salmon, Spinach, and Potatoes Baked in Parchment

Martha Gets Real - Matzo For Breakfast

With Passover coming up I thought I would highlight some great breakfast dishes using Matzo.

Martha Stewart

Matzo Granola - Martha Stewart

Makes 4 Cups

Ingredients

• 3 crushed whole-wheat matzos
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup safflower oil
• 2 tablespoons light-brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/2 cup chopped dried fruit

Directions

1. Stir together matzos, walnuts, oil, sugar, honey, and salt. Spread evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 300 degrees, stirring every 10 minutes, until toasted, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool. Break into smaller pieces. Stir in dried fruit..

Martha Stewart

Matzo Brei - Martha Stewart

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 matzos (8-inch squares)
• 4 large eggs
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Coarse salt
• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions 

1.  Break each matzo square into about 8 pieces; place in a medium bowl. Add enough boiling water to cover, and soak until moistened, 2 or 3 minutes; drain. Squeeze well with hands to remove excess water.

2.  In a medium bowl, beat eggs with nutmeg and 1/2 teaspoon salt; add softened matzo, and mix.

3.  Heat 1 tablespoon butter in an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, swirling to coat; add matzo mixture, and press in gently. Cook until browned on underside, 4 to 6 minutes; carefully invert cake onto a plate. Heat remaining tablespoon butter in skillet, and slide cake back into skillet. Cook until other side is browned, 4 to 6 minutes more.

4.  Turn cake out of skillet, and cut into wedges. Serve hot and drizzle with maple syrup.

Martha Stewart

Apple Cinnamon Matzo Brei - Martha Stewart

Serves 4

Ingredients

1/4 cup whole pecans, broken into 1/2-inch pieces

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice

5 tablespoons sugar

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup golden or dark raisins

8 sheets matzo

3 cups boiling water

4 large eggs

Pinch of coarse salt

Directions

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place pecans in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet; toast in oven until they are light golden and aromatic, about 7 minutes. Shake pan halfway through baking to make sure the nuts toast evenly. Set aside to cool.

2.  In a medium saute pan set over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add apples; cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons sugar over apples; cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved and caramelized, about 8 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, cinnamon, and raisins. Remove pan from heat; set aside.

3.  Break matzo sheets into 3-inch pieces, and place in a colander set in the sink. Pour 3 cups boiling water, one cup at a time, over the matzo, and drain.

4.  In a medium bowl, whisk eggs. Add salt and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Stir in the soaked matzo; mix until well coated.

5.  Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add matzo mixture, and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 10 minutes. Stir in two-thirds of the apple mixture until warm; transfer to a serving plate. Garnish with the reserved toasted pecans and the remaining apple mixture. Serve immediately.

A Pinterest Easter

Here are some great Easter finds courtesy of Pinterest!

I found these two variations of bunny cupcakes.  I do love the little bottom sticking up!

Created By Diane via Breakfast At Mom's via Pinterest

The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle via Breakfast At Mom's via Pinterest

These peep houses would be a fun craft to make with your kids during your spring break.

Kasey Buick via Breakfast At Mom's via Pinterest

If you haven't colored your eggs yet, try making yours with crayons (the tip is to draw on a warm egg!).

The Artful Parent via Breakfast At Mom's via Pinterest

This bunny bark looks delicious!

Flickr via Breakfast At Mom's via Pinterest

I love the eggs and grass combo

Ecoki via Breakfast At Mom's via Pinterest

National Baking Week

This week is the official NATIONAL BAKING WEEK! 

I am thinking of making some good ol' white bread this week.  I am going to use this recipe from Betty Crocker. 

Betty Crocker

I am sure a lot of you are busy in the kitchen getting ready for Passover and Easter. I would love for you to share your favorite baking recipes.

Monday Musings

It is a new month...treat yourself to a Karma Cleanse

Facebook via Breakfast At Mom's via Pinterest