Mom

My Mom used to have a staple she'd make when we were growing up...
It was Beef Stroganoff served over rice.
It was also one of my favorite meals ever. So, I called her today to get the protocol down because I wanted to make it..
It's not quite as good as hers, but it does the job..

I served it over brown rice that I had left from earlier in the week. And, it was mmm, mmm good!
Here's the recipe I used:
Beef Stroganoff
1 pound of ground turkey1 8 ounce carton of fat free sour cream2 tablespoons all-purpose flour1/2 cup water2 teaspoons instant beef bouillon granules1/4 teaspoon black pepper2 cups fresh mushrooms chopped1/2 cup chopped onion1 clove garlic, minced2 tablespoons butter or margarine2 cups white or brown rice
1. In a small bowl stir together sour cream and flour. Stir in water, bouillon granules, and pepper. Set aside.2. In a large skillet cook and stir the ground turkey, mushrooms, onion, and garlic in hot butter over medium-high heat about 5 minutes or until the meat is browned. Drain off fat.3. Stir sour cream mixture into meat mixture in skillet. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Serve mixture over rice.
Source: Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook: Bridal Edition

Chocolate Chip Cookie

I wanted to make something simple this week...
And, for our wedding my dear friend, Claire, got us The Better Homes and Garden Cookbook: Bridal Edition.
I had not used it, but thought for sure there were probably some good recipes in it.
And, after taking a good look at the book, I realized it had way more than just recipes in it..
Suggestions on how to be a good hostess, how to set your table, how to make recipes for two, it's awesome, and a great gift in my opinion for a bride-to-be!
So, I made some chocolate chip cookies, and had Dave pick up a Godiva Milk Chocolate Bar, that I cut up into huge chunks instead of using chocolate chips...
With no further ado...

The dough is amazing. The cookies are delicious. 
Here's the recipe courtesy of Better Homes and Garden
Prep Time: 40 minutesBake: 8 minutes ber patch (Or, I used the ice cream scoop and made 12 big cookies in one batch).Oven: 375 Degrees F3/4 cup butter, softened (Quick Tip: Don't have patience to let your butter soften? Put in microwave for 5 seconds on each of its sides, and when you have done each side it will be softened)!1/4 cup shortening1 cup packed brown sugar1/2 cup granulated sugar3/4 tsp. baking soda1/2 teaspoon salt2 eggs1 teaspoon vanilla1 12-ounce package semisweet chocolate pieces
1. Preheat oven to 375. In a large mixing bowl beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt. Beat until mixture is combined, scraping sides of bowl. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour. Stir in chocolate pieces and, if desired, walnuts.
2. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons two inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8-9 minute sor until edges are light brown. Transfer to a wire wrack and let cool.
3. Serve to your husband and expect to be adored :)

Coffee Bar

So, before Dave and I got married, I was dreaming up of ways to decorate our cutesy little house.
One particular thing I wanted to do was to have a "Coffee Bar."
Last weekend, we purchased a bedroom set from one of my mom's clients...
The bedroom set is beautiful, but I did not have room for everything.
So, I took a piece and decorated each room.
The end tables were too big, but they were perfect for my coffee bar!
With no further ado, here are some pictures of my little nook..

The side table is perfect for holding all of those "K-Cups," The rack of coffee mugs frees up space in my cupboards, and overall I love it!

Raspberry Muffin

Noticing any trends here?
For some reason, I L-O-V-E raspberries. And, I really love raspberry muffins.So, I wanted to try making a batch to see if I could make them as good as Wheatfields. You know what I'm talking about if you live in Omaha.
So, I took myself on over The Kitchenarian, since she does a ton of breakfast foods, and a Monday Muffin each week. And, much to my hearts content, I found a raspberry muffin recipe.
You can find the recipe here.
I quickly assembled my shopping list for the grocery store, and was whipping these up in no time.
They are delicious.

And, a perfect quick little breakfast treat.

A Labor of Love

So..
Dave had asked me last week if I would bake something up for the potluck at work for Fat Tuesday.
I said, "Sure!"
I asked him if I could make Cinnamon Rolls because I've been having a hankering to try to make them.
Oh, what a night last night was. 
I was yelling at the dough, I was banging the rolling pin everywhere, I was very frustrated.
First, I was frustrated because I left the butter that was supposed to go in the dough in the microwave.
Then, I was frustrated because I thought I killed the yeast.
But, somehow they pulled through, and they are delicious!
And, in honor of Fat Tuesday, I just had to sprinkle them purple, green, and yellow...

The recipe I used can be found here.
Happy Fat Tuesday!
By the way, what are you giving up for Lent?

Guest Posting

Hey Everyone!
I had contacted a dear friend of mine from high school a few weeks ago to see if she'd be interested in me doing a guest blog to promote my Healthy Living Blog.
I feel lucky and excited that she let me do this, so make sure you check it out:Allison's Blog
Also, Allison dabbles in photography and takes beautiful pictures. So, make sure you check out her photography website below:Allison's Photography Website
Thanks for reading!

Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting

If you haven't noticed by now, I'm rather enjoying myself with all this baking...
I had Thursday afternoon off last week, so I decided to make some belated Valentine's Day treat cupcakes for Dave to take to work (let's not act like we can keep those at the house and still eat in "moderation").
So, after googling for awhile, I decided on a simple Vanilla cupcake with Vanilla frosting, and then I put a raspberry on top for added dramatic affects! 
I found my recipe online from Magnolia Bakery in NYC. 
Here's a picture of the sweet treats...

If I had to make them again...I would bake them a little under 20 minutes (contrary to what the recipe says), and I would definitely use all eight cups of powdered sugar for the frosting.
If you're going to try these, I strongly suggest adding the raspberry. That bite is the best.

Special Birthday with Dave's Godparents

Dave's Godparents= Mark & Connie.
We love them.
They took us out for a delicious meal at Bonefish Grill a few days before my birthday...
Then, we went back to their house where Connie made homemade cream puffs with cherry pie filling and whip cream...yummmmmm!!!
They are wonderful company, and we so love them, and are very grateful to have them in our lives. 
Here's a few pictures from the night!

Mark made a stained glass image of a rose (my favorite flower). So Sweet.

Breakfast Casserole

Hi!
I like to start my weeks off, if possible, by making some sort of breakfast dish.
I love it because in the morning when I'm in a hurry I can just zap it in the microwave, and wallah a filling breakfast to get Dave and me going.
Anyways, I ventured over to The Pioneer Woman's website to see what she had to offer this week...
And, I found a recipe for:
Sausage-Kale Breakfast Strata
So, I went out to the store to pick up a few ingredients I needed, and I made it.
Here are some pictures...

It's really delicious, and very filling for the days you have to work, work work! I'd recommend it!

The Love Holiday

Happy Valentine's Day to my Faithful Readers!
Over the weekend I headed over to Paula's house (my wedding cake lady)..
She was kind enough to take me in, and show me how to pipe frosting. What a treat. Literally. 
She had picked up aluminum heart pans.
First, we made a delicious chocolate chip cookie in each heart shaped pan.
Then, we baked them. Oh, and we definitely under baked them, and the chewiness was to die for.
Then, we frosted with a homemade buttercream frosting.
Then, we piped the cute little pink frosting around the perimeter. 
Proceeded with Sprinkles.
Wallah!
Here is a picture to share...

I love it. It's so cute.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Cheesecake Goodness

So, a few weeks ago some friends of ours, Sarah & Jamie, invited us over to their house for dinner.I was in charge of the dessert.I chose to make a very delicious, rich cheesecake.
Here is a picture to prove it..

I piled on the berries to compensate for the seven blocks of cream cheese I put in there. Yes, I said seven. 

The Perfect Breakfast Sandwich

I love breakfast sandwiches.Here is one I whipped up the other day...

Super easy..Here's the how to...1. Toast an english muffin.2. Make poached eggs or egg whites.3. Add Turkey Bacon4. Add Tomatoes5. Add Avocado.6. Enjoy a delicious sandwich!

Puppy Face

I love my puppy dog to pieces.He is always giving out kisses.He loves to snuggle. Here's him after his haircut...

A Belated Happy Birthday to Hubby

So, Dave's birthday is January 10th.And, we have a lot of important events now, all in a row.Our Anniversary: December 16.2011Christmas: December 25thDave's Birthday: January 10, 1983Molly's Birthday: February 14, 1986Valentine's Day: February 14th
So, by the time Dave's birthday rolled around, we were kind of worn out.But, I wanted to make his birthday special.So, I made homemade scones 

I added some butterscotch chips because they are his favorite. And, of course, I added some sparkle sugar.I waited to bake them until the morning of his birthday, and I failed miserably when I burned the bottoms.Don't worry, the tops were still good, so it was like a muffin-top-scone-top like treat.
For his birthday night, we enjoyed a night out with friends at Buffalo Wild Wings.After that, we came back to our house, and I made him another one of his favorites...Angel Food Cake. From Scratch. But, mine didn't rise quite as high as the ones in the store. And, I whipped up some homemade whip cream, which is super easy, and delicious.

So, Happy Late Birthday to Dave!

Snow Forts

Well, on Friday night Dave and I went to bed and we were ready for the big snow fall that was forecasted.We hunkered down in the morning.But you can only stay inside so long.Next thing you know...We're outside building a snow fort.

It may not look like much, but I think it's pretty good for a first try!It was a happy, snowy, sort of day!