Jun 30, 2015

Summer Reading List : July Part One

With the 4th of July weekend coming up I went to my local library (yes, I still actually go to the library and checkout books) to pick up a couple of books. I am calling this my July reading list since I was a slacker and have not started reading any of  these yet. These are a few of the books that I am going to try to read my way through in the next couple of days:
 

Jun 29, 2015

One item, three ways-Bisciuts as Dinner

Starting today, every week I am going to take one food item and cook it or use it in three different ways. The first item I am going to use is biscuits. Biscuits are extremely versatile and can be used for any meal.

 Anyone who knows me knows that I love a pie. For the last few years, I have been making something I call tuna pot pie. It is pretty much like chicken but with tuna in it. The other day I decided to do a different take on that by making them as individual hand pies.

Its fairly easy to make but the filling is what can be time consuming if you wait until the last minute to make it like I usually do.

Tuna Hand Pies

Filling
2 cans (5oz) or pouches tuna
1 can cream of mushroom
1 can cream of celery
1 8oz bag mixed vegetables
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1/2 tbsp. black pepper
Pie Crust
2 cans Pillsbury Grands biscuits
1 1/2 tbsp. butter

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook bag of vegetables in microwave for 5 to 6 minutes.
3. Open and drain the 2 cans of tuna and empty into a bowl.
4.Mix tuna, cream of celery, and cream of mushroom together.
5. Once vegetables are finished cooking, add to the tuna/soup mixture.
6. Add pepper and garlic. Stir until all is mixed thoroughly.


For the dough, take one biscuit and push the dough to where it is thin enough to fold over.

Then place one spoon full of filling on the dough.
 
Once the filling is on the dough, fold one side over and push it close with your fingers. Melt the butter in the microwave for 15 seconds. Brush each with the melted butter..
 
Place the pies in the oven to cook at 350 degrees for 15 minutes with the last 2 minutes being on broil so that the tops brown.
 
This recipe is great for if you are wanting to try something different beside the usual tuna salad or tuna melt.
 
Does any one have any dinner recipes that they use biscuits in?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Jun 26, 2015

Summer dresses from LuLu's

During the summer, no matter how hot it gets, I love putting on a dress. The length does not make a difference to me, a dress is my main summer staple.  LuLu's has some really cute ones for a reasonable price. Here are some of my favs:
 
Northern Heights Black Print Midi Dress at Lulus.com!
 
 
One, Two, Chic Turquoise Lace Two-Piece Dress at Lulus.com!
This dress also comes in Coral
 
 
 
 
Mysterious Waterways Blue Dip-Dye Maxi Dress at Lulus.com!
 

 
By the Seashore Ivory and Blue Print Dress at Lulus.com!
 
 
Maxin' Relaxin' Multi Print Maxi Dress at Lulus.com!
I have been debating on buying this dress for the last couple of days
 
 
Green Thumb Neon Yellow Maxi Dress at Lulus.com!
 
 
Telephone Lines Black and Ivory Striped Two-Piece Dress at Lulus.com!
Absolutely love this dress. Total sucker for stripes.
 
 
Thank You V Much Ivory Backless Swing Dress at Lulus.com!   Thank You V Much Ivory Backless Swing Dress at Lulus.com!
I just bought this dress. You can dress it up or down and looks super comfortable.
 
Along with that last dress above I also bought these pieces of jewelry. The first piece is a necklace and the last pieces are a ring and bracelet set. I have a tiny weakness for turquoise.
Belize Me Gold and Turquoise Layered Necklace at Lulus.com!
 
 
Worth Its Weight in Gold and Turquoise Bracelet and Ring Set at Lulus.com!Worth Its Weight in Gold and Turquoise Bracelet and Ring Set at Lulus.com!
 
          Does anyone else have any main pieces that they wear during the summer?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Jun 22, 2015

Two Ingredient Banana Chocolate chip bites

Recently I have gotten way to into putting apps on my phone and tablet. One of my favorites that I found is called Yummly. It is kind of a new twist on a recipe box. I like this one better than some of the other ones because not only can you store the recipe but you have the option of adding it to a shopping list in case you are wanting to make it soon.
 
 
 
One of the recipes that I wanted to try making that I put in my box was for Two Ingredient Banana Chocolate Chip Bites. The recipe is from the BakerMama. I did make some changes along the way when I made this and even a person who does not like cooking can make this easy recipe.
 
Ingredients:
6 very ripe bananas
¾ cup mini chocolate chips
 
Instructions
    1. Place sliced bananas on a baking sheet. Slice the bananas into thin slices and lay flat on the baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 1-1/2 hours.
 
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2. Remove frozen bananas from the freezer. Let the bananas sit out for about 3-4 minutes.
 
3. Place the bananas in the food processor and pulse/blend until smooth and creamy. I did add a tablespoon of honey to the mixture and pulsed it again. After that stir in ½ cup mini chocolate chips.

4. Grease a mini muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray ( I actually forgot to do this part, oops). Scoop the banana ice cream into each cup, filling each one almost full (I filled them all the way to the top), then sprinkle the top of each cup with a few more mini chocolate chips. Place the muffin pan in the freezer for an hour.
5. Remove the pan from the freezer and pop each bite out with a knife. Stack the banana ice cream bites in a freezer safe container with a lid, placing parchment paper between each layer of bites to keep them from sticking together is what she said to do. I however just put them in a ziplock bag.
 
Some notes for making these are:
Using 6 bananas will give you a lot of the banana mixture so I would suggest using 3-4
Next time I may add in peanut butter to the mixture for some extra flavor.
 
This is a great sub for when you want something sweet yet you still want to stay healthy.
 
Are there any easy recipes that anyone else have tried making lately?


Jun 12, 2015

Lemon Drop

Anyone who knows me knows that I love some lemons. And its pretty fitting considering my favorite color is yellow also. Here is one of my favorite drinks. And if you do not have fresh lemon juice, you can use concentrate you just need to make sure to use a little more simple syrup.
 
Navia's Lemon Drop:
 

Before making the drink, put a little water around the rim of the glass that the drink is going into. On a plate, place about a 1/2 of sugar and drip the rim in it. I let the glass sit after that so that the sugar can set on the rim. Now for the drink.
 
In a shaker add:
1/2 cup ice
1 jigger Absolut Citron (or it you're me 2)
Juice from 3 lemons (if using concentrate, I do about 1 cup of lemon juice)
1/2 cup of simple syrup
(1 cup of sugar and 1 cup water is usually how I do mine)
 
 side note: you can make the syrup on the stove but if crunched for time do like I usually do and  microwave for about 20 seconds until the water and sugar are mixed well.
 
Mix all of the ingredients in shaker.

This has been a go-to drink so far this spring/summer since it is so easy to make. We also made it with 360 Vodka which is a really cool company out of Missouri.

Does anyone else have a go-to drink in the warm seasons.
 

Jun 10, 2015

Huntsville Cheese Festival

As part of my birthday weekend  I went to the first ever Huntsville Cheese Festival that was held on Sunday. It was held in downtown Huntsville and a number of local cheese markers and other local artisans were present. Sorry for not including pictures but I go a little distracted by all the cheese, wine, desserts, and craft beer that was at the festival.

Here are a few of the vendors that were present and links to their company:

Dayspring Dairy
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 Dayspring Dairy has a not only makes cheese from sheep milk but they also make caramel.
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Dayspring Dairy True Ewe Caramel
Both flavors of caramel they make are good. Personally though, the Bourbon caramel was my favorite.


Humble Heart Farms
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At Humble Heart Farms, they not only use goat cheese in the traditional way but they add it to their homemade salsa, goat cheesecakes, and macaroons. I bought some of the salsa and tipsy goat (which has red wine in it) pictured below. The salsa has pieces of goat cheese in it. The salsa was so good that I ate one whole container the day that I bought it.
Humble Heart Tipsy Goat


Humble Heart Mild Salsa
1818 Farms
logo

Besides being a working farm, they hold farm to table dinners, day camps, and sell a number of products made from goats milk and other things that the farm grows. At the festival, they had samples of a quick and easy quiche which was super yummy (I will be posting the recipe in a later post).
 

I also had:
-Bread from FredBread (the roasted garlic parmesan is really good with white sharp cheddar)

-Layered cake from Layers Desserts (one was vanilla vodka and the other was a blueberry lemon I think)

-Wine from Church Street Wine Shoppe (all the wine was provided by them)

Overall, it was fun experience and a great way to spend a Sunday after. Next I am looking forward to Big Spring Crush in September.

Are there any festivals or events that anyone is looking forward to?



 All of the logos and pictures are from the websites of the companies mentioned (expect for my pictures of products that were purchased).

Jun 3, 2015

Target Sandal sale

I am always looking for sandals in the spring and summer that I can wear with variety of clothes. I am trying to move away from wearing all black sandals all  most of the time. Right now online Target has their sandals for 20% off.
I literally went into the store a few weeks ago and spent almost 2 hours trying on shoes. Here are some of the shoes that I tried on/bought:
 
 
Women's Annette Cross Strap Slide Sandals - Cognac 7.5
Women's Annette Cross Strap Slide Sandals
On sale for $15.99
 
 
Women's Lavinia Slide Sandals - Natural 8
Women's Lavinia Slide Sandals
On sale for $15.99
 
 
Women‘s Lady Flat Sandals - Cognac 8
Women‘s Lady Flat Sandals
On sale for $14.39
 
Women‘s Esma Braided Sandals - Black 8
Women‘s Esma Braided Sandals
On sale for $12.79
 
I tend to buy some shoes at target because of me having a large foot (I wear an 11/12 depending on the style and brand of the shoe). Buying shoes online is sometimes easier for me since many of the brands I wear sell their larger sizes online. Also, this week only they have free shipping on any order which makes it even better. Many of Target's shoes are cute and affordable. If you are in need of some sandals right now is definitely the time to head over to their site.
 
 
 


Jun 2, 2015

Semi-Annual Sale

Hello all,
 
It's that time of year that happens many times of year at this point: the Victoria's Secret semi-annual sale!!! It starts today for Angel card holders (which I will admit, I spend WAY too much money in the place) but it starts in June 4th online and June 9th in store.
 
They also still have these sales going on:
 
Ends Wednesday! 20% off a Single Bra. Excludes clearance. Click to shop.
 
 
Ends Wednesday! Free Shipping on $50. Use code SHIP50. Click for details.
 
 
Ends Wednesday! 20% off Swim Best-Sellers. Valid on full-priced styles, now back in stock! Click to shop.
 
 
Ends Wednesday! $25 Beach Linen Pant. Orig. $49.50. Get it now.
 
If you need to stock up on lounge wear this is the time to do it. I learned the hard way last year that if you like an item to buy it because Victoria's Secret has a tendency to stop making items (their line of jeans, boots, and shoes in certain styles and colors).
 
Does anyone else buy other items at Victoria's Secret besides underwear as well?