These are a few of my (current) favorite things...

Today, was one of those days where you just want to lay down on the concrete (because its always the warmest piece of ground, right?), forget all your plans and soak up some sunshine. We haven't seen much of the big, blazing ball in the sky recently, and so today was rare. It reminded of me summer, one of my (forever) favorite things. It then got me thinking of my other (current) favorite things. Which I realized, happen to all have one thing in common...yellow. (Thanks Jack). And oh wait, have I mentioned I love yellow? Right.

Since Easter is right around the corner, flowers are everywhere. Yellow tulip love. Aaaand...possibly my favorite of the bunch, a little present from my dear friend - who I shall call roommate or little polar bear. She left me this on my bed this past weekend when she stayed in my room for Penn State's Blue & White Game. Wah, wah rain.

Oh how she knows me, well.

I may go invest stock in THAT company - because at least I know I'll be a forever customer. 

So I'm equally in love with the Chiquita minis, and my manicure of OPI's Ski Teal We Drop. 

Currently I'm reading I know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Water for Elephants (so excited for the move). I recommend both. Oh yes, and I recommend having a picture of your best friends next to your bed...it makes for happier mornings (especially for those who hate mornings...me).

Aaaannndd...more goat cheese.

These are all the yum.

Island Goat Cheese Crackers:

Goat Cheese

Crackers (I used wheat thins)

Orange Marmalade

Basil

Spread desired amount of goat cheese on cracker and place a dollop of marmalade on top. Sprinkle with basil. Enjoy :)

Relay for Life and a Recipe

This past weekend was Relay for Life at Penn State! To kick things off, we had a spaghetti dinner and I made the best part of any meal, dessert (or as weezy might say dizzert).

Since the reasonably priced and HUGE (the picture doesn't do justice) strawberries have me dreaming of flip flops, I decided to make something summer-esq (yes mom, I realize that technically isn't a word). I also secretly hoped it would tell the rain to back OFF for the weekend, but that failed...miserably.

The recipe is pretty self explanatory (pound cake and strawberries on skewers), except for the frosting, which I took off How Sweet It Is (a daily favorite of mine) - Strawberry and Cream Cake Kabobs.

Exceeeept, I felt like the icing was missing a little som-something. So I channeled my inner Paula Dean, which is not very hard these days, and added some butter. Perfection. I recommend no more than 1/8th of a stick.

The kabobs were a huge hit, and I'm still slurping up the icing as we speak...its that good :)

Oh, and relay? Yes, we got wet. Yes, we got muddy. YES, we had fun AND raised money for the American Cancer Society.

I even got really ambitious and made egg mcmuffins for the team in the am. Chipotle Cheddar Cheese made all the difference. Take that McDonalds.

I think the spice even scared the rain away long enough for a dry picture...



Quote of the Week

In honor of Lil Wayne's arrival and (first!) concert at Penn State tomorrow...

Goat Cheese Love

Don't judge me, but one of my favorite foods is goat cheese. I dream about it. Therefore this is a salad I make pretty often...

Ingredients:
Goat Cheese
Spinach
Strawberries
Chicken
Raspberry Vinaigrette

The exact proportions depend on your taste. Here's how I build mine (I'll let the pictures do the talking, its 1st grade math at its tastiest).

+

+

+

+

=

Goat cheese love.

Super Bowl XLV Champ...Usher.

So as I'm sitting here, third quarter, super bowl sunday loving the fact that the Steelers are loosing (I live in PA, but on the better side of the state), hoping they give the win to Usher for dropping from...the sky (?) and eating some of this -

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

 and a little of that -


Chili, Cream Cheese and Rice Dip

 I remember my favorite most recent orignial recipe that I would like to share with yinz (heh...pittsburgh). No, this is not your typical football recipe, however...its the perfect morning after the super bowl food. I have yet to see any of those, so here it is!

"Pucker Up" Cake






You will need:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup apple sauce
1 egg
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 stick butter
squeeze of lemon juice

Glaze:
1/4 cup cranberries (mashed)
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon apple sauce
squeeze of lemon

Oh and the good news is it's healthy (ish). The apple sauce replaces the need for oil and well, whole wheat flour is better than white flour (even when covered with pounds of powdered sugar).

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients for cake.
3. Bake for 35 minutes in a loaf pan.
4. To make icing, combine sugar, apple sauce, lemon and cranberries.
5. Pour over cake after cool.

The icing is all the yum, and so pretty. Even my sous-chef, rupert, agreed...

Ok, so maybe he didn't try it, buuuut...he would have liked it (he likes everything, even tube socks).

See... I told you it went well with breakfast. Oh and to the super bowl, you've officiall lost to a Criminal Minds marathon. Peace out.

Smile :)

"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do." - Mother Teresa

50 years...bow chicka

This past weekend, we celebrated my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary out in freezing cold, snow boots required....erie, pa. My brother has a swim meet almost every weekend so we brought the celebration to him so he wouldn't miss out. Here are some pictures...



From left: My Uncle Greg and Aunt Tammy, Dad and Mom, Brother,
Gpa, Camille, Gma and Me!



An Irish Dinner @ Molly Brannigans! - I had a boxty which is basically a potato pancake sandwich. Sooo good.







My Brother and his girlfriend Annie -
aka: my new favorite person.

The weekend was full of 50 years of stories, good food, belly busting laughter and lots of wine. Yay family!