StickyGram

I've got a present for you! 

Have you heard of StickyGram? 

Its pretty neat. I recommend you check it out.

They turn your Instagram pictures into magnets.

You can pick up to nine pictures and shipping is free!

A sheet of the magnets cost $14.99 but...

 if you order some and use the code FRIENDJI3P you get $2 off!

Your welcome.

Okay, I'm not a good liar. 

I also get a $2 credit. 

So help a sista out. 

I have a fridge that needs to be covered with magnets!

Roasted Rosemary Almonds

I cooked a pot roast the other day. It was yummy. I always misjudge the amount of meat I need. I was cooking for 4 people but I bought enough meat to feed The Duggars. Do you guys do that? I also bought way too much fresh rosemary. I started to feel really bad about all that sweet delicious rosemary left unused in my fridge but then I remembered this recipe and suddenly didn't feel so bad anymore. So, I made a batch, and then I made another batch, and then I made one more batch. Oops. In my defense I did give 2 batches as gifts because I'm nice like that. 

Look how beautiful!

Ingredients:
- 2 cups of raw almonds
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp fresh chopped rosemary
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- fresh cracked pepper

Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.

2. In a bowl, combine the almonds, oil, rosemary, chili powder, salt, and a little cracked pepper. Stir to coat the almonds.

3. Pour almonds onto a baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool then enjoy.

As I mentioned earlier I gave some as gifts.
A mason jar, a piece of cloth, some twine, a tag and boom!

Blackened Tilapia with Cilantro Lime Butter

Happy Sunday everyone! The baby is taking a nap, I made myself a lovely breakfast, and now I'm enjoying my second cup of coffee. Life is good! Now let me help you plan dinner. Oh I know, how about Blackened Tilapia with Cilantro-Lime Butter? Boy that was easy. I promise this dish is so good it could turn around a non-fish eater. You know who I'm talking about. I double dog dare you to try this dish and then tell me you don't like fish. 

Ingredients:

- 1 lime

- 2 Tbsp butter at room temperature

- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

- 2 garlic cloves minced (or use the refrigerated already prepared minced garlic)

- 1 Tbsp canola oil

- 4 tilapia fillets

- 1 Tbsp blackening seasoning

Directions:

1. In a small bowl mix the zest of the lime, juice from the lime, butter, cilantro, and garlic. Stir to blend then set aside.

2. Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Rub the blackening seasoning on the tilapia fillets. Once the oil is hot, add the fish and cook 3-4 minutes (don't disturb it, just let it cook and yes the house will probably get smoky). Flip fillets over and cook another 1-2 minutes.

3. Transfer the tilapia to a plate and top immediately with a bit of the cilantro lime butter. The butter just melts right into the fillets. Heaven!

*Recipe adapted from Men's Health

My New Favorite Snack

I discovered a new blog. Well new to me at least. Its called Bluebird and I'm kinda obsessed. They are moving to Nashville soon. We should probably hang out. I think Atlas and Sailor could be best of buds. I mean their names already sound great together. Her hubby has a rocking mustache and beard and my hubby is working on a pretty sweet stache himself. I mean all signs point to yes. We should totally hang out. Okay let me stop before it gets creepy and talk about what this post is really about. BEET BREAD...well that is what my husband calls it. I saw it on Bluebird and fell in love. Its a perfect snack!

Ingredients:

- Bread (sourdough if ya got it)

- Cheese spread (goat cheese, alouette, laughing cow, etc..)

- Pickled beets

- Sea salt

- Arugula 

Directions:

1. Toast some bread, spread on the cheese, top with beets, sprinkle with sea salt, pile on the arugula, chow down! 

4 Months!

My baby is 4 months old!
We went for a check-up and round two of his shots today.
Thankfully his thighs are so chunky that he barely felt the needles.

He's starting to pay more attention to his brother but Marley doesn't seem to notice him unless he's crying in which Marley quickly leaves the room.

He's a pretty laid back guy considering we slapped these sunglasses on him and he acted like he was born to wear them.
I think he realized how cool he looked in them and just went with it.

He likes to look at himself in the mirror.
He thinks he is pretty handsome which I must agree with.

Can't wait to see what the next four months bring.

Orzo With Tomatoes and Peas

It was clean out your pantry/fridge day around here again.

 I'm really trying to do better about not letting food go bad.

Plus it challenges me to come up with a recipe.

Its really a win win situation for all.

I've had this big jar of orzo in my pantry for wayyy to long.

Like a year maybe. I was sick of looking at it.

So...I ate it with some peas, tomatoes, and cheese :)

*That is some Parmesan Crusted Chicken in the picture that I served it with.

Both my hubby and sister-in-law said it looked like fish.

So my chicken looks like fish huh?

I'm still trying to figure out if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Either way this is dish would be good with chicken or fish.

Ingredients:
- 1 cup orzo
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 cup diced fresh tomatoes
- Chicken Broth
- 1 teaspoon minced Garlic
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
- Salt and Pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions:
1. Cook orzo according to package but instead of using water use chicken broth (you don't have to but I think it makes the orzo more flavorful).

2. In a large saute pan heat butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic, frozen peas, and tomatoes. Cook for 2 minutes.

3. Drain orzo and add it to the saute pan with the peas and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 2 more minutes.

4. Finish by stirring in the grated Parmesan Cheese.



Strawberry Scones

Man have I been busy. Important things happening around these parts.

Not only did I watch season 1 and 2 of Downton Abbey but I managed to catch up to the latest episode in season 3. Yeah, you read that right. Its a miracle really when you consider I have a 4 month old baby and the hubby was out of town. I got so immersed in it that I was half expecting my lady maid to walk in and dress me for the day (if you don't understand what that means you haven't watched the show and well you should go watch it immediately). So in honor of Downton Abbey and their fancy ways, I made scones! We had a huge carton of strawberries from our latest Costco rampage and they were on the verge of being wasted so I thought why not.

Shhhh don't tell anyone but I am a messy cook.

Aren't they beautiful? Or as Lady Mary would say they are lovely.

 

Ingredients:

- 1 cup strawberries, diced into bite size pieces

- 5 tablespoons sugar (granulated)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons butter, room temperature and cut into cubes
- 2/3 cup heavy cream

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sprinkle diced strawberries with 1 tablespoon sugar and set aside.

2. Combine 3 tablespoons of sugar with flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in the butter, using a pastry cutter, fork, or two knives (google it for demonstration if your not sure what to do). Stir in the strawberries then add the heavy cream. Use spatula to gently stir dough until it holds together.

3. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times to mix all the ingredients. Be gentle so you don't break up the strawberries and don't overwork the dough. Sprinkle dough with flour if it gets sticky.

4. Press the dough into a circle 3/4 inch thick. Cut circle into 6-8 wedges, then transfer wedges to the cookie sheet, leaving at least 1/2 inch of space between them. Bake 15 minutes.

5. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of sugar and bake 5-10 more minutes or until the tops are beginning to brown.



Cookie Butter Frosted Brownies

Since I last posted about my new best friend, Cookie Butter, I've been experimenting with different ways to consume it. So far I've determined there is not a wrong way.

First I started just eating it off of a spoon...delish.

Then I tried dipping pretzels in it...also delish.

My friend tried it on an waffle and reported that too was delish.

Then I found this recipe and died.

Are. You. Serious!

Brownies AND Cookie Butter!

I had to try it immediately.

I didn't have all the ingredients for Laurens brownies but I will be baking them in the future.

Luckily I had a box brownie mix in the pantry just waiting for this special occasion.

 

Ingredients:

- Your favorite brownie mix, box or from scratch prepared as directed.

- 3 tablespoons softened butter

- 3 tablespoons of cookie butter

- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

- 1 cup powdered sugar

- 1 tablespoons milk

 

Directions:

1. Stir softened butter, cookie butter, vanilla, and sugar together until a thick paste forms. *It will be THICK and your arm will be tired but trust me just keep going.

2. Slowly stir in milk and then whisk vigorously until smooth. *Again another arm workout. No need for the gym the day you make these. I ended up adding a little more milk to reach that smooth consistency so feel free to do the same.

3. Once the brownies cool, spread frosting on top and enjoy.  

 

Are you drooling?

Make these for your honey on Valentines Day!

If you don't have access to Cookie Butter a) i'm sorry b) try it with peanut butter instead.

Hmmm I wonder if Nutella would work? Guess I should go find out!

 



Chicken Pomodoro

 While I was cleaning out/organizing my recipe binder I found this little gem hiding behind my chicken piccata recipe. It was scribbled down in my awful handwriting and just begging for me to give it a whirl. How could I resist with an ingredient list that included butter, heavy cream, and vodka. Umm about that baby weight...

 

Ingredients:

- 1 package of chicken cutlets

- all purpose flour

- salt and pepper

- olive oil

- 1/4 cup vodka

- 1 teaspoon minced garlic

- 1/2 cup chicken broth

- Juice of one lemon

- 1/2 cup diced fresh tomato

- 1/4 cup heavy cream

- 2 tablespoons butter

 

Directions:

1. Start by seasoning the chicken with salt, pepper, and lightly dredge in flour. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium high heat. Cook chicken for 3 minutes on each side. Remove from pan and keep warm.

2. Deglaze pan with vodka and add minced garlic. Whisk until vodka is almost cooked out then add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and diced tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes.

3. Return chicken to pan. Add heavy cream and butter. Let chicken cook in mixture for 2 minutes on each side.

4. Plate chicken and spoon sauce on top. Next time I think I will serve this over some pasta (I'm thinking some orzo might be nice).