Pinterest Keepers.

 

If you are anything like me, Pinterest has you wanting to eat like a cow & exercise like a maniac.  Actually, in my case, it just has me wanting to eat like a cow, since exercise isn't really in my vocabulary for 4 more weeks...okay, more than that, but let's pretend I am going to have this baby & exercise my way out the door.  I can dream big, right?

Anyway, shortly after I found out I was anemic, I decided my diet could use some help.  Cooking dinner was really out of the question.  Or cooking something big or overwhelming...I was and am usually about spent by dinner & the weather here is so nice right now, I'd rather let my kids run wild out front with their friends until the very last possible moment.  But lunch.  Lunch was going to be my meal.  And this was first up for taste test.

Do you always walk by the tortellini at the store & think, 'I wish I had a great recipe for that?'  I do & now I do have a great recipe for it.

Check it out on Elizabeth's blog.

I made this & devoured it with 2 great girlfriends & then had the pleasure of having my new iron pills make me over the top sick that night & so I experienced this salad both ways.

And yet, I will make it again.

So, that is a testament to it's goodness, right?

Plus, the dressing has sour cream in it.  Can't go wrong with that.

Orzo with Parmesan & Basil

 

Yesterday I made this for dinner.

I have about 1 million things pinned on pinterest & am now sorting my way through some of them...you will probably only hear about the winners.

And I'm happy to report, this one will stick around.

It is an orzo dish & is perfect for those nights when you have soccer practice,

church meetings & about 1 million other things going on, but still want something

warm & home cooked.

Go here for the recipe.

Friday Favorite: Sticky Popcorn

 

I've had 2 different people call/text for this recipe & I have a bowl of it currently sitting on my counter, so I figure it qualifies as a favorite, right?

 

First.  Pop your popcorn.  I pop about 3 mixing bowls worth in an air popper, you could probably use microwave, but not sure.

Then mix this ingredients on the stove:

1 1/2 C. Sugar

1 1/4 C. Karo Syrup

2 sticks butter

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

 

You want to let this melt & boil for about 2-3 minutes.

DO NOT OVER COOK THIS.

If it overcooks it will harden on the popcorn & be no bueno.

Once it has boiled, pour over popcorn until evenly coated.

Then pace yourself.  You will want to eat all 3 bowls in one sitting.

As a side note, this recipe comes from my aunt who put hers over trail mix, which I love as well.  Her trail mix did not include the salt in the sauce recipe & was poured over:

4 C. Cheerios {Honey Nut}

1 box Rice Chex cereal

1/2 package pretzel sticks

Cashews {however many you want}

I really like it over that too, but am mostly too lazy for all that, so I just pop popcorn.

Autumn Salad

I have a lot of pictures from Thanksgiving I need to go through, but for now...my new favorite salad.

1 head romaine lettuce
bacon - cooked & crumbled
cranberry raisins

feta cheese
2-3 pears
candied chopped pecans {to candy them, place them in a pan on the stove on med-high heat with some sugar.  Heat until the sugar melts & coats the pecans.  Remove from heat}


For the dressing, mix 1 cup with 2/3 C poppy seed dressing & 1/3C balsamic vinegarette.

For Thanksgiving I arranged my salad on a platter, which I have decided is so much better than bowls with everything falling to the bottom.  On a platter you can actually layer it just how you want it & not have the issue of tossing it.  Where have I been.

Loved the salad & wish I could tell you where I found the recipe.  I printed it off from somewhere online & have now lost that paper in all my Thanksgiving recipe, shopping lists, notes mess. 

Recipe: Sugar Water

I've been telling my friends I would post this recipe for Sugar Water for about 3 months now.  My apologies, but I actually lost the little scrap of paper I had written it on & last week it turned up...so I made it for Easter dinner.

Sorry I didn't have the recipe up in time for you to use it for Easter as well.

Perfect for any summer party --

Sugar Water

1 gallon water
2 C sugar
1/2 heaping TB of citric acid {you can find this at Sprout's}
1/2 scant TB of Lemon Extract

This is better than any flavored water in my opinion...I can guzzle it by the cupfuls & there is no weird aftertaste.  delish.

Vegetable Deliciousness

i am not the type that needs to be forced to eat my vegetables, although i am sure there are plenty of you out there & you need this.

Glazed Broccoli w/ Almonds...delish.

2 pounds fresh broccoli
1/2 tsp salt
1 chicken bouillon cube
3/4 C hot water
1/4 C flour
1 C light cream {i've used both half and half and heavy whipping cream with no problem}
2 TB lemon juice
salt & pepper
1/4 C grated parmesan cheese
1/4 slivered blanched almonds {i've skipped the blanching step too}

wash, separate & trip broccoli {i leave mine pretty big}.
add salt & broccoli to boiling water. cook about 2 minutes, barley tender.
drain & arrange in baking dish {9x13 pan}
dissolve bouillon cube in 3/4 C hot water.
in saucepan melt butter, slowly blend in flour.
gradually stir in cream & dissolved bouillon into flour mixture.
cook over medium heat until thick & smooth. remove from heat.
stir in lemon juice & salt & pepper.
pour sauce over broccoli, sprinkle with parmesan cheese & almonds.

bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

enjoy.