A New Year | 2014

A New Year!  Always a perfect time to start over, start fresh.  Get a leg up, or a head start.  A great time to crumple up all the things we didn’t do in the last year, and write a brand new, list of amazing things (big or small) we wish to accomplish in the next year.

2013 has been a crazy year....beyond crazy.  But in a YAY, fabulous, can I do that over again type of crazy.  It was the first year that really I didn’t have anything that really dampened/or yucky-fied my overall mood.   I guess except a lovely story about the USPS delivering an empty box to my sisters house, which should have been filled with Christmas presents.

But that, is definitely a story for a later date.

No, today I’m excited to dust off this poor, neglected blog, and I’m resolving that I will pick up the pieces, and lovingly nurse her back to health.  I feel like I’m a horrible friend to her...

"I’m Sorry I haven’t been able to spend time with you, but between deployments, kids, school, and a growing photography business, I just fell off the radar.” Not nice....not nice at all.

So on my freshly starched piece of notebook paper, between lose my last 30 lbs of baby weight (from 3 years ago), and de-clutter my life, I have BLOG, written in BIG, BOLD letters.

I’ve realized that I may not be an every day blogger, but I still have plenty to share in words and pictures.  I’ve really honed in on what this project should be about, and I can’t wait to share it with you!


xoxo  See you in 2014!!!

Bbq Chicken Pizza

You know the age old question....if you were stuck on a deserted island....what three things would you bring....

well besides a boat....so I could actually get off the island....I would have to put a lifetime supply of BBQ and Pizza up there as part of my "top three" things.....Then.....one night....back in the early 2002....I was introduced to something spectacular....that would not only shake up my limited culinary box....but also allow me to combine two of my three "island" things.....and leave room for a new third item.....

a lifetime supply of chocolate....

GENIUS!

This finger licking, napkin needing, delicious pizza....will shoot anyone to the top of their cooking game, and it's so stinking easy!!!!


Ingredients


or as Teresa from the RHONJ likes to say....."ingredients-es"

1 lb  skinless chicken breast halves
(best to get the thin sliced chicken breasts)

1 1/3 C. purchased bbq sauce
6 oz. shredded Gouda cheese
6 oz. crumbled Feta cheese

16 oz. purchased Pizza Crust
(I like Boboli)

1/2 medium purple onion sliced into rings
1/4 C. fresh Cilantro


Directions


in a large resealable bag, combine the chicken breasts with half of the bbq sauce (2/3 C.) Marinate in the fridge anywhere from 4 hours to overnight.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

heat grill pan to medium high.  Cook chicken flipping on each side to cook evenly.  Cook 15-20 minutes, or until juices run clear, and chicken is no longer pink.  Cut chicken into small pieces.

Spread the remaining 2/3 C. bbq Sauce onto purchased pizza crust.  Sprinkle with Cheeses, top with onion and chicken.  Place pizza in oven, and cook for 12-15 minutes.

Remove Pizza from Oven.  Sprinkle with fresh Cilantro.

My Pinteresting Week

A Fantastic way to reinvent the Photo Display

Wish I had these when my sons were newborn...Totally adorable Onesies with detachable Bowties

How cute are these, perfectly sized little summer dessert.....

Perfect way to combine all the amazing tastes of summer in one gorgeous dish

I know how i'm serving Margarita's at my next party!

A totally unexpected and unique Hostess Gift.


Come follow all my Pinterest Boards, and find out all the things I'm loving!!!

Not Your Mama's Margarita Cupcakes

Stop the Presses....

You're taste buds will NEVER be the same after this post.....

Last week, I had the immense pleasure in partaking in bunco group's annual Drunko game.  This usually is played around a gorgeous pool...on a warm summer evening.  Tiki torches are burning, the harmonious sounds of Jimmy Buffet playing in the background....

some hunky husbands/bartenders, to cater to our every whim....

and since I'm obsessed with Themes.....I had to bring a little sumthin sumthin...that screamed "drunko"

so why not combine my love of Cupcakes.....with one of the best summer drinks in THE universe....

FANTASTICO!!!

Before I could say "guardar uno para el chef"

translation: "save one for the chef"

my bunco playing friends had snagged them all....only leaving me with a few crumbs...a lime wedge...and plenty of "oh my god"...and "those ROCKED"

The only other downside, besides not being able to partake in the overload of yumminess....

was trying to explain to my 4 year old, why he couldn't lick the batter.....

I could just imagine explaining to my husband, why our son was completely ripped....singing a bad rendition of the elmo song, and calling him stud....

Margarita Cupcakes

Ingredients

Cupcakes
1 box white Cake Mix
8 oz. liquid Margarita Mix
2 oz. tequila
1 oz Grand Marnier
3 egg whites
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 Tbs. grated lime zest

Lime Buttercream Frosting:
8 Tbs. softened butter
8 oz softened cream cheese
Juice from 2 Limes
1 Tbs Margarita Mix
1 tsp lime zest
5 Cups confectioners sugar
cane sugar
Fresh limes

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350º and prepare muffin pans.

2. Combine margarita mix, tequila, and Grand Marnier in a large measuring cup and stir well.

3. In large bowl, combine cake mix, egg whites, lime zest, vegetable oil, and margarita mix from step one.  beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed for approximately 2-3 minutes.

4. Spoon the batter into prepared muffin pans. Fill each cup about 2/3 full.

5. Bake at  350º for 20 – 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. (Make sure you check the baking temperature/time on the back of the cake box, some times/temps may vary)

TRICK:   Place your pan of cupcakes in the freezer as soon as you remove them from the oven.  Leave in the freezer 20-25 minutes.  This will stop the cooking process immediately, and will create a super moist cake.  

Icing:

6. In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, lime juice, margarita mix, and lime zest. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

7. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and continue beating until smooth. If icing is too thin, add more powdered sugar, a couple tablespoons at a time.

8. Spread icing generously on each cooled cupcake or use a pastry bag to frost. Let the cupcakes sit for 5 minutes then roll edges of each cupcake in the cane sugar to give it a salt rim...and garnish with your lime wedge.

What I've been stalking this week!

Ah-choo!

gesundheit

Really, you have to love those Mid-winter colds, that take residence for a week or so, and make smelling, or tasting your food, quite a bit difficult....and the biggest bummer, is that Father Winter either is on vacation to Bermuda, or has been taken hostage by one of the three other seasons, as it will be in the Mid to upper 50's this weekend, and feel more like March, than January....Drat....Maybe a little fresh air and sunshine will blast this cold to the moon....

and just for the record, will not be contributing to any ransom demands to return father winter to us....sorry....

pinterest.com via ediblecrafts.craftsgossip.com

Anyway...I had to just start this post with this Fantastic image I just pinned.....You can't not love Pinterest! These Monster Cupcakes are so flipping cool! I can't stand it! Might have to snag a Monster Themed Party this year for Noah's 4th Birthday!

Besides Pinterest...which is a daily......okay to be honest...hourly stalk.....

Here are the other places I've been this week! MUST go See

Probably my new Most Favorite Family and Lifestyle Photographer Ever! The inspiration just oozes from her blog! Let's just say I Pin a lot! Simplicity Photography

Always a treat for my senses....the amazing and tasty Cheeky Kitchen

Another one of my favorite places to go....A hard read, yes, a sometimes tearful read...absolutely...an important read, about a mother trying to navigate this world after the loss of her beautiful son, and the importance of educating and funding research for childhood cancer....without a doubt! Rockstar Ronan

I hope everyone has an Amazing first weekend of the New Year! I'm going to be stuffing my pockets with tissues...and taking the boys to the Park today....This weather is insane...but you will definitely not hear me complain!

See you all on Monday, with what I'm realizing about parenting two children!

In The Kitchen: Red Leaf Salad With Creamy Buttermilk Dressing

Now if you have noticed....which I have to admit I didn't, until it was so graciously pointed out to me recently, that I have a Carb problem....well, I don't think it's a problem, but my nutritionist at the Y, does, my thighs do, and well....those adorable size 6 hot pants that I haven't been able to wear since 2007 do as well. It finally hit me, that maybe my love affair with carbohydrates, is bordering on stalking charges, when I saw that ALL of my In the Kitchen Recipes thus far have some sort of Carb lovingly included....But Lord they are so stinking good, how could I NOT share? right? Or so I keep telling myself....

I decided this week in honor of a New Year, my New (though somehow repetitive) Resolutions....and my size 6 Hot Pants, I would share a recipe that doesn't involve carbohydrates.....it wasn't until after I made this amazing dish, that I looked at the nutrition label on the Buttermilk Carton....and low and behold.....there it was.....sigh.....Well at least the Dark Red Leaf Lettuce counteracts those carbs.....or so I hope.....

Next Recipe I promise.....or I think I will......

In any case, this amazingly easy, and amazingly tasty Red Leaf Salad with Creamy Buttermilk Salad takes no more than 5 minutes to prepare, and is so good....I devour every last bite....and sometimes even lick the plate.....sometimes....

Red Leaf Salad with Creamy Buttermilk Dressing

Salad

1 Small Head Red Leaf Lettuce, torn into Pieces

1/2 Cup Red Onion sliced into Quarter Slices ( I like Larger slices, you could also chop)

(optional) 1/2 c. Cooked Bacon crumbled

Dressing

1/2 C. Buttermilk

1/2 C. SourCream

1/2 C. Mayo

1/2 Tsp Onion Powder

1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder

1/4 Tsp Salt

1/4 Tsp Pepper

Combine Salad Ingredients together in a large bowl

In second bowl, combine Dressing Ingredients, whisking until smooth. Store in Refrigerator until ready to serve. Place some of the salad onto a plate, and drizzle with 2 Tbs of the dressing on top of the salad. top with some fresh cracked pepper.

A New Year's Resolution Giveaway!

Happy Happy 2012...

Today, mainly because I'm only 3 days behind.....

and because I'm so Pumped with my New Years Resolutions......

SO pumped!

I thought what could be better than sharing two of my Resolution tools with a "New Years Resolution style Giveaway".....

I want to give one lucky reader 2 Fabulous Resolution tools!

My two biggest resolutions this year are to finally kick those last stubborn 30 pregnancy pounds.......

and become somewhat more organized......Now this resolution has been up on my list for the last decade or so.....and every year, I swear it will be my year....

well I'm feeling 2012 will be my year.....and I feel it will be your year too!

So to aide me.....and one of you lucky readers, I'm giving away

A Year Subscription to Self Magazine! I love Self Magazine, because it focuses on Total Well-Being. It gives advice on everything from Fitness and nutrition, to beauty and style. It understands that to sustain a healthy lifestyle, you need to have the mind, body and spirit all in sync. A fabulous tool to help get into fighting resolution form!

The School Years Organizer from Mom Agenda! My husband is so excited to think that Noah's artwork, preschool report cards and his first school pictures will no longer just be migrating around our Kitchen island....they will finally have a home! This Portfolio has folders for each school year from Pre-K all the way to 12th grade. To make keeping and storing those important mementos easy and organized.....such a concept...organization....

To win Both of these Fabulous "New Year's Resolution Tools" All you need to do is leave a comment answering this question!

"What is your New Years Resolution?"

Are you wanting to shed some pounds or get organized like me? Are you wanting to help out your community more by volunteering? Is your resolution to have some more "you time" or finish that novel you've been trying to read all last year.....whatever it may be, just leave a comment with your resolution. You can leave your resolutions until 11:59 PM EST Jan. 9th

I will chose at random the winner on Jan 10th.

Happy New Year!

Happy Happy New Years Eve! It seems like only a short time ago, we were saying goodbye to 2010...and looking forward to all that 2011 would show us in her 365 days.....I've been so blessed to say that she has shown me so many more happy days, than sad.....Good times, than bad.....and has blessed me with another year to spend enjoying being a wife and mother.....

I thank you all for spending the year with me.....especially as I've been trying to find my balance....You've stood by, and I am so grateful....

I wish you all a wonderful and blessed New Year....I wish you strength in times of trial....I wish you laughter in times of joy....and I wish you love and comfort and peace.....and I look so forward to continuing this journey with you in the coming year!

Happy New Year!

Lesley

I thought I'd share what I am drooling over this final weekend of 2011!

Some amazing culinary delights at White On Rice Couple!

One of my Newest Photographer Crushes Andy and Jenna Photodesign

Feeding My Inner Nester at Nesting Place

Always a good place to land for a spell The Macs

Mr Sweet Eyes

I think God new exactly what he was doing when he designed my children.....especially when he designed Mr. Stinkeroo here....

He gave him all the orneriness that one little baby body could handle....then he added a bit more for good measure.....because, well God has a sense of humor kind of like my husband's.

Now to offset being such a corker.....God gave him the best defense mechanism he could conjour.....one, he knew would work 99 times out of 100....oh, he outdid himself, when he gave my baby the Biggest pair of Brown Eyes any boy could have....and if that wasn't enough, he decided to frame them with long, luxurious lashes, that make me cry......

God knew these eyes would aid him throughout his life.....in getting out many a sticky situation....

Think Puss in Boots....Sometimes I swear I even hear music....

I'm onto you, Mr. Sweet Eyes....you and your secret weapon....

though it is still quite up for debate, on whether I will able to harden myself to the affects those Big, Chocolate Brown Babies have when directed my way.....

I hear from the man of steel who co-parents with me, that I've gone soft.....but really.....how could anyone not be affected.....at least that's what I keep telling myself.....

I might need to add anti-sweet Eye Training to my list of Resolutions for 2012....

Maybe if I look at his nose when I scold.....

or turn him around, and talk to the back of his head.....

Maybe I should carry a pair of baby sunglasses with me, then, when he's decided that unloading a bag of flour on the floor sounded like a great idea.....I can just plop those puppies on...and be immune to their gaze, which can reduce me to a pile of mommy mush....

Ah, who am I kidding? I'm writing this post not 10 minutes after fishing out one of my bras from the toilet.....

sweet eyes 25.......mom 0

In The Kitchen: Fried Apple Fritters

I've spent the better part of the last 2 days, working diligently to clean up the toy, wrapping paper, and packing peanut explosion that detonated in my living room on Sunday morning...

It is definitely, you can say, my LEAST favorite part of the holiday season.....though playing chicken in a badly designed parking lot with a crazed, last minute Christmas Eve shopper, ranks right up there too....

I realized today, that I needed something to turn my post Christmas blues around....and what better way, then completely changing directions.....and instead of cleaning up a mess.....I'm going to make one!

I brought out my Grandma's old handwritten cookbook....the one with the yellowed, dog-eared pages.....but with recipes that will make my husband drool from half a world away, my sons clean their plate, and I bet would even tame the craziest of Christmas shoppers.....

These Beauties....with their golden brown color....and glistening with their dusting Cinnamon and sugar has renewed my Holiday Spirit, my faith in my fellow man.....and completely made me forget my new years resolution of .......what was it again?

Must not have been important.....

Fried Apple Fritters

1 Egg

2/3 c. milk

1 t. veg. oil

1 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 c. plus 2 Tbs Sugar, divided

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1/8 tsp. Salt

5 Apples, (Granny Smith work Really well)

Peeled, Cored and Thickly sliced.....note I said Thickly

(too thin, and they will fall apart)

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

Vegetable Oil for Deep Frying

Directions

1. Combine Egg, Milk, and oil. Mix until blended, then set aside. In a separate Bowl, Mix Flour, the 2 Tbs of Sugar, Baking Powder and salt. Pour Dry Mix into Egg Mixture., and Blend until Smooth.

2. Heat oil in deep sided skillet....I highly recommend investing in a Cast Iron Skillet! Heat oil to 365 Degrees

3. Dip Apple Slices into Batter, throughly coating both sides. Deep fry 1-2 minutes on one side, then flip, making sure both sides get nice and evenly browned. Drain, then sprinkle with 1/4 C. Sugar and Cinnamon.

4. Eat alone....or.....serve with Vanilla Icecream