Epic Fail

"Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate, first one says "Oh my, it's getting late"  

The BK and I don't have any children, at home, but that doesn't mean we don't like to carve a mean pumpkin...So we drive all over the county to find the best pumpkins we can. The BK decides, maybe, we should roast some pumpkin seeds. I'm not a huge fan, but I find a couple recipes on Pinterest. Mmmmmmm...Cinnamon Glazed Pumpkin Seeds sound uh~maz~zuh~ing! 

On a cold, rainy, fall Tuesday, we begin the carving process. And I begin the roasting process:

Step 1:

After digging the guts out of old Jack, place the seeds in a bowl of hot water. This makes it easier to get all the stringy guck off your seeds...

Step 2: 

Spread your seeds on a baking sheet and allow to dry overnight.

Step 3: 

Transfer your seeds to a mixing bowl...coat with 1 tbs of olive oil and add 3 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 cup of sweetener, combine well. *Note: the original poster used Truvia Baking Blend, but I chose to use Sugar in the Raw. 

Step 4:

Spread seeds, evenly, on baking sheet and bake in a 310 degree oven for 30 minutes. Spread seeds around, and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

(I will admit a gigantic screw up...I read 3 tbsp on cinnamon instead of tsp! So I added a bit more olive oil and sugar. )

This was an epic fail. Epic. Fail. Oh, the cinnamon and sugar glaze tasted delicious...the seeds, however, had the texture of cardboard. I did a little digging around...it seems like the oven should've been set at 300 degrees and the seeds stirred more often. 

If you want to try this recipe, for yourself, you can find the original recipe here...
Maybe your attempt will be a success!!

                                 

not so MANIC MONDAY

"if you seek perfection in sugar confection..."

FLASHBACK february 15
dinner, drinks, and board games with friends is on the agenda. i want to take something. i can't show up empty handed. hmmmmmmm...time to check out my "toot sweet" board on pinterest. i find the perfect valentine recipe. blonde brownies with M&M's!! a treat to take AND an opportunity to give a pinterest recipe a try!!

FLASH FORWARD today
it's a boring monday. why not bring a little happiness to the people in your life? this recipe is quick, easy, and delicious! another pinterest success!!

VALENTINE BLONDIES

ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup to 1 1/3 cup M&M's (i used valentine colors, but you can use plain if you want)

preheat oven to 350〫. 
mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. set aside. melt butter. combine brown sugar and butter until well blended. let cool slightly. add egg and vanilla. mix well. add flour mixture, a little at a time, until completely blended. spread, evenly, in 9X9 pan. sprinkle M&M's over the top. bake 20-25 minutes.
enjoy!!

and click here to follow me on pinterest!

FLASHBACK valentine's day 2012

REPEAT: originally posted to provide christmas gift options, but valentine's day is only 10 days away. if you're too lazy to make this super easy gift, you can always buy one of the gifts i've linked...extra bonus: a hilarious video of ideas!!
"there's the strangest excitement today...if you're awake then you're welcome to hear...i got a gift and it blew me away" 
the bk and i don't really do valentine's gifts...#1~i hate roses. i HATE roses. not knocking you girls that love them, they just aren't for me...and #2~what do you get someone that feels like they have everything?...besides. st valentine's day is about celebrating love. so we do just that. this year we get up before the sun and go to valentine's day breakfast. we are the only people in cracker barrel at 6am, when it opens. we sit by a crackling fire...sip on bottomless cups of hot coffee...and i get to hear about how beautiful i am with no make~up, a messy bun and my glasses on...
but, the bk is unaware of something. i have tucked a small gift in his work bag. something i know he doesn't have. and something i'm sure he will think is stupid, but i do it anyway. i found it on pinterest...a book made of playing cards entitled "52 reasons i heart jamie"...
all you need:

• a full deck of cards (preferably worn and tattered, but you can rough new ones up with sand paper)
• a black sharpie marker (or a computer and printer labels if you're too lazy to write)
• labels
• a hole punch
• binder rings
• your brain

make a cover for your book with the jokers and simply write the title on one with your marker. use your brain (and heart) to come up with 52 reasons why you love him/her. write them on the labels and attach one label to each card (fronts only). punch two holes in each card (make sure they are aligned). and clip together with binder rings. voila!!!

FLASH FORWARD today

we are only 23 days away from christmas...every year it gets harder and harder for me to find the PERFECT gift for my bk. and i know it's gets harder for him. our answer every time one of us asks "what would you like for christmas?"? i have everything i need. which is completely true. this year got a little easier for him...my day job has turned me into a bit of a handbag queen. truth is...i always have been, but i've always been able to find the trendy bags for very cheap (let's not talk about how) so i refuse to pay full price for a designer bag. so, when macy's had their friend's and family sale, this week, i got a michael kors bedford bowling satchel. eek!! merry christmas to cardinal!! but, now...NOW!!...i have to find the bk the PERFECT gift. and he is still saying "i have everything i need/want". DILEMMA!! i m sure many of you are in the same boat so, i googled ideas and found these great gift ideas for under $100:

PARA ÉL:

j. crew classic spread collar shirt: $68 (reg $88); because every guy needs a classic white button up in his closet...

sunspel boxers: $39: come on...your guy needs to get out of the tighty whities...and you don't want to get him hanes at christmas!!

kenneth cole new york watch: $95; help him keep track of the time this christmas so he's not late for the schmancy fancy holiday party!!

art of shaving chrome futura safety razor: $95; because it's no longer NoShavember!!

coach bleeker bull usb keyring: $98; it's a keyring AND a 4GB usb flash drive...cool

                 

                           

         

PARA ELLA:

coach madison op art sateen large wristlet: $98; because sometimes all we need is a lip gloss, a credit card, and our cell phone.

michael kors holiday watch key fob: $48; because, if you aren't gonna have a jag in the driveway on christmas morning, at least make our keys look fancy!

guess multichain bracelet watch: $85; cause it's a watch AND a bracelet!

victoria's secret pillow talk tank pajama: $49.50; because we like to be cute when we lounge around...bonus! free slippers with every pair!

lady gaga fame perfume gift set: $84; because every girl should smell like a rock star...(actually, i wear this and it smells delicious..)

                   

 

                          

happy shopping!!!

not so MANIC MONDAY

"mamas in the kitchen with the mac n' cheese..."

FLASHBACK january 24, 2014
another mandatory friday night means we need to come  up with another dish for dinner. that means i get to try another pinterest recipe!! i find the perfect side dish involving 4 of my favorite things: beer, bacon, cheese, and pasta!!

TODAY
it's a comfort food kind of day. and my mandatory friday night side would actually make a delicious main course for a simple monday dinner. you should give this pinterest success a try!!

BEER BACON MAC AND CHEESE

ingredients:

12 oz thick cut bacon
2 tbs unsalted butter
1/4 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ground chile de arbol (or cayenne to taste)
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 c beer (i used great lakes christmas ale)
1/2 c chicken broth
2 c milk
1 tsp worcestshire sauce
1 8oz bag of shredded mild cheddar cheese
16 oz dry elbow pasta

boil pasta until al dente. drain and set aside. 
cut bacon into bite size pieces. fry, over medium heat, until crispy. set aside and reserve 2 tbs of the drippings, discarding the rest. 
melt butter in skillet with reserved bacon drippings. whisk in flour. allow to cook a minute or two to cook off flour taste. add spices and beer. bring to a bubble for about 3 minutes. add milk. when it comes to a bubble, add worcestshire, bacon, and cheese. whisk to combine.
add pasta. stir to combine. allow to cook over low heat for about 5 minutes.
pour into casserole dish. sprinkle with chives (optional). serves 4-6.

  

                         

enjoy!!!

bonus: kathy brought another successful pinterest recipe to mandatory friday night. click here to try CAKE BATTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. they were delicious!!!

SUNDAY SUCCESS!!

"hot potato hot potato..."

we've had this discussion before...sundays are made for jammies, couches, blankies, and football. and january sundays should include a pot of something warm. so off i go...into the land of pinterest...in search of the picture cold weather recipe. BOOM!! crock pot loaded baked potato soup!!

the bk put this concoction together the night before. two reasons...#1~i was at work and #2~it called for slow~cooking 8 hours and we wanted to enjoy it during our football game (GO BENGALS!) without having to get up at the crack of dawn. CLICK HERE for the original recipe, or follow ours:

CROCK POT LOADED POTATO SOUP


ingredients:

5 lb russet potatoes, diced and not peeled
4 tbs minced garlic
1 large yellow onion, chopped
64 oz chicken broth
16 oz cream cheese, softened
shredded cheese, bacon, sour cream, chives for garnish (optional)

combine potatoes, garlic, onions, and chicken broth in crock pot. cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 5 hours. scoop 3 ladles of soup into food processor and mix in 1 package of cream cheese, add back to crock pot. repeat. serve topped with cheese, a dollop of daisy, bacon pieces, and chives.

**this makes a GIGANTIC pot of soup. if you half the recipe, you will still have about 6 servings. or make it all, and freeze for later.**

enjoy this pinterest success!!!

MANIC MONDAY

"when i say you're a pork chop, you best believe you're a pork chop..."

FLASHBACK yesterday
it's a typical sunday in the bird's nest. football. facebook. pinterest. lazy, lazy sunday. i decide it's the perfect time to test another recipe i find on pinterest.





EASY OVEN~BBQ PORK CHOPS

ingredients:

6 pork chops, ¾ to 1 inch thick
1 med onion, halved and thinly sliced
¼ c vinegar
¾ c water
1 tbs brown sugar
1 tbs worcestshire
½ c ketchup
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp salt





preheat oven to 350〫.  place chops in a 9X13 baking dish.  top with sliced onions. mix remaining ingredients in medium bowl and pour over chops. bake, uncovered, for 1 hour.

SUCCESS!!!

^with fresh corn and gralic mashed potatoes made with purple potatoes^

FLASH FORWARD today
it's monday. dinner is always boring on mondays. so throw these puppies in the oven and read a book for an hour. or, better yet, scroll thru pinterest and try your favorite recipes to see if they're a pinterest success or an epic fail!

SUNDAY LESSONS

"karma karma karma karma karma chameleon...."

FLASHBACK a few weeks back
i get a phone call. "did you hear what blah blah blah did?" what?! no! "yeah. blah blah blah did yadda yadda yadda! and then this and that happened". omg. (you can insert any horrible gossip you like, it won't change the outcome of my story, or hurt my feelings).
FLASH FORWARD september 14, 2013
it's my typical morning. all's quiet, except for the bk taking an occasional deep breath, in his sleep. the only light is the glare from my computer. i scroll through a little facebook. a little twitter. and a lot of pinterest. and, then, i see it. blah blah blah, who had done the horrible~awful yadda yadda yadda is spending quite a bit of time talking about karma. what? dude!? you know karma's coming after you, right?! it annoys me, so i change my facebook status:

lots of people agree with me. the bk and i talk about it for a minute and i go on with my life. the next 20 minutes goes like this: i stub my toe, on the way to the kitchen *karma*. i start cooking bacon and i burn the first few pieces *karma*. i pour grits into the boiling water and, before i blink, they are blowing the lid off the pot *karma*. i make the perfect sunny~side up egg, and it sticks to the spatula when i am transferring it to the plate *karma*. i am grumbling. what is going on? "weren't you the one who said that when you wish bad karma on people it gets you, too?" ugh.

FLASH FORWARD today
i just wanted to remind everyone NOT to wish bad karma on people. always be kind. karma will get them when she's ready, but you don't want her coming after you in the meantime.

have a great day peeps!

SCRUMPTIOUS SATURDAY

"this is the shoe and these are our people..."
FLASHBACK september 4, 2013
the bk is busy, busy, busy making plans for tailgating at the shoe. *for those who don't know, but everyone should know, the shoe is the home of the osu buckeyes* all he is responsible for is the sound system. nope. not good enough for bk. out comes pinterest and tons of tailgating recipes.

FLASH FORWARD today
off the bk went, with two delicious dishes in tow! try them for your next tailgate adventure or football party!!

CANDIED BACON

ingredients:
¼ c brown sugar
2 tbs rice vinegar
2 tbs maple syrup
black pepper to taste
1 lb thick cut bacon

preheat oven to 350〫. place a cooling rack over a baking sheet. place bacon on cooling rack and bake for 10 minutes. turn slices and bake for 5 additional minutes. 

mix brown sugar, rice vinegar, maple syrup, and black pepper in small bowl.

remove bacon and brush both sides with brown sugar mixture. return to oven and bake another 5 minutes. repeat basting until bacon is crispy and brown, approximately 35 minutes.

and BOOM!!

TAILGATE SANDWICHES

ingredients:
20 small hawaiian sweet rolls
1 lb black forrest ham (or meat of your choice)
20 slices of provolone cheese (or your choice)
8 oz container of softened cream cheese
½ cup (1 stick) melted butter
1 tbs yellow mustard
1 tbs worchestshire sauce
2 tbs minced onions
¼ c grated parmesan cheese
2 tbs poppy seeds (optional)

preheat oven to 350〫. lightly coat 9X13 pan with cooking spray. layer pan with bottom halves of rolls.  top with the ham. top ham with cheese. spread top halves of rolls with cream cheese and place on top of cheese, lining up with bottom halves.
in a medium bowl, mix butter, mustard, worchestshire sauce, minced onions, and parmesan cheese until well combined. pour evenly over sandwiches. sprinkle with poppy seeds.
cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. cut at seams and serve warm.

*note: we made up sandwiches the night before and heated the next morning. easy peasy.*

turns out they were a hit. pinterest successes!!
HAPPY PINNING!!

SCRUMPTIOUS SATURDAY

"peanut butter jelly...peanut butter jelly...peanut butter jelly and a baseball bat..."
FLASHBACK august 15, 2013
what? i know...just a few days ago...but i tell my stories how i want. so...
FLASHBACK august 15, 2013
what's your favorite cookie? bk "honestly? peanut butter.". really? bleck. but..you never eat peanut butter cookies. "because tah's allergic to peanuts, so i couldn't have them before. and then, we move in together. and you HATE peanut butter." yeah. i do. but that doesn't mean you can't have peanut butter. i mean...you do what you want...even if it does make me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
FLASH FORWARD august 16, 2013
i feel like i should surprise the bk and try to bake his favorite cookie. i search pinterest and find a "healthy peanut butter cookie" recipe that calls for applesauce and egg whites. off i go to the store because...surprise!!...there is no peanut butter in this house. bk will have peanut butter cookies when he gets home.

HEALTHY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

ingredients:
½ c unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)
1 c peanut butter, crunchy
¼ c applesauce
1 c brown sugar
1 c white sugar
¾ c egg beaters
2½ c all~purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1½ tsp baking soda



whisk together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. beat together butter, peanut butter, applesauce, brown sugar, and white sugar. add egg beaters and beat until smooth. stir flour into peanut butter mixture. refrigerate for at least 1 hour. 
preheat oven to 375〫. roll dough into small balls (size of a walnut) and place on ungreased cookie sheet, 2" apart. flatten with a fork in a crisscross pattern. *hint: dip fork in water to keep from sticking* bake until just turning brown...about 10 minutes.
makes about 4 dozen cookies.

on a side note: i decided to face my fear of the dreaded peanut butter and actually taste one of my creations. so, after working a late shift and making everyone's handbag dreams a reality, i poured all the milk in the universe into a gigantic glass and ATE one of these peanut butter cookies. at first, i thought "hmmmm...not so bad." and then i couldn't get the taste of peanut butter out of my mouth and it will haunt me forever. however, bk claims this recipe a PINTEREST SUCCESS!!