Friday, September 30, 2011

Recipe of the week...

Pumpkin Pancakes!

           
Pumpkin and Cinnamon…They’re the ultimate flavors of fall. Combine them together in a pancake that tastes as rich as a slice of cake, and you have the perfect breakfast to kick off the fall season!


Serve Them Warm With Your Favorite Syrup… or even a dallop of whipped cream!

Ingredients:

1 scoop protein powder
1/2 cup pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/2 tsp cinnamon (or 1/4 tsp pumpkin spice + 1/4 tsp cinnamon)
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 egg whites
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup + 2tbs water
3-5 packets stevia (or 1/2-1 tbs sweetener of choice)

Method:
1.Put all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth!

2.Meanwhile, heat a nonstick griddle (or large nonstick skillet) coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto griddle. Turn pancakes over when tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked. Serve warm!

Recipe courtesy of Dashing Dish!

This Room Belongs To...

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Inspired By...

Spain...








Monday, September 26, 2011

My Day With Miss Kitty...


Meet my daughter Paige.  Age 4 1/2.  Sometimes she goes by Angela, but today she was Miss Kitty...oh how I love this little girl!

Touches of...

Green!


Friday, September 23, 2011

Happy Friday...

Favorite Places and Spaces...

Bathrooms.

a place to relax...
and be creative...
a place to un wind...
and call your own...
to think outside of the box...
even if that means it's pink...

Thursday, September 22, 2011

A Day In The Life...

Of a Little Boy!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

A Day In The Life...

Of a Little Girl!

Following Your Dreams...

For the past 5 years I have been really hard on myself, and haven't really done the things necessary to make myself feel better.  Before I had my daughter I loved going to the gym, and running my buns off.  Then life got busy, and it just seemed to work it's way out of my daily routine.  One day I just woke up and decided that things weren't just going to change for me, I was going to have to do the changes myself.  So I got my butt back into running, and I couldn't be happier about it.  I feel so much better about myself, and it even makes me feel like a happier, healthier mother.  Hopefully this will give you a little courage to do at least one of those things that you keep wishing you COULD do, and realize that you CAN do it!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Recipe of the week...

Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup

Keeping in theme today, I thought I would share one of my favorite soup recipes.  It was given to me by my mom last Fall, and I haven't been the same since.  Ok, that might be a little overly dramatic...but that is kind of my style.  As with most of my recipes you can adjust this to your liking ie: take out the zucchini and add some celery.  I hope you all LOVE this soup as much as I do.


Ingredients:


1 lb ground Italian sausage
1 cup chopped onions
2 garlic cloves
5 cups beef broth
1/2 cup water
1/2 red wine (a wine you might drink ie: pinot noir, merlot)
2 cups chopped tomato (may use canned)
1 cup chopped baby carrots
1/2 ts basil leaves
1/2 ts oregano leaves
8 oz. tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups sliced zucchini
8 oz. cheese tortellini (one bag)
3 tbs chopped parsley
1 medium chopped green pepper
grated Parmesan cheese (optional for garnish)

Brown your sausage in a large pot. Drain grease from pot leaving about 1 tbs. in to saute onions and garlic on low heat, until onions are clear and tender. Add beef broth, water, wine, tomatoes, carrots, basil, oregano, tomato sauce, and sausage. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer un-covered for 30 minutes. Stir in zucchini, tortellini, parsley, and green pepper. Simmer covered for an additional 35-40 minutes, or until tortellini is soft. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on each serving.







Enjoy!

Inspired By...

Italy

Monday, September 19, 2011

Cake Batter Martini...

I made some of these using one of my newest obsessions...Whipped Cream Vodka....SERIOUSLY addicted.  I even drink it over ice with some diet Tonic Water...so delish!  This recipe calls for the Pinnacle Cake Batter vodka, but I really think you could use either for the same effect.

1 ounce amaretto

1 1/2 ounces Pinnacle whipped cream vodka
1 1/2 ounces creme de cacao
1/2 ounce Godiva white chocolate liqueur
1 ounce heavy cream
assorted sprinkles (nonpareils work best)
frosting

Using your finger, coat the rim of your glass with frosting – make sure not to miss any spots! Dump sprinkles on a plate and press glass rim into sprinkles, pressing to adhere. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for about 30 seconds. Strain into glass and drink!

Touches of...

Purple!







Friday, September 16, 2011

Happy Friday...

Girls Night!!!

I hope you all have a fantastic, get all dressed up, martini in hand, girlfriends at your side, dance til you pass out kind of night...Cheers!





Whiskey Apple Pie...

Yup...that's right...I said it!



Doesn't that just look DELICIOUS!!!  It is from a company out of New York called Guilt Taste You can even have your very own ie delivered to your front door with next day shipping.  I might just have to order one next month for Dominic's Birthday.  He will surely love me forever.