Why Be Blue....When you can Be RED

I love giving gifts to people I care about.

Nothing make me more excited than when I find the perfect gift, or come up with something well suited for a friend or loved one.

My friend, Lori,  turned 50 this past January, and we hosted a dinner party for her, here at our house.

Lori with her Coconut Cream Poke Cake that I made for her birthday cake.

While I was Christmas shipping I had found the wine glass that I included, it's an "XL" Size, and holds a whole bottle of wine.

I bought it to give to her sometime as a little "funny."  Lori is a bit of a wine connoisseur.

She is especially found of reds.

Well, I had it, and one day while trying to decide what to do for her birthday gift, the whole thing just came together.

Turning 50 is hard for many.  Lori, of course, took it in stride.

Literally.

She ran the half marathon with her daughter, Maisie, pictured here, as well as her husband and a couple of her friends.

They decided what better way to celebrate not only her 50th birthday, but her being cancer free for 12 years!

Lori always has a fantastic outlook on life.

That, among a million other things, makes being around her so enjoyable.

Let's just say, she's easy to love.

So, I made a play on words, using her love of red wine, and her positive outlook on life, and this gift basket was born.

I found a cool woven red basket, stuffed it full of red paper, and included the giant wine glass, a bottle of Apothic RED wine, a RED pomegranate candle, some nail polish, RED of course, and a little RED package of Lindor chocolate truffles (chocolate and red wine...Mmmmm.) and a little sign you see pictured here.

"I rescued some wine, it was trapped in a bottle"

I made the tag to go on it, on my computer and mounted it on scrapbook paper.

You will find the printable at the bottom of this post.

So, the next time you go celebrate a milestone birthday, give them something they will use, and give them a positive outlook on life.

Because, really, 

Why be BLUE on your 50th Birthday when you can be RED?

Printable for you

Muffin Cup Omelettes

We love experimenting on Sundays with breakfast.

Typically, I am not a huge breakfast person, but on Sundays it's a family tradition.

My husband usually makes it, and I have to say my two favorites are his french toast or his omelettes!

I ALWAYS request omelettes on Mother's Day and my birthday, then he can't say "no...that's too messy" or "no....those take so long."

These little babies just made me get my omelettes more often!

Typically, we chop up a bunch of stuff and everyone gets to choose what they want in theirs.

This time, I was making them, and I they got what I like! 

I am fortunate though, because my kids eat everything.

Nope, not a picky one in the bunch!

So, feel free to add whatever you like, and make them the way you prefer your omelette.

Go crazy on Sunday... then take a nap.

It's the weekend ya know.

Because they're Easy Like a Sunday Morning.

Muffin Cup Omelettes

12 pieces of bacon, cooked until slightly done.

10 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup spinach, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1/2 cup tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced, or 1 - 4 ounce can

1 cup  shredded cheese of choice, we used colby jack

Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare a muffin tin (1 dozen size) with non-stick cooking spray.

Slightly cook your bacon so it just starts to get done.

Chop up ingredients.

Combine eggs and milk with a whisk, add in veggies, and salt and pepper.

Place a piece of bacon around the outside rim of the muffin cup.

Divide egg mixture between the muffin cups. I used a ladle to evenly distribute veggies.

Don't over fill, they will grow! I had a couple that overflowed. 

So maybe a little less than what's pictured here.

Place in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until eggs are set.

Remove by sliding a butter knife around the edge.

Enjoy!

** Notes: I failed to spray my pan REALLY good when I made these the first time.  It was stinker to get clean.  Make sure you spray it well, or line with foil cupcake liners.

The bacon around the edge got buried when I baked them, so if you would rather, just chop the bacon and incorporate it into the egg mixture.
These are a great make a ahead breakfast food, heat the during the week and skip the drive-thru!
Muffin Cup Omelettes are way better for the muffin top, too! ;)

SPRING candy coated POPCORN

Could it be??

From the depths of the cold frozen ground.

Months of gloom and cold, and the promise of spring appears.

It completely changes peoples' disposition, don't you think?

I could never live where sunshine hides for weeks on end.  

I need vitamin D like the cookie monster needs cookies.

Winter is so depressing and dull.

Once you get past the fun of the Fall and the holidays, it's just plain yuck.

I made up a batch of this popcorn to have around for company this past weekend,  it's a new twist on my "Crack Corn" - Candy Coated Popcorn.

We really liked the addition of the marshmallows and those spring white chocolate M&M's.

I think you will, too!

SPRING candy coated POPCORN

2 bags microwave popcorn, popped and unpopped kernels removed

2 Tablespoons Vegetable oil

3 squares almond bark

1/2 cup pink candy melts

1 cup mini marshmallows

1 cup white chocolate M&M's

Pastel colored sugar crystals and sprinkles

Pop your popcorn and remove any unpopped kernels. Place popcorn in a paper grocery bag.

In your microwave, melt almond bark and oil in 30 second intervals, stirring until melted and smooth.

Pour over popcorn, and shake in the bag to coat.

Sprinkle with sugar and sprinkles and continue to shake until coated.

Lay on a piece of waxed paper on the counter, sprinkle marshmallows over the top.

Melt pink candy melts in the microwave and drizzle over the top of all.

Leave on the counter for an hour or so, until it's set and dry.

Add M&M's and enjoy! 

Shared at: 

The Princess and Her Cowboys Wednesday Round Up

Dizzy, Busy and Hungry Wined Down Wednesday

21st Century Housewife Hearth and Soul Blog Hop

Nibbles by Nic Wonderfully Creative Wednesday

Fresh Orange Bars

About a week ago, I made a recipe for Lemon Brownies, and they were awesome!

So, when a good friend of mine was talking about them, I decided to make her a batch.

When I was making them, I took my lemons from my fruit bowl, and saw these really yummy oranges and tangelos I have been buying.  They have been really flavorful and juicy and I thought, I bet this would be a good version of the lemon!

Turns out I was RIGHT!

My hubby thinks they are even better than the lemon, which is good, because better on his hips than mine, right? ;)

When I went to type the recipe though, I got to thinking, they needed a different name.

When I found the recipe for the lemon brownies, I had never heard of such a thing?

Lemon BARS yes, brownies, no?

To me brownies were always brown, and blondies weren't right?

So, I decided to call these Fresh Orange Bars, instead.  Even though, it's virtually the same recipe.

Fresh Orange Bars

for the bars:

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon

2 eggs

2 Tablespoons orange Zest

2 Tablespoons orange Juice

*You will need to zest and juice 2 large oranges or tangelos (or one of each) *

for the glaze:

4 Tablespoons orange juice

8 Tablespoons orange zest

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8x8 baking dish.

Zest and juice your oranges and set aside.

For the bars: whisk together, eggs, zest and juice and set aside.

In your mixer cream butter, add sugar and flour and salt and combine.

Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.

Pour into baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until edges are golden brown, do not over bake.

For glaze: combine sugar, zest and juice and whisk until smooth.

Pour over the bars and place in the refrigerator to set.

Store in the refrigerator.

Tuna Tetrazzini Casserole

I know, I know... Tuna Noodles is probably one of the easiest things in the world to make, right?

Well, it seems that every time I think I shouldn't blog about something that seems to boring or simple, I am surprised at the response it gets.

When my kids were little and they asked what was for dinner, and I answered Tuna Casserole, they always asked "Where are you going tonight?" 

It is my usual fall back for making something ahead that is easy, everyone loves, and I can put it in the oven and skedaddle out the door!

So, when they ask, and I am at home they are surprised.

Nice to keep them on their toes.

This is one meal where there is rarely ever leftovers.

My kids (and hubby) LOVE it.

Not sure how you make yours, but this is how I make mine! 

Tuna Tetrazzini Casserole

12 oz Macaroni or other pasta.

4 oz can of mushrooms (I usually use two because we love our 'shrooms around here!)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1- 7 oz can albacore tuna, drained

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

(about) 2 cups crushed potato chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and prepare your casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Cook pasta, drain and rinse.

Combine pasta with all of the ingredients, except chips.

Pour into casserole dish, and top with potato chips.

Bake for 30 minutes uncovered.

*If you like peas or black olives either are GREAT in this.  We are a family divided on these, so I omit them.

Enjoy!

Homemade BBQ Sauce

Last night we made "beer butt chicken."

It's one of my favorite ways to make chicken.

It always turns out perfect, moist chicken on the inside and that perfect crunch to the skin on the outside!

We made two, since it was Sunday, I knew I could do something with it for dinner tonight.  

I decided to go the easy route and throw it in the crock pot with some BBQ Sauce, and have sandwiches.

Turns out, my BBQ sauce was almost gone.

When in doubt, make you're own I say!

So, I whipped some up, and have extra for another meal another time.

Can't say the same about that chicken in the crock pot, if my kids don't quit sneaking bites, we might be having grilled cheese!

But on a good note, they said they can't leave it alone because the sauce is "SO GOOD MOM!"

Homemade BBQ Sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup honey

2 cups ketchup

2 Tablespoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon Siracha (optional)

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce

2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar

2 cloves garlic, minced

Add all ingredients to a saucepan and stir until combined.

Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally for about 15 minutes.

Transfer to a jar and store in the refrigerator.

Egg Hunt Snack Cakes

Our parish has a fish fry every Friday during Lent.

They are not only a lot of fun, they generate a good source of income for our church via the Men's Club who does all of the "heavy lifting."

Now, I do my part and stand in line with  a beer and consume yummy fried fish, coleslaw and french fries, shell out money for the kids to get heir faces painted and for raffle tickets, but aside from that my "job" is pretty easy.

The church asks that families donate desserts.

There is one week, based on the first letter of your last name, that you are asked to do so.

I don't abide by that, and usually bring a couple of different things every week.

(I sometimes lose my inhibitions for dessert after consuming keg beer in line for an hour+, and I, for one, wouldn't want dessert lovers to go without a choice.)

So, I whipped up a batch of chocolate mint brownies, and the kids helped me with these little cakes.

If you have never visited partypinching.com you are seriously missing out.

She does the MOST ADORABLE things for parties, and just for plain fun.

My 11 year old daughter LOVES the sight, too, and if forever saying "we should make this!"

Best part is, your kids will have fun helping you do it.

So when I saw these on her page, I fell in love.

My kids love when I have those Little Debbie cakes around anyway... and I thought, how fun they would be to make for the fish fry!

Link to PARTY PINCHING EASTER BASKET SNACK CAKES

I literally didn't do anything!

My 11 year old twins made these.  Our only problem was we couldn't find the Sour Punch candy, and bought licorice (the colored flavored kind) and it was too limp, it kept falling over.

So, my son unwrapped the packages of snack cakes while my daughter squirted on green frosting from the can, then he added the jelly beans.

I plated them on an aluminum pan and off the to the fish fry they went!

Follow the link to Party Pinching's original idea, to make the cute baskets.

Egg Hunt Snack Cakes

Little Debbie Easter Basket Snack Cakes

Jelly Beans 

Can of "squirtable" green frosting

Squirt on green frosting and top with jelly beans.

done.

easy peasy!