Easter is nearing! Spring is almost here!
I'm considering offering to host an Easter lunch for my hubby's family. Last year it seemed as if there was a lot of hurt and confusion as to who was invited to what so if we host that means I'm committed to inviting a large amount of people into our small apartment. I know not everyone would come but I want everyone to feel welcome.
On my break today I started brainstorming recipe ideas for either an Easter brunch or lunch. To jump start my thinking, I text ed my family and friends and asked (the obviously poorly phrased):
What foods do you think of when you think of Easter?
The responses:
My little sister: Reese eggs! (Yum-O!)
And after clarification: Ham and Au Gratin Potatoes or Potato Salad
Lyric: Deviled eggs, mac n cheese, black eyed peas
K10: Eggs, ham, white cake
Banana: Eggs. Marshmallows. Pastel sweets
To which I replied: Sounds great. We'll have scrambled eggs, marshmallows and lavendar cake.
I guess I should have clarified that I was looking for menu ideas.
What are your favorite Easter dishes? Would you rather cook/eat a lunch or brunch?
Showing posts with label help. Show all posts
Showing posts with label help. Show all posts
Friday, 8 March 2013
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Too Many Cakes Too Little Time
I've been given a sneak peek at my next baking challenge. It involves making a cake. So I'm trying to decide what flavor I want to make.
I'm strongly considering
I'm strongly considering
- An almond cake with apricot filling...and either a vanilla or almond butter cream
- A choclate, peanut butter, banana cake with some combination of banana slices, pb cream cheese frosting and a chocolate ganache
- A peach, mango, pineapple cake with caramel cream cheese icing
- chocolate rum cake
- strawberry champagne cake, filled with champagne soaked strawberries
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Get Beautiful, Give Back! Vote please!
I could really use your votes! I entered a makeover contest for a chance to win a trip and $$$ to a charity of my choice. You can vote 5x a day per email address. Please vote for me! Voting opens at NOON TODAY!
I know my pictures are not the best ones up. We had to retake them last minute because the first ones turned out too dark. The first ones I looked better in though.
But I also had to write a paragraph on what I would do to give back if money, time and talent were not an issue. I wrote that I would do anything and everything I could to help children in need. In need of anything, love, food, shelter, education, time, clothes. That being said, if I win I will choose a child related charity for the money to go to.
So if you like me, like children or like feeling beautiful, please vote for me. You can go through the link below or up above where it says please vote for me. Vote as many times as you can and share it with every one you know.
https://www.mkmakeovercontest.com/US/EN/Gallery/?Id=53f2b265-c360-4b5d-9187-c3555c67e994
I know my pictures are not the best ones up. We had to retake them last minute because the first ones turned out too dark. The first ones I looked better in though.
But I also had to write a paragraph on what I would do to give back if money, time and talent were not an issue. I wrote that I would do anything and everything I could to help children in need. In need of anything, love, food, shelter, education, time, clothes. That being said, if I win I will choose a child related charity for the money to go to.
So if you like me, like children or like feeling beautiful, please vote for me. You can go through the link below or up above where it says please vote for me. Vote as many times as you can and share it with every one you know.
https://www.mkmakeovercontest.com/US/EN/Gallery/?Id=53f2b265-c360-4b5d-9187-c3555c67e994
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Angel Food Ministries
Have you heard of Angel Food? I hadn't until I moved here. Its basically a bulk buying program that helps families get their groceries cheaper.
Mike and I decided to give it a try for next month. We ordered two different menus for a total of $103. That means I won't do much grocery shopping except to pick up small things like fruit, butter, cheese etc that maybe needed to make a few foods into a dish.
That's where ya'll come in. I'm going to list the foods we'll be receiving and I would appreciate recipes using the listed foods as the primary ingredients
Mike and I decided to give it a try for next month. We ordered two different menus for a total of $103. That means I won't do much grocery shopping except to pick up small things like fruit, butter, cheese etc that maybe needed to make a few foods into a dish.
That's where ya'll come in. I'm going to list the foods we'll be receiving and I would appreciate recipes using the listed foods as the primary ingredients
- (1) All Natural Whole Chicken
- (1.5 lb) Whiting or Flounder Fillets
- (2lb) Boneless skinless chicken breasts
- (1.5 lbs) Boneless center cut pork chops
- (1.5lbs) Turkey Burgers
- (2lb) Clam chowder (yumo!)
- (2lb) Sloppy joe mix (yucko)
- (2lb) Lasagna
- (1.5lb) Smoked sausage
- (1lb) ground beef
- (1lb) ground chicken (might make chicken cakes with these!)
- (1lb) carrots
- (1lb) green breans
- (1lb) triple veggie blend
- (1lb) sugar snap peas
- (24oz) natural cut french fires
- (28 oz) baked beans
- (1lb) white rice
- (1lb) pasta
- (26 oz) pasta sauce with mushrooms
- Jiffy Cornbread Mix
- (5ct) Oatmeal
- (32 oz) milk
- (1 doz) eggs
- 7.5 oz cookie dough
- 2.5 lbs Angus rib eye steaks
- 2lbs Angus burgers
- 1.5 lb bone in pork chops
- 2lb salmon fillets
- 1lb sugar snap peas
- 4 ct corn on the cob
- 20 oz twice baked potatoes (Mike is ecstatic I am not)
Monday, 18 April 2011
Random Thoughts
- I just got super jittery when I sent my resume off for a super cool job as an event planner's assitant. I have no clue what the pay is but it seems like it'd be more enjoyable than being a cashier. I'm not sure what my chances are on it so I'm not saying much about it now, but if by some miracle I do get it I'll be sure to let ya'll know.
5. I may or may not be making bacon scones tonight. And caramels. Depends on my energy levels.
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Mystery "Stains" and Liquified Zucchini
I've come to notice that every so often these circular, brownish gray "stains" appear on the hardwood floors in our kitchen and living space. The only thing I can recall spilling is water, and dry cereal so thats not the problem. And they tend to pop up around the same places. The spots in the kitchen wipe right up with a wet cloth, but the ones in the living area require a slight scrub. They look a bit like the residue left after you remove a long term band aid. But they aren't sticky to the touch.
Can you see them? I just scrubbed them away yesterday.
We had hardwood floors growing up, and I don't remember anything like these. Does anyone know what these are? Do you think its mold seeping up through the apartment below us? Gross.
As for the second part of the title, I think I mentioned earlier that we bought some zucchini. I'd been munching on it raw and was planning on cooking some yesterday for dinner. I pulled the leftover zucchini (still in the produce bag) out of the fridge. It still held its shape, but when I reached into pick it up its was completely liquid! I don't know its because I left it in the bag or if it has something to do with our fridge. Our msutard tends to freeze and I have to wipe down the apples and peaches every day because they get soaked in water. But, there are no settings to tamper with on the fridge. Has anyone else had this problem?
Can you see them? I just scrubbed them away yesterday.
We had hardwood floors growing up, and I don't remember anything like these. Does anyone know what these are? Do you think its mold seeping up through the apartment below us? Gross.
As for the second part of the title, I think I mentioned earlier that we bought some zucchini. I'd been munching on it raw and was planning on cooking some yesterday for dinner. I pulled the leftover zucchini (still in the produce bag) out of the fridge. It still held its shape, but when I reached into pick it up its was completely liquid! I don't know its because I left it in the bag or if it has something to do with our fridge. Our msutard tends to freeze and I have to wipe down the apples and peaches every day because they get soaked in water. But, there are no settings to tamper with on the fridge. Has anyone else had this problem?
Monday, 9 August 2010
Would you like to be a guest poster?
I'm looking for someone to write a guest post to be posted on August 24th (14 days from now!!!) when I am traveling back to the good ole USA.
The post can be about anything- your favorite recipe to make for loved ones coming home, the recipe for the food you miss the most when you're gone, a travel story (good or bad), your dream vacation....ANYTHING.
If you want to post or have any ideas, please either leave a comment or send an email to rachel.beasley AT converse.edu
If you send me an email, please put "guest post" in the subject line in case your message ends up in my junk mail.
I can't wait to see what ya'll are thinking!
The post can be about anything- your favorite recipe to make for loved ones coming home, the recipe for the food you miss the most when you're gone, a travel story (good or bad), your dream vacation....ANYTHING.
If you want to post or have any ideas, please either leave a comment or send an email to rachel.beasley AT converse.edu
If you send me an email, please put "guest post" in the subject line in case your message ends up in my junk mail.
I can't wait to see what ya'll are thinking!
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
Grocery Shopping Today
I bought:
ham, cheese and bread for sandwiches
green and red peppers for sandwiches and scrambled eggs (basically the only unexpensive fresh veggie- oh baby tomatoes seem decently priced too but I didn't want to carry them)
hot dog weenies- to sautee with the peppers....mmm
eggs
bananas- for snacks and to put in our almond flake kelloggs
bugle potato chips- i think, i hope....I have a hard enough time finding these babies at home
I priced pancakes and I think it'll cost close to $20 batch, which is insane in my opinion. I looked at spaghetti stuff but due to lack of fridge space decided to wait, it'll probably cost me $6 for a few meals worth of spaghetti which isn't bad at all. And I found spaghetti sauce but I think I will spruce it up with some fresh peppers. Oh and I priced frozen corndogs today- 3 corndogs for over $4. Yikes. I miss America and our excess of corndogs. I don't even eat corn dogs very often.
Now I have to learn how to operate the stove top. Pictures would be more helpful words, but I'm a big girl and trial and error is my friend. As long as the errors aren't too big. Oh- and another thing to keep in mind is that if I have to much- the leftovers have to be reheated on the stovetop- slightly scary but doable.
ham, cheese and bread for sandwiches
green and red peppers for sandwiches and scrambled eggs (basically the only unexpensive fresh veggie- oh baby tomatoes seem decently priced too but I didn't want to carry them)
hot dog weenies- to sautee with the peppers....mmm
eggs
bananas- for snacks and to put in our almond flake kelloggs
bugle potato chips- i think, i hope....I have a hard enough time finding these babies at home
I priced pancakes and I think it'll cost close to $20 batch, which is insane in my opinion. I looked at spaghetti stuff but due to lack of fridge space decided to wait, it'll probably cost me $6 for a few meals worth of spaghetti which isn't bad at all. And I found spaghetti sauce but I think I will spruce it up with some fresh peppers. Oh and I priced frozen corndogs today- 3 corndogs for over $4. Yikes. I miss America and our excess of corndogs. I don't even eat corn dogs very often.
Now I have to learn how to operate the stove top. Pictures would be more helpful words, but I'm a big girl and trial and error is my friend. As long as the errors aren't too big. Oh- and another thing to keep in mind is that if I have to much- the leftovers have to be reheated on the stovetop- slightly scary but doable.
Pancake Help
So, the other day at the grocery store a box of pancake mix caught my eye. Well, I'm assuming it was pancake mix because it had a picture of pancakes on the front. I really want to make pancakes. I don't read Korean and I can't for the life of me, remember what you add to pancake mix. Eggs? Water?
Could ya'll do me a huge favor and tell me what to add to the mix and how much? That way, when we go grocery shopping on Thursday I can price everything to see if making pancakes is going to cost me $20. If not, it might be worth a go.
Also, any scrambled egg spruce up ideas, or homemade spaghetti sauce with SUPER EASY TO FIND (no spices just veggies?) ingredients would be very nice as well. I've found spaghetti noodles, but haven't spotted the sauce yet.
I really want to cook, but due to my lack of skills, I'm not very good at being creative with food. We only have a stovetop and a toaster. So far the groceries we've been buying are: eggs, bread, sliced ham, sliced cheese, mustard, cereal, yogurt, bananas and canned fruit. Oh and Ramen. Who could forget Ramen. (I do have a ramen meets mac and cheese cup that I'm hoping to try tomorrow)
Don't forget to check out this weeks ABC post: D is for Delicious
Could ya'll do me a huge favor and tell me what to add to the mix and how much? That way, when we go grocery shopping on Thursday I can price everything to see if making pancakes is going to cost me $20. If not, it might be worth a go.
Also, any scrambled egg spruce up ideas, or homemade spaghetti sauce with SUPER EASY TO FIND (no spices just veggies?) ingredients would be very nice as well. I've found spaghetti noodles, but haven't spotted the sauce yet.
I really want to cook, but due to my lack of skills, I'm not very good at being creative with food. We only have a stovetop and a toaster. So far the groceries we've been buying are: eggs, bread, sliced ham, sliced cheese, mustard, cereal, yogurt, bananas and canned fruit. Oh and Ramen. Who could forget Ramen. (I do have a ramen meets mac and cheese cup that I'm hoping to try tomorrow)
Don't forget to check out this weeks ABC post: D is for Delicious
Friday, 4 June 2010
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Wedding Reception Plans in the Making
I am strongly considering doing a dessert reception, with desserts from various countries. The desserts I'm thinking about are:
1Belgian Gingerbread
2Swedish Butter Cookies
3.Australian Bachelor Buttons or
4. Austalian Baby Banana Souffle
5Chinese Fortune Cookies
6. ChineseAlmond Cakes
7. Japanese Sweet Potatoe Candy
8. Dutch Fritters
9. Scottish Tiffins
10. Scottish Millionaire Shortbread
11. English Apple Butterscotch Pie
12. Baklava
With Mexican Coffee and Hot Chocolate (with marshamllows and chocolate sugar and cinnamon and possibly frozen chocolate spoons yay!)
Two Problems:
1. Narrowing down the dessert list to about 7 different desserts. Any opinions on must keeps or must gos? I LOVE both tiffins and millonaire shortbread, but i think more people would live the shortbread. Its going to be so hard to decide. I'll let you know my decision after I talk with the caterer this week. But before then, I'd love some input. Feel free to suggest other desserts for the list too! I'm in the brainstorming part right now.
2. What time to have the wedding. 7pm seems like the perfect start time for the ceremony, putting the guests at the reception a little after 7:30. However, I've been told from a few people that after the ceremony I won't make it to the reception for an hour and a half (taking pictures), putting me there at 9. Please tell me that was an outrageous estimate.
The reception ends at 1130. I'd like to be there for a little longer than that. Also, I dont want to take pictures for more than 45 minutes. I want to take as many pictures (me and my ladies, the flower girls and ring bearers, fiance and his men, shots of the parents, shots of groomsman and bridesmaids) before the wedding as possible. Do you think its possible to take all the other pics in 45 minutes or less?
Personally, I'd rather do them all before but I know my mom will have a fit about the bride and groom seeing each other before the ceremony. I don't care because there is a huge chance that we'll be walking down the aisle together holding hands (to Amazing Grace played on the bagpipes).
If the pictures do take that long, is 6:30 to early to start the ceremony if I'm having a dessert reception?
1Belgian Gingerbread
2Swedish Butter Cookies
3.Australian Bachelor Buttons or
4. Austalian Baby Banana Souffle
5Chinese Fortune Cookies
6. ChineseAlmond Cakes
7. Japanese Sweet Potatoe Candy
8. Dutch Fritters
9. Scottish Tiffins
10. Scottish Millionaire Shortbread
11. English Apple Butterscotch Pie
12. Baklava
With Mexican Coffee and Hot Chocolate (with marshamllows and chocolate sugar and cinnamon and possibly frozen chocolate spoons yay!)
Two Problems:
1. Narrowing down the dessert list to about 7 different desserts. Any opinions on must keeps or must gos? I LOVE both tiffins and millonaire shortbread, but i think more people would live the shortbread. Its going to be so hard to decide. I'll let you know my decision after I talk with the caterer this week. But before then, I'd love some input. Feel free to suggest other desserts for the list too! I'm in the brainstorming part right now.
2. What time to have the wedding. 7pm seems like the perfect start time for the ceremony, putting the guests at the reception a little after 7:30. However, I've been told from a few people that after the ceremony I won't make it to the reception for an hour and a half (taking pictures), putting me there at 9. Please tell me that was an outrageous estimate.
The reception ends at 1130. I'd like to be there for a little longer than that. Also, I dont want to take pictures for more than 45 minutes. I want to take as many pictures (me and my ladies, the flower girls and ring bearers, fiance and his men, shots of the parents, shots of groomsman and bridesmaids) before the wedding as possible. Do you think its possible to take all the other pics in 45 minutes or less?
Personally, I'd rather do them all before but I know my mom will have a fit about the bride and groom seeing each other before the ceremony. I don't care because there is a huge chance that we'll be walking down the aisle together holding hands (to Amazing Grace played on the bagpipes).
If the pictures do take that long, is 6:30 to early to start the ceremony if I'm having a dessert reception?
Giveaways?
I'm curious...
Do you like to know about the giveaways and deals I stumble across? Or could you care less?
Do you want to seem them as a find out about them? Or should I compile them on a weekly(maybe biweekly depending on their deadlines) basis?
If you've got an opionion please vote by checking all of the answers that apply in my poll on the sidebar!
Thanks for voting!
Do you like to know about the giveaways and deals I stumble across? Or could you care less?
Do you want to seem them as a find out about them? Or should I compile them on a weekly(maybe biweekly depending on their deadlines) basis?
If you've got an opionion please vote by checking all of the answers that apply in my poll on the sidebar!
Thanks for voting!
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Wedding Ideas Wanted!
Put on your brainstorming caps!
I need some help.
Travel is important to both me and Mr. Groom, so I want to incorporate it into our wedding. We both love to travel, we have been on and off long distance during out relationship, and a lot of our family and friends will be traveling to our wedding. I also like the idea of marriage as a journey.
That being said, I need your help in two ways:
1.General: I need ways to infuse this theme throughout our wedding.
I've thought about getting some globes to serve as centerpieces, with the addition of some flowers and (sailboat shaped!) candles. But, notthings final yet so, let me know if you have any other centerpiece ideas. Our guest book is a going to be a post card collection, where our guests can leave us sweet messages. Instead of a card box, I bought this cute white tray ($5!) that has the names of famous cities written across it.Again, I would show you a picture my the camera cord is still on vacation. And I really want to take a picture of the two of us kissing and holding suitcases (preferably old ones), to send as wedding announcements! I'd love any ideas you have for decoration as well as for food.
2: Specefic: I really want to tie this theme into our programs. I also would like to DIY my programs. And I would like something different than just the usual.
I think the programs on wavy sticks and tied with a bow are really cute. But-they are very reminscent of fans, and our wedding is in December. Any suggestions for how I can tie the theme into the programs? I'm thinking along the lines of a road map- but that seems to cheesy. I'm playing with the idea of making them look like ribbon tied passports?
Suggest away! I'm going to go grab a drink (not really- I've sworn of booze and sweets for a while. Since when? Since last night when I didn't like my reflection in the Victoria Secret mirror-So, a screwdriver it is! Hold the vodka please!)
I need some help.
Travel is important to both me and Mr. Groom, so I want to incorporate it into our wedding. We both love to travel, we have been on and off long distance during out relationship, and a lot of our family and friends will be traveling to our wedding. I also like the idea of marriage as a journey.
That being said, I need your help in two ways:
1.General: I need ways to infuse this theme throughout our wedding.
I've thought about getting some globes to serve as centerpieces, with the addition of some flowers and (sailboat shaped!) candles. But, notthings final yet so, let me know if you have any other centerpiece ideas. Our guest book is a going to be a post card collection, where our guests can leave us sweet messages. Instead of a card box, I bought this cute white tray ($5!) that has the names of famous cities written across it.Again, I would show you a picture my the camera cord is still on vacation. And I really want to take a picture of the two of us kissing and holding suitcases (preferably old ones), to send as wedding announcements! I'd love any ideas you have for decoration as well as for food.
2: Specefic: I really want to tie this theme into our programs. I also would like to DIY my programs. And I would like something different than just the usual.
I think the programs on wavy sticks and tied with a bow are really cute. But-they are very reminscent of fans, and our wedding is in December. Any suggestions for how I can tie the theme into the programs? I'm thinking along the lines of a road map- but that seems to cheesy. I'm playing with the idea of making them look like ribbon tied passports?
Suggest away! I'm going to go grab a drink (not really- I've sworn of booze and sweets for a while. Since when? Since last night when I didn't like my reflection in the Victoria Secret mirror-So, a screwdriver it is! Hold the vodka please!)
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
How to Win the Follower of the Day Award!
Dearest Followers,
I need your opinions. If you could post a comment answering at least one of the following questions it'd really make my day. Here we go:
1. What made you decide to click the "follow" button for my blog?
2. What's the best thing about my blog?
3. BE HONEST-What do you like the least about my blog?
4. What would you like to see more of?
5. What would you like to see less of?
6. And lastly- What are you general suggestions for improvement? (Would you like me to stick to a certain theme? Post in a more narrative style? Post in a less narrative style? Anything?!)
Love,
Chocoholic
PS: I don't mind answering the questions in return for anyone who replies. If you want, I can do it publically and rave about all the things I love about your blog! Not trying to bribe you or anything. (Really, I'm not, I've only got 9 followers- which is what I'm trying to change here!)
I need your opinions. If you could post a comment answering at least one of the following questions it'd really make my day. Here we go:
1. What made you decide to click the "follow" button for my blog?
2. What's the best thing about my blog?
3. BE HONEST-What do you like the least about my blog?
4. What would you like to see more of?
5. What would you like to see less of?
6. And lastly- What are you general suggestions for improvement? (Would you like me to stick to a certain theme? Post in a more narrative style? Post in a less narrative style? Anything?!)
Love,
Chocoholic
PS: I don't mind answering the questions in return for anyone who replies. If you want, I can do it publically and rave about all the things I love about your blog! Not trying to bribe you or anything. (Really, I'm not, I've only got 9 followers- which is what I'm trying to change here!)
Gift Ideas Needed
I am considering asking my two oldest male cousins to serve as ushers in my wedding. Both are in high school. One will probably be helping seat guests and the oldest will be in charge of playing the prelude songs I picked out on a CD.
I can't get them "cutesy" gifts like their younger siblings who are serving as flower girls and ring bearers, but they're not old enough to recieve engraved flasks/beer mugs like the groomsman and older ushers.
Any suggestions?
I can't get them "cutesy" gifts like their younger siblings who are serving as flower girls and ring bearers, but they're not old enough to recieve engraved flasks/beer mugs like the groomsman and older ushers.
Any suggestions?
Friday, 7 May 2010
Dearest Followers,
I would really love to have more of you. I love blogs that have giveaways and I think I could have one of I had a minimum of 20-25 followers. Sooo..............................
I need your opinions. If you could post a comment answering at least one of the following questions it'd really make my day. Here we go:
1. What made you decide to click the "follow" button for my blog?
2. What's the best thing about my blog?
3. BE HONEST-What do you like the least about my blog?
4. What would you like to see more of?
5. What would you like to see less of?
6. And lastly- What are you general suggestions for improvement? (Would you like me to stick to a certain theme? Post in a more narrative style? Post in a less narrative style? Anything?!
Love,
Chocoholic
I need your opinions. If you could post a comment answering at least one of the following questions it'd really make my day. Here we go:
1. What made you decide to click the "follow" button for my blog?
2. What's the best thing about my blog?
3. BE HONEST-What do you like the least about my blog?
4. What would you like to see more of?
5. What would you like to see less of?
6. And lastly- What are you general suggestions for improvement? (Would you like me to stick to a certain theme? Post in a more narrative style? Post in a less narrative style? Anything?!
Love,
Chocoholic
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