Sorry I got Side Tracked!

First Foodie Friday! Because I have to show you the pictures of the macarons I made last weekend.



I took this picture before I got rid of the dimples on top. And they weren't pink but a beige/brown color, because they were flavored with pumpkin pie spice. Yum! They weren't perfect, but pretty darn good for my first time. And damn tasty filled with pumpkin white chocolate creme! Click on the name to get the recipe, and yes I will be making the salted carmel ones next. Sorry no after pictures. As soon as I filled them I toted them off to my parents to share the goodness. You're suppose to refrigerate over night to let the flavors meld together. I'm betting not many bakers do that!
So now on to the site I lost myself in this morning. Euro Antique Market is a shop with a blog, that is filled with antique's from a french market. It's located in Louisville, Kentucky. What the??? So if you can't get to France go to Kentucky. That is just too bazaar! When you click on the name it will take you to their blog that is full of all things french and wonderful. Like this





I really, really want this

See that wire bird cage, to die for!!!

On top of all that if you scroll down on the right side bar there are heading called "Boutiques with Blogs" and "Like chocolate with your coffee", with tons of other awesome blogs to check out.
And, and, they have great music to listen to while you lose yourself!

Foodie Friday!

I am so looking forward to my class tomorrow at Sur la Table, I can hardly stand it! As a matter of fact I plan on thawing some of my egg whites, leftover from my ice-cream recipes, when I get home from work because I know I will be making this flavor on Sunday!



Lavender with vanilla bean cream filling!!! Justt look at that color! Oh yes! My mind is spinning with all the wonderful flavor combinations I could make! Peanut butter, pumpkin, coffee...the list is never ending.
In other foodie news, if I can tear myself away from cookie making, pardon me, "french" cookie making, I'd also like to make lentil soup this weekend. I have a big ham bone in the freezer and I think that space might be better suited for Ice-cream!!!

Foodie Friday!!!

Before I talk about food I've made or want to make, I have to tell you about what I saw driving home from work yesterday. And YES it is food related!
It's something that will put a smile on everybody's face.
It's big and yellow and orange.
Can you guess what it is?
No? Here's the best hint, the license plate reads ..... YUMMY!
You know don't you! It's the ...

WEINERMOBILE!!!
Seriously can you not smile and wave when you drive past that! I know I did!
And "YUMMY" for the license plate, that just cracks me up! If you'd like you can read more about it here.
In other foodie news this week I took the recipe for mushroom lasagna,

and the recipe for butternut squash lasagna,

and made mushroom and butternut squash lasagna! The best of both and man was it tasty!
I also made this Plum and Raspberry Crumble, from the Barefoot Contessa, who I call my Julia Childs.
As much as I like to try new recipes some of Julia's are a little too fussy for me. Ina Garten's, (otherwise know as the Barefoot Contessa), recipes are updated versions that still have lots of flavor. She's my go to girl! Her an Giada De Laurentiis. Almost all of their recipes are exceptional.
As a matter of fact I'm combining the two again and using Ina's Roast Chicken recipe but with Giada's Roast Game Hen flavors for supper tonite! YUMMY!

Foodie Friday

Ahh the cottage, I was speaking of the cottage right?! Well the cousin that owns the cottage gave me some white fish awhile back. I don't think it's from that lake tho. I knew as soon as he gave it to me I would make fish taco's with it. Well tonight's the night!


And since it's fried I think I'll go healthy and make this zucchini and lentil patties to go with it.



And for dessert well I've been dying to make this again!



Enjoy your labor day weekend, as you can see I will be!!!

Foodie Friday, sort of

So, I realize that it's "Foodie Friday" but the only food today is the Banana Bread I'm eating as I type this. It is quite simply the best banana bread recipe. To make it even better, switch out the walnuts for pistachio's and the chocolate chips for white chocolate chips. Seriously OMG!

This weekend I'm doing a show in my hometown. I've been in this show a few times and it's one of my favorites. It's at this historical house, out in the garden. And the garden is beautiful! (Sorry no photo's, I'll take some when I'm there.)

Oddly enough I'm actually calm about it. Yes, I was running around last night getting everything together and loaded into the car, but I know what to expect at this fair. That and I love that I can set-up the night before. Should be a fun filled weekend. I mean really, working outside, in a summer dress, barefoot, that and I get to spend a little time with my family, all the more fun!

Next weekend I'm doing a fair here in the area. It's a new fair, only the second time at this location, it's the first time I'm doing it. I'll be a bit more stressed about it. First, since it's new I'm not sure what to expect. Second, because I have to set-up the morning of the fair. Third, it's on pavement, ie nothing to anchor the tent to!

The other thing is I noticed out of the possible 80 spaces only 52 of them are filled and, and 15 of them are JEWELRY! Compared this to the fair this weekend that has 95 spaces (all filled) and 15 are jewelry.

At first I was worrying about this fact. I mean I am trying to make some money doing this! But the more I thought about it I realized there are 3 things you CAN NOT control, weather, your competition, and sales. I hope for the best in all of these, but there is no way you have control over them. So I've decided not to worry, to just go and have fun! Meet new people, enjoy the day, and if I sell something that would be great too. Oh, and the DH can come visit and bring me lunch!!

Oh Mama! Foodie Fridays!

Earlier this week I made this ice cream. And I think it is the best ice cream I've ever had.

I don't know how to explain it. I mean, come on it's ice cream, ALL ice cream is good. But I'm telling you this ice cream makes me get out of bed when I can't sleep (which is often) and go have a few spoonfuls. The base is a vanilla custard, we all know that's wonderful. The cherry's are roasted which I thought would be amazing because I've roasted berries ( thanks to the Barefoot Contessa) and they are the best thing since the push-up bra (not that I need one) :-D So I was surprised that these cherries roasted, were just OK.

You churn the ice cream and when it's just about done, you drizzle in melted chocolate, and that my friends is what makes it so amazing. NOT because it's chocolate mind you, no, no, because drizzling it in turns it into little tiny shards of chocolate that you barely know are there until they melt in your mouth! OMG! And the cherries once added to the ice cream base were so good. Their flavor intensified and the chunks of cherry are not quite frozen so they're a little chewy, and with the chocolate, WOW. The name of this recipe should be The Ultimate Chocolate Covered Cherry Ice Cream.

I must admit, I made it because I thought the "guys" were coming over. I like to make them a treat when their here. I know it sounds like I'm being so sweet and thoughtful, but don't kid yourself, I'm making somethings I want to eat but don't want to eat "all" of it an wind up 200 lb. That said, I so glad they ended up not coming over because I want to covet this ice cream! I am nice enough to share it with the DH thought! I love him THAT much!

Foodie Friday!

Back when I planted my garden I didn't really know what I was doing. A lot of what I planted were plants that spread. Some I knew would do that, and was OK with because I thought, good less plants to buy! WRONG! Don't make that mistake, because the fact is they will take over your garden! And they won't stop EVER! I'm the kind of girl who likes to turn lemons into lemon drops! So with the mint that I can not get rid of to save my soul, I plan on making this

Minus the chips because I like smooth creamy ice cream!!!
It will taste soooo good after throwing all that mulch that's in our driveway!
And so would this if I had it of course!

Don't you just love the colors!

Festive Foodie Friday!

Happy, happy, joy, joy! It's a 3 day weekend! (4 if you count my boss is off today :-)

1 day of work, 2 days of play!!!

Tomorrow I'll slow-cook this while we work in the yard.

To go with maybe this nice potato salad.

Of course you have to grill for Memorial Day! So I thought I'd grill up some shrimp and mango! Yum!

With some cilantro rice! Maybe a mango margarita to wash it all down with!!!
We're going to have fun, fun, fun in the sun, sun, sun!!! Click on the photo's to get the recipes!
Have a fun filled weekend everybody!!!

Fruity Friday...

The raspberries at one of my favorite grocery stores are on sale, and they taste like I picked them off the vines myself! So I think I'll make these from Smitten Kitchen one of my favorite foodie blogs.


I also saw this recipe on TasteSpotting, and I just happen to have a bunch of banana's on the counter as I type :-)

Truth be told I'm making this beacause earlier this week it was actually SUNNY out, and I was at fore mentioned grocery and bought a pint of "dolce de leche" ice cream. Come on when it's sunny what do you think of ??? Say no more we all know it's ICE CREAM!

Say what you want, but chocolate, caramel, and banana's you know you wish you were at my house, with a big spoon in your hand!

Foodie Friday

I'm as giddy as a school girl because it's going to be warm and SUNNY outside today!
That makes me want summer food, like something GRILLED, and Margaritas!
This morning while putting my lunch together I notice the DH brought home some rhubarb for me. Maybe that's why I'm so happy! I loves me some rhubarb! Seriously a dozen roses or a dozen stalks of rhubarb, I'd pick the rhubarb everytime! He knows that, and that's one of the reasons why I'm crazy about him!
What he doesn't know is lately I've been seeing a bunch of rhubarb recipe that I really want to make. Problem is was I can't buy rhubarb in the store just yet! Problem solved! Thanks DH! And to show my love I think I'll make this with them!



Or how about margarita's made with this!

Now that's LOVE!

Fishy, Foodie Friday

Fish taco's for supper tonight! Yum! It's been really warm here the last few days, but come tomorrow and Sunday it's going to change to cold with rain and snow. Boo Hiss! But today it's going to be sunny and 67 degree's. So I'm going to take advantage of this day, and grill us up some fish taco's.



And to go with it, mango salsa, of course.



Washing them down with Negra Modelos, we can close our eyes and think we're in the tropics! Ah bliss!

Sunday I'm planning on making this Orange Roast Chicken.



To go with is I think I make something with my new favorite vegetable, spaghetti squash.

Now you know where I get my imagination

First I must start by telling you that the vegetarian stew I made last week was just OK. It could be because once you say vegetarian to me my mind automatically thinks boring! And I know that's not always the case. But it was this time. It's kind of like when you say your going to start a diet, you start craving junk food. And when I say you I mean me! See all I did was type the word diet and now I want a bag of potato chips. And when I say bag I mean bag!
So we're going to my folks house on Sunday to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and I'm making this cake to bring.



It's an Italian Cream Cake, and I chose it because it's white so I can add green food coloring to it.
Ah, green food coloring! Brings back old memories. Growing up every St. Patrick's Day my Mom would color our breakfast with green food coloring. Now, your probably thinking wow that's amazing, did she mist the Rice Krispies with green food coloring?
As smart as my Mom is, she did not mist the Rice Krispies. Because St. Patrick's Day is in March and the cold cereal doesn't come out until June! That's right people it was green Cream of Wheat!
But it was also green milk at supper, and green baths at night! And the six of us thought we had the coolest Mom ever for doing that, and would look forward to it every year.
So this year I'm coloring the food green, but I don't like milk so maybe I'll put a drop in a glass of chardonny! But no green baths. My bath tub is mauve and adding green food coloring to it would just make it look too, icky.

Vegan Foodie Friday!

Bet you never thought you'd see that here!
But this recipe has 187 reviews! And I am TRYING to eat healthier!


Quinoa with Moroccan Winter Squash and Carrot Stew@epicuroius

Ok, I admit it doesn't look that yummy, but can 187 people be wrong? I'll let you know.
I am sorry to break a promise to you, but the site that had the mushroom house from yesterday, well, I can't find it. Actually I can find the site but that picture is gone and a new one is in it's place. Don't fret I'll have more fun places later. So off I go to look for them!

Warm and comfy food!

It's going to be a cold weekend, so you know what that means. That's right, low and slow! First I'll make this

Country Pot Roast

.

I have blogged about it in the past and it is the best pot roast recipe I have ever eaten. I heart the Barefoot Contessa!

Then to go with it I think I'll make Mushroom Risotto


Any leftovers and you could make these Fried Stuffed Rice Balls


Oh mama!

And of course a warm and comforting pot of soup! Like this one I've been meaning to make for awhile from Smitten Kitchen.



Black Bean and Pumpkin Soup!
If you like to cook you should really check out Smitten Kitchens blog, she has a recipe file you can scroll through, she take's picture of the food. And all her recipes are tried and true.
I can mix and match the leftover all weekend long! Yum!

Foodie Friday

Thank goodness for fridays! First because the weekend is upon us, yeah!! Second because it's Foodie Friday. I'm more of a listener that a talker so that makes blogging easy for me today. I just talk about some deliciousness I've made in the past, or what to make in the future.
This one I have made before and I think I'll make it again for tonights dinner. (At home it's fishie friday to make us eat more fish)
It's really good and reheats nicely for Sunday breakfast. Don't be scared off by the Hollandaise it's much easier in a blender, tho this time I'll use my food processor. Because I cut the hollandaise in half (to save calories) it didn't come up to the area where the blender blades were. Or get your Julia Childs on and make it from scratch!

Guess Julia was a cat lover!

Happy Birthday to You!!!

FOODIE FRIDAY!!!
OK, let me just start by saying the Beer-Braised-Beef-and-Onions recipe from last friday ROCKS THE HOUSE! It is so easy to make. You don't taste beer at all when your eating it! (Unless of course your having a beer when your eating it!) The only thing was I had to cook it about and hour longer. But that's one of the nice things about this recipe it cooks all day and keeps the house warm by doing so!
This weekend I'm making this



Because it's the DH's birthday!!! And it's his favorite cake. We have this thing we do, when our B-day falls on a friday or a monday you get to celebrate the whole weekend! So sushi on saturday, hash and eggs on sunday and butter steaks on monday! Guess I won't be getting much beading done:-( it's OK DH your worth it!)
OK, OK back to the recipe. If you've never gone to Cooks Illustrated website go check it out. It's the one site that I subscribe to and it is so worth it. Great recipes and video's, taste tests and equipment reviews. It has it all!
I've never though German chocolate cake was anything special. But they tweeked this one to make it taste better. The video shows them making the cake which will definitely help me. I'll let you know if it's a good revamp next week.

Cold on the outside, warm and toasty on the inside

FOODIE FRIDAY...
So I'm planning what I'm going to cook this weekend.
It's really cold here in the midwest so I'm looking for something that cooks for a real long time. I think I'll try this!

It cooks for 3.5 hours! That should keep the house warm!
Then I also though I'd cook up a pot of this awesome Bolognese. I've made it before and it's really, really good. This picture does not do it justice, it has great depth of flavor. And you can freeze it to heat it up later for a quick weeknight supper.

And to go with the roast I thought I'd try this recipe.


So looks like I'm going to be warm and toasty and full this weekend!

Picture not always so perfect

Soooo since I didn't get a chance to do my Foodie Friday on, a, Friday, I'll do it today!
I'm finding out that Tastespotting is a great place to SEE great looking food but the recipes don't always stack up to the picture. I'd say it's 50/50 though.
First Sunday morning I made these.



They were good but with some tweaking they could be REALLY good. I used 1C. white flour, 1 C. whole wheat. I only added half the sugar and I added 1 T. lemon juice. Next time I would add 4 T. lemon juice. I thought the strawberries might overpower the lemon in the pancakes so I used lemon curd instead. The lemon curd was too much lemon and with just syrup it wasn't lemony enough. We lightly spread lemon curd on the pancakes and then put some syrup on top and then they were pretty darn good.
On Sunday night I made this for supper



And it was Fantastic! My eggs didn't look as nice as the picture but they sure tasted good! And DH went nuts for the crouton's and he normally doesn't like crouton's! Can't wait to make this again!
Of course the lemon drops I made ( hate to waste all that juice from the pancakes!) paired nicely with it!

Guess I'm on a lemon kick.

Eat this, not this

Today for foodie friday I'm going to do a take on that book thats out called "Eat this, Not this", it shows you the healthier meal to eat. I try to eat healthy most of the time, but with the foodnetwork and foodgawker and such I tend to get a bit distracted. It's the beginning of a new year so I trying even harder to be better. So tonight for supper
I'm making this:


NOT this




not that I'd make cookie's for supper, but I do want to bake these, TONIGHT!



On the etsy front I may have made a sale, we're in the middle of negotiations for matching earrings, YIPPY!
And I made a friend, Hi Amy, a fellow beader and blogger, click on her name to go to her blog it's a very nice one.

It's friday for me!

I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up with this blog so good. We have been busier at work, which is a good thing, but it's the holiday season and I have menu's to plan damn it!
Speaking of menu's DH and I are going to my cousins house tonight for a holiday get together with his mom and step dad.
His wife is making, dumb tiddy dum, Crown of Roast Pork. I have never had this, but it sure looks impressive. See:



I'm bringing dessert. What do you bring (key word here since we're driving there) to go with such a fabulous meal? How about
Lemon Angel Food Cake (they love lemon desserts) with...wait for it Roasted Berries!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Of course that includes a dollop of Mascarpone whipped cream! Speaking of roasted berries, you should REALLY try this recipe. You know how when you buy berries and the taste is less than stellar, roasted them! It really intensifies the flavor. So good, I made these this past summer when they were all on sale, and just froze them to have all winter long. Talk about a little bit on summer in your mouth :-}
After today I'm off of work until Monday, yeah! Really looking forward to going to my sisters house for ALL of Christmas day.
We basically just sit around and chat, play games, open present, and CHOWDOWN! All 20 of us. I won't go into everything I'm making. I'll blog about my favorites after the fact. Reading that last sentence, I never in a million years thought I'd be typing THAT. Me blogging, ha.
Speaking of blogs, I checked my stats this morning and someone from San Francisco has checked out my blog TWICE! How exciting is that. From one of my favorite cities ever! Hello San Fran thanks for stopping by :-x.
Saturday is all about beading. I'm staying in my PJ's and beading, napping, eating, over and over again. Which hopefully means I'll have a few new things in the shop next week. Until then have a safe and magical holiday everyone!