imitation uglydolls.

Heard of uglydolls?

They are so ugly its adorable. (even with a big price tag) I obviously thought it was worth it, cause I still got one for my little man. And I bought the first three "graphic novels" for myself.

look at all the characters..

Not wanting to pay another $9.99 for a small felt "doll" made me kick up my crafting abilities; deciding to make my own, this is how it came out.

Not my best work, but I still think it came out fairly nice.  Think I'll try my luck again with the extra felt.

my body wash.

 LIFESAVER TUESDAY.

www.caressskin.com/Products/scarletblossom

It just smells so good.
Red lychee and patchouli oil. 

I had always wanted a body wash like my fiance's old spice ones; where you smell it all day on yourself.   Finally, I found this alluring one. The back of the bottle says that the fragrance, "lingers on your skin long after you step out of the shower." I definitely found that to be correct but more subtle than old spice. It's not a heavy perfume that someone across the room would smell, but someone standing next to you might. I can't wait to try the other fragrance, Sheer Twilight.

www.caressskin.com/Products/sheertwilight

taco salad.

Taco Salad.


Ingredients:
1. 1 lb. ground beef
2. taco seasoning (my recipe is at the end of this post.)
3. 6 - 10 in. flour tortillas
4. 15 oz. can dark red kidney beans; drained and rinsed
5. 2 medium tomatoes; diced
6. 2 medium avocados; pitted, peeled, and diced
7. 1 medium green pepper
8. can of large black olives; halved
9. shredded cheddar
10. sour cream
11. oil based dressing


Recipe:
1. First make the tortilla bowls. Lightly brush 1 side of the tortilla with a small amount of water.  Coat 6 small oven safe bowls with nonstick cooking spray.  Press tortillas, coated side up, into bowls. Place a ball of aluminum foil into each tortilla cup.  Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 mins. Let cool.

Mine didn't come out great; but you get the idea.

2. In a medium saucepan cook ground beef, until beef is brown.  Drain off fat.  Add taco seasoning and 1/3 cup water. Let simmer 5 mins. Stir in kidney beans. Simmer 10 mins.
3. Layer your salad in the tortilla cups. Beef, then your veggies, cheese, and sour cream. Then top with your favorite dressing. I used:  Wish-Bone® Superfruit Berry Vinaigrette. 

It was so tasty.

As promised, my taco seasoning recipe; so you don't have to use a packet seasoning anymore.

Taco Seasoning:

Combine the following:

1. 1 tbsp chili powder

2. 1/4 tsp garlic powder

3. 1/4 tsp onion powder

4. 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

5. 1/4 tsp oregano

6. 1/2 tsp paprika

7. 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin

8. 1 tsp sea salt

rotini and sausage casserole.

Rotini and Sausage Casserole.


Ingredients:
1.   1 lb. rotini
2.   1 lb. smoked sausage
3.   4 cups mozzarella
4.   medium red pepper, diced
5.   medium green pepper, diced
6.   medium orange pepper, diced
7.   sun dried tomatoes, diced
8.   basil 
9.   1/2 cup butter
10. 1/2 cup flour
11. 4 1/2 cups milk
12. 3 tsp minced garlic
13. sea salt
14. crushed red pepper


Recipe:
1. Cook rotini according to package. Remove the sausage from the casing and start browning it; like ground beef.
2. Melt the butter over medium heat, just until it starts to bubble. Stir in the garlic, crushed red pepper and a dash of salt. Cook and stir for a few minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for another couple of minutes. Add the milk and cook, stirring continuously, until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat and set it aside. (This creates the sauce.)
3. Spread a little sauce in the bottom of a baking dish and add a layer of pasta. Sprinkle with a generous amount of mozzarella. Add a layer of assorted bell peppers and sun dried tomatoes. Top with about half the sauce.
4. Next layer sausage, then pasta. Then another layer of the mozzarella and veggies. Topped with the last of the pasta and the rest of the sauce. Tear the basil leaves over the top.
5. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Keep an eye on the cheese to make sure it doesn't get too browned.

 Plus the fourth of july cupcakes..

summertime, and the livin is easy.

I just love summer.


Days at the beach.                                                         Brigantine, NJ; August 2010

                                                      Brigantine, NJ; August 2010

Being on the boardwalk.                                           Wildwood, NJ; August 2010

Eating Popsicles.                                                           June 2011 

I'm excited for this weekend.

Fourth of July.

Fireworks 

&

Campfires.

one pan penne with pancetta, tomatoes, and red peppers.

One Pan Penne with Pancetta, Tomatoes, and Red Peppers.


Ingredients:
 1.   1 lb penne (i used multi-grain)
 2.   8 oz. pancetta, diced
 3.   6 plum tomatoes, diced.
 4.   3 tsp minced garlic
 5.   1 red bell pepper, diced.
 6.   1/8 lb sun dried tomatoes, diced.
 7.   2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
 8.   1/2 cup water
 9.   6 chicken bouillon cubes (makes 6 cups) or 6 cups chicken stock
10.  fresh basil
11.  olive oil
12.  1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
13.  parmesan cheese
14.  sea salt

Recipe:
1. Prepare chicken broth as directed on package, making about 6 cups. Keep to the side and keep on a low simmer.
2. In a large saute pan, add a little olive oil and the pancetta. Fry until a little crispy. Remove from skillet, pat dry. (Like bacon)
3. To the saute pan, add garlic, red pepper, sun dried tomatoes and tomatoes. Add crushed red pepper and a dash of salt. Cook over medium heat until tomatoes are tender. (2 minutes or so) 
4. Stir in balsamic vinegar and water. Then add the pasta and stir well. Add a little broth. As the broth is absorbed, add a little more and stir. Continue this process til the pasta is almost done.  (Keep covered during this part.)
5. Tear in a few basil leaves. Add pancetta. Stir together and cook a couple more minutes.
6. Serve with parmesan cheese.

john legend.

LIFESAVER TUESDAY.

Two words. John Legend. 

Whenever I'm blue, I listen to one of his cds and it definitely helps. 

His voice is like gold....and he's not too bad on the eyes either.

Remember Each Day Gets Better.