march madness

 here's a video i took of brighten, what a cutie....

we celebrated ember's 9th birthday! whaaaat?

9 years?!?

crazy. 

please stop growing.

please.

Homemade Soft Pretzels

I made these!!

Let me tell you, they weren't very hard to make at all!

Thanks to Alton Brown, i found his soft pretzel recipe online and followed the steps...and 

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm delicious soft pretzels that taste exactly like store bought ones, or the ones you get in the mall!! seriously!!

go to this link for the recipe!

don't have flour?

Want to make cookies?

But you don't have flour?

look no further! 

these are peanut butter cookies with only 4 ingredients!

i know,

i couldn't believe it either.

but it's true!

All you need is : 
1 cup peanut butter
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar (1 cup of sugar if you have unsweetened pb)
1 tsp. baking soda
combine and make like normal cookies! 
oven on 350 for 10 min
sooooo easy. 
~we prefer them because they taste MORE peanut buttery than the other peanut butter cookies your mom makes...seriously!
~also you can make these for your gluten-free friends and they will LOVE you!!! :)

you're welcome!

 i got the original recipe from joy the baker here:

http://joythebaker.com/2009/04/flourless-peanut-butter-cookies/

irish soda bread

i am a sucker for baking bread.

big time.

all i need to see is a great pic and read wonderful words about it,

and i'm hooked!

no, these aren't the best pics, but it's really easy, i promise!!

no yeast involved.

just baking soda!

and i really like it toasted. it's got such a different flavor than yeast bread.

it's good!

baked in the cast iron skillet!

the irish would make this when guests randomly stopped in...it's that quick,

it's that easy.

enjoy!

recipe

Amazing Tuscan tomato soup!
(joy of coooking)
i loved how it wasn't sweet, it was more hearty and full of fresh basil!
i have plenty of that in the garden!

Pot roast! i made 2 different ones this week.
i love how easy they are and how incredibly delicious they turn out!

Pumpkin muffins!
i fell in love with the picture on martha's website and just had to try them out! yep, they are great! i could use more spices though, but still a keeper!

Butternut Squash Soup

i am addicted to this soup!! it is so smooth, so good!!
my new favorite for sure!
it is cheap to make, low fat, and good for you!
i think it's about 2 points a cup (weight watchers), if that!

RECIPE:

-cook one butternut squash in oven- split in half, take seeds out- on an oiled cookie sheet
375 for an hour (until very soft)

- in large soup pan sautee for 5-10 min:
1 med onion - chopped
3 T butter
4 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and minced (i use my garlic press!)

-add cooked squash as well as 4 cups of chicken broth

-bring to simmer for 20 min (while breaking up the squash with a spoon)

-puree the entire mixture in a blender

-bring back to pot and add 2 Cups of chicken broth
and 1 1/2 tsp salt

-heat it up and serve with crusty bread and butter!

YUM!

Chopped up peppers and onions
(aren't they so beautiful? all those colors, i just HAD to take a pic!)

now carmelized!
(my favorite!)

i put them on pizza!
along with a sausage-like meat sauce, and fresh mozzarella on top,
sprinkled with oregano!
oh yum!

newest obsession: Pioneer woman cookbook!!

my mom got me her cookbook for christmas and i'm hooked! i am sooooo tempted to repeat "Julie and Julia" with this lady....ryan is very encouraging!
he had one look at the book and was like, wow....yum....go for it hunny! haha!
this lady is hilarious! and guilt-free! soon i will be!

so i have already made 2 of her recipes....jalapeno poppers (wrapped in bacon--!) and spicy pulled pork - (which we had tonight!- wow!) i made them on separate occasions, and I'm all the more eager to try all her potato recipes.
this pregnancy is loving potatoes.
(catch that?--yep, I'm pregnant with #5!! due in early Aug!)

so....here's to happy weight gain and yummy potato feasting!!

here's my latest hobby! making bread! oh how fun this was! and i learned that if you beat up an egg and brush it on top--that's what makes it so pretty and shiny! it was delicious and made my night! now i am on a bread-making kick, want to do it everyday! yay for hobbies and creative outlets that are yummy!