Best Pear Muffins Ever!

My mom has a cookbook full of delicious muffin recipes.  This is by far my favorite!  I just bought some pears to try it out again.  It was even better than I remembered it. You have to try it!  Even if you don't love pears...you might just love these!

The Joys of Easter

Happy Good Friday to you!  Like I've been saying lots lately...I love this time of year.  I'm sure you're tired of hearing that by now...but it's true.  The new life that it brings truly is incredible.

There is nothing more amazing than what Christ did for us on the cross and I love how he reminds us of that every spring.

New life.
Grace. 
Blessings. 
Forgiveness.
Peace.
Love.




I am so thankful.

I wanted to share some fun easter ideas I found. I wish I had time to try them all!

1.) Brownie Eggs!   Found Here

Oreo Cream Cheese Truffles

I thought I would share a few more pics from My sis-in-law's engagement party.  We had fun stylizing the food and drinks.  I wish I could have gotten more photos but it was a bit hectic.

My favorite part of the food display were the oreo cream cheese truffles.  They were AMAZING...thanks to Sarah. She is so good at making these. She made them look so perfect for the party by adding the little pearl sprinkles (from Hobby Lobby).

Here are her masterpieces.

Try them yourself!

~Ingredients~

1 package regular Oreos (not Double Stuffed!)

1 eight ounce package softened cream cheese

Twelve ounces of melted white or milk or dark chocolate (or all three!)

Baking pans lined with wax paper.

~To Make~

~Combine all Oreos and softened cream cheese in a food processor.

~Form into balls.

~Put balls on baking pans lined with wax paper.

~Freeze until hardened probably 10-15 mins.

~Dip balls into melted chocolate. 

~Set back onto wax paper.

~Refrigerate to cool and store.

You can decorate any way you want.

(recipe from here)

OH, and another easy party tip...line plates, trays, or tiers with cute scrapbooking paper to make it go with your color theme.  It's really easy and a cheap way to change things up.

I hope you enjoy!  Have a great Wednesday and enjoy this weather!

Mushroom Stuffed Chicken

Sometimes I get in a mood to make something fancy. I have to be in the mood though.  I wish it happened every day...and I'm sure Justin wouldn't mind either=) I tried to have everything ready for Justin by the time he got home the other night...well, that didn't happen. I got a little ahead of myself.  It was fun though.  I made "stuffed mushroom" stuffed chicken.  Sounds good for you right!?  Not so much, but it was definitely tasty.

Here's the recipe.  I just kinda went with it, so the measurements are up to you. You really can't mess this up.  I just put the same ingredients that I put in stuffed mushrooms.

Mushrooms

Onions

Fresh garlic clove (or two)

one or two pieces of torn bread

Butter

Feta Cheese

And I added some fresh Thyme

You just cook all that down in a pan with butter and then stuff it in your thawed chicken breast...as much as you can stuff...you stuff!!  I know...it looks kinda gross..

My First Pinterest Recipe!

I just recently got a pinterest account. It is really fun.  What I like most about it is that I finally have a way to neatly and easily store all the photos that I like.  I always drag pics to the desktop...which we all know can get cluttered so fast.  I am loving the different boards that help me organize so much easier than before.  Yay for pinterest.

I saved this recipe for Naan a few weeks ago and have been wanting to try it. I love bread. I don't know why but I always have. This one just looked too good to pass up.

We loved it!  It could be used with so many meals and is really easy to make. It does have to sit for about an hour to rise, but if you plan that in your day...not so bad!

Here is the recipe...and the pic I saw that made me want to make it!

Mini Apple Pies

There's nothing quite like the smell of an apple pie baking in the oven in your home. It's so festive.  I love how warm and cozy the house feels when there's something yummy baking in the oven.  Maybe that's because my mom is the master cook=)  Around the holidays especially, she always had something yummy filling the home with an amazing aroma. 

She taught me how to freeze apple pie filling so that all you have to do when you're ready to make one is make the crust and plop it in!  It's an amazing trick and a huge time saver.

All you do is make up your apple pie filling.  Put it in a freezer bag, put it in a pie pan and pat down the apples.  Then you just freeze the filling in the pan and when it has frozen, take the pan out of the freezer, keeping the filling in the freezer. It's as easy as that! 

I decided since there are only two of us, I should make some mini ones.  I used the same technique but just put the filling in a large cupcake pan.  They looked like this.

 Just make up the crust, roll it out so it's big enough to fold over the top of the apple filling.  Mine didn't turn out too pretty, but if you took a little more time, they would be really cute!

Bake at 350 until the crust is golden brown and apples are done. Enjoy!

Cornish Hen's a Roastin'...

One the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...two Cornish Hens.  I finally made the cornish hens that we bought for thanksgiving.  I guess they were our Thanksmas dinner.  Things get so crazy around the holidays anyway, so it was kinda nice to have a fancy meal in between it all. 

Look at the beauts=) I will have to admit, I was kinda proud of them...and a little grossed out at the same time.  The whole ENTIRE bird thing kinda weirded me out.

Pizza Pizza

Mmmmm....this pizza recipe is so yummy! We made it last night for dinner and it only takes about 20-30 minutes. The crust is super simple and then you can add anything you like for toppings.  You can load it up, or keep it simple.

We put tomato sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, some spices, (and I put some fresh cilantro on my half).

Here's the crust recipe:

2 cups hot water
2 TBS yeast (dissolve in the hot water)

1 TBS gluten ( you don't have to put this in...it tastes fine without it.)
1 TBS oil
1 tsp salt
honey  (1-2 TBS)
flour (add until dough isn't too sticky)

Then just roll out the dough on a pizza sheet or stone and bake for about 5-7 min. (It helps to bake the crust a little before you add the toppings. That way you know the center gets done too. )
* ours got a huge air bubble in it after it baked.  You may poke some holes in it before you put it in the oven!

Once you add the toppings, bake until cheese is golden brown.

Here's what the crust looks like before you bake it for the second time.  The first bake just makes it slightly golden.

Here's the finished pizza.  Mmmmm...it was so good!

Hope you get to make one soon!  It's worth it.

Applesauce Muffins

The applesauce turned out AMAZING...as always. I always love going to my parent's house and making it with my mom.  It brings back lots of memories.

It's crazy to me that you don't have to add ANYTHING to applesauce and it still tastes so sweet and yummy.  I've already gone through a bag. I would eat it with every meal if I could!

Here's that Muffin Recipe I said I'd share with you.  I just made them the other night with dinner.  I think they are my favorite muffins.  At least they're up there at the top of the list.

Applesauce Muffins 

Bake for 20-25 min (or less in mini muffin pan) at 350°
1 1/2 cups flour
1 3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup applesauce or grated apple

Mix the dry ingredients together in one bowl, and the wet in another.  Then mix both together.

This Week's Smiles

It's Friday!  I am so thankful for life. There are so many things that we get to enjoy.  Here are some things this week that made me smile...

The rain, after a long hot week.

Summer Fresh Salsa

I love freshly made garden salsa!  It has such an amazing flavor.  Our sweet neighbor gave us some tomatoes from her garden last week.  I was so excited to use them in this salsa.  I mixed some of the vine tomatoes from Aldis in too.  It was so yummy!  Here's how to make it...

You'll need:

1. One can of sweet kernel corn (drained)...I suppose the word can doesn't sound so fresh..but the rest is!  you can make it all yourself if you have time/choose to)
2. One can of black beans (drained)
3. One or two onions (depending on how much you like=) )
4. Fresh tomatoes
5. Limes
6. Fresh Cilantro

You can put as much or as little in of each ingredient...Just taste test and add what you like.

It's as easy as that!  Enjoy!

Yummy 4th Treats

I can't believe there have already been fireworks stands set up for weeks now. It's so crazy how fast the year goes by!  I was looking at some fun fourth desserts.  We have a family get-together we're going to and I'd love to try something new.  Here are a few from Better Homes and Gardens that I like.

 

Strawberry Surprise

Summer Time Bowties

This is a super quick light meal that I love.  It's great because you can throw just about anything in the pasta and make a summer salad.  All you do is cook your pasta up, chop up what you feel like throwing in and eat!

I put Tomatoes, Cilantro, Feta Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Salt, Pepper, Olive Oil, and a little Vinegar.

Have fun!

Moist Coffee Cake...YUM!

This is one of my favorite things that my mom taught me to make.  It is one of those comfort foods that I get so excited to mix up.  I have to force myself to only make it every once in a while or I'd end up eating the whole pan every time!  You have to drink a glass of cold milk with it and make sure and eat a peice right out of the oven...Mmmmm

Here's my recipe card straight from my recipe box.

Flour Tortillas and Chicken Fajitas

We havn't closed yet, but we found a house!  We are still going through all the final paperwork.  We are so excited and thankful and would like to thank Jake, our Realtor, for all he's done!

Since we are moving soon, we decided to try not to buy any more food until we do.  So we are having to be a little creative...at least for me it is!  I wanted to make Chicken Fajitas but we didn't have any taco shells, so I decided to make our own.  The recipe called for butter...no butter in the fridge.  SO...I just scraped some cream off of the top of the pitcher of farm milk and it worked out really well.  I'm sure many of you have done way more inventive things while cooking that that...I'd love to hear!  Please, give me some tips!

If you want to try making your own tortillas, here's the recipe.  It's So easy!

2 cups flour ( I used one cup of white and one cup of wheat)
1 tsp of salt
7/8 cups of water ( Or until dough is just moist)
2 Tbs butter melted ( This is where I replaced it with cream.  It turned out just fine)
*This makes about 4 big shells

Cream Cheese Manicotti

I hope you all had a good weekend! We had a really great time with family this weekend.  We both have big families so there's always lots of activities taking place. I'm so thankful for our families.

Here is your recipe for the week...

Cream Cheese Manicotti:

It's super yummy. Very similar to lasagna, it just feels a little fancier=) Hope you enjoy...

You'll need:

Oven at 350 until cheese is melted/golden

1 lb. Hamburger meat
1-2 Fresh Cloves of Garlic
1 Jar Spaghetti sauce (your favorite kind)
Manicotti
Mozzarella cheese
Feta Cheese
Grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 block cream cheese
Cottage Cheese
2 eggs
Oregano
salt

I'll be honest, this is not a quick meal...at least for me! Lots of ingredients usually means lots of time... BUT... it is good and I think you'll be happy you made it.

Step 1: Oil pan on stove and add the garlic to pan. Sautee garlic and add meat and salt. Brown Meat.

 

Strawberry Soup

Happy Monday to you! I'm so excited to share this recipe with you today. It's not some secret family recipe...but I hadn't heard of it until a few weeks ago when my mom and sisters and I hit up a local tea bar. After trying it, I had to look up a recipe. It's kinda like a smoothie but you get to eat it in a cute bowl with a spoon. Way more fun! Hope you enjoy!

Strawberry Soup with Cinnamon Sugar Croutons:

Soup:
1 quart strawberries, halved
1 cup apple juice
1 cup pineapple juice
1 plain yogurt
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 cups half-and-half cream
3 tablespoons orange juice

Tomato Mozzarella Salad

It's monday once again.  I'm looking forward to this weekend already because my husband and I are going on a mini trip to KC.  We are planning on seeing a Royals game if it's not too stormy.  Then we're gonna hit up the Plaza.  Looking forward to Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie!  Until then...

Here is your Recipe of the day...

I love this salad.  It's super easy, and super tasty.  It is a great spring salad, light and delish.  Justin and I had this last week as an appetizer and it was so perfect.  Not too much.  ( I know it's nothing new...just a reminder that you should make one!)

Tomato Mozzarella Salad with Basil:

Orange Orzo Pasta

Hello all and happy Monday to you!  I hope you enjoyed your weekend.  The weather was beautiful!  Justin and I got to take Derek, Becky and Nolan's family pics Sat. and we had lots of fun.  I will try and have some pics up by Friday for you to look at.  They are a gorgeous family.  We love them lots.

Well...here is your first recipe of many for your LonieMae Cookbook.  I was watching Rachel Ray the other day and wanted to try this Orzo Pasta she made.  Hers was a little different than what I have here.  I had never used Orzo before, but I really love it.  I quickly learned that you can use it in many different ways.  It is a great cold summer pasta.  I kinda went crazy with ingredients!

Here are a few pics of how it turned out.