A Big To-Do

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Funny Infographic


{*via}

This does not surprise me....I found it pretty amusing! Reppin' my city ...haha

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Shiny new jewels that I added to my collection!

I've been majorly obsessing over the Spike the Punch necklaces recently, but the shop owner only posts them at like 3am EST...and they sell SO fast. Instead of waiting until 3am every night to stalk these down, I got these new necklaces from Forever21! I bought these with intentions of buying one, painting it similar to a Spike the Punch necklace, and moving on. Well, I accidentally purchased THREE of them. Woopsies. So clearly, I had to paint these up and show them to you guys (if i have any readers left....thankyou!)!

Ps - if anyone wants one, let me know and i'll order more to paint for you in whatever colors you choose!!
for those who want to do it themselves, the necklace is fairly new to Forever 21 and i just painted them with nail polish because I'm classy and creative like that (HAH.)

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

You're a REAL Catch!!

haha saw this on TheKeyPlay! You're a REAL catch ;) Happy Valentine's Day!

Monday, February 13, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes with Fresh Strawberry Buttercream! Just in time for Valentine's Day!

Recipe coming tomorrow!!!

work work work!

Source: google.com via Madeleine on Pinterest

Sunday, January 29, 2012

A few recipes I've made recently, and failed to photograph!

a few amazing recipes that i've tried recently! (i over-cooked and over-photographed over the holidays - so i've been slacking on it all....wompwomp)

Korean Beef Tacos (i just made the beef) - these were seriously flavorful and delicious! simple to make, but make sure to watch the crock pot.

Sweet & Spicy Green Beans (i omitted the honey) - these were crispy, full flavor - and i added sriracha sauce to give it an extra kick!

doesn't get much more simple than a toll house chocolate chip cookie - but if you want to stick to a tried & true recipe, try the Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookie!

I'm sure there are plenty more and I'll be sure to share them as they come! And I promise to try and do a better job sharing my life with the few readers that I still have!

holla!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Baked Brie - YUM!


how good does this look!?!?! (before we baked it!)

and after!gimme!

baked brie is one of my favorite appetizers! especially since we set this one up like a little christmas tree! simple as halved cherry tomatoes, pesto drizzle and basil! YUM!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Recipe: Skinny Beef Barbacoa

{Recipe via SkinnyTaste}

This recipe is spicy, juicy, easy, amazing and delicious! Please make this ASAP! tastes just like Chipotle Beef Barbacoa....if that doesn't sell you on it, then i dont know what will.

Beef Barbacoa - Via Skinnytaste.com

(with my adaptations in italics)

"Ingredients:

3 lbs beef eye of round or bottom round roast, all fat trimmed
5 cloves garlic
1/2 medium onion
1/2 lime, juice (whole lime)
2-4 chiptoles in adobo sauce (to taste) (i used the whole can, minus the sauce)
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp ground oregano
1/2 tsp ground cloves
salt and pepper
3 bay leaves
1 tsp oil
1 cup water

Directions:
Place garlic, onion, lime juice, cumin, oregano, chiptoles, cloves in a blender.

Trim all fat off meat, cut into 4 inch chunks. Season with salt and pepper and brown on high heat in 1 tsp oil. Add liquefied spices, water, bay leaves and simmer on high in a crock pot for 4 hours.

Once cooked and the meat is tender, remove the meat and place in a dish. Shred it with two forks, and reserve the liquid for later (discard the bay leaf). Return the shredded meat to the pot, adjust salt and cumin (you may need to add more) to taste and add some of the reserved liquid back. Simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes to let the flavors penetrate."

note: i served mine with black bean and corn salsa, sofrito rice, and avocado slices. i suggest all of this. ah-mazing.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Easy Appetizer: Roasted Sweet Peppers with Mozzarella

I could have spent a bit more time on these appetizers to make them more pretty, but the flavor was all there. Next time, I think i'll toss the mozzarella balls in a pesto sauce to change it up a bit!

Recipe from The Italian Dish!

A super late christmas post!

I hope you all had a lovely holiday season! i know i did! this is the super simple, yet super cute mantle that my momma puts up each year. we added a new stocking to the mix this year for my great aunt mary, who moved in with my parents a few months ago. you can barely see it, but, on the edges, the dogs have stockings too! :)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Recipe: Individual Baked Spinach Dip Cups

eat me.

whoa, you guys. i found this recipe over at Picky Palate and considering my track record with her recipes, i knew i had to make it. she never fails me.
i made these mini spinach dip cups for my parents friends for their annual christmas party. i'm happy to say that these, along with my other appetizers, were no where to found at the end of the night. you guys know how much i love when people like what i cook, and i love it even more when they compliment me. (bratty, i know)

mix me.

bake me.

Individual Baked Spinach Dip Cups
{slightly adapted *via Picky Palate}- adaptations in italics.
"1 roll of refrigerated biscuits
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 Cups baby spinach, coarsely chopped (1 medium frozen bag)
4 clove fresh garlic, minced
3 oz softened cream cheese
1 small container of Fage 0% greek yogurt (any kind of fat free greek yogurt will do)
4 Tablespoons fresh shredded parmesan cheese
1/8 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Ancho Chile Pepper
1/8 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Garlic Salt
1/8 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Sicilian Sea Salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/3 Cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 16 muffin cups with non stick cooking spray. Unroll package of biscuits and cut each pre-cut biscuit in half. Press each slice into about a 3 inch round, I did this by pressing in between my hands. Press into the bottom and up sides of the muffin cup. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir spinach until wilted, about 3 minutes then add garlic, cook and stir for another minute then turn heat off (mine took a bit longer since it was frozen).
3. Place cream cheese, greek yogurt, cooked spinach and garlic, Parmesan Cheese, Ancho Chili Powder, garlic salt, salt and pepper into a medium bowl. Mix until well combined. With a medium cookie scoop, scoop dip into each of the centers of biscuit bowls. Top evenly with shredded cheese and bake for 15-17 minutes until just turning brown on edges. Remove and let cool for 3-5 minutes before removing from oven."

make these, you won't be able to stop eating them! thank you Picky Palate!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Recipe: Sausage Cheddar balls

finished product, so delicious!

this is a different version of a meatball! perfect for appetizers for any time of year! i only made a few modifications to the recipe - i used lowfat sausage as well as low fat cheese. anything to make it a bit healthier this time of year!

ready to bake!!

i highly suggest you make these little guys! super simple, super flavorful, and crowd-pleasing!

Sausage Cheddar Balls
(slightly adapted *via Martha Stewart)
"Ingredients

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups grated cheddar (1/2 pound) (low fat)
1 pound bulk breakfast sausage (low fat)
1/2 large yellow onion, grated on large holes of a box grater (i diced)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and baking powder. Add cheddar and toss to coat. Add sausage, onion, and butter. With your hands, mix until well combined and roll mixture into 1-inch balls. Place balls, 1/2 inch apart, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until balls are golden and cooked through, 25 minutes. Serve warm."

Monday, December 5, 2011

i'm obsessed with dogs....

lexie-lou

mac attack!


rosie posie!!

i just love these three pups to death! since my dog isn't allowed in public anymore to ensure the safety of the general public, i go out with my friends that have well-behaved pups! we brought them to the Scottish Parade in Old Town Alexandria this past saturday morning! it was the cutest, it was like one huge dog parade with lots of people in kilts and their tartans. had no idea there were so many Scottish people in the area, but it was pretty cool to see them all come together to share their heritage with everyone ! below are a few of my fave pics from the parade:

jaguar parade

pretty flags!

Santa! I KNOW HIM!

awesome band

the most Scottish family ever. they even have two Scottish terriers

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Happy December!!

{*via Mimi+Meg}

can you believe its already december? like usual, we have lots to celebrate!!

happy december!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Cutest pitbull you ever did see!

gimme your food

cutest baby ever

stop following me with that stupid camera.

Thanksgiving: Italian Wedding Cookies!

papi requested these italian wedding cookies for thanksgiving without knowing that what he really wanted was french macarons.

doesn't really matter because i got a fancy new camera (Nikon D5100) and wanted to take a picture of anything and EVERYTHING!

aren't they pretty??? i have a lot more to edit, but i really wanted to share them with you!

for those wanting to make them - i did it differently this time. Instead of rolling out the cookie dough, which i'm terrible at, i used my hands to roll little balls of dough and flatten them with my palm. i then pressed them into the sprinkles before i baked them. to make sure they were all the same size, i used two things - a mini muffin tin and a whoopie pie mold. both small circular shapes. keep in mind that using this method will make them a bit thicker and require a few extra minutes of baking. also - dont be an idiot like myself, and make sure to remember to poke holes in the cookies with a fork prior to baking. after baking, assemble the same way.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Soft Pumpkin Cookies!!

HOLY WOW!!! you guys!! you HAVE to make this cookie for your thanksgiving spread!

this is the ultimate come back from my baking hiatus! i finally figured out how to use my damn gas oven, and i'm pumped! these cookies are soft little pillows from heaven, and i swear by that. i didnt bother with icing - and the cookies were still ah-mazzzinggg!

i randomly got stressed out that i had unused pumpkin in my pantry, and immediately googled "easy pumpkin cookie recipe" - i kid you not, this was the first recipe that i saw that was on a blog and clicked on it. turns out, the recipe was super easy, super quick, and super delicious (and i had all the ingredients in the house already - hi, my name is madeleine and i am a food hoarder!). google for the win!!

Old fashioned Soft Pumpkin Cookies

{via *Very Best Baking}

"Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
1 cup Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease baking sheets.
Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until well blended. Beat in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely to 18 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely"

how easy is that?? i highly suggest getting a cookie scoop thinger for this, i had to use an actual teaspoon and it sucked because its a fairly sticky batter!

Enjoy!