Upcycled shutter

So, I'm living in a neighborhood where everyone's porch always looks super cute!  I needed to keep up!  I found this shutter at a junk store (and I use the word "junk" affectionately. I LOVE those places!)

It was only $12!  Took it home, cleaned it up with some steel wool and painted the center panels with chalkboard paint. Done!  I used a chalk pen for the lettering, which I need to work on. The chalk pen says it's erasable, but, no, it is not. So, i repainted the top panel and used regular chalk on that. 

I'm not super crafty, so I'm really happy with this!!

Pink Greyhound

Just because it's Labor Day doesn't mean summer is over.  Especially here in Texas!  And I just discovered Deep Eddy Ruby Red Grapefruit vodka!  It's delicious!!  I made this drink up a couple days ago. It's my new favorite! 

2oz Deep Eddy Ruby Red

1/2oz St. Germaine 

1/2oz simple syrup

Splash of lime

Pour all of that into a shaker of ice and shake away. Strain into your favorite glass and enjoy 🍸😁

Hummus - it's really not that hard!

Ok people, if you have never tried to make your own hummus, you really should!  It's NOT hard and is SO much better than the crap you buy at the store it's ridiculous.  My husband has spent a fair share of time in the middle east and was never really impressed when I would serve up some store bought that I was seriously annoyed.  Then, recently, I actually got to stamp something other than "Mexico" on my passport and went to visit him in Jordan.  Ate the hummus there.  Every.  Single.  Day!!  the best thing ever.  Now, 7 days there and apparently I'm a hummus snob too!  However, I'm also a little lazy and allegedly using dried chick peas (garbanzos - as we call them here) is the way to go.  Meh, not so much.  Canned is fine with me.  My favorite way to eat it is with some grilled flat bread with a little olive oil drizzled on top.  Just try it!!

 

Here is the recipe I like:

 

1 Can of garbanzos (drained but keep the liquid)

Juice of half a lemon (I actually use the whole thing, but start off with half)

3 tablespoons of tahini

1-2 garlic cloves

 

Throw that all in the food processor and blend.  Add in the reserved liquid from the garbanzos as needed to thin it out - to whatever your preference is.

 

Yeah - that's it!  Easy Peasy and SO much better (and cheaper) than the store bought!!

Enjoy :)

Super Bowl Ham Sammie's

My tv is currently possessed by football. College bowl games, NFL, etc. So I have plenty of time to waste on Pinterest. This recipe is all over the place so I finally decided to try it. Ham, cheese, Hawaiian rolls - what's not to like?!? Holy crap these are SO good!!  It's super easy and I'm making them again soon.  It calls for poppy seeds but I'm leaving those out. I dont think they add anything and I'm totally paranoid that I'll go through an entire evening with one stuck in my teeth!

Here's what you need:

12 Hawaiian rolls, cut in half

12 slices thinly sliced deli ham

12 slices provolone or cheddar cheese (IMO Tillamook is the best!) - cut in half

4 T butter

1 T brown sugar

1 1/2 t Dijon mustard

1 1/2 t Worcestershire sauce

Heat the oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with foil. Put the sandwiches together, 1 slice of ham, 1/2 slice cheese. 

In a microwave safe bowl, combine the other ingredients and microwave until the butter is just melted. Give it a good stir and drizzle over the top of the sandwiches. Bake for about 10 minutes or until everything is melted and the butter has caramelized. 

Enjoy :)

Sweet & Spicy Mixed Nuts

Sweet with a little heat!!  Yes - a great holiday giftable - but that ship has sailed so let's think college bowl game parties, New Year's Eve & Super Bowl!!

1 cup each pecans, almonds & walnuts. All raw and unsalted

1 egg white

1 T water

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup dark brown sugar (packed)

1 T cinnamon

1 t salt

1/2 t cayenne pepper

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat oven to 300F. 

In a bowl whisk together dry ingredients 

On a separate bowl, whisk egg white and water until foamy. 

Coat the nuts with the egg mixture and then with the dry ingredients 

Pour out onto the baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes, stirring about halfway through. You want it all to be dry and crispy. When it's cooled you can break it apart and store in an airtight container. 

Double Chocolate Cookies with Caramel & Sea Salt

 

Sweet, salt, chocolate - what more could you want?!?

 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons milk
• 1 and 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
• 16-17 caramel squares, cut in half
• coarse sea salt

Directions:

Cream the butter on medium speed for about 20 seconds. Add the sugars with the mixer running on medium speed. Cream it all together until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
In a separate medium size bowl, sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together. Slowly add to the wet ingredients. Stir in the milk, then fold in the dark chocolate morsels. The dough will be thick and very sticky. Chill for at least 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Set aside.
Take 2 Tablespoons of chilled dough and split in half and roll each into a ball with your hands. Stick a 1/2 square of caramel into 1 ball of dough. Top the caramel with the other ball of dough and seal down the sides so that the caramel is securely stuffed inside. Repeat with the rest of the dough and 18 caramel candies. Sprinkle each with sea salt before putting into the oven.
Bake for 12-13 minutes. Cookies will appear undone and very soft. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for at least 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Makes 16-18 large cookies. Cookies stay fresh and soft in an airtight container up to 7 days.

Pear Chutney (on bruschetta with marscapone)

This is one of the yummiest things I have made!!  I gave it out as Christmas gifts this year, even to teachers. Then of course I promptly read a blog about how teachers don't like homemade food gifts because they have no clue as to the cleanliness of the kitchen - well fair enough and hopefully they are at least able to use the jars to store nails in the garage or something!

Here's what you need:

1 baguette

4 large (2 pounds) ripe pears - if they aren't ripe, it's ok, you'll just need to cook it a little longer

1/3 C packed dark brown sugar

1/3 C dark raisins (chopped)

1/3 C cider vinegar

2 t grated & peeled ginger

1/2 t Chinese 5 spice

1/4 t salt

Mascarpone cheese

Slice the baguette and place into preheated 350 degree oven. Toast for about 10 minutes, turning over once. 

Peel, core and chop the pears. In a pan add pears, raisins, vinegar, spices and cook over medium heat for 25 to 30 minutes or the liquid evaporates, stirring frequently. At this point, if the pears arent soft add a little more brown sugar and vinegar and cook down some more until pears are soft - unless you like the crunchy, that's ok too.  You can also adjust the spices to your preference. I like a little more ginger.

Cool to room temp. When you want to serve, spread a little mascarpone on a slice of bruschetta and top with a little chutney. If you want to be really fancy, you can add a little parsley on top.