April 5, 2012
Cooking / Food and Drink / Recipes
I'm not even kidding!
This is the Best Pizza Evah!
It's hard to believe.
The first time I made it, my husband and I loved it.
But, maybe we were just super hungry?
Or we hadn't had pizza for a while?
So
I made it again.
And it was the Best Pizza Evah
AGAIN!
Weird.
I swear, it is even better than any pizza I have had at ANY restaurant.
I promise.
First off, you start with this bread dough recipe
It is AMAZING!
A game changer, if you will.
I just roll it in to pizza dough
Yeah, I know…It's not perfectly round.
Go figure
The day I decide to photograph the BEST PIZZA EVAH for the blog
Nothing goes right
It kinda looks hideous
But it doesn't matter
The taste is …
Well, heaven!
After rolling out the dough, I brush on a mixture of olive oil and the Rossa Maria Dipping Blend
Throw the pizza dough on a baking stone in the over until it just starts to brown
Then take it out of the oven and add the following ingredients:
Pesto, Parmesan Cheese, Tomatoes and Mozzarella Cheese
Put it back in the oven until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is crisp
(or however you like your crust!)
I know it doesn't look like much
But I promise you
It is FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!
We have eaten this almost every Friday during Lent (no meat)
Sooooo Delish!
Give it a try!
I'd love to know what you think!
Ali
April 4, 2012
Crafts
My friend Pam and I, are hosting a Spring Boutique in a few weeks.
Do you live in Utah?
In Salt Lake
Or
Bountiful?
If you do, and want to come to our boutique, let me know!
We'd love to have you!
Anyways…….
I have been working on drink coasters for the boutique
With some REALLY fun papers and patterns!
Love them!
I couldn't forget the UTE fans !
GO UTES!
What have you been crafting lately?
Would love to know!
Send me a link!
Ali
April 3, 2012
Cooking / Food and Drink / Recipes
Have you heard of these?
Cauliflower Poppers.
I hadn't.
Last Saturday I received my first basket from Bountiful Baskets .
It was chock full of fruit and veggie goodness!
I know my friend Amy gets a basket every week, so I asked her if she had any great recipes for the items in this week's basket.
She did.
Of course!
The basket included a gorgeous bunch (?) of cauliflower, so the first recipe she suggested was Cauliflower Poppers
I think she may have gotten the recipe from Weight Watchers
It is very easy!
And very yummy!
The ingredients:
Pepper, Salt, Cauliflower, Grown Cumin and Chili Powder
This is a FABULOUSLY healthy snack!
With a kick!
I loved it!
What healthy snacks to you eat?
Care to share the recipe?
Please?
Linking up with http://www.athomewithkim.com/
Ali
April 2, 2012
Before & After / Organization
I have a drawer.
A kitchen drawer.
I bet you might have one too.
I'm embarrassed of this drawer.
She (?) is a catch-all for every utensil I own.
And it is beyond out of control.
Wanna see her?
Yeah, I figured you did…..Why do we like to see other's crap and disorganization so much?
Pretty crazy, huh?
A big ol' mess!
Um, how many spatulas does a person need? And see those utensils that clip into a mixer type thing?
I don't even have that mixer thing anymore. Why do I have the utensils?
Serving spoon heaven, right? And I see a few items that I'm not even sure what they are! I'm pretty sure they came from my wedding – 24 YEARS AGO! Yikes!
Hmmmm, wine openers? And holy cheese knives!
*NOTE: the Carmex was not in the junk drawer! But, if you know me at all, you know it's not far from my side
At all times.
Can you say ADDICTED?
Are you ready to see a nice, tidy drawer?
It's she purdy?
I love it!
And it only took about 20 minutes!
Oh and those cheese knives?
Who has this many?
And why?
Do I need this many?
Wait don't answer that!
What small area in your home have you organized that made you happy?
Even though it was a small area?
Ali
March 28, 2012
Before & After / Crafts / DIY
Happy Thursday Ya'll!
That means it's almost Friday!
YEE-HAW!
Can't wait!
I've wanted to DIY a large chalkboard for my craft room, for quite some time
And last weekend was the perfect time
With warmer temps, it was perfect weather for getting' my spray paint on!
First of all I hit our local thrift store and picked up this beauty (glass still intact)
For $10
Pretty darn cheap, right?
I got busy taping off the frame so I could spray paint directly on the glass
I used these items for my project:
Don't judge the beauty that my yard isn't is….it's still "SPRINTER" (spring+winter) here in Utah!
After letting the chalkboard paint dry, I moved inside to paint the frame
Just plain old white
Nothin' special
But perfect for what I'm looking for
Don't pay any attention to Chloe……she's trying to photo-bomb!
Here's the completed chalkboard:
And all ready to hang on the wall in my craft room:
What do you think?
I'm quite smitten!
I can't wait to change up the quotes!
Now…..I just have to get the hubs to hang it up for me!
This thing is H E A V Y!
Linking up to: http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/
http://www.320sycamoreblog.com/2012/04/under-10-under-1-hour-party-spring.html
Ali
March 26, 2012
Christmas / Crafts / Organization
Do you have a pile of Christmas cards like this after the holidays are over?
image source
I know I do!
I LOVE getting Christmas Cards and I especially love getting photo cards.
I save them every year!
But all I do is usually tie a ribbon around the stack ad label the year.
Not very fun.
I came across THIS POST at the FABULOUS blog Eighteen25 and decided now was the time to get all those cards organized!
I pulled them all out, and just punched holes in the side, and placed them on jump rings, adding the cover page!
So Easy!
Then I just store all the booklets (two years per booklet) in a red velvet box.
I will pull the box out each holiday and make them available for everyone to look through.
It's always fun to see how all the kids and families have grown!
What do you think?
How do you organize your Christmas Cards?
Do you even keep them from year to year?
I would love to hear!
Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Monday!
Linking up with http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/
Ali
March 22, 2012
Cooking / Food and Drink / Recipes
Have you ever made Brownie Cupcakes?
Have you ever even heard of Brownie Cupcakes?
I hadn't, but I figured there must be something out there like Brownie Cupcakes
I hate making cupcakes and having the middle soft and lovely, but the sides crusty and hard
Why does that happen?
Is it just me?
Please tell me no……
Anyway
I had a box of brownies, but didn't want to make brownies or cookies
So I searched for a brownie cupcake recipe
I found this recipe
I didn't make the peanut butter frosting though
I'm more of a cream cheese gal, but I do love me some peanut butter
I packaged these bad boys up individually and took them to Zumba
To share
With my Zumba peeps
The verdict?
SUPER FABULOUS!
Happy Wednesday
Hump Day
It's bright and sunny in my neck of the woods!
How 'bout yours?
Enjoy your day and THANKS…..
For stopping by!
Ali
March 21, 2012
Crafts / Decorating / Holidays
Do you love PEEPS?
I'm not really a fan. At all. I don't like cotton candy either.
Something about the texture or something.
My kids however, LOVE THEM!
And they love them frozen!
What?!?!?
True story.
I've seen some centerpieces using Peeps around blogland and pinterst the past few months, for Halloween, Christmas and Easter.
I decided to give it a try.
I used yellow bunny Peeps, along with some jellybeans.
Cute, easy and fun!
What do you think?
The best news?
I am NOT temped to eat it…..since I'm not a fan of Peeps!
Happy Wednesday!
Thanks for stopping by!
Linking up with:
http://delightfulorder.blogspot.com/
http://brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/
Ali
March 19, 2012
Cooking / Food and Drink / Holidays / Parties
Did y'all have a great weekend? Did you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?
We had a pretty low key Saturday. I spent the morning at a St. Patrick's Day Zumba Party, which was awesome!
Great workout!
We were invited to dinner with some friends for Corned Beef & Cabbage (soooo good!), my assignment was to bring dessert.
I wanted to do something fun and creative, but didn't know what to do. I had some jelly jars in my party, left over from a strawberry shortcake dessert I did last fall for a tailgating party.
Why not use those?
I surfed the net and came up with THESE Mint Fudge Brownie Parfaits, from Kristan @ Confessions of a Cook Book Queen .
So easy, and so yummy!
The super cute labels came from How Does She
I think they add the perfect finishing touch!
Happy Monday!
I hope you have a great week! Thanks for stopping by!
Ali
March 16, 2012
Holidays
Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?
For years, my kids participated in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Salt Lake City, usually with their schools.
Last year was Madi's last year to participate in the Parade with the high school
Now she has moved out (older brother is away at college) and won't be home for me to make Green Pancakes, Green Eggs and Ham, or even Green Milk.
I have no little ones at home anymore, to celebrate the holiday with!
Sadness!
But, today is your lucky day! I've been browsing Pinterest and blogs all month, and boy are there some FANTABULOUS ideas out there!
CRAFTS:
Licorice Rainbows
source
Leprechaun Trap
source
Love this banner
source
EATS:
Corned Beef & Cabbage
source
Hot Reuben Dip
source
Fruity Rainbow
source
SWEETS:
Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Bailey's Irish Cream
source
Leprechaun Hat Cookies
source
Mint Chocolate Cookies-n-Cream Fudge
source
Pretzel Hugs
I made the Pretzel Hugs last weekend, you can find my post HERE
Hopefully, this will get you in the mood to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!
Enjoy!
Ali