Technically I didn't drink beer....

I was raised Catholic, not so much a practicing Catholic these days.  But during Lent I don't eat meat on Fridays & this year I actually gave something up for lent...

This year I gave up beer.
Let me tell you, that was a long 40 days.

I am a huge fan of beer.  I like all different kinds of beers, except IPA's...I just can't do all the hops.  I felt like I was consuming a bit too much beer recently.  So when my best friend decided to give it up for Lent (by the way, she is NOT Catholic, lol)  I decided to join her.  I must say it is always easier to give things up with someone.  We have really helped each other.

Giving up things & sticking to it has never really worked out for me.  I am proud to say we didn't have a single beer.  I made it through my Girls Weekend with no beer, even though that strawberry ale was calling my name!

As I have mentioned before, I am an Independent Party Lite consultant along with being a stay-at-home momma.  The first of the year, they discontinued their Two Sisters Gourmet line.  So disappointing.

One of my favorite products was the beer bread.  I know those other companies have their own, but I've always leaned towards TSG.  It's not because it was a product I sold, I honestly liked it much better!  And then you serve it with the TSG Outrageously Garlic as a dip.....yummy stuff.  It was always my go to when people were over to watch some Steelers football or even for game night.

For my weekend away with the girls, I wanted to make beer bread.  Aldi's has their own, but I heard it just wasn't the same.  So while away at the in-laws, I decided to find a recipe!  Little did I know how easy it was.  And with a little Shock Top Belgian beer added, it was perfect! Sure you can use a good ol domestic, but there is something about a craft beer that makes the bread that much better.

Beer Bread

3 C Self Rising Flour

1/3 C Sugar

12 oz Beer
1 Tbsp Butter melted

Preheat oven at 375 degrees
Spray a bread pan with cooking spray
Mix flour, sugar & beer
Pour batter into pan
Top with melted butter...this will prevent the top from burning
Bake for about 35 minutes or until slightly browned on top

This is the perfect "dish" to take to a party or picnic.
Just pair it up with a dip and you are sure to have a crowd pleaser.

Spiked Poke Cake

Happy Friday!
I have been wanting to share this recipe & why not celebrate the weekend with cake...

I have realized in the last year or so that I LOVE to bake! I've been trying new things.  Scratch cake...have not tried to tackle that quite yet. But experimenting with box cake has been fun!  Then I went & discovered Knox gelatin....mind blown! I figured this has to be the perfect addition to the Poke Cake!  My first attempt at poke cake was good.  I had just wished the cupcake hadn't gotten so soggy.  I had used my usual 1 C. hot water & 1 C. chilled vodka with my jello.  It was good, but I knew I could do better. Then Thanksgiving at my in-laws, we had Knox Blocks.  YES!  That is what a Jell-O jiggler was supposed to look like! I have had sorry attempts for the jigglers in my childhood.  We just didn't know about adding the gelatin.


I made it this last weekend for my Girls Weekend with my friends.  After the last few months we had, I needed this get away.  As our weekend approached, all the girls needed it.  I find it very necessary to go away with my friends at least once a year.  Everyone's lives are so busy now, we need a weekend to just unwind & as my friend Erin's mom says     "Let your hair down".   Erin's mom has the right philosophy there! LOVE that woman

Back to the cake....

Berry Lemonade Poke Cake

Bake the cake as directed.

I made the cake in round pans to layer.  I really wanted to have icing in the middle of the cake.  So I made 2 of the  7X7 round pans. I made them the night before we left & finished when we got down there.

Now for the jello mixture-

-1 box of jello

- 1 envelope of gelatin

- 1 C. boiling water

- 1 C. chilled vodka 

(Note-This recipe can be non-alcoholic.
Just add cold water instead of vodka)

Be sure to poke both cake(s) before you make the jello mixture.  By adding the gelatin really speeds up the gelling time & you don't want it to be too thick to put into the cake.  I use a straw to "inject" the cake.  I suppose one of these days a syringe would be a good investment. The straw works fine though.

One word for my Berry Lemonade Poke Cake.....AMAZING!

I highly recommend making this for an adult function or just a weekend (adult) dessert.

So busy for someone without a job!

I swear one of these days 

I will be less busy to focus on my blog!

Went to spend Easter weekend with my In-Laws in the country.  It was a beautiful weekend.  I even scored myself some sunburn!  But now I am back home with lots to do!

Right now, along with having 2 Party Lite shows this week,  I am focusing my time on helping with a wedding. My "lil sister from another mister" is getting married in less than an month.  She lives in Los Angeles. Her mother, sisters (my best friends) & I have been trying to put all the pieces of her wedding together.

They are having a Travel theme for her destination wedding. Very appropriate since the couple lives in LA, she is from Pittsburgh & her future husband is from Antigua. Pinterest has become my guide, my inspiration & most importantly, my savior! Planning events is my favorite thing to do.  Unfortunately for me, being the bride & doing certain things didn't work in my favor.  BUT helping other people with their weddings is something I tend to be good at!  My dream job is being an event planner. In the mean time, I will be here helping.

Today I had a few things to get together.  Usually my toddler tends to interrupt my progress, but lucky for me, my husband was off today.  Not only did he occupy our little dude, he made some of my favorites,  He decided we would have Mexican Day today. Naturally that means homemade Pico de Gallo, which lead to guacamole!  I've realized that I actually like pico better than salsa.

With Cinco de Mayo coming up soon, 

here is the recipe for both!

PICO DE GALLO

6 roma tomatoes 

1 medium sweet onion 

3 jalapenos (seeded)

1/2 bunch of cilantro

juice of 1 lemon

salt & pepper to taste

Then we just added 6 avocados 

& Taaaaa Daaaaa!

Holy Guacamole!

What a year so far!

A month into my "New Years Resolution"  I failed, but with good reason.  When family calls, you drop everything!

At the end of January, we found out that my Father in Law was having surgery....a big one at that.  My FIL is an Veteran & started coming to the VA hospital here in Pittsburgh.  (Not sure I ever actually said where I live.  Yep, I'm a "Yinzer")

My in-laws live about 2 hours away in the country, so us living here in the city has definitely worked out for everyone.  I have spent the last 2 months going back & forth, spending a week at a time in no man's land.  I will say that you learn a lot about yourself being away from home for so long. My most important lesson, I am NOT as big of a fan of the city as I thought I was. As I get older, I realize I enjoy the quiet much more!  It helps me think & be creative, being in the country.

Unfortunately, I was not able to blog while I was away.  My wonderful niece & nephews had given my in-laws computer a virus or two. Just more time to read & learn a few things.  In the weeks to follow, I will be sharing my newly learned recipes from my MIL and even one from my extremely picky SIL.  I also have been mastering the art of cup-less jello shots! Which were a big hit this last weekend, by the way.

I am very happy to be home & 

look forward to sharing with all of you soon!

What's for lunch?

Being a stay at home mom, it's not all soap operas & bon-bons, if they even make still those.  I am the chef, house keeper, baby sitter, etc..... you get the picture.

One thing I try to do is make sure my husband is fed before he goes to work.  He works most nights so lunch is usually the biggest meal of our day. Trying to come up with different things for lunch is kind of challenging.  My hubby isn't always up for my creations or recipes I find on Pinterest. Add in an almost 3 year old that hasn't fully started to enjoy the spicy side of seasoning, things get real tricky.

I do turn to Pinterest for guidance & ideas often.  But 9 out of 10 times, I am missing at least 2 ingredients.  This is how new recipes are discovered.  I was inspired by my friend's desire to make buffalo chicken stuffed shells.
(Which by the way, I cannot WAIT til she actually makes them.  They look amazing!)

Thinking Buffalo Chicken,  I took a gander in the fridge, cupboards & pantry.  BOOM!

Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese!

2 Cooked Chicken Breast - I boiled mine & shred it

4 C Cooked Pasta - I used Cavatappi, I love the shape

1 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 C Shredded Mozzarella Cheese 

1/2 C Blue Cheese Crumbles

1/4 C Milk

1 Tbsp Dry Ranch Seasoning

1 Tbsp Two Sisters Brazen Buffalo Blue Cheese Seasoning

1 C Panko Bread Crumb

*Note-I am missing a few ingredient in my picture

-I sprayed the casserole dish with cooking spray

-Next put all the ingredients, except the bread crumb, into the greased casserole dish & mix together.

-Top with the bread crumb & bake covered with foil for about 15-20 until the cheese is melted.

-Take the foil off & put under the broiler for about 4 minutes, just long enough to make the bread crumbs brown. Be sure to keep an eye on it, that broiler is a beast!

This is one of my new favorite recipes & 

I will definitely be making it again.  

As always, you can make it to your liking.  

Add more cheddar or take out the Blue Cheese.

If my son wasn't eating with us, 

I would have added a little Red Devil hot sauce!

I hope you enjoy this easy lunch casserole 

& have a great week!

Surprise Savings

I went to the grocery store on a Saturday, BIG mistake.  Being a stay-at-homer, I try to make it a point to do things during the week.  I figure, one less person in the mix on the weekend the better!  I actually enjoy going shopping.  Odd as some may find it, but I have always liked going to the store.  Now it's like a day at the spa (ok, maybe not THAT great).  Food shopping is sometimes the only time I get out alone so I try to savor the moment.  Nothing like getting a cup of coffee & seeing what is on sale that.  And bonus when I have a coupon!!!

I went to the store with my list & a wad of coupons.  I seem to buy a lot of produce.  Unfortunately not everyone in my house is obsessed with veggies, so I tend to throw out a lot. I needed mushrooms & was very excited they were 10 for $10...aka $1.  That was until I got a look at them.  Someone must have expected New Years Resolutions of consuming lots of mushrooms and over ordered.  I will admit, those sale mushrooms were probably just fine.  I cannot buy or eat foods that look bad.  A friend pokes fun at me for doing it all the time, lol.

Still needed mushrooms...wasn't buying the sale ones...then I remembered the good 'ol "Bulk" veggies.  They ones you can pick yourself & not be obligated to buy a whole container when all you need is a few.  So I threw about 6 descent sized shrooms in my bag & it was the perfect about for my hubby's delicious Puttanesca.  (We will save that recipe for another day, but here is a little preview)

Hubby's Puttanesca

Much to my surprise, I only paid $1.19 for the perfect amount of mushrooms! And the savings didn't stop there.  I needed a few cloves of garlic.  I usually just by the garlic minced in a jar. I know the flavor is so much better with fresh, but something that small being chopped or cut by me is scary. Since my husband would be doing the slicing & dicing, I figured I'd grab the fresh stuff.  Usually, I would go right for the 2 in a pack.  Why not, it's there & ready to go. But that day, something was telling me to get 1 bunch of garlic cloves. SCORE!  Paid $0.07 for it.  I couldn't believe when I got home & looked at my receipt.

So moral of the story, when trying to cut corners & shop a little smarter, buy the loose items.  It could really save you quite a bit of money.  I know this isn't brand new information, it was just my "Ah ha" ,light bulb on moment. Trying to make this year better mentally & financially so this is a start in the right direction.

Have a great week!

New Year...New Me!

2013 had lots of ups & some downs. 

Now I am ready to start 2014 on a positive note!

I never make a big deal about resolutions.  Let's be honest, a lot of people are just setting themselves up for failure.  I like to just think of things that I want to make happen or try to do.  Whether, trying to accessorize more, try a new dish or try harder to make sure I blog once a week... I just don't want to beat myself up in a month when I didn't loose those 10 lbs or I didn't end world hunger.  I do have a few things that I do want to do

So this year I started off by starting to clear out the clutter in my "Office".  I am trying to spend more time here, so why not make it a place I really want to be.  The first thing I did was moved my desk.  I felt like I was boxed in & I think it affected my mind. My mind & I am free to move about now.  I find that keeping pictures of special times or vacation help me to be in my happy place.......Ooooooommmm

My office serves a few purposes.  I am a Party Lite consultant.  With that comes a lot of product & supplies.  I have dedicated one entire shelf unit to my Party Lite.  I did leave the top shelf for my pictures & Mason jars filled with decorations. Items get retired often, so I end up with a lot of old pieces.  I need to sell those. Hmmmm, I see another thing I can add to my 2014 "To Do" list.

I have also decided to teach myself how to sew.  My niece decided she wanted to make her own clothes so my best friend got her a sewing machine.  Needless to say, Twy has yet to actually use it.  So I will be the new owner of a sewing machine.  My mother-in-law is quite the avid sewer & she does some great things.  One of my favorites is her place mats.  She makes them for ever occasion AND they are double sided! I want her to teach me how to make them. I tell her all the time that she could sell them at craft shows.  I also really want to make cute aprons.  Something a little more stylish than your Grandmother's 50 year old apron.

My personal #1 mission is to blog at least once a week.  Having an almost 3 year old makes it a little more challenging, but I am up for it.  A lot has happened since September & I am looking forward to sharing some of my ideas & recipes.  Cheers to an AWESOME 2014!