Apple Tart

My dear friend Chantel gave me a few tart makers for Christmas and I am just getting around to using them.  Oh how I wish I didn't wait!  

Aren't they cute????

I decided to make the heart pocket pie mold first.  Here is what you need:

So Easy- 1- Pocket Pie Mold, 2- Your favorite fruit pie filling, 3- Pie Crust {I opted for store bought}

Here's what you do!

Make sure to brush the dough with a beaten egg white and add some sprinkles of sugar.  Bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes.  Oh, so Perfect.  Did I say Perfect?  

Have you made a fruit pie from a mold?  I can't wait to try it again.

By the way- they microwave to Perfection the next day and are fab with coffee ;)

Copious Amounts of Tomatoes

Last week I decided to add 20 pounds of tomatoes to my bountiful basket order. Really, How much is 20 pounds, right???  Well, its ALOT... 

Now I had to figure out what to do with them... Pinterest, here I come! I started with washing my big basket of goods.

Lettuce, Asparagus, Avocados, Bananas, Broccoli and More..

My boss said to make sauce {ofcourse she did, she's old school Italian} Okay, I'm playing an Italian wife so I thought, what the heck.....  

If you have never boiled and peeled tomatoes before {you must}  I cored the tomatoes and then dropped them in boiling water.  3 minutes later they were peeling on their own.  When you strain them to peel them, make sure to wear gloves.  I didn't and burnt the heck out of my fingers 

{I'm impatient and the gloves were too far away}

Put your peeled tomatoes in a blender and puree away... then jar and you now have crushed tomatoes ready for homemade sauce.... Yum.

Then I had to decide what to do with the rest of the tomatoes.....

Hmm, my dehydrator.  I sliced 10 of them, seasoned with Italian seasoning {yes, I'm staying in theme} and dehydrated them.  Once they were finished I packed them with oil and put them them in the fridge.  They are awaiting my next piece of "Italian Bread" and Brie cheese.... so good.

Pizza Time- Yes, everything is getting a sliced tomato at this point!

Dehydrated Tomatoes

What's your favorite tomato recipe????  

Valentines Day Pinterest Finds

I heart Pinterest!  Yes, it's no secret.  I could spend hours pinning away.  I  sound like Dory from the Nemo Movie, "pinning, pinning, pinning".

 { I hope that song is now in your head and out of mine}

Here are some things I'm going to attempt to make this weekend for Valentines Day.  I hope you get some Pinspiration from these great recipes and blog links to make it a beautiful day with your loved ones.

Super Easy Welcome Sign

www.thenshemade.blogspot.com

These are made from Oreo Cakesters {Yay, no baking, shhhhhh}

www.toostinkincute.blogspot.com

These shouldn't be too difficult {If you don't sew, you can make them with paper}

www.modabakeshop.com

I received one of these pie molds for Christmas {Thanks Chantel}

www.inkatrinaskitchen.com

Happy Friday and Happy Pinning!

You can follow my boards by clicking the button at the top of this blog and if you're not pinning and have no clue what I'm talking about, please send me an email and I'll send you an invite (yep, you need an invite- sounds VIP, right?)

Chicken Isreali Couscous

Last week I was on a pinning spree, okay -I'm always on a pinning spree but I must have been really hungry because my food board is full.

We were avoiding the big Superbowl Parties this year; A) because my husband had to work and B) Ashley had a sleepover last night and is in melt down mode.  

What to make?  I thought we would have a little nosh while watching the game so the Isreali Couscous, some hot wings, homemade copycat Chili's salsa and some Chicken Nachos were on the menu.  

I found most of these recipes on Pinterest so if you are following me you can find them on my "yummy drink and food" board.  If not, follow me- hehe.

Okay, so I like to follow recipes but I always like to add more than it calls for or change it up a bit.  You can find the inspiration recipe here:

Here is my version:

Cook 1 cup Isreali Couscous according to package instructions.

Chop your kalamata olives { I dont usually measure but I love this little Pampered Chef measuring cup}

I added chopped artichoke hearts since I always have them in the fridge and some blue cheese crumbles.

Now mix 

Add your shredded chicken { I boiled 4 chicken breasts and shredded one and froze the other 3 for 

future recipes}

And here ya go- Delish and lots of leftovers for lunch this week.

Recipe:

• 
  1 cup cooked Israeli Couscous
• 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives- chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped capers
• 1/4 cup chopped artichoke hearts
• 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
• 2 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil 
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
• 1 shredded chicken breast

What did you make for the big game?

• Linking up to:

Nutella!

Who doesn't love Nutella?  Okay, maybe the chocolate haters- but they don't count. If you don't know what Nutella is its made with over 50 hazelnuts per jar, skim milk and cocoa... Its spreadable!  on anything!  Wow, right...

We were shopping at Costco (on a weekend) when they hand out samples.  Yes, I'll admit that's my families favorite day to go and not mine but I'll go along for the ride....

We saw the Nutella lady from across the aisle and my husband did one of those slow motion runs to get a sample... okay, maybe not... but it sure looked like it.  She was making toasted english muffins and then spreading Nutella over the top watching it melt like butter.... oh so yummy....

We immediately bought a jar (or 2)- You're at Costco- everything comes in LARGE or 2.

This is what we made:

Start out with Nutella and English Muffins (yes, that's it)

Toast them!

Have a little taste test! (Who needs bread?)

Now Enjoy!

Fresh Basil Pesto Pasta

My husband and I decided it was time to harvest the fresh basil I have growing in my garden (honestly, it was really overgrown).

I decided there were too many bugs so he plucked and pulled all of the basil leaves while I prepared the ground for new planting.  (definitely organic basil)

We decided to bring it in to the kitchen and wash it in the sink as we separated the leaves, twigs, buds and foreign objects.....

Hubby separated and washed as I dried and prepared for blending.  We thought we had a lot of basil..........

Blended some basil, olive oil, salt and a few rosemary sprigs

And the blending starts.......pulse, pulse, pulse......... This is what we ended up with.............

After all the hard work we decided to enjoy some for dinner and freeze the rest for winter.....

Happy Cooking,


Allice

Red/White and Blue Trifle

I decided to make something healthy for the 4th of July and one recipe on my bucket list was this red/white and blue trifle. I love to use my trifle bowl. It makes such a pretty presentation and so easy. This recipe is from skinnytaste which is my new favorite website since I'm a foodie. It even has Weight Watchers point calculations. Awesome. I highly recommend making this recipe on your next bunco night, BBQ or potluck. Easy Easy and Yummy Yummy!