Posts by admin:
- 2 Omaha Steak RIbeye Steaks
- salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup lump crab (optional)
- 1 garlic cloves
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 1 Tbsp parsley, chopped
- 2 ears of corns
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 Tablespoons honey balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup cold buttermilk
- 2 cups flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 5 Tablespoons vegetable shortening
- 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup chives, chopped
- Preheat oven to 450-degrees Fahrenheit and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the shortening and using a pastry cutter, mix until there is a coarse mixture like wet sand.
- Add the shredded cheese and chives.
- Lastly, add the buttermilk and mix quickly until the dough comes together.
- Make a ball of the dough, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 20 minutes while the corn is cooking.
- Now take the dough and roll it into about 1/2-inch thickness.
- Use a round cookie cutter about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter to cut the biscuits.
- Place the biscuits on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake them for 12 minutes.
- Place the corn on the grill, close the cover and grill for 15 to 20 minutes, turning every 5 minutes, or until kernels are tender when pierced with a paring knife.
- Remove the husks and slice the corn kernels from cob with a sharp knife placing kernels in a medium glass bowl.
- Place broccoli in a large bowl.
- Toss with 1 Tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Lightly coat the grill rack.
- Prepare grill for indirect heat using a drip pan.
- Place broccoli over drip pan and grill, covered, over indirect medium heat for 8-10 minutes on each side or until crisp-tender.
- Remove from heat and add to the glass bowl with corn.
- Add diced onions and red bell pepper to salad and add the balsamic vinegar and seasonings.
- Although it is optional, it is amazing on the steak. You can purchase it at your local market.
- 1/2 cup of lump crab, shredded or chopped, slightly.
- Melt butter in skillet, adding the minced garlic and parsley.
- Add the crab into the herb butter and mix well.
- Rub each steak with salt and pepper. Grill over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare or about 5 minutes per side for medium.
- Serve each steak on a plate, dividing the lump crab on top of each steak.
- Serve with the Grilled Corn and Broccoli Salad (serves 4) and a Cheddar and Chive Biscuit.
- 1 large zucchini, diced ( about 2 cups)
- 1 large yellow squash, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 1/2 cups baby bella mushrooms, diced
- 1 red onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 Tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- Half a package of phyllo dough, thawed
- 10-ounce Sabra Basil Pesto Hummus
- In a large non-stick pan add the olive oil and heat on medium heat.
- Add the onions and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add the squash and mushrooms and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Add the garlic, basil, and salt and pepper and cook another 5 minutes and remove from heat.
- Carefully roll out half a package of phyllo sheets, careful not to split the sheets since they are delicate.
- Remove one sheet at a time placing on a cutting board.
- Spray one sheet with olive oil spray and place a second phyllo sheet on top.
- Spray with oil and place a third phyllo sheet. Cut the layers in half, lengthwise.
- On one edge place about 1 Tablespoon of hummus and about 2 Tablespoons of the vegetable medley.
- Fold over a corner of the phyllo dough creating a diagonal triangle and then continue folding over repeating the process, folding over the veggies and hummus with the remaining dough until it looks like a pocket.
- Repeat with the remaining sheets of phyllo until you have about 16 pockets.
- Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20-25 minutes.
- October 2014: Megan launched her Fringe Leather Boots. These boots are designed to give your baby high style while making sure that comfort and durability are not compromised. Megan says they are the perfect mix of LA’s bohemian rock vibe and of NYC’s glamour, chic style.
- November 2014: Megan adds the Shearling Boot to her collection
- December 2014: Megan launches her Animoccs line. Animal faces + Moccs = Animoccs. Her friend came up with the name “Animoccs” which are becoming one of the hottest crazes in the baby shoe market.
My Personal Journey with Babies
July 15th, 2015Astroglide TTC™ sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine
When I look at how our family continues growing I am thankful that the Lord has blessed us with a family. It has been almost 8 years since we have been married and I really cannot believe the lives we are living at the moment especially since we are expecting baby girl number three.
When my husband and I were dating for several months we talked about everything once we knew that we were going to get married. We talked about life, interests, passions, God, family, how many kids we wanted to have and so much more. When I look back, I cannot believe that we have been able to achieve so many of the things we talked about.
When we talked about having children we decided and prayed that we would delay having children for at least 3 years seeing we knew that my husband wanted to complete his doctoral degree. Before I got married I went to an endocrinologist to see how my hormones were working because I wanted to know how my body was functioning. I still was not sure how fertile I was when the time came to conceive but all I knew was that I needed to trust God when the time came.
Three years later we decided to start trying to conceive not knowing if we would be able to but leaving it in God’s hands. Although we knew that there are couples that have tried numerous ways to conceive we used our natural ways and I was able to get pregnant very quickly. I never really knew how quickly it would happen but we were so excited and so happy that starting a family was going to happen as we planned.
What I had learned is that not everyone has the same blessing of being able to conceive so quickly which is why there are products like Astroglide TTC Trying to Conceive™ . It is a specially formulated for couples who are trying to conceive, Astroglide TTC supports fertility with adjusted pH levels, compatible osmolality and a consistency similar to your body’s cervical mucus. Each package contains 8 pre-filled disposable applicators that make it easy to coat the inside of the vagina, supplementing natural fluids and enhancing comfort. Like all Astroglide products, TTC also temporarily relieves vaginal dryness during sexual activity.
I know that if the time came that we found that we could not conceive as quickly as we thought that we would have sought out different options in order to achieve the results we wanted. Sometimes we do not know what our bodies do or what our reproductive system is doing to prevent conception but know that perhaps products Astroglide TTC are available to aid in bringing some sort of balance to support fertility especially since it is a sperm-friendly lubricant that doesn’t impede sperm motility like traditional lubricants.
While this post might be a little too personal, not everyone knows the journey that people go through to have babies. Sometimes sharing an experience is just as helpful and positive for those thinking of conceiving in the future. Knowing that we are all in the same boat when thinking of having babies is a relief and I am thankful for having others in my life that have been an encouragement to bringing babies into this world.
Astroglide TTC™ sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine
““
Sharing is Caring!
Pre-Baby Girlfriends Weekend in Cape May
July 15th, 2015
I am two weeks away from having our third girl and I really cannot believe it! It is surreal, exciting, and crazy at the same time. Crazy because I am going to be starting the newborn stage all over again. I am so excited because I am birthing a baby and I cannot wait to hold her in my arms. What an amazing blessing.
Four months ago, my husband and I decided that I would take a weekend to take a little vacation. When I planned it I had hoped for another mom friend to join me but towards the end I was not quite sure I was going to go with anyone. While I would have been okay going on my own traveling by myself to Cape May just did not sound exciting by myself. Luckily I had a friend step in last minute who went with me.
While this was my first time to stay in Cape May, I quickly learned that I had waited really long to book hotels or just a place to stay. I was afraid I was not going to find anything. I was really just trying to be optimistic that the trip was even going to happen. When I finally got a spot at King’s Cottage, I was sure everything was falling in place. King’s Cottage was SO close to the beach and really central to everything. Although this bed and breakfast was not quite what I expected the stay was doable. The beds were not as comfortable and breakfast was more continental than full breakfast. The owners were really nice though and made sure everyone was doing well. In a sense we hardly were at the place except for changing clothes and sleeping for the night.
We arrived on a Thursday night after a full work day and checked in our B&B. We decided to hang out at a Delaney’s Irish Pub since it was a bit after hours. We split a plate of Irish Nachos and shared some drinks and chatted about our day. The place was sure busy with live music and a huge crowd at the bar, little did we know that it started pouring outside. Midnight approached and we realized we could not wait out the pouring rain so we waddled and rushed to our B&B which was 3 blocks away. We were soaked but it was definitely an adventure.
So did rain continue on our weekend? Unfortunately, it did but it really did not ruin the time we had planned. In fact it went really nicely until the next big downpour which happened a few hours before we left on Saturday. When we woke up Friday morning, we relaxed. While my friend caught up on some work, I walked down the beach and listened to the waves. It certainly was very windy and it was obvious that the weather was not going to cooperate for anyone to hang out and lounge at the beach. I simply loved walking and taking photos of the peaceful atmosphere. The beach is one of the most relaxing places for me.
When I met up with my friend, we headed to The Rusty Nail for breakfast. While I had heard they only served dinner, one of the newer features was that they now were serving breakfast and lunch. We had delicious Eggs Benedict with crab that came with a side of potatoes along with some coffee and it was definitely delicious and super savory. I really liked the portions and there was so much more to chose from on the menu.
We then walked over to Cape May Downtown and did some shopping. Since the rain had taken a break we really wanted to walk around. A lot of people had the same thing in mind. I loved the unique stores and as a foodie, I was always on the lookout for local products I could take home and use in my kitchen. There was plenty to chose from and even more eats to try despite having a full tummy from breakfast.
After several hours walking around the area we headed to the Carriage House Café & Tearoom located on the grounds of Cape May’s only Victorian house museum, the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate. What we noticed and learned was that Cape May was declared a National Historic Landmark City in 1976. We had lunch at the Tearoom and heard a lot about the activities and events that Cape May offers year round from our new friend Susan Krysiak who works at the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities. Hearing about the events only made me fall in love with Cape May even more. Our lunch was lovely and delicious. We learned about the tea parties they offer and even the weddings that occur on many weekends.
Once we left the Tearoom we headed to the Cape May Winery for a full tour of the vineyard. We had a wonderful tour guide who definitely knew everything there was to know about the vineyard. I was saddened to learn that the wine is not sold in Pennsylvania but it was only more of reason to return with my husband at another time.
The wine tour was an ultimate girls experience. We tasted small amounts of many wines and even had a delicious cheese plate that paired well with the wines and even after the tour, we sat and enjoyed the scenery with the live music. It was SUCH a great experience and probably the highlight of the weekend.
Since we lounged and relaxed at the vineyard we did not have a long time to rest at the B&B. We headed to the Blue Pig Tavern where we had amazing seasonal food where most of the ingredients were harvested from the Cape Resort’s own local farm called the Beach Plum Farm. Everything was so fresh and delicious but in order to enjoy some appetizers we split a NY Strip Steak and Crab Cakes. Such a delectable experience.
If you could not think of any more to fit in on one day, we did. We caught “Mary, Mary” at the Cape May Stage and relaxed after a full day of events. The actors were wonderful and the story of the play was very entertaining making the evening so great. We could not to bed without taking another nice stroll on Washington Street Mall especially since we needed some dessert. We stopped at Uncle Charley’s Ice Cream where there were SO many choices of ice cream. It was truly hard to decide but I chose rum raisin ice cream which ended up being so creamy and rich. We definitely slept well that night.
I was glad that it only drizzled that Friday because Saturday proved to be interesting. We woke up to very windy and cool conditions but we packed up our belongings and had some of our morning looking at the beach and enjoying some delicious eats from the beach front cafes. Our last experience before we headed out was taking the Historic District Trolley Tour. Since we had walked about 5 miles the day before I was happy to be off my feet on Saturday so the trolley tour was perfect. I simply loved learning all about Cape May and all the old Victorian homes. There are so beautiful and just driving through transports me to another time. We saw a church that has been converted to condos and a bunch of homes turned into B&B’s. It was so beautiful.
Consider checking out Cape May for your next girlfriends weekend. There is so much to do in that town. Come September there will be an awesome Food and Wine Celebration.
Disclosure: Thanks to the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities for providing tickets to events and AKA PR for connecting us with Cape Resorts.
Sharing is Caring!
Guinness Blonde BBQ Challenge: Grilled Ribeye Steak with Lump Crab, Grilled Corn & Broccoli Salad with Cheddar & Chive Biscuits
July 9th, 2015
If you have never grilled your entire meal, now is the time to start. This is a fancy BBQ dinner sure to amaze your loved one. Choose your own cut of meat, grill and served with Guinness Blonde Lager for the win.
One thing I am SURE thankful for are the rainy days. I am really trying not to be selfish about it but seeing that this is my first time being pregnant during the summer, I can only share how insufferable it is to be pregnant with the intense heat of summer. Even though we have had our share of nice days, I feel like I can still call it a summer since we have been using our grill very often to prepare our dinners. Let’s just say, it is my way to get my husband to cook.
I recently was given a challenge by Guinness to create a BBQ dinner that would pair well with their newest beer called the Guinness® Blonde™ American Lager. According to them:
Guinness Master Brewers in Dublin have collaborated with brewing experts in the U.S. at the famous Latrobe Brewery in Pennsylvania to create a one-of-a kind taste in American Lagers. Guinness Blonde is the first fusion beer in the new Guinness Discovery Series combining the best European brewing techniques with the finest American hops to create a complex, flavorful lager with a floral, hoppy aroma.
My husband knows I love my hops but I was never that girl. Since moving from Michigan to Pennsylvania I have grown to enjoy more lagers and IPAs that have more hops which only meant that my husband and I no longer had the same tastes in beer. Either way, he did agree that he liked the Guinness® Blonde™ and did not think it AS hoppy. He does like regular Guinness so it is good to know he gives this newer beer a thumbs up.
So what does it taste like? It is a crisp, light, but flavorful beer characteristic of the 1930’s American Pale Lager style with just a little more hoppy and citrus characteristics and a unique biscuit malt taste that begs to be experienced. All this flavor at just 149 calories per 12 fl. oz. bottle! I could not be any happier to enjoy such a beer and well, it paired well with our amazing dinner.
We ordered some delicious ribeye steaks from Omaha Steaks and my husband grilled one of them medium well and another well done with just salt and pepper. Meanwhile, I prepared some Cheddar and Chive Biscuits and assembled the Grilled Corn and Broccoli Salad that made for a simple yet elegant BBQ dinner for two. The grill flavor really combined well with the citrus and and biscuit malt taste enhancing every bite of steak, salad, and biscuit. It really was out of this world.
While a good steak is great with wine, grilled steaks with grilled vegetables and a delicious southern-style biscuit really just calls for a good Guinness® Blonde™. We enjoyed our dinner on Fourth of July and it definitely made sparks fly!
Have you tried it yet? Do you like hoppy beer?
This pairs well with the Guinness Blonde Lager and was created specifically with this lager in mind.
Ingredients
Instructions
Sharing is Caring!
Summer Vegetable and Basil Hummus Phyllo Pockets
July 7th, 2015
The summer-inspired phyllo pockets are great for families and a quick weeknight meatless dinner or for any party. You can use any seasonal vegetable at your local farmer’s market to vary this recipe.
One thing I love about summer is having a variety of produce available especially since every month there is a new fruit or vegetable to pick and choose. I am guaranteed an amazing amount of flavor through fresh seasonal produce and it allows me to create unique recipes. Some of the vegetables I enjoy during the summer are squash. I always feel like I can do something with the great bounty of zucchini and yellow squash and even help friends realize that even desserts can be made with such vegetables! How exciting is that?
Now that I have been pregnant for the third time and hopefully for the last time, I realize what food aversions hit me all the time. I am not always as excited about consuming vegetables so I look for options to consume them especially if I can pair them other foods that I also love, like hummus. Hummus is not only an easy go-to protein and snack, it also is wonderful adding to meals, creating creamy, lower calorie dishes and even more savory, since hummus now comes in SO many flavors.
Last month I had the privilege of being invited along with an amazing group of bloggers to check out Sabra’s factory in Richmond, Virginia where I was able to check out the production of my favorite creamy hummus. I was amazed by how clean, organized, methodical the whole production line looked from the company’s receiving beans, cleaning, cooking, cooling to the creation of all the variety of hummus flavors Sabra offers.
After we took our tour we heard from a nutritionist on how hummus was healthy for our bodies and how many people still do not know about it and how to eat it other than as dips. I’ve always learned that hummus was made from chickpeas, little protein-packed legumes that were super healthy buy I guess I did not realize that they are also a veggie as it was explained to us. Since having children, I knew that it was my go-to baby super food for them to enjoy and have they liked it!
While I always knew that Sabra made a variety of hummus, I guess I never KNEW how many different types. Hummus is a blend of chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice and other simple ingredients creating an amazing creamy dip or spread. I was floored when we were introduced to the whole line of Sabra products. Imagine a foodie heaven because the spread that was prepared was pretty impressive. We met Sabra’s in-house chef that is in charge of creating unique dishes and we learned how Sabra’s hummus has been paired carefully to make unique flavors for consumers to enjoy.
I only wish I could share each flavor with you because it was pretty mind-boggling. We also had a chance to make our own hummus flavor and topping like Sabra makes and then it was taste-tested by a panel of judges. It was fun to be able to have a variety of ingredients and spices, provided by Mr. Spiceologist himself, to create our own hummus flavor. I loved seeing creative foodie bloggers making their own creations.
When I got home, it was hard to leave that experience behind but it was also inspiring to continue using hummus in unique ways since there are still many people that do not know what it is and how to eat it. When I talked earlier about summer vegetables I decided to cook yellow squash and zucchini with mushrooms and onions to create an Italian filling paired with Sabra’s Basil Pesto Hummus. Both these ingredients served as a filling to place into phyllo where I folded into pockets and baked to a golden crispy pocket. Oh my!
These work really well as an appetizer or as a meal paired with a delicious tomato and cucumber salad for a healthy vegetarian meal. I am so happy to be sharing this lovely recipe thanks to Sabra. I hope you make these for your family or friends. Hummus is not only healthy but amazingly delicious. Don’t miss trying our the variety that Sabra offers.
If you do not know it already, our family enjoys hummus in so many ways so come and check out our recipe folder for the array of hummus recipes you can try.
Ingredients
Instructions
Try some other hummus recipes by fellow bloggers:
Chocolate Chipper Banana Bread by Treats With a Twist
Mediterranean Quinoa Hummus Bowls by Simply Quinoa
Spicy Hummus Deviled Eggs by Flanboyant Eats
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by the Sabra Dipping Co. As a Sabra Tastemaker I was asked to create recipes using their product. All opinions and creations are my own.
Sharing is Caring!
Lili Collection Shoes – Ideal for Tiny Feet
July 3rd, 2015Something I learned very quickly after having TWO girls in the house, how much I would love to dress them up and keep them in comfortable shoes. In reality, we really do not need more than 5 pairs of shoes but really, who can resist shoes?? I certainly can’t and we all know women can’t either.
Lili Collection is a fun and exciting brand of baby shoes that keeps a baby or toddler’s feet comfortable while being stylish and fashionable at the same time. I know kids usually have a hard time keeping shoes on at a certain age but Lili Collection’s Animoccs are so cute combining the moccasins with cute animals faces that kids will love and keep on.
My two-year old really loved wearing her Animoccs or Animal Moccasins, especially since they had an animal face on them and also because they were red. She also has had a hard time putting on her OWN shoes on and these moccasins were great for her to put on her own feet. I was proud of her and encouraging since she had been so frustrated. While she did not keep them on for a long time, seeing it is summer, she loved wearing them at home.
You know what I cannot wait for? I cannot wait for my little baby to wear her pair. Are they not CUTE? I am just amazed that Megan Linke came out with her idea in 2013 and not in just one style but in several for every season, baby and style. Why not support a product made in the USA? I think it is the best supporting a fellow mom who wants her own kids to be in style like myself.
Megan has been busy with new designs adding the following to Lili Collection:
How about your baby’s first birthday? Lili Collection has SUCH a cute pair of sprinkle moccasins not meant for every day wear but for a special occasion. They’re made from REAL sprinkles folks!
I think my next pair will have to be a foodie pair of moccasins because my kids seem to be in the kitchen all the time and it only seems suitable for them to wear.
Stay tuned to see my newborn in her moccasins come early August! I am so excited! Check out Lili Collections and see all the variety of fashionable shoes for girls and boys. Thank you to Lili Collections for the pair of moccasins for the girls. We will definitely be enjoying them for a while!
Chic Collections on Facebook and Twitter
Disclosure: We did receive product in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
