Tortellini Garden Salad

I inherited a little garden from one of my neighbors that was moving. It is overflowing with grape tomatoes. So I used a whole bunch in this fresh summer salad. It can be served warm, or cold. Perfect for a side dish at dinner, and for the lunch the next day!

Tortellini Garden Salad

9 oz. Refrigerated cheese tortellini, cooked

1 cup of corn

1 cup of grape tomatoes, rinsed

1/3 cups of Fat-free Italian dressing

1/8 tsp. garlic salt

1/8 tsp. onion powder

Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Cook the tortellini according to the package directions. Also make sure your corn is cooked through, whether it's from corn on the cob, frozen or canned, just make sure it's cooked. 

2. In a large bowl combine the tortellini, corn, tomatoes, the Italian dressing, garlic salt, onion powder and salt a pepper. 

3. Stir it until it's all well combined. Serve and enjoy!

White Chocolate Popcorn

I typically like to eat good, healthy food. But there is a time and a place to eat really yummy, tasty, and sweet goodies. Football games are definitely one of those times. This is a quick and easy recipe. But is the perfect mix of sweet and salty. 

White Chocolate Popcorn

3 bags - Butter Popcorn (popped)

1 12 oz. bag - white chocolate chips

1 medium bag - peanut butter M&M's

1. Pop your popcorn and take out all of the kernels, at least find as many as you can. Place in large bowl.

2. Melt your white chocolate. Put the whole bag in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute on high. Take out and stir. Heat for 15 seconds. Stir. Heat for 15 more seconds if you need to. 

3. Slowly stir in your white chocolate until well combined. 

4. Stir in the M&M's. 

5. Place on a baking sheet to help the chocolate cool and harden. 

Enjoy!

Home Re-Do

I have missed posting on this blog! It's been a crazy month, from Disneyland, to boot sales picking up, to moving back into our home!

I am determined to make our home the happiest and most peaceful place for my family to be. I am starting room by room, and it's coming together a little at a time. I first started with our half bath on the main floor. I wanted to add a little pop, and so big wide stripes it was. The walls were already a pretty beige color, so I just used the semi-gloss white paint we used for the trim of the house to do the walls. I was so glad I did the semi-gloss, I like the detail of the two finishes (semi-gloss vs. satin). 

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 Then I've also been diligently working on putting our dining area together, and I think I'm finally there:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 I've loved how it turned out. Painted the walls (Valspar - The Harbor: but then we had them do a shade darker, so I'm not sure the exact color), spray painted the mirror a Nickle color, Ikea white curtains and I sewed on the blue stripes, light pendant from West Elm, white x-back chairs from Ikea, wicker chairs off of the KSL Classifieds, and the table from RC Willey. It is so refreshing to walk in and see this room, it just makes me so happy. It's so bright and airy, and I just love every last bit.

Choco-Banana PB Shake

This shake has become an almost nightly tradition for my hubby and me. It's only about 200 calories per serving, which is much better than my favorite 700 calorie grasshopper shake from JCW's! 

Choco-Banana PB Shake

1 cup almond milk

1 heaping Tbsp peanut butter

1/4 cup vanilla yogurt

2 Tbsp. cocoa powder

1 cup ice

1 banana

Throw it all in the blender, and blend until smooth. Makes 2 servings. 

Enjoy!

Envelope Pillow Tutorial

Quick. Easy. Washable. Cheap. This pillow is so easy, I made about 4 in an hour! It's so nice too because you can slip it off and wash it, and if you're a mom with young kiddos that is a must! 

I bought THIS pillow at Joann's with a 50% off coupon. Then I got THIS fabric on sale for only $6.74 a yard. 

Supplies

2/3 of a yard (19.5 inches actually) 45" wide fabric

1 Pillow form - 18 x 18 inches

Rotary cutter and mat (unless you can cut super straight on your own - which I can't!)

Sewing Machine

1. Cut your fabric: 45" x 19.5" 

2. Finish both of the ends that are only 19.5". To do this I folded the end over twice about a 1/2" and sewed two seams to give it a nice finished look.  

3. Lay the pillow flat, with the right side of the fabric facing up. Fold over one edge, and the other so that they over lap about 6".  Pin where the two edges meet on one side. 

4. Remove the pillow. Measure exactly how many inches from the end folded under to the other end folded over. Should be about 6". Now measure the other side to make sure they are exactly the same distance. 

5. Pin both side in place.  

6. Sew right along the edges, with about a 1/2" seam allowance. One I sewed each side, I went back and did a zig zag along the edge to keep from fraying. (Even though you won't be able to see the inside, I want to keep the threads from fraying when I remove the cover to wash it).  

7. Turn inside out.  

8. Stuff your pillow inside and enjoy! 

The Perfect Salsa

Thank you Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, for introducing us to THIS wonderfully beyond delicious salsa. I will never ever buy salsa again. It is the perfect consistency - not too chunky, but not too running, sticks to you chip, and makes my mouth water just thinking about it!!! I have already made this recipe twice in the last 3 days. I also took some to a party tonight and everyone just raved about how good it was. 

If you like spicy salsa add the entire jalapeno, if not, just don't include the seeds. 

The Perfect Salsa

1 can (28 oz.) Whole Tomatoes with Juice

2 cans (10 oz.) Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 clove minced garlic

1 whole jalapeno, chopped

1/4 tsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1/4 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

The juice of 1 lime

Put everything in your food processor. Pulse about 12 - 15 times until you achieve your desired consistency. Taste with a tortilla chip, and add anything you think it might need. Refrigerate for at least and hour. Serve. Enjoy!!

Breakfast Cookies

A sweet, satisfying, no flour, no added sugar, no eggs, chewy, and yummy. All wonderful things. The thing that got me excited about this recipe I found here, is the many possibilities! I think next time I might add some cocoa powder for chocolate cookies, or peanut butter. Less than 100 calories for each cookie.

Breakfast Cookies
1-1/2 cups rolled oats
2 ripe bananas, mashed until creamy
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup Craisins and/or raisins
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl mash bananas until creamy and no chunks.
3. Add the oats, applesauce, Craisins, chopped walnuts, cinnamon and vanilla. Stir just until combined.
4. Plop a spoonful onto a greased cookie sheet. Should make about 12.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes. They're good warm, but I actually liked them better after they sat for a few hours , cooled down, and let the flavors are settle in with each other.

Enjoy!