The Darcy

Another pair of boots to add to the gang! Meet Darcy: 

Come see them and more at my Etsy shop here.

The Ultimate Sugar Cookie

These are the softest and yummiest sugar cookies ever. Valentine's Day will never be the same.

Sugar Cookies
2 sticks of softened butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
5 cups flour (add until not sticky - may be a whole cup)
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, sour cream and vanilla. Add dry ingredients. Roll out 1/4" thick. Use a cute heart-shaped cookie cutter. Bake at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes depending on size of cookie. If they get golden brown they'll get crunchy.

Cream Cheese Frosting
 8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup margarine
2 tsp. vanilla
16 oz. powdered sugar
Red Food Coloring

Use a hand mixer until well combined. Don't mix too long or it'll get too thick.

Grape Chicken Salad

This has been a lunchtime favorite for my husband and I. We used to make it with mayo and with croissants, but it's just as good with Greek Yogurt and on wheat bread, in a pita or just in a leaf of Romaine lettuce. Yummers.

Grape Chicken Salad

1/2 lb. red grapes, rinsed and drained

2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed or shredded

1 small cucumber, cubed

1 small apple, cubed

3/4 cup Plain Chobani Greek Yogurt

1/2 tsp. lemon juice

1/8 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. onion powder

1/8 tsp. oregano

salt and pepper to taste

Mix the yogurt, lemon juice and spices in a small bowl. Combine the grapes, cubed chicken, cucumber and apple in a larger bowl. Carefully stir in the yogurt mixture. Put in fridge, and let it chill for an hour or more. Serve chilled with croissants, wheat bread, pita bread, or a lettuce leaf. 

We like it best a day after it's been prepared because all of the flavors marinate together and it's completely chilled through. Enjoy! 

Heart Garland

I have been feeling like my home needed a bit of love in lieu of the holiday this week. So I took some old red felt, and made a fun little heart garland. Felt, string, scissors and a glue gun.

Double up the felt so that you have 2 hearts exactly the same size. Cut out the hearts, any size that you wish. They could all be the same size, or alternate sizes, or make it random. 

Take one heart and place it under the string. Tack on some glue, and put the other heart on top with the string in between. 

Spread them out as you wish, far apart or touching. Hang it up and enjoy! Quick, easy, cut and festive. 

Bruschetta Chicken

I was in need of something fresh for dinner. Something not fattening, or heavy, but delicious and delightful. So I decided to go with a bruschetta chicken. It turned out so delish. It's a definite do-again. 

Bruschetta Chicken

5 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp. honey

(Bruschetta)

4 small tomatoes, diced

6 oz. of Mozzarella, cubed

6 fresh basil leaves, chopped

1 Tbsp. red onion, finely chopped

1-2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Chop, dice, cube and combine all of the ingredients for the bruschetta. I made it in the morning so the flavors could all marinate together all day long.

Combine the honey and balsamic vinegar and put in a bag with the chicken to let it marinate. Let it marinate for at least an hour. Grill the chicken for about 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked all the way through. My hubby is the perfect grill-master, so we had perfect juicy chicken. 

Serve chicken with a sliced baguette. Enjoy!

Samzi's Boutique Bow Giveaway

Samzi's Boutique is a new and adorable little shop selling some darling little hair bows for your little girls (daughters, nieces, granddaughters, neighbors...)! There are so many to choose from, and at a great price. I love 'The Tabitha' bow, so cute.


Check out her blog here: samziboutique.blogspot.com


Check out her etsy shop here: www.etsy.com/shop/SamziBoutique.com 


 To help get the word out I'm hosting a giveaway for 2 free bows!! Enter below by answering a question, liking them on facebook, following their blog and/or my blog. The giveaway goes through Sunday, so enter while you can!

Baked Mozzarella Sticks

My husband has been wanting me to make Mozzarella Sticks forever. And thanks to Skinny Taste I found this delicious, low-fat recipe for baked mozzarella sticks. They were a huge hit, so simple, and so tasty. Can't wait to make them again!

Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Ingredients: 

• 12 sticks part-skim, reduced sodium mozzarella string cheese (Sargento)
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 tbsp flour
• 5 tbsp Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 5 tbsp panko crumbs
• 2 tsp parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp dried parsley
• olive oil cooking spray

Directions:

Cut cheese in half both length-wise and width-wise. This makes it so each bite isn't too cheesy. Place cheese in the freezer until cheese is frozen.

In small bowl, whisk the egg. Place the flour on another small dish. In separate bow- combine the bread crumbs, the Panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and dried parsley.

Dip the frozen sticks in flour, shaking off excess, then into the egg, then coat with the crumbs.

Repeat this process with the remaining cheese placing them on a tray with wax paper. Place cheese back into the freezer until ready to bake (this is a must or they will melt before the crumbs get golden).

When ready to bake preheat oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray with oil.

Place frozen cheese sticks on baking sheet. Spray the tops of the mozzarella sticks with a little more oil and bake in the bottom third of your oven until crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Turn and bake an additional 4 - 5 minutes watching them closely so they don't melt.

Make sure to eat them straight out of the oven while they're nice and hot. Dip in marinara sauce.