Spring Break Baby!

For my best friend Maria's spring break (and my Easter break), I flew up to DC to visit.  We drove to the beach in NC, and had a great time relaxing, walking on the beach, getting pedicures, shopping, and more.  Here are some fun pics. 

 Enjoying the beach

 I went running around like an idiot

Dancing like cool kids 

Last day, in the middle of the wading pools at low tide 

 

We saw the easter bunny

Banana Bread

Who likes banana bread?  Me!  Here is a great, moist, purely banana recipe that makes a delicious baked good. 

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sour cream
3 ripe bananas

Mix the butter, sugar, vanilla, and eggs, and combine with the dry ingredients.  Fold in the sour cream and bananas.  Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. 

Shades of Gray

I painted all the neutral in my house from beige to gray - but we have very tall ceilings.  We ended up renting scaffolding from Home Depot to help us reach!  Adam put it all together for me (with no instructions! - he's so smart!) and I did the painting.

Rodeo is in Town!

I had two friends from college make the long trip down here for rodeo season - we spent our time together kayaking, relaxing on the back porch, eating Mexican food, and watching the rodeo!

Paddling in Lake Woodlands!

 

Enjoying the lake view with some wine

Outside the rodeo arena

 

Last day we went shooting

Maria's first time shooting

Lobster and Pasta

I have a ton of blogging to catch up, and my day off seems like a good time to get started.  Here we go!

For Christmas, it's tradition in my dad's Italian family to have seafood on Christmas Eve.  This was always lobster and pasta for dinner at my house growing up.  I don't eat lobster, but Adam does, so we have continued the tradition here. We had a bunch of local friends over for dinner that night, and we had some delicious pasta, homemade meatballs and sauce, roasted broccoli, and delicious garlic bread.  Check it out!

Meatball Sandwiches

Ever made a meatball sub and been angry when the meatball wouldn't stay in place so you could take a bite?  I have!  So, why do we insist on making meatballs?  Let's make it easier, and use a meatball recipe, but form the meat into a long, flat hamburger-like patty, and fry it up for a meatball sub that WON'T have balls falling everywhere. 

 

 

Much easier! 

 

 

1 Meatball Recipe

1 cup tomato sauce

2 ounces mozzarella

a sprinkle of parmesan

good bread

 

Preheat the oven to 400.  Fry up your meatball "patty" in a pan.  While frying, slice the bread, spread sauce on each side, and add mozzarella and parmesan to both halves.  Place the meatball "patty" on the sub, and toast in the oven til melty

Oreo Truffles

It's been a while!  As part of my new, "unplugged" initiative, I am trying to be less connected to electronics during MY time.  I am trying to use the computer/phone/tv less each day, so that I can spend my time doing more interesting things, being outside, and using my BRAIN! instead of being a zombie to electronics.  I was a waste of space, really, when I got home.  I would take the dogs outside, cook dinner for Adam and I, and then watch TV or play on the computer until bedtime.  That's all gonna change!  But, I will have to resort to posting updates less frequently.  And in that topic, here we are.

 

Oreo Truffles

 

 

I had my first taste when someone brought them to a work event and shared some leftovers.  I had team building the next week, so I figured I would make some too!

 

Ingredients:

1 block softened cream cheese

1 package oreos

1 package milk chocolate chips, melted

 

In a food processor, add the oreos and crush until fine.  Add the cream cheese and blend until well mixed.  Put mixture in freezer, for 30 minutes.  Remove from freezer, and form into balls.  Freeze the balls for 1 hour.  Melt the chocolate, and then remove balls from the freezer, and roll them in the chocolate to coat.  Place on wax paper to dry.  I added some coconut while they were still wet as garnish.  Try chocolate chips, white chocolate, more oreo bits, etc.