CLASSIC WAFFLES

MY HUSBAND WANTED TO MAKE OATS AND EGGS FOR BREAKFAST. AND DON'T GET ME WRONG, I LIKE OATS AND EGGS, BUT I WANTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING WE DON'T NORMALLY HAVE. THEN IT DAWNED ON ME....WAFFLES!!! SO I WENT SEARCHING ON PINTEREST. I SEARCHED FOR A SIMPLE WAFFLE RECIPE AND STUMBLED UPON ADRIANNE'S CLASSIC WAFFLE RECIPE OVER AT HAPPY HOUR PROJECTS. IT'S A GOOD ONE. AS YOU CAN SEE,  MY SON LUKE HAS ALMOST EATEN A WHOLE ONE.

BUT BEFORE I MADE THE WAFFLE BATTER, I WHIPPED UP SOME BLUEBERRY BUTTER. I WAS WATCHING NONE OTHER THAN "THE PIONEER WOMAN." SHE MADE FRENCH TOAST WITH BERRY BUTTER. I THOUGHT BLUEBERRY BUTTER & WAFFLES WOULD GO HAND AND HAND.YOU NEED TO SET YOUR BUTTER OUT SO IT CAN COME TO ROOM TEMPERATURE. I AM IMPATIENT, SO I PUT THE STICK OF BUTTER IN THE MICROWAVE FOR 3-4 SECONDS AT A TIME, FLIPPING THE BUTTER A QUARTER OF A TURN EACH TIME. IT COMES TO ROOM TEMPERATURE A LOT FASTER THIS WAY. THROW THE STICK OF BUTTER IN THE MIXER WITH THE BLUEBERRIES. WHIP THEM UNTIL THE BERRIES BREAK UP. 

DUMP THE BERRY BUTTER ONTO SOME PLASTIC WRAP.

ROLL UP THE BUTTER IN THE PLASTIC WRAP.

WRAP THE PLASTIC WITH TIN FOIL AND POP IT IN THE FREEZER TO FIRM UP.

SO, ON TO THE WAFFLES. 

YOU WILL NEED:

• 2 EGGS
• 1 CUP OF MILK
• 2 TBSP SOFTENED BUTTER
• 1 TBSP OF SUGAR
• 1/2 TSP OF VANILLA
• 1 CUP OF FLOUR
• 1 TSP OF BAKING POWDER

THIS RECIPE YEILDS 4 WAFFLES.

TODAY, WE HAD OUR NIECES OVER, SO I DOUBLED THE RECIPE. 

JOSH AND LUKE MANNED THE WAFFLE MAKER.

JOSH WANTED BACON INSIDE HIS WAFFLES. NO PROBLEM. I KEEP COOKED BACON ON HAND IN THE FREEZER. I HAPPENED TO HAVE MAPLE FLAVORED BACON ON HAND SO IT WENT PERFECT WITH THE WAFFLES AND MAPLE SYRUP.

JOSH POURED SOME BATTER ON THE WAFFLE MAKER FIRST, THEN ADDED THE BACON, AND THEN HE POURED MORE BATTER ON TOP OF THE BACON.

THESE CLASSIC WAFFLES WERE A GREAT START TO A SUNDAY MORNING.

LET ME KNOW HOW YOURS TURNED OUT!

CIAO 

EVERYTHING "MINT"

MINT IS ONE OF THOSE CLASSIC ELEGANT COLORS. MINT IS PRETTY AND POPULAR WITHOUT BEING IN YOUR FACE. HERE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITES.

BUBBLE NECKLACE

NIANIACOLLECTION

GLAM NAILS

WE HEART IT

NICE CENTER PIECE

SOURCE UNKNOWN

VINTAGE BICYCLE 

SOURCE UNKNOWN

 CUTE JUMPER/DRESS "MINT OVERDOSE"

HAUTE AND REBELLIOUS

TRENCH COATS <3

TEEN VOGUE

TALK ABOUT CLASSIC 

WE HEART IT

MODERN MASTER WITH GOLD ACCENTS

FIVE STAR PAINTING
PHOTO COURTESY OF COCO COZY

CAN YOU SAY SHABBY CHIC

ONE TOWED

BLING BLANG

SOURCE UNKNOWN

MINT WEDDING

PINK CUPCAKE WEDDINGS

LOVE THE SCARF

SOURCE UNKNOWN

TEA PARTY TABLE SETTING

STYLE ME PRETTY

CHECK OUT MORE OF EVERYTHING "MINT" AT MY PINTEREST PAGE.

CIAO

LOADED TWICE BAKED POTATOES

HAVE I TOLD YOU ALL THAT I ADMIRE REE DRUMMOND, THE PIONEER WOMAN? DO YOU KNOW HER? I HADN'T HEARD OF HER UNTIL HER SHOW CAME ON THE FOOD NETWORK CALLED "THE PIONEER WOMAN". SHE LIVES IN THE COUNTRY ON A RANCH AND ALWAYS HAS MANY MOUTHS TO FEED...4 KIDS, A HUSBAND AND ASSORTED RANCH HANDS.  WELL,  IN MY CASE, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MOUTHS TO FEED...YET. BUT SOME DAYS, WE DON'T GET HOME UNTIL 7PM AND THEN HAVE TO COOK DINNER. LATELY,  MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN COOKING "MAKE AHEAD" DINNERS.... A LOT OF THEM. WE REALLY NEED A DEEP FREEZE. THESE TWICE BAKED POTATOES WERE GREAT FOR OUR "MAKE AHEAD" DINNERS. WE DOUBLED REE'S RECIPE SO WE CAN FREEZE A BUNCH AND PULL THEM OUT OF THE FREEZER WHEN WE WANTED THEM.

SO, ON WITH THE INGREDIENTS THAT YOU WILL NEED:

• 16 POTATOES
• 2 CUPS OF SOUR CREAM 
• 2 STICKS OF BUTTER
• 8 SLICES OF BACON
• 2 CUPS SHREDDED CHEESE (OF YOUR CHOICE)
• 1 8oz PACKAGE OF CREAM CHEESE
• LOWERY'S SEASONED SALT TO TASTE
• 1 TBSP GROUND BLACK PEPPER
• 1 CUP MILK*

*THERE IS MILK IN THE PICTURE,  AND FEEL FREE TO USE SOME, BUT I DID NOT NEED TO USE ANY MILK.  BY ADDING THE CREAM CHEESE AND THE SOUR CREAM, OURS WAS CREAMMMMYYY!!

WASH YOUR POTATOES UNDER COLD WATER TO GET ALL THE DIRT OFF AND PLACE THEM ON A COOKIE SHEET. POP THEM IN A 400 DEGREE OVEN FOR 1 HOUR, 15 MINUTES. 

WHILE THE POTATOES ARE BAKING, FRY YOUR BACON, CUT IT INTO A CRUMBLE SIZE AND PUT IT IN A LARGE BOWL.

NEXT, THE BUTTER! I CAUGHT MY SON EATING THIS STICK WHEN I WASN'T LOOKING.

YOU WILL CUT THE BUTTER INTO SMALL PIECES LIKE THIS.

PUT THE BUTTER INTO THE BOWL WITH THE BACON.

ADD THE SOUR CREAM TO THE BACON/BUTTER MIXTURE.

WHEN THE POTATOES ARE DONE, PULL THEM OUT OF THE OVEN AND HAVE THEM SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE REASON REE SAYS TO BAKE THEM "NAKED" (WITH NOTHING ON THEM) IS SO THE SKIN WILL BE NICE AND FIRM.  

NEXT,  USE A KITCHEN TOWEL TO HANDLE THE HOT POTATOES AND CUT THE POTATO LENGTHWISE WITH A SERRATED KNIFE. DO THIS TO EVERY POTATO.

WITH A SPOON, SCOOP OUT THE POTATO INTO THE BOWL WITH THE SOUR CREAM, BACON AND BUTTER. THE POTATOES WILL STILL BE VERY HOT. YOU WILL BE LEFT WITH POTATO SKINS. THEY ARE READY FOR THIS OH SO YUMMY FILLING WE'RE ABOUT TO BLEND.

YOU CAN'T SEE THE BACON AND OTHER INGREDIENTS BUT THEY ARE HIDING UNDER THE POTATO INNARDS....HEHEHE.

SINCE THE POTATOES ARE STILL HOT, USE A MASHER TO WORK EVERYTHING TOGETHER. ADD THE CREAM CHEESE. THE BUTTER WILL MELT, THE SOUR CREAM WILL COMBINE, AND THE CREAM CHEESE WILL WORK IN AND WON'T BE LUMPY. BUT, YOU HAVE TO DO THIS WHILE THE POTATOES ARE STILL HOT. 

MY HUSBAND BUSTED OUT THE HAND MIXER BECAUSE MY ARM STARTED TO GET TIRED WITH THAT MANY POTATOES. 

AT THIS POINT, WE MIXED IN THE LOWERY'S SEASONED SALT AND THE PEPPER.

MIX IN THE CHEESE.

TASTE TO MAKE SURE IT IS SEASONED TO YOUR LIKING. I THEN TOOK THE POTATO  SHELLS AND FILLED THEM UP WITH THE OH SO CREAMY FILLING. 

THEY ARE READY! YOU CAN BAKE THEM NOW, OR DO WHAT I DID AND WRAP THEM INDIVIDUALLY IN PLASTIC WRAP AND PUT THEM IN A FREEZER BAG. YOU CAN TAKE ONE, TWO, THREE, HOWEVER MANY YOU NEED AND POP THEM IN AN 350 DEGREE OVEN,  SPRINKLE SOME MORE CHEESE ON THE TOP AND BAKE THEM FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES.  

MAKE AHEAD MEALS. WE HAD THESE THE OTHER NIGHT WITH STEAK, GREEN BEANS AND MUSHROOMS. BUT THE POINT IS, WHATEVER YOU HAVE FOR DINNER, THESE LOADED TWICE BAKED POTATOES WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO YOUR MEAL. 

CIAO 

GARBAGE DISPOSAL REFRESHERS

FROM TIME TO TIME,  OUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL NEEDS TO BE FRESHENED UP.   MOST OF THE TIME,  I  DROP A LEMON,  RIND AND ALL, INTO THE DISPOSAL. BUT IT SEEMS TO BE DIFFICULT FOR THE DISPOSAL TO BREAK IT DOWN.  I FOUND THIS TUTORIAL ON PINTEREST.  IT IS FROM SAVVY SUGAR.   I ALREADY HAD ALL THE INGREDIENTS AT THE HOUSE,  SO I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY.  HERE  IT GOES. 

YOU WILL NEED: 

• 3/4 CUP BAKING SODA
• 1/2 CUP SALT
• 1/2 TEASPOON LIQUID DISH SOAP
• 1 LEMON
• SHEET PAN
• PARCHMENT PAPER
• SPOON OR SCOOP
• WHISK
• MEDIUM SIZE BOWL
• MICRO PLANE(SMALL GRATER)  
• RESEALABLE GLASS JAR   

YIELDS ABOUT 16 TABLETS PER RECIPE

FIRST,  POUR THE SALT AND BAKING SODA INTO THE BOWL.  MIX THE TWO TOGETHER WITH A WHISK, MAKING SURE THERE ARE NO LUMPS.  NEXT,  GRATE THE LEMON ZEST (THE YELLOW SKIN) INTO THE BOWL USING THE MICRO PLANE;  ADD THE LIQUID DISH SOAP.

THE MIXTURE SHOULD BE THE SIZE OF PEAS.

TO THIS, YOU'RE GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF LEMON JUICE AND STIR, REPEATING THIS STEP UNTIL THE MIXTURE RESEMBLES WET SAND. 

FIRST, I USED AN ICE CREAM SCOOP TO SHAPE THE TABLETS , BUT A MEASURING TABLESPOON  WORKED BETTER FOR ME.  YOU'LL WANT TO USE A UTENSIL THAT HAS A DEFINITE SCOOP SHAPE TO IT.   I HAD TO PACK IT DOWN IN THE SPOON SO THE TABLETS WOULD KEEP THEIR SHAPE WHEN I POPPED THEM OUT. PLACE THESE ON A SHEET PAN LINED WITH PARCHMENT PAPER. AND  LET THEM  DRY FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS.  STORE THESE IN A RESEALABLE GLASS JAR.  I DOUBLED THE  RECIPE FROM WHAT I LISTED ABOVE SO THAT IT WOULD LAST ME AWHILE.  MINE YIELDED 31 TABLETS. 

THIS WOULD MAKE A GREAT LITTLE HOSTESS GIFT OR A NICE ADDITION TO A HOUSE WARMING BASKET. ADD A FEW DROPS OF FOOD COLORING TO HAVE THEM COLOR SPECIFIC FOR A GIFT, GREEN AND RED FOR A CHRISTMAS GIFT...THAT WOULD BE SO CUTE!!

CIAO

COZY CHIC CORNER

WE HAVE A WOOD FIREPLACE THAT WE USE IN THE WINTER, OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE NEVER HAVE HAD ANYTHING NEAR IT. I KNOW THE FIRE PLACE IS REALLY DARK, BUT THAT WILL BE A FUTURE PROJECT TO PAINT. SO THE WALL HAS USUALLY BEEN BLANK. OTHER THAN A FEW WALL HANGINGS. THE HEADBOARD LEANING AGAINST THE WALL WAS MADE FOR A FRIEND AND HASN'T BEEN PICKED UP YET.

THESE WERE MY INSPIRATIONS FOR MY WALL. I KNEW I WANTED TO USE A MIRROR SO IT WOULD BRING MORE LIGHT TO THE DARK CORNER.

  

CLASSIC CASUAL HOME

UNKNOWN SOURCE

A FEW YEARS BACK, MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO A LOCAL ESTATE AUCTION AND NOTICED THIS DRESSER. THE DRESSER HAD BEEN IN OUR MUDROOM EVER SINCE. I THOUGHT IT WOULD WORK GREAT FOR THIS SOON TO BE COZY CHIC CORNER. THE KNOBS WERE PLATED IN BRASS, SO MY WONDERFUL MOM TOOK A FEW HOURS(JUST FOR ONE KNOB) AND SANDED IT DOWN TO A NICE SILVER COLOR. THANK YOU MOM!! SHE HAS MORE PATIENCE FOR TEDIOUS JOBS LIKE THAT.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE WALL COLORS HAVE CHANGED. MY MOM IS A GREAT PAINTER AND SHE CAME DOWN TO PAINT OUR LIVING ROOM, DINING ROOM, KITCHEN & THE HALLWAY. SHE'S AWESOME!! THE COLORS THAT WE CHOSE WERE FROM BEHR "SALT GLAZE" PPU12-11 & "MUSHROOM BISQUE" PPU4-7. SALT GLAZE WAS AN ACCENT WALL THE REN NEXT TO THE FIRE PLACE TO BRIGHTEN UP THAT CORNER. MUCH BRIGHTER NOW!  THE RECTANGULAR MIRROR I ALREADY HAD SO I LEANED THAT AGAINST THE WALL ON TOP OF THE DRESSER.  

THE PILLOWS ON THE CLUB CHAIR NEEDED AN UPDATE. I HAD Himalaya Ikat Porcelain Blue FROM FABRIC.COM ALREADY. SO I HAD MY MOM RECOVER ONE OF THE PILLOWS.

I LIKED THE WAY THE PILLOW TURNED OUT!

ADDED A TABLE LAMP THAT I TOOK FROM ANOTHER TABLE IN THE HOUSE. A LIGHTED STICK ARRANGEMENT THAT I'VE HAD SINCE MY FRIEND'S ASHLEY & MIKE'S WEDDING(5 YEARS AGO). A PHOTO OF OUR SON, A CRYSTAL WIRE BALL & A PORCELAIN EGG. IT REALLY CAME TOGETHER. OHH AND THE NAKED NUDE NICK IN THE BACKGROUND, AN ADDED TOUCH!

NOW GRANTED THE INSPIRATION PICTURES HAD A PAINTED DRESSER, BUT MY HUSBAND LIKED IT RUSTIC. SO I HAVEN'T PAINTED IT....YET.

IT LOOKS SO MUCH BETTER! BY BRINGING SOME PIECES TOGETHER, THAT I ALREADY HAD AROUND THE HOUSE, I HAVE TAKEN A SHABBY BARE WALL AND REDECORATED IT TO A COZY CHIC CORNER. 

I CAN'T WAIT FOR A COLD SNOWY WINTER NIGHT, NEXT TO THE FIRE, WITH A CUP OF JOE. 

CIAO