Star Table Runner...

For some reason the 4th of July is one of the holidays that I like to decorate my home for.  Here is a look back at one of the fun things that I did last year...

Red, white and black dried beans can make a fun statement when stacked in a clear jar or vase.  In fact this is my most pinned photo on Pinterest. 

Every year I try to add a little something to my decorations.  This year I decided to make a runner for my dining room table.  I wanted it to be simple and rustic but impactful at the same time.

To make it I used burlap (it is a roll from Micheals called "table runner burlap"), a star stencil and craft paint.

I made the star stencil by using a cookie cutter traced on a paper plate.

Then I just cut my burlap to the desired length and began stenciling one color at a time...

I used a paper towel to apply the paint.  I love it when everything is disposable!!

Here is the finished project complete with my little helper Owen.

 I love it on the table with a few blue mason jars filled with flowers and a red berry garland.

I also decorated my mantel in the living room...

A few of my star decorations from around the house, a new lantern and my America sign look great together.

My hutch is the only other place that I decorated...

My home is ready for Independence Day.

Even the entry outside...

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But I didn't just make myself a table runner.  I also made one for a lucky reader out there.  Katie McNeley...I will be getting a hold of you later today.  Sweet runner-

Giant Flag Sugar Cookie...

At Valentine's Day I posted a recipe for a really easy and super tasty sugar cookie bar.  I'm telling you again that this recipe is one of the easiest, fastest and best recipes I have here on the blog.  It only uses a handful of ingredients that most of you will have on hand and it makes a whole lot of bars.  Perfect for a crowd of any kind.

Here is a sneak peek...

When I was thinking about what I wanted to make for my families 4th of July celebration this was the first and only recipe that popped into my head.  I did however want to make them look festive.  So this post is more about making them patriotic and less about the recipe because you can look back and find the recipe in my archives under February 2013.  You could also use the premade sugar cookie dough at the super market.

I began by baking my bars.  Instead of baking them in a large 1/2 sheet pan I baked the dough in two disposable 9x13 pans...

I frosted them with a layer of cream cheese frosting that I purchased at the store but you could certainly make it homemade...

A perfect canvas!!

I then sliced a few strawberries...

To make the flag I began by placing blueberries in the upper left hand corner...

From there I took the sliced strawberries and made 4 rows...

To finish it off I used a star tip and piping bag to finish it but you could certainly just use a gallon Ziploc bag and snip the end off.

A few stripes between the strawberries & a few stars on the blueberries...

and you have a giant flag sugar cookie that will be perfect for any 4th of July celebration!!

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I have it covered and ready to be delivered to the lucky winner.  Lacey Pardue...you can expect this delivered to your shop a little later today.  Sweet Flag-

Patriotic Oatmeal Cookies...

A month or so back I posted my newest and most delicious Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe because it was National Chocolate Chip Day and lets get real...who doesn't love a chewy chocolate chip cookie??  They were seriously so good that I have been thinking about them ever since.  I have been wanting to recreate them...thinking of all of the yummy additions that could me made.  So I decided to add some oatmeal to the dry ingredients and then add blue and red M&M's for a patriotic spin.

You will make the cookie dough just as I did before (see recipe below), except I only added 2 cups of flour and 1/2 cup of quick cook oatmeal.  I chilled the dough for about 2 hours and then using my scoop I started shaping the cookies.  Because I wanted the M&M's to be on top I didn't add them to the dough...only to the top of the dough before they baked...

Remember you want the cookie dough to be taller than wide because then they bake up thick.

Bake them at 325° for 11 minutes and let them cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes so that they continue to cook just a little more.

The addition of the oatmeal gives them an added chewiness that I love.  I have packaged them for todays lucky winner...

Tonnette Anderson...you can expect a delivery tonight.  :)  Sweet patriotic-

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Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups flour

1/2 cup quick cook oatmeal

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter-melted

3/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg plus 1 egg yolk

2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup mini chocolate chips
Blue & Red M&M's

Mix together the flour, oatmeal, baking soda, cornstarch and salt in a large bowl and set aside.  In another bowl whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar and sugar until there is no lumps.  Whisk in the egg, extra yolk and vanilla.  Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix together well.  The dough will be soft.  Fold in the chocolate chips and chill for at least 2 hours.  Once the dough is chilled begin making your cookies.  I use a ice cream scoop but you could just use a spoon.  The dough may be a little crumbly but the heat of your hands will form it.  Be sure that the cookie dough is taller than wide.  Push M&M's into the top of the dough.  Bake in a preheated 325° oven for 11 minutes.  Cool cookies on the cookie sheet.



 

Celebrating Summer Giveaway...

Tomorrow is the first official day of summer!!
Even though it froze here last night!!
&
It has been forever since I have had a give away!! 

 Too long ago in fact!!

  It is way over due (kind of like I was when I had Tales almost 14 years ago but that is another story)!!

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One of the things about food blogging (especially holiday themed) is that I end up with waaaay to many leftover goodies (like I always say...my hips don't lie).  Next week I will be posting some fun and tasty ideas for the 4th of July...which is 2 weeks away.  What does this mean for 3 lucky peeps???  It means that three of you Lakeview readers (sorry out of town readers but some of it is perishable) will be winning the fun things that I am posting.  Each day as I post a recipe or craft I will announce the winner and deliver it to them. 

To win all you need to do is like this post on facebook or email me at sweettatersandtales@outlook.com and tell me your favorite thing to do on the 4th of July.  Entries must be in by midnight on Sunday, June 23 to be eligible for Monday's giveaway.  Good luck!!

SPECIAL NOTE:  I will be in need of some good thoughts tomorrow morning.  I am dropping my baby off at the airport in Reno bright and early to make her first solo flight.  She will be off to Colorado to visit one of her very good friends for a few weeks.  She doesn't seem nervous at all but I sure am!!  I hope I survive the stress of her in the air for 2 hours alone!!   Sweet giveaway-

Pepperoni Pasta Salad...

Pepperoni Pizza is always a hit with adults and kids alike...unless you were Tater for the first 12 years of his life.  He hated pizza!  Unless it had a white or bbq sauce on it he would not eat it!!  Thankfully he has grown out of his picky stage and likes almost anything.  It certainly makes cooking for the family a whole lot easier.  I remember times as a young mom being torn between how to handle dinner time.  Did I go ahead and cook two meals...one for the adults and one for the kids or did I just hope and pray that I could get my picky eaters to eat something?  Awwww, the life of a mom. 

A few months ago I bought a package of mini pepperoni to make pizzas...

They were a hit not only because they are delicious but also because they are so stinkin cute!!  For some reason mini versions of anything make me happy.  Just like my mild obsession with mini chocolate chips, mini pepperoni have a special place in my heart.  I'm a miniture food sap...what can I say??

This time of year there is always a backyard bbq happening (I love summer).  More often then not I am asked to bring dessert but sometimes I get asked to bring a salad, so I like to have a few go-to recipes.  In this recipe I have used a lot of the same flavors as a pepperoni pizza in a pasta salad.  It is fresh, a little spicy, and absolutely delicious.

To make it you will need a box of your favorite pasta (I used Rotini), a package of mini pepperoni, mozzerella cheese, italian seasoning, italian dressing and tomatoes...

Begin by cooking your pasta in salted boiling water until it is to your desired doneness and drain.  I then rinsed the pasta with cold tap water until the pasta was cool.  To the pasta I added 1 1/2 teaspoons of italian seasoning and 1/2 cup of italian dressing (you may want more or less)...

I used about 3/4 of a small brick of mozzerella cheese (but you could use shredded) that I cut into small bite sized pieces...

I added the chopped cheese and about 3/4 of the package of pepperoni to the pasta next...

Finally I added quartered cherry tomatoes and it was ready to go...

If you have leftovers you may need to add addtional italian dressing the next day because the pasta will soak up a lot of it.  I'm telling you this is the perfect side dish for any bbq you are invited to or even as main dish with some garlic bread for dinner tonight.  Sweet mini-  

Celebrating 40 years...

This last weekend my sisters and I threw our parents a 40th wedding anniversary party.  We started at Mario's Dinner House (a local resturant that my parents love) and ended with a dessert buffett at my house.  It was simple, it was sweet, and most of all it was special.  Any time that I get to do something nice for these two...

after all of the amazing things they have done for me it is a win in my book.

We were joined by family and friends who really made the night what it was.  I always say a good party is only as good as the people who attend and we were blessed with an awesome group. 

 As someone who is divorced and will never see the 40 year mark, I look at them and am reassured that marriage can last a lifetime.  They have been through better and worse, richer and poorer, sickness and health and still stand strong with a marriage that is based on trust, honesty and integrity.  They respect each other and love each other through whatever life puts in front of them.  Individually they are wonderful but together they are magnificent. 

Here are a few of my favorite shots of the night...

Dinner at Mario's...

Me & my Darb...

Mom & my Auntie Paula...

Papa Leo & Mamu...

A fun photo board courtesy of my sister Jamie...

The dessert table...

The centerpieces...

Being Silly...

A little brother time...

Congratulations Mom & Dad!!  I love you more than words can say. Sweet marriage-

Weightloss Wednesday...

I was hoping to see the 10 pound mark this morning and sadly I didn't.  The fact is that loosing weight is hard work.  Every.single.day I have to wake up and remind myself of my goals.  I have to give myself a positive pep talk for the day so that I keep on track.  I'm wondering if this ever stops and I'm guessing it doesn't.  To get to a healthy weight and maintain that will be a lifelong struggle but one that I am willing to take on. 

I've realized that being healthy means more than a cupcake, more than french fries, more than sitting on the couch in front of the TV.  That is not to say that I don't eat or do these things but I am very concious about what quanities I am exposing myself to.  As I have said before...I am seeking progress and happy that I am getting there.

In the evening I have been trying to a protein and veggie. 

Grilled steak and sauteed zuchini with fresh basil from my "mini" garden were delish last night.

Speaking of my "mini" garden...I planted two cherry tomato plants, basil, rosemary and parsley in my flower bed by my entry. 

Next year I am hoping to go bigger in the back yard.

My favorite snack this week is Roasted Garlic Hummus with Reduced fat Wheat Thins...so good...

Hope you all have a great week.  Sweet snack-

Let Summer Begin...

I realize that summer doesn't officially begin until the 21st but once school is out...it's on!!  My calender begins filling up with fun things like camping trips and it makes me VERY happy.  I may enjoy summer time a little too much!!  Just saying...

To kick it off Tales had her end of the year dance recital.  She and the rest of the dancers were awesome.  Thank you Linda and Jenn for doing such an amazing job!!

Tales & Abbie Sue...



Tales, Abbi and Kenna...



The moment that was over it was off to Medford for a little baseball, time with my sis, retail therapy and a whole lot of golf.  My nephews Gavin and Owen were finally playing on the same day and at different times, so my mom & I took the opportunity to go and watch them. 

Owen plays on a coach pitch league.  His attention span may be very short but the entertainment value is over the top.

He didn't want to be left out of the "coaches meeting"...



What a stance...

Base hit...

After the game was over they turned on the sprinklers for the kids.  Guess who was the first one out...

Gavin plays on a player pitch minor league team.  He is much more serious than his brother and has the game figured out.  Gav played catcher, short stop and pitcher.  He also had an RBI and 3 runs.

Water break...

Catching...

Good eye...Ball 3...

Strike...

It was also great to be able to spend some time with my sista and momma...

Tate spent the weekend at Centenial Golf Course at a Oregon Junior Golf Tournament.  He posted his best scores ever on 36 holes and loved every moment...

Tales & I were able to watch him on the 18th hole both days...good job bud...

This week I am preparing for my parents 40th anniversary party and the dessert buffet at my house.  I can hardly wait to see everyone coming in town to celebrate.  Sweet summer-