Who would like to join me???

At the beginning of each year I like to make a list of things that I would like to accomplish in the new year.  It is kind of like a "Bucket list" for the year and sometimes (or maybe a lot of times) things from the prior year don't get done and it once again gets put onto the next list.  The one thing that I did accomplish last year was to run a 5k.  For some reason it was something I really wanted to do and so over Labor Day weekend I did it and I have to say...IT FELT AMAZING!!  So this year when the whole list thing came along and I didn't have to add a 5k again...I decided to do something a little more daring...I penciled down a 10k or greater. 

I hadn't really thought much about it this month until the other day when I decided that I needed to find a race, enter and start training my rear end off (literally, I hope).  After looking around I settled on the 10 mile race at the Pear Blossom Run on Saturday, April 13th in Medford Oregon.  This gives me (us) 10 weeks to be ready.  Yikes!!  I said us because I would like any and all of you to join me.  If 10 miles seems too daunting then you can do the 5k at the same race and if running seems like too much then walk it.  It isn't about what race or how you finish...it is about setting a goal and achieving it. 

What is more fun that accomplishing something you work hard for??  Accomplishing something you work hard for with a group of fabulous ladies and making a weekend of fun out of it.  The cost of the event is between $20.00 and $35.00 (depending on the race that you choose).  The website to enter is pearblossomrun.com.  Let me know if you are interested by February 15th so that I can get a plan in place and so that you can have time to train (we don't want any injuries).  My email address is junebugnlkv@hotmail.com.  Lets challenge ourselves, set a goal and have a great time!!  Sweet goal-

My Bunco Babes...

A friend of mine who just moved back here has started up a Bunco group!!  I was lucky enough to be able to host the first evening and it was SOOOO much fun!!  It began with a theme and I chose "Pink Party" because over the holidays I really thought of and missed my late grandmothers (June & Pearl).  Both of them were breast cancer survivors and so the theme was born.  All of the ladies were told to wear pink.

For dinner I decided to serve up one of my favorite dishes Lasagna Roll-ups (recipe coming soon).  For some reason I am obsessed with them right now and I thought they would be perfect for a group of ladies.  I also made french bread and green salad...

Dessert is where things really got with the theme.  Pink ribbon sugar cookies & Pink Raspberry mini cheesecakes were on the menu.

There was also a silent auction.  I hand crafted 3 items, along with a bottle of wine and the ladies bid on them throughout the night.  We made a total of $40.00 which will be donated to the Susan J. Komen Foundation.  It was a fabulous night of great company and huge laughs.  Here are a few of my favorite shots...

Outfit of the night by...Mrs. Katy Paz...

Nails of the night by...Miss Shannon Hogue...

Sweet friends Shannon & Kristen...

Katy, Kendra & Marina...

Roll'em...

I can't wait until next month!!  Sweet Bunco-

Quick Chicken Noodle Soup...

With flu season here (and my Darb feeling under the weather) I decided to make a pot of Chicken Noodle soup after work on Friday night for dinner.  There is something so soothing about a warm and steamy bowl of homemade Chicken Noodle soup when you are not feeling well. 

There are few things that make me feel better when I am sick...

1. Being home

2. My mom (I realize I am almost 37 years old but who doesn't want their sweet mama when they don't feel well?)

3. A warm blanket (the one my Grandma Pearl made me preferably)

4. Soup (A can will do but homemade is always better). 

What I love about this soup is that it can be made in about 30 minutes and it tastes like you have been slaving over the stove all day.  The key to that is getting as much flavor out of all of you ingredients as you possibly can.  Seasoning and layering flavors as you go can take any one pot meal over the top.

To make it I started with 2 large boxes of low sodium chicken stock, 3 shredded & cooked chicken breasts, 2 chopped carrots, 2 stalks of chopped celery, 1/4 of a chopped sweet onion, 1 minced clove of garlic, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, frozen egg noodles, salt and pepper to taste...

I began by cooking my chopped vegetables and garlic in about 2 teaspoons of olive oil until they were soft and translucent...

I then added 1 Tablespoon of flour to the vegetables.  Be sure to stir it around well and let it cook for about 30 seconds.  This will give the soup a little thickness...

To that I added the chicken stock...

Cover and let simmer for about 10 minutes.  Add the frozen noodles and chicken...cover again until the noodles are soft...

Then it is ready...just add the fresh parsley and serve it up...

A few things about this soup is to use a low sodium chicken stock or broth.  I want to be able to control the salt in my food.  I also used the frozen egg noodles because I think they are fabulous in a pot of soup and they hold up well but you could definately use a box variety. 
Now it may not be a cure for the bug going around but at least it will warm your soul and fill your tummy.  Sweet soup-

French Bread Rolls

My mom is a master bread maker!!  For any given holiday you can find her warming drawer filled with a variety of delicious rolls.  Whole wheat is my favorite of all time!!  I'm not even joking...they are the best!!  Now I have to admit that I may have gotten a little of her baking skills but I also have to admit that baking bread scares me!!  There is the whole yeast thing and the rising time and the chance that they could turn out like hockey pucks and not the light bread that you had hoped for!!  Baking bread can be temperamental!!

But since I have been cooped up inside my house with the freezing temperatures I decided to give it a go.  I am using a recipe that I have adapted from Our Best Bites for their french bread.  Instead of making a loaf I decided to make small buns/rolls.  It made 18 small size buns that were extra delish with some slow cooked BBQ beef from the crock-pot.  The perfect dish to eat while watching football!!

I began by softening 1 1/2 cups of warm water (I used warm tap water), 1 package of yeast (Rapid Rise) and 2 Tablespoons of sugar.  Once you let it sit for about 10 minutes it will look like this...

To that I added 1 egg yolk, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 3 Tablespoons of vegetable oil...

Then I added 3 cups of all purpose flour and mixed it well...

It was at this point that I put the dough hook on my mixer and continued to add flour until I had a soft and slightly sticky dough (about another 1 1/2 cups or 4 1/2 cups total).  If you have a mixer you can continue to mix it with the dough hook for an additional 2-3 minutes and skip the kneading altogether but if not turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for the same amount of time.

Once kneaded I covered the dough with saran wrap and a towel, set the dough in a warm area and waited for it to rise or double in size (this took between 45 minutes and 1 hour)...

Punch the dough down...

To shape them into the small rolls I began by dividing the dough in half...

Then each of those half in half, and so on until you have 18 uniform pieces...

I again covered the dough with saran wrap and a towel, set the rolls in a warm area and waited for them to rise again.  This only took about 20-25 minutes...

Bake in a preheated 375° oven for about 15 minutes or until they begin to turn golden brown on top.  Remove from the oven to cool and spread butter on the top of the hot rolls...

Cool completely and serve.  They were pretty darn amazing and although it is a little labor intensive...I promise you it wasn't scary!!  Give this recipe a try and you will be glad you did!!  Sweet rolls-

Salted Caramel and Chocolate Cookies

I am so SICKKKKK of the weather here...we have been having below zero temperatures (-20°) for way too long now!!!  It is getting so old...I wish I could transport myself somewhere warm for a little while (or forever).  Long enough to warm my frozen bones and enjoy some sunshine that isn't accompanied by freezing weather and frozen snow!! 

When it is this cold, going outside is not something I want to do any more than I have to.  Staying in the warmth of my home wins every single time.  So what does a girl do when she is inside for two days straight??  Bake cookies of course!!

When you look around Pinterest you see a ton of Salted Caramel recipes out there.  The idea of sweet and salty together is always something that I love...I came up with this simple recipe, so that I could see what the fuss is all about.

You will only need 5 ingredients...YEP...you read that right...only 5!!  A chocolate cake mix (I prefer Duncan Hines when making cookies), 1/2 cup of margarine, butter or shortening, 2 eggs, kosher salt and a couple of packages of Rolo's or Caramello's (or both)...

To make the dough mix the cake mix, margarine and eggs together until mixed combined.  It will be a thick dough.

Assembling the cookies comes next.  I like to use a cookie scoop to keep everything the same size.  For the Rolo Cookies I put a small scoop of dough onto my lined baking sheet and then pressed a candy into the middle...

I then took another scoop of dough and put it on top.  Be sure to use your finger to seal the dough together around the Rolo (you don't want to loose all of your caramel) and sprinkle with kosher salt...

For the Caramello Cookies I used a larger scoop for the bottom cookie, pressed the candy into the middle...

And used the small scoop for the dough on top...

Bake in a preheated 350° oven.  The Rolo cookies took 10 minutes and the Caramello cookies took 13 minutes.  You want them to be set but NOT overcooked...

See the surprise in the middle...

My Tater loved them, especially when he discovered the treasure baked inside.  You could definitely make them without the salt on top but I am telling you that it makes the cookie!!  Sweet treasure-

Word of the year pillow...

Last week I shared with you my Word of the Year...which is FAITH.  I then opened it up to all of my readers to share with me their word for the year and I would randomly choose a winner.  The prize was not given, the only thing I told you was that it was something I would be making (I have to admit...I had no idea at that point). 

I wanted to make something that would incorporate the word.  Something that could be seen everyday by the winner and inspire them to continue their year long journey.  So I settled on a pillow.  I love the way it turned out...

To make it I used burlap fabric and cut out two identical rectangle pieces.  I then cut out a small piece of muslin to sew onto the front.  But not until after I painted the word on the fabric...

Then it was just a matter of sewing the two pieces together...being sure to leave a small opening to put the stuffing inside.  Then I used a whip stitch on the outside to complete the pillow.

A few added embellishments and it was finished.  Here is the one that I made for the winner Marietta Lamas...

Congratulations Marietta!!  I hope that 2013 fills you with more strength than you ever knew was possible!!  Sweet pillow-

My Front Room-The Accessories & Word of the Year Winner...

Earlier in the week I shared with you the process of putting together my front room.  The furniture, painting and curtains are in place...so now it is on to the accessories.  This is the part of decorating a room that I enjoy more than any other...it is like putting the perfect jewelry with an outfit...it makes a room!! 

I began by decorating the mantel and I have to admit that because I have been decorating it for holidays since October, it was a little strange to keep it simple but simple is what I love.  I always keep my clock there.  It is actually hung on the wall.  A few added items in the colors of black, cream and red finish it nicely...

On my end table I perched a framed photo of my babies on a couple of vintage books to give it height.  I also added a candle.  Underneath the table I have a black wire basket that is filled with sugar pine cones.  I love bringing a bit of the outdoors inside...

I also added a few of my favorite antiques to each side of the armoire.  An old milk can that was given to me by my Grandma Pearl sits on one side with red branches that I cut from the side of the road.  The other is flanked with an old milk crate that I set on it end and placed a rusted lantern in...

On top of the armoire I have an additional lamp, two canning jars and a wooden plant holder (that my sweet Tater's made for me) on a crocheted doilie that my Grandma Mary made for me...

It is so much fun when you can use items that mean something to you.  I love adding the addition of items either given or made for me by someone who is important to you...it adds an extra special quality to your space.

In the final hours of pulling it together I decided to re-purpose a book shelf from Tater's room on an empty wall...

It fits perfectly there...in fact I don't think that I could have found a more perfect piece if I tried!!  A few additional accessories and the room is nearly finished.

I still need my chair and would like to either find or have a bench made for the coffee table.  Nothing very wide because the space isn't huge...it will get there but for now this will do.  Sweet room-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**THE WINNER OF THE WORD OF THE YEAR DRAWING IS...MARIETTA LAMAS**

Check back in on Monday to see what I am making for her word...Strength!!