3/52

A picture of each child once a week for one year.

 

 

Andrea's Olive Oil Granola

This granola is the best granola I have ever put in my mouth.

 

 My friend Andrea sent me this recipe one afternoon as I was lamenting over my need for something yummy that could pack the extra punch I needed for the day's remainder. She could not have known how perfectly she exceeded my request. I will be making this granola for the rest of my life.

 

If you like granola at all you will enjoy this one. The flavor is tremendous but what really pushes it over the edge is the texture. My jaw about cracks as I eat most granolas' stale crunch, I end a bowl with my teeth feeling on edge from the exercise. The secret to this granola's perfect texture is the olive oil. It softens the oats from the inside out, leaving each bite with the ideal chew.

 

Easy to make, easier to eat. You just might want to double the batch.

 

 

Olive Oil Granola

Courtesy  of Andrea DiSanto

 

 

5 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

 

Mix all the ingredients together and pour out on a greased cookie sheet.

 

 

Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes. Mix around with spoon. Bake another 20-25 minutes. Eat by the handful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Milani Lipsticks

The cost: $5.49

 

The Milani lipstick line offers a wide color selection, unless of course they are sold out of most of them and have not yet restocked. You can find all the color choices here. The price point is ideal for testing the waters of a new color without wanting to blow a load on something that may not work. I liked how they wore throughout the day and laughed when I realized they familiar smell of them was that of jolly ranchers, be it a perk or a deterrent I am not sure yet.

 

I purchased four lipsticks on my first go round since CVS was having a buy one get one 50% off sale. The colors are beautiful and wear just as nicely as my higher end lipsticks. I'm happy with all of the colors I selected and have been wearing Dulce Caramelo the last two days and enjoying it very much. I do wonder if and when I will have guts enough to wear the first one (uptown mauve) out in public, but hey it is a new year and a new year call for gutsy acts right? (reader shakes her head no)

 

Let me know if you pick any up and if there are colors I should be grabbing.

 

 (left to right: uptown mauve, pretty natural, cabaret blend, dulce caramelo)

2/52

A picture of each child once a week for one year.

 

 

Overnight Belgian Waffles

 

Yeasty, thick, slight crunch with a soft center, these waffles are a winner on every count.

Recipe adapted from Ina Garten's cookbook, Make It Ahead

 

1/2 cup warm water

1 package active dry yeast

2 teaspoons sugar

2 cups whole milk

1/4 pound (1 stick) butter, melted

2 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

2 cups all purpose flour

2 extra large eggs

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

 

The night before, combine the water, yeast, and sugar in a very large bowl. Allow it to stand for about 5 minutes, until the yeast dissolves and the mixture has started to foam, which tells you the yeast is active. Stir in the milk, butter, honey, vanilla and salt. Add the flour and whisk until the batter is smooth. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow it to sit overnight at a cool room temperature.

 

The next morning, heat a waffle iron while prepping the batter. Beat the eggs together with the baking soda and whisk them into the batter until combined. Pour just enough of the batter onto the hot waffle iron to cover the grids, close and cook for 5 to 6 minutes on medium heat, until the waffles are golden brown.

Eating Pizza

I finally am getting back to making meals again. I think they have my order memorized at Qdoba due to us ordered from there some many times in the last few weeks. Between eating there and being spoiled by my mom's amazing holiday meals I have been doing very little cooking. It was absolutely luxurious while it lasted but I have been chomping at the bit to get back in the kitchen.  I already was feeling the itch after such a long break, but added to that my sister bought me three new cookbooks for Christmas that I have been devouring (pun intended) and ready to test out. Though the meal below is one on regular rotation believe me that the food rolling out of my kitchen has all been new recipes...which is both fun and interesting. Last night's spiced rubbed pork butt was close to a success, minus Judah who nearly threw-up after the first bite. Oh well. Someday he will eat food besides carbs...someday...right?

    Now for the pizza. This time it was onions, garlic, sausage, parmesan, cherry tomatoes and pesto. So good.

Anyone else enjoying being back in the kitchen? Or are there some recipes I need to be trying...anyone?? Anyone??

1/52

A picture of each child once a week for one year.

 

 

 

Oilily Love

Can I please have all of these beautiful things to dress my children in? (and a second job since that is what it would take to do such a thing...just kidding...about a second job, I enjoy my first one far too much:))

All images taken from here.

 

I think it is good that I don't know how to figure out the actual cost due to the prices not being in US dollars. I have not even started showing the women's items, I'll save that for another time, enough heart palpitations happening already for me.