Decalicious

Perhaps this isn't anything new but I think these wall decals from whatisblik.co are so neat. You can take a very small space and make it look bigger by "faux" lights, chairs and plants or even a headboard for your bed! It's instant art that adds color and style to your space. Super cute and well worth the money. 

They even have them for floors too! 

Grape tomatoes galore...

So, I was trying to figure out how to use all of the grape tomatoes I've grown so far and found this wonderful Cooking Light recipe which was pretty good.

Angel Hair with Herbed Goat Cheese and Grape Tomatoes

Ingredients

12 ounces uncooked angel hair pasta (I use high fiber kind)

1 tbsp. olive oil

1.5 tsp. bottles minced garlic

2 c. grape tomatoes- halved

2/3c.fat-free, less sodium chicken broth

6 tbsp. crumbled garlic and herb flavored goat cheese

1/3 c. chopped fresh basil

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions without extra fat and salt. Drain and keep warm.

While pasta cooks, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet-high/med heat.

Add, garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Then add tomatoes and cook for about 2 minutes. Add broth and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add cheese, basil, salt and pepper to pasta stir until well blended. Add tomato mixture to pasta mixture tossing gently. Yields 4 servings.

What to do with grape tomatoes

I started a small container garden on my back deck not that long ago with mostly herbs and tomatoes planted. And this is the first time I've ever planted grape tomatoes. This particular tomato has turned out to be the best yet! I've also planted heirloom and plum tomatoes. The grape tomatoes are doing wonderfully in a large container and I've got an abundance of them to use every day so far.
Here are a few pictures of them. Recipe to come...

Crochet yet again.

I'm not sure why I'm fascinated with all things crocheted. Perhaps it's because I keep seeing it everywhere these days. Now, I found a crocheted rubber bowl on Gretel Home's website. Who thought such a practical thing could be so beautiful.

Oh endive, how I've never used you...

Looking through one of my Cooking Light cookbooks I found a recipe that I thought I would try. It was a simple appetizer/salad option that included endive leaves which I'd never used before. If you want a small bite sized dish with tons of flavor this is it!

Endive Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Walnuts


Ingredients:
1/2 c. coarsely chopped walnuts
2 tbsp. honey (divided)
Cooking Spray
1/4 c. balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp. orange juice
16 Belgian endive leaves (about 2 heads)
16 small orange sections (about 2 naval oranges)
1/3 c. crumbled goat cheese
1 tbsp. minced fresh chives
1/4 tsp. cracked black pepper


Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine walnuts and 1 tbsp. honey - spread onto cooking spray coated baking sheet and bake for 10 min. stirring after 5 minutes.
3. Combine 1 tbsp. honey, vinegar and orange juice in small saucepan. Bring to boil and cook until thickened.
4. Fill each endive leaf with 1 orange section. Top with 1 tsp. cheese and 1 tsp. walnuts. Drizzle vinegar mixture evenly over leaves and sprinkle with chives and pepper. 
8 servings of 2 leaves each.


FYI: Endive only has a shelf life of 2 or 3 days after you purchase then it starts to get dark and even more bitter. So, it's something that you buy the day of or day before you need to use it.

Fun earrings to make

I recently went through my files and came across a pattern that I printed out years ago. The pattern is from jewelry maker/designer/teacher, Tammy Powley, who is on About.com.  So, I thought I would try to make them --And it's super easy!
The pattern/directions for these earrings are here. Below are some of the pairs I made. All of them incorporate three stitching techniques: the ladder stitch, the brick stitch and fringing.

Vodka Sauce --revisited

Tonight I'm attempting my first vodka sauce. Which normally is a rich creamy sauce made with vodka (of course). This recipe is a little more figure friendly- being a Weight Watcher recipe.

Ingredients


1 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 medium shallots; minced (about 1/2 c.)
2 medium garlic cloves minced
2 tbsp. parsley, fresh minced
1/2 tsp. sea salt, or other course salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper, freshly ground
3 tbsp. canned tomato paste
2 oz vodka
12 oz uncooked penne
1/2 c. heavy whipping cream
20 leaves basil, fresh, cut into ribbons


Instructions


Add butter, garlic and shallots to large heated skillet (med/low heat)- sauté until shallots start to carmelize, about 3-5 minutes. Add parsley, sea salt and pepper stirring once or twice. Add tomato paste and mix to form paste. Cook for about 5 minutes, moving paste around pan occasionally; add vodka. Scrap bottom of pan with a wooden spoon and cook for about 5 minutes more.


Cook pasta according to directions; drain.


Add cream to tomato sauce; reduce heat to low and simmer for 3 minutes. Add pasta to sauce and mix to coat and absorb; top with basil and season to taste with salt and pepper.


1 cup per serving.