Creamy Beef Stroganoff

This is creamy and rich! INGREDIENTS 1 lb beef stew meat, (if chunks are too big cut in half); 2 TBL olive oil; 1 container Philelphia Cream Cheese Cooking Cream - (10 oz) 1 small yellow onion, chopped; 1 package mushrooms, washed and sliced; 2 cups of water,; salt, pepper, garlic powder, Tony's cajun seasoning (all added to your taste preference); a few dashes of Crystal hot sauce; 1 package noodles, cooked DIRECTIONS Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add beef and onions. Brown for about 10 minutes until cooked thru. Add mushrooms and water - simmer for about 25 minutes (this will make the beef strips tender). There should be a little water remaining, if not add about 1/4 cup of water. Stir in cooking cream and spices. Cook for an additional 5 minutes. Serve over noodles.

A Day at the Park

My friends and I wanted to hang out at the park yesterday because it was such a beautiful day. I have to admit, I haven't done this in a while. They have 2 kids, so it was fun watching them run around. People were flying kites and it brought back many childhood memories! Although, this time, I was indulging in amazing food - not the playground! We grilled hotdogs, deer meat sausage and jalapeno poppers! All were amazing. If you want a fun, inexpensive way to hang out on a weekend - be creative and grill up some grub!

Cajun Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo

This was dinner last night and it was sooooo yummy!!! INGREDIENTS 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped; 3 TBL butter; 2 cups heavy cream; 2-3 dashes of Crystal Louisiana Hot Sauce 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated (add more if needed); 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 pound jumbo gulf shrimp, peeled, deveined, and chopped in half 1/4 cup green onions, chopped; fettuccine, cooked; SEASONINGS sprinkle of salt and pepper; garlic powder; cayenne pepper (however spicy you would like it - a little sprinkle goes a long way!) 1/2 teaspoon of Italian Seasoning; -Remember the seasoning level is however much you prefer as far as salty, spicy, etc. Start off with a little sprinkle of each seasoning, taste-test and gradually add more. DIRECTIONS Saute yellow onion in butter - about 3-5 minutes. Add cream and bring to a boil. Add seasonings, including hot sauce. Let simmer over medium heat for about 8-10 minutes, stirring constantly. Add cheese and stir until melted. Once sauce is thickened, stir in cooked fettuccine and green onions. Serve with garlic bread and a side salad.

Steakhouse Anniversary Dinner

To celebrate our 8 years together (we have been married 2 - but known each other for 8!) - my husband and I went out for a delicious dinner! We went to my favorite steakhouse, but I don't get the steak. I CRAVE their crab cake! It looks like this...

I also get the shrimp & lobster bisque. AMAZING! Then, because it was our anniversary - they bring out a delicious cheesecake for desert!

Along with a few glasses of wine, it was the perfect dinner! A wonderful celebration. Can't wait till our 40th anniversary!

Mardi Gras Part II

So it's been another weekend filled with parades and fun! I love to use my beads to fill up vases around the house. This is one of my favorite vases I got as a wedding gift!

It looks perfect on my little marble side table in the living room!

We caught a lot of beads last night!

It's been a great Mardi Gras - I can't wait till next year! Until then - Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!!!!

Ash Wednesday & Lent

Ash Wednesday is next week. It's the day after Mardi Gras - everyone parties until midnight - and then is stops. The season of Lent leads up to Easter (40 days). It lasts from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday (Easter Eve) and it's a spiritual time, especially for the Catholic faith - a time of reflection. My husband is Catholic and I'm Episcopal. They are pretty similar in beliefs - we have a Bishop instead of the Pope, being a major difference. No meat on Fridays - so in my household I will be making a lot of seafood. A lot of people "give up" something for Lent. One of my friends gave up alcohol once. I have chosen to give up Facebook. Can I REALLY go 40 days with no status updates,check-ins, looking everyone's cute baby and pet pictures? I will have to because I have already made a promise that I will not be on Facebook. It may require prayer - when I have the temptation. I will still have Instigram and my blog though. I'm going back to the era of no Facebook!

King Cake!

King Cake is special to the Mardi Gras season. It comes in all different flavors and fillings - cinnamon, cream cheese, raspberry, chocolate. My favorite is the traditional cinnamon king cake. It's topped with icing and then sprinkles of the colors of Mardi Gras - purple, green and gold. Sometimes a little plastic baby can be found inside. However, now because of choking hazards, most bakeries put the baby on the outside of the cake. Whoever gets the baby on their piece has to bring the next king cake to the party!

The inside looks like this....

This particular year of Mardi Gras has extra special meaning. This was when I met my husband at Mardi Gras in New Orleans! A big group of us in college went down for the festivities. I was on Canal Street (drinking a "Hand Grenade"- they're deadly!) and that's the spot I met my husband. The rest is history! We are getting ready to celebrate 8 years together! - I'm so glad I caught this bead at the Bacchus Parade. It will always be close to my heart:)

Hershey's Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes with Creamy Chocolate Frosting

Sometimes the best recipes come from the back of the box. I have made a chocolate chip cookie recipe for years and everyone says how amazing they are. Well - it's just the one on the back of the butter box! Here's a cupcake for you that will melt in your mouth. I have been looking for a legit cupcake recipe. All the ones I have tried are nothing compared to this baby. They puff up perfectly, cooked all the way thru and that icing.... So here ya go - the cupcake recipe from the back of the Hershey's Cocoa Powder box!! INGREDIENTS 2 cups of sugar, 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 2/3 cups cocoa powder, 1-1/2 tsp baking powder, 1-1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 2 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1 cup boiling water DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients together. Add boiling water at the end. Mix all together - batter will be very thin. Grease a muffin pan and fill each almost to the top. Bake for 20 minutes - check to make sure they are finished by inserting a toothpick in the middle. Creamy Chocoalte Frosting 1 stick butter - melted, 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1/3 cup milk, 2/3 cups cocoa powder, 2 tsp vanilla extract, Mix all together until creamy. Let sit in fridge for about an hour. Frost cupcakes when they are completely cooled.

Deer Meat Spaghetti

One of my best friends from high school, Matt loves to hunt. He made us some deer meat spaghetti the other night and it was AMAZING. My mother-in-law also makes deer meat stew and it's so delicious. It's so fresh and full of flavor! Also, very lean and healthy. INGREDIENTS 1 LB FRESH, GROUND DEER MEAT 1 CAN ROTEL 1 JAR SPAGHETTI SAUCE Salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste DIRECTIONS Brown deer meat, breaking up big chunks to make sure all is cooked through. Drain any grease, add rest of ingredients and stir all together. Wins easiest recipe award!

St. Patty's Day DIY Wreath

St. Patrick's Day is around the corner and I'm elated! I thought I'd take a break from the mesh stuff and try something different. Everything for this wreath costs about $20.00. I already have a lot of paint and brushes. So, I wanted something not too bright green and fru fru, but still cute. I came up with this idea. I may add a green bow when it comes time to put this up on my front door. MATERIALS NEEDED Foam wreath Wooden Initial Burlap ribbon hot glue gun and glue sticks St. Patty's decorations Any other bows, ribbon, etc.

It is quite simple to put this together. Just wrap the burlap ribbon around and fold in the back to secure. Hot glue any little clovers or other decorations. Then paint a wooden letter (this is dark and light green polka dots. I know it almost looks black). Hot glue that on and there you go! It takes about 10 minutes to complete. Simple, inexpensive and cute. I'll take it!

Happy Mardi Gras!!!

Mardi Gras is in full swing! This weekend was filled with parades - even more parades next weekend!!! Here are some photos! Raising Cane's Chicken before the parade - my all-time favorite! Fresh, juicy chicken tenders, crispy fries and the sauce - so amazingly delicious you just want to keep ordering extra little cups of it! The toast melts in your mouth. My version of heaven - would literally be eating this every day and never gaining a pound! (yeah right!) I try to only eat this once a month. It's so good I sometimes eat it a couple of times a month. Fun fact - I worked there in college and I KNOW THE SECRET SAUCE RECIPE - but I will never tell you. Ha!

Some pretty floats...

Moon Pie!

My dinner table decorations. All of our beads!