Giveaways, Weekend Recap, & Muffins

First things first....why does the weekend have to go by so fast?!  Ugh.  Another weekend come and gone, but this one was exceptionally great.  Not because we did anything spectacular or different, but we did spend time as a fam the whole weekend just playing, and that is my favorite type of weekend.  Might I mention that the weather had a big part in our happy demeanor.  It was an 80 degree, full sunshine with a bit of breeze type of weekend...bliss. Our allergies are killing us, but being outside 80% of the weekend was well worth it (plus I got a tan line, bam). I hope you all had a great weekend!

Paparazzi

Daddy love

Cruising...

and cruising more.

little feet

messy face

Peace & Jamba

His "treasure" map

he wanted to order and pay himself

his new favorite thing...

love that my boys have a love for art

 pulling the babes

Ok, now on to my FIRST Giveaway!  Boo-ya!  I mentioned here that my giveaway would be one of the prints I featured.  Well, it is your lucky day, because one of you readers will get your own 8X10 "You are My Sunshine" print from Fern Tree Studio.  You will get to choose the color (added bonus).  This print is by far one of my favs in my home and it will be yours too.

**To ENTER** simply push the "follow me" button to follow my blog, or you can follow my blog via "bloglovin" and then leave a comment on this post letting me know that you follow me.  If you are already a follower (thank you), just simply leave a comment on this post letting me know.  That is it...simple!  A winner will be chosen at random and the giveaway will be closed to entries on Friday (you have a whole week).  YAY!!

Ok, now on to the next thing, Muffins.  What post is complete with out muffins?  Why am I so in love with muffins? Am I becoming the Muffin Man?  Why so many questions?  Haha.  Ok, I am rambling {again}...You know I am a lover of Muffins, so of course I made some over the weekend (my 4th batch of muffins this week).  On Sunday I made "Mimi's Spice Muffins" for breakfast and they were a fabulous accompaniment with eggs.  Here is the recipe from Mimi's Cafe and adapted by me where indicated **.  I hope you all have a fabulous Monday!

MiMi's Buttermilk Spice Muffins
Ingredients 
Muffin Batter:
1 cup Sugar
½ cup Butter or margarine
3 Eggs
2-½ cups Flour **(I used 1 cup flour and 1 1/2 cup wheat flour)
2 tsp. Baking soda
1 tsp. Nutmeg
½ tsp. Cinnamon
¾ cup + 1 tbsp. Buttermilk
Nut Topping:
½ cup Sugar
1 cup Walnuts (finely chopped) **(I did not add the walnuts, but I am sure they are delicious)
½ tsp. Cinnamon
½ tsp. Nutmeg
** I also added 3 Tbl Ground Flax Seed (for added Fiber and Omega-3)
Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°. In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and the butter together with an electric mixer. When they are thoroughly mixed, add eggs and beat one more minute.

Sift the flour into a separate bowl, together with the baking soda, nutmeg and the cinnamon.

Add the flour and the buttermilk to the first mixture, mix at low speed until smooth. To avoid lumps in the batter, add the wet and dry ingredients alternately, in small amounts.

Make the nut topping: Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl.

Grease muffin tins with butter or margarine. You can also use paper baking cups. Fill each cup 3/4 full of batter. Add a full, rounded tablespoon of nut topping on top of each muffin cup of batter. Bake immediately or the topping will sink to the bottom of the muffin.

Bake at 375° for 20-25** (I only baked them for about 19) minutes, until golden brown. A toothpick inserted in the middle of the muffin should come out dry. Home ovens heat differently from commercial ovens so you may need to adjust the temperature or the baking time accordingly.

Recipe yields 12 standard-size muffins, or six Mimi's-size muffins. If using the jumbo muffin pans, reduce the oven temperature by 25° and increase the baking time 5-10 minutes.
Via

Weekend Via Pics

 I hope everyone had a great Easter Weekend!  Here is a recap of our weekend via pics. Happy Tuesday!! XoX

My sister's 7 layer Strawberry Cake...HEAVEN. Click here for the recipe

Me and Mr. Delicious

Captain Crazy at his finest (Orange Juice Mustache and all).

See below the post for this French Toast recipe 

I had to fill his eggs with Cheerios and Goldfish Crackers since he can't eat Candy yet ;)

Little Artist.

My husband really does exist.  Meet JDubs.

French Toast:

Ingredients:

6 Slices of Thick Bread (Texas Toast works awesome)

2/3 Cup Milk

2 Eggs

1 tsp Vanilla

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1/4 tsp Nutmeg

Directions:

Heat Griddle Pan on Medium Heat and coat with a non-stick cooking spray.  Whisk the Milk, Eggs, Vanilla, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg well in a bowl.  Dip each slice of bread (both sides) into the Egg mixture and place on Griddle pan. Cook each side till golden brown and top with berries and Powder Sugar or Syrup.  Sooo easy and delicious (my husband can even make it)!  Enjoy!

Pleasure Eating

I ate.  I enjoyed. I loved every minute of it.
I haven't done any "food lover" posts in awhile.  I think this is partially because I haven't been cooking as much as I normally do, and partially because I haven't really been inspired as of late (in a food sense)...until yesterday that is.  Yesterday I did a photo shoot for my Best Friend and her Fiance for their wedding announcements.  We were shooting next to Oregano's so decided to grab some dinner afterward.  I am glad we did.  I love Oregano's, I love Pizza, and then there is their famous Pizzokie.  Have you had one?  If not, you need to...it will change your life (well maybe not, but it's darn good).  I ate more than I should have, but as much as I wanted, and it was such a pleasure.  Thank you Oregano's for inspiring me to bake a little more, a little more often.  Mmm hmm.

If you live next to an Oregano's, please go and indulge. Give in to the temptation that is the best Pizza Cookie on the planet.  If you don't live by an Oregano's, then your in luck because I have a recipe for them.  I love making these in mini skillets for dinner guests and my loved ones. It scores big points, which means I usually like to make this for a special treat the same day I do something to annoy the hubs (he becomes instantly less peeved).  Just an FYI to lock away for the future, your welcome.

Pizzokie Recipe:

You will need:
* Dough from your favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.  My favorite is here.
* A round baking pie dish, or the mini skillets for pizzokies (find on Amazon.com)
* Vanilla Ice Cream

What to do:
Make the dough from your favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.  Place the dough in either a giant round baking pie dish, or the mini skillets.  Bake at the temperature that the Chocolate chip cookie recipe requests, but only bake it for half the time.  This is so the cookie comes out still doughy in the middle and gooey.  Wait like a minute, and then put a scoop (or two) of Vanilla Ice Cream on top of the warm cookie. Sprinkle with some Chocolate Chips as garnish if desired.  Enjoy and eat your heart out (Pleasure eating, if you will).

Oregano's Pizzokie

Now on to more inspiration to EAT! Who doesn't love a pretty dish to nosh upon....these make me swoon.  Enjoy!

Anthro

Anthro

Anthro

Anthro

Anthro

Anthro

Anthro

Potterybarn

Potterybarn

Potterybarn

Crate & Barrel

Crate & Barrel

Pier 1

Trader Joes, I Heart You.

I have been on hiatus mode.  I don't know why except for one little excuse:  Life gets freaking busy! So I apologize, I will be better about blogging.  I swear.  I do have a few excuses though, and I am sure you can all relate that when;

* The husband was working 24/7 (which means I was in single mommy mode), life gets crazy.

Baby daddy.

* Spring break for Mr. Delicious (aka no break for mommy), life gets crazy.

* Nasty Cold (think Rudolph-red  nose, sniffle central, and blood shot eyes).  On a bright note, my voice did however sound pretty raspy and sexy. My hubby liked it. life gets crazy.

I told you it wasn't a pretty picture.  And please excuse our messy playroom and my 2 inch roots ;)

Ok, enough of the blabbering.  Here is the reason for my post.  Simply put, I have an extreme love affair with Trader Joes.  Where else can you go grocery shopping for some awesome organic produce, score fun and unique treats, and all the while your little munchkins are perusing along side you with their own little cart and balloon in tow?  I love it.  My boys love it.  It makes for a happy shopping experience for all.  Boo-ya.

So, with that being said, I am on my way to this phenomenal Grocery store this afternoon, so that I can make some fabulous Greek Gyros tonight.  Oh, by the way, remember when I said I wish I was Italian ? Well, I also wish I was Greek. If you haven't yet noticed, I am sort of bi-polar and it has been brought to my attention more than once, that I seem to want to live several different lives.  True.  Who doesn't wish they were a cat with 9 lives?!  I certainly do. That would awesome. Artist in NYC, Hippie in SoCal, Fashion Designer in Paris...
So yes, I would love to be Italian and also Greek.  Remember the movie "Mama Mia"?  I wish I lived in a house like that over the crystal blue water in Greece.  Ah-maz-ing.

Greece

Anyways, this awesome recipe was emailed to me as part of this recipe exchange thingy (thanks Bekah).  I thought I would share. Enjoy.  I know I will. Oh, and if you love trader Joe's as much as I do (thank goodness my husband knows that Trader Joe's is a grocery store and not a real man named Joe...) than you need to pick this up: It won't disappoint and you will love me for sharing this with you.

Find it Here :)

Greek Lemon Chicken Gyros

Lemon Chicken (place in Ziploc overnight)
• 1/4 cup good olive oil
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic (9 cloves)
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
• 4-5 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 boneless chicken breasts, skin on (6 to 8 ounces each)
Pepper/Onion Skewers
Sweet mini peppers (Trader Joes sells a bag of yellow, red, and orange)
Wash and cut off tops
Chop a red onion into chunks
Add peppers and onion to a bag with olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic

Marinate for up to 12 hours.  Skewer.


Taziki sauce (best made one day ahead to let flavors blend)

1 C sour cream
1 C plain Greek yogurt
Juice from 1 large lemon
1 T minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
2-3 mini cucumbers grated

Mix together, refrigerate.

Heirloom Tomato relish

Trader Joes heirloom tomatoes
About 10 tomatoes cut in half
Splash of balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Let blend for at least 20 minutes


Grill Chicken Breasts and pepper/onion skewers. Serve sliced chicken in a Trader Joes flat bread (or wheat Pita) with grilled veggies,Taziki sauce, tomato relish and fresh spinach.  Enjoy!