Iced Pomegranate Green Tea

I wanted to share this wonderful Pomegranate Green Tea I found at Kroger per my friend, Kate's suggestion.  It is amazing, I mean REALLY GOOD!  I have been trying to consume more green tea as it has amazing health benefits but I don't care for regular green tea.  I noticed after the first few weeks I got it that it went on closeout and the price went down by half so I purchased all they had...last week when I went back they had restocked it so chances are you will be able to find it.  The directions are on the package; but basically you steep 1 tea bag in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes then add 3 cups cold water and I also add a sweetener - 4 packets of Truvia....this makes it perfect!  I hope you try this wonderful tea and this natural sweetener made from the stevia plant. 

 

I just love this little glass pitcher I purchased recently, it's about half the size of most - perfect for this iced tea.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

These cupcakes are fantastic...my family was very happy I made them today. I found them on a great blog called The Larson Lingo  I only had a bite since I have been watching my sugar intake but I can tell you from that one bite these are a must try...very easy and impressive.  Here's what you need:

1 box devils food cake mix (any brand)

1 package ready to cook chocolate chip cookie dough (I used Nestle break apart)

Frosting of your choice - I made my own vanilla (recipe to follow) but any will do.

Prepare devils food cake per box instructions.  Fill cupcake liners a little more than half full and then add one pieces of the cookie dough to center.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 18 minutes.  Let cupcakes cool completely.  

Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting

1 box powdered sugar

1/ 2 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup milk

1 stick of butter at room temperature

Combine frosting ingredients and mix well with mixer.  When frosting is at the desired consistency put in a large ziplock bag and clip off one corner and start frosting away.

Here's what the cupcakes look like in the middle - the cookie dough is cooked but still soft - YUM!

Autumn Chopped Salad

This weekend we went over to my in-laws for dinner - I was asked to bring a salad.  Because I didn't want to take just any salad I started looking online for a good recipe.  Here's what I found thanks to this great blog: Espresso and Cream.  If you like salad as much as we do this recipe is a must try and it's VERY easy!

Autumn Chopped Salad

6-8 cups chopped Romaine Lettuce (I like the Hearts of Romaine)

2 medium pears chopped

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup chopped pecans

8 slices of chopped bacon or a jar of real bacon pieces (you can find this over in the salad dressing aisle)

4-6 oz. crumbled feta cheese

Poppy Seed Dressing

Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

This time I used Newman's Own brand Poppy Seed Dressing and I made my own Balsamic Vinaigrette (1-2 t. dijon mustard, 1/4 c balsamic vinegar and 1/4 c or less extra virgin olive oil)

Toss all salad ingredients together then add 30 percent balsamic vinaigrette and about 70 percent Poppy Seed Dressing then toss well...serve immediately.   We served our dressing on the side.  My father in law used Italian dressing he had instead of what I brought and he said the salad was still stupendous!  I can't wait to make this salad again and it would also be a really good Main Course salad with a little chopped, grilled chicken. Enjoy!  

Homemade Bug Spray

Today I want to share a recipe for making your own, homemade Bug Spray.  I hate putting all those chemicals on my family and on myself...but I also hate the idea of someone getting a mosquito bite - especially with West Nile Virus around.  I have read that this spray really works but needs to be applied every hour when outdoors.  You can use it on your face but spray it on your hands first and then rub onto face.

Here's what you need:

1 - 16 oz container witch hazel
15 drops of Cintronella Essential Oil
15 drops of Lemongrass Essential Oil
5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
5 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil

I just opened the bottle of witch hazel and added my Essential Oil directly to the bottle and then put the cap back on a gave it a good shake.  Then use a small funnel to fill up a spray bottle. 

The Essential Oils are a little expensive but once you have them it should be a very long time until you have to buy them again.

Eating Veggies - Garden Harvest Cake

I am going to share one of my favorite recipes with you, it's a Cooking Light recipe for a yummy Garden Harvest Cake -( click here to read the reviews)...my husband calls it 'bread' because it's made like banana or zucchini bread...guess that makes him feel less guilty when he eats 2-3 pieces.  Seriously it is great served any time of the day...breakfast - toasted with a bit of cream cheese or for a light snack!  This is a great way to add some veggies to your kids diet...the carrots and zucchini are grated so fine they will never know it's in there.  I also replace the oil in the recipe with applesauce to cut down on the fat.  

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour  

3/4 cup sugar 

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 

1 teaspoon baking soda 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1/2 cup grated peeled Granny Smith apple (about 1 medium) 

1/2 cup grated carrot (about 1 medium) 

1/2 cup shredded zucchini 

1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted (optional) 

1/4 cup canola oil (or 1/4 c. applesauce) 

1/4 cup nonfat buttermilk 

2 large eggs 

Cooking spray   

Directions:  

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and the next 4 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add grated apple, grated carrot, shredded zucchini, and walnuts to flour mixture; toss well. Combine canola oil, buttermilk, and eggs in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add egg mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until combined. Spoon batter into an 8 x 4–inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove cake from pan. Cool completely on wire rack before slicing.

This recipe can easily be doubled and one loaf can even be frozen to be enjoyed later! 

Pantry Redo

Thanks mainly to my new obsession with Pinterest - I recently got the urge to redo and organize my pantry.  I have never had a grip on this pantry since we moved into this house (mainly because it's really small.) The kids went back to school a few weeks ago so I started looking around and getting ideas.  If you are in the mood to organize anything I highly suggest you get on Pinterest and take a look, it's flowing with GREAT ideas!  Earlier this week I went shopping for my glass containers to use for things like sugar, brown sugar, white rice, brown rice, breadcrumbs, etc...I had great luck finding what I wanted and I even picked up seven containers from Goodwill (I felt like I hit the jackpot there!)  Lastly I used some existing storage baskets we had to organize snacks, oatmeal and lunch items.  I just love it and I am amazed at just how pleasing it is to look at!  I also might mention that since I emptied the shelves to reorganize I also painted the pantry a great shade of Tent Tan from Sherwin-Williams.  Here's the before and after photos!

BEFORE

AFTER

And here's two close up photos of the glass container details:

So, I hope you like my new pantry...there's one more addition I need - a decent trash can.  I have looked around a little and I am shocked that the one I want is actually around $100 - now I have to find something cheaper than that!

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog:  the HAPPY home!  I plan to talk about my passions and hobbies in life:  all things family, craft projects, house projects, sharing favorite recipes and more!  I hope you will follow me as I share a little of what makes our house a HAPPY home.