Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Feta Cheese

One of my favorite food blogs I follow is called "A Cozy Kitchen."  I see all these wonderful recipes on there that I want to try!

I went to my friend Morgan's bachelorette party this past weekend - and I will post more pics of that shortly! - but I was in charge of bringing an appetizer.  I wanted to try something different and I thought I would try this wonderful Spinach and Artichoke dip with Feta Cheese.

Here is the recipe ( You can click HERE to see it on the website as well!)

Ingredients:
8 oz frozen spinach, thawed and drained

1 14 oz can artichoke hearts, drained
6 oz cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup feta cheese
Pita chips (for serving)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl mix together all the ingredients, leaving out 1/4 cup of the feta cheese. Pour the mixture into a baking dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the dip is hot and bubbly and beginning to brown on top.
Serve hot with pita chips.

Happy Thursday!
xoxo Sarah

Pasta Cabanara alla Campillo

The other Friday night when I was having my "Table for 1," I made myself a pasta cabanara recipe that my mother-in-law gave me to try on Zachary!

Well I decided to do a trial run by myself!  I burnt the bacon a little but it still tasted good!  I have learn to work on my timing with cooking!  Does anyone else feel that way??

Well here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

5 Eggs

4 oz. Heavy Cream

Salt & Pepper

1 TBSP EVOO, 2 TBSP Butter

7 oz. Pancetta bacon, diced (or regular non-smoked bacon if you have that instead!)

1 1/4 Cups Parmesan and Romano cheeses, half of each

Directions:

Beat the eggs & cream together w/ a pinch of salt.  Heat the oil & butter in a large pan.  Add the bacon & cook until fat is transparent.  Cook Pasta.  Drain, add to bacon pan, stir well.  Remove pan from heat & stir in eggs, cream, & small amount of cheese.  Work quickly so as NOT to cook the eggs.  Make sure each strand of pasta is coated with the yellow cream.  Now add the remaining cheese & freshly ground pepper!  Enjoy!

It's not best picture I have - but it proves the point!

** A little hint for the pasta - I used whole grain and it was delicious!

Enjoy!

xoxo Sarah

DIY Table Top Topiaries

Hey Guys!

Remember on my other post I said I was having a DIY weekend the other weekend?  Well this was my big project I was working on and I finally finished it this past Sunday!

I wanted to spruce up our apartment a little and make two little DIY topiaries for our two side tables in our living room.

Our living room Spring and Summer theme is green and white, accented with black.  So I thought these would be the perfect addition!
All you need is the following:
1) Wooden dowel - a little bit thicker - enough that it cannot be cut with a scissors
2) Vines from the flower section at your local craft store
3) A hot glue gun and a lot of glue sticks!
4) A small amount of brown paint and a little sponge
5) Any vase/pot you would like
6) A little Styrofoam for the base in the vase/pot
7) Some green moss to cover the Styrofoam in the vase/pot
8) A decorative twig ball to wrap the vine around

Once you have all these things, first thing is first, hot glue gun the vine around the decorative twig ball.  After that is done, saw the dowel to be the size you want - remember to give room to hot glue gun the dowel to the top of the ball (in the inside of it) and enough of the dowel to stick into the foam.  Paint the part of the dowel you will be using and let dry completely.  In the mean time, take the Styrofoam you have and place it in the inside of the vase and hot glue gun the moss in the vase to cover up the piece of Styrofoam.  Once the dowel is dry, put it into the top of the topiary and hot glue gun it inside of the top of the topiary.  Then stick the dowel into the Styrofoam.  Tada - it is complete!

Take a look below at my finished product:

I really think these are going to make a great addition to our living room!  I found this idea on some DIY blogs I was researching.  I have listed some of them on the right hand side of my blog!  Take a look!

Happy hot gluing!
xoxo Sarah

Bruschetta Chicken - A Summer Fav!

I love tomatoes and basil.  I them separate and I love them together.  When I was younger, I promise you I didn't like either - but as I grew so did my taste buds!

I found this amazing recipe on The Pioneer Woman Cooks Blog and when I saw the picture of it - I thought OMG I have got to make this.  Take a look HERE at the recipe!

What is your favorite Tomato dish?  What is your favorite basil dish?  What is your favorite combo of the two???  I want to know what you like!  Let me know!

This recipe is so fast and easy!  Just a great way to spice up and beautify some grilled chicken!

Happy grilling!
xoxo Sarah

Puppy Chow!

Ok it doesn't get much better than Chocolate and Peanut Butter right - WRONG!  Add some vanilla and powdered sugar and BAM!  You have what I like to call the best little snack on Earth!

I swear this recipe of goodness is something from Heaven!

When you were younger what was your favorite snack - Koloa Yummies??? Remember those!

Anywho - Here is the recipe below:
Ingredients:
9 Cups of Rice Chex

1 Cup Semi Sweet Chcoloate Chips

1/2 Cup Peanut Butter

1/4 Cup Butter

1 tsp Vanilla

1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar

Directions:

1. Measure Cereal into Large Bowl and set aside. 

2.  In 1-qt microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter uncovered on high for 1 minute; stir.  Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth.  Stir in vanilla.  Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated.  Pour into 2-gallon resealable food storage plastic bag.
3. Add powdered sugar.  Seal bag, shake until well coated.  Spread on waxed paper to cool.  Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Here are a couple hints I think to make this even better!
1) Use a lot more powdered sugar than the recipe calls for - I use about half a bag usually!
2) Make sure the chocolate is all the way melted and mix it right away so it doesn't start getting hard!

Hope you enjoy this snack of awesomeness!
xoxo Sarah

Library Time!

Ok so I finished another book!  Yeah for me!

And this book is going to get it's own post dedicated to itself later this week.

As a recommendation from my good friend Katie, I read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.

No - this is not a self-help book.

Yes - this book will make you have a better perspective on your life.

Yes - I think you should read this book at least once in your life if you have not already!

That is all I am going to say about it now because I want to share a lot more about what I thought in it's own post.

Now on to the next book - A Secret Kept by Tatiana De Rosnay.  This is the third book she has published in English.  This author also wrote two other book's I love: Sarah's Key and "The House I Loved."  I am excited to start reading this next book because I loved the other two!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  Mine was jam packed and I will be sharing more later this week!

Keep Reading!
xoxo Sarah

Here Comes Another Bride!

Combined in all my Memorial Day weekend activities, our friend Melissa had her bridal shower!  The theme was owls and it was downtown at an awesome wine bar and restaurant called "Volo Restaurant Wine Bar."  There was a delicious brunch buffet served as well with all different goodies including french toast, mimosas, fruit, yogurt, and granola martini glasses, and lots of bacon! Take a look below at the beautiful bride and her fun day!

Melissa, the Bride, and all her gifts!  Plus the beautiful centerpieces and the outdoor patio the shower was held on!

Congrats Melissa and Jeff!  Love you guys!
xoxo Sarah