"Skinny" Pumpkin Cream Cheese Recipe

picture care of SkinnyTaste.com

Quick post...I found this delicious recipe via Everything Yellow who found the recipe here.

I also recommend a toasted cinnamon raisin bagel to accompany this spread. Deeee-lish.

Enjoy!!

Recipe: Spaghetti Squash, Homemade Sauce and Mozzarella Stuffed Turkey Meatballs!

Oh how I love fall...

Our local grocery store is carrying lovely gourds and squash(es?) and we're finally getting weather that isn't 80+ degrees and humid here in Florida.

To welcome the new season a couple weeks ago, I decided to cook up some spaghetti and meatballs. But not the traditional kind. Say hello to "spaghetti squash"...

It's a healthier alternative to regular spaghetti and pretty easy to make.

I combined a couple different recipes for cooking the squash and homemade sauce and the Mozzarella Stuffed Turkey Meatballs.

And it was so good...my husband has never that kind of squash before and I made him a believer :)

He thought it was a little over-ambitious but it really didn't take that long to

make, surprisingly.

(He knows how frustrated I can get when I cook) :)

While the squash was cooking (for about an hour and a half, I started making the sauce, which then cooked itself for about an hour and then I started on the meatballs...worked out perfectly!!)

If the meatballs get a little overcooked (as mine did...cooked them a smidge too long), don't worry, just let them steam in the sauce and they will juice back up!

This makes a ton of leftovers (if you're cooking for two) so keep that in mind...

Also, if you try this and love it (or have suggestions on improvement) please let me know!! If you become a believer of spaghetti squash too and you need another recipe, go here! Courtesy of one of my sweet new blog friends Jessi :)

Enjoy!!

Sunday, Sundae, Sunday!

I just have to say, I have never, ever seen Macadamia ice cream in Florida...and it was at our local grocery store, Publix. Besides having a fantastic weekend with my husband, this was the cherry on top!

On our honeymoon (over 2 years ago) in Kauai, Hawaii, we experienced the Hula Pie.

It was a-ma-zing.

When we got back home, I searched and searched for Macadamia ice cream. I never found any. Until NOW! I love Publix!

Unfortunately, it's a limited edition...so who knows how long it will be around, but I do know that I will be enjoying a few extra sundaes for a while ;)

Enjoy!

Best Ever...Bruschetta!

(In my opinion, anyway!)

For anyone that really knows me...I am not confident in the kitchen. It gives me anxiety having to cook: having the proper portions for the number of people I'm cooking for, correctly measuring each ingredient, and the possibility of screwing up and having to throw all of my hard work (and all of that food) in the trash.

I envy my husband, for many reasons. Especially his calm demeanor and his ability to throw any random ingredient with another and create a culinary masterpiece. Quite frankly though, sometimes it really pisses me off ;)

Anyway, through another recipe I tried (gone wrong) and buying too much at the grocery store, I found my new love for fresh mozzarella balls!

I had some leftover tonight...along with some tomatoes and I thought I would attempt my first ever bruschetta. I looked online for a few recipes, and the only one that really caught my eye was this one. Um, the bad thing? NO MEASUREMENTS! eeeeek! So, I grew some mozzarella balls (ha) and decided to wing it. I went to the grocery store and picked up a French Baguette and some fresh basil.

A little side note...the only other time I've used a broiler pan was last week, haha, I didn't even know what it was before that. Yeah.

Ok so here's the good stuff (serving for 8 pieces)

3/4 pint/package of grape tomatoes (diced)

4 sprigs of fresh basil

1 shallot (minced)

small package of fresh mozzarella balls (diced)

salt

pepper

Mix the above ingredients in a bowl, stick in fridge while you preheat the oven to a high broil. (tip: make sure while broiling that you leave the oven door open a smidge - found out through another cooking catastrophe).

French Baguette

Olive Oil (EVOO)

Broiler Pan

Cut the French baguette into thin-medium slices at a diagonal. I cut 8 pieces and there was still a good amount of the loaf left.

Drizzle with EVOO lightly. Broil in oven for about 5 minutes (?) or until just "tanned". I'm sure you can also do this in a toaster over. You want it to be crispy, but not burned.

Take out of the oven and put on your serving tray. Drizzle with some more EVOO and put a little bit of salt over it while still warm.

Dish out your mixture on each of the baguette slices and serve. Voila.

Seriously...this is the best bruschetta I've ever had (not to be cocky) but it's amazing. My husband even high-fived me after he ate it. LOL.

If you try out my recipe, please let me know...I'd love to hear what you think!

Oh -- Almost forgot the most important part!! WINE! I paired mine with a super cheap, but delicious, Chardonnay from my beloved Total Wine. It's called Double Dog Dare (and I think that it was 3.99). Bargain!

Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the kitchen!

Hugs and Love,

J

Circle Circus - Birthday Wishes

Hello 4 day weekend....!!!

Have a fabulous (and safe) Labor Day :)

...and a very happy birthday to Stephanie!

the good stuff:

paper: papertrey ink (pti) new leaf; white cardstock

ink: papertrey ink (pti): hawaiian shores and simply chartreuse; brillance - white

stamps: papertrey ink (pti) butterfly wishes (sentiment) and stampin up (su!) circle circus

misc: pti button; kaiser and basic grey bling / pearls; prima - flower centers

punch: stampin up circle scallop

Happy Sunday!

Happy Sunday!

How will you celebrate?

Vibrant Thanks!

...hope you're having a great week so far and the weekend is right around the corner!

I'm actually going with my husband to see Demetri Martin on Saturday and I'm SOO excited. If you've never heard of him, you're missing out!! He's a stand-up comedian and is hilariously funny. You should check out his stuff on youtube or on Comedy Central.

My husband and I are big concert/entertainment junkies...but this is our first comedian that we've seen do stand up in a big arena (tampa bay performing arts center)...we've seen Jeff Dunham and a few other comics, but only in a small venue at one of our local comedy theaters.

I just can't wait, is it Saturday yet!?

So anyway, the card :)

I thought I would do something really colorful for a friend of mine's mom. I was able to spend the day getting a manicure, shopping and lunch with both of them. It was so much fun...I can't wait for her mom to visit again (and I'm going to bring my mom, they would get along so well!!)

Her mom was so adorable and I just thought I would make her a sweet little card to let her know that I appreciated spending the time with her!

Hugs and Love,

J

the good stuff:

paper: stampin up (su) rich razzleberry;

papertry ink (pti) rustic white, hawaiian shores and simply chartreuse

misc: corner chomper; sizzix - embosslits beautiful wings;

k&company acetate and paper die cuts;

bling by kaiser craft

stamps: papertrey ink (pti) mega mixed messages

ribbon: websters pages "bloomers" in spring green

ink: archival ink - sepia