Spring!!

Happy 1st day of Spring!  In honor of this momentous and beautiful day...

I am breaking out the Chacos for the first time in 2010... I could not be happier to have to paint my toenails!

Enjoy today!!

Foodie Friday: March Madness

So... as you may have seen recently, I have been really really really busy!  Consequently, I have not had a chance to cook ANYTHING.  So rather than post the instructions for cooking my favorite Lean Cuisines and Smart Ones meals, I decided to re-post two of my favorite dip recipes.  These are perfect for watching the games... and watching your bracket crumble into pieces... mine has certainly done that today!  I plan to be back next week with an all new recipe!  Happy last day of Winter... Spring come quickly!

1-2-3 Dip

Ingredients:

-1lb sausage

-2 cans of Rotel

-3 blocks of Cream Cheese

-Brown the sausage

-Then place the sausage along with Rotel (I didn't drain it) and cream cheese into a crock pot.

-If you are going to need it quickly cook on High... but I let it cook on low for several hours-- it will take a little bit for the cream cheese to melt

-Stir the dip every 10-15 minutes so it does not burn or get hotspots.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients:

-1 block of Cream Cheese (8oz), softened

-1/2 cup Bleu Cheese OR Ranch dressing

-1/2 cup Bleu Cheese OR Mozzarella Cheese

-1/2 cup Hot Sauce (I used Texas Pete)

-1 large can Chicken Breast, in water, drained

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Stir the cream cheese, until smooth, in a pie plate or 8x8 pan. Stir in dressing, cheese, hot sauce, and chicken (drained).

Bake for 20 minutes or until the dip is hot and bubbly. Stir before serving... to avoid hot spots.

Serve with chips, crackers, or veggies.

The race continues...

What a crazy couple of weeks!  I am not sure how I have gone so fast for so many days in a row... I am looking forward to a little slowdown this week.

A confession... I am possibly the worst blogger out there... I have fallen off the wagon so to speak... I have stopped being a purposeful picture taker.  I have fallen back into my old ways, I bring the camera but then get too busy or occupied to take any pictures.  All of this to say that this post is probably going to be pretty boring because though I had a busy weekend... I have no pictures to prove it.

Patrick came down Friday evening... he was waiting at my parents house when I got off work!  It is such a special treat to see each other twice in one week!  It was almost like we were a "normal" couple.  Then Saturday morning we went to Target and started registering... we are still a little overwhelmed, so our registries are still pretty lean.  We are working on it though.

Saturday night we attended Damien and Jen's wedding.  Damien is a friend from work... we started at Channel 2 at just about the same time, he produces our 11pm show, so we spend quite a bit of time together.  It was so fun seeing some of our co-workers out and about... and all dressed up!  I am also so excited that some of them got to meet and talk to Patrick.  Congrats Damien and Jen... Best Wishes on your new life together!

Early Sunday we headed toward the Shoals for a baby shower honoring Sid and Libby... and our niece Catherine!  We got there about noon... and shortly after that it was time for the shower.  Baby Catherine got so many beautiful things!  She will need to change outfits several times a day to wear all her new clothes!  Yes... in case you are curious... the bow from last week was part of my gift for the shower...

We spent the night in the Shoals and then headed back first thing Monday morning!  What a weekend!  It was throughly exhausting... but so worth it!!  Now back to the grind here at home.

Foodie Friday: Fruit Dip

*Updated to include pictures!*

I have not made this recipe in a while... but it is so good to take to a party with a fruit tray!  We had a party at work yesterday for Damien, to celebrate his upcoming nuptials!

Fruit Dip
-1 block cream cheese
-1 canister marshmallow cream
-Optional: 1 Tbspn. orange juice (or whatever juice you have)

Mix all three ingredients... serve with fruit.

I'm telling you it doesn't get any easier than that!  It is a sweet addition to everyday fruit.

We had a bunch of good food... this is the BEAUTIFUL and very TASTY cake!

Congrats Damien!!!

Have a great weekend!

Time flies...

I know I have kind of fallen off the map in the last few weeks... I have been super busy!  I have just been doing a little of this.. and a little of that... not too much to write about, just yet... but keeping busy for sure!

This past weekend I went to Raleigh to visit Patrick.  We had our first premarital counseling session, we got started registering (though we still have a LONG way to go), and we visited the jeweler where he got my ring.  Additionally, we helped Dana with a little dog problem... just call us the dog whisperers... and we had dinner with Kevin and Julie in Greensboro.  It was a whirlwind visit to say the least... though in the midst of all the craziness, we were able to have a picnic and enjoy the wonderful weather!  I know the closer we get to the wedding the busier we will be... but there is nothing else I would rather do!!

I haven't stopped since I got home... some day soon, I might have a little free time... I hope at least.

I am so excited that I get to attend the wedding of my friend Damien this weekend!  Congrats Damien and Jen! 

Foodie Friday: Coffee (Crack) Cake

This week I made coffee cake to take to the station.  I chose coffee cake because one of my bosses had been asking me to make it for a few weeks.  I got the recipe off Tasty Kitchen.  It is a great website full of all kinds of home tested recipes!

Crack Cake
-From Tasty Kitchen

-1 cup Oil
-1 cup Brown Sugar
-1/2 cups Sugar
-2 1/2 cups Flour
-1 tsp. Salt
-1 cup Buttermilk
-1 Egg
-1 tsp. Baking Soda
-1 tsp. Cinnamon
-1 tsp. Nutmeg
-1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
-1 tbsp. Milk

Combine the oil, sugars, flour and salt.  Mix throughly.

Set aside 3/4 cup of the mixture for cake topping.

To the remaining mixture add the buttermilk, egg, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Mix.

Pour batter into a greased 9x13 pan.

Add two tablespoons of flour and sugar to the 3/4 cup you set aside.  Mix.  Crumble this mixture on top of the 9x13 mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

In a small bowl mix the powdered sugar and milk.  Drizzle the glaze on top while the cake is still warm.

The weekend is supposed to be beautiful here... Enjoy it!

Busy Monday...

Today has been a very busy... but laid back Monday for me.  I was off from work so I had the entire day to... catch up on laundry... cook a little... craft a little... and get ready for my week ahead... these are two of my projects for today... more to come on both very soon...

The next couple of weeks are going to be crazy for me... but I am so excited about all of the things they hold.  I know that August is going to be here before I know it... so I am trying to savor each and every moment between now and then!

By the way... we are expecting snow tomorrow... how crazy is that?  Spring can't come quickly enough!