Pentominium construction photos, Dubai Marina , 01/March/2011











Quinoa Salad with Pineapple, Broccoli, and Mint

Quinoa salad with pineapple and broccoli and mint
Pineapple quinoa salad with broccoli. Fresh and healthy.

Spring is beckoning. I can feel it. And my winter-stiff body is aching to stretch and move and shed the yearly inertia that descends like a bear with the shrinking daylight. My brain is flickering awake. My taste buds are tiring of the heavy, creamy comfort foods that sustained me (thank you, lovely spuds, lasagna, and mac and cheese, I love you with all my heart).

I'm craving lighter, cleaner tastes.

Not to mention, missing my warm weather jeans. You know the ones. That stack in the back of the closet you haven't fit into since December, when you began wondering if the laundromat medium heat setting was shrinking your favorite Levi's boot cut. The jeans you have to lay down to zip, doing your best imitation of Jane Fonda's pelvic tilt, sucking in your breath and praying to the zipper gods. Your skinny jeans. You know what I'm talking about. You have two sets of jeans, right? Winter. And summer.

So here's what I'm thinking. Quinoa to the rescue.

Vegan. Versatile. Easy. Fresh. Light. This new quinoa salad with pineapple and broccoli and fresh mint is all of the above. And maybe, just maybe, it'll be the first step to fitting into those skinny jeans.


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Peanut Butter Blossoms . . . one of our favorite cookie recipes

Do you have a go-to cookie recipe?  A recipe you can always depend on when you need to bring cookies to a party, to a school function, or to a friend? 

Here's mine.  Peanut Butter Blossoms.  PB Blossoms are little sugar-dipped peanut butter cookies with a Hershey's Kiss perched perfectly on top.

You've probably eaten them...and you might just have the recipe in your arsenal.  If you don't, you need it.  These babies get scarfed up by kids and grown-ups alike.

{PS....I have written in my cookbook (do you write in your cookbooks?) that the 1st time I made these was when kiddo was 7.  He said these were the "most fun" recipe he's ever helped make.}


Peanut Butter Blossoms
{ever so slightly adapted from The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion}

1/2 c. butter
3/4 c. creamy peanut butter (I use Skippy Natural)
1/3 c. sugar (plus more for rolling)
1/3 c. light brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 & 1/2 c. unbleached, all-purpose flour
Hershey's Kisses (7 ounces)

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.  Preheat oven to 375.

Using the paddle attachment, beat the butter and peanut butter until blended.  Add both sugars and beat until light and fluffy.  Add in the egg through vanilla and mix until thoroughly combined.  Add in the flour in 3 additions. Scrape the bottom and side of bowl as needed.

Place extra granulated sugar on a plate. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and roll in the sugar.

Place coated dough balls on the parchment-lined sheets.  Bake cookies until the are a very light golden color, about 10 minutes.  (Meanwhile, unwrap the kisses.)

Remove the cookies from the oven and it's go time!  Immediately place a kiss on top of each hot cookie, pressing down slightly.

{Kids LOVE to help with this part!}

Transfer cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely.
 
My favorite part? How the heat from the warm cookie makes the kisses soft and melty.  You want one now, don't you?  Oh, and here's how I eat them....I eat all around the perimeter of the cookie, saving the Hershey's Kiss with a bit of cookie on the bottom for the *perfect* last bite.

Are you sold yet?  Wanna try a Peanut Butter Blossom?

Blog Hop, Blog Candy, and a Birdcage!


Happy Monday everyone!  If you are following the Bitten by the Bug2 blog hop you arrived here from Lori's blog - Welcome.  If you are one of my regulars popping by please do take a few minutes and visit all of blogs on the BBTB2 blog hop.  The Design Team members have created awesome projects to share. 

The challenge cut this week is the birdcage or bird house from the Straight from the Nest cartridge.  I chose to use this simply lovely birdcage to create a unique wedding card! 


I used three pieces of cardstock to cut the birdcage, a silver metallic for the top layer, a charcoal print for the middle layer, and a high glitter sparkle cardstock for the shadow layer.  Using scissors I removed the single bird from the cage and added my love bird couple.  I also added a little heart, a ribbon bow and a few gems to the cage.


Next I cut a gate fold card in soft pink cardstock.  I scored the folds with my scrorepal and affixed the birdcage to the left side of the card front.  Using the charcoal cardstock and the Picturesque cartridge, I cut for decorative corners for the front of the gate folds.


As you open the left side of the card the tag on the right side is revealed.  Using the same charcoal cardstock and a stamped image, I added a Mr. and Mrs. stamp to the middle of the tag.


The inside of the card was embellished with decorative corners which leaves lost of space to write a personalized message.


Before you head on your way, remember that I have blog candy!!!  Just leave a comment and you will be in the drawing for a $25 gift voucher from CUSTOM CROPS!!!  Who doesn't like to do a little free shopping?  I know I do!  I will draw a random winner on Thursday morning before I leave for the Circle Crop in Atlanta!

I hope you have enjoyed the blog hop. The final stop on the blog hop is at the blog of our beautiful and talented design team sister Krista.

Bayside Residence photos, Dubai Marina ,11/February/2011





Bay Central photos, Dubai Marina ,11/February/2011





Graffiti Letter Name "TOM"

Graffiti Letter Name "TOM"Please give your comments about this graffiti image, Thanks....

Magnolia-licious blog hop winner of Ribbon Hair Tilda

Hi friends! Hope you're enjoying your weekend!! It's time to announce the winner of #221 Ribbon Hair Tilda from the You are So Special collection which is available at  Magnolia-licious.  If you want to see her all colored up, just click HERE. Thanks so much to everyone that hopped with us. I know it takes a lot of time and I truly appreciate your visit and the time you took to leave a comment! I wish you could ALL be winners! So without further ado...here is the winner of the adorable Ribbon Hair Tilda...

And #40 is....



Congrats Vicki!! Please send me your address so I can get your stamp right out to you! Thanks again for playing, and have a wonderful weekend!! Hugs!

Silverene Towers photos,Dubai Marina ,11/February/2011