Homemade Brownies

      I have been on such a homemade kick this fall, from these breadsticks to chocolate chip cookies to applesauce to potato chips. And I LOVE IT. Seriously, it has been so much fun and while yes, it does require some more time, it’s not as much as we like to think. I love knowing exactly what I am putting into my body and having so much control over it, unlike when you buy those packaged mixes. Plus, everyone has just been amazed and impressed with all the new goodies I have been whipping up. So I just knew I had to try to make brownies from scratch and let me tell you, you will not be disappointed! They were delicious. Enough of my rambling on onto the good stuff:

Ingredients:

• 1 stick Butter
• 1 1/2 cups Chocolate Chips
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 2/3 cup Flour
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a pan. Melt butter in microwave, remove and stir in chocolate chips until melted.
2) Add eggs, one at a time and mix well. Then stir in sugar.
3) Add flour, salt and extract and beat until just combined.

4) Pour into greased pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Use a toothpick to insert and if it comes out clean, then they are done!

And why yes, I do have the perfect brownie maker! An Easter gift last year from my mom, the resident Easter Bunny!

Funeral Flowers

So I know this isn’t the happiest of subjects, no one ever wants to talk about funeral arrangements but I would like to shed some light on some things you can do to make the event a little less dreary and a bit more personal. My family hated the idea of a normal funeral, so we decided to celebrate his life instead. I hope you never have to deal with this but if you do, maybe this will help. Or maybe this will just help me a bit by getting things off my chest and focusing on the positive.

We had created for the service a special flower arrangement.  A number 5, which was Austin’s favorite number in red carnations as red was his favorite color. Everyone loved it and it made such a personal touch sitting up front with his portrait.
We had asked for no flowers in lieu of donations yet when we arrive at the church, there were flowers abounding, which in turn, did make us feel loved.  Please excuse the fact that I took the pictures later, so the flowers aren’t their perkiest!

Gracious Gift: Teacup Love

    
      When I got back in Tally, a dear girlfriend of mine had a gift for me. A hand painted teacup for me. You should know, I absolutely love tea, drink at least two cups a day so for me this was the perfect gift. She had hand painted it with a beautiful poem and on the bottom inscribed it was “In Loving Memory of Austin” which was so nice! What a beautiful cup to have my morning tea.

Weekly Wonderings: November 9th, 2011

So Lotti and I decided to host a Thanksgiving potluck the weekend before the big event. We are inviting people from all over the friend gamut to hopefully make a fun dinner party. We are providing the bird and others bring the side dishes. I am so excited to see what everyone brings and how our bird turns out.

It’s our first time cooking a turkey, so I could use some prayers sent our way! I have been browsing Martha Stewart’s website for hopeful hints and recipes.

How cute is this idea? A Thankful Tree. We are so doing this at the potluck, and have everyone write what they are thankful for!

So I know we said we are just making the Turkey, but please tell me someone will bring these?

I would eat more veggies if they came in cute shapes!

Is it bad I want everyone to wear these at the potluck? I know we are in our 20s but these are too cute!

 

For more great ideas, check out my pinterest board HERE. Do you have any Thanksgiving traditions? Or any ideas for my potluck?

To tumble or not…

See I could answer questions if there are any out there Or it could be a waste of time. So what do you my lovely readers think?

 

P.S. If you like me, and I think you do, you should totally follow me and let me know! I am feeling a bit lonely…

Handy House Tip #4: Fall Cleaning Checklist

    
      So it’s really fall, which means it time to start getting ready for the cold times ahead. I despise being cold, my mother likes to say “She is too old to be cold”. I may not be as old as her (but, who is counting Mom) but I’d like to think I can live through her mantra as well. My apartment is filled with blankets, like at least three in my living room, including this one. Thus in fall, when they start to get used daily instead of weekly, I really need to clean them.  Here is my fall checklist for cleaning :

• Clean blankets
• Dust EVERYTHING
• Switch out summer clothing for winter ones
• Clean oven (research first)
• Really go through the fridge and throw out expired foods
• Do the same thing in the pantry and freezer
• Figure out how to clean the shower and do that
• Wipe down fans
• Clean out magazine stack, it’s overgrown again

Do you have any fall cleaning checklists? Anything you always clean? Know how to clean an oven? Tips on dusting, tip on anything?

Homemade Potato Chips in the Microwave!

So I discovered a beautiful thing the other day, you can homemake potato chips in a Mircowave in under 7 minutes! Hallelujah ! I can satisfy my cravings and still make a bit healthier plus keep up with my homemade kick. Anyways, there are only “4” ingredients and minimal effort involved. My type of snack.

Ingredients:

• 1 potato
• Pam or other cooking spray
• Olive Oil
• Salt

Directions:

1) Slice the potato no thicker than 1/16th inch pieces. This takes effort, make sure your knife is sharp!

2) Spray cooking spray on the plate then place slices on the plate. Coat lightly with Olive Oil and Salt.

3) Bake 3 1/2 minutes on EACH side. They should be starting to brown when finished on the second side.

4) They will be hot when you remove them, I like to put them on another plate so I can eat them quicker!

P.S. Be careful because your roommate might beg you to make her a plate too!