My Happy List

25 Things that Make Me Happy!

• family
• friends
• fur-babies

• music
• warm summer days
• cold snowy winter nights
• cute note books with sayings on them
• a great red lipstick
• the perfect highlight
• a nice compliment
• books that make you want to finish them in one sitting
• September issues of Vogue
• chats that last all night long
• a great meal with better company
• baby noises
• travel
• beaches
  
• drives to nowhere 
• ice cream dates in the summer
• hot chocolate dates in the winter 
• perfect ending for a series finale
• laughing until you cry
• doing hair
• discovering new things
• life

Just a list of a few things that make me happy. What makes you happy? Make a list! Just making the list of things that make you happy will make you happy because you get to think of all the things that make you happy. Let me know what makes you happy in the comments or link your blog in the comments.

Happy Living everyone!

A Taste of Tuesday with Jessica and Ashley

It is Tuesday again! I was going to have a nice baking post for you today but I didn't take photos so you will have to wait for another Taste of Tuesday for that. I still want to do a day a Taste of Tuesday today though.

Meal Planning! It is something I have been trying to do more lately just because it is busy and it is nice to know what you're having! The menu this week is nothing special but it is great knowing and they are all easy meals. I have my meals planned out but if anyone would like to come and make it for tonight I won't have any problem with that.

This Week's Menu:

Monday ~ Pasta
Tuesday ~ Roast Beef and Veggies
Wednesday ~ Soup and Sandwiches
Thursday ~ Meatloaf
Friday ~ Seafood Chowder

What are your favorite quick and easy meals for the week? Do you meal plan? 

This past weekend I was suppose to go and see Catching Fire again but we didn't get the catch so we are going tonight. I'm most excited! I know I have seen it before but it is really good! Have you seen it?

Hope you're all having a great Tuesday! This was such a random post, sorry! LOL I will do better tomorrow!

Ashley and Jessica

A Taste of Tuesday with Jessica and Ashley!

It is Tuesday! Did anyone watch Hostages last night? I'm totally addicted to that show and it is just so good. I won't say anything just in case you haven't watched the newest one yet but it was great! If you haven't watched it at all you're totally missing out! Even if you just watch it for the hottest of Dylan McDermott! Have I mentioned he is super hot? Also, he is 52! Anyways, the show is great too I promise.

Last night I spent the evening deciding that I'm going to be doing the 12 Days of Christmas on the blog! I'm starting on December 9th so I hope you will check it out. 

Now lets get on to why you're here. It is Tuesday and that means it is time for Taste of Tuesday.

Last week, Erica asked me to make meat balls so on Friday I did! I made sweet and sour meatballs. It was my second time making them and they were delish! They are pretty easy and a family favorite so can't really go wrong making them.

Ingredients

Meatballs:

lean ground beef

1 cup bread crumbs

chopped onions

salt and pepper

Sauce:

2 cups brown sugar

3 tbsp flour

1/2 vinegar

1/2 water

2 tbsp soya sauce

1/2 ketchup

Directions:

• Combine ground beef with bread crumbs, onions and salt and pepper. Form into balls. In a frying pan brown the meat balls. Place meatballs into the slow cooker.
• In a sauce pan combine brown sugar, flour, vinegar, water, soya sauce and ketchup. Cook until the sauce starts to thicken.
• Pour sauce over meatballs and cook on low for a few hours.

Those I did make these last week we normally have them at family gatherings. This recipe comes from my aunt Tanya. Hope some of you try this because I'm sure you will love it :)

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Jessica and Ashley

Taste of Tuesday with Jessica and Ashley!

This week I wasn't sure what I wanted to talk about for Taste of Tuesday! I haven't made anything exciting in awhile and really I was just stumped. So I'm taking a page out of Jessica and Ashley's book and I'm talking about some of my favorite snacks! I know it is kind of boring but who doesn't love having a snack!

Peanut Butter and Apples: I have to say I don't understand who don't like this snack because it is just so darn good and so easy! 

Popcorn: Firstly I can't go to the movies without having popcorn even if it just a handful! The smell gets me every time! Even at home sometimes popcorn is the best snack. 

Multigrain Nacho chips: I don't need anything to dip them in I can eat them plain and they are one of my favorite things!

Grapes: They have been my snack of choice lately because right now the grapes at the grocery store we so amazing! They are perfectly sweet and still have a great crunch to them. Now, all I want is grapes and it is too close to lunch for that!

All Veggie Wheat Thin Crackers: Again, these are something you can just have plain! Love having these with just a couple slices of cheese though. 

Unsalted Roasted Cashews: I love cashews! And the unsalted roasted ones are my favorite for sure!

What are some of your favorite snacks?

Thank goodness it is almost lunch! I have made myself rather hungry with all of this snack chat!

Jessica and Ashley

Taste of Tuesday with Ashley and Jessica!

Happy Tuesday Everyone! Who doesn't love a good Tuesday!? The sun is finally kind of shining here! This morning one would have thought it was night time it was so dark! There was also some major downpours so I'm excited the sun is now shining in my window! Today is also election day here in Nova Scotia! I voted a couple of weeks ago but if you're reading this and you're from Nova Scotia I hope you went out and voted or are going to vote. You have until 8pm!

Ashley and Jessica

Okay, we know why you're here you want to see what idea I have for you to make something! This week is my mom's recipe for banana chocolate chip muffins! I have been eating these my whole life and there has never been a better one! My mother's baking is probably the best in the world! You will love these muffins and if you don't well I don't think we can be friends! 

Mommy Brenda's Chocolate Chip Muffins

2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 Tbsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter
3 ripe medium bananas
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk (can use buttermilk)
1/2 tsp vanilla

• Preheat oven 400'F
• Spray muffin tins or use liners
• Mix together all the ingredients
• Fold in the amount of chocolate chips you would like. Sometimes more is better and sometimes you maybe want to be a little 'healthy' haha ;) 
• Bake for 12- 15 minutes, insert a toothpick and make sure it comes out clean.

Mom had made these muffins for all of kids in the family and for all of friends and I don't think one kid has ever not liked them! They are real crowd pleaser as mom says!

I have taken up making them sometimes too because they are easy when you want something sweet but something better than a chocolate bar. I hope some of you try these and love them as much as we do :) And I promise these are almost as easy as going out and buying muffins!

Taste of Tuesday with Ashley and Jessica!

Good Morning my lovelies! I hope you all had a great weekend and Monday! Sorry I didn't post yesterday but I just did not feel like it! I actually sat down twice to type up a post and it just didn't happen. I'm hoping what I have planned for the rest of week makes up for it :)

It is Tuesday and that means it is time for Taste of Tuesday with Ashley and Jessica! Since I had the biggest zucchini of life the other week I have another zucchini recipe for you! This is for muffins and they are delish! I actually plan on getting another zucchini and make more of them. I have to find a much smaller zucchini though! 

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Carrot Zucchini Muffins! This recipe comes from Yellow Bliss Road(click here to visit the blog). I haven't gone through more of her blog but it looks like a great one and I know I will go back for this recipe and check out more. These muffins are moist, tasty and pretty easy to make! The hardest thing is grated up the zucchini! This recipe calls for raisins  which are delicious in it but also I would try adding nuts and/or pineapple bits! Everyone that tried these muffins really enjoyed them!

Zucchini Carrot Oatmeal Muffins

1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs + 1 large egg white
3/4 cup oil
1 cup grated zuchini
1 cup grated carrot
3/4 cup raisins

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and oil. Stir in grated zucchini and carrots. Add to dry ingredients and stir until combined.
• Fill muffin cups about 3/4 full and bake for approx. 25 minutes. They are done when a toothpick comes out clean.

Soup's On!

Happy Friday My Lovelies! Another week is over and we are well into September now! I can't believe it is September already. Honestly doesn't feel like it should be September! Today and yesterday were fall days! Chilly! Not really but chilly not summer anymore! This weather got me in the mood for fall though :)

Anyways, since this week has been fallish and rainy (beauty of a day today though) I decided to make my tomato basil soup! When I posted some instagram photos of it everyone was asking for the recipe so I decided to make a blog post of it! I hope you all try it because it is amazing! So yummy!

Ingredients 

• 2 cans diced or stewed tomatoes
• 1 cup of chopped celery
• 1 cup of chopped carrots
• 1 cup of chopped onions
• 4 cups of chicken broth
• 1 tsp of died oregano
• 1 Tbsp of died basil
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup of flour
• 1/2 of butter
• 1/2 parmesan cheese
• 1 cup of cream (or light cream or half and half)
• Salt and pepper
• Feta for garnish

Directions

• Put tomatoes, celery, carrots, onions, broth and seasonings into the slow cooker on LOW for 5-7 hours until veggies are soft. Your kitchen is going to smell amazing!
• About 30 minutes before you're ready for dinner make your roux, melt butter in sauce pan, add in the flour and whisk it for a couple of minutes before adding in 1 cup of the soup mix, whisk until well combined, add in another 2-3 cups of soup mix and whisk until well combined. Add it back into the slower cook.
• Now, you can leave the soup if you want but I take my hand blender and blend my soup down because I like to have a smoother texture with my soup. 
• Now, add in your parmesan cheese and cream (I have to say I normally don't use much cream especially if I have blended the soup, once I didn't even use any so add what you like)
• Leave in slow cooker on low until you're ready to eat. When you're ready to serve I HIGHLY suggest adding some feta on the top for garnish because it just adds that little something!

This is one of the best soups I have ever had and I'm so happy I can make it! I also love that there is so many veggies in it and I'm sure you could add whatever you wanted especially if you were blending it up. I hope you all try this and love it! Also, if you have leftovers this soup is good on pasta!

Since it is Friday I can't leave you without starting the party train with #backthatazzup Friday! I hope you all have a great weekend! See you on Monday!

Taste of Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday my lovelies! I hope everyone is having a good week so far! Before I start this post I just want to say welcome to my new friends on my side bar! If you're feeling friendly go and check them out after you have read this post! 

This week I'm again linking up with Ashley and Jessica for a Taste of Tuesday! Sorry but this week I don't have recipe for you but I have a review of a lovely meal I had on Friday!

If you have read my weekend update post you know I was in Halifax on Friday and had dinner at Montana's. I have been to Montana's 3 times in my life including Friday. If you know me you know I love BBQ everything! One would think I would eat at a place like Montana's more but back in the day I heard bad reviews when it was opening up in Halifax so I just never went there. This past March when I was coming home from Crop and Create we decided to eat there and boy was I missing out! I got brisket the first two times I was there and it was amazing. I know it probably better at other places but I was pleasantly surprised with how good everything was. This time when we were there I decided I needed to branch out and get something other than brisket because well it was just time to try something else and I didn't really want the brisket sandwich. I ended up ordering the Portabello Mushroom Sirloin. This was probably the best decision I had made all day!I often find my steak over or under done which makes me kinda mad because you asked how I wanted it so please cook it that way! Also, a family friend has his own restaurant and probably cooks the best steak in the world so I'm kind of a steak snob now! But, I was super excited when my steak was done perfectly, my baked potato was great and they have great coleslaw! Okay, I'm making myself hungry now and dinner isn't for a few more hours! Also, their steak sauce could make just about anything taste good! Beyond having a good meal, I find we always have good service at Montana's, yes sometimes it can be a tad slow but never bad. The waitresses we have had are always very friendly and helpful! We know that even when a place has good food if the service is not good you don't want to go back. I'm giving Montana's two thumbs up! Have you been to Montana's? What is your favorite thing to order?

Pinspiration Project!

Last week I heard about another Pinterest Project link up! I love doing projects from Pinterest and I love seeing what others are doing from Pinterest so I figure this is great link up to do! I think I made this last week or the week before but anyways I wanted to share it! I know I blogged about my Cinnabon cake yesterday and now I'm doing another cinnamon recipes but honestly for the fall I think I make everything cinnamon themed because it is fall for me! So just bear with me okay! 

Today we have Cinnamon Swirl Loaf! It is really good! Everyone loved it and again it was super easy! We all know now how much I love baking when it is easy!

Click for recipe

Looks super yummy doesn't it?! Easy and yummy! Thank you again Pinterest! I think Pinterest should make a cookbook! I was looking at a cookbook the other day and honestly it is so much easier to get a recipe on Pinterest because people break it down better in the instructions! I love an easy recipe because I still consider myself a novice in the kitchen so thanks for the recipes!

Happy Tuesday Everyone! NEW CRIMINAL MINDS TONIGHT!!

Project Pinterest

Another Monday another Project Pinterest Post! This week I decided to show off some baking skills and once I saw the Cinnabon cake I knew I had to make it. Everyone in my house loves cinnamon buns so this seems like a perfect options and let me tell you it was the best baking decision I have made! This cake is AMAZING! It is really simple too! It will take you less than an hour to prep and bake it! I love quick and easy recipes! I only really needed it to be quick because I started baking later than I had hoped and I need the oven to make dinner! Got it all done before I had to start dinner so not only was this cake delish, it was quick and easy!

I promise you won't regret making this!

Fall Soup: Tomato Basil Parmesan

On Wednesday I decided to try another slow cooker soup and this time it was a Tomato basil parmesan soup. Let me tell you this soup does not disappoint in any way! And since it is basically done in a slower cooker how could this not be easy! And how good does this soup look!?

Click here for recipe

The night before I chopped the carrots and celery and got everything I needed together so the next morning I did not have much prep to do to get the soup in the slow cooker and it makes the house smell amazing for the day! The most work you have to do with this soup is make a roux and honestly that is super easy! We all know I hate it when this are hard in the kitchen! The only thing I suggest when doing this recipe is putting in your blender or using a hand blender to make it a nice creamy smooth soup and I only used one cup of cream and I used light cream. I know I made this but I have to say it is probably the best soup I have ever tasted. My cousin even suggested if you had leftover soup you could even use it has a sub for pasta sauce! Everyone who had some loved this soup! I was basically forcing it on people I even took some over to my friend when I was visiting her last week because I know she loves soup and would love this one!

If you're looking for a good fall soup this is for you! I promise you will love it!

Pesto Pasta!

Last week I dove into cooking for a few days because well I really felt like cooking so why not!? I'm going to start with the pasta for Tuesday's dinner. It was a roasted red pepper and basil pesto penne.

Click here for recipe

Doesn't it look delish!?

I actually was hoping for a better pasta but this is because I don't like pesto! Yes I know you're thinking why did you make a pesto dish when you don't like it Brittany? Answer I was making sure I didn't like pesto because I haven't had it for a long time! And I was hoping the roasted tomatoes would take away from some of the pesto taste. It doesn't! I liked it okay but I would not make again since I didn't really like it but everyone else did! Mom and Erica really liked it because they loved pesto and Dad liked it too which was great since it would have been a downer if no one liked it! I'm okay when it is just me who doesn't like something I make (yes I have done this more than once). This is an easy pasta to make, I roasted my own red peppers for this recipe because I couldn't find any jarred tomatoes and it was really easy. Just set your oven on broil, line a baking pan with foil, cut peppers in half and put them in the oven until the skins are blistered and blackened, the skins will come right off for you! You do have to make your pesto but again it is really easy so don't feel like you can't make this dish because of that, you have a food processor you can do this! Quick meal even if you have to start it after work! If you like pesto this is a dish you should make :)

xo

Yummy Yummy I Got Love In my Tummy!

I finally found my camera again so I'm finally able to show you the amazing homemade pretzel bites I made! I made other pretzel bites back in February for Superbowl but I have to say these are easier and tastier! Of course I found the recipe on Pinterest because where else do you find such awesome recipes! 

I again had a minor panic attack because of the use of yeast but it was fine once again and I shouldn't have worried in the first place. Other than having to wait for an hour so the dough can raise it isn't a long process to make these pretzel bites. Fresh out of the oven with some pizza sauce is how we had them and boy were they delish! I will be making them again for sure!!

Click here for recipe

xoxo

So What Wednesdays!?

I'm linking up again with Shannon over at Life After I "Dew" for So What Wednesday! 

• I stayed in bed until 11am watching Criminal Minds! I don't have anything to do today and it is raining so lazy day is in order
• I stayed up until 1am last night watching Coma and now I'm scared of hospitals! 
• I plan on spending most of the day working on crafts!
• I had cold pizza for breakfast!
• I keep watching Backstreets Boys videos on YouTube which makes me miss my Deena, Danielle and Tiana! 

Hope everyone has a good Wednesday! Might be back with another post later today about homemade pretzels! :)

xo

04.01.2012

Okay so there is no movie review this week because I didn’t have time to watch a movie this week/weekend so I’m just leaving it to next weekend when hopefully I will have watched something! Actually I think I might be getting forced into seeing the Hunger Games on Friday so we will just have to wait and see. Anyways today I’m going to be blogging about the pasta I made on Friday evening! Let me tell you it was touch and go there for a while because I honestly thought I ruined it even though it says in the directions that it will look like you ruined it! She really isn’t joking about that!! But it was a creamy mushroom and shrimp pasta and I added scallops to it! I think we all almost killed ourselves eating it! Ashdenne was over for dinner too and loved it!

This sauce could easily be used with chicken if you don’t care for seafood, like my sister. I think this is one of the best sauces I have come across and that include pasta sauces from restaurants! The recipe is still pretty simple but more involved then most of the dishes I have cooked before. If you try this pasta please push through the shock and know your sauce is going to be okay!

PS This isn’t a diet meal this is a treat yourself meal! My mouth is watering thinking about it! If you’re looking for a meal to make for a dinner party or just something a little nicer this is the meal to make! Delish you won’t regret it!!

Click here for the recipe :)

03.04.2012

I’m back and I’m sorry for my long absence! February was a very busy month of me and to top it off I had the flu for the last week of it basically! Yes, I will spare you the details of my illness because really I don’t want to relive them! So we will just say fresh start in March J

The first recipe on Pinterest I ever saw was for S’more cookies! They looked insanely delicious but I was not into my baking/cooking groove so I was not even interested in attempting them because at that point I could not do things in the kitchen. I bugged Erica to make them for a while but that never happened so finally once I got some confidence in the kitchen I decided I could make these cookies myself! And I did it! These are amazing cookies! They are not something you want to eat a million of though because they are quite rich but man they are good! They are pretty easy too! As you can see they look delish and honestly they are one of the best cookies I have ever eaten! They are gooey and chocolaty and crunchy! Everyone that had some loved them! Really you should try them if you have company coming or just need some good cookies in the house J

Click here for recipe

I also made Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast cake, which was delicious, and a perfect quick breakfast! This recipe gave me a little trouble but only because I didn’t pay close enough attention to the directions so we are going to leave it at that and move on! No need to dwell on my mistakes! I recommend this recipe if you’re having a breakfast or brunch with the family or friends. It is a light cake so nothing heavy in your tummy and it is really fresh because of the lemon in it. A very tasty breakfast cake indeed!

Click here for recipe

And now I leave you until next time, which will probably be tomorrow because I have another post in the works already J

2.7.2012

A Review

A few weeks ago my momma and I were in Halifax doing some shopping for her upcoming trip to LA and the Grammys! Yes you read that right my momma is going to the Grammys! Excited and totes jealous right here! It was a miserable day! Raining cats and dogs for most of the day! Once we had gotten our shopping done we decided to have a nice dinner and a glass of wine at il Mercato (the Bedford location). It was only 4:30 when we got there so it was not busy, we settled in for a lovely evening of delicious food and great wine!

We started with a glass of Spy Valley, which is a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. It is one of my favorite wines I could drink it everyday. For starters Mom had Wild mushroom and prosciutto Risotto croquettes, fresh Mozzarella centre, warm tomato, basil pesto Genovese sauce and I had the Jumbo Shrimp sautéed with roasted garlic, cream, white wine, Italian parsley. They are both as divine as they sound. The sauce for the jumbo sauce is almost the whole reason I get the shrimp. Yes I do enjoy shrimp but that sauce is something else. For our mains mom had the handmade Ravioli filled with roasted chicken, wild mushrooms & Cambozola, Mushroom sherry cream sauce and I had the tagliatelle, Jumbo Shrimp, Mussels, Scallops, Local Lobster, garlic, tomato, cream, sherry splash. So delicious! I do not think I can even find the words to describe how tasty our meal was, truly a delicious meal. Even though we were quite full we decided to splurge and get dessert mom got the bread pudding and I got the bourbon tart! Perfect sweet ending to our meal and I may or may not have gotten a second glass of wine with dessert ;) told you I loved it!

We had a wonderful waiter who was attentive but not so much that he was annoying. I love the atmosphere in this place and just how lovely and relaxed it was. If you’re looking for a nice evening out please do try il Mercato in Bedford or downtown Halifax, I’m sure you will not ever regret it.