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 Ashley and Jessica

Jessica and Ashley

I feel like this week should be over already and it is only Tuesday! But really lets get to why you're here, you want to know what I have baked/cooked this week! Since last week I gave you a borderline fail I decided to switch it up and bake this week. I have chocolate oatmeal zucchini cookies for you!

These cookies are really good especially if you don't want/like something super sweet. If you wanted to add more sweetness you could but I enjoyed these as is. They are also quick and easy! We all know how I like recipes quick and especially easy!

Chocolate Oatmeal Zucchini Cookies

Recipe from Crazy for Crust

Ingredients:
½ cup butter
¼ cup vegetable oil
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup cocoa powder
3 cups quick oats
1 cup shredded zucchini (about 1 small)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spray two cookie sheets with a non-stick cooking spray. I use Baking Pam.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and cocoa. Set aside for later.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter, oil, and sugars. Add egg and vanilla and mix on low speed until combined. Slowly mix in dry ingredients.

4. Add oats and mix on low speed. Continue mixing on low speed and add zucchini. Mix until well combined.

5. Scoop balls onto cookie sheet. Bake 12-14 minutes until center of cookie no longer looks wet. Cool on cookie sheet then eat!

These cookies are really good and if you love zucchini it goes really well with these cookies.

Hope you're all having a great Tuesday!

Taste of Tuesday with Jessica and Ashley and Tuesday Tunes!

Ashley and Jessica

On Sunday I was looking through Pinterest trying to figure out a couple of things to make for dinner this week. I have been wanted to make butternut squash soup for awhile now and I finally found an easy slow cooker recipe. Well, sometimes recipes are too easy. I won't say this recipe was a fail but I will say I won't be using this recipe again. It is an easy recipe but there isn't enough to it! Honestly, all that is in it is onions, butternut squash, a couple of spices, bouillion cubes, water and cream cheese! I also only used half the amount of cream cheese you were suppose to use because if I had of used all of it, the only flavor you would have gotten was cream cheese! I even added more spices just to try and make it less bland. Yes, it was eaten but it isn't something I will make again. I'm looking for another recipe for butternut squash soup so if you have one please send it my way! I really enjoy ones that are made in the slow cooker but doesn't have to be. It looked and smelled really good but just didn't have the right flavor!! If you really want the recipe you can find it here.

I haven't done a Tuesday Tunes in so long! But I decided since I only had basically a Pinterest fail for you today I should throw something else in! Today, I'm giving you one of my favorite artists on the Voice this season. I'm so happy he is on Team Blake now! I'm talking about Cole Vosbury! Last week he did Let Her Go by Passenger and I could listen to that song all day every day! It is a great song and when Cole sings it, it is magical! I hope you all like it as much as I do!

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!

A Little Sunshine!

A week or so ago the lovely Miranda nominated me for the Sunshine Award! And I have to say a big thank you! Miranda is a sweetheart and I'm happy she likes my blog enough to even think of me for an award! You should totally go and check her out because she has an awesome blog too! You can find her here :)

Here are the "rules"...

1. Link back to the blog who nominated you for the sunshine award.
2. Include the sunshine logo in your post.
3. Answer the questions given to you by your nominator.
4. Nominate bloggers who add sunshine to your day!

1. What is your absolute, least favorite household chore?

I hate folding clothes! I will do laundry all day but I hate folding it!

2. What was your favorite subject in high school?

History! I have always loved it. Plus we had the best history ever!

3. Do you prefer to live in the city, or in a more rural setting? 

I enjoy a smaller city. I love places like New York but I find it too much for living. I live in a small town right now and it is fine but a small city would be my choice.

4. What is your biggest obsessive habit?

Hmmm, probably checking the door before I leave the house. Always have to make sure it is closed a few times before I walk away.

5. Do you ever eat cereal for dinner?

You know it!

6. On Friday nights, do you like to go out or stay in?

I don't mind going out but Friday is normally the day I'm most tired at night! Going to friend's place to just hang out is my favorite thing or just going out for dinner.

7. What color do you wear most often?

Probably black, but I try and wear colors often.

8. Least favorite day of the week besides Monday? 

Tuesday! Monday's evil twin!

9. Do your family and real life friends know about your blog?

Yes they do :)

10. The beach, or the mountains?

BEACH! I love being on the beach with the sand between my toes!

And the award goes to...

Faith @ 'Cause You Gotta Have Faith
Sarah @ Life of Love
Ashley @ Let's Get Bananas
Pam @ Yes it is, Kevin
Jessica @ Blissfully Miller

My Questions

1. What do you most love blogging about?
2. What would you love to blog about but can't bring yourself to do it?
3. What is your order at Starbucks?
4. Where is your favorite place to go for dinner in your town?
5. Do you watch YouTube? Who is your favorite YouTuber?
6. What is the best book you have ever read?
7. Do you prefer a sightseeing vacation or relaxing laying around one?
8. What does your Saturday morning routine include?
9. What was your favorite show as a child?
10. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Thanks again for the nomination Miranda!

xo

Taste of Tuesday with a side of Tunes!

Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope everyone is having a great Tuesday. I have been having a great day today since I'm being super productive! Already have most of everything I wanted to have done today and it is only lunch time. I'm watching Ink Master right now and I swear they have a marathon every Tuesday! Sadly, I seem to catch the same ones each week! I also always miss the new one because I fall asleep every time!!

Seeing at it is Taste of Tuesday, it is time to talk about food! This week we are talking about cookies! These cookies are easy but the only thing is you have to chill the dough for at least 8 hours! I have no idea why but that is what the recipe tell you to do! The cookies are good so it is worth it! They are ginger drop cookies! They are classic soft spice cookie. Last night I whipped up the dough in no time and then let it chill overnight! Honestly easiest cookies I have ever made! They are perfect with a cup of tea or maybe a pumpkin spice latte! Now, lets get on with the recipe so you can make these cookies too! 

Ginger Drop Cookies


1 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup molasses
2 eggs 
4 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda 
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup water

• In your mixer or large bowl cream shortening and brown sugar until fluffy. Add in molasses and eggs. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture alternating with water.
• Refridgerate dough for at least 8 hours
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls on to baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool.

And there you're done! Your house is going to smell amazing! The cinnamon and ginger just smell amazing and make for a delightful cookie! I hope you all it because they are delish!

Jessica and Ashley

And since I haven't linked up with Tuesday Tunes in awhile I decided to leave you with some music for your baking!

Taste of Tuesday with Ashley and Jessica!

If any of you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you know last week I spent much of it conquering a HUGE zucchini! I decided to bake and bake and bake with it! Pretty sure I love everything I tried! So, it was great idea! Now, of course I have to share it with you!

(Ashley & Jessica)

Today, I'm sharing the loaf recipes I made and they are both from A Pretty Life in the Suburbs. The first one is straight up zucchini bread and the second is chocolate zucchini loaf! Both, were amazing! I had made the chocolate loaf before so I knew that was going to be delish! The zucchini bread was just as good! So, yummy! I think adding raisins or nuts to the bread would be amazing too and I think I might try it next time I make this because I know I will be making it again!

Zucchini Bread - this recipe makes 2 loaves

Ingredients:
2 cups shredded zucchini (one medium sized zucchini)
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

Shred 2 cups zucchini and just set it aside for later.
In a mixer, combine eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon.
Then gradually add the dry ingredients to wet. Mix gently.
Stir in the zucchini.
In a preheated 325 degree oven, bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake - this makes 2 loaves

Ingredients:

2¼ cups flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1¾ cups sugar
½ cup butter or margarine
½ cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup buttermilk
2 cups grated, unpeeled zucchini (1 medium zucchini)
1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
Prepare 2 loaf pans. I use wax paper to line them.
Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a mixer, combine the sugar, butter and vegetable oil.
Then add the eggs, mixing well.
In a separate measuring cup combine the buttermilk and vanilla.
To the butter mixture, add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk.
Add the zucchini. Mix well.
Stir in the chocolate chips
Bake for 50 – 60 minutes. Or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake, comes out clean.

Check out these recipes and more at A Pretty Life in the Suburbs!

Yes that is my hand beside the MONSTER zucchini!

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?