Today for my behind the scenes photography tips I have my dear friend Tamar here to share with you her best advice on Street Photography. Tamar lives in the city & is always on the go, capturing life along the way. I have known Tamar for many years – I think probably as long as I have been honing my photography skills. We go way back. So I thought she would be the perfect person to share with you some great tips on capturing everyday life in a beautiful way. Please give her a nice, warm Kleinworth & Co. welcome.
Hello everyone! I am so excited to be blogging here for Gina.
I’m Tamar and live in Boston. By day, I am a third grade teacher, but when I am not teaching I’m out and about taking photos of this great city.
So, I thought today, I would share my tips for taking street photography, but specifically street photography with an iphone or phone camera.
Personally, I find street photography to be a wonderful way to explore my city and not just pass through rushing to where ever I need to be.
I try to be spontaneous in my street photography. I never go looking for a shot, but try to be aware of the beauty of Boston around me and capture those amazing photo opportunities when I see them. I often find myself captivated by cool statues, cityscapes, or areas of landscaping. Capturing them with my phone (or my dslr on occasion) let’s me fall in love with every nook and cranny of this fine city.
When I am taking pictures with my phone, I am not afraid to take “raw” pictures. Pictures that really capture the feel of the city for what it is. Personally, iPhone street photography is quite different than when shooting with my Nikon.
When I shoot with my phone, I tend to focus on the big picture of what I am seeing rather than small details. I also try hard to not compose my shots or take multiple shots until I get “the one” – for me it’s about capturing that instant – that exact moment I saw that caught my eye.
I also tend to edit my pictures through a variety of iPhone apps.
I most often use instagram (you can follow me there, my handle is tamarsb). This lets me crop shots and edit them. Sometimes I go for a “raw” edit that brings out the scene I captured, like the bike against the railing or the statue on the gray and dreary day. Others I love using the contrast editor to make the blue sky pop or the street art stand out even more.
I am now hooked on waterlogue &- it adds a lovely soft touch to photos and I have most enjoyed using it on photos of Boston’s architecture, a nice soft touch to the hardness of the city.
Also, squareready is great for taking a normal picture and shrinking it down so it doesn’t get cropped in instagram.
The beauty of this style of photography, is that I always have my phone on me (got to love living in 2014) and I never miss a scene or moment that I want to capture. There are, of course, those amazing sunrises or sunsets or skyline views that I see while driving, those I just have to take a mental image of!
Do you do any type of street photography? What are your tricks or tips for capturing your neck of the woods?
Thank you so much Tamar!!!
These are FANTASTIC tips that we all can put to use in our everyday life. I can’t wait to get started.
Be sure to visit Tamar & say hello!!
Want More Photography Tips?
Food Photography Behind the Scenes
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Going Away Gift {Free Printable}
I can’t believe we will be moving in just over a month. It’s incredible just how fast this whole house building has gone. We will soon be saying goodbye to all our wonderful friends & neighbors we have met here. Everyone was so amazing when we arrived 18 months ago. From my neighbor across the street that not only brought us cookies within days of us moving in & also got up at 4 AM to drive the hubs to the airport & back when we were in CA for my mom’s funeral. She has watched over our house countless times. My son has made friends with all the elderly on our loop & has earned a decent wage shoveling driveways & doing yard work while we have been here. We were fortunate enough that the house behind us has 3 little girls living in it- instant friends with my girls. There are plenty of boys in close proximity too which has kept my son busy playing football in the front yard for forever. We have spent holidays with these people, had them with us for special events & we are so grateful for the sense of community they have given us. We are sad to be leaving them. So I decided to create this Going Away Gift & Free Printable to show just how much we have loved being neighbors.
I can’t tell you just how nice it was to be welcomed so warmly when we arrived here.
I sure hope that we have the same relationships & forge great friendships with our new neighbors. We have already met one family who we really like. I have heard that there are more families buying up lots all up & down our street.
I stocked this one full of Kool-Aid products because it’s a great thing to have all summer long. This gift basket doesn’t have to be just for moving away- you could make the same thing for teacher appreciation gifts, end of school gifts for classmates or end of season sports parties.
You can download this free printable tag to create your own gift basket.
Want More gift ideas?
Toasted Coconut Green tea Scrub
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
But First…Coffee T-Shirt ~ Printable Decal
I’m so excited – my dear friend Ariean from One Krieger Chick is now a contributor here on Kleinworth & Co. Whooo!! If you don’t know Ariean – now is your chance to see why I adore her so much. She is sweet, kind & amazingly talented & creative in so many ways. I’m so thrilled to have her here. Please give her a nice warm welcome.
Hello New Friends! I’m Ariean from One Krieger Chick and I am super excited to be here! Gina and I happen to have a lot in common, especially when it comes to our love for Coffee.
Most morning coffee drinkers will appreciate this shirt…just a subtle warning…or a hint to start our day off on the right foot…
Here’s how you can make your own But First…Coffee T-Shirt…
You’ll need the following supplies: T-shirt of choice, iron-on T-shirt transfer paper for (purchase according to the color of shirt you’re using), template for graphic image, scissors, iron
Start by washing, drying, and ironing the shirt to remove any wrinkles.
Print off the free printable
But First COFFEE T-shirt decal onto the transfer paper according to the package directions.
Trim around the image approximately 1/4 inch.
Lay image out on the shirt, making sure the image is facing down toward the shirt.
Paper side will be up. Iron the image onto the shirt according to the package directions.
Hint: Keep the iron moving at all times. If you let it sit too long in one place, it may burn.
Allow image to completely cool before removing paper backing. Carefully remove backing and enjoy your Awesome new shirt!
For washing instructions, refer to the package. I wash mine inside out using cold water and hang to dry.
My day is off to a great start…Hope yours is too!
Seriously!!! I want this shirt!! I love it Ariean!!
See you guys!!! I told you she was pretty AWESOME!!
Head on over & check out all the other fabulous things Ariean has done.
Want more projects?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
[include id=”1″ title=”Footer Ad”]
Mocha Java Ice Cream
Mother’s Day is this weekend. Honestly I have been trying to avoid it as much as I possibly can. I’m not even telling my kids that it’s happening. With this being the first one since my mom passed away – I frankly have just lost my enthusiasm for it. I don’t want to think about it. But then it came up. My contributor post for SNAP! Creativity. The theme- Mother’s Day. So now what? I was forced to deal with it & get over myself. Instead of staying sad – I decided to use the moment to create a recipe that my mom & I shared ALL THE TIME together, Mocha Java Ice Cream. She loved it so much & because of that- we had it all the time. In fact, it wasn’t unusual to have it for dinner when it was just her & I all those years. Yep- I know…totally not something we should have had for a meal. But you know- I look back & think- what harm did it do? So anyhow- after many attempts at trying to get this perfect- I finally did it & now it’s time to share.
It really has the perfect blend of mocha & coffee.
For those that love coffee ice cream – this is like that- but better.
It’s really close to my mocha from Starbucks – only frozen so I can have it all summer.
Then there are the mini chocolate chips.
I love them & I think they add just enough of that little something extra I like with each bite.
My mom would be so happy that I finally perfected this recipe.
We would have been sharing some with a piece of cake this weekend. 🙂
Mocha Java Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 1 cup half & half
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 3 tbsp instant espresso
- 1 tbsp Dutch process cocoa powder
- 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Mix together milk, half & half and cream cheese until well-combined.
- Add in espresso, cocoa powder, sugar, and vanilla.
- Pour into the container of ice cream maker and make according to directions.
- Midway through freezing, add in mini chocolate chips.
- Churn in ice cream maker approx 20 minutes
- Serve immediately for soft serve or transfer in an airtight container
Want More frozen treats?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
[include id=”1″ title=”Footer Ad”]
Mason Jar Wall Garden
Hey!! I’m to excited!! The wonderful Amber from Averie Lane is joining our team here at Kleinworth & Co. She creates the most inspiring projects & I am so happy that she is here today to share one of them. This Mason Jar Wall Garden is fantastic. I can’t wait to make one myself. Please give Amber a warm welcome & check out this awesome idea.
Hi! I’m Amber and I blog over at Averie Lane !
Today I am sharing my super simple – totally fun- easy peasy Mason Jar Wall Garden with you!!
Here’s the story…
I had a boring blank wall on my back patio that needed SOMETHING.
I looked around my house to see what I could up-cycle into a planter. That’s when I found a picture frame with chicken wire mounted in it and a few mason jars that use to house my herb garden (FYI: if you have to live in your cousin’s basement due to a move, its not likely your herbs are going to survive.)
All you need are a few supplies:
Picture Frame with Chicken Wire (just staple chicken wire to an empty frame if you don’t have one laying around like I did…)
Wire*
Mason Jars
Soil
Flowers
(a little helper or two won’t hurt either…)
Just wire* your jars right to the chicken wire part of the frame.
*I recommend a heavy gauge wire if this will be outside
Then before you hang it up, add soil and flowers. Use a couple screws to hang it on the wall!
Now a couple tips for you!
- Don’t over water because your mason jar can’t drain. I repeat – DON’T OVER WATER
- When the soil starts to feel dry then its time to water. You can also see how wet the soil is so only add enough water to moisten it. You don’t want it to puddle in the bottom.
- You can add rocks for better drainage it you like.
Now style up your Mason Jar Wall Garden with some vintage finds and a cute arrow sign!
I am obsessed!!
Wouldn’t this be a fun Mother’s Day gift!?
I want to thank Gina for having me here today and I hope you enjoyed my easy DIY Mason Jar Wall Garden!
If you like this project be sure to follow me!
Thank you SO MUCH Amber for inspiring us all & sharing this here today. Isn’t she AWESOME????!!!!!
I can’t wait to make this for our new backyard in the coming months.
Want more home projects?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
SNAP! Conference Recap
I have been promising you all that I would share what an amazing time I had at SNAP! Conference for about a week now. I have to tell you- if you can ever swing it to go- it’s TOTALLY WORTH IT!!! I had so much fun, learned a whole bunch – not just from the classes but from the one on one talks with some really AWESOME bloggers too. I feel so very blessed that I had the opportunity to do it & even more blessed that I was able to take my family along with me for the adventure.
So here’s a little of what I was able to capture of the 3 day event.
I didn’t listen to those that said I wouldn’t really use the DSLR – so I lugged around the MarkIII almost the whole time.
I may leave it at home next year. These are almost all taken with my phone.
So – here I was- all ready to go. Jeans & flip flops. Walk out to get in the truck- it’s snowing…and it continued to snow for the better part of the trip. Strange weather. But we saw some remarkable things along the way. BISON- we saw a heard of bison on the side of the road in Montana. Can I just tell you – I love western Montana. (I say western because I have not had the chance to see the rest of the state) It is AMAZING – I can’t even express just how STUNNING that part of the country is & I live in a pretty gorgeous location to compare it to.
Did you know UT has 80mph speed limits?? That was nice because by the time we got to that point I was ready for the 10 hour drive to be over. We dumped our stuff in our room & headed to the brewery for some fried food. It was good but insanely busy. Not as peaceful as I had hoped after a long drive.
That night I ran into my sweet friend Desiree from The 36th Avenue in the lobby. Can I just tell you – she is every bit as nice in person (not that I was surprised). I think Desiree & I will be life long friends. She is a PHENOMENAL person & a good portion of the credit for where I am today is owed to her. I love her dearly – I so wish we had been on a weekend retreat so we could have chatted more. I could spend some serious time with her.
The next morning I joined a busload of ladies for a #ThriftStorePartyBus hosted by Brooke from All Things Thrifty. She ROCKS people!!! I adore her!!!! We went to a pickers dream & did some antique shopping. We also did a little prop shopping. Perfect way for me to kick off this adventure with prop shopping. The hubs was happy that we drove so we had room for my purchases. It was great.
Each day I received a gift from my secret sister full of goodies & little things I love. That was SO NICE. We also had an 80’s themed pajama party. I had the chance to spend some serious time with the fabulous Liz from Love Grows Wild & Samantha from Five Heart Home. We had some fun. We spent a lot of time together & it was great.
The second day all of us SNAP! contributors had the chance to break away from the hustle & bustle & have a nice quite & relaxing lunch with each other. It was great to meet them all one on one. Can I just say – Tauni is so incredibly sweet. She is also INCREDIBLY INSPIRATIONAL. She has had some pretty awesome experiences in her life & some pretty hard struggles too. I am so inspired by how she is able to do all she does. Thank you Tauni for everything- truly everything.
While I was busy with the conference – the family set out on some adventures.
The first day they got a HUGE piece of metal in our tire & spent half the day getting it replaced. Thanks Salt Lake City for the adventure.
They also visited the Planetarium, the State Capital building, saw a movie & visited the outdoor mall. They had some great food, they stopped at my favorite store- Tiffany’s & swam in the hotel pool a whole lot. They somehow had time to visit some of the vendors with me while at the conference too. They had a great time.
Amongst all the things on the schedule- my friend & contributor here – Gloria from Simply Gloria (who wasn’t attending the conference) stopped by the hotel to meet with me. We grabbed some water, sat in a little corner & learned all about each other. We have so much in common & I loved getting to know her. We could be dangerous if we lived closer to each other- I think we would be together all the time. LOVE HER!! She brought me this homemade hot fudge- she really knows me I tell ya!!
We had an 80’s dance party – which we all sang & danced our hearts out. It was great. We had amazing speakers who were so inspiring. I had the chance to chat with the AMAZING Cheryl from Tidy Mom. We talked about everything under the sun for probably close to an hour. It was so nice to get some one on one time with her. I finally had the chance to meet my friend Kelly from Live Laugh Rowe in person. I also had some great moments with Kristi from I Should be Mopping the Floor & Claire from A Little CLAIREification. I didn’t capture it- but Liz & Samantha & I had the chance to have a little wind down chat time with some of the greatest bloggers around- Jamielyn from I Heart Naptime, Kristyn from Lil’Luna & Becky from Infarrantly Creative were all so open & kind & giving with their time. I hope to get to know them all better in the future- it’s truly inspiring to see what they have been able to accomplish. LOVE THEM ALL!!!! It was like a giant reunion – but for many of us we had never met in person. I can’t wait to see these ladies again & again at as many places we can find a chance to get to at the same time. I did get a few moments with Jen from Tatertots & Jello- but she is in high demand. Hoping for another opportunity to get to know her better in person- she has been so wonderful to me over this past year.
Did I mention the SWAG??? It was OFF THE HOOK!!!! Seriously – I knew I would get a bag of goodies at the beginning just because I had seen other recaps before. But the gifts just kept on coming. Every event, every class, every morning, every evening, every time we all got together as a group, gifts delivered to our rooms, gifts from the vendors, gifts from some of the bloggers I contribute for – like Mariel from Or So She Says – who gave me a candle in my favorite scent….Pina Colada. 🙂 Plus a bunch of goodies too. I was so touched & GRATEFUL for the generosity of all those involved & those I came in contact with. I can’t express just how much it all means to me.
Finally – the business cards. I felt like I was passing out a ton. Looks like I only exchanged about 60. Which is a lot & doesn’t count the vendors. But I guess I probably should have passed out more since there were 527 of us there to connect. I failed on that front. But there is always next year.
So there you have it- it was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t express that enough.
If you can go- DO IT!! Hope to see you next year.
Homemade Salsa
I’m so excited today to welcome one of my new contributors – Aniko from Place of My Taste. I “met” Aniko through our both being contributors for the amazing Desiree at The 36th Avenue. I was instantly floored by her incredible talent in the kitchen, creativity & rockin’ photo skills. So you can imagine just how excited I was when she raised her hand when I called for contributors here on Kleinworth & Co. So please give her a warm welcome here & enjoy this FABULOUS recipe for Homemade Salsa.
Happy Cinco De Mayo Everyone! My name is Aniko and I blog over at Place Of My Taste. I am so happy to be here and share something super easy yet delicious with you all! Since today is a Mexican holiday, I brought my favorite homemade salsa recipe to share with you! We have a favorite Mexican restaurant about 5 minutes drive from us and they serve the best salsa ever. We only visit that restaurant maybe once a month though, so I had to learn how to make the perfect salsa dip at home.
I love salsa…in every way…
I LOVE to dance it and I LOVE to eat it:-)
Few fresh ingredients and a food processor is all you need to make a very authentic fresh salsa dip.
Homemade Salsa
Ingredients
- 1 can 28oz tomatoes (whole or diced )
- handful fresh cilantro
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 lime juiced
- 1/2 onion diced
- 1/2 cup jalapeno pepper
- 1 tbs salt
Instructions
- Put the can of tomatoes into your food processor and place all the other ingredients on the top. Turn on your food processor for a few minutes. Chill your salsa if desired.
Serve your salsa dip with tortilla chips and make your friends lick their fingers on your next party!
You can store your salsa ( if there is a leftover ) for days in your refrigerator.
If you are looking for more dips perhaps, check out my favorite Easy Guacamole
or this very flavorful Spinach & Artichoke dip
I hope you will love these dips as much as we do!
Have a great week!
If you like what you see come check out my DIY project gallery or Recipe Gallery to see more mouthwatering recipes!
Xoxo~
Aniko
Thank you SO MUCH Aniko- it’s an honor & pleasure to have you here today & in the coming months.
I can’t wait to try this recipe
Want More to go with your festive party food tonight?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
[include id=”1″ title=”Footer Ad”]
Cutting Roses
I’m so excited!!! Remember my friend Suzi?? She shared the fantastic tips on planting potatoes. I’m so honored to tell you that she’s now a contributor HERE on Kleinworth & Co. YAY!!! So she’s back again today to share with you all some great tips for Cutting Roses. I can personally vouch for her serious expertise. I have seen so many images of her gorgeous garden & all she grows over the years – she knows her stuff!! I’m so thrilled that she’s here to share it all with us today.
Happy May! I hope you enjoyed my guest post last week about planting potatoes, ours aren’t up yet, but there’s still time. With Mother’s Day coming up I thought I’d take a moment to talk about roses. Growing roses can take a bit of work, but can be oh so rewarding when they’re blooming!
There are so many types of roses, that it’s best to read up on the one you wish to plant, some flower continuously all through summer, while others only flower once, but are so spectacular it’s completely worth it. The key is to find a good space with plenty of sun. While they can tolerate some shade, the bushes won’t be as robust without ample sunlight, plus too much shade can encourage mildew and other diseases. That said roses need protection from winds and frost, so along a fence or building is often best, just make sure if you’re planting it, and leave enough room for it to grow to its full potential. Since planting roses depends on the type you get, I thought I’d focus on making the most of their blooms!
I tried to get a picture of the gloves and pruning shears I use, but my “helper” insisted he needed the basket more than I did. I find that “gardening gloves” often have cloth or are too narrow and they don’t last a season of gardening for me. So I use men’s leather work gloves instead.
I also use Pink pruning shears as they’re easier to find in the garden, and they don’t tend to wander away!
To ensure your repeating roses bloom throughout the summer, you’ll need to make sure to “deadhead” your rose. This essentially means you need to trim off the ugly spent blooms to make way for the new. The key is to cut right above the first or second cluster of 5-leaves just below the dried bloom or rose hip. If you trim too short, it won’t re-bloom, if you trim too long, the rose will take longer between bloom cycles. (Note that some climbers it takes two to three years for it to bloom, and then care needs to be taken with the canes as it needs “old growth” to flower, and so they should be treated a bit differently.)
You’ll need to cut longer stems when cutting a rose for an arrangement. Always select blooms that are just starting to open, as if the bud’s too tight it may not bloom. (Open roses are fine too; they just won’t last as long.) Always cut your roses and plants at a 45-degree angle. This allows any rainwater to run off and prevents the stem from rotting, and when in an arrangement it helps create a larger surface area for the plant to absorb the water. I usually put my roses in water and then go back out to pick some pretty greenery for the base filler.
Once indoors fill a vase with cold water (and preservative if you have it). Remove any lower leaves on your roses and filler plants so they won’t be under the water line. (Also remove any diseased petals and leaves.) The greenery and “base flowers” should go into your vase first, so you have a nice foundation to work with.
This is a good start for filler if you have larger roses. Since I was using cluster roses (with multiple heads on the stems) and I didn’t want to try and stiffen them with florist’s wire, I added a bit more filler for support. You can be as creative as you want with filler, and even use “sticks” such as the curly willow shown here. However keep in mind that some plants (and flowers) are poisonous to pets and children, while others (such as this bottle brush at the top) can cause allergies or pollen. If in doubt, don’t use it.
We are now ready to add the roses! Fill your sink or a bowl with cold water and re-cut your stem under water using a sharp knife or pruning shear, and then immediately place it in the vase you’re arranging in. This protects the cut stem from the air, and helps it last longer.
Whenever you place the flowers think of them as a “plant” so that they all appear to be growing from the center of the arrangement out, this helps keep it looking organized, and balanced. Since these flowers needed more support and are already in full bloom, I made the arrangement tighter. If I were arranging flowers that were only half open, I would leave more room to accommodate for their growth. (This is especially important when working with larger flowers such as lilies and single long-stem roses.)
Keep your arrangement fresh by removing any faded or spent blooms. You can often extend the life of a bouquet by making smaller arrangements as some of the larger flowers start to fade. I’ve even been known to amend the base filler with new flowers from the yard. If the water gets bad, remove the flowers and re-fresh it, making sure to re-cut the flowers before adding them to the new water.
Companion Planting: Alliums (Black spot/Aphids), Garlic (Black spot/Aphids), Geraniums, Lavender, Marigolds, Nasturtium, Onions (Black spot/Aphids), Parsley, Thyme, Yarrow, and many more
Avoid: Trees and plants that have invasive roots. Ivy, vines, and invasive ground cover can also be an issue.
Have fun!
~ Suzi
Thanks so much Suzi – I can’t wait to make some beautiful arrangements.
Want More gardening tips?
Be sure to check out my post on How to Plant Potatoes
& my Spring Garden Inspiration
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
[include id=”1″ title=”Footer Ad”]
Millionaire Sour
Seems this warmer weather has me on a sour kick & I don’t mean my mood. Hehehe 🙂 I told you when I made that Lemon Simple Syrup that I would be making all sorts of things with it. The cool part is that not only did I give you some ideas of what you could use it for- but I’m making more recipes than I ever thought I would with it. Way beyond my normal uses of Lemon Simple Syrup. I love that I can share them all here with you & you can enjoy them too. This is one sour beverage recipe that you will love all through the warmer months. It’s a crisp & refreshing Millionaire Sour AND I am also giving you an option for making it non-alcoholic too. It’s a win for everyone.
Just look at those gorgeous colors together – reds, oranges & yellows!! LOVE IT!
Picture serving this at all those BBQ’s – Memorial Day, 4th of July & Labor Day!
Millionaire Sour
Ingredients
- **PER GLASS
- 2 ounces Lemon Simple Syrup
- 1 ounce Bushmills Irish Whiskey
- OR 2 ounces ginger ale if you wish to go non-alcoholic
- 1/4 cup crushed ice
- 1/4 shot grenadine
- lemon slice & cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Add your lemon simple syrup & whiskey to shaker with 1/4 filled with ice. Shake
- Strain into ice filled glass
- Add 1/4 shot grenadine
- Garnish with lemon & cherry
Note - if using ginger ale for non-alcoholic version - just pour ingredients into ice filled glass- do not shake.
Want more warm weather recipes?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Toasted Coconut Banana Ice Cream
Hi everyone! Can you believe it’s almost MAY???!! I am just shocked by that! That means it’s almost summer. Hope you all are enjoying the glorious sunshine! As you know, with everything I have happening around here, I’m definitely feeling like spending less time in the kitchen & lightening up the menu a little bit. How about you?? But my sweet tooth is always tempting me to find new ways to still feel like I’m getting my little treats when I need them. I’m sure you all have seen the fabulous idea of making ice cream out of frozen bananas. Genius! Because it really does taste like ice cream, right?! But sometimes I want other flavors too – which means I start throwing other things in the blender with the bananas. When that happens- sometimes I come up with something I can’t live without. This Toasted Coconut Banana Ice Cream is one of those things.
The combo of banana & toasted coconut is just heaven for me.
It’s light, fresh & creamy. Perfect for these warmer days. I know that we will be having this all through summer. No guilt- I’m still getting a refreshing treat but with things that are good for me.
Toasted Coconut Banana Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 3 large bananas - frozen
- 1/2 cup toasted coconut + more for topping
- 1/2 cup cream of coconut
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a high powered blender
- Blend on high for several minutes until all ingredients are combined to a thick & creamy mixture.
- You may need to scrape down the sides several times throughout the process.
- Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight container & store in freezer for 1-2 weeks.
For toasting the coconut – start here…
How to toast coconut – It’s so incredibly simple & keeps well.
So there you have it – a simple dessert you can whip up in just a few minutes.
Want More Frozen Banana Recipes?
Banana Cream Pie Frozen Yogurt
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Coconut Bananas Foster
I’m sort of feeling like I’m back in the saddle today after a great trip with some AMAZINGLY INSPIRING women. I will be sharing all about it as soon as I can get my head wrapped around everything here. But I do have a YUMMY recipe to share with you that I know you will LOVE!!! Ever since I posted my Coffee Bean Syrup & used it on a stack of waffles with a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream, I have been wanting to create more things to put on top of waffles & ice cream. You know me- more is more when it comes to treats!! Certain flavors paried together just make me swoon- bananas & caramel, bananas & coconut, caramel & pecans, bananas & pecans. So I figured why not put it altogether for one decadent & absolutely delightful treat. Coconut Bananas Foster.
Now bananas foster is typically made with rum.
Yes the alcohol is cooked out – but I opted to use that Coffee Bean Syrup that I mentioned earlier in it’s place.
I used these giant Belgian Waffles stacked 3 high, topped with vanilla ice cream & then added my foster.
Heaven!! Absolute Heaven!
Coconut Bananas Foster
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Coffee Bean Syrup
- 2 bananas - sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1-1/2 cups sweetened coconut - divided
Instructions
- Melt a stick of butter in a pan on medium-high heat.
- Add a cup of brown sugar.
- Stir it up with heavy cream.
- Stir in bananas
- Add chopped nuts.
- The mixture should be good and bubbly.
- Pour in syrup
- Remove from the burner and stir in 1 cup of the coconut.
- Serve over waffles & vanilla ice cream & top with remaining coconut
Want more Caramel or Coconut?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Vanilla Coffee Creamer
I mentioned a couple days ago that I am doing an experiment with my coffee. I want to see if replacing the things I normally add to my cup with homemade versions changes how I generally feel. I have already created Homemade Vanilla Coffee Syrup that I like to put in my coffee with a little half & half. But I also tried my hand at making Homemade Vanilla Coffee Creamer because the hubs really likes to have the flavored creamers. The cool thing is that I can make this as needed – no more buying in bulk & I think it tastes better than what we were originally using too.
It’s so simple to make. Just add the ingredients to a mason jar- give it a good shake & done. I think it’s easier to pour from a smaller bottle, so I transferred a portion to these sauce bottles.
Vanilla Coffee Creamer
Ingredients
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups milk - I used 2%
- 1/3 cup vanilla coffee syrup
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large mason jar & tighten the lid
- Shake well - done
- Store in refrigerator for up to 1 week (depending on how fresh your milk is that you used)
- Give it a little shake before each use.
Want more HOMEMADE versions of your favorites?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
[include id=”1″ title=”Footer Ad”]
Planting Potatoes
While I’m still away at SNAP! Conference today I am so honored to have the wonderfully talented Suzi Worley here today to share some gardening tips with you all. I have known Suzi since we were both first learning our cameras & photography – long before we both started our businesses. She lives in CA – which as most of you know- is home for me, so I love seeing what she shares because it’s all so familiar. I get little glimpses of home with each & every post she creates. With the warmer weather I know that I am really excited to get started with planting once we get moved to our new home. Today Suzi is going to share some of her gardening tips. She is extremely knowledgeable on this topic with a thriving garden each & every year. So please give Suzi a warm welcome & enjoy!!
I’m so honored to be one of the featured bloggers on Kleinworth & Co! Gina’s asked me to talk about Gardening, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect, as its planting season in Northern California! As a former Iowa farm girl I come from a long line of gardeners, and a trip to anyone’s home was often met with “Come see what’s growing in my garden”. If you saw someone digging holes in their garden on Good Friday, they were likely planting potatoes. This tradition was pretty steadfast in Iowa. We’d also check the “Almanac” and plant potatoes about 4-6 weeks before the last frost date , but for luck, our family of gardeners would always plant some potatoes on Good Friday. (Even if it was a pot on a windowsill because of the snow.)
While most gardening catalogs sell “Seed potatoes” (Which are really potatoes you can grow, and not a package of seeds.) I’ve had luck with organic potatoes from the store, as well as leftover potatoes from last year’s harvest, but they could house diseases or nematodes, so to be safe feel free to get seed potatoes instead. (Do note that some store potatoes have been treated not to grow, so be sure to choose organic or something from the Farmers Market.)
The best growing potatoes are slightly “dry”, but not wrinkled, cracked, or spotty. If they’re too fresh the potatoes will end up rotting in the ground instead of growing. (If the potatoes seem too moist when you cut them, let them “cure” in a warm room for a day so a protective “skin forms” to help protect them from rotting.)
The key to potatoes is to find a part of the garden that gets plenty of sun and good drainage! Potatoes like having the soil moist, but not overly wet or too dry. We usually spend the week before gardening digging the soil about 2 feet down to ensure it has good drainage and isn’t compacted by the tiller. We then till the ground about 12 inches deep so the top layer is clump free. To plant, slice your potatoes into pieces (½” or larger) making sure there was at least one “eye” per piece, (Can you see the eyes in this picture?) and then plant them on the dry ground in holes spaced about 1 foot apart and about 3 inches deep, with the cut side down and the “eyes” up. As the potatoes grow to about 8-12” in height, we mound more dirt around the stems to encourage more potatoes. If a potato peeks through and gets a green sunburn, they become bitter, so be sure to add dirt as needed to prevent this from happening.
NOTE: You can plant an entire seed potato, as the more eyes on potato the more potatoes you’ll get.(But they’ll be smaller.) These new potatoes didn’t have many eyes, so were planted whole. If you want larger potatoes, make sure you plant pieces with 1-2 eyes. (I’m going to experiment with these and plant them in containers this year.)
Companion Plants:
Whenever possible I try and implement companion planting. By selecting companion plants you can help deter pests known to damage the plant, as well as encourage growth, and prevent damage from diseases or incompatibility that can cause the plant to struggle or die. It’s a great way to encourage healthy organic. While all of the following plants either help potatoes or are benefited by the plant’s proximity; the items in bold are powerhouses as far as potatoes are concerned helping with disease resistance and blight, as well as repelling the evil tomato bug and beetles.
Companion Planting: Beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Chives,Corn, Coriander/Dill (Potato Beetle), Garlic (Potato blight), Horseradish (Potato Bug), Leeks, Lettuce, Nasturtium (Potato Beetle), Onions, Peas (Potato Beetle), Radish, Spinach, Turnip
Avoid: Asparagus, Carrot, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Tomatoes, Peppers, Pumpkins, Raspberries, Squash, and Sunflowers
Do you plant a garden? If so what is your favorite thing to grow? If you didn’t happen to get your potatoes in on Good Friday, no worries, there’s likely still time in most parts of the country, and there are plenty of other wonderful things you can plant in your garden or on your windowsill. I’ll be featuring some of my favorite combinations when I return in May, and look forward hearing about what’s growing in your gardens as well!
~ Suzi
Thank you so much Suzi for sharing all these wonderful tips.
I learned SO MUCH & I can’t wait to use all my new gardening knowledge.
Be sure to visit Suzi & check out her work at
Want More Gardening Inspiration?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
[include id=”1″ title=”Footer Ad”]
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes
Happy Wednesday!!! I’m off to Salt Lake City today for SNAP! Conference! But that doesn’t mean there isn’t something FABULOUS here for you today. The wonderfully talented Carrie from Kenarry: Ideas for the Home is here today to share with you all Easy Family Dinner Ideas! So please give Carrie a nice warm welcome. When you are done grabbing this recipe, head over to her place & say hello.
Hi, I’m Carrie from Kenarry: Ideas for the Home filling in today while Gina’s away at the SNAP Conference. I’m excited to share a recipe with you for Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes. Nowadays a quick search on the internet for “quinoa recipes” will give you millions of results. Nevertheless, it’s always fun to experiment with this super grain. I enjoy combining it with different vegetables, sauces and flavors to see what new tasty concoctions result. I recently made a big batch of quinoa in my rice cooker, then added onion, garlic, parmesan and spices. I threw in some sun dried tomatoes to create a new delicious recipe you can enjoy as your main course or as a side dish — Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes!
Whether you’re keen on quinoa or trying it for the first time, you can hardly believe how many health benefits there are in such a tiny little grain. In the Forbes article, 7 Benefits of Quinoa: The Supergrain of the Future, Julie Wilcox shares how quinoa includes all nine essential amino acids, is high in protein and contains almost twice as much fiber as other grains. She also mentions quinoa has iron, lysine, magnesium and anti-oxidants. If you haven’t tried quinoa yet, you really ought to add this nutrient rich grain into your diet. For more about the health benefits of this super food, you can also check out the World’s Healthiest Foods website.
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked quinoa
- 3/4 cup of grated parmesan
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3.5 oz packet of sun dried tomatoes cut into julienne strips approximately 1 cup
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1 1/2 cups of milk
Instructions
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add onion and garlic. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the onion starts to turn clear.
- Stir in flour.
- Slowly add milk and parmesan.
- Lower the heat and stir continuously until the sauce starts to thicken.
- Mix in salt, pepper and italian seasoning.
- Add the pre-cooked quinoa and stir until it's well coated. Heat thoroughly for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Last add the sun dried tomatoes and continue to cook for a few more minutes.
- Serve and enjoy.
- PREP TIME: 10 minutes
- COOK TIME: 30 minutes
- TOTAL TIME: 40 minutes
NOTES: To make 4 cups of cooked quinoa in a rice cooker, use 1 1/3 cups of rinsed uncooked quinoa and 2 2/3 cups of water.
Serving Suggestions for Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes has enough protein and essential nutrients it can be enjoyed as your main course. A friend of mine added julienned spinach to pack in even more goodness. You could throw in slow cooker shredded chicken for a high protein dinner. We served it as a side dish with dill tilapia. (Sprinkle the tilapia with salt, pepper, garlic and dill. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.) You could also serve it alongside grilled steak or chicken and your favorite steamed vegetable or salad.
You can connect with Carrie via Blog, Google+, Pinterest, Facebook & Twitter.
Love garlic? Here are some other great side dish recipes for you!
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Angel Hair Pasta in Burgundy Garlic Sauce
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
[include id=”1″ title=”Footer Ad”]
DIY Clay Coasters
*Disclosure: Sponsored Post- I have been compensated for this post either monetarily or with product. All opinions are truthful & my own.
Among all the big things I am searching for while preparing for this house (additional dresser for the munchkin since she will finally have her own room, new dining room table, beds, etc.) I am feeling the need to remove the same old tired things we have had around the house for years. You know- those things that you move around from house to house & you put them out just because it’s what you have always put out. Well – it’s time for a change. The family pieces will be packed away, marked & put into the storage area. The remaining random junk- well, it’s going away. We are replacing as much as we can by either buying or making ourselves. One of the little things is the coasters in the media room. They have got to be 10 years old. Seriously – why have I not updated these before? Who knows- but the time was right. I couldn’t really find any that fit with our new decor. So I did what I always do when I can’t find what I want- make my own with Premo Clay. So I did & I replaced the old coasters with these DIY Clay Coasters. They are so easy!!
Let me show you how I did it so you can make some too.
I laid out my cutting mat & started with this Premo Clay set, Sculpey Essential Tool Kit & fondant cutters.
I chose my color pairings.
For this I did Copper/Peacock Pearl, Translucent/ Antique Gold, Ecru/ Bright Green Pearl, Pearl/Turquoise.
I rolled them semi flat before blending them together in random patterns.
I used my fondant cutter to cut the shape of the coaster.
I also used the texture wheel with the vine design wheel to make the pattern in the clay.
I then placed them on a parchment lined baking sheet & baked in a 275 degree oven for 30 minutes.
I removed them & allowed them to cool completely on the baking sheet before removing.
I glued some felt to the backs to make sure any rough spots don’t scratch the tables.
That’s it! It was so incredibly easy. Clean up was quick.
I LOVED working on this project & I will probably be making these as gifts for the family coming up.
They add the perfect pop of color & touch of whimsey I was looking to bring to the new house.
Find more Info & Connect Here
Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Pinterest
More Projects with Premo Clay
Want More Home Decor Ideas?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
[include id=”1″ title=”Footer Ad”]
Easy Popsicles
It’s warming up & all the outdoor festivities are starting!! This means that I am looking for refreshing ways to #KoolOff during these gatherings. Along with great food during these fun gatherings with friends, I also love to have drinks & cool treats available when we all get together. One thing I love to have for my guests is popsicles. They don’t have to take a lot of time to make either. This recipe for Easy Popsicles is one you will use again & again.
I started with Strawberry Kiwi Kool-Aid powder (my son’s favorite flavor).
I sprinkled a little in the bottom of each popsicle mold.
I then added the Kool-Aid Ready-To-Drink in Tropical Punch flavor but you could also use grape.
Insert the stick & place in freezer. I like to leave mine overnight for maximum chill.
That’s it! See- I told you it was simple.
Easy Popsicles
Ingredients
- 1 packet Strawberry Kiwi Kool-Aid powder or any flavor you like
- 1 96 oz bottle Ready-To-Drink Kool-Aid in Tropical Punch - Grape
Instructions
- Sprinkle a little bit of the Kool-Aid powder in the bottom of each popsicle mold
- Fill each mold to the top with the Ready-To-Drink Kool-Aid
- Place sticks in molds & freeze overnight
- Enjoy! Quick & Simple.
These will definitely be a crowd pleaser at your next outdoor gathering during these warmer months.
I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #CollectiveBias
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Illusions Photoshop Textures
When I get the time to play with images in photoshop I like to use textures & overlays. It’s probably because when working with images of food, artistic edits usually are not the most appealing way to showcase the dish. Food should be left as clean & untouched as possible when processing. However- when I am processing things like portraits or scenery, I think textures are a great way to change the mood of the image or help to highlight certain parts of the shot.
[include id=”1″ title=”Footer Ad”]
Easter Centerpiece
Easter is almost here! I can’t believe it! I am feverishly working behind the scenes here to get things prepared & festive around the house to make this place look it’s best for Easter Sunday. One thing I really needed was a cute little centerpiece for the table. You know- something adorable to spruce up the spread of amazing food. So I started brainstorming & going through the craft cabinet to see what I could put together. Fortunately, with just a few supplies I had on hand & approximately 20 minutes – this Easter Centerpiece was complete.
Let me show you how you can make one of your own.
Here is what I started out with.
Empty International Delight creamer bottle, hot glue gun, burlap, ribbon, decorative stones, Peeps, skewers, paper Easter grass.
I had grabbed some flowers there too but ended up not using them.
I started by cutting off the wrapper of the creamer bottle.
Then I cut the top off where it starts to narrow so I had a vase like container.
I then hot glued the burlap around the bottle – leaving gaps in the burlap to create a ruffled look. To keep it in place I added a strip of hot glue every 3/4 inch or so around the bottle to tack down the burlap.
I tied this bright ribbon around to help cinch in the center of the ruffled burlap.
I added the decorative stones inside. They can’t really be seen- however they add a good weight to keep the whole thing from tipping over AND they help anchor the skewers in there too. Then I started skewering the Peeps & arranging them like flower stems in the container.
I added a little paper Easter grass at the top just to fill it all in & make it look all the more Easter festive.
That’s it- so simple & absolutely adorable!
I told you it was easy & you can make it with things you have already in the house.
Want more Easter Inspiration?? Visit the Easter IDeas Pinterest Board – you will LOVE it!
Visit International Delight
Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter @indelight | Instagram @indelight | YouTube
Want More Easter Decor?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.
Sour Raspberry Tom Collins
Now that it’s warmer- it’s so nice to whip up a fresh new beverage to cool the palate & kick back & relax. Who am I kidding? There isn’t any relaxing going on here – life is in high gear. I’m completely tapped out & I’m struggling to find moments in my days where I can carve out a little slice of escape & find a little mental peace. Which is why I love coming up with fun drink recipes that everyone in the house can enjoy – like this Sour Raspberry Tom Collins. For this one it’s just as good without the gin as it is with it. Which means I can prepare them all quickly at the same time & those that want the added kick can add it at their choosing. Huge time saver when making this super yummy cocktail/mocktail.
This is going to be the perfect beverage for company & all those big outdoor gatherings coming up.
Sour Raspberry Tom Collins
Ingredients
- **Note - recipe is PER GLASS
- 5 fresh raspberries
- 1 shot gin
- 1/2 fill Lemon Simple Syrup
- 1/2 fill club soda
Instructions
- Muddle raspberries & simple syrup together your glass
- Add ice & gin
- Fill with club soda
- Stir
- *Gin is optional
- *Garnish with a lemon twist or raspberries if desired
Want More Beverages?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
[include id=”1″ title=”Footer Ad”]
Updated House Numbers Sign
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Elmer’s ProBond Advanced for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
The other day I mentioned to you all that we are building a new home. Because it's semi-custom there are things that just sort of "come with the house" that I'm not all that in love with. It's been a wonderful process so far & we have had quite a bit of input on how we want things. But then there are other things that are far too "generic" for me. I am one that really likes to make all aspects of my home unique to who I am. I don't like to follow trends or the crowd & that shows in my decorating & my overall home choices.
One of those things that just sort of "comes with the house" is the house numbers. This image is of the model home. You can see the numbers there- plain black & white. To make it worse – it's a plastic plate with the plastic numbers nailed to it. Well, for me- this just won't suffice. So I set out to create my own that we will place at the end of the driveway when we complete our landscaping.
I started with a scrolled board, Elmer's ProBond Advanced, Elmer's Wood Glue Max, 2 bags of mirror pieces, a wooden stick & numbers of the house.
I like working with the Elmer's Wood Glue & ProBond Advanced because it's Elmer’s strongest and safest multi-surface glue. It's able to provide strength, durability, and ease of use with a clean finished appearance. I love that it provides Home Improvers the ability to bond Mixed Materials such as wood to metal, glass to concrete, or ceramic to drywall without the messy residue often left behind from a polyurethane glue.
I started by coating the numbers in the Elmer's ProBond Advanced & covering them with the turquoise glass. I set them aside & waited for them to dry.
Once dry I glued them down on to my board. I taped off the scrolled portion of the board to keep the glue off that part. Then I added a thick coat of the Elmer's ProBond Advanced to the remaining portions of the board & added the silver mirror pieces. I then allowed 24-48 hours to let that dry. It looks like overkill here in this shot – but the excess fell off once I tipped it over.
Then I removed the tape & stained the scrolled edges of the board to give a nice contrast. It will also help the sign to match our future accents on the house. I gave the front a nice liberal coating of clear outdoor paint to seal it in & protect it from the weather.
I cut my large stick in half. Once the front of the board was was dry & flipped it over & glued the sticks to the back so it is able to stick in the ground. I gave it a coat of the clear paint on this side too. Once it dried it was ready to be used.
This will eventually be down in the corner of our front yard at the end of the driveway. We plan on adding some boulders, bushes & flowers all around it. I can't wait to see this each & every time I pull in & out of my driveway. It adds the perfect pop of "me" to the front yard. What a great improvement to our new home!!
You can visit Elmer's Mixed Materials Pinterest Board for more Home Improvement Inspiration
How would you use ProBond Advanced?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
&
[include id="1" title="Footer Ad"]
Homemade Vanilla Coffee Syrup
I think it’s fair to say that I have a pretty strong love affair with my coffee. I start my day with my 28 ounce mug filled to the brim. Everyone in the house knows that it’s best to talk to me after I have made it at least half way through that mug of jo. I love my morning coffee so much that when I am planning a trip- one of the things I research is how close the nearest coffee shop is to where I’m staying. Yep – it has to be a good STRONG cup with rich, bold flavor. I can’t live without my coffee. So you can imagine how bummed out I was when I started researching the ingredients in the things I add to my coffee. Yeah- a whole lot of things I can’t pronounce. That can’t be good. Plus I think those additives are making me feel not quite right. I don’t know for sure though & there was only one way to find out – but I wasn’t going to give up my coffee to do it. So I decided to do a little experiment & change what I’m adding to my cup. I started with this Homemade Vanilla Coffee Syrup.
It adds just what I like- along with a little splash of half & half. YUM! I’m going to give it about a month & see how I feel. See if I notice any changes in my skin or weight or just overall energy. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime – I’m just enjoying the flavor of this in my cup. I think you will too.
Homemade Vanilla Coffee Syrup
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup water
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine water & sugar in small saucepan
- Heat on medium & bring to a boil - stirring constantly
- Once all the sugar as dissolved remove from heat
- Add vanilla - stir to combine
- Transfer to sterilized bottle
- Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks
Want more coffee recipes?
Best Chocolate Chip Coffee Bars
Chocolate Marshmallow Iced Coffee
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
[include id=”1″ title=”Footer Ad”]
Cadbury Macaroons
I have been telling you all how much I love coconut for a while now. I’m sure you have been wondering when I was going to make the perfect coconut cookie- the macaroon. Well – I actually did a few weeks ago & I shared them over on Lil’Luna as part of Kristyn’s contributor team. I was been so excited to share them here- because any coconut lover knows that macaroons are the ultimate coconut goodie. I decided to top them with some White Chocolate Cadbury candy eggs – because I love them & buy every variety every Easter. YUM-O! These Cadbury Macaroons hardly lasted a 24 hours in this house.
You could use the milk chocolate eggs in the pastel colors or the dark chocolate in the jewel tones. I opted for the white chocolate so they would stand out against the toasted coconut.
You probably need to make a double batch of these if you are serving them for company. They go fast.
Just a little squeeze of melted candy melts on there to hold on the egg- that’s it.
Cadbury Macaroons
Ingredients
- 3 cups toasted coconut
- 4 large egg whites
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla or almond extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup candy melts in color of choice
- 24-30 white chocolate Cadbury candy eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees - oven rack should be placed in the bottom 1/3 of your oven.
- Toast your coconut - set aside
- Whisk egg whites, sugar, extract & salt until they are combined & mixture looks frothy
- Add coconut - stir until coated
- Line baking sheets with parchment
- Using wet hands - take a tablespoon sized portions of your coconut mixture & form into a balls & place on prepared cookie sheet
- Bake 15-20 minutes or until a deeper golden brown & are holding together
- Cool on baking sheet 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack to complete the cooling process.
- In a double boiler- melt your candy melts
- Carefully transfer to a piping bag & squeeze a little on top of each macaroon
- Immediately top with your Cadbury candy egg before your pipped chocolate hardens.
- Enjoy!
Want More Quick Recipes for your Easter spread?
Gluten Free – Chocolate Chip Cookie Cup Sundae
Chocolate Covered Bunny Marshmallows
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
[include id=”1″ title=”Footer Ad”]
Peep Milkshake
Remember a couple days ago when I shared my recipe for Peep Ice Cream Syrup? Well- if you know me, then you know I can’t just take something like Peep Ice Cream Syrup & just use it for a topping. I had to take it up just another notch & make this Peep Milkshake. Because – you know, a girl can only go so long with trying to eat right before she totally blows it & indulges in something sinful. The good thing is that I have 3 other little people here with me all day long while I sit here & create recipes- so what I made then had to be split 4 ways. So I was feeling a little better about the fact that I really had a very small portion of this. Plus I went to the gym later that night. Every sip put me in Peep Heaven.
I finally found a way to eat Peeps faster. How about that!
Oh – and you have to top it with some fun pink jimmies too.
Peep Milkshake
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 cups vanilla ice cream
- 1/2 cup Peep Ice Cream Syrup
- 1/2 cup cold milk
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in blender - blend on high 1-2 minutes
- Serve immediately
Want More beverages for your Easter celebration?
Creamy Watermelon Lime Chiller
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
[include id=”1″ title=”Footer Ad”]
DIY Easter Bucket
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Duck Brand for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
My kids are getting older- but that doesn't mean that we stop giving them an Easter basket. I don't think anyone gets too old for an Easter basket – they just change a little. Geezz- I received a basket from my mom every year up until last & that's just because she's not with us now. So we changed the idea of the baskets for the kids this year. Gone are the days of huge baskets filled with tons of toys & candy & gifts that would rival Christmas. We have scaled back, cut out all the extra stuff & they now get a small basket with some candy. Since they have outgrown the traditional baskets we have filled in the past, I had them help me create some new little buckets to hold their candy. It was super easy & they loved creating their own DIY Easter Bucket & making them to fit who they are.
We started with these supplies – whip cream buckets, Duck Tape in standard size neon green, standard size glitter in pink & silver, minis in black, silver, green & pink, wire hangers. We used wire cutters,
Start by adding your tape in the colors & patterns of your choice until completely covered.
Cut the hanger & poke through the sides of the bucket & make a loop to secure.
We then also added little flags of tape around the handle to make them more fun.
The kids love that they were able to help with this. I'm LOVING the fun colors.
Neon & glitter so so hot right now.
Now each of them will know exactly which bucket belongs to them on Easter morning. They can also use these as organizers in their rooms. Can never be too organized- especially with all the things kids collect. I love that these are not Easter specific & so they can be out year round- especially if we remove the handle after Easter.
That's it- a fun & easy way to re-purpose empty buckets & a great project for the kids.
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
&
[include id="1" title="Footer Ad"]
Toasted Coconut Green Tea Scrub
I know I have made it pretty clear around here that I love coconut. But you know- it’s not just for it’s great taste. I love it in my beauty routine too. One thing I can’t live without is a sugar scrub. I’m always exfoliating & a good homemade sugar scrub is the best way to do it- especially now that the weather is warmer & more skin will be exposed. (which also means stocking up on sunscreen too) Right now- my focus is on soft skin, so I made this Toasted Coconut Green Tea Scrub. The benefits of coconut & green tea are abundant, so why not put them together.
As you can imagine- it smells great.
The added grit of the ground toasted coconut really helps to buff that dryer skin.
But the coconut oil bringing it all together is the perfect moisturizer to seal in that freshly softened skin.
Toasted Coconut Green Tea Scrub
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup toasted coconut - ground
- 2 tsp sweet matcha
- 2 green tea bags
- 3/4 cup coconut oil - liquid state
- 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
Instructions
- Grind coconut in blender or food processor until it resembles coarse crumbs - transfer to a small bowl
- Add sugar, matcha & the contents of the 2 green tea bags - stir well until completely combined
- Add coconut oil - mix until completely moistened.
- Transfer to jars for gift giving or other airtight container.
- Store at room temperature
Want More Homemade Beauty Ideas?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Peep Ice Cream Syrup
I was so bad!!! Like- I have been so good about hitting the gym instead of caving to all the piles of Easter candy in my cabinet – until the other day. I have always had a deep affection for Peeps & I get super excited when it comes this time of year & they are out in stores. I don’t know…..it’s probably the fact that it’s a marshmallow covered in fun colored sugar. I mean- for a marshmallow lover like myself – it really doesn’t get better than that. I love them when they are super fresh & soft. I also really love them when they are a little stale because they have been sitting exposed in the Easter basket overnight. It’s all good for me & when they started making them for other holidays too- my world changed. But there is still something about the Easter originals that make me happy. So there they were in my cabinet, calling to me. So I gave in to the temptation & I made this ultra yummy Peep Ice Cream Syrup.
This prepares super quick- so by the time your partner in crime is done scooping the ice cream- it’s done.
I could eat this all day – everyday.
Peep Ice Cream Syrup
Ingredients
- 12 peeps- any color you like I don't recommend mixing colors
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small saucepan
- Heat over medium until completely melted & smooth
- Drizzle over ice cream - serve immediately
Want something to drizzle it on?
Banana Cream Pie Frozen Yogurt
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Easter Krispie Pops
With all the clearing out & organizing I have been doing lately, I was sorting through the massive box of cake pans that I shipped home from my mom’s when I was cleaning out her cake supplies. I was in such a fog then that I was just packing things into boxes & not really paying much attention to what was really in there. Then I came across this super cute flower pan that is used for making pops. I didn’t want to go through the long process of making cookies with it- since you can only make 4 at a time – but I really wanted to use it. Because I’m funny like that. Usually, I can have a whole bunch of recipes planned out but then pick up some sort of new gadget for the kitchen that doesn’t work with any of the things planned & I will throw all plans out the window just so I can use my new little thing. I know- but I can’t help it. So I decided on something quick & fun. Easter Krispie Pops! I added the cute little Easter colored candies to give them a little pop too.
Like all krispie treat recipes- there is nothing complicated about this. Just prepare & press in.
I picked up the little candies in the same section as Sixlets in the market.
But you could use any bright colored candies.
Easter Krispie Pops
Ingredients
- **Makes 4 Pops
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cups rice krispie cereal
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup Pastel Candy Pearls
- 4 8-Inch Cakepop Sticks
Instructions
- Distribute the candy pearls between the 4 pop shapes in the pan - set aside
- Add butter, marshmallows & vanilla to a large bowl
- Heat in microwave 2-3 minutes - stirring after 2
- Stir until smooth
- Add krispies & stir until combined
- With wet hands - divide krispie mixture into 4 equal parts
- Press each part into the flower pan firmly- really pack in down in there
- Carefully insert your pop stick about 2 inches deep into your treat
- Refrigerate at least 1 hour to firm up before removing from pan & serving.
Want More Easy Treats?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Blue & Gold Easter Wreath
Decorate your front door with this beautiful Blue & Gold Easter Wreath made with painted faux eggs & moss. So perfect to welcome spring!
I have to tell you- I usually change out my wreath on the front door at least once a month. But because I left at Thanksgiving and didn’t return until nearly the New Year, I never got the chance to decorate for Christmas.
When I came home from my mom’s I expected to see my Thanksgiving wreath still on the front door. But I found that the hubs was sweet enough to have pulled out a couple of the holiday decorations (including the wreath) and tried to make it feel like Christmas.
Since I came home at the end of December- I enjoyed those decorations for just a couple of days & I packed it all away. I threw up some random wreath that I actually don’t even like, vowing that I was going to make some new ones.
Well- all the supplies I bought for a Valentine wreath & a St. Patty’s Day wreath are still sitting in my closet & that wreath I can’t stand was still on my front door when April came rolling on in. Go figure.
easter wreath
So I sent the hubs out with a list – paintable eggs & a few colors of spray paint. After a few hours, I finally have something new on my front door- this Blue & Gold Easter Wreath.
I’m thinking that if I start planning now for May, I might actually get one created before the month changes again.
easter egg wreath
I started with 4 dozen paintable eggs. They are white & actually look just like real eggs.
I spray painted half of them in brown & the other half in robin’s egg blue. Once dry, I hot glued them randomly in place along with some ribbon onto a grapevine wreath.
Then I used some reindeer moss to fill in the holes.
easter door decorations
Once complete I took some gold spray paint & sprayed a little into a little bowl of tin foil so I could get enough to dip into.
Then I dry brushed it on to the eggs – just a couple dabs for each one, not being too careful with placement. That’s it.
I’m sure the neighbors are thinking “geesh- it’s about time”. I can’t tell you just how good it feels to have that little thing off my shoulders & no longer nagging me.
I can sleep again. (yes things like this keep me up at night – what can I say?!)
easter wreaths to make
Here are some commonly asked questions
Can this be made with a different type of wreath form?
I would imagine that you could do it with another wreath form, such as a styrofoam form. I don’t think this would work well with a wire form as you need something to attach the eggs to.
Can this be made with another type of glue?
I would imagine that it is possible. But because it would take a long time for a traditional glue to dry before you could move on to another portion, it wouldn’t be as easy to do.
I also don’t know how sturdy it would be or how long it would hold.
Hot glue not only dries almost instantly, but it will hold for years – even with in-climate weather.
easter wreath diy
Products I love when making this Easter Wreath…
This Easter egg wreath is SUPER EASY and if you’re like me this time of year, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made your own wreath before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love it. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this wreath.
egg wreath
If you love this Easy Easter Wreath, you’re going to love these other Easter Ideas too. Please click each link below to find the post!
easter wreath ideas
easter door wreath
If you love this Blue & Gold Easter Wreath as much as I do, please be sure to help me share on Facebook and Pinterest!
CONNECT WITH YUMMI HAUS!
Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you never miss a post!
Choosing Food Photography Props ~ Color Wheel Printable
Staging your food photography images takes far more work than it truly looks like when everything comes out in the post. But that’s how it’s supposed to be. If you do too much – it can be quite obvious. There are also some that prefer a simple approach to their food shots- which can be quite beautiful. I sometimes go that route – depending on what the dish is. However- I typically like to set up my shot to look as “normal” & “true to real life” as possible. When doing this it’s good to have things set up with your subject that you would normally have with it when serving in real life. Things like napkins are almost always present in my house when eating anything. But the key here to making your food pop in your images is to use those things like plates & napkins compliment or contrast in color to give visual interest. I decided to create this Color Wheel Printable to help you choose what colors work best in your prop selection. Free Printable Checklist Templates
The key here is to choose props that are across the color wheel. Your primary colors will be red, blue & yellow. All other colors are made from a combination of these colors. Then your have your secondary colors – green, orange, purple. Then there are the variations in between. I typically choose directly across the color wheel – unless it’s red or green & it’s not Christmas time. Sometimes I abandon the idea of going across the wheel & will choose from a color family instead. The key here with the wheel is to find colors that pop against the colors you already have in your subject.
Like in this Blackberry Whiskey Sour– because the color of the drink is a red violet color I used the yellow of the lemon twist to really pop the drink & bring more visual interest.
If you look throughout my blog you will see more & more examples of either contrasting or complimenting colors between the dish I am showcasing & the items styled around it. Download & print the color wheel for future reference when going forward in your food images. Sometimes just seeing the colors together can give you enough inspiration to help you pick your props & really make your images great.
Want More Food Photography tips?
Food Photography Behind the Scenes
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Lemon Poppy Seed Donuts w/ Lemon Blueberry Glaze
Boy – it’s sure been a while since I have made donuts. I was on such a kick there for a while. Then the temps cooled & I was back to using the oven & the donut maker found it’s way to the back of the cabinet. I decided to pull it out & make a real spring like batch of yumminess – Lemon Poppy Seed Donuts w/ Lemon Blueberry Glaze. Oh my goodness- they have just the right ratio of lemon & blueberry flavor. Then the poppy seeds- oh how I love baking with them in the spring. I’m also sharing this donut recipe over at SNAP! today – you can grab the glaze recipe here.
I’m swooning over the bright color of the glaze.
I’m definitely putting these on the Easter breakfast menu.
I love having something quick for breakfast on holidays. I will be making these the night before so that we have a little something to grab during all the morning activities. Who wants to start their Easter morning with a bunch of dishes? I know my morning will be too full for that.
Don’t you want to just grab one?
Lemon Poppy Seed Donuts w/ Lemon Blueberry Glaze
Ingredients
Donuts
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 2 sticks butter- melted & slightly cooled
- 1-1/2 cup milk
- 2 eggs - lightly beaten
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp poppy seeds
For the Glaze
- 1-1/2 cups confectioners sugar
- 1/2 cup Lemon Blueberry Syrup
Instructions
Donuts
- Preheat donut machine or preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In large bowl- combine flour, sugar & baking powder.- Whisk.
- Whisk in eggs, then milk, then butter.
- Whisk in lemon juice & poppy seeds.
- Transfer to pastry bag & pipe into donut wells or scoop in to full size donut pan.
- Cook 6 minutes for mini-donuts or 10-12 for full size in the oven.
- Remove & cool on wire rack & repeat the cooking process for remaining batter.
Glaze
- Combine ingredients in small bowl - whisk well until completely combined
- *You can add a splash of water if needed to thin out.
- Dip your donuts in glaze & set on wire rack to drip.
- Once done glazing all your donuts- set in refrigerator to help firm your glaze
Want More Donut recipes?
Raspberry Chocolate Chip Donuts
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
Spring Garden Inspiration
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Miracle-Gro for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Are you following me on Pinterest? Well- if you are, you have seen that I have been pinning a lot of Spring Garden Inspiration to my Garden Inspiration board. I'm in full garden planning mode with big dreams of planting all sorts of beautiful plants & trees in the coming months. I hope to not only have some great landscaping in the front & back yards but to also have quite an indoor garden going on too.
After years of living in the desert- I am so thrilled to be here in a place where things LIVE! I can enjoy greenery & fresh fruit & vegetables- grown on my own property. It's incredibly important to me that I know not only where my food comes from but what went in to growing it too. So we will be spending this spring & summer & probably many more after this working on getting our gardens (both indoor & out) producing food to feed our family.
Obviously – as pretty as this weed is – I hope to keep them out of my garden.
But I do hope to have lots of lavender around the yard both in the front & the back.
I plan on lots of bright flowers in a multitude of colors – because it makes me happy.
Not to mention I like to have an excuse to head out with the camera in hand & capture something pretty.
I also plan on many, many fruit trees. Peach, apple & pear are on the top of my list. Last year we visited one of our local farmer friends & were able to bring home boxes full of fruit grown just down the street. I can't even tell you just how happy that made me. Also on the planting plan – berries. I am truly looking forward to several blueberry, blackberry, raspberry bushes & probably an entire planter of huckleberry bushes – because that's what you do when you live in North Idaho. 🙂 It may be a couple years before they produce anything near enough for even one pie- but it's an investment into my future happiness. To me that's all I need.
This will mean many bags of Miracle-Gro in my future.
I want to give my plants, trees & bushes the best jump start I can – which means Miracle-Gro for me.
What are your garden plans this spring?
You can share your personal gardening stories at Gro Something Greater
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
&
[include id="1" title="Footer Ad"]
Toasted Coconut Brownie Torte
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with an idea for a recipe & then you can’t get it out of your head until you make it? No? Okay- it’s just me then. This happened about 2 weeks ago – I woke at about 3 in the morning with the idea to make a brownie torte. It wasn’t until I made the Toasted Coconut Hot Fudge that I shared with you on Sunday that I finally had everything I needed to push me to finally make my masterpiece. I bring to you this Toasted Coconut Brownie Torte! It’s every bit as good as it looks. Oh! My! I love Yummy Bar Recipes!
Yep – all that wonderful hot fudge all dripping down. Mmmmmmmm. So much for the diet.
I used my round cookie cutter from Kizmos Flora collection. It’s about 1.25″ in diameter. If I had made more brownies I would have used a bigger one & made these ENORMOUS.
Toasted Coconut Brownie Torte
Ingredients
Brownies
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup + 3 tbsp dutch process cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp + 1/8 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp toasted coconut butter
Stack with whip cream
Top with
- 3 tbsp toasted coconut hot fudge
Instructions
Bake Brownies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Line 8x8 glass baking dish with parchment & lightly spritz with cooking spray
- In large bowl- combine oil, sugar & vanilla - mix well with large spatula
- Add eggs - mix well
- Add coconut butter - mix until just combined
- Add flour, cocoa, baking powder & salt - mix well until completely combined
- Pour batter into prepared pan & spread evenly
- Bake 25-35 minutes or until toothpick test is mostly clean
- Cool completely on wire rack.
- Once cool- it's time to assemble your torte.
- Remove brownies from pan & use cookie cutter to cut your circles
- Stack circles layering whip cream in-between each one - doing 3 layers
- Top with hot fudge & additional sprinkle of toasted coconut
- Serve immediately after assembling.
Want More Ideas for that Hot Fudge?
To see where I am linking today- visit HERE
