cowboy caviar

this recipe will NOT disappoint! it can function as a healthy dish to pass or just simply a cool summer snack

cowboy caviar recipe:

ingredients:

1 can black beans

1 can pinto beans

1 can black eyed peas

1 can garbanzo beans

1 can white corn

1 whole green pepper

1 whole red pepper

1 whole yellow or orange pepper

1 onion

1 bunch cilantro

2 jalapenos 

liquid:

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup sugar

1/4 oil 

1 teaspoon salt

pepper to taste

drain all beans/peas/corn and combine in a large bowl.  finely chop all peppers/onions/cilantro/jalapenos and combine into large bowl with the beans. (i generally combine the seeds from 1 of the jalapenos to the bowl as well for a little extra heat) 

to make the liquid you will combine the oil, vinegar, sugar and salt to a saucepan and bring liquid to a rolling boil (stir often to make sure sugar doesn't stick to bottom of pan) once a rolling boil is reached, turn off heat and let liquid completely cool before adding it to the beans/veggies.  stir and serve with tortilla chips (i recommend the "scoops")

chocolate-kiwi-pops

i have been eating healthy and have been desperately searching for a way to get something sweet that would still be somewhat healthy....well i discovered it!

chocolate covered kiwi frozen pops

how to make them yourself:

you will need the following items (or variations of if you desire)

directions:

i cut the peel off the kiwi and then sliced them in thick slices (i got 3-4 slices from each kiwi) i put them on a paper towel to dry them off so the chocolate would stick better

after i dried off the kiwi, i then stuck each piece with one of the wooden sticks

i then melted the chocolate in a bowl in 30 second increments until it was melted completely

after chocolate is melted, i used a spoon to cover the kiwi with chocolate and then stood them up in a glass before putting them in the freezer to cool and the chocolate to harden (you could also lay them on a cookie sheet and put in freezer, but i didn't want one side of them to be flat)

finished product :)  believe me, they are EXTREMELY delicious and a quick, healthy snack!

ENJOY!

white chocolate / cake batter popcorn

please forgive me as I haven't blogged in a while :)  I promise this one is worth the wait!!!!!!!! 

I introduce to you WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE BATTER POPCORN! I saw the idea on pinterest of course and needed to make it for myself.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of white chocolate chips

(2) 3.5 oz bags of original microwave popcorn

1/4 cup vegetable shortening

1 cup white cake mix

sprinkles  

Steps:

1. pop bags of popcorn in microwave and pour into big bowl (make sure to pick out all the un-popped kernels)

2. put the white chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl and melt the chips.  I did this in 30 second increments to prevent burning (took about a minute and a half)

3. mix the vegetable shortening into the melted chips

4. pour in the 1 cup of dry cake mix and stir till the clumps are gone 

5. dump over the popcorn and stir (I did this with my hands and it did get a little messy but you could always stir with a spoon or spatula)

6. sprinkle the sprinkles over the top 

7. let it sit for a while so the whole thing will harden

8. ENJOY!

apartment tour

i figured i would give you all a tour around my quaint, yet charming apartment. it is QUITE feminine, BUT, i figure that i will only be able to have a place decorated like i want once in my life, so WHY NOT?!?

 i hope it will give me some accountability for some DIY projects that i want to accomplish this year.

living room:

my mom and i made the pillows on the couches (i am hoping to post a DIY blog about those in the future)

the coffee table was also a project that i completed and hope to post about soon!

*the knitted/felted bowls (above and below) are also something i will post about soon.  SUPER easy for even the amateur knitter!

LOVVVE all my vintage pyrex that i have accumulated over the years!!!

entry way:

 kitchen:

 bathroom:

extra bedroom:

master bedroom:

 it feels like i have been on a year long search for a new dresser/cabinet to put this TV on, the black matches NOTHING in my place!

 my mom refinished my dresser.  repainted/covered the fronts of the drawers with wallpaper! LOVE!

one project that i would like to accomplish this year is a headboard.  i have been quite indecisive about whether i want to use an old door or make one myself.

so, there you have it! that is my place.  if you saw something that your interested in knowing where i got it or how i did it, please comment or send me an email!  also, if you have suggestion on how to make it better, DON'T hesitate to offer opinions! it is a constant work in progress and i am ALWAYS changing things around!


dont forget that you can follow the blog via EMAIL now! SOO easy! in the top right hand corner, just put in your email address! :)

emily

giveaway WINNER!!!!!!!

i am happy to announce that the winner of the giveaway is..........

Megan Palmatier!!!!!!!


megan, message me on facebook or on here with your address and i will send off the knitted dish cloths to you!!!!


ENJOY!

cup cozy

i am soooo loving this new cup cozy that i knitted today!  the pattern is super easy, only 2 different stitches!

supplies:

size 7 knitting needles (or any about that size, not significantly larger though because it will be too loose in the end)

yarn (any color or style will do)

needle to weave in ends and sew seam

pattern:

K-knit

P-pearl stitch

k2tog-knit 2 stitches together

cast on 39 stitches

row 1: K1, [p1, k1] to the end

repeat row 1 until piece is about 2" from the beginning

decrease row: K2tog, p1 [k1, p1] to end

next row: [k1, p1] to end

repeat last row every row until piece measures 3" from beginning.

bind off

sew seam and weave in ends

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!

hey all faithful readers, i am going to do a GIVEAWAY! 

okay, okay, nothing super huge, but none the less, still something FREE! and who doesn't like the possibility to win something FREE!

i am going to give away 4 hand knitted dishcloths (i posted about them here)!!!!!

get yourself in the running:

become a follower of the blog (you can in the top right corner of this page) 

*if you are already, then please disregard*

**also, you cannot "privately" follow the blog, you have to be public, so i can see you in order to enter you in the drawing!**

thats IT!!!!! super simple, i will keep this giveaway open until Sunday night 2/5/2012 at 10pm and then i will announce the winner and mail off your dishcloths!!!

feel free to share this with your friends via facebook or email!

emily <3