Chalkboard Crazy

Okay, so I know that chalkboard paint isn’t a new thing, but I just recently felt the need to buy it for some new crafty projects. I bought the actual paint and the spray paint, and I think I like the spray paint better. I went to Michael’s and bought a picture frame—I love how the the frame looks like old wood.

The process is super easy. Take out the glass, sand it, clean it, and then spray away. I did four coats, alternating between horizontal and vertical sprays, with about 15 minute drying time in between. It’s hard to do, but let the paint dry for close to 24 hours. Once it’s completely dry, prime the board by rubbing chalk all over it, then erasing it off. Viola, your new chalkboard is ready to use!

I’m tea crazy and was getting sick of buying the ugly Teavana tea containers, so I went to Marshalls and bought some cute glass canisters and painted the tops so I can label my tea! I thought this was a better idea than actual labels, because sometimes I go through a tea pretty quick so this way I don’t have to peel off and reprint labels.

My best friend’s birthday is the end of this month, and she is one of the greatest cooks I know. I wanted to do something different so I made her a little cooking basket. I found these cute glass canisters at Marshalls, painted the front, and filled them each with a different spice—curry powder, Hawaiian sea salt, and apple wood smoked sea salt. This way when she uses them all up, she can easily reuse the containers!

This isn’t chalkboard paint related, but it is a chalkboard. I was cleaning and found this old chalkboard that I bought years ago when I was in Williamsburg, VA. I brought it in to work with me and each month I change the phrase—something fun to add to my office!

So, after all that, I think I owe a big thank you to whoever the wise guy was who invented chalkboard paint. You’re the best.

Slovak Christmas Eve

My mom's side of the family is super Slovak. Like the kind who have magnets that say "Life's too short not to be Slovak," license plates with our very-Slovak last name, items around the house straight from Slovakia, you get the idea. And I gotta say, I love it. I always have. I used to sit on my pap's lap and he would teach me how to say every part of your face in Slovak--my favorite being "zuby" meaning teeth.

When I was younger, my grandma's entire family would get together for "Holy Supper" on Christmas Eve. We don't get together anymore, but I still remember walking into the hall and seeing the long tables set for dinner. Santa Claus would come, and all the Bubba's would be working hard making all the traditional Slovak Christmas Eve dishes. The dinner was so traditional, that even if you were in a serious relationship, even engaged, your significant other couldn't come to Holy Supper. We'd say our prayers and eat the wafer--something I was never excited about when I was little--I thought it tasted like styrofoam. We don't eat meat on Christmas Eve, instead we would have pierogies, mushroom soup, fish, pagachi, and many other delicious dishes.

My grandma still makes salmon patties, but the other traditional items have pretty much gone away. My mom was looking through the course book for the community college nearby, and noticed there is a "Slovak Christmas Eve" cooking class. Guess what I got for my birthday--yup, she signed me up for the class! I had it this past Saturday and absolutely loved it. I learned how to make pierogies, bobalky, pagach, and mushroom soup. Pierogies were way easier than I thought, and for not liking mushrooms, I actually liked the soup. My favorite dish was the bobalky. I told my mom yesterday that I plan on making it for Christmas Eve!

The class was very informative, and I learned more than just cooking. A lot of the students in the class were Slovak, so we talked about all the other traditions, different parts of Slovakia, and where their families came from. I would love to take the class again and have my mom and grandma come with me. I'm so happy to know that I can now carry on the traditions of our family heritage. The entire class I couldn't stop thinking about my pap and how happy I know he is that I'll be cooking some Slovak dishes for our family! I know he wishes he was here to try some, but he will be watching and helping me make sure the recipes are just right!

Pierogies pre-boil.

It gets to be a bit messy.

Pierogies and Bobalky!

Pagach.

Giving Thanks.

I always love helping my mom get ready for Thanksgiving. I've been making a new dish every year to go along with our traditional dishes. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays--yes, there's preparation when it comes to food, but really the rest of the day is about hanging out with family, relaxing and watching football. No gifts, not much traveling, just the chance to enjoy good food and your company.

Thanks to Pinterest, I've been spending hours looking at table scapes, side dishes, and other decorations. Here are some of the things I'm loving:

Yum.

I've been pretty proud of the meals and appetizers I've been making--many are thanks to Pinterest, of course, and some are remakes of delicious meals I've had at restaurants. But one thing they've all been--is so super easy to make! Here are a few of my favorites:

Caprese Bites

What:
1 package baby tomatoes         Salt
Fresh basil                                   Pepper
Fresh mozzarella                      Olive Oil

How:
Cut the tomatoes in half, pull apart the basil into small pieces, and cube the mozzarella. Put each piece together on a skewer or tooth pick. Lay on the tray and sprinkle the salt and pepper then drizzle with olive oil! I also had a little side of good balsamic to dip!

Cucumber Crab Bites

What:
2 long cucumbers                Salt
3/4 cup crab                           Pepper
1/4 cup sour cream              2 tsp Sriracha sauce (or more if you like heat)
1/4 cup cream cheese          Paprika

How:

Peel and slice the cucumbers to about half an inch circles. Shred the crab--I didn't shred it too much because I wanted to taste the chunks of crab. Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, Sriracha, salt, pepper and crab. With a spoon, scoop out the seeds of the cucumbers. Place a spoonful of the crab mix right on top. I sprinkled the paprika right on top and added some extra crab!

Bang Bang Shrimp (Bonefish Grille)

What:
1/2 pound shrimp (or more depending on how many you're feeding)
1 cup Panko bread crumbs                   1 egg                                 4 tsp Sriracha sauce
1 cup flour                                               1/2 cup milk                      Salt/Pepper
1 tsp garlic powder                               3/4 cup mayonaise            2 tsp sugar

How:

Mix the mayo, Sriracha, salt, pepper, and sugar together and set aside. Mix the egg and milk in one bowl, and the Panko, flour, garlic powder in another. Make sure your shrimp and clean and de-vained and have the tails cut off. Dip the shrimp in the flour mix, then the egg, then back in the flour. Let them sit on a plate in the fridge for about 10 minutes. Heat up your oil. Each shrimp only takes about 2 minutes to cook. Lay them back onto a plate with a paper towel. While they're warm, toss them in the bowl with your sauce to completely coat. Garnish with green onions!

Recipes IV.

Ready for the final recipe I've been dying to try?

Beet Tart with Goat Cheese

(makes one 9x9 tart)

Ingredients:

• 6 large beets, peeled
• Olive oil
• 8 - 10 sprigs of fresh thyme
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 sheet of puff pastry (enough to make a 10x10-inch square)
• Goat cheese
• Blue cheese
• Frisee
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice

How:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare two baking sheets: line one with foil and the other with parchment paper.
• Slice the peeled beets into thick slices, about 1/2-inch thick. Lightly coat the sliced beets with olive oil, and toss with fresh thyme leaves and a bit of salt and pepper.
• Lay the beet slices out on the foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven.
• Meanwhile, roll out the puff pastry into a 10 x 10-inch square, or a comparably sized rectangle. Transfer to the baking sheet lined with parchment.
• Arrange the beet slices on the puff pastry, leaving about an inch or two along each side. Roll the puff pastry edges up to create a free-form crust, pinching the corners.
• Bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees F and continue to bake for 25-30 more minutes, until the pastry is golden brown and the beets are fork tender. Remove from oven and let cool briefly.
• Mix the goat cheese and blue cheese together with a fork, and crumble over the beet tart.
• Toss the frisee with lemon juice, olive oil, and a pinch of salt to coat, and serve over the tart

Can you tell I love goat cheese? For the first three recipes, visit here.

Recipe from:  http://www.sacramentostreet.com

What's Happening.

I've had a busy couple weeks. Last Saturday was my ZTA big sister's bridal shower and bachelorette party, the Friday before was my cousin's bachelorette party, Sunday and Monday I tried to relax and word a bit in the yard. This past weekend I had my first two concerts for work! They both went awesome. Steve Moakler was on Friday and Joan Osborne was on Sunday. I got to talk to Steve and his band and met Joan and her pretty little daughter, Nadine. My sister actually got to babysit her while Joan was on stage! The entire experience was exactly what I thought it would be like. Being surrounded by so many talented musicians, singers, and even the management was both overwhelming and amazing at the same time. My job is seriously awesome, and up until this point it's just been a bunch of planning and organizing. Now I finally get to see all my hard work pay off and come to life! Two concerts this weekend with a sorority sister's wedding in between! I can't wait!

Steve Moakler.

Little blurry--Joan Osborne singing "What if God was One of Us."

I also tried out a new recipe on Saturday--fresh salmon cakes. It was so easy and delicious--fresh salmon, peas, and cooked potatoes mixed together, dipped in egg and coated with panko bread crumbs. Not much to it, but so good--and I only cooked them in a small amount of oil, so it's still healthy too! For sides I made baked potatoes with garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper and bacon brussel sprouts! I decided to go all out and make some dessert while I was at. For the dessert I turned on the grill to medium heat, took a sheet of foil and created four mounds each with a table spoon of brown sugar, table spoon of butter, a pineapple ring, maraschino cherry and a piece of angel food cake. Wrap it all up in to a packet and put it on the grill for about 12 minutes. When it's done, you'll have the easiest pineapple upside down cake you'll ever eat!

The Strip District

I always tell anyone who is visiting Pittsburgh to find room in their schedule to visit the Strip District. It's this little part of town right next to the city that is filled with tons of culture, good food and interesting people. Saturday mornings are the best, but really any day you're there the stores are open and vendors are set up. I always prefer Saturdays because the Public Market is open and there are always more vendors along the street. It is more crowded, but if you want the full experience that's the time to go! I've been busy hanging posters for our Summer Concert Series, and when I walked through the Strip I couldn't help but take some pictures... and stop for some olives, goat cheese & fresh flowers!

Veggie Pizza

I made "Veggie Pizza" over the weekend to take to my cousin's 1st Holy Communion. As always, it's a big hit. This is my mom's recipe, but I usually take over and make it. It's pretty simple and standard, but for some reason I always end up liking this recipe the best! I've tried veggie pizza with an Italian dressing mix and it just doesn't taste the same. Here's what to do:

Ingredients

2 tubes of crescent rolls

2-cups cheese (I usually use cheddar or mozzarella)

1-cup Hellman's mayonnaise

1/4-cup sour cream

2-8 oz cream cheese

1-ranch dressing mix

1 green pepper

1 red pepper

Fresh broccohli

Fresh cauliflower (I try to by the pre-chopped mixed bag)

Spray a tray with cooking spray, then use your fingers to spread out the crescent roll dough. I always use both of the tubes--you'll find that it might seem like you have some left over, but use it to fill in the thin parts. This doesn't have to look pretty--it will be covered with veggies! Follow the directons on the cresent roll tube for the baking time and temperature.

While the dough is baking, use this time to cut up all your veggies!

Take your dough out of the oven--make sure it is completely cool before you start putting on the toppings--the heat will cause the sauce to get runny.

For the "sauce" part--beat the cream cheese, sour cream, mayo and ranch dressing packet until the mixture is pretty smooth. Be sure to taste, sometimes I add a more of something if the taste isn't right.

Once the dough is cooled, spread the sauce across the dough.

Sprinkle on your veggies and the cheese!

I made two pizza's on Sunday--one with mozzarella and one with cheddar cheese!

Simple as that!



Guiness & Baileys.

I've been meaning to post about St. Patrick's Day, and somehow I kept forgetting.

I don't know how because this is one of my favorite holidays.

Starting in college, my friends and I just went all out--party all day, make food, 

fun drinks and get all dressed up! Pittsburgh is one of THE best places to be

for St. Patty's Day. Our parade is awesome--I think it's the 2nd biggest in the nation

and the surrounding neighborhoods start the festivities as early as 7 am.

This year I wanted to make something different for the party I was going to. 

Thanks to Pinterest, I found an awesome recipe for Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes!

For those who don't know, an Irish Car Bomb is a shot--you pour some Guiness in a glass,

then drop in a shot glass filled with Baileys and Irish whiskey--then chug as fast as you can!

While those are great and all, I thought these cupcakes would be just as amazing.

They were actually pretty strong--and took some time to make (mainly because you have 

to start from scratch--so no box mix), but totally worth it!

Ingredients:

For the Cupcakes:
1 cup Guinness
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup cocoa powder
2 cups flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons baking soda
¾ teaspoons salt
2 eggs
2/3 cup sour cream

For the Icing:

2 cups unsalted butter

5 cups powdered sugar

6 tbsp Bailey's Irish Cream (I added a bit more!)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Bring the Guiness and butter to simmer in a sauce pan. 

When it begins to bubble, add the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth.

Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. 

With a mixer, beat the eggs and sour cream in with the mixture. 

 Once it starts to come together, add the Guiness-chocolate mixture 

(I let mine cool off a bit). 

Line your cupcake tray with liners, and separate the batter into each. 

I filled mine pretty close to the top and it still made about 2 dozen cupcakes.

Bake in the oven for about 18 minutes--I had to keep one tray in a little longer, 

so make sure you stick a toothpick in the middle of a few to see if it comes out clean.

While they're cooking, whisk the butter until smooth--this won't work well

unless the butter is at room temperature. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and Bailey's.

Be sure to set the mixer at low or the Bailey's could splash out at you!

Ice the cupcakes however you wish! I kept it simple with some green sprinkles. 

I realied I had a lot of frosting, so for a few of the cupcakes, I cut a hole in the center

and filled the inside with frosting as well! 

They were so delicious. The batter and icing both tasted a little strong when you tried 

them separate, but together it was perfect!

What's Happening.

Basket I made for ZTA's fashion show fundraiser at Clarion.

Birthday girl being weird.

Some amazing sorority sisters!

One of my favorite meals--kielbasa, potatoes and onions!

Believe it or not, I actually don't have too much happening right now.

Work is getting busier, but I'm happy about that. 

I definitely work better when I have multiple things going on--

the crazy organizer in me starts writing all sorts of to-do lists.

My sorority had a fashion show fundraiser this past Sunday up in Clarion.

I wasn't able to make it, but I donated a little Gardner Ann's basket for the auction!

We celebrated my cousin Samantha's 15th birthday last night at the new bar/restaurant Uncle Buckles. 

Pizza, wings and birthday cake--doesn't get much better! 

She was being silly and not wanting to wear her birthday cake hat, 

I only had 30 seconds to get my phone out and take a picture.

I made one of my favorite dinners the other night, kielbasa, potatoes and onions. 

It is seriously so easy to make and just has so much flavor for three simple ingredients 

(plus oil, salt & pepper of course). I like to heat up some oil first and cook the potatoes and onions. 

The potatoes get a little crispy on the outside--the burnt ones are the best!

I've been crossing my fingers that the weather starts to get nice again--

I shouldn't be compaining because for Pittsburgh we have had an amazing "winter." 

Anyway, Happy "Hump" Day : )