Tag: featured

Roquefort Cheese Dip

Dazzle your guests with this simple tangy roquefort cheese dip! It makes a scrumptious appetizer or side dish served alongside crunchy vegetables or fresh fruits.

Roquefort cheese dip has been a family favorite for as long as I can remember. Every single holiday table of my youth was adorned with a special antique glass dish full of colorful vegetables that cradled a bowl of roquefort cheese dip. Interestingly enough it was never served before the main meal but rather lovingly nestled amongst all of the side dishes.

Tags appetizer, featured, featured-eat, Roquefort cheese, Roquefort cheese dip

Desserts Eat Snacks

Rainbow Jello Jigglers

These rainbow jello jigglers are sure to put a smile on anyone’s face. They’re a sweet treat that’s fun to eat for kids and adults as well!

Jello has always held a fond place in my heart. Growing up, my beloved mother would try and try again to make the mysterious colorful wobbling confection. And much to her chagrin,

Tags dessert, featured, featured-eat, jello, rainbow, rainbow jello jigglers, snack

Garden Home Projects Make

How To Force Paperwhite Narcissus

Post author By Wenderly
Post date 25.Feb.2015
1 Comment on How To Force Paperwhite Narcissus

You can grow paperwhite Narcissus right inside your home and have beautiful white blooms that will perfume your room and brighten any cold dreary day!

Flowers brighten any dreary day at my house but during the winter months I find that I need them around more than ever! They’re just so

Tags DIY, featured, featured-make, flowers, how to force paperwhites, paperwhite narcissus, paperwhites

Main Courses

Easy Pot Roast Recipe

When it comes to comfort food this easy pot roast recipe is at the top of my list! A savory, hearty, one pot meal that makes suppertime scrumptious.

My mom has made this delicious and easy pot roast recipe for as long as I can remember. I have such warm childhood memories of walking in the door after school on a frigid winter day,
welcomed by the intoxicating aroma of pot roast cooking in the oven. I couldn’t wait until suppertime when I would finally get to dig into that delectable meat and tender vegetables. Homework and chores never seemed to get done as fast as they did on those days.

Now that I’ve got a family of my own, I’ve carried on the pot roast tradition at my house. I find as much comfort in knowing that dinner is prepared and cooking away as I do in knowing that my girls will walk into a warm and cozy home filled with the glorious smell of supper.

Nothing is more comforting than knowing that a warm hearty supper has been made and is waiting just for you to enjoy.

Except maybe a warm hug from your mama. And in my opinion, that’s just what a big bowl of delectable pot roast tastes like.

Warm wishes and hugs,

Wenderly

Here’s the delicious recipe ::

Tags comfort food, dinner, featured, featured-eat, pot roast, pot roast recipe

Desserts Eat

Lemon Snow Ice Cream

Lemon snow ice cream is a delicious and easy way to indulge in some wintertime fun. The bright lemon flavor adds a glorious zing to cold winter days.

Stepping onto a pure white, untouched, sparkling blanket of freshly fallen snow makes me feel like a kid again. All of my senses seem to come alive. My cheeks tingle as I inhale what seems to be the the freshest air I’ve ever smelled. Both eyes tear instantly, open wide, as they drink in the beautiful

Tags featured, featured-eat, lemon snow ice cream, snow, snow cream, snow ice cream

Crafts Make

DIY Sweater Mug Warmer

Make the cold winter days cozy and quaint with a DIY Sweater Mug Warmer. They’re inexpensive and you’ll never believe how simple they are to put together.

I’ve been an avid coffee lover and drinker since I was a wee little nipper. As a matter of fact, those of you who know me know that “coffee is like air to me.” There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t relish in at least one mug full of the deep, dark, delicious brew and during the cold winter months I find myself wrapping my hands around a mug more often than not. This year after using refurbished sweaters and scarves for setting the scene for a winter party I was inspired to dress up my mugs with these darling sweater mug warmers!

They were unbelievably simple to make! Cut the sleeve of a sweater (across width of the arm) so that it covers the mug but leaves a few inches of the top of the mug exposed. You’ll need lip room for sipping. Next, cut along the edge (height-wise) to make room for the handle. Then cut pieces of a foam double sided tape and place the tape on either side of the handle at the top and bottom of the mug. You may want another piece of or two placed along the top edge of the sweater (depending on how snuggly the wrap fits) so it doesn’t slip. Once tape is affixed, place the already cut sweater wrap around the mug. Make sure to press the sweater against the tape to secure it. I left the cut edges untouched and they haven’t frayed but you can use a non-fraying liquid along the edge if you so choose.

I certainly don’t need any excuse to sip on a mug of my beloved coffee, but I must say that it’s even more fun with a mug dressed up in an adorable sweater warmer! If you’re not a coffee lover, here’s a yummy homemade hot chocolate recipe for you to enjoy.

Supplies you’ll need to make a DIY sweater mug warmer::

ceramic mug
sleeves of a sweater (I used sweaters from a thrift store and a children’s size works better)
foam doubled sided tape (regular double sided tape would work as well)
scissors

Warm wishes!

Wenderly

Tags coffee, featured, featured-make, hot chocolate, sweater mug warmer, tea

Desserts Eat

Indoor S’Mores

Indoor s’mores are a fun and easy way to enjoy all of the delicious delights of an outdoor sweet treat right inside the comforts of your cozy home!

The days are finally growing longer and I know that Spring is bound to push its way up from underneath the frozen ground eventually. I find myself yearning this time of year for the good old outdoors. Making s’mores and most of all eating s’mores has to be one of my all time favorite summer indulgences. During these frigid snowy winter days I yearn for the warmer sun kissed days and all of the fun and food that comes with them. But then I realized that perhaps I could bring some of the outdoor fun, indoors!

And out of my desperate desire to feel the splendor of summertime, these indoor s’mores were born! They were just thing to cure my summertime yearning blues! I started with roasting large campfire size marshmallows. I happen to have a gas stove, so I grabbed a wooden skewer and roasted the marshmallows right over the flame. Obviously a fireplace would be an even better replacement to an outside campfire but I was short on time and the instant flame of my stove did the trick. I decided to use a pizzelle Italian cookie in place of the traditional graham cracker to add a unique touch. And a healthy slathering of a chocolate spread raised the whole chocolate experience to an entirely new level! The hot melty marshmallow married into the already smooth chocolate and made this indoor s’more perfection!

These s’mores work wonders as a cure for the winter blues but they also remedy any bad weather situation any time of the year!

Here’s the recipe ::

Enjoy!

Wenderly

Tags dessert, easy dessert, featured, featured-eat, indoor smores, smores

Appetizers Eat

Caprese Salad Skewers With Heart Tomatoes

Post author By Wenderly
Post date 13.Feb.2015
No Comments on Caprese Salad Skewers With Heart Tomatoes

Caprese salad skewers are fresh and full of flavor and make a delicious start to any meal. The heart shaped tomato will add that special touch to any occasion.

We devour caprese salad at our house. The bright colors match the taste of the bright flavors and who doesn’t love to eat with their eyes first? This year for Valentine’s Day we decided to dine out, but I decided to have a sweet little appetizer ready, just for the two of us, to enjoy before hitting the town. A caprese salad skewer is the perfect way to get those taste buds awake and ready for the next course. To make it extra special for my Valentine, I cut the tomatoes to make a heart shape. You’ll never believe how simple it is!

First, you’ll need grape tomatoes, not cherry tomatoes. The oblong shape of the grape tomato is necessary to pull off the heart effect.

After you’ve washed and dried the tomatoes, simply cut them in half at an angle, invert the two sides and you’ll see the heart shape appear!!

Add a fresh basil leaf, a small mozzarella ball and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and you’ve got yourself a caprese salad skewer that’s ready for any celebratory event! So whether it’s Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, birthday or just because you love someone, tickle their fancy with a caprese salad skewer with a heart tomato!

Wishing you & yours a delicious Valentine’s Day!

Wenderly

Here’s the easy recipe ::

Tags appetizer, caprese salad, caprese salad skewers, featured, featured-eat, Valentine's Day

Crafts Make

Homemade Valentine Gifts :: Flower Pens

Post author By Wenderly
Post date 12.Feb.2015
No Comments on Homemade Valentine Gifts :: Flower Pens

Flower pens make beautiful homemade Valentine gifts for loved ones, teachers, friends or coworkers. While they’re easy and fun to make, they’re even more fun to use!

You may be thinking, “what a beautiful bouquet of flowers sitting quietly in an antique sugar bowl” as you gaze upon the above photo. But is it, really? Nope! It’s not! It’s a beautiful antique sugar bowl filled with a bouquet of flower pens! If you’re looking for a unique homemade Valentine gift, then you’ve come to the right place! Flower pens are such fun! So easily personalized by the pen you use and what type (or types) of flower you choose.

You’ll only need a couple supplies and less than 5 minutes to make this sweet gift.

a pen (or pens)
artificial flowers
floral tape
wire cutters

I found these pretty peonies at the dollar store but you can find an even larger selection of artificial flowers as well as the floral tape, at a local craft store.

Here’s what you do ::

Simply cut a flower with wire cutters leaving about a 4 inch stem
hold the stem against the top of the pen, then gently pull the floral tape to release its sticky texture while wrapping it around the stem
continue to wrap (while gently pulling the tape) until the entire pen is covered in the floral tape
tear off the tape once you get to the tip and press the edge down for a smooth finish

Viola! You’ve got yourself a flower pen. Isn’t it sweet?

A bouquet of pens arranged in a fetching vessel makes a gorgeous gift for Valentine’s Day or even a birthday or Mother’s Day. Treat someone special to a beautiful homemade flower pen. It’s nearly impossible to use one without a smile on your face.

Other easy homemade Valentine gifts you may like ::

Happy Valentine crafting!

Wenderly

Tags DIY, DIY flower pens, featured, featured-make, flower pens, Valentine's Day

Desserts Eat

Cherry Heart Hand Pies

Cherry heart hand pies are as delicious as they are darling. They’re an easy and impressive, sweet treat for those you love.

Why is it that hand pies always seem to steal my heart? I just adore their sweet little individual disposition. Their playful rustic look paired with the idea of an afternoon spent humming in the kitchen whilst making homemade hand pies makes me smile. But guess what? Don’t tell anyone, but these little beauties aren’t made from scratch.

They were put together with a readymade pie crust and a canned filling. Special heart felt sentiments don’t always have to take hours to prepare. The minutes I spent assembling the hand pies don’t really matter when I see the glowing faces of my sweethearts as they relish in their confection. And trust me, nobody ever asks me, as they gleefully savor every gooey sweet bite, how many hours I’ve spent slaving in the kitchen.

And as for me? Oh I’m happily humming in the kitchen. But rather than cleaning up a big mess, I get to relish in the moments I’ve still got with my beautiful teenage daughters as they sit at my island happily chatting away over their tasty treat.

I guess it’s not really the hand pies that steal my heart. But rather who eats them that does. My heart spilleth over.

Wishing you and yours the sweetest Valentine’s Day ever!

Wenderly

Here’s the easy recipe ::

Tags cherry hand pies, featured, featured-eat, hand pies, heart cherry hand pies, Valentine's Day