The Ideal Weekend

 

This weekend was lovely...it included a couple of my favortie things..

~family

~fresh snow fall

~resting

~Hubby and Remi time

~Baking

Friday evening we spent resting with our sick pup. Good news, she is on the mend. We finally got her test results back which revealed a bacterial infection in her intestines. We also found out she has a very sensitive tummy, which I guess is common in german shepherds. We have to switch her to a sensitive tummy food and the only treats she can have are carrots and apples. We have to monitor her on this new diet for 3-4 weeks to see if it helps! Fingers crossed. She is such a snuggle bug when she isn't feeling well.



Saturday we had some family over for dinner. It was a great evening with delicious food, and a beautiful snow fall. I love my family so very much!

Sunday we got up early for church, then came home and cuddled in with some coffee and sunday morning TV. I also got the itch to bake a little, so going along with my 25 days of Christmas, here is my new favorite Christmas cookie: Chocolate Peppermint! So yummy! Remi even had fun helping :)

You can use any chocolate cookie recipie or boxed mix to make these cookies. Once they come out of the oven, you sprinkle crushed candy cane on top.

Then you press the candy cane pieces into the cookies with the bottom of a glass

Then enjoy! These are so simple and super delicious!! You have to try them!

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend!

Jamie Leigh

Live Laugh Love

I have always loved this quote...3 words that are SOO meaningful! This was exactly how my weekend was, it was perfect!

We didn't do much at all.....we cooked, talked, laughed, rested, watched movies, and talked some more. 

Friday Sean cooked me my favorite dish! It is from the Italian restaurant Amore Victoria, and called mushroom passion! So Sean decided to try to make it at home! It is a balsamic cream sauce, with mushrooms, garlic and of course pasta! He put his own little twist on it and added chicken, it turned out amazing!

Cell phone pic, sorry its blurry!

Saturday we slept in, and laid around in our pj's most of the morning! Then I went and visited my little sister who is always so sweet and fun to see! Saturday night we went out to dinner with Sean's parents to Carols! It is a DELICIOUS little restaurant where everything is homemade! Afterwards we just watched some TV and talked about our future :-)

Sunday we went to church, which was wonderful and refreshing as usual! Later we watched the Never Ending Story...I had never seen it before, so Sean insisted I had too....it was weird, but entertaining! 

I just love weekends that you don't have anything you HAVE to do! They last so much longer, and Monday I feel so much more relaxed and ready to face the busy week ahead! 

What did you do this weekend?

Jamie Leigh

Weekend Rewind and Magic Bars!

Sean and I had a lovely weekend! I am a little sad it is over and went so fast! Now I just got to focus on getting through another week of school....7 more weeks!!
Friday night Sean and I got some take out, and watched my favorite wedding shows! Afterwards we laid around and talked till late....it was so nice to have that time to just BE and TALK...I definitely embraced it!
Saturday we had another cake tasting which we were much more impressed with than the first! It was so delicious and moist! We have one more place to check out before making a decision. Afterwards we ran some errands then went home for the night. Sean was sweet enough to let me pick the movie for the night, so I chose Letters to Juliet. It was really cute, kind of predictable but good overall! 
Sunday we went to church! Last weekend we missed since we had family in town, so it felt so nice to be there! Our Pastor is SO wise and inspiring. He is constantly challenging me to be a better person, which I am so grateful for. Later in the day I decided I wanted to bake. My co worker had made these delicious bars, magic bars, for our pot luck last week, so I wanted to try out the recipe. I wanted to share it with you, I highly recommend them and they are SO easy.
You will need:
1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs1/2 cup butter14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk  1 cup shredded coconut1/2 cup chocolate chips1/2 cup butterscotch chips1/2 cup white chocolate chips 

First you melt the butter and mix it with the graham cracker crumbs. Press into the bottom of a 13x9 pan

Next you pour and spread the sweetened condensed milk over the top

Then you add the coconut and chips. Press down.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Enjoy! 

Jamie Leigh

Recipes!

We are finally half way through the week! Today at work, there was a magazine FULL of Christmas recipes. On my mom's side of the family, everyone brings different dishes, and we kind of have a potluck type thing for Christmas! My family usually brings a cheese-ball, cream cheese ham and pickle roll ups, and a cold pasta salad. So I decided to make some copies of some NEW recipes to try, I thought I would share a couple because they look so delicious! 
BLT Pasta Salad  
Cook 2 cups spiral pasta according to package directions; drain. Cook and crumble 1lb. bacon (I personally like the microwavable stuff, its so easy, avoids the nasty mess, AND tastes just as good). Add 1 large seeded chopped tomato and 1/2 cup ranch salad dressing. Toss with pasta. Combine with 3 cups torn romaine lettuce before serving. Serves 6. 


Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps  
1 1/4 lean ground turkey1 pkg frozen stir fry vegetable blend thawed1/3 cup teriyaki sauce1/4 cup hoisin sauce3 Tbsp. reduced fat creamy peanut butter2 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger root1 Tbsp. rice vinegar1 Tbsp. sesame oil3 garlic cloves, minced4 green onions, chopped10 Boston lettuce leaves
In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook and stir turkey over medium high heat until no longer pink. 
Coarsely chop mixed vegetables, add to the pan. Stir in teriyaki sauce, hoisin sauce, peanut butter, ginger, vinegar, and oil. Cook and stir over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.
Removed from heat. Stir in onions. Place mixture in lettuce leaf, fold over filling.
Finally, Ill end with a delicious cozy drink that will warm you up inside!
Hot Malted Chocolate  4 cups 2% milk1 cup heavy whipping cream1/2 cup sugar1 cup milk chocolate chips1/3 cup malted milk powder2 tsp. vanilla extract
In a large saucepan, heat milk over medium heat until bubbles form around sides of pan.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar;beat until soft peaks form
Whisk chocolate chips and milk powder into milk until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat, and whisk in            vanilla. Pour into mugs, serve with whipped cream on top!
Hope you enjoy!!
Jamie Leigh