Lucky

Happy Saint Paddy's Day!  We aren't doing anything super special to celebrate this holiday since it falls on a Monday this year!  Instead, I have been reflecting about how I am so LUCKY to be blessed with this life that I am living!

Lacie Jane and Blakely Hope are my two greatest blessings.  I feel incredibly lucky that I get to be their mama every single day!  They are getting so big so fast and I am just trying to cherish every second that I get to spend at home with them!  The best feeling in the whole wide world is walking into their room in the morning, picking them up out of their cribs, and getting snuggles and kisses!  

I am truly lucky that I get to call this little foursome my family!  I am blessed with so much love and laughter! And yes this picture is from Christmas.  No we have not taken a picture of all four of us together since!  We should be much better about that! 

Finally, I am so lucky that I get to call John my husband!  He is, without a doubt, the best husband I could ever ask for, and I am so lucky that fate brought us together!  I love watching him be a Daddy to our two girls every single day! 

St. Paddy's 2014

Just for fun - A look back at St. Paddy's Day from 2013!  

 I can't believe how little they were - especially Blakely!  What a difference a year makes! 

If you are looking for a last minute St. Paddy's Day treat, you could try whipping up a batch of my Irish Soda Bread!  It is super simple and super delicious!  I also makes 2 loaves!!!  Click here to find the recipe.

If you want to make a fun desserts that both kids and grown ups will enjoy, try making a batch of my Lucky Charms Treats!  They are just like rice krispies treats but with a fun St. Paddy's Day twist!  Click here for that recipe!

I hope you are feeling LUCKY today! 

Cherry Pie Cookies

Yesterday was Pi Day!  So in honor of that holiday I decided to make Cherry Pie Cookies!  I did this rather than make a whole pie because I knew there would be other St. Paddy's Day desserts made this weekend!

Here's What You Need to Make the Cherry Pie Cookies:

• 2 sticks of butter (1 cup), softened
• 1 tsp almond extract 
• 3/4 cup of powdered sugar 
• 2 cups of all purpose flour 
• 1 can of cherry pie filling (you won't use the whole can)

Here's What You Need to Make the Glaze:

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar 
• 1-2 tsp milk 
• 1 drop almond extract 

Now Let's Make the Cherry Pie Cookies:

1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees 
2. In a stand mixer, using a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and almond extract
3. Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth
4. Add flour, 1 cup at a time, and beat until a dough forms 
   
5. Roll dough into 24 balls, approximately 1 inch in size, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets 
6. Use your thumb or the handle of a wooden spoon to make indentations in the center of each ball
   
7. Fill each indent with one or two cherries and some of the red gel
   
8. Bake in the oven for 13-15 minutes
9. Allow to cool for a few minutes on baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool 

Now Let's Make the Glaze

1. In a small bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, almond extract and 1-2 tsp of milk - you want it to be thin enough to pipe on cookies but thick enough that it will not run
2. Once desired consistency is reached, spoon icing into a ziploc bag
3. Snip off on corner of the bag and pipe icing over tops of cookies 
4. Allow glaze to harden before storing cookies in an airtight container

If you don't like cherry pie filling, you can use another type of pie filling!  Chocolate or blueberry would be great! Happy Pi Day! 

#hiloskyeveryday2014 Week 11

Happy Thursday - the day that I like to refer to as "almost Friday"!  It's also a #hiloskyeveryday2014 day!  Hooray for week 11!

Day 66 - I baked my first batch of Irish Soda bread in honor of St. Paddy's Day (which is quickly approaching).  Both loaves were gone in 24 hours!

Day 67- I finally caved and bought the bathtub crayons!  I had been hesitant to let Lacie use them because I am afraid that she will think it's okay to color on the walls...

So far both L&B are loving the new addition to bath time.

Day 68 - Lacie Jane loves getting her nails done - by Mommy!  She selected a color called Naughty Nautical for her Sunday mani/pedi.  It amazes me that she will actually sit still long enough to let me paint her nails and let them dry! 

Day 69 - Finally some nice weather!  We enjoyed it at the park!  It has been a longggg winter here in New Jersey!  

Day 70 - SISTERS!  Whenever I manage to capture a moment like this it just melts my heart!  And of course it helped that the girls were super excited to be wearing their new Princess Sofia shirts from Grandmom and Grandpop! 

Day 71 - Coffee Delivery Day is my favorite day of the month!  Seriously, when I see the UPS man bringing the package up to the porch I can hear the "Hallelujah Chorus" playing in my head! 

 Day 72 - 8am Dance Party!  Blakely decided the chair would be a great place for dancing! 

Some More Great Pictures From This Week:

Another great picture from Day70!  I just love how much they love each other! 

Some serious outside artwork at Nana and Pop-Pop's house! 

What do you mean I have morning hair?

Blakely hold my hand!  

Looking at the moon! 

This is what Blakely thinks about the swings! Not a fan.

Lacie and Lily! I love starting my day with this sweet face!  After a cup of coffee of course! 

I hope that everyone had a GREAT week! 

Meatless Quesadillas

Easter is just a little over a month away!  And if you're Catholic, then you are most likely on the hunt for some meat-free meal ideas to make on Fridays during Lent.  While forgoing meat on Fridays is not a huge sacrifice to me personally...it is for John who is a huge meat eater!  My sacrifice is really planning the meatless menu!  One option that we both enjoy are these Meatless Quesadillas.  They are a quick meal that can be made in 15 minutes!  It's a great option for a light dinner or even for lunch.  Using corn tortillas makes this meal Gluten Free as well! 

Here's What You Need to Make the Meatless Quesadillas:

• 12 to 16 corn tortillas
• 2 - 3 cups shredded cheese - I used a Mexican Blend but you could use plain cheddar, monteray jack, etc.
• 2 bell peppers, any color, diced 
• 1 cup corn (frozen or fresh)
• 1 cup black beans
• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

Now Let's Make the Meatless Quesadillas:

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet (non-stick is easiest)
2. Add the diced peppers and sauté until slightly tender
   
3. Add the corn and cook for additional minute
4. Add black beans and stir until heated through
   
5. Add all seasonings, stir, and taste - add more of any spices if desired
6. Turn heat off and set mixture aside 
7. Place 6 corn tortillas on a large griddle
8. Top each tortilla with 2-3 tbsp of shredded cheese
9. Top the cheese with 3-4 tbsp of veggie and bean filling
   
10. Top filling with 2-3 additional tbsp of shredded cheese
11. Finally close the quesadillas with an additional corn tortilla
12. Turn heat on and cook until cheese is melted and quesadilla is lightly browned on the bottom
13. Use a spatula to flip and cook until lightly browned on the second side 
    
14. Transfer to a cutting board, cut and serve

This will make 6-8 quesadillas depending on the size and how much filling you use!  

Quesadillas are a great and fast meal!  It is also super easy to mix up any of the ingredients to meet the dietary needs and tastes of your family!  When I make this throughout the rest of the year, I will add shredded chicken to make them not meatless (and more filling for the hubby). 

Irish Soda Bread

With St. Paddy's Day only 8 days away, I am sharing my recipe for Irish Soda Bread.  Growing up, I was never a huge fan of this bread because I always thought it was so dry.  I had to put tons of butter on each piece to eat it - and John agreed with this sentiment.  But I put together a recipe and a method that ensures a delicious and moist piece of Irish Soda Bread!  Another great thing about this recipe is that it makes two loaves!  One for your family to enjoy and one to share with a relative/neighbor/friend!  

Everyone who has tried my recipe so far has LOVED it, and I hope you enjoy it too! 

Here's What You Need to Make the Irish Soda Bread:

• 4 cups of all purpose flour 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 1 tbsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt 
• 1 stick butter, cut into small cubes
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk 
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp water

Now Let's Make the Irish Soda Bread:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and line a large baking sheet pan with foil
2. In a large mixing bowl place 4 cups of flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 tbsp baking soda, and 1 tsp salt.  Whisk these ingredients together
3. Add the cubed butter (cold right out of the fridge) and use your *clean* hands to incorporate the butter into the dry mixture until crumbly 
   
4. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the raisins
5. Pour the buttermilk in and mix with spoon until dough forms
6. Turn out dough onto floured surface and shape into a ball
   
7. Divide ball into two even halves and shape each half into a round loaf - place onto prepared baking sheet
8. Use a knife to score a cross into the top of each loaf
   
9. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until tops of loaves are golden brown
10. Place 1/3 cup sugar and 2 tbsp water into a bowl
11. Heat in microwave for 30 seconds
12. Use a pastry brush to brush tops of loaves with the sugar water while bread is still warm from the oven (I did two coats of the sugar water on each loaf - I still had a little bit left)
    

*This bread is best if eaten in 1-2 days*

Happy Irish Soda Bread Baking! 

Lucky Charms Treats

St. Paddy's Day is almost here!  Even though it's not a PINK holiday like Valentine's Day, I promise to provide a few fun and colorful treats! And since there is only about a week and a half until this festive day, I thought I would share a super quick and easy recipe with you today!

LUCKY CHARMS TREATS

You essentially make rice krispies treats with Lucky Charms cereal instead!  In fact you can really do this with any fun cereal all year round (I did it with Trix cereal for Lacie's 2nd Birthday).

Here's What You Need to Make the Lucky Charms Treats:

• 6 cups of Lucky Charms cereal
• 1 bag of marshmallows (I used the miniature ones)
• 3 tbsp butter

Now Let's Make the Lucky Charms Treats:

1. Grease a 9x13 baking dish and the back of a spatula - set both aside
2. In a large microwave safe bowl, add the bag on marshmallows and the butter
3. Heat in the microwave until the butter melts and the marshmallows become puffy and begin to melt together
   
4. Stir together the melted marshmallows and the butter until thoroughly combined 
5. Carefully stir in the dry cereal, making sure it is evenly coated with the marshmallow
   
6. Press into greased pan, using the back of the greased spatula to press it down firmly into the pan
   
7. Allow to set for at least one hour before cutting into squares
8. Store in an air tight container 

So Pretty and Festive!