Artichoke and Sun Dried Tomato Pizza...

I'm trying to eat a bit healthier around this place, but there are just some things a girl CAN'T give up.

Pizza.

As I was grocery shopping a few weeks back, I saw a canister of artisan pizza dough. I had to try it out. Then I started thinking about what toppings I could put on it, without it getting too fatty boom ba latty.

I decided on parmesan cheese, artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, and goat cheese. Oh my!

Not only did it taste good, it looked gourmet.... well, I thought it did. Anyway, I think I'll explore my pizza making skills again..... and soon..... very soon.

I think I've found a new calling...

Artichoke and Sun Dried Tomato Pizza

• 1 Canister of Artisan Pizza Dough
• 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil, Plus Some for Greasing
• 2 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese, Shredded
• 7 oz. Marinated Artichoke Hearts, Drained
• 3/4 of a Jar of Sun Dried Tomatoes in Oil, Drained
• 4 oz. Soft Goat Cheese
• Salt and Pepper, to Taste

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees (F).

Grease a large cookie sheet with a bit of olive oil. Take the pizza dough out of the canister and unroll it onto the cookie sheet. Gently push it out to cover most of the surface, without stretching it too thin. Pre-bake in the oven for 8 minutes. 

When ready, carefully remove the pizza crust from the oven (it will be hot). Brush the surface with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese, the artichoke hearts (breaking them up if needed), and the sun dried tomatoes onto the crust. Finally crumble the goat cheese on and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 13 to 17 minutes or until the edges are browned and the cheese is somewhat melted. Makes 6-8 servings.

Enjoy!

DIY Chalkboard Flower Pot for Teacher Appreciation...

 

Teacher Appreciation Week is upon us and I always enjoy creating something for my kids to give as a "Thank You" to their teachers.

It's always nice to show our teachers how grateful we are for them. After all, they are with our children most of the time during the school year. Without their dedication we wouldn't have doctor's, lawyers, performers, artists, or entrepreneurs....... and there are many more jobs/careers besides the ones listed, of course.

Teacher Appreciation Week runs through May 10th, so there's still time to whip up a little something! This flower pot is super simple and of low cost. I spent less than $10.00 for this gift!

I hope you'll try your hand at this economical and simple DIY gift...

Supplies:

• Terracotta Pot, Small or Medium Size
• Painters Tape
• Chalkboard Spray Paint
• Potting Soil
• Flower, Any kind
• String or Washi Tape
• Two Pieces of Chalk, White or Colored

Begin by removing any price stickers from the terracotta pot and tape off the rim with painters tape. Shake the chalkboard spray paint according to the directions before use. In a well ventilated area, on either a large piece of cardboard or a tarp, spray the untaped area of the pot, using short sweeping strokes. 

Allow the paint to dry, about 15-20 minutes, then apply a second coat. If you don't have the entire area of the pot covered, wait another 15-20 minutes, then apply a third coat. This will depend on how big your pot is. It should only take two coats for the chalkboard paint to be ready to write on. 

Plant your flower using some potting soil. After wiping any soil that has dirtied the finished pot, have your child write a message with a separate piece of chalk. Attach an unused piece of chalk with either string or washi tape.

Turkey Quesadillas...

 

I hope you are all gearing up for Cinco de Mayo, this year! I really do try to make something festive for the Mexican holiday.

Other than eating Mexican Cuisine growing up... on this holiday and all the time... we didn't celebrate it any other way. Researching the holiday, I found that Portland has an awesome festival or fiesta.

I'm definitely going to try and talk my husband into venturing into the city for this one (he can't stand crowds). Personally, I think it would be a blast!

Any spectacular Cinco de Mayo events taking place near you?

If not, say you'll celebrate by making these tasty quesadillas...

On a side note, please excuse my photo, I didn't realize when I took it, that my camera was on the wrong setting... yikes! While editing, I noticed how grainy the photo was, and I was out of ground turkey. So, that was that!

Have a festive Cino de Mayo!

Oh, you may also want to try this, or this, or this!


Turkey Quesadillas

• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1 Pound Ground Turkey
• 1 Small Onion, Finely Diced
• 2 Mini Red Peppers, Finely Diced
• 2 Mini Orange Peppers, Finely Diced
• 2 Mini Yellow Peppers, Finely Diced
• 2 Cloves of Garlic, Minced
• 1 Teaspoon Fine Sea Salt or Regular Salt
• 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
• 1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 2 Tablespoons Chili Powder (I like to use Carroll Shelby)
• 1 Cup Chicken Broth, Low Sodium
• Flour Tortillas
• Mexican Style Cheese, Shredded

Begin by heating the olive oil in a large skillet or saute pan on medium heat. Cook the onion and peppers until soft, then add the garlic. Cook until fragrant; don't burn the garlic. Add the ground turkey, salt, pepper, cumin, and chili powder. 

Brown and crumble the turkey in the vegetable mixture; about 10 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the stock reduces, but the turkey mixture is still moist and finished cooking. Adjust the seasonings if necessary.

To make the quesadillas, heat a griddle or comal on medium/low heat. Take a flour tortilla and place it on the hot griddle/comal. Add a little (or a lot) of shredded cheese, ground turkey mixture, then shredded cheese again. Place another tortilla on top. Once one side of the quesadilla is browned, flip and brown the other side. Cut in fourths and serve with salsa, guacamole, and/or sour cream. 

Enjoy! 

Strawberry Lime Soda Slushy...

 

I'm a Fall kinda-girl, but after living in the PacNorWest for almost a year now, I am soooo ready for Spring, and Summer, for that matter!

The birds are starting to chirp, I'm seeing baby lambs and calves around and about, and THE SUN IS SHINNING!

Hallelujah!

Whatever season, I love incorporating those ingredients into my recipes, and because I'm so excited for warmer weather, I decided to incorporate strawberries and lime into a recipe.

When I think of warmer weather, I think of slushy-like drinks and refreshing drinks. This drink is just that!

There is a sweetness from the strawberries and the lime will certainly quench your thirst. Another great tidbit about this slushy is that it only has 4 ingredients!

What foods or drinks do you like to make/eat/drink in warmer weather?

Please ponder, while sipping on one of these slushies...


Strawberry Lime Soda Slushy

• 16 oz Frozen Container of Sliced Sweetened Strawberries, Thawed
• 1 Lime, Zested and Juiced, Plus Lime Wedges
• 1 Cup Lime Soda
• 2 Cups of Ice Cubes

In a small heavy duty saucepan, combine the strawberries, lime zest and juice. Cook on medium low heat and bring to a boil, lower the heat as needed. Once the mixture has reduced down to about half of what you started with, and has thickened a bit, remove from the heat and cool. Makes about a cup of syrup.

To make the soda slushies, add the strawberry lime syrup, the lime soda, and ice cubes to a blender. Blend on high until well combined. Pour into cups, and using one lime wedge per cup, squeeze the lime juice into the slushy and stir. Makes about 4 cups.

*If you want it even slushier, add more ice to the blender. 

Enjoy!

I'm sharing this post on I'm Lovin' It!

DIY Photo Board for Food Photography...

 

A few months ago, I decided to make my own photo board to use for all of my food photography. Honestly, it was sooo much easier than I thought it would be!

I wanted a simple DIY project that did not include me building anything. This photo board was completed in only a few simple steps......

...... SCORE!

Mama loves an easy project! I still need to get in gear and finish three other boards. I'm planning on making a white board, a teal blue board, and an espresso stained board.

Let's start off with what you will need!

Supplies:

• One, 2ft. x 4ft. piece of plywood, cut in half to make two, 2ft. x 2ft. square boards. 

Home Depot will cut the wood for FREE! I bought two pieces of plywood and had them cut, to total four boards.

• Sandpaper and/or a sanding block. 

The roughness of the plywood will determine what sandpaper you use. I used 120 (medium) grit and 220 (finishing) grit.

• Tack cloth.
•  Non-toxic acrylic paint, one base coat color and one accent color.

I used Delta Creative Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint in Pearl Finish for my base and Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Paint in Wet Cement for my accent.

• Paint brush or a large foam brush.
• An old (clean) rag or old (clean) t-shirt.
• Safety glasses and a sanding respirator. 

You certainly don't want any of the sanding particles getting in your eyes or lungs!

Instructions:

1.) Sand the best side of the board and the sides of the board down, starting with the lowest grit of sandpaper. Sand until smooth and there aren't any more splinters. Finish sanding with the higher grit of sandpaper.

2.) Wipe the surface of the sanded board with a tack cloth, or other clean cloth, to get any fine sanding particles off before painting.

3.) Using a paint brush, paint the board using the base coat, in long strokes. Painting with the grain of the board. If applying a second coat, allow the paint to dry completely.

4.) Either on the first coat or second coat (depending on how many coats you apply) of the base coat, when it is still a bit tacky, apply the accent color using the rag or t-shirt. Squeeze small amounts of the accent color in different areas of the board and wipe along the grain of the board. Apply the accent color in as many areas as you like.

5.) Allow the board to dry completely before using.

Now how easy is that!?!

I don't have an exact total on the cost... since I can't find my receipts. I already had the paint brush, tack cloth, and respirator, so those were of no cost. With the cost of the other items, I'm pretty sure I spent around $28 for this project. That includes the other half of the unfinished plywood. So with the cost of some other paint, you have potentially two finished boards!

This project is so worth it if you do a ton of food photography! Now, to get to those other boards.....