As I sit here enjoying the delightful sounds of french cafe music I am swept away to Paris. Indulging on a creamy espresso accompanied by a warm, buttered croissant. Sitting at a little corner cafe watching parisians float by talking in delicious tones of french. The air is filled with the scent of warm bread and pastries beyond my wildest sugar fantasies.....

Back to reality - I want to introduce you to my newest addition of tea cups in my collection of assorted, vintage cups. Meet Chloe, yes I name my tea cups. Crazy, I know, but it just gives them all the more character..Chloe sounds french and I can imagine myself drinking from these adorable tea cups in Paris.





So by now I would imagine you all know how much I love to cook/bake/create....Lately I have been slacking in those departments. Unfortunately I have let life's crazy way of making us busy, take me away from what I love to do. I promise myself and those who love my cooking/baking/creating to do better.

My neighbor, whom I shall keep anonymous (clearing throat sound) "Scotty", is always asking where his cupcakes are??? I made him and his wife some delicious peanut butter cupcakes several months ago and ever since then he won't leave me alone about the baking goods. Here's to you Scotty - "I promise to be a slacker no longer and get off my bum and bake you some delicious things"

I know that what I make tastes good but just for once I want to bite into something I've made and just close my eyes and go YUUUUMMMMMMMMMM! Like, really yummmmm. Something that tastes so good it would make your toes curl. Have you ever had something that good that you stop and think, man this is unbelievably tasty? I have a craving to make something so incredibly, finger-lickin, toe-curlin, make you wanna slap yer' mama, G-O-O-D!

I would love to be the modern day Julia Child...maybe I'll just aspire to be good enough to make her Boeuf Bourguingnon well. You are all invited to my dinner party, bring your appetite and some napkins.

Signing off with thoughts of being a great cook with lots of imagination......

Welcome Baby Titus

Congratulations to my best friend Annie, her husband Jason and their daughter Alexus! Baby Titus Conway Michael Roberts, was born at 6:48pm, weighing in at 7lbs 7oz and 21inches long. He's a beautiful baby boy and I know that they are so happy he is finally here. We love ya'll and we join in your happiness for the birth of this precious little gift from God. 



Chicken Pesto Wrap

These wraps are delicious and healthy! A simple and easy recipe for those busy days when you get home late and don't wanna spend forever in the kitchen making a meal. This is an all in one dinner.

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts

4 tbsp pesto

mozzarella cheese

2 slices of pita bread

salt and pepper to taste

1 can of artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed

Instructions:

Begin by adding a little olive oil to a skillet, heat on medium-high heat.

While the olive oil is heating up slice the chicken into small 2-inch strips. Add them to the olive oil and saute until golden brown.

While the chicken is cooking add the artichoke hearts in another skillet with a tbsp of olive oil and cook until heated through.

This is perfect time to prepare the pita bread. Smear 2 tbsp of the pesto

 onto the pita bread.

Add the mozzarella cheese next...

Set your oven to broil, place the pita bread on a cookie sheet and put in the oven for a few minutes. Allow the cheese to bubble before removing it.





Add the artichoke hearts and chicken. Now it's time to chow down. This recipe feeds two people. Half the measurements if it's just serving one person. ENJOY!!!

Left Over Sunday Afternoon Roast

I just love Sunday afternoon roast. You come home from church and the house is filled with the aroma of tender, juicy roast with potatoes and carrots. This is one of my most favorite childhood memories. Opening the front door and being greeted with a warm sense of love and goodness, mom's Sunday afternoon roast. If you ever have left over roast from the day before then here is a perfect little recipe to finish it off.

Ingredients:

A good size chunk of roast

Your favorite B-B-Q sauce

Whole wheat roll or bread of your choice

Instructions:

Shred the roast with a fork and nuke it in the microwave. Add the b-b-q sauce stir and nuke again.

Spoon the shredded roast onto your bread and as always ENJOY!

Lavender Lemonade

This is such a refreshing spring time drink. It's best enjoyed outdoors, while the sun is shining and birds are singing. It tastes better that way!

Ingredients:

1 Bag of meyer lemons or 6 regular lemons

1/2 cup raw sugar

1 cup water

Palm full of lavender buds

Ice cubes

Instructions:

In a small saucepan add raw sugar and 1 cup of water. Heat on medium-low heat until sugar is completely melted. This is called simply syrup.

Add in the lavender buds and turn the heat to the lowest setting.

Allow the lavender to simmer with the simple syrup for about 2 minutes.

Once the two minutes are up take the lavender simple syrup off the stove. Allow it to cool. Meanwhile cut lemons in half and squeeze juice into a pitcher.

Pour in the cooled lavender simple syrup and stir.

Add ice cubes and some water to your taste.

Serve chilled. Enjoy!

Italian Quesadillas

I absolutely love this recipe, it's quick and tastes delicous! Here is a yummy, Italian twist on quesadillas.

Ingredients

1 small can of tomato sauce

Fresh mozzarella cheese

Italian seasonings - a palm full

2 large chicken breasts - cut into strips

4 Multi-grain tortillas

Salt and pepper to taste

Drizzle of olive oil

This recipe feeds two people

Instructions:

In a small skillet or saucepan heat up a little olive oil. Add in the palm full of italian seasonings. I don't really measure this, I eye it. Mix it with the olive oil and allow the seasonings to cook a little. This helps to release the herbs full flavor. Pour in the tomato sauce and stir. Let it simmer for a few minutes on medium-low heat.

While the tomato sauce is simmering heat a few drizzles of olive oil in a non-stick skillet. Saute the chicken until it's cooked through.

Once the chicken is cooked take it out of the skillet and allow it to come to room temperature. Once it's cooled, shred the chicken with a fork.

Return the shredded chicken to the skillet, add in the seasoned tomato sauce.

Stir the sauce and chicken together until combined. In another skillet add a couple of drops of olive oil and heat it on medium-high heat. Take a multi-grain tortilla and put it in the skillet. Add some shredded mozzarella as the first layer then add some chicken, add more mozzarella on top of the chicken.

Place another multi-grain tortilla over the mozzarella. Flip (CAREFULLY) over to the other side. Allow it to brown a little and the mozzarella to melt. Slice it with a pizza cutter into quarters.

 VOILA! Italian Quesadillas. Serve with a side salad~

ENJOY!