Happy Birthday to My 2 Girls

Both girls had birthdays recently.  Both girls are growing up way too fast.  And I love both of these girls tremendously.

Healthy Eating- Pear and Walnut Muffins

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• These were quite yummy.  I grounded the whole wheat myself with my little hand grinder.  I didn't use turbinado sugar, but I did sprinkle on top the crystaled sugar you find in the baking section.  This is from cookinglight.com.  They have a whole series on healthy muffins if you want more ideas: healthy muffin recipes.
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
• 1/3 cup whole wheat flour (about 1 1/2 ounces)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt $
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons canola oil $
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (8-ounce) carton plain fat-free yogurt $
• 1 large egg $
• 1 1/2 cups finely diced peeled pear $
• Cooking spray
• 3 tablespoons turbinado sugar
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• Preparation
• Preheat oven to 400°.

1. Place walnuts in a food processor; process until finely ground.
2. Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours and next 3 ingredients (through salt) in a medium bowl; stir well with a whisk. Stir in ground walnuts. Make a well in center of mixture.
3. Combine brown sugar and the next 4 ingredients (through egg) in a small bowl; add to the flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Fold in diced pear.
4. Spoon batter into 15 muffin cups coated with cooking spray; sprinkle batter with turbinado sugar. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Remove from pans immediately. Place on a wire rack. Serve either warm or at room temperature.

The picture is what the muffins look like and is from cookinglight.com.  You will find it if you look up this recipe on their website.

Silver Cake Stand Display

I have been working on several orders and put them all together for a picture to give an idea of a wonderful vintage-inspired buffet.  You'll notice that they can be used in a very modern and fun setting as well.  The silver looks fabulous with the bright colors.  This silver is versatile enough that it will look great with lots of different colors and styles.

I love the real vintage trim.

These cake stands went out to a cake shop in the Philippines!

And before that, I sent an order to Kuwait for some sort of party a woman was having there.  It has been really cool shipping internationally.

Here is one that will hold a wedding cake for a woman in Arizona.

And another sample of one that can stand alone or looks good with the whole set.

To custom order these, or to choose another color, click the link below.  Remember, I've got 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 inch plates that come in varying heights.

Custom Order Cake Stand by Rita Marie Weddings on Etsy

No-Bake Energy Bites Recipe

This is from my friend, Darlene.  A total life-save at that time of day when you want to snart nibbling.  Three of these is about the same calorie count as one homemade cookie!  And it is more filling and healthier.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (dry) oatmeal (I used old-fashioned oats)

• 2/3 cup coconut flakes

• 1/2 cup peanut butter

• 1/2 cup ground flaxseed or wheat germ ( I use wheat germ)

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I use mini chocolate chips)

• 1/3 cup honey

• 1 tsp. vanilla

Method:

Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like.  (Mine were about 1″ in diameter.)  Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

Makes about 20-25 balls.

I have used chunky peanut butter which adds a yummy crunch.  I have also tried adding chopped almonds or walnuts which add a yummy crunch too!  Also way delicious is using steel cut oats for a texture burst that my mouth loves.

Healthy Hamburger Soup

This is a long-time soup staple from my friend, Jackie.  It is very tasty and very healthy.  She originally got it from Taste of Home.

Ingredients

1. 1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef (90% lean)
2. 1 medium onion, chopped
3. 1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
4. 2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) beef broth
5. 1 cup water
6. 4 celery ribs, thinly sliced
7. 4 large carrots, halved and thinly sliced
8. 10 whole peppercorns
9. 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10. 1/2 teaspoon salt
11. 1/2 cup quick-cooking barley
12. 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the tomatoes, broth and water. Add celery and carrots.
2. Place peppercorns on a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tie with kitchen string to form a bag. Add to beef mixture. Stir in thyme and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
3. Return to a boil. Stir in barley. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until barley is tender. Remove from the heat; stir in parsley. Let stand for 5 minutes. Discard spice bag. Yield: 8 servings.

Nutritional Facts

1-1/3 cups equals 227 calories, 7 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 42 mg cholesterol, 762 mg sodium, 20 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber, 20 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 1/2 starch.

M&M World

M&M's have a BIG presence in Las Vegas.

See what I mean by BIG- they've got giant M&M's on the wall and outside their 3-story shop on the strip.

They have a BIG variety of M&M's with every color under the rainbow, and then some (my daughters and neices).

They have great BIG coke bottles that is an elevator you can ride in.

But the really BIG presence started long ago.  There is a chocolate factory called Ethel M's that I have been going to since I was a little girl.  They give you a tour and you watch the chocolate being made on the assembly line.  Then you get a sample and then you get to tour the cactus garden in the back.  It is a Las Vegas Treasure, located not too far from The Strip, in Green Valley (Henderson).  We didn't have time to go this time, so these pictures are from a previous trip.

(Ha ha- closedeyes#glaringsun)

That is where M&M gets the "M" from: "Ethel M", the family name.

So there is your M&M history of the day!

Spring Break

It's been a little quiet around here, because in the middle of working on these beautiful orders:

 We took a few days during spring break weekend to visit my home town of "Fabulous Las Vegas".

If you wonder how much we loved it, let's put it like this: You see this lake (Lake Mead) and the beautiful mountains?  Imagine Garden-of-Eden perfect weather as you walk along the shore and ride through the desert hills with no agenda while sipping Sonic Slushes in great big cups of ice.

Now picture what happened the night we got home: We arrived in the middle of the night to below zero windchills with no coats because we thought the cold spell would end while we were gone.  We had to scrape frozen ice off the car during the middle of the night as we watched drifting snow blow by us from the snow storm that morning.  Luckily, the car started.  We have been in the single digits every morning since.  It would not be an overstatement to say we LOVED the nearly perfect weather and sunshine of Nevada!!!

Not to mention the fact that we loved catching up with old friends and family.  It was truly wonderful!  And there will be more pictures of scenery to come...