Urban Sweetpea

The Beauty of a Blizzard....and Kraft Lite Zesty Italian Dressing

Call me crazy, but I love a good blizzard.  Now that I work from home and no longer have to commute in it, I love snow.  Nothing is more cozy than to have it snowing heavily and steadily outside and being able to just sit and watch it fall. 

I am actually my most productive during snowstorms, odd as that may sound.  I find myself motivated to do the things I keep putting off--like cleaning out my pantry, re-organizing the laundry room, or baking a yummy and delicious treat for my family.  There is something almost luxurious about being trapped at home from time to time.  It forces you to shut out the outside world for a little while and work on things that make you feel good about finishing--without having to answer to the sometime relentless schedule imposed on us when the weather is otherwise fine. 

With that all said, you've probably guessed by now that we are currently in the middle of a blizzard.  Ah...the bliss.  The kids were sent home from school, all activities for tonight have been canceled due to the weather, and there is nothing for me to do except actually have time to get caught up on everything I've somehow gotten behind on, make a good dinner for my family--which leads me to the second part of today's blog entry:  Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing.

What do blizzards and Italian dressing have in common, you may ask?  Well, nothing really, but I have wanted to bring up what a wonderful and versatile kitchen staple Italian dressing can be, and since it's included in the menu for tonight's dinner, there's no time like the present to let you in on one of my favorite little cooking secrets.

Certainly, Elizabeth Barrett Browning was talking about Kraft Zesty Italian dressing when she penned her famous, "How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways."  If you get beyond it's obvious application on a pile of lettuce, you'll see what I mean.  For instance:

1. There is, in my opinion, few better marinades out there.  I use it for chicken, pork and sometimes I will brush it on fish.  My kids will eat just about anything that I soak in it for 8 or more hours, and that says a lot!  My sister-in-law even uses it to soak cube steak before throwing it on the grill--try it, you'll like it!  My absolute favorite is to use it to marinade chicken overnight that I am planning on putting in the smoker, or to cook on the grill with BBQ sauce--it makes even the breasts tender and juicy, and the flavor of the meat is just out of this world!
2. I like to use it as alternative to mayo or mustard on a sandwich--it is fabulous on panini made with prosciutto, provolone, and tomato, or on a burger with lettuce, tomato, avocado and a little red onion.  Brush it on the outside of a grilled cheese instead of butter, and throw in a few fresh tomato slices--Yum!
3. When I was growing up, my grandmother used to make a simple salad out of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and mint, all from her garden.  I love to use Zesty Italian on this as a refreshing cool salad for the summer time.  Make it a meal by throwing in a few mini-balls of fresh mozzarella!

Use your imagination, and the possibilities are endless, as you can see.  Do any of you have an incredible multi-tasker in your kitchen like Kraft Zesty Lite Italian dressing is in mine?  Please feel free to submit it as a comment.  Aren't we all working for a super-ingredient like this to keep in are arsenal of quick, fabulous meals?  

As for dinner tonight, we are having marinated chicken tenders grilled on the stove top (because it is snowing out and I can't get to my grill!), along with spicy peanut noodles.   I hope you have Trader Joes near you, because the secret to my spicy peanut noodles is their Peanut Satay Sauce.  It is soooo good, either on hot or cold noodles with some julienned cucumber, sliced green onions and a little bit of cilantro.  My son LOVES them, and asks for them regularly.  The peanut sauce is also a great dip for the chicken breast tenders.....try it, you 'll like it!

Oh well, that is it for now, and since I can't resist a picture, here is one of Carter holding his new "best bud" Phin:

  Until next time!

What happenened to yesterday? Okay, better late than never....

Oye!  Mondays....I should have taken my own advice from last week!  I spent the day working on orders for Urban Sweetpea, attempting to get a load or two of laundry done (to no avail!) and trying to find time to get to the blog.  Needless to day, I'm a day late on that one...

As I mentioned last week, the in-laws came over to brunch on Saturday morning.  Much to my surprise and delight, my talented and crafty mother-in-law, Gail, presented me with these beautiful coasters that she made her very own-self:

 

Aren't they gorgeous?!  And don't they look like the ones you see at those expensive, artsy boutiques we all love to window-shop at?  Well, I did tell Gail they were going to be posted on my blog , and so she was so kind to email me the directions on how to make them....so, here they are:

Christy,  If you really are going to write about the coasters there are a few steps to it.  I use the rough tiles .  I don't know if it works with smooth tiles or not.   Rip the napkin to size rather than cutting it and then only use the top layer.  Put decoupage on the tile and then carefully lay the napkin piece on it and then smooth out air bubbles by coating it again with decoupage. When this coat is dry, apply a second coat.  After it has  dried, over night, apply a coat of clear satin polyurethane.  When dry, apply felt or cork pads to the bottom.  Thanks for the brunch.  Everything was great, as usual !  Gail

 

How simple is that?  You know I'm going to be making some of these this week, just to try it out.  I'd love to post any that you all make as well, so if you decide to try this great craft, email me a photo to put up post so we can all enjoy your creativity, and maybe get some more great ideas!  (FYI:  I have heard that you can print on tissue paper with your ink jet printer.  When I come up with the method, I will post it--my guess is you could customize the coasters with your own images by using tissue paper instead of a napkin!  How fun would that be??)

 

As for the recipes I promised, I'm posting the Biscuits and Gravy as well as a link to the Sticky Buns today, as they are both extremely simple, and are great additions to any brunch.

 

Christy's Biscuits and Gravy (beware, this NOT a low-fat recipe!)

1 lb  Bulk Sage Sausage

1 Quart whole milk

1/4 cup all purpose flower

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon Butter

1-1 1/2 Tsp Salt

1/2 Tsp Black Pepper

In a heavy, large saucepan, heat the oil and butter together over med-high heat. Add the sausage, season with about 1/2 tsp salt, and brown it completely.  When the sausage is cooked, sprinkle the flour over the top and saute it with the sausage for about a minute to cook off the flavor of raw flour.  Gradually whisk in the entire quart of milk until well-blended.  Add another 1/2-1 Tsp salt, all the pepper and whisk to combine.  Allow to come to a gentle boil and thicken.  Recheck for seasoning--I like my gravy salty, so I will generally add more--add salt and pepper to taste. 

 

Easy Sticky Buns

This recipe is from the Barefoot Contessa--one of my favorite shows on Food Network!!  I give Ina complete for these fabulous buns, and I highly recommend both her show and her cookbooks--she is the epitome of a gracious hostess, and I have yet to make a recipe I didn't like!  These buns come out perfect every time and are completely yummy and gooey.  I leave out the raisins, though....we're not big raisin fans around here.... :)

 

here is the link:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/easy-sticky-buns-recipe/index.html

 

How's that for a great post....a great craft idea, two yummy recipes.  Oh, almost forgot.  I need to introduce the newest member of the Branham family, Phineas:

 

Doesn't he look like a little teddy bear??   He is the wrinkliest boy ever, and the kids are absolutely in love with him.  He is adjusting very well, and expect many more pictures of Phin as he continues to grow!  Take care for now, and have a great Tuesday!

The winner is....and weekend plans.....

The truth is, both stories are equally entertaining.  I love looking back on our childhood and remembering how sweet and innocent we once were, and how trusting we were of our parents.  It was fun being a kid, but it is even more fun being the adult--I LOVE when we not so much "pull one over" on our kids, like with the Tooth Fairy or Santa, but seeing the joy and delight we see in their faces is worth all the planning and last-minute saves! 

With that said, I am dubbing both Michelle and Jenny both winners.  :)  I'll be contacting both of you regarding your giveway prizes--thanks for posting, and I hope you love the new stationery.

Phew.  This weekend is going to be a busy one!  My darling husband Tom's parents are coming over for brunch tomorrow morning.  I am making a ham and cheddar frittata, old fashioned biscuits and gravy, homemade sticky buns, and throwing together some fresh fruit.  I'll post some recipes up on Monday in case any of you are interested--the gravy is my husband's absolute favorite, and the sticky buns are to die for--and super easy!!

Sunday, the kids are going over to Tom's parents while he and I volunteer at the St. Paul, Minneapolis Bulldog Club's booth at the Pet Expo in downtown Minneapolis.  Tom and I are MAJOR bulldog enthusiasts, are members of the Club, and actively show one of our two current bulldogs, Violet (Rheingold Branabulls Violets R Blue).  

 She is the biggest sweetie ever, and the most exciting thing about this weekend is that hopefully on Sunday we will be bringing home bulldog #3:  our newest show dog, Phineus (Rheingold Branabulls Mr. G's Big Boy)--who is out of Cooper (Ch. Silverspoon's Nothing Personal), currently the number one bulldog in the country.  (Cooper won best of breed at the Eukanuba Cup, right before Westminster, and he is one handsome, HANDSOME man!)  Phin's mama, Mazie (Ch. Reingold Just Amazing), is also a champion, a total lover, and a beauty queen, as well. 

Hopefully our little Phin will be walking in his parents' pawsteps!  Enough about bulldogs, though I just can't help gushing about them....check out  my other blog, thecharmingbulldog.typepad.com, if you are interested in all things bulldog.  Otherwise, keep hanging out here at Urban Sweetpea for stuff that just makes life come together:  time with family and friends, the joys our children bring us, great recipes and crafts, and learning how to enjoy the simple things in life.....have a great weekend!

Get those Stories In!

Today is busy, busy, busy.  I've barely had time to breathe, let alone blog!  Just a quick reminder to get those stories in....I've definitely laughed at the ones I've gotten so far...there's still a ton of time left, so let's read 'em!  Check out my Etsy site tomorrow...I should be posting more products, and in the next day or so I should have my Facebook page up and running (as if I already need another webspace to maintain--oye!)  Anyhow, get those entries in and check back tomorrow--same bat time, same bat channel.....:)

This Weeks Giveaway Challenge: Your Best Tooth Fairy Story

Okay--here it is:  My very first giveaway challenge!  (I am just GIDDY with excitement!)  In honor of my little Camille FINALLY losing her top right tooth (for gosh sakes, that thing had to have been hanging by a thread for the past three weeks!):

this week's challenge is to tell me your best Tooth Fairy story.  It can be from any perspective--I'm all about poetic license.  (Pictures earn extra credit--post your comments on the blog, but send pictures as a jpeg or png to the "email me" link on the blog homepage!)  The only criteria is that it has to make me laugh.  Submit the comment that entertains me the most and you will receive a set of Personlized Bohemian Flower Daisy notecards as featured this week in my Etsy store:

Here's your chance to post a funny story and win a great prize!  I am so looking forward to this.  All entries are due by midnight on Thursday.  I will post the winner on Friday morning.  Get your comments in, and good luck!

How to Build a Better Monday

    I'm sure most of you can sympathize with me--Monday is my least favorite day of the week.  I think because it signals the end of the weekend and getting back to the weekly grind.  Or maybe because it's laundry day.  (For those of you who don't know me, laundry is the most dreaded of all chores for me.  I'd actually rather clean bathrooms than do laundry--honestly.)  I like tasks that are quick, clear-cut, and have a logical end.  In a home with three kids ranging in age from 5-15, laundry is a never-ending, or at least so it seems.   

    With all this in mind, I now come to the subject of this blog:  How to Build a Better Monday.  I don't think I've ever met an individual who jumps right out there and admits that they love Mondays.   Whether we would like to admit it or not, we are all victims of our modern, hectic schedules.  My mother-in-law recently commented that she finds it odd that to invite our family over to her home for dinner, she needs schedule it 2-3 weeks in advance--between the five of us, we are truly booked out that far in advance, and sometimes longer.  How many times do we look at our schedules, and think: if I could just have a half an hour to myself to get my thoughts together, I'd be so much more productive....

    So.....here is what I propose:    Why not learn to be kind to ourselves, and treat ourselves as we would treat a good friend who we know is facing a long, hectic week?   How many times have you had a friend say to you, "Is there anything I can do to help?" after you've just spent 10 minutes venting to them about the endless whirlwind of events that you face in the upcoming five days?  Very often (supermoms that we are....), we decline this help, but it is comforting nonetheless to have it offered to us, isn't it?   On the rare occasion that we do accept the offer, think about the sense of relief there is to have just that one little thing taken off of our plate--like not having to pick up from preschool, or having a friend who's going to be out anyway pick up the gallon of milk you need so you can cross going to the grocery store off of your list.

    The key to building a better Monday lies in learning to be friend to yourself in addition to being your own ruthless taskmaster.  Give yourself what you need on this most difficult of days, whether it is getting up half an hour before everyone else does in the morning to have blessed silence as you prepare yourself for the upcoming day, or foregoing that extra load of laundry and going to Starbucks to treat yourself to that tall white skim mocha, no whip--ideally sans kids.  On Monday, give yourself the gift of what you need most--even if it can only be 15 minutes of it.  I promise it will make the rest of the day seem all-the-better--or at least a little bit less Monday-ish.

    On to a much more fun subject:  How my kids entertain me.  My birthday was this past Saturday, and my husband and I have our kids make cards for such occasions.  I truly believe it is better to give and receive handmade, which is why I love what I do so much.  My kids were so proud of the cards they gave me.  Camille (my youngest daughter, who just turned 7 a month ago) loves to sit and watch me work, and I notice a lot of my art mirrored in what she draws.  It is sweet (and flattering) to see a glimpse of a cake or a flower I've drawn show up in one of her masterpieces--and lets me know that what I do has an impact on her life and how she thinks.

    My son Carter (who just turned 5) is just starting to fiddle with being creative, and was so proud of the two hearts he cut out and colored for me.  He was practically gleaming when he handed them to me first thing Saturday morning with a sweet little "happy birthday, mommy" and a big hug around my waist as I tried to make it down the stairs.  For your viewing enjoyment (and because I love to brag about my kids), I have taken pictures of my children's' hard work for all to see:

 

    And finally, I need to comment on my oldest daughter, Whitnee, who didn't give me a handmade card like her brother and sister, but gave me something that I cherish even more.  At 15, she is a typical teenage girl, caught up in all the hormones and the self-centeredness that goes along with it.  However, yesterday, as I was preparing brunch, out of the blue she asked, "Mom, do you want me to set the table?"  This may seem rather unnoteworthy, but this was a landmark moment.  It was the first time ever--EVER--that she offered to set the table without me telling her to, or without something being held over her head.  For a brief moment (before she slipped back into being a typical teenager) I got a glimpse of the maturity that I have been secretly been hoping is growing alongside her new found sense of independence and adolescent obstinacy.  It's there--it's REALLY there, and now I'm sure of it.  I praised and thanked her more than once (okay, I overdid it--but I was on such a surprise-high, I couldn't help myself...).  Just another reminder that often times, it is the simplest and most unexpected of things that make life so sweet.   

 

Happy Valentine's Day, a Happy Birthday to me, and a decadent chocolate recipe for you!

Happy Valentine's Day!  Oh, the day of love...and it also happens to be my birthday.  I am 39 today, and I am still debating about whether I feel old or not.  My parents called bright and early this morning to sing happy birthday to me (as they do every year), and I was cleaning up the kitchen and talking on the phone with my brother's wife who asked how old I was (knowing darn well I'm now officially on the cusp of 40--she's not far behind though, at 38--so there, Jenn!) I somehow just thought about it for a minute with the voice inside of my head that still sounds the same to me as when I was 8 (okay, I am not crazy--you ALL know what voice I am talking about!) and at that moment, I didn't feel old.  I mean, I'm now 39, married with three kids, driving a minivan and living in suburbia--definitely not where I pictured myself if you asked me 20 years ago---but I am content.  I guess it is the late-30's security of knowing my life is on the right path.  I have a wonderful husband, 3 great kids, 3 fabulous dogs (soon to be 4--more on that later this week....), and I get to do what I love everyday--make things!  What more could I ask for??      

 Soooo...it's Valentine's day, and the blog is supposed to be connected somewhat to my work, so I'm going to be the proud mama and post the Valentines I designed for my kids to hand out in class for their  parties.  I am a "volunteer maniac" when it comes to the kids' school, and I was actually at school for my youngest daughter, Camille's, party.  She is a trip, and in true form, lost her Valentines and couldn't find them for the first half of the party.  Luckily, while calling a game of Heart Bingo, I happened to notice them sticking out of some other kid's backpack--how they got there, I have no idea.  Anyhow, here are Camille (age 7, 1st grade) & Carter's (age 5, preschool) Valentines:

 

They were a big hit, along with the homemade truffles I had made and packaged up for the teachers complete with red and white striped ribbon:

 How cute are they?  Well, as my Valentine to you, here is the SUPER EASY recipe for the truffles:

DECADENT CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

2 1/2 cups heavy cream

24 oz good quality bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (do NOT skimp on your chocolate!  I like Ghirardelli, which is reasonably priced.)

a pinch of salt

1/4 to 1/2 cup good quality cocoa (again, no skimping!  Get the best you can afford!)

 First, you must make the ganache, which is the chocolate that composes the truffles.  Ganache is  not only for truffles,  but but can also be used as a cake filling (YUM!!), to drizzle over ice cream (OH MY!) and even for dipping fruit--like big, red strawberries (HEAVEN!)  Please-feel free to use this recipe for any other use than that for which it was intended with my blessing!

Bring the cream to a boil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.  Remove it from the heat, and add the chocolate chips and pinch of salt.  Whisk until thoroughly combined and the mixture becomes a dark, luscious brown.  Pour into a 9x13 baking pan and refrigerate for 2-3 hours until firm.  To make the truffles, use a small cookie-dough scoop.   Working QUICKLY, scoop out balls and roll them in the cocoa powder.  Don't worry if they don't look perfect--they are SUPPOSED to look handmade.  I usually have mini cupcake liners waiting to drop them into--they look great for presentation, and keep them from sticking together or to the bottom of their storage container.  Re-chill them, and then package them up for gift giving (or if you are feeling particularly selfish, keep them all for yourself--they are totally worth it, believe me!)

Now, are you feeling creative?....you could really have fun with this recipe.  How, you may ask?  Well.....leaving them as-is and rolling them in cocoa is the easy way out.  Just think what a couple of tablespoons of a liquor like Baileys or Frangelico (raspberry  liquor) in the ganache would do to the flavor?  Or perhaps, rolling the truffles in toasted hazelnuts or ground almonds?  Or leaving them plain and sprinkling the top with a few crystals of gray sea salt?  (Salt and chocolate are a TRUE gourmet taste experience...just think of chocolate covered pretzels...the gray sea salt on top is just DIVINE!)  You go ahead and take poetic license here....what's the worst that can happen?  You mess up a few truffles and have to make more? It's not that  big of a deal, and look at it this way:  this is one time when eating your mistakes can actually be kind of fun!  Enjoy, and share your Valentines day with someone you love--I know I will!

It's Opening Day.....

Well, the day has finally arrived--I have taken the big plunge into blogdom--I've heard it's addicting.  I guess only time will tell. 

Urban Sweetpea is my business, but also a reflection of my life.  I love to be creative--if I'm not actually being creative , I'm thinking about being creative--whether it is through my art, in the kitchen, decorating my home, planning a party for my kids.....My brain is constantly on the move with something in the making.  While the blog obviously has a direct connection to my business, I guess I've always wanted a place to reflect the complete creative side of myself.  I constantly have friends asking me for advice about cooking, recipes, decorating, and event/party planning.  Here's my opportunity to put it out there for all to see....and in advance so I don't have the opportunity to forget to send someone the recipe or the color ideas I've promised.  (Sorry to the long list of you who have fallen victim to this forgetfulness...hopefully the blog will become both my solution and my salvation!)  At any rate...check back often for all of the above, and the occasional contest for treats and (sur)prizes!  If you like what I have to sell, you may win something for a whitty comment or two!