And more food...this time: Mango with Coconut Sticky Rice

...Well....yes and no, I liked it and I didn't. I got the recipe here and I followed the instructions, but....

...my rice stuck badly to the pan, it never got done, so it was kind of crunchy and to my taste, it was too sweet...it could almost be a dessert. So try it and decide for yourself!

Super duper good peanut butter cookies

These were amazing. I got the recipe from the America's Test Kitchen book...It makes a lot, so I baked a few and I froze the rest of the cookie dough to use later.

...someone was very excited to get his little hands on one of these...he did, he grabbed it, and threw it on the floor...I don't think he digs peanut butter...

Here is the recipe:

2 ½ c. flour
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
½ lb. (2 sticks) SALTED butter, softened but still firm
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. granulated sugar
1 c. extra-crunchy peanut butter
2 large eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. roasted salted peanuts, ground in food processor to resemble bread crumbs, about 14 pulses

Adjust oven rack to low-center position. Heat oven to 350°. Line large cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in medium bowl, set aside.

Either by hand or with electric mixer, beat butter until creamy. Add sugars; beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes with electric mixer, stopping to scrape down bowl as necessary. Beat in peanut butter until fully incorporated, then eggs, one at a time, then vanilla. Gently stir dry ingredients into peanut butter mixture. Add ground peanuts, stir gently until just incorporated.

Working with generous 2 tablespoons each time, roll dough into 2 inch balls. Place balls on parchment-lined cookie sheet, leaving 2 ½ inches between each ball. Press each dough ball twice with dinner fork dipped in cold water to make crisscross design. Bake until cookies are puffed and slightly brown along the edges (but not on top--they will look slightly under baked) about 10-12 minutes.

Oh...and just because he lets me...

Psssssssss....PISTO!

...Today I was in the mood of some yummy Spanish food...so I decided to cook some Pisto. It never disappoints. And it's pretty healthy too. Here is a good recipe:

Pisto Manchego with Eggs

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 pounds zucchini, or a combination of green and yellow summer squash, diced
2 pounds tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped (juice reserved)
Salt & Pepper
4-6 eggs

Heat the oil in a large, heavy, nonstick skillet over medium heat, then add the onion. Stir often, until transluscent — about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for another minute or two until fragrant. Stir in the squash and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and cook for 5 minutes, until the squash is coated with oil and beginning to soften. Add the tomatoes, and salt to taste (3/4 to 1 teaspoon), and turn the heat to medium-high. Stir often for 5 to 10 minutes, until the tomatoes have slightly cooked down. Add the juice from the tomatoes plus 1/4 cup water, stir together, and turn the heat back down to medium-low. Cook uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes, until the vegetables are soft and easy to mash. Stir often until the mixture cooks down and begins to stick to the pan. From time to time, press on the squash with the back of your spoon so that it breaks down. Taste, adjust the salt, and add lots of pepper.

Using the back of your spoon, make 4-6 wells in the vegetable mixture and break an egg into each well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover the pan, and cook until the eggs have set, about six to eight minutes (the whites should be set, but the yolks should still be runny). Serve, using a spatula to dish out portions of pisto topped with an egg, or two.

What is D.I????

...How about the greatest place on earth? how about a crafter's heaven where all your projects can come true for very cheap?...just kidding, but really...

Some of you out, of the state and out of the country, have asked me what is that place that I talk about all the time.
This is D.I and these are some of the awesome finds that I have scored over the years.
Hooray for D.I!
Oh and here is just an example of my love for the D.I

that I'm going to post regularly in this blog fun, inspiring and creative stuff...and maybe, once in a while, some Diego lovin'!

Around the globe...

After being inspired by this lady's kitchen, I started collecting globes. I found most of them at guess where....right, the D.I (for pretty cheap, no more than 5 bucks) or at consignment stores...little by little I am filling that very awkward space on top of my kitchen counters....I love how they brighten the whole kitchen...
And here you go, awesome decoration examples that you can do with globes...get inspired!:


(picture from my beautiful and talented friend Caroline from "Armelle")


(picture from "Project wedding")


(picture from "Apartment Therapy")


(picture from "Strathmore Living")

{blueberry muffins and cute cupcake wrappers}

I've noticed lately that when I'm worried or nervous, I bake...So yesterday I had to try to make this recipe....they were very, very good....

...and then I decided that they look pretty plane...I saw these amazing wrappers the other day, and then I found this stencil to make my own, so I decided to give it a try...

...I made this one with a pretty punch that I have, the rest, with the stencil...

...they are so easy to make!.. I used scrapbook paper and plane tape...love them!!!let me know if you have any questions!..any!:)

The headboard...before and after...

Remember this solid wood headboard that we scored at D.I for pretty cheap?

...We first took off the bars..they reminded me of a crib, so I didn't want them....

...and then we (I should say "I"), painted it black, to match our night stands...

...and voila!

...pretty happy with the result...

Another bad but really good recipe...

...these beauties are Reese's cookies...

..so so so good inside... those who know me know that I have 3 loves: Mike, Mr. D and peanut butter...

...so yesterday after seeing the recipe, I had to try them...and let me tell you...they didn't disappointed...

...right fresh from the oven...

...my loves...

..and then I packaged them for my visits and neighbors...

I'm happy/sad to report, that I was strong enough to only have one.

Here is the recipe

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 40 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.
3. Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well.
4. Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.
5. Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

Recipe from allrecipes.com

From ugly to cuuuute!

I forgot to take a better "before picture" but we got this coffee table from Mike's sister's husband...it was pretty beaten up....so after some sanding (actually a LOT of sanding) and aome pain, it turned out pretty cute!

...and here is a little preview of my favorite corner of the house...
Oh and on unrelated subject, Spain just lost to Switzerland...that ruined my day.

Flowers

Long time ago I was approached by a cute old lady. She knocked on my door and told me that she lived a couple of houses to my right and that from her window she could see the side of our house. I first tough that she came to complain and to tell us to put some clothes on (Mike and I sometimes wandered in our undies around the house) but she came for a different reason. She told me that she spent a lot of time looking trough that window and that she would love to plant pretty flowers in our little garden so she could see them. I said yes, and this is what's blooming there:

love it.