Made Famous By...

Sabatino's, Newport Beach, CA

2012-01-30T09:30:00.000-08:00

(Down the path is where the ship yard and the ocean is)

One of the most fun things to do is to find a restaurant that is a hidden gem. That is exactly what Sabatino’s is. If you don’t know what you are looking for, are not a local, or haven’t heard of by word of mouth, chances are you have never seen it or heard of it.

It is tucked away in the ship yard on Lido Island in Newport Beach, CA. The journey to get there adds to the charm of this fantastic restaurant. Inside feels like you are right in the middle of Sicily. The food is nothing short of amazing. If you go you MUST order the sausage appetizer and the stuffed bell pepper. OMGosh!!! Heaven on earth!!

Don’t be surprised if the bell pepper is not on the menu, because it isn’t. When my husband ordered the bell pepper the waitress said, “It isn’t on the menu, but we always have it.” AWESOME! You and I are now in the secret club of you-know-an –item-that-is-not-on-the-menu-club. Doesn’t that make you feel just a little special? What can I say? It is the little pleasures in life. J

One of the most amazing things about Sabatino's is that you can buy some of their ingredients and take it home to incorporate into some of your favorite recipes. Just look at that fresh sausage and home made pizza dough. YUMMMMY!

Picture via Oc Insite

Here is how OC Insite describes some of their dishes. "Also known as Lido Shipyard Sausage Company, Sabatino’s specializes in sausage blended with goat cheese. Before refrigeration, the saltiness of the goat cheese helped to preserve the sausage. Now, its sole purpose is to make the sausage more juicy and flavorful. For more than 20 years, locals have flocked to the restaurant’s deli to bring the lean meat sausage into their own kitchens.

The stuffed peppers—-stuffed with veal, rice and sausage and served on a bed of linguini-—are mouthwatering. So is the vegetable lasagna, a vegetarian dish made with four imported cheeses and topped with both marinara and a creamy alfredo sauce."

My new Lil' Luna Family

2012-01-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled to announce that I am going to start contributing over at the super cute site called Lil' Luna. It is Kristyn’s site and it is amazing. Every time I pop on over to Lil’ Luna I love to see all the amazing crafty, yummy ideas she has come up with.

Here are a few other gals that will be a part of my new blog family. They are all adorable and have creative magic from their heads to the tips of their sparkly toes.

I already love them!!

Go check out their sites and give some creative, sparkly, bloggie love!!

www.boxwoodclippings.com

GiVe AwAy and Fabulous {Find} Friday!

2012-01-27T07:00:00.000-08:00

Y’all heard me….cuz I am from the south….or California….

I am having a give away since we reached over 100 fans! YIPPIE!!

I am so very thankful for all of your support. One of my new years resolutions is to grow this little blog of mine and you are the peeps that are making my dream come true.

So I have a little present that is OH so adorable!!

All you have to do is:

UNO: Follow me on TWITTER

DOS: Follow me on FACEBOOK

TRES: JOIN MY SITE~over on the right hand side

QUATRO: Tell a couple friends about Made Famous By

For Fabulous {Find} Friday I would love to highlight the most viewed Link from my Famous Linkz Party this week.

Brownie Bites and OMGosh Frosting

Made Famous By: Crazy For Crust

Go check out Dorothy’s adorable blog. She is a girl after my own heart and loves her some crust. Congrats on being the most viewed! :)

Good Luck friends and HAPPY FRIDAY!

Giveaway ends on Feb 1, 2012

Valentines Chocolate Chip Cookies

2012-01-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: Lisa Scott

Have you seen the movie We Bought a Zoo? If you haven’t GO SEE IT! I thought I was going to see another silly kid’s movie, but was quite surprised. It is a movie that really makes you think and cry. There I admitted it! I cried….a little.

The part of the movie that struck me the most was the moment that the Father, played my Matt Damon, knew it was right to buy the zoo. They were walking the grounds and all of a sudden he found himself staring at a lion, this huge, dangerous, powerful, majestic, strong beast.

In that moment everything got still. As he stared this lion in the eyes, he knew. He knew that what he was about to do was right. It was going to be hard and maybe the craziest choice of all of his options, but he knew as he gazed into the eyes of the lion that it was the right choice.

Isn’t life like that?! Sometimes the right choice appears to be a lion. Sometimes that right choice seems scary, difficult, unattainable, and most definitely the hardest choice, but it is the right choice.

In my life this always seems to happen when we are making big decisions. When all the options are weighed and prayed about, the path we know in our hearts is right, most always is the hardest. But it is beyond a doubt the right choice. The storm inside becomes still and peace overcomes the senses as you stare into the lions eyes.

Every time we have followed the promptings we have received it has always worked out even better than we could have dreamed possible.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 lb. Real Butter

1 ½ C. Sugar

2 C Brown Sugar

3 Eggs

2 tsp. Vanilla

6 Cups Flour

½ tsp. Salt

1 ½ tsp. Baking Powder
Neon Pink Food Dye

4 C Chocolate Chips

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees

*Cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar.

*Then add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.

*In a separate bowl mix the flower, salt, and baking powder.

*Add the dry ingredients to the wed ingredients and mix until well combined.

* Add the neon pink food dye until desired color.

*Add the chocolate chips.

**Bake at 350 for 15-25 minutes. Time will vary with each oven. You don’t want them to be brown when they are done. You want them to be barely cooked through in the middle. This will keep them chewy and soft.

Famous Linkz {Party}

2012-01-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

I want to say a {BIG} thank you to all of you who participated in the Linkz party last week. I think the more we can support each other the better. I am trying to find other link parties so I can link up to your link parties too. I am new to this so it is going to take a little while, but I have already started to make a list of the link parties that I know of. If you have one let me know in the comment section and I will add you to the list.

Toasted Marshmallow Oreo Krispies

2012-01-24T13:00:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: Heather McMullin

PLEASE tell me this has happened to you….

I was getting my babies ready this morning and then casually my biggest boy tells me, “Today I am going to the planetarium.”

I froze in my tracks…..THAT IS TODAY???

I completely forgot.

Initiate hyper drive and attach super Mom cape or panic. Panic works too.

A casual morning then turns into hurrying up as fast as you can so that you can attend the planetarium with your child. Plan A failed so we moved on to plan B and that worked out. Phew!

Maybe this isn’t a big deal for some, but to me it is a big deal. These are the moments that they remember. Remember when we went to the planetarium MOM?? Wasn’t that amazing? I had so much fun with you Mom. Memories are a big deal to me. I want my kids to look back on their child hood and remember me being there for the moments that mattered in their little lives. Today that moment was at the Santa Ana Planetarium and I am grateful to have been apart of that moment in his life.

Toasted Marshmallow Oreo Krispies

1 ½ Bags Double Stuft Oreos

2 Cups Rice Krispies

7 Cups large Marshmallows plus extra for layering

5 TBS Butter

*Preheat oven to 350

*In a food processor add the Oreos and pulse until the Oreos are broken up but still chunky.

*In a separate bowl combine the marshmallows and butter and microwave for about 2 minutes or until melted.

*Add the Oreos and rice krispies to the marshmallows and mix until well combined.

*Cut 12 marshmallows in half.

*Butter a mini pie pan or a mini muffin pan. Add a little of the Oreo mixture to the bottom of each hole and then place one halved marshmallow on top. Then put the pan in the oven for about 5 minutes or until the marshmallows are melted and slightly brown on top.

*Take the pan out of the oven and top each marshmallow with enough Oreo mixture to cover the marshmallow. Enjoy!
*PS If I had to do this recipe over again I would do it in bar form. ie a layer of the Oreo then a layer of toasted marshmallow then cover the marshmallow with another layer of Oreo.

Process the Oreos

Eat some Oreos

Combine the butter and marshmallows

Cut some marshmallows in half

Toast up the marshmallows. Yummmm!

Cover up the toasted marshmallows with the Oreo mixture.

Most importantly make some memories that will last a life time.

**Don't forget about our Famous Linkz Par-TAY tomorrow. * *

Can't wait to see what you have created this week!

Mint Leaf

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: Mint Leaf

In an effort to get to know Newport Beach a little better we have been going on eating adventures. One of our favorite places back in Glendora was a Thai place called The Lucky Elephant. This place is nothing short of amazing. Feeling the need for a little Thai, my Mom found a place down here on the Balboa Peninsula called Mint Leaf. It was exactly what we had been craving.

Fresh ingredients and bright flavors in every dish. I don’t think the spring roll could possibly be any fresher or crisp. AH-mazing! (I apologize ahead of time for the low quality iphone pics.)

My favorite dish would have to be the coconut soup. Every time I think about it, my mouth waters. Put some sticky rice in and it = HEAVEN!!

The orange chicken was also a favorite. The perfect balance of tangy and sweet.

Here is their info:

Mint Leaf

712 E Balboa Blvd

Newport Beach, CA 92661

(949) 675-9995

Happy Eating!!

{Fabulous} Find Friday

2012-01-20T08:33:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: Lil' Luna

Snickerdoodle Bread. Yes that’s right…SNICKERDOODLE BREAD. For heavens sake you had me at snicker! Go here for the recipe.

Today for my Fabulous Find Friday I want to feature something that looks absolutely delicious and introduce you to an exceptional site. The site is called Lil’ Luna and let me tell you, Kristyn has oodles of ideas and recipes. It is the kind of blog you can park at and spend some serious time.

Adorable family!! Adorable blog. Go check it out!

Skinny McMuffins

2012-01-19T09:48:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: Heather McMullin aka Made Famous By

“All Great Changes are preceded by CHAOS”

Do you ever feel like that? When I first read this quote my first thought was, um… no it is not. Then I played all the major changes in my life back in my head and realized, um…THAT IS COMPLETELY TRUE!

Maybe it is the chaos in our lives that prompts us to make a change that we wouldn’t have otherwise made. What I am realizing more and more is that if the chaos around you is bad, a change or shift needed to be made anyway and we have the power to make that shift a good positive one.

Turning that frown upside down, if you will.

Good Chaos is when all sorts of different things are taking place at the same time and when you sit back for a moment you realize that the many things that are taking place are tiny little miracles coming together in one place. That is the moment you can see the divine influence and tender mercies in your life. Take a step back, take a deep breath, close your eyes and enjoy it.

These Skinny McMuffins or McMullins as we like to call them in my family, are delicious, healthy, and easy smeasy. Can it get any better than that?

Skinny McMuffins

1 Package Whole Wheat English Muffins

1 Box Veggie Breakfast Sausage Patties (I used SOL Cuisine)

1 Cup Low Fat Mozzarella Cheese

*Put your sausage pattie in the microwave for 1 minute. The pattie will not be completely cooked.

*Split the english muffin in half. Place the veggie sausage pattie on the bottom half of the English muffin and sprinkle 1 TB of mozzarella cheese on top. Place the other half of the english muffin on top and then place in the microwave for an additional minute.

*This is a great recipe to make ahead of time to put in the freezer so you or your spouse can grab one on your way to work.

A BIG BIG THANK YOU to everyone who participated in my linky party yesterday!!!!!!!!!

*ENJOY!!*

Famous Linkz Par-Tay {Woot Woot!}

2012-01-18T11:59:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my very first Linky Party! I am so excited to see what everyone else has been busy making. Every Wednesday I will be having a link party so if you missed this one, not to worry next Wednesday I will be having another link party. Let’s all spread the love by linking up.

If you want to add this button to your post for the link party, you are welcome to it!!

Blue Fin

2012-01-16T07:30:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: Bluefin Fine Japanese Cuisine

I beg of you. If you are anywhere near this restaurant, PLEASE go and eat there. The quality and freshness of their food will blow you away. The location alone is amazing. It is located right down the street from Kobe Bryant’s house, yes THE Kobe Bryant of the Lakers!

You drive down PCH gazing off into the ocean and turn into the Crystal Cove Promenade shopping center. Honestly it feels like a privilege just to drive there. Then you walk into this modern sheek atmosphere where the chef’s personally greet you.

The best thing on the menu in my opinion is the Blue Fin Roll. My other favorite is one that is not on the menu called the ballerina, named after a famous ballerina who frequents Blue Fin. The fish is so fresh it doesn’t even taste like fish. What you see on the top of the Blue Fin Roll is a roasted vegetable sauce. In one word…AMAZING!!!

I took my friend Stephanie Yi there, cuz I love her like that, and she took two bites out of each piece just to make her eating experience last longer. Yep, it is THAT GOOD!!

I do warn you though……once you taste Blue Fin sushi anywhere else will ever compare. So eat at the risk of spoiling your taste buds forever more. Here is pic of my princess and I eating at Blue Fin. My hubby was there too.

Love this girl to pieces!!

Bluefin Fine Japanese Cuisine
(in the Crystal Cove Promenade)
7952 East Pacific Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92657
Tel: (949) 715-7373

Hours: 7 Days A Week, [Lunch] 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
[Dinner] 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

http://www.bluefinbyabe.com/

Weekend {Inspiration}

2012-01-14T14:59:00.001-08:00

Weekend {Inspiration}

Persist Until You Succeed

The most important single quality of success is self-discipline. Self-discipline is having the ability within yourself, based on your strength of character and willpower, to do what you should do when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not. Character is the ability to follow through on a resolution after the enthusiasm with which the resolution was made has passed.

Persistence is Self-Discipline in Action

Perhaps the greatest display of self-discipline is persisting when the going gets tough. Persistence is self-discipline in action. Persistence is the great measure of individual human character. Your persistence is, in fact, the true measure of your belief in yourself and your ability to succeed. Each time that you persist in the face of adversity and disappointment, you build the habit of persistence. You build pride, power, and self-esteem in your character and your personality. You become stronger and more resolute. By persisting, you become more self-disciplined. You develop within yourself the iron quality of success, the one quality that will carry you forward and over any obstacle that life can throw in your path.

Get Going and Keep Going

Orison Swett Marden wrote in his book, "There are two essential requirements for success. The first is 'go-at-it-iveness' and the second is 'stick-to-it-iveness'" Referring to the quality of persistence he wrote, "There is no failure for the man who realizes his power, who never knows when he is beaten; there is no failure for the determined endeavor, the conquerable will. There is no failure for the man who gets up every time he falls, who rebounds like a rubber ball, who persists when everyone else gives up, who pushes on when everyone else turns back."

Persistence is Your Greatest Asset

Perhaps your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay at a task longer than anyone else. B.C. Forbes, who founded Forbes magazine and built it into a major publication during the darkest days of the Depression, wrote, "History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeat."

Adversity is What Tests Us

Throughout history, great thinkers have reflected on this paradox and have concluded that adversity is the test that you must pass on the path to accomplishing anything worthwhile. Herodotus, the Greek philosopher, said, "Adversity has the effect of drawing out strength and qualities of a man that would have lain dormant in its absence." The very best qualities of strength, courage, character, and persistence are brought out in you when you face your greatest challenges and when you respond to them positively and constructively.

Action Exercise

Your greatest successes almost invariably come one step beyond your greatest failures, when everything inside you says quit. Think of failures in terms of how you can make them successes.

by Brian Tracy

My love to you all this weekend!!

{Minnie Mouse Birthday} Fab Find Friday

2012-01-13T07:30:00.000-08:00

Fabulous Find Friday {Minnie Mouse Birthday}

Made Famous By: TheWhite Library

Do you have a little princess who loves Minnie Mouse??

Over at the White Library Sandra has laid out some adorable ideas for you to throw a Minnie Mouse themed party for your little girl.

Here is my favorite part of the party.

(Cake pic via Two Parts Sugar)

How stinkin' adorable is that cake?? I know this little Minnie would LOVE it!!

To see all of Sandra's ideas to visit The White Library.

Vanilla Cinnamon Wafers

2012-01-11T08:45:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: Heather McMullin

adapted from Gifts from the Kitchen

Phew the past week has been quite busy. January starts more and more tests to figure out what is wrong with my noggin’. It is a happy/sad thing for me. Happy because I really want to find out what is going on with my head and sad because well….I am a big chicken when it comes to needles and such. And when I say big chicken I really mean HUGE HUGE chicken.

So it is time to put my brave face on for a while again and summon up my courage with in.

“Do you remember the game of childhood, “Run Sheepie Run”? He who would look for the carefully hidden sheep would announce his search, “Ready or not, here I come!” So it is with the challenges of daily living- “Ready or not, here they come.” How will you meet them? Bravely or cowardly? How will they leave you? Victorious or defeated? The outcome will depend largely on these seven guideposts:…”-Thomas S. Monson

Your Perspective

Your Determination

You Courage

Your Love

Your Wisdom

Your Humility

Your Faith

Vanilla Cinnamon Wafers

1 Cup Real Butter, at room temperature

1 Cup Sugar

1 Large Egg

2 ½ tsp Vanilla

1 tsp Cinnamon

½ tsp Salt

2 ½ Cups Flour

Powdered sugar for dusting

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Have ready 2 ungreased baking sheets.

*In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on high speed, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until blended. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the flour until well blended.

*Fill a cookie press with the dough following the manufacturer’s instructions. Fit with the design of your choosing. Press out the dough directly onto the baking sheets. Bake cookies until golden brown, about 10 minutes. If you do not have a cookie press you can use the tip of your choice and a pastry bag.

*When the cookies are done, transfer them to wire racks. Immediately sprinkle with powdered sugar and let cool.

Recipe Cards {CUTENESS}

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: The Shabby Shoppe

ok I HAD to share this too. I had not even thought of making custom recipe cards. What an awesome gift that would be for a birthday or any other holiday. It would be perfect for all of the foodies that you know.

AND

THEY ARE free PRINTOUTS!!

YAHOOOZIE!!

{Go to the Shabby Shoppe to download}

Desktop Calendars

2012-01-04T10:21:00.000-08:00

Saw these over at TidyMom and thought I would share them as well. What a cute idea for a screen saver. The best part is that they are FREE! Everyone loves. There are so many fun cute layouts. I had never thought of changing my desktop layout each month. Fun Fun!!!!

To down load this cuteness go to The Shabby Shoppe.

TidyMom also shared this calender from Leelou Blogs go to Leelou blogs to download this adorableness.

6 Delicious Fruit and Vegetable Juice Blends

2012-01-03T11:13:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: Oprah

Pictures and Article by Oprah.com

You all know I love me some Oprah. My only regret about loving Oprah so much is that I started way to late in my life loving her advice. Maybe some of you don't love her quite as much as I do, but I love that she takes all of the good lessons from her life and shares it with us in an effort to help us to become better people.

When Cade and I first got married we had some good friends. My friend had some major depression issues and some other chemical imbalances and many many people only saw her for her chemical imbalances.

If they only had taken time to get to know the amazing girl that she is, their lives would have been forever blessed for having known her. She is they type of person that would literally give you the shirt off her back if she knew it would help you.

She taught me a very important lesson that I will forever have in my heart. Seek to see the good each person has to offer. Nobody is perfect and if you truly seek and see them for the good that is within, you will see how truly beautiful they are. Since then I look at the people in my life with that perspective. Wouldn't the world be a wonderful place if everyone looked at each other in that light?

6 Delicious Fruit and Vegetable Juice Blends

Juicy Benefits

"It takes at least a pound of vegetables to make a glass of juice," says Lauren Slayton, a registered dietitian in New York City. "So drinking juice is a very efficient way to consume more fruits and vegetables." Most of the bottled versions here contain both fruit and vegetable juices in varying proportions. Remember that fruit-heavy blends are packed with sugar and calories, so keep portions reasonable—say, a glass a day—and make sure to include whole fruits and vegetables in your diet as well.
6 new fruit and vegetable juice blends to try

Odwalla Original Superfood

Veggie juice neophytes can start off easy with this strawberry-and-peach-packed smoothie. It gets its green power from protein-rich spirulina and wheatgrass, known for its high concentration of antioxidants.

190 calories per 12-ounce serving.
$3 for 12 ounces; supermarkets

Bolthouse Farms 50/50 Tropical

Carrots provide half the juice for this sunny mix, while orange, guava, and passion fruit make up the remainder. Substitute a glass for your morning OJ, and you'll get 260 percent of the recommended daily amount of vitamin A along with a hefty dose of vitamin C.

130 calories per eight-ounce serving.
$4.50 for 32 ounces; supermarkets

Naked Berry Veggie

Purple carrots and sweet potatoes add an extra boost of beta-carotene to a base of cherry-and-plum juice. The result is exceptionally rich and fruity.

130 calories per eight-ounce serving.
$3 for 15.2 ounces; supermarkets

Columbia Gorge Organic Just Greens

Go supergreen with this refreshing all-vegetable drink. Each 16-ounce bottle contains the juice from about two pounds of kale, celery, spinach, and cucumber.

50 calories per eight-ounce serving.
$4.50 for 16 ounces; Whole Foods

R.W. Knudsen Very Veggie Spicy!

Think of this tomato-celery concoction as an updated version of V-8, with a jalapeño kick. It's perfect for a 5 o'clock drink (with or without a shot of vodka).

50 calories per eight-ounce serving.
$4 for 32 ounces; supermarkets

Blueprintjuice Green

This raw blend of romaine, spinach, and cucumber has a lightly tart-sweet flavor from green apple and lemon juice—and an invigorating kick of ginger to combat afternoon energy slumps.

130 calories per 16-ounce serving.
$10 for 16 ounces; Whole Foods

Nutty Caramel Popcorn for New Year's Eve!!

2011-12-28T15:50:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: Heather McMullin aka Made Famous By and Grandma HoneyBee

Can you believe the New Year is less than a week away? I am so excited for this coming year. I have many goals that I want to accomplish! I have never made a New Years resolution list before, but this year more than any I really want to improve myself and fulfill some of my goals.

1. 1. Fully recover from my Brain surgery.

2. 2. Read something uplifting every day and implement it into my daily life.

By doing this I believe that every day I can come closer to the person I want become and accomplish some of my dreams. I know that if we try each day to be a little better than we were the day before I can accomplish a lot of personal growth. This will help me to be a better Mom to my kids, wife to my husband, and really be present in my life.

What are some of your New Years resolutions?

Nutty Caramel Popcorn

1 lb. popping corn (4-5 bags of microwave popcorn, old maids removed)

2 Cups Cashews

2 Cups Slivered almonds

2 Cups Macadamia nuts

1 1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup dark Karo Syrup plus 2 Tablespoons

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup butter (1 square)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 level tsp. baking soda

*Mix sugars, syrup, salt and water all together and boil to soft ball stage. If you don’t have a candy thermometer it takes about 5-10 minutes.

*Remove from heat and add butter, vanilla and soda. Mix and pour over popped corn.

*Add: Slivered Almonds, Macadamia nuts, and Cashews

**Note: A good way to test if the caramel is ready is to drop a few drops of caramel into water...when it stays together well and sinks it is to the soft ball stage.**

Wild Flower Pancakes

2011-12-21T09:22:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: Wild Flower

World’s Best Pancakes! That is saying a lot from a person that doesn’t like pancakes that much. I am more of a crepe girl, but I am telling you these pancakes are out of this world good!

These pancakes came into my life last week. We went to Arizona for my husband’s graduation from MBA school. Anyone who has their MBA or who has a spouse who has graduated from MBA school knows what a hugs accomplishment that is. It has been a long 2 years full of everything you can imagine. It is a miracle he even graduated. He is super human that is for sure!! Here is a fun pic of our family from the weekend.

Ready...Set...Ok now we are good!

It only took us five takes!

Wild Flower wouldn't give me the recipe, but they do sell the mix for their pancakes. Here is their web site. Wild Flower.

Chunky Apple Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

Time for this Months Secret Recipe Club!! This month I got the blog Our EatingHabits. Isn’t that such a clever name!!

Jamie describes herself like this, “I love to cook. I love to bake. I love to dine out. Eating is a big part of my life, so I make sure everything that goes into my mouth is tasty. Why waste time and calories on bad food? I strive to be creative and fun in the kitchen. I love trying new recipes, and new restaurants. I am so excited to start this new hobby and share some yummy tidbits with you. I hope you all enjoy!!”

She is a girl after my own heart I tell ya! I chose her Chunky Apple Cake with Brown Butter Frosting. She has me at Chunky! I love love recipes that call for anything chunky. Hope you all give it a try! Photo and recipe by Our Eating Habits.

Chunky Apple Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

1 Cup Butter, softened

2 Cups Sugar

3 Eggs

½ tsp Vanilla

2 ½ Cups Flour

2 tsp Baking Soda

½ tsp Salt

2 tsp Cinnamon

3 Cups Baking Apples, coarsely chopped, peeled

1 Cup Chopped Walnuts

Frosting:

½ Cup Real Butter

3 ¼ Cup Powdered Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla

3 TBS Milk

*Grease a bundt cake pan with butter and flour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

*Beat together the butter and sugar until nice and fluffy. Beat in vanilla, then eggs one at a time. Stir in remaining ingredients, when completely combined spoon into prepared pan.

*Bake for 1 hour, cool completely before frosting.

*Eat and Enjoy!!!!

*To make the frosting melt butter in medium-sized sauce pan until golden brown. Gradually stir in sugar, then vanilla and milk. Pour over cake.

Crab n' Cheese Spirals

2011-12-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: Taste of Home

“This is what I know about improving your life. You can’t improve it from a depressed state you have to find the slightest little bit of happiness emanating from whatever you can. I always say if you can’t find anything to be happy about to fill you with real joy, close your eyes and consider for a moment your breath. You still have it. You’re here right now. Let that fill you up and build from there.” -Oprah Life Class #10

Or if you are like me you start cooking or baking to make you happy. When I cook I go into my zen place. It is different for everyone, but when I cook I zone out and just enjoy what I am doing. Any true foodie I bet would feel the same.

This recipe was given to me when I went to my cooking group last Wednesday. They are SO amazingly good!!

Crab n' Cheese Spirals

2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened

2 Cups Chopped Imitation Crab Meat or real Crab Meat

1 Can (4 1/2 oz) Chopped Ripe Olives

1/4 Cup Minced Chives

3 Tubes (8oz each) Refrigerated Crescent Rolls

3/4 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

3/4 Cup shredded Parmesan Cheese

**Look for the Crescent Rolls that come in a sheet. You don't want the kind that is perforated. It will say "sheet" on the outside of the package**

*In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, crab, olives, and chives. Unroll on tube of crescent dough into one long rectangle; seal seams and perforations. If you have the sheet then you will not have to do this.

*Spread with 1 cup cream cheese mixture; sprinkle with 1/4 cup of each cheese. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal.

*Using a serrated knife, cut into 10 slices; place cut side down on a greased baking sheet. Repeat with remaining crescent dough, cream cheese mixture and cheeses.

*Bake at 375 for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Yield: 2 1/2 dozen

Vanilla Bean Baci

2011-12-06T10:04:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: Heather McMullin

adapted from Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen

“It does not matter where you come from. What matters is now this moment and your willingness to see this for what it is accept it, forgive the past, take responsibility and move forward.”

“I made a commitment to work and God blessed it.”-Paula Deen

“God can dream a bigger dream for you than you can dream for yourself. Have the dream and then surrender it to that which is greater than yourself and allow the flow of your life to move in the direction of your greatest advantage.”

“Whatever is necessary I take full responsibility for making that happen.”

“Only you have the power to make your life what it is meant to be.”

“You cannot continue to move forward to level and level and level that you need to be if you are surrounded by energy that brings you down. It sucks the life force from you. Not only are you responsible for the energy that you bring, is what I learned, you are also responsible for the energy that surrounds you.”

“I enter so many rooms each day if I could just before entering just take a breath and decide what energy I am going to present. It has made me less stressed out and less self-absorbed. I can use my power to make life better for myself and for others.” –attorney

“Everybody has felt this at some point in your life, I know you have because we all have. You walk into a room and all of a sudden the room gets quiet and you realize the people in that room have been talking about you. And you can tell by the way you feel and the way they are behaving weather or not the things they have been saying are good things or not so good things about you.”

“I want to live the kind of life that at the end of my days I can say I was able to shine with the brightest light possible. The world is always reflecting the energy you’re putting out.”

“I am where I am today because I have listened to my gut for just about every single thing. What I have said many times here during life class is that your instinct speaks to you in different ways.”

“I came to realize that all the time I was praying to God asking God to do something, God was waiting on me because I am responsible for what happens to me.” –All of these quotes are from Oprah Life Class #9

This advice from Oprah can bless all of our lives. Right now our little family is following the advice that our Heavenly Father has given us. We felt prompted to move and we did. It has been the hardest choice we have had to make in our marriage, but we know beyond a shadow of a doubt, we are in the right place. All the answers are not clear right now, but I know if we continue to have faith they will be.

For now we can focus on making our faith brighter and stronger. Heavenly Father has a bigger dream for us than we were dreaming for ourselves, and we trust in that.

Vanilla Bean Baci

1 Cup plus 2 TBS Real Butter

1/2 Cup Confectioners Sugar

1/2 tsp Salt

4 tsp Vanilla Bean Paste

2 Cups Flour

2 oz Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

*In a large bowl beat the butter, confectioners' sugar, and the slat until light and fluffy. Beat in the Vanilla Bean Paste. Stir in the flour until smooth and well blended. Cover and refrigerate the dough until firm, about 1 hour.

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Have ready 2 baking sheets.

*Roll teaspoonfuls of the dough into balls and arrange on the baking sheets.
*Bake the cookies until firm but not browned, 10-12 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

*While the cookies are cooking combine the chocolate and the remaining 2 TBS butter in the top pan of a double boiler or in a heatproof bowl. Set over simmering water and heat until the chocolate softens. Remove from the heat and stir until the chocolate is smooth. Let cool slightly.

*Using a butter knife, spread a small amount of the chocolate on the bottom of a cookie. Place the bottom of a second cookie on the chocolate and press together. Repeat with the remaining cookies. Let cool on the wire racks until the filling is set.

Sugar and Spice Pecans

2011-12-04T14:36:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: Heather McMullin aka Made Famous By

“You should not be judged for the person that you were but for the person you are trying to be and the woman [person] you are now.”

“This is your second chance, this is your opportunity to cease this moment and make something of your life. I took that chance and understood for myself that now I know better so I can do better. It is never too late to change. It is an opportunity to rise into the best of yourself.” –Oprah Life Class #8

Each day we are given is an opportunity to begin the journey in becoming our best selves. Don’t wait another second to begin that journey. Each day I try to become better and better.

The season of giving is an especially good time to better ourselves. Every time you feel that little nudge to be kind to someone or do something that would better your character…DO IT! Listen to the little promptings that you get in your life. J

Sugar and Spice Pecans

4 Cups Pecan Halves

2 tsps Safflower Oil

6 TBS Firmly Packed Brown Sugar

4 TBS Granulated Sugar

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Allspice

1 tsp Cloves

*Toast the Pecans. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the nuts out on a rimmed baking sheet and toast until the nuts are lightly browned. Remove them from the oven and transfer to a large plate.

*In a large pan heat the safflower oil. When the oil is heated add the nuts stirring them so they are coated with the safflower oil.

*Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, cinnamon, allspice and cloves. STIR CONSTANTLY until the sugars melt over the nuts and caramelizes. After the nuts are coated with the sugar mixture return them to the baking sheet to cool.

*The nuts are best after they have thoroughly cooled.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TIME!!

FREE Christmas Printable!

2011-12-02T09:50:00.000-08:00

Fabulous Find Friday

Made Famous By: Shindig Parties TO GO

This Friday I found this adorable FREE printable from Shindig Parties To Go. It is a simple way to dress up Hershey’s Kisses and make them festive! I LOVE IT!!

Milk Chocolate Christmas Fudge

2011-11-29T10:44:00.000-08:00

Made Famous By: Heather McMullin aka Made Famous By

“If beauty is your calling card if being gorgeous is your calling card at some point that that is going to start to fade. I have always thought that the people that have used that as their calling card have the most difficult time adjusting to the reality of their lives because you have defined yourself, your whole life by the way you look. What happens when you no longer look that way? That is why this is such an interesting conversation.” Oprah Life Class #7

“The truth is if you haven’t done the inner work, if you haven’t made a connection to begin to understand that your inner life is your real life and that everything external changes and everything external eventually goes away, dissipates and goes away. But if you have cultivated the internal, if you have cultivated your inner life, your inner wisdom, your inner spirit a connection to what really matters in your life, the aging process will not be difficult because you will know who you really are and you will accept it and stop resisting and pushing against what is.” Oprah Life Class #7

I grew up a nerd. So for me being beautiful never even entered into my mind. Nerd and proud! I never had a problem with that knowledge. I had always been taught that self worth does not come from what is on the outside. I truly had confidence in who I was and what I looked like because of that. I didn’t need anyones approval of my looks.

The only thing that has mattered to me is if my husband thinks I am beautiful and he always has. Even when I was 200 pounds after having a baby or after major brain surgery and I wasn’t able to wash my hair for nearly two weeks, he still told me how beautiful he thought I was. The truth is I was lucky I scored him!

I have never feared getting older and therefore my looks have never mattered in any of my life decisions. Sure I make an effort to get dressed and put makeup on every day, but that is because I think when you make an effort to put yourself together you feel better and I want to take my husbands breath away each and every time he walks into the door because he always takes mine away.

I have always thought of old age as a gift and that growing old is a true blessing.

Milk Chocolate Christmas Fudge

1 ½ Cups Sugar

¼ Cup plus 2 TBS Butter

½ Cup Whole Milk

Pinch of Salt

1 ½ (4oz) Milk Chocolate Chopped

½ Cup Marshmallow Creme

-Line- a 13x9-inch baking pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil, allowing foil to extend over sides of pan. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.

-In a medium sauce pan combine sugar, butter, milk, and salt over high heat, constantly stirring.

-Bring mixture to a boil then reduce the heat to medium, stirring constantly until mixture reaches 234 degrees on a candy thermometer.

-Remove from heat and then stir in milk chocolate and marshmallow creme.

-I added peanut butter M&Ms to my fudge. If you would like to do the same put your M&Ms in the freezer and then add them to the fudge after you pour it into the pan. Make sure to drop them into the fudge. Do not stir them around. If you stir them they will melt.