Mama Bird's Nest

Porcupine Meatballs

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 04:26:00 +0000

Ok, really I fancy myself as someone who knows alot about all sorts of comfort food and I have to say I had NEVER heard of Porcupine Meatballs until I read Dinner, A Love Story (highly recommend!) and like Jenny says improvising is half the fun! I was truly inspired and here is what I did:

1 lb ground turkey

1/2 cup uncooked rice

1/2 small Vidalia onion, chopped

1/2 small bell pepper, diced

3 shakes of Worcestershire sauce

2 T parmesan cheese

splash of V8

mix everything together, I did that first thing in the morning, as prep time was going to be short at dinner. I used a small ice cream scoop (cookie size) to make all the meatballs the same size (I know, anal) then put the following in a deep sauté pan.

3 cups of V8

1 cup chicken broth

1/2 t cinnamon

1 T sugar

Bring to a simmer add meatballs, cover cook for 30 mins on med/low flipping half way through. I also took Jenny’s suggestion and made a yummy mixed greens and tomato salad with balsamic and olive oil.

My family loved the meatballs. It was a quick easy dinner that we all enjoyed and will definitely be adding to my monthly meal plan. Jack espically loved how they looked cooking! See the spikes of the rice? This was a fun meal to cook and isn’t that what it’s all about making life fun? Cause dinner friends is here to stay, might as well enjoy it!!

xoxo, Bird

it’s a Moose cake

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 03:07:00 +0000

Our dear friend, Moose (yes, that really is his last name) celebrated his 33rd birthday this past weekend. I was so excited to be able to do this cool moose on the top!! I loved it! Don’t you?

xoxo, Mama Bird

Summer Pasta Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 01:57:00 +0000

I love pasta salad, that being said I do not love pasta loaded in mayo or tons of dressing, I like it to have flavor. And the easier the better, this is a super simple dish that you can use whatever you have on hand and whatever you prefer.

Pasta Salad

1 bag wacky mac (vegetable trio pasta or any pasta, I liked the look of the trio of colors) cook to package directions

1/2 red onion diced fine

3 plum tomatoes, diced

1/2 c black olives, cut in half

1/2 cup frozen peas, toss in boiling water just as pasta is done

Cook pasta and peas, drain, rinse with cold water, add vegggies, whip up dressing

Dressing

1 cup mayo

1-2 T red wine vinegar

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Mix all together and pour over pasta, mix well. Chill for a few hours or overnight.

ENJOY! Mama Bird

Summer Bucket List {kids edition} 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Mon, 27 May 2013 02:25:00 +0000

UPDATE: 2013
This summer is going to be a fun one!

Can not believe my baby is going to be going to FIRST GRADE in 4 mos!!!

I am compiling a {wish} list of fun things to do in the unifour area as well as some great ideas for day trips. Some of these can be week day play dates and some will be reserved for our family! I really think they ALL lend well to either. Our theme this summer is

NEW ADVENTURES/ SPREADING OUR WINGS!!

{Local} Summer Fun

Catawba Science Center

This place is great! We have a Membership $70/yr is so worth it!
We go at least once a month! They have wonderful week long summer camps that have fun theme each week.

Kool Park Pool

Great pool and waterslide, can take your own picnic. Half price after 4pm AWESOME!

Hiddenite Emerald Mine

Haven’t been yet but Discovery Channel LOVES it. Great loco for a play date!

Hickory Crawdad’s Baseball

FUN!! We went last year and had a great time. They also have a carousel and play area
.

Sun Crest Water Park

Haven’t been here yet either, looks fun.

Tough Enough Rodeo
a good old fashioned rodeo right in Caldwell County! Talk about family fun! This place is a hoot! My son LOVED it. Just a tidbit of info. It doesn't get really rolling until almost 8 so be warned it might be a late evening but, it was worth it. EAT before you go, all they have is cotten candy and a few muchies.

Carmike Movies
talk about a deal and an EASY & COOL way to spend a morning... Carmike does 2nd run movies on Thursday mornings for $4 includes the movie, drink, and snack

Day Trips {all around NC/SC}

Catawba Queen Summer Storytime & Pirate Landing Mini Golf
this is the coolest thing!
EVERY Tues & Thurs morning a 1 hr ride around the lake while hearing a story with milk & cookies!

Zootastic Park, Statesville/Troutman area
I had never even heard of this place until Groupon! Yipee got a 4pk for cheep! Fun day trip!! WE LOVED IT! Took a picnic, a guide takes you around and tells you all about the anmials. Great place!

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park, Marion

Also found this place from Groupon they had 2 for 1 special!! It is a TRUE campground. A little rough around the edges but, the kids LOVED it. Take a picnic, they have a huge pool, huge waterslide, putt-putt, paddle boats, canoes, horse shoes, all kinds of goodies!

Tweetsie, Blowing Rock

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

Here is another place that with it only being 40 mins away a Season Pass is the way to go! You can take your own picnic, great fun rides that younger kids can enjoy!

Sliding Rock, Brevard, NC
This is a place where I spent ALOT of time!! It is absolutely beautiful and I am soooooo excited to get a group of my best college friends together to take our families to enjoy the wonder of the Water Falls!! My best tip is go LATE in the summer the water is really, really COLD!! I think we will wait until July!

Dan Nicholas Park, Salisbury

New to me and appears to be fantab!! Hope to take a day trip with friends! Looks soooo fun!!

Tanglewood Park, Winston Salem

went here tons as a kid. Can’t wait to take Jack!

Greensboro Children’s Museum

Heard fantab things about this place and look forward to meeting our friends here!!

NC Zoo, Asheboro

the zoo is great, Jack loves it and we will be going to visit j's great gma this summer and will go again!

Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens, Columbia, SC

Had to include this as I have been told this is a great place.
Not sure when we will work it in as it is a tish far about 2.5 hrs but I just love a zoo!

Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh

going to a wedding in 2 weeks in Raleigh, thought we would check this place out!!

Discovery Place KIDS & Discovery Place Charlotte
This place is so cool! Gets super crowded but a great learning space for Pre-K through 2nd grade

NC Aquariums, Pine Knoll Shores
this is somewhere we plan to visit on our yearly trip to Ocean Isle, last year we went to the Myrtle Beach Aquarium and it was fine but, once is enough! SO CROWDED and pricey for what it is.

Carowinds, Charlotte
Amusement Park, need I say more?

Grandfather Mountain, Linville
I am so excited to take Jack. I will highlight a few events they are doing for kids!

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
July 11-14, 2013
Highland Games, Celtic music & dancing, turkey leg, lots of kids actvities what more could you ask for?

How are you keeping your little people busy this summer?

Coming up!! My Family Fun Guide to Ocean Isle

xoxo, mama bird

Yummy Fruit Salad, yummy, yummy!

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Thu, 23 May 2013 03:01:00 +0000

This salad is so simple it seems almost silly to share, but it was so dang good I would be remiss not to!

Cut up all the fresh fruit you enjoy and pour this deliciousness over top, it will bring out all the juices from the fruit and make them look all shiny and beautiful! I used cantaloupe, strawberries & blueberries.

Honey Lemon Dressing

2 heaping tablespoons Honey

juice from 1 large lemon

4 large mint leaves, chopped

Whip it up, pour it over your fruit and something magical happens!

ENJOY! Mama Bird

meyer lemon cake

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:56:00 +0000

Citrus is one of my favorite things!

and this cake is AMAZING!

I made it in 3 layers as the added height gives presence!

and I love presence!

Meyer lemon cake:

3 c flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 1/2 c sugar

1 c butter, softened

5 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1/4 c meyer lemon juice

3/4 c milk

zest from meyer lemon

In stand mixer add all dry ingredients and blend for a few mins to lighten up. Add softened butter and mix until just mixed. Add vanilla to milk & juice and add a little liquid then egg and rotate ending with milk mixture.

Put in greased & floured cake pans. Bake 350 for 35-45mins

Meyer Lemon Cream Frosting:
1 8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 stick butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

1 T orange juice

zest from 1 lemon

4 to 6 c powdered sugar

Cream all ingredients except sugar with mixer and slowly add sugar 1/2 c at a time.

*Clementine, orange, lime any citrus may be substituted for meyer lemon what ever you have on hand.

ENJOY!! Mama Bird

couscous salad

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Tue, 14 May 2013 01:20:00 +0000

Saturday night I realized that I needed a side dish to take to the church covered dish luncheon and I was at a loss. I had cous cous and some fresh veggies so I whipped up a fresh spring salad. It was delish, light and relativity healthy!

Here is how it went:

Cous Cous Salad

1 box of cous cous, cooked as directed

2 cucumbers, seeded and chopped

6 Roma tomatoes, chopped

1/2 Vidalia onion, chopped fine

8 oz crumbled Feta cheese

1/2 c olive oil

1/4 c balsamic vinegar

salt pepper to taste

fresh oregano, flat leaf parsley, and mint

lemon zest

cook cous cous as box states, set to side; chop all your veggies, add spices, vinegar and oil, toss the feta and add cous cous. Chill for several hours or overnight.

ENJOY- Bird

Happy Mother’s Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Sun, 12 May 2013 02:31:00 +0000

I hope this day is special for us all.

To the Grandmothers, Mothers, Aunts, sisters, friends, to ALL the women who have made me the Mommy I am today

THANK YOU

Thank you for showing me what to do

what not to do

and everything in between.

Thank you for being role models

Thank you for showing me that no one is perfect.

Thank you God

for putting these women in my life.

and for allowing me to be a Mother.

I prayed for him everyday for 34 years.

He was so worth the wait.

My Mother’s Day card from Jack age 5

All is right in my world

Blessed beyond belief.

I hope you too are BLESSED today.

Happy Mother’s Day to you all!

Love- Kat & Jack

Bunko Dinner Party {Greek Theme}

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Tue, 07 May 2013 23:19:00 +0000

May is my month to host Bunko! I wanted to do it once it was warm (hopefully not TOO warm!) so that we could sit out by the pool! I have been thinking about what I wanted to do. With my new healthier lifestyle I wanted to still make a YUMMY dinner but have it be easy on the waistline! My plan started with

Al's Famous Greek Dip w/Pita Chips

Chicken Souvlaki

Chicken breasts, pounded thin and cut into 1 in strips
2 cloves fresh minced garlic
1 t fresh oregano
2 t fresh flat leaf parsley
juice from 1 lemon
1/4 c olive oil
Salt & Pepper, to taste
Marinate overnight. Place on skewers and grill.

Roasted Vegetables

I toss the veggies with the same marinade I use for the chicken.
Zucchini
Squash
Onions
Tomatoes
cut, marinate and wrap in foil with 2 ice cubes and toss on grill for apx 30 mins (crisp/tender)

Greek Salad

Dressing:
6 T olive oil
6 T lemon juice
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, crushed
fresh oregano
Salt & pepper

Salad:

2 heads Boston or mixed lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces
4 small cucumbers, sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in 1/2
1 cup pitted ripe olives
4 oz feta cheese, crumbled

Whisk together dressing ingredients & add salt & pepper to taste. Set dressing aside. Toss lettuce & remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Add dressing just before serving.

Tzatziki Sauce

cheated and bought it at Trader Joes!

Pop back by to see pics of the food and the tablescape along with the dessert table!!
Fan-tab Meal!!!

What’s Eating You?

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:26:00 +0000

Kelly Dorfman is a food detective like no other, her book What’s Eating your Child is amazing. I read it this past weekend and she further confirmed to me that our eating habits need work. Now, that being said I am a lucky mom. Jack has always loved fruits and veggies, he isn’t a big meat eater but the boy does love his carbs and it seems to me that when he eats bagels or pancakes or crackers then he eats ALL day. When he starts his day with protein and fruit he seems to be calmer. This is worth testing out some food trials. I suspect that we are dealing with a wheat or gluten intolerance and I know I have a milk/dairy issue that I am guessing he may as well. Here goes nothing…. a wing and a prayer. We are trying it again!

xoxo, Bird

Any tips and tricks you can share? Please do!

{Buggie} Recipe holder

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Fri, 03 May 2013 21:00:00 +0000

Looking for an adorable Mother's Day gift?

How about this cute recipe card holder!

For Mother's Day my toddlers made their Mommies recipe card holders. I made my mom one of these back in the 70's and she still has it!! It was so easy, fun and really inexpensive!
I bought the wood cubes from Hobby Lobby for .79 cents, I had the clothes pins and paint so they were FREE. I spray painted the cubes as well as clothes pins allowed to dry and then used the kids finger prints to make cute little bugs. I hot glued the clothes pins on the back of the cubes and the note said " I BUZZ YOU!"
You could easily use this to display pictures as well! How cute is this?

Happy Mother's Day!!

xoxo, Bird

Thankful Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:24:00 +0000

via pintrest

Thankful for…

Duck Dynasty here is WHY not to mention my son LOVES it!

Bacon cause right now it smells so good right now!

Microwave without which the above wouldn’t happen on a week day!

MOMS my weekly bible study, that sadly is ending today. It has made this year possible.

ERIN CONDREN planner, finally after years and years and years of searching for the perfect planner this one is the best! I love it!!

What are you are feeling Thankful for?

xoxo, Bird

Famous Broccoli Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:21:00 +0000

My FAMOUS (even if only in my own mind) Broccoli Salad. This is one of my favorite salads! I love the freshness and it is perfect for a Southern family dinner. The trick to MY salad is that you blanch the broccoli to bring out the bright green color and to lightly cook. It is still crisp just more tender. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Broccoli Salad

2 heads broccoli

6 slices bacon, crisp & crumbled

1/2 c golden raisins

1/2 c toasted almonds

1 small red onion, chopped fine

1 c mayo

1/4 c honey

2 Tb vinegar

Blanch broccoli for 2-3 mins, remove, and submerge in cold water. Once cool add red onion and raisins to broccoli. Mix dressing and pour 1/4 to 1/2 onto broccoli mix and chill. Just before serving add almonds & crumbled bacon and additional dressing (if needed). Makes a great addition to any spring or summer meal. Enjoy!

Mama Bird

Spring Veggie Quiche

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 01:37:00 +0000

Quiche is one of my favorite things! Pair with a big green salad and some fresh fruit, YUM! Quiche is super diverse, you can put almost anything you can think of in it and it works! Today’s quiche is so quick and easy! I used all the fresh veggies I had in the fridge, tossed with a little egg mixture and bake! Remember, anything goes, use your favorite and ENJOY!!

1 pie shell ( I use the roll out kind, I think it’s perfect and easy!)

1 T whole grain mustard

4 extra large eggs

1 1/4 cup half and half

1 huge handful (apx 1 cup packed) fresh spinach

2 Roma tomatoes, seeded & diced

mushrooms, sliced

1 cup grated swiss cheese

Roll out pie shell as directed, spread mustard on bottom of pie shell; mix eggs, cream and salt & pepper to taste. Add veggies and cheese, pour into pie shell, top with cheese and bake at 375 for 35-45 mins until quiche is browned nicely. ENJOY!!

Bird

Earth Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 02:56:00 +0000

What are you doing to help OUR EARTH?

Here at my home we are trying to do our part. I thought I would share with you the baby steps we are taking to make the Earth a little better.

Recycle I do hope that since it is 2013 you too are recycling! I made my own recycling center from bins at target. We live in the country and have to take it to a recycling center. It is really easy and has decreased our trash by at least half!

Compost I got this adorable white compost bin from Lowes about a year ago, prior to that I was using Tupperware! I love this because it fits perfectly under my kitchen sink and Jack loves dumping it into the big bin outside. Composting has also cut the trash WAY down and I love the visual of seeing all the good things we are eating! A little tip KIDS LOVE COMPOST! My son is obsessed and tells everyone all about composting.

Garden we LOVE our garden and are so lucky to have a very large garden, but don’t be discouraged if you don’t have a big space, you can plant tons of things in pots. We save tons of money by growing all the wonderful veggies, herbs & a few fruits!

Reusable Snack Bags& Reusable Grocery Bags this is a Super Easy way to cut money and trash! You can find reusable bags and containers everywhere! Some of my personal favorite bags are SCOUT. The last FOREVER!! I have one that is at least 5 years old. This is the bagette it is the market tote and retails for $23 and is worth every penny in my opinion! Every week I get stopped and asked “where I got my bag”

Re –use Paper! all of it! All those worksheets, junk paper that comes home from school, FLIP it over use it for art, grocery list, printer paper. Think how many trees you are saving!!

ReSource is an awesome place that you can donate almost anything you can think of! Really anything, they have a craft room and a warehouse with tons of cool stuff just waiting to be Up cycled!

What are you doing to help OUR EARTH?

xoxo, Bird

Power Rangers { wedding }

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:24:00 +0000

I am always so blessed to be a part of celebrations. I even feel more blessed to get calls from past clients to share in even more family celebrations! I met these two when I was doing {} sister’s wedding last year. They were the taste testers!

The story that led to this cake is just so cute! B & G have been best friends since they were little kids and they were obsessed with the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. He was the red, she the pink. This is my “grown up” Power Ranger cake with fondant pink & red flowers and hand made fondant Power Rangers. The cake and cupcakes were Red Velvet with a cream cheese frosting.

xoxo, Bird

Blue Cheese Cole Slaw

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 16:39:00 +0000

I have been on a quest since eating at The Boat House in Charleston, SC to find a recipe for this yummy slaw. I have tried a few and non were quit right.UNTIL I found Katie who ironically lives in Charleston but, loves CAROLINA TARHEELS! I have been making this slaw for years now and thought it deserved its on post!

You can find her exact recipe HERE

Blue Cheese Slaw
1 bag of Coleslaw Mix
4 oz Blue Cheese
4 slices cooked & crumbled bacon (all that would fit on my pan!)
2 tablespoons of honey
1/2 cup of mayo
2 tablespoons of Red Wine Vinegar
Salt & Pepper to taste
Whisk mayo, honey & vinegar until even consistency. Add blue cheese, & salt/pepper. Toss the coleslaw mix with the sauce. Chill for at least 2 hours. Top with crispy bacon. ENJOY!

xoxo,Bird

Monogram {door art}

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:30:00 +0000

Everyone who knows me knows I am a sucker for a monogram! I made some of these for Christmas presents with holiday colors but I thought this is perfect for anytime of year! I found the giant wooden letter at Hobby Lobby and just used left over ribbon I had from various projects! Easy peasy! And I love it!

Step 1: paint the letter, I used white spray paint, let dry

Step 2: add any decor, for this one I only did black polka dots

Step 3: make an awesome bow, I used 4 different ribbons. I am a sucker for a BIG ASS BOW!

That’s it!!

ENJOY!! mama bird

Burlap Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:35:00 +0000

My beautiful and talented step-sister started her own ETSY store A Southern Bucket

Since then Nate Berkus, House Beautiful, Southern Bride and many others have featured her and her amazing creations with burlap. I want it ALL!!

I am helping plan a “barn wedding” this summer and I am SO excited to share with you some of the fab ideas to make Jen & Brian’s day perfect!

Perfect “Couple” table

How great would these look at the bar?

Bar Tubs

pintrest, can not find original link

and for the cake table a runner that they can use for years to come!

what a sweet gift idea

Don’t you just wish you were getting married again?!

I just love all of this don’t you?!

Hope Jen & Brian do to!

Go visit A Southern Bucket!

xoxo, Mama Bird

Happy Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 19:20:00 +0000

hand sanitizer used as gel to fix wacked up hair $2

second hand outfit $4

photographer to capture this moment PRICELESS

Last Friday was a teacher workday and I saw on Facebook (where else) that a little store was hosting a Egg Hunt with the Easter Bunny. Jack & I went and there was a photographer, Kathryn Cook Photography taking pics with live bunnies. Now preface the story, we have been home lounging all day, Jack had on a very large App State shirt and crazy plaid pants, yep he dressed himself! The store hosting the Egg Hunt is a kids consignment store and I grabbed this outfit! $4 for khaki pants and a seersucker shirt,no joke everything was 60% off!!!

I didn’t plan it.

I wasn’t expecting anything

look what got!

This beautiful moment, captured.

He has hand sanitizer in his hair, someone else’s clothes on his back and he is beautiful. He is a Child of God and I am so incredibly lucky to be his Mother. Truly blessed. I didn’t think there was any chance that she had captured such a “frame worthy” pic. She snapped a couple and looked at me and said” I got it”. I am sure I made a strange face and said cool!

We just need one!

Isn’t that true?

Just one.

One moment can change everything.

A new friend, a sweet pic to share with our family on Easter Sunday!

Blessed beyond belief.

Happy Easter!

xoxo, Mama Bird

Easter Meal Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:56:00 +0000

I am traditionalist I love having certain holiday meals that always feel familiar, I don’t mean that I want them to all be the same or that I wouldn’t switch it up here and there but Easter just screams HAM!

My favorite all time ham is Nigella Lawson’s. She just dumps yellow mustard, molasses, brown sugar, studs of cloves and then dumps a good ole Coca Cola over top. I buy the Ham (already cooked) So you really just zip it up a bit, warm and serve! YUM-O

Corn Soufflé goes PERFECT with Ham this is one of those dump, stir, top and bake recipes. SO EASY

corn soufflé:

1 can cream corn

1 can corn, drained

1 can rotel, drained

8 oz sour cream

4 T butter, melted

1 box jiffy corn bread mix

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Dump everything into a bowl, stir, pour in a greased 9x11 baking dish bake at 350 for 45 mins

Broccoli Salad is one of my favorite spring salads it is bright green and just beautiful!

Deviled Eggs again I am a traditionalist I just do a dallop of Hellman’s mayo, small squirt of yellow mustard, splash of apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper. THAT’S IT!

Parker House Rolls

Carrot Cake for desert This is my AWARD winning from the famous Grove Park Inn, it is delish, moist, perfect in every way. No nuts coconut or otherwise (my house can’t have nuts and hates coconut!)

What are you having for Easter?

xoxo, Mama Bird

Easter Lollipops

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:49:00 +0000

My buds at Sugar Bomb Bakery shared with me a great recipe for homemade lollies that use REAL fruit juice, Several years I found these awesome vintage lollipop molds and I just had the best time making homemade suckers! They look so pretty!
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup (organic, if you can find it)
1/3 cup plus 1 1/2 teaspoons pure fruit juice (we used a blend of cranberry and blackberry)*
1/8 teaspoon citric acid (we used Tart and Sour Flavor Enhancer, from LorAnn, I found it at Hobby Lobby)
*I am going to try a orange or mango juice for this years Easter treats!! This pic was taken several years ago and I am much more enlightened and knowledgeable about food dyes! I prefer to NOT use them now.
Lightly coat the insides of the molds with nonstick cooking spray and insert sticks.Stir together sugar, corn syrup, and juice in a medium-size saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, swirling the pan once or twice. Cook to 300ºF (hard-crack stage) and immediately remove from heat. Allow the bubbling to subside, then check the temperature and cool to 260ºF. Now add the citric acid and swirl the pot to incorporate. Spoon mixture into molds, filling all the way to the top. Allow to completely cool prior to removing molds.

Linked to:

Whipperberry

Lil Luna

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps {crock pot!}

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:30:00 +0000

Yes, you read that correctly! Asian Chicken in the crock pot! Lettuce Wraps are one of my favorite things and Cheesecake Factory serves them with these yummy fresh veggies and trio of sauces so today I am giving you the weeknight version! Still the fresh yummy veggies, just a really quick, no mess, no fuss chicken. You could always grill this chicken and really boost the flavor, but when short on prep time this worked great! If you blink you may miss the directions!!

Crock pot Asian Chicken

boneless/skinless chicken breast

1 cup SOY VAY Island Teriyaki*

dump in crock and set on high for 4 hrs or low 6-8 depending on the time you have* (I started mine at lunchtime so I did high, it worked perfect)

Shred chicken with 2 forks and set aside

*Island Teriyaki is now available at Wally and Food Lion (used to only be able to find it at Trader Joe’s!)

I am obsessed with Peanut Sauce and this random combo I came up with yesterday was AWESOME! Not too much peanut butter, a little kick and some acidity for a little tang! I made this after I got the chicken going and put in fridge so all the flavors could come together.

Peanut Dipping Sauce

3 T Island Teriyaki

1 T peanut butter

1 T rice wine vinegar

2 t Sriracha

Wisk all ingredients together. ENJOY!

Asian Marinated Cucumbers:

English cucumber, sliced thin

1/4 cup Island Teriyaki

1 1/2 T rice wine vinegar

I also used:

Water Chestnuts, diced

Carrot, shredded

Avocado, sliced

Lettuce for wrapping all the goodies in!

Enjoy!! Mama Bird

Here comes Peter Cottontail {pintrest party}

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:15:00 +0000

This months Girl’s Night/ Pintrest Party was inspired by Rain on a Tin Roof. I just adored her glitter bunny and i too had pinned the same exact others that she had gotten inspiration from! (great minds must think alike!) It is always so much fun to see how each canvas turns out! A few girls painted their bunnies and the others used fabric (which I loved). I had found a ribbon with yellow and gray that was my inspiration for the color pallet.

Supplies:

canvas

bunny template

paint

yarn, for tail

ribbon, for hanging

fabric, ribbon, or paper to create bunting

I painted yellow stripes, I placed painters tape on the canvas leaving about 3 finger width between each strip of tape, I used a butter yellow and allowed it to dry, then I added a bunch of water to the remnants of the yellow paint and did the stripes between the same tone of yellow, just much lighter. Then I traced the 2 bunnies with a pencil on my canvas and painted them gray. I made the bunting by cutting various pieces of fabric in triangles and hot glued them on the twine. I used yarn to make the fluffy tail and used leftover fabric, cut it into 3 stripes and braided it to make a really different kind of hanger. I adore how it turned out!!

xoxo, mama bird

New Castle Shepherd's Pie

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Bird) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 18:12:00 +0000

One of my favorite clients shared a yummy recipe for Shepherd’s Pie. It was so EASY and fits perfectly with the IRISH theme of the weekend for St. Patrick’s Day. This isn’t the most traditional pie, as I lightened the dish up with ground turkey.

New Castle Shepherd’s Pie

1 lb ground turkey

1 onion, chopped

1 lb bag frozen mixed vegetables

1 pkt of mushroom gravy

1 pkt of brown gravy

2 T tomato paste

1 bottle of New Castle

2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

mashed potatoes

Brown ground turkey and onions, mix gravy mix according to package directions, set aside, add tomato paste and beer to meat and onion mixture. Allow to cook down for apx 15 mins, add gravy mix and veggies and mix well. Pour into a greased casserole dish. Top with your favorite mashed potatoes(I cheated and bought potatoes from the deli in the grocery store you could also go to Bojangles) and cheese. Bake at 375 for 20 mins.

xoxo, Mama Bird