Feng Shui, mushrooms, love, and life

5 things:
1.  As many of you may know, I have always been very intrigued with energy.  I love learning about the energy patterns in our bodies and how movement, objects, and food affects it.  Fung shui has been a curiosity that I've been dying to learn more about.  Thanks to the good old Provo library, I've been reading up on it and am wanting to work on feng shuing my life, if you will.  My goal is to start in my dorm room and spread from there.  Hopefully I can report my progress in a few days. :)  Peace and blessings!
2.  5Also, I realized that I rarely talk about the most exciting thing that is occurring in my life and that is my relationship with Jesse.  What a sweetheart!  We have been trying to make some rather large life decisions and of course, I always end up super emotional and kindof crazy, and he is so patient and sweet.  I am the luckiest girl in the world!

Us right after his marathon last year :)

3.  The Salt Lake City mission is the greatest one in the whole world.  Maybe I'm biased, but if it wasn't for that, I would have never met this adorable little girl.  She is a refugee from Burma and her parents are tying to make a better life in America.  I'm so proud of them and how hard they are working.  If you could remember to keep the refugees in your prayers that would be great!  Jesse was working with this girls family 2 1/2 years ago and is still teaching them.  

  

4.  Stuffed Mushrooms???  Ok so I had never ever heard of these until my super cute new roommate Sarah introduced me yesterday.  AMAZING!!!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 20 fresh mushrooms, stems removed
• 1 pound sliced bacon, cut in half

• Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together the green onions and cream cheese . Stuff mushroom caps with the cheese mixture. Wrap each mushroom with a half-slice of bacon, and secure with toothpicks. Place on a baking sheet.
  3. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bacon is cooked through.
  
  
  
  
  Thank you Allrecipes.com
   for all of your continual inspiration!
  
  
  5.  Sundays are the best day of the week.  For those of you who don't know, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Today we learned about personal revelation, and I am soooo grateful that God loves me enough that He allows me to pray to Him and that He listens to me and sends me answers and guidance to my life.  :)
     
  Love Carl Bloch btw.  I'm so sad that the exhibit is gone from BYU.  It was amazing and touched me every single time I went through.  Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Wheatley!!!!

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

Tonight, Katie and I are throwing Kennedy a bridal shower.  We are really excited and think that it will be a blast!  I tried out a recipe and am blown away by the results. :)

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

For the cupcakes

1 lemon cake mix and the ingredients that it calls for
1 lemon, juiced and zested. (both divided)

For the Frosting
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup pureed strawberries
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar (adjust to achieve desired consistency)

for the cupcakes
Prepare the cupcakes as directed, only add half of the lemon juice and zest.  Bake and let cook.

for the frosting

Cream butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy.  Then add in the strawberries, vanilla and lemon juice and remaining zest.  Mix on low speed until combined.  *  Gradually add in the powdered sugar and mix until combined.  Then beat on medium speed until light and fluffy for an additional 3-5 minutes.  Add more powdered sugar if necessary. :)

If you want to pipe the frosting on (like is shown in the picture), you may want to double the recipe, and add more powdered sugar.

Buche bites

I made these today and they are sooo good!  I had an old brownie recipe that I loved, but was craving some buche de noel.  I made some changes and am thrilled with the results. These are a chocolaty, mocha, toffee delight.:)

Buche Bites

Ingredients

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons pero

2/3 cup vegetable oil (divided)

1/2 cup boiling water (measure accurately)

1 3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 1/3 cup flour

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 heath bars (crushed)

1/2 cup chocolate chips (melted)

Directions

1.  Stir coca, pero and baking soda in mixing bowl. Blend in 1/3 cup vegetable oil.  Add boiling water; stir until mixture thickens.  (That is my favorite step!  I don't know why, but it is super cool!)  Stir in sugar, eggs and remaining 1/3 cup vegetable oil; stir until smooth.  Add flour, vanilla, almond extract, salt and 1/8 of the heath bars.

2.Pour into lightly greased 13 x 9 inch baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 -35 minutes.

3. Remove and sprinkle the remaining heath bar bits on top.  Place back in warm oven for about 2 minutes. Remove and drizzle melted chocolate over the top.

4.  Enjoy!

Anise Seed Cookies

These are a family favorite that I think are a mix between a traditional Italian easter cookie, spanish cookie, and Moroccan cookie.  I grew up thinking were super hard to make, but started making them all of the time now that I'm at college. 

I know you may be thinking what is Anise Seed? Anise Seed looks like this and tastes similarly to a fennel seed, but has a subtle black licorice flavor (for all of you that didn't grow up on black licorice, don't be turned off by that description).  They can be pretty expensive, but I've found that they sell them at Macey's Grocery store in a little packet for like $.69.  

I researched Anise seed and found that it is used basically everywhere, except the United States.  It is believed to relieve menstrual cramps, help with digestion, and a cure for insomnia.   In India, they just chew the seeds after dinner and in the middle east they put about a tablespoon of them in hot water and drink it as tea.   Basically, it's an incredible herb.

Anise Seed Cookies:
3/4 cup water
1 pkg of Anise seeds (julia's seasonings) or 3 tbs.
3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 orange
1 cup milk
1 cup oil
1 egg
1/8 cup sugar (for sprinkling)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a standard cookie sheet.
2.  In a small saucepan,  boil water and add seeds.  Let the seeds cook for about 20 minutes.
3.  In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar and baking powder.  Zest the orange and add the zest to the dry mixture.
4.  In a tall glass or jar, combine the milk and oil.  Add the juice from the orange.  Stir so the liquid is mixed.
5.  Add the cooked anise seed to the dry mixture and mix well.  Then slowly add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and mix well.  (I typically end up kneading the dough)
*If the mixture is too wet or too dry, add a little more flower or mix equal parts of oil and milk and add.
6.  Then, take about 2 tbs of dough and roll into a snake.  Pick it up and twist the dough from the middle out.  Or you can twist the dough so that it makes a breast cancer awareness ribbon shape.  Or you can twist it into a traditional knot.  Place on cookie sheet
7.  Beat an egg and thinly brush on top of the cookies.  Then, with a spoon sprinkle sugar on top of the cookies.
8.  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until they are solid.
9.  Eat with milk and Enjoy!

I end up freezing most of the cookies just so I don't eat them all in one sitting. :)

5 things

Linen Pants:  I just found a great pair at DI for $4 and have already worn them too often.

Tangerine Fingernail Polish: On my super short nails, it gives a fun splash of color to my everyday look.

Nude pumps:  For those of us with short legs, these make our legs look longer.  I'm still looking for a great pair...

Button Earings:  Jess helped me make earring from some great old buttons.  Just shave off the back and hot glue earring backs onto the back and voila!  New earrings :)

Pancakes with Strawberries and Whipped Cream:  Jesse made me breakfast after my work meeting on Saturday.  What a guy ;)

Mocha Chocolate Truffle Frosting

Cake is an excuse to eat frosting.  Canned frosting doesn't count.  Here is a killer recipe for chocolate frosting.

This is a favorite recipe of mine:

4 cups Powdered Sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
3 tablespoons dissolved Pero
1/4 cup Coco powder

Mix 2 cups of the sugar, butter, milk, the vanilla, almond extract, pero and coco powder in a medium size bowl with an electric mixer.  Beat till smooth (ish).  Then thicken the frosting to your desired consistency with the rest of the powdered sugar.  Enjoy! 

Chicken Tacos

Today is the first ward activity that I've been in charge of and lets just say that it's been interesting.  We are doing a get-to-know-you activity (thus us being a singles ward) and dinner.  How it works is everyone gets a sheet of questions that are written on fake dollars.  The questions range from where are you from, what are you studying type questions to biggest pet peeves, most embarrassing moment questions.  The more personal the question, the more money its worth.  Then when you've asked all the questions that you want, you go and "buy" your dinner.  We are doing Chicken Tacos (delicious!), so each item is worth something, like a scoop of chicken is $5 or cheese is $2.  I hope it goes ok, but if not...I might get released :)

Here's the recipe:

Slow Cooked Chicken Tacos

3-4 Chicken Breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups of medium salsa
2 tsp. kicking chicken spice
2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 cup sour cream
Stick everything except the sour cream in a crock pot, put on low and let cook for 6-8 hours.  Put in the sour cream an hour before serving.  Serve on soft tortillas with green onions, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, cheese, cilantro, olives and whatever else you like on your tacos. :)

Eliminate, Organize and Rejuvenate

Lately, I have been feeling somewhat overwhelmed by clutter.  My school and work schedules are extremely random and demanding, but I've really noticed that my living space, aka bedroom is way too cluttered.  So, I followed my mother's advice:  put away 20 things, throw away 20 things, and donate 20 things.  I got started with that, and ended up throwing away like 200 things and the DI is getting a ton of donations from me and my closet :)

As you can see, this room is tiny. (or if you were a realitor, you could call it "cozy and charming")

I tried to utilize the hidden space with tubs and totes.  

This is my biggest problem area.  I tried to put the stuff that I use everyday in a easy access that is contained.  e.g. the staking drawers, the tasseled box for my jewelry, my purse, my backpack, and my art supplies.

This is a favorite Christmas gift!  I think it was supposed to be a makeup box, but it is perfect for separating out my jewelry while keeping it contained!  It's been working beautifully!

Another favorite gift:  my letter box.  I write a TON of letters, and they usually go everywhere and I loose important letters and that frustrates me.  I put everything that I use in here as well as favorite letters from the past.  

Last of all, the space next to my bed now has everything that I need.  

I challenge you all to de-clutter your lives too!  It's already been a great, liberating experience and helped me feel more in control of my life.  Good luck!

Happy New Year!!!

As I hope you are all aware, we have a new year on our hands.  With that we are getting to choose how we spend our energy and time.  I'm super stoked for my new classes (drawing, 2D design, history of interior design, pattern making, and Book of Mormon)!  I think that this semester is will be extraordinary!
Speaking of extraordinary...I actually accomplished one project over the break!  The annual Bûche de Noël:)  It is a family tradition and fight that does take about 2 hours, but it is completely worth it!  I look forward to this amazing experience all year long!  Hopefully I can get the recipe up in the next few days!

Bûche de Noël

My Dad and I

p.s. A new thing for the year is a new hairstyle!!!
pictures to come :)

Cookie Trays

Christmas is so close I can almost taste it!  I'm so excited (mostly for the food) for the whole season.  I think fall and winter just bring out the inner old lady in me.  The sweaters, tea and cookies, slippers, and how everything is just old-fashioned once again.  At any rate, being at college makes it tough to really get into the spirit of everything, but here is my latest project that can possibly help.

Frame tray

These are super easy and fun to put together!  (fun actually being a relative term.  I had fun, but I don't know if Jesse got as much of a kick out of making them as I did.)

Materials needed:

Old frame with sturdy back

spray paint

Fabric

Hot glue

Directions: take the back of the frame and spray paint.  While that is drying, cover the back of the frame with fabric and glue in place.  Once that is done, the frames should be dry.  Then, secure and glue the back back into place and voila!  Cookie tray for the holidays. Enjoy!

Tray in action!  Holding some delicious Anise Seed Cookies.  Maybe one day I'll put up the recipe. :)

Coming Soon!!!

Upcoming projects:
Framed trays
Truffles
Moss picture frame

but also, there is going to be a guest project...aka it costs more than $5... refurbishing a steamer trunk and turning it into a bench!  So excited about these things!

Spiced Pumpkin Tofu Bisque

Really quick introduction:  as many of you may know, I am a frugal gal.  I love thrift stores and anything secondhand.  If I had a dollar for every time I've heard the phrase "Will you take me to DI?" or  "Wait...that's from DI?"  or (for the peeps that know me well) "You got that at DI, didn't you"  I wouldn't be at BYU.  So here's the new face of this awesome blog.  $5.  Once a week there will be a new $5 DIY project.  It will revolve around a decorating, clothing, or cooking project.

So here is the first project....

Spiced Pumpkin Tofu Bisque

Don't let the words "pumpkin" or "tofu" deter you from attempting this incredible soup!  It tastes like fall...in India/mexico.  Basically...it's veally good.

Recipe

1 big can of Pumpkin Puree

1 pkg tofu (silken works best)

1 can stewed tomatoes 

2 cups chicken broth

2 TBS Butter

1 1/2 cups Milk

1 1/2 TBS Curry

1 tsp Cumin

1/2 tsp Oregano

1 1/2 TBS Creole Seasoning

2 tsp. Chili Powder

Directions:  Put the pumpkin, tofu (broken into pieces), stewed tomatoes, and the chicken broth into a blender and blend till it's way smooth.  Then pour into a soup pot and add all spices, butter and milk.   Add spices to taste.  Warm it all up and serve.  Also enjoy. :)