Honey Chicken with Green Pea and Mint Sauce

This dish was so good - I had to share it!

Simple, delicious and pretty too.

It's a Bobby Flay recipe found on Food Network. I served it with Quinoa and Cranberries, and Steamed Carrots which I tossed with some of the Honey Balsamic Glaze.

Let me know if  you make it!

Grilled Honey Glazed Chicken with Green Pea and Mint Sauce

1/4 cup honey

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

4 whole bone-in chicken breasts

Olive oil, for grilling, optional

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Green Pea and Mint Sauce, recipe follows

Heat grill to medium. Whisk together the honey and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl. Brush the breasts on both sides with oil, if desired, and season with salt and pepper. Grill the breasts for 7 to 10 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through. Brush with the honey glaze during the last few minutes of cooking. Serve on a bed of sauce or with sauce drizzled over.

Green Pea and Mint Sauce:

2 cups frozen peas, blanched and drained well

1/2 cup white wine vinegar

3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1 jalapeno, grilled or roasted, chopped

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup olive oil or canola oil

1 tablespoon honey

Place peas, vinegar, mint, cilantro, jalapeno (I didn't add the jalapeno), and salt and pepper in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil and taste for seasoning.

Add the honey and blend again. If the mixture if too thick, blend in a few tablespoons of cold water.

New Custom Monogrammed Tassels

I recently had the opportunity to create something for a wedding gift basket that was being given to famous Bachelor couple - Jason and Molly.  A friend of mine was attending the wedding - how lucky was she!!!
So, I decided to make a monogrammed tassel for them.

This had inspired me to start creating some for my boutique. I just listed this new design.

You can request a different design, colors, and even add an important date to the front or back of the tassel. These make great gifts for bridal showers, weddings, anniversaries, babies, birthdays, new home, etc.
I will be adding new styles in the future. They're just so much fun to make.
A great idea for the person who has everything!

Happy Spring!

I picked up these beautiful tulips at the new Whole Foods Market
just opened
so close to my house
I'm so excited!
Supermarkets do that to me.

Notes from the Nest

We had this ugly door to enter the garage from inside the house.  It's a steel door, therefore already magnetic and we thought it would be fun to make it into a magnetic chalkboard/door. Bye-bye eyesore.

I loved it painted black but thought it needed a little something. So I painted this cute little bird and nest in a tree with the message "Notes from the Nest".  I used white acrylic paint - looks like it's drawn with chalk.

I've seen tons of chalkboard projects in blogland and just needed to do some of my own. So simple and fun.  Prime, and paint (2 good coats) with chalkboard paint - we bought ours at Lowes.
The kids can't wait to come home and draw on the door!

I still have some paint left, hmmm.........

This post is contributing to the following link ups. Be sure to visit them!

Great Giveaways!

I still can't believe I won this great Pom Pom Interiors bag from Lori of Lavender Fields - a gorgeous store in Port Jefferson, NY.
I'm lucky enough to be just 20 minutes from her shop.
Visit her online boutique HERE and her adorable blog HERE.

It's huge!
And I love it with one Erica's handmade roses.

A perfect spring/summer bag.
Thank you Lori!
Lori is now carrying the Pom Pom Home Bedding and Accessories. I've always LOVED Pom Pom.
Just look at this tablecloth......

 And speaking of giveaways...

check out this one from Kasey at Lola B's - one of my favorite blogs.

Her favorite lip balm from Anthro...

a gorgeous custom shade...

or 3 mini ones...

and 4 pretty plates from Anthro...

but you need to act quick..

like now...

the giveaway ends tonight!

Office Chic

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday March 12th 2010 as we present 

"Office Chic"

When I look around at all the beautiful and creative work spaces of my peers, I can’t help but notice that a new trend in office decorating has emerged. Office and studio spaces are no longer drab, monotonous and strictly functional. Instead, the utilitarian look we usually expect in work spaces is being replaced by chic and feminine décor. More and more, I'm seeing office spaces that are fashionable, fun and full of creativity – just like the women who use them.

Take your office furniture, for example. Your chair, desk and work table don't need to look boring to be comfortable and practical. In fact, it's easy to take ordinary furnishings and create a look that's chic and inspiring. A light and airy slip cover will freshen up an old desk chair. A coat of pale blue paint will give new life to an old desk.  Add some whimsical drawer pulls or fabulous decals to complete the picture. Let your imagination help you create a peaceful place – one where you will enjoy spending so many hours of your day.

Unexpected embellishments make everyday office items pretty and fun, while still being useful.  Try adding a clipboard that's been trimmed with beautiful papers, tied with ribbon and hung on a decorative hook until it's needed. It's a useful and now beautiful accessory.  Vintage and antique items can serve in unusual ways to make your work space even prettier. A stack of file folders, propped up in a vintage wire basket, adds just the right amount of chic to the corner of a desk, and will work great for keeping you organized.

When you work in a space that is pretty as well as calming, your imagination and creativity will flourish. I know that I immediately feel more relaxed and creative  when I'm surrounded by calming colors and chic accessories. Try breathing new life into your own office space by adding chic and feminine touches, and watch your creativity soar to new heights.

 

 

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

 Visit

Hydrangea Home

for 15% OFF all "Office Chic" products today 3/12 only

and 

Make Mine Pink

for more boutiques offering "Office Chic"

Another Enchanted Makeover Project

Today is the day for the Recipes of Hope Event in Kansas City.
For this event, I made and donated polka dot napkins for the luncheon.

Rachel Gaffney (who will be cooking live on the Martha Stewart Show March 16th) posted a pic of the beautiful tables all set for the luncheon. The tablecloths were made by Debbie Maddy of Calico Carriage Quilt Designs. And the placecards were made by Karen Keller-Eyer. Here is a link to her beautiful calligraphy photos on flickr.

These ladies are going to feel so special today! And that's what it's all about.
There were numerous donations including aprons for all of the ladies to wear while cooking together. Here is some more info on Enchanted Makeovers and this very special event.

It is estimated that one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime.

Many of these are “silent crimes”—they’re never reported to police, and often they aren’t even shared with friends. But over time they take their toll, both on the immediate victims and on society as a whole. Women who escape abusive situations—often with small children in tow—usually have only the few clothes and personal items they can throw in a tote bag. While shelters offer a place of refuge, the environment is often dreary and discouraging.

Enchanted Makeovers, an internationally recognized nonprofit organization, believes that everyone is worthy of surroundings that nurture their soul and allow their greatness to emerge. We are dedicated to transforming shelters for women and children into places of peace and possibilities—not just where basic needs are met, but also spiritual needs for hope and beauty. In some cases, this transformation is physical and includes an “extreme makeover” with new paint and furnishings; other times, it involves outreach events designed to strengthen and encourage everyone involved. We believe that love is in the details.

On March 9, 2010, Enchanted Makeovers is heading to Kansas City, Mo., as part of a one-day event to bring a message of hope and love to residents of NewHouse, a shelter for victims of domestic violence. The event, called Recipes of Hope, will involve cooking at Function Junction (www.functionjunction.com) with the 30 women who live at Newhouse and sitting down to the meal at nearby Gifted Hands (www.giftedhandskc.com) while sharing laughter, tears and fellowship. We will also bring numerous inspirational, practical and personal gifts for the shelter and its residents. This outreach would not be possible without the help of numerous donors and volunteers.

Please consider donating your time, talents or financial support to this worthwhile cause. Enchanted Makeovers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so your donation will be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Even more importantly, your donations will have a lasting impact on the women at Newhouse. Following the Sisterhood of Dreamers into Doers Shelter Event in New York City in January 2010, one of the directors noted, “The event demonstrated that there are many people who care about [the women here], and that they are not alone. … It showed them that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that they are not worthless, and that they are cared about more than they can imagine.”

To find out how you can contribute to the Recipes of Hope event in Kansas City, please contact me atEnchantedmakeovers@comcast.net.

The fabulous women who will teach the women a low cost healthy meal and dessert.

RACHEL GAFFNEYS AUTHENTIC IRISH GOODS
5515 TAMARON COURT
DALLAS,TX 75287
TEL: 469 644 6054
Rachel@Rachelgaffneys.com
www.rachelgaffney.blogspot.com

Karen Watts

food2style@aol.com

(214)682-5951

Karen E. Watts has enjoyed a wide variety of experiences in the culinary field. In addition to teaching at the Art Institute International Culinary Program and contributing to the Dallas Morning News as a food and home writer and photo stylist, she plans and caters special events throughout Kansas City and Dallas, TX. As an accomplished food stylist and writer, she remains current in all aspects of the culinary field. Karen will focus on the fine details of cooking that turn an everyday meal into a special occasion!

 Terry Grahl of Enchanted Makeovers is on a National Tour this year - heading up projects all over the country.  Here is a link to some of her upcoming events - Beauty and Hope National Tour and Schedule.

A Touch of Whimsy

We all need a little whimsy - don't you think?

Visit

Make Mine Pink

and

Hydrangea Home

for a "Touch of Whimsy"

Make Mine Pink's Friday themed shopping event

Remember all purchases at Hydrangea Home are 15% Off 

use code 15off during checkout until 3/9/10 

Ready for Spring Sale!

Enter code 15off during checkout

Good Until 3/9/10


Visit Hydrangea Home

Party Time!

Today is my daughter's 14th bday. Can't believe it!

Where did the time go?

So, on Saturday night we had 20 girls over for a celebration. 

Thanks to the snow day, we had time to make some fun party pom poms.

Inspired by the ones on this gorgeous blog...

Dreamy Whites

We used a Martha Stewart tutorial except we added a few more layers of tissue than instructed for fuller pom poms. Here is the link to the how-to.

We also used mixed the tissue colors and made little ones for the table.

Some of the girls wore these in their hair to dance the next day.

They just loved them!

The desserts!

We made mini and regular cupcakes in vanilla and chocolate.

But the frosting is what I need to share.

I found this recipe on a cooking forum a while back. 

Fluffy (not too sweet) Amazing Frosting

1 C Whipping Cream

1/4-1/2 C Milk

1/2 package instant pudding mix (4 serving box)

Combine all ingredients in a chilled mixing bowl. Beat with electric mixer until cream is whipped and pudding is dissolved and thick. 

You may need to adjust the amount of milk to get the right consistency. Too thick - add a little more milk. Too thin - add a little more pudding mix. 

I made a chocolate and a vanilla batch and piped the frosting on using a pastry bag. 

Here's what I'm thinking about for some other combos:

Pistachio frosting

Lemon frosting with a fresh blueberry on top

Lime (is there lime pudding mix?) with a fresh raspberry.

Don't they sound delicious?

You can also pipe some right into the cupcake before frosting for a yummy surprise filling!

Holy cow - I just went on the Jello website.

They have banana, COCONUT!, butterscotch, CHEESECAKE!, white chocolate....

I'm in trouble!

So, besides the cute little cupcakes, we also set up the chocolate fountain with fruits, marshmallows, pretzels and graham crackers for dipping.

Always a huge hit!

The Games

Some great fun games for teen parties.

We created a questionnaire for the girls to fill out. 

Twenty questions about the bday girl.

 The top 3 that knew her best got to choose a prize. 

A lot of fun!

Charades including pop songs, movies, etc.

Winning team chooses a prize.

And we were planning on playing Left, Right, Center (a fun dice game). 

We were going to use candy for this one but we ran out of time. 

The greatest story ever told. Someone starts of the story with a couple of sentences on paper. The book goes around the room and each girl adds to the story. The story is read out loud and the end. It's pretty funny what 14 year old girls write about. (mostly Justin Bieber)

The Prize Basket

Assorted lotions and lip gloss from Bath and Body

Nail Polish in funky colors

Hair flower clips

Headbands

Cosmetic bags

Genie twist hair towels

Starbuck's gift cards (this was a hot one)

Maybe you have some more great teen party ideas?

If you do, please share in the comments.

Thanks so much!

This post is participating in the following events. 

Make sure you visit them for some more creative inspiration!

at Twice Remembered

at Cindy's Romantic Home