S'mores bars are better than other bars...

You made it! It's Friday!

 

I hope your last few hours of work go smoothly, and that your perfect hair day holds out through the rest of the afternoon.

 

May your drive home be safe and without incident, because as we all know, there's nothing worse that making it through the work week, all the way to Friday at freedom time, only to get in a fender bender, have your kid come home from school sick with some kind of plague, or realize that your face has been developing a surprise zit for you to discover only when you try to go get ready for your fun night out tonight....

 

So, good luck...

 

For those of you that end up having any of these unfortunate circumstances occur, and you are now forced to stay at home...on a Friday night...don't fret. It's probably better this way anyhow...Why you ask, is staying home on a Friday night better that going out?

 

I'll tell you...

 

1. the sweatpants you've been rockin' since your sophomore year in highschool are the dress code.

2. no makeup required...so bust out that clay mask you bought at Target, like, 2 months ago and get to detoxin' those pores.

3. If you dribble your wine down your chin, just grab the neck of you shirt and dab it up.

4. It's a good night for pizza rolls anyways.

5. you can catch up on your DVR shows and finally delete those 27 episodes of Dance Moms and Duck Dynasty.

6.  You could finally clean the house and do the laundry... totally kidding

7.  You could clean out the pantry and throw away the box of white rice from 2007

and that can of creamed corn from 2009.

8.  You can catch up on your reading... seriously, go finish those three half-read novels on your nightstand.

9.  2:00 am is the "bad decision hour" so go to bed already.

 

10. S'MORES BARS!!!

 

With that said, I'd like to invite you to a special kind of party..

A party with no bad decision making or hangovers to follow....

A party with only 5 guests..

Graham crackers

Butter

Marshmallows

Chocolate

and your face :)

 

Now I'm perfectly aware that this is not an original idea.  S'mores bars have been around for a while, but if you're anything like me, you kind of forgot about them, and now the thought of making them makes you feel as if you've stumbled upon some life-altering revelation. 

 

So, gather up the ingredients, (if you have to run to the store it's ok, sweatpants are ok grocery store attire....at least that's what I tell myself) and get the DVR ready to go, the glass o' wine nearby, and let's get our S'mores on ;)

 

 

S'mores Bars

about 40 of the big marshmallows (not the jumbo campfire ones...too big)

4 tbsp butter

4 milk chocolate Hershey bars

3 packages of graham crackers (not boxes, the wrapped packages inside)

 

a pot

a big spoon

pan lined with foil and sprayed

 

 

1.  Get your ingredients together...

 

 

2. Chop up your graham crackers and chocolate to about penny sized pieces...

 

 

3. In your pot, on medium heat, melt your butter...

 

 

4.  Then add in the marshmallows and melt until smooth...stir constantly so they don't burn...

 

 

5. Once it's smooth, take off heat and IMMEDIATELY add in your grahams and chocolate and fold, fold, fold, until all mixed up...

 

 

6.  Spread into greased and foil lined pan and press down ..

 

 

7.  Once cooled, lift foil out and cut your bars into squares.. It helps to separate them by little wax paper squares too :)

 

 

 

Enjoy :)

 

Now grab a few of these ooey gooey babies, refill the glass of wine, and plop down with Honey Boo Boo or Dance Moms or whatever secret shame of a television show you like, and revel in the fact that while you are relaxing in the comfort of your own sweatpants, on your own couch, with a delicious treat and mind numbing programming, your friends are out at the bar slowly drinking away their chances of waking the next morning with any dignity or recollection of the events following their 2:00 am Taco Bell run.

 

 

 

Cheers :)

 

 

 

:) Ashley

 

 

 

 

 





Autumn Wreaths Galore!

 

Hello there.  It's almost Friday!

 

As if that wasn't a happy enough thought for you, here's another one...

 

Fall is just around the corner!!!

 

If you're anything like me, Fall is your FAVORITE time of year.  The thought of it makes you giggle like a schoolgirl on pixie sticks, like a Trek-y at a convention, like Lucy on Jambalaya night (seriously my 3 year daughter loves her some spicy Cajun food...), or like a new mother hearing a wine cork pop and knowing she gets a glass of the good stuff after 9 long months of waiting...

 

There's just no wiggle room on this for me.  I will not listen to anyone giving me reasons why summer is the best because of swimming pools, tank tops, sun tans, driving with the windows down and July 4th fireworks. I'm just not a summer lover...

 

 Here's a list of reasons why:

1. It's too stinkin' hot

2. my arms tan, but my legs somehow stay a lovely shade of "deep ocean creature under belly" white.

3. all my kids want to do is play outside, despite the fact that the second we walk outside we shed a layer of skin.

4. Swimsuits...I'm sorry, but I'm still trying to lose that last 10lbs of baby weight without resorting to diet and exercise....really keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

5. Being sweaty....I don't like it.

6. Public pools... I hate to paint a picture here, but all I see when I walk up to the edge of a public pool is all the people who are sitting oddly still in the water....yeah, you know what they're doing. 

7. mosquitoes

8. Blood sucking ticks..

9. Burgers on the grill that inevitably end the size and shape of a golf ball.

-and-

10. fireworks. please don't gasp in horror or shake your head in disappointment...I just don't do fireworks.  Of course I'll pretend to be thrilled for my daughters' sake when they get the explosive-loving stage of their childhood, but really all I'm doing while fireworks are going off is daydreaming about...

 

 

Autumn!!!!

 

...and all the wonderful elements that go along with this most perfect season.

 

 I love, Love LOVE Fall...

 

Here's a list of reasons why:

 

1. It's cool outside, so no more sweat!...... unless your that guy who got so amped for his first football grill-out of the year and you just downed an entire platter of smoked ribs, meatballs and chicken wings that you now have the "meat sweats"....that doesn't count...........

 

-moving on-

 

2. The way delicate ribbons of steam rise, do a little dance, and then disappear from the top of your favorite coffee mug into the crisp morning air as you enjoy a cup on your front porch.

3. Lightweight sweaters, knit hats, colorful scarves and your knee high Uggs you can finally dust off.

4. Leaves are turning stunning shades of yellow, orange and red.

5. "Deep ocean creature under belly" white, is an accepted skin color this time of year.

6. Any and all things pumpkin and/or cinnamon flavored/scented.

7. Fall scented Yankee candle tarts (my husband's secret shame... sorry honey.. I love that about you)

8. That moment when your nestled on the couch and the first Christmas commercial of the season shows on tv (almost always the Hershey kisses bells) and you can actually feel your heart smile and the urge to run through the streets kissing strangers overwhelms you.

9.  Big thick socks that you could never wear shoes with, but that you can walk out to get the mail in.

 

- and-

 

10.  FRONT DOOR WREATHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

All front doors deserve a good Fall wreath.  

 

In my opinion there's no better way to say...

 

 "Welcome to our Home! Through these doors you will be greeted by the scent of cinnamon and spice, some kind of meat roasting in the oven, a crackling fireplace, and an overwhelming sea of earthy orange and red toned decorations. Please, let me take your jacket for you, and here is a small bottle of Visine for you to keep, as we have so many Yankee candles lit in various Fall scents, that your retinas may start to burn a bit...So please, apply a couple drops and come in and make yourself at home".

 

I'm sure at this point your saying to yourself, "Oh Ashley, you are so right! I should get the perfect wreath for my front door for Fall.  I'm so glad I read your blog, you've really guided me in the right direction on MORE than one occasion!"

 

....or something like that...

 

But wait, it's not that easy to just pick a wreath...what kind of Fall wreath will you pick? The classic, stereotypical for good reason, Red and Orange themed, leaves and mini pumpkin covered circle of happiness? Like this one...

 

This wreath hails from Pottery Barn .  I love it! Very classic.

Too common? Too been there done that? How about something a little more "natural" and "edgy", like this one....

 

This twigs and pomegranate beauty is from LL Bean.  Get it here.

 

 

 

Moving on to the more modern style wreaths... Tighter in form and typically sporting a ribbon at the bottom or at the top as a method of hanging from the door. Very sheek but still radiating Autumnal beauty...

 

What's that you say? Sometimes you feel like a nut?

Acorn Wreath From Martha Stewart Designs.

 

or, Sometimes ya' don't... But orange berries and a lovely green ribbon would float your wreath loving boat?  Well here you go!

This adorably bright and happy wreath is from a lovely little Etsy shop called TwoInspireYou.

They have several different designs, all equally festive. You can buy them here.

 

Or, maybe a little Rustic Luxe is more your style? Then pine cones and deer antlers could be just the ticket! Pair it with this handsome metal wreath hanger and a door knocker with your initial on it and you've set the stage for a classy and rustic front door.

 

Heck.. with this wreath as your first impression all you need now is an ascot and sipping brandy and you'll be quite the cool host.

 

Wreath and door hanger from Pottery Barn

 

 

And last but not least on my tour o' wreaths is this charming little wreath.  It's white, which does say more Winter than Fall,  but since there are no typical Christmas colors, it could still be used as a fall wreath, or more of "end of Fall, nod to Winter" wreath.  The little bird is a nice touch.

This lovely white wreath is from

 Thistle Wood Farms.  Check out her site here.

 

 

Well that's it...

 

Those were some of my favorite wreaths for the season that trumps all other seasons...

 

The season that rescues you from the feverish, fire-y grasp of summer and caresses you in cool, refreshing weather and the sweet smells of baking and burning leaves in the distance for a brief month or two, and then shoves you head first into the frigid world of winter...sigh...that's ok... 

 

Like all love stories, the best ones are brief and fleeting, leaving you with such sweet memories that you don't even mind that they came and went so quickly....

 

Hey, as long as there are random roasting meats, various kinds of pie, so many lit candles that your eyes water, and sugar plums dancing in the far corners of my head, then I'll be ok :)

 

:) Ashley

 





"American as Apple Pie" Enchiladas

It's pre-Friday! yay!

 

Granted, tomorrow is my Monday as far as work schedules go, but that's ok. I won't be a downer...

 

So I promised you an update to the enchilada night we had last night.  Let me just say, yummers :) Now, I love to cook. And when it comes to cooking a real honest-to-goodness meal, I like a recipe that's a little on the labor intensive side. I love the chopping, dicing, julienning, zesting, (break for a sip of wine), marinating, braising, etc etc that comes along with a real meal.  I've never been a huge fan of those recipes you see floating around Facebook or Pinterest where is says something along the lines of..

 

"2 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies"

 

-or-

 

"Cake mix Cookie Dough kids fun dip"

I actually saw a share for something like this and I have to say, I cringed....It was along the lines of..

-a box of yellow cake mix

-a block of cream cheese

-a stick of butter

-a bag of candy

-a bag of chocolate chips

-a pound of sugar

- another block of cream cheese

-20 pixie stick tubes

and a dash of arterial plaque.

 

It was bad...now, we like sweets in this house too, don't get me wrong...I made S-mores bars for dessert last night, and for goodness sakes, I own a bakery, but there just seems to be something wrong when a recipe asks for a box of cake mix that gets mixed with random fats and then other stuff mixed in.... I mean, I know we can all picture ourselves standing at the counter with a bowl and a spoon and our little ones are either sitting on the counter next to the bowl or they are standing on the dining room chairs that they pulled into the kitchen. Kids LOVE helping in the kitchen, especially sweet stuff.  They love cracking an egg, or trying to pour a little vanilla into a little teaspoon and then pouring it in the bowl...I just can't imagine asking my kid to dump the cake mix powder into the bowl and then having my other little one plop in the block o' cheese...
and that's it...

that's their dessert...

Enjoy kids.

MAMA OUT...

*drops the spoon from high up like a rapper drops the mic*

 

....am I alone on this one?...

Maybe it's just me.

I mean no offense.

There, I made my peace.

Moving on.

 

I got a little off topic...as this post is about enchiladas, not Pinterest Fun Dip. Now, these are not the super authentic-y kind of enchiladas, like the kind where at some point in the recipe a mortar and pestle is used, maze is ground down to make tortillas, or it calls for a cup of shredded Oaxaca Cheese and you curse the heavens for missing that part of the recipe and now the whole thing will be ruined if you cheat and use Velveeta...no nothing like that.... just good old fashioned enchilada ingredients brought together in such a perfect way that if this had been the pilgrims first Thanksgiving meal, they may have decided to settle a little farther south if they knew this was the kind of meal they would be having on a nightly basis...just sayin'.

 

There is some chopping, shredding, grating and wine drinking involved, so allow a little time.

 

"American as Apple Pie" Enchiladas

 

3 chicken breasts

1 tbsp. each:

-cumin

-smoked paprika

-ancho chili powder

-garlic powder

 

1 tsp each:

-salt

-pepper

-cinnamon

 1 cup water

1 small yellow onion finely diced

1 medium green pepper finely diced

1 large-ish can red enchilada sauce

1 can black beans drained

1 small can diced green chilis

 1 package tortillas, (you'll need about 8-10)

one block Monterey jack cheese

one block mild cheddar

 

9x13 glass baking dish

foil

 

 

1. Cook chicken breasts either in the oven at 350 until cooked through, or in a skillet until cooked through, then shred them up.

 



 

 

2.  In a bowl add in all the spices, salt, pepper, and cinnamon to the chicken...

 

 

 

 

 

3.  Toss it up...

 

 

 

 

4 add in green chiles and pour in about 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce..

 

 

5.  Drain the black beans over the sink and rinse off any extra liquid...

 

 

 

6. While beans drip dry, finely dice up an onion...

 

 

7. ...and a green pepper...

 

 

8.  Over medium heat, sauté the chopped veggies with a little splash of veggie or olive oil...

 

 

 

9.  While the peppers and onions are sautéing, (make sure you stir occasionally) shred one of the blocks of cheese (it doesn't matter which. the other block will be shredded and sprinkled on top of enchiladas, so it just depends if you want yellow cheese on top, or white) oh, and if you have an ancient cheese grater from gladiator times, that's a nice touch...

 

 

 

10. Once the veggies take on that slightly translucent look and they've sweated it out a bit, add those, the beans and shredded cheese into chicken mixture. Toss it up. 

 

 

 

11.  Now grab your pan and line it with foil.  Grab your stack of tortillas, a pair of tongs, and start stuffing the enchiladas.

 

 

 

 

12.  Roll them up tight and place them seam side down in the pan, and line them up snugly in the pan...

 

 

13. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over the tops...

 

 

14.  If you haven't already, shred your last block of cheese and then spread that evenly over the saucy enchiladas...

 

 

 

15.  ok, throw them in the oven at 400 for about 40 minutes until all cheese is melted and edges start to brown and crisp.

 

 

16.  Let them cool for about 15 minutes before even attempting to get them out of the pan. 

 

 

I don't have a final pretty plated pic (say that 5 times fast) because the starving children/husband in my house kept asking "is it ready yet?!" "how much longer?!" "are they done?!" "mom i'm hungry!"

 

...I swear I had so many panicked voices coming at me it that I imagine is was like when some poor sap is trying to diffuse a bomb and different members of the squad keep yelling,

 

     "CUT THE BLUE WIRE!"

        

     "NO! CUT THE RED WIRE!"

 

      "CUT THEM BOTH FOR GOOD MEASURE!" 

 

....ok, well I've never heard that last one in any suspense flick, but I seems like a good idea to me....then again, I thought it was a good idea to make ravenous children wait for meal that requires "cooling time"...

 

Will I ever learn?  It's ok though, I kept their minds off their growling tummy's by having them help me at the counter making dessert :)  Something else to look forward too always helps with kids.

Especially when it's S'mores bars.... more on that later:)

 

Enjoy the Enchiladas!

 

........OH,  and when it comes time for dishes, don't let your husband offer to do them, and then pull the move where he just decides it would be best to "soak them in the sink overnight"...this only means he's gonna leave for work extra early in the morning and therefore "forget" to finish washing them before he leaves....

 

...nice try...

 

 

 

:) ashley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 



Come Hell or Hayfever

Hola.

 

As I sit at my dining room table, listening as the baby monitors reveal the bazaar sounds of small children who haven't yet fallen asleep for their naptimes.  Seriously, it's like a funhouse/asylum up there...random laughing and whaling and then sounds as if they are attempting escape...but then sudden silence....

 

...ah babies... never a dull moment....

 

Moving on.

 

So my husband will be out at the farmhouse working hard this afternoon and into the evening.  We took it easy as a family last night and just relaxed at home, so needless to say, he has some making up to do.  So, being the stand-up wife I am, I thought I'd make a delicious dinner of homemade Chicken Enchiladas and for a special little treat, S'mores bars for dessert...

 

But, alas, just as my husband will have to wait until later tonight to dine on such a scrumptious meal (which I will have lovingly wrapped in saran wrap and left on the counter for him to reheat when he gets home) you too, will have to wait for that mouth-watering post until tomorrow.

 

...I'm sorry. I have to pick by battles, err, posts...

 

However, as the chicken breasts simmer away in all the herbs and spices in the crockpot, making them all the more fall-aparty, I will share with you our newest addition to Project Farmhouse...

 

 

TREES!

 

Please, try to contain your enthusiasm for a post about trees...

 

Here's the new members of the family...

 

This is Ginger... She's an Autumn Blaze maple.

 

 

 

She'll eventually look like this...

 

 

(she'll get about 40 feet high according to the tree people)

 

 

...and this was Ginger being manhandled by the nursery guys trying to get her off the truck...

 

 

...and here's Handsome pants (my dog, Balou) watching those workers manhandle the tree that he was already daydreaming about lifting a leg to...

 

 

...and here's our toes....

I mean come on, that's a cute shot and you know you would have snapped that pic too.

 

 

..and Lucy asking me why those men were digging holes in our yard...

 

 

 

 

Ok, back on track...

These next trees are actually a pretty exciting and sentimental part of this whole process for me.  Growing up, it was just my mom and I in a little duplex. In between the duplexes that went all the way up the street, there were two big pink flowering Crabapple trees.  I loved these trees. I am an only child and there weren't many kids on my street, so most of my free time was spent doing one of 3 things.

 

1. climbing the Crabapple trees

 

2. Cutting little flower bunches

from the trees and pretending

I was a fairy princess.

 

-or-

 

3. developing such severe allergies to the trees at age 12 that I had to actually be taken out of school for about two weeks because my eyes itched so badly that my own rubbing them had given me black eyes...literally...it was insane...

 

.....Did I mention that I was a complete nerd at this point in my life?  Let me just say that sporting the Rocky Balboa look in addition to rocking some seriously frizzy hair and out of control forehead acne was just, in my opinion, a cruel trick on nature's part.

 

...excuse me while I go find my zen place, repeat a few calming words, and realign my Chi...

 

.........................

 

ok, Namaste.

 

Moving on.

 

So, despite the brief bout of severe allergic reaction to these beautiful flowering trees, I did eventually recover, and my love for them has stayed strong.  I knew when we bought the land a few years back that one day, we would be able to finally build our farmhouse and that come Hell or Hayfever, I would have a Crabapple lined road in front of my home.  Hopefully my daughters enjoy being fairy princesses amongst these pink flowering trees as much as I did :)

 

...And should they develop frizzy hair and the black eye allergies like I did, well then they will just have to become attic children until the plague passes.....

 

 

(they'll eventually look like this)

 

 

 

It was good reminiscing with you :)

We'll talk enchiladas tomorrow.

 

:) ashley

 



Triple Threat Blueberries and Cream Coffee Cake vs. Monday

Happy Monday!

 

For your sanity's sake I hope you have your coffee in hand and are having a good hair day, otherwise, well, it's just Monday.

 

So if you are anything like me, you are already off task and daydreaming about what shows are on tv tonight, if you have any wine in the rack, and what you will be making (or picking up on your way home...i don't judge) for dinner.  AND, if you're feeling extra loving towards your family, you may even pull out the big guns, and make dessert...

 

 

...queue the horns and summon the dancing jesters...

 

.... Oh yes, this is happening....

 

Now what to make? Hmmm, cake is a little too fancy, afterall it's Monday.  Brownies, sure, but they are pretty rich, and don't forget, you need to save room for that glass of wine or three or two.  Hmm, cookies? Nah, don't want to worry about having to do "batches" of anything....oh wait! how about

 

TRIPLE THREAT BLUEBERRIES AND CREAM COFFEE CAKE

 

Why triple threat you ask? Because not only does it have cream cheese accompanying the berries, it also has a lovely, crispy crumb topping, and also a vanilla sauce drizzled over it after it emerges from the oven...

 

...i'll wait while you take a second to fan yourself like you do when reading 50 Shades...

 

This dessert is so incredibly good, I just have no words.  Just make it and you'll know.

Eat your heart out Monday.

 

 

Triple Threat Blueberries and Cream Coffee Cake

1 large mixing bowl and a handmixer and either a round 9 inch cake pan or square pan of equal volume.

For the Coffee Cake:

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 stick unsalted butter at room temp

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup milk

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries divided

1 8oz block cream cheese frozen (or at least firmed up in the freezer) and cut into pea size cubes

 

For Crumb Topping:

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup white sugar

4 tbsp. cold butter cut into tiny cubes (pea sized or smaller)

1 tsp cinnamon

 

For Vanilla Sauce:

 1 cup powdered sugar

4 tbsp. butter melted

1 tsp vanilla

2 tbsp. water or milk to thin sauce

 



 1. Mix all the dry ingredients for the coffee cake in a large mixing bowl. Whisk it up to blend well. Add in the softened stick of butter.

 

2. Blend it all on low with a hand mixer until the mixture resembles a mix of coarse and fine crumbles.

 

 

3. Find two lovely brown eggs and take a picture of them.

 

 

4. Crack the eggs into the bowl, then pour in milk...

 

 

5. ..and the vanilla...

 

 

6. Blend it all with the mixer on low until it's all blended but still has very small bits in it...like this...

 

 

7. Now add in half the blueberries and 3/4 of the cream cheese bits and fold them in gently.

(Fold- the opposite of stir angrily)

Then pour that mixture into your greased, or foil lined pan of choice, and then sprinkle the remaining blueberries and cream cheese bits on top.

 

 

8. In a separate small bowl combine all of your crumb topping ingredients...

 

 

 

 

 ..and mix them up into a nice coarse, crumbly mix.  You should still have nice butter chunks...

 

(Butter Chunks- a term not used often enough)

 

 Evenly spread all of the crumb topping on top of the cake mix.

 

 

9.  Now toss the pan into the oven at 350^ for about 40-50 minutes or until the top is all golden brown and crisp, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

 

10.  While the coffee cake is cooling, make your vanilla sauce. Just melt your butter in a dish, then add in your powdered sugar, vanilla, and 2 tbsp. water.  Mix it with a fork until smooth.  Make sure not to make it too thin, otherwise once you drizzle it on the warm coffee cake it will soak down into it.  You want it stay on top of the coffee cake and be all melty and yummy.

 

It should look like this when done...

 

 

(I tried making the picture bigger for maximum "IN YOUR FACE" effect, but my computer hates me, so, ya know)

 

 

Anyways, there you have it folks. A Monday night dessert sure to please everyone! So serve it up to the family, do your dishes, tidy up the house, toss the kids into bed, then settle in with your glass of wine, the remote, and a slice of this Blueberry heaven, and enjoy :)

 

...If you end up with blueberry stains in your sheets I cannot be held responsible...

 

 

:) Ashley