I’ve been loving Pinterest lately–especially for snagging easy, delicious recipes. Last week, I came across two recipes that sounded absolutely delightful and seemed super simple.
Recipe #1: Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Hummus is a staple in our home. It’s the perfect dip and a great alternative to chips and salsa (which, although very near and dear to my heart, is not the healthiest of options). Coupled with baked pita chips or your favorite vegetable, hummus is such a delicious snack.
So when I came across this recipe, I knew I had to try it myself. It takes a matter of minutes and just a few ingredients to make–and will certainly leave your taste buds thanking you.
Ingredients:
- 1 red bell pepper
- 12 oz. can of garbanzo beans
- 2 tablespoons of tahini
- 2.5 tablespoons of olive oil
- Salt/pepper to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon of cumin
- Garlic (minced or powder) to taste
- Juice from 1/2 lemon
While the recipe calls for a “roasted” red pepper, I didn’t roast mine and it turned out just as tasty. Simply combine all ingredients in a blender, serve and enjoy!
Recipe #2: Cinnamon Apple Chips
The second recipe that caught my eye was homemade apple chips. It includes only two ingredients (apples and cinnamon) and couldn’t be easier!
Using medium-sized red delicious apples, I cored the apples, sliced them into thin rings, placed them on a sheet pan and sprinkled cinnamon on both sides of the slices. The recipe suggested to bake them at 275 degrees for two hours but this was just too long to wait. So instead, I baked mine for 1 hour at 325 and flipped them after 30 minutes.
In the end, we had beautiful golden brown baked apple rings that tasted just as delicious and sweet as the kitchen smelled. It’s simply the most perfect fall treat.
What new recipes have you found?
Yesterday I came across this site and immediately fell in love. I’m not sure if Twitter recently unveiled this or if I’ve just been living under a rock. Either way, have a look and see for yourself. I especially like movie critic Roger Ebert‘s story. It’s a collection of stories from Twitter–and it’s brilliant. Happy reading.
I’ve seen lots of A to Z posts floating around the blogosphere lately, so I figured… It’s my turn! I absolutely love this idea. While most of you probably know the basics about me, why not jazz things up with a little A to Z?
A. Age – 26.
B. Bed size – Queen. We desperately need to bite the bullet and buy a king.
C. Chore that you hate – Giving Loui a bath. This is by far the chore I avoid the most. Fiance is stuck bathing him most of the time and if not, we pay a pretty penny for Loui to get pampered.
D. Dogs – Loui. Aka, the love of my life.
E. Essential start to your day – The Today Show. The TV goes on right at 7 a.m., just in time to see my friends Matt and Ann.
F. Favorite color – People who know me in real life would probably say black or white. And while most of my closet consists of those colors, I often gravitate toward the turquoise family–not necessarily in terms of clothing but definitely for home decor and accessories.
G. Gold or silver – Why choose one? They are both beautiful, and beautiful together!
H. Height – 5’4”.
I. Instruments you play – I took guitar lessons in middle school. Does that count?
J. Job title – Word nerd. (Obviously kidding, although SO TRUE.)
K. Kids – Eventually.
L. Live – Deep in the heart of Texas.
M. Mother’s name – Marilyn.
N. Nicknames – Oh no, we’re not even going there.
O. Overnight hospital stays – One time… but only because that anesthesia knocked. me. out.
P. Pet peeves – People who smack their gum, walk slowly in the mall or airport, don’t say thank you when you hold the door open… I mean, let’s be honest. I could go on and on.
Q. Quote from a movie – I love any and all ’90s comedies. There are simply too many great, cheesy quotes to pick a favorite!
R. Right or left handed – Right.
S. Siblings – Three siblings (two boys, one girl), all younger. Our family pretty much resembles The Brady Bunch.
T. Time it takes you to get ready – Usually about an hour to an hour-and-a-half.
U. Underwear – You didn’t really think I’d answer this one, did you?
V. Vegetable you hate – Beets, ew.
W. What makes you run late – When I can’t decide what to wear. This usually results in a huge mound of clothes on the bed and me saying, “I need to go shopping.”
X. X-rays you’ve had – Ankles, feet, arm.
Y. Yummy food you make – I like to think I’m pretty good in the kitchen. My homemade spaghetti, garlic mashed potatoes, pork chops and quiche are some of our favorites.
Z. Zoo animal – If I had to pick a favorite zoo animal, it would probably be the orangutans. They are so human-like and have the funniest habits. LOVE!
Now you know a little bit more about me from A to Z. Your turn!
About a year-and-a-half ago, I was itching to rescue a dog. Somehow, I managed to talk the fiance into humoring the idea. Then suddenly, this little guy was ours.
It was pretty scary at first. Sure I knew the basics since I had a dog growing up, but fiance never owned a cat or a dog and this was a whole new adventure for him. Neither of us really knew how this was going to turn out.
I don’t think either of us slept the first week Loui was with us. With every tiny move he made, I jumped up and ran over to his little doggie bed. Of course, it was never anything serious or anything at all… I just couldn’t stop worrying. (I’m sure this comes as no surprise.)
And after countless road trips to and from San Antonio and moving twice (including to a new city), Loui has settled in perfectly with the two of us together, all under one roof. We’re one happy family–and he’s our little cuddlebug.
Happy birthday to the guy who is the greatest and sweetest addition to our lives, who is the perfect couch potato partner, who gives infinite kisses and loves us unconditionally. We love you.
When we first moved in to our new place in San Antonio, the apartment was a mish-mosh of furniture, art and decor. The sports memorabilia and flowery pillows didn’t make for the prettiest of combinations. It was apparent from the get-go that some home decor changes were in store.
We’ve now been living together for 3+ months and I’m excited to say that it’s starting to feel like home. Here are a few spots that I absolutely adore. From the new studded bench and art in our entryway (top left and right) to the nook in our living room with art and family photos (bottom left), our new little nest is becoming our home.
Snagging items from discounted stores and antique shops, we’ve been able to do most of the design with a small budget–which is certainly a plus. It’s not too girly and not too masculine. It’s the perfect combination of our tastes and needs.
We were inspired by warm colors and comfortable fabrics. And I think it’s pretty safe to say that I now have an obsession with throw pillows. It’s been a lot of fun making this place our own.
Where do you get your home decor inspiration?
You haven’t heard much from this little part of the blogosphere lately–and that’s because I’ve been busy. Busy still getting settled in San Antonio. Busy with wedding stuff. Busy with work. Busy with life.
But today, something happened that threw me quite the curveball… a blessing, if you will. When life hands you lemons, make lemonade, right? So, I’m going to make lemonade, lemon bars, lemon drop martinis, lemon meringue pie and plant lemon trees.
I’m also going to catch up on the 949 blog posts that are staring at me in Google Reader (I wish I were kidding). I’m going to get organized around the house. I’m going to live. I’m not going to divulge any specifics, but I feel good putting this on paper. Or well, the Internet. So yeah, lemons.
In other news… What are you up to?
