Bell Peppers with a British Accent

TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEEEENNN!!!!

WOW what a year already! Fifteen days in and January has been currr-azy! Grand for sure, but crazy.

I've missed blogging. I really have! So if I'm a little excited about this post, forgive me, 'kay?

I'm glad we're friends :)

New Year's Eve was fabulous :) Hot chocolate, fireworks and a bonfire, just like we planned. Love :)

New Year's Day consisted of the long haul back to the big city. Two days later our work team was on the Coast for an event we were hosting...which may or may not have included the premiere of a certain British TV show dealing with a certain Dowager Countess....

 Kicking off the British theme, the night started out with "High Tea" -- our caterer was FANTASTIC. Y'all -- look at this GORGEOUS spread...scones, cookies, pastries, tea sandwiches...delicious.





A jolly good show!!! Jolly good show indeed :) I had GREAT fun talking in my fake British accent all night and wearing my ADORABLE little fascinator!!! I'm hoping to snag some photos from Bosslady and post them later.

Since then, work has been crazy busy. Add to that the fact that, for some reason, I've joined a 12-week 5 a.m. "boot camp" type program and it makes for some VERY long days! No regrets here though...just a day in the life! :)

I will tell you this, though...Once April gets here I will at last sleep like a little baby :) Aaaahhh....

Because of the craziness that is my schedule these days, I'm SO THANKFUL for meals like this that don't take a lot of time and/or effort, thus allowing me to crawl in bed by 9:30 :)

Instead of ground beef and white rice, I made these stuffed bell peppers using turkey meat and brown rice to give them a healthier kick, and I honestly could not taste the difference. I made this last week for supper and ate the leftovers for lunch, and they were just as delish the second time around -- YES!

First, brown your meat with some chopped onion - I don't use a lot of onion but you

can use as much as you like!



While this is going, you'll want to cut your bell peppers in half, clean them, and cook them. Cook them until they are just firm enough to pierce with a fork.

Add some tomatoes in their juice...

And your brown rice! I cooked mine ahead of time so there would be no crunchy. I also added a bit of shredded cheese at this point, just for giggles :)

 Then season as you wish :) I used salt, pepper,

Tony's and a dash of oregano.

Divide the mixure betwixt the peppers, I usually have a good bit left over.

Then top it with cheese like so... :)

Bake your peppers at 350 until the cheese is nice and melted and gooey :P

And then eat away -- ohhhh it's so delicous :)

Meanwhile I'm about to be an old lady and go to bed at 9pm...and with this rainy weather happening, sleep couldn't sound better :)

Stuffed Bell Peppers with Turkey and Brown Rice

Bell peppers - the number is up to you, I cut one in half and have two servings out of it

Lean ground turkey meat - I usually buy the smallest pack of meat, then only use half of that for this recipe.

Onion

Canned tomatoes

Brown rice

Shredded cheese

Various seasonings (I used salt, pepper, Tony's, and a dash of oregano)

Wash your peppers thoroughly and cut them in half, cleaning the seeds and spines from the middle.

Put them in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring the water to a boil and cook until the peppers are just firm enough to pierce with a fork.

Meanwhile, brown your meat with chopped onion - as much or as little as you like! Go ahead and cook your rice as well.

After the meat is done, add the canned tomatoes and their juice and some seasonings.

Add the rice to the mixture and a little of the cheese - just enough to make it creamy and all delicious-like! Add more seasoning if you so desire.

Once the peppers are done, allow them time to cool before adding the mixture. Don't be afraid to pile it on here!

Top with shredded cheese and bake for about 10 minutes (or until the cheese is nice and melted).

Voila! Your peppers are stuffed! And delicious...enjoy! :)

P.S. You'll most likely have some of the meat mixture left over. Do not panic! It tastes delicious on its own and makes for a great side dish the next day :)

Party Planning: Part Three

Happy New Year's Eve!

Who's excited? I'll tell you what I'm excited about...

Desserts!!!!

Who doesn't love them? I'm gonna get straight to the point here and present you with some eye candy....



Note: These are not my pictures; they were just too pretty not to post!


Ooh la la...
Beautiful, beautiful desserts! These are just a few ideas for your next party -- great for tonight if you're searching for a last-minute recipe for that party we've been talking about!

• Cake pops. They've been all the rage this year. While they do take time and planning, they're totally worth it. Usually they have to freeze overnight, but boy do they deliver. You can choose basically any flavor you want, with any icing you want, and boom, you have cake pops. Recipes are everywhere, but I found this one on Pinterest. It's a delicious little detail that you can mix with your color scheme! :)

• Cupcake Martinis. It's all about presentation here. Also doubles as pretty table decor! I don't drink, but I love the fun glasses.

• S'mores. YUM. If you're bonfiring tonight like us, s'mores are a must.
  
  No bonfire? No problem! Serve them as an inside treat like in the picture: Tip Junkie {source of picture} suggests to add some metallic sanding sugar on top for a nice sparkle.
  
  Another idea for inside s'mores is to put them in the oven just before serving. Turn your oven on broil to really get a nice "goo" factor going on. Then a touch a brown sugar, if you're a fan :) Loooooove!

Next....

All pictures from Pinterest :)

Is your mouth watering yet? I need cake. Stat.

• Clock cakes. Aren't these cute? I believe the picture is showing cheesecakes with an oreo crust, but get creative and bake your favorite cake in a round pan, then decorate away. If you're a fan a mini-cakes, it would be oh-so-adorable to give each guest their own clock at midnight!

• Giant oreo cake. Why have I never seen one of these until now? If you need a recipe for tonight...this is it! Go out and buy four, five, {however many!} etc. NOW!

• Cupcakes. Nuff said. Don't you just love the cute little signs?

• My favorite! Add a sparkler at midnight for a nice firecracker-y effect!

Okay. It's New Year's Eve and this post is late! So go out there and enjoy yourself -- everyone be safe! Happy New Year!

Don't forget your Midnight Kissses! ;)

Party Planning 101: Part Deux

I am officially hungry. WHY I choose to search the Internets for pictures of delicious party food in the weeee hours of the morning, I'll never understand.

But I did have coffee a little earlier, so maybe I do understand.

REGARDLESS!

For me, the most exciting part about throwing a party (regardless of occasion) is choosing the menu. I mean, apart from all the partying-with-loved-ones thing. That's pretty exciting too actually.

I love parties, I love to cook, and I love to eat. Therefore, I must make myself love to exercise. But that's beside the point.

Food tends to be a large focus of any party. But don't let its importance intimidate you. While catering is great and saves you lots of time, it can be expensive and hard to come by during the holidays. It takes work, but if you strategize, then catering your own party can actually be fun.

Your menu depends on your atmostphere. If you're planning a nice sit-down dinner for a smaller crowd, you might go the traditional route and opt for something like spaghetti and meatballs with a nice salad and warm, crusty french bread. Let's face it, spaghetti is one of those rare things that, the more you make, the better it tastes.

What I've found, though, is that finger foods go a long way. In the past, my parties have included a lot of games and mingling. Finger foods are great for this type of atmosphere; that way, your guests can keep nibbling throughout the night and you don't have to clear the table until much, much later!

Let's get started on your party menu, shall we? Note the inspiration board. Fancy.

Note: None of these pictures are mine. Check my Pinterest page and Google images ;)

• Kelly from Just a Taste has a fantastic recipe for this Guacamole Bruschetta. I love guacamole and I love bruschetta. Genius.

• You can't go wrong with Piggies in Blankets -- it's a staple at any party that I throw. If you're like me, and a little grossed out by pork dogs, try the turkey ones. I actually prefer the taste of the turkey ones, and I'm convinced that they're at least a wee bit better for you!

• Finger sandwiches - also a staple and always a hit. So easy to make and much cheaper than ordering out for sandwiches. Just prep these babies about an hour before the party (or more if you have room to store them in your fridge!) and you're good to go. Wham, bam, thank you m'am.

• Why not mix tradition up a little? I came across this black eyed pea salad on Delish and can't wait to try it out. However, I'm thinking of mixing it up a little, and instead of the yellow peppers, maybe throw in a little mango? Kind of like a twist on mango salsa, yes? Let me know if any of you have other ideas for this dish!

Other ideas:

• Guacamole and chips (or tiny toasts!)
• Party BBQ sausages and meatballs - we've ALL seen them in crock pots at every party!
• Chex Mix - get creative and make your own!
• Rotel dip -- yummm
• Veggie tray - guilt-free and healthy! Perfect for nibbling :)
• Chili, gumbo, chowder, or basically any kind of soup.
• Red beans & rice - These can be put in the crock pot that morning and be ready by the time your party starts!
• Twice Baked Potatoes - The Pioneer Woman has a fantastic recipe on her site, an even better one in her cookbook!
• Taco Bar - I know from experience this is in fact affordable and delicious!

NOTE: This actually IS mine! Thank you dear iPhone!

If you prefer an outdoor party and are up for a bonfire, roasting hot dogs is a great way to get guests mingling and eating. Be sure to have the chips and drinks on hand though!

Pot luck dinners are also fun. Everyone has their own version of "party food," and many people have that "one dish" that they can make like no one else...if you're planning ahead of time, draw names to see who will bring a dessert, who will bring an entree, a drink, etc., then enjoy the delicious results :)

For some of you realllly crazy cats whose parties won't be starting until MUCH later, think about a breakfast party. I'm thinking pancakes, eggs, beignets, whatever you prefer! (I've made beignets from simple $1.00 pancake mix out of the box and they turned out delicious)

From Epicurious.com

Then again, I have some very fond memories of nights where the only menu was pizza. It's all completely up to you.

While food can be an important part of your soiree, it doesn't have to be the star of the show. What matters is that you enjoy your time with your guests and celebrate the occasion.

The main thing to remember in building your menu is that you don't have to make this an "all you can eat" buffet. Don't overwhelm yourself with having to make LOTS of amounts of LOTS of dishes. Choose a few dishes that you enjoy making and that fit your budget, then stick with those to feed your posse'.

Is it okay that I said posse'?

A Time to Celebrate

Hellooooo there!

Hope all of you had the MERRIEST of Christmases! I'm so thankful for this time of year and the time I've been able to spend with my family this past week. Our whole family was able to be together this year for Christmas, and the older I get the more thankful I am when that happens. It's such a special time of year, and as fun and exciting as traveling and parties can be, for me there's no better place to be than at home on Christmas :)

What a year, right? I say this every year, but this year seems to have FLOWN by. Where did 2012 go? It really does feel like it was only a few weeks ago that we were ringing in 2012, wondering what the year would hold. There's been a lot of happy and a lot of sad, but by the grace of God we have made it y'all. What a year!

So since 2013 is all of...72(ish) hours away (!!!!), I believe it's time to CELEBRATE! Who's got some exciting plans in the works?

Every year I'm RIDICULOUSLY  tempted to throw a fancy-schmancy bash at my parents' home. I love the idea of wearing high heels and glitter and sequins as I dance and mingle with my friends from back home, and this year is no different. However, usually something falls into place and we usually find ourselves at my grandparents' house watching the kids light fireworks until the wee hours of the morning. No regrets here. Pure memories :)

Those who know me well know that one of my hobbies is throwing parties and entertaining. Throughout my time living at home, my parents graciously allowed me to throw various parties year after year, usually with the same circle of friends. Even after we all left for college, we continued to gather at my parents' house for quite the reunion.

Throughout the years, there were Luaus...

{picture to come soon; digital cameras were not around then!}

 

 

Fiestas...

(the guys refused to take a picture that night ;) )

Christmases...



 

Birthdays...

 

Late-night dance parties...

 

 

...and many other parties, whether spur-of-the-moment or planned weeks in advance. I love everything about throwing parties --- the planning, the food, the decorations, the themes, the prep work, the outfits...need I go on? ;)

 

Last year, I had a grand idea of trying to throw together a party around noon on New Year's Eve. (I'm all for spontaneity ;) HA!) As soon as the idea came to me, I IMMEDIATELY started texting all of my friends that I had hoped were in town: "Party? My parents' place? Tonight? Happy New Year!" Although a few of them actually were in town, later that night I found myself having the best New Year's Eve yet, sitting by a bonfire at my grandparents' house, watching fireworks, texting a certain someone and drinking my grandmother's hot chocolate. Pure magic ;)

 

So who knows what this year will hold! I'm looking forward to see.

 

Be sure to check out tomorrow's post...it's going to be a fun one! I'm in full party-planning mode and can't wait to share! :)

 

What are your plans for New Year's Eve?