My husband and I both like breakfast foods. But we really only get to enjoy them on the weekends. Usually, it's some form of eggs, breakfast sandwiches or an occasional quiche. I like trying new breakfast recipes. This one combines our favorites - bacon, eggs and cheese, all wrapped up in a crescent roll. And it couldn't be easier. I found the recipe via Pinterest here.
Ingredients:
1 can of crescent rolls
5 eggs, scrambled
1 cup of shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
5-8 slices of cooked bacon (I used turkey bacon)
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Scramble eggs on stove top. Lay out crescent roll dough in a star formation, on a parchment lined baking sheet (the longer sides of
each crescent on the inside with the pointed ends pointing out.)
2. Place cooked bacon around the inside center of the ring. Top with
about 1/3 of the cheese, scrambled eggs, salt and pepper, and remaining cheese.
3. Fold pointed tips of each crescent over the filling and join in
the center. Press points together to seal.
4. Place in oven and bake for 15-17 minutes, or until golden brown. Slice in between each crescent to make 8 individual pieces.
This breakfast was so delicious, even reheated the next day. It's perfect for a brunch or a lazy Sunday afternoon. Enjoy!
When we drove to Pennsylvania for New Years, we decided it was time we heed the numerous billboards we passed, directing us to "Country Junction, World's Largest General Store", to see what it was all about. Located in Lehighton, PA, it was indeed the largest general store we'd ever seen, along with a pet store and outdoor petting zoo.
Even though there was snow on the ground, it wasn't terribly cold. I made a bee line for the petting zoo. Unfortunately, there weren't many animals outside this time of year. We did see some roosters and chickens strolling about.
The liveliest area and the only ones still crazy enough to still be outside were the goats. Farm animals, especially goats, crack me up. Reminds me of the last time I saw some at the New York State Fair.
Of course I had to feed them. I used all the quarters I could find to get some feed out of the machine. They're certainly friendly when food is involved! I should have grown up on a farm.
Sadly, this guy couldn't make it over to get any food. He (or she) was the saddest (and oldest) goat I've ever seen. The others were bullying him and he was actually shivering. At least give him a blanket or something. Poor thing.
Inside the general store, they had everything you could imagine. Clever signs. Furniture. Unique food and gift items. Home decor. Chotchkies galore.
I liked this one.
Andrew sat and had a little chat with President Obama.
It was a fun little stop along our drive. If you're ever in the area, check it out. I imagine it would be even better in the summer, especially for kids.
Kay, a dear friend and very special lady, went home to be with the Lord, on January 17th. She was a close friend of my family, and really was family to us. For years and years, I saw her every Sunday at church. Kay watched me grow up. She was at our wedding. Her beauty shone from the inside out. She was always put together and her hair and makeup always done. She had a kind word and a smile for everyone. Above all, she loved the Lord with all her heart.
I saw Kay this past December at a Christmas play. I didn't realize that would be the last time I got to hug her hello. I wish I had stayed and talked with her longer. Her health deteriorated rapidly after that. I saw her one last time, hours before she passed away at the hospital. I am comforted in knowing that she's in Heaven, in the glorious presence of our God, with a new body. No more pain or suffering.
We will certainly miss you, Kay. I know we will see you again, and walk those streets of gold. My heart and my prayers are with your family. We love you Tom and Dee, Joanne and Dave, Mark and Dee, Lisa and Matt. Your Mom/Grandma was a very special lady and I'm so blessed to have known her.
The holidays are over, but I still love all things cranberry. I came across a recipe for Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese Pound Cake by Sophistimom, and I had to try it. This recipe makes two loaves, which is perfect for gifting and keeping one for yourself to enjoy.
I followed the recipe exactly, and it came out perfectly! It may seem like a lot of steps, but it's not as complicated as you may think. Zesting oranges is divine - and you can squeeze fresh orange juice when you're done. I used frozen cranberries (chopped, not thawed) and they were great. Don't skip the glaze either! I love the flavor of tart cranberries with orange. So delicious!
Ingredients:
2 sticks (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
zest of 2 oranges
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, roughly chopped
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Butter and flour two medium size loaf pans,
and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle
attachment, cream together butter, cream cheese, and sugar. When mixer
is light in color and fluffy, add in zest. With mixer on low, add in
eggs, one at a time, incorporating well after each addition. Stir in
vanilla.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet
ingredients. Mix until just incorporated. Fold in cranberries. Divide
batter evenly between the loaf pans. Place on a baking sheet, and bake
for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the
cake comes out clean.
3. Remove from oven. Place cakes on a wire rack to
cool. After about 5 minutes, lay cakes on their sides, and allow to cool
for another 5 minutes. Flip cakes onto their other sides and cool for
another 5 minutes. Remove cakes from pans, and let cool on the wire
rack. While still warm, drizzle with orange glaze (recipe follows).
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Orange Glaze
3/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 tablespoon melted butter
zest of 1 orange
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Add more juice or sugar to achieve desired consistency.
Thank you, Sophistimom for sharing such a delicious recipe! I'll definitely make this again.
We've been sprucing things up around here. A LOT. It feels like I've done so many little and big projects, that I don't know where to start. I'm diving in with my dining room chairs.
I've moved this table in and out of rooms about a hundred different times, and I think it's finally found a permanent home in our eat-in kitchen. No need for a formal dining room these days.
The neutral cream tweed fabric cushions started to look a little drab to me. Bor-ing. I always pondered covering them with a fun fabric. That day finally came.
I LOVE chevron pattern. I know, so does everyone else. There are so many great colors and ways to use it. I've secretly longed to incorporate it into my living space some how. Now that I've taken that leap, I have to hold myself back from going chevron-overboard.
I found this pale blue chevron fabric with an oatmeal base at Hobby Lobby and decided to go for it. I was quite torn between blue or gray, but decided the blue would add a nice punch and contrast to the red walls.
All it took was cutting the fabric to size, enough for all 8 chairs, and putting my muscles to use with the staple gun. The stapling was the wost part. Those things really pack a punch! And are quite noisy. Am I right Triple C ladies?
After doing the first 2 cushions, I figured out the best way to fold/gather the corners - always working from the inside out, and pulling the fabric taut (with guidance from Miss Christy).
I love seeing them around the table. The fabric adds so much character to our dining space!
I liked it so much, that I made a valance with it out of burlap for over the kitchen sink window.
It makes me happy to look at it. I wonder if it could use a couple fabric flowers to embellish the corner maybe?
One thing's for certain, these two like the new chairs - a little too much!
If you're looking to spruce up your kitchen/dining room, re-covering your chairs is a quick and affordable project. You can mix and match patterns or change it up every couple of years. A little fabric can have a big impact on a room and give new life to existing furniture.
Happy (belated) 2013 everyone! I hope you're riding into a healthy, happy and hopeful new year. I have missed all of you, here in blog land. I almost feel overwhelmed at how much I'd like to catch up on. I had a very wonderful Christmas vacation, complete with family, dear friends, gifts, good food, shopping and relaxation. Followed by a wonderful 2nd Christmas with our family in Pennsylvania, with whom we also got to ring in the new year. I feel quite blessed, indeed.
The above photo was taken in my in-law's front yard after a beautiful snowfall. Yes, this is my Father-in-law, Denny, driving the 4-wheeler, pulling my two nieces on a sled, attached with a rope. I took quite a few turns riding that sled - by myself, with my husband and with Sydney and Morgan. You can imagine how much fun we had! Of course, there were also a few rides on the 4-wheeler, snow ball fights, and a couple attempts by Andrew and David to ride a snowboard behind said 4-wheeler. We Ohl's live on the edge!
David, my talented brother-in-law and photographer, captured some amazing moments that day. Check out his webpage to see more of his work. The following are a few of my favorite shots he took on our snow day.
Andrew and I holding on for dear life, as Denny "tried" not to dump us off, every time he took a turn.
The joy on Sydney and Morgan's faces and the giggles/shrieks the made were priceless!
My love and I, dressed like puffy Michelin men. Andrew is secure enough to wear his great-grandma's snow suit. He's a real man.
And here's me, laughing my head off, loving flying through the snow, trying not to fall off. Here's to 2013 and riding into the future!
