recipe {3 layer dessert}

this recipe is one of my favorites from childhood.  many birthdays were celebrated with this dessert.  it also has multiple names.  at my house it was "3 layer dessert", my aunt calls it "better than sex dessert" and someone else calls it "sunday school delight".  who knows....you can call it whatever you want but one thing is for sure...it is tasty!

3 layer dessert

ingredients

melt the butter

flour

flour and melted butter

mix together and add pecans.

the consistency will be crumbly

pat dough into greased 9 x 13 baking dish

bake until slightly golden on the edges

cream cheese and powdered sugar

mix until you get an icing type consistency

using a spatula, fold in 1 cup of cool whip

spread cream cheese mixture on top of cooled crust.  you must let the crust cool!  i stick it in the freezer so it goes quicker.

vanilla and chocolate pudding

mix with milk for 2 - 3 minutes

pour and spread pudding mixture on top of cream cheese mixture

top with remaining cool whip and any goodies that you choose

reese's peanut butter cups and butterfinger.....yum-o!

voila!  3-layer dessert {i guess 4 if you count the crust}



1 cup flour

1 stick butter melted

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 package 8-ounce cream cheese {i used 1/3 less fat} you will want the cream cheese to be room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup coolwhip

1 small package instant chocolate pudding

1 small package instant vanilla pudding

2 1/2 cups water

1. mix together flour, melted butter, and pecans

2. press dough into greased 9 x 13 pan

3. bake at 350 degrees until slightly golden around the edges

4. let crust cool before topping {i pop it in the freezer so it cools faster}

5. using a mixer, mix together room temp cream cheese and powdered sugar

6. fold in 1 cup coolwhip to the cream cheese mixture...DON'T use a mixer...fold in with a spatula

7. spread cream cheese mixture on top of cooled crust

8. mix together chocolate and vanilla instant pudding with 2 1/2 cups of water. mix for 2 - 3 minutes until the pudding thickens

9. spread pudding mixture on top of cream cheese mixture

10. using the remaining cool whip, cover the pudding mixture

11. top cool whip with your choice of toppings...i used reese's peanut butter cups and butterfinger's, but you can use anything you like!

enjoy!

what's cookin' this week

i'm loving the warmer weather!  tonight we busted out the charcoal grill for burgers.  they were yummy!  i'm trying a couple new recipes and making up a couple...we shall see how they go!

cabernet braised beef short-ribs w/ egg noodles & roasted broccoli {i'm trying it in the crock pot}

boursin chicken & kale with orzo

cilantro lime shrimp & rice

grilled peppercorn crusted steak w/ grilled corn and salad

recipe review.....fail

last night i tried a new recipe.  it was the beef & broccoli stir-fry that i had on my menu for this week.  yea, don't bother trying it.  it wasn't terrible.  i mean it was definitely edible, and someone might really like it, but we didn't.  i take that back...after mymichael "doctored it up" with hot chili sauce and soy sauce he said it wasn't that bad.  but i really don't think you should have to "doctor" anything up that you are eating!  it won't be back on my list any time soon, or really ever.  kind of frustrating!

what's cookin' this week

mexican lasagna {didn't get to it last week}

grilled hamburgers & corn w/ sweet potato fries

beef & broccoli stir-fry

chicken piccata w/ orzo with roasted broccoli and fresh green beans

have you stumbled on to any fabulous recipes lately?  if so....please share in the comments section!

an addition to a library

on monday, i got the chance to walk through one of my projects that is just finishing up.  the scope of the project was to add on to the existing middle school library and re-layout the offices.  i was very happy with the end result.  here are some before & after pics.....

BEFORE

AFTER

in the after photo below, i was standing in the existing library.  we puched through the existing window {that has the red curtains in the before photo and in the after photo the opening is between the yellow and green column} and added on a space that doubled the existing library.

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

this photo is looking into the new library addition.  we added huge windows that look out over the country side where you can see the beautiful mountains.  this space will soon serve as a computer lab with tables and computers.

AFTER

i was able to design a custom circulation desk that accomodates up to two computers and it also has a book return slot.  the circulation desk is located in the center of the library so that the librarian can easily observe the entire library.

for this space i chose to use 5 different carpet tiles that are repeated throughout the space in different width stripes.  4 of the carpet tiles are made up of the same colors, but simply have different patterns.  the fifth carpet tile is the red which serves as an accent color and is the school's color.  since this space was deeper than it was wide, the horizontal stripes really help break up the space.

AFTER

below is one of their old circulation desks

BEFORE

by making the circulation desk have taller "walls" you can hide a lot of clutter.

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

this is the reception area in the school office.  we were able to give them built-in desks instead of random desks that were collected over the past 30 years.

BEFORE

AFTER

this was their *lovely* before flooring....

BEFORE

a little bit of a difference!

AFTER

this is a perfect project that shows how an old, out-of-date space can be revived.  unfortunately i don't have before photos to share.....boo on me! i found before photos!  yay!

enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend!!!



...and i fell in love....

ha!  i bet you were thinking that this was some sappy belated valentine's day post to my sweetie, sugar pie, hunk of love, mymichael.  well, not exactly.  i mean, i love you hon, but you hate valentine's day, so why should i waste a blog post?  i still love you, despite your hatred of v-day. 

anyways...this is not a love post to my love muffin, but to my love of.............

kitchen aid mixers

{the pioneer woman}

i know.  a mixer.  a kitchen aid mixer.  do you see all that color and the beautiful flowers?  it sounds silly, but i get so excited when i see colorful kitchen aid mixers.  they are awesome.  i have grown up with them in my mom and grandma's kitchen.  they were always a staple to the kitchen appliances.  you know, stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, kitchen aid mixer.  the great thing is that they last forever!  i was lucky enough to inherit my grandma's old kitchen aid mixer......it is 35+ years old and still kickin'...or i guess mixin' would be more appropriate. 

i so wish i had checked her blog earlier b/c i totally would have commented for a chance to win one of those beauties!  am i a complete dork?  maybe, but i'm okay with that.



a taste of spring

these past coouple of days have been a burst of spring for us here in oklahoma.  areas around here have literally seen a 100 degree temperature swing!  this week has been beautiful so far and has got me excited about spring that is hopefully right around the corner.  so, in anticipation of spring, i decided to put together an inspiration board with some beautiful home accessories that i have spotted.  i might be drooling a little bit.....

i am loving the grey's mixed with the cirton greens and airy blues.  oh, and also the combination of patterns.  love it!  have you seen any spring trends that have caught your eye?  if so, please share!

i hope everyone else is enjoying this beautiful weather as well!

what's cookin' this week?

mexican lasagna

blackened salmon cajun pasta

sausage & rice casserole & salad

hot turkey pastrami, provolone & mushroom sandwiches w/ sweet potato fries

blackened salmon cajun pasta

for this recipe i am using frozen blackened salmon from sam's.  if you don't like salmon, you can replace with chicken.

2 tsp. cajun seasoning

2 tablespoons margarine

16 slices of bell pepper {any color}

8 large mushrooms, sliced

2 green onions, sliced

3 to 4 cups cream {i'm going to try it with FF half & half}

1/2 tsp. dried basil

1/2 tsp. lemon pepper

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. pepper

8 oz. linguine cooked and drained

grated parmesan cheese

saute peppers, mushrooms, and onions with the margarine and cajun seasoning.  cook and stir for 2-3 minutes until tender.  add cream and remaining seasonings; heat through.  add linguine and toss; heat through.  sprinkle with parmesan cheese.  place pasta on plate and top with blackened salmon.

enjoy!

oh my...

this weekend i was at the mall with one of my good friends, ashley, who has an adorable little girl who is 9 months old.  every store we went into we found ourselves drooling over all over the children's clothes.  at gap, i just about couldn't help myself.  the cuteness was beyond overwhelming!  one thing is for sure, when mymichael and i have kiddos, local retailers had better watch out.  it will be bad...oh so bad. 

these clothes were so cute and i just kept thinking how cute some little toddler would look in photos.  many times moms ask, "what should we wear for our photos?"  well, these days you can pretty much walk into any children's store, throw a dart and land on something cute.  but, i thought it would be fun to put together some toddlers outfits that would be adorable for photos.

a few tips:

#1  layers!  the more layers the better!

#2  mix and match patterns.  don't be afraid to mix it up.  the key is to select two patterns that are completely different, but have coordinating colors.  you don't want to pair two sets of stripes together, but you could definitely pair stripes and polka dots, or stripes and plaid.

#3  when putting together an outfit for a kiddo, think in terms of, "would i wear this?"  nothing is cuter than a munchkin that is dressed like a miniature adult.  their outfit should reflect their personality, which many times reflects the parent's personalities as well.

#4  don't be afraid of color!  color is so playful and fun on kiddos....use it! 

okay, now onto the toddler outfits.

you can begin drooling........................now...........

this is the toddler trench coat that i almost walked out of the store with.

miss sophisticate by rubyjewelstudio on Polyvore.com

blooming by rubyjewelstudio on Polyvore.com

army chic by rubyjewelstudio on Polyvore.com

prissy kicks by rubyjewelstudio on Polyvore.com

cowgirl esq by rubyjewelstudio featuring gap shorts

trains & planes by rubyjewelstudio on Polyvore.com

high toppin' plaid by rubyjewelstudio on Polyvore.com

the ross by rubyjewelstudio on Polyvore.com

 
 

mr. oxford by rubyjewelstudio on Polyvore.com

short stripes by rubyjewelstudio on Polyvore.com

 
 
 

you can drool over more outfits like this at gap.  amazingly cute stuff....go check it out...and for the love...please buy something and tell me about it!

super cute find

while surfing the web one day i came across this adorable company, le papier studio.  they specialize in working with silhouettes.  as soon as i saw this, it made me think my families trip to disney world... 

when me and kj were little, my dad won a vacation to disney world.  it was awesome, everything was paid for, including the rented convertable.  you know how most theme parks have all sorts of "street vendors" that bug you along the way?  well, my parents were pretty much immune to anything they had to offer, except for one.  there was a man who would cut your silhouette out of black paper.  he didn't trace anything, you sat on a stool and he had these tiny little scissors that he would use to cut out your silhouette, simply by looking at your profile!  he was quite talented and definitely deserved whatever ungodly price he was asking!  to this day, my mother still has our disney world silhouettes on a book case in her house.  it's a great, unique, and classy way to capture the essence of someone you love. 

when i stumbled upon le papier studio, immediately fell in love with all of their different products.  here are a few of my favorites...

adorable calendars!  these could be framed and used as art, LOVE them!

fun plates.  this would be great on a wall in a collage with other random things...photo frames, art, etc.  makes me want to ride on a vespa.

coasters.  love how the graphics are so simple and crisp.

jewelry.  who knew?  you can choose from some of their silhouettes or have them do a custom silhouette.

just a few favorites that i saw.  many of their products would be great valentine or mothers day gifts!