Wedding Wednesdays: Like A Fat Kid Loves (Homemade) Cake

Morning dolls! How's your Hump Day moving along? Wonderfully I hope! SO loving today's post.  There's NOTHING I love more than going to a beautiful wedding filled with personal touches and lovely DIY projects.  One of the things I look forward to most is..you guessed it - THE CAKE!!!  I LOVE sweets and no matter how full I am, I always make room for wedding cake.  Frankly, I usually end up eating my hubby's portion or I ask for a big slice.  I know - I have no shame. What? A gal's gotta eat.

I don't think there's anything better than getting a slice of cake made straight from the heart with extra love sprinkles.  TOTALLY loving these delicious homemade weddings cakes below. Can you say YUM?

{Images via The Lane}

I Made It Mondays: DIY Cheesecake in a Jar

Good morning my sweeties. How was your weekend? Ours was fabulous!  We went bowling, saw a concert, celebrated a birthday, and painted the town red.  My brother-in-law was in town so we met up with a few friends. Good times with some good people!  Oh yes, I also (finally) joined Twitter.  If you haven't started following me, please do so HERE!  This stuff is addicting but I love it. It gives me something to read during my downtime.

On Friday, I went on another baking spree and decided to make cheesecake in a jar.  Boy was it YUMMY!!!  I was hoping to bring some to the birthday party but we ran so late on Saturday after the concert that we didn't have time to go back home to get them. Darn!  Next time I guess...but seriously, these came out great.  Wouldn't they be perfect wedding party favors? Or better yet, an addition to a wedding dessert bar!

WHAT YOU NEED:
Filling:
- 2 packages of cream cheese
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 1/8 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Topping:
- 1 cup flour
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 Tablespoons melted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS:
1.  Make the topping first and set it aside.

2. In another bowl, mix the cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. Slowly add each egg until well incorporated.  Add the other ingredients and mix.

3. Spoon into jars. Add the crumb topping.

4. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes. Let cool and refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Add fruit (optional). Bam!  Cheesecake in a jar.  How easy was that right?

 

I Made It Mondays: Apple Pie In A Jar

As soon as I got home last Friday, I immediately went to the kitchen and began baking. I've been wanting to do this for a few weeks now but never had the time. I REALLY wanted to make these for our family event last Saturday, but it didn't happen.  I did a trial run which turned out great.  I wanted to bake more on Saturday, but Sadie came along so I didn't have time...and my husband and I ended up eating 1/2 of what we made. HAHA! 

I am so excited to share this with you!  My lovelies, this would be THE PERFECT wedding party favor for your guests.  A single serving size in a jar!  Super creative, incredibly good, and just so darn cute! It came out warm, scrumptious, and super yummy! The Husband definitely loved it and I know your wedding guests will love it too!

(PS - If you are short on time, you can buy the pre-prepared crust and fruit filling and make these.)

WHAT YOU NEED:
- 1/2 pint mason jar (Make sure they are sterilized and cleaned thoroughly)
- Ribbon, Stickers, or Fabric (for decoration)
For dough:
- 2 C Flour
- 11 T Butter (real butter, no exceptions) that’s just over 2/3 C
- 1/4 t Salt
- 4-5 T ice water
For Filling:
- 3 C prepared apples (peeled, diced)
- 3 T sugar
- 2 T flour
- 2 T butter (divided between the pies)
- Seasonings/flavorings- cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and almond extract, citrus zest etc)

INSTRUCTIONS:
1.  Make the dough and roll it out. Using the lid, press it down on the dough to use for the bottom of the jar. Using the 1/2 pint is a little tricky since it's taller.  I used a chopstick it press it down (haha).  It doesn't look great, but it works. Just make sure you cover the bottom completely.

2.  Cover the sides of the jar 3/4 of the way with dough.  It doesn't need to be perfect.  Make sure to press firmly and don't miss any holes.

3.  Mix all the filling ingredients together in another bowl.  Using a spoon, fill each jar a little less than 3/4 of the way.  I left a little bit of room.

4. Use the lid again to make the circles and cover the filling in the jar.  Press sides firmly with fingers or use a fork.  I punched a few holes in each pie to let it breathe.

5. Bake at 375 degrees for about 40 minutes. I put them in a bake dish to prevent them from sliding around. Careful when taking them out.  They are HOT and will stay hot for a while. 

6. Decorate as you please.  Bam! Apple pie (and cherry cobbler) in a jar.

And...just for kicks...I also made cherry cobbler in a jar at the same time, but that's a secret recipe. Hehe! Here are some pictures:

I Made It Mondays: Lemon Olive Chicken w/ Couscous

Ngoc Ming Ngo

 My hubby LOVED LOVED LOVED this dish so I had to share it with you.  I made it a couple weekends ago and got it from Everyday with Rachel Ray. I have to say - it turned out wonderfully. You don't have to eat it with couscous.  We ate it with white rice and it was superb. Stay thirsty hungry my friends.

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2-1/2 pounds chicken thighs and drumsticks, skin removed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 lemons, quartered
• 1 cup drained Spanish green olives, rinsed and halved lengthwise
• 1 sprig thyme
• Salt and pepper
• One 10-ounce box (1-1/2 cups) couscous

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a large, deep skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning occasionally with tongs, until golden-brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
2. In the same skillet, add the onion and cook over medium heat, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for about 1 minute. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Return the chicken to the pan and add the lemons, olives and thyme. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook over low heat until the chicken is falling off the bone, about 50 minutes.
3. About 10 minutes before the chicken is done, in a small, heavy saucepan, bring 1 1/4 cups water to a boil. Sir in the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and the couscous; remove from the heat, cover and let stand for 3 minutes. Divide the couscous among 4 plates and top with 2 to 3 chicken pieces and some sauce.

I Made It Mondays: Homemade Chicken Salad

{source}

I have been doing a lot of cooking lately and I love it.  The hubby and I usually eat extremely healthy during the week (so we can splurge on the weekends), but I've been getting tired of the same dishes every single week.  So,  to revamp our taste buds and try something new, I decided to make healthy chicken salad to snack on and bring to work.  It's easy, delicious and healthy. Enjoy my lovelies!

INGREDIENTS: (This will last you for a few days)
- 4-5 pieces of chicken breasts (about 4 cups)
- 1 large apple or 2 small apples, cut (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup celery, cut
- 1/2 cup chopping onions
- 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons of juice)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons pepper
- 8 tablespoons Lite Miracle Whip
- 1 cup walnuts, crushed


INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Boil a pot of water. Place chicken breast in medium heat until cooked (about 10-15min).
2. While chicken is cooking, cut apples, celery, and onions. Place in large bowl.
3. Squeeze juice from lemon into bowl.  Add salt, pepper, walnuts, and Miracle Whip.
4. Cut chicken into little chunks and add to bowl. Mix thoroughly. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Done!
Eat it with crackers or make a sandwich.


PS - You can add just about anything you want. I have tried it with cranberries and grapes.  1 cup each.  They are all delicious!

My Valentine's Day Weekend

Hello my friends! How was your weekend?  I was so incredibly busy I didn't get a chance to work on any DIY projects (darn), but I have lots of mouth-watering pictures to show you from my fun-filled weekend.  I did a lot of eating...a lot...and it was all delicious!!!

OUR VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER {at} OSAKA

Agedashi Tofu

Vegetable Tempura

Complimentary Appetizer

911 Roll

Spider Roll and Tuna Roll

Salmon & Fatty Tuna Sashimi (YUM!)

Dessert: Complimentary Red Bean Ice Cream & Vino

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION {at} SAIGON PAGOLAC

Cake by Patisserie Jungle Cafe (YUM!)

Happy Birthday!!!

A LOVELY SUNDAY OUTING {at} YARDHOUSE

Appetizers: Truffle Fries

Mac & Cheese / Avocado Swiss Burger (BEFORE PHOTO)

The Aftermath (haha...we don't mess around)

MY VALENTINE'S GIFT FROM MY HUBBY

(Can't wait to start using this for my DIY Projects!)

TO OUR FIRST VALENTINE'S DAY AS MANNY AND WIFEY:

THERE IS NO ME WITHOUT YOU...AND YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND.

I Made It Mondays: DIY S'mores Wedding Favors

Happy Monday! Today's DIY Project are delicious easy to make S'mores Wedding Party Favors.  I made about 40 of these for our wedding and they were a huge hit! Wish I would have made more, but since I had other wedding favors (like my Hot Cocoa Party Favors) I wanted to give our guests a variety to choose from.

WHAT YOU NEED:

(2) Boxes of Cinnamon Graham Crackers ($3 each) - each box will have about 27 crackers

(2) Bag of Jumbo Marshmallows ($1 each) - I used 2 marshmallows per bag

(1) Jumbo Bag of Mini-Hershey's ($4)

(1) Pack of Twist Ties ($1.99 at Hobby Lobby) - cut in half

(2) Pack of Treat Bags ($1.99 at Hobby Lobby) - each pack contains 25 bags

(2) Rolls of Decorative Ribbon ($1.99 each at Hobby Lobby) - 18ft per roll cut into 10-12inches per ribbon
(1) Pack of Notecards ($6.99 at Hobby Lobby) - this if for my tags

Again, Hobby Lobby is always having 50% off sales so keep your eyes peeled! I bought my items for half off!

GRAND TOTAL: $22.19 (after half off prices and tax)...so that means $.55 per favor.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Fill each bag with 1 large cracker, 1 Hershey bar, and 2 marshmallows.

Using a twist tie (remember to cut them in half since they are SUPER long), secure it in place to the plastic bag. PLEASE make sure to secure it very tight to ensure freshness.

 
Next, using my Notecards, I made my own wedding favor tags and looped it with the pre-cut ribbon.

 Secure the tag on the plastic bag and tie the ribbon.

 Place in a cute box/container. Bam!  S'mores Wedding Party Favors!

Easy to make, delicious to eat, and such a beautiful favor to give your wedding guests.

Fun Fridays: Wedding Q&A

What are your plans for this weekend? Anything exciting going on?  

My typical Fridays usually consist of...you guessed it - Fashion Fridays where I showcase talented designers like Lazaro, Monique Lhuillier, Pnina Tornai and Jenny Packman along with their amazing dresses.  However, since I have been doing this ALL week, I am taking a short break from the usual routine.

Instead, I wanted to give you guys an update on how my husband and I are doing.  Tomorrow will mark our 2-week anniversary. Woowhoo! We will be spending it with some great friends. Hope you guys enjoy reading this.

The ENTIRE week after our wedding, my husband and I took a break from cooking and ate out every night of the week. Chick-Fil-A has been my best friend and I have been eating leftover wedding cake from Le Duc Gourmet Bakery as dessert EVERY night.  I firmly attest that I am officially sick of cake now.

I didn't really diet for my wedding, but I lost an insane amount of weight the week BEFORE my wedding. I was so busy making our party favors and finalizing any loose ends that I forgot to eat. So, when the dress came off at 3am on 1/2/2011, you know what I did...I scarfed down on a huge hamburger and fries from some fast food joint. And it was delish.

 

Married life has been wonderful and full of love.  Lots of smiles, kisses, and happy planning for our future.  Here are some questions we have been asked from our friends (ranked by most popular first):

Q: So, how does it feel?

A: Great!  We didn't think much would change, but we actually feel different.  I feel calm and settled. Sounds quirky, but we feel complete.  It's MORE than what we imagined it would be and that's a good feeling.

Q: When's the honeymoon and where are you going?

A: Not til the summer or fall.  We plan on going to Italy/Greece or Australia. We can't wait!!!!  However, we are taking a trip next Tuesday to Colorado with some friends/family.  We are going snowboarding (yay!)...our first time. Romantic? Not so much. But totally gnarly and we are both ecstatic about the trip.

Q: When are you having kids? And how many times have you been asked this?

A: Oh wow - yea...we just got married so we haven't thought that far ahead yet.  And you are like the 167th person to ask me that - our priest being one of the first ones too!  Actually, he didn't ask; he just said  "see you at the baptism" the EVENING of our reception. Gotta love him.

Q: Are you taking his name? And if so, why?

A: Yes.  I see a growing trend that many women are keeping their last names now-a-days and I think it's a personal choice.  For me, I took the old-fashioned traditional route. Plus, I want to be called Linhy Winny by all my friends. It's catchy don't you think? Haha.

Q: Has anything changed?

A: Mentally, yes.  Our relationship has always been about "us" (never "me" or "I"), but now that we are married, this rule has grown tenfold. Plus, we call each other wifey and husband now, which we love but are still getting used to.

Q: What's next for you guys?
A: So many things. 2011 has started off great and I know it's going to be a great year for us.  Our next big project is house hunting. We'd love to get settled into our new home before starting a family. Makes moving a lot easier without a bun in the oven.

Q:  Do you guys have a joint account and who pays for the bills?
A: Yes, we have a joint account.  We agreed he will make the money and I will be spending it. Ha! jk

Q: Who does the laundry, cooking, cleaning, yardwork, etc? 
A: We are really good about pitching in to help each other. But I love mowing the grass so I tend to hog the lawnmower. I don't know why...I think it's good exercise, especially in the blistering Houston heat. 

Q: Do you brush your teeth in the morning before kissing?
A: No because neither of us has morning breath (thank goodness).  Also, we floss our own teeth.

Q: Do you leave the door open for #2 and does the boomshakakaka really fizzle out?
A: Haha. I don't even know what that is, but I will answer NO to both. :)

Thanks for the questions guys! Have a fantastic weekend! Bundle up in the chilly weather and remember to spread some warm POSITIVITUDE to everyone you meet!  
XOXO