cooking party

Well it all started with these super cute invitations the mr. made.  Problem was the guests never saw them because the printer broke.  And this pregnant chick is too lazy to go to a copy store, so I resorted to Facebook invitations.  Lame, I know.

I've always wanted to host a Pampered Chef party and with baby boy roundy on the way I knew I needed to do it sooner than later!  We had a brunch theme going on.  I made a very yummy poppy seed coffee cake, pre made jumbo cinnamon rolls from Trader Joes, assorted seasonal fruit and a breakfast casserole demo'd on stoneware (my personal fav).

{janice's poppy seed cake}

ingredients
1 yellow cake mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 cup water
1 large box instant vanilla pudding
1/4 cup poppy seeds

topping ingredients 
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

steps
1. Combine ingredients (follow cake box directions for mixing time)
2. Combine topping ingredients and divide into thirds
3. Grease bundt pan (coat well) then sprinkle a third of the sugar & cinnamon mixture on bottom and sides of pan
4. Pour 1/2 batter in pan then sprinkle with a third of the sugar & cinnamon mixture.
5. Pour other 1/2 of batter and finish with remaining sugar & cinnamon mixture.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Leave in pan to cool for 20 minutes. Turn out of pan.

These fruit waters were also a hug hit!  I've seen them all over Pinterest and thought I would give them a try.  Had to put the upside down cupcake liners on top to keep the bugs out.  Although its not pictured here I suggest securing them down with the ring part of the mason jar lid.

{watermelon rosemary}

steps
1. Add a sprig of rosemary to jar and muddle gently (rosemary releases a strong flavor without much muddling). 
2. Add watermelon cubes; twist and press gently to release juices.
3. Fill jar with ice cubes, add water to the top, stir, cover and refrigerate.

{raspberry lime}

steps
1. Quarter 2 limes; with your hands, squeeze the juice into the jar, then throw in the squeezed lime quarters. 
2. Add raspberries. Press and twist with a muddler to release some of the juices (don't pulverize the fruit). 
3. Fill the jar with ice, then add water to the top. Stir, cover, and refrigerate.
recipes courtesy of the yummy life

{ham and cheese brunch squares}

And of course we made some delicious Pampered Chef recipes.  The brunch squares were so easy to assemble and we used my favorite product in the whole Pampered Chef line - stoneware!  Honestly don't mess around with any other brand of stoneware, go straight to the source and invest in what will become your favorite piece of kitchen equipment.

tip

We omitted the ham for the vegetarians (me) and it was still delicious!

{mango confetti salsa}

This salsa recipe used a new-to-me tool called the mango wedger.  Holly smokes it was so cool!  I can't even tell you how frustrated I get with peeling a mango. So much so that I will pass on buying mangos cause its too labor intensive to peel them.  Well sure enough Pampered Chef makes a tool that will have you chopping mangos in seconds, check it out!

tip
Try it on top of the brunch square, oh ya!

a decade

Happy 10 years of loving you mr. roundy! I had this book made to honor our first 10 years, figured I better do so before the baby comes and our entire focus shifts.  Love the poem I found to put on the last page:

We began as strangers
We became friends
We became one with each other
We remain as one forever

Click here to view this photo book larger

Click here to create your own Shutterfly photo book.

mmm... this is sooo good!

Yup, baby boy roundy is a hungry little guy.  The mr. laughs because if I like something I make it known typically by saying "mmm... this is sooo good".  That's pretty much everything I eat by the way!

{tortellini with eggplant and peppers}

First let me start by saying I don't like eggplant, but for some reason I love this recipe.  As my luck goes, our CSA box has been filled with eggplant the last couple of times.  This recipe is about the only way I can get the purple veggie down, its that good!  Original recipe from my all time favorite, fall back recipe source real simple magazine.

{yogurt fruit smoothie}

Don't think I'm crazy for putting spinach in my smoothie.  Just do it, promise you won't even notice.  Unless you go overboard like me and put too much in, then it tastes like grass.  Follow this recipe for your first go around and modify there after.  Last time I used blueberries in place of strawberries,  yeah it was sooo good. Recipe from fit pregnancy.

{homemade pesto}

A lot of the recipes we make are based on what we receive in our CSA box.  At first that was somewhat stressful but now we have the hang of it and quite enjoy the variation to our weekly menu.  With that said, our dear friend shared her pesto recipe.  OH MY GOSH, it was SOOO good!  We tossed it into sautéed seasonal veggies and tortellinis.

ingredients

1/4 cup walnuts

1/4 cup pine nuts

3 tablespoons chopped garlic

5 cups fresh basil leaves, packed

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 cups olive oil

1 cup freshly grated parmesean

steps

1. Place walnuts, pine nuts and garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade.  

2. Process for 15 seconds then add the basil, salt and pepper.  

3. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed.  

4. Add the parmesan and puree for a minute.

5. Use right away or store the pesto in the fridge or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.

tips

Air is the enemy of pesto.  For freezing, put in a zip lock bag, squeeze air out and freeze flat. Once frozen you can cut into little cubes and store in the freezer to use at any time.

it's a boy!

Let the shopping begin! And the washing of the gifts I have already recieved!  Who knew that would be my most favorite part of pregnancy?  I just can't wait to stick those hand-me-downs and gifts into the washing machine.  My way of nesting I guess.

bebe shower

Bonjour bebe Steele!  Our dear friends are expecting their first daughter, here's a little shower I threw in their honor.  The theme was parisian and the colors were pink and black.  Check out my pinterest board used for inspiration. And as usual pretty much everything was upcycled (its merely an obsession on mine)!

eiffel tower from target

french macarons from triple cream bakery, madelienes from trader joes

straws from grown up kid

pink eiffel tower from pier one

succulent favors by outside the bloom

Photos by JHRoundy

a big reveal

I've held a big secret in for three months!  And that secret has consumed me, so much so I haven't blogged for about three months!  Time to break the silence... we're pregnant! Wow, three exclamation marks, I must be excited.

Now if I can get through this nausea and sleepiness and work on the nursery and millions of crafty ideas I have for this little baby, affectionately named smoothie because those were my first cravings.  Say hello to the waiving alien above.

a couple of birthdays

I really can't believe this adorable little man is already one!  Remember the waiting game here.

My sis-in-law made these cute cupcakes with sun bathing teddy grahams. Ha!

Check out this awesome banner with a picture from every month of his first year.  Great idea.

Seashell cake balls in a beach bucket, love it!

Auntie and Unk's gift for the little guy, thought I would share this pinterest inspired wrap job. Hand crafted fabric flower and yarn.

And this adorable guy here just turned 30!

We threw a plaid themed party at our local favorite restaurant.  I used a ton of recycled materials as well as some pinterest inspirations.  It was an all around fabulous night!

I made this denim runner from our old jeans that were destined for the thrift store.

Penant plaid banner. Can you guess which one is made from recycled boxers?!

Cupcakes from Elizabethan Desserts.  I made the little flags for an extra plaid kick.

The tent was mr. roundys gift from me.  I couldn't resist making him open his gifts inside the tent!

Oh and here are our diy invitations!