~Valentine's Day 2017~

 ~our little valentine~

Valentine's Day gifts :O)

a touch of Valentine's Day on the coffee station

coffee stirrers from Target $ spot

some special treats....

some for my guys....

and some just for me!

a little getaway & early Valentine's Day dinner with my sweetie...

{LINK}

Love, Love this little Valentine cutie!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Pioneer Woman: Red Velvet Pancakes & Maple Buttermilk Icing

The Pioneer Woman Cooks

A Year of Holidays Cook Book

  

Recipe-a-month Cooking Challenge [2/12]

February 2017

Be My Valentine!! <3

Valentine's Day is all about showing those special people in your life just how much you love them! And what a better way than cooking up something yummy - like Red Velvet Pancakes!!! <3

Since Peter will be back to work on Valentine's Day and Nathan was home for the weekend, Sunday morning seemed like the perfect time to make this sweet treat!!

RED VELVET PANCAKES

3 cups + 2 T. cake flour

3 T. baking powder

2 T. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1-1/2 tsp. cocoa powder

1-1/2 cups milk

1 cup buttermilk

2 large eggs

3 tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. white vinegar

4 T. melted butter

2-4 tsp. red food coloring

• Heat griddle over med-low heat. Spray with cooking spray.
• Add flour to a large bowl, along with baking powder, sugar, and salt.
• Add cocoa and whisk to combine.
• In a separate bow, mix together milk, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, and vinegar.
• Pour mixture into dry ingredient sand whisk gently until batter just comes together.
• Then whisk in melted butter.
• Add food coloring and whisk into batter.
• Scoop about 1/4 cup per pancake onto griddle, cooking slowly until done.
• Makes approx. 15 pancakes.

MAPLE BUTTERMILK ICING

2-1/2 cups powdered sugar

dash of salt

4 T. melted butter

1/4 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup milk

2 T. maple syrup

• Combine powdered sugar, salt, and melted butter in a bowl.
• Add buttermilk, milk, and syrup - whisk together until smooth.
• Stack pancakes and drizzle with icing.

My review: We are not huge breakfast eaters, but I thought since both Peter and Nathan were home, but wouldn't be for Valentine's Day, I'd do something festive for Sunday morning breakfast. This recipe didn't disappoint, but was super sweet! It's not something I would make everyday, but for special occasions like Valentine's Day, this was a pretty & tasty treat!! <3

A Year of Holidays!!

(1) January 2017 {LINK}

Cook Book Storage

I copied this storage idea from fellow Instagram-er Laurie from The Glam Farmhouse. I had been eyeing this cute white enamelware breadbox from Decor Steals  for awhile, but hadn't bought it because I really didn't need a "breadbox". When I saw how nicely her cookbooks fit inside, I knew I had to order one! It looks so good on the counter, my cookbooks are organized, and it adds a touch of farmhouse to the kitchen! :O)

Love this storage idea!

I am gradually going through my cookbook collection and getting rid of many that I never use. Thanks to Pinterest, I am able to pull up pretty much any recipe I need. Awhile back, I started a recipe binder where I keep recipes from magazines, printed from the internet, and the cards I get from my subscription meals. 

- $5 S/H always

and since I'm sharing kitchen pics....

I've been wanting to remove that scalloped piece of wood over the kitchen sink.....

Peter took it down for me and it looks so much better!!!!

Sometimes the smallest things can make a huge difference in the look or how much you love something!

Thoughtful Thursday

This was in my daily devotions this morning.........



(a) ummm yes, I'm two days behind which is why this really hit me in the face :O( and (b) I love the Marie Kondo reference) :O)

I am a super "busy" person. I thrive on piddling around the house and getting things done and checking off lists. I spend A LOT of my day -- organizing and decluttering and cleaning and just doing things, but sometimes I can put too much time on these "things" and can't seem to find that extra quiet time for daily devotions (every day not just when it fits into my "schedule").

It's not only important to declutter your home, but it's very important to keep your mind free of stress and worry, usually over things we really have no control of anyway. We (I) should pray more for God's peace and joy, instead of being so caught up in every day busy-ness and while I enjoy every minute of the organizing and fixing up the house or even watching IG story videos, I know that if I invest more time in my daily quiet time with God, that will be even more rewarding.

I love when I read something in my devotions that makes me stop and reevaluate things and refocus on what really matters.

Pioneer Woman: Chocolate-Covered Cherry Smoothie

1 cup vanilla yogurt

1 cup milk

1-12 oz. bag frozen pitted cherries

1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips -or- 1/4 cup chocolate syrup

1 tsp. vanilla

shaved semi-sweet chocolate or powdered cocoa for garnish

whipped cream

*add all ingredients and blend

*garnish with cream & chocolate

photo dump friday: jan 21 - 31

January 22nd

~mommy & me~

that wave!! :O) :O)

-a visit from Gran & Pop-

sleepy head...

Nana visits <3

and Pop Pop's crew change day!

sweet girl....

cousin time....

goodbye January!!