Evidently, they are a hot commodity right now.

In my search for a low-fat/ low-cal dessert (remember the soufflé’s were not so yummy), NWH and I have been eating strawberry shortcake parfaits for the past few nights.   These things are delish! 

Since making them, I’ve seen recipes all over the internet and on television shows. Evidently, they are a hot commodity right now.

Mine were pretty simple.  I made a box of sugar free instant vanilla pudding, sliced a carton of strawberries and marinated them in 3 tablespoons of splenda.  I chopped store bought shortcakes into cubes and layered the cake with pudding, then with strawberries, and a hipping spoonful of sugar free whipped cream on top!  YUM!

P.S. Unfortunately these aren't my pictures (pictures via google), but I promise mine tasted just as good as these look!!  Happy Friday!!



my eyes have been on the lookout for a new wreath

Even though I woke up to 41 degrees this morning, I am hopeful warmer temps are on the way.  The spring bug has been itching me a while, and my eyes have been on the lookout for a new wreath.  Here are a few of my favorites that I have seen out and about.



Spring Berry Wreath $35.00 and Pier 1

Mixed Floral Wreath $19.99 at Kirklands

Artichoke and Fig Wreath $79.00 at Walmart.com

I also have entertained the thought of making my own.  I love this DIY one at HGTV.  It's perfect for Easter, but I could also replace the eggs with silk flowers for a more all-year-round-look.  To get the full tutorial, click here. 

“summer-is almost-here-and-i-have-dimples-on-my-but”

Hey everyone, I’m back!!  I had a fabulous time in my home town this past week.  I miss my mom and dad so much.  I did cheerleading for approximately 3 straight days and couldn’t move Wednesday morning.  I hadn’t kicked/ jumped/ tumbled in almost 7 years! Lord, you should have seen me. 

Unfortunately, my niece did not make the squad, but she learned a very valuable life lesson.  There will be many “cheerleading squads” in life; some she will make, some she will not.   The important thing is for her to let this situation propel her to do even greater things in cheerleading or some other sport/ activity.  I think she’s going to work really hard and try out next year!!

On to a lighter subject matter (and I mean light).  So I always post about the fabulous recipes that I find and make, but I tried one last week that was not so fab; and in all fairness I should tell you the good with the bad.

NWH and I love dessert.  That is defiantly our weakness.  So I’ve been on a “summer-is almost-here-and-i-have-dimples-on-my-but” kick for the past few weeks and decided that I would try to start making low-cal desserts. 

I ran across this website that listed a recipe for Chocolate Banana Soufflé’.

·         2 ripe medium bananas, mashed

·         2 tsp cornstarch

·         1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

·         1 tsp vanilla extract

·         2 large egg whites

·         3 tbsp sugar

·         butter flavored cooking spray

Preheat over to 400F. Coat 4, 6 oz ramekins with butter flavored cooking spray. Place on a baking sheet.

In a medium bowl, mash bananas and vanilla together. Sift cornstarch and cocoa powder over bananas and stir well.

In another medium bowl, beat egg whites with sugar until they form soft peaks. Fold 1/3 of egg whites into banana mixture. When incorporated, fold in the rest of the egg whites. Spoon mixture into ramekins.

Wipe the top 1/4 inch “collar” of the ramekin to remove any excess batter so that the soufflé will rise straight and place ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes. Serve immediately.

Sound good, eh’?  And for ONLY 130 calories… do not be deceived.  I believe the words out of NWH’s mouth were, “I’m going to puke if I eat this,” and I couldn't agree more.  We threw all four “soufflé’s” away and picked up a box of the 90 calorie snicker bars the next day!!

wintry white rear-end by the pool

Hey everyone!  Sorry I’ve been MIA, but NWH had the weekend off, and we jammed packed it with as much stuff (fun stuff of course) as we could.  The weather was just gorgeous here!  It got up to 80 on Friday, and it was all she wrote for this girl… I had my wintry white rear-end by the pool soaking up some sun.

The Hockey game was Friday night.

We spent all day at our outdoor mall Saturday, walking around shopping, sipping cold beverages, and listening to live music. 

Then Saturday evening we ate P.F. Changs and watched a movie.

Sunday was a day of rest, phew, but we did manage to run a few errands, pop in Bed Bath, grocery shop, and grill out for dinner.  OOOO look what we got Saturday, its NWH’s new toy.  This is so the fire alarm doesn’t go off every time we try to cook something in the apt! ha!

This week, I’m headed to South Mississippi to help my niece (the one who visited for Spring Break) try out of cheerleader.  Oh lordy does this bring back memories.  Say a prayer for her (and me)!!

Hope everyone has a fab week!

Wedding Word Wednesday: The Nest

This definitely is not what I was planning on posting today, but I can’t help it!  So I thought for Wedding Word Wednesday I would head back to TheKnot.com for some inspiration.  Well… when I clicked into the sight it redirected me {here}.  Apparently they know I am married now and have no business scouring their site for wedding pictures anymore, ha!

So this new site, TheNest, is insanely entertaining!  I suppose it’s geared toward NewlyWeds, but I promise there is something for everyone.  There are recipes and work out plans, home decorating and budgeting tools.  I even found a BMI calculator!  OOOoo and my favorite article “6 Places to Go Before You Have Kids” ( I love vacay ideas with or without little ones).  Ya’ll know what I’m going to be doing the rest of the day (besides working)!

He couldn’t stand it!

The other day on the treadmill, I watched Rachel Ray make this amazing fish sandwich!  Since then I had been dying to try it.  Well, NWH kind of gets set in his ways when it comes to food, so yesterday I told him dinner was going to be a surprise. 

He couldn’t stand it!  He must have asked me a million times throughout the day what we were having; and as soon as he walked through the door, he headed straight for the refrigerator to see what I had bought.

The fish was absolutely fabulous, and it was definitely a change in what we normally eat!  My grocery store didn’t have halibut so I used Mahi Mahi.  NWH and I don’t care for tartar sauce so I didn’t make it, but you don’t even need it with the lemon butter sauce! YUM, ya’ll have GOT to try this!

Ingredients

1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds fresh halibut, cut into 4 servings, 4 to 6 ounces each, 1-inch thick

Vegetable or olive oil, for drizzling

2 teaspoons crab boil seasoning (recommended: Old Bay)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1/2 lemon, juiced

Directions

Preheat nonstick or well-seasoned cast iron grill pan over medium high heat. Drizzle halibut pieces with oil, then season with crab boil seasoning, salt and pepper. Grill on a hot pan 4 or 5 minutes on each side.

Place melted butter in a small dish and add juice of 1/2 lemon.

To assemble, brush bun bottoms and fish with lemon butter. Top fish with tomato and lettuce and serve.

it was only 5 Bucks!

Last Sunday NWH, my niece, and I were headed to Atlanta Bread for lunch after church and saw a huge sign outside Big Lots that said something about everything being 30% off.  Now, NWH and I are not Big Lot Shoppers… normally… but with a sign like that how could I resist?

We ended up getting a lot of staple stuff like tooth paste, soap, and laundry detergent but I also found this little canvas.  I thought it would go perfect in my entry foyer, and it was only 5 Bucks!  How cute is this, and I love what it says!

The other side of my entry.

Happy Monday!  Hope everyone had a fab-u-lous weekend!!