Balsamic Bruschetta

adapted from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 8 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
• 1/3 C. chopped fresh basil or if you don't have fresh you can use 1T. dried basil
  
• 1/4 C. shredded Parmesan cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, minced or 2 t. minced garlic
  
• 3 T. balsamic vinegar
• 1 t. olive oil
• 1/4 t. salt
• 1/4 t. black pepper
• 1 loaf French bread, or baguette sliced and toasted
  

Directions

1. In a bowl, toss together the tomatoes, basil, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. Mix in the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Serve on toasted bread slices.
2. Let sit at least 2 hours before serving, or even better overnight...

The little green chair isn't green anymore....

And soooooo....Junk Store finds

BEFORE:

And AFTER:

I think I might be addicted...... :)

A little "antiquing" adventure.....

I have been wanting to learn to "antique" furniture for a long time now....so finally yesterday I was in a creative mood and just decided I'd try! I watched one youtube video and I had one picture frame and some black paint so I started painting, once it was drying I went to the store to grab some sandpaper and a few other colors of paint.Then I decided to stop at the junk store and see if there was anything else I could practice on...and look at these beauties I found :) Almost a shame to paint over them....

I just kept painting and sanding away....

And I did it!

It was so fun!! Next I think I will attempt the little green chair I got at the junk store...we'll see what the outcome is when its an actual piece of furniture and not just a simple square piece of wood?

Joel came home from school and saw all my projects I had been working on... he was pretty impressed :) but when he headed back out the door to go to the library and study he was a little worried he'd come home and find everything in the house antiqued :)

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• dash of italian spices and rosemary
  
• 1/2 pound chicken tenders(chopped)
• about 2/3 cup barbecue sauce....or more....
• homemade pizza dough OR 1 (13.8-ounce) package pizza dough
• 2 cups (or so) shredded mozzarella
• 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan
• 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced(can saute before you put them on pizza or just put them on fresh)
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced chicken, italian spices, and rosemary, saute until golden brown, about 12 minutes.

On a floured surface, roll out dough and place on a greased sheet pan. Shape to fill the sheet pan, about a 15 by 10-inch rectangle. Spread remaining barbecue sauce evenly over pizza dough. Sprinkle mozzarella, Parmesan, onions, and chicken over top. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese bubbles. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and cut into pieces.

A tour of Our little Arkansas Home......

Here is a picture tour of what we call home while we are here in Arkansas......

The beautiful entryway, right as you walk through the front door....yes that is a bathroom....why its the first thing they decided you get to enjoy right when you walk in...I have no idea........ :)

The view to the right.....

The view to the left....

The dining room......

The view out our back door.......

Into the kitchen..........

Then up the stairs.......

Top of the stairs....(bathroom and storage room)
(the little room on the left is where the washer and dyer will eventually go...but for now its become a closet...)
The messy computer/storage room...........

Our eXtrEmely boring bedroom...thats one of my next projects.......

Closet.....This picture is for Kallie :) See....still color coded in rainbow order....what else???

GO BSU!!!!!

We were sporting our blue and orange all the way over here in arkansas. We had some friends over to eat lots of gooooood food and watch the game...very EXCITING and stressful....but boy was victory even sweeter with a vandals fan(who shall remain nameless)among us..(you know who you are).... :)

TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!! Woot! Woot!!

Fruit Pizza

by Allrecipes

1 (16 ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
*(I only ended up putting half of the cream cheese/whipped topping mixture so really you only need 4 ounces of each)

Your favorite fruit to top it

They have a recipe for a glaze you can put on top, but I decided not to do that part. So if you want it you can go to their website.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Press dough flat into pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool.(I sprayed pan with a little pam first to make sure it didn't stick)

In a large bowl, soften cream cheese, beat until fluffy, then fold in the whipped topping. And beat again. Spread over cooled crust. You can chill it for a while at this point, or continue by arranging the fruit.

Once fruit is on chill for two hours, then cut into wedges and serve.

It looks like it should be a healthy dessert...except for all the cream cheese, whip cream and sugar cookie part :)...but it was so good...I ate way too much!