aunt l'von's salad..

so, i never used to eat salad.. or anything green for that matter! haha. like most little kids i was picky.. but i was really picky.. more picky than your average kid.. and it lasted until i was about 18 or 19 years old! haha. yes.. that old.

i am happy to say though, that i have branched out and grown my taste buds quite a lot in the past 5 or 6 years. and now.. i'm pretty much in love with vegetables (within reason of course, i don't know about any of that eggplant or brussel sprout business.. we'll see.. my tastes may continue to grow)..!

salad is one of those area's where i am still growing but i have found a few salad recipes within the last year that i really like.. my aunt l'von made this salad for dinner, last summer when i was visiting her.. i fell in love with it and asked her for the recipe. it is absolutely amaaaz-ing and i love it to death.. i am going to share the recipe with you (aren't you lucky.. no really. you are!)..! i make it a few times a month.. at least!

aunt l'von's salad

here's what you'll need:

for the salad..
1 head of romaine
1 head of green leaf
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted (i used chopped almonds in the salad above because that was what i had.. both work!)
1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
1 apple chopped (i like to use fuji or braeburn)
1/2 cup dried fruit like craisins or dried cherries (optional.. i don't like it in mine)
sliced chicken tenders (optional.. i like to place mine on top.. it makes it look really gourmet and pretty)

directions: wash and tear lettuce. put everything in a big bowl.. add the dressing and toss!

for the dressing..
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons of grainy mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup vegetable oil

directions: put vinegar, honey, mustard, salt and pepper into mixer. mix on low speed and slowly add the oil. mix for a few minutes to really get the flavors incorporated. (you can use this dressing right away, although the flavor is better after it sits a day or two)


i hope if you give this recipe a try, you will love it as much as i do!
xoxo mandie

friday night fun..

we have a treat tonight!

ruston, (one of my FOUR adorable nephews =D) gets to spend the night with us. his mamma and daddy had a wedding to attend tonight and instead of coming back to get him at 11pm or so they decided to let him spend the night.. which is of course, super fun for me!

i had to get some photo's..

look at that adorable face =]

counting..
we played this game where we count to 3.. and when we get to 3 we "go crazy" shouting and laughing and jumping up and down. it was REALLY fun! ruston totally got into it =D

teddy graham!
and of course we had to eat treats! (don't tell his mama :o)

i hope your friday night was as fun as mine!
xoxo mandie

coffee craving..

tonight after church i was really craving starbucks! so we stopped in on our way home and i got my usual =]

tall iced coffee with milk and white mocha

it's delish-e-icious!

what's your drink?

xoxo mandie

ducky duck duck..

i crocheted this little guys several months back.. he was initially intended for a niece or nephew but i never got around to giving him up.. i think he's funky and cute and i like him.

his beak's a little crooked but
i think it gives him character =]

and he's got jingle bells inside!

xoxo mandie

me, my camera and the sun..

today was an unexpected ray of sunshine.. literally, the sun was shining! it was a nice change of pace from our recently stormy seattle weather. well, the sun was making me so happy and i had to get out in it! so, i decided to go adventuring.. all by myself! i grabbed my camera, sunglasses and lipgloss and headed out to see what i could find to do! i ended up at alki beach (a favorite of mine) and had fun walking along the shore and taking pictures.. and of course i stopped in at starbucks for an hour or so. it was a gorgeous day and i quite enjoyed spending it with myself =]

here are some shots i got today. the black and whites were my favorite..

i really like this one.

xoxo mandie

gluten free flourless double chocolate pecan cookies!

oh my goodness! you are in for a real treat with these babies. i got this recipe from an issue of martha stewarts everyday food.. these cookies are moist chewy and oh so chocolatey! and the best part is that there's no fat in them, so you can sit back and enjoy these cookie's without.. well too much guilt =] seriously though.. these are hands down the best chocolate cookie's i've ever eaten!

ingredients:

• 3 cups confectioners sugar
• 3/4 cups cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 5 ounces semi sweet bakers chocolate, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups pecans (or other nut), chopped
• 4 egg whites (room temperature)
  

#1. whisk together sugar, cocoa and salt.

..chocolate!

#2. mix in the chocolate and pecan chunks.


#3. add the egg whites and stir just until incorporated (be careful not to over mix)


#4. with large cookie scoop, scoop out cookie dough 3 inches apart on baking sheet.


#5. flatten your cookies with the palm of your hand and place in a 325 degree oven. cook for 10 minutes, rotate pan and cook for another 10 minutes.. until tops are dry and cracked.




#6. let cool on pan for a few minutes. move to wire rack and let cool completely.

mhmmm! make them..
you won't be disappointed.

xoxo mandie

snow in february!

me in the snow

we woke up this morning to 5 inches of fluffy white snow! it was beautiful. i went on a 2 hour walk in the snow with my mom and dad.. we ended up at cutters point (a local coffee chain) where we split a mocha frappe.. even though it was so cold outside, we were hot by the time we got there and needed something to cool us off. it was a good day =]