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Greening Up Our Home

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Now that it is officially Spring, I am ready to get this house cleaned up, purge it of things that we don’t need, and *fingerscrossed* finish up the work that needs to be done inside. 

Yes, there is stuff that needs to be done. We remodeled our kitchen in November of 2012 and we still have to put in wood trim around the base of the walls, around the window, the back entry and put in the new lighting. 

Another thing I have realized our house is lacking indoors is greenery. I need plants. I want plants. Something has to be done. Now that Joey is 19 months, it is getting easier to keep him out of things and he is learning right from wrong which means we might be able to add some pretty plants to the house finally!

Image Source: Flickr

 

I’ve been looking around the internet to see which plants would be the best in our home, meaning which ones won’t kill my kids or the dog if they eat them and I’ve come to the conclusion that I need an expert, to come into our home and make it work. Did you know that there are actually people you can hire to do this and even some that come and take care of your plants too, like Gaddys indoor plant hire Sydney. 

This, this is what I need. Send in the professionals and let them put some pretty plants and flowers on display and give thos house some life! Then…please send me a professional landscaper so we can discuss what is going on on the outside of our house as well….it’s tragic!

Do you keep plants in your home? What do you do to keep the kids and pets safe from them? Help me!

Giveaways

What is Your Middle-Earth Weapon of Choice

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From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpieceThe Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world.

My husband is a HUGE fan of The Hobbit and is dying to see this movie!

Use the app below to find out if you are battle ready and uncover your Middle-Earth weapon of choice and discover some fun facts about Middle-Earth.

Recipes

Irish Soda Bread {Recipe}

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It’s hard to believe that St. Patrick’s Day is next week already.  I look forward to St. Patty’s Day every year because one, it holds a very special memory for me and two, hello corned beef, cabbage and Irish soda bread.  Yeah, I’m looking forward to getting my eat on!

If you enjoy preparing your own dishes on St. Patrick’s Day, here is a great recipe for Irish Soda Bread.  If you’ve never had Irish Soda Bread, go….go to the store now, get the ingredients and get baking!

Ingredients

1/2 C white sugar
4 C all-purpose flour….divided
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
3 C raisins
1 Tbsp caraway seeds (optional)
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/4 C buttermilk
1 C sour cream

Directions

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
-Grease  a 9 inch round baking or cake pan.

-In a mixing bowl, combine flour (reserve 1 tablespoon), sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, raisins (optional) , and caraway seeds (optional)

-In a smaller bowl, blend eggs, buttermilk, and sour cream.
-Stir the liquid mixture into the flour mixture just until flour is moistened.

-Knead dough in bowl about 10 to 12 strokes.
-Dough will be sticky.

-Place the dough in the prepared pan and pat down.
-Cut a 4 x 3/4 inch deep slit in the top of the bread.
-Dust with 1 Tbsp flour.

-Bake in preheated oven for 65 to 75 minutes.
-Let cool and turn bread out onto a wire rack.

Recipes

Cotton Candy Rainbow Cupcakes {Recipe}

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With both St. Patrick’s Day and Easter fast approaching, these Cotton Candy Rainbow Cupcakes are sure to be a hit at any holiday gathering you attend.
You will need the following list of ingredients to create your cupcakes. (You can print the recipe below)
Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1 egg, plus 2 egg yolks, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup cotton candy

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a muffin pan with paper liners and place to the side.

In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the butter, sour cream, egg, yolks, and vanilla and beat until smooth. Stir in the cotton candy until evenly distributed -do not over mix.

Get 3-4 small bowls scoop equal amount of cake mix in each bowl. Add 1 drop of food coloring to each bowl mixing until you get the desired color of choice.  Using a large spoon add a scoop of cake mix from each color filling the cupcake holder. Do not over fill.

Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Transfer to a wire cooling rack and allow to cool completely before frosting.

FOR THE FROSTING
1 1/2 to 3 teaspoons heavy cream
1 ounce cotton candy
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter softened
4 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a bowl, pour 1 1/2 teaspoons of the heavy cream over the cotton candy to melt it place to the side

In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar until thoroughly combined. Stir in the vanilla and melted cotton candy. Beat on medium high until light and fluffy add the remaining cream.

To Decorate

Get 3-4 small bowls fill with equal parts icing. Add food coloring to each of color of choice. Mix until completely blended to the color of choice.

Use a pastry bag and a LARGE Star tip:  fill the pastry bag with scoops from each color of icing using your hand start at one spot on the cupcake ago around the edge with icing continue the motion building a cone shape and covering the whole cupcake.

Now place a small piece of cotton candy on top for decoration.

[yumprint-recipe id=’43’]

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