Pinterest DIY - Roman Shades using Mini Blinds

I love Pinterest and I finally have enough free time for all the projects I've pined. I've had a whole week off before my new job starts (YES!!!!) and I've organized and cleaned like crazy - time for a fresh start! 

 This is the perfect time to tackle making roman shades using mini blinds, my side door could use something pretty :)

My inspiration - The Little Green Notebook, I love this blog!!

I would have included a picture of the door before but it was pretty bad- we'll skip that. Please refer to the link above for the Little Green Notebook, she has several pictures that explain how to do this - it's pretty easy.

All you need it a piece of fabric to fit your window, blinds, fabric glue and a tape measure.

And you'll have something like this!!

(needs some trim though don't you think, maybe red or pink??)

Bahamas

I'm already missing the beautiful clear blue water, the warm weather and laying on the beach sipping on tropical cocktails, the sea, the sun and sand.

I woke up to a few very friendly sea gulls that flew into our room one morning too - literally they were in the bed with me!!!!  

the view from our room at The Atlantis

 

This is the view from The One and Only Ocean Club on our way to breakfast at Dune

This is where they filmed one of the beach scene in Casino Royale - no Daniel Craig sighting though

we are pretty happy campers too, a romantic dinner on the last night at Cafe Martinique



 xx,

Katherine

I Pinned It - I made it! Baby Quiche!!

We have a great rule at work - If you are late for the sales meeting you bring food the next time. Of course we always request homemade goodies and Donna makes the best baby quiche! However she does not seem to want to share her recipe. Thank you Pinterest for coming to the rescue!

Several pins later and I've concocted Spinach Bacon Baby Quiche

Ingredients -

• 1 package refrigerated pie crust
• 5 eggs
• 1 cup chopped spinach (I used frozen)
• 1 shallot diced
• 2 tsp garlic minced
• 3 strips of bacon. chopped
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/3 cup shredded cheese ( I used sharp cheddar)
• flour
• salt
• pepper
• non-stick cooking spray

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and spray cooking spray in your muffin tins
Roll out the pie dough onto a lightly floured surface, then take a round cookie cutter (or a glass will work just fine) and cut out 12 circles and place them into your muffin tins
Bake your pie shells for 10 min, set aside when finished and let cool slightly

While your shells are baking defrost the spinach in the microwave (about 1 min) and set aside to drain - wringing all the water out of your spinach with paper towels if necessary

Chop the bacon and fry until browned, transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain when done
Wipe most of the bacon grease out of the pan then add in the chopped shallot and garlic, saute until translucent over medium-low heat, about 3 min.

Whisk  the eggs, milk, cheese, spinach, bacon, shallots, and garlic in a bowl, then season with salt and pepper

Ladle the egg mixture into each pie crust and bake for 15-20 min.

Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan then ENJOY.

I think these would be wonderful with mimosas and fruit for a Sunday brunch

(and I wish I had taken some better pictures!)

Let me know if you make these, how they turned out.

xxKatherine

adapted from Mini Spinach Quiche from www.makeaheadmealsforbusymoms.com

Beach Bound

This 40 degrees and rainy weather has been missing my days by the pool. My beach vacation can not get here fast enough. I'm so excited I can't stand it!

ToDo-

Mani/Pedi - check 

Spray tan (I'm ghostly) - check 

packed - not even started!

thank you Pinterest for some beach style inspiration!

 
        

found this one on Pinterest too, doesn't she look like she's having the best day!

....great beach picks on her blog too!

                     

Only a few days left!!!!!

 

and I HAVE to swim with the dolphins :)
my fellow Tri-Deltas get it

xx, Katherine

Penne with Vodka Cream Sauce - Delizioso!

Keeping with my New Years Resolutions to try at least one new recipe every week, one of the first I wanted to knock off my list was a Vodka Cream Sauce. Back in October Rob and I went to Chicago and dined at Pizano's  - Oprah's favorite pizza place in Chitown and I can see why! The Pasta Vodka A “La” Strauss was amazing, Rob has asked me to search for this recipe ever since. So I found, via Pinterest of course, Rachael Ray's "You Won’t Be Single For Long" Vodka Cream Pasta . This was featured on  the Oprah and Dr OZ shows and it is suppose to be outstanding!

Here's what you'll need -

Ingredients
Makes 4 Servings
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, once around the pan in a slow stream
1 tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, minced
1 cup vodka
1 cup chicken stock
1 32 oz can crushed tomatoes
Coarse salt and pepper
red pepper flakes (optional)
16 oz pasta, such as penne rigate
1/2 cup heavy cream
20 leaves fresh basil, shredded or torn

Directions

Heat a large saute pan over medium heat. Add in the olive oil, butter, garlic and shallots. Gently sauté the shallots for 3-5 minutes to develop their sweetness. Add the vodka to the pan and reduce the vodka by half, about 2 or 3 minutes.

Then add the chicken stock and the tomatoes. Bring sauce to a bubble and reduce heat to simmer. Season with salt and pepper to taste, I also added in red pepper flakes.

While the sauce simmers, cook the pasta in salted boiling water until cooked to al dente (not quite cooked all the way, 1-2 less then time suggested on box) and chop the fresh basil

Stir the cream into the sauce. When the sauce returns to a bubble, remove it from the heat. Drain the pasta. Toss the hot pasta with the sauce and the basil leaves

Pour yourself a glass of vino and enjoy! Homemade pasta sauce like this one is so easy and so much better then the stuff out of a jar. This makes alot of sauce so invite over some friends or enjoy the leftovers.
The name suits it well, you wouldn't be single for long with this homemade dish (yep, Rob gave it a thumbs up too).
Let me know if you try this!

xx
Katherine

Happy New Year!!

So long 2011 and Hello 2012!!

Looking back it's been a great year, lots to be thankful for. Thinking about all the good, the bad and the ugly of last year, I am very blessed. Very lucky to have the friends and family that I do.

There's so many exciting things to look forward to, friends weddings and babies, traveling and more.

New Years Eve was one of the best ever! The UK Wildcats beat Louisville

and we had a fabulous low key dinner party for six.

I wish I had taken a few pictures of our dinner. But really we were too busy toasting to 2012!

My last minute recipe of choice was a big hit. According to Google, this is the worlds best Lasagna.

Since one of our guest has Sicilian roots, and he went back for seconds, then Cheers!! I was a success :)

Worlds Best Lasagna

..and nothing like several glasses of Champagne later and a Just Dance party to ring in the new year!

New Years Resolutions, mine are the usual,

• Find a workout routine and stick with it
• Make some of the stuff I found on Pinterest
• Learn to cook one new meal a week
• #1 Be thanksful for the great life I have

Speaking of Pinterest, I saw this the other day, what a sweet idea!

via http://inchmark.squarespace.com/

Throughout the year, write down memories that make you smile. On New Year's Eve, open it up and reread all of the good stuff that made the year wonderful! Love this idea!

xx, Katherine

Out West! San Francisco and Napa, California!

How can 2011 almost be over? Looking back on a great year one of the best things from 2011 was our trip to San Fransisco and Napa, California! I could live out there it was so amazing. After checking into our hotel and  into room 666 (yes really, not kidding!) it's time to soak up the city!

One of our very first stops was Ghirardelli Square. Chocolate Chocolate and more Chocolate. Their Chocolate Chip cookies were amazing and we've spent months trying to recreate them. Their website has a great recipes but mine just don't turn out quite the same....hmmmm.

And we walked and walked and walked but the view's were worth it. This is one of my favorites! 

Lombard Street is awesome, it was eight hairpin turns and out of this world landscaping that is as hard to drive down as it is walk. If you're in the Bay Area, this is a must see!

One the best recommendations we received was to have dinner at Prospect. I wish I had some more pictures but I was too busy inhaling one of the best meals I've ever had. Of course a big part of our trip was focused on food. Nom Nom

And of course a trip to San Francisco wouldn't be complete without a ride over and under the Golden Gate Bridge. And it was freezing!

Over the Bridge and to the Woods! Muir Woods that is, I felt like a little elf under all the giant Redwood trees.

Yep that's me inside the tree!

"If you're tired you take a Napa, you don't move to Napa"

-Carrie to Big

On the Road to Napa!!

My Blog title Katherine Ave. sounds appropriate, I got us lost about a millions times on this trip

Sunflowers!

I've lost count of how many Wineries we visited but our two favorites were Schramsberg and Beringer

The grounds, the history and the wine at Schramsberg's were my favorite. What girl wouldn't love a sparkling wine tasting by candle light in a wine cave! #swoon

If you're ever in Napa, you HAVE to visit Schramsberg!

Napa Valley is full of great wine and fabulous food, it's Disneyland for adults. Another perfect sugggestion was dinner at Bouchon. My mouth is watering writing this post.

Out of this world romantic French Bistro in Yountville.

Steak and Frites, REAL butter, fresh seafood, amazing bread and even better wine - this is a vacation.

Now.. when we went to Beringer we decided to go for the history. Images of boxed white Zinfandel is what I had in mind before we got there. Boy was I surprised!

Can you see Rob on the front steps..."Honey we're home!"

I love Beringer's monogram too :)

This wine tasting blew me away, amazing chocolates and cheese to pair with absolutely some of the best wine ever, no White Zinfandel here. Really we could have stayed there all day. Out of every bottle we tried these are the ones we brought  home. Waiting for a special day to open these :)

I can't wait to go back! Wonder where we can go in 2012???

xx, K