What I'm loving Wednesday

WILW

With Jamie

{1}

I am loving that I got the chance to live in "Fantasy Land" for a week, hanging  with my children, acting  like a goof. 

I got to leave behind regular life;  cleaning, homework, heaps of laundry!

And things like this

Storms and blown down trees, the big disasters the weather has been bringing!!

{2}

I am loving this shot of KYA texting her prince charming in front of Cinderella's Castle.

{3}

I am loving that "Bachelorette" is back on.

I do  wish they would have chosen someone new, fresh.   Ashley wasn't my favorite during Brad's season. 

A bit of an awkward situation with that drunk guy and what about Mr. Mask?  What was that all about?

My two favorite guys, so far, are Ben, the winemaker

and William, the salesman.

{5}
I am loving these low cal brownies from "Healthy Cooking" magazine called 'Makeover pick-me-up cream cheese brownies'.  Very good and having a batch of these saves my husband from having to run out and grab a $7.00 piece of cake.

My 'food' photography is a bit schmaltzy....where is Amanda, from Kevinandmanda.com when you need her?

Thanks for stopping by!!!!

Show us your life:Favorite main dish

Today over at KELLY"S KORNER is favorite main dishes.  I don't have any dishes that I have created myself, but this one from REAL SIMPLE is just that:simple.  My kids and husband will also eat anything with the word 'taco' in it. 

These feel so light and squeezing on the lime just makes them so much better!

PULLED-PORK TACOS

2 cups store bought salsa

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 tablespoons dried oregano

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

kosher salt

1  2 1/2 pound  boneless pork butt or shoulder, trimmed of fat

18 corn tortillas

1/2 cup fresh cilantro sprigs

3/4 cup sour cream

1 lime, cut into wedges

* In a 4-to-6 quart slow cooker, combine salsa, chili powder, oregano, cocoa, and 1 tsp. salt.  Add the pork and turn to coat

*Cook, covered,  until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily, on high for 4-5 hours or low for 7- 8 hours.

* Twenty minutes before serving, heat oven to 350 degrees F. Stack the tortillas, wrap them in foil, and bake until warm, about 15 minutes.

*Meanwhile, using 2 forks,  shred the pork and stir into the cooking liquid.  Serve with the tortillas, cilantro, sour cream, lime and extra salsa.

Thanks for stopping by!

Show us your life: Favorite dessert

Today over at Kelly's Korner is "Show us your favorite dessert" and since dessert is my favorite meal, I eat a lot of these!!!

These pecan bars are a favorite in our house and we, or I should say, my husband,   gets many requests for these thick, gooey bars.  



Photo via the Barefoot Contessa cookbook.



If you are a fan of pecan pie but not too thrilled with the mushy filling, these are a great alternative.  And not just for Fall.   The pecan portion as this great honey taste and the shorbread portion is awesome!

These aren't from a recipe he came up with on his own but are from The Barefoot Contessa.   The Food Network website rates them as *easy* but I will have to disagree as I have watched the entire process.  But well worth the end product.   ***He did set our screen door on fire at our old house during one of the baking sessions with these babies....that should tell you something***   I didn't even want to know how he managed that.

Here is the recipe:

Pecan Bars

Crust  

             1 1/4 pounds unsalted butter at room temp.

                      3/4 cup granulated sugar

                          3  extra large eggs

                     3/4 teaspoon  pure vanilla extract

                   4 1/2 cups  all-purpose flour

                 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

                 1/2 teaspoon salt

Topping

            1 pound  unsalted butter

                    1 cup   honey

                   3 cups   light brown sugar, packed

              1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

              1 teaspoon grated orange zest

                   1/4 cup  heavy cream

              2 pounds  pecans, coarsely chopped

                                                                   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

For the crust, beat the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of electric mixer fitted with a paddle attatchent, until light, approx. 3 minutes.   Add the eggs and the vanilla and mix well.   Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.   Mix the dry ingredients into the batter with the mixer on low speed until just combined.  Press the dough evenly into an ungreased  18 x 12 x 1 inch baking sheet, making an edge around the outside.  It will be very sticky ; sprinkle the dough and your hands lightly with flour.  Bake for 15 minutes, util the crust is set but now browned.  Allow to cool.

For the topping, combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, and zests in a large, heavy bottomed saucepan.   Cook over low heat until butter is melted, using a wooden spoon to stir.   Raise the heat and boil for 3 minutes.  Remove from heat.   Stir in the heavy cream and pecans.  Pour over the crust, trying not to get the filling between crust and the pan.    Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until filling is set.   Remove from oven  and allow to cool.   Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold.  Cut into bars. 

**Dip 1/2 the bar in warm chocolate if desired**

Thanks for stopping by

Show us your life: Vacation spots

Happy Friday!!

This week at Kelly's Korner it's Show us your favorite vacation spot.  

French Lick Resort and West Baden Hotel in French Lick, Indiana is an hour from our house and is someplace we like to hang out when my parents visit from California.   It's got a crazy name and is a glamorous place in the middle of a pretty desolate town.   A small town in Indiana that has these big, ornate buildings.  



West Baden dome.



We would sit on the balcony of the hotel and sip iced tea or mint juleps..  A feeling of Gone with the Wind with a little mix of the 1920's when you walk through the hotel.   Very glam!!!

I believe French Lick got it's silly name because it was formerly a French trading post near a salt lick.    NBA dude, Larry Bird is from French Lick.   The hotel is known for it's sulfur springs, which are thought to have healing powers and they give off a lovely (not!) aroma!!

The city itself was a bit run down, as were the two hotels, which have undergone MAJOR renovations in the last several years.   There was the addition of a casino boat and water park and The West Baden Hotel, which was just a tourist "walk through" has recently been opened as a full running hotel.   It is monstrous and has this domed atrium that is 200 feet!



West Baden gardens



Here are some pics of one of our last visits.



Kya and Grandma Sue in the back of the French Lick resort.





Darian in the atrium of the West Baden Hotel.




Hi everyone!!



When we visit this area we get this relaxed vacation, close to home, no airplanes, no long car rides and the everything is low key.   Everything you do is right there on the grounds and everything is well manicured, very beautiful.      There is a bowling alley and pizza/arcade for the kids and they just LOVE the enclosed dome pool.   So a little for everone.  

Thanks for stopping by!!

What I'm loving Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!    I'm joining in with Jamie today over at "This kind of Love."  Go check her out. She is really cool!

                                          These are the things I am lovin' this week

                                                                       {1}

    The rain.   I am thankful that all we have had is rain for the last several weeks.   Yes, it can get a bit annoying,   but then I think of what the people of Alabama and surrounding areas have gone through and I just shut up!   Our family is praying for them. 

This thing just looks monstrous!!!!   Couldn't even imagine.  

                                                                         {2}

I am loving this cute romper and scarf set made by Grandma Sue.

                                                                                   {3}

This is such a cute picnic scene.   For mothers of boys its the "masculine" take on the tea party.  So funny!



This pic is from Parenting....School Years magazine.



                                                                                {4}

These cupcakes from ALL YOU magazine are so colorful and cute.   Making 37 gummy flowers might be a daunting task but I may try to make them.  Maybe.

                                                                              {5}

What a sweet photo.   The babies are so cute and the knit caps are tied together in a bow.   This is from babyphotographers.com.  

Thanks for stopping by!