Upside Down Pizza Recipe

Upside down pizza. I remember my mom making a Pampered Chef Pizza in a Jar recipe that was delish. So when I found this recipe in a Family Fun magazine this week, I HAD to try it. I made a few changes to the  recipe, added more veggies like the zucchini, more onions... I'll write my changes below, and the original in ( ):

* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 cup chopped onion
* 1 cup chopped mushrooms
* 1 large zucchini cut in 1/2 inch chunks
* 4 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 lbs shredded chicken, I used leftovers (or 2 lbs ground turkey)
* 1 jar pizza sauce, 1 small can tomato paste ( or 2 (15-ounce) cans Italian-style tomato sauce)
* 1/2 c fresh basil, chopped (or 2 teaspoons dried basil)
* 1 cup mini pepperoni or chopped pepperoni
* 1 teaspoon pepper
* 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
* 1 (13.8-ounce) package prepared corn bread mix (or prepared pizza dough mix)

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 400°. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, mushrooms, and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the turkey and continue to cook and stir, breaking the meat into small pieces, until it is no longer pink, about 8 minutes.

2. Stir in the tomato sauce, basil, and pepperoni and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Add the pepper, then transfer the mixture to a 9- by 13-inch casserole dish.

3. Scatter the cheese on top and layer on the pizza dough. Bake the casserole until the dough is golden, about 20 minutes. To serve, spoon out portions with a large serving utensil.

Yes, I left it in the oven a little bit too long, but it was still so. good.  If you make it, I'd love to hear your changes or if you liked it!

Sweet Treats: Chocolate Chip Strawberry Walnut Banana Bread Recipe

I bought two  bunches of bananas last night, still a little green. But that doesn't stop the boys from cutting into every single one looking for a ripe fruit. Now, I could have trashed them, but decided to turn an aggrivating situation into a mouth watering one.

♥ Chocolate Chip Strawberry Walnut Banana Bread Recipe ♥

1 c sugar

1/2 c vegetable oil

2 large eggs

4 bananas

1 tsp vanilla

2 c flour

1 1/2 tsp baking soda (oops, I used baking powder and it was fine)

1/8 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 long squirt lemon juice

1 c walnuts

1 c chopped strawberries

1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix sugar, oil, eggs, bananas, lemon juice and vanilla together in one bowl. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Mix them together. Stir in walnuts, strawberries and chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes in a greased bread pan (or muffin pan, just lower the time).

 I don't like to smother on butter, I like just a small little hint on a thick, warm slice of bread.

My little guy couldn't shove it down his throat fast enough before begging for another piece.

linked to Chic on a Shoestring's Flaunt it Friday.
Sugar and Dots What I Whipped Up Wednesday

Inspired Blog: LifefLix

I love the  room redo shown above. So hodge podge, simple, and full of personality.

I discovered a sweet blog awhile back by Marichelle called Lifeflix. She has the most beautiful baby ever (who wore the most adorable owl Halloween costume and who also has the most adorable nursery) and her blog is really a breath of fresh air. I'm loving her Operation Lose Baby Fat series right now. If you love adorable and simple crafts (like the  clouds crafts,  twig mobile and kid's animal masks), healthy and delicious recipes, and original eye candy, then do visit.

 

Sweet Treats: A Fanciful Twist Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcake Recipe

So many interior design posts lately. Love them, and have plenty more to come, but I believe a cupcake post is in order. Really, if the whole world could just sit together and eat cupcakes merilly, wouldn't it be such a lovely place, as friendship and the desire to serve and help each other magically took place?

Vanessa, of A Fanciful Twist never ceases to ignite my imagination. Her lovely storytelling is simply wonderful as well as her lushious photography, full of magic and sparkles. Her famous Mad Hatter Tea party, full of whimsical details is on the horizon, (here, you can see 2008 and 2009* and some blogger parties here), and read the delightful little introduction to this year's party here (in which I plan on atteneding this year).

***

Do you not just love the shape of her cupcake? Her secret? Using extra tall cupcake liners! I've never seen them in stores, have you? Here is the recipe she uses, and her special notes on making the cupcake and icing:

the cupcake and the bee postcard set for sale in her shop

"I used this Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcake recipe right here. Two important notes are that, I increased the buttermilk to 1 scant cup (instead of 2/3 cup) after reading the reviews about dryness - And I only cooked mine for 16 minutes. Perfection!"

♥ Ingredients ♥

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup sugar, plus

2 tablespoons sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

1. Beat butter and all the sugar on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla and beat on high speed until well blended.

2. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.

3. With mixer on low speed, add one third of the flour mixture, followed by a third of the buttermilk – repeat, alternating in thirds. When all the flour is incorporated beat mixture on medium speed just until well blended.

4. Fill paper-lined or buttered muffin cups (1/3-cup capacity) about three-fourths full with batter (about 1/4 cup in each).

5. Bake in a 350° oven until tops spring back when lightly touched in the center, 16-20 minutes. Cool on racks 5 minutes; remove from pans. Cool completely.

6. Decorate with your favorite frosting.

♥Frosting♥

"My frosting invention is rather fluffy cheesecake like, but much more mild -

I took one stick of room temperature softened salted butter, 1 cup of sour cream, and 1/4 Tsp. of Vanilla and mixed them together with my hand mixer. I had 1 cup of powdered sugar waiting, that I added little by little to the already mixed sour-cream, butter and vanilla mixture.

I didn't use all the sugar for my mixture. But, you should add it little by little, tasting it until the frosting is to your likeness. I don't like mine very sweet. Note also that this cupcake recipe is very sweet on its own."

peace offering cupcake for the mad hatter

Cherries, sprinkles, fairy dust and whimsical dress-up costumes are optional.

Happy Mother's Day To You All!

I love my beautiful Mother's Day bouquet. My honey works for a major shipping co and one stop on his route is a flower shop. Well, they always give him flowers on special occasions for *free* to bring home to me! This bouquet is absolutely beautiful! I even split it up to give some blooms for my sweet mom for Mother's Day as well!



For Mother's Day, we had a lovely lesson at church on words/actions that hurt others, and how we as women may not always know when we can be hurting others. We talked ways we can show love and support to others, and try to see more clearly our own weaknesses and gifts. It was a lovely and uplifting lesson, and we followed it with a yummy Mother's Day brunch of fruits, cheese and crackers and croissant sandwiches.

We then visited my Husband's family (his dad is recovering from heart surgery) and we then came home and made Sheppard's Pie (my fav) with my mom and watched Outsourced. A cute little indie romantic comedy (yes, we did skip any love scene we encountered (there were 2).



Also, I got my Mom and Mother-in-law cup cozies. They both are always carrying around a drink of some sort wrapped in napkins, so I thought these would be perfect! Unfortunately, they got thrown in a pile somewhere, so I haven't given them the cozies yet, but they will be loved, I know it!


Bottled Water Cozy from Cozy Beans


Cup Cozy from Bagel Creations.

A quick word on Mother's Day. Not every woman is a mother. Whether it is by personal choice, or the opportunity just hasn't come yet, whether a woman is no longer a "hands-on" mother who has lost her child through death, spirit or distance, if you no longer have your mother on Earth or really despise the one you have... every woman can celebrate Mother's Day.

It is my belief that woman have divine nurturing tendencies to be mothers. You can be a mother in a sense in your community, in your home, in your prescence or career. Through love, educating ourselves, perservering and honing a sincere desire to help others are ways you can also be a mother. By using our motherlike qualities, we have the power to influence the world for good, one small child, adult, politician at a time.

Here are some free printables and ideas for next Mother's Day for you! Here is a great site for vintage cards, Vintage Holiday Crafts and second post HERE.


Vintage Mother's Day Flower Card from Hub Pages (follow link to view MORE!)


Mother and Child Vintage Card from Karen's Whimsy (click link for TONS MORE!)


70's Mother's Day Card

If you are into Digital Art, here are some Free printables compiled here at DigiFree.







This next kit isn't free, but it is beautiful, plus the designer, Blush Butter, has some stunning kits on this page!





Cute flower bouquet kid's idea from She Knows


Queen Mom coloring page to print out for your kids at Kaboose

Breakfast in Bed? Here is a fun idea for kids to easliy make homemade butter spread from Zach Aboard.



You need: one jar with a tight fitting screw on lid, a pinch of salt, 2 marbles and
heavy whipping cream filled about 1/2 way. Put all inside jar, screw on lid and let your kid shake it up till it's creamy butter.

I hope your enjoyed your Mother's Day! Remember, next year, keep it simple, fun and easy :)