our recipe for a happy and healthy marriage

today i am guest posting over on lauren's blog choosing joy.  lauren is getting married this week, and she asked me to share a few tips for a happy and healthy marriage.  (you can check out my guest post here.)

i consider myself blessed to have such a wonderful relationship with ryan.  this summer will mark 10 years that we have known each other, 9 years together as a couple, and 3 years of marriage.  over the course of our relationship, we have found just the right ingredients to make our marriage both happy and healthy.  since ryan and i love to cook and bake, we decided to present our tips via a recipe.  so, from our kitchen to yours, here is our recipe for a happy and healthy marriage . . .

recipe: a happy and healthy marriage
yields: one loving couple

ingredients:
1 pound love
1 ounce patience
1 teaspoon honesty
1 tablespoon trust
1 pint encouragement
1 cup teamwork
1 quart gratitude
1 pinch appreciation
1 gallon communication
1 dash laughter
1 handful time

directions:
blend all ingredients together well and bake with love.  season with generous portions of passion.

recipe notes:
the first ingredient in our recipe is love because it is the foundation of our relationship.  our love for one another runs deep, and each day we love like there is no tomorrow.  next we add patience because it is important to stay calm in a marriage without becoming angry or upset at the drop of a hat.  a little ounce of patience certainly goes a long way.  honesty keeps the integrity in our marriage.  no matter what, we have made a vow to always be honest with one another.  we are confident in our relationship, because we trust each other 100%.  encouragement provides support, and we find little ways to encourage each other as often as possible.  teamwork teaches us cooperation and lets us work together in harmony and unity.  no matter what happens, we know that we are a team.  gratitude is necessary because it is so important to remember to say thank you, and to not take each other for granted.  appreciation of the little things, as well as the big things, makes us thankful for one another.  communication is a crucial ingredient because it allows us to be transparent with each other.  we always keep an open mind and an open heart in our communication, and we try to be the best listeners we can be for each other.  laughter connects us.  sometimes we have to remember to not take ourselves so seriously, and we enjoy laughing together.  lastly, time will allows us to work on blending all of these ingredients together.  we always put each other first, and we always make time for each other, no matter what.  we take time to dream together, to explore together, and to be together.

these ingredients help us to have a happy and healthy relationship.  we hope that your relationship is just as delicious as ours!

love, laurie

peaches-and-cream baked french toast

we love fun breakfast recipes over at our house, and recently we created a new breakfast recipe which has now become one of our favorites . . . peaches-and-cream baked french toast.

a few weeks ago, ryan and i were talking about food (a pretty common occurrence at our house) and the topic of baked french toast came up in our conversation.  one thing lead to another, and we started constructing a recipe for baked french toast.  i'll give ryan credit for thinking of incorporating the peaches.  i'll take credit for thinking of incorporating the cream cheese.  thus, peaches and cream . . . i call that good team work.

this recipe kicks things up a notch on the french toast scale.  it is definitely not your grandmother's old-fashioned french toast.  instead, it's almost like a french toast bread pudding.  this dish can stand alone as a weekend morning breakfast, or it can serve as an awesome side dish for a brunch.  it would be perfect for special occasions too.

all of the work is done the night before, so when you wake up in the morning, all you have to do is preheat your oven and let it bake.  it doesn't get much better than that!  serve it at your next gathering, and you'll be a hit for sure!

ps: today i'm guest posting over on angie's blog "this crazy nest" and sharing this recipe.  be sure to check out my guest post here.

gather your ingredients

beat the cream cheese until smooth

mix in the sour cream, milk, brown sugar, and maple syrup

add the eggs, cinnamon, and vanilla

beat everything together until smooth

place 1 inch cubes of bread and the peach slices
in a buttered glass baking dish

pour the mixture over the bread cubes and the peach slices,
then cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight

the next morning, allow the dish to come to room temperature, then bake

allow the dish to sit for several minutes before cutting

serve hot with powdered sugar, maple syrup, whipped cream, and peaches

. . .

peaches-and-cream baked french toast
prep time: 10 minutes
resting time: approximately 8 hours
baking time: 60-65 minutes
yields: 8-10 servings

ingredients:
12 oz. french bread
16 oz. frozen peaches
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup light sour cream
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2-3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
10 large eggs
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

directions:
cut the bread into 1 inch cubes and place the bread cubes in a buttered 9x13 inch glass baking dish.  evenly spread the peach slices on top of the bread cubes.  in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth with an electric hand mixer.  add the sour cream, milk, brown sugar, and maple syrup.  beat until all of the ingredients are incorporated and the sugar is dissolved.  add the eggs, cinnamon, and vanilla.  beat until smooth.  pour the mixture over the bread cubes and the peach slices.  cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.

remove from the refrigerator and allow the dish to sit on the counter for 30 minutes to come to room temperature.  meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  bake covered for 30 minutes.  uncover and continue baking for an additional 30-35 minutes, or until there are no visible signs of liquid egg mixture.  remove from the oven.  allow the french toast to sit for several minutes to set up before cutting.

serve hot, dusted with powdered sugar.  garnish with maple syrup, whipped cream, and additional peach slices.

enjoy!

love, laurie

mom's italian pasta fagioli

i'm part italian, so i'm sure it comes as no surprise that i absolutely love italian food.  one of my all-time favorite italian dishes is pasta fagioli, which is a traditional italian soup.  of course, there are countless variations of the recipe.  a few months ago i shared a copy cat recipe for olive garden's version of this soup.  however, today i wanted to share my family's version with you.

this recipe has literally been passed down through my family for generations.  my mom still has the old recipe card with the recipe for this soup written in my great grandmother's handwriting.  now that my great grandmother is gone, it is certainly something that we treasure.

growing up, one of the dishes that i remember my great grandmother making often was pasta fagioli.  she had her own spin on the recipe, as did my grandmother, and as did my mom.  out of all of the different variations of pasta fagioli that my family has made over the years, my mom's version is my favorite.

my mom's italian pasta fagioli soup recipe is a simple recipe that doesn't require many ingredients, and it is both quick and easy to make.  it is absolutely delicious, and it is a classic.  for me it is the perfect comfort food that reminds me of all of the sweet memories of my childhood.

ps: today i'm guest posting over on carrie's blog "frugal foodie mama" and sharing this pasta fagioli recipe.  there is also a giveaway there too.  so, be sure to check out my guest post and the giveaway here.

mom's italian pasta fagioli
prep time: 5 minutes
cooking time: 20-25 minutes
yields: 4-5 servings

ingredients:
2 cups ditalini pasta, dry
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4-5 large garlic cloves, minced
4 (8oz.) cans hunt's no salt added tomato sauce
2 cups cold water
1 (15oz. or 16oz.) can low sodium cannelloni beans
salt and ground pepper
parmesan cheese, grated

directions:
cook pasta according to package directions.  meanwhile, in a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat.  add the minced garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes.  do not let the garlic brown.  add the tomato sauce and the water.  allow the soup to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often.  drain and rinse the beans.  add the beans to the soup and cook for 5-10 minutes over low heat.  once the pasta has finished cooking, drain the pasta and add it to the soup.  serve hot with grated parmesan cheese.

enjoy!

love, laurie

german apple puffed pancake

for as long as i can remember, my mom has been making this german apple puffed pancake recipe.  growing up, it was always one of my favorite things for breakfast, and i would request it for breakfast each year on my birthday.  over the years, it became a tradition, and i always looked forward to having my mom's german apple puffed pancake for breakfast on the morning of my birthday.  my mom would wake up early and sneak down to the kitchen to start slicing and sauteing the apples.  i would then wake up to the amazing aroma of apples, cinnamon, and brown sugar wafting out of the kitchen.

recently, over the last few years, ryan and i have been making this breakfast for special occasions.  of course it is never as good as my mom's version because of all of the love that she put into hers in our family kitchen, but it comes pretty darn close.

this pancake isn't a typical pancake at all.  it is baked in the oven to become fluffy and light.  the delicate fluffy dough supports the slices of apples, while the cinnamon and sugar work together to balance the tartness of the apples.  once the pancake has baked and become all golden brown, the top is dusted with powdered sugar, and it is perfect just like that.

(ryan likes to pour maple syrup on his slice, but i always stick to the traditional version with just the powdered sugar dusted on top.)

this breakfast dish holds such a special place in my heart.  every time i eat it, i am flooded with such fond memories of my childhood.  each bite is like getting a great big warm hug from my mom.  it's a comfort food for me, and it's the perfect way to start off a special morning.

ps: today i am guest posting over on carrie's blog "frugal foodie mama" and sharing this german apple puffed pancake recipe.  there is also a giveaway there too.  so, be sure to check out my guest post and the giveaway here.

slice the granny smith apples 

place the apple slices into a large pan with melted butter

add cinnamon and brown sugar

saute the apple slices until they are tender and evenly coated

whisk together the ingredients for the batter

allow butter to melt in a large baking pan while the oven preheats

place the apples in the warm buttery pan and pour the batter over the top

bake the pancake in the oven until it becomes puffed and golden brown

remove the pancake from the oven and dust the top with powdered sugar

german apple puffed pancake
prep time: 10-15 minutes
cooking time: 5-10 minutes
baking time: 30-40 minutes
yields: 4-6 servings

ingredients:
4 large granny smith apples
2 tablespoons salted butter (divided)
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2-3 tablespoons brown sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 cup milk
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
powdered sugar (for dusting)

directions:
peel, core, and slice the apples into medium size slices.  in a large non-stick pan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat.  place the apple slices in the pan, and sprinkle the cinnamon and brown sugar over the apple slices.  saute the apple slices until they are tender, making sure that all of the apple slices are evenly coated.  meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.  while the oven is preheating, place 1 tablespoon of butter in a 9x13 inch glass baking pan.  put the baking pan in the oven, just until the butter melts, then remove the pan from the oven and evenly spread the butter around the pan.  once the apple slices are tender, pour them into the prepared glass baking pan.  whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, milk, eggs, and vanilla.  pour the batter evenly over the apple slices.  bake the pancake for 30-40 minutes or until it is puffed and golden brown, and an knife inserted in the center of the pancake comes out clean.  dust the top of the pancake with powdered sugar, and serve warm.

enjoy!

love, laurie

oatmeal-applesauce cookies with maple glaze

today, i'm guest posting over on lauren's blog choosing joy and i'm sharing this cookie recipe!

traditional oatmeal cookies are a favorite of mine for sure.  however, from time to time, i like to switch things up a bit when it comes to traditional recipes.  i made these oatmeal-applesauce cookies and took them to work recently for my co-worker's birthday.  the addition of the applesauce makes these cookies soft.  they are different than traditional oatmeal cookies since they have a cake-like consistency.  the glaze gives them a bit of sweetness without being overpowering too.  everyone at work loved them as a little snack to go along with their morning cup of coffee.

be sure to check out my guest post and recipe here!

oatmeal-applesauce cookies with maple glaze
prep time: 5-10 minutes
baking time: 14-15 minutes
yields: approximately 20 cookies
adapted from martha stewart

cookie ingredients:
4 tablespoons salted butter, softened
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup unsweetened natural applesauce
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

glaze ingredients:
1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
1/2 cup powdered sugar
cold water

directions:
to make the cookies: preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  in the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars together until combined.  add the egg and applesauce and beat for 2-3 minutes.  in a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon.  add the sifted flour mixture to the batter along with the oats and mix until combined.  line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and scoop 1 tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the cookie sheet.  bake for 14-15 minutes, until the cookies are golden.  allow the cookies to cool completely before drizzling them with the glaze.

to make the glaze: whisk together the maple syrup and the powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon of cold water. add additional water as needed to reach the desired glaze consistency.  drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies, and let the glaze dry completely before serving.

enjoy!

love, laurie

a love, laurie giveaway! (closed)

today i am participating in a group giveaway 

over on amanda's blog "for love of a cupcake."  

for my giveaway contribution 

i am giving away a pair of beaded earrings 

(handmade by yours truly)
and two months of ad space.

for a chance to win my handmade earrings and ad space,
enter the giveaway on amanda's blog here.

good luck!

love, laurie

. . .

update 11/25: our winner is announced here

check it out

today i'm featured as a sponsor on sarah's blog, a girl in transit.

be sure to check it out here!

love, laurie

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today i'm featured as a sponsor on lauren's blog, choosing joy.

be sure to check it out here!

love, laurie

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today i'm featured as a sponsor on meg's blog, henning love.

be sure to check it out here!

love, laurie

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today i'm featured as a sponsor on lauren's blog, choosing joy.

be sure to check it out here!

love, laurie

check it out

today i'm featured as a sponsor on angie's blog, this crazy little nest.

be sure to check it out here!

love, laurie

check it out

today i'm featured as a sponsor on lauren's blog, choosing joy.

be sure to check it out here!

love, laurie

fresh raspberry sorbet

today, i'm guest posting over on elease's blog the little lovebirds and i'm sharing one of my favorite sorbet recipes!  in the summer time, nothing beats desserts that incorporate fresh fruit.  since raspberries are one of my all time favorite fruits, i wanted to share my recipe for fresh raspberry sorbet.  this sorbet is so simple to make, and it only requires a few ingredients.  the tang of the raspberries together with the lemon juice is so bright and refreshing in the warm weather months.  it will make you feel like you will never want summer to end!  be sure to check out my guest post and recipe here!

fresh raspberry sorbet
prep time: 20-25 minutes
freezing time: 1-2 hours
yields: 6 servings

ingredients:
12 ounces fresh raspberries
1 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

directions:
in a saucepan, bring the water and the sugar to a boil, stirring constantly in order to dissolve all of the sugar.  reduce the heat to low, and simmer without stirring to make a syrup (about 5 minutes).  pour the syrup into a bowl, and add the vanilla extract.  place the syrup in the freezer to chill (about 15 minutes).

in a blender, puree the raspberries, the syrup, and the lemon juice, until smooth.  strain the raspberry puree through a sieve and into a bowl in order to remove the seeds.  pour the strained raspberry puree into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to the ice cream maker's instructions (about 30 minutes).  remove the sorbet from the ice cream maker and transfer to a freezer-safe container.  freeze until completely set (about 1-2 hours).  serve the sorbet garnished with fresh raspberries and a sprig of fresh mint.

enjoy!

love, laurie

hello, june!

{picture from our trip to quiet valley this past weekend}

i can't believe that today is the first day of june!  

now it officially feels like summer.  

did you know that today is national doughnut day?
to celebrate, krispy kreme is giving away

one free doughnut to each customer today.

have a great weekend!

love, laurie

. . .

ps: today i am featured as a sponsor over here.
so, be sure to check it out!

check it out

for the month of may, kaytee lauren asked each of her sponsors to create a spring outfit using white or ivory pieces from their wardrobe, and then she featured all of our outfits in a group guest post.

for my outfit, i picked the ivory lace dress that i wore for my graduation a few weeks ago (seen here).  this dress is one of the most comfortable dresses that i own!  i chose to keep my outfit plain and simple because the delicate detail around the neckline of this dress is so feminine and flattering.  this dress is great because it can be dressed up with a pair of heels for a formal occasion, or dressed down with a pair of flat sandals for a more casual look.

outfit details . . .
dress: rabbit rabbit rabbit designs
sandals: old navy
earrings: made by me
sunglasses: relic
bag: jessica simpson
lipstick: mary kay "paradise pink"

check out my outfit in kaytee's group guest post here

have a great weekend!

love, laurie

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during the month of april, 

kaytee lauren has been featuring 

one of her sponsors each day 

at the end of her blog posts 

and today it's me!

check it out here

love, laurie