(no) Fork You Nachos Recipe

If you know me, then you know that I am a no nonsense type in the kitchen. I want to know the exact measurements, the exact temp. for baking and the EXACT everything so that I can actually make what I am trying to make! But sometimes there is no need for that and you just go with the flow and create something yummy, like some nachos that are delish and bite size and perfect for a party with your gal pals ( yes, I just used that term) or an at home party night with your hubby or bubby (Nacho Libre comes to mind as a good movie choice). Did I mention it's reduced calorie and fat, also vegetarian? But my super hunky cook book buddy Rocco Dispirito, came up with the most of this, so now eat this!
1. Preheat oven to 425.
2. Line baking sheet with foil, place the Baked Tostitos Scoops chips (scoop side up, makes sense) on the sheet.
3. Use a spoon and put some vegetarian refried beans in the scoops (fill only about 1/3 of the way) then sprinkle a small handful of reduced fat Mexican style grated cheese.
4. Bake in oven about 5-8 min. or until cheese is melted.
5. Now add the following according to your preferences: diced tomatos or salsa, nonfat greek yogurt, cilantro, hot sauce (tapatio!!!) and sliced pickled jalapenos.
       No fork necessary, just bit sized goodness. P. S. A big thanks to Zach for lots of help in the taste testing and naming and picture process.

Want a new necklace for free?

Well, me too, but we have to make it ourselves, that's why it's free (duh). But it's fun! And easy! Did I mention free? This crafty inspiration is straight out of this months issue of Bust magazine. Jeez they rock.
1. Basically you cut up 3 or 4 old t-shirts to make strips about 1 inch thick and as long as possible.
2. Tie the ends, pin to a secure place and braid the strips. Make at least 4 finished braided strands. Make sure to leave some extra long pieces at the ends to use in the fastening together process.
3. Get creative and fasten them together with one strand for the top neck part and three for the hanging down part. Some times directions are helpful but in my case I had to improvise.
4.  Hopefully you have something that looks like a cool, braided, necklace. Now you can add feathers, beads and whatever you want.

Would Mother Approve?

Creo que si. (I think so.) This Dia De Los Muertos number was lovingly fashioned out of a painting of my dear mama. She was between the ages of eight and ten at the time, so cute with the face of a cherub. Her mother had portraits of each of her four children done in the same fashion and hung them proudly in her fancy sitting room. I inherited the picture years ago when my grandma passed, and alas, it was not to my taste to hang in my home. Seriously, I do not own a touch of beige or neutral anything, and it just did not sit well with my decor. So now, before it was completely ruined I reused/ up-cycled (?) the portrait. Que bueno, just in time to scare the crapola out of my kids before bedtime.

The Bounty of Easter

This is some of the stuff my kids got from the Easter bunny: peeps, Pokemon cards, beyblades, DSI games, cadbury eggs, reese's peanut butter eggs, jelly beans, salt water taffy, ring pops, lolly pops, toothbrushes (that bunny is a clever one), quarters in eggs, and probably some other stuff. The coolest stuff came from their grandparents and they felt so special knowing that they had been thought of even though they are far away. They also had an egg hunt with all of the children of the complex and that was sweet.

This is what I got for Easter: a bunny flower pot, a chip shaped like a boot and a glass of wine. I shared my bounty with the Easter bunny.

Recipe~ Thai Lettuce Wraps

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
• 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 iceberg lettuce heads, cut into quarters and leaves gently removed to make the lettuce cups
• 1/2 cup honey-roasted peanuts, chopped
• Juice of 1 lime
• 1 handful basil, chopped

Preparation

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat with one turn of the pan of EVOO, about 1 tablespoon. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook in the pan until golden brown on all sides.

Add in the red pepper and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add in the chili sauce and honey and simmer to reduce it and coat the chicken.
To serve, lay the lettuce leaves on a platter, then scoop some of the chicken mixture onto each leaf.
Sprinkle with the chopped peanuts, lime juice and basil.

Good Night Formula

1. Dinner at the table as a family, if you can it is so worth the effort and burnt food
2. Homework (boo!)
3. Bath time, don't forget to brush teeth
4. Yoga or watch the Simpsons (many times both, because it is awesome to laugh and do downward dog and almost barf up your dinner.)
5. READ, in my opinion it is more important than bath time ( for at least 30 min a day, serious, don't be lame and skip it)
6. Lights out, cuddles, back scratches, "how was your day?", made up stories, a few songs...
7. That's all, what else am I supposed to do? Jeez.

Is There Any Mommy Out There?: Crowdsourcing parenting: Screen time

 I have followed this marvelous lady for a long time now (hers was the first blog I ever actually looked at). I really think she puts all of our collective mommy worries, hopes, dreams, fears and everything else into words. So if you are a mom, or just want to enjoy some really amazing writing, check her out.
Is There Any Mommy Out There?: Crowdsourcing parenting: Screen time: "A few weeks ago I tweeted: @anymommy The longer I have children the less I care about how much TV they watch. That is called *surviva..."

Nighttime Yoga Ritual with the Kiddos

My kids love spending a few minutes doing yoga with me at night. They enjoy learning poses that have cute animal names like baby scorpion and downward dog. The warrior poses are a big hit with the boys, which is no big surprise, and we always end up getting a good laugh out of happy baby. For me, the most fun is when we get creative and make up our own, like the banana, that Finn invented and is one of the funniest things you have ever seen. Also Rylan can do a wicked inversion. Isn't relaxing fun(ny)?

Message Door Hangers- Knock Knock

It is 8:30 in the morning, it is spring break, my kids are still asleep (one of the only perks of vacation is that they will sleep past 7 am) and there is a knock at the door. A neighbor kid looks up at me, "Can Rylan and Finn play?"My answer was "No, it is way to early." His reply was, "Well, can I play your wii?" Keep in mind that my blinds are shut tight, I am in my jammies, I HAVE NOT HAD COFFEE YET! My own children know not to ask me for a single thing before I have had my coffee. Needless to say, after the boys have spent hours and hours playing with their buddies, the day is done and it is time to come in and eat dinner, take a bath and spend time with the family. But even though my kids and I have been very clear that we won't be entertaining any more guests today, the knocking continues (no kidding every 20- 30 min). This is what Rylan came up with, God bless him.

Play dough Recipe: Make It At Home!

And here we go with spring break, can I have a few moments of quiet sanity with two little boys in my house? The answer is probably no, unless...play dough! I save the novelty of it for rainy days, vacations and when I have a hangover. So when I break it out, my little guys think it is a super special occasion, and that's a good thing that will keep them occupied for hours.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 cups water
1 cup salt
2 tablespoons oil
food coloring (I never use it, and the kids are still happy)

Make it!
In a saucepan combine water, a few drops of food coloring (optional) and oil. Combine flour, salt and cream of tartar, add to the saucepan. Cook over low heat until it sticks together. Leave to cool and knead. Store in zip lock bags for months at a time. 

Happy Cute Sunday

 

These baby  hedgehogs remind me of my favorite Costa Rican fruit, mamon chinos. But they are too cute to eat.

Stencil Shirts~ Seriously Fun and Easy

We all have that favorite shirt or tank that met its demise when spaghetti sauce or coffee dribbled down the front. Some times a Tide to go pen or a splash of bleach does the trick, and other time those stains force us to toss the garment into the back of the closet. This is so fun, easy and cheap that you will want to do it on everything you own, and not just to cover up the stains on things.

You will need:
an iron
freezer paper
an X-acto knife
fabric paint (I got mine at Joanne's for under $5)
small paint brushes
silhouette image of your choice

Now make it:
First trace the image you want onto a piece of freezer paper making sure to leave at least a 2 inch boarder around the edges then use your X-acto to cut it out. Set your iron on a high setting with the steam turned off (of course don't set it so high that it will burn your clothes). Turn the shirt inside out, get a sheet of freezer paper the right size, and iron it onto the shirt with the shiny side down.When you turn the shirt right side out, it should be on the opposite side, this is super important so that the paint won't bleed through. With the shirt turned right side out, place the freezer paper stencil where you want it and iron that on. Now you are ready to paint, and after that leave it to dry overnight (make sure to wait, it is worth not messing up the whole thing). The next day is here, and you can peel off the stencil paper and wear your new (old!) shirt. Now you can sit back and wait for the compliments to roll in.

My Favorite Spicy Hummus Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cloves of garlic
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1-3 teaspoons of red chili pepper (I like it spicy, but you can omit this altogether if you don't)
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 16 oz. can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
2 or 3 tablespoons of the liquid from the chick peas
3 or 4 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons tahini OR 2 teaspoons of peanut butter (I actually prefer the peanut butter)

Preparation:
Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from the can. Combine remaining ingredients in your blender or  processor, add the liquid from the chickpeas little by little until it is the consistency you like and blend until smooth. Serve room temperature or chilled. I like to serve it with all the veggies I can get my hands on and pita bread cut into triangles. Enjoy!

Review: Nicolita's Knotty Halter and Scrunch Bum Bikini

We spend a lot of time at the pool and beach in the summer, and by a lot of time I mean almost all day every day. So there is no surprise when I say that I have a slight obsession with bikinis. Last year at the end of summer I came across the Nicolita bikinis and fell in love with the classic retro styles and since I had already spent my allotted "bikini budget", I vowed to treat myself to one the following year. The time is now and the bikini is here! I  know it is only spring, by the way, but it's starting to warm up and you can't blame a girl for getting a head start. As for the review of the bikini, I love it. The top has great support with underwire and thick ties that don't dig in, and for me that is #1 since gravity and breastfeeding have taken their tolls.It is fully adjustable, so it will always have the right fit. The bottoms are super cute too, and I love the ruched butt. The only drawbacks for me are that the bottoms are so low in the front that if I lay on my back you can see my c-section scar and if I bend over you can see my butt crack. I actually exchanged the bottoms for a bigger size (and might I add that their customer service was very nice). All in all great bikini, I would love to get the top in another color, but I will probably go with a more full coverage bottom next time.

Getting to know you

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
no

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
2 days ago

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?oh jeez, next question

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
no meat, maybe tuna

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
AHOY! 2 awesome boys!

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Hummm, yeah

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT?
I should use it a bit less,.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
One day,..

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
granola

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
only my converse

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? that is a trick question

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
nieve de limon

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? happy or sad


15. RED OR PINK?
red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I hate carpet

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
my mother in law is far away and i miss her

18. WHAT IS THE PAUL MCKENNA TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST? what's that?

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
gold
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
vegan tacos

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
House of Pain

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
red, I love red

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
lavender, babies heads, Allure, and my grandmas soup

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
my friend

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?
beach house

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
none

27. HAIR COLOR? brown, but getting board

28. EYE COLOR? hazel

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
no

30. FAVORITE FOOD?
avocados

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? happy ending

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
What about Bob (again)

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
heather brown

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer for sure

35. HUGS OR KISSES?
depends on who they are from

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?
blueberry pie and ice cream

37. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?
yoga

38. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?
TV

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
How To Save Fish From Drowning by Amy Tan

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
I don't have one

42. FAVORITE SOUND?
Costa Rica rain

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Nicaragua and Scottland

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
trick question

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
San Jose, Costa Rica

47. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?
apartment

48. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE? beige

49. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR?
Silver

50. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 50 QUESTIONS?
not bad

I would love to hear other people's answers.