yummm... peanut butter pie

Hi everyone! I want to apologize for what has been and what will be my lack of posting this week! Our internet is down, but I've managed to "borrow" from a neighbor for... hopefully long enough to actually post this! Anyway, this past weekend I made dessert for a dinner party we went to. I don't know about you, but those Pillsbury bake-off commercials certainly suckered me in. And mmm mmm, this Mile High Peanut Butter Brownie Pie was worth it! Yum!

INGREDIENTS

1	Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crust, softened as directed on box
1	box (15.5 oz) Pillsbury® Chocolate Chunk Brownie Mix
1/4	cup Reese's® peanut butter chips
1/3	cup Crisco® Pure Vegetable Oil
3	tablespoons water
1	EGGLAND’S BEST egg
1	package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2	cup Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter
1	cup powdered sugar
1	container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
2	tablespoons Fisher® Party Peanuts, chopped
2	tablespoons Hershey’s® mini chips semi-sweet chocolate

DIRECTIONS 

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Unroll pie crust; place in ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate as directed on box for One-Crust Filled Pie; flute edge.

2.In a medium bowl, stir brownie mix, peanut butter chips, oil, water and egg 50 strokes with spoon. Pour batter into crust-lined pie plate.

3. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, covering edge of crust with strips of foil after 15 to 20 minutes, until crust is golden brown and center of brownie is set. Cool slightly, about 20 minutes. Refrigerate 1 hour or until completely cooled.

4. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese, peanut butter and powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Spread mixture over brownie. Sprinkle with peanuts and chocolate chips. Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving. Store covered in refrigerator.

image and recipe: pillsbury

the promises of a weekend

Hello and happy Friday to you! This week seems to have just flown by, but at the same time, last weekend seems forever ago. I'm very much looking forward to this weekend. We have some plans with friends, and I have plans with my vacuum cleaner and my organizational mindset. Oh, and if the rain stay away, maybe with my new herb table and seeds. Do you have any big plans? Enjoy your weekend!

image: mary ruffle

chicken souvlaki recipe

Once every couple weeks I go on an "I want to try out some new recipes" kick. Monday I tried out this DELICIOUS chicken souvlaki from one of my Real Simple cookbooks. I would only do two small things differently the second time around. Hm.. well, maybe one thing, as each might be contingent on the other. I cut my chicken a tad too large and used the pita pockets, rather than pita flat bread. Flat bread or smaller chicken cuts would have made assembly a bit easier. Either way... so good. So easy. Must try! As a side note, the recipe I used is slightly (barely) different than the one they have online. I posted the one from their book.

Ingredients:

4 pieces flat bread or pitas, warmed

2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup crumbled Feta
1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 small cucumber, diced
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh dill

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, Feta, and olives.
2. In a large bowl, combine 4 tablespoons of the oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the vinegar, the lemon juice, the oregano and the pepper.

3. Pour 2 1/2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette over the tomato mixture, toss, and set aside. Add the chicken to the remaining vinaigrette and toss to coat.
4. Heat the remaining oil tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Transfer the chicken (but not the liquid) to the skillet and cook until golden brown and cooked through, 3-4 minutes per side.
5. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the yogurt, cucumber, dill, and the remaining vinegar. Serve with the bread, chicken and tomato salad.

mmm mmm mmm. Enjoy!

image and recipe: Real Simple 

pretty, pleasing rooms

Happy Wednesday to you! Some pretty rooms to brighten your hump day:

images: Annie Schlechter

homelife with Amy Butler

Hi everyone! I just love all three of these spaces. Each makes a statement all of its own. I'm obsessing over the furniture in the final photo. Hello awesome work table! ... and is that a little Amy Butler I spy? Love! I hope you have a great day.

images: homelife

west elm pillows

Hi everyone! Did you have a nice weekend? Mine was wonderful, thank you. I spent three hours yesterday weeding the yard, which the control freak in me enjoyed. The "I went out last night" in me did not agree. I am totally obsessing over these West Elm pillows right now. They're offering free shipping on select styles - maybe that will push you over if you were on the "Should I order some? Fence."

Aren't they lovely? Have a great Monday!

images: West Elm

Annie Schlechter - spring!

Hello all! I hope you have had a splendid week. Today, I'm thinking of all things SPRING! I've been teetering on the "is it going to snow again?" seesaw. And I think it is very safe to say "no!" Enjoy your weekend and this lovely weather.

 images: Annie Schlechter

i am happy mantra

Hi everyone! I apologize for my lack of posts lately. I've got a sick puppy on my hands and I've been flying solo the last couple of days. Maybe when the inevitable happens and I'm cleaning up after him today, this will be my mantra....

image: mary ruffle

beauty by Tom Delavan

I came across the work of Tom Delavan a couple weeks ago and wow. His work speaks for itself.

GORGEOUS, no? Have a hap-happy day!

images: Tom Delavan

making lemonade

Hello all. I hope you have a happy, sunshiney, make-lemonade-out-of-lemons kind of day!

image: mary ruffle

wall art, chicken salad and other bits

Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed your Easter weekend! I have had a rather enjoyable time off, though nothing too eventful. Yesterday Duncan and I went on two walks, I worked on the chandelier I am finishing up and I planted some lettuce in our garden, which we started on Friday. I went to the grocery and stocked up on fresh fruits and veggies, which looked wonderful all sitting by the sink being cleaned and prepared.

I ordered this wall art a couple of days ago from The Wheatfield on Etsy and it arrived, the day I decided to plant my lettuce, conveniently enough! I just love it and can't wait to hang it up.

Also, Duncan laid down for the first time upon command! Oh happy day... he WAS listening all those times. While it may not have been necessary for Chris and I to actually lay on the ground as well, it worked in the end! I do feel like a dorky dog-owner, but gosh, I was proud! I also made this chicken salad recipe, which I found on Truly Smitten a while back. I've made it in the past and LOVED it. Highly recommended!

Ingredients:
- 3 bone-in and with skin chicken breast- 1 cup halved crisp and sweet green grapes
- 1 cup chopped celery
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup Hellman's mayonnaise
- handful of chopped fresh tarragon
- 1 tsp ground pepper
Directions:
- preheat oven to 350 degrees
- in a sheet pan, drizzle olive oil over the chicken breasts and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 40 minutes.
- When chicken is done cooking, let it cool. Then take off the skin and cut the chicken into cubes.
- Put chicken cubes in a bowl, combine with grapes, celery, taragon, pinch of salt and pepper. Add mayonnaise and gently mix until just combined.

YUM!

It seems my day was even more productive than I imagined! I'm off to investigate the pitter-patter of four curious feet. Have a good one!

images: The Wheatfield, Truly Smitten

have a happy friday!

Hello and Happy Friday, to you! And a Happy Friday it is, indeed. It has come to the time of year when I realize I have used only a small portion of my vacation time. Rather than spending money elsewhere, I'm having a STAYcation. More stay, less cation, as I am going to tackle some house projects. For now, I'm sitting down with a cup of coffee to make a Home Depot (da da da dum) list. Did that sound like impending doom in your head? Hopefully so. Have a happy day :)

 image: tumblr