Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Leap Day Morning Rolls

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Today I am going to share with you my family's favorite breakfast item....Christmas Morning Rolls.  We used to only eat these on Christmas Morning (hence the name) but now we make them for any special occasion so their name is always changing.  Sometimes they're Birthday Morning Rolls, Easter Morning Rolls, or just Friday Morning Rolls - I'm always trying to think of a reason to make them.  Today we can call them "Leap Day Morning Rolls"!

Thank you Gram for sharing this recipe with my family!!!!  
I think the best recipes are those that are passed down.  Gram was a family friend but I will always consider her family.  She was known for her homemade biscuits, spicy cheerio chex mix and of course these rolls.  Her personality can be summed up by a single cheer, "Rocky Top!"


Morning Rolls

Ingredients:
6oz package of yeast dinner rolls (around 24 rolls)
3 3/4oz package Butterscotch Pudding Mix (NOT instant)
1/2 cup of butter
3/4 cup Brown Sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts


Step 1: Arrange frozen rolls in a greased bundt pan

Step 2: Sprinkle dry pudding mix over rolls.
Step 3: Cook brown sugar, butter, cinnamon over low heat until sugar disolves.

Step 4: Add in nuts (I used pecans)

Step 5: Pour mixture over rolls.

Step 6: Cover bundt pan tightly with foil and let stand on countertop overnight. 
Step 7: Next morning bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Step 8: Let stand for 5 minutes and then transfer to platter.


Here's the finished product - doesn't it look delicious!



What's your favorite family recipe?


~Julia

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Book Club

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I love to read and I love to hang out with friends, so the perfect combo is Book Club!  A few years ago, a friend of mine invited me to join Book Club - the group consists of old friends, college friends, and friends of friends.  Our group is not always serious about the book and sometimes I don't get a chance to read it, but I think this is why we have been so successful.  For me its a chance to read a wide variety books and then meet up with my friends once a month.  Whomever is hosting provides all the yummy snacks and everyone else brings a bottle of wine.


Past Books we have read: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman; The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy; The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls; Holidays On Ice by David Sedaris; The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson; MiddleSex by Jeffrey Eugenides; Heaven Is For Real; Water For Elephants; The Bean Tree by Barbara Kingsolver; The Help; Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart

Currently we are reading the Hunger Games trilogy.  I have really enjoyed all the books, eventhough they are dark.  The idea of children playing to the death is quite disturbing.  Luckily the author does not go into terribly grapic details and there's love stories mixed in.  I'm on Team Gale!


My book club is meeting tonight and I have 80 pages left of Mockingjay - fingers crossed that I finish in time!

What types of books do you enjoy reading?
Do you participate in an "organized" book club?

~Elizabeth  

Thursday, February 23, 2012

North Georgia Mountains

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This past weekend I visited the North Georgia Mountains.  The BF had purchased coupons off of DealSwarm for Montaluce Winery and Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa.


I highly recommend visiting Montaluce Winery in Dahlonega, GA.  The winery is set back in a neighborhood filled with Tuscan inspired homes - the views are gorgeous and the wine is delicious!


The DealSwarm gave us the Deluxe Winery Tour at half price.  I really enjoyed the tour, however, I found it to be almost identical to the Complimentary Tour.  The only difference was that we had a private tasting (7 wines) accompanied with cheese.  To save money I would suggest doing the Complimentary Tour and a normal tasting ($12 for 6 wines).




On the tour, I learned that Montaluce is set on 400 acres of land, only 19 of those acres are growing grapes.  The majority of the land is dedicated for the homesites, but due to the economic market, only a few homes have been built.  The vineyards grow grapes that make Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay,  Sangiovese, and others. 




After the tour and wine tasting, we enjoyed the views with another glass of wine.  We could not have asked for better weather in February.


After Montaluce we headed to Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa in Young Harris, GA - about 1 hour from Dahlonega.


The resort is beautiful; it has a rustic cabin fill to it.  You can either stay in the hotel or rent a cabin - our coupon gave us one night in the hotel with a free breakfast and one activity (golf, horseback riding or 50% off at the spa). 



We got to the resort before the sun went down, so the BF and I decided to break in his new bocce set.

For dinner we went to Brassie's Bar & Grill in the hotel.  It's a casual dining spot, they have pool tables and darts- so much fun!  Out back they also have a fire pit - I wish I had brought fixings for s'mores!!  Upstairs in the main area, there is a large fireplace with comfy couches and checkers.  The BF takes his games very serious!


The next day the guys played golf and I went to Equani Spa.  It was so nice and relaxing.  They have a steam room, relaxation room (with comfy chairs) and a hot tub outside.  I had a facial done by Wynona - she was terrific.  All I wanted in a facial was to relax, so she did a combo of massage and facial (which included a peel, scrub, mask, plus other things).  The cost was $90 total including a 20% tip, such a great deal! 


I had such a great time!  I would love to go back and try out the horse back riding and trails.  

Do you use any coupon sites for vacations?  Living Social, Groupon, DealSwarm? 

~Elizabeth 

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

National Margarita Day

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According to Tin Lizzy's (the source of all my news) today is National Margarita Day!


To celebrate, here is a recipe for Skinny Margs:
1 oz. tequila (I used Patron Silver)
1 oz. Triple Sec
1/2 lime
1/4 lemon
Splash of OJ
Splash of Fresca


In a shaker squeeze in your lime & lemon juice, add tequila, triple sec, and OJ. 
Mix with ice. 
Pour into a fun glass and top with a splash of Fresca.
Enjoy!


To accompany our margs, the BF and I made chicken fajitas!


Marinade chicken tenders overnight, we used a lime teriyaki marinade.  Grill on medium heat until cooked completely, about 3 mins. on each side.


Coat a saute pan in vegetable oil and heat to medium.  Add in sliced red onion, green pepper & red pepper - season with seasoned salt and chili powder. 


Once the veggies are cooked to your desired crunchiness add in the chicken.


Place one chicken tender and some veggies on a flour tortilla, sprinkle with cheese and top with salsa.


The BF made a special salsa for our fajitas.  It included: mango, peaches, pineapple, lime juice, red onion, cilantro, orange pepper, and siracha.  It was spicy and sweet all at the same time - YUM!


Which do you like better: frozen or on the rocks margaritas?
Do you like salt?

I prefer on the rocks margs with no salt.  I am a huge fan of the skinny version, I would much rather taste tequila than sugary mix.

~Elizabeth

Monday, February 20, 2012

Burlap Curtains

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I am in LOVE with burlap!! You can do so many fun projects with it and it's fairly inexpensive.  Over Christmas I made these decorative pillows, I made the BF this tree skirt, and now I've made curtains!


A local wine store was in need of some new curtains for their new space.  They needed curtains for 2 windows measuring 11.5 ft by 12.5 ft.  The project took about 2 nights to complete, and the finished project looks great!!




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The roll of burlap I used was the perfect width.  For two windows, I measured out 8 panels of 12.5 ft length burlap.  I sewed together 2 panels with a basic seam down the length.  Then I folded over the top by 8 inches to create a sleeve for the curtain rod.  The bottoms were left unfinished since the wine store wanted a rustic feel.  Repeat 3 more times and you have two sets of curtains!

~Elizabeth


Friday, February 17, 2012

Friday Faves

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Check out some of my favorite things this week:



This outfit would be perfect for a spring wedding!
Pinned Image
Love this centerpiece for Easter!
Easter arrangement

I will definitely be making one of these camera straps in the near future!
Camera Strap

Genius idea...why didn't I think of this!
QUITE Brilliant! - Seal a plastic bag with the top of a water bottle or any plastic bottle and the lid.

Cheap art for a kids room!
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Love this pic...I need to try out this technique this weekend!
Cool pic


I hope everyone has a great weekend!  I have a relaxing weekend planned since next weekend I'll be in NOLA for a bachelorette party!


~Julia
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