Ian & Larissa

Have you seen this video?
If you haven't, stop what you are doing and watch it now.
Though I have never met Ian & Larissa, we have mutual friends.
They have a story of true love...for each other and for God.
I have been so inspired by them in so many way... I'm sure you will be too.

Everything is Better with Bacon

More Scones!

I was dreaming of a scone with bits of bacon and cheddar.
Although I barely hear his name anymore, I decided to try Emeril's Bacon-Cheddar Cheese Scones.

Bacon, Cheddar, Green Onions.

That is a winning combination.

And these scones were winners!
The ladies I served them to could not stop raving about them.
Savory, bacony, goodness. 

Ingredients

• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup heavy cream, plus 2 tablespoons ( I actually added at least another 1/4 cup of cream to get the dough a better consistency.)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

In a medium skillet, cook the bacon, stirring, until crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain well on paper towels. Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Cut in the butter, cheese, green onions, and pepper with a pastry blender or fork, and work just until it starts to form lumps and come together. Add the bacon. Add 1 cup of the cream and work just until it becomes a sticky dough, being careful not to overwork.
Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and pat until it comes together. Form into 2 large circles, about 7 inches in diameter and 3/4 inch thick and cut each into 8 wedges with a sharp knife. Transfer to baking sheet with a spatula, leaving 1/2-inch space between each wedge. Paint the tops of the wedges lightly with the remaining 2 tablespoons of cream and bake until golden brown, 22 to 23 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly on the baking sheet. Serve warm.


As usual when I make scones, I prepared the dough the evening before and added a few extra minutes of baking time in the morning.

Advanced Style

Do you know about the blog Advanced Style already? I seriously want to be like each of the women featured when I grow up.

Ari Seth Cohen, the master of the blog, has a book coming out soon.

For some reason, the cover makes me really happy.

 

Fabulous, don't you think?

This verse was a huge source of comfort and strength to Hubby's late Aunt who lived with cancer for years.  Now her grandaughter (who just turned nine!) is battling cancer. 
Hubby's Mom had asked me to print up the verse as a gift for the little fighter.
I used MyMemories Digital Scrapboking software and created an 11x16 page.
Then I had it printed as a poster at our local Walgreens.

Simple.  Beautiful.  Meaningful.

Scrap Happy Freebie

 I have a fun little freebie for you, courtesy of mymemories.com.
It is a fun photobox template... actually, you get TWO templates.
 You do not have to have MyMemories to use it.
If you do have MyMemories, it will give you greater flexibility to alter aspects of the photobox to make it perfect for you.

Photobox Tutorial
Using MyMemories Software to Customize your Flower Card

1. Download template file and install it into your software
2. Using MyMemories Suite, choose Create Album From Designer Template and find your project
3. Now you can add pictures, print and enjoy the provided template, or customize it with your own papers and embellishments.

TIP for MyMemories users:
You can right-click on the white guide and lock it in place to keep it from moving while you are working. Make sure this is the top layer of your project before printing.

Instead of adding the paper as a background paper, you can add it as an embellishment so that you can move the paper around.  This is especially useful when using papers with stripes or circles, so you can decide which part of the paper you want to use.

Once it is added as an embellishment, you can now select the paper and move it into the position you want it.

Just SAVE and PRINT on cardstock!

I whipped up my own little box to see how easy it would be.
It's really easy.
I just made it simple, but there are so many fun things you could do.
You could just print out the template first, and then adorn it afterwards with stickers, photos, and other bobbles.
I chose to seal mine shut.  But if you make the top tabs slightly larger, you could place a treat inside the box and then just tuck in the tabs.
You could make photo dice and create a fun game for your kids/nieces/nephews/neighbors.
Just have fun!


That's not all!
Go to the MyMemories website and check out the video that was shown on Lifetime television.
You will see a link for a free photobook!
You need to use MyMemories for the book - but you don't have to purchase it if you're not ready.
Just download the free trial and play around to see what you think.
If you like it, use this code:

STMMMS15924

when you purchase, for $10 off... you will also get a coupon after your purchase for $10 to use in the store.  

Simple Little Hat Trick

I have this hat.
I have had it for at least 12 years... but possibly more.
When I got the hat, it was the coolest hat ever.
I though I was incredibly chic, and received endless compliments to confirm that I was in fact, incredibly chic.

At some point, the hat stopped being cool in the way that stirrup pants and scrunchies stopped being cool.
Suddenly, I felt kind of like the Hawaiian Punch dude.
My poor hat got sent to the back of the closet.

This past week, I was going through my closets for items to donate.
I put this hat on my head and smiled at the memories, and then laughed at how silly I looked.

Then for the first time ever... I pulled the front brim down, just for kicks.

Well golly, that looks so much cuter!  Why did it take me this long to try it?

So I pulled down the rest of the brim.

And just like that, I had myself a cute little bucket hat.  (It really is much cuter now, right?)

I wanted to have even more fun, so I tried adding a flower.

I almost look like a lady.

And now I'm a crazy tourist.

One more little trick...

Ribbon!

Want to see how I attached it?

Magnets!  I just broke out my hot glue gun to attach them to the ribbon.
I wanted a quick and easy way to change up the ribbon, and didn't want to purchase anything extra.

It feels like I just got a new hat (or three).

Mini White Chocolate Cranberry Scones

Four years ago, while Hubby and I were still dating and living in separate states, I applied for a job closer to him.  Hubby had a full day of work the day of my interview, but MIL (who obviously was not my MIL at the time) offered to take me under her wing.

She picked me up.  She told me I looked wonderful.  She prayed for me.  She told me she loved me.

I was so shocked (and so touched), I believe I just looked at her wide-eyed, squeaked out a thank you, and got out of the car.

I am an Asian daughter with an Asian mother (and through my late husband, I have an Asian MIL).  Asian mothers do not say, "I love you" very naturally.  They *might* say it if you say it first.  But generally it is a bit awkward - or even a lot awkward.  For months (okay... years), I have told my Asian friends the story of the first time my boyfriend's mother said, "I love you" to "oooooohs" and "ahhhhhhhs".

After my interview (I didn't get the job, because they ended up hiring internally.  But it all ended well, because I got a husband and a MIL!), MIL took me out to lunch.  We went to Belmari Tea Room, and it was amazing.  From the outside, it is pretty unremarkable.  After stepping inside, you suddenly feel like a little girl again.  Each table is set with different tea cups.  Each teapot is adorned with a darling tea cozy.  Under the glass atop each table are letters, photos, invitations, and memories from former customers.

Three sisters opened and run the Tea Room, and it is clear that they put a lot of love into the business.

The food is outstanding.

They have a long list of fun teas.
They have a house salad with cranberries, pecans, feta, and a balsamic dressing that is so delightful.
They have finger sandwiches.
They have dreamy quiches.
They have fun soups - like a refreshing chilled strawberry soup.
They have tasty desserts.

And they have scones.

I used to believe that scones were rather dry and uninspiring.  I had heard that the ones in England were far better than the ones you get here.  But I had decided that scones were not going to excite me until the day I got to try an authentic one.

Then I experienced a scone at Belmari.  Oh, the scones are warm, and light, and soft... yet substantial and full of flavor.  I fell in love with scones four years ago and dreamed about making them.

Recently, MIL took me back to Belmari.  She wanted to take me for my birthday, but schedules and time got in the way.  We finally found the perfect time to go together.  Our visit back was no less magical than the first time.  Oh, and the lemon curd?  Each bite is like a burst of happiness, I kid you not.

All this to say, that in the past four years, I have successfully made several batches of tasty scones.  I am thinking homemade is just better than store bought.  However, Belmari is still my current winner for best scones.  (Until I make my way to the United Kingdom.)

Here is a recipe for great mini scones.  I was shocked to discover it on the Land O Lakes website, but it was wonderful and well received. 

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup whipping cream

3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries, coarsely chopped

1 1/4 cups white baking chips

2 teaspoons shortening

Directions:

Heat oven to 400°F. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon zest and salt in large bowl; cut in butter with pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in whipping cream; mix until dough holds together. Stir in cranberries and 3/4 cup white baking chips.

Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead 5 to 10 times or until dough is smooth. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces; shape each piece into 8-inch log. Cut each log into 4 (2-inch) pieces; cut each piece in half diagonally to form small triangles.

Place scones, at least 1 inch apart, onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown around the edges. Cool completely.

Combine remaining 1/2 cup baking chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on MEDIUM (50% power) 30 seconds; stir. Continue microwaving and stirring every 30 seconds until chips are melted and smooth. Drizzle scones with melted chocolate.  

I skipped the drizzle, and did not miss it at all.

I like to make my dough in the evening, pop it in the freezer, and then bake it in the morning.  I just add a couple extra minutes to the baking time.

I also like to brush some cream on the tops of the scones before baking.

Perfect little bites.