Tastes and Treats for Easter Eggcellence!

Easter is almost here, and to be honest, this is the first year I don’t have everything done already.   I am not really freaking out though, despite what a plan ahead OCD freak I am, I also have learned to just roll with the punches in life.  However, I did not plan on being a little under the weather this week, and THAT has really put a kink in my plans!  Mental note, never get sick before a holiday.  With that said, I apologize for this post going up so late, but I promise you will find inspiration here.  Also you can check out this Easter Pinterest Board for a plethora of fantastic ideas and the Burlap and Butter Knives Facebook Page  for more inspiration! Happy Easter, I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

 

I love these Chick Cupcakes from Bird on a Cake. They look great and are easy to make!

 

Easter Marshmallow Bark, from Butter with a Side of Bread. Another easy and fantastic Easter Treat!

 

A Peep Cocktail from Feast of Fun! So cute, and it sounds delicious!

 

Pineapple Mustard Glazed Ham from Martha Stewart. This is very close to the glaze recipe I make!

 

This Asparagus Gratin from from Apron Appeal looks great!

 

This Zucchini Cheese rice from Buns in my Oven, would make a great side dish or vegetarian dish!

 

And when you need to do something with all that leftover ham, these sandwiches from The Kitchen Life of a Navy Wife look delicious!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saint Patrick’s Day Inspiration Round Up

Here is a little something you might not know about me…. I’m Irish. I know, I know, everyone is Irish right now.   No really, I’m Irish Italian to be precise. I have found two 4-leaf clovers in my life. One took up residence with a “rock star” who happens to be one of my favorite foodies, and the other is nestled in my 2nd copy of Ratio by Michael Ruhlman. The first also resides with said rock star.  For those who don’t know, Saint Patrick’s Day is almost here, as in this weekend.  If you need some last minute inspiration, heck any inspiration at all, look  no further, I’ve got you covered.  No I am not including that pepper shamrock thing that EVERYONE is posting all over their walls and boards, well not including it here, it is on the board.  As usual I have scoured pinterest and gathered all my favorite ideas right here for you’re viewing pleasure. Also I have an entire pinterest board with these ideas and many many more. All pictures below link directly to the recipe, if you want to check out my entire pinterest board click here.

Without further ado, here are the ideas!

Lucky Charms cupcake from Betty Crocker

 

Blarney Stones from Taste of Home

 

Bailey’s Irish Cream Cupcakes (with icing tutorial) from Recipe Girl

 

Chocolate Baileys Cupcakes from Tidy Mom

 

Irish Coffee from Irish Central

Guinness and Baileys Cupcakes from Irish Central

 

Leprechaun Balls from Mom Foodie (not for the kiddies)

End of the Rainbow Crunch, from Mama Loves Her Bargains

 

ColCannon Potatoes from Williams Sonoma

Mint Oreo Brownies, from Loves Veggies and Yoga

 

Fun little activity for kids from about a mom

 

Confessions of a Foodie…..

I LOVE Gilt Taste, I really love it.  Each time it pops into my inbox a little leap of joy (or delicious insanity)  flitters through my heart.  See, Gilt Taste gets me. It gets that food is sometimes, the ultimate “get”, that it strikes a cord so deep in us that we can see a dish or ingredient once and never forget it.  It can burn in our mind like a black and white picture of Paul Newman.  Truffles, wine, cookies, danishes, fingerlimes, exotic jams, cheese baskets to die for and a plethora of other delicacies; Gilt Taste has it all.   When you enter their site,  you  feel as if you have hit the foodie jackpot.  Gilt  has a twitter, and it runs nearly 24hours a day, which is perfect for me since I get up at 4am, and they are always happy to tweet. They bring out the lusty desire for food that burns somewhere in all of us.  They coax it out, feed it, nurture it, and then, serve to it, on a silver platter, it’s most ultimate desires.

shaggy paul

Today I had the brainstorm that they should have a “gilt food confessional”;  this was probably because the 4am news was talking about a new pope and I was thinking of food. Anyhow, I started thinking of some of the weirdest, most outlandish “food confessions” I have tucked away.  Buttered triscuits anyone?  Cream cheese and pretzels make my tummy sing with happiness! When I was at the CIA, we used to squirt pastry cream in our mouths at 7am. (that’s all you’re getting for now…) But, it got me thinking… if you were in a food confessional… what would your “sins” be….?  And definitely, definitely check out Gilt Taste

As a disclaimer I feel it only fair to tell you that Gilt Taste has no clue I am writing, or posting this. Aside from Twitter they have no clue who I am, and they are not in any way, bribing me with bacon to write this.  All opinions are honestly and truly 100% my own. And, just because he is so eternally hot, here is a shirtless picture of Paul Newman.

Shirtless Paul

Garden Planning and a Natural Spa Giveaway from Three Sisters Herbals

It is that time of year again.  The end of a barely there winter and the signs of spring beginning, which means, planning the backyard garden kicks into high gear!  One thing I love about gardening is that each year I learn so much more, and with that knowledge can vastly improve my garden and in turn, the harvest.  After talking with my friend Bill, I decided to go with seeds from Comstock, Ferre & Co., which is very similar to Baker Creek Heirloom.  Bill and his wife  Brandi (who by the way has an awesome blog!)  gave me some of their extra seeds, how cool is that?!  So I am really excited to give the new stuff a try!

Throwing in the trowel at the end of the season 2012

Things I learned last year:

1. Despite what the guides say, green beans and cucumbers do not grow that well next to each other.  If the cucumbers get out of control, they will strangle the green beans, and to be honest, that was really disparaging.
2. Just because a tomato is little, doesn’t mean the plant will be…. My Sun Gold tomato plant grew to 10FEET last year. I am NOT kidding! TEN FREAKING FEET!!!! It grew well over my head (I am 5′ even) and then cascaded back down on the ground and ran out another 3 feet. So I guess what would actually make it 13ft? 
3. Squash borers can ruin your life.  I am still looking for an answer to this problem, recommendations welcome!
4. Don’t plant things unless you are 100% SURE your household members will eat them. Otherwise you end up with 20 pieces of squash a week and no one to eat them.
5. Gasoline cans sometimes explode, always wear eye protection or large Chanel sunglasses.
6. NEVER garden all day without drinking water or eating. That is a recipe for disaster, serious disaster.
7. When picking raspberries for 6 hours, wear gloves if you don’t want your fingers sliced up.
8. Gardening, when done well,  can and will wreck havoc on your body, take good care of yourself!  (which conveniently brings me to my next topic…)

I would not get through gardening and canning season without the amazing products of Three Sisters Herbals.   Splits and tears in my fingers and hands from all the raspberry work, scalds all over from canning, plus all the regular gardening, pickling, preserving.  It is WORK, and like all heavy duty work it is really important to take care of your body!

A few of the products Three Sisters Herbals offers

Every night before bed I would use Magic Salve. It is  hand crafted in small batches from ingredients such as  olive oil, calendula, chamomile flowers, chickweed, beeswax and lavender essential oil. It not only moisturizes, but soothes and heals as well.  Whether I used it as a moisturizer or to sooth splits and burns, I can not convey how wonderful this salve is.  Another product that kept me going is the Soothing Soak.  A bountiful season of gardening and canning can REALLY take a toll on your entire body.  I use the herbal soak  to relieve all the aches and pains so that I can feel better and do it all again the next day.  It contains herbs, sea salt, lavender and chamomile; it is like a soothing and healing tea for your entire body!  Then there is the  Dreamy Salt Scrub, made from epsom salt, jojoba oil, calendula, hand crushed organic lavender flowers and lavender essential oil; it is practically the definition of  luxurious. Whether you use in it in the shower or the bath you will feel refreshed and renewed.   Although, to be fair,  all the Three Sisters Products are truly fantastic.  From the Germ Away (which is ALWAYS in my humidifier and I have not gotten the Flu, just FYI) to the Bug Spray, which always accompanies us to the cabin, everything  is tried and true.

The amazing Herbal Bath Soak

I happen to be good friends with Kim, the owner and creator of all the magic goodness that is Three Sisters Herbals.  She, is not just a friend, she is my go to whenever I have any questions about natural healing or remedies.  Since I am totally addicted to all the products, and I talk about it on facebook a lot,  I asked her if she would be interested in doing a giveaway here so that you too can be as addicted as I am, and she said yes!

The Giveaway: A basket sent directly to you, full of  Three Sisters Herbals Natural Spa products!  Your Basket will include,  Soothing Soak, Magic Salve, Dreamy Salt Scrub, Germ Away, and a Roundie. (A hand-made washcloth so fantastic you will never want a store-bought one again) So yes, you get all my favorite products!

To win and have this basket of luxury arrive at your doorstep, leave a comment below telling me which of the products you would be most excited to try.  It’s as simple as that!  Of course, you can earn a few more entries too!

For additional entries: (leave a comment for each one you do)

• For a 2nd chance to win, go and “like” Three Sisters Herbals  on facebook
• For a 3rd entry to win, go and “like”  Burlap and Butter Knives on Facebook
• For a 4th entry to win,  sign up for the Three Sisters Herbals Newsletter by registering here
• For a 5th entry to win, sign up to get  Burlap and Butter Knives delivered to your inbox, over there on the right hand side of the page where is says “Subscribe to Burlap and Butter Knives”  🙂
• For a 6th  follow Three Sisters Herbals on Twitter
• For a 7th and final chance, follow  BurlapandButter on Twitter
• Remember to leave a comment for each thing you do!

This contest is open to US residents only, and will be open from Saturday, March 2nd 2013 until Sunday March 9th, 2013 at 11:59pm.  I will use random.org to select a winner.  Winner will be notified on Monday March 10th, 2013 and will have 3 days to respond, if no response is received, a new winner will be chosen.  All opinions and reviews of products are 100% my own, I REALLY love this stuff!! Good luck!