••••LILAC FESTIVAL TORCHLIGHT PARADE 2016🕯🎉!!!••••

(Source: lilacfestival.org & Google+ photo & flowermeaning.com)

••••LILAC FESTIVAL TORCHLIGHT 

••••PARADE 2016!! AWESOME!!

••••LILACS IN WONDERLAND 

••••THEME!!

••••THE PREAKNESS🏇🐴!!!••••

(Source: almadacountyfair.com & games at.com photos)

••••THE PREAKNESS!!!

••••RED VELVET KISS COOKIES🍪!!!!••••

(Source: centercook.com & photos also)

••••RED VELVET KISS COOKIES!!!

••••RED VELVET KISS COOKIES!!

••••RED VELVET KISS COOKIES!!!

Prep Time: 3mn

Cook Time: 14mn

Total Time: 17mn

INGREDIENTS

• 1 Betty Crocker Red Velvet Cake Mix (15.4oz)
• 1 egg
• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
• 18 Hershey Kisses – I like Caramel Kisses
  

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350° and line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
2. Combine cake mix, egg, cream cheese, and butter together in a large bowl until smooth. This will take some stirring and it will look dry at first. Keep stirring until it is fully mix and no cream cheese or cake mix spots remain.
   
3. Scoop into 2 tablespoon balls and roll between palms to smooth.
4. Place 9 cookies on each tray and bake, one tray at a time, for 14 minutes.
5. While cookies are baking, unwrap 18 Hershey Kisses.
6. Let cookies cool for about 2-3 minutes and top with Hershey Kiss.
7. Repeat with remaining tray of cookies.

Servings: 18

 

 

••••BANANA TIPS🍌!!!••••

(Source: grandmausefultips.com & Google+ photos)

••••BANANA TIPS!!

••••HOW TO COOK BEETS🍈!!!••••

(Source; joyfulhealthyeats.com & photos also)

••••HOW TO COOK BEETS!!!

How to Cook Beets

 

Prep time

5 mins

Cook

time

30 mins

Total time

35 mins

 

Author: Krista

Recipe type: How to, Vegetable, Gluten Free, Paleo

Serves: 4 cups of diced beets

Ingredients

• 6 beets, skin on (I used 3 red and 3 golden)
  

Instructions

1. Prepare a large bowl with water and ice.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
3. Add beets to pot. (if using red and golden beets, be sure to put them in separate pots or the red will dye the golden beets)
4. Boil for 20-30 minutes depending on size of beets. (test one of them - you should be able to easily remove the skin if you can't them let it cook longer)
5. Remove beets from boiling water and place in an ice bath.
6. Remove skin from beets using your hands, rinse, and slice/dice beets.
7. Store in an air tight container.
   
   
   

   
   

••••RIBEYE STEAK SALAD🍅!!!••••

(Source: joyfulhealthyeats.com & photos also)

••••RIBEYE STEAK SALAD!!!

Ribeye Steak Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

 

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

20 mins

 

Author: Krista

Recipe type: Beef, Salad, Condiments & Dressing, Gluten Free

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 ribeye steak
• salt & pepper to season steak
• 1 head of romaine, chopped
• 4 eggs, hardboiled
• 1 cup of fresh green beans, cut into 1" pieces
• 1 pint of cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ cup of raw walnuts or pecans
• 4 oz. of crumbled goat cheese

Balsamic Vinaigrette:

• 2 tablespoons of dijon mustard {gluten-free}
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon of dry basil
• ¼ cup of balsamic vinegar
• ½ cup of olive oil
• salt & pepper to taste
  
  
  

Instructions

1. Heat grill to medium high heat.
2. Season ribeye with salt and pepper on both sides.
3. Place ribeye on grill and cook each side for 5-6 minutes.
4. Remove from grill and let sit, do not cut until you are ready to assemble salad.
5. Make the balsamic vinaigrette, add dijon mustard, garlic clove, dry basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper to a bowl and whisk until combined. {sometimes I just put everything in a mason jar and shake} Set aside.
   

   
   

   
   
6. Next, bring a small pot of water to a boil.
7. Add fresh green beans cut to pot. Cook for 2-3 minutes and immediately throw in an ice bath to shock them and stop the cooking process. {this is called "blanching"}
8. To assemble salad, pull out 4 large dishes and evenly distribute chopped romaine romaine, hardboiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, fresh green beans, walnuts or pecans, crumbled goat cheese, and chopped ribeye.
9. Serve with homemade balsamic vinaigrette.
   
   
   

••••CHEESY STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS🌯!!!!••••

(Source: mombythebeach.com & photos also)

••••CHEESY STUFFED CABBAGE 

••••ROLLS!!  I LOVE THESE!!

••••SOO GOOD!!

Cheesy Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe

 

 

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

60 mins

Total time

1 hour 10 mins

 

Author: Cat Davis

Serves: 10 rolls

Ingredients

• 1 head green cabbage
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 cup cooked white rice
• 1 packet McCormick meatloaf seasoning
• 1 egg, beaten
• ⅓ cup milk
• 29 oz can tomato sauce
• ⅓ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degree and spray a deep, square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
3. Remove the core of the head of cabbage by cutting inward at an angle to remove a piece in the shape of a cone.
4. Place the entire cabbage in the boiling water for 5-8 minutes. Use tongs to carefully remove the leaves. Set aside 10 leaves to cool.
5. In a large bowl, mix the beef, rice, seasoning, egg and milk until combined.
6. In another bowl, mix the tomato sauce, ketchup and brown sugar until combined.
7. Spread ⅓ of the sauce into the bottom of the baking dish.
8. Spoon about a ¼ cup of the beef mixture into the center of each leaf and shape into a log. Fold the leaf edges over the short end of the log and roll the top and bottom portions of the leaf over the beef to seal it.
9. Place each cabbage roll, seam side down, into the baking dish so that all ten are tightly packed together. Pour the remain sauce over the top and cover with foil.
10. Bake for 50 minutes.
11. Remove the foil, top with shredded cheese and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, until cheese is melted.