Dang it…

… I should’ve bought the copy writes… Disney would owe me millions!

…In case you can’t tell what that says…

Before it’s too late…

…ok, I know I’ve thrown myself into the throngs of fall… but I wanted to share this treat with you before its too late…

Starbucks “Gazebo Summer Blend”… meant specifically to be iced coffee!

… Many warm afternoons I’ve wanted a cheap iced coffee fix. But it just never tastes the same when I brew regular coffee and pour it over ice. Now I know why!

Taco Mac!

So, to be truthful… we went into a little bit of a newlywed-i-don’t-have-to-wear-a-wedding-dress-again binge for a month after the wedding…

… and then we started to realize that we were no longer cute, beaming newlywed’s… but starting to be THAT couple who got married and let themselves go…

ewwwwwwwwwwwww…

So, we’ve been trying to be “healthier” and practice “in moderation”… BUT when the October issue of Family Circle arrived with Mac and Cheese on the cover… I knew we were in trouble…

There are five different Mac and Cheese variations in this issue! I HAD to try Taco Mac and Cheese. Big surprise… the recipe I’m about to share is a variation on Family Circle’s… I just can’t leave anything be… sorry!

Recipe after the jump…

My Turn (GRILLED TEQUILA-GARLIC-LIME FLANK STEAK WITH ROSEMARY-BACON POTATOES AND A RED WINE TOMATO REDUCTION)

It’s me, “He”. I called dibs on cooking the other night – I mean, c’mon, she can’t have ALL the fun. I went with a mashup of recipes from Guy Fieri and my wife’s doppleganger – Giada.

Since the Mrs. doesn’t really “do” red meat (she’ll eat it, but won’t touch it), I felt the need for some good ‘ole manly meat and potatoes. GRILLED TEQUILA-GARLIC-LIME FLANK STEAK WITH ROSEMARY-BACON POTATOES AND A RED WINE TOMATO REDUCTION – if you’ll forgive the snobbish title.

First of all, I didn’t exactly have all the ingredients I needed, so I sort of jimmy-rigged a couple things. I’ll let you know what I used, and also what I should have used.

Notice the sweet Shun knife. Valentines day present. Such a good wife.

Marinade – You’ll want to do this in advance to let the meat marinate for 1-3 hours.

1 tsp minced garlic (or 2 tsp if you’re anything like the Belks)
1 tsp freshly chopped cilantro leaves (I didn’t have this. Which is a shock. And a tragedy. Would have been nice)
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp tequila (Otherwise known as a “shot”. For the college kids)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp lime juice
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
1-2 lbs skirt or flank steak

Throw everything into a bowl, and if you don’t have fresh lime/lemon juice like I didn’t have, throw in a tablespoon or so of Triple Sec. If you don’t have Triple Sec………..well…….. then you’re probably not much fun to be around anyway so why don’t you just order Chinese.

Drop the steak and the marinade in a freezer bag and mush it all around like you figured out how to do the first time you had to cook for yourself and throw it in the fridge.

The rest, and more photos, after the jump…

Chicken Parm!

After ten (amazing) days in Tahiti , we were happy to be home and excited to start “married life”. One of the aspects of married life we were looking forward to most? Home-cooked meals!! Vacation is amazing… but restaurant food can get old… On our first night home, and after a lengthy and thorough Costco trip… we had our first home made dinner as Man and wife: Chicken Parmesan.

SUPER easy! SUPER filling!

Necessities

2 Chicken Breast (at least partially thawed)

1/2 Italian Dressing

1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning

1 Cup Bread Crumbs

1 Jar Pasta Sauce of your Preference

4 Slices Mozzerella Cheese

Grated Parmesan for Garnish

2 Servings Cooked Pasta of your Preference

Skinny Vanilla Latte

… I know I’ve mentioned I have an affinity for coffee… and in an effort to be budget and calorie conscious I do try to make coffee at home most of the time, rather than forking over the bucks at ‘bucks… … I don’t mind… I do like coffee that much… but i REALLY enjoy seeking out new creamers and finding ways to dress up my kitchen cup… and as I sit here sipping, watching the snow fall… I think I have found a new favorite…

… have you tried International Delight’s new Coffeehouse Flavor: SKINNY VANILLA LATTE…

… toss a little cinnamon on top and you’ve got a cal-and-budget conscious gourmet cup of warm delight…

(oh, and if you visit the International Delight website linked above, there’s a printable coupon)

Valentine’s Day Treats

You HAD to know I would find a moment to bake a sweet for my sweet to celebrate heart day! So what’s more appropriate than a heart shaped cookie?!?!?

I bought the heart-shaped pan from Michael’s and  made this super easy and insanely yummy treat from Bakerella!

Though I chose to top the ganache with a layer of pink butter cream frosting instead of the M&M tid-bits.

…UPDATE: I’ve been MIA…

…hello, old friend…

… so i’ve been a bit MIA lately despite it being my favorite time of year for baking and playing hostess…

…fa la la la Fridays went completely out the window… and a few of you have noticed…

…i have been doing the things i love  and enjoying the season’s greetings very much… but,the truth is… this happy planner just got hit with my biggest challange yet… and i’ve hit the ground running…

… and that challenge is….

…

…MY OWN WEDDING(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)….

…tada… we’re engaged…

.. he proposed November 14th, 2009…

… and i promptly said, “you betcha!”…

… thus the whirlwind began…

… we’re getting married in July 2010… and this means that my attention is going to be slightly more focused on another blog for just a bit…

… our wedding blog… where we’ll be chronicling the process of planning this shindig and the little life we’re excited to start together…

… treatstoshare will remain up and running… but, probably won’t get quite as much attention- i’m sorry to say…

… i would love for you to follow me on mikeandheather2010…  and hope that this is sufficient explanation for my absence…

… MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL… AND BLESSINGS FOR 2010…

… Reflection…

...she's such a trooper... we bundled her up and took to alaska last summer... and she just went right along with it...

… this is going to be a more personal post than i usually write… no recipe or recommendation… just reflection…

… this weekend my mom and grandma were in town to celebrate my grandmother’s 78th birthday… they’ve come to visit for grandma’s birthday every year since i’ve lived down here… but this year was particularly poignant because we had such a wonderful time and witnessed the peace and power of prayer… after they left, i cried, because i was so proud and so grateful that we had the chance to celebrate a 78th year of grandma…

…T.G.I.F.F. November 6, 2009…

… Pumpkin Waffles for a cozy Fall Brunch…

… isn’t it nice to actually get to sleep in on a Saturday and then enjoy a leisurely brunch…

… well that’s exactly what i did last weekend… and since it was a Halloween Saturday… we thought it appropriate to have PUMPKIN pancakes and caldron coffee…

…i used the Pumpkin Pancake and Waffle Mix from Trader Joe’s… and my beloved Mickey Mouse Waffle Maker…

… i’m just gonna carry on with the pumpkin obsession right through thanksgiving in case you haven’t noticed… but, i’ll be intentionally and intensely throwing in Peppermint, gingerbread, and other yule tide cheer… especially starting at the end of this month with Fa-la-la Fridays (a fitting follow-up to Thank Goodness it’s Fall Fridays, don’t ya think)…

… but for today… Pumpkin Mickey Mouse Waffles…