Cheddar Biscuits and many other important things

So anyone who knows me out there knows that I absolutely despise biscuits.

This is a serious thing here and I'm not kidding at all. I hate them. I hate biscuits and I hate jelly (we'll cover that topic at a later date). I think it has something to do with the fact that my dad made biscuits and grape jelly for my brother and I every day for like 3 years straight. Or maybe it was 3 months, I don't know. It all seems the same when you are 5 or 6.

However, I do like the cheddar biscuits at Red Lobster. Yes, I eat there. I know, I know, my husband even calls me a food snob to my face and I'm sure that I really can be picky but occasionally we'll pop into Red Lobster with the in-laws for dinner. Besides, I live in NORTH TEXAS. Good seafood (my favorite food of all) is hard to come by in these parts.

Back to the biscuits.

I found a recipe online somewhere (can't remember where) for their famous cheddar biscuits and decided to give it a go. I'm not exactly sure how I can hate biscuits sooooo much and still like these but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the garlic-buttery deliciousness. And the cheese. Can't go wrong when you throw some cheese in.

Cheddar Biscuits, a la Red Lobster

1 package Bisquick biscuits mix
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2/3 cup milk
1/4 butter or margarine
1 tsp. garlic powder

Mix together



Bake for 8-10 minutes in an oven preheated to 450 degrees on a lightly greased cookie sheet



*While the biscuits are baking, melt butter and add garlic powder

Once biscuits are done baking, pour garlic butter over the tops and ENJOY!



Super quick and yummy!


Etsy

Be sure to check out my shop today! It received a much needed face-lift thanks to my very talented hubs!

My other little blog has received a make-over as well. Make-overs all around!

Also, I thought of some of those other things that are on my birthday list. Though my very impatient husband has already revealed to me my main birthday gift as he could not contain his excitement. Can you guess what it is?

I would really love one of these Le Creuset Pots. Preferably one in each of these colors but I would settle for one in just one of the colors too, haha.







I'd really like this marble pastry board as well. This one can be found at Sur La Table.



I would especially love one of these necklaces with Rylee's name on it made by Kelly. They are just so beautiful!



Lastly, I would really like a new large tote. We're moving past the days of diaper bags with Rylee (even though we have some pretty cool ones) and she has that new backpack that I bought her but I need something to carry around her stuff for swim lessons and for summer trips to the local water park/pool - Schlitterbahn and Sea World.

I like these







First two found here.

Third found here.


Oh and in case you were wondering, he got me this.



-s

It's nearing that time of year...

Soon it will be April.

11 days into April, it will be my 27th birthday.

I was cool with turning 25.

26 seemed like it would be nice (it has been).

But 27 seems really old to me. I've never had a problem getting older but I'm having a tough time with this one.

I'm sure it will be fine. I do like odd numbers. Maybe this will be an especially nice year for me.

Nonetheless, here are a few things that are on my birthday wish list this year.

I'd really love this mixer. I currently have a 5 quart Artisan series and while it's been very good to me, it's just not cutting it these days. I need something with a little more power, a little more...oomph! This color suits me too.



I'd really like this kitchen island from Ikea. I have a very large workspace in my kitchen as it is (we designed it that way) but sometimes we both need to have a decent sized space to work on. Especially now that we've had a good amount of business from Etsy. I'd like this island with the stainless steel top. Good for rolling out fondant. My fondant helper concurs. The only negative thing about this island is that it will probably make our kitchen look less open and clean.




This make-up bag from Kate Spade. It's green. It has polka dots. There's really no question as to why this is on my list.



A new cake stand. I've decided to collect them. Someday they're going to look just lovely adorning my shop. Someday





*I found both of those on Etsy. I'm reallly looking for white cake stands, preferably with a scalloped edge or skirt. I do really like the blue one though so I couldn't resist adding it to my list.

There are a few other things on my list. I'd enjoy some throw pillows (Dwell for Target), some new stools for my kitchen (oh what I wouldn't give!) and some other smaller things. My wish list is a little big. That's why it's a WISH list!

Many a thing

This has been a crazybusy week!

It snowed here (yes in Texas) Thursday afternoon. I thought for a second that a joke was being played on me because it literally looked as if someone was pouring buckets upon buckets of snow over my roof. I have never seen it snow like that here. It was nice while it lasted and Rylee seemed to enjoy it. Every day since she's said, "mommy please have a snow?" This while she's looking out the back door trying to figure out why the grass is green and not white.





Not a fan of anything wet on her RAIN boots.



So we had snow, I finally got a haircut and dye (long overdue) and we did a little shopping this weekend.

As many of you know, I have plantar faciitis on my left foot and am supposed to wear Crocs all of the time. I already have a pair of the "Mary-Jane" style and recently tried on the "Alice." I really love them. They are cute and not as "croc" looking. Don't get me wrong, Croc's are super comfy and they really do relieve the pressure in my left foot. I can wear them all day long without any sign of my foot hurting. But, I was one of those people who thought Croc's were ridiculously ugly. That is, until I was FORCED to wear them.

At least the "Alice" gives me the option of wearing them with a few more outfits. The ones that I should probably wear with heels or flats. I bought them in black but I really love the red. I might go back and get them as well.



We also got a matching pair for Rylee.

Recently Jess mentioned to me that I should look into getting a Neti Pot because of my horrible sinuses/allergies. I mentioned it to Rodney this weekend and he said that he'd heard a lot of people having success with it. Both of our sinuses are having tough time right now because of the insane weather changes around here. 80 degrees one day, 35 and snowing the next. Back to 70, down to 40. It literally changes every day.

Anyway, we asked the pharmacist at Target today to see if they had any. To our surprise, they did! And only $15!

Ours looks like this



But it would be nice to have this lovely one. Doubt it costs $15 though.



We tried it out this afternoon. It's very...interesting to say the least. It feels very strange once it first starts flowing. My eyes watered a great deal but I could feel a release of pressure in my head. I feel a lot different than I did earlier in the day and I can't tell if it's a good thing or not. Also about two hours after I'd irrigated, a tablespoon randomly came pouring out of my nose. I was just standing in my kitchen when I felt water trickling out. That was weird. I'm supposed to do it again in an hour or so, we'll see how I feel after that. So far it seems to be helping and I'm all about doing something in a homeopathic way vs. having to pay $30 to see my doctor to get a $4 prescription. I'm just sayin'.

I also wanted to give a progress report on the cookie cutter business. I opened our Etsy shop a few weeks ago and we've since had a few orders! Here are a few things we've made so far.







We're really having a lot of fun with it - and isn't my husband talented? I think so.

Lastly, I wanted to mention this new tradition Rodney and I started a few months back. I was sick and he wanted to make me dinner. Aside from the occasional grilled cheese or heading up to our local take-out restaurant to pick up some dinner for us, he doesn't do a whole lot of cooking. But he wanted to make me something and I was not in the mood for soup. I suggested a recipe that I'd seen in one of my Parents magazines recently - one that I just so happened to have the ingredients/supplies for, one I thought he could easily make. Fun Foccacia.


I think it's technically supposed to be an appetizer but it's just as good as a meal.

Ingredients
1 tube (13.8 ounce) refrigerated pizza dough (we use a box pizza dough)
1 pint grape tomatoes, cut into halves
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan (we add a handful of shredded mozzarella as well)

Directions
1. Heat oven to 400 degree F. Unroll and slightly stretch dough onto a greased baking pan.
2. Combine next four ingredients in a glass bowl. Cover and microwave on high 3 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes and drain.
3. Sprinkle dough with Parmesan. Top with tomato mixture. Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until crisp and browned. Let cool 5 minutes, then cut into squares and serve.

It's simple and pretty tasty. We enjoy dipping it in a little bowl of marinara. We've had it every Sunday since which makes this our new tradition! It's nice to have someone cook for you once in a while!

Do you and yours have any weekly traditions?

Busy Bee's

Apologies for the lack of posts. We had two pretty big cakes last week and they took up pretty much all of my time.

Lots of other crazy stuff has been going on as well, but we'll save that for another day.

Saturday we had planned on swinging by the Nasher Sculpture Center but it was raining and cold so we decided to save it for another day.

We did go to Northpark, catch a movie and grab some lunch. We weren't able to do much for Valentine's because we had to work on cakes so Saturday was our day together. I did receive a flower arrangement that looked like a cake though. That was pretty thoughtful and creative.

Anyway, I was on a mission to find a backpack for Rylee (she starts preschool this week) while we were at Northpark. I'd seen this cute little pink one with a pig on it at Babystyle a while back. We stopped in after the movie only to discover the last one had be bought just hours before. We called the Plano and Austin store but neither had any in stock.

Later when we got home I searched the internet for hours trying to find what I was looking for. I was also looking for a nap mat. Those things are MUCH harder to find than I expected. I found several that I really liked on Etsy but didn't have time to wait for shipping. So I ended up purchasing one at Kid to Kid. Not as cute but cute enough.

I found this backpack/lunch tote combo at Pottery Barn Kids.





Cute, matching, seems to be pretty durable. Rylee digs the backpack too.

While we were there I discovered this super cute bed set. You can purchase it for a crib or a larger sized bed. I know I just bought Rylee a new quilt but...





Check out the matching wall art!



While in Target today (picking up a few Global Bazaar clearance items and looking for a new table runner) I passed by an end-cap that had some of the new Dwell Kitchen Linens. I guess they are in the process of rolling out the new stuff and this is what they started with!

Table Runner





Kitchen Towels/Napkins





I picked up the grey table runner and some napkins. I'm so excited about Dwell designing a line for Target. It's about time!

Oh yeah! I shipped off the first custom cookie cutter that was ordered from me the other day! Here are the results!

More Etsy

I made my first etsy sale! I've been working on packaging today (along with some pretty big cakes), more to come!