Homemade Pizza Rolls

A few weeks ago I whipped up these pizza rolls for a quick dinner.  We used to make them when I was younger, and hadn't had them in years.  My husband and brother-in-law liked them so much, that I made them again last week.  SO EASY!

You'll need uncooked pizza dough, pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, garlic powder, butter, and whatever toppings you'd like.

First stretch out the dough to the size of your largest cookie sheet.

(there is a cookie sheet under there, I promise) 

Next up, the sauce - my all-time favorite is Don Pepino and I like to sprinkle a little garlic powder on after the sauce.  If you've never had Don Pepino and your grocery store carries it - TRY IT!

Then the toppings and cheese.  I just used what we had in the fridge: pepperoni, mushrooms, red onion and broccoli (I nuked the broc and onion a bit so it wouldn't be too crunchy)

Then, roll up your pizza: 

Then slice into pieces.  Be sure to spray a little cooking spray under each piece so it doesn't stick. 

Looks a little bit messy at this point. Bake at 350F for about 15-20 minutes.

While they're baking, I mix up some butter and garlic bread sprinkle.  When there is about 2-3 minutes left in the oven, I put a little of the butter spread on the top of each piece.  YUM. 

Scrumptious!  (they're not the most photogenic, but they taste great...and they are SO so easy! 

Try 'em out and let me know how they were!

Kristin

Weekend Highlights

I hope you had a nice weekend and it didn't go by too fast (yeah right!).  Our weekend was pretty low-key, so not much to highlight. 

There was lots of this:

{A few weekends ago, Nana & Papa watched Peaches and built this for her - she LOVES it - especially when someone squishes in there with her}  

I was able to take an unplanned nap (this never happens anymore) and it was delightful! 

Peaches had been asking for "ice ceam" all weekend, so we ended Sunday night with hot fudge sundaes. 

Someone stole some licks before it was time!

 

A yummy ending to a relaxing weekend :)

Happy Monday!

{Can't believe this is the last week of my twenties. Wow. }

Kristin

High 5 For Friday

I don't know about you, but this week went by really really fast.  It was also a monumental week for me! 


My top 5 things from this week:

1. Number 1 hands down, has to be my post from yesterday! SO SO happy that all that hard work paid off and is DONE!

2. My brother came over to visit and have dinner one night.  I heart him.

{This is from Christmas.  I kinda can't believe I'm putting up a picture of me without makeup.  It's happening}

3. I finished this easy & fun project - we don't have many any personalized decor so I love it even more! 

 

4. Watching my sweet Peaches grow & learn this week.  She's starting to say small sentences and carry on a conversation.  It's awesome!  On the way home from dropping off my thesis (see number 1 above) we got stuck in traffic due to an accident and sung songs together to pass the time (I'm pretty sure I sang 'the wheels on the bus' twenty-million times - but when I hear her sweet voice say "a-gin" (again) I just can't say no!) 

5. Not much planned for the weekend, and hopefully having time to work a fun little project with these supplies:

{post coming next week}

I'm linking up with {lauren} over at From My Gray Desk today

 

 

 

Enjoy your Friday...and Happy Weekend! 

Kristin

January 26, 2012 - A Day For History

Sorry for the late post today, but I have good   great   FABULOUS news! I've turned my Master's Thesis Project in...that means I'm D-O-N-E!!!
{Insert Hallelujah Chorus here}



And....I'm not one to boast or brag...but....

 

Do you see that cumulative GPA??? 

{Just in case you didn't :)}

I could not be happier that I'm done and for the first time in my life I can take classes because I want to, not because I have to!!!

OH HAPPY DAY!!!

Kristin

Chopped Salad

While I was in college and was working at Outback Steakhouse, I was introduced to chopped salad.  During my tenure there, the Blue Cheese Pecan Chopped Salad was added to the menu.  If you haven't had it, next time you're there, try it - it's so de-lish! 

 {source}

The other day on the on Pinterest I came across a recipe for a chopped salad that looked amazing.  I had to try it ASAP and it was as amazing as it looked, so I thought I'd share with you.

Here's a pic of the goods:

Lots of yummy things - dried cranberries, pecans, pears...and bacon! 

I didn't realize that it would make so much and it filled the bowl pretty full.  I decided to dump it out on a cookie sheet in order to mix it up with the dressing easier.

 And this is what the deliciousness looks like:

 Look at all those goodies in there!

I also made roast beef horseradish panini's to go with it.

 

They were HUGE and made good lunch leftovers.

Here's the recipe:

 Cranberry - Pear Chopped Salad 

• 6-8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 2 medium pears, chopped
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 5-6 oz. crumbled feta 
• 8-10 slices of bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled (I cheated and used the microwave stuff to save time, but it still tasted great)
• about 3/4 cup T. Marzetti Poppy Seed dressing
• about 1/4 cup Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing

Mix everything together on a cookie sheet or in a very large bowl.  Then ENJOY!

(Makes a lot - but still tastes great the next day) 
As always let me know how it goes if you try it out!

Kristin

Valentine's Day Hearts

I thought I'd share a Valentine's Day craft that I made a few days ago.  I saw this pinned on Pinterest via Jaime over at Jaime - Just Saying...  and just couldn't resist! 

I bought most of my supplies (that I didn't already have) at Micheal's:

• 3 wooden hearts (about $1.50 each)

• Roll of ribbon ($2.50) 

• I bought one new paint (already had the other two colors)  I used Baby Pink, Valentine Pink and Apple Red. I also had some sparkly varnish that I put on over the paint (not pictured)

First step - painting each heart a different color (I think I did 3 coats of each color) then one coat of the sparkly varnish.

Next, I used my Cricut and vinyl to get letters for our names.  The awesome thing about using the vinyl is that it's sticky and you don't need to worry about glue :)

Then throw some hot glue on the ribbon and place the hearts on the glue...and... 

VOILA!  

To finish I touched up the ribbon at the top and trimmed the bottom. 

So easy...and personalized! I love it and I'm sure I'll use it for years to come :) 

If you try it out, let me know how it goes! 

Kristin

Weekend Highlights & Stovetop Popcorn

We had a nice weekend - a little more relaxing that the last few.  I literally only went to the grocery store, church and to the in-laws (this is much less than a typical weekend). 

So, some highlights - another window's trim is basically completed (more on that soon) which leaves one more to do before we can paint, empty out and organize the family room that we've never used. :)

I made some stovetop popcorn for an afternoon snack and thought I'd share how I do it.  It's seriously the best popcorn I've ever had (I'm talking *regular* popcorn here, not the fancy stuff).  I learned this little secret from Peaches' sitter and I haven't made another kind of popcorn since.  Everyone loves it - Eric even asks for it if I go awhile without making it.  And...it's healthier than the microwave stuff (and really I'm no longer a fan of the microwave stuff after having it this way - the micro stuff leaves a weird film in your mouth and tastes chemically to me)  

So, I just make the popcorn according to the package directions.  This time I used Orville Redenbacher, but I've used Jolly Time before.  I know some people prefer Orville, but I can't really tell a difference.

{I learned years ago from my mother in-law to put a paper towel around my oil containers with a rubberband to catch any oil that drips down the side - LOVE this! Seriously, if you don't already do this, take 2 minutes and get up from the computer now and GO DO IT!} 

Before (by the way, I really don't mind just making the popcorn in my stew pot, but they also make poppers like this that I hear work great)

 After What's that I'm sprinkling on there you ask?  Well, that's the secret ingredient - keep reading!

The secret ingredient is (enter drum-roll here)...Lawry's Seasoned Salt

It may take a little figuring out on how much to put on.  Less is really more, just add a little, shake it up and taste before you add more (my first time I definitely put too much on!)

YUM YUM!  So good! 

One more highlight from the weekend was definitely our church service on Sunday.  Our pastor was totally "on" and as he often says "knocked it out of the park"!  I love services where you leave all pumped up and ready to take on the world.  This was one of them.  At the end of the service Pastor prayed the salvation prayer and then we sang Amazing Grace {love it} and he asked anyone who wanted to accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord to come forward during the song.  7...S-E-V-E-N people came forward.  It was incredibly moving to see.  Pastor's message was all about the end times and how Jesus is coming again.  It was awesome to see 7 people decide to follow Jesus NOW instead of waiting until later - later may be too late.

Go ahead and try the popcorn...you'll be glad you did... 
Be sure to stop back and let me know what you think!
Happy Monday

Kristin

High 5 For Friday

I've been following a handful of blogs for a few months now and every Friday, Lauren over at From My Grey Desk does a link up called High Five for Friday.  You post about five of you favorite things from the past week.  It's meant for you to stop and be thankful for all that you have.  I love the idea, so I decided to link up today, and hopefully every Friday.  Visit her page for more details!

So, my very first High 5 for Friday post:

1. I'm thankful for having Monday off (a 4 day weekend) and being able to spend lots of time with this little angel

2. It's a Denim Day Pay Day today!

3. Getting my thesis back from the second reviewer and only having minor fixes before it's DONE!

4. A new shade of nail polish to try out:

   {Essie Plumberry}

5. Finishing my DIY Valentine's mantel and being close to finishing up some other VDay projects 

Happy Friday Everyone - Have a fabulous weekend!

Kristin

Making Life Easier

I don't know about you, but I'm all about ways to make everyday tasks easier.  There are so many things to do in a day and so little time to do them in...any little tricks to make things easier are welcomed in our house!

The other day I came across this site while on facebook.
Check it out here  you won't regret that you did!

I've already done the bobby pin thing from seeing it on Pinterest, but I'm really excited to try the apple in a rubberband idea and organizing the linen closet.

Which ideas do you like best?

Kristin

DIY Decor for 2 Holidays

I'm so excited to share this decor project with you!  I originally made this for Christmas and I LOVED how it turned out!  I really didn't want to take it down yet so...I've converted it into Valentine's Day decor and now can keep it up for another month :)

I posted some of my Christmas DIY decor here - including the project in this post.
My original inspiration for the Christmas version came from a pic I saw on Pinterest, from the Thrifty Decor Chick (she has some awesome projects!)

So...here was our mantel for Christmas, with the newly made NOEL decor: 

I loved how this project turned out so much that I wanted to figure out a way to keep it up longer....so...a little letter re-arrangement and making a V and I was in business!

Here's the process (I didn't photo the making of the NOEL, but I used this process below):

  I cut a piece of foam board 12inches by 20 inches.  (This is MUCH cheaper than using canvas)  Then, I used craft paper and cut a piece about 2 inches larger than the foam board I used.

Like this

Then, I used Glorious Gold Gloss Enamels by Americana to paint the craft paper.  I did this in no particular fashion - messy looking is the goal!

Let the paint dry....then crumple the paper up like so: 

 Carefully uncrumple but don't flatten out completely.  I then used a rolling pin to roll over the paper to make some creases:

Then I used rubber cement to stick the paper to the foam board (whatever kind of glue you have will probably work fine)

Then fold over the edges and tape.  I did an extra fold at the corners for a cleaner edge:

All done:

{I'm in need of a craft table like BAD! I had to resort to my daughter's table for a bit!}

Next up, paint the V.  I got the letters from Hobby Lobby (about $1.50 each) 

I painted them with Alizarin Crimson Acrylic Paint by Folk Art.

{WHY do they put stickers on things that are TOO sticky and don't come off well??  UGH!} 

Then I just hot glued a piece of ribbon to the letter and then taped the other end of the ribbon to the back of the foam board, and VIOLA!

I added some greenery and some red flowers (from Hobby Lobby) behind the candles.  I bought the 3 candle plates on clearance at Target for $4.64 each and had a Christmas gift card to use (score!)

The candles are leftovers from our wedding...we had tons of candles...I didn't even use a quarter of what I have.

 

Some more pictures just because I love it so much!

And my most favorite, the before and after!!

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I have/do!

Kristin