Dinner For Two

Happy February! 

This is such a fun month. First of all, Spring is soon! Always very exciting. Second, there is no better time to talk about fancy undergarments, sweet treats, and delicious just for two recipes. Which is just what this post is about. MK and I have been together for almost ten years so that's given us many different times to do different things for Valentine's Day. From having dinner right in front of our fireplace, to landing in Paris on the day of love, we've had them all. If you are having a romantic night in (which are often the best ones) I've found a perfect recipe for you. This easy recipe won't keep you in the kitchen all night but I can assure you that it is a crowd pleaser.  

Basil pesto Chicken Pasta

with Sundried Tomatoes and Broccoli

Here is what you need:

-2 cups pasta of your choice, I used orecchiette because it's fancy but feel free to use a simple penne

-1/4 cup sundried tomatoes in olive oil, chopped up

- Half large red onion

-3 cloves thinly sliced garlic

-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

-1 large chicken brest chopped

-4 tbsp pesto, you could make your own for vday just buy it and save some time

-1 cup cooked broccoli   

-salt and pepper to taste

Here is what you do:

1) Cook your pasta

2) In a large skillet on medium heat add tomatoes, garlic, onion, and the red pepper.

3) Toss in that chicken and cook  

4) Add in the pesto and turn the heat to low

5) Add the cooked broccoli and pasta to the pot. Toss everything together. Also, feel free to add in some fresh mozzarella for some extra yum. 

Is this low cal? Well no. But hey, it's for a special day right? Treat yo self.  

Wine Pairing: Sauvignon Blanc  

Have a fantastic Wednesday!

xoxo

The Need For Blooms

Happy Monday All!

Every Winter, usually in January I have a desperate need to have fresh flowers in the house. Don't get me wrong there is never a bad time to have fresh blooms in the house but in the cold it's a must.  I certainly won't pretend to be a florist because those people are down right talented. But for those of us who just want something pretty to look at here are some tips for making your arrangement very pleasing to the eye.  

First get your chosen vase and using regular scotch tape make vertical and horizontal lines about an inch or two apart depending on the size of your vase. 

Greens are the nest step. Choose your fillers and start placing them in your grid randomly. 

Make sure you always trim your stems on an angle. This makes it easier for the flowers to drink the water. Also when trimming hold the flower next to the vase so that you can see where it will hit. Your "Face Flowers" are next. These are the big super pretty ones. Pick three or five. Try to picture where they will go in your arrangement. Cut them at different heights so that there is dimension. Keep spinning your vase to decide which way looks better to you.  

Next is accent flowers, use a lot or a little. I used complimentary colors (opposite side of the color wheel).

Fill in any and extra space with your greenery or more accent flowers.  

Fast Tip: You can cover the walls of the vase with greenery or make sure you clean off the bottom of the stems and crisscross them for a more polished look.

I hope your coffee is extra hot on this freezing day!

xoxo  

Wrapped Up

Hello and Happy Friday!

I for one am very happy that we have reached the weekend! I'm coming off of a very busy week and I don't know about you but I'm just about ready for a drink. This is a very easy crowd pleasing drink that you can throw together for a twist on a classic.

The Holiday Cocktail

-1 1/2 oz Vodka

-As much Cranberry Juice as you want

-Top with Ginger Ale

-Garnish with mint, lime, or rosemary (my fav!)

As I've stated before this is the first Christmas in about three years that I'm able to actually enjoy it. So I am soaking in all things Christmas! I've wanted to do this post for YEARS but never had time. Today I am sharing how to make the perfect bow. I've always been completely obsessed with wrapping. It has always been a favorite things to do around this time of year. Having worked in retail one thing I picked up was bow perfection. There might be eight steps but once you get the hang of it, this will be your very fast go to bow!

Step One:

Wrap your gifts and tie your ribbon around the box in a knot.

Step 2:

Choose your colors and use as many as you want! It works with one or five.

Step 3:

Fold the ribbon in half. This is where you decide how big you want it to be (this is one side of your bow).

Step 4:

Do the same to the other side.

Step 5:

Go back and forth as many times as you'd like. Just remember the more you do the bigger your bow will get.

Step 6:

Directly in the middle make two small cuts on both sides. Make sure you don't cut all the way. The middle of the cuts will get tied.

Step 7:

Right where you made the cuts, take your ribbon that is already around your box and make a knot to secure your bow.

Step 8:

Simply fluff and pull apart the loops of the ribbon.

Tada! You're done!

Have a great weekend! I've got some wrapping to do that's for sure! Cheers!

xoxo