Tummy Tamer Tropical Turmeric Smoothie

Between all the traveling, eating out and party foods, my stomach has decided it is not happy with me. I understand we need to remove waste from our bodies and it's natural. I know they wrote a book called "Everybody Poops", but that doesn't make it any less gross. And the noises associated with digestion.... Let's just say I'm starting to wonder if a dinosaur lives in my small intestines.

I decided that it is definitely time to take back my stomach. Once again I reached for the turmeric and ginger. I wanted something a bit more substantial than tea though, so I made smoothies. This is a great breakfast or snack when you are feeling under the weather, and bonus, it stopped my stomach issues within hours.

Tummy Tamer Tropical Turmeric Smoothie

Ingredients

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp ginger paste

1 cup frozen banana, apple and kiwi medley (Private Selection at Kroger)

1 cup frozen honey lime pineapple (Dole)

1 cup vanilla soy milk

Directions

        

       Place all the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Separate into two glasses and enjoy. 

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Per Serving	% Daily Value*
Calories 387
Total Fat 8.7g	11%
Saturated Fat 1.9g	10%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 484mg	21%
Potassium 1151mg	24%
Total Carb 67.3g	22%
Dietary Fiber 3.9g	14%
Sugars 45.9g
Protein 17.7g
Vitamin A 43% · Vitamin C 120%
Calcium 94% · Iron 21%
*Based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Recipe analyzed by

Hopefully you enjoy the taste of this smoothie as much as I do. The added calcium and vitamin C should help you feel better as well. Let me know if this helps, and don't forget to follow me.

Thanks for stopping by, 

Kristie

Salty Fresh Splatter Paint Backdrop

I meant to get this post done last week, but better late than never. This is the splatter paint backdrop we made for Kenzie's 90's party. It was so easy to make, I let the kids do the work.

All you need to make the backdrop are: 

• a white t-shirt flat sheet (Target had them on clearance for $9.99 per set)
• neon poster paints
• a paper plate to use as a palate 
• paint brushes to splatter the paint with

Simply choose your colors and then put them on the paper plate. Dip a pain brush into the paint and then flick it over the sheet. Repeat until you are happy with the design. Just make sure to rinse your brush between colors so that you don't get streaks that look like baby poop. 

You can even add a fun '90's saying to the top of your backdrop as well. Kenzie chose to combine 2 different ones, Salty and Fresh. 

Love my silly girls. 

Hope you have fun making your backdrops. I hope you will share the results in the comments. 

Thanks for stopping by, 

Kristie

Brined Boneless Turkey Breasts and Thighs

I was being so good about writing in this blog regularly. Then BAM! Life happened. Three out of the five kids got sick. We traveled to Mackinac City for the girls' 8th grade trip. Then yesterday, we have 20 people at the house, because the baby turned 1. I am ready for the slower pace of summer and a nap.

Before all of the craziness started, I did my first "Because I Pinned It" meal and made Brined Boneless Turkey Breasts and Thighs for dinner. The original recipe is pinned in my Kitchen Tips and Tricks board. The recipe is from Kitchen Meets Girl and is labeled How to Brine a Turkey.

I love turkey when it is cooked correctly. I hate the amount of space an entire turkey takes up in my fridge while it thaws. I went to the store planning to buy turkey legs to brine and then bake. Just my luck, Whole Foods had them on sale and ran out before I got there. (I recently learned that Sam's Club sells them as well, just for future knowledge.) Instead I settled on two boneless turkey thighs and a boneless turkey breast, totaling 7lbs of meat. 

I marinated the meat in the brine for 6 hours. I then patted it dry with paper towel and browned it in a cast iron skillet to trap in the juices and create a base of crispy skin. Then I put it in a baking dish covered in foil to bake for 2 hours. I ended up with moist turkey meat to go with all the other fixings for a fuss free Thanksgiving dinner 6 months in advance. These are my recipe adaptations.

Brined Boneless Turkey Breasts and Thighs

Ingredients

4 cups warm water

1/8 cup sea salt

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

2 tsp garlic paste

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp dried sage

7 lbs boneless turkey meat (breasts and thighs) 

1 Tbsp olive oil

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, over medium heat, mix water, brown sugar and salt until the crystals have dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients and then set aside to cool. 
2. Put your boneless turkey meat into a gallon freezer bag, Pour the cooled brining liquid into the bag with the turkey and then seal. Allow the meat to soak in the brine in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours. 
3. Pour the contents of the brine bag into a strainer. Then pat the Turkey pieces dry. Preheat your oven to 275-degrees F. 
4. Heat the olive oil in a cast iron skillet over high heat until it begins to smoke. Add your turkey pieces and fry until the skin begins to brown and become crispy. 
5. Transfer the turkey pieces to a baking dish or roasting pan. Cover the dish with foil and then bake for 1 hour. 
6. Raise the oven temperature up to 350-degrees F. Remove the foil and bake the turkey for another hour or until the internal temperature is 165-degrees; basting the meat with it's juices every 15 minutes. 
7. Remove the turkey from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing into 1-inch thick strips. 

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 14
Per Serving	% Daily Value*
Calories 251
Total Fat 2g	3%
Saturated Fat 0.1g	1%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 141mg	47%
Sodium 925mg	39%
Potassium 663mg	19%
Total Carb 5.4g	2%
Dietary Fiber 0.1g	0%
Sugars 5.2g
Protein 56.3g
Vitamin A 0% · Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 1% · Iron 8%
*Based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Recipe analyzed by

I hope your dinner turns out as fantastic as ours did. If you have any unique side recommendations, I would love to hear about them. 

Thanks for stopping by, 

Kristie

Stuffed Steak Rolls

When I was a kid, my mom used to make steak rolls in the crockpot. They were these beautiful, thin strips of meat, filled with peppers and onions. She would roll them the same you you roll stuffed cabbage. We would eat them covered in the gravy they cooked in with mashed potatoes and corn. It is one of those recipes that just makes me think of home.

Sadly, I can't remember the last time my mom made that recipe. When I called and asked her about it, she gave me her normal answer. "I don't know how I made it. I just did it. " Thank so much for the help mom.

These steak rolls are not my mom's recipe, but I was inspired by that memory. Instead of the crockpot, I cook these on a grill pan. Instead of stuffing them with peppers and onions, I used mushrooms, spinach and provolone cheese. Inspiration does not have to lead to the same destination. It just gets you moving on the path.

I started by sauteing onions, mushrooms, salt and pepper in a little bit of butter. I swear I am obsessed with sauteed mushrooms lately. 

I used a meat tenderizer to slightly flatten the flank steak. Covering it with syran wrap helps contain the mess and protect the meat. 

This is my favorite seasoning for beef. It has just a little bit of spice, and it makes me laugh every time I look at it. 

The sauteed mushrooms get spread across the meat to make the first layer of the "stuffing."

The next layer is baby spinach. After all, we mom's hide greens where ever we can, right? 

The final layer is cheese, provolone cheese to be specific. I love this flavor combination all melted into cheesy goodness. 

The secret to creating steak rolls is to slowly roll the meat in order to create even layers. Then secure the roll with skewers and cut into individual servings before you cook. 

Stuffed Steak Rolls

Ingredients

• 2 lb flank steak, trimmed of fat
• 1 cup red onion, chopped
• 1.5 cups baby bella mushrooms, chopped
• 2 tsp garlic paste
• 1 cup baby spinach leaves
• 10 slices provolone cheese
• Your favorite meat seasoning (you can buy Bull Shit Seasoning here) 
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Heat your grill pan over medium heat. Add the onions, mushrooms, garlic paste, salt and pepper to the pan. Saute 5 to 8 minutes, or until the onions begin to caramelize and become fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside. 
2. Spread your steak out onto a cutting board. Cover with a piece of syran wrap, and the pound it with a meat tenderizer to make it a little bit thinner. 
3. Remove the syran wrap, and season both sides of the meat with your favorite seasoning. 
4. Spread the sauteed mushroom mixture evenly across the steak. Repeat with the spinach and then the provolone cheese. Press down to compress the filling.
5. Starting at the bottom of the steak, roll towards the filling to create a tight roll. Secure with short wooden skewers or toothpicks. Cut into seven equal rolls. 
6. Sear the steak on each side for 5 minutes. You can cook it for more or less time depending on how rare you like your steak. I aim for medium. 
7. Allow the steak rolls to rest for a minute or two, before removing the skewers. Then serve. 

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 7
Per Serving	% Daily Value*
Calories 405
Total Fat 21.5g	33%
Saturated Fat 11.3g	57%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 99mg	33%
Sodium 554mg	23%
Potassium 634mg	18%
Total Carb 3.8g	1%
Dietary Fiber 0.7g	3%
Sugars 1.3g
Protein 47.1g
Vitamin A 15% · Vitamin C 4%
Calcium 33% · Iron 16%
*Based on a 2,000 calorie diet

I hope you enjoy this recipe. You can try other flavor combinations in your filling as well. Get inspired and let me know how it goes. 

Thanks, for stopping by. 

Kristie

Mushroom Tartlets

I swear to you, one of these days I will get around to posting about something I have pinned to my Pinterest board. I am just having too much fun doing my own thing right now.

Case in point; I made these yummy mushroom tartlets to go along with our dinner the other night. I used to despise mushrooms/ That all changed with my last pregnancy. I craved them then, and I still get cravings for them now. Weird, right?

One of my other guilty pleasures are finger foods, especially bite size finger foods. I sometimes think that I should host more parties, just so I can make cute little appetizers. Then I look at my calendar full of work day, kid appointments, sports and adventures, and I sigh in resignation. Maybe one of these I will have more time, but right now there isn't much.

Good thing these tartlets are quick and easy to make. I use frozen mini phyllo shells from the grocery store, whip up a quick filling, bake for 10 minutes, and then mmmm deliciousness.

The Athens Mini Phyllo Shells come in sets of 15. 

The filling starts with a simple base of sauteed mushrooms and onions. Just cook them long enough for the mushrooms to start to caramelize and become fragrant. 

In a separate bowl, whisk together an egg, flour, thyme and shredded Swiss Cheese. Gently stir in the cooled mushrooms to complete the filling. 

These tartlets are ready for the oven and then ready to eat in 10 minutes. BEWARE they are addictive and go fast. 

Mushroom Tartlets

Ingredients

15 mini phyllo shells, frozen

1 cup baby bella mushrooms, chopped

1/2 cup red onion, chopped

1 egg

1 tsp flour

1 tsp thyme

1 cup shredded Swiss Cheese

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350-degrees F. 
2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spread the phyllo shells onto the sheet and set aside. 
3. In a medium frying pan, sautee the mushrooms and onions until the onion just begins to caramelize and become fragrant, about 5 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool. 
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, flour, thyme and Swiss cheese. Add the cooled mushrooms.
5. Using a spoon, divide the filling into the 15 phyllo cups. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate and enjoy. 

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 15
Per Serving	% Daily Value*
Calories 95
Total Fat 4.8g	7%
Saturated Fat 1.9g	9%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 18mg	6%
Sodium 53mg	2%
Potassium 43mg	1%
Total Carb 9.2g	3%
Dietary Fiber 0.2g	1%
Sugars 0.4g
Protein 3.5g
Vitamin A 2% · Vitamin C 1%
Calcium 6% · Iron 3%
*Based on a 2,000 calorie diet I hope you enjoy these little tartlets. Let me know if you try any other fillings when you make them in your house. Thanks for stopping by. Kristie

Rishi Turmeric Ginger Tea

I thought that life would settle down now that we are past the month of birthdays. Boy was I wrong. Work has gotten busier due to outdoor spring related injuries and people going on vacation. I have added yard work to my weekly routine. I need to get my house ready to sell. Plus I need to plan a wedding for September. Eek!!!

With all this on my plate, now is not the time to hurt myself. Too bad I have the crash, klutz gene. Somehow during the course of just living life, I have manged to twist my ankle and end up in an air cast.

This injury is not going to slow me down or delay my life. I am also not willing to pop motrin all day in order to keep the swelling and pain in check. Instead I am trying a more natural alternative in the form of Turmeric Ginger Tea.

Turmeric is an herb that is part of the ginger family. It is normally ground into an orange-yellow powder. This powder is commonly used in Asian cuisine, especially as a coloring for curry. It is also used in many cultures as herbal medicine.

There are studies being conducted to see how turmeric is able to remove toxins from our livers. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, this yellow herb may stimulates bile production in the gall bladder. The added bile is then used by the liver to flush out toxins and rejuvenate damaged liver tissue.

Turmeric is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties due to the phytochemical curcumin, which is what gives it the yellowish color. This anti-oxidant is recommended to help ease the swelling of arthritis or muscle sprains like what I did to my ankle. With all these potential benefits, why wouldn't I give it a try.

The Rishi website does not list any of these benefits on their website. Instead they advertise the Turmeric Ginger tea as a tonic for cough and cold season. The combination of ingredients is also supposed to promote longevity, stamina and balance.

I do not have time to fuss with tea leaves, especially since I am drinking it at work. Therefore, I ordered the tea bags from amazon. I love the way they expand into a little pyramid, instead of staying flat like most tea bags. The larger than normal mesh holes are a great difference as well, because they seem to allow the water to move more freely through the bag, thus creating a bolder tea flavor with less steeping time.

Don't let the color deter you from trying this tea. I steeped the bag in 200-degree water for 3 minutes, added a teaspoon of sugar and was thrilled with the results. There is a spicy taste in the foreground that reminds me of Indian food. The hind notes have a hint of lemony sweetness that balance the taste very well.

Even better is the fact that the swelling in my ankle did dissipate faster than if I had only elevated it. I didn't have to take any medications after walking on it for 2 hours at work. When I rotate it, there is no sharp pain or popping due to inflammation either. So far, so good.

Let me know about your favorite detox products and home remedies. I love to try new things.
As always, thanks for stopping by.
Kristie

Fortune Teller Party Banner

Do you remember the paper fortune tellers that we used to make as kids? Pick a color, spell it. Then pick a number and count it out. Ending with a final number pick that revealed the fortune of who you liked, who liked you or some other random thing your friends came up with.

I'm going to be honest. I was never coordinated enough to fold them as a kid. I could never cut the paper into a perfect square, so the folds would over lap, and I would get frustrated and give up. As an adult, I finally learned how to make them by watching this video.

Why did I learn to do this as an adult, you ask? So that I could make the birthday banner for Kenzie's 90's birthday party, of course. That's right folks, it's Thursday, and as I promised I am about to share with you the weekly 90's party DIY idea.

What you will need
8x8-inch colored printer paper
hole puncher
yarn

Directions

1. Fold your paper into fortunes using the video link above. The number of fortunes you use will depend on the length of your banner. 
2. Using the hole puncher, punch holes into the inside center of each fortune teller. 
3. Thread 8-inch lengths if yarn through the holes and tie at the top so that your fortunes will dangle off of the base string. 
4. Determine where you want to hang your banner. Drape a strand of yarn across the area so that you know how long to cut it. 
5. Tie the fortune tellers onto the base strand of yarn.

Voila! Easy 90's banner for your party. 

I made too many paper fortunes. We used some of the extras to decorate around the candy jars on the table. The girls also wrote on them and turned it into a truth or dare game for their slumber party. Get creative and let me know how it goes. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Kristie

April Showers and May Flowers

Well, it's May 2nd, so the rain can stop any time now. We've had daily storms for the past 5 days, and the weather report shows no change until the weekend. To make matters worse, the rain has caused a temperature cool down, so I had to shut all the windows and turn the heat back on this week.

Before all the storms hit, I went and bought flowers for the planters on my front porch. My mom bought them for me last year for Mother's Day. They had red geraniums in them, but I wanted something a little different this year. 

I filled the planters with shades of purple and yellow. I love the contrast of the two colors. The back row alternates between Colossus Neon Violet Pansies and Trimardeau Yellow Pansies. The center left consists of petunias that are purple with a yellow starburst in the middle. The actual center of the planter has Yellow Marigolds. I planted Coleus Black Dragon on the right side of the center row. Finally, I lines the front of the baskets with Princess Purple/Yellow Violets. 

The finished planters add a welcoming spring touch to our front porch. So far Miss Hannah is leaving them alone. I wish I could say the same for the chipmunks. 

Let me know what your favorite color combinations and annual flowers are. 

As always, thanks for stopping by, 

Kristie