Bread and Butter Pudding
It's not often that you can get the exact recipe used in restaurants you love. Fortunately Ireland's Chef of the Year Kevin Dundon publishes some of the recipes he uses at his B&B in Wexford and at Raglan Road Irish Pub on his website. Doug's favorite dessert when we visit Raglan Road is the Bread & Butter Pudding. I did a trial run with it a couple of weeks ago to practice for our annual St.Patrick's Day dinner. My custard could have been smoother but it tasted great! I have 3 recipes for you. First the Bread & Butter Pudding. Ingredients * 3 ...
Balancing Your Online & Offline Self
[caption id="attachment_4757" align="aligncenter" width="355" caption="Caelan shows that she has balance"][/caption] How to "do it all". If I had the answer for that I would be wealthy. I think many of us seek that answer if the room full of women for the "Striking a Balance" session at Blissdom was any indication. I've written before on trying to find my balance (Still Seeking Balance and Finding Balance) and I spoke on the topic at last year's I_Blog Conference. And I still look for the magic button... I find that a well organized schedule works best for me. I am a crazed organizer and knowing ...
Fun with Sandwich Thins
I hosted a Houseparty to help spread the word about Arnold/Oroweat Sandwich Thins®. I was thrilled to do this for a couple of reasons. I "discovered" these when we were in Boston a year ago. When we returned to Iowa I couldn't find them anywhere. I am so glad they are available practically everywhere now! Arnold was a sponsor of the amazing Blissdom conference in Nashville a couple weeks ago. I love supporting companies who support me! My party's "theme", if you will, was "Make a Meal with Sandwich Thins®". So I have appetizers, main dish and even dessert featuring these yummy ...
Meatless Quesadillas Two Ways
Quesadillas are a quick & easy meal in our house. Often it's leftover meat and a bit of cheese between tortillas. Or just cheese if the girls are feeling finicky. Either way they take only a few minutes to make and are a fun change from sandwiches. When I want to get a bit fancier I turn to this terrific shrimp quesadillas recipe from Good Housekeeping. It's quick, delicious and a great way to be meatless but still have the texture that most people expect with a meal. My girls gobbled this up! Ingredients (serves 4) * 1 pound(s) shelled and deveined shrimp, ...
Sleep, Steam and Vicks
[caption id="attachment_4664" align="alignright" width="224" caption="My Sick Girl"][/caption] As a mom I don't know that there is much that will make you feel more helpless than when you have a sick child. Caelan's runny nose from yesterday morning became a full blown cold last night. The first time I went to check on her she was breathing through her nose which resulted in snoring that would make her daddy proud. A while later, still thinking about her stuffy nose, I went upstairs to plug in a Vapor Plug to help her breathe. I am thankful I went up when I did because ...
Bread and Butter Pudding
It’s not often that you can get the exact recipe used in restaurants you love. Fortunately Ireland’s Chef of the Year Kevin Dundon publishes some of the recipes he uses at his B&B in Wexford and at Raglan Road Irish Pub on his website. Doug’s favorite dessert when we visit Raglan Road is the Bread & Butter Pudding. I did a trial run with it a couple of weeks ago to practice... [Read more]
When Maid Rites are Made Wrong
Maid Rite: an Iowa icon I know this story is spreading outside of Iowa… I’ve been contacted by former Iowans. Iowans with memories of a real Maid Rite. It’s an Iowa icon- one that is being threatened. After reading quite a bit on this issue (it’s a hot topic here in Iowa) I’m still not sure where the issue began but I am suspecting it has roots in the “powers... [Read more]
Balancing Your Online & Offline Self
Caelan shows that she has balance How to “do it all”. If I had the answer for that I would be wealthy. I think many of us seek that answer if the room full of women for the “Striking a Balance” session at Blissdom was any indication. I’ve written before on trying to find my balance (Still Seeking Balance and Finding Balance) and I spoke on the topic at last year’s... [Read more]
A Great Read for St. Patrick’s Day
Anyone who knows me is well aware of my love, nay, my adoration, of all things Irish. So when I was asked by Hachette Book Group if I wanted to read The Yellow House by Patricia Falvey I couldn’t refuse! In the early 20th century Ireland was involved in two wars- one for independence from Britain, the other fighting as a part of Britain in World War I. It was a difficult time, especially... [Read more]
Irish Brown Bread
With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner I’ve been trying out new recipes for my annual Irish feast. I found a new Irish Brown Bread recipe in an issue of Woman’s Day magazine last year and recently tried it. Oh so good! It’s the best I’ve made yet! This recipe requires no pans as the loaves are “free form” rounds. It’s delicious with a bit... [Read more]
I Could Use Some Help
I’ve been chosen as one of 50 finalists in Ciao Bambino’s contest. The prize is a week in Tuscany. Oh, yes, I want to win this… Since not all of my readers bridge the gap between this blog and Family Rambling I realized I needed to ask for help over here, too. It’s very easy to help but you must be on Facebook to do so. (Everyone is on Facebook now, right? My grandmother... [Read more]
Des Moines Moms Nite Out
Des Moines Moms Nite Out will be held at Staybridge Suites in West Des Moines! I am realy excited about this location as it provides lots of room for pampering and fun! Businesses around the metro are getting involved to help give Des Moines moms a great night of fun and pampering! For more information on MNO DSM click here and be sure to register asap! Space is limited! If you aren’t close... [Read more]
Fun with Sandwich Thins
I hosted a Houseparty to help spread the word about Arnold/Oroweat Sandwich Thins®. I was thrilled to do this for a couple of reasons. I “discovered” these when we were in Boston a year ago. When we returned to Iowa I couldn’t find them anywhere. I am so glad they are available practically everywhere now! Arnold was a sponsor of the amazing Blissdom conference in Nashville... [Read more]
These May Be My Final Words…
Al Gore, the inventor of the internet, may likely be the destroyer of it as well. New studies have shown that a major cause of global warming is dihydrogen monoxide. Apparently too much dihydrogen monoxide in the earth can cause catastrophic results, and too little can cause expansion of the ice caps- as we are currently seeing in both the north and south poles as global climate change controls are... [Read more]
Which Review of Your Business Would You Prefer?
If you’re a business it’s likely that you have some sort of online presence. Which is really handy for your customers. But did you know that if your content isn’t updated regularly Google thinks your site is stagnant and your website moves lower and lower in searches… Even if your name is searched directly. With that in mind, as well as the Long Tail, I want to you visit... [Read more]
A Couple Thoughts on Niche Blogging from Blissdom
I haven’t been very good about sharing what I learned at Blissdom. Sorry for that. When I say a couple of thoughts I truly mean “a couple of thoughts”. Because I only wrote down two notes in the niche blogging session. 1) Your community is not an enemy. Embrace it and share. Your goal is to help the reader This is actually a great point. I know that everyone wants to be... [Read more]
Do You Have a Small Business?
Funnily enough as large companies continue to close and institute lay offs it brings something out in people. That something is called “entrepreneurial spirit”. I have met so many people in the past year who have begun small businesses and who are really making them work.The SmallBiz Social Media Summit in Hutchinson, Kansas wants to help small business owners take their business to... [Read more]
My New Motto – Courtesy of Mary Poppins
I completely suck at losing weight. I have very little willpower when confronted with any baked good and though I know that the first few bites of anything taste the best I have trouble stopping myself from eating too much- thereby losing the taste all together. It’s very frustrating for me to feel so weak. I’ve tried many tricks- pictures of myself when I was fit, using LoseIt (which... [Read more]
Meatless Quesadillas Two Ways
Quesadillas are a quick & easy meal in our house. Often it’s leftover meat and a bit of cheese between tortillas. Or just cheese if the girls are feeling finicky. Either way they take only a few minutes to make and are a fun change from sandwiches. When I want to get a bit fancier I turn to this terrific shrimp quesadillas recipe from Good Housekeeping. It’s quick, delicious... [Read more]
Encouraging Children- An Interview with Hallmark
When I was at Blissdom I had the opportunity to sit down with Hallmark writer Sarah Mueller (a native Iowan!) and talk about encouraging kids. It was fun to do and I really enjoyed perusing Hallmark’s new Kids Collection which includes necklaces, keychains, water bottles and, of course, cards. BTW- you can get a free card from the Kid’s Collection now thru March 14, 2010. Share and... [Read more]
Sleep, Steam and Vicks
My Sick Girl As a mom I don’t know that there is much that will make you feel more helpless than when you have a sick child. Caelan’s runny nose from yesterday morning became a full blown cold last night. The first time I went to check on her she was breathing through her nose which resulted in snoring that would make her daddy proud. A while later, still thinking about her stuffy... [Read more]
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