Garlic-Lemon-Butter Shrimp Bake with Mustard

If you are anything like me, you are pressed for time and frazzled to the bone by the end of the day. Dinner does not make itself...as we all know...kinda wish it did ;-) I usually end up scouring the internet about 30 min before dinner time should be placed on the table, frantically looking for some miracle recipe that will somewhat make itself in preferably 15min. Well this recipe that I am about to share is just that! Not only is it quick...it's amazingly badtastically good ;-) We scarfed it down in less time than it was made, and let me tell you..that's pretty quick! This recipe is amazing!

 Garlic-Lemon-Butter Shrimp Bake with Mustard

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons prepared Dijon-style mustard
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 2 pounds medium raw shrimp, shelled, deveined, with tails attached (I used two 1lbs bags of frozen cooked shrimp, just make sure they are thawed out and patted dry before cooking, and only bake them for 7-8min)
• 3-5 chicken bouillon cubes
• 1 pkg angel hair pasta or spaghetti 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
2. Boil water for pasta, add the bouillon cubes to the boiling water and add the noodles. cook until aldente
3. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, and parsley. When the butter melts completely, remove from heat.
4. Arrange shrimp in a shallow baking dish. Pour the butter mixture over the shrimp.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 (for large raw shrimp) 7-8min for (thawed cooked shrimp)  minutes or until the shrimp are pink and opaque.
6. Strain the noodles.
7. Serve over hot cooked noodles.  Enjoy!

serves 6

Recipe by Moi :-)

Pinterest favorites today!

It's Friday...Friday gotta get down out on Friday!!! Wow it's been a full week since posting (bowing my head in shame!). It's been a blah kinda day today. Today was suppose to be our closing day (on our new home) but that didn't end up happening. It's been postponed until Wednesday. So instead hubby is sick and sleeping off a cold, and the kiddos are sleeping (finally), and it's raining outside...sigh. Perfect Pinterest day!
Today as you noticed is Friday and therefore "share-my-favorites-day", so I thought that since Pinterest has been my companion for the past 30min I thought it appropriate to share my favorites form Pinterest today ;-)

These are a compilation of things that caught my eye on Pinterest today, Hope you enjoy!

L to R first row:

• Vanilla Ice Recipe - Oh My Veggies
• Random Acts of Kindness To Do With Kids - What a Ride
• Mozzarella Cheese Sticks - Taste of Home
• Quote Books For Your Children - Kinderpendent

L to R second row:

• How to turn handwritten recipes into hand towels - Hello Beautiful
• DIY Monthly Onesie Printables - Britt & Her Boys
• Use A Rubber Band on a Stripped Screw - Pinterest
• DIY garden path. Take a multi picture frame to do this. I never would have thought of this!  

L to R third row:

• DIY Fruit & Veggie Wash - A Pretty Life in the Suburbs
• Dishwasher Cleaner - The Crazy Coupon lady

• Shoe Box Tops Covered in Fabric - Pinterest

• Ice-Cream Molds - Decorada

L to R fourth row:

• Vintage Recipe Cards (free) - Love vs Design
• Single Serving Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookies -  la creativite de la fille 
• Whopper Chocolate Cake - Pinterest
• Play Christmas Tree - Sol & Rachel

It's Friday, Friday!!! Time for some Favorites!!!

Hola Hola Pepsi Cola! Friday is here, heat and all! I've got some favorites to share today.

Hope you all had a safe and fun 4th of July! We did, we had a great time eating great food and desserts and  watching fireworks!

It was the boys first time seeing fireworks! I really thought my oldest would FREAK! but he was calm and collected providing I hold his ears the entire time! 

July is National ice cream month, and with this heat I think it's quite fitting. I've included a couple ice cream recipes from a couple bloggers, check them out they are pretty awesome.

Here are the favorites for this week! Enjoy!

L to R first row:

• Buck-Eye cupcakes - Munchie Monkey (ME)
• Camp Andrew (camp-out party ideas) - Annie's Eats
• Homemade Graham Crackers - Brown Eyed Baker
• Salted Espresso Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies - Brown Eyed Baker

L to R second row:

• Sweet Treats for National Ice Cream Month- Annie's Eats
• Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip -What's Cookin Chicago?
• Homemade Maraschino Cherries - Cupcake Project
• Strawberry Cupcakes & Strawberry Meringue butter-cream - Brown Eyed Baker

L to R third row:

• Peach Margaritas - Confections of a Foodie Bride
• Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade - Cook Like A Champion

• Chewy M&M Sugar Cookies - The girl who ate everything

• Crayon Truck - Young House Love

L to R fourth row:

• Blackberry Cherry Cobbler - Confections of a foodie Bride
• Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream- Cook Like a Champion
• Ice Cream Snowballs - Barbara Bakes
• Artful Blogging Magazine - Glorious Treats

"Buck-Eye" Cupcakes

Today is Thursday, which means I get to post about something incredibly edibly delicious (I made that up lol)
I have a couple of  mouthwatering fit for a king recipes to share, just can't decide which to share right now :-)
But man I've gained about ten pounds just making these gems ;-)

I guess... I will post about these scrumptious chocolate peanut butter cupcakes I came across on one of my favorite blogs "Annie's Eats" she's seriously the cupcake queen!

These particular cupcakes are made to replicate a "buck eye". NOT the Ohio buck eye's team but the candy or sweet named after the team ;-)

These are buck eyes - Picture courtesy of smitten kitten

It's a sinfully delicious sweet, made out of peanut butter mixed with confectioners sugar...then oh yes here comes the good part!...it's dipped in chocolate "GASP", yes you heard me right...DIPPED IN CHOCOLATE!!!! Heaven on earth lol
 Now i know that buck eyes are usually served in the winter around Christmas, but our family just can't wait that long ;-)
anywho these cupcakes are a replica of the "out-of-this-world-sinfully-delicious" sweets.
The cupcake is a deep chocolate, moist (there's that awkward word again) cake. the chocolate is enhanced with strong coffee (don't worry you coffee hatin folks, you don't taste it at all). Then the chocolate cupcake is glazed with a dark chocolate ganache and topped with the peanut butter- confectioners sugar mixture. I followed Annie's lead and made the peanut butter mix mimic a peanut butter cookie...cute eh?
They were soooo good, I brought them to our second church service and all but 4 were eaten ;-)
A winner in my book!
Make them and swoon! ;-)

Buck Eye Cupcakes

Yield: about 26 cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

The cupcakes:
1½ cups hot brewed coffee
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1½ tsp. baking soda
¾ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
12 tbsp. (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1½ cup packed brown sugar
¾ cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 tbsp. vanilla extract

The ganache:
6 oz. bittersweet chocolate chips
½ cup heavy cream

The peanut butter frosting:9 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1½ cups creamy peanut butter
3 cups confectioners’ sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat your oven to 350˚ F.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners.  In a bowl whisk together the cocoa powder and hot brewed coffee until dissolved.  Set aside.  In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugars.  Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Blend in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed.  Blend in the vanilla.
2. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in three additions alternating with the coffee-cocoa mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.  Mix each addition just until incorporated, being careful not to over mix.  
3. Divide the batter between the prepared liners, filling each about two-thirds of the way full.  Bake about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let cool in the pans briefly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. When the cupcakes are cool, make the ganache by placing the chopped chocolate in a small bowl.  Bring the cream to a simmer, pour over the chocolate, and let stand about 2 minutes.  Whisk together until a smooth ganache forms.  If needed, let cool briefly at room temperature to thicken slightly before using.
5. To make the peanut butter frosting, combine the peanut butter and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium-high for 1 minute.  Turn off the mixer, add in the confectioners’ sugar and mix on low speed until fully incorporated.  Increase the speed to medium and mix until smooth, about 2 minutes.  Scoop about 1 tablespoon of the peanut butter mixture and use clean, dry hands to form it into a patty.  Use the tines of a fork to make the classic crisscross pattern on top of the “cookie”.  Repeat with the remaining peanut butter mixture.
6. Use a spatula to spread a layer of ganache over the top of each cupcake.  Place a peanut butter “cookie” on top of each cupcake.

Source: Annie's Eats

I Will Praise You In This Storm

God is good...

Today is Worship Wednesday...I can honestly say this would have been the last day that I would have wanted to worship. Today we were suppose to find out if we were having a boy or a girl instead we founds out that our little growing baby didn't make it. Of course I cried, This is the second baby we have given back to God. But no anger surfaced instead I found myself saying these words...The words of a well know christian song by casting crowns " I will praise you in this storm".

I especially felt the words " I will raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away" and I honestly did. I am so thankful for the gifts and blessings God has given and I understand that God's plan is a perfect plan. 

So for this worship Wednesday I want to share the song that God put in my heart. I'm sad but overjoyed to have such an awesome King and to be able to know that I can call him Father! He will get us through!

I was sure by now

God You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say "Amen", 

and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when

I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry to you

And you raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Today I had my first ever 10min of silence and solitude (for more info check out or read this book)

I must say it was hard to put my thoughts and worries aside for 10 minutes! I've trained my mind to go non stop. I really pray this can become a good discipline because it really did my heart good! 

It made me realize how much I miss out by moving at such a fast pace. God and I had a good time in silence ;-)

But on to my thankful thoughts...

I'm thankful for:

• God's amazing blessings these past few days, we've been approved on our house of our dreams! All the little details have been put in place! 
• The appraisal report came in today and was incredibly good, never before has an appraisal report been so short (in the repairs department) out of ten pretty noticeable things that needed to be fixed, like light fixtures and fans and missing doors, he only picked out two small and easy fixes....totally not complaining!
• Closing date is coming up, Thanking God for good friends who offered to take the kids and make sure they have an awesome day! 
• Thankful for a very loving and supportive small group. We've been blessed with a very diverse but honest group of people. And even though we don't always agree on everything, the spirit of the group is just amazing! I find myself talking their ears off mainly cause I'm just so thankful for such an awesome group!
• Thankful for finances to come through and the ability to do fun things here and there with the kids.
• soooo thankful for peanut butter cupcakes...my cravings thank you!
• Thankful for an amazing OB doctor! We find out if we are having a boy or a girl tomorrow!!! so excited!
• Thankful that my morning sickness has subsided quite a bit, not gone completely,but definitely better
• Thankful for a hardworking hubby who takes time for his kids and loves playing around with them.
• Loves having easy going travelers, makes the rides a whole lot easier!
• Gods mercies every day because I mess up every day, so glad he takes me back and grants me forgiveness...such a peace!
• for GA peaches....LOVE peaches 
• maternity pants! you rock my world right now...don't care if they aren't stylish...they are comfy, and right now that's all I care about!

So with that I close off my thankful Tuesday! Have a great night peeps! 

Thankful for these goofy boys!!!

Monday, Meaningful Monday!

So it's Monday already...I like this Monday (shocker!) My hubby is off today and tomorrow. I LIKE!

It's been a hot day and my head is hurting a bit, but it was a good day nonetheless ;-)

This week has been riddled with little "worry thoughts" here and there. I'm not full blown worried but just thoughts pop up in my head here and there "Oh no what if..." sort of questions.

I usually get over them pretty quickly, but i don't just want to get over them i want to get rid of them all together.

So I did some research and found 50 verses in the bible on worry, I printed them out (twice) one to put in the house and one to put in the car. I figured that should cover my normal to go places.

Whenever i get those "worry thoughts" i just whip out my verses and start meditating on one of them. 

This weeks verse really stood out to me you can find it in Psalms 73:26. I love psalms, David has such a "human" way about him, meaning he puts things is such a great way, i can feel his pain and his search for more of God. But he also shows a human side and that is what really encourages me!

My flesh and my heart may fail, 

    but God is the strength of my heart

    and my portion forever.

I like that the verse starts out with "my flesh and my heart may fail" that is so true...they will. mine does daily but instead of getting down about it I read on and I LOVE that he uses the words "BUT GOD"...it means there is hope! "But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" So even though my heart and flesh may fail God is all I need, I need to repent and seek forgiveness and He is all I need to get through anything.

There are tons more verses that stood out and i'll share them as i go through them ;-)

This week has been an awesome week, we've had new friends over, been able to hang out with some pretty incredible people and get some alone time here and there. God is answering prayers steadily and surely! We are so blessed!

My baby (well he's the baby for now!) turned two! I can't believe it! He's such a cutie and a joy to be around! He was sitting in his car seat this morning and I noticed him signing his verse :-) sooo cute and a blessing to see he takes joy in saying it. I'm sure that won't always be the case...but I'll be glad in it for now ;-)

The many faces of my wonderful two year old

Things with the house are moving slowly but haven't heard anything bad...so i guess that's a good thing!

Keep us in your prayers! 

My munchkin number uno..is doing better in his speech everyday, he's a very particular little boy ;-) 

He hit my knee by accident this morning, and he caught himself, bent over and kissed my knee saying "sorry mommy...booboo" so love having toddlers! even though they can make me want to pull my hair out at times!

Well I have a pretty awesome cupcake recipe to share and might not make it to Thursday to share so stay tuned! if you like buck eyes (peanut butter covered in chocolate) then this recipe is for you!!!

Have an awesome rest of your Monday!