March Garden Update

When I originally started this blog,

it was mainly about documenting my garden.

I wanted to be able to look back to see how things grew.

I've only posted about my garden a few times recently.

You can read the most recent post here.

Or one from last Fall (yes that long ago!!) here.

Over time, my blog has evolved quite a bit.

Sadly, the garden posts got less and less frequent.

But that's hopefully changing starting today!!!

I recently decided to implement something new on my blog.

I will be posting about certain topics at specific times each month.

And every LAST DAY of the month will be about the garden.

So without saying much more - here is March's Garden Update!!

Let me start of with my AWESOME herb garden!

I recently did a DIY project and am so happy with the outcome.

Check back very soon for a complete post all about the chalkboard pots.

This jalapeno plant is going strong.

It survived the little winter that Southern California had

and already has a bunch of new growth!

My lemon tree!

I'm SO excited for the first one.

And I think I'm going to get to pick it any day now.

And can we talk about all the new growth?

C'monnnnnnnnnnnnn lemon!!!!

Oh hello GIANT Christmas tree!

Flowers that currently only have buds, no actual flowers.

More flowers with just buds.

Exciting update, I know!

Oh yay - actual flowers finally!!!

Poppies, Snap Dragons and Marigolds.

Oh and even MORE flowers!!!

Like I said at the beginning of this post, 

I will be blogging about garden updates 

every last day of each month.

It may not be a complete update each month,

but it will be about something in the garden.

So keep coming back to see what I have growing.

Turkey and Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

One of my friends is always posting pictures of dinners she makes.

They always look so good and make me so hungry!

She recently posted Stuffed Peppers that she made.

They looked amazing and I couldn't help but ask for her recipe.

She didn't follow a recipe, but instead just made it up herself.

I was impressed and couldn't wait to make them!

And now here I am sharing their deliciousness with YOU!!!

The Goods:

Cooked Quinoa

Ground Turkey

Onion

Garlic

Jalapeno

Bell Peppers

Corn

Black Beans

Green Chilis

Tomato Sauce

Taco Seasoning

Cheddar Cheese (Not pictured - oops!)

Saute your onion and garlic until fragrant.

Add chipped jalapeno and ground turkey.

Cook until the ground turkey is browned.

Season with taco seasoning and then add tomato sauce.

Stir to combine with ground turkey mixture.

Add your corn and black beans, then stir again.

Now time for the quinoa!

Add that and stir.

Last, add the green chili and stir one last time.

Prep your peppers by washing, deseeding and cutting them in half.

Then stuff, and I mean STUFF, them with your turkey quinoa mixture.

Spray your covered baking dish with cooking spray.

Add the number of peppers you want to bake and cover with cheese.

I only baked three of the eight I prepared,

but froze the remaining ones to bake sometime soon!

Cover the baking dish and bake for 40 to 50 minutes.

Ta da!

Now time to dig in and enjoy!!!

If you want the peppers to be less crisp, you can do one of two things:

1. Cook a little bit longer 

or 

2. Add 1/2 cup of chicken broth to the dish before baking.

Turkey and Quinoa Stuffed Peppers Recipe

4 to 5 bell peppers

1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa

1 pound ground turkey

1/2 onion - chopped

1 garlic clove - minced

1 jalapeno - minced

1/2 cup black beans

1/2 cup corn

1 can green chilies - diced

7 oz can tomato sauce

1 teaspoon taco seasoning

fresh cilantro

fresh parsley

salt and pepper to taste

cheddar cheese - shredded

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Sauté onion and garlic until fragrant. 
3. Add jalapeño and cook one minute.
4. Add ground turkey and brown.
5. Season with salt, pepper and taco seasoning.
6. After five minutes or so, add tomato sauce 
7. Once cooked, combine in a bowl with quinoa, black beans, corn and green chiles.
8. Add chopped cilantro and parsley to your liking
9. Put mixture into peppers. 
10. Spray a Dutch oven. Put the peppers into a Dutch oven and cover the peppers with cheese. 
11. Put the lid on and bake 40 to 50 minutes.

Favorite Easter Candy

Happy Friday Everyone!!

I'm back today for another Friday Link Up!

And again, I'm linking up with THREE different groups.

Make sure to check them all out at the bottom of this post!

I haven't done a Friday Link Up in awhile,

and with Easter being right around the corner,

I figured now was a great time to talk about my

FIVE FAVORITE EASTER CANDY!!!

Note: These are in no particular order,
just five types of Easter candy I really like!
I've linked to where you can currently buy them online too.

Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Eggs and Rabbits!

Even better if they're covered in DARK CHOCOLATE!

Peeps Chick and Bunnies.

So I'm a lil strange and DO enjoy these.

But, they have to be a little stale and starting to get hard.

I know, strange!

Sour Jelly Beans!

I've tried both the Starburst and Jelly Belly ones,

but think I need to try the Yummy Earth ones this year!

Shape it like an egg, I don't care.

Easter is just another excuse to eat some yummy Reese's!

Last but not least...

You didn't think I'd forget these did you?

How can Robyn not like Robin Eggs?

If the regular ones are a mouthful, maybe try the mini ones!

Now for more Friday Link Up Fun, check out the blogs below!

Andrea and Erika's blogs from Friday Favorites.

April and Christina's blogs from 5 on Friday.

Karli and Amy's blogs from oh hey friday!

Easter Home Decor

Easter is officially less than two weeks away,

so I guess I should finally post about my Easter decor.

You can see last year's decorations here!

Welcome come on in!

I made the tulip wreath last year.

You can read about that here.

The other side of the front door.

Bunny and beautiful roses.

Picked up this bunny candy dish a few weeks ago.

Eggs, egg and more eggs by the tv.

I found this at Michaels recently!

My decorations don't stop at the bathroom...

Or the kitchen!!

I'm always on the hunt for cute new decorations.

I can't wait to see what's on sale after the holiday.

In my opinion - that's the BEST time to buy!!

Bubble Bath Review: Lush Bubble Bars

 This is a non-sponsored review and I purchased my own Bubble Bars.

While looking for holiday gifts a few months back,

I ran across something that caught my eye - Lush Bubble Bars.

I was intrigued, but didn't buy any as I was shopping for other people.

Recently I was getting lunch with a friend at the mall

and saw the Lush store out of the corner of my eye.

I had to go in and did not leave empty handed.

What I left Lush With:

Pictured from Left to Right

Yuzu and Cocoa

Special Edition 

(not online)

Green

Brightside

(Can be used for 2 baths!)

Avobath 

(Bath Bomb, not Bath Bar)

So how do you use Bubble Bars???

It's SO easy, let me show you!

You simply break off part of the Bubble Bar,

and start to crumble it under running water.

Keep crumbling until you've used it all.

And then sit back and enjoy your bubble bath!!

Now I bet you're wondering that I thought...

I really love bubble baths, so I was super excited to try these.

I've only tried the one (Yuzu and Cocoa) so far, 

but was quite impressed with how bubbly my bath was!

While they are amazing, the cost is a little steep,

so I'll probably save these for a special treat.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Birthday Cookies!

Today is the birthday of one of my BEST FRIENDS!

She is spending the weekend away hiking in Joshua Tree

and I'm home baking her some yummy cookies!

Last weekend I got the idea to make her cookies

and then blog about it as a way to celebrate her!

So today, this post is about cookies for an amazing gal!!!

For these cookies, I modified my chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Which is the original Tollhouse recipe on the back of the bag.

The only thing I do differently is bake them a few less minutes.

The Goods:

Whole Wheat Flour

Baking Powder

Baking Soda

Sugar

Brown Sugar

Unsalted Butter

White Chocolate Chips

Macadamia Nuts

Vanilla

Eggs

Let butter soften, then beat with mixer.

Add sugar, brown sugar and vanilla then mix.

Add eggs and mix to incorporate completely.

Add the dry ingredients and mix again.

Add your white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts.

And mix one last time - on the slowest speed.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Using a small scooper, scoop cookies onto cookie sheets.

Making sure to leave enough room for them to expand.

Bake for 5 minutes, flip the pan around

and then bake for 2 to 3 more minutes.

Cool on the pan a minute or two,

then finish cooling on a wire rack.

And if you have already made enough but still have more dough,
freeze a tray full of scooped out dough to bake sometime soon!

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie Recipe

2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 brown sugar

1teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

2 sticks unsalted butter

1 bag white chocolate chips

1 cup macadamia nuts - chopped

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Let butter soften, then beat it with mixer.
3. Add sugar, brown sugar and vanilla then mix.
4. Add eggs and mix to incorporate completely.
5. Add the dry ingredients and mix again.
6. Add your white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts and mix one last time - on the slowest speed.
7. Using a small scooper, scoop cookies onto cookie sheets. Make sure to leave enough room for them to expand.
8. Bake for 5 minutes, flip the pan around and then bake for 2 to 3 more minutes.
9. Cool on the pan a minute or two, then finish cooling on a wire rack.