Homemade Slime

I was hanging out with a couple friends recently and somehow we got on the subject of homemade slime. I mentioned that I'd seen a recipe and that I'd try to find it again. It wasn't too hard, so of course I found the recipe agan.

A couple weeks went by and I had plans to hang out with those same friends again. I had some free time earlier that day, so I decided I wanted to purchase the ingredients to make this homemade slime! Borax is NOT easy to find, or at least it wasn't for me! I have tons now though, so I don't think I'll be on the search for it again anytime soon.

Take a look at our homemade slime. It's super easy and fun for all ages!

The Goods:

Borax

Water

Food Coloring

Glue - White of Clear

Green with White Glue, Purple with Clear Glue

The homemade slime is very similar to Nickelodeon Gak I remember playing with as a kid. While both the white and the clear glue worked, it was a unanimous decision that the white was far superior and more similar to the original Gak. 

Banana Nut Pound Cake

I grew up eating my mom's homemade banana bread. I've made that same banana bread - usually with the addition of chocolate chips - numerous times. I've made it into muffins and little mini loaves a few times too! I blogged about it here,  here, here and a few other places too!

If you couldn't tell...I'm a BIG fan of Banana Bread! But this post isn't about banana bread, it's about something equally as tasty, but a little different! 

I was very excited when I ran across a recipe for Banana Nut Pound Cake while looking at a Better Homes and Gardens a few months ago. I instantly ripped the recipe out and told myself I needed to make it soon! 

I saved the recipe for awhile, and then finally made it out of the blue on a weekend I didn't have much going on. Confession - I made this MONTHS ago, but am just now getting around to posting about it...sorry, I've been a lil busy!

I think I've rambled enough at this point, so take a look at the pound cake making process, folks. 

The Goods:

flour

baking powder

cream cheese

butter

sugar

eggs

bananas

milk

vanilla

chopped pecans

powdered sugar

The original recipe - or inspiration! 

Beat the Cream Cheese and Butter

Add sugar and mix until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs, one at a time...

Mixing in between each addition. 

Egg 2...

Mix again.

Egg 3...

Mix again.

Final egg! 

And done mixing!!!

Mashed bananas, milk and vanilla mixture.

Add some of the flour mixture:

flour, baking powder and salt.

And mix that in!

Add some of the banana mixture.

Now mix that in too!

Alternatively add the rest of the flour and banana mixtures. 

Until you end up with something like this!

Lastly, add the chopped pecans!

 Pour mixture into a greased bundt pan.

Bake at 325 degrees for 70 to 85 minutes.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes. 

Remove from pan and once fully cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar. 

Pork Wellington

A few weeks ago I was watching The Food Network with a few good friends and we happened to run across an episode where Alton Brown was making Pork Wellington. We all agreed that it looked amazing and that we should try it soon. Soon didn't take too long to come around either, because we actually made it just recently! 

Check out the original recipe here and take a look at Elina and I making it!

Trim the Pork Tenderloin.

Lay the Prosciutto out on Plastic Wrap.

And the Puff Pasty on Flour.

Sprinkle Salt, Pepper and Fresh Thyme on the Prosciutto.

And put the trimmed Pork Tenderloin on top - about halfway in the middle. 

Stuff the Pork Tenderloin with the Apple Pieces. 

And make sure everything is nice and secure inside.

Now start to roll the Prosciutto over the Pork, tucking it in so everything stays in place.

Wrap it in the plastic wrap until you get the Puff Pastry ready.

Spread Whole Grain Dijon over half the Puff Pastry 

And then start to wrap up the filled Pork Tenderloin.

Keep rolling until you're almost at the end. 

Then brush the edge with egg wash to seal it all up!

Almost all done!

Pinch the ends closed to keep all the goodness inside. 

Transfer  it to a foil lined baking sheet. 

And bake according to the recipe. 

Check the internal temperature to make sure it's done.

And let it rest for a few minutes. 

Then slice right in and be amazed! 

Slice it up for your guests. 

Add a nice green salad.

And dig in!!!

This recipe was amazing and I cannot wait to make it for more people to enjoy in the future! It seems like it'd be pretty heavy, but in reality it wasn't. I didn't have it for leftovers, but from what I'm told, it was great even the next day!!!

Oscar Food

I know The Oscars were a week ago, but I'm finally getting around to posting about all the yummy goodies I enjoyed that night! I don't usually watch The Oscars from start to finish, but this year I did. And I enjoyed some amazing food with a great friend!

We started out enjoying some Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip with Celery and Baby Carrots

Then moved on to some bubbly when the awards got started!

And finished the night with an amazing dinner: 

Roasted Butternut Squash with a GIANT Green Salad and Buttermilk Biscuits! 

YUM!!!

While I enjoyed watching the awards, I think I may have enjoyed the food a little more... :)