Pizza Bites

Pizza Bites

1 tube of Pillsbary pizza dough mozzarella cheese, about 20 cubed pieces sliced pepperoni For topping: olive oil Italian seasoning grated Parmesan cheese 1.  Preheat the oven to 400˚F.  Lightly grease a 9-inch pie plate or cake pan.

2.  Divide the pizza dough into roughly 20 equal sized pieces.   3.  Take one of the dough pieces and press in a cube of cheese and two slices of pepperoni.   4.  Pull the edges of the dough down around the filling and seal.   5.  Place in the pan, seam side down.  Repeat with remaining dough.  Each piece of dough should be touching each other in the pan. (It may seem crowded, but will be fine.) 6.  Lightly brush the tops of the dough with olive oil. Sprinkle on Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese.   7.  Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve warm or at room temperature, with dipping sauce if desired.

Bon Appetit!

2 looks, 1 TV stand

2 Looks, 1 TV Stand

After moving into my new apartment, I moved the TV stand that was in our previous into my room.  I realized I had a lot of stuff I needed to put into the cabinet portion, but hated the messy look.  This is what I came up with....

I went to JoAnn's crafts and bought a yard of fabric and some painters tape.

I figured out which part of the print I wanted to be displayed, measured and then cut it out.  I secured the fabric with the painters tape (which by the way does not harm the furniture).

Happy crafting!

New paintings

So here are 2 paintings I didn't blog about quite yet.  I have a thing with painting for my friends, even if they don't want it and had yet to paint anything for my roommate.  She has a very earthy vibe and as you can tell, my paintings tend to be in your face colors, so I had a little trouble figuring out what to paint for her.  I have been thinking about this since before Christmas.  I saw a necklace on a guest I had at the resort I work at which was the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil in all gold.  I was slightly obsessed with the charm, but was (and still am) unable to find it ANYWHERE.  Then, of course, I got the brilliant idea to paint her it.  

I am a Genius!

She is very into spirituality and not necessarily religion, so I really wanted to combine the 2 (even though I believe they are one in the same anyways).  Elements, nature and the universe are very important things we give gratitude to, so painting Christ as the sun, was perfect.  I drew inspiration from 2 specific pictures.  One of the sunset/sunrise behind the statue and one of him gazing over his people.

I used this picture for the details. 

Finished product :)

My next idea for a painting came when I was watching Oprah, and on one of her final episodes, she quoted Glinda the Good Witch from the Wizard of Oz as her favorite quote.  It really moved me.  Usually the simplest quotes are the ones that have the biggest impact.  

"This too shall pass."

helps me through the rough patches.

"Just be love."

reminds me to practice what I preach.

"Believe in the good in people."

reminds me that everyone has that good side.

"You always had the power."

reminds me to believe in myself, even when I feel desperately defeated

One of my favorite memories when I was a child, was watching Wizard of Oz and seeing Glinda arrive in Munchkin land in a bubble.  I LOVED seeing that and would frequently rewind it over and over again.  I mean come on, who wouldn't want to arrive places in a pink bubble??

Love 

New artwork...

So I know I just created a picture like this.... but I liked it so much, I made it bigger!

I also added a couple "Megan touches."

So you can't get the full effect unless you are seeing it in person, but these are rhinestones as the ocean wave whitecaps.  

Correspondence

So it has come to my attention, that perhaps I am an old soul.


Margaret Whiting's, "Time after time," is a favorite time period of music.  I love Frank Sinatra, Pinot Noir and have aspirations of being the best housewife ever.  


It has also come to my attention that in a world or text messages and emails, no one sends any snail mail anymore.  Think about how happy you are to see a colorful envelope amidst all the bills and coupon books in your mailbox.  THINK!  I pride myself on my snail mail correspondence and to make things easier, am willing to share my secret.  

My card box.

I have had this box since my mother gave it to me on Easter when I was probably 13.  It looks like my old cat and I :)

Inside my card box, I keep 

• My address book (essential)
• Blank Thank you cards (have a couple different styles)
• My return address labels
• Stickers to close the envelopes
• Stamps
• Occasion cards (birthday, congrats, baby, engagement, thinking about you, sympathy)
• ANY MOST IMPORTANT - Great smelling votive candles 

I know you may be thinking, this is a lot of crap, I'll never use it.  But you will.  It is important to brighten your friends and family's day or send condolences when needed.  It is a lot easier to send things, when you already have it in your home.  The reasoning for the votives, is so your card will smell great.  duh!  Remember back in the day when girls would spray their perfume on notes sent to their beaus?  This way it is the same idea, but the love is spread to everyone and you can pick a scent more pleasurable scent (baby powder isn't everyone's cup of tea).

True Blue

So recently when I was down in South Beach visiting the beautiful Loews Miami, I visited the store of Romero Britto and fell in love with the bright colors and bold outlines of seemingly typical items.  

Now I would NEVER talk down about any artist, but it is just in my nature to se something and think, "I can do that."  Considering I do not have the dollar dollar bills for an actual Britto masterpiece, I figured I might as well try it.  I do try and make the pictures my own, but this is the one I chose for my main inspiration.

Since I love the ocean the mostest in the world and the color blue, I decided to make it my own by choosing bold shades of blue and incorporating the ocean...

 This is the Skeleton.  

I think my drawing skills are starting to shape up (totally being sarcastic, a 5 year old could draw this).

The guts.

It makes my skin crawl to see things not in perfect lines (type A SHUT UP!)

Finished product

(I feel at ease, now that this painting has epidermis to it).

I think I will actually duplicate this as a larger one, so I can put it as the new painting over my bed in my new apartment :)

Coconut Rum Cupcakes with Buttercream icing

To preface this... I completely stole this recipe from the website Grin and Bake it.  It has become one of my favorite websites and I'm a bit obsessed.  Kate, I love you.

Coconut Rum Cupcakes with homemade

buttercream icing

Cake

1 box white cake mix 

1 cup pineapple juice

1/3 cup coconut rum

eggs (according to package)

vegetable oil (according to package)
maraschino cherries (for decoration)

Buttercream Recipe

1/3 cup white Crisco shortening, softened

1/3 cup stick butter or margarine, softened

4-6 tablespoons half and half

Pinch of salt

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

4 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted

Food coloring

Buttercream icing

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer at medium speed, beat together shortening and butter. Add whipping cream, salt and vanilla and continue mixing until smooth (about 2 -3 minutes). 

Add in sifted powdered sugar, gradually, beat well until smooth and fluffy. 

 Add food coloring and blend well. 

Coconut Rum Cake

Add mix, eggs, and oil according to the package. 

Substitute water for 1 cup pineapple juice and 1/3 cup coconut rum. 

Blend well with electric mixer.  Make sure it was well-drained and mix until just blended.  

Bake according to the package instructions.

Bon Appetit!

Oreo Truffles

Oreo Truffles

1 package oreo cookies (divided… use cookie including the cream center)
1 8oz. package cream cheese (softened)
white chocolate bark

Sprinkles

Cupcake holders

Place cookies in  a ziploc bag and finely crush them (I rolled a red bull bottle over the ziploc bag after crushing them with my hands).

  Stir in softened cream cheese and use a large spoon to mash them all together (or use your CLEAN hands).

 Roll the mixture into 1″ balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet.

Melt chocolate as directed on the package and then dip balls into chocolate.  Before the chocolate cools and dries, dip one end (or the whole thing, your choice) in sprinkles for some *Flair* then place in the cupcake holder thing to cool and dry.

 Once dry, refrigerate and enjoy!

Makes about 36 truffles.

Bon Appetit!

Lemon Butter Scallops - EASY TO MAKE!

Lemon Butter Scallops

Easy to make!

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter (more for a larger pan)
• 1 clove of minced garlic
• 6 ounces large sea scallops
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 of a lemon squeezed to juice
• 
  
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Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. 

Stir in garlic, and cook for a few seconds until fragrant. 

Add scallops, and cook for several minutes on one side.

Turn over and continue cooking until firm and opaque. 

(I personally like to brown them on the side)

Remove scallops to a platter.

With extra sauce, whisk in salt, pepper, and lemon juice. 

Pour sauce over scallops to serve. 

This tasted amazing and is sooo easy to make!

Bon Appetit!