Laura, Author at | Page 60 of 101

Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites | Recipe

January 22, 2010 By Laura 9 Comments

Everyone should try these at least once in their lifetime: Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites. (Although once you do try them once, it’s highly unlikely it’ll be the last time.) We made these tasty little morsels for this first time, for New Year’s Eve. My girlfriend Paula wanted the recipe, so I told her I would post the recipe on the blog. And here it is. Because I’m always true to my word. And also, we wanted to make (read: eat) these again. : ) Doubt it’ll be the last time, either.

Participating Ingredients:

1 pound of bacon, 1 can of Large Chunked Pineapple (or fresh), and 1/2 cup Brown Sugar.

You’ll also need toothpicks. The colors add to my happy, but if they do nothing for you, plain wood color is fine too.

Set your oven for 375 degrees.

Take the bacon out of the package, and cut it in half, like so. (Oh my gosh…the things I am starting to say!! “LIKE SO?” Did I say that? lol)

Also, pour some brown sugar into a bowl or container.

Take a 1/2 piece of bacon, and press it into the brown sugar, coating both sides of the bacon.

I guess he’s showing us what it should look like? He held it like this for a long time, so I sensed he was waiting for me to take a photo. lol. Yes. Brown sugar coated bacon piece. There it is.

bacon-wrapped-pineapple-recipe-3 Take a chunk of pineapple, place it on the bacon, and roll it up!

Impale it, with a toothpick. : )

Place that one down, and make another.

bacon-wrapped-pineapple-recipe-3 And another.

Now the recipe instructions said to place them on a rack on some foil in a jellyroll pan? Honestly, I’m still not sure what a jelly-roll pan is. But….like the 5 Qt. Kitchen Aid Mixer I still covet, we are managing without a jelly roll pan too. SO….we just covered our toaster oven pan with tin foil, and used the rack from that.

You will notice that the brown sugar seems to disappear. But it doesn’t. It just absorbs the moisture and is harder to see. Ready to go in the oven!

Bake for 25 minutes, or until the bacon looks brown and crispy. But keep an eye on them, because if they are in too long, the sugar WILL burn!

The smell is SOOOO GOOOOD.

I think the salty and then sweet, that just busts out in your mouth, is the joy.

WARNING: DO let them cool some, before trying one!! I mean…..it’s sizzling BACON, that just came out of the oven. And if you eat one too soon, ….well. Let’s just say you won’t be able to enjoy any more, with blisters all over your lips and tongue. I reckon you’ll be pretty much done eating for a couple of days, after that. ; )

We used canned pineapple the first time we made them, and fresh the 2nd time. Dare I say, I seemed to like the canned better for this recipe. I’m still puzzled by that, because I am all about fresh fruit and vegetables, whenever possible. Maybe it was actually the bacon was a little different. Hmmm…will have to make these a few more times to be sure. Very good, both times, either way. One batch was just crispier.

Anyway. They are DIVINE. It’s hard to believe that something so very easy, can taste so very good. But, sometimes that’s the case. What a great appetizer for a party. Perhaps, a Superbowl party?? Our New England Patriot’s really blew it, and won’t be in the Superbowl this year. So we’ll just, you know, pick the team with the best colored uniforms, cheer them on, and have a party anyway!

Save

Politics, the House Senate and Voting | Homeschooling Elementary and Middle School

January 20, 2010 By Laura 11 Comments

The exciting and intense campaign race for the Massachusetts House Senate seat has been another golden homeschooling opportunity to teach our younger children more about politics, the house senate and voting, following the opportunities that came with the the most recent presidential race. Granted, we weren’t sure how much they could really grasp or follow at 7 years old, but they have pleasantly surprised. If nothing else, with their interest and enthusiasm. {A} is already rather informed on this subject, as she has a very strong interest in all Politics & Government, which she has elected (pun!) to study in depth this year.

We began with more general talk about the the government, a little about how it runs, and then got more into the purpose and duties of the House Senate. To help them get the visual of the state representing senators, we showed them this photo above that I found online, of the House Senate quarters, that helped them get some kind of visual.

We took a field trip, to one of the (8?) campaign offices for Scott Brown, right here in our home town of Plymouth. Note: Michael went back and took a photo of the office, as the parking lots was full the day we were there. The windows were also full of Scot Brown posters. Our plan was just to stop in and hopefully get some buttons or something, and show them what a campaign office is like. But we all got so much more than that. We went in and a very nice woman started talking to us and our kids right away. We told her we were on a home school field trip, and that made her very excited, as she is a supporter of home schooling. She took us right in and started talking to the kids about what they were all doing and why. The manager for this particular office also talked to us, and really educated us all about what their goals were for the duration of this race. The office was jam packed with volunteers, making calls to promote and ask for a vote for Scott Brown.
They offered us pizza, bumper stickers, yard signs and even had the kids help make a phone call or two!! What a great experience for all of us!

They took our picture on someone’s camera phone, and it emailed to us!

On the ride home we counted Scott Brown yard signs to pass the time. We put our sign in our front yard when we got home.

Over the next couple of days, the kids were quite the little political cheerers for Scott Brown!

Voting Day, was another educational day, through experience. All 4 of them came with us to vote, and to see first-hand
the process of casting your ballot. They thought that was THE most exciting thing!! On the way out of the local elementary school gym, after voting, {S} asked us, “What do we do next?” And I replied, “We go home, and bite our nails while we wait!” But then I gave him the serious answer.

That night, knowing voting was over at 8 p.m., they were begging to stay up to find out who won. But we knew it would be too long and late of a wait. So I promised them I would wake them up when the final numbers were in. I tried waking them up, and stirred {S and JM} enough to tell them the news, which was received with sleepy smile. (So cute!) But {O} wasn’t waking up for anything. She was happy to hear in the morning though.

We will continue to teach them what we can about these things, and look forward to this book coming in that we have requested at the library. It may or may not be too elementary for the kids, but if nothing else, will be amusing, while still being educational. Here is the description to this book:

In a big country, it’s not always easy to get everyone to agree on an important issue. So when Miss Tuftmore’s second-grade class writes from Moussouri, asking for a law to declare a National Cheese, the Squeaker of the Mouse and the Senate Mouse-jority leader have a lot of work to do. By following these congressmice (who live and work alongside their human counterparts) through the steps they must take, readers will gain a greater understanding of this important aspect of civic life — and have a lot of fun while they’re at it.

This delightful sequel to the Barnes’ popular Woodrow, the White House Mouse, told and illustrated in the same whimsical style, offers another detailed but easy-to-follow explanation of the inner workings of American government.

It was a wonderful experience for all of them, that we’re glad had a happy ending. (Well, for us anyway. ; ) They are very much looking forward to the mid-term elections, this November. ; ) Their interest and embrace of our civic duties, is taking root muuuuuuuuuucccchhhhhh younger with them, than it did with us adults! You have no idea. We’re late-comers to the whole political thing. But, as they say, better late, than never.

Save

A Sweet Christmas | A Custom Christmas Photo Shoot and Card Design | Photography

January 11, 2010 By Laura 6 Comments

I am pretty behind in sharing our recent photography work. I apologize about that. I hope this special post helps make up for it. I wanted to show you an adorable photo shoot I did with two beautiful little girls, we themed A Sweet Christmas.

I have done a photo shoot for Christmas with these sweet little girls every year, for the past 3 years. When their mom first contacted me for our first consultation in 2007, I was ecstatic. I knew the last name, because the husband has an established business in town. So I was interested to find out what she was looking for.

We clicked immediately, and have been the best collaborative team, every since. She has excellent taste, and a real appreciation for creative, custom and quality work. I would offer nothing less, and I have pretty high standards for my own work. ; ) What she really wants every year, is photos of her girls, and a one-of-a-kind Christmas card, using them. She has a real flair for style, and is not a fan of the ‘traditional Christmas elements’, like everything red & green, etc. (Neither am I.) Although they do go to my church, so they are not that far from traditional Christmas. ; ) So anyway, it is one of my big creative gigs I take on every year, because the mom/my client leaves the whole planning up to me, from beginning to end!

We usually meet in the fall for a consult, and by then I’ve usually brainstormed an idea, and she is always thrilled with it! I pitch to her what I have envisioned. She gets anything we need for the photo shoot, such as particular clothing for the girls, etc. Once the photo shoot is done, I allow her so many photos to choose for me to work with, and then I completely custom design their whole Christmas card. She always places a big order for not only the Christmas cards I designed, but lots of prints of the photos I took. So all of my efforts are well worth it, in the end.

It’s a really FUN project for me, because she not only gives me SO much creative freedom, from planning the photo-shoot that involves where we will shoot, what the girls will wear, and the kind of shots I want, to designing the whole card. But also because she APPRECIATES all of it so much! She gets SO excited when her cards, envelopes and photos are in. Giddy, even. It’s really nice to have someone appreciate your creativity on that level. And I love seeing and working with the girls and their mom, every year.

This year, our 3rd working together (2009), was the first year I planned their photo-shoot in my studio. I had such ‘visions’ in my head, and even had a general idea of how I wanted to design the card, all before our consult took place, and photographed the girls. So I was thrilled that once again, the mom was on board with my idea. The theme this year, was candy/sweets; a sweet Christmas. I had the mom looking for big swirly pops, but all she ended up finding was these marshmallow pops, which ended up being so much fun!

Just to let you know, I never use the names of children I work with on the net. Or last names. And I apologize for the watermark I have to splash across the images, but it’s important when putting images on the internet. So, just try to block out the watermark and see the image for what it is. Naturally, the watermarks across the middle are not really part of the image.

So first I’ll show you the images my client chose to work with, and then I’ll show you the card I designed for her.

Here are the girls, on my ‘swing’ in my studio, in their white nighties their mom bought just for this shoot.
They are 4 years old and 6 years old now.

This is the oldest girl. She is so polite, very co-operative, and such a darling.
She has grown so much in the past 3 years, and is quite the little lady now.

Her little sister, is a real spit-fire! What a doll, huh? She gave me a run for my money the first year I worked with her, when she was 2 years old!! But I don’t quit easily, and it sure paid off that first year. I know how to work with kids, if I do say so myself. Sometimes, it just takes time and patience, all of which I needed that first year. But when I want the shots, I’m going to get them. ; ) This year, now that the girls are that much older, they were both a dream to work with.

I love this photo, and I love the memory of taking it. Her and I were belting out the song, ‘Party in the U.S.A.’. It was hilarious, because you know how kids think certain words in a song are something other than they really are? Because that’s what they think they are hearing?? Well, we were singing, and she’s telling me, “No no….that’s not how it goes. It goes like this….“. <She sings.> I was cracking up. Her mom was shocked I knew the song so well. lol

I took lots of shots, most especially because I was having so much fun taking them, and being with these girls. So it was really hard to narrow down what we had, and choose what we were going to use for the card. There were several we just HAD to use. So once we figured that out, I got to designing the card, that was in my head.

I started with designing ‘digital paper’, or a background to work with.
I was definitely stuck on using pink this year. I also knew I wanted to incorporate candy in the design.

So I ended up sketching out candy/sweets on paper, and refining the drawings with a sharp black marker pen. Then I scanned them into my computer, and made them into digital brushes, to be able to work with them.

Here is the front of the card . . . .

This is how the front of the card came out. It’s 5×7, with the fold at the top.

It opens up to this . . . .

This is the spread inside, when opened. As you can see, I was determined to use several photos!! Check out the middle photo–I thought it was so funny!! Their expressions are a hoot! I really wanted to use the photos that showed their fun side, and personalities the most, because in the past, the cards I had done were very different from each other, but both very classic in style. Here, I did blur their last family name, and the girls’ names, on the card for privacy sake on the internet. But I loved the little piece of candy I put in between each name along the bottom of the card.

And the back of the card, is sometimes my favorite part . . . .

I always do something fun on the back, for this client. The mom is also really nice about letting me brand myself/my work on the back of their cards, however I want to. All of my work is branded, but I go a little bigger on these, because I can, and because I’m so happy with them in the end. Another thing to note about this card in particular, is that although these images above are the images I sent to have the card printed, the actual card was printed in PEARL paper, with UV gloss. (Unlike how flat in color they look here. ) So, the entire card printed, has a real pretty pearl shimmer to it, when it’s in your hand, and then has a glossy coat over it. They feel so nice too! They were simply GORGEOUS. And for some reason, they actually smell sweet! Which is a nice and appropriate touch, for this design in particular.

If anyone would like to see the previous years Christmas card (2007 & 2008) for this family, I’d be happy to dig those up and share them too!! As I said, the creative freedom this client gives me, makes it all such a joy for me. I’m looking forward to next year, already.

Save

Grandma’s Crafty-Christmas Giving | Homemade Gifts

January 11, 2010 By Laura 5 Comments

I already shared the beautiful Advent Calendar Michael’s mother gave us for Christmas, and mentioned in that thread there were a couple of other homemade gifts she sent us as well.

One is this apron she made for {A}. When {A} talked to Grandma on the phone on Christmas Day, {A} said, that Grandma said, that she was inspired by our gifts to them last year, including their aprons. She rather enjoyed making gifts too! We rather enjoyed receiving them, and they mean a lot to us.

She took an already made apron, and ‘made it her own’. (And then gave it away. lol). She added the cute wavy trim, a 2-section pocket on the front with the ADORABLE cupcake pattern, and her and Grandpa’s hand-prints!

–

I really love the pocket…..because I LOVE cupcakes. Everything about them – not just eating them.

–

Besides loving the whole apron, that was made just for her with love, Grandpa’s hand-print means the most to her. Reason being, ever since she was a little-bitty thing, she has been fascinated by the size of her Grandfather’s hands. Even still. And her own hands are not that small anymore, nor are her feet!! But she gets a giggle, to see that hand-print on her apron, every time. Of course, she loves Grandma’s too.
–

The boys got some customized t-shirts, that they are CrAzY about. It looks like Grandma picked up some cool stencils, and got to painting with fabric paint! Can I tell you how many days in a row the boys would wear their t-shirts? I’ll let them go 2, before I want them to throw the shirts down to the laundry. MUST we wait until they get something on them, or worse yet, SMELL, before we call them dirty?

{O} got an adorable stenciled shirt too, that is a long-sleeve shirt with a collar. I can’t locate a photo of it right now, but I’ll be on the look-out for it, or catch her in it, and take a photo.

Knowing the time, effort, thought and love that is put into homemade gifts, we appreciate them from others more than ever. They truly are some of the most meaningful kind of gifts. For Christmas, or for any reason at all.

Save

PaRtY aNiMaLs!!! | Our Family’s New Year’s Eve Celebration 2010

January 3, 2010 By Laura 10 Comments

New Year’s Eve was a GOOD TIME at our house!!

We were ready to rock in 2010!!

We went to 4:00 Mass to start, because the next day was a Holy Day of Obligation for us. It was a really great Mass, with a great homily, so that was a great start to our whole night.

When we got home, we started cooking and prepping our party food for the night!

The menu included buffalo chicken, pineapple wrapped in bacon, stuffed mushrooms, and simple deviled eggs, to start.

Bacon Wrapped Pineapple Bites – recipe HERE

Later on we had more snack kind of stuff, and some party punch with sherbet ice cream in it.

The kids were very excited, because we told {J, O &S} they could stay up until midnight, if they could make it!

{JM} was the first to start getting crazy! No surprise there!

And it doesn’t take much, to get Daddy going!!

We had the TV on of course, and were thrilled that Daughtry played a set in Time Square!! I love them.

While they got bored of watching the people in the streets of Time Square , and were waiting for the ball to drop, {JOS} found a new use for their party hats, and the battle was on!!….

This is about as wild as I’ve ever let them get in the house! lol

It really was hilarious to watch them!! We were all hysterical!

{S} was the first one, really fighting the sleepies. We noticed him suddenly sitting there quietly, and his big sister asked, “What’s a matter {S}? Are you tired??” And he quietly said “Yes.” What a strange sight, for all of us. This boy wakes UP the ‘party animal’, every day! But…..it was LATE by now.

And soon enough…..the ball was dropping…..the countdown began….and then…..MIDNIGHT!!

And a LOT of NOISE!!! JOYFUL NOISE!!! (of course).

{A} was saying how hard the horns were to blow.

I knew she wasn’t kidding when I saw how her photo turned out!

LOL!!! GOOD GOLLY!!

Just kidding. I played with that one a little bit!

This is the real photo…..

–
Then it was time for Happy New Year Kisses!! This is {J, O & S}’s ‘triplet kiss’ they have done since they were very little! {O} puts her finger to her lips, as central point, and all 3 of them kiss it. I always loved that. <sniff>

Then there was kisses for big sister!!

Michael and I are off to the side there. Sorry….that one’s private. ; )

Hope you all had a great New Year’s Eve!!

WHAT DID YOU ALL DO ON NEW YEAR’S EVE?

WE’D LOVE FOR YOU TO TELL US ABOUT IT!

Did you have a quiet one? Go out and party? Stay in and order Chinese Food? Crash at 10:00??

HaPpY NeW YeAr EvErYoNe!!!

Save

Amazon Affiliates