Taste's Good Tuesday: Buffalo Chicken Soup!

Seriously though. For working part time I've never been so busy! I have about 10 balls up in the air between ThisCallsForCake!, Blogging, WEDDING PLANNING, Starting my own business, wedding parties, etc, etc, etc. I won't bore you with the details. I'll get back to posting regularly soon!

When you're this busy- soup is your friend! This week, I made Buffalo Chicken Soup!

What you'll need:

* 1 Cups Blue Cheese Dressing

* 2 Cups Chicken Broth

* 2 Cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar

* 2 Medium Onions, diced

* 4 Stalks of Celery, diced

* 2 Cans of Chicken

* 1/2 Cups Hot Sauce

* 2 Cups Milk (not shown)

* 2 Tbsp. Butter

Step-by-Step:

1. Dice the onions & celery. Cook them in the 2 Tbsp. of Butter. 
   
   
   
   
2. In the crock pot, add the Blue Cheese, Chicken Broth, Cheese, Chicken, Hot Sauce & Milk. Stir together. 
   
3. Cook for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.
4. Sprinkle with a little bit of cheese & ENJOY!
   

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Hope you have a fabulous Tuesday! 

Hugs'n'Love,

Sara

Throw-Together Thursday: Creamy Tomato & Mushroom Soup!!!!

There is nothing better than Grilled Cheese & Tomato soup on a cold rainy day!

Love me some Dr. Seuss! 

In college my mom used to bring Campell's soup-to-go (or whatever that was called) & string cheese to my dorm and call it college style grilled cheese and tomato soup. Haha. Not even close, but it was a super cute thought.  This recipe is def not your college dorm tomato soup! 

Creamy Tomato & Mushroom Soup
What you'll need:

• 6-8 Tomatoes
• 1 Package of Mushrooms
• Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 1 Onion, Diced
• 3 Tbsp. Butter
• 2/3 C. Milk
• 1 Tbsp. Flour
• 1Tbsp. Olive Oil
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Step-by-Step:

  

 1. Start cooking the Onions in the Olive Oil until they are translucent.

   2. Once the Onions become translucent, add the Mushrooms.

   3. Begin with 3 Tbsp. of Butter and the 1Tbsp of Flour. Cook this together until it thickens. Once this is well mixed and beginning to thicken, add the Milk, Cream of Mushroom Soup & 1 can of water.

  4. Cut your Tomatoes into chunks and throw in the blender with 1 Tbsp of Milk.

  5. Blend the tomatoes until they become a liquid.

  6. Mix in Tomatoes & the Mushrooms and Onions into the soup mixture.

7. Simmer for about 30-45 Minutes. Then ENJOY with some Grilled Cheese! While snuggled on the couch watching one of your favorite flicks! Happy rainy Fall day, friends!!!!!!!

May I suggest one of my personal favorite movies:

 Factory Girl 

If you haven't seen it, it is definitely worth watching at least once!

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Have a fabulous Thursday!

Hugs'n'Love,

Sara :)

Who, What, When Wednesday: Baby (GIRL) Shower!

So you may remember a preview of the babyshower invitation I posted last month.... the shower was this past weekend!

We had the shower on a Friday evening at 7PM. The food was desserts. Some of Mandy's best friends brought desserts to share, and I provided some as well. The table was mostly pink and looked fab! I especially loved the tutu cake plate with pink wafer cookies! The pictures were rather dark as my iPhone is having camera issues (ugh!). 

People typically either love or hate games! I tried to make them more interactive, and I think the ladies enjoyed it! We played "Make a Baby!". I gave each guest a meatball size amount of playdough. I gave them 5 minutes to make their baby! After 5 minutes, Momma got to choose her baby! Winner got a prize! 

The drinks were White & Red Wine, Pink Lemonade, Water, & Punch (I didn't even spike it!). The punch was adorable. 1 prepared pink lemonade  concentrate, 1/2 gallon of raspberry sherbert, and 2L of Sprite! It looked cute! We floated rubber ducks in it. 

The favors were Pink Bubble Gum covered in  the same paper as the invites. I put them on the frog prince plate! They were cute! 

The diaper cake was small and girly! I can't imagine taking all the rubber bands off the diapers.... I didn't want to do that to Momma. Small & Sweet diaper cake! 

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Have a fabulous day!

Hugs'n'Love,

Sara :)

Mix-it-Up Monday: White Wine Spritzer!

October has been so warm this year that it feels like June! No complaints here! If you find yourself rather parched on one of these beautiful Fall days, you ought to make yourself a White Wine Spritzer! They are REFRESHING!!!! Even Drake likes them. And he is pretty cool.

 (Warning: Foul language in this video clip. Love me some Chelsea Handler!)

White Wine Spritzer

What you will need:

*White Wine, chilled

*Sparkling Soda Water/Club Soda

*Lemon

*Tiara & Wand optional 

Step-by-Step:

1. Chill your white wine for a few hours.

2. Pour 4oz chilled White Wine into your glass.

3. Add 2oz. of Sparkling Soda Water/Club Soda.

4. Add a slice of Lemon

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/37/47/42/3747429754e4711974468450262a86db.jpg

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Happy Monday All! Celebrate everyday! Hope you are one of those lucky few that are off today!

Hugs'n'Love,

Sara

Throw-it-Together Thursday: Tuna Pasta!

http://funny-pictures-blog.com/2012/08/17/college-degrees/

Remember college? 
I do. Living was easy! Food was cheap. Friday nights were what memories were made of! You'd come home (insert time after midnight) & be "starving". One of my go-to meals was Tuna Pasta. Made with 5 items you always have on hand & it only takes 15 minutes to make. For a college favorite, it still fares well in my house. Try it! It's pretty great!

 

What you need:

*Pack of Tuna

*3 Tbsp.Olive Oil

*1/4 C. Parmesan cheese 

*12 Oz. box Bow-tie Pasta

*3 C. Frozen Peas 

*Black Pepper to taste

Step-by-Step:

1. Boil your water & cook the Bowties for about 12-14 minutes.

2. Microwave the bag of Frozen Peas as directed on bag.

3. Drain your cooked Bow-ties.

4. In a large bowl, mix together the Olive Oil, Tuna & Black Pepper.

5. Mix the cooked Bowties, Cooked Peas & Parmesan.

6. ENJOY!

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Make it s Fabulous Thursday! Heck. For the 21 year old in you, make it a Thirsty Thursday!

Hugs'n'Love,

Sara 

Tastes-Good Tuesday: APPLE CRISP (& Amaretto)!!!

 http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/a5/52/34/a55234befd764ce5436f7e7ccd10f8ad.jpg

New York is wonderful in October! My fiance and I spent Sunday walking the beach at Barcelona on Lake Erie looking for sea glass. (sorry Babe, I know I said I wouldn't tell your friends.) 

Followed by wine tasting at one of our local wineries. It was exceptionally warm for us this time of year- high 70's! Perfect! On the way home we stopped by the Busti Cider Mill & picked up a peck of mixed apples! 

YUM! I wish I could carry them around all day just to smell them! haha. If I come back in another life, I hope to live a year full of Octobers!! Anyways, I decided that we all need a good classic Apple Crisp Recipe in our lives, so I thought I'd share my favorite....

APPLE CRISP (& Amaretto)

What you'll need:

• 8-10 cups of mixed apples
• 1 cup quick cook oats
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup flour & 1 Tbsp flour
• 1 stick of butter
• 1/4 cup of warm water
• 1 Tbsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda

 Step-by-Step:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Peal, core & slice the apples. Layer them in a 9x13 baking dish. 
   
3. Stir the white sugar, cinnamon & 1Tbsp flour together.
   
4.  Spoon the sugar mixture over the layered apples. 
   
5. Drizzle the warm water evenly over the sugared apples. 
   
6. Stir together the oats, brown sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda & melted stick of butter together. 
7. Optional TOP Secret ingrediant: Mix in a dash of Amaretto!
   
8. Sprinkle the crumbly mixture over the apples.
   
9. Bake for about 45 minutes.
10. ENJOY!!!!!
    

I love you a bushel & a peck!

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Have a fabulous Tuesday!

Hugs'n'Love, 

Sara

 

Mix-it-Up Monday: Flirtini!!!!!!!!!!

Excuse me, I lost my phone number; can I have yours?!
Hope that line worked for you over the weekend! If not, try heading out tonight for happy hour you single ladies! We all need a drink after a manic Monday! Prince Charming included! 

The Flirtini is quite possibly one of my favorite drinks! It tastes like a mimosa........  

but BETTER! 

Flirtini (Prince Charming not included)
What you'll need:

• 1/2 shot Triple Sec

• 1/2 shot Vodka

• 1 shot Pineapple Juice

• Champagne

Step-by-Step:

1. Fill shaker with ice.
2. Pour Triple Sec, Vodka & Pineapple juice over ice. Shake well.
3. Pour into glass of choice (add ice if desired).
4. Fill the glass with chilled Champagne.

 Trust me when I tell you, if you don't try any of the other recommended cocktails, try this one!

 Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?!

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Have a fabulous day!

Hugs'n'Love,

Sara

5 Inappropriate 1st Dance Songs (Sara Style)

My fiance and I spent the greater part of our Friday night dancing around the kitchen to possible wedding songs. Although most were beautiful & romantic, we had to spice it up with some of our favorite songs too. They sounded fantastic streaming through the Bose speakers (thank you Mom & Dad Christmas 2012)! We came up with a list of some of THE MOST inappropriate songs to have our 1st dance to, but songs we mutually love & adore.

Turn it up loud & grab your hairbrush ladies; you're gonna want to sing!!!!!! 

Amy Winehouse- No Good

Peter Gabriel- Sledgehammer

Paula Cole- Feelin' Love

Divinyls- I Touch Myself

UB40- Red Red Wine

Turn the lights down low. Pour yourself a glass of wine. Turn up the jams. 

Haha. Happy Weekend All!

Hugs'n'Kisses,

Sara

Favor Friday: Champagne Glasses!

We all remember this song, right? It was totally my guilty pleasure Friday song for about a year.

Rock on Rebecca Black, rock on.

Yep. It's FAVOR FRIDAY! And I have a sneak peak of my wedding- our favors! 

We found some pretty sweet champagne glasses that have a black stem, which is going to look great with our tables. (You'll have to wait until February for those pics. I'm not letting them leak early! haha)

Make charms for the glasses:

Step one: Buy your fiance a 6 pack of Southern Tier

Step two: Bring out the beads of your choice & hoop earring jewelry pieces from Michaels.

Step three: String the beads on the hoops in your desired pattern

Step four: Hoop the charms on the glasses and close with needle nose pliers

Say "Thank You" to your guests:

Step one: Stamp "Thank You" on mini tags

Step two: Add some love

Step three: Tie on the Thank You tags with ribbon of choice

  134 days until I am a Mrs!

www.storypeople.com

Throw-it-Together Thursday: Nora Fleming!!!

If you haven't heard, I am a addict to everything entertaining, especially dishes! A few years ago I was introduced to Nora Fleming by my sister, Laura, and I have had a woman-crush on Nora ever since! I think you will love her too....

Let me introduce you:

Step 1: Choose your platter

Step 2: Choose your mini

Step 3: Fill with your favorite snacks & foods!

This totally beats the ol'plastic pumkin to display your favorite Halloween Candy!  

It's a tad bit early, but I'd highly recommend putting this gem of a dish on your Christmas list!  (And NO, this is not a paid advertisement. I just really love my Nora Fleming dish! It totally makes throwing together a cute table-scape a cinch!)  http://norafleming.com/ 

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Have a fabulous Thursday!!! 

Hugs'n'Kisses,

Sara