Oh What Fun It Is to...Cook

Today I'm linking up with Molly, from Dutchess of Fork, for this fun holiday link up!

Christmas Eve

Our traditional Christmas Eve dinner is usually pretty simple (because we know we'll be eating TONS on Christmas day - ha!!). This year, I'm thinking about making this Baked Tortellini recipe ~

Christmas Day

Where do I even begin?!? Here's some yummy treats I've found on Pinterest that I know will be making an appearance in our house this Christmas

Pretty sure this is what we're doing for breakfast...yummy, simple and easy!

Carmel and Chocolate dipped pretzel rods

Hot Chocolate Peppermint Chex Mix, in my opinion, chef mix is one of the most perfect snack foods, EVER. ;)

Candy Cane Bark...I don't know why but I'm soooo into peppermint and chocolate this year. I think it might be my biggest pregnancy craving.

Like our hostess, Molly, my Christmas treat list wouldn't be complete without this yummy baked cheese dish. I love, love, LOVE baked brie!!

~ All these recipes can be found here, on Pinterest ~

Can't wait to see what everyone else is cooking up this holiday season!! Be sure to link up!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday

Gosh, can you believe it's already time for the Super Bowl?!?!

{Gooooo Steelers!!!}

Don't get me wrong, I loooove me some football...but, I think we all know that the Super Bowl is about so much more than just the football.

Friends

{This was taken at last year's Super Bowl party}

Food

{Buffalo Chicken Dip - a definite football fav!! It's soooo yummy....kinda dangerous though, one bit and you'll understand why it's nickname is "crack dip" - Ha!!}

{BLT Dip...if you've never had this one before you have to make it immediately!! It will be the hit of your party - it's that good!!}

{Guacamole, couldn't forget this football game day classic!!}

{No football party would be complete without chili!!}

{How cute are these football cake pops?!?! Perfect for the Super Bowl!!}

And…Commercials

So...Who will you be cheering on today??? We'll be cheering for the Steelers!!!

...Yeah ah ha
you know what it is
Black and yellow, black and yellow
Black and yellow, black and yellow...

Time to Talk Turkey

Thanksgiving is almost here!! Yay, yay, yay!! I love Thanksgiving!!! I love that the holiday is about being grateful, giving thanks, spending time with friends and family....love all of it!!

Ok, on to the menu!! Yes, the turkey is the star of the menu but I'm more of a "sides" kind of a girl. Don't get me wrong, I love turkey but, Thanksgiving just wouldn't be the same without all the delicious sides!!

I think I finally have our menu planned out! Which is good since I've got to do my grocery shopping today...yes, I'm going grocery shopping 2 days before Thanksgiving - I'm kinda scared. Wish me luck, I'm - eeeekk!

Our 2010 Thanksgiving Menu

Smoked Turkey

White Wine Sage Gravy

Cranberry-Pomegranate Sauce

Baked Brie en Croute with Apple Compote

Bacon Leek Stuffing

Garlic & Herb Mashed Potatoes

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta

Maple Glazed Petite Carrots

Pioneer Woman's Dinner Rolls

Desserts:

Nantucket Cranberry Pie

Autumn Apple Pie

Maple Pumpkin Pie

Now it's time to set my Thanksgiving Day Game Plan!! By-the-way, if you're looking for a Thanksgiving day game plan inspiration, be sure to visit Annie. She has some awesome ideas!!!

Weekend in KC!!

Oh man, this has been a busy, busy week!!! I feel as thought I have been jumping from one crazy hurdle to crazy hurdle to the next. I can't tell you how excited I am that tomorrow is Friday - honestly, I'm beyond thrilled!!! Especially since I'm going home this weekend...yup, I will be back in good 'ole OKC!! I'm going down to celebrate my bff's son's first birthday - super fun, I know!!!! Ok....enough about the upcoming weekend....here's what happened last weekend!

My Aunt and I met in KC on Saturday and headed out to the plaza (a few hours later than we expected - but hey, we made it! Ha!!) .....I LOVE the plaza!! I think it's just so beautiful!!

Our first stop - Cheesecake Factory!! Yum! Yeah, Cheesecake Factory = enough said Lol! :)

Of course, we did a little shopping while we were out and about. Since Omaha's still having some troubling weather I knew I'd HAVE to check out the sales at North Face. Luckily, they were having some great sales & a good a few bargains! Woo Hoo! Take that winter!!

After our shopping....we headed back to our hotel and had a pretty low key evening....just hung out and talked. I'm super close to my Aunt and we really needed this Girl's Weekend.

Since we are both HUGE dog people - I knew we'd have to visit the Three Dog Bakery on the Plaza (we kinda ran outta time on Saturday...you know how it goes, sometimes you just CAN'T hit all the stores in 1 day!!).

Super cute place....but honestly, it was smaller than I expected. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED it but...I don't know just not totally what I pictured. L-O-V-E-D it though!! And....Molly loved her treats!!

Since there isn't a Whole Foods in OKC, my Aunt definitely wanted to do a little shopping at Whole Foods....can you blame her?!?

After our Whole Foods Adventure, we headed off to another of my favorite speciality food stores - Dean & Deluca. Fabulous place!! Wish we had one in Omaha!!

While at Dean & Deluca, I grabbed a few snacks (for the road....) um, how is it that I'm just now discovering Sweet Potato Chips??!! I love Sweet Potato Fries so I don't know how I've never tried the chips. Anyways, now have a new fav chip! Yum!!

It was a great trip - great weekend and of course, went by too fast....but, that's always how those really great weekends go!

Super Bowl!!

What an awesome game!!! And the Saints?!?! Woo Hoo!!! Yay for them!!!

This happens to be the only pic of the night...AND, it was after some of the girls left! :(I don't know why I haven't been taking many pictures lately....definitely not like me! Lol!

This year, I made pico de gallo, chocolate chip cookie dough dip and BLT dip - I think that combined with all the other yummy foods everyone else brought I probably consumed about 2 days worth of calories/fat - ha!! No but seriously....I was pretty glad Kevin and I did a lap around Walnut Creek (3 miles) that morning - makes me feel a little better. ;)

National Squirrel Appreciation Day

That's right! National Squirrel Appreciation day!! Ha ha....what will they think of next?!?

But, in honor of this day, Molly and I headed to our favorite dog bakery where they were giving away free Squirrel (dog) Cookies - um, seriously?!? Sooo freaking cute!!

Here's a picture...

Of course, while we were there we got some tuxedo cookies too - lol! :)

Ok....so, I know I've had a lot of doggie related posts lately - I just want to clarify that this isn't turning into a dog blog (not that there is anything wrong with dog blogs). I'm just an overly excited new doggie mom - which I'm sure is obvious! Ha! ;0

Omaha's Newest Pizzeria!

In case you didn't know, pizza is one of my all-time favorite meals! I firmly believe God intended us to discover this wonderful delicacy! Ha! Ok....so, you get the idea - I pink fluffy heart pizza! Lol! So, when a NEW pizza place opened in Omaha I knew I would just have to try it!!

Now friends, this is no mere pizza place....this is a "gourmet" pizza restaurant. Ha!! I know - pizza and gourmet?!? Kind of an oxymoron. ;) Click here to see their yummy menu.

Their fun dinning area

Today on our lunch break, my friend Katie and I thought we'd try one of their pizzas! We got their Paola pizza. It is a white pizza topped with arugula, oven dried tomato, mozzarella, garlic & olive oil. We both loved it! Here's a pic of our pie! Yum-O!!

Oh...and they have a bocce ball court! Ha! Love it! Can't wait to go with a group and play some bocce ball, drink great beer and eat some yummy pizza!!

If you're in the Omaha area (or ever find yourself in the Omaha area) and like pizza, I highly recommend you check it out!