Life Lately

Nothing to crazy on our side of town..we have a big month in September so August has been kind of hum-drum and I like it :) back to school starts next week and even though I will only be part time this year I am so excited to see those sweet faces :)!!!! Here is life lately

Pizza Night :) made by yours truly

OOTD- GAP GAP AND GAP

Found my first gray ( grey **) hair. WHAT?

shopped solo this day with a starbucks

Had an amazing girls night! I hosted an In-house massage...it was heavenly

we road tripped :)

I have taken this exit many times in Austin to visit some very best friends!

My bestie found her dress!

I made hummus crusted chicken- it was so good! Recipe up soon!

These beautiful flowers live all over San Antonio.. I want to plant some in my back yard but I don't know what they are called...anyone?

We shop with wine at our HEB! 

Our kind of Friday- Cooking with all of our favorite neighbors

My pool essentials, although it has been too hot even for the pool :(

Puppy runs with Colty Colt

I love it!!! Randomly spying my mom while driving home from somewhere...love having her so close that this stuff happens:) yes I know it was a little dangerous to snap a pic. I lived.

Thats it!!!!!

Pizza Night!!!!!

So about my day yesterday...

yesterday I was so exhausted that I could not find my car in the parking lot. Sure, we all have our days where we press our car beeper button about a thousand times and think to ourselves " OMG someone stole my car!!!!" because we just CANNOT, for the life of us, remember where we parked.  Well yesterday that happened to me, but instead of the usual finding of the car after the usual initial panic attack ..the inevitable happened . I could not find  my car.  Basically my thumb was having involuntary seizures from pressing down on the beeper button so hard and it was the first time I couldn't hear my car..A la someone stole it!!!!

I called 911 and they met me ( at this point I had surveyed the parking lot for a good hour so I didn't just totally spaz..I was reasonable..an hour people) in the parking lot where I told them details and sweated in the hot sun while they jotted down notes about my car. The nice officer invited me into his car and told me we were gonna just survey the lot once more just incase I was a lunatic. ( he didn't actually say it but I was sure thats what he was thinking)  so I obliged and we started looking. At this time Brandon is on the phone with the insurance company and comes roaring into the parking lot with his huge Ranch Hand F350. He begins to survey the lot as well...

5 minutes into it I hear Brandon's Truck having a Horn Beeping attack...

he found my car.

I ended up being crazy.

The kind officer took one look at me and said " Don't worry ma'am it happens all the time"

Sure it does buddy sure it does....

SO EMBARRASSED!!!!

So hopefully you get a little chuckle at my ridiculous story but that is why I decided to bring on some pizza that night.  Here we go!!!


Shopping List


Flat bread pizza crust your choice ( I use a whole wheat brand)
3-4 tablespoons olive oil
s&p
1-2 cups of baby arugula
1/4 shallot chopped
1/2 lemon
one brick of park-shaved with a knife
1/4 pound of prochuttio
buffalo mozzarella


Procedure

preheat your oven to 450
spread a nice even coat of olive oil on your pizza and then salt and pepper it
slice the buffalo mozzarella and place on the pizza until the top is mostly covered.
bake pizza for 8 minutes or until crust is brown and cheese is bubbly

while the pizza is cooking

take the arugula and place in a bowl, squeeze the lemon onto the arugula, salt and pepper it, and add a dash of olive oil and mix together. Set aside.
Once the pizza is ready to come out immedietly place the arugula salad on top, then add the prochuttio, and lastly top with the shaved parm.


This pizza is so delicious!!! I love the way the peppery arugula cuts the soft buttery mozzarella...its a fancy pizza that is easy to make and tastes wonderful!!! Enjoy!

Chicken Fajita Taco Bowls

We love love love a Taco Tuesday in our house...however with the traditional taco comes the yummy corn tortilla that most of us are trying to avoid when trying to stay fit. I decided that on this particular "taco" night we could skip the tortilla and get a little creative. I have been following some of my food bloggers on IG and saw that they use sweet potatoes as the base to so many of their recipes!! This inspired me to give it a go... then I just layered my favorite toppings and dug in!! It was simple and delicious...the main theme of this blog!!!!

Shopping List

Two sweet potatoes-skinned and diced into medium chunks

one can of black beans

1/4 chopped yellow onion

one yellow bell pep

sliced tomatoes

chicken ( grilled, steamed, baked whatever...we grilled it!)

guacamole or avocado chunked

Monterrey Jack cheese

cumin, salt, pep

cilantro for garnish

Procedure

1. Begin by layering your diced potatoes on a greased baking dish. Season them with olive oil, SP and any other special seasoning. Pop in the oven at 400 for about 10-15 minutes..

meanwhile..

2. Grill your chicken!!!! We seasoned our chicken and threw it on the grill, then allowed it to cool before slicing it up.

3. Take your onion and bell pepper and start to saute' over medium high heat in some olive oil and salt and pepper.

4. warm the beans...season them with cumin SP and any other seasoning 

now its time to layer!

5. First, place the desired amount of potato "hash" into your bowl, then layer them with some warm black beans, next add on your grilled onion and pepper, then add your chicken...

last get crazy with toppings!!! I only added cheese, Guac., sliced tomatoes, and cilantro..however you can go crazy! Corn would be a nice addition, and so would fresh jalepenos . ..the list is endless 

Enjoy!!!!

Five on Friday!!!

Today I am linking up with a few of my other blog buds and listing my favorite Friday Favorites!!!!! Today I am going to visit my mom and dads new house and help my mom pick out paint colors!!!! I am so thrilled that they are moving so much closer to us, it really is such a blessing!!!

now onto my favorites!!!

1.  THIS vest is currently calling my name...I can see it being worn ALL fall and winter long :) it is one of my favorites Nordstrom Anniversary sale finds!!! 

I think it would look so cute paired with 

This lush shirt

Maybe some distressed jeans ...my favorite found Here

and some Toms Wedge booties..

such a super cute fall outfit!!!!!

2. I am currently burning this candle 

from Anthropologie..

I cannot say enough good things about these candles...they burn forever, smell amazing, and even though they are a little on the expensive side I think they are worth the splurge every once in a while. They make an amazing pumpkin soufflé candle that they offer during fall!!!! 

3.Very much looking forward to our little getaway in a few weeks!!! The city of ATX brings back so many memories for me and I am glad my husband enjoys it as much as I do! I have always wanted to stay at the W so when he told me he booked it at this "cool looking hotel" I was so exciting to hear it was the W!!! I see a trip to homeslice pizza, barton springs, and some shopping during our trip here!

4.  My summer hurrah peach bread is definitely a must try for the end of summer!!!! I made two loaves and shared with some neighbors and got nothing but positive responses!!!! I served mine with fresh slice peaches but it would be amazing with some vanilla ice cream as well :)  click here for my easy peasy recipe!

5. Even though it is still summer ( insert me sweating here) I am dreaming of fall...we have so much going on for us this fall and I can't wait for it to be here!!! I can feel the breeze..and even though our texas trees don't look exactly like this... I can still dream :) Heres to fall!!!!

 

Summer Hurrah Peach Bread

mmmmm Peaches....

They just scream summer right?


When we drive our annual trip to our beach house we always stop by this little farmers market that sells an array of fresh fruits and veggies. The most fragrant, and the ones that are our favorite, are the peaches!

The recipe that I am about to share with you comes out of one of my favorite cook books ever!! I collect the Gooseberry Patch cookbook collection and find that their seasonal cook books enclose some of the easiest and most tasty recipes ever!!! You can find this exact recipe in THIS cook book called " Summer in the Country". I order mine straight off of the website which is found here but you can order off Amazon as well. Enjoy!!! l


Shopping List

3 C all-purpose flour ( could substitute whole wheat)
2 C sugar ( I used raw turbinado sugar)
1 t baking soda
4 eggs beaten
1 c. oil
1 t vanilla extract
2 t. almond extract ( I didn't have almond so I subbed vanilla for both)
4 C peaches ( pitted, peeled, and chopped)  ( canned, fresh, or frozen all work great!)
optional 1 c chopped nuts ( walnuts or pecans!!!)

Procedure

Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking soda in a large bowl; mix well. Add eggs and oil; stir just until moistened. Stir in extracts, peaches, and nuts. Spread into 2 greased 9 * 5 loaf plans ( I used two meat loaf pans!) bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean! Cool for 10 minutes and garnish with more fresh peaches!!!!!

** I love to make little loafs like this and interchange the fruits so for fall you could use apple..for winter you could use cranberry and so on. I wrapped a few of these in bakers paper and tied them with cute twine and sent them off to a neighbor who needed cheering up... these make very cute little gifts!

My yummy afternoon snack that I paired with fresh sliced peaches and organic peach tea..

This will not disappoint!! Happy Summer!!!!

Life Lately

I cannot believe it is almost August...it seems like summer flew by..

But then again...it always does am I right?? 

The heat here in South Texas is excruciating.. I can barely go walk to get my mail without huffing and puffing and breaking a huge sweat. The pool is lukewarm and the days are WAY. TO.LONG. 

I know I am complaining but now I am ready for Fall... I need a cool breeze and some pumpkins in my life..anyone with me?! 

Anyways life lately has been great. We have a lot going on right now but I would not change any of it for a second!!! Here is some life through pictures...

Somedays there is just nothing that beats a cold Latte' and a walk around Target

I just love how green my grass is!!!!! 

Got my SWEAT on... I mean seriously who takes their dog walking in 100 degree dry heat? I guess I do...

And because I braved the heat.. my cup spoke to me.

:) but really this was an amazing find...home goods!

Dressed and ready for a lunch date with my squeeze! Dress is from a local boutique here in SA called Woven. Love Love Love!

This slithered over my foot the other night.. I may have woken the entire neighborhood. 

Just me working at my little office space!!!!

Our salsa biz is doing AMAZING thus far!!! We still need to meet with distributers and get it on the shelves but the feedback has been so wonderful!!!

Some of the feedback from our salsa tasters..blown away!

Cooking with my dad...a favorite pastime that I will always love!

Okay THIS SPECIFIC HIGHLIGHTER is a must have beauty item. 

I bought it on a whim just looking for something to brighten my face and I had no idea how great it would turn out. It lasts for EVER. you hardly need to put any on your face and it will give your face just a little shine!!!! I use it almost daily... 

Do you like salsa?!!!!!!!

Everyone answer together..

ahem

YES!!!!!!!!

I can hear you screaming loudly Texas :)

FELIX SALSA or LAGUNA VISTA RANCH SALSA

We are still depicting the name..

however we have started a family salsa business!!! I am SO SO SO excited to be sharing this special news and hopefully get some orders in via this blog. We started out sharing and doing tasting parties with family and friends...then moved on to the farmers markets...started meeting with distributers..and will hopefully have it on the shelves very soon!!!! 

OHHH there is so much excitement happening in 2015/2016 I can't wait! 

Our salsa is an old family recipe brought to life by a very special unnamed person on our ranch :) All of our vegetables and ingredients are grown locally and organic on our ranch. We pan to have a summer salsa and winter salsa...eventually incorporating different flavors to meet the seasons but for right now we have the original recipe, and a summer recipe. When we first started this little adventure we decided to take home 10 cases of salsa and post it on our neighborhood website. The website was basically a Facebook for the residents who live in our neighborhood..so we posted a sales pitch and literally I mean LITERALLY the doorbell was ringing and we were selling salsa. We sold TEN cases in two days flat. Then after the neighbors devoured it...they called and wanted more!!!!!!! I mean it really is good and I am not just blowing smoke...it really is good!!!! 

This is a picture of the sample bottle which we can send you if you are interested...right now the samples are 5 dollars per jar and worth every penny!

This is a link to our ranch website..click HERE

I plan to work on the website a little bit and add a salsa button with shipping instructions and everything but for now I am promoting it a little bit on here!!!!

If you are interested in testing a jar please email me at cfrankhouser@sts1604.org 

Happy Tasting!!!!!!