Why have I not thought of this before?! Deconstructed s’mores is the perfect way to enjoy your childhood dessert but sans the sticky mess or campfire requirement.

Here’s what you do:

1. In a mason jar layer the following ingredients: chocolate ganache, vanilla ice cream and crushed graham crackers. Repeat the layering once so you have two layers of this delicious combo.
2. Place in freezer until ready to serve.
3. Take out of freezer 10 minutes before serving.
4. Add a plop of marshmallow cream and – if you want to be extra fancy – use a small torch gun to roast the marshmallow.
5. Top with a square of Hersey’s chocolate.
6. Serve and watch your guests revel in joy!

• Been busy working;
• Been busy planning a wedding; and
• Been busy getting my butt in shape (more later on the cool new workouts I’ve discovered!).

This weekend wedding festivities/planning and work took second stage to the Vancouver BC half marathon!
It was a quick trip to the neighbor of the north, but a great one!

Like Seattle, Vancouver BC is one of those cities that on a sunny day there isn’t a more beautiful place to be. The water, the mountains, the trees … oh, it’s just be-u-ti-ful!
And with the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having in the Pacific Northwest, this weekends weather did an amazing job of showcasing the beauty of Vancouver BC .

Bonus :: the race was fabulous. The new course led me through the downtown corridor and then up and through Stanley Park :: the gem of Vancouver BC!
My official finish time of 1:44 which placed me 185/6,360 runners and 39/1,076 in my gender & age group! Not my best half, but definitely not my worst.

Thanks Vancouver for a great run and weekend!

Sunset as seen from Stanley Park

Pre-run selfie :: all runners ran with yellow ribbons for Boston

This poor soul had to run the half in a chicken suit after losing a bet ::
even worse, the unseasonably warm 75 degree weather … squak!

]]> http://diaryofanamateurcrafter.com/2013/05/06/ranvan/feed/ 0 annemluce photo 1 photo 2 photo 3 http://diaryofanamateurcrafter.com/2013/04/11/a-quiche-even-4-year-olds-will-eat/ http://diaryofanamateurcrafter.com/2013/04/11/a-quiche-even-4-year-olds-will-eat/#comments Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:10:04 +0000 Anne Luce https://diaryofanamateurcrafter.wordpress.com/?p=1317 Continue reading »]]> Last night I had the great opportunity to babysit my nieces, Emma and Lydia! Oh, they are such a riot :: full of energy, laughter and sweetness.

Emma and Lydia have four “pet” chickens in their backyard and, as a result, they have lots of eggs. So, what do you make for dinner with eggs that two little girls will eat? An egg pie :: in other words, quiche!

In terms or easiness, this recipe is very basic … and that’s with the caveat you can make it even while chasing two little ones around the house.

Here’s what you do:
Using pre-made pie dough, put it in a pie dish. Line pie dough with tin foil and then put either pie weights or dry beans in the pie dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

While pie crust is baking, whisk together the following: 5 eggs, 2 cups milk, 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon parsley.

In a sauté pan, add 1 teaspoon of olive oil and sauté 8-10 mushrooms that have been diced into small bits.

Remove pie weights and tin foil from pie shell and add other ingredients in this order: sautéed mushrooms, egg mixture and then sprinkle with 1/4 cup additional cheese.

Back at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes. Nom, nom, nom!

Using Smitten Kitchen’s ‘Jacked-Up Banana Bread‘ recipe, I threw together these muffins on Thursday night and they’re amazing. I love Smitten Kitchen for their easy, simple and (typically) low-sugar recipe. I decided to swap out the bourbon for chocolate chips to meet my craving and an excellent decision if I say so myself!

Below is the recipe and a few pictures from my baking adventure. Time to get in the kitchen and start making these today Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins!

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
3 ripe bananas, smashed with a fork
1/3 cup melted salted butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Pinch of ground cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cup of flour
1 cup of chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350°F. With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg and vanilla then the spices. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour, mix. Add the chocolate chips, mix. Pour mixture into a muffin tins.  Bake for 15-20 minutes to, or until a tester comes out clean. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and eat.

Yucky mushy bananas soon to be delicious muffins!

Adding chocolate chips!!

Ready for the oven!

Behold the banana chocolate chip muffin!

Yum!!

]]> http://diaryofanamateurcrafter.com/2013/04/06/banana-chocolate-chip-muffins/feed/ 0 annemluce photo 1 photo 2 photo 3 photo 4 photo 5 http://diaryofanamateurcrafter.com/2013/04/02/words-to-live-by/ http://diaryofanamateurcrafter.com/2013/04/02/words-to-live-by/#comments Wed, 03 Apr 2013 03:39:18 +0000 Anne Luce http://diaryofanamateurcrafter.com/?p=1301 Continue reading »]]>

just a little DoaAC advice…

I asked my mom how she did it and this is what she told me. I might have to figure out a way to incorporate this into my wedding reception decor!

1. Take a yardstick and cover it in fabric, ribbon or even washi tape :: really, whatever you choose. Basically you just want to have something colorful that disguises that you’re using a yardstick!

2. Using a heart shaped die-cut, punch out a whole bunch of hearts in various colors. From the picture it looks like you’ll want between 60-100 hearts :: it all depends on how many and how long your want each chandelier strand.

3. Line up the hearts in rows :: around 15-20 hearts per strand.

4. Using either your sewing machine or hot glue gun, sew or glue 15-20 hearts to create a strand. You’ll notice in the picture that she had the strands vary in length which I really like. So, perhaps do some with 15 hearts, some with 18 and others with 23 or so.

5. Take your fabric covered yardstick and hot glue the strands to the back of the yardstick.

6. Secure yardstick to wall with two nails or hang from the ceiling.

7. Admire!

This morning as I was scouring the fridge for something to make for dinner tonight I came across four lonely looking potatoes in the bottom of the veggie bin. It dawned on me :: I’ll make these sad looking potatoes into the best potato dish… smashed, mashed potatoes!

The recipe I use is really foolproof and makes some of the best mashed potatoes you’ll come across. I even got a “these are the best mashed potatoes I’ve ever had” from Michael! So, below are the step-by-step instructions.

1. Dice four medium sized white potatoes and add into a boiling pot of water that is salted with 2 teaspoons.

2. Boil potatoes for 15 minutes.

3. Drain water. Return potatoes to burner and reduce heat to low/warm. Cover potatoes with lid and let sit for 10-15 minutes. This is the trick – it drains the excess water from the potatoes which helps make them extra creamy.

4. Add 1/2 – 1 stick of butter to the potatoes and mix with a wooden spoon. You can also blend it with a mixer but I like my potatoes a little bit chunky. The more butter the better so be a little liberal with it… you deserve a stick of butter, trust me!

5. Add 1/4 cup of milk and stir. Pour milk in increments as you can always add more milk but can’t take milk away!

6. Add salt, pepper to taste and a pinch of nutmeg.

7. Eat, savor, devour!

Dinner is served :: chicken apple sausages & smashed, mashed potatoes!

Last night for dinner we defied the St. Patrick’s Day rituals of corned beef and cabbage and instead had honey roasted chicken.

It was amazing.

I found the recipe in a magazine my mom gave me :: Where Women Cook. The best part about it – aside from being simply delicious – its that it’s so very easy.

Seriously, if I can recommend one thing it would be this chicken. Try it for yourself, you won’t regret.

Ingredients:
4-6 bone in and skin on chicken breasts
4 Tablespoons melted butter
3 Tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons salt
freshly ground pepper
2 teaspoons Herbes de Provence
1 cup white wine
2 Tablespoons flour
1/2 cup chicken stock

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Rinse chicken under cold water, pat dry. Put chicken in a cast iron pan.

3. Whisk together melted butter, honey, salt, pepper and Herbs de Provence. Pour over chicken and toss chicken to coat.

4. Arrange chicken so skin side is up. Pour the wine over the chicken.

5. Put the skillet in oven and cook for 45 minutes.

6. Take the chicken out of the pan and let rest on plate (cover with tinfoil to keep chicken warm).

7. Put skillet on stove top and boil over medium heat for 3 minutes.

8. Add flour and whisk constantly until thick like a gravy.

9. Pour some of the gravy over chickent. Serve with couscous, potatoes or green beans.

Supplies

• 1 can of Krylon “Looking Glass” spray paint.
• 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1/2 cup water :: put in empty spray bottle.
• Clear glass jar or vases, cleaned well.

1. Apply two or three coats of the Looking Glass spray to the glass jar/vase.
2. While paint is still wet, spray the jar/vase with the water and vinegar mixture.
3. Wait one minute and then use a damp paper towel that has been sprayed with water/vinegar mixture rub the jar/vase.
4. Let jar/vase completely dry. Repeat steps 1-3 again and let dry.
5. Ta-da! Mercury glass!

Supplies gathered, ready for action.

The finished project!

So tonight as I stood in the kitchen seeking inspiration for dinner it dawned on me :: red velvet  heart shaped dinner pancakes! They turned out pretty well and tasted even better than they looked. Snap!