Happy New Year!!!

Here is a little peak of what our evening will look like...

Wishing everyone a safe, happy and wonderful New Year's Eve!

May all your dreams come true in 2011!

2010 Year in Review

My Closet, A True Sanctuary!!!
Weekends~I live for them.
~Strawberry Bruschetta~
Kitchen Make~Over= Bliss
Roasted Caprese Salad
Home
Peanut Butter And Jelly Bars
I loved showing you my make-up addiction
My All Time Favorite Cupcakes
Pineapple Fried Rice
Love
My First Post
I have had the most wonderful 6 months of blogging. Seems

like, I've been doing it forever. I look forward to the upcoming

year. I have so much to share with you, all. I just want to thank

each and everyone of you who stops by and spends some time

with me. Hugs~Val

Winter Salad

I don't know about you, but this time of year...I start to

crave salad's. My body longs for healthy greens. This salad

is anything but boring. It is one of my favorite's and if

you try it....it will be one of your's too.

Winter Salad

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1-2 chicken breasts, cooked & diced

1 large bunch of spinach

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese-or your favorite

1 pear, diced

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

1 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced

Dressing

2 tablespoons, red raspberry jam ( with seeds)

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/3 cups olive oil

salt and pepper

1) Preheat oven to 350* Arrange walnuts in a single layer

on a baking sheet. Toast in oven for 5 minutes.

2) In a large bowl, toss together the spinach, walnuts, pear,

chicken, cranberries, blue cheese, avocado and red onion.

3) In a small bowl, whisk together jam, vinegar, olive oil,

pepper and salt. Pour over salad just before serving and

toss to coat.

Gumdrop Fudge

Goody, goody gumdrops. How cute are these?? Not only

are they cute, but they are so good. I love gumdrops and

only eat them around the holidays....so this recipe is just

perfect. Enjoy and share.

Gumdrop Fudge

1 1/2 pounds white candy coating, coarsely chopped

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups gumdrops, chopped

1) Line a 9 inch square pan with foil, set aside. In a heavy

saucepan, combine the candy coating, milk, and salt. Cook

and stir over low heat until chips are melted. Remove from

the heat, stir in vanilla and gumdrops.

2) Spread into prepared pan. Cover and refrigerate until

firm. Using foil, remove fudge from the pan. Cut into 1 inch

squares. Store at room temperature.

Taco Bites

I love to entertain and have a full house of family and

friend's. I get great pleasure out of making other's

happy! I live for it. I always put SO much pressure on

myself. The one thing I've learned over the years is to

keep some thing's simple and appetizers have to be

easy and delish.

Taco Bites

1 pound ground turkey or beef

1 onion, finely chopped

1 envelope taco seasoning

3/4 cups water

1 1/4 cups shredded Mexican cheese, divided

2 packages miniature phyllo tart shells

taco sauce or salsa

sour cream

chives

1) In a skillet, cook meat and onion over medium heat

until meat is no longer pink, drain, Stir in taco seasoning

and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer, uncovered

for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in 1/2 cup cheese.

2) Place tart shells in a baking pan. Fill with taco mixture.

3) Bake at 350* for 6 minutes.

4) Top each shell with sour cream, taco sauce, Cheese and

chives. Enjoy!