I have sprouts!

Cilantro, Basil, and Parsley.  Parsley hasn't quite started to sprout yet.  Soon we will have yummy fresh herbs!

Master Bedroom

Paint:  BM Sidewalk Gray

Thanks to my wonderful grandparents, we have a new King size mattress!  And of course we had to get some new bedding that would fit the bigger mattress.  Oh this new bed is pure heaven!  Once you go king sized, you never go back.

Now we need a headboard to go with the new bed.  I think I want an upholstered one, but I'm open to other ideas too (maybe metal?).  And then we'll need some nightstands to go better with the new headboard, (I'm thinking either a silver/mirrored finish or black) and eventually work towards a new dresser and chest of drawers.  Our current Mission-style furniture just doesn't go with the feel I'm going for in here, that and it sticks out too much.

We also need some art above the bed, but of course I'll have to figure out the headboard first.  I want to enlarge a picture from our honeymoon and have it printed in black and white.  And then we need a few more pictures and accessories to complete the room.

We've gotten a lot done in the 3 months we've been here in the new house...

Penne with Five Cheeses

Original Source:  Ina Garten
Printable Recipe

Oh man.  This. Was. Good!  Who would have thought this dish was so easy and quick?!  Hubs liked it so much, he had his first serving and then started eating some more right out of the baking dish! 

I was a little concerned what the blue cheese would taste like in this dish, but it really wasn't overpowering since there is only 1/4 cup.  You can't really taste it at all, just an extra little salty bite.

I may add some chicken or sausage to it next time to make it more of a meal in itself.  We served this on the side of some grilled chicken. 

Ingredients

• Kosher salt
• 2 cups heavy cream - I used Half n Half
• 1 cup crushed tomatoes in thick tomato puree - I used 2 cups
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano (1 1/2 ounces)
• 1/2 cup shredded imported Italian fontina (1 1/2 ounces) - I used Asiago
• 1/4 cup crumbled Italian Gorgonzola (1 1/2 ounces)
• 2 tablespoons ricotta cheese
• 1/4 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced - I shredded
• 6 fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1 pound imported penne rigate pasta
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

Directions

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
       
Bring 5 quarts of salted water to a boil in a stockpot.
       
Combine all the ingredients except the penne and butter in a large mixing bowl. Mix well.
       
Drop the penne into the boiling water and parboil for 4 minutes. Drain well in a colander and add to the ingredients in the mixing bowl, tossing to combine.
 
Pour mixture into a 9x13 casserole dish. Dot with the butter and bake until bubbly and brown on top, 7 to 10 minutes.

Dining Room Update

I found a cool mirror and a pair of Chinese rubbings to hang in my dining room. 

We also had a piece of glass cut for the top of our table, so it will be super easy to wipe clean after we eat.  

I'm still working on finding an area rug and some drapes or curtains in here.  And I may have to change the fabric on the chairs.  The cinnamon/rust color is just not working for me.  It's not one of my colors.

Even though it is a dining room and I want to display my pretty wedding gifts, I don't want it to feel too too formal.  I want it to be a comfy place to eat, play games, and have casual get-togethers, not a museum where you can't touch anything.

So here's what the room looks like now.    

And click here to see what the dining room looked like when we bought the furniture over New Years.  Eh, it's a start.  A rug and drapes are my priorities right now.  I just have to find the right ones!  It takes time.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Chicken and Biscuits

Or, Chicken Pot Pie minus the Pie
Adapted from Southern Living, Feb. 2011

Printable Recipe
Ingredients

• Frozen or refrigerated biscuits
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 ½ cups frozen cubed hash browns
• 4 cups chopped cooked chicken, I used a rotisserie chicken
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup chicken broth
• ½ cup white wine
• 1 package cream cheese (you may not need the whole package, I only used about ¾ of it)
• 1 packet Italian dressing mix (I only used a little over half of the packet, season to taste)
• 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables

Directions

1. Bake biscuits according to package directions.
2. In a large skillet, sauté onion in oil over medium-high heat until golden.  Add in hash browns and cook 5 minutes until slightly browned and heated.  Add chicken and next 5 ingredients, stirring frequently until cheese is melted and everything is thoroughly heated.  Stir in vegetables and cook 2 minutes until heated through.
3. Serve over biscuits.

This is a great quick and easy weeknight meal.  Very warm and comforting like Chicken Pot Pie, but in half the time!  Hubs really enjoyed it too, he had 2 big servings. That's always a good sign!

Happy New Year! Happy New Dining Room Furniture!

I’m way behind again on updating you all about the happenings of our new house.  We moved in the first weekend in December and we’re gradually getting everything organized and in place.  More pictures to come on each room later!

I did manage to get a few Christmas decorations out in the short time I had before December 25.  I decided to do my tree in purple this year, for something fun and different!

And of course I had to put my Mizzou snowmen out.

 

Then, New Year’s weekend we bought some dining room furniture so I had to take my tree down in a hurry (I set it up in the dining room so it wasn’t empty).

Ta da!  It’s an antique Duncan Phyfe style set.  We bought the table, 6 chairs, china cabinet and buffet from a super nice couple in Alabama.  The chairs have just recently been recovered and I actually like the fabric that’s on them!  I may try to incorporate some more dragonflies into my decor in this room.

Now it’s time for a list!

To Do:

-Curtains

-Area rug

-Mirror over buffet

-Dragonfly art

Inspiration: Cabinet Pulls

Just gathering some creative inspiration for my kitchen cabinet pulls and knobs. 

WARNING:  Picture overload!

This first set of images are of half-moon pulls.

(image via Veranda Interiors)

(image via Veranda Interiors)

Ohmygod, white subway tiles in a chevron pattern!!!  I die! (This has nothing to do with cabinet pulls, but I found it while browsing and had to share.)

 

 

 

These picutres are of more fancy handles.

(all other images via decorpad)