Fabulous Friday Follow

Friday, July 30, 2010

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We are having own own BLOG HOP over here at LLBB.
It is so easy to be a part of...

Here's what you do...
1. Follow the Lily's Laundry Boutique's Blog
I WILL FOLLOW U TOO!
2.  Click on the Linky Tool below and add your blog.
3. Check out the other  blogs on LLBB Fabulous Friday Follow and follow them too.
4. Please follow back anyone who is following you via LLBB Fabulous Friday Follow.

This is the first week I have tried this so we will see what kind of response we get.

I am going to pick one person from this weeks Linky List that I think has a "Fabulous" blog and let them host with me for next week. 

Linky will close on Wednesday and blog will be notified on Thursday if they win via email!

Happy Following!


P.S. Here are some of the other blog hops that I love...
Welcome Wednesday

Green Blog Hop

Friday Follow

Gone Bananas...Foster that is...

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Bananas Foster Recipe
I have had a craving for bananas lately and have had an itch to make bananas foster. So I did. It was so easy and so delicious! I just might make it every night this summer. Here's the recipe. 


You will need
1/4 Cup of Butter
2/3 Cup of Brown Sugar
3 1/2 Tablespoons Dark Rum
1 1/2 Teaspoons of Vanilla
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
4 Bananas
Vanilla Ice Cream

Directions
In a large, deep skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in sugar, rum, vanilla and cinnamon. When mixture begins to bubble, place bananas in pan. Cook until bananas are hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve at once over vanilla ice cream.


 Decorate with mint and/or raspberries.


Lovey Loved it too!


Happy Cooking!

www.LilysLaundryBoutique.Blogspot.com
www.LilysLaundryBoutique.com

Strawberry Fields Give-A-Way!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

So many people loved the Strawberry Country Cake recipe I made a down-loadable/printable version.  Click Here to Download!  I will try and do this with all my recipes.  This Scribd is new to me so bare with me through all the kinks.
Strawberry Fields 2T or 4T

Strawberry Fields Swim 4T
It made me think of the Kate Mack Strawberry Fields suits and dresses from last year and I thought it's time for a give-a-way!

Since they are from last year I only have 4T's left in the swim suit and 2T and 4T's left in the dress.  Please specify in comments which one you would like (you only get one or the other:)
Contest ends Tuesday August 3rd, 2010 10 PM PST!

So here's the skinny!
General Giveaway Rules:

Become a Follower via Google Friend Connect
1 Entry for commenting on post
1 Entry for re-posting on your  Facebook page

1 Entry for joining our Facebook Page
1 Entry for becoming a follower of LLBB Twitter
1 Entry for re-posting give-a-way on you Twitter
2 Entries for re-posting on your blog
5 Entries if you purchase something from Lily's Laundry Boutique within now and end of give-a-way (you must comment on blog!)


Make sure to leave your email EMAIL ADDRESS SIZE and how you entered in your comments!
A comment will be chosen at random on www.random.org and the winner will be posted on http://www.lilyslaundryboutique.blogspot.com/

Winner will be posted within 24 hours. 
You will also be contacted via email .


We will only ship inside USA.  
You can still enter if you are international but you will be required to pay for the shipping.
Thanks for Playing!

Chirp Chirp

Are these not the cutest things you have ever seen! I love bird houses. They bring so much color to your backyard. Think outside the box with these...wouldn't they be great for decorating an outside space (or table) for a summer BBQ? This Eco-friendly company is out of Florida, which makes me love them more ;)

Find these birdhouses at www.rossosinternational.com

Retro Chic Collection Birdhouses $17






Where's the Beef!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Summer Grilling.  Cheese Filled Burgers.
I love cheeseburgers and have a special way of making them.

I season the meat (my favorite seasoning is from Williams-Sonoma but you can use whatever you would like.  Sea Salt, Lawry's, Cracked Pepper)

I  put a hole in the middle (like a bird's nest) and fill it with cheese, covering the hole up when done.

My favorite is Blue Cheese but you can use Cheddar, Feta, Gorgonzola or try a combo...
Whatever impresses your taste buds.

Make sure to mark burgers so you know which ones are filled with what.  A great way to do this is with colored tooth picks.  Yellow for Cheddar...Blue for Blue Cheese etc.
 
This is my little brother John grilling.
Prep.
Complete. Yummy.

Helpful Tips!
1. Be careful not overcook.  These burgers  take less time because they're filled with cheese not meat.
2. Don't forget to toast your buns on the grill...Gives it just that little bit of extra favor!
3. Cook time est. 10 minutes... 160 degrees is considered safe.

Here is a great resource from Epicurious on food safety. 

Need A Side? How About Corn?

Soak your corn in water with a little bit of sea salt.  When you are ready to cook the corn put (with husks, add some butter) in tin foil and put on grill. It makes the corn extra moist.  Cook time about 30 minutes.


Happy Grilling!

My Favorite Summer Dessert Ever!

Monday, July 19, 2010

STRAWBERRY COUNTRY CAKE
I cut this recipe out of Veranda like 7 plus years ago and it is my all time favorite summer dessert. I always get so many compliments on it. Takes a little time to make but so well worth it. I wanted to share...

Strawberry Country Cake
Makes two 8" cakes. Each cake serves 6-8. You can make extra wrap in plastic and freeze for up to 6 months.

You will need...
3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks) at room temp.
2 cups of sugar
4 extra large eggs at room temp.
3/4 cup sour cream at room temp.
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups of all purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

For Filling of Each Cake...
1 cup heavy whipping cream chilled
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 pint of fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

Directions...
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Butter and flour cake pans

Cream the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.

On medium speed, add the eggs, one at a time, then the sour cream, zests and vanilla, scraping down the bowl as needed.  Mix well.

Sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt and baking soda. 

On a low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and combine until smooth.

Pour the batter evenly into the pans, smooth the tiops with a spatula and bake in the center of the oven for 40-45 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then remove to wire racks and let cool to room temp.

To make the filling for one cake, whip the cream by hand or in a mixer until firm; add the sugar and vanilla.  Slice both of the cakes in half with a long sharp knife. Place the bottom slice
 of the cake on a serving platter, spread with half of the whipped cream, and scatter with strawberries. Repeat until all cake is used.

Cover with the other top half of the cake and spread with the remaining  whipped cream.

Decorate with strawberries.

My Side Notes...
1. Make sure and use the freshest ingredients you can get.  Especially on the vanilla, lemon and orange zest.  It does make a difference.
2. Also I make more whipped cream because its better to have more then not enough.
3. You can also cut up some of the strawberries and sprinkle a teaspoon of sugar over them if you want them to be sweeter and softer.
4. I ONLY cooked mine for 25-30 minutes.  It depends how hot your oven gets.  You can always cook longer...but not less.
5. When the cakes are completely cooled I cut off the very top and bottom cooked layers with a serrated bread knife.  It make the cakes more moist and they have a flatter surface that makes easy for stacking.


My great little helper!!!

Happy Baking!

Do you have a favorite dessert recipe you would like to share? 
Leave a comment and maybe yours will be posted!

www.LilysLaundryBoutique.Blogspot.com
www.LilysLaundryBoutique.com

Quick Summer Tip

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Sometimes on a hot day there is nothing better then a cool glass of water.  You can add lemons, limes, oranges, cucumbers or even throw mint in the there.  Chill in refrigerator and serve.  Easy, breezy, looks crisp and taste refreshing!

Follow Friday...

Friday, July 16, 2010

I love this!!!! I found it over at www.2preppygirls.blogspot.com and just think it is so darling.. I have checked out some of the blogs that have joined and they are great! Add your blog or check out some new ones...whatever you choose.



What I am loving today..

CS's nap time and my magic bullet blender.

Man is it hot here! www.Weather.com says
Sunny 110 degrees
Details: Dangerous heat index. Outdoor exposure should be limited.

Duhhhh!!!!!

So the baby is taking a nap and I made a smoothie with my favorite blender.

It is so easy to use, super easy to clean and makes the best smoothies. They have them at Costco for like $49.   Best blender I have found  for sauces, baby foods, soups whatever. I sometimes puree mild flavored veggies with this to sneak into Lily's food (she's my picky eater ;)

Two of my favorite types of smoothies.

Vanilla/Banana
1/2 a Banana
Soy Milk (Organic/No sugar added) or you could use water....

Peanut Butter/Chocolate
1/2 Banana
Soy Milk or Water

Blend it up.  Takes 30 seconds.  Great for snack, breakfast or before/after a workout.

I am sensitive to dairy so try and do everything dairy free but you can use whatever protein you would like.  I also limit my sugar so I look for products that have very small amounts of sugars.

Have a great weekend!



Great Craft Table for Your Little Creative Peeps.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

This Carolina Craft Table from Pottery Barn Kids is awesome.  We have had ours for a couple of years and it gets used multiple times a day. It is not only great for crafts but for dinner time too!  It comes with a roll of paper that spreads the size of the table.  Perfect for little ones who like to be creative.  Reasonably priced at $249 and comes in three shades antique white, honey and espresso.  Don't forget the cute chairs at $69.


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