Month: January 2016

Neiman Marcus Dip

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

neiman marcus dip

Next Sunday is the Super Bowl – an annual event in the U.S. that even non-football fans often enjoy just for the great commercials, celebrity national anthem and half-time show, parties, cocktails, beer, and yummy food and SNACKS!

This Neiman Marcus Dip is a MUST-HAVE for Super Bowl parties, whether you are hosting, taking something as a guest to a party you are going to, or just hanging with the family at home.

It is so amazingly easy and even  more incredibly addictive and delicious (though probably should not be eaten too often as it is a bit far from healthy, which is probably why it is so amazing!)   

I am pretty sure you will be considered a snack dip rock star if you make and serve this to your family and friends.

neiman marcus dip closeup

I first tried this Neiman Marcus Dip at my DIL Colleen’s Christmas Cookie Exchange Party this past December, and I made it for a recent Steelers Playoff game when the family was all over.

And though our Pittsburgh Steelers did not make it to the Super Bowl this year, we will still be watching, and we will surely be snackin’!

So whoever you are rooting for, win or lose, you will still be happy that you had this yummy dip!

Neiman Marcus Dip

Ingredients:neiman marcus dip closeup

  • 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 lb bacon, chopped and cooked very crispy
  • 1 cup chopped green onions
  • 1 cup slivered almonds
  • 2 cups mayonnaise

Directions:  Mix all together in large bowl and refrigerate at least 2 hours for flavors to meld together well.  (The day before is even good.)

Serve with crackers, corn chips, tortilla chips or celery sticks.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Funsie Onesies

/ Jodi / 35 Comments

onesie party my crib 2am bring a bottle

One of the fun little activities we had at Jackie & Matt’s baby shower was an opportunity, for those that wanted, to create a hand-painted onesie for Baby Ben.

onesie ladies I have arrived bow tie

Since I knew I’d be busy at the shower, I made a few ahead of time.  A quick search on Pinterest offered tons of cute ideas.

onesie dad you got this

If you are looking for an inexpensive, but unique, creative and personal gift to welcome a new bundle of joy, consider creating your own little funsie onesies with a little fabric paint and a pack of cotton onesies.  (Be sure to pre-wash the onesies before painting.)

onesie lil stud muffin

There are so many cute and creative possibilities!

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Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Favorite Pairs

/ Jodi / 50 Comments

pear watercolor

A partial list of favorite pairs:

  • Bert & Ernie
  • Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
  • Simon & Garfunkel
  • Wine & Cheese
  • Lucy & Ethel
  • Chips & Guacamole
  • Falling Snow & Warm Fires
  • Gin & Tonic
  • Movies & Popcorn
  • Beaches & Sunrises
  • Beaches & Sunsets
  • Dark Coffee & Italian Sweet Cream
  • Paint & Paper
  • Milk Chocolate & Caramel
  • White Chocolate and Peanut Butter
  • Dark Chocolate & Raspberry
  • Hugs & Kisses
  • Friends & Laughter
  • Family & Time Together
  • Chubby Cheeks & Tiny Toes
  • Wrinkled Cheeks & Words of Wisdom

After practicing a few more watercolor skies last evening (and feeling frustrated!…  Why are skies so hard for me??!), I decided to do something that made me happy, so I just took a small piece of watercolor paper and did a quick, free and easy abstract pear in some of my favorite colors – letting the colors blend and do their thing.  I could then relax happy, and it made me think of some of my favorite pears pairs.

Do you have some favorite pairs?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Why Can’t We Be Friends?

/ Jodi / 77 Comments

Charlie and Kitty

Hi Friends!  Charlie here.

I was really anxious to introduce you to one of my new BFFs, so Mom let me guest post again today.   Yippee!!!

“Kitty” is one of my friends I look forward to seeing on my walks with Mom.

We met about two weeks ago, and now we look forward to seeing each other almost every day.

charlie and Kitty 2

We live about a mile or so apart, but I know when I am getting close to Kitty’s house.  I start pulling Mom looking to the other side of the street where Kitty lives, and Kitty comes running out from the porch to the edge of the yard to see me.

Oh how fun it is to sniff and cuddle and visit my friend!

I’ve heard some people say silly things like “fighting like cats and dogs,” and I just don’t get it….

Who wants to fight when we can be friends?!

Cat/Dog… Black/White… Male/Female…Republican/Democrat… Christian/Jew… Rich/Poor… Young/Old… Tall/Short… Thick/Thin…

Why can’t we all just be friends?!

Woofs & Wags,
Charlie

(For more blog posts from Charlie, go to https://lifeinbetween.me/ and enter “Charlie” into the SEARCH bar.)

OPTIMISTIC

 

Biscoff Crunch Banana Bread

/ Jodi / 52 Comments

Biscoff banana bread 1

I thought I had discovered the best ever banana bread recipe (which is ULTRA amazing!) – but then…. I discovered…

are you ready??…..

BISCOFF BANANA BREAD!

biscoff banana bread 2

Oh Goodness Gracious – the YUMMMMiness of Biscoff Spread, crunchy Biscoff cookies, and sweet, moist banana bread.  It is pretty much the ultimate deliciousness – especially for this time of year when we just crave comforting foods!

biscoff banana bread 3

My guys loved it!

In fact, when I gave Nick his “sample,” I asked if it was a thumbs up.

His reply:

“2”

Score!

No oil in this bread either.  It is made with Greek yogurt.

The original recipe, which I have shared below from Table for Two, calls for plain Greek yogurt.

I used vanilla.

Yum!

And I added about one more tablespoon of butter, which I added in dabbles on top of the crushed up Biscoff cookies on top, just to make them a bit crisper and crunchier.   (I can never just leave well enough alone!)

Biscoff Banana Bread


From: Table for Two

3 ripened bananas, peeled and mashedBiscoff banana bread 1
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup Biscoff spread
3 tbsp. butter, melted
2 eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
18 Biscoff cookies, crushed

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan and set aside.

2. Combine the first five ingredients and mix until well blended.

3. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.

5. Gently fold in 3/4 of the crushed Biscoff cookies with a spatula.

6. Pour the batter into loaf pan and top with the remaining 1/4 crushed Biscoff cookies.

7. Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

8. Let cool completely before removing from pan and slicing.

ENJOY!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

 

A Carnival Baby Shower for Jackie & Matt

/ Jodi / 48 Comments

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Oh what fun we had planning, preparing, and celebrating the soon-to-arrive Baby Ben with our McHendy daughter and son-in-law, Jackie & Matt.

I was designated the “official” photographer, so get ready for lots of photos.  I was so busy worrying about capturing it and so busy just enjoying it, that it is just now hitting me, after I shared the photos with Jackie (and she posted on her Facebook page), how close I am to being an “almost” grandma!

When Jackie shared the photos, she wrote:

Matt and I have always hoped we could welcome our baby boy into a community of people who will love, encourage, and support him. On Saturday, we were shown a million times over that we without a doubt have that for our baby boy, Ben. Thank you to everyone who braved the snowstorm and made it out to the shower. We are so blessed for all of you (and for all the people who couldn’t make it)! A special thanks to my mom,Jill Henderson, my mother-in-law, Carol Kallis, my future sister-in-law, Becca Cura, and my second mom, Jodi McKinney for throwing us one creative, awesome shower!!

So for the past half hour ( I am drafting this Sunday evening), I’ve been bawling happy tears and cherishing these very special moments.

I hope you enjoy viewing these photos as much as we had in creating and being a part of them.

(If you click on the first – or any one of the pics – you can scroll through the photos in full size.)

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Conneaut Lake Snowy Sunrise

/ Jodi / 84 Comments

conneat lake snowy sunrise watercolor

My sweet buddy, Oh Rob, recently posted a beautiful photo of his morning view waking up at Conneaut Lake, PA on his Facebook page.  It really drew me in, as it is one of my favorite places to be, mostly because it is with him and his sweet wife Joyce who are very dear to us.

I tried painting it in watercolor.  Need to loosen up more.  But I had fun thinking of them and this beautiful place on earth.  There have been so many beautiful pink skies this winter.  Am I just noticing it more, or is there more than usual?

conneat lake snowy sunrise photo

Wishing you beautiful sunrises.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Charlie’s Snow Day

/ Jodi / 58 Comments

Charlie Snow 0116

I finally got Mom out of the house yesterday at lunch time to take a walk and play in the snow!

It has been so cold here, she doesn’t even want to take walks!

And when she does – oh brother – what a production!  All the layers she puts on!

I just pace around her waiting impatiently as she layers on thermal long johns, socks, hooded sweatshirt, coat, gloves, shoes.  Let’s get this show on the road!

Then she makes me wear this hand-me-down Sherpa coat from Mikey.  It fits quite well, but I try to shake it off about every 20 steps.  I usually get distracted however.  There are so many good things outside to see, smell, hear, eat…. friends to visit – people, dogs, cats – along the way.

And now there is this new stuff…. SNOW!

Oh how fun is snow?!

It is white and bright and cold and fluffy and I can make tracks in it and run and make it spray, and there are smells buried under it, and sometimes it is even fun to slide when there is ice under it.

What a blast!

Do you have snow?  We just have about two inches as of yesterday.  Just the right amount to frolic in!  (and sticks taste extra delicious cold and icy and are really fun to fetch!)

Wishing you a Happy Snow Day or whatever kind of day you are having!  As Mom would say…. “Cherish the Moments!”  I sure am!

Woofs and Wags,

Charlie