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Recipes

Patriotic Theme Tablescape + Citrus Infused Water Recipe

May 27, 2019

6 Comments

As I’m writing this post, it’s just about time for Memorial Day . So, Happy Memorial weekend and may you had a great one. Currently right now in Michigan, we have scattered thunderstorms but that didn’t stop us from grilling some hamburgers and hotdogs . Still a great day guys, trying to stay positive here.

If you have been following me on the blog, you know I have quite an obsession with tablescapes and pretty much the concept of entertaining. Check out my previous post here. If you are new, Welcome to my little space and I’m so glad you are here today. I am honored.

Memorial theme tablescapes is pretty much straightforward patriotic theme which is inspired from the colors of the American flag red, white and blue. So i gathered all the American flag inspired colors and put them together. Did a little creativity to it and done.

Dollar Store Find

What really makes me excited in this tablescape is what i found at the Dollar Store. Who doesn’t want a good deal ? Anyway, i found these mason jar lanterns, blue pebbles, white rocks and red led candles at the Dollar Store. I put them all together by layering the pebbles, rocks and led candles. Viola ! A great outdoor centerpiece. Not bad at all ! The rest of the stuffs are from Target and some of them I’ve had it for years.

Layering of Height for the Centerpiece

For my main centerpiece, I layered vases and jars in varying heights on a bark of wood tray. That way it looks interesting together with their simple floral arrangements. It looks like a mini garden in patriotic theme.

All in the Details

For the little details, pretty straightforward the American flag. I stuck it in between the napkin ring. I love this napkin ring by the way, it will serve many entertaining purposes.

Grocery store bought cupcakes , very fancy ! Hey, it does a great job to make the table look more bountiful . I also love that the cake stand gives height on the tablescape. Yes to this last minute idea.

Citrus Infused Water

During summer I love my citrus infused water. It’s refreshing and hydrating.

Citrus Infused Water

refreshing , hydrating and healthy drink.

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Prep Time 6 minutes

Ingredients

1 lime
1 lemon
1 blood orange
6 slices cucumber
32 oz. cold water

Instructions

Wash and cut the fruits into slices, discard the end pieces.
Put the sliced ingredients in a pitcher and pour in 32 oz. filtered water ( highly recommend ).
Refrigerate for at least an hour to bring out the flavor.

Recipe Notes

Can be infused up to one week. The longer it infused, the stronger the taste.

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Thank you so much for reading and have a great day!

5 Reasons Why We Love Blue Apron

February 18, 2017

April Kus

37 Comments

If you have been following along my blog, you already knew I partnered with Blue Apron. If not and you wanted to know my first experience with them read it here . Without further introduction, here are the reasons why we love Blue Apron .

1. Convenient – I enjoy cooking but I don’t like grocery shopping and sometimes meal planning is so tasking especially when you have so many things going on in your head. There were times when Steve and I spend atleast a half hour just trying to figure out what to eat or what to make for dinner. If we can’t figure something out, we spend another half hour again figuring out where to eat and what each of us have a taste for. It gets kinda stressful and frustrating sometimes and the result ? We end up opening a box of cereal for dinner. That’s why it is always important for me to do a weekly meal plan and with Blue Apron, meal planning and grocery shopping is convenient and stress free. You get to pick which menu/recipes you want for that week, they gather the ingredients for each recipes and delivered to your door, sealed and fresh. For me, there is nothing more convenient opening a box filled with fresh ingredients and all organized accordingly.

Home and Lifestyle, Recipes

My Christmas Tablescape and Easy to Make Christmas Treats

December 31, 2016

April Kus

10 Comments

My Christmas table scape and Christmas treats post is obviously over due. As much as I want to get this post out before we went for our Christmas vacation, I never got the chance to get around to do it. I was so busy preparing,planning and getting stuff done before our trip. My ultimate plan while on vacation is to blog while they were sleeping. Obviously, that never happened and every night I was out like a light bulb. So I decided to take the pressure off myself and unplug for the holidays. I just wanted to enjoy the vacation with the family and not worry about my numbers and statistics. It was refreshing and it’s just what I needed. Blogging could get overwhelming at times. I really don’t have time, but I make time for it because I love to blog! I like to share and cultivate that style of creating contents and also the business side of it. Who knows how long I will keep doing this but I am hoping and trying for the best.

Since we are going for a Christmas vacation for the first time, we decided to celebrate Christmas with the family before we leave. We prepared and eat dinner, exchanged gifts, and just enjoying our time together. I always love gatherings!

I went for the traditional theme this year. Red, gold and green for Christmas, you can’t get more festive than that.

I like the style of layering a satin camisole over a sweater. Hello 90’s! I’m glad the trend is back again.

Easy to Make Christmas Treats

These treats are super duper is easy to make and as always, you can make it with your kids. I love to have my kids involved when I do stuffs like these for the holidays. I want them to remember it as our bonding moment. That’s why I picked easy to do treats, that way It’s less risky to messed up and If we messed up, it’s okay!

I am sharing you how to make it and I hope you will enjoy it too.

4 from 1 vote

White Chocolate Peppermint Hearts

Ingredients

20 pcs. miniature candy canes unwrapped
6 oz white chocolate chips
Holiday sprinkles or rainbow sprinkles

Instructions

Set aside a cookie tray with a parchment paper. Set the candy canes on the tray, attached two together to form hearts. Put them all over the tray.
Melt the white chocolate in the microwave in 30 seconds, stirring in between burst of 15-30 seconds. Make sure it doesn't burn while melting the chocolates. If needed add 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil to slightly thin the chocolate if it is too thick.
Pour the chocolate in a Ziploc bag and snip off the tip with scissors. Pipe the melted chocolate into the center of the candy cane treats. Gently wiggle the candy canes to get the chocolate smooth.
Sprinkle right away with sprinkles and let it set.

4 from 1 vote

Rudolph Noses

Ingredients

25 pcs. pretzel squares
25 pcs. Hershey kisses
25 pcs. Holiday M&M candies

Instructions

Pre-heat oven 350 degrees F.
Line the tray with parchment paper and place the pretzels on the tray.
Unwrap the Hershey kisses and place it on top of the pretzels. Bake for 3 minutes or until the kisses are soft but not melted.
Press the M&M's into the center of the kisses right out of the oven. Let the chocolate set.

Thank you so much, see you around!

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Recipes

The Classic Walnut Snowball Cookies Recipe

December 9, 2016

April Kus

6 Comments

One of the most common tradition of every American families during the Holiday season, is making cookies ! I am a Filipino, we don’t have snow in the Philippines that’s why we don’t make snowball cookies there. Alright, kidding aside. I was introduce to this tradition when I got married to my husband Steve.

On our first holiday together as husband and wife, my mom-in-law, me and Steve made all kinds of cookies that day. One of my favorite is the snowball cookies. Aside that it’s delicious, it is also easy to make. Before we had kids, I don’t care about it so much. For me at that time, it is just cookies. I didn’t realize that it is more than just having cookies in the house, it is more like a bonding that you do with your family during the holidays. It didn’t sink in to me yet until I have kids myself and I want to continue that tradition to them. I think it’s really cool.

We really enjoyed this bonding together as a family. Especially, when Steve is the one leading the team on this. He doesn’t really cook or bake cakes, but he can bake good cookies.

So today, we are sharing one of our holiday favorites. Snowball cookies with walnuts! If you are allergic to nuts, just omit it and it still tasted good. But, If you want me to be honest with you, I personally prefer with walnuts. Some people used all kinds of nuts, one of the most popular ones are pecans. You can use that one too.

I hope you will enjoy this simple recipe as much we do. It is so easy to make and it is such a fun activity to do with the family most especially during the holiday season!

5 from 1 vote

Classic Walnut Snowball Cookies Recipe

A traditional classic holiday cookie that is loved by everyone all over the world. Our family holiday tradition won't be complete without Snowball cookies !

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Ingredients

1 cup butter 1/2 lb or 2 sticks
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/4 tsp. salt

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degree F.
2. Cream the butter and mix it with 1/2 cup of confectioners sugar and vanilla.
3. Mix in the sifted flour,walnuts and salt.
4. Mix all the ingredients until it forms into a dough like consistency.
5. Roll about 1 tbs. of dough into a ball and place it on ungreased cookie sheet.
6. Bake for 15 minutes until bottoms are golden brown. Do not allow these cookies to get too brown. It's better to undercook them rather than overcook them.
7. While cookies are still hot, roll them in confectioners sugar.
8. Once they have cooled, roll them in confectioner sugar again.

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