[food] Pinterest Recipe Round-Up #1

Alright, we should preface this post with the fact that I am not a baker nor chef. I enjoy the concept of cooking, but sometimes it doesn't translate to my fingertips. But I am trying to get better, thanks to the likes of Pinterest!

The past month, I have declared my commitment to try out new (easy) recipes to easily incorporate into our eating menu or to make a fun/new dessert for us to enjoy throughout the week or to take when visiting friends.

Today, I am sharing three EASY recipes I found through Pinterest. I will link the original sources, so if you want the recipe, check it out there. The pictures below are all my own creations/interpretations of the recipe. Enjoy!

one//Easy Potato Skins from I Heart Naptime: Y'ALL. These are delicious. I am a bit impatient when it comes to preparing baked potatoes, but these were so incredibly easy. Slice potatoes. Butter. Season. Bake. Top. Bake. So easy, so good! Nate and I may have devoured this entire pan...

two// S'mores on a Stick from Cupcakepedia: The Wednesday before Easter, our church had an evening service and fellowship afterwards. My contribution were these bite-sized s'mores on a stick. Oh my HEAVENS. Simple to make: Toothpick. Melted chocolate. Crushed graham crackers. Refrigerate. Easy peasy! They were a huge hit: next time I think I'll use more chocolate, but overall... divine! And I am all about bite-sized things (see above, ha!).

 

three// Hot Milk Cake from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures: Nate and I aren't big into sweet cakes with tons of sugar and frosting, so when I was perusing Pinterest for a simple cake that had everyday ingredients in it, I was stunned to find this recipe. This is an old recipe dating back to the Depression Era. How cool is that?! It is a bit more technical than the two prior recipes I shared, but you guyssss.... It uses warm milk in the batter! It tasted SCRUMPTIOUS. Firm, but moist. Filling. A perfect treat to end your night. The hardest part was getting it out of the dang bundt pan! I highly recommend this cake if you're looking to use simple ingredients you already have on hand.

Do you use Pinterest for your weekly/monthly/special occasion meals? I feel like my personal cookbook needs a shake-up every now and then, so I like to check out how to make the same things in new ways (hence the potato recipe above, or a new way to present a sweet at a social gathering, or an enhanced recipe on ingredients I already have at home). If you have any go-to recipes, leave a link and I will check it out!

Have a great week!

[travel] History Buff

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Rums of Puerto Rico for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

As many of you know, Nate and I love to travel to the Caribbean. In the past three years, we have visited Cozumel, Belize, Progresso, Honduras, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. We love the beach, the clear water, the amazing food (guacamole anyone?), and the culture that we experience during our visits.

One place Nate and I hope to visit one day is Puerto Rico: cruises DO travel there, right??? I have shared before, but when Nate and I take a Caribbean vacation, we enjoy the spoils of the culture we see, such as the local beverages. In Puerto Rico, they are known specifically for their rum, which has been distilled there for more than four decades, making it the Rum Capital of the world! Can't you just taste it now, paired with some yummy Puerto Rican fare? And don't you know that when paired with rum, any hum-drum get-together can turn into a celebration! The culture, the history of Puerto Rico, not to mention the gorgeous landscapes and shopping, are what make it a must-visit on our list of places to travel.

I don't know if any of you watch the History Channel (...No? Just Nate and I? #nerds), but seeing the places we travel to, or hope to travel to, and their background history is so intriguing to us. There is a new web-series, entitled It’s Rum Time that allows you to take a visual step back in time to view various historical events and the celebrations that occur during said historical events with the contribution of Puerto Rico's famous rum. Each video runs 3-4 minutes and is produced in conjunction with the History Channel. There is lots to be learned just by tuning in, giving you the unique opportunity to view known history through the eyes of Puerto Rico's beloved beverage: "It's Rum Time!" The first episode shares about the quest for electric light with historical figures such as Thomas Alva Edison (love him, I did a research project on him in the 4th grade) and Nikola Tesla. And then Puerto Rico comes in and offers a fabulous celebration with its rum. A step into history with a huge party at the end? Yes please. "It's Rum Time!"

If you're getting the travel ITCH and are ready for some fun in the rum sun (It's Rum Time!), check out www.itsrumtime.com and let me know what you think about the series. Do you feel the itch to sip on some of that delicious rum? You'd be in some good company with Mr. Edison and Mr. Tesla. They celebrate. You celebrate. #winwin