Great Aunt Betty's Lemon Bars

I'm going to warn you- this may be the best Lemon Bar Recipe Ever! It's one I have from my great aunt Betty's recipe collection and I just tried it for the first time this past weekend- AMAZING! Plus, it's super simple, which just adds to it's awesomeness. Ingredients:

Base:

• 2 cups of flour sifted
• 1 cup of melted butter
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Top layer:

• 4 eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/8 tspn salt
• 1/4 cup flour
• Juice of 2 lemons
• 1 tspn baking powder

Mix flour, melted butter, and powdered sugar together in bowl and pat in 9x15 inch pan (I used 9x13). Bake 20 min at 325 degrees.

Take out of the ovenBeat 4 eggs and then add sugar, salt, flour, lemon juice, and baking powder. (This step can also be done while the base layer is baking... but I didn't realize I was out of eggs and had to run to the grocer).
Pour this over the crust.

Bake 25 minutes at 325 degrees

Sprinkle with powdered sugar

And enjoy!

My plate went from looking like this...

to this (many, many times in a row)

And if you're like me and have an unhealthy addiction to coffee, pour yourself a cup right now- because lemon and coffee are heaven together

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Happy Weekend!

Happy Weekend! My dad's out visiting for the next 2 weeks so I'll be spending this weekend hanging out with him. It's been fun showing him around the town and seeing him get just as excited about where we live as we do. Danny took him out skiing today so I can get some work done and then I'll be making a good dinner for us tonight: carnitas, cornbread, and then lemon bars for dessert- yum! I hope you all have a happy weekend too and I'll see you here on Monday!

(personal photo)

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New Products in Silver Pencils Etsy Shop

Here are some new products that I have recently debuted in the Silver Pencils Etsy shop:


Kennedy
Gloria
CharlieAva

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Homemade Enchiladas

A couple weeks ago I made enchiladas for the first time. So good! I remember my mom making them when I was younger and wanted to try them for myself. I took the recipe from The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond, so I knew I couldn't go wrong.
Ingredients:

Red Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1 large 28 oz. can enchilada or Mexican red sauce
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, plus extra for serving

The Meat:

Ree used 1 lb. of ground beef with a medium chopped onion. (I used a rotisserie chicken purchased at the grocery store and then shredded it at home). No matter what meat you end up using, just make sure you have:

• Two 4oz cans of diced green chilies
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

The Rest:

• 10- 14 corn tortillas
• Canola oil for frying
• 1/2 cup chopped black olives (I skipped these)
• 1 cup chopped green onions
• 3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese (I used the Mexican mix bought in a bag at the store and used almost all of it)
• Cilantro

First make the sauce. In a saucepan over medium- low heat, combine the canola oil and flour.

Whisk together and allow to bubble for 1 minute.

Pour in the red sauce, chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat and simmer while you prepare the other ingredients.

If you were making the ground beef, this is when you would do it. Since I had already shredded the rotisserie chicken, I went ahead and added the green chilies and salt, and then mixed everything together.

Next, In a small skillet over medium heat, lightly fry the tortillas in canola oil just until soft. Do not crisp. Drain on a paper towel lined plate. Repeat until all the tortillas have been fried.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread 1/2 cup of the sauce in the bottom of a 9x13- inch baking dish.

Next, dip each tortilla into the sauce.

Set the sauce soaked tortilla on a cookie sheet (I used a cutting board). Onto each tortilla, place some of the meat mixture, green onions, and black olives if you're using them.

Top with a generous portion of grated cheddar.
Roll up the tortilla to contain the filling inside.

Place the tortillas seam side down in the baking dish. Repeat with the rest of the tortillas.

Stir the cilantro into the sauce, and pour the remaining sauce over the top.

End with a generous sprinkling of cheese.
Bake the enchiladas for 20 minutes , or until bubbly. Sprinkle extra chopped cilantro over the top.

And enjoy! We topped our with a very generous portion of avocados and lime.

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Listening to...

I've been a fan of Amos Lee's music for quite some time. He has great road trip/ rainy day music... which is basically my favorite kind of music. And although the entire album is great, I'm especially loving "Stay with Me". Check it out for yourself

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Happy Friday!

It's started to snow again in Jackson and just in time for Winterfest. Winterfest involves ice sculpture competitions, big air skiing, concerts, art walks, and dodge ball on ice (probably the activity I'm most excited to see). I have a lot I need to get done this weekend but I'm going to try and get out to see (and take pictures) of at least some of the activities. I'm such a sucker for community events like this and it's one of my favorite reasons for living in a small town,

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday!

Image via here

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Hanging Wrapping Paper

I've always stored our rolls of wrapping paper in a galvanized bucket in my office closet. It looked sort of organized and kept them all in one place. But then, I started throwing random things in the bucket (of course) and the wrapping paper started getting all crinkled and smooshed. So I decided to do something I've always wanted to do (and already do with my tissue paper)- hang it up like I work in a fancy and fun paper store. They're not perfectly level (shhhhh), but I like it. I used spare ribbon in different colors to hang them up, tied a knot on each end, and then secured them with push pins. Not as pretty as those paper stores I love but it works for me.
How do you store your wrapping paper?

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Breakfast

I usually rush through breakfast. I'm either quickly scooping up a bowl of Coco Krispies or I'm eating something more hearty and healthy like oatmeal, but while working- so I never am really savoring and/ or enjoying breakfast time. So the other day while my guests and husband were asleep in the house (and while I was trying to be super quiet since I always wake up hours before everyone) (and since my computer was dead and the cord to charge it was in the guest bedroom) I decided to kill some time by having a breakfast date with myself. It honestly didn't take more than about 5 minutes to make- but it looked pretty and I enjoyed every yummy, blueberry and banana bite.

Do you usually make time for breakfast?

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Happy Valentine's Day!!

Image via here

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HAPPY FRIDAY!

Happy Friday! I'm so excited- my best friend and her husband flew in last night and I get to spend time with them this weekend! Yay- Girl Time! While the guys are out snowboarding we get to catch up, talk, shop, eat, and just do whatever we want. Plus, the weather is supposed to be in the 20's which is sooooo nice! It's going to be wonderful. I wish you all a fantastic weekend as well! See you on Monday!

Image via here

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1 Outfit, 2 Dates

My everyday outfit pretty much consists of jeans, a tank, and a cardigan... well, at least it did in California. My outfit here in the winter tends to involve a lot more fleece, but I still love me my jeans and cardigan combo. The versatility of this casual outfit is what I love the most. I can go from casual to a little dressy just by changing my shoes and jewelry- which was the inspiration for this collection of wears. 1 Outfit- 2 Different Activities.

What's your go to outfit?

Joie Soft Ira Cardigan: Piperlime; AG Adriano Goldschmied The Premiere Skinny Jeans: Piperlime; Bensimon® Lace-Up Sneakers -... Madewell; Joan & David Flipp Pumps: Piperlime; The Quality Mending Co. Duffel Bag - Madewell; Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hillier; Tinley Road Braided Cuff Bracelet: Piperlime; Nimli - Elizabeth Street Turquoise Ring: Nimli

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A Little Break

I have lots of orders going out this week so I'm taking a mini blogging break today. Be back tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day full of sunshine and adventure!

Image from here

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Say Hello to My Little Friends

Yesterday while working in my office, I had some unexpected visitors come by my windowYou'd think by how excited I got that I'd never seen a deer before. But seeing them sneak into our side yard and trample through the thick snow was just another reminder of why I love where I live

They were quite skittish and froze any time there was a noise

But they were so cute!Maybe today I'll get a visit from one of their other furry friends.

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Outside

"I only went out for a walk

and finally concluded to

stay out till sundown, for

going out, I found I was

really going in."

- John Muir

Photo by: Danny Reed

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Happy Friday!

Wow- this week went by super fast. But I'm happy to say the extreme freezing conditions are gone for now and it's snowing. I'll be working inside this weekend, as well as preparing for my best friend's visit next week- yay! Her and her husband will be staying in my office so... yah... let's just say I have A LOT of cleaning to do :) I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Maybe take a hint from these guys and do some relaxing

Image via here

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Can't Get Enough Of...

Janet Hill Studio. I LOVE her work. And now she's opened up Janet Hill INK to sell her prints on smaller items like cards and eventually small canvas prints and desk calendars (which I am eagerly awaiting). Here are just some of my favorites paintings... although her entire shop is nothing short of amazing. See for yourself...

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Into the Pink...

I'm not a girl who wears or outfits her house in much pink... in fact, looking around my house right now I can't find one thing of the color- but this girliest shade of the Crayola box is romantic, whimsical, and fun. Take a tour of these pink loving homes with me and indulge your feminine side.

Images: MC Maison 1,2,4,5; Flickr for Domino 3

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