Recipe Reviews from My Pinterest Food Board

So I'm doing this thing where I actually try out some of the recipes I prolifically Pin to my Recipes and Foodie Tips board, rather than just click "Pin It" over and over until my eyes pop out. Imagine that! And there have been times where I've Pinned a recipe from a blog or website and wondered if it would actually live up to the hype. So consider today's post my tried and tested review of a couple recent recipe Pins with my photos to back it up. I'd love to know if you try them too!

Crock Pot Meatball Subs from Growing with Grabbie

This one was as easy as dumping a bag of frozen meatballs in my crock pot along with some sauce and spices. The store didn't have any hoagie rolls, so I bought some ciabatta rolls and it was just as tasty. A great weeknight special!

Beer Bread from Dulce Dough

I searched and searched for a tasty beer bread recipe because I didn't want to spend $87 per loaf buying the mix from Tastefully Simple. We had everything we needed, and it was perfection! Best when served warm, and don't skip pouring the butter on the top!

Chicken and Rice Casserole from pinch of yum

If you sense a theme of "easy" among these recipes, you would be correct. My sis sent me the link for this one, and I am forever grateful. This recipe has healthy options, but I went for the cream of chicken soups 'cause ain't nobody got time for that. I also leave the chicken breasts whole; doesn't make a difference in the outcome. I also add frozen broccoli florets. Still a yummy meal. 

Do you use your Pinterest boards to meal plan? Have any new favorites that you've snagged from a blogger or recipe site?

I'd love it if you'd like to follow me on Pinterest. I Pin lots of recipes, home decor inspiration, craft ideas, and  homemaking tips. Hop over and check my boards out!

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!

Featured Project Ideas {Link Party Features}

Happy Monday! How's your week starting out? As promised, I'm back with some Features from the weekend link party. As usual, there was a fantastic line-up of creative posts: Home Decor, DIY, Crafts, Recipes, Party Ideas, Tips and Tricks, and more. Without further ado, here are some that I spotted this weekend:

~Spring Living Room via Happy Housie

~Philly Cheese Steak Stuffed Peppers via The Kitchen is My Playground

~Above Ground Pond via One More Time

One More Day to Link Up Your Best Post!

I'm trying something different this week and giving everyone one more day to link up to this week's Weekend Bloggy Reading link party before I choose Features. I've been running this party for several years now, and I'd love to see it grow a little more. I'll have a post with lots of Featured Project Ideas up tomorrow morning.

If you haven't joined the fun yet, please hop over to the party and add your best post of the week. We have Home Decor, Crafts, DIY, Recipes, Tips and Tricks, Party Ideas, and so much more! Lots of fun ideas to Pin and tuck away for future use.

If you've already linked up, be sure to browse some of the other projects. If you haven't added a link back to me within your post, please take a minute to do that. I had to bypass several dozen really fantastic projects last weekend for Features because the bloggers didn't link back to Serenity Now within their posts. It's good for both of our SEO, guys! 

Hope you've had a fantastic weekend. 

Share Your Best Post of the Week-- Link Up!

Happy Saturday! What are you up to today? I just wanted to offer you guys a quick "weekend update." Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. Today's the day to link up because I'm busy rounding up more Features! I'd love to know which ones caught your eye.

All kinds of posts are welcome here: We have recipes, party ideas, room makeovers, crafts, printables, tips and tricks, home decor, DIY, fashion advice, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post, or you can add a text link back to me within your post.

This is just a quick "sneak peek" snapshot of all the awesome projects that have been shared at the party this week. You can click the party link above to check them out and share your own project! I'd love to Feature you in a post!

If you haven't linked up yet, hop on over! Be sure to browse some of the amazing projects that have been shared.

If you missed this week's posts at Serenity Now, here are some links for you:

•  Banana Bread Recipe with One Banana
• Martha Stewart Jewelry Sneak Peek
• Featured Project Ideas
• Not That Innocent

More Features coming tomorrow!

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. This is the day of the week where other bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects! Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link. I've been bypassing dozens of links for Features because the posts don't have a direct link back to me!

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, tips and tricks, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Here are a few of my faves I spotted around the web this week:

sources listed below

~Diagonal Color Block T-Shirt via warfieldfamily

~DIY Clay Monogram Medallions via damask love

~Create a Meaningful Home series via SAS Interiors

~Updating an Oudoor Umbrella via Creatively Living

~And Me? I'd love it if you have a moment to click over. This week featured:

•  Banana Bread Recipe with One Banana
• Martha Stewart Jewelry Sneak Peek
• Featured Project Ideas
• Not That Innocent

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Not That Innocent

I hope you heard Britney Spears' singing when you read the title of this post, because I totally did. This looks like the precious face of a puppy angel, albeit a large-eared one, doesn't it?

It's been ten years since we've had a puppy in the house, and Ellie is giving us (and our Pomeranian, Emma) a grand reintroduction. 

Her current favorite toys are the plastic lid of a peanut butter jar and anything that squeaks. Her favorite things to chew are my chair legs and the legs of small children who might be passing through the kitchen. Michaela Byrd, whose skinny legs are the approximate width of a No. 2 pencil, makes an excellent victim.

Likes? Eating as many cicada bugs as possible while being walked in the backyard. Cherry picking dishes off the table when children aren't paying attention. Dislikes? Being left alone for any period of time. An empty food bowl.

I say this jesting because I realize that a lot of this is normal puppy behavior, and most of it can be curbed. 

We're working really, really hard on the whole "no bite" thing and making her understand that the girls are not chew toys. I need to get some bitter apple stuff to put on the furniture legs. I'm also struggling through the house training...the cicada bugs are out and really threw me for a loop. Ellie has to be leashed when we go out now so she doesn't stuff herself with too many bugs and forget about the whole potty thing. It's super-fun.

On the bright side, it's so fun to see a puppy explore a whole new world. We've been careful to keep her home until she's through all of her shots, but she has enjoyed meeting some family members and their dogs. She seems to be pretty smart. I taught her "sit" the other day in just two tries. 

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you may have seen a few Ellie-themed "Don't worry, Mom" pics. I plan on keeping those up...they make me smile. 

What's your best puppy tips?

*Bring your best post of the week tomorrow for the weekly link party! I can't wait to see what's up your sleeve!*

Banana Bread Recipe with One Banana

Did you know you can make Banana Bread with just one banana? I didn't until yesterday! I had one measly brown banana and didn't want to throw it out. With a little Google help, I found a recipe from What a Crock! and tweaked it by adding a few extras. It turned out great, so I'm sharing it with you today:

Banana Bread with One Banana

Ingredients:

1 large very ripe banana

1 egg with enough milk to make 1 cup (I used whole milk because that's what my girls drink)\

1 stick of butter, softened

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

Walnuts (optional)

Chocolate Chips (optional)

Dash of cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

*Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. 

1. Dump all of the ingredients (except for the nuts and chocolate chips) into your mixer bowl; no need to combine. I just broke the banana up into a couple of chunks. 

2. Mix on low to medium-low until most of the chunks are gone. 

3. Grease a baking pan. (Grease it really well...the bottom of my bread stuck because I didn't grease it well enough!)

4. If you're adding chocolate chips, mix them into the batter and pour into the bread pan. Top with sprinkles of walnuts.

5. Bake at 350 for 55 minutes. Use a toothpick to determine if the bread is cooked all the way through.

It is a very dense, moist (I hate that word) bread. Very tasty!

My girls eat pretty healthy breakfasts: eggs, toast, fruit, whole wheat waffles, healthier cereal...so sometimes I like to treat them with muffins or a yummy bread. Paired with some scrambled eggs and a small serving of fruit, this would make for a very yummy morning meal!

What's your favorite type of bread?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments!