{kitchen inspiration by lori dennis}

i always love a happy and inviting kitchen...it makes cooking much more funner

i love the pops of colors everywhere in what would be a stark kitchen

from the bright cookware, a bowl of your favorite fruits or citrus-y friends,

cheery wall decor, pretty flower arrangements and lovely table settings

is what i feel livens up this kitchen.

Liz♥

{Photo Credits: Lori Dennis Interior Design}

{magenta for your table}

currently crushing over these, bright, fun and rockin' pieces to display and serve some fun with from Magenta on sale at HauteLook. to see more of my crushes for the home, please go here.

Liz♥

garlic-herb bread

how 'bout some toasty Garlic-Herb Bread for your pasta?

my first time ever preparing and making a garlic toast on my own. i usually grab some from the frozen food section or the bakery inside my local supermarket, but not anymore, unless i'm in a really tight binge, but this recipe is in fact quick and easy to make and you'll love the results. great taste with a kick!

found recipe on page 8 of Southern Living Easy Entertaining which you can still find at Amazon.

so you wanna try?! well...

here are the facts:

Makes: 8 servings;

Prep: 10 min.,

Bake: 13 min.

a bit of dried crushed red pepper adds some heat to your usual garlic bread

what you'll need for this recipe:

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp. butter, melted

1/2 tsp. dried crushed red pepper

1 (16-oz) French bread loaf

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh chives

let's do it!

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Stir together first 4 ingredients in a small bowl.

2. Cut bread in half lenghtwise. Brush cut sides with garlic mixture; place on a baking sheet.

3. Bake at 350° for 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with chives.

and there you have it. pretty simple hunh?

enjoy!

Liz♥

fettuccine alfredo with chicken

one of my favorites, fettuccine alfredo with chicken. my hubby asked for this last week. love this recipe... origanilly found it inside Kraft's Food & Family Fall 2008 issue. the alfredo sauce is made from scratch, yup, you can kiss them jar sauces goodbye after you start making this version yourself.

the facts:

Prep: 15 min

Total: 25 min

Makes: 4 servings, 1 1/2 cups each

what you'll need for this recipe is the following:

1/2 lb. fettuccine, uncooked

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

1 1/4 cups fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth

4 tsp. flour

4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) Philadelphia Neufchatel Cheese, 1/3 Less Fat than Cream Cheese, cubed

3 Tbsp. Kraft 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. pepper

now let's get cooking:

COOK pasta as directed on package.

MEANWHILE, heat large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 5 to 7 min. or until chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally. Remove from skillet. Mix broth and flour in same skillet. Stir in Neufchatel cheese, 2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese, garlic powder and pepper; cook 2 min., stirring constantly until mixture boils and thickens. Stir in chicken.

DRAIN pasta; place in large bowl. Pour chicken mixture over pasta; toss to coat. Sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese.

SPECIAL EXTRA: Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley before serving.

~ enjoy ~

Liz♥

southern living easy entertaining

this is my latest addition to my sea collection of cookbooks and cooking magazines.

Southern Living Easy Entertaining published by Southern Living

it's 113 pages are filled with splendid decorating ideas, including impressive appetizers, make-ahead meals, and no-fuss centerpieces. so far i've only cooked one recipe from it and looking forward to some more rewarding and delicious meals out of this great find. lucky me, i found it way beyond it's time alloted for display at my local supermarket, so glad someone wasn't paying attention, sord of like a "meant to be" moment, lol. i purchased my copy at $10.99 plus tax, but you can still find yours here for $3.01! don't pass this offer up, you'll love every single page of delicious recipes and refreshing entertaining ideas.

looks familiar? yup, it's the same BANANA-NESS bread recipe as posted earlier today

what i love about this special edition from Southern Living is that there is a photo for every single recipe, that is a BIG + for me, just makes the recipe even more inviting and yummier.

hope you get your copy before they run out

liz♥

cream cheese - banana-nut bread

i am KR-AA-ZYYY BANANAS over the following recipe, LITERALLY, lol. and just to let you know a lil' something about me I L-O-V-E BANANAS, everything bananas, so you can imagine my delight when baking this little number.

i cannot stop making it or should i say BAKING IT ever since i discovered it. it is the best banana-nut bread i've ever had...and what's best about it, it's that it's so easy and fun to bake, + (PLUS!) you can hone it and brag all you want about how you've baked it from SCRATCH! and that it's real bananans and real pecans, you get the picture.

my family and friends cannot have enough of it. i've received so many compliments, i kid you not. i've baked recently for a pot-luck and before that i baked it especially for my bestie and i quote her "this is so addicting", love her bunches.

it is the YUMMIEST and TASTIEST you'll ever have and what's special, it's that it's been baked by you.

sure it taste GOOD when finally done and cooled down, but it also taste WONDERFUL the next day in the morning for breakfast or brunch, or whenever you're feeling BANANAS, just warm up a slice or two and/or a muffin in the microwave for a few seconds and Mmmmm, HEAVENLY, don't say i didn't warn ya or simply thank me later, he he.

here are the facts:

Prep: 15 min
Bake: 1 hr., 6 min
Cool: 40 min
Makes: 2 loaves (or in my case 1 8- x 4-inch loaf pan and 1 6 muffin tray)

importante!

"warm bread is yummy, but to get perfect slices, let bread cool 30 minutes and cut with a serrated or electric knife. for a delicious (and wondrous) glaze, see quick idea at bottom"

what you'll need for this recipe is the following:

1 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (1 1/4 lb. unpeeled bananas, about 4 medium)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

   Orange Glaze (optional; see quick idea at bottom)

ready?! let's bake!

1. preheat oven to 350°. bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 6 to 8 minutes or until toasted and fragrant.

2. beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

3. combine flour and next 3 ingredients; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. stir in bananas, pecans, and vanilla. spoon batter into 2 greased and floured 8- x 4-inch loaf pans.

4. bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean and sides pull away from pan, shielding with aluminum foil during last 15 minutes to prevent browning, if necessary. cool bread in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. remove from pans to wire racks; drizzle with glaze, if desired. cool 30 minutes before slicing.

note: to make ahead, prepare recipe as directed. wrap loaves tightly in plastic wrap. wrap again in aluminum foil. freeze up to 1 month

•  cream cheese ~ banana-nut muffins: spoon batter into 24 paper lined muffin cups. bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. cool in pans 10 minutes. remove from pans to wire racks, drizzle with glaze, if desired, and cool completely (about 30 minutes). makes 24 muffins. prep: 15 min., bake: 25 min., cool: 40 min.
• pecan-topped cream cheese ~ banana-nut bread: spoon batter into prepared loaf pans. sprinkle 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans over batter in pans. bake as directed. cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks, drizzle with glaze, if desired, and cool 30 minutes.

quick idea!

     this is a must if you ask me, it is the best, so easy (love easy) and it works wonders. i was skeptical at first cause of bananas and orange flavors together, but boy was i happy to try it. absolute yummy!

     orange glaze: stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp. orange zest, and 3 tpsp. fresh orange juice for a  glaze to drizzle over pecan-topped version of cream cheese ~ banana-nut bread.

~ enjoy ~

happy baking n' happy eats

Liz♥

{inspired by Southern Living Easy Entertaining (235 of our best ideas and recipes)}

it's a saturday blowout!

happy Saturday!

hope you are all having a lovely sunny Spring weekend.

just thought i post a little something quick and let you in on a sale going on right now over at HauteLook. if you have not heard from them before, then i am happy to fill you in. they're a private sale website where you can find almost anything from your favorite designers at very reduced prices. only thing you have to act fast, grab your favorite items and check out as soon as possible, before someone else scoops them away.

i have selected just a few items that are to my delight and like to have for when i am busy in "mi cocina" - my kitchen cooking away...like the cute retro inspired aprons (above) from Retro Electro and

these spunky looking kitchen towels and vintage trimmed rubber gloves

all pretty dandy essentials for anyone's kitchen

other lovely items for sale are these elegant and contemporary

espresso, cup and saucer sets and/or a

beautiful coffee or tea set for one

by Yedi Houseware

i also think any of these sets or items would make for FABULOUS gift giving

and like they say...there is more where this came from

so hop on over to HauteLook this weekend before they are all gone

sale will be over and gone by Tue, Mar 23

liz♥