Easter Lamb

Remember Thanksgiving and Jamie Oliver's lamb my dad and I made? We decided to try Rachel Ray's version for Easter (it just seemed right to eat lamb after seeing all the cartoon lambs all over the place...haha). And, I can't believe I'm saying this, but Rachel's lamb was better than Jamie's. A LOT better. Like... "holy crap you need to make this for your next family par-tay" better.

herb-crusted leg o' lamb

It was soooo easy! Check out the recipe here. The coolest part? You wrap the whole thing in parchment paper, marinate it, and bake it for 3 hours - which creates the most moist, succulent, and flavorful lamb ever. Period.

While the lamb was marinating in it's little pouch (and the lemon, EVOO, and fresh herbs were permeating the meat), we all went out on Dad's boat for a little jaunt on Houston Lake. It was the perfect day to go - it was sunny, not sweltering, and no one was out!

The parents! :)

Rollin' down the River
(or lake, rather...)

Lily pads!

Soaking up some rays

Moi

Enough of the beautiful outdoors, right? Back to the meal...

After we baked it for 3 hours...

It's like opening an Easter present!

Ohhhh yeah...

I forgot to mention we did eat things other than lamb on Easter (lol): Mom's homemade tabbouli, sweet peas with sauteed shitake mushrooms, and fresh baked sourdough bread. Also- Rachel's recipe had a minty shallot sauce that one would serve with the lamb. I think I could have bathed in it. No joke.

I can't take this picture. I must look away.

I had to end on this picture. I'm literally laughing out loud right now at my father's face. :) I think it sums up the whole occasion! Happy eating, everyone!

~ Mari

Spring Montage

It's time for a montage (I'm channelling the amazing song from Team American, World Police). It's spring. I took photos. That is all.

Knock-Out Roses in front yard

I just had to bring some inside!

Easter Table

Trapped!

Baker's Rack

Springtime Goodies

End montage.

~ Mari

Cake Pops

This weekend I went to the Girls State retreat (if you are a bit curious about what Girls State is, check out this post) and wanted to bring a special dessert that would be easy to eat. I've been eyeing these cake pops made by Bakerella for some time now, and just needed an excuse to make them. And here was my excuse! I didn't take photos throughout the whole process because it was my first time and I wasn't sure how they would come out, to be honest! But, they came out great and I plan to make them again!

So, I made two different ones: chocolate cake with raspberry coating (the 1st photo) and chocolate cake with chocolate coating. I decorated them with bright colored sprinkles and some butterfly wings and flowers that I made a while back for Ryan's sister's wedding shower.

So, here is what I did! I put some of them in a little flower pot and some in a basket! (The little bouquet was for the hostess of the retreat and her family.)

I will definitely be making these little cuties again! The ladies seemed to really enjoy them this weekend! :) How cute would they be for Easter? The possibilities are endless!

~ Mari

Baskets, Grass, and Chocolate

Happy Easter, everyone! I hope that it is as beautiful wherever you are as it is here in East TN! The sun is shining, the grass is green, and all is well!

Happy egg hunting!

~ Mari

Spring Spruce-Up

It has poured all day today. Not cool. So, in defiance of the weather, I've decided to post some photos of ways to spruce-up one's home for springtime! In the photo above, I planted an African Violet (Lowe's $5.99) in a giant red cup and saucer (T.J. Maxx $4.99). Then I put some candy sticks (Cracker Barrel 40 cents a piece) in a little glass container (Goodwill 50 cents) and placed a little container of fake raspberries (Michaels $2.99) on a cool tray (Hobby Lobby $7.00). Instant springtime feeling in the kitchen!

Above is a picture of Ryan and my dining room table (not that anyone can enjoy it... we have no chairs yet) ready for Easter! I used our "fancy" plates with some French napkins as placemats. That green mossy stuff is...well...green moss! You can buy it at craft stores and it just rolls out like a table runner (which is what I used it for)! Then I used some white ceramic bunny napkin rings to hold the cheap little pastel napkins from the grocery store. I found some really neat little votive holders at Anthropologie (my most favoritest store ever) - on sale, of course - and put some eggs I found at T. J. Maxx in them and... voila! Instant egg cups! For the centerpiece, I used a bunny statue, a little bunny soap dish (full of eggs), and a dome with a bird's nest under it. I'm quite pleased with how it came out! Too bad we can't eat our Easter meal on it... (again, no chairs)!

Finally, this photo is here at my parent's house in the G-burg. I love this little display on a side table near our family dining table. We just took some china plates and put them on a plate stand, added a nest (from T.J. Maxx), some cool vintage glasses (one filled with acorns), some dried pomegranates, and put it all on a vintage silver tray!

Spring is in the air.... time to spruce!

~ Mari