recipe: cinnamon stacks

I discovered this new little blog called Mmm...Cafe and it's full of delicious recipes. On Saturday, we spent the morning around the apartment and I tried out a new recipe called Cinnamon Stacks.

dry ingredients first

 then add shortening and milk

 then it tells you to spread the cinnamon mixture over the dough and stack slices of dough and cinnamon on top of each other (layering them like lasagna). my cinnamon however was a bit runny so I decided to roll mine up and then slice the roll into about 8 pieces and bake it that way. It worked just as well and turned out delich.

they still kind of looked like stacks instead of cinnamon buns in the end, right? They turned out crunchy on the edges and soft and gooey in the middle.

John said it was his favorite breakfast. Sounds like we might make these again sometime :)

monday funday

hey blog, I'm back. remember me?

Last week was crazy! I worked lots and lots. But I'm back and refreshed after a lovely weekend.

Friday after work, I met John at BWW for teryaki boneless, queso dip and trivia. Our team name is Kennesaurus Rex in case you're wondering. Awesome, right? Saturday we spent the morning relaxing and watching lots of 30 Rock. I tried a new recipe - cinnamon stacks - that I'll share with you later. It turned out delicious. Saturday night was dedicated to bowling and bbq. Sunday we spent the sunny but chilly afternoon hiking up Kennesaw Mountain, waving at all of the cute doggies and laying in the grass under the warmth of the sun. Speaking of cute doggies, isn't the one above the most adorable thing ever? Hope you have a happy Monday!

crockpot cookin' - Mexican Style Chicken Tortilla Soup

 Delicious!

Last week, I followed this recipe for chicken tortilla soup in the crockpot and it was amazing. You throw all of the ingredients in the crockpot (think tomatoes/rotel, kidney beans, black beans, corn, onions, fresh cilantro, chicken, broth, water, cumin, chili powder and garlic powder) and just let it cook. I did use fresh cilantro instead of dried because in my experiences making homemade salsa with a lot of these same ingredients, the fresh cilantro is so tasty.

 I let mine cook for almost 10 hours on low and when it was done, I took the pieces of chicken out and just pulled them apart with a fork. It was so tender and shredded without a problem.

I'd recommend topping it with Mexican style shredded cheese and dipping it out like chili with tortilla chips. That's the best way. 

So, what's for dinner this week?
ps - how do like the photography? I'm practicing :)

Taqueria del Sol

 Last night John and I went to one of our favorite taco places (I've only been there twice but it's so good that I can already call it my favorite) Taqueira del Sol.

 It's a busy popular place and they have heated outdoor seating with yellow chairs.

 oh yea

 the most delicious creamy queso

I've decided the briskett taco is my favorite. For sure.

and the view of the city off in the distance is so pretty

Come visit me and I'll take you to eat tacos :) You'll love them too, I just know it.

exactly

take note, John ;)

via

I'm on Pinterest

Yay! If you're not on Pinterest, let me tell you that it's awesome. It's basically a place to share images you like, things that inspire you, recipes you want to make, crafts you want to create. Right up my ally. And what were the first things I pinned?

these beautiful Valentine's cupcakes from Bakerella

and these heart shaped marshmallows from Katie's Pencil Box

it feels like winter

I just love this photo that my friend on facebook posted today of her morning in Utah. Winter is officially here I suppose. Will Georgia get snow this year? I'm going to want to make snow cream, I just know it.

apple cinnamon pecan pancakes

What are you up to this weekend? With the cold weather finally upon us, weekend mornings are for pancakes and hot chocolate. We cut up apples and mixed them in with the pancake mix, cinnamon, brown sugar and pecans. Delich!

After this fun birthday week, the big day is finally here! Can't wait to celebrate my birthday this weekend with some of my favorite people :)

it's birthday-ville at our place

our apartment is now filled with streamers, birthday spirals, sparkly signs and visions of birthday cake dancing above our heads. it's delightful!

birthday cake

John made me the best birthday cake!

 it was apple cinnamon caramel cake

topped with...

 homemade whipped cream cheese icing that melted down into the cake!

yummmmm

 and a pink candle :)

it's my birthday week!

 It's my birthday week! Time to celebrate :)

Last night we kicked it off with an amazing birthday cake that John made, I'll post pictures later. But first I thought I'd share this fun balloon party that I spotted on Edyta Photography's website. how fun!

happy Friday!

Since it's Friday, I thought I'd just share some funny things I've seen around Atlanta lately...

matching outfits for the horse and the driver :)

 the Virginia marching band with giant feathers on their hats

 this restaurant, haha

John being silly!

 plus, we got a late Christmas package all the way from Australia!! Guess what was inside?

these beauties! thanks John! 

~

happy Friday everyone! do you have big weekend plans? next week starts my birthday week - woohoo!

are those marshmallows?

The answer is yes! and they are gorgeous! Who would've thought?

Spotted on the beautiful (new to me) blog Wednesday and on Creature Comforts' post about Wednesday.

3 pretty things

calendar | cupcakes | clutch

Happy January!

It's 2012! Happy New Year friends. How was your New Year's Eve? Did you watch Dick Clark or toast with champagne? We did watch the ball drop with some friends and they dropped the peach here in GA and aired it on TV next to the NYC ball. And then yesterday it was 65 degrees outside so we did a little hiking :) Today the high is 38. bummer.

My favorite thing about the fact that it's January though... my birthday! Yay! 

Hope your 2012 has started off beautifully.