Spinach Tortellini Salad

I've blogged about my domestic goddess friend "Cathy" before. This wonderful salad is from her recipe stash & it is dee-licious!

Spinach Tortellini Salad

www.michellelunt.com

• cheese tortellini, cooked {but not overcooked!}
• baby spinach
• cheese of your choice, cut into cubes
• Genoa salami, cut into thin strips
• grated parmesan cheese
• artichoke hearts
• cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• red & yellow bell peppers, thinly sliced
• Italian olives
• purple onion, thinly sliced
• Bernstein's Light Cheese Fantastico dressing

Cook & cool cheese tortellini. Toss with other ingredients. Amen.

{You'll love it!}

Chocolate Cake with Carmel Sauce

Of all the things I cook, this one is the most requested by friends & family. I've never met anyone who didn't love this cake! Plus, it turns out great every time. Here's the recipe . . .

Chocolate Cake with Warm Carmel Sauce

• 1 pkg. devil's food cake mix
• 1 {3.9 oz.} pkg. chocolate instant pudding mix
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil {I use canola oil}
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips {sometimes I use milk, sometimes semi-sweet}
• 1/2 cup butter {or one stick}
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup whipping cream

CAKE: Coat a bundt pan with Baker's Secret spray{or grease & flour}. Combine: cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, warm water, & oil in a bowl. Mix for several minutes - stopping once in a while to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Batter will be quite thick. Put half the batter in the bundt pan, layer chocolate chips, then finish adding the rest of the batter. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes. {Don't overcook!}

SAUCE: Melt 1/2 cup butter in a saucepan. Add 1 cup brown sugar & 1 cup whipping cream. Stir until well combined & warm. 

SERVE: Pour warm carmel sauce over cake & garnish with whipping cream & fruit. I love the recipe for stabilized whipping cream that my friends at Made From Pinterest shared HERE!

Personal Progress Airlines

Personal Progress is a goal-setting program for the girls in our church ages 12-18. On occasion we host an evening for the young women & their parents where awards for progress are handed out. A theme adds a whimsical atmosphere for the girls. This "Personal Progress Airlines" program was fun, fun, fun! The youth leaders cracked us up with their over-the-top stewardess & pilot attire.

All the "flight attendants" wore wigs - which totally transformed their appearances. They made their own hats & used scarfs left over from another activity. 

The chairs were arranged in isles to look similar to an airplane. And the refreshments were distributed from a rolling cart.

I certainly enjoyed flying "Personal Progress Airlines"!

Ten Favorite Scenes from Romantic Movies

Happy Valentine's Day! Since I'm a fan of movies & love,  I thought I'd share a few of my favorite scenes from romantic films. {Make sure & leave a comment if I didn't mention yours!} 

Here they are in no particular order . . . 

1 - The "Leaning Scene" in While You Were Sleeping.  Jack explains to Lucy about "leaning" - "Hugging is very different. Hugging - that involves arms & hands & whole bodies. Leaning involves wanting & accepting. Leaning . . . " Then Joe Jr. interrupts & asks if Jack is bothering Lucy - "Because it looks like he's 'leaning'!"

2 - Fountain scene in Becoming Jane. Be still my heart.

3 - Six Smiles - Win a Date With Tad Hamilton. I smile every time. 

4 - The Proposal Scene in The Young Victoria. Actually the whole movie as well! Oh my.

5 - When Bill Murray's character comes to his senses in Groundhog Day. My heart melts.

6 - Mr. Darcy's 2nd proposal in Pride & Predjudice. I actually like both proposals, but the second one ends better. Here he comes - here he comes!

7 - Paris is always a good idea - Sabrina. How could anyone turn down Harrison Ford anyway?

8 - Edward proposes to Elinor - Sense & Sensibility. *Sigh* I get choked up every time!

9 - Any scene with Mary & Matthew in Downton Abbey. 'Nough said! 

10 - And finally, I think a lot of movies today have lost touch with romantic tension.  This scene where Captain Von Trapp dances with Maria in The Sound of Music allows the audience to feel those butterflies-in-the-tummy without spelling it all out. Much more fun to watch!

Wow, compiling that list was more fun than I've had in a long time. Hope you liked it too. Feel free to leave a comment with your favorite if it was left out!

Quotation of the Month - February

It's February - the month of LOVE! So what subject do I pick for the Quote-of-the-Month? Coping! Ha ha. I guess that's where my mind has been - making it though life's trials. {But, of course, I still think love is awesome!} I hope you like the free printable below.

How to Heat Emboss an Image on Paper

Even though we are living in a digital age, paper is still a beautiful medium to get a message across. Have you ever tried heat embossing to add some pizazz to tags or stationery? It's so easy & it creates a lovely, metallic raised image.  Here's how . . . 

Step 1: Place a rubber stamp on the Perfect Medium pad {this is a clear, gummy substance} & stamp onto the paper. Note: in the photo, the acorn is the image that is being embossed. 
Step 2: Pour a generous amount of embossing powder on the stamped image & then shake off the excess. {The color I used is "copper".}
Step 3: If needed, use a brush to wipe away any excess from around the image. 
Step 4: Wave the heat tool back & forth near the image until the ink rises. 

Pin It to Win It - Book Club with Pinterest Food Ideas

I'm crazy about Pinterest & one of my goals is to actually TRY some of the great ideas featured there {instead of just "pinning" them!}. So when book club rolled around this week, I cranked up the PIN-SPIRATION for the appetizers & dessert.