baby pix photography

taking a break

2011-09-12T15:28:00.000-04:00

with a sad heart, i am announcing my hiatus. i am hoping it will only be for 6 - 9 months, but i am really uncertain at this point.

this school year, i have taken on the incredible responsibility of homeschooling my highly intelligent 5th grader and my 2nd grader who has asperger's and many learning difficulties. it has been harder than i ever expected. tantrums and tears are a daily occurrence on top of little sleep. i know God has a plan for all of us and is working in all of our hearts.

i have tried to keep up the business, but it is just too much at this season of my life.

if you have a gift certificate or already have an appointment, i will still honor that investment, but will not be taking any new appointments. thanks to all those who have let me be a part of your little one's life and i look forward to be back soon!

welcome baby h.

2011-06-07T21:48:00.000-04:00

this precious family is one of my biggest fans. they were great sports to let me try some new ideas on their newest addition. (their oldest got a black eye so we are doing pictures with her later this summer.) Thanks y'all!

. . . p r e c i o u s . . .

granola bars

2011-04-02T21:32:00.000-04:00

i can't believe i haven't posted a recipe since Christmas! i know a number of you have asked me for various recipes. today i will share one that a new friend asked for last night. it is an all natural granola bar that is fun to make with kids. in fact, i got this recipe from my dear friend Allene who is a great mom who lets her kids get involved in many of her cooking adventures.

G R A N O L A B A R S

2 cups oatmeal
1 cup peanut butter (i use crunchy)
1 cup honey
1 cup sesame seeds (i use about 1/2 cup)
1 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 cup nuts (optional - i usually don't)
1 cup chocolate chips (i use ghiradelli semi-sweet)

mix all dry ingredients, then add the peanut butter and honey. mix (best to mix with hands).

spread on a baking sheet (i lay parchement over it and use a rolling pin) and place in freezer for at least 15 minutes. cut into bars. wrap individually with plastic wrap and store in the freezer in a ziplock freezer bag.

asheville baby photographer / my littlest one

2011-03-10T09:35:00.001-05:00

on a personal note . . . my littlest one just got his first pair of glasses.

every now and then we would wonder if he was having a hard time seeing, but with his asperger's we never got a clear answer (probably because this is all he has known). he never squinted and rarely moved things closer to his face. last week i finally printed off an eye chart and measure 20 feet and had him try to read the letters. he had trouble reading two line down from the insanely large E!

thanks to a wonderful friend, she was able to help us get an appointment with a wonderful eye doctor this week. yesterday we went for his exam and discovered that he has a stigmatism and has trouble seeing closeup and far away . . . bless his heart.

he picked out these glasses (saying he looks like harry potter). when his glasses were ready, he looked all around and kept saying, "everything looks so close!"

asheville baby photographer / newborn session

2011-03-03T14:02:00.004-05:00

i love taking pictures of newborns. there is just something special about the newness of life! this one was 5 weeks old last week. she was a little trooper with all the shenanigans her mother and i put her through to get just the right picture.

happy 1 year! / asheville baby photographer

2011-02-11T16:37:00.000-05:00

last week i got to photograph this precious, newly 1 year old. her mother taught my youngest son when he was in kindergarten and has since become a sweet friend. little s. was such a joy . . . anytime her mother and i would laugh, s. would join in . . . not even knowing what we were laughing at which made us laugh all the more. it was so hard to choose which pix to share here because there were sooo many precious ones. enjoy!

Wallet Size Valentine Cards

2011-01-31T10:04:00.000-05:00

Share the love this Valentine's with personalized Valentine cards. Wallet sizes are perfect for giving away at school. 4x6 and 5x7 cards also available.

Use an image from a previous session or schedule a quick 15 minute Mini Session between February 1st - 5th for 50.00.

Wallets are at a special price for Valentines: 15.00 for a set of 8.

Don't put it off! Monday, February 7th is the last day to order.

introducting new frames in 2011 / asheville baby photographer

2011-01-03T11:38:00.000-05:00

baby pix photography is excited to now offer Organic Bloom frames in 2011! their whimsical frames and colors are perfect for nurseries and kid rooms. the more elegant styles and classic colors look beautiful in entry ways and living spaces. though not publicized, they also offer their signature worn look on more traditional straight edged frames. take a peek and get inspired. make this the year you decorate that blank wall with precious memories of your loved ones.

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

2010-12-23T19:05:00.003-05:00

this recipe has been requested by my sweet friend cara who plans on making it for her family Christmas morning. i originally got the basic bread recipe from my friend rachel back in denton. it is a great recipe to make sweet or savory breads. merry christmas! enjoy!

CINNAMON ROLLS

1 cup HOT water + 3/4 cup HOT water
2 pkgs dry yeast
1 TBPS sugar
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour + 2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup sugar
1 stick melted butter
cinnamon
sugar
dental floss or fishing line
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk

combine dry yeast and sugar to a large mixing bowl (I have a metal bowl and found it best to run hot water over the bowl and dry it to knock the chill out of the bowl itself). pour HOT water over, stir to dissolve. let rise to double in size.

combine 1 1/2 cups flour, salt & 1/4 cup sugar in another bowl. gradually add flour mixture to the yeast mixture. add 3/4 cup more HOT water. add 2 1/2 cups more flour until a sticky dough forms.

flour rolling surface, rolling pin and hands. divide dough in half sprinkling just enough flour on the dough so it is no longer sticky. roll each half into a rectangle (about 8" x 10").

using a basting brush, spread 3/4 of the melted butter over the dough. sprinkle liberally with cinnamon and sugar. starting at the 8" end, begin rolling to form a log. to cut log in even slices, slide a 10" piece of dental floss under the log, bring ends of floss up and crisscross at top of roll, then pull ends in opposite directions.

place rolls side by side in a 9x13 inch pan. (may need an extra pan if you have extra.) baste remaining butter over the top of each roll.

bake at 400 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes.

meanwhile, sift powdered sugar into a bowl. slowly pour in milk while stirring with a fork. add more milk if to thick and more sugar if too runny. drizzle over hot cinnamon rolls.

Gift Giving Tradition

2010-12-15T12:20:00.000-05:00

"And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshipped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.”   ~ Matthew 2:11 (nasb)

antonia cobble, a good friend of mine, had shared this idea of gift giving with me years ago. we have been doing it ever since.  instead of stressing over buying every present on your family’s wish list, pick just three gifts for each person to represent the 3 gifts the kings presented to Jesus. the gifts become more thoughtful, less stressful and more meaningful.   with these three presents, gifts from family, stockings and one santa present my boys have plenty on Christmas morning.

GOLD - def.: a precious metal of great value.

            - This is the “big” gift, the gift the person has really been wanting or is somewhat expensive.

FRANKINCENSE - def.: the aromatic dried resin collected from the bark of several trees in the boswellia family. the israelites prized it as an ingredient in perfume, but even more as a part of the sacred incense used in worship.

            - This is the unique gift, something that is special to that person. for example, if the person likes to paint, maybe they would like new paints or new brushes.

MYRRH - def.:  a plant whose expensive, aromatic gum was used in perfume and incense, as well as in preparing bodies for burial.

              - this is the practical gift, something that will be used with purpose. for example, clothes or tools.

Have a wonderful holiday season! Merry Christmas!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas . . .

2010-12-05T09:34:00.000-05:00

This morning we woke up to a thin blanket of snow with more forecasted for the day. We are soon off to church and then to the Grove Park Inn to see this year's gingerbread houses for the annual competition. After that we will come back home to make our own house and gingerbread men. I thought I would share my favorite gingerbread recipe from Williams-Sonoma and the best royal icing recipe that hardens well. We took these pix last year. We made miniature gingerbread men and some big thick ones that we stuck on sticks and gave as gifts.

GINGERBREAD COOKIES

5 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 Tbs. ground ginger

4 tsp. ground cinnamon

3/4 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

1 tsp. allspice

1 1/2 tsp. salt

16 Tbs. (2 sticks) unsalted butter

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup unsulfured molasses

1 egg

Have all ingredients at room temperature.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice and salt. Set aside.

In in mixing bowl, beat butter on medium-high speed until fluffy and pale yellow, 4 - 6 minutes. Add the brown and granulated sugars and beat for 1 minute. Reduce the speed to low and add the molasses, beating until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the egg and beat until combined.

Add the flour mixture in 4 additions, beating in each addition.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Form the dough into a smooth mound and divide into 4 equal portions. Shape each into a disk and wrap separately with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper.

Remove 1 dough disk at a time and let stand for 10 minutes. Place dough between 2 sheets of parchment or waxed paper and roll out to a thickness of 1/4 to 3/8 inch. Cut with floured cookie cutters.

Bake for 4 - 7 minutes depending on size and thickness of cookie.

ROYAL ICING

this is the perfect amount for the gingerbread recipe above.

note: use this recipe immediately after preparation and keep it covered with a damp cloth to avoid it hardening too early. rebeating does not restore texture.

3 egg whites (room temperature)
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

beat all ingredients at high speed for 7 - 10 minutes. Divide into different bowls and add food coloring. Use decorating tips and bags for best results.

Sweet Potato Casserole

2010-11-22T21:06:00.000-05:00

Bring on the feast!!! Now that my crazy Christmas rush is slowing down a bit I can post recipes again. I have lots of great recipes for the holidays.This is one of Fred's (my husband) favorite Thanksgiving side dishes which could almost pass as dessert. It is from an old Denton Bible Church cookbook.

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
2 - 29oz cans of yams
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup milk

topping:
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 cup chopped pecans

Put drained yams in a large mixing bowl. Add sugar and blend until less chunky. Gradually add in butter, eggs, vanilla and milk. Pour in a 9" x 13" baking dish.

Melt butter and mix remaining ingredients. Sprinkle on top of potato mixture. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Can be frozen.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and remember . . . be thankful even for the little things.

Zuppa Tuscana - like Olive Garden

2010-10-29T21:17:00.000-04:00

Cooler weather always makes me want soup. This recipe is from an old college roommate (and best friend) back in Texas - miss you Reba. It tastes just like the Olive Garden's Zuppa Tuscana! Just add salad and breadsticks.

Zuppa Tuscana

1 lb spicy ground italian sausage
1/2 lb bacon, chopped
1 qt. water
2 - 14.5 oz cans (3 2/3 cup) chicken broth
2 large russet potatoes - scrubbed clean and cubed
2 garlic cloves - minced
1 medium onion - chopped
2 cups chopped kale or swiss chard
1 cup heavy cream
salt & pepper to taste

In a skillet over medium - high heat, brown sausage, drain & set aside. Brown chopped bacon and set aside. (You can brown the sausage and bacon together, but the bacon does not get as crispy.) In a large pot, pour water & broth. Add potatoes, garlic and onions. Simmer over medium - high heat until potatoes are tender. Add sausage and bacon to pot. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add kale & cream to pot. Season with s & p. Heat through, but do not boil.

Chili

2010-10-06T21:27:00.001-04:00

we live in a great neighborhood that does potlucks, progressive dinners and chili cookoffs together. last year i created this chili recipe that didn't win, but turned out really good. the great thing with chili is you can add more spice or lighten it to your liking. we also like to decorate our chili with fresh grated cheddar, green onions, sour cream and fritos.

STACEY'S CHILI

2 lbs ground beef

1 onion, chopped

5 garlic cloves, chopped

2 cans fire roasted diced tomatoes

1 large can tomato sauce (29 oz i think)

1/2 - 1 cup water

1/2 tsp ground red pepper

1 tsp salt

3 TBSP chili powder

3 halves canned jalapeno peppers, finely chopped

brown beef, onion and garlic. drain. add remainder of ingredients and simmer for at least 20 minutes.

ornament holiday cards

2010-10-02T23:05:00.002-04:00

do you want to do something new this holiday season?

introducing the ORNAMENT HOLIDAY CARD.

this is not your average Christmas card. in addition to wishing family and friends a season's greeting, this 5" round card is a keepsake your family will treasure and can add to year after year. imagine trimming the tree each year with these ornament cards that capture the growth of your family.

make 2010 the beginning of your family collection.

sold in sets of 25 with a choice of 5 x 5 translucent or white envelopes.
1 set is 55.00
2 or more sets are 45.00 each

be ready for the holidays

2010-10-01T10:00:00.001-04:00

'tis the season!!! this year . . . be ready. . . plan your holiday session now. as an added bonus, if you schedule your session before October 31st, you will receive a FREE 11 x 14 print of your choice. and remember, the holiday session price includes 50 cards and envelopes (additional cards may be purchased).

here is a sneak peak of my first holiday session of the season and this year's card samples. Cards are sold in sets of 25 with envelopes in sizes 5 x 5 or 5 x 7. choose from watercolor, linen, satin or recycled paper.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

2010-09-27T11:50:00.000-04:00

one word to describe this cupcake is A M A Z I N G ! i got this recipe a few years ago from ina garten. however, to make it faster and easier, i use a dark chocolate cake mix. if you want her full recipe click here.

this recipe makes enough for 24 cupcakes.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CUPCAKES

1 box dark chocolate cake mix
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
5 TBSP butter, at room temp
3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 tsp kosher salt (makes a difference)

1/3 cup heavy cream

3/4 cup chopped peanuts (optional)

bake cake according to the box. for the icing: place sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla and salt in a bowl. mix on low until creamy, scraping down the sides. add cream and beat on high until light and smooth. ice cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with chopped peanuts.

i use an icing bag with a large star tip and swirl the icing on.

baked potato soup

2010-09-20T09:44:00.000-04:00

this was a request made by my sweet neighbor Terrie whose husband loves potato soup. i got this one years ago when i lived in Texas. i used to be in a bunco group and this was a favorite that one of my friends served. be forewarned, like a lot of my recipes, though it may be all natural and taste amazing, it is far from being low fat. enjoy!

BAKED POTATO SOUP

4 medium baked potatoes with skins (i usually bake them in the morning while making breakfast so i don't forget)
6 slices lean bacon
3 green onions finely diced
1/2 cup celery finely chopped
1 can chicken broth
1 can water
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dried parsley
instant mashed potatoes (yes, i have found all natural instant potatoes)
1 pint half & half

dice baked & cooled potatoes. cut bacon into 1/2" bits and saute in a large pot. remove bacon leaving drippings. in same pot, saute the celery & onions. add broth, water, salt, pepper and parsley. bring to a simmer. stir in potatoes. simmer for 5 - 10 minutes. add potato flakes a little at a time until fairly thick. when it is the consistency you like, add cream slowly and stir. allow to heat, but NOT boil. serve with the bacon bits, shredded cheddar and sour cream.

early bird holiday sessions!

2010-09-15T09:35:00.000-04:00

Christmas Ornaments by Kotori Jewelry

2010-09-14T14:30:00.001-04:00

i am so excited about offering these beautiful new ornaments by Kotori. add them on to your next holiday session.

"At a very generous size of 4.2 cm by 6 cm (about 2.3" x 1.6") they can easily been seen amongst the tinsel. We even hand engrave the year on the back, so you can collect new ornaments from year to year.

Made of fine German silver, they won't tarnish as quickly so they'll be safely stored all year round in their anti-tarnish pouches, ready to hang in December with no polishing! Comes with a cranberry ribbon, so they're ready to hang."Our holiday ornaments make it easy to personalize your Christmas tree! At a very generous size of 4.2 cm by 6 cm (about 2.3" x 1.6") they can easily been seen amongst the tinsel. We even hand engrave the year on the back, so you can collect new ornaments from year to year."

all ornaments and jewelry are permanently seal making it waterproof and UV resistant.

so good you want to slap your mama kinda ribs

2010-09-10T09:09:00.000-04:00

where in the world did this saying come from? i have no idea, but these are the best ribs i have ever made. i caught the end of Down Home with the Neelys a few weeks back where they were making these Kansas City style pork ribs. they are the best combination of sweet and spicy with both a rub and a sauce. (I'm from Texas and you have to have sauce with your bar-b-que.) I'm just posting the link because it is a lot to write: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/neelys/kansas-city-style-pork-ribs-recipe/index.html

another night, we grilled some keibasa sausage, sliced it up, tossed it with some of the left over bar-b-que sauce and put it on buns - fabulous!

the isabel frame

2010-09-03T12:50:00.000-04:00

i am so excited about these new templates i got today. just imagine the possibilites! they are perfect for large GALLERY WRAPPED CANVAS - a single statement piece or a grouping of four. they can be used in albums, as birth announcements, Christmas cards . . . anything!

Grilled Flank Steak

2010-08-30T20:12:00.000-04:00

This is another one of those fabulous recipes from the cookbook CookThis Not That. Followed the recipe exactly - it was perfect!

GRILLED FLANK STEAK with Chimichurri sauce (herb sauce)

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3 TBSP water
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 lb flank, skirt or sirloin steak (i used skirt)

(Pull meat out of refrigerator while preparing the sauce to get the chill off and it will cook much more evenly.)

To make the chimichurri sauce, mix the vinegar, water, garlic, salt, pepper and pepper flakes. Whisk in the oil. When everything is blended, whisk in the parsley.

Rub steak with about a tablespoon of olive oil on each side and season with salt and pepper. Place steak on hot grill. For medium-rare, cook it for 3 minutes on each side. Take steak off grill let sit for 3 minutes before slicing. Slice diagonally against the grain to make it tender. Drizzle with sauce.

(I keep thinking I need to take a picture of these recipes so you can see, but I always think of it after my hungry family has devoured it.)

back to school = back to work

2010-08-20T21:21:00.001-04:00

well, the boys are back and school and that means it is time to get back to work. i am excited about some new things that i will be offering this year! i love to learn new techniques and research new products. come back often so you can be part of everything new.

first things first. for those who have been wanting a new recipe, here is a great one this time of year. if you are being taken over by the squash in your garden, this is a fabulous recipe that calls for 2 pounds of it. the funny thing is that i have never actually made it though - it is my husbands speciality. like many of my recipes, it is a comfort food.

SQUASH CASSEROLE

2 lbs yellow squash
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 pkg. Pepperidge Farm herb stuffing mix (save 1/2 of mix for topping)
1 carrot, grated
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 small carton sour cream
1 stick butter

boil squash until tender. meanwhile, in a large pan, melt butter. add 1/2 stuffing mix, salt & pepper to taste. drain squash and mix with stuffing in large pan. stir in remaining ingredients and put in a 9x13 pan. top with remaining stuffing mix. cover and bake 45 min. at 350 degrees or until brown.

Backyard Blackberry Cobbler

2010-07-09T20:25:00.003-04:00

I LOVE living in Asheville, NC! Growing wild in my backyard and the vacant lot next door are blackberries, black raspberries and wine berries. Blackberries have always been my favorite berry and now I am blessed to be surround by them. I get such a thrill everytime I come in from picking. I think, "I can't believe I got all of these for FREE!"

Well, right now, my house is filling with the smell of warm Blackberry Cobbler that is baking in the oven. This is a fabulous, very easy recipe that I got from the Jackson Service League Cookbook (pg. 237 for all my Jackson, TN friends).

BLACKBERRY COBBLER

2 pints fresh blackberries or 4 cups frozen, thawed and drained (can use blueberries too.)
1 TBSP lemon juice
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg, beaten
6 TBSP butter, melted (you know I love my butter!)
1 TBSP dark brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

preheat oven to 350 degrees. wash blackberries well, drain. place them in an 8x8" baking dish and sprinkle with lemon juice. in a medium size bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and egg with a fork. it will be dry and crumbly. sprinkle dry mixture evenly over blackberries, and drizzle with melted butter. sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon evenly over flour mixture. bake for 35-40 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly. (sauce thickens as it cools.)

serve warm with vanilla bean ice cream.

New Babies | Asheville Baby Photographer

2010-07-04T08:52:00.003-04:00

Here are some new babies I got to play with recently - pink ones and furry ones. Of course the furry ones are up for adoption at Brother Wolf Animal Rescue here in Asheville. www.bwar.org/adopt

Requested Recipes

2010-07-04T08:33:00.003-04:00

Here are a couple of recently requested recipes. One is Red Beans and Rice (I was never a fan until I had this recipe - amazing!!!) The other is a Grille Chicken that my mom would make when I was growing up. It is great for camping trips. Make it ahead, let it marinade in a ziplock, then put it on the grill - no prep and no clean up.

RED BEANS AND RICE (crockpot)

2 lbs dried light red beans
2 1/4 TBSP salt
1/2 TBSP pepper
1 TBSP garlic powder
1/2 tsp cyanne pepper
1/2 tsp cumin
less than 1/4 c fresh chopped parsley
2 packages kebasa sausage

Soak beans in a large pot of water overnight. In the morning, drain and put in crockpot with spices and 8 cups of fresh water. Stir and turn on low. Around lunch add sliced kebasa. Serve over long grain white rice.

DIJON MARINADED GRILLED CHICKEN

1/4 cup oil
2 TBSP white wine vinegar
2 TBSP Dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 or 3 chopped green onions
4 chicken breasts

In a small bowl, whisk marinade ingredients. Place chicken in ziploc bag and pour marinade over it. Massage bag. Refrigerate 2 - 6 hours, turning occationally. Grill.

Happy 4th!!!

Shower Treats

2010-06-17T10:13:00.001-04:00

This week some friends and I threw an Around the Clock bridal shower for a precious friend and great babysitter of ours. It started with gifts for "Breakfast Time" all the way to "Flirty Time". We had so much fun! I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Some of the ladies have requested a couple of the recipes. So here you go . . .

Pecan Brie Pastry

1 round of Brie
1 ready made, refrigerated pie crust, thawed
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c chopped pecans
1 - 2 TBSP cinnamon

Unroll pie crust. Place brie in center. Mix last 3 ingredients together and sprinkle over the brie. Pull edges of crust up over the sides of the brie. It will not completely cover it. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 min. or until crust is golden brown. Serve with crackers.

Firecracker Fruit Slush (Great for 4th of July & in the fall)

3 cups water
1 1/2 c sugar
1 (16oz) can jellied cranberry sauce
1 (12oz) can frozen cranberry concentrate, thawed
1 (12oz) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp cinnamon
2 (1-liter) bottles club soda

Mix everything together and pour into 2 large freezer bags. Freeze for 2 hours then squeeze bag to break up frozen parts. Freeze additional 8 hours or overnight. Just before serving squeeze bag more to mix slush and pour into a serving bowl. Serve with spoons.

Babies of a Different Kind | Asheville Baby Photography

2010-06-06T13:19:00.001-04:00

I have been helping Brother Wolf Animal Rescue photograph pets for their adoption website for about a year. This week it dawned on me to show off some of these precious babies that need a loving home. I just took pix of these babies on Thursday. To see more pets up for adoption, check out www.bwar.org/adopt.

Home Grown

2010-06-02T20:10:00.002-04:00

I just had to share about how excited I am about my strawberries. This is the first time I have grown my own. I laughed at myself when I actually said, "These taste just like store bought!" However, they taste even sweeter. This picture is straight out of my camera - I did not play with the saturation or do any type of editting other than crop. The strawberries really are that red!

My New Favorite Cookbook

2010-05-28T09:42:00.003-04:00

I have discovered my new favorite cookbook.

It has hundreds of recipe alternatives to fattening restaurant meals.

Today I will just share the Chicken Fingers recipe. You have to get this book. I can't wait for next week to try more of the recipes.

Chicken Fingers with Chipotle-Honey

250 calories, 1.5g fat, 350 mg sodium

compared to Chili's Crispy Honey Chipotle Crispers

1,930 calories, 108g fat, 4,390 mg sodium

1 lb chicken tenders

salt and pepper to taste

3 egg whites, lightly beaten

2 cups Panko bread crumbs (don't substitute)

2 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp Chipotle pepper sauce (I used sriracha hot chili sauce - has a rooster on the bottle)

1 Tbsp honey

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Season chicken with S & P. Place egg whites in shallow bowl. Place panko crumbs on a plate and season those, too. Dip chicken into egg, then toss in crumbs, being sure to coat fully.

Place chicken on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray and bake for 10 - 12 minutes, until crumbs have browned and chicken is firm.

Combine the mustard, pepper sauce and honey mixture. Place in large bowl and toss chicken to coat. (I didn't coat it. I used the mixture as a dipping sauce.)

Please excuse the lack of spacing. I have spent 30 minutes trying to get it to post the way I am writing it but it seems to want to do its own thing. In fact, this sentence looks like this because it has no longer given me the font option. I'm thinking I don't like blogger.com.

So far, I have tried the Chicken Fingers with Chipotle-Honey p. 86, Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Sandwich p. 128 and Blackened Fish Sandwich (with adjustments to ingredients I had on hand) p. 148.

First Lemon | Asheville Baby Photographer

2010-05-26T14:16:00.003-04:00

This precious little girl is the daughter of one of my dearest friends here in Asheville.

Her mom would describe her as tempermental, but I think of her expressive. That is why I thought she would be great to capture while she tasted her first lemon. We laughed so hard.

I love sad faces.

Comfort food!

2010-05-13T10:05:00.002-04:00

I think I say this everytime . . . I love food . . . and there is nothing better than good ol' comfort food.

I made up this meat loaf recipe over 10 years ago. It has only the things I like and not the things i don't (i.e. green peppers and ketchup). If you are a fan, then by all means add the green stuff in the mix and top it with ketchup the last 10 minutes of cook time.

And nothing goes better with meatloaf than mash potatoes. You will see my secret to the best mash potatoes ever!

Warning: it is horribly bad for you, but tastes so good. Make it sparingly.

GOOD OL' MEATLOAF

2 lbs ground beef (the less fat the better)
1 pkg Lipton Onion Soup Mix
1 Tbsp Worcestershire
1 egg (lightly beaten)
1 cup oats
1(8oz) can tomato sauce
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp sage
(the spices are estimates - I just throw them in.)

Put all ingredients in a large bowl and mix with your hands until well blended. Place in a loaf pan and bake at 375 degrees for 50 minutes.

GUILT RIDDEN MASHED POTATOES

6-8 medium baking potatoes
1 stick butter
1 pkg cream cheese
3/4 - 1 cup milk
salt
pepper (be generous - no guilt here)
fresh chopped chives (optional)

Peel and chop potatoes into no bigger than 1 inch sized cubes. Fill large pot with plenty of water so potatoes are well covered. Add about 1 tsp salt to the water.

If you have time, boil for an hour or more for really soft, creamy potatoes. Otherwise, boil until fork tender (20 - 30 minutes).

Drain and whip with a hand mixer. Add butter and cream cheese. Mix until smooth. Slowly add in milk. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with fresh chopped chives.

Recipe for last week

2010-05-04T11:34:00.004-04:00

Since I didn't have anytime last week to post a recipe, I will try to do one today and another later on this week. This recipe was one I created for either Father's Day or Fred's birthday. His favorite color is green, he loves veggies and Tex-Mex is his favorite food. I even really liked it and I don't like veggies.

GREEN QUESADILLAS

package of large flour tortillas
2 cups colby jack cheese, shredded
2 grilled chicken breasts, chopped
coarsely chopped cilantro
coarsely chopped fresh spinach
1 cubed avocado
2 - 3 chopped green onions
lime juice

Butter one side of tortillas with butter and lay in large skillet. Sprinkle half of tortillas with the ingredients in the order listed. Fold over tortillas and cook both sides until lightly brown. Cut into triangles and serve with sour cream, guacamole and the salsa recipe I gave a while back.

This recipe would also be good with grilled shrimp.

TIP: Grill and chop a bunch of chicken breasts at a time. Put about 2 cups in freezer bags and freeze them. When I need grilled chicken for a recipe, I take it straight from the freezer, microwave it for 1 - 2 minutes and it is ready. I do this for Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad in the summer when I don't have time or don't want to cook.

Busy week last week!

2010-05-04T10:53:00.001-04:00

This past Saturday was the auction and gala for Veritas Christian Academy. It was a wonderful night full of great energy and fun. The school was able to raise around $100,000! That is amazing in this economy.
I was able to offer my services by giving parents the opportunity to pre-purchase large black & white head shots of their children and have all the proceeds go to Veritas. We used these portraits to help decorate the room for the gala. Here are a few samples:

It was the perfect backdrop for the evening. At the end of the night, parents were able to take the portraits home.

Fast Frames on Hendersonville Road (by the new Tupelo Honey) was so gracious and gave everyone who purchased one of these pictures a gift card for $30 towards any custom frame. If you ever need anything frames, I highly recommend them. Maggie and her husband own it and are the nicest couple ever! Her background of being an artist shines through in her ability to match the right frame for a picture. She is able to pull out color and texture in a portrait simply by choosing the right mat and frame.

Perfect Company Dinner

2010-04-23T09:07:00.001-04:00

I love this meal. I make it for my family, for friends and even for big dinner parties. It is a perfect spring/summer dish. Pair it with a Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay for a nice touch.

ARTICHOKE CHICKEN

2 (18 oz.) jars marinated artichoke hearts
6 chicken breast (for big groups I use tenders)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup white cooking wine
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup chopped green onions
4 or 5 cloves of garlic, minced
8 oz Muenster cheese, sliced (optional)

Spread artichokes and marinade in a 9x13 baking dish. In a shallow dish, mix Parmesan and bread crumbs. Coat chicken in bread crumbs. Arrange over artichokes. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. While chicken is baking, combine olive oil, wine, parsley, green onions and garlic. Whisk until well blended. REDUCE OVEN TEMPERATURE TO 350 DEGREES. Pour dressing over the chicken. Bake for 20 minutes longer. Top with Muenster cheese. Let stand until cheese melts. Serve immediately.

I don't usually use the muenster because of added cost and fat. I serve this with angel hair pasta and a salad. To plate it, put the pasta on the plate first then the chicken on top and spoon the sauce and articoke hearts over it all. This recipe is great when cooking for a group that may have vegetarians. They can leave out the chicken.

Now a great dessert to go with this is Lemon Cake. This is SO EASY because the base is a box mix!

LEMON CAKE

1 box yellow cake mix
1 pkg (3.4 oz) instant lemon pudding mix
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 cup sprite or 7 up
1 cup powdered sugar
2 TBSP lemon juice

In a mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, oil and eggs. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Gradually beat in the soda. Pour into a greased 9x13 baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched in center. While cake is baking, combine powdered sugar and lemon juice until smooth; carefully spread over warm cake.

Tip: be sure to use only 1 cup of soda. I can't tell you how many times I have gotten over confident, not looked at the recipe and poured in the whole can.

I have made this for a baby shower. Really cute! Cut the cake into squares. Pile squares in a pyramid shape on a large plate and place heads of 5 daisies here and there.

By Request

2010-04-16T08:03:00.001-04:00

This week I have come across so many recipes that I think, "Oh, I have to share this one next!" I am really excited about this and I hope you are too. I have had a couple of requests from sweet friends, so I will post those this time.

The first was requested by my friend Lynda back in Jackson, TN for Zucchini Squares. I actually got this recipe from Jackie who goes to our old church back in Jackson. It is a great recipe that I have used as an appetizer and at a brunch.

ZUCCHINI SQUARES

1 cup Bisquick
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
2 TBSP parsley
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp season salt
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp pepper
1 minced garlic clove
1/2 cup oil
4 eggs, beaten
3 cups thinly sliced zucchini

Combine all ingredents except zucchini. Blend well then fold in zucchini. Place in a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Cut into squares.

The other request was from my new friend here in Asheville, Debbie. It is for my homemade croutons. I used these with the French Onion Soup recipe so the bread is already bite size. They are VERY easy and a good use of old bread. The seasoning, called Essence, actually came from a different recipe from Emeril Lagasse.

HOMEMADE CROUTONS

Cut french or sourdough bread into 1 inch size chuncks. Spread on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Essence. Use your hands to toss the bread to get well coated with oil and seasoning. Spread out to a single layer. Bake at 375 degrees for around 5 - 8 minutes. Keep an eye on it. I'm just guessing on the time.

ESSENCE (Emeril's Creole Seasoning)

2 1/2 TBSP paprika
2 TBSP salt
2 TBSP garlic powder
1 TBSP black pepper
1 TBSP onion powder
1 TBSP cayenne pepper
1 TBSP dried oregano
1 TBSP dried thyme

I keep this in an old spice container and use it on all kinds of things from green beans to fish to croutons.

Enjoy and have a great weekend! Next week I will do my favorite lemon cake. SO EASY!

Sample of The Quote Album

2010-04-12T10:50:00.001-04:00

THE QUOTE ALBUM

1 place + 1 outfit + 1 hour + 1 price = priceless memories

Well, after many hours of design, a sample of The Quote Album is ready to view. In a previous post, I explained how this type of album works. It was so much fun to shoot and put together. The album is made with high quality hinged pages that look and feel beautiful. It will no doubt be a special keepsake.

Tex-Mex Recipes

2010-04-09T08:28:00.002-04:00

I know, I know! I said I would leave a recipe a week and I have already gotten behind. Well, I will make it up now.

Having lived most of my life in Texas, I'm a HUGE fan of Tex-Mex. Last week we had some friends over for a Tex-Mex dinner. These are some of my tried and true recipes that friends have asked for many times.

ABBIE'S TEXAS SALSA (Abbie is a friend in Jackson, TN who is actually a Texan.)

1/2 an onion, coursely chopped
1 small can whole jalapenos
3 big "pinches" fresh cilantro
1 large can of diced tomatoes, do NOT drain
2 garlic cloves or 1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 c. water

Throw ingredients in this order in a blender or food processor and blend until desired chunkiness. I like it well chopped. Use less jalapenos if you can't take the heat.

The next recipe I actually got when I was in collage from one of my Elementary Ed. Professors. I've added a few of my own twists to add flavor. It is a little work, but so worth it. Usually, Fred heats the tortillas while I fill and roll them.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

3 - 4 chicken breasts
olive oil, salt & pepper
24 oz. sour cream
2 cans chopped green chilies
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/8 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp ground chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
vegetable oil
1 pkg corn tortillas
12 oz. shredded Colby/Jack cheese

Drizzle chicken with olive oil, then sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Use your hands to rub oil and seasoning into chicken. Grill (this can even be done the day before). Finely chop chicken or put in food processor.

In a medium sauce pan, slowly heat sour cream, green chilies (can substitute jalapenos for more heat), soup and spices. This mixture just needs to be heated. Do not boil.

In a seperate bowl, place chopped chicken and HALF of the sour cream mixture and stir. This is the insides of the enchiladas.

Heat 1 - 2 TBSP veg. oil in a skillet over low heat. Place one tortilla at a time in the skillet to soften each side. Take out of pan and fill about 2 TBSP of chicken mixture and roll tortilla. Place in a greased 9x13 or larger pan. Repeat until all chicken mixture is used up. Enchiladas can be snug up against one another.

Pour the left over sour cream sauce over the whole pan of enchiladas and top with cheese.

Bake at 375 degrees until it gets bubbly. Serve immediately. If it sits awhile the tortillas start absorbing the sour cream sauce and it is not as creamy.

MARGARITAS

We use the frozen Margarita mix with a little extra Bicardi Rum that the can calls for. Our secret to a good margarita is a fresh lime. Grate about half of the rind into the mixture, then juice the lime. Blend.

Weekly Recipes

2010-03-26T08:07:00.001-04:00

Like I have said before, I enjoy good food! But, the food I cook needs to be fairly simple with ingredients that I can find at any regular grocery store. Being a mom with two school aged kids means trying to cook dinner while helping with homework, breaking up sibling brawls and serving up drinks to neighborhood kids (non-alcoholic, of course). It can get pretty tricky at times. During the week, I try to make crockpot meals or ones that can either be prepped in advance or doesn't require me to stand over the stove stirring. The weekend is when I make the fun, more attention needing recipes.

Being that most people who view my website are moms, I thought I would share some of my favorite "mom tested" recipes once a week. It is always good to change things up a bit and try something new. You don't have to be stuck in the rut of "Meatloaf Monday" and "Taco Tuesday". (By the way, I have a great Meatloaf recipe.)

This week I made my CROCKPOT LASAGNA. I have made this for years for my family, for dinner guests, for large group dinners (I borrow a friends crockpot to have two going). This is a great recipe that I usually make after lunch since it only takes about 4 - 5 hours to cook on low.

This week I made it on a beautiful spring day. Around dinner time, neighbors were working in their gardens, taking walks and the kids were playing at the playground. It was great to hang out and visit knowing that dinner was ready when we were. Knowing that it makes plenty, I invited a couple of neighbors over. We had such a good time. It fed 5 adults and 4 kids with a little left over (we had salad and bread too).

Try it this week. I'm sure it will be a new favorite.

TIPS: Use the Reynolds crock pot liners (find it by the foil) for easy clean up. It is SO worth it.
If you have a small family, freeze the leftovers.

CROCKPOT LASAGNA

1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (29 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (6 0z) tomato paste
1 cup water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 - 2 TBSP dried oregano
1 pkg (8 oz) no-cook or reg. lasagna noodles
4 cups (16 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 large container cottage cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

In a skillet, brown meat, onion & garlic. Turn off heat and drain. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, water and spices. Mix well and taste if needs more seasoning. In a bowl, combine all the cheeses. Line crockpot with the Reynolds liner. Spoon in about 1/4 of the sauce in the bottom of the crockpot. Lay a single layer of lasagna noodles - I usually break the edges so they fit. Spoon 1/3 of the cheese mixture on the noodles. Repeat the process until the sauce is the last thing on top. Don't worry if it doesn't cover all the cheese. Turn the crockpot to low for 4-5 hours or high for 3 hours.

Healthy Alfredo!

2010-03-08T20:08:00.001-05:00

I love food! I love fresh, flavorful food. I admit I love butter - I buy it in bulk! Most things I cook are all natural without perservatives, but I don't watch the fat content. I figure I can exercise the fat away, but the perservatives stick with you.

Anyway, I found this new recipe by Rocco DeSpirito. It is an alfredo sauce that only uses a tablespoon of butter! Trust me; I was sceptical, but it turned out awesome!!! You have to give it a try.

healthy alfredo
1 TBSP butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp constarch
Pinch of ground nutmeg
3/4 cup low-fat, low-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
3/4 cup 5% Greek yogurt
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cooking Directions:
Melt the butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until it is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the cornstarch and nutmeg in a small bowl. Whisk in the chicken broth until smooth. Pour the mixture into the saute pan, raise the heat, and bring the sauce to a simmer, whisking occasionally. Whisk in 1/2 cup of the cheese until it has melted. (I found it very lumpy, but don't worry. It melts when you add hot pasta.) Remove the saute pan from the heat and whisk in the yogurt until the sauce is smooth.
To the sauce, I added a box of cooked bowtie pasta, chopped grill chicken (salt, pepper and olive oil) and about 2 handfulls of fresh spinach. Mix well - the lumpy cheese will melt. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Top the pasta with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese, and serve.
Serves 4.
The stats below are the sauce with an 8 oz box of cooked whole wheat fettuccine and sauce.
Before: 75 g fat, 1,220 calories
After: 10.4 g fat, 336 calories
Protein: 18 g
Carbohydrates: 47 g
Cholesterol: 27 mg
Fiber: 5 g
Sodium: 745 mg

Chicken Salad on Croissants

2010-02-19T21:58:00.001-05:00

I have spring fever bad! A little bit of sunshine and I start breaking out the summer meals.

Yesterday I tried a new chicken salad recipe from Paula Dean - you know it's good! I served it on butter croissants from Sam's.

Here is the link to the recipe.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paulas-best-dishes/lemon-basil-chicken-salad-recipe/index.html

Working on a new album!

2010-02-04T07:57:00.001-05:00

i am so excited about this idea! introducing . . . THE QUOTE ALBUM.

it begins with me sending you a list of fun questions to interview your child (ideal for children ages 3 - 8). questions like: what is the nicest thing anyone has ever told you? where does the tooth fairy live? where do balloons go when they float up into the sky? what is the best way to fix a boo boo?

then, you will e-mail back the questionnaire or give it to me the day of the photo session. we will then have a one hour session, in one location with one outfit. this is such a fun time - capturing your child just being themselves.

the album is a 20 page, 8.5 x 8.5 photo book in your choice of style (this is what i am working on right now. i'm trying to make it simple by only offering 3 different styles). in it will be your child's precious answers along with the images from the day of the shoot. all this for one price. there is no seperate session fee, no minimum order, no stress over all the choices of album covers, textures, sizes and layouts. simple, easy and fun.

THE QUOTE ALBUM

1 place + 1 outfit + 1 hour + 1 price = priceless memories

French Onion Soup

2010-01-12T10:54:00.001-05:00

With all these cold snow days we have had lately, I have been wanting to make French Onion Soup. I went to foodnetwork.com and tried Tyler Florence's recipe. It was amazing!!!

I felt so gourmet using my Le Creuset pot and pouring in half a bottle of red wine over the carmelized onions.

I thought I would share the joy by posting a link for anyone wanting some good ol' French comfort food.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/french-onion-soup-recipe2/index.html

Snowed in

2009-12-22T11:28:00.001-05:00

It looks like this year will be a white Christmas in Asheville! Last Friday and Saturday we got 17 inches of snow and it has barely melted. We have made Christmas cookies, drunk our fill of hot chocolate, had snowball fights and sledded for 4 days. Yesterday was my last run though.

Since the snow had melted a little on Sunday and refroze that night, Monday's sledding was more liking skidding across ice. One of my boys really wanted me to go down the huge hill in the backyard with him. We got off to a good start until we hit some hard packed snow that felt more like rock. The disks we were riding gave no protection. We bounced down that hill hitting each bump with a bam, bam, bam. I face planted in the snow at the bottom and my son went rolling another direction. He jumped up ready to do it again, but me - not so much. Shooting pain radiated from my tailbone. I told him to go ahead, I would watch him while icing my bottom in the snow. ---- Oh, the things we do to be good mothers!

Today I can barely walk, sit or lay down without immense pain. My poor husband is now doing all the last minute Christmas stuff that I needed to do (grocery shopping, cleaning house, get a few more stocking stuffers). ---- Maybe, this isn't so bad after all.

new website

2009-11-30T13:30:00.001-05:00

i am so excited to say that baby pix photography has officially launched in asheville, nc! after ALOT of revising, learning new skills and finding quality products, it is good to be back in business again.

YEAR END SPECIAL: schedule your session before 2010 and get 50% off the session fee!

My First Blog

2009-09-26T00:12:00.001-04:00

Thanks to an amazing children's photography conference week before last, I have been on a whirlwind of reconstruction. I am so excited about where baby pix photography is going.

- New style designs, fantastic wall collections and albums that are at a higher quality.

Hopefully, in the new year I will have a studio office (it might even be in the same office building as Fred). I will be shooting on location, but use the studio for displaying products, meeting clients to plan the session and after the session to project their pictures. This is the coolest thing! I will be able to take a picture of the space where the client would like to hang pictures, upload it to my computer, use a projector to project it on my studio wall, and show them what their favorite pictures will look like in their home. I can't wait!