Living Room Refresh

Without making any big promises, I'm happy to inform you that I have a few pieces of content lined up that will be making their way to this dusty old blog. The first of which is... my refreshed living room (see photo above)!!! 

It was really time. I mean honestly, we had been living with the same sad taupe couches for like 10 years, and while they were a great deal when I bought them (many many moons ago) they definitely left much to be desired in terms of "style." So after a year of looking for couches that would meet our space and style needs without costing us our full retirement savings... we settled on the Urban Sectional by West Elm and the Sloan Apartment Sofa by Interior Define. 

Check out more photos below. Also a "before" shot for comparison purposes.  

Grey couch from West Elm, blue velvet couch from Interior Define, coffee table from Overstock, rug from overstock. Woven leather accent chair from TJ Maxx. 

This little shelf that my dad made for us is one of my most favorite parts of the new living room. It seems silly but losing an end table was a concern for me, where would people put their drinks when they were lounging in the oh-so-comfy chaise? So we came up with this idea that if we created this small little shelf there would be a place to put your drink and then we could run a little extension cord up so that there was also outlet access in the event you needed to plug in the computer or your phone. Pretty brilliant right? Otherwise it was sort of this dead space where the baby would just throw all of her toys like some sort of cruel game of fetch for mama. 

Oh, oh, oh! I forgot to mention that we also had our stairs carpeted. So I'm usually not the biggest fan of carpeted stairs, especially when the carpet covers up beautiful hardwood. However, the practicality of carpeting is that people don't almost die on your stairs when they walk down in socks... so the possibility of a lawsuit made me rethink my no-stair-carpeting policy and we picked a simple wool style and had it cut as a runner so as not to totally cover the wood stairs. I really love how it came out and it looks great with the bench on the left and then the new couch to the right. 

One Year of Lulu

Yesterday was June 2, which means Luisa is officially 16 months old, or as I like to say when people ask how old she is, "uhhh... a year and a few months...?" 

Since we're not totally terrible parents, we did throw her a little first birthday soiree with a small group of family and friends. I refused to put a lot of money or effort into a day that she wasn't even going to remember, but my mom and sister came to the rescue and made sure the party wasn't a total flop. 

However, since I AM a totally terrible blogger, (and there was that small little incident with all of my photos going bye-bye) I'm only just getting around to posting pictures from her first birthday party. You can't quite make out the banner but it says "Winter ONE-derland" Clever, huh? Thanks Pinterest. 

I used all of the monthly photos I took throughout the year to make a Lulu gallery. I loved looking back at how she's changed so much in such a short period of time. The three, four and ten month photos totally crack me up! 

Special thanks to my parents and siblings for all of their help in prepping and to our friends and family that came and made her first birthday so special! 

This last group of photos is a little series I call, "Oh, you're here for me?! Ooooo, fire! This is not bad... ABORT, ABORT!" 

Bacon wrapped water chestnuts

This appetizer is everything. It has been a staple at family parties for as long as I can remember, in fact, it's always a challenge to try and get your hands on a few before they are all gone. I've continued that tradition and have brought them to a few parties with friends and I instantly become the most popular guest at the soiree. Bacon wrapped water chestnuts are essentially the cheap version of the bacon wrapped scallop but BETTER because there's an awesome crunch in the middle of your bacon instead of a mushy scallop. If you're not serving these in your home you can precook them in the oven then just bring them to your destination in something microwavable and give them a quick 30 second zap in the micro before you put them out. Make sure you grab one or two for yourself before you leave the kitchen because otherwise, you'll blink and they will disappear. 

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
Makes approximately 50 appetizer bites

Ingredients
2 lbs bacon
3 cans whole water chestnuts (8 oz. cans)- usually found in the Asian section of the supermarket
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons (approximately) soy sauce 
2 tablespoons (approximately) Worchestershire sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Take a water chestnut (or cut them in half if they are big) and roll them in half of a piece of raw bacon. Stick the roll with a toothpick
3. Line up your bacon rolls in a casserole dish with the toothpicks pointing up
4. Sprinkle liberally with brown sugar
5. Shake soy sauce and Worchestershire sauce over the top of the bundles. (Give a quick sprinkle over the top making sure that each little roll gets hit with a dash of soy and Worchestershire)
6. Bake at 375 for 30-45 minutes or until browned and cooked through (this might take a little longer if you use thick cut bacon)

Cinnamon Roll Popcorn

What do you do when you have a serious sweet tooth but you don't have any sweets in your house? Work with what you've got people! I got a little creative with a bag of popcorn and whipped up this creation that I've been thinking about ever since. You can eat it for breakfast (since it's inspired by a popular breakfast pastry) or dessert, or both -- live life on the edge people! Get the recipe below and make this fancy popcorn for a special treat or gift. 

For the love of olive oil

If my first love is butter, my second love is olive oil. Nothing beats a good quality olive oil -- you can dip bread in it, drizzle it on your cream soups, use it to dress your favorite salad, cook with it and even bake with it. And outside of the kitchen, sometimes I even use it on my chapped lips or dry hair. The key to a good experience with olive oil is investing in a quality product. I know, I know, it's expensive! But I recently learned of a reasonably priced olive oil that tastes like a million bucks. So today, I've got two recipes that showcase this most special of ingredients.

Apples & Salted Caramel Bridal Shower Favors

One of my co-workers is getting married this weekend so we wanted to put together a little bridal shower before her big day. We gathered for a nice luncheon and I was in charge of putting together favors for the occasion. I immediately turned to the interwebs for some inspiration. Since it's fall and all I thought an autumn-themed gift would be appropriate and I personally like favors that are edible. That landed me on this cute idea, and apple with a little jar of homemade caramel. You would think that caramel would be too tricky to make at home, but believe me, it's really easy (no candy thermometer needed) and probably tastes better than anything you can buy in a store! Get the full recipe for the homemade salted caramel plus links to make the favors below. 

German Potato Salad

My parents hosted their annual Oktoberfest party last weekend (more photos coming soon) and it seemed fitting to make a giant vat of potato salad to go with the brats and sauerkraut. Check out the recipe below, it's best when served at room temperature. 

German Potato Salad
(serves 10-14)
Recipe adapted from Five Heart Home

Ingredients

5 lbs red potatoes, cleaned and cut into 2 inch cubes (approximately)

1 tablespoon kosher salt (for boiling potatoes)

1 package bacon, diced

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

3 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons dijon mustard

1/4 cup, finely sliced red onion

1 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper

6 cloves garlic, minced 

1 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Gently add potato chunks to the boiling water and reduce heat and simmer potatoes for 10 minutes or until they are tender when stabbed with a fork. Drain water and run potatoes under cold water to cool slightly. 

Set a large saute pan over medium heat and add bacon. Cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until crispy. Reduce heat to medium and use a slotted spoon to remove bacon to a paper towel while leaving bacon grease in the pan.

Add vinegar, sugar, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper to the bacon grease in the pan. Bring the mixture to a simmer, and stir for a couple of minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until the garlic is fragrant. Remove the pan from heat and gently toss the potatoes and dressing together in a large mixing bowl. Carefully fold in the cooked bacon pieces and chopped parsley. Serve at room temperature and refrigerate any leftovers. 

Summer Appetizers: No Cooking Required

With MDW (that's memorial day weekend) just three weeks away, I started thinking about the loads of summer parties and picnics we would be attending in the next few months. I love experimenting with new appetizers, but sometimes in the heat of the summer, the last thing you want to do is turn on your oven and make bacon wrapped water chestnuts or even boil water for an easy pasta salad. Here are six appetizers that require zero cooking and are super easy to make.

Do you have any other delicious, no-heat appetizers that you make during the summer? Tell me about them in the comments!

Baked Chili and Lime Drumsticks

Okay, so the sauce on these bad boys is pretty good and super simple, but what really makes the wings great is how crispy and moist they are. And they're not fried! The inspiration for these wings came from our favorite restaurant in Puerto Rico, Jose Enrique. We ordered the wings there and were practically licking the dish, the sauce was so good. When our waiter returned to find us face-first in a plate of chicken wing sauce, we asked how they were made, and he let us in on the secret. Get the full recipe and more photos below.

Sausage, Bacon, and Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

I'm always on the hunt for an easy appetizer to bring to parties or serve when I'm entertaining. Sometimes, I get in a rut and just make boat loads of bacon wrapped water chestnuts. Don't get me wrong, they're always a hit and quite yummy, but sometimes you just feel like making something new. I totally forgot about stuffed mushrooms... I used to make them a lot when I lived back in New York, and in high school I was obsessed with the stuffed mushrooms at Houlihan's. Does that place even exist anymore!? So I thought it was time to bring the stuffed mushroom back. I brought them over to a friend's house for a little NCAA basketball tournament watching party (surprise, surprise, I didn't watch any basketball, I was too busy playing drinking games.) But they were a hit and therefore will be included in the regular appetizer rotation -- you've been warned friends. Get the full recipe below.

Luck o' the Irish martini

Are you sick of throwing back Irish Car Bombs, pints of Guiness, or shots of Jameson on St. Patty's Day? Well I've got just the fancy cocktail that'll make your friends green with envy, and it's basically dessert too, so win-win! 

A few weeks back, I was contacted by Chila 'Orchata, and challenged to come up with a St. Patrick's day beverage featuring their delicious cinnamon cream rum. Immediately, I knew it had to be green, and since I'm a lover of any mint and chocolate combination, I decided a dessert martini was the way to go! Also, since you never know how the weather will be in mid-March, I whipped up an 'Orchata Hot Toddy too! 

Get the recipes for both cocktails below.

Eggs in Clouds Recipe with Bacon, Chives, and Pecorino

I love eggs with all of my heart. They are my go-to breakfast on the weekends because they're healthy and filling and the perfect companion to a plate full of bacon. Em I right?!? *virtual high five* 

I eat them all kinds of ways, over easy, hard boiled, scrambled, five minute eggs, etc. So when I stumbled across this recipe for Eggs in Clouds by Rachael Ray, I knew I had to have them. Four mornings in a row. They incorporate three of my favorite food groups; bacon, eggs, and cheese. Plus, I got to whip them up in my newish Kitchen Aid, so that was a bonus! They are surprisingly fast and easy to make as long as you've got a good mixer handy and aren't afraid of separating eggs. Also, it would be easy to change them up a bit by mixing in different ingredients. Next I might try a greek version with spinach and feta or a spicy version with chili powder and pepper jack cheese. But have no fear, I'll always keep the bacon in there, it's the pièce de résistance. Get the full recipe below. 

Birthdays and baby showers

Last weekend was chock full of fun! It started off with a girly day at the nail salon to celebrate the birthday of my beautiful friend, Ana. Then manis and pedis turned into a full-fledged day of drinking, punching (its a game... in a bar...), eating, stopping by a sketchy strip club, and then dancing for three hours straight (at another bar, not the strip club.) I'd say it was a successful birthday celebration!

On Sunday, I shook off my mild hangover and headed to my friend Kristin's baby shower. We had a blast, there was quality time with new babies, great food and the cutest presents and decor. I can't wait for little LJ to join the world next month! He's going to be so loved!!! See photos from the weekend below.

Chicken salad recipe made with little or no mayonaisse

In my humble opinion, chicken salad is the quintessential summer food. It can be served cold or at room temperature, on crackers, in a sandwich, or just straight up with a fork. It takes minimal time to put together and requires only a handful of ingredients. So, as we head into the last weekend of the summer (I know, I know, summer technically goes until mid-September, but for me, summer really runs from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend.) I thought I would share my tried and true Chicken Salad Recipe that requires the use of very little, like less than one tablespoon of mayonnaise. It's the perfect mix of sweet and salty with lots of herb flavors mixed in. It would be a wonderful addition to your Labor Day picnic. 

Homemade ricotta cheese - it's so easy!

You know when you pin some recipe on Pinterest and you think it's really cool, but in the back of your mind you know you're probably never gonna make it? Well, this was one of those things. I liked the idea of making ricotta cheese at home, but I didn't actually think I'd ever do it. Honestly, I probably don't even buy ricotta cheese more than once or twice a year, but something came over me and I just had the incredible urge to make cheese! 

I looked at the recipe I had saved on pinterest and realized I didn't have the ingredients needed. So, I did a little googling (yep, that's totally a verb) and found that the patron saint of cheese-making had a recipe I could get down with: Martha Stewart's Homemade Ricotta 

Boston friends visit Philadelphia

Two of our dearest friends decided to pay Philadelphia a visit this past weekend. BryGuy and I get a little anxious about these situations, we feel so much pressure to show people a fabulous time when they visit because we want them to love Philly as much as we do! All in all, it was a wonderful weekend. The weather decided to cooperate on Saturday so we took them on a little walking tour of Old City and then had some drinks outdoors (hey, it's what we do best). 

A needed face lift

Notice anything new around here?!? Anything look a little younger, fresher, or tighter to you? 

Um hello. It's the blog! 

I've been investing a little extra time in sprucing Marissa Says... up a bit and I hope you like the new clean look. As I mentioned a few weeks back I'm really feigning for a nice new camera. With that in mind, I'm starting to move the design of the blog in a direction that focuses more on photos. Is this the direction I should be going? You tell me. You're the people I do this for in the first place!

 

Photos above show Marissa Says... on launch day compared to what it looks like now. And it's only been seven months since I launched. Imagine what it will look like after a couple of years, it will be super snazzy then. 

Homemade margaritas by the margarita snob

I simply adore margaritas. They are the perfect warm weather drink, all citrusy and refreshing. I'm do not really discriminate when it comes to margaritas, I'll take them frozen, on the rocks, flavored or classic. I do prefer when they are not overly sweetened and I always take them without salt (or sugar). 

BryGuy however, is the worlds biggest margarita snob. He likes them one way and one way only. On the rocks, fresh squeezed lime juice and some agave nectar to sweeten. Don't you dare try to give him a salted rim, he'll throw that drink right in your face. Just kidding, he's not that mean. 

Caesar Salad with Lemon Caesar Dressing and Garlic Croutons

Sometimes I just crave a good caesar salad. By good, I mean one with homemade garlic croutons, a dressing that's not too thick or mayonnaisey, and flavorful chicken or shrimp to top it off. I'm lucky to now work a few block from Fuel, which boasts healthy food that is not made by a machine (their terminology, not mine.) A friend of mine recommended that I try their caesar because she really liked that the dressing had a lot of lemon flavor and wasn't very thick. So last week I ordered up a caesar salad with chicken for take out. I was really happy with the salad, the size was good for a lunch portion, the dressing was amazing and the chicken was flavorful. 

Well a few days later, the craving struck again and I figured instead of spending $10 on lunch, I'd just go buy the ingredients and make a delicious caesar salad myself. 

I wish I could share the dressing recipe with you because it was really flavorful but the truth is I just kind of winged it. I looked up a bunch of caesar dressing recipes and just kept adjusting it until it had enough lemon flavor and the right consistency. But I'll outline the process for you below anyway. 

Sorry for the blurry cell phone pic

Moist, Flavorful, and Simple Roast Chicken

When it comes to the roast chicken, simplicity is best. I make mine with a little butter, garlic, salt, pepper and rosemary. I stuff a lemon, onion and some garlic cloves into the cavity and voilà  a couple of hours later, you have a delicious, moist and fragrant dinner.

Okay, maybe it's not that simple, but it's pretty darn close. My first word of advice, buy a bird with a popper. There's nothing worse than not knowing if it's cooked through and jabbing that poor little guy with a thermometer twenty times just to find out that it's still not done. 

First, I cut up some onion, lemon and rosemary to put in the cavity. This time around I also put three whole garlic cloves in there as well.