Key Lime Pie is high on my list of favorite desserts. That’s one of the reasons I love this Key Lime Pie Fudge. It puts all the flavor and texture of key lime pie into rich and creamy bite-size pieces!
Happy Monday, friends. How have you been? I know it has nothing to do with Key Lime Pie Fudge, but I have to tell you that the past few months have been the strangest of my life. (Some of my previous experiences may have been odder, but these last few months stand out because I’m still in the midst of them.)
Key Lime Pie Fudge:
The best way I can explain this period of my life is to relate it to the weather. I’m on the verge of a beautiful spring after a long and snowy winter.
It’s the weirdest feeling in the world as I’m so filled with hope and excitement for what’s to come, yet it’s also a stressful and emotional process. I don’t even know what or how to feel. (If you have no idea what I’m talking about … I sorta-recently relocated, sold my home of 10 years, and have been house hunting for 5 months.) It’s as if I have all the pieces to a puzzle and just need to figure out how to put them in the right place.
I want to put all of these thoughts into a dedicated post but felt the need to share them today. So there you go. Also, speaking of weather, where the heck is spring!? So far, it’s snowed every day this month here in Pittsburgh.
I say all of this because, as you know, when life is feeling weird, I often turn to food – eating it and creating it. That’s why there has been so much food chat on IBC lately. (Don’t worry my home decorating and design lovers, more of your kind of posts are on the horizon, especially when I find my new home! Thanks for climbing up Recipe Mountain with me for the past year or so.)
How to Make Key Lime Pie Fudge:
Now back to the recipe. This Key Lime Pie Fudge is the bomb dot com. Not only is it simple to make, but it packs a bright, fresh flavor, making it perfect for spring and summer. If you’re a fan of lemon and lime, you’ll be in taste heaven.
I also think the graham cracker crust is great. Although fudge is awesome on its own, this crust adds a unique crunch that tastes as good as it looks. It works beautifully with all the creamy fudginess.
Tips for making fudge:
When you’re preparing your Key Lime Pie Fudge, I have two quick notes:
First, be sure to use fresh lime juice and lime zest. In fact, let’s just never used bottled citrus juice. Ever.
Second, keep a close eye on the melting chocolate. Set the temperature on medium and constantly stir, and you’ll be fine. (I say this because I was impatient. I turned the heat up, looked away for a second, and burned the bottom of my first batch. No good!)
With those couple of notes out of the way, you’re ready to make (and eat!) this amazing Key Lime Pie Fudge.
Looking for more citrus-inspired recipes? Try these:
As always, thank you bunches for following my journey, sharing in my joys (and disappointments), and joining me as each of us creates our own happy place. Have a great week!
Key Lime Pie is high on my list of favorite desserts. That's one of the reasons I love this Key Lime Pie Fudge. It puts all the flavor and texture of key lime pie into rich and creamy bite-size pieces!
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two of the sides. Spray the sides and bottom with cooking spray.
In a bowl, stir together the butter, sugar, and graham cracker crumbs. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake until the edges are just starting to brown, about 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool for at least 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large saucepan over medium heat, stir together the condensed milk, white chocolate chips, and chopped white chocolate until the chocolate is melted. Constantly stir the mixture to avoid burning. Remove the pan from the heat and then stir in the lime zest, lime juice, and vanilla extract. Pour the mixture over the cooled graham cracker crust. Chill for 4 hours or overnight.
Lift the fudge from the pan using the parchment paper. Then cut the fudge into bite-size pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
Key Lime Pie is high on my list of favorite desserts. That’s one of the reasons I love this Key Lime Pie Fudge. It puts all the flavor and texture of key lime pie into rich and creamy bite-size pieces! Happy Monday, friends. How have you been? I know it has nothing to do with […]
This Blueberry Boy Bait is a special kind of coffee cake. It makes a delicious breakfast treat, afternoon snack, or dinner dessert. And apparently it will bring all the boys to the yard.
Blueberry Boy Bait:
Today’s post is super fun for a couple reasons. First, the recipe for this Blueberry Boy Bait is from my grandma. When she passed away last year, I asked my mom if I could have Grandma’s recipe collection.
A couple weeks ago I started going through it, and this recipe for Blueberry Boy Bait immediately caught my eye. What a name, right?
What is Blueberry Boy Bait?
As you can see, the recipe was just handwritten on a scrap of paper. The directions lead me to believe it was similar to a blueberry coffee cake or buckle.
Naturally, I Googled the name, and it turns out this recipe was fairly common years ago, starting in the 1920s. Perhaps it was the dating app of that era! Who knows? I simply couldn’t resist giving it a try.
The second reason this post is exciting is that my friends over at Grandin Road sent me some dinnerware from their new Iris Apfel line. (This isn’t a sponsored post; they just know how much I enjoy decorating with their products.)
Iris Apfel is famous for her colorful personality in the world of fashion, textiles, and interior design. She is a genuine creative in that she knows all the rules of design and is more than happy to break them. Her collection with Grandin Road covers everything from home decor to dinnerware. Inspired by her global travels, it’s packed with color, pattern, and unique flair. (She also recently released a book!)
As I was thinking of a way to style the dinnerware collection, pairing it with this Blueberry Boy Bait seemed like a natural fit.
How to Make Blueberry Boy Bait
Let’s bake first. This recipe is pretty straightforward: batter, berries, and crumb topping.
What makes this recipe a bit different is that the egg whites are folded into the batter. This creates a lighter and moister cake than the typical coffee cake, which can be a bit dry and heavy.
For this recipe, I opted for frozen wild blueberries. They are my favorite for something like this when blueberries aren’t in season. However, you can certainly use fresh.
I recommend serving the Blueberry Boy Bait with a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream and a sprinkling of blueberries. Perfection on a plate or in a bowl! (You can grab my recipe for Homemade Whipped Cream here.)
As I mentioned above, this recipe would work well for breakfast, brunch, an afternoon snack, or even for dessert.
The Iris Apfel collection pairs beautifully with my man-attracting treat and makes it feel even more special. Here I’ve used the salad plate and bowls from the dinnerware set. I paired them with the printed napkins and tassel napkins rings because they are just too much fun!
These rattan chargers, which I already owned, add texture and make the dinnerware stand out even more. Black cutlery was an obvious choice given the black background of the napkins.
I hope you enjoyed this recipe and tablescape combination. Thanks to Grandin Road and Iris for allowing me to play with these colorful new pieces. They’re beautiful!
This Blueberry Boy Bait is a special kind of coffee cake. It makes a delicious breakfast treat, afternoon snack, or dinner dessert. And apparently it will bring all the boys to the yard.
Whipped cream and additional blueberries* for garnish
Instructions
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13-inch pan with baking spray. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and cinnamon. Then, with a pastry blender (or fork) cut in the butter until pea-sized. Measure out 3/4 cup of the mixture and set aside. Stir baking powder and salt into the remaining mixture. Then, with an electric mixer set on low speed, mix in the egg yolks and buttermilk for about 3 minutes.
In a large glass or metal bowl, whip the eggs whites until stiff peaks begin to form. Then, gently fold the egg whites into the batter. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Sprinkle blueberries over the batter, followed by the reserved crumb mixture.
Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the cake springs back when lightly touched in the center.
Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and additional blueberries.
Notes
*I used frozen wild blueberries, but fresh will work as well.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
This Blueberry Boy Bait is a special kind of coffee cake. It makes a delicious breakfast treat, afternoon snack, or dinner dessert. And apparently it will bring all the boys to the yard. Blueberry Boy Bait: Today’s post is super fun for a couple reasons. First, the recipe for this Blueberry Boy Bait is from […]
In the spring, I love lemony desserts. That’s why today I’m sharing this Lemon Yogurt Cake recipe. It’s a sweet and tart treat – perfect for this season’s parties and celebrations.
Lemon Yogurt Cake:
This Lemon Yogurt Cake is something I made on repeat when I ran my B&B in St. Marys. I’d often serve it as a sweet alongside the main course.
It’s quick to make, doesn’t require a mixer, and is loaded with lemon flavor.
If memory serves me correctly, I found this recipe via Ina Garten. Ina knows her stuff. This recipe has never failed me.
How To Make Lemon Yogurt Cake:
Usually, I bake this cake in a standard loaf pan, but this time I decided to get a bit fancier. I thought the cake would be the ideal treat for Easter, so a decorative pan seemed fitting. However, you can use whatever pan you have.
This cake ends up being super moist because of the yogurt and lemon simple syrup. In addition, each part of this cake (the cake itself, syrup, and glaze) includes lemon zest, so the flavor is bright and bold. Lemon lovers, rejoice!
Although I like serving it for breakfast, this cake also works with afternoon tea or coffee.
Just in case you didn’t notice(!), I want to point out my fancy serving dish, napkins, and cutlery. My friend Ashley of Sugar & Cloth recently launched a party line with Amazon. (You can check out the full collection here.) [Affiliate Links]
If you have a party, shower, or wedding coming up and want to take your event to the next level, definitely check out her collection here. I think you’re going to love it!
In the spring, I love lemony desserts. That's why today I'm sharing this Lemon Yogurt Cake recipe. It's a sweet and tart treat - perfect for this season's parties and celebrations.
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8x4-inch loaf pan with baking spray and set aside*.
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 cup of sugar, eggs, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet. Then, using a spatula, fold the vegetable oil into the batter until incorporated.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
Meanwhile, cook the 1/3 cup lemon juice and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is no longer cloudy. Set aside.
When the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and place on a baking rack lined with a baking sheet. Brush or pour the lemon-sugar mixture over the cake, allowing it to soak in.
For the glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and lemon juice. Drizzle over the cake.
*When I created this recipe, I used a larger loaf pan so I made 1.5 times the amount of batter.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
In the spring, I love lemony desserts. That’s why today I’m sharing this Lemon Yogurt Cake recipe. It’s a sweet and tart treat – perfect for this season’s parties and celebrations. Lemon Yogurt Cake: This Lemon Yogurt Cake is something I made on repeat when I ran my B&B in St. Marys. I’d often serve […]
Today on the blog I’m giving you a peek around my living room in my Pittsburgh apartment and sharing simple spring decorating ideas! Some of my blogger friends are doing the same.
As much as I love spring, the season itself is not so lovable here in Pennsylvania. While sunny and warm days are pure magic after a long winter, most days are filled with gray skies, rain, and mud, with little green in sight. In hopes of inspiring Mother Nature (and you), I thought it’d be fun to share spring decorating ideas.
In fact, I’ve rounded up my HomeGoods Blogger friends and they are sharing decor inspiration, too. So once you’ve looked around here, be sure to visit them. They are linked up at the bottom of this post.
Spring Decorating Ideas for your Living Room:
Because I’m house hunting, I’m being much more conscious of my spending as of late. For the first time ever, I decided not to purchase a lot of new decor items, so changing things up for the season is going to be a bit more subtle. However, I couldn’t resist a few fun new touches.
As you know from my tips for spring flower arranging post, I found these awesome marble and glass hurricane vases at HomeGoods. They were definitely a HomeGoods #GoFinding surprise. I think they are designed for candles, but I’ve been using them for flowers. After all, it’s spring, and spring means flowers!
I also was super excited to get my hands on Melissa’s (a.k.a. The Faux Martha) new book, The Minimalist Kitchen (affiliate link). It was on my spring book wishlist, and every day I’ve been flipping through it.
Besides my new vases, book, and flowers, I added a little crate of white and cardboard eggs for an extra touch of spring.
Over in my living room not much has changed. I did get a big cozy knit pillow to brighten up the couch a bit. I also followed my own advice and cleaned the space, making it feel new and fresh.
Last week I shared a tutorial for this DIY Mounted Staghorn Fern. Yep, you can make one, and it’s actually quite easy. I found the wood tray at Homegoods! I love how the fern adds a little life and green above my TV.
Spring Decorating Ideas for your Coffee Table:
For a bit of quirkiness in my spring living room, I decided to have some fun on my coffee table. I spotted these chocolate-dipped peeps (affiliate link) earlier in the week and immediately thought: S’mores!
So I picked up a box of graham crackers and set up this Coffee Table Peep S’mores Snack Station. So cute, right?
Isn’t it the perfect set-up and snack for spring?
And with just these few simple touches and fresh flowers, my living room is ready for a new season. Bring on spring!
If you’re curious about sources for some of the other pieces in this space, be sure to visit SHOP IBC for links.
If you like this, check out more of my Spring Decor Ideas:
Today on the blog I’m giving you a peek around my living room in my Pittsburgh apartment and sharing simple spring decorating ideas! Some of my blogger friends are doing the same. As much as I love spring, the season itself is not so lovable here in Pennsylvania. While sunny and warm days are pure […]
In addition to setting my table and serving Egg Hunt Easter Cookies, I also popped a few corks and whipped up this Raspberry Pineapple Bellini recipe.
I’ve always felt that cocktails with a sparkling beverage base, such as champagne, sparkling wine, or Moscato, are a bit special and the perfect thing to serve at Easter, baby/bridal showers, and birthdays.
That’s why I selected this particular recipe as part of my Easter table.
How to Make a Bellini:
A standard bellini recipe is made by combining peach puree and prosecco. Sometimes folks add a splash of peach schnapps for an extra kick and sweetness. In this recipe, however, we are making our own puree of raspberry and pineapple juice for a fun twist.
In a blender, you’ll combine the raspberries, pineapple juice, vanilla extract, and honey until smooth. You can use more or less honey depending on how sweet you like your cocktails.
After straining the seeds from the puree, you’re ready to make your Raspberry Pineapple Bellinis. Because the prosecco tends to foam when introduced to the puree, I recommend assembling everything in a pitcher and serving from there. This will prevent the mess that comes from overflowing glasses.
To garnish, I tossed in a few fresh raspberries. And even though they aren’t needed for stirring purposes, I added in these gold honeybee stir sticks (affiliate link) for their cuteness factor.
I purchased them a few months ago and had been looking for a chance to use them. With the honey in this recipe, I thought they were the perfect touch.
That’s it! Your bellinis are ready for you and your guests.
Easy, beautiful, and delicious! What’s not to love about this Raspberry Pineapple Bellini recipe? I hope you enjoy this drink at your next spring celebration. Cheers!
Put the raspberries, pineapple juice, vanilla extract, and honey in a blender. Blend until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the solids with a spoon to extract all of the juice.
Pour the juice into a serving pitcher and top with the prosecco. Allow the foam to settle and stir to combine.
Serve in champagne flutes and garnish with fresh raspberries.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
This Raspberry Pineapple Bellini Recipe is a bright and flavorful libation for any spring celebration. Last week I was so excited to share my colorful Easter table with you. Raspberry Pineapple Bellini Recipe: In addition to setting my table and serving Egg Hunt Easter Cookies, I also popped a few corks and whipped up this […]
Easter will be here before we know it. That’s why today I’ve teamed up with several blogger friends to share Easter decorating ideas, projects, and recipes. I’ll be linking them up below, so be sure to check them out!
Easter Decorating Ideas for Your Table:
Let’s kick things off with a look at my dining table set for the holiday. I have a few Easter decorating ideas that I hope will help you set your own.
I’m not sure why it is, but I’ve always enjoyed styling tables. Although I miss the large wood dining table in my old house, I love decorating the small round one here in my apartment.
The idea for this Easter/spring table came about when I saw this patterned coral throw in the clearance section at HomeGoods. I suspect that the throw was left over from summer, but it instantly grabbed my attention. I thought it would be an inexpensive way to try something interesting and new for the holiday.
I was also lucky enough to stumble upon these floral pattern plates which matched my new “tablecloth” perfectly. While I didn’t know how the rest of the table would come together, I was sure I had a great start.
At some point on social media, I asked you what you wanted to see on IBC this spring. Several of you mentioned you’d like Easter decorating ideas that didn’t include eggs and bunnies. To be honest, that was the goal for this table. But when I found these glass bunny containers filled with eggs, all my good intentions went out the window. However, if you’re not “bunny-and-egg-crazy” and want to recreate this look, just use a unique bowl or vessel minus the eggs.
Easter Place Setting Decorating Ideas:
Because the tablecloth and plates are colorful and patterned, I kept the other essentials simple. A large white dinner plate is perfect and something that I always have on hand. I also opted for a classic white napkin.
And the flatware is a favorite of mine. I’ve kicked myself many times for not buying more. Anthropologie sold it a few years ago, and I only purchased four settings. I love this flatware because it seems to work with everything. It’s classic silver but includes the smallest brass detail which makes it feel current and stylish. The dark wood also works well with my chairs.
Given the size of the table, I tried to keep the rest of the decorative details to a minimum. I used two small floral arrangements. (Flowers are a must for spring. You can read how to create these stylish spring arrangements and others here.) The additional burst of color brought it all together and kept things fun.
For something different, I set out salt and pepper in these cute marble cups I found at Target. I put all of those accessories on this reversible wood and marble board. Boards are handy because you can quickly remove things if you need more space.
You can then bring the board back when it’s time for dessert!
First, for even more Easter inspiration, head on over to my blogger friends and see what they are up to! I’m loving their delightful Easter ideas and delicious recipes. You can link to them below:
And that’s a wrap for today! I hope you enjoyed all the Easter decorating ideas. Have a fabulous weekend!
Easter will be here before we know it. That’s why today I’ve teamed up with several blogger friends to share Easter decorating ideas, projects, and recipes. I’ll be linking them up below, so be sure to check them out! Easter Decorating Ideas for Your Table: Let’s kick things off with a look at my dining […]
Spring is officially here! And today I’m celebrating by showing you how I made this DIY Mounted Staghorn Fern.
Mounted Staghorn Fern:
I know I’m a few years behind the mounted staghorn fern trend, but I still hope this tutorial is helpful. The reason I wanted to make and share this project with you is that I had signed up to take a class here in Pittsburgh to learn how to make one. Unfortunately, the class was canceled twice and never rescheduled. Whomp. Whomp. That’s why I decided to make a mounted staghorn fern on my own.
During the winter holidays, I hung a ceramic deer bust above the TV in my living room. I needed something to replace it, and this ended up being a fun solution. What do you think?
These staghorn ferns have gained popularity as a mounted plant because they look like horns. See what I mean?
While it’s certainly enough on its own, I may tweak or add to the design down the road. As it is, this mounted staghorn fern is an unexpected way to enliven a space with greenery for spring.
To start the project, get a piece of wood on which to mount the plant. I used this tray I picked up at HomeGoods. However, you could use a scrap of lumber, old barn wood, a log slice, or even an old cabinet door.
On the back of the wood, attach a hanging device. I find a sawtooth-style hanger to be the easiest to work with, but anything that will allow you to attach your finished piece to the wall will work.
Next, attach eight screws (or nails) in a circular shape on the front side of the wood. The placement of the circle is up to you. Just be sure to consider your overall design and the final location of your mounted fern.
As a guide for adding the screws, I recommend using a plate, bowl, or circle pattern you have made. Since I was going to mount a larger fern, I used a 6-inch diameter plate for my guide.
Space the eight screws evenly around your pattern. (As I mentioned, you can also use nails, but make sure they have a large flat head so the fishing line will not slip off.)
Once your board is prepared, you’ll want to get your plant ready. After you remove it from its container, use your hands to loosen the roots and break away any access soil. You can also trim the roots if needed.
Now add a thin layer of moss to the inside of the circle shape you created with the screws. Place the fern on top of the moss. When you do this, take into account the direction of the leaves, the best side of the plant, and where your hanger is on the back. (You don’t want to plant your fern upside down.)
Then, start to wrap the moss around the roots of the plant. You’ll want to completely cover all the roots and soil.
With everything covered, you’re ready to attach the fern to your board. To begin, secure one end of the fishing line onto one of the screws with a knot. Then work the line across the moss-covered roots, going from screw to screw to secure the plant to the wood. Continue to work back and forth in various directions between the screws.
Pull the line tight to ensure everything is held firmly in place. Once secure, knot the fishing line on one of the screws to finish things off. To ensure full coverage, add additional moss as you work.
At this point, your project is almost complete. All you need to do is fluff the moss to hide any signs of the fishing line.
I also recommend watering your plant before hanging it on the wall. Allow any excess moisture to drip off before hanging. In between waterings, mist the plant and root ball with water to keep it moist.
To prevent possible moisture damage to your wall, leave a small space between your wall and the wood board. You can do this by affixing a few plastic/acrylic furniture floor protectors to the back of the mount.
And with that, your DIY Mounted Staghorn Fern is complete! Cute, right?
If staghorn ferns are not your thing, experiment with other houseplants!
To purchase a staghorn fern, visit your local nursery or plant supply store. I have occasionally seen these ferns at the home improvement store as well. You can even find them online!
If you liked this Staghorn fern project, you might love these too:
I hope you enjoyed this DIY project. If you tackle this project or something similar, please share it on social media and tag @inspiredbycharm and use the hashtag #myIBC. I love seeing your creations.
Happy Planting!
Spring is officially here! And today I’m celebrating by showing you how I made this DIY Mounted Staghorn Fern. Mounted Staghorn Fern: I know I’m a few years behind the mounted staghorn fern trend, but I still hope this tutorial is helpful. The reason I wanted to make and share this project with you is […]
Despite being on a diet, you can bet I enjoyed a couple pieces of that cake. Yes, I ate less for lunch and dinner and worked my butt off on the treadmill, but I wasn’t missing out on Cream Puff Cake.
Through my dieting, I’ve noticed what a difference eating lots of fresh greens and veggies can have on my mood, energy level, and general sense of well being. As a result, I’ve been choosing to have vegetables whenever possible, even if I’d rather eat cake all day every day.
How to Make Roasted Carrot Salad:
The great thing about veggies is that they can take on fabulous flavors, depending on how you prepare them. Roasting them is one of my favorite methods. It brings out the sweetness, and it is almost effortless as you’ll see in my Roasted Carrot Salad. You just need olive oil, spices, and salt and pepper.
One of the best things about this salad is that it involves a little blue cheese. – I’m game for anything with a sprinkle of blue cheese. (If you prefer gorgonzola, goat cheese, or feta cheese, use one of those instead. This is an adaptable recipe.)
You’ll find that this salad is also easy to prepare. The main work is peeling, slicing, and roasting the carrots. The rest of the ingredients just get tossed together.
While this salad is best served as a side dish, you could toss in cubed or shredded chicken to make it a meal.
Whatever you do, I think you’ll love the combination of flavors as much as I do. The sweetness of the cranberries works beautifully with the tangy blue cheese, the peppery arugula adds a little bite, and the rich look and flavor of the roasted carrots complement everything.
Salad perfected, my friends!
If you liked this roasted carrot salad, give these a try:
Begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees F. Mix together the carrots, almonds, and garlic on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat and spread out in an even layer.
Roast the carrots for about 30 minutes until they are soft and the edges start to turn brown. Stir them twice while roasting. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature.
Transfer the carrots to a large bowl. Drizzle with vinegar and honey. Toss to coat. Add the blue cheese, cranberries, and arugula. Mix gently to combine.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
Arugula, blue cheese, dried cranberries, almond, and roasted carrots come together to create this delicious and fresh Roasted Carrot Salad. Today I’m taking a break from desserts to share this Roasted Carrot Salad. Roasted Carrot Salad: Even though I love sweets and serve up lots of recipes for them here on Inspired by Charm, I […]
This Cream Puff Cake is a light and fluffy dessert that just might become your new favorite sweet recipes for spring and summer.
Cream Puff Cake:
Happy Monday, friends. I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the week than with this Cream Puff Cake.
I have wanted to share this recipe with you for quite some time, so I’m thrilled to finally post it on IBC. (It would be excellent to serve for Easter should you need a new or different dessert recipe.)
This cake goes back almost 20 years. I first tasted it when I worked as a waiter at a little cafe in my hometown. The cake was one of my favorite menu items.
It’s light and simple to make, but don’t let that fool you. It’s oh-so-good! I probably haven’t had a piece of this cake in 15 years, so I was extremely excited to whip it up.
How to Make Cream Puff Cake:
If you’ve ever had a cream puff, this recipe certainly lives up to its name. It is loaded with filling. (No complaints here!) And the crust of the cake is light, yet rich and chewy. – I know that may not be the best way to describe a crust, but I mean chewy in the best possible way.
The crust bakes up similar to a Dutch baby (German) pancake. It will puff up and rise at the sides. That is what you want.
The filling is a combination of vanilla pudding and cream cheese, and the cake is topped with Cool Whip.
Although normally I would suggest homemade whipped cream, Cool Whip is the way to go with this dessert. That’s how they made it 20 years ago, so that’s what I know and love.
Once you’ve assembled everything, just pop the cake into the fridge and you’re good to go. What I also love about this recipe is that you can make it one or even two days in advance, and it will taste just as good.
The combination of flavors is yummy, and the crust is killer. I am partial to the corner and edge pieces, but any slice is delicious.
You could certainly dress this up with fruit or a drizzle of chocolate, however, I think it’s perfect as is. Since it’s served cold, it makes a great option for spring and summer. No matter when or how you serve it, enjoy!
Looking For More Spring Desserts? Check Out these:
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with baking spray and set aside.
In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Then add the butter and bring to a boil again. Remove from heat and stir in the flour and salt until it is just combined and forms a ball.
Transfer the dough to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add one egg at a time, mixing thoroughly between each addition. After the final egg addition, continue to mix on high for 4-5 minutes until the mixture is smooth.
Add the dough to the prepared baking dish. Spray your fingertips with some baking spray and then gently press the dough into an even layer on the bottom of the pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes. The dough will rise, especially up the sides of the pan. Cool completely.
In a large bowl, whisk together the instant pudding and milk. Set aside. In the bowl of stand mixer, beat the cream cheese 3-4 minutes until it is smooth. Then mix in the prepared pudding mix. Beat 3-4 minutes until smooth.
Spread the cream cheese and pudding mixture into an even layer on the cooled crust. Then top with a layer of whipped topping. Chill overnight or for 2-3 hours before serving
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
This Cream Puff Cake is a light and fluffy dessert that just might become your new favorite sweet recipes for spring and summer. Cream Puff Cake: Happy Monday, friends. I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the week than with this Cream Puff Cake. I have wanted to share this recipe with […]
With frosting “grass” and chocolate eggs, These Egg Hunt Easter Cookies are a cute and tasty Easter dessert recipe idea everyone will love.
It feels as though I’m a bit behind in preparing for spring. However, since realizing that Easter is only a couple weeks away, I’ve been busy working on decor ideas, entertaining tips, and tasty recipes. To kick off the new season, I’m sharing these Egg Hunt Easter Cookies.
Egg Hunt Easter Cookies:
Tell me they are not the cutest!?
I enjoy reinventing classics, and that’s what I did with these Easter cookies. I took my go-to sugar cookie and frosting recipes and styled them in a new way for spring. Now mini chocolate eggs are hidden among grass frosting.
How to Make Egg Hunt Easter Cookies:
I began by whipping up a batch of my sugar cookie dough. The recipe below makes about 4 dozen cookies. If you don’t need that many, you can easily cut the recipe in half. When rolling out your cookies, you’ll want them to be about 1/4-inch thick. I used the rim of a cup to cut out my cookies. However, a 3-inch round cookie cutter works best. With the grass piping, there is a lot of frosting, so a thicker cookie balances the frosting-to-cookie ratio. (As you’ll notice, I got carried away with rolling, so my cookies are a bit too thin. In other words, do as I say, not as I did.)
To form grass on the cookies, I used a “grass” piping tip. This is just a large piping tip with 6-8 holes in a flat end. When applied to the cookie, you get several strands of frosting. If you repeat this on the entire cookie, it will resemble grass. You can purchase this kind of piping tip online. (I found my grass tip in the Easter section at Target.)
Once the cookies are cooled, you simply pipe the frosting “grass” on them and then top each cookie with several eggs. I used Cadbury Mini Eggs, but you can use whatever variety of candy egg you like best.
With that, our Egg Hunt Easter Cookies are ready for the big day. Sealed in an airtight container, they’ll stay fresh for a week or two, so feel free to make them in advance.
Voila! You’re Egg Hunt Easter Cookies are complete. And don’t worry – they may look complicated, but they are fairly easy and quick to make. Once you get the hang of piping the “grass,” you’ll have them frosted in no time.
Begin by preparing the cookie dough. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the vegetable shortening, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Once combined, add half of the dry ingredients. Begin to mix and pour in the buttermilk. Then add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Refrigerate the dough overnight or for at least four hours.
After the dough has chilled, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
On a well-floured surface, roll out about a quarter of the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out the dough using a 3-inch circle cookie cutter. Transfer each cutout to an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until the first sign of browning appears on the surface of the cookies. Remove from the oven and transfer the cookies to a cutting board or your counter top to cool completely.
While the cookies cool, prepare your frosting*. With a mixer, cream together the vegetable shorting and butter. Slowly add the confectioners' sugar, one cup at a time. Mix in the vanilla extract. Add milk as needed for a smoother consistency. Thoroughly mix in the green food coloring to achieve the desired color.
Place the frosting in a piping bag with a "grass" tip.
Once your cookies have cooled, use the prepared piping bag to add "grass" to your cookies. Top with three chocolate eggs.
Allow the frosting to set before packing and storing the cookies in an airtight container.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
With frosting “grass” and chocolate eggs, These Egg Hunt Easter Cookies are a cute and tasty Easter dessert recipe idea everyone will love. It feels as though I’m a bit behind in preparing for spring. However, since realizing that Easter is only a couple weeks away, I’ve been busy working on decor ideas, entertaining tips, […]
Light, creamy, and with a little crunch these Blueberry Swirled Meringues are a delicious and unique dessert recipe that’s perfect for spring and summer!
Blueberry Swirled Meringues:
Happy Monday, Everyone! Today we are making Blueberry Swirled Meringues.
I hope your week is off to a great start and that, like me, you’re settling into daylight saving time. I noticed that quite a few folks on social media were kind of cranky about the time change. I’m one of those people who greets it with open arms. I love the extra hour of sunlight in the evening. Plus, setting the clocks forward always reminds that spring is just around the corner.
In addition to the time change, it’s been sunny with blue skies here all weekend, so I’m definitely feeling a little spring in my step. I even saw my first robin of the year! I suppose it was all of these elements that inspired me to make these Blueberry Swirled Meringues.
They are a delightful dessert for the spring or summer. Not only are they light, but they are bursting with fresh flavor and a touch of sweetness.
How to Make Meringues:
In case you’ve never made meringues, let me assure you they’re much easier than you may think. While they don’t take a lot of effort, they do require a bit of time to bake. I recommend baking the meringues a day in advance and making the whipped topping and blueberry sauce right before serving.
Meringues are just eggs whites, cream of tartar, sugar, and flavoring. With this recipe, we’re adding a swirl of blueberry preserves. This addition to the meringues gives a subtle hint of flavor and a beautiful touch of color. Pretty, right?
The meringues are baked at a low temperature for a quite a while. This cooks the eggs whites and dries the meringue so you’re left with a light and crunchy treat.
Topped with homemade whipped cream and a lemon-infused blueberry sauce, the combination of flavors and texture is perfect. Everything works in harmony. Just one bite, and you’ll know what I mean.
Plus, I think this dessert looks fancy and impressive. Your guests will marvel at your baking skills.
Looking for more blueberry-inspired recipes? Try these:
Light, creamy, and with a little crunch these Blueberry Swirled Meringues are a delicious and unique dessert recipe that's perfect for spring and summer!
Begin by preheating your oven to 250 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
Add the blueberry preserves to a heat-proof bowl and microwave for 30-45 seconds. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl. Discard the solids.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, vanilla extract, and salt on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high until stiff, glossy peaks form. This will take about 5 minutes.
Drizzle about one-quarter of the preserves onto the prepared meringue mixture in a zig-zag pattern. Using a large spoon, scoop 2 portions of the meringue mixture (about 1/3 cup each) onto the prepared baking sheet. (The jam with naturally swirl into the mixture as you do this.) Make an indentation in the center. Repeat this process adding more preserves to the meringue mixture as needed. You should be able to make 12 meringues in total.
Bake for about 90 minutes or until the outsides form a crust. Turn the oven off and prop open the door with a wooden spoon. Let the meringues sit for 1-2 hours. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
In the meantime, prepare the whipped cream. Beat together the heavy whipping cream and confectioners' sugar with an electric mixer on high speed for 1-2 minutes until medium peaks form.
To prepare the blueberry sauce, mix the blueberries, sugar, salt, cornstarch, and fresh lemon juice together in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook 3-4 minutes, stirring often until several of the blueberries start to pop. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Cool completely before serving.
To serve, fill each meringue with whipped cream and top with blueberry sauce. Garnish with fresh blueberries, if deserved. Serve immediately.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
Light, creamy, and with a little crunch these Blueberry Swirled Meringues are a delicious and unique dessert recipe that’s perfect for spring and summer! Blueberry Swirled Meringues: Happy Monday, Everyone! Today we are making Blueberry Swirled Meringues. I hope your week is off to a great start and that, like me, you’re settling into daylight […]
I found a house! (Don’t get too excited. Based on the title of this post, you can see where this is headed.)
About a week ago, I was feeling a bit frustrated with the house hunting process. Not only is the market slow at the moment, but it seemed as though most of the places I’d seen were (in my opinion) hot-mess houses at crazy prices. For those of you who asked for links, here is an example. This home, listed at $575K, needs a ton of love. It shows okay online, but it has a laundry list of issues, including an oddly shaped kitchen, mismatched styles, cracked walls, grimy interior, and a troubling backyard, The funny part is, this house was under contract in less than two weeks. And I suppose it makes sense. If your budget is $775K, you could certainly make this into a show-stopper.
This is another home I looked at just down the street. I liked the first level, but the second floor was cramped. The house also had a shared driveway, which I had at my St. Marys house and want to avoid. In addition, this home lacked a “proper front door/porch.”
Feeling bummed about the houses I’d been seeing, I decided to look outside the areas I was currently searching. Almost like a beam of light from the heavens, I found “the one.” My awesome realtor quickly scheduled a showing for the following day.
During the first visit, I was a bit disappointed. (As I mentioned in my last post, be prepared for the home to look different in person than it does online.) While the home wasn’t as magical as I had hoped, I still had this gut feeling that there was great potential. My mind went into overdrive.
I took a couple days to think about it. I even went back by myself and walked around the neighborhood to get a feel for the area. Since I hadn’t been looking there initially, I wanted to make sure I felt comfortable in the neighborhood. As I strolled around, I encountered other folks, and in general, they were super friendly. (Full disclosure: I had had dental work done earlier in the day and 90% of the time I wasn’t sure if I was smiling at them or just drooling. I may have looked like a lunatic, but still, they said hello.)
I scheduled a second showing with my realtor and this time around had a much better feeling about some of the home’s issues. I am aware that no home is or will be perfect. So looking at the troublesome areas with new eyes, I realized they were all things that I could fix, and that ultimately, they would help make the house my home.
I decided to put in an offer.
Considering the issues with the home (possible basement water problem, significant leaks in garage roof, terrible paint job on the second and third floor, possible issue with the A/C unit and heating and cooling on the third floor, dented and rusty appliances (though advertised as new), no kitchen ventilation, a crumbling back patio, etc.), I went in with a lower but reasonable offer. (A bit of background: This home was bought about two years ago as an investment property. It was completely remodeled, but in my opinion, attention was not given to the finishing details. However, the home did have all new plumbing, electric, and HVAC.)
The seller was interested in working together, so they counteroffered. I met them halfway with another counteroffer. They came back and asked for a quicker closing date and the contingency of me closing on my other home removed. As you can tell, it was a lot of back and forth between our realtors and my lender. However, at the end of the day, I had a verbal agreement with the seller on all the terms. Wahoo! A contract was drawn up, I signed, and it was sent to the seller to sign.
Of course, at this point, I was feeling pretty excited. While I didn’t put pen to paper and start planning projects, my mind was swirling with designs and other ideas. I know there are many roadblocks that can come with buying a house, so I also had to make sure I was comfortable dealing with some of the details I didn’t like and wanted to change. I didn’t want to get attached, but I had started to think how I could make sure the home would work for me. It’s a major catch-22 I suppose. Although I didn’t want it to happen, I was getting attached.
After the seller had had the contract for over 24 hours, my gut told me that something was up. However, I stayed as hopeful as I could. Early the next morning my realtor texted me, “I know it’s early, but is now a good time for a call?” My heart sank to my toes. I knew this wasn’t going to be good.
Despite the verbal agreement, an “unexpected” offer came to the table, and since it was above the asking price, the seller accepted*.
I was crushed.
I’m kind of a sensitive person, and I cried. I lost hope. I was also angry. My realtor told me this was “a worst-case scenario.” Unfortunately, the listing agent didn’t give me a chance to submit my best offer. To me, the whole process felt very sneaky and shady. I felt like they used my offer to leverage something better. At the end of the day, this seller was all about the money. Luck or fate simply wasn’t on my side.
I was and still am feeling frustrated about the market. I don’t understand how a home, especially one with “issues,” could sell above asking price. Maybe I’m naïve. Maybe I don’t understand the market. Maybe this was just a “lesson learned.”
Flash forward 48 hours. The dust has settled a bit. While I’m still perplexed by the experience, I realize that that house just wasn’t meant to be. I’m not sharing all of this with you for your sympathy. (Though your kind words, thoughts, and prayers are ALWAYS greatly appreciated.) I truly understand what’s happened is all part of the process. I’m sharing it because it’s somewhat cathartic for me. Plus, the goal of this series is to take you along on this journey, good or bad. It’s my hope that reading about my experience will help you. If this (or a similar situation) happens to you, you’ll be better prepared than I was. So, here’s what I learned.
Buying a House with IBC: Dealing with Disappointment
Keep Your Hopes in Check
Honestly, I have no idea how to do this. The advice has been to trust your gut, and you’ll know when you find “the one.” It’s a challenge to do that and not become attached to a house. One solution is to have a lot of distractions during the process. Plan fun things to do and look forward to. Don’t pause your life or change your routine. Even if you’ve found a house that you think is going to work, continue searching, continue to be open to other listings. Also, continue to plan your life as it is. Don’t schedule things based on buying this particular house or cancel scheduled plans because “this could work out.”
Be Patient
Of all the virtues, this is one I’m probably most lacking. I’m not sure how to build your patience muscle, but you’ll need a strong one. I want immediate answers and results, and that just doesn’t happen. Chances are the buyer and seller are both working with a realtor, so it takes a lot of time and back-and-forth to communicate.
My suggestion for this is the same one I recommend for avoiding attachment. Keep yourself distracted. Keep living your life. Go to the movies, go out to dinner, watch your favorite show. It’s rather pointless to keep checking your email every five minutes for updates. As they say, a watched pot never boils. Constantly focusing on house hunting or the offer you’ve made will do you no good. In fact, it’s probably counterproductive because if it all falls apart, you don’t want everything falling down with it. Let hunting for a home only be a tiny part of your life; avoid making it your whole existence.
Find Someone to Talk To
This is super important. Chances are you have a few people in your life who you can chat with about your house hunting. Be open. If you’re excited about a particular house, let them know. That way if it works out they will be the ones there with a bottle of champagne to celebrate. Or if it doesn’t work out, they’ll be there to support you because they knew how excited you were. Also, when you are bummed or disappointed, talk it out. It truly helps.
There’s another important point I want to make here. While you may have great friends or family, some of them may not be the people you want to chat with about this process. Find the person who can keep YOUR best interests in mind. Find the person who isn’t going to let jealousy cloud their opinions of what YOU should do. Find the person who is positive and excited for you, but is also realistic and honest. It’s easy to want to share exciting news, but think about what will happen if that exciting news falls apart. Who are you going to be glad you told and who are you going to regret telling?
Avoid Planning
While you certainly want to be able to see yourself in your new home, avoid any planning on a particular home. Until you know with 100% certainty that a home will be yours, avoid starting a Pinterest board for decorating and design ideas. Do not search out landscapers or someone to fix the crumbling patio. Do not start selling your furniture that won’t match the new space. Don’t drive by the house every day on your way to work. Don’t plan where the garden will be. Don’t make a list of projects. I could go one, but you get the idea.
Yes, you should totally think about what you want in your dream home (as I talked about in the first post of this series), but avoid specifics when you think you’ve found “the one.” Keep your ideas general and be open to any home.
Fasten Your Seatbelt
Maybe your home buying process will be effortless. However, be prepared for a rollercoaster ride. First, buckle your seatbelt and expect lots of highs and lows. Chances are you’re going to want to throw up a few times. Be prepared.
Secondly, try to enjoy the ride. While tedious and stressful, house hunting can be lots of fun. This process has reminded me how much I love design and dreaming up spaces. I’ve basically redesigned and redecorated every home I went into, and it’s been a joy. It’s also made me realize how much I’m looking forward to getting back into a house and doing more of the things I love.
Again, although this past week was a downer and a big lesson for me, I’m doing okay now. I am also confident that eventually, I will find the perfect place for me.
*I’ve opted to not share the link to this particular house. I don’t want you to fall in love with it like I did. Maybe when more time has passed, I’ll be inclined to share. Thanks for understanding!
I found a house! (Don’t get too excited. Based on the title of this post, you can see where this is headed.) About a week ago, I was feeling a bit frustrated with the house hunting process. Not only is the market slow at the moment, but it seemed as though most of the places […]
Today I’d like to share tips for an organized and stylish bedroom design. Just before the holidays, I gave you a peek into my bedroom to show you the changes I made as I decorated it for the season. Unfortunately, when I put all the fun Christmas decor away, I was left with a boring and not-so-functional space. (Whomp. Whomp.)
Fortunately, things are looking up in that space because this year I’ve teamed up with IKEA to be an official IKEA Brand Ambassadör. I am thrilled about this partnership since IKEA is an excellent source of affordable furnishings, home decor, and storage solutions. I also love how forward thinking they are with their designs. (Does anyone else get goosebumps when their catalog arrives in the mail?) As an added bonus, now that I’m in Pittsburgh, I can get to an IKEA store in under 30 minutes. Winning!
Organized and Updated Bedroom Design
In thinking about how to make my bedroom space more organized, functional, and beautiful, I quickly realized that I needed a better way to store my clothes. Since I’m currently living in an apartment, I don’t have the luxury of a basement or attic off-season clothing storage. Therefore, I needed to make my bedroom design and the closet in there function as effectively as possible.
To do that, I added two dressers. Since my bedroom closet is large, I thought that having drawer storage inside it would be ideal. I use the top half of the closet for hanging clothes, and after measuring, I realized that the HEMNES 3-drawer chest would fit perfectly in the bottom half. Its simple styling and clean lines also work well in my bedroom.
Once the chest was in place, I discovered I still had room on the top of the dresser to store accessories. This brass GLATTIS tray adds a bit of bling and is a handy spot for some of my belts.
For a cohesive look and even more storage, I put a HEMNES 5-drawer chest in the area behind my bedroom door. Previously, this was dead space, but this tall and narrow chest fits beautifully. This is where I store undergarments, socks, and some gym clothes. To dress up this section of my bedroom, I added this painted portrait of a dapper cat. On top of the chest is a YPPERLIG tray which holds my cologne.
With the addition of these two large storage pieces, I now have enough space to store almost all of my clothes in my bedroom. I still have a plastic tote that holds a few off-season items in another closet. Plus, I keep my coats and jackets in my entryway closet.
My mission to create clothes storage is now complete!
Bedroom Design and Decor Ideas
To further organize my space, I added two brass KAMPIG hooks. I’m one of those people who often leave jeans and hoodies on the floor after I’ve worn them. With those two hooks on my wall, now I have a place to hang clothes I’ve worn but aren’t dirty. These hooks will also come in handy when I have to get up early in the morning and want to put out my outfit the night before.
I also added a couple other organizational tools to help me keep things in place. On top of my dresser is this lidded YPPERLIG box which holds my watches. Near it is another GLATTIS brass tray to corral decorative accessories.
After all my organization was complete, it was time to make things pretty! As you know, I installed a shelf above my bed. In fact, I used EKBY VALTER brackets and a piece of wood from the home improvement store that I stained to match my bed.
Sitting on the shelf is artwork I created with watercolors, paper, and a brush. The design is simple, but it adds color and interest Displayed in inexpensive HOVSTA frames, my custom art instantly looks professional and important.
Some other IKEA accessories in my bedroom include this chic gray GRADVIS vase (holding fresh hydrangea blooms) and some colorful pots to display the plants I bought. It is spring so I say bring on the plants! A friend and I recently agreed how much we love the live plants at IKEA.
I also fell in love with the LAUTERS lamp and JARA lamp shade. They complement the colors and lines of the HEMNES pieces very well.
Along with a few new throw pillows for good measure, I’d say my bedroom design is officially organized and stylish. It’s amazing what a few key pieces (and a handful of pretty accessories) can do to make a space simultaneously functional and beautiful. After living in this space for several months now, I can’t tell you how great it is to have a place for everything and everything in its place. What do you think?
If you’re looking for details on some of the other pieces and furniture in this space, check out SHOP IBC.
I am an IKEA Brand Ambassadör. IKEA is a registered trademark of Inter IKEA Systems B.V. and is used with permission. The views, ideas and opinions expressed here are my own.
This post is sponsored by IKEA. Today I’d like to share tips for an organized and stylish bedroom design. Just before the holidays, I gave you a peek into my bedroom to show you the changes I made as I decorated it for the season. Unfortunately, when I put all the fun Christmas decor away, […]
It’s time for a new Tuesday Tunes playlist. This time I’m focusing on country music (Country music fans, please raise your hands!)
It seems my music preferences go in phases and stages. Sometimes I’m dancing to pop music in my kitchen, and other times I’m chilling out on the couch with folk tunes. For the past few weeks, it’s been all about country for me. I think that’s because a few of my favorite artists have released a new track or albums, and they are so so good!
Country Music Playlist
These past couple days I’ve been listening to Kacey Musgraves’ “Space Cowboy” on repeat. The week before, Brandi Carlile’s new album came out, so that spun on my record player every day. (While I listen to most music via Spotify on my phone or computer, some artists sound exceptionally good on vinyl. Brandi, is one of them.)
A couple more of my new favorites include “Tequila” by Dan + Shay and “Simply the Best” by Noah Reid. The latter is technically not an official single, but it was featured in one of my favorite shows, Schitt’s Creek, and now I can’t get enough of it. Growing up, my cousins and I made fun of country music, but after my teenage years, I grew to appreciate it. I think it’s the reason I also love folk-inspired music so much. It has the heart, story, and grit of country, but it can also feel very fresh, new, and energetic.
Another reason I’m excited right now is that I’ve purchased a few tickets for summer concerts including Sugarland (SO happy they are back), LeAnn Rimes, and The Avett Brothers. I may try to get to Pink’s concert, too. Are you hitting up any concerts this year?
Listen Here: Country Music Playlist
Even if you’re not a country fan, I hope you’ll give this playlist a listen and let me know what you think. You can use the widget below or listen directly on Spotify by clicking here.
In addition, you’re more than welcome to follow my Spotify profile to see what I’m listening to or get a sneak peek at future Tuesday Tunes playlists.
Enjoy the music, my friends!
It’s time for a new Tuesday Tunes playlist. This time I’m focusing on country music (Country music fans, please raise your hands!) It seems my music preferences go in phases and stages. Sometimes I’m dancing to pop music in my kitchen, and other times I’m chilling out on the couch with folk tunes. For the […]
I am immensely grateful to have escaped the flu this year (Knock on wood.), but I’ve come down with a bad case of spring fever. It’s been sunny and in the 60s for the past three days, so I’m ready to say goodbye to winter.
Even though snow and 30- and 40-degree temps are in the forecast, the recent sunshine inspired me to do some spring decorating. And because I’ve started decorating for spring, I thought you might be itching to do the same. Are you ready to perk things up for the new season?
I think you’ll love this list because it has ideas for any budget. Just doing one or two things will instantly refresh your space. Let’s get started!
Spring Decorating Ideas for Your Home:
CLEAN:
Even if you add nothing to your home in terms of “spring decorations,” take a couple days to deep clean from floor to ceiling. I just did this in my bedroom, and what a difference it makes. I dusted under all of the furniture. I used a magic eraser to get those mystery marks off the wall. I washed all my bedding and aired out my pillows….The list goes on.
It’s amazing what a thorough cleaning can do. (Hence, the reason “Spring Cleaning” has been a long-standing domestic tradition.) Something as simple as cleaning your windows inside and out can let more of that beautiful sunlight in.
DECULTTER:
When you’re cleaning, it’s also good to declutter. I am by no means a minimalist, but I do love getting rid of extra “stuff” each spring. Winter can weigh a person down. Spring should not.
For example, take time to go through your kitchen cupboards and drawers. (Listen to a podcast or music if you prefer to multitask.) Clear a space in that closet where you’ve been piling stuff all winter long. Go through your wardrobe and donate clothes that no longer fit or haven’t been worn in a year. The more you declutter, the lighter you and your home will feel.
REARRANGE THE FURNITURE:
I’m currently house hunting, so I’m saving every penny I can for my new place. Thankfully, decorating for spring doesn’t require running to Target and buying everything from their latest home decor collection. If funds are tight, shop your own home. That bench that’s become a drop zone in your living room might look cute at the end of your bed. Or perhaps photos from your most recent family vacation would make a beautiful gallery wall. Or maybe you could move your sofa to the opposite wall to give you better flow through your home. Get creative!
Another idea to consider is swapping a few items of furniture/home decor with friends and family. Chances are the people you’re close to also desire a spring refresh. That lamp in your closet just might be perfect in your friend’s living room, and their unused side table could look great in yours.
More Spring Decorating Ideas for Your Home:
ADD PLANTS:
Okay, now that your place is clean and clutter-free, you’re ready to bring in a few new things. I suggest starting with plants. However, plants can be tricky because they do require care and attention. My recommendation is to do some research before buying that trendy plant.
Take time to figure out if a plant suits your home and lifestyle. Does it need daily watering or will it survive if you forget about it for a few days? Does it need lots of sun or can it survive in shady conditions? Is the plant toxic to your child or pet? Such considerations will help you find the best plant for you and your home. If you’re still unsure, visit a nursery where trained professionals can help you rather than going it alone at a big box store.
SWITCH UP TEXTILES:
If you’re like me, you have a large collection of throw pillows and blankets. I personally like to switch these up every season. It’s amazing how a few different textiles can completely update a space.
When spring comes, I pack away knits, furs, and other heavy and highly textured materials. For spring, I go light and bright. Floral and ginghams are two options. Light-weight fabrics, such as cotton and linen work really nicely too. This is also a good time to remove any winter blankets from your bed. As the nights get warmer, you simply don’t need them.
If your budget allows, you can also change out that dirty and dusty rug under your dining room table, hang new curtains in your guest bedroom, get new dish towels for the kitchen, and even update your bathroom towels. Again, there’s no need or expectation to buy all new things come spring. However, it is a good time to carefully look at things and replace what is worn, ripped, or faded.
PAINT:
Although it will take more effort, paint is an inexpensive way to completely change the look of a room. For under $100 and a couple days of work, you can refresh a space. (Painting can also force you into cleaning and decluttering. Trust me, you will not want dirty stuff hanging out in your newly painted room.)
One point I’d like to make here is be smart about selecting your paint color. If you have the $100 to get paint and supplies, but don’t have extra cash for new furnishings, make sure your new paint color complements your existing decor. A freshly painted room with furnishings that don’t match will defeat the purpose of this process. Be smart.
Also, paint isn’t limited to your walls. You might have a piece of furniture that would look completely different with a coat of paint. Or maybe you need to touch up painted furniture that’s looking a little rough around the edges. Often it’s simple touches like these that make a space feel new and bright.
BRING IN FRESH AIR:
One of the things I do on warm and sunny spring days is open all my windows. There’s something about a breeze blowing through my home that instantly makes it feel better. It’s like all the stuffiness and yuckiness of winter is pushed outside, and the rooms can finally breathe again.
In addition to opening windows, you can use seasonal fragrances. Whether you like candles, essential oils, diffusers, or the natural scents of mother nature, swapping out or adding new ones is a wonderful way to update your home for the season. (One of my personal favorites is the NEST Grapefruit Reed Diffuser.) Cleaning, which is at the top of this list, will also help to give your home a clean and fresh scent.
As you can see, spring decor is more than just new pillows and ceramic bunnies. While there are many ways to refresh your space for the new season, I hope these seven tips help inspire you to start your spring decorating.
What other ways do you change and update your home for spring?
I am immensely grateful to have escaped the flu this year (Knock on wood.), but I’ve come down with a bad case of spring fever. It’s been sunny and in the 60s for the past three days, so I’m ready to say goodbye to winter. Even though snow and 30- and 40-degree temps are in […]
As you know, I’m currently house hunting and taking you along on my adventure. (In case you missed any of my journey, you can catch up here.) I think I already mentioned that the housing market in Pittsburgh is relatively slow during the winter. Thankfully, we are on the verge of spring, and I’m already seeing signs that things are starting to pick back up. During the past couple of weeks, I looked at five houses. (Only one has potential.) However, with each house, I have gained more insight into the market and what I want ultimately want in a home. So today I thought I’d pop in and share some things I’m learning. My goal is to keep you up-to-date and offer advice for those of you who are also buying a house.
Let’s get to it!
Buying a House with IBC: What I’m Learning
City Living
When I first moved to Pittsburgh, the idea of living in a row house tucked into the city streets seemed idyllic. I could certainly manage with little or no yard, one parking spot, and a smaller space. However, as I began my house hunt this past fall, I realized that being in the city was great, but I needed something with a bit more space. I wanted a garage, some sort of yard, and a little breathing room between my house and the neighboring ones.
Last week on Facebook, a friend shared a house that’s about 15 minutes outside the city. Although the house was a dream on the outside, the recently redone interior was not my style, so it didn’t warrant a visit. Nonetheless, I took a drive around the neighborhood and was delighted with what I saw. There were large trees, the streets were quiet, the homes had yard space, and it felt less busy. Plus, it was still close enough to all the hub-bub of the city without being in it.
While I’m still open to a home closer in, this showed me that a house just outside the city might be a nice fit for me.
Lesson: When it comes to location, think about what you want long term. Also, be honest with yourself about what gets under your skin in your current area. Does it bother you when someone’s car alarm goes off every day? Are the streets congested, making it hard or worrisome to get around?
Also, don’t be afraid to check out a few homes outside of what you may be considering. Like me, it may cause you to think about a different location or it may offer a perspective you hadn’t considered.
Pictures Vs. Reality
On Saturday I stumbled across a new listing on Zillow and immediately fell in love. Like, punch-in-the-gut, this-is-my-house kinda love. It was a 100+-year-old home tucked into a cute neighborhood about 15 minutes from the city. It had recently been redone, mostly in my style. However, there were still several projects that I could tackle on my own. Perfect! Thankfully my real estate agent is the bomb and set up a showing for the next morning.
Being a blogger and knowing full well how photos can differ from reality, I should have been prepared for a house that did not live up to the magic of the online images. It turns out that a lot of the finishing details were ignored and the appliances that seemed new in the photos are well used and dented, The basement also has water issues.
While I am still considering this property, the reality of it definitely was a surprise to me. I walked up the sidewalk thinking I would be placing an offer, and left with a very different view. As with most things online, a house may look “picture perfect,” but chances are the photos are showing you the home’s good angles and taking advantage of good lighting and camera work. You are only seeing the highlight reel just to get you in the door.
Lesson:Don’t get overly excited or get your hopes up about any property until you see it in its entirety. If you’re anything like me, this is easier said than done. Having an unrealistic view of a place can also cloud your judgment when you find potential problems or concerns. Have patience and keep your perspective.
Nothing is Perfect
Unless you are exceedingly lucky, chances are you’re not going to find a home that’s absolutely perfect. And if you’re a bit picky like me, the search is going to be even more challenging. As I looked through the home I mentioned previously, my real estate agent reminded me that there’s going to be something about every home that I don’t like or would prefer to be different. It’s important to consider what things you’re willing to live with and what you can reasonably change. And while I was aware of this, it was a good reminder. That’s why I’m sharing it with you.
A lot of these imperfections may be caught by your “Required and Desired” list which I talked about here, but there will also be more things that come up that aren’t yet on your radar. Also, consider what will be a simple fix and what might be a much more complicated addition or alteration. For example, you can easily paint walls, add modelings, and update landscaping, but it will be more challenging and costly to replace windows, run new electrical, and upgrade the heating and air conditioning system.
Lesson: Don’t settle for a property you don’t love or feel in your gut to be home. However, remember that nothing is perfect and certain details can be changed or improved over time.
Okay, I have more advice to share, but this post is already long enough. I’ll save those ideas for another day.
I suspect you would love to see the houses I’m visiting. I haven’t included any images of them here because I feel awkward photographing someone else’s residence and sharing those photos on the internet without the owner’s permission. The only way around this would be to provide Zillow links to homes that didn’t work for me. If that’s something you’d be interested in, please let me know.
Until next time!
As you know, I’m currently house hunting and taking you along on my adventure. (In case you missed any of my journey, you can catch up here.) I think I already mentioned that the housing market in Pittsburgh is relatively slow during the winter. Thankfully, we are on the verge of spring, and I’m already […]
Made with fresh blackberries and limes, this Blackberry Lime Shortcake Cake is a delicious way to celebrate the bright and bold flavors of the season.
I thought it’d be appropriate to wrap up this week with a cake. (It’s Friday after all, and I’m down for any reason to celebrate. How about you?) So, with visions of spring and summer already dancing in my head, today I’m serving up Blackberry Lime Shortcake Cake.
Blackberry Lime Shortcake Cake:
What’s a “shortcake cake” you may ask? Well, it’s all the things you love about shortcake served in cake form. Like this…
Make sense?
Not only does it look beautiful, but I find it so easy to serve this way. Normally, you need to prepare individual shortcakes just before serving. With a shortcake cake, all you do is slice, serve, and enjoy!
Although the recipe may sound a bit complicated, you’ll find it’s easy to make.
How to Make Blackberry Lime Shortcake Cake:
First, prepare your shortcake. What’s nice about this method is that you bake the entire shortcake in one pan instead of having to roll out and cut individual circles of cake.
While the cake bakes, you can put together the blackberry lime filling. If you’ve never had blackberry and lime together, you are in for a treat. The flavors play off each other deliciously. Plus, if this winter is dragging you down like it is me, the flavor pairing may give the taste of summer you need.
In addition to blackberries and lime, I amped up the traditional whipped cream element of shortcake by adding cream cheese. (A little cream cheese never hurts, right?) Not only does it bring a tangy richness to the flavor, but it also gives the filling body that helps support the cake when assembling.
With all the elements prepared, you just need to assemble them. Slice the cake in half horizontally and evenly spoon a layer of filling and some blackberries on the bottom half. Then place the top half back on.
For a decorative detail, I piped more of the filling onto the top of the cake and garnished that with blackberries and lime zest curls. So cute!
This serves nine, so I added the topping and garnishes in such a way that each cut piece would be as pretty as the next.
Let’s eat!
I don’t know about you, but as I write this post, I’m craving a slice of this Blackberry Lime Shortcake Cake. When I was finished photographing this, I had to fight the urge to pick up the whole cake sandwich style and devour it in its entirety. It’s that good!
If you love blackberries, you’ll like these recipes too:
Begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees F. Line the bottom of an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and spray the paper with baking spray.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a medium bowl, mix together the buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
Pour the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture and stir with a fork until just combined. Add the batter to the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle with coarse sugar.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden and done. - A toothpick inserted near the center should come out clean.
Allow the shortcake to cool in the pan. Then remove and slice in half horizontally. Set aside.
Next, prepare the filling by whisking together the cream cheese, sugar, lime zest, vanilla and 1 cup of the blackberries. Do this in a mixer on medium spend until the mixture is creamy. This will take 1-2 minutes.
In a clean bowl, beat the heavy cream and confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form. (It should be fluffy but not too firm.) Then, using a spatula, fold in the cream cheese blackberry mixture until just combined.
To assemble the cake, spoon about 3/4 of the filling over the bottom half of the cut shortcake. Spread the filling out in an even layer; then top with the remaining blackberries, reserving 9 for garnish. Place the top half of the shortcake on the layer of blackberries and filling. Use the reserved filling to add 9 dollops to the top of the cake. (You can do this with a spoon or piping bag.) Garnish each with a blackberry and lime zest.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
Made with fresh blackberries and limes, this Blackberry Lime Shortcake Cake is a delicious way to celebrate the bright and bold flavors of the season. I thought it’d be appropriate to wrap up this week with a cake. (It’s Friday after all, and I’m down for any reason to celebrate. How about you?) So, with […]
These Cheesecake Brownie Hearts combine two of my favorite desserts. Plus, they are simple to make for a beautiful Valentine’s Day treat!
It’s Valentine’s Day this week! If you’re in need of a last-minute treat to celebrate with someone special (or you just want to treat yo’self), these Cheesecake Brownie Hearts should do the trick! Not only are they super simple to make (I used a box mix.), but they are full of chocolate and cheesecake goodness.
Cheesecake Brownie Hearts
I don’t know how it is for you, but February is usually a tough month for me. The highs and excitement of New Year’s resolutions have left the building; I am sick of winter, and I’m stuck pondering life with a plate of cheese and crackers even though I’m on a diet. Anyone else?
Although I’m approaching 35, I still don’t have a sure-fire cure for the winter blues. (Let me know if you have one.) This past weekend I more-or-less decided that a little vacation is in order, so I may escape this cold clime in a couple weeks for a little R&R on a sunny beach. Any recommendations for safe and relatively inexpensive tropical destinations for a solo traveler would be much appreciated.
Speaking of cures for winter blues, let’s talk about these Cheesecake Brownie Hearts! Valentine’s Day is this Wednesday so we don’t have much time.
I found this heart-shaped pan at HomeGoods and picked it up without any plan for what I’d bake in it. (Apparently I’m on a heart-shaped dessert kick. You can grab my recipe for heart-shaped mini berry pot pies here.) In brainstorming ideas, I decided cheesecake brownies with festive sprinkles would be perfect.
How to Make Cheesecake Brownies:
The recipe for these cheesecake brownies goes back to my college days. I was an RA (resident assistant) back then, and my building coordinator would often make these as a treat for the RAs. These brownies were so delicious and much appreciated by this hungry college student.
The recipe is simple. You will need a boxed brownie mix (along with the ingredients to make it), plus one block of cream cheese, an egg, vanilla, and sugar. That’s it.
I’m making the brownies in this cute heart-shaped pan, however, a regular 9×13″ pan would also work. (Or you could try whatever cake pan you like.) They are definitely suitable for any time of the year. If you ever need a quick dessert recipe for a get-together, these might become your new go-to.
The combination of brownie and cheesecake is something special. I’m not sure why, but they go so well together. I promise you will love these and be equally impressed by how easy they are to make.
Next, prepare your brownie mix according to the package directions. Add the prepared brownie batter to your lightly greased baking pan. (I used a heart-shaped pan here, but a 13x9-inch pan would work just as well.
In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture to the top of your brownie batter. Use a wooden skewer or toothpick to swirl the cream cheese mixture into the batter.
Bake according to the package directions, adding an extra 4-5 minutes to compensate for the cream cheese layer.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before removing from the pan. Top with sprinkles for added color and fun.
Notes
*Amount will vary based on your particular brownie mix.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
These Cheesecake Brownie Hearts combine two of my favorite desserts. Plus, they are simple to make for a beautiful Valentine’s Day treat! It’s Valentine’s Day this week! If you’re in need of a last-minute treat to celebrate with someone special (or you just want to treat yo’self), these Cheesecake Brownie Hearts should do the trick! […]
Apparently, I’m craving pie. On Monday I shared my recipe for Mixed Berry Pot Pies, and today I’m back with these Purrrfect Berry Hand Pies. This isn’t a bad thing, though. I’m pretty sure there’s no such thing as “too much pie.” Right?
Purrrfect Berry Hand Pies:
These cat-inspired pies, or as I like to call them, Purrrfect Berry Hand Pies, sort of happened by accident. My first idea was to make tiny pie lollipops. However, I decided they weren’t something you’d want to serve or gift. They looked kind of cute but tasted blah. The reason: I couldn’t get much filling in them because they were small and the stick took up space. (Yes, I do have kitchen fails you never see on the blog!)
That’s when I remembered this cat face cookie cutter I purchased last year when I bought the sweater cookie cutter for my Sweater Weather Sugar Cookies. Problem solved. I would make cat-inspired hand pies instead. Which, to my delight, turned out even cuter.
How to Make Berry Hand Pies:
If you’re new to pie baking, these are actually quite easy. Just keep in mind a few simple tips.
First, you can use my pie crust recipe, your favorite recipe, or even a store-bought pie dough.
Second, you’ll want a cookie cutter that’s fairly large without a lot of detail. I chose a cat face, but you can use any shape you’d like.
Third, before adding filling to your base pie crust, brush a bit of egg wash around the edge. This will help seal the top and bottom crusts together.
And finally, bake your hand pies on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper or a silicone mat. You’ll notice I didn’t do this. You’ll also see I started with 12 unbaked hand pies and finished with 9 baked hand pies. Don’t make the same mistake.
Other than that, these are pretty straightforward. I opted to finish my pies with a sprinkle of coarse sugar, but you could top them with a simple confectioners’ sugar and milk glaze if you like something sweeter.
No matter how you make them, they are the purrrfect handheld treat. Don’t you agree?
I hope you enjoyed this tasty and fun recipe for my Purrrfect Berry Hand Pies, if you give them a try, please share the results via Instagram! I love seeing your creations. Just tag @inspiredbycharm so I get a notification.
In a bowl, mix together the berries, sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Mix to combine and mash up the berries into smaller pieces with a fork.
Then roll out your pie dough to a 1/8-inch thickness. Use a cookie cutter to cut out 20-24 shapes. Set half of the cut pie pieces to the side.
Brush the border of the remaining pieces with egg wash. Then spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the berry pie filling into the center of each.
Next top them with the remaining pie dough pieces. Press the edges together with the tines of a fork to seal. Place the pies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Brush with the egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
Bake the pies 20-22 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before eating.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
Apparently, I’m craving pie. On Monday I shared my recipe for Mixed Berry Pot Pies, and today I’m back with these Purrrfect Berry Hand Pies. This isn’t a bad thing, though. I’m pretty sure there’s no such thing as “too much pie.” Right? Purrrfect Berry Hand Pies: These cat-inspired pies, or as I like to […]
This Really Good Jalapeño Dip is so simple to make and a crowd pleasing appetizer every time. You and your guests are going to love it as much as my family does!
I love having a few go-to dips to prepare for parties or impromptu get-togethers. This Really Good Jalapeño Dip just moved into the Top 5 of my go-to dip recipes. Let me explain.
Really Good Jalapeño Dip:
I was back home for a while this past Christmas. During that time there were lots of family gatherings. My dad’s wife Michelle had a new dip recipe to share: a jalapeño dip.
At first glance, it appeared basic, but one bite proved otherwise. Served chilled, the simple combination of flavors resulted in a really good dip. I was hooked.
This dip made several appearances throughout the week I was in St. Marys, and I was never disappointed. At several points, I physically stop myself from overindulging on it.
But, of course, before I left I had to ask for the recipe so I could share it with all of you.
As you know, I use the phrase “really good” instead of “the best” here on IBC. Since I haven’t tried all of the jalapeño dips in the world, I can’t claim that this is the best. However, I can tell you that this dip is really, really, really good!!
How to Make Really Good Jalapeño Dip:
Besides the flavor, one of the things I love about this recipe is that it comes together quickly. Counting the time it takes to chop the peppers, the total prep time is under 10 minutes.
Since this dip contains jalapeños, I assume you’re wondering about the spiciness. To be honest, it’s not that spicy.
Michelle recommends using the pith (the white part in the pepper) and seeds from one of the jalapeño peppers. That’s what she did. There was a touch of heat, but all that cheese keeps the spiciness to a minimum.
If you want more heat, use the pith and seeds from more than one of the jalapeños. If you don’t like heat, don’t include any pith or seeds.
No matter what spiciness level you prefer, I think you’re going to love this recipe as much as my family did. We’re obsessed!
Curious about what else is in my Top 5 dips? Check out all of my best dip recipes here. There is something for everyone. You could also have a dip party and just make them all.
Without further ado, here’s the recipe for this Really Good Jalapeño Dip!
This Really Good Jalapeño Dip is so simple to make and a crowd pleasing appetizer every time. You and your guests are going to love it as much as my family does!
In a medium bowl mix together the cream cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, ranch dressing mix, red pepper, and jalapeños until evenly combined.
Place prepared dip into a dish. Serve with Tostitos Scoop chips.
Video
Notes
*When preparing your jalapeños, remove the seeds and white part (pith) of each pepper. This is where most of the heat is. I like to include the seeds and pith from one or two peppers to give this dip a little heat. You can add more, depending on the level of spiciness you desire.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
This Really Good Jalapeño Dip is so simple to make and a crowd pleasing appetizer every time. You and your guests are going to love it as much as my family does! I love having a few go-to dips to prepare for parties or impromptu get-togethers. This Really Good Jalapeño Dip just moved into the […]
If you’re new to this series, it came about because several of you suggested that I document my house hunting adventure here in Pittsburgh. (In case you’re not aware that I’m looking to buy a home, you might want to read this post.) Anywho, I loved the idea of documenting the process so much that I decided to make it a series.
In this post, I want to talk about what I’m looking for in a house. As I mentioned in the previous post, it’s a good idea to make a list of what you want in a home. In the comments, one of you called this list “Required and Desired”. I love that! I realize my list may not be helpful to you because what you “require and desire” is likely to be quite different. However, maybe my list will be useful in getting you to think about some things you may not have considered. And, let’s be honest, many of us are curious about what someone else wants in a home. Right?
Okay, with all of that said, let’s get to it!
Location:
This is the thing I’ve struggled with the most – and for a few reasons. As many of you asked in my last post, “Why Pittsburgh?” I find myself asking the same question. Being a blogger, I could live anywhere. How do I know that Pittsburgh is where I’m “supposed” to be? Maybe I’d be happier in Palm Springs, CA, Portland OR, Nashville TN, or (You name the place.). I don’t know. Throughout my life, I’ve sort of let God/the Universe/fate determine my course, and this has never let me down. And for many and varied reasons, life has pointed me to (and put me in) Pittsburgh. I can question that, but I’ve decided to instead accept this season of life with joy and optimism … so Pittsburgh it is!
With that decision made, now my conundrum is where in Pittsburgh. I’m currently looking mostly in the city, in the East End to be specific. (In case you’re not familiar with Pittsburgh, among the specific areas are Highland Park, Shadyside, East Liberty, Lawrenceville, and Bloomfield.) As excited as I am to live in the city, it also comes with disadvantages: smaller lots/yards, parking issues, more noise/traffic, and much higher prices. Because of where I am in life, I think something in the city is best. However, I am looking at a few nearby suburbs, such as Sewickley, Ross, and Shaler Township.
Move-In Ready vs. Fixer-Upper:
The City of Pittsburgh is definitely having a moment, growing, and becoming somewhat trendy, especially in a few of the areas where I’m hunting. A lot of the houses in the city are old brick homes, which I love. I’m finding a mix of old homes that need work and flips by local developers. While you might assume I want a fixer-upper, I’m not so sure. Before the holidays, I almost put an offer on a flipped home. A part of me loves the idea of purchasing a place that’s move-in ready. As much as I love decorating, construction isn’t my forte. Yes, it might be fun to see a home go from old to new, but I’m just not sure I have the skillset or patience to make that happen.
At this point, I’m keeping my options open by looking at both refinished places and older homes. I’m hoping that when I find “the one” (be it refinished or in-need-of-love), I’ll know.
Required and Desired:
Okay, now for the nitty-gritty. Let’s talk about my required and desired list. When I sent this list to my realtor, I split it into three sections (Must-Have, Want, Icing on the Cake), however, I think it might be easier to just divide it into two. Let’s take a peek…
Required:
Outdoor space (with grass, not just deck or slab)
Parking for 2 vehicles (prefer a garage for at least one vehicle)
3 Bedrooms (or two with another space for an office)
2 Baths (preferably 2 ½)
Around 2,000 square feet or more
Older home with character
Single-family home
Desired:
Large front porch
Large windows/lots of natural light
Woodwork and moldings
Big kitchen open to living space
Master bath
Exposed brick details
Hardwood floors throughout
Walking distance to coffee shop/stores
Functional fireplace
High ceilings
As you’ll notice most of the things on my “required” list are things I can’t change. Being a blogger and someone who is passionate about home design, I realized that there are tons of things you can change about a home and some things you’ll never be able to change. I’m trying to keep these in mind as I hunt, while also being conscious of how much work I want to tackle. Meaning I can easily pint or add moldings, but I don’t want to be rewiring and replacing plumbing.
There is a side of me that wants to rebuild and create a home that’s all mine, but I also love the thought of just moving in, decorating, and enjoying. That’s the struggle. Like I mentioned above, I’m hoping that God/The Universe/fate will give me a sign once “the place” comes along.
To sum things up, in a perfect world, I’d love a modern farmhouse-style house. White and bright, full of windows. Give me an open floor plan, exposed brick, and lots of unique details. Space for a garden, old wood floors throughout, walking distance to a friendly coffee shop, and a big front porch would be icing on the cake. Can you see it? Do you want to move in, too?
Okay, I realize this post is super long, so I think I’m going to wrap it up for now. I hope this gives you an idea as to what I’m after and how my brain has been working through this process.
I also hope sharing my thoughts helps any of you who are also looking for a home. As I said, I’m aware that everyone’s process and “Required and Desired” lists are different, but maybe this post will spark something you may not have thought about.
Whether you read because you want information or are just curious, I hope you enjoyed part two of “Buying a House with IBC.” Until next time!
It’s time to revisit “Buying a House with IBC.” Today I’m back to talk about my wish list as I hunt for a new home. A couple weeks ago I introduced this new series with a post about “House Hunting.” That was a brief how-to guide for beginning the process of buying a home. In […]
Learn how to make these delicious and beautiful Mixed Berry Mini Pies. They make the perfect dessert for any celebration.
Mixed Berry Mini Pies:
Sometimes creating something unique and special can be as easy as putting a twist on a classic. For example, a traditional mixed berry pie becomes Mixed Berry Mini Pies for Valentine’s Day with a bit of creativity and some cute mini heart dishes.
Yes, friends, I’m back with more Valentine’s Day treats. I can’t help myself. As you may know, I write a monthly post for the HomeGoods Design Happy blog. This month, it’s all about Mixed Berry Mini Pies. I was inspired to make these pies when I found these mini heart-shaped baking dishes at HomeGoods. Aren’t they adorable?
Now, I could have opted for something like a soufflé or cake, but I just couldn’t resist the opportunity to use these baking dishes for something a little different: a pot pie! Yes, I realize that when most folks hear the term “pot pie,” they probably assume it’s a chicken pot pie. Not this time; bring on the berries!
How to Make Mixed Berry Mini Pies:
As you would expect, these mini pies come together fairly easily. Start with pie dough. I recommend my go-to recipe, but you can use whatever recipe you like. Even store-bought dough will do.
Next, fill the pie shell with a berry filling. You can use whatever you’d like. I mixed raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries. I added a couple pats of butter on top for extra richness. Everything gets sealed in with another piece of pie crust and then finished off with an egg wash and sprinkle of coarse sugar for a sparkling golden brown crust.
Perfection!
These are fabulous on their own, but you can add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a few extra berries to garnish. For me, fruit pie is incomplete unless it’s topped with ice cream. However .. you do you.
No matter how you serve them, I promise that you and your valentine will love these heart-shaped mini pies.
Want more pie recipes? Check out my favorites below:
I also hope you’ll give this recipe a try. However, if pie is not your thing, check out this post here. I’ve linked up a handful of my favorite Valentine’s Day treats HERE. I’m certain you’ll find something to love.
In a large bowl, mix together the berries, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Set aside.
Roll out your pie dough to a 1/8-inch thickness. Cut in sections, making sure you have enough dough to fill 5-6 mini pie dishes plus 5-6 additional pieces to top each pie. (The size of your particular pie dishes will determine how many mini-pies this recipe will make.)
Fill each dish with the pie dough, allowing any excess dough to hang over the edge. Then, evenly fill each with the prepared mixed berry filling.
Brush the lip of the pie dough on the dishes with an egg wash and then top with the remaining pie dough pieces. Pinch or use a fork to seal. Trim off any excess dough around the sides of the dish.
Use a knife to cut two vents into the top of the dough. Brush with the egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
Set the pot pies on a baking sheet and place the sheet in the oven. Then, reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the tops are lightly browned and the filling is bubbly.
Allow the pies to cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
Learn how to make these delicious and beautiful Mixed Berry Mini Pies. They make the perfect dessert for any celebration. Mixed Berry Mini Pies: Sometimes creating something unique and special can be as easy as putting a twist on a classic. For example, a traditional mixed berry pie becomes Mixed Berry Mini Pies for Valentine’s […]
This Sausage and Pepper Sheet Pan Dinner is an easy way to create a delicious dinner in no time. Plus, there’s only one plan to clean when you’re done eating.
Have you ever entertained and realized afterwards how much extra food is left…and have no idea what to do with it? Well today, I’m showing you how to turn veggie tray leftovers into this healthy and delicious Sausage and Pepper Sheet Pan Dinner.
This post is sponsored by Morton Salt. As always, all opinions are my own.
Sausage and Pepper Sheet Pan Dinner:
With the Super Bowl only a few days away, I hope this post will come in handy. Did you know that in the United States, this particular sporting event is the second biggest day for eating? (The top spot goes to Thanksgiving.)
That’s why I’ve teamed up with Morton Salt and their #EraseFoodWaste initiative to give you some creative and delicious ideas for using your game-day leftovers. Since 40% of all food produced in the US ends up wasted, I’m all about doing what I can to help decrease that percentage.
Because a vegetable tray has become a staple at parties, I thought it’d be smart to create a recipe that takes advantage of any leftover produce.
With the popularity of sheet pan dinners, my mind immediately went there as well. Paired with a fresh green side salad for a complete meal, this recipe is guaranteed to use every leftover vegetable from the tray. The only thing you’ll need to add is a protein and leafy greens.
There are many kinds of vegetable trays, but here’s where I started – piles of fresh veggies paired with a really good vegetable dip. You can find my Really Good Veggie Dip recipe HERE.
Since presentation is an important part of a veggie tray, I used a head of purple cabbage to serve the dip. I simply hollowed out the cabbage, placed a small clear glass bowl in it, and filled the bowl with dip. I did this so I could repurpose the cabbage instead of tossing it into the trash after the party.
With most vegetable trays, there are two types of vegetables: ones you can cook and ones that are best eaten raw. And the beauty of serving a side salad with my Sausage and Pepper Sheet Pan Dinner is that I can use all of the leftover vegetables.
How to a Sheet Pan Dinner:
Let’s start with the sheet pan dinner. This is so easy, my friends.
n your sheet pan, place all of the vegetables that are best cooked. Here, I’m using bell peppers, sugar snap peas, green onions, and cherry tomatoes. Yum! Next, add a protein. I chose chicken apple sausage which I sliced into 1/2-inch pieces.
Toss everything with a little extra virgin olive oil and spices. You can use what you like, but I think a combination of onion flakes, paprika, and dried parsley is especially nice.
Finally, give everything a healthy grind of fresh black pepper and a sprinkle of Morton’s Kosher Salt. Roast the vegetables and the protein in your oven at 400 degrees F for about 30 minutes. After you remove it from the oven, add freshly grated parmesan cheese and dinner is ready to serve.
Oh, and while the sheet pan dinner is cooking, make a side salad to use the rest of the vegetables. Simply chop up the carrots, radishes, and purple cabbage and toss them with leafy greens. To serve, top with your favorite dressing.
How simple is that! From veggie tray leftovers to a delicious and healthy dinner for four, it’s a touchdown of a meal. Plus, we’re helping to #EraseFoodWaste!
Now, for those of you who prefer to have the detailed recipe, let me walk you through it.
This has become a go-to meal for me. It’s simple to make, plus you can use whatever vegetables you have or like. I also think this is just as tasty on the second day. So remember, don’t toss those leftovers. #EraseFoodWaste and put them on your lunch salad the next day.
No matter how you make this recipe, I hope this post helped you to think about using your leftovers from The Big Game in new, creative, and delicious ways.
Happy cooking, everyone!
Sausage and Pepper Sheet Pan Dinner Recipe:
Sausage and Pepper Sheet Pan Dinner
Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: one pan dinner, sausage, sheet pan dinner, vegetables
This Sausage and Pepper Sheet Pan Dinner is an easy way to create a delicious dinner in no time. Plus, there's only one plan to clean when you're done eating. You're going to love this recipe.
Place the sausage, bell peppers, green onions, cherry tomatoes, and sugar snap peas on a shallow pan and drizzle them with extra virgin olive oil.
Next, sprinkle with paprika, onion flakes, parsley, kosher salt, and black pepper. Toss to combine and arrange in a single layer. Bake for 30-35 minutes.
Once roasted to your liking, remove from the oven and sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
This Sausage and Pepper Sheet Pan Dinner is an easy way to create a delicious dinner in no time. Plus, there’s only one plan to clean when you’re done eating. Have you ever entertained and realized afterwards how much extra food is left…and have no idea what to do with it? Well today, I’m showing […]
This Valentine’s Day White Chocolate Chex mix is the perfect sweet treat to give to friends, family, or that special someone.
In two short weeks, it will be Valentine’s Day. Let’s get ready by whipping up a batch of this White Chocolate Chex Mix. I’ll also show you a unique way to wrap this confection for presenting it to your Valentines. (Yes, I’m assuming that, like me, your Valentines include close friends and family.) Let’s get started!
Last summer I made a version of this White Chocolate Chex Mix for Independence Day; I thought it’d also make the perfect treat for Valentine’s. What sealed the deal was finding these cute pink, red, and white mini-shovels. Pair them with mini heart buckets and the proclamation”I dig you!” to make a treat that your Valentines will remember for years.
How to Make White Chocolate Chex Mix:
In case you’ve never made White Chocolate Chex Mix, be warned. Some folks refer to it as “crack” candy. I’m not sure what makes it so tasty (Maybe it’s the combination of sweet and salty.), but it’s the perfect treat to share with dear ones or serve at a party. You can even add M&Ms in colors to fit the holiday or the theme of your get-together.
Below, I’ve included my full recipe. However, feel free to mix it up and make it your own by using different cereals, chocolates, nuts, and more. I added extra color and fun to this particular batch with heart-shaped sprinkles.
Now that the White Chocolate Chex Mix is ready, you’ll need a way to share it.
To start, get some of these mini shovels. Aren’t they cute? I wish I could take credit for this idea, but I saw it on Amazon and ordered them immediately. Once you have the shovels you have two options.
One possibility is to add the Chex Mix to a clear baggie, then tie on the shovel. To complete the look, add a tag that reads “I dig you!”
A second option is to look for these mini heart buckets at Target and fill them with the Chex Mix. Tuck in a shovel with an “I dig you!” tag, and your gift is complete! If desired, you might also wrap the filled bucket in plastic to keep the mix fresh and protected.
Voila! Valentine’s Day perfected. What do you think?
If you liked this Valentine’s Day treat, you’ll love these:
I hope you enjoyed this idea as much as I did. Whether you share the White Chocolate Chex Mix with others or simply enjoy some yourself while binge-watching a favorite new show, have a lovely Valentine’s Day!
White Chocolate Chex Mix Recipe:
Valentine's Day White Chocolate Chex mix
Did you make this recipe? Leave a review!
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chex mix, valentine's day, white chocolate
In a large bowl, combine the Wheat and Rice Chex, Cheerios, pretzels, and 2 cups of the M&Ms. Mix evenly to distribute.
Over a double boiler, melt the white chocolate along with the vegetable shorting. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the cereal mixture and then stir with a wooden spoon. Mix gently until everything is evenly coated with the chocolate.
Place a length of parchment paper on your counter and spread the Chex mixture evenly on the paper. Sprinkle with the remaining cup of M&Ms. Add sprinkles, if desired. Let the Chex mix cool for about 1 hour. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
This Valentine’s Day White Chocolate Chex mix is the perfect sweet treat to give to friends, family, or that special someone. In two short weeks, it will be Valentine’s Day. Let’s get ready by whipping up a batch of this White Chocolate Chex Mix. I’ll also show you a unique way to wrap this confection […]
