Easy Peasy Caprese Salad

Sunday Funday in the Herre house today, y'all!

As Adam and I relax after a fun filled week with my fam, soccer games, volleyball practice, job interviews and just normal chaos in your life, we sat down and watched one of our favorite Sunday shows - The Kitchen!

PS - If you guys were keeping up with Food Network Star, we voted for LENNY!! And we were so happy that he won!  We cannot wait for his show to come out guys, you will be getting A LOT of his food on this blog! :)

So, as I was saying we were watching The Kitchen, and the most darling, Geoffrey Zakarian had a recipe that I just wanted to make right then and there, so I did. You should just get up right now and go make it, too!

Cooking teaches love and patience.  So, get your mozzarella, because cheese is happiness, and lets get our cutting boards out y'all for this yummy "Easy Peasy Caprese Salad!"

Yields one serving.

Lipsticks and Squats,

Meatloaf Cupcakes

Yes, y'all!  You read that right! 

MEATLOAF. CUPCAKES.

As I was getting my ingredients ready for my meatloaf, I realized I didn't have some ingredients, so I went on google just to look for substitutes, and then bam, I saw a "fun fact" saying, to cook your meatloaf in a cupcake pan to help it cook faster.  Then...it hit me, I always serve my meatloaf with mashed potatoes, why not just combine it? and make it into what I make best? A CUPCAKE!

Come on in guys, lets get started on this awesome and fun dinner.  

I don't have kids, but I have two little sisters and I know this is something they would love helping with, and enjoy eating.  For those of you with kids, little siblings, or husbands/wives/partners that are kids at heart, THIS RECIPE IS FOR YOU! 

All you do, is take your favorite meatloaf recipes, bake it for the time/temp below.  Make your favorite mashed potatoes, and follow the steps below! 

For the Meatloaf cakes ::

• 1pound ground beef
• 1/3 C. red onion, chopped
• 1/4 green pepper, chopped
• 1 C bread crumbs (I used italian seasoned bread crumbs)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 C ketchup
• a couple shakes of Worcestershire sauce
• 2-3 shakes of cayanne pepper
• 1 1/2 Tbls. brown sugar
• Salt and Pepper

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and grease your cupcake pan.
2. Mix all of your meatloaf ingredients together, and make sure that it is mixed together evenly.
3. Take your mixture and put into cupcake tin about 2/3 full.
4. Drizzle as much ketchup as you want on top of each, then bake for 45 minutes.

For the potatoes ::

• 4-5 Potatoes
• 1/3 C whole milk
• 1/4 C sour cream
• 1/4 C cream cheese
• 1/3 C butter (I used I can't believe its not butter)
• Salt and Pepper

1. Wash and peal all of your potatoes, roughly dice them and boil them, until soft (10-12 minutes).
2. Drain potatoes, and then put back into bowl.
3. Throw in all the other mashed potato ingredients, with your masher/blender.
4. Put it into a icing bag, or ziplock (and cut a small tip out).

Once your meatloaf cupcakes are done, pop them out, top with your mashed potato icing, and serve!

Reesee's Protein Shake : Post Workout

Moving to Winston-Salem has provided me with the time and energy to better myself by eating healthier, working out more, and living a happy life.

Running (almost) everyday has been great.  But, just cardio isn't always going to help you slim down and tone up, so be sure to get your weight lifting in as well.  Even if you can't leave the house because you have stuff to do, or you don't like leaving, you can use a simple toning band, and go and get yourself 5-pound dumbbells.

If you need a little help along the way, inspiration, diet plan, workout plan, y'all should go visit my girl Rachel.  She is absolutely amazing, and has transformed peoples lives.  Check her out on her website, Rachel Nicole Fitness.

On with the shake!  I normally don't always have a protein shake, but whenever I don't have time for a meal, with my job, like if I have a morning workout, I'll make my shake in my Ninja, and get going.  Ninja provides a quick and easy transport of any shake, or smoothie.

Y'all this is super delicious and I know you will love it!  Let me know what y'all think!

Lipstick and Squats,

Espresso Yourself at Amelie's

This is the beginning to the National Anthem of France.

Being in Charlotte for the past 4 years has given me the ability to find my favorite coffee shops in the Queen City.  And I have to say that one of my favorite places is Amelie's French Bakery of NoDa; this 24/7 bakery is the best thing on the planet, best coffee, best pastries and the BEST macaroons that I have ever eaten.

Y'all need to get your butts down there.  If you're not a coffee person, then there is tea, there is water, there is anything delicious!  And if you don't want a beverage, their selection of deliciousness is out of this world.  From their world famous Salted Caramel Brownies, to their Chocolate Mousse Cup, Macaroons, or Chocolate Croissants...if you can't tell I kinda love chocolate.

In the picture above, I tried their newest Mocha, and it is beyond fabulous, guys!  It is called the Rose Mocha, they put their homemade rose syrup in their yummy mocha and create an explosion of flavor in your mouth!

And I know you're wondering what that chocolaty thing is behind that coffee, and that y'all is the Triple Chocolate Cake.

Amelie's is my little indulgence, and the first place I want to take my friends who visit me in the Queen City.  One of my best friends, Sydnie, came to visit me, so Adam and I took her and her man to our favorite hot spot! 

From left to right :: Joanna, Me and Sydnie

Doesn't this just make your mouth water, y'all?!? Get on over to Amelie's! :)

PS - I had this snicker doodle-chocolate macaroon and it was phenomenal!  It tasted like Cinnamon Toast Crunch with chocolate...it was heaven!

Guys, life begins with coffee and a tasty croissant.

Do you have "Ruff Lips"? :: Balm Review

Oh My Goodness, y'all! I just got my Ruff-Lips Lip Balm in the mail!!

It is fantastic, it goes on really simple, it smells amazing and the BEST part of it all, 10% of all profits go to Animal Rescue Shelters! Isn't that great guys?

I am a HUGE lip balm fanatic, I collect EOS Egg Lip Balms, Soft Lips, Nivea, etc!  So when I heard that my Sorority Sister, Kelsey was making these All Natural, Organic Lip Balm, I knew that I had to try it!

Scents: 

Peppermint

Orange

Lemongrass

Lavender

I ordered the Peppermint and the Orange balms. There is something about the scents that you are just attracted to immediately and it is strong, yet when you put it on your lips it is not too over-powering.

Wear:

These balms go on so easily, y'all. They are really soft and creamy, you can feel it moisturizing your lips immediately.  When I put the balm on, it's smooth and has a long lasting wear.  My lips actually feel so much better after using this, especially with all this crazy weather in the Queen City.

Packaging: 

1 container as seen here:

The label is unique from the little puppy face, cute colors, to the bubbly font.  As stated on her site, these yummy lip balms can be anything from an everyday gift, to great stocking stuffers. And AGAIN, 10% of profit goes to Animal Rescue Shelters. I just cannot handle how amazing that is, giving back to all those fur-babies.

Price:

Only $3.25 a container, which is a fantastic price for the balm being all natural and organic!

Ingredients:

Local North Carolina Honey

Organic Bee's Wax

Organic, Unrefined Coconut Oil

Essence Oil (Orange, Peppermint, Lemongrass

On top of all these great qualities that Ruff-Lips provide, I can also GUARANTEE you that the owner is phenomenal, and she has also said that if you do not LOVE Ruff-Lips, then she will give you your money back and a letter saying sorry.  That is how sweet she is, y'all!

Side Note - I doubt that you won't like it.  Spoiler Alert - It's creamy and great!

Order as many as you want, guys!  1, 3, 200, whatever - Ruff-Lips will provide!

GO GET SOME NOW! It goes to a great cause! :)

Lipstick & Squats,