Zero Calorie Hostess Cupcakes {Aprons}

Growing up, my mother was obsessed with healthy eating.  Lots of fresh veggies and fruit, and pretty much our only "junk food" was peanut butter.  All of our sandwiches were made with 100% whole wheat bread, and I only had Wonder white bread when visiting my friends' homes (something about how it stuck to the roof of my mouth seemed so decadent).

In order to indulge in other junk food goodness, I remember jumping on my banana seat bike (super cool, BTW), and pedaling up to the local gas station to spend a bit of my babysitting money on Hostess cupcakes or chocolate pudding pies.

These memories came back to me when hearing all the hubub over Hostess filing for bankruptcy back in January.  I imagine that plenty of kids back in the 1970's buried Hostess Twinkies and other treats in time capsules, and the plastic-like goodness will surely still be edible when they're dug up 100 years from now!  Until then, and to help satisfy your Hostess yen, I've been stitching up Retro Revival Hostess-inspired cupcake aprons:



I have so much fun sewing these aprons.  They're almost as yummy as the real thing.



They elicit lots of smiles, and occassionally I'll receive photos from happy customers.  Here's Michelle:



Captain Project won't wear one of my cupcake aprons but enjoys sampling the photo props:



Do you have Hostess memories?  Do share and you're automatically entered to win this month's blog giveaway:

Drawing is 3/31 ~ good luck!

 

Easiest, Cheesiest, Tastiest Chicken Recipe

I get so excited when I try a new recipe and it turns out delicious!

So easy, here's how I made it:

Ingredients:

1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
1 box frozen, chopped spinach, thawed, drained
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Couple dashes black pepper
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 cup panko
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 chicken breasts

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2.  Rinse chicken and dry with paper towels, then butterfly.

3.  Combine ricotta, spinach, Parmesan cheese, basil, garlic and pepper and mix until thoroughtly combined.

4.  Fill the chicken pockets with ricotta mixture and season each side with pepper.
5.  Secure the chicken closed with tooth picks.
6.  Dip chicken into panko until both sides are evenly covered.
7.  Heat olive oil in an oven-proof skillet over high heat.  Once your skillet is hot, brown chicken on both sides (about 3 minutes each side).
8.  Place skillet in oven and cook for about 20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
9.  Enjoy!

 

I found this recipe on For the Love of Cooking (so many yummy recipes there!) but adapted it to accommodate ingredients I had on hand.  Whether you use the original recipe or my adaptation, I hope you'll give it a try and let me know what you think ~ you'll be entered to win this month's blog giveaway:

 

As Seen on TV {I'm such a sucker}

Do you ever channel surf and stumble upon something you must buy?

No, I'm not talking about the Thigh Master, though I did receive one for my 30th birthday!  Used it at least three times.

Not talking about Smooth Away.  What made me think rubbing my legs with pink sandpaper would be more convenient than shaving?

I'm talking about:



Last week I bought this, not from an infomercial, but at the store where a big sign hung above the aisle saying, "As Seen on TV."

Score!  It really works well, keeping the fat from the meatloaf:

Totally worth the $14 bucks.

Now, would someone please buy me the Pajama Jeans?  I really want them.  Don't judge me.

Have you bought something really great off TV?  Have you been a sucker like me and purchased a dud?  Do tell and you're automatically entered to win this month's blog giveaway, this vintage tin sugar shaker:

I'll randomly draw a winner from all of March comments on March 31st ~ good luck!

 

Vintage Sugar Shaker & a Winner

Thank you all for participating in my February blog giveaway contest!

Congratulations to Holly from Cutie Pie Cottage.  You won ~ yay!

Shoot me an email with your address, Holly, and I'll ship you your apron!

Now, check out this pretty sugar shaker:

I found two of them at our flea market recently, and since I don't need two, I'm giving one of them away for my March Blog Giveaway.

This tin shaker is printed with bright strawberries and blueberries and measures almost 6" tall and about 3 1/2" wide at the base.  All around the base is printed with the word, "sugar" in different languages.  Sweet indeed!

I think it's vintage (it's certainly not new ~ it has a bit of rust and a few tiny dents, all of which I think adds to its charm) but after an extensive online search, I cannot find any information about Regency Ware.  Anyone out there in Blogville have the scoop?



For a chance at winning this shaker, leave a comment on this blog post and on March 31st I'll randomly draw a winner from all of your March comments.

Hope you have a sweet day!