Chicken Salad | Cucumber Cups

I have a confession: I am a stop and go dieter. One day I'm super healthy and the next, not so much -- actually, it's more like I'm uber healthy for one meal and then 5 hours later, I inhale a baggie of sweet potato chips. Yumm-o. I try to make the healthy meals count and that's easier said than done, especially when you're going to parties with your pals. One of my favorite bring along dishes are these low-carb Cucumber and Chicken Salad Cups. 

Smooth Sea | Skillful Sailor - Printable

This summer is flying by and it's hard to believe that it's not over just yet. We're FINALLY enjoying some cooler temps (mid 80s!) and I'm really looking forward to the 60s-70s of Fall. Afterall, who doesn't love Autumn? Until then, I've been stuck with quite a conundrum. What kind of decor will fill the gap between stars and stripes and the autumnal harvest?? 

My vote goes to nautically inspired pieces. Going along with that line of thinking, I love a fab motivational print to tie it all together. This little lady will be right at home amidst your seafaring decor or even tucked within a gallery wall!

Insta Replay Monday - Getting Caught Up!

You may have noticed my inactivity lately. Let's just say that it's been a crazy couple of weeks around here. Rather than writing a drawn out post that may come off as complaining, I thought I'd restart Insta Replay Monday (yes, I realize it's still Sunday) and share a few of the absolute best moments. So here goes nothing!

We have done a bunch of bargain hunting -- one of my favorite finds:

We went to see 311 at Festival Pier in Philly (as we do every summer) -- our view from the pier:

Our CSA pick-ups have been bountiful and included a ton of U-Pick produce:

Lots of family time -- here's the Mr. going for a ride with our nephew:

I participated in the Craftaholics Anonymous Summer Handmade Gift Exchange -- here's what I made:

We spent a lot of free time with these little monsters -- Aubergine and Quinn -- and watched them bond!:

(contrary to how it may appear in this photo, Aubbie is about 1/5 of the size of Quinn haha)

My bff from work had her second baby and I'm already in love!

We did a ton of driving in and out of the state -- hello, Ben Franklin Bridge! (we also had a TON of rain):

You already know about my bestie's bridal shower!

But we also had her bachelorette party in Atlantic City:

We even met up with the guys halfway through -- so the Mr. got to dance the night away with us, too :

We enjoyed a fabulous rehearsal dinner for my bestie -- here's us girls:

Most importantly, MY BESTIE MARRIED HER HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART!:

And I was blessed to be her Matron of Honor:

The Best Man and I loved standing beside our best friends:

After the wedding, we spent some time with the lovebirds on the beach in Cape May:

And now I'm suffering from the worst sunburn of my life -- OUCH.

With that, I think you're all caught up!

Despite being pulled away from my favorite "job" right here, I wouldn't have changed any of it (aside from not putting on enough sunscreen haha). We had had a fabulous summer so far and it has been filled with so much love on so many levels. New babies. New friendships. New marriages. New experiences. NEW MEMORIES. 

That's what life is all about after all, right? 

I hope your summer has been just as incredible as mine. Love you all <3 Things will be back to normal soon!

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Frozen Strawberry & Lemon Creamy Delight Bars

Oh how I love summertime get togethers -- they sure are fabulous ways to relieve day-to-day stress. We had a belated Independence Day celebration with two of our favorite people and their beautiful baby girl on Saturday. They gave me free reign on apps and I just knew I couldn't leave the house without a dessert in tow as well. I scoured my desserts and appetizer boards on Pinterest and chose a few I thought would please us all. I kind of hit the jackpot with The Recipe Critic's Frozen Strawberries and Cream Dessert. 

I ever so slightly adjusted Alyssa's recipe (while I'm 110% sure it would have been excellent on its own) - giving the lemon factor a bit more umph and cutting down on the sugar content as well. 

Very Berry Summer Sangria

Seeing as 90 degree temperatures are now in our forecast and today is my baby brother's 21st birthday, it's about time for a yummy summer cocktail! My absolute favorite is sangria. My father in law swears by the boxed variety but making your own is almost too easy and the taste can't be beat! My Very Berry Summer Sangria should be on your menu for every cookout this summer.

We celebrated my sister-in-law's birthday on Sunday and when I asked what we could bring, she responded with "bring that sangria from last year - it was so good and I NEED that recipe!" so you know it's a winner.

Tropical Delight Macadamia Nut Cookies

I haven't shared a recipe in what feels like forever. This cookie recipe is sure to please and is one of the easiest to throw together. These Tropical Delight Macadamia Nut Cookies combines one of my fave things - toasted coconut, and one of the Mr.'s - macadamia nut cookies.

And guess what -- all you need are a few ingredients from the bulk food aisle and a Betty Crocker White Chip Macadamia Nut Cookie Mix.

Toms Sunglasses Pouch

I have a slight obsession with my Ray Ban Wayfarers. Over the summer my super wonderful husband bought me this matte blue pair and I treasure them. He also bought me my first pair of Toms, too! I'm a bit too smitten with that brand altogether; I'd buy every pair if I was allowed. This project combines both of those lovelies into one single accessory - a lined canvas pouch for your sunglasses.

A Taste of Cape May, NJ

I don't generally write personal posts but this weekend was really nice and I just had to share.  We spent Saturday afternoon on the beach in Wildwood then strolled around historic Cape May.  The weather was not the best, but having a whole day down at the shore with people we cherish was exactly what I needed. You see, one of my oldest and very best friends is getting married at the Cape May Ocean Club next summer and I'm her MOH. I cannot wait! She and the groom-to-be invited the Mr. and I to accompany them to their tasting and boy, oh boy are we happy we accepted that invitation!

The restaurant is modern and stunning, all of the things you look for in a venue. And the food.... oh the food! It was to die for!

unfortunately, I forgot my camera so please forgive me for using my phone

We had a total of EIGHT appetizers, ONE salad, THREE entrees, and FOUR desserts. Definitely not the kind of meal that is going to help me fit in my dress, but I enjoyed every bite.

Appetizers:

• Crab cakes
• Mini cheeseburgers
• Shrimp Cocktail
• Seared tuna
• Gazpacho
• Ceviche 
• Smoked trout
• Ribs

Entrees:

• Red snapper with English pea risotto. That risotto is what dreams are made of. I saw it on the menu and thought "ugh, that sounds disgusting." Turns out that it was my second favorite thing of the evening... I feel a copy-cat recipe coming on! 
• Roasted chicken with ginger-scallion potatoes. Best chicken ever. It's that simple.  
• Aged rib-eye. Delicious and so tender and the red wine reduction was a perfect addition to the plate.

Desserts:

• Cheesecake. My favorite dessert by far, then again, I've never had a cheesecake I didn't want to have a life-long commitment with.
• Cannoli cream and chocolate chip cake. Everyone at the table raved at this combo and rightfully so, but the cheesecake had a crust that blew me away
• Pistachio cream cake. Ehhhh. It had anise and I can't stand the licorice flavor. Enough said. 
• Flourless chocolate cake. Please don't hate me, but I'm not a chocolate fan so this didn't entice me at all. 

The chef, Lulzim Rexhepi, was incredibly talented, our server was knowledgeable and personable, and the event coordinator seemed to really care about how everything was going. I'm excited to see what the bride and groom choose to have on their menu next year. There's no doubt in my mind that their wedding will be a foodie's dream come true. If you have a chance, I'd definitely suggest stopping by the Sea Salt at the Ocean Club Hotel for a mouth-watering meal, or even a couple of drinks. 

Surf the Waves {Printable}

Every once in awhile, you might feel as though you've been dealt an unfairly terrible hand.  Rather than fixate on something out of your control, you have to learn to overcome it. This little printable reminds you of that in a light, summery kind of way. 

Get the printable here in all of its high-resolution goodness (it's a whopping 2968x2968 so it'll resize very well).

Read it. Take it. Share it. Pin it. Print it. Frame it. Give it. Live it. And always remember to ride the waves. 

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Lace Earrings

I love lace. Madonna obviously had an effect on me while I was growing up, haha. After all, I wouldn't consider anything except lace for my wedding gown last year. Still, I can't believe how trendy it is at the moment. You see it on just about everything and you're about to see it on something new -- earrings!

I am venturing into the wild world of jewelry making and I'm beginning to learn that it's only as difficult as you make it... and these earrings? Pfft. Not difficult at all.

What you'll need:
Lace trim in a pattern that you like
2 jump rings
2 fish hook earrings
Fabric Stiffener: 1 tablespoon Elmer's glue & 1 tablespoon water

Instructions:
1. Cut your desired length of lace (mine is about 2.5 inches long -- I just followed the pattern)
2. Mix your glue and water in a dixie cup until smooth and the consistency of milk
3. Dip lace into the mixture and move it around until it's completely saturated

4. While it's still wet, insert a sewing needle

5. Lay it flat to dry and remove the needle when the lace is completely stiffened

6. Thread an opened jump ring into the hole left by the needle

7. Attach the earring hook to the jump ring and close the jump ring completely

That's it! Now step back and admire your handiwork. Love them? I bet you do. 

They are so feminine and airy. They look incredibly delicate but due to the stiffener, they hold their shape perfectly and won't just twist up in your hair.

They can dress up even the most casual of outfits... I'm wearing a basic white tank and preppy shorts and they look fabulous with the ensemble.

On display with some of my other favorite earrings. Aren't those little blue birds from Target just darling? Or maybe you're admiring my pretty little bees from J.Crew? And of course my Anthro Callias Knock-offs are a show stopper as well!

Like my earring display? It's just burlap and lace wrapped around foam board and inserted in a frame... I feel another tutorial coming!

If you like these earrings, you should check out my Cut Lace Carryall, too! 

Consider following Spool and Spoon via email or Google Friend Connect so you don't miss out on other pretty projects and really simple recipes!

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S'mores Cookies

Who doesn't love s'mores? I don't even like chocolate but I can inhale two s'mores without a second thought. They are the perfect summer time treat and a sweet nightcap to a long day. I'm always trying to come up with new ways to reinvent the wheel and these cookies are almost better than the original. They are super tasty and what's S'MORE (tee-hee) is that they are quick and easy. If we are going to jazz up the recipe anyhow, why not cheat a little and use cookie dough mix? I won't tell if you won't tell. 

S'MORES COOKIES

Ingredients:

• Betty Crocker Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix (+ 1/4 cup of oil, 2 tablespoons of water, and 1 egg)
• 1 cup of graham cracker crumbs (about 10 crackers finely chopped)
• 10 large marshmallows

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 and gather all ingredients in one area
2. Form chocolate dough into semi-round blobs (the dough will stick so I used only one hand to touch the raw dough)
3. Toss the dough ball into the graham cracker crumbs and coat thoroughly
4. Place dough onto lightly greased cookie sheet
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes (it's okay if they are slightly undercooked as they will be back in the oven soon anyhow)
6. Chill on rack for 5-10 minutes, the return to cookie sheet
7. Cut large marshmallows in half diagonally with kitchen shears
8. Top each cookie with one half of a marshmallow -- sticky (cut) side down.  rounded side up. 
9. Place the cookies under the broiler for 2 minutes, or until toasted (don't take your eyes off of marshmallows as you don't want them to char)

Don't these look fantastic? The best part is that they taste BETTER than they look. There's no reason why you shouldn't try this recipe considering you can get everything you need for less than 5 bucks. 

They are best right out of the oven when everything is still warm but feel free to store in an air-tight container for up to one week.


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Beer Marinade (for Chicken)

Want a secret for how to get the best grilled chicken ever? MARINADE. Seriously, it's the answer. This marinade recipe is perfect for that flat/warm beer that you took too long to drink (as if!) I serve mine along side homemade three-cheese mac and cheese for the perfect weeknight meal. Eat up!

BEER MARINADE FOR CHICKEN

Ingredients:

• 2lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breast or tenders
• 1 bottle beer (Stella Artois!)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons of EVOO
• pinch of salt and fresh cracked pepper

Directions:

1. Trim up meat as necessary/desired
2. Liberally salt and pepper each piece 
3. In a bowl, whisk together: beer, sugar, garlic and olive oil
4. Place chicken in a gallon sized freezer bag and pour the beer mixture carefully over the chicken
5. Seal the bag with as little air inside as possible
6. Let the bag sit in the fridge for at least 45 minutes, but preferably 6-8 hours
7. Remove chicken from bag and place on preheated grill (you want a good sear!)
8. Grill chicken over medium-high heat until done

Enjoy!

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All-American Apple Crumble

I hope you had a very happy Independence Day and spent it like me: celebrating our wonderful country, enjoying all of the freedoms we have, and eating delicious barbecue fare. You gotta love being an American! What's more American than a good ole apple pie? In our household, we love apples in all shapes and forms. Apple pie, apple fritters, caramel apples, spiced apple cider, apple doughnuts, and of course, apple crumble.  

I put together a couple of these crumbles for my coworkers, neighbors, and our 4th of July Pool Party. The Mr. loves Dutch Apple Pie but is not a fan of crust, so this crumble is everything he loves and nothing more. This is adapted from a recipe I got from a family friend (Man Bait Apple Crisp) and tweaked the ratio of sugar to flour and added a combo of chopped nuts and now it is sheer perfection. 


INGREDIENTS (for two 9" round crisps, or one heaping 8x13")
Topping:
     1 and 1/4 cups chopped pecans
     1/2 cup chopped walnuts
     1/4 cup sliced almonds
     2 cups flour
     2 cups brown sugar
     2/3 cup quick oats
     1 teaspoon cinnamon
     2 sticks sweet cream butter (1 cup), softened

Filling:
     12 Granny Smith apples
     3 tablespoons Sugar in the Raw
     3 tablespoons white sugar
     1/4 cup flour
     3 teaspoons cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350
• Peel, core, and slice apples
• In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients for the filling and toss
• Grease the baking dishes with butter or cooking spray
• Pack the apple mixture into the dishes (pile it up as it will decrease in volume)
• Add all of the topping ingredients to one large bowl
• Using a fork or your bare hands if you're like me combine the ingredients until crumbly and slightly crumbly
• If it gets too soft, place in the fridge to chill for 10-15 minutes
• Generously sprinkle the topping over the apples
• Place in oven and bake for 45-50 minutes
• Spoon into mini mason jars for a perfectly portable treat that is great for BBQs, picnics, or just tomorrow's lunch at work. Serve with whipped cream and a dollop of vanilla ice cream for extra mouthwatering goodness.

     Enjoy!

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Rustic Margherita Pizza

The weather has been increasingly stifling lately. Really, are temperatures hovering around 100 necessary? I think not. Seeing as I have a mind that constantly wanders, I go from "gosh darn it's hot outside!" to "why does it feel like Mexico in Pennsylvania?" to "I could really go for one of those margherita pizzas from the resort!" Yep, that's exactly how my mind works. You might wonder why we ate pizza while in Mexico, but geez louise, the folks at Pueblo Bonito could whip up a mean margherita pizza. It was all things a pizza should be: crispy crust, gooey mozzarella, and fresh ingredients. Now that I'm craving it, I figured it would make a nice summertime lunch.

Rustic Margherita Pizza

Ingredients

Pizza Dough (recipe link below) or Pre-made Crust

2 Tomatoes (on the vine, preferred)

10-15 Basil Leaves, depending on your preference

1 teaspoon of minced garlic

1 cup Shredded Mozzarella

1/2 ball of Fresh Mozzarella, sliced

Instructions:

• First you will need to blanch your tomatoes to remove the skin. Clean your tomatoes but don't remove the stems because it makes the process a bit easier in the end. Place the tomatoes in a pot of boiling water.

         

• After about a minute or two you will see the skin crack, at this point remove the tomatoes with a slotted spoon and immediately dunk in ice water. 
• This is where the stems come in handy: grasp each tomato by the stem and pull off the skins. They will easily peel off in your hands.
  
  
• I prefer to bake my crust first due to the moisture from the mozzarella and tomatoes. If using uncooked dough, preheat your oven to the instructions that your recipe mandates and cook until golden (this can vary depending on your recipe). If you are using a pre-made crust, this step is unnecessary.
• Roughly dice the cooked tomatoes
• Tear or chop the basil into small pieces (depends on the look you want)
• Combine tomatoes, basil, and diced garlic into a mixing bowl and toss gently
• Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and fresh mozzarella randomly around the crust
• Spoon the tomato/garlic/basil mixture over the cheese, being sure to leave as much of the liquid as possible in the bowl
• Put the pizza under a broiler for 5 minutes, rotating halfway through. Remove from oven when cheese is bubbly and basil is slightly charred

PIZZA DOUGH:

I'm a big fan of Mario Batali so I recommend his pizza dough recipe. If his seal of approval wasn't enough, the crust has wine in it... yep, wine. I think the crust is extremely vital for a good pizza, but any recipe you like will do. Most grocery stores have fresh pizza dough available, but you could even use pre-made pizza crusts or flat bread / naan for a super easy meal.

If this made your mouth water, consider following Spool and Spoon through Google Friend Connect or by email for other easy recipes and fun DIY projects.

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