Saturday Morning Coffee Cafe

Hello Everyone!

How was your week? Mine was good, and productive. Sorry about taking the week off from blogging; but you know, sometimes you just have to regroup and refresh. I'm already working on things to share with you next week, so be sure to come back on Monday!
For now though, it's time for another round of Coffee Cafe. If this is your first visit to the Cafe, the concept is simple, this is a weekly post in which I share the things that have interested me around the blogophere, Pinterest, and interwebz during the past week: 4 recipes, 3 crafts, 2 parenting articles and 1 picture or quote to wrap it all up.
Ready? Grab your coffee or other warm beverage of choice, and let's get started!

Recipes:

1. Sun-Dried Tomato, Spinach and Bacon Chicken. I don't know if I've mentioned before; but my daughter and I gave up red meat and pork earlier this year, so that means we eat quite a bit of chicken and turkey. I still eat fish as well. Anyhow, the point is that I am always on the lookout for yummy chicken recipes. This chicken recipe just looks mouth-watering good, doesn't it?! I don't think sun-dried tomatoes get nearly enough credit either. I love the tanginess yet little bit sweet taste they have. The creamy spinach and cheese sauce just put it right over the top! Of course,  for us I would either eliminate the bacon (which in true confession is probably the hardest thing to have given up!) or perhaps substitute turkey bacon for it.

2. Fresh Broccoli and Apple Salad with Walnuts I know I featured a salad last week as well; but what can I say, I just love salads in the summer time! Especially when they remind me of summer and backyard BBQs with friends and family. This broccoli salad with apples just screams summer to me! Bonus points for having simple ingredients too. Obviously, with the mayonnaise and sour cream, it may not be on a diet plan; but hey...crack open a nice Pinot Grigio, pull up a chair in the sunshine and just enjoy life!

3. Crab Rangoon Last week, I shared a recipe for Sticky Sesame Chicken (which I made this past week with fried rice; and it was a huge success...even though it was also really messy to make) When I saw this recipe for Crab Rangoon, I thought that would be a perfect addition to the dinner the next time I make the chicken! I would probably do the baked in the oven version to make things a little easier, since the chicken and the rice require a lot of simultaneous work on top of the stove.

4. Homemade Twix Bars. You didn't think I'd leave you without a link to a yummy treat for the week did you?! Well, of course I am...I love Twix bars. They have always ranked in my top 5 favorite candy bars (Mounds being my favorite-favorite!) This homemade version not only looks scrumptious; but also easy to make. I like that they are no bake as well, except for the littlest up of melting the caramels. Can't wait to try these!

Crafts:

1.  Beach Inspired Mason Jar  Sea Glass and beach rocks are just some of nature's naturally beautiful things. If you've ever been fortunate to collect some from a beach, you know how lovely it really is. Of course, you can also just buy it from a craft store or Wal-Mart too! It shouldn't just sit in a dish on a table or at the bottom of a fish aquarium! Do something fun with it. These little mason jars would be perfect for adding the perfect little light and fun to a summer evening on the porch with friends and cocktails!

2. I love the spotlight feature of this beautiful Rose Card from Crafty cre8tions I love the black and white with just the flower being the only colored part of the card. I like how this technique really pulls the focus to the center of the card.

3. I think this Thank You card from Sue over at Miss Pinks Craft Spot is just so sweet! I love how she used the flowers behind the sentiment as a perfect background to the card. I like the cool-breezy summer colors she used as well and that bow? That bow is just about as close to perfection as you can get!

Parenting.

I don't have photos to go with this week's parenting articles. Still, I hope that you read them. I really liked this article about not limiting screen time for kids. I think that the author makes a good point in that technology is an increasingly important factor in our kids lives; and it is not going anywhere. It's not about eliminating what we perceive as a detriment or undying hope to return to the days of our own childhoods but instead of finding ways to balance and more importantly teaching our kids to find that balance for themselves.

That all being said, technology is NOT a substitute for learning, it is a tool; one of many that we as parents should be using to help our children learn. This article discussing 7 Ways to Raise Smarter Happier Children discusses tried and true methods for helping us along this parenting journey!


Finally, I leave you with this beautiful flower picture from "My Crazy Beautiful Life" I hope you have a great weekend! I'll see you again on Monday!