Alisa's Garden

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T11:38:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day! So excited to spend it with my baby girl and her daddy! They are snuggled up napping but I'm sure we'll do something to celebrate later!

Photo by Mary Banducci Photography. Heart Shape from Blogshop.

Restful Weekend

2012-02-12T23:28:00.001-08:00

I scored a few unique pieces for the Attic today! Thanks to a wonderful family friend. I have been looking for tarnished silverware and quilts and they just came my way. Love it when that happens!

Sophia has been crawling all over and getting into EVERYTHING!

She climbed up on her daddy and fell asleep just like this twice this weekend. So cute!

We also got her a new big girl car seat. She is almost 29" long is just isn't fitting in the little one anymore.

Lot's of fun happening over at Alisa Lewis Event Design. Website to debut soon and lots of meetings with brides. We toured an amazing wedding venue in our town yesterday...barn, silos, gazebo, twinkle lights, meadows, pond...the whole bit...GORGEOUS! Soon we are headed out to the lake to tour a birch grove one of my lovely brides discovered to host her wedding on the banks of Lake Coeur d'Alene...I am beyond excited to style that wedding! Thank you lovely brides for hiring me!

Alisa Lewis Event Design

2012-02-09T08:37:00.000-08:00

Today I launched my new, but continuing, venture as an event designer and stylist! My Facebook page is up and running and a website and blog will soon follow! Thank you all for your continued support and confidence in me as I continue with my love for hosting events, designing weddings, and styling photoshoots! This company is a "sister company" to the Attic | A Vintage Rental Company! My summer is filling up fast and I am so excited for my many weddings around the Inland Northwest.

I also want to thank Rebecca Hollis for getting my started with a logo design. Mary Banducci for sketching that cute little puff of cotton in my logo, and BLOGSHOP for teaching me how to put it all together in photoshop! I'm so excited to show you all what is to come in the future! Thanks for following!

Sophie in Seattle

2012-02-07T10:37:00.000-08:00

We visited Alki Beach at sunset. It was GORGEOUS!

Sophia loved it.

We collected her sea shells and stones from the beach. I'm going to collect shells for her at each beach we take her to. Nana collected shells on all of their travels and I still have some of the prettiest ones.

She loved riding on her daddy's shoulders...giggled the whole time!

Blogshop Recap

2012-02-06T11:10:00.000-08:00

We are home from a quick weekend in Seattle. Well, it went by fast for me...Kyle and Sophia had a lot of time to spend together.

We drove to Seattle and the first thing we did when we got there was meet up and Robin, Kirk, and Maeve for coffee! I was very excited to connect with them and for our little ones to meet. Sophia and Maeve had a few stare-downs, shared some bread with each other, and then had a "who can roar the loudest" competition. Maybe they were communicating in baby language but it was cute until Maeve had enough of Sophia's monster noises! So cute!!!

Next we drove around west Seattle for a little at sunset and found this gorgeous beach. Sophia loved the water and sand and riding on her daddy's shoulders!

Saturday morning we had coffee with Lisa & Phil at Oddfellows! Then I headed to BLOGSHOP! I have to admit...the venue was probably the most unusual venue I've been to but it was so much fun and I learned so much.

The place was decorated with vintage props from Scout. Vintage Rentals. Made me feel right at home!

I wish I was showing off more of my new skills I learned at Blogshop but I had a MAJOR computer emergency! Photoshop was working in my hotel room an hour before I headed to class. Then when I got there...no photoshop! That's what I get for trying the trial and not just buying the program right off the bat!

Thankfully my gracious teacher and an intern let me use their laptops for the class so I could learn. I am so thankful they helped me. So while I wait for my new photoshop to be installed all I can show you is this GIF I learned to make!

{photos in GIF by angela}

BLOGSHOP Seattle

2012-02-03T04:00:00.000-08:00

Image via BLOGSHOP

I'm headed to Seattle today with Kyle & Sophia in tow. I'm very excited to be taking Blogshop...photoshop for bloggers! I know I will learn many useful skills that I can apply to my blog, businesses, and general design skills. I'm also hoping I come back with new inspiration from all of the creative people I will meet. I'm very thankful my husband is always part of my ventures and projects!

Another highlight of our trip will be meeting a few of my favorite foodie bloggers and a fellow vintage rental owner and event designer! More info on that later...

While I'm in class, Kyle & Sophia will be exploring Seattle together. It is supposed to be sunny in Seattle this weekend. Every time we have been to Seattle, it has been sunny!

A side note...did you see this wedding I styled a few weekends ago? They brought me on last minute (one week before the wedding)! It was a big challenge but I love how Zach Mather's pictures turned out!

February 1st Update

2012-01-31T23:57:00.000-08:00

via

I've been a busy bee and I'm loving it. "Make it Happen" is definitely my perspective on life right now! My new business ventures are happening, my baby girl is growing, and life is good!

I recently was hired to style a wedding! I was brought on about a week before the event. I did help styled the bridal and bridal party pictures with my props. For the reception, I used the props the family had already purchased and incorporated some of my own to create a winter wonderland ice skating feel. The outside pictures turend out fabulous! Zach Mather's Photography took the one above. The venue was the most difficult space I've had to work with but we made it happen! I can't wait to show you before and after pics! Below is a little cell phone pic I took. White trees are not really my thing but they worked!

This past weekend I participated in Cutom Weddings Norhtwest. I am part of this amazing community of talented wedding professionals in our area. The event was great! Here's a few snapshots of my space. I designed 3 booths myself and provided props to a total of 7 booth spaces!

Sophia just learned to crawl over the weekend. It's so cute but now we have to work on making things safe around the house!

This weekend I also helped with a few photoshoots at The Blackwell House, my newest project. More info to come!

Photo by Mary Banducci Photography

January Weekend

2012-01-16T06:36:00.000-08:00

I turned 23 years old yesterday. I kept forgetting it was my birthday and had a hard time resisting the urge to work all day on my business, website, contracts, and proposals. I made my self lay in bed for about 15 minutes to watch Grey's Anatomy but then Sophia woke up and my busy day as a mommy and business owner began. The work never stops but it's the kind of work I love and it energizes me! We went to dinner with family and a few friends last night. I had a basil martini!

My mom used to fill my room and bathroom with balloons and flowers every morning on my birthday before I woke up. She snuck into our house the other night to do the same! Thanks Mom!

My family also gave me this necklace as a birthday gift. I like to call it a key to the Attic!

Kyle built this for me this weekend. First it will be a kissing booth then the possibilities are endless...a lemonade stand, bake sale stand, drink or dessert bar for an event. It's so cute and I can't wait for someone to rent it from the Attic.

Somebody also enjoyed feeding herself this weekend!

We finished off the week with a refreshing recipe of Nettle Tea. Mary is a master at blending teas from whole herbs and spices. Take a look at this recipe here. Photo by Mary Banducci Photography.

Mary Banducci Photography & the Attic are teaming up this coming weekend to create styled mini sessions with a Valentine's flair. We'd love it if you sign up! We're looking for families, a group of friends, a group of kids, couples, etc.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend, too!

Quinoa Soup

2012-01-13T13:12:00.000-08:00

This Quinoa soup is very fast and simple to make and very delicious for a cold winter day! There is no meat but it is very hearty. Chicken could easily be added, though.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup Quinoa, rinsed

4 cups Broth (vegetable or chicken)

2 Carrots

2 Celery Stalks

1 cup Kale

1/2 cup diced Onion

2 cloves Garlic

2 tsp Salt

3 TBS Olive Oil

1 small Butternut or Acorn Squash

Directions

Peel squash. Dice into cubes and roast with olive oil at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, saute onion, celery, carrot, and garlic in a large soup pot. Cook until slightly soft.

Add broth and bring to a simmer. Add rinsed quinoa seeds and continue to simmer.

Add fresh kale and butternut squash at the end before you serve. Add salt to taste.

All photos by Mary Banducci Photography. Recipe by Alisa's Garden

Juice

2012-01-12T15:19:00.000-08:00

Continuing our week of refreshing recipes.

Some delicious juicing recipes over at Sweet Roots today! Photos by Mary Banducci Photography!

Grapefruit & Sea Salt Scrub

2012-01-11T08:56:00.000-08:00

Our week of refreshing recipes continues over at Sweet Roots!

Mary created this recipe for a detoxifying body scrub. Aren't the photos gorgeous!?

You can read Mary's information about this scrub and find the recipe HERE!

Photos by Mary Banducci Photography

Tofu Wrap with Chili Lime Sauce

2012-01-10T09:17:00.000-08:00

Tofu Wraps

with Chili Lime Sauce

This quick wrap is perfect for a healthy lunch. It's fast to make and stays fresh all day if you pack it in the morning. You can also substitute chicken if tofu isn't your thing!

Ingredients

1 package of Extra Firm Sprouted Tofu {or chicken}

1 TBS Olive Oil

1 tsp Sesame Oil

2 tsp Soy Sauce

1 tsp Oyster or Fish Sauce

2 tsp Thai Chili Sauce

1 cup Shredded Red Cabbage

1/2 cup Shredded Carrots

2 TBS Cilantro

2 large gluten free or whole wheat tortillas

Sauce

1/2 cup Veganaise

1 tsp Siracha Chili Sauce

1 tsp Lime Zest

Squeeze of Lime Juice

Pinch of Salt

Directions

Slice tofu in to strips. Saute in sauces and oils until a nice dark crust forms.

Layer the veggies and tofu as you like in a tortilla. Drizzle chili lime sauce over it and wrap it up.

Photos by Mary Banducci Photography

Green Smoothie | Kale & Mango

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

This time of year it's always nice to have something bright and refreshing for breakfast or a snack. I love green smoothies because they are a great vehicle to get your dark healthy greens masked by a fruity flavor. I combine raw kale, fresh orange juice, and mango in this smoothie. It may sound funny being green but trust me, once you try this smoothie you will be hooked!

Ingredients

2 cups Raw Kale or Spinach

1/2 Mango {frozen or fresh}

1/2 cup frozen Strawberries {any frozen fruit works}

3/4 Orange Juice

2 TBS ground Flax Seed

Fresh Orange or Lime Zest

Directions

Blend all ingredient in a blender and serve!

Photos by Mary Banducci Photography

Mary and I will be sharing more refreshing and healthy recipes this week between Sweet Roots & Alisa's Garden.

Homemade Macaroni & Cheese

2012-01-03T12:04:00.000-08:00

Iy know it's the new year and we should be thinking about fresh and clean and health foods. (Fresh recipes in the works for next week) But we were craving mac & cheese the other night and I made it for a group of friends that came over last night. It's the perfect comfort food and anything in moderation is OK, right!?

Ingredients

1 package elbow macaroni

{or shells or pasta of your choice even gf}

2 cups shredded Cheese of your choice

{I used cheddar, Parmesan, and mozzarella}

1/2 cup of Half & Half

3 TBS Sour Cream

1 cup Milk

2 TBS Butter

2TBS Flour

{can use gf flour}

1 clove Garlic

1 tsp Siracha Chili Paste

2 tsp Salt

Pinch of Paprika

Directions

Set a large pot of water to boil for your noodles.

In a medium sauce pan, create a rue. A rue is a butter and flour thickening base for a sauce. Place the butter in a sauce pan and melt over medium heat. Stir or whisk in equal parts flour. See in the steps below how it starts to form a doughy paste. This is the base to your sauce.

Next add the half and half in small increments. Whisk it into your rue until it is well incorporated. Continue to simmer and whisk in all of your liquid.

Add the cheese and siracha, salt, garlic, and paprika towards the end.

Mix the hot sauce into your cooked pasta. This dish can be served with more cheese on top, breadcrumbs, or even peas mixed in for some color.

Reflections from 2011

2011-12-31T22:57:00.000-08:00

2011 Reflections

January

This picture was taken exactly one year ago. My how things have changed!

We found out we were having a baby girl! We knew her name would be Sophia Grace but we didn't tell anyone!

We also found out she'd be a little yogini. She still sleeps in that position...toes to the forehead.

February

We finished our remodel in Spokane Valley and got our house ready to sell.

March

We had lots of snow and a successful first year of Kyle's snow plow business.

A friend, Suwanee, took these maternity photos for me in the snow! I loved them! I was 28 weeks pregnant.

April

In April we had more maternity pictures down with Mary Banducci. I LOVED these, too!

I also worked on a few knitting projects for my wee one.

Mary Banducci Photogography

I also created a styled engagement shoot for our cousins Shayne & Stacey. Ifong took this picture below. I was ready to pop but loved spending the day in a field of cherry blossoms!

Ifong Chen Photography

May

Mary Banducci Photography

In May, my mom hosted a lovely baby shower for me with some of my closest friends. She made the quilt in the picture below for Sophia.

Mary Banducci Photography

I was 38 weeks in this picture and ready to POP! I can't believe I carried her almost 6 more weeks after this photo was taken.

June

Mary Banducci Photography

Two weeks after her due date, I finally coaxed Sophia into this world with everything I had to avoid being induced. After a very long and excruciating labor, she was born on June 7th, 2011 at 1:20pm. My birth was nothing I had hoped for or expected. But we are so happy Sophia was perfectly healthy and I was OK afterwards. I love the picture above of Kyle holding my hand and foot. That picture speaks many words about my birth and how much stronger our marriage became by going through that experience together. He was my foundation the entire time...so strong!

Mary Banducci Photography

Ifong Chen Photography

We had Sophia Grace baptized a few weeks after her birth. We chose Amy as her godmother and Kyle's Uncle John as her godfather. Amy has been the best godparent anyone could ever ask for! And she lives less than a mile away which is a huge bonus!

Mary Banducci Photography

July

In July, we moved from Spokane to Coeur d'Alene. I was SO thankful to move back to Idaho and to be closer to my family. We live in a regular old subdivision in town (totally not us) but for now it works. I am about 2 minutes from my nursing job and about 15 minutes from my parents who watch Sophia all the time for us.

This picture below is from Mary Banducci at Lydia's wedding. That was a hallmark of our year...taking Sophia to all of the various weddings I helped create and design. Lydia's was one of my favorites. Sophia tagged along to all the weddings I did in 2011. She was a trooper and so was my husband, parents, and friends who helped me so much with all of the amazing weddings I got to be a part of in 2011! So thankful for those people and experiences!

Mary Banducci Photography

August

In August we got to be guests at Kyle's cousin's wedding. Shayne & Stacey were married in Spokane and I helped coordinate and design their wedding. It was another one of my favorites and it was so fun to get to know Shayne & Stacey and their families better!

We also took Sophia on her first boat ride on Coeur d'Alene Lake with our friends, Ron & Deanna. She was so curious!

September

In August and September, one of my business dreams became reality. With the help of my parents, I started the Attic | A Vintage Rental Company. This was an idea I tossed around for a long time. My family and I have collected antiques for my entire life and we love creating and building new things. I'm so excited and thankful this business has taken off so quickly in our area. I am thankful for all of you who support it!

Mary Banducci Photography

October

In October we met our family from Italy, California, and Minnesota in San Francisco. Sophia did awesome on her first plane rides and all over the city.

Above is Gaetano, Angela, and Sophia. They are all second cousins.

Kyle was so excited to take Sophia to the ocean for the first time. He dipped her little toes in the cold waves and she loved it! We also made a trip to Catalina, as well. That and Napa Valley were my two favorite parts of the trip!

October also brought Sophia's first Halloween. She was the cutest little ladybug!

We had some family photos done by Lisa Wise when Sophia was four months old. These are two of my favorites.

Both photos Lisa Wise Photography

November

Lisa Wise Photography

We prepared for our second season of snow plowing. We had more family pictures done at my parents' property.

Lisa Wise Photography

December

In December I focused on making Sophia's first Christmas relaxing and special for our little family. Christmas is so much more fun with a little one!

We are really looking forward to what 2012 will bring and are so thankful for those that have blessed our lives in 2011!

Sophia's First Christmas

2011-12-26T07:24:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve

Presents at Nana & Peepaw's

Christmas Eve

On our way to Christmas mass

Pear Galette

2011-12-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

A galette is the french word for a "freeformed" pie or cake with fruit and a crust. I whipped this up with ingredients I had on hand the other day for a styled inspiration shoot with Mary Banducci Photography and the Attic.

Ingredients

3-4 ripe Pears

{any fruit would do}

1/2 cup Sugar

2 tsp Cinnamon

1 recipe of pie dough

1 egg

Pie Dough

1 1/2 cups Flour

3/4 butter or Crisco

1 tsp Salt

2 tsp Sugar

ice water as needed

To Make:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix your pie dough with a fork in a large bowl. Roll out into a rough circular shape. This does not need to be perfect. We are going for a rustic look.

Slice your fresh fruit and arrange in a circular pattern on top of the pie dough.

Sprinkle generously with sugar and cinnamon.

Fold the edges of the dough around the fruit. This can be pretty rough and rustic looking!

Bake for 20-25 minutes. Half way through the baking brush the crust with one beaten egg. Continue to bake until golden.

This is the perfect pastry to accompany a breakfast, to be a dessert, or a quick snack to whip up for unexpected guests this holiday season!

Enjoy!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

from The Lewis Family

Kyle, Alisa, & Sophia

Here is the front of our Christmas card this year. Lisa Wise helped me design it and I love the way it turned out! She also took our family pictures when Sophia was four months old and again in the snow at five months old.

These props are from my new business the Attic | A Vintage Rental Company.

Eggs Benedict with Spinach & Pesto

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite breakfast! I definitely prefer savory breakfasts over sweet ones. This one even get's you two servings of vegetables in before lunch time! Instead of including a slice of ham I substitute with sauteed spinach and a few slices of tomato. I also spread the english muffin with pesto instead of butter to add that fresh basil flavor. The hollandaise sauce and the runny egg are my favorite parts!

This recipe definitely takes some patience but I hope even the beginner can make it by following my steps below. It is definitely worth the time and effort!

This is a slightly complicated dish to make because you want all of your items hot at the same time.

First prepare your cooking area.

Materials & Utensils

Cookie Sheet

Sauce Pan

Small Glass {heat proof} Bowl

Medium Non-Stick Skillet

Slotted Spoon or Wok Strainer

Whisk

Cutting Board

Knife

You will want to slice and set the eight english muffin halves on a cookie sheet and toast. You also may want to slice your tomatoes & chives and get your pesto ready to spread at this point.

You will need a separate set up of a saucepan with a glass bowl on top to make the Hollandaise.

You will need a nonstick skillet to poach the eggs.

Ingredients

{serves four}

4 English Muffins

8 Eggs

2 Tomatoes

4 cups Raw Spinach

1 TBS Olive Oil

1 tsp Salt

1 cup Fresh Pesto

{I got mine at Costco}

1 TBS White Vinegar

Chives

Paprika

Hollandaise Sauce

4 egg yolks

10 TBS Butter

{cut into slices or cubes}

3 tsp Fresh Lemon Juice

1 tsp Salt

{hot water on hand}

To Make

Stage 1:

English Muffins:
Toast the english muffin halves in the broiler for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Turn the heat off and keep them in the oven to warm

Stage 2:

Spinach:
Saute spinach in nonstick skillet with olive oil and salt. Place all of the leaves in the skillet over medium heat. Place a lid on them and let them wilt. They will drastically reduce in size. Remove from skillet and set aside for serving. This whole process takes about 2 minutes.

Stage 3:

Hollandaise:
1.Start the Hollandaise sauce by adding about 1-2 inches of water into the bottom of saucepan. Bring water to a simmer. Reduce heat to low.

2.Place egg yolks into bowl and whisk until they are slightly airy and lighten in color.

3.Place the bowl over the simmering water and continue to whisk for 3-5 minutes until they are thickened and almost doubled in volume.

4.Remove bowl from heat and whisk in the butter, lemon juice, and salt. Use immediately or keep over simmering water until ready to use.

*Before you poach the eggs slice your tomatoes and spread each half of english muffin with pesto and set nearby.

Stage 4:

Poached Eggs:

1. Fill non-stick skillet with 1-2 inches of water. Add a splash of vinegar.
2. Bring water to an "almost" simmer. Do not let it fully boil. You want the water to be at the place between simmer and boil.
3. Crack your eggs one at a time into small bowls. This makes it easier to drop into the water.
3. Once you reach the almost boiling stage use your slotted spoon or wok strainer to swirl the water.
5. Slide your egg out of the small bowl into the swirling water.
6. Allow it to cook in the water for 3-4 minutes depending on how runny or hard you like your eggs.
7. Remove with slotted spoon and place directly onto your prepared english muffins.
*You can poach more than one egg at a time if you have a large enough skillet to be more efficient.

Here is a great visual tutorial for poaching an egg. This is how I learned but slightly changed things up a bit. Once you learn you'll want poached eggs on everything!

Stage 5:

You now have your english muffin, pesto, tomato, and egg ready to go. Whisk the hollandaise sauce again. If it is thick or clumpy add a few teaspoons of hot water (from your egg pan or pan below) and whisk to thin it out.
Spoon the Hollandaise sauce over the eggs and sprinkle with chives and paprika.

Now you are ready to serve and enjoy! It's so delicious!

All photos courtesy of Mary Banducci Photography

Baked French Toast with Blueberries

2011-12-21T07:49:00.000-08:00

This is a great breakfast you can make the night before and then bake in the morning. It is pretty much "French Toast Casserole."

I prefer to use a bread like french bread. Brioche would be ideal for this, however, finding day old Brioche in this town in a pinch is not realistic unless you make it. So regular old grocery store french bread works great, too!

Ingredients

1 loaf French Bread

6-8 Eggs

1 1/2 cup Milk

{rice, soy, or coconut work in this recipe, too}

2 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp Salt

2 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 Fresh or Frozen Blueberries

Maple Syrup to Serve

To Make:

Slice bread to desired thickness and arrange in a baking dish.

In a large bowl whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla.

Pour egg mixture over bread. Sprinkle with blueberries.

At this point to you refrigerate for 1-2 hours or overnight.

To Bake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bake the casserole for about 20-25 minutes or until egg mixture is set.

Serve warm with maple syrup or honey!

Enjoy!

Bacon & Egg Cups

2011-12-20T08:30:00.000-08:00

This is a recipe my mom created! I jazzed it up a little with some onion, chive, and Siracha flavors!

It is quick and easy and a great on-the-go breakfast but also great for special occasions, too!

Ingredients

{makes 12}

6-8 Raw Tortillas

{I get mine at Costco but cooked ones will work, too}

1 dozen Eggs

4 Scallions

6 slices Cooked Bacon

{or 3/4 cup Real Bacon Bits}

3/4 Shredded Cheddar Cheese

{any cheese will do}

3/4 cup Milk

1 tsp Siracha Chili Paste

{optional}

2 tsp Salt

4 TBS finely diced Chives

To Make:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Slice Tortillas into quarters and line each greased muffin cup with slices. I make mine decorative by letting the corners stick up out of the muffin cup. Bake for 5-10 minutes if using raw tortillas.

In a large bowl whisk all eggs. Then mix in remaining ingredients.

Use a 1/2 cup measuring cup to pour batter into each tortilla shell.

Bake for 20-22 minutes or until centers of each egg cup is set.

Sprinkle with fresh chives and serve warm!

Enjoy!

All photographs by Mary Banducci Photography

Overnight Oatmeal {GF|DF|SF}

2011-12-19T13:00:00.000-08:00

This is a perfect "make ahead" meal if you know you're going to have a busy day. You throw all ingredients into the crock pot before you go to bed and let it cook on low all night.

I unintentionally made it gluten, dairy, and soy free. It turned out great...so rich and creamy! Any milk can be used and regular whole oats are great, too.

This is what I plan for breakfast when I am scheduled to work as a nurse. It's perfect for starting out my 13+ hour days. It's hearty and keeps me full for hours.

Ingredients

2 cups Gluten Free Oats

{or regular oat but not instant}

4 cups Rice or So Delicious Coconut Milk

{any milk can be used}

+ a little extra before serving

1 can Coconut Milk

{I prefer the kinds from Asian markets like the one seen above. There is almost no "water." It's mostly cream.}

3/4 cup Brown Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

2 tsp Salt

1 Apple, diced

1/2 cup Dried Cranberries

Toppings:

Dried Cranberries or Raisins

Fresh Fruit or Dried Fruit

Pecans, Walnuts, Flax

Brown Sugar or Maple Syrup

To Make:

Dump all ingredients except toppings into a crock pot. Mix with a wooden spoon.

Cook in crock pot on low (6-8 hours) overnight.

To Serve:

Mix the oatmeal mixture in the crock pot. Add a splash or two of milk if it became thick.

Serve warm with your favorite toppings.

Thanks Mary Banducci Photography for the photos!

Best Bran Muffins

2011-12-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

Mary and I had a breakfast day all day on Saturday. We made about five different breakfasts to share with you this week in preparation for Christmas morning.

This first recipe is more of an "on the go" breakfast idea. This is a family favorite on my mom's side. It is included in Nana's cookbook and the recipe box she made for me.

Usually I really don't like bran muffins. They sound so dry and unappetizing. These, however, are moist and decadent. I also typically don't like to use pre-packaged ingredients but this recipe is an exception. I have not found a good substitute for the bran cereals and honestly I don't want to. Once you try this recipe you will realize how delicious the cereals and buttermilk make it.

Ingredients

1 cup Nabisco Bran or Grape Nuts Cereal

1 cup Boiling Water

2 cups Kellogg's "All Bran" Shredded Cereal

2 cups Buttermilk

{Bulgarian Cultured Buttermilk is the best}

1 1/4 cup Sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup Butter

2 1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Salt

{you can see from the middle picture how the batter should look after being refrigerated overnight: moist and spongy}

To Make:

Soak Nabisco Bran or Grape Nuts in boiling water in a separate bowl while you mix the remaining ingredients.

{I could not find any Nabisco cereal in my grocery store. Grape nuts are a similar texture and shape so that's what I substituted}

Mix the butter, sugar, eggs, and buttermilk in a standing mixer or by hand. Add the baking soda, salt, and flour. Mix again.

Add the soaked bran cereal and the dry Kellogg's shredded cereal at the end.

Optional: add raisins, cranberries, cinnamon, nuts.

{I chose to stick with Nana's traditional recipe of no add-ins this time but any type of nuts or berries or fruits would be great!}

Refrigerate batter overnight for best results.

When ready to bake preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place 1/2 cup of batter in each greased or papered muffin tin.

Bake for 20 minutes or just until the tops do not "jiggle" anymore. You don't want to over bake these muffins or they will dry out.

The batter can be stored in refrigerator for up to two weeks.

All photos thanks to Mary Banducci Photography

Holiday Hibscus Tea by Sweet Roots

2011-12-16T06:30:00.000-08:00

Mary of Sweet Roots is the master tea blender and brewer. I never would have thought to mix these herbs or that they could be so festive!

You can read her description here on her blog. The pictures are lovely, too!

Simple Chai by Sweet Roots

2011-12-15T07:19:00.000-08:00

- Simple Chai -

Today's holiday drink is brought to you by

Mary Banducci of Sweet Roots {Infusions of Herbal Life}.

When Mary and I were in high school we had a favorite cafe in downtown Coeur d'Alene that served THE best chai tea in town. It wasn't from a pre-packaged, powdered mix. They blended and brewed the spices themselves then steamed it to perfection with soy or almond milk. It was delightful!

That cafe closed a year or so ago and Mary and I have been craving their chai for a long time. Thanks to Mary's herbalist studies she knew just how to brew it.

It is so unusual, spicy, and aromatic! You can read the recipe here. I highly suggest you try it! Well worth the extra few minutes to steep the whole spices and your house will smell lovely for the holidays!

Mary and I order our spices from Mountain Rose Herbs. You can also purchase all of these in the grocery store but MRH is much more affordable and then you have these whole lovely spices on hand for other baking and brewing recipes!

Azure Standard also carries some of these spices.

For Coeur d'Alene locals, Pilgrims has a bulk spice section with all of these spices available!

Mary likes traditional chai as seen in her recipe...I tend to add in more spices that aren't necessarily traditional to chai. When I made it I added a vanilla bean, allspice berries, star anise, and nutmeg.

My favorite milk is almond milk but it's delicious with any type of milk! You'll also want to add a dap of honey or agave to sweeten it before you drink it!

Enjoy!

Mulled Wine

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

- Mulled Wine -

Mulled wine is a red wine served warm and flavored with a variety of spices and citrus. I make my sparkling by adding ginger beer at the end for a warm and bubbly drink!

Ingredients

1 bottle red wine

(Two Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's would be perfect for this drink)

1 bottle Reed's Ginger Beer

2 cups Apple Cider

(fresh is best)

1 Orange

Slices of Ginger Root

1 Cinnamon Stick

2 Star Anise

Fresh grated Nutmeg

3-4 Cloves

To Make

Heat Apple Cider and spices in a sauce pan over medium heat.

Slice the orange and squeeze into the liquid. Throw in the whole pieces, too.

Float the slices of fresh ginger in the liquid, too.

Simmer your spice mixture for 10-15 minutes. Add the bottle of red wine.

At this point, turn the heat off so the alcohol doesn't boil out of the wine.

Right before serving add the bottle of ginger beer.

Serve in mugs or heavy wine glasses. Be careful of delicate wine glasses with the hot liquid.

Garnish with a slice or orange and float the spices for added festiveness!

This is the perfect warming drink to share with friends especially on cold nights like we've been having!

Enjoy!

Drinking Chocolate

2011-12-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

-Drinking Chocolate-

Ingredients

~makes four servings~

4 squares dark chocolate

(65-80% cacao)

4 cups Almond Milk

(or regular milk)

4 TBS Cocoa Powder

4 TBS Agave Nectar

1 TBS Peppermint Schnapps

(or splash of Peppermint Extract)

Directions

In a saucepan melt dark chocolate squares in almond milk over medium heat until dissolved.

Slowly whisk in cocoa powder, agave nectar,

and Peppermint Schnapps or extract.

It will be pretty thick...that's why it's called drinking chocolate. If you prefer it thinner add more almond milk and agave to taste.

Serve with a candy cane for garnish!

All photos thanks to Mary Banducci Photography

Sparkling Pomegranate Persimmon Martini

2011-12-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

- Sparkling Pomegranate Persimmon Martini-

Ingredients

for

Each Martini

2 ounces Vodka

2 ounce Ginger Beer

2 ounces Pomegrante (or cranberry) Juice

1 Persimmon

Pomegranate Seeds to Garnish

To Make

In a martini glass or shaker mix the liquids.

Add a squeeze or persimmon

and garnish with Pomegranate seeds!

Enjoy!

Mama Blessings

2011-12-11T18:39:00.000-08:00

Spent the weekend with Kyle and our darling little peanut! She and Big D are becoming best buds! She looks for him every morning when she wakes up.

The best thing about my weekend...she started to babble "mamamamama" all weekend! So sweet! What a blessing to hear your little one call you "mama" when she sees you!

This week Alisa's Garden teamed up with Mary Banducci Photography to bring you some festive drink recipes! Up first is a Sparkling Pomegranate Persimmon Martini on Monday Morning!

Sophia is 6 months old today!

2011-12-07T11:31:00.001-08:00

Our sweet little one is six months old today! Where does the time go?!

She is such a blessing and so precious! We love how her little personality is starting to shine! She is sitting up all by her self now. She wants to crawl SO bad but hasn't quite figured it out yet.

She had her six month check up today and is in the 90th percentile for height but only about 15 pounds. She's definitely taking after the Lewis side...tall and skinny! She LOVES to eat her solids now but only enjoys what mama cooks...none of that jarred stuff. Butternut squash, apples, cucumber, avocado, grapes, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes.

Here's a little progression from birth through five months.

Local Etsy Shops

2011-12-05T08:57:00.001-08:00

This year I decided I didn't want to buy the usual Christmas "junk" for presents and decorations. It's our first year having a real tree as a family! I'm loving Christmas time with a baby. Kyle insists that every ornament on our tree have some meaning or special occasion attached to it. He prefers these to the typical glitter orbs and ribbons. I agree...I like this ideas and want to make it a family tradition. So we have about 10 ornaments now. They are things Sophia likes...elephants and lions. Things Kyle likes...pigs, cows, farm animals, and little hand tools. And things I like...gardening boots, chickens. I just need to find some cooking utensil ornaments now!

For gifts, I am either making them all or buying from local Etsy friends. I wanted to showcase a few of my favorite Etsy shops that are all local to our Spokane & Coeur d'Alene area.

Nicelle crochets these beautiful chunky cowl scarves! I love the huge buttons and chunky yarn!

Here is her shop: Nichelley on Etsy

Jenny of Carousel Vintage Clothing sells her amazing vintage clothing on Etsy, too! Isn't this dress great for a Christmas party!?

Here is her shop: TravelingCarousel

Erica makes and sells these adorable tulle skirts and other clothing items for babies and kids!

Her shop is SnickerDoodle.

Lindsey also makes and sells more adorable clothes for babies and kids! Love her embellished onesies!

Her shop is Paisley Prints.

~Happy shopping, friends! Support your local artisans and Etsy sellers this Chirsmas!~

DIY Embellished Onsises

2011-11-30T07:22:00.001-08:00

I am an awful seamstress! But I thought I could sew a few simple lines to attach some cute fringes to Sophia's onesies. I bought a pack of onesies and then picked out trims to match.

You need about 6-8 inches per collar.

I just sewed a simple stitch across the top of each fringe to attach it! Can't wait for her to wear them!

Mini Pies with Dana & Mary

2011-11-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

Towards the end of summer I hosted a little baking day at my house. La Lune Events has contributed a few posts to Spokane Bride Blog and we needed some content. I love to make these mini pies for events and Dana & Mary came over to help!

You can read the full post over here at SBB and find the recipe!

These would be perfect for Christmas, bridal showers, baby showers, or anytime!

All photos by Mary Banducci Photography

Adventures of Big D

2011-11-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

This weekend was very busy for us! I worked as a nurse for a few hours, hosted an open house, hosted a knitting party, met with multiple clients, and arranged many photoshoots on location at the Attic. On Saturday, Diesel came with me to the property and decided to eat some mouse poison. I saw him do it and before I even realized what he ate he had swallowed the entire block of poison. I realized a little while later what it was and immediately took him to the vet. They were able to make him throw it up and now he has to take Vitamin K for three weeks to make sure his blood doesn't get too thin from the poison that may have been absorbed.

The big guy didn't know he was bad but was so sad after the vet. He sat in the front seat with me as we drove up to pick up baby Sophia.

I'm happy he's still alive. He is lucky. And poor little Sophie would have missed him so much...they are already best buds!

This is not the first time Diesel has gotten into trouble. It's pretty much weekly around our house much to my husband's dismay.

Here is a cute video of another mastiff...they must all be alike.

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Butternut & Mushroom Tartine

2011-11-23T05:00:00.001-08:00

noun

a fancy French open-faced sandwich topped with spreadable ingredients.

While I was in San Francisco last month we ate lunch at a french bakery called La Boulange. It was extraordinary! I had their special for the day....a butternut and mushroom tartine. A tartine is a french open faced sandwich or a "fancy" french sandwich like the dictionary says. It's really quite simple actually. I knew I had to make it when I got home with a few of my own twists.

Mary Banducci photographed and helped me cook during a very unusual photo session day. Don't ask me why I decided to cook, photograph, watch four kids under the age of 2 , and have my friends over for pedis all at the same time. Despite the chaos, this magical lunch prevailed!

Ingredients

1 butternut squash

4 tbs fresh sage

2 cups fresh chanterelle or brown button mushrooms

1/2 cup olive oil

2 tsp dried thyme

3 cloves fresh garlic

whole nutmeg

pinch of salt

loaf of french bread

Directions

Heat oven to 400*

Slice your butternut in half, de-seed it, and then peel the skin with a vegetable peeler or knife. Dice the flesh into small half inch cubes. Place in roasting pan.

Lightly rinse or brush mushrooms and slice into quarters. Place in roasting pan.

Mince fresh garlic and add to roasting pan.

Sprinkle squash mushroom mixture with salt, freshly grated nutmeg, and dried thyme. Sprinkle with olive oil. Toss the mixture with your hands to coat.

Roast in oven for 15-20 minutes. You want the squash to still be firm not mushy.

Chiffande the thyme leaves and begin to heat olive oil in a saute pan.

Remove from oven and cool slightly while you toast slices of french bread.

Sprinkle the fresh sage into the oil and flash fry it for about 30 seconds. Remove with slotted spoon or fork.

Top your bread with the squash and mushroom mixture. Garnish with friend sage.

Bon Appetit!

All images by Mary Banducci Photography

Thanksgiving Inspiration

2011-11-22T05:30:00.000-08:00

We are hosting Thanksgiving in our new house in Coeur d'Alene this year. It will be the five of us plus Papa. I've been using Pinterest for some new recipe inspiration. But this photo topped them all...wish I had the time and energy to make my Thanksgiving look like this! Maybe next year!

via

Red Cabbage for Papa

Yam Fries since we don't like sweet Yams & Green Bean Casserole (but with all fresh ingredients) Great recipe here.

Going to try out some mini pecan pies, too, for my dad!

All photos via Pinterest

Our Life Lately

2011-11-21T11:15:00.001-08:00

On a walk as a whole family on Tubbs Hill before it snowed!

Sophie has gone to work with Daddy for a few minutes recently so I could get some much needed yoga time in!

Sophia was a Lady Bug for Halloween! Thanks Jessica for the great photo.

(And, no, my hair is NOT blond...the light made it look that way)

Made a maiden Trader Joes run with Mary & Amaressa last week. Teaching our girls how to shop at the right stores! So happy Trader Joes is FINALLY in the inland northwest! Come to Coeur d'Alene now!

Kyle turned 29 last week and he got me a present for his birthday! Love him!

Diesel has finally realized Sophie is a person and kind of fun to be around. He ignored her for the first 4 months of his life and slipped into a deep doggy depression. He's cheering back up now especially since he realized how comfy her bobby pillow is.

Lisa Wise Photography took some family photos for us (my parents & bro, too) on Saturday! This couch is part of the Attic's inventory and we shot on location at the Attic property.

Snow plowing and de-icing season has begun for us. Kyle has had maybe 5 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours. Crazy!

This is what it looks like out there today!

I'm loving our new home and new location in CdA, too! So close and familiar! Christmas lights are almost up on our house and Christmas decorating has already started inside!

Sophia's Four Month Photos

2011-11-18T08:02:00.001-08:00

A friend of mine, Lisa Wise, took these photos for us about a month ago. I wanted simple, soft photos of us in our home! I love what she captured of our family. Here are some of my favorites

Kyle and Sophia (a few minutes old) are featured on this Resource Guide for Bloom Spokane! Bloom is an awesome resource for birth information and education for our area!

Photo by Mary Banducci Photography!

Fall Update | I'm back!

2011-11-17T08:12:00.001-08:00

Hello blog friends! I took a little (long) break from blogging. I am really going to make the effort and hope to blog more than I have the last few months. Learning how to be a mommy takes time and my little one is definitely my priority.

This season is hopefully going to slow down for me. Weddings are over for La Lune Events for the year and what a fabulous year it was! SO grateful for that! My new business, the Attic, is up and running and has taken off! Snow season is gearing up for Kyle and I am back to work as a Nurse at Hospice. So that sounds pretty busy but honestly will take less time than what I have dedicated to our weddings this summer.

Our wedding season was wondeful! So blessed that in La Lune's first year we were able to design and coordinate 11 glorious weddings. The wedding season started and ended with probably two of my favorite weddings so far. Shana & Ryan got married at the Jacklin Arts & Cultural Center last weekend right as the sun was setting and beautiful, fluffy snow began to fall. The church was lit dimly with candle light and the windows began to fog at the base of the panes. You could feel the love for them in the church. (I think her bridesmaids dabbed their eyes the entire time) The photo above is from my cell phone. My dang camera was dead and I didn't realize this until the start of the wedding ceremony. We'll all have to rely on Ifong for her sure to be stunning photo documentaion of this event.

(La Lune's first wedding this year in March. Same locations, same vendors...perfection! Photo by Ifong Chen)

I LOVED the theme and design of this wedding on Saturday...gold, sparkle, glitter, gold, gold, gold, and more gold! When she told me that, I was so excited. She didn't care what I used or how I did it. She just wanted it to sparkle and bling! My house will never be the same again and my husband curses every piece of darn glitter he finds in our food, on our baby, in our hair. But it was SO worth it!

(bad photo by my cell phone)

I was so pleased with the way this design turned out. Shana had considered having her wedding at the grand Davenport Hotel with its gold ballisters, ornate carvings, oversized furniture. But we came to the conclusion to create that grand, gold, glistening look in a more rustic location. Barrister Winery is a wine production warehouse in the middle of a city block. The minute you walk in you are mesmerized with the overpowering smell of wine fermenting and the earthy smell of the brick and beams. Thanks to one of my favorite vendors, Event Rents, we were able to have gold chairs, gold shimmery linens, and gold chargers. It was perfection. I hung nearly fifty gold globes and crystals from the ceiling and raw beams. The sixty plus gold, glitter vases and votives completed the sparkly look. I cannot wait for you to see Ifong's photos of the table design!

The best part...seeing my bride's face when she walked into her reception! That is honestly the best part of every wedding. I worked my little buns off for this wedding (and Kyle's too)! It had to be perfect for many reasons.

I also was lucky enough to work with my dream team of wedding vendors! Seriously, you guys rocked and made my job as a coordinator so much easier. I can tell you stories of vendors that need to be babysat, run over my stuff, bring me a branch instead of a flower arrangement. Here's a quick list but you can read more about them over at La Lune: Ifong Chen Photography, Fleurtation Floral, AMP'D Entertainment, Rogue Heart Media, Annie Johnson, Erin Blackburn, Shasta Hankins, Lindsey Wilson, Event Rents, the Attic, Roy Joy Design, Simply Gourmet Catering.

Tomorrow...hopefully some Sophie updates and some updates on my new business and maybe even some new recipes!

Community Garden

2011-10-03T09:31:00.001-07:00

This weekend we became part of a community garden in our small town. Our friends, Rachael & Nate, are hosting it on their couple acres in Dalton Gardens. There are 5 families involved and we are all planning on sharing the work and the produce.

Yesterday Kyle & Nate rototilled the soil and hauled in horse manure for fertilizer. We are going to let the manure soak into the soil over the winter. Then in the spring we will till the soil again to mix in the manure. Manure is the BEST FERTILIZER EVER!

Here is the garden space with ample deer fencing.

Kyle rototilling the hard ground.

Nate shoveling manure into the freshly tilled garden space.

We planted our garlic crop yesterday, too! Now is the time to plant garlic.

See my post last year about fall planting.

I picked up three different varieties from Kyle's grandpa and the farmer's market.

While the guys made trips with manure, the ladies made thai food and shared delicious wine inside. See our thai recipes here!

Red Lentil Soup

2011-09-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

This is a great lunch soup and cooks up in just a few minutes!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups red lentils

1/2 large sweet onion, chopped

1 large clove of garlic, minced

5 cups water or vegetable stock

2 tsp turmeric

1 tsp chili powder

2tsp salt

dash of cinnamon

1 bay leaf

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

a few slices of lime

Directions:

Saute onions, garlic, and spices. Add red lentils and broth and bring to a boil. Let the soup simmer for about 30-40 mins until the lentils are soft and have absorbed all of the broth. At this point you can remove the bay leaf. You can puree with a hand blender or leave the soup chunky.

Garnish with cilantro and lime. Enjoy!

Update | September 2011

2011-09-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

Hello blog friends!

So I haven't been on this blog much. I started another business that's been eating up my time but I couldn't be happier. It's called the Attic. We are a vintage rental company and rent unique vintage finds and furniture to brides, photographers, and stylists for weddings, events, and photoshoots. Here is my blog and here is my facebook. The website will make it's debut soon.

Last night we took Sophie on her first boat ride with our friends on their beautiful boat!

This weekend we are hitting up lots of garage sales for my new business.

I go back to work as a nurse on Tuesday.

Honestly, I am not looking forward to it. I will be leaving Sophie with Nana for a long day. Right now I am only working a few days a month so I can focus on my businesses and other exciting opportunities coming my way.

I think I found my niche being creative and running my own businesses. I am truly happy doing that.

Hoping to have some fall recipes up soon!

Alisa

Blueberry Peach Crisp | Gluten & Dairy Free

2011-09-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

This is a very quick and easy recipe and contains no butter, milk, or wheat flour. It even passed the approval of my husband and that's BIG for being wheat and dairy free!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup gluten free oats

1 cup walnuts

1/4 cup crushed flax seed

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup honey and/or agave

4 large peaches

1-2 cups fresh blueberries

Directions

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

In a food processor blend oats and walnuts into a coarse meal. Add flax seed meal, cinnamon, honey, syrup, and vanilla. Pulse a few times until blended. This is your crumb topping

Slice your peaches (peeling is optional). Mix with blueberries in the bottom of a 9x9 pan or a small casserole dish.

Top with crumb topping. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Enjoy!

12 weeks old!

2011-08-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

This weekend we attended and coordinated Shayne & Stacey's wedding. Shayne is Kyle's cousin.

We had such a great time working with their families to create this gorgeous event! And I am so excited to have Stacey as part of the Lewis family! We have a lot in common and I can't wait for our friendship to continue!

You can see more of the wedding details here.

Baby girl will be 12 weeks old tomorrow! She sat in her bumbo seat for the first time this past weekend. She has such a strong neck already...mostly because she always needs to know what's going on and is always alert and looking around!

Lemon Scented Quinoa Salad with Summer Veggies

2011-08-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Quinoa is one of my favorite "grains." It's easy and quick to cook and it even has some protein in it! Here's some facts about quinoa:

It's not really a grain. It's a seed from a plant similar to kale or chard.
It has 9 grams of protein per cup (as opposed to 5gm protein/cup brown rice)
It has lots of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and folate

It's texture is a little chewy but pretty soft and creamy. It is a great replacement for pasta or rice!

Ingredients

2 cups dry quinoa
1 cup chopped fresh green beans
1 diced red bell pepper
1 diced zucchini
1 diced summer squash
2 cloves of garlic
3 sliced scallions
1 diced tomato
1 lemon
1/4 basil leaves
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp salt
3 TBS olive oil
2-3 cooked chicken breasts (optional)
5-6 cups of stock or water

Directions

Bring stock or water to a boil. Add quinoa and cook for 18-20 mins until the skins start to slide off the quinoa seed. Turn off heat and let it steam. It is best to turn off the heat when the quinoa is still a bit chewy then let it steam with a lid on for 5-10 minutes. I add in the zest of 1 lemon as it steams to infuse the lemon flavor.

Saute green beans, pepper, zucchini, squash, and garlic in olive oil in large skillet. Add salt and dried thyme to taste. Turn off heat when veggies are cooked to your liking.

Add in cooked quinoa and cooked chicken. Mix well. Top with lemon juice, lemon zest, and fresh basil.

This salad tastes great hot or cold!

For Nana...

2011-08-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

Today would be Nana's 93rd birthday! You've all heard me talk about her on my blog and know she gave me my love of cooking and creating. This year I knitted my baby girl a little pink afghan which reminded me of Nana. I wish I had been old enough for Nana to teach me how to knit like she did.

Nana's favorite color was blue. I like to dress Sophie in blue because it reminds me of Nana (and I don't really care for pink, too much).

I wish Sophie could have met Nana. She has all 4 sets of great-grandparents still living...except Nana.

Papa loves to see Sophie, though and he always lets us know how much Nana would have loved her. But I know she sees Sophie and loves her just as much as we all do.

Happy Birthday Nana! We love you!

Avocado Brownies | "Butter-Free" Brownies

2011-08-10T21:24:00.000-07:00

These may sound unusual (lol...they are!) but they really are delicious. I replaced the butter you would typically use in making brownies with two avocados. They are very moist and decadent!

Ingredients

1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup canola oil
2 large ripe avocados
6 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 TBS strong coffee or coffee granules

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

In bowl of food processor, grind walnuts into a coarse meal. Remove walnuts and place in separate bowl. Blend avocados, eggs, oil, sugars, vanilla, and coffee in food processor. In another small bowl mix flour, salt, and cocoa powder. Blend flour mixture into avocado mixture. Stir in walnuts by hand. (At this point feel free to add extra chocolate chips, whole walnuts, etc.)

Place in a 9x13 greased pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

Brownies taste best when slightly cooled!

Enjoy!

Avocado BLTs

2011-08-08T05:41:00.000-07:00

We are still using up our box of avocados from California. This is a delicious summer meal and quick to make

Ingredients (for 4 sammies)

8 slices of thick bacon
8 slices tomato
4 pieces of lettuce
1 avocado
8 slices of toasted French Bread
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp dijon mustard
1/2 clove grated garlic

Directions

Cook bacon. Toast slices of bread.

For Mayonnaise: mix mayo, lemon juice, garlic, mustard and spread on toasted bread.

Assemble the bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado to your liking.

Enjoy!

Here's another BLT recipe from last summer!

Avocado and Grilled Corn Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

2011-08-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I received a lovely package on my door step. The box contained about a dozen avocados from my Aunt Petra. They live in an avocado grove in California! I was so excited to receive them and so excited to start cooking with them. We love avocados in our house!

Jessica gave me the idea for this recipe...it is delish!

Ingredients

3 large (firm but ripe) avocados

1 zucchini

2 tomatoes

2 ears of corn

1 bell pepper

1 bunch of cilantro

1 clove of garlic

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

2 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

Directions

Carefully peel and dice your avocados. Dice tomatoes and bell peppers about the same size.

Grill the corn and zucchini. We wrap our corn in foil with olive oil, salt, & pepper to cook then char it on the grill at the end.

Slice grilled corn off the cob into the salad. Dice the grilled zucchini and place into salad.

In a blender, blend the whole head of cilantro with olive oil, balsamic, sugar, salt, garlic, and lime juice.

Drizzle the salad with the the vinaigrette and toss.

We ate ours with grilled chicken. It was so delicious and it was even better on day two once the flavors "melded" together!

Enjoy!

La Lune Events Giveaway

2011-08-02T13:31:00.000-07:00

We are having a giveaway over at La Lune Events!

This summer has turned out to be so busy but I am loving every minute of running my own business and being a stay-at-home mom. Of course, I would make a terrible "stay-at-home" mom but my businesses allow me to work from home and take little Sophie with me to all of my meetings!

The collages above are some of our styled work from this year. You can check out more of our weddings on our facebook and blog! We'd love it if you spread the word and followed us!

I am so blessed to be able to do this for "work" and I am so excited for the new opportunities ahead!

Happy Birthday Blog | One Year Old

2011-07-28T05:50:00.000-07:00

Today my blog turns one year old! I started it last summer amidst searching for a nursing job, growing a gigantic garden, and starting a business with a new friend. After teaching her to make jam and selling her produce from my garden, Jessica encouraged me to start writing a blog...a blog of all of my garden and cooking adventures.

A lot has changed in one year since I started writing. Our business, La Lune Events, is booming and we are having the time of our lives designing and coordinating weddings. I got a job as a nurse at Hospice of North Idaho. And we welcomed a new little bundle into our lives...Sophia Grace.

We also moved to Hayden, Idaho and left our garden behind. It's the only thing I miss about Spokane but someday I know I will have a garden that beautiful again!

Here are some new things about my blog:

1. We now have our own url http://www.alisasgarden.com/

2. We now have our own facebook page! "Like" us over here on facebook.

3. You can follow the blog by email now. Enter your email at the top left corner and you'll get a little notification when there is a new post

4. And if you've been a reader for a long time or have just stumbled upon my blog, I'd love if you became a "follower!" Click "Join This Site" on the left hand side... you won't be disappointed!

Anyway, thanks for reading everyone! I promise I'll write and post new recipes soon...as soon as I get this mommy business figured out!

Beet & Lentil Salad | A Trip to the Farmer's Market

2011-07-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

(Photos by Roy Joy)

We've been very busy with weddings this month and I haven't been able to make it to the Saturday market. So on Wednesdays our little downtown closes a street and hosts the market. I stocked up on veggies for the week and decided to make this salad.

Ingredients

2 cups cooked lentils
2 cups cooked beets, sliced
Arugula
Basil
1-2 Carrots
Balsamic Vinegar
Your favorite salad dressing

Directions

Cook 2 cups of lentils in about 3 cups of liquid. (I like to use chicken or vegetable broth and some herbs) Cook for about 30 minutes or until lentils are soft bu al dente.

Boil whole beets for 45-50 minutes until they are fork tender. Drain, cool, peel the skin off, and slice.

Lay a bed of Arugula on your plate. Toss with your favorite salad dressing. I used Italian.

Top with lentils, beets, diced carrots, and basil. Drizzle with balsamic.

Stone Fruit Salad with Sweet Basil Lime Dressing

2011-07-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

Finally a new recipe....

Baby Girl Slept in this morning and it gave me time to make this lovely salad and eat my breakfast outside!

Ingredients

Variety of Stone Fruits (necatrines, peaches, apricots, plums)

1 Lime

1/2 cup Honey

2 TBS Basil or Mint Leaves

1 small can Pineapple (plus juice)

Directions

Wash and slice up your fruit and place in a serving bowl. Add chunks of pineapple to add sweetness.

In a small bowl combine honey, juice of one lime, zest of one lime, 1/4 cup pineapple juice.

Mix your marinade and drizzle over your fruit. Allow it to marinate for about 30 minutes.

Serve with fresh basil and/or mint sprinkled on top!

This salad is so fast and easy to make and it looks beautiful!

Enjoy!

~Alisa

Stroller Moms | 6 Weeks Old

2011-07-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

Today Sophie and I went to a mommy stroller group in downtown Coeur d'Alene. Of course, Sophie wouldn't stay calm in her stroller so I put her in our Baby Bjorn and walked her with all of the other moms.

It felt good to get an hour walk in around the lake! Thanks Kara for putting this together!

Kara owns Parkside Fitness and we both gave birth to our little girls on the same day! They are 6 weeks and 1 day old today!

Sophie's favorite place is either her changing table or the Baby Bjorn. She loves being upright and looking around.

Last weekend La Lune Events had a big wedding and Sophie worked with mama all day in the Bjorn. She was happy as a clam.

We are still getting settled into our new home but I am loving living in Coeur d'Alene and closer to my family. We live in a nice little neighborhood with lots of trails and a park. The prairie is windy but has beautiful sunsets and fields. See Jessica's post here!

Sophie has had a little trouble with reflux lately and wants to be held upright all day long. This is our solution around the house.

This way I can get some work done and she can sleep happily! Since she was about 2 weeks old I have been back to "work." Not as a nurse but with my little business, La Lune! It has taken off this summer and I have thoroughly enjoyed running my own schedule and working from home. We have weddings just about every weekend this summer. However, I couldn't do it this summer with a new baby without the help of my business partner, Jessica! (Thanks, Jess!) Then towards the end of September I will return to work as a nurse at Hospice.

Sophia's Six Week Old Picture

Second Anniversary

2011-07-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

Today is our second anniversary. It feels like we've been married so much longer, though. I have known Kyle for 10 years now and I couldn't be happier spending my life with him!

I remember the first time I saw him and how handsome and strong I thought he was. He worked for my dad and was always fixing things and working around our property. I remember helping him build a fence for my horses and goats and that I was so shy I could hardly even talk to him as we built the fence.

(one of our first dates to Steptoe Butte. I was barely 17 shhh!)

I also remember running out to my garden as soon as I heard his truck coming down the road and "pretending" to pull weeds while secretly hoping he'd notice me and come say hi.

A few gardens later, here we are with our beautiful baby girl (who is 6 weeks old tomorrow)! We've been through a few struggles and road blocks as many of you know but we have weathered them quite well together and they have only made us stronger.

He builds me up and I try to build him up in our daily lives. As we get settled into our new home, our new roles as mommy and daddy, and our new business pursuits life proves to not be getting any easier. I am so thankful for him by my side and seeing him as a daddy to our little Sophie makes my love for him grow deeper every day!

Happy Anniversary! I love you!

One Month

2011-07-11T17:24:00.000-07:00

Baby Girl was one month old on July 7th! It has gone so fast!

I'm still adjusting to being a mommy but loving it!

We have been busy with our summer of La Lune Events weddings. Sophia did so well last weekend at our wedding at Trezzi farm. And she tags along to all of our meetings and is usually such a little angel!

Nana made her these monthly onsies! She already seems so big!

Jessica just took this pic today! She's starting to smile more and more and LOVES laying on her changing table!

As of late...

2011-07-02T13:37:00.000-07:00

Sophie is getting bigger each day! (kind of makes me sad..I love how little she is)

We are still in the process of moving into our new home in Hayden...hopefully we'll be in this weekend. We've been staying with Nana and Peepaw and have turned there house into Baby Land!

Last week I took Sophie to my first La Lune business meeting with me. She was a little angel! She has been so good at every meeting so far..hoping it lasts!

We are also enjoying the first real sunshine in Idaho this year..and trying to keep Sophie out of it. Isn't she stylish in her little hat and sunglasses?

She will be one month old on Tuesday! The month has flown by but I have enjoyed every minute of my sweet, snugly baby!

I promise new recipes are coming as soon as I get settled into my new kitchen!

Two Weeks Old

2011-06-22T09:07:00.000-07:00

Sophia was two weeks old yesterday! Time is flying by but I am making a point to enjoy every minute of her! Her sweet baby smell, her few little smiles, her newborn noises...all the things they lose as they grow up!

We are still in the process of packing...YUCK! Yesterday I couldn't stand to be in my wreck of a house anymore so Daddy took us to the park for a picnic! Sophie was much happier in the outdoors and Big D loved "watering" every rock and tree and snarling at other dogs (still working on his aggression issues)!

Soon I will have a kitchen to cook in and all of my kitchen items put back in order! Looking forward to making some summer recipes for all of you.

Since we don't have a garden this year, I'm planning on visiting the farmer's market as much as possible. Thankfully one of the best markets in the area is just down the road from our new house!

Here is a recipe posted by Suwanee! It looks delicious!

Adventures of Diesel

2011-06-21T13:08:00.000-07:00

Diesel has been adjusting well to the baby...however he does get a little sad at times. It's hard for him now that he's not the center of attention anymore!

We came home the other day and saw he had ordered himself a pizza while we were gone! Poor guy...he was hungry!

He has been very good with baby Sophia. He hardly noticed her the first few days we were at home. When she cries, he gets worried and looks around for her then gently licks her head.

Alisa's Garden

Happy Valentine's Day!

Restful Weekend

Alisa Lewis Event Design

Sophie in Seattle

Blogshop Recap

BLOGSHOP Seattle

February 1st Update

January Weekend

Quinoa Soup

Juice

Grapefruit & Sea Salt Scrub

Tofu Wrap with Chili Lime Sauce

Green Smoothie | Kale & Mango

Homemade Macaroni & Cheese

Reflections from 2011

Sophia's First Christmas

Pear Galette

Merry Christmas

Eggs Benedict with Spinach & Pesto

Baked French Toast with Blueberries

Bacon & Egg Cups

Overnight Oatmeal {GF|DF|SF}

Best Bran Muffins

Holiday Hibscus Tea by Sweet Roots

Simple Chai by Sweet Roots

Mulled Wine

Drinking Chocolate

Sparkling Pomegranate Persimmon Martini

Mama Blessings

Sophia is 6 months old today!

Local Etsy Shops

DIY Embellished Onsises

Mini Pies with Dana & Mary

Adventures of Big D

Butternut & Mushroom Tartine

tar·tine

Thanksgiving Inspiration

Our Life Lately

Sophia's Four Month Photos

Fall Update | I'm back!

Community Garden

Red Lentil Soup

Update | September 2011

Blueberry Peach Crisp | Gluten & Dairy Free

12 weeks old!

Lemon Scented Quinoa Salad with Summer Veggies

For Nana...

Avocado Brownies | "Butter-Free" Brownies

Avocado BLTs

Avocado and Grilled Corn Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

La Lune Events Giveaway

Happy Birthday Blog | One Year Old

Beet & Lentil Salad | A Trip to the Farmer's Market

Stone Fruit Salad with Sweet Basil Lime Dressing

Stroller Moms | 6 Weeks Old

Second Anniversary

One Month

As of late...

Two Weeks Old

Adventures of Diesel