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Here are some good finds for the week.  I spent much of the day yesterday cooking for Noah and his friends so I didn't get to finishing this :)

Ashley has some really cute clothes and looks adorable in all of them - and she is an inspiration - and a survivor.  Check out her clothing and her other project - The Shine Project.  She is one to follow.  I ordered this dress - hopefully it's as cute on me as it is on her.

I love all of the cheerfulness of Kerri Rosenthals work - here are a couple of cute mugs she sells.  She has fabrics and her art :)  If you like happy and pops of color she is your girl!

I like wearing sneakers with dresses and old school Tretorns are perfect for this.  This pair is great with that neon pink.

A go to snack around here - these dark chocolate covered espresso beans.  My jar is almost empty!

Love this beehive sconce - the black and brass.  Just good!

Need some cute servers - this set solves that.

I like to eat cereal for dessert or a late night snack.  Chocolate Lucky Charms are my favorite for this - and I can only find them at Target.  Right now only buy the unicorn box - they are the freshest.

These floral plates with the gilded edges are so pretty.  It's been awhile since I've seen plates I'd be tempted to buy.

Lastly, I love this standing plant box - I think I would use it to hold some herbs and then make a mini bar with it!  It comes in a lot of colors too - these are my favorite 3.  You could also use it to hold books - maybe flowers, books, candles.  Maybe also in the kitchen - it could hold herbs, oils, vinegar, salt and pepper, and pretty cooking utensils in a crock.  It's a useful piece.

Hope everyone has a good week!  Thank you for reading.

So, this brownie recipe has been a favorite for 23 years.  That kind of says it all.  They are always delicious - and that raspberry sauce is really the most perfect raspberry sauce I can imagine.  I made them for the first time using Bob Red Mills 1 for 1 Gluten Free Baking Powder (it's dairy free too) and they were as delicious as when I use regular flour.  The texture is really great in these brownies as well - leaving some of the chips unmelted gives them that I can't stop eating them appeal.   They disappear at every gathering - and the recipe is requested frequently.  Make them tonight :)  Oh, and I usually make a half batch of raspberry sauce and it's enough, but you can make extra because it is good over so many desserts.  I have used it on chocolate ice cream, and even with my orange bundt cake recipe.




Chocolate Chip Brownies
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 t. baking powder
1/8 t. salt
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 t. vanilla
3/4 c. all purpose flour or sub cup for cup
1 c. semisweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled
1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips

Fresh Raspberry Sauce
1/2 c. sugar
1 T. cornstarch
2 c. fresh raspberries
1/2 c. water

For Brownies:
Beat butter on low to medium speed until softened.  Add sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt and blend until mixture is fluffy.  Mix in eggs and vanilla until well combined.  Add flour and beat until smooth.  Mix in melted chocolate, and then stir in unmelted chocolate pieces.  Make sure your melted chips are cooled so they don't melt your pieces.  Spread in a greased and floured 8X8 baking pan.  I use a glass Pyrex.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 35 minutes.

For Raspberry Sauce:
In a medium saucepan mix together sugar and cornstarch.  Add the fresh raspberries and water.  Cook and stir until mixture is slightly thickened and bubbly; cook and stir 2 minutes more.  Cool slightly.

* please note - this post contains an affiliate link

Hello Monday!

Last week flew by.  I cleaned out a lot of my closet, had family over for a bbq, and had a chill night at one of my friends house's.  Anyhow - this is what I've gathered up for this weeks mix.

I've been checking out rattan mirrors - this is just one that that I thought was pretty.  Find it here.  It's a bigger one - 30" diameter. 

I found this digital download of Whippets/Greyhounds from Stone Avenue Studio.  I think it will look really nice and simple framed up and hung in a gallery wall type setting.  They have another one with 13 of these dogs lined up too. 

Over the years most of my everyday silverware has been thrown away.  There are literally 3 teaspoons left from that set.  I did buy some flatware from the Pottery Barn outlet years ago that we started using too - like $5 per place setting which I went for since I know someone in this house must throw silverware away.  Much of that has broken so I did buy a small set of white handled flatware.  Anyhow - when I see  silverware I'll check it out, but I'm picky about the size of the spoons and forks - I found this set the other day and it's all the right size and weight and it's really simple which is what I want so I would like to replace all the old stragglers with these.  You now know too much about my silverware and that it pretty boring :)

Another simple piece of art to mix into a gallery - and I like the saying.

I've been looking for a bar cart to put my mixer on in my kitchen, but I need a small and narrow cart that I can tuck beside my pantry so it will be kind of out of sight.  I want to try and make one in the size I need - but make it look like this one.   This one is on One Kings Lane - Search Rachel Ashwell.

Another thing I'm picky about is drinking glasses.  My favorites are the really thin rimmed - anyway while out the other day I saw these - they are really simple - but that curved edge at the bottom made them a little different. 

I recently got this cookbook.  I really like eating this way - a little of this and that - there are lots of good ideas in here.  I made the baked Camembert cheese with brown sugar and sour cherries.  It was really good - tasted more like dessert :)  There are lots of recipes for dips you can add to your board, and just different board ideas.

Next up - a serving board with stand.  I like how it's raised up.

I also loved the look of this bar cart - I can just imagine it all filled up!  It was also too big for my space.

Lastly, this is that stunning oriental rug that I showed on my stories this past weekend.  It is so good in person, and would be a really great way to ground a room!!!  It makes a statement yet is really neutral.

This week I'm planning on messing around and seeing if I can create some of my own modern type art.  I haven't felt very creative in awhile, but it seems like it's coming back.  Hope you all enjoy your week.  Summer is just rushing by.

* please note - this post contains affiliate links :)

This soup is so delicious!  I make it often, and sometimes even when I'm not making it I want to make it :)  I think it tastes best on the spicier side.  I like to add sour cream to cool it off a bit - other good additions are green onion, shredded cheese, bacon, Fritos, and this time I make it I cooked up some shrimp with butter, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder.  Simple and delicious and the flavor really went well with the soup.

Black Bean Soup

2 T. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, chopped

2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (2 gives it a kick - for less spice start with one)
1 T. adobo sauce

4 - 15 oz. cans black beans, drained and rinsed
I use Eden Organics - just a tip - their beans are easier to digest because they are pressure cooked

4 oz. can diced green chili's
4 c. vegetable broth - I use low sodium Whole Foods 365

1 T. chili powder
1 1/2 T. cumin
salt and pepper to taste

juice of 1 lime
zest of 1 lime

In a small food processor blend together the chipotle peppers with the adobo sauce plus a splash of vegetable broth.

Heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat.  Saute onion until translucent.  Add garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes.  Then add beans, green chili's, broth, spices, and the adobo pepper mixture.  Simmer 20 minutes.

The next thing I do I get out my immersion blender and blend down the beans until the soup is a creamier consistency.

Right before you are ready to serve add the lime juice and zest - and season with salt and pepper as desired.