Tenderloin, Cranberry and Pear Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing

I saw this recipe on Living Locurto. I just knew you'd all want to make it, so please do. And then bring me some!



Tenderloin, Cranberry and Pear Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
Ingredients

•4 beef tenderloin steaks, cut 3/4 inch thick (approx. 4 oz. each)
•1/2 tsp. coarse grind black pepper
•1 package (5 oz.) mixed baby salad greens
•1 medium red or green pear, cored, cut into 16 wedges
•1/4 cup dried cranberries
•salt
•1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans, toasted
•1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese (optional)
Honey Mustard Dressing

•1/2 cup prepared honey mustard
•2-3 Tbsp. water
•1-1/2 tsp. olive oil
•1 tsp. white wine vinegar
•1/4 tsp. coarse grind black pepper
•1/8 tsp. salt
Instructions

Season steaks with 1/2 tsp. pepper. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Place steaks in skillet; cook 7 to 9 minutes for medium rare to medium doneness, turning occasionally.

Meanwhile, whisk Honey Mustard Dressing ingredients in small bowl until well blended. Set aside. Divide greens evenly among 4 plates. Top evenly with pear wedges and dried cranberries.

Carve steaks into thin slices; season with salt as desired. Divide steak slices evenly over salads. Top each salad evenly with dressing, pecans and goat cheese, if desired.

Baby Shower Wreath

I saw this darling wreath on kojo designs. I thought it was so cute.

But then I started wondering, is it polite to request all guests bring gift cards? What do you think? I generally think that it should always be up to the guest to determine what to bring.

The berry themed party was darling. See it at kojo designs.

Fabulous play kitchen

Can you believe that this kitchen was once this:

Awesome huh! Found here.

Just last night I told Matt that when we are old (ish) and retired or at least have older kids, we should make things together (woodish things). He agreed, so we are all set.

Laundry Day Quilt

I want to make this quilt with all my heart.

Problem #1 I have no time.
Problem #2 I have many other projects to do
And oh yeah, problem #3, I don't know how to quilt! Dang, I just might have to learn for this one.

Quilt design by Pine Mountain Designs, seen at Pine Needles at Gardner Village.

MaLM - Organize

Make a List Monday -- What to Organize
There are MANY things that I would like to organize, starting with my life, ha ha!

Let's see.

1. My life
2. my bedroom
3. my closet
4. my laundry room
5. my paperwork
6. my pantry
7. my garage
8. my storage room
9. my scrap/craft/exercise room

Okay, I could keep on going. . .

But let me just say that no matter how organized my pantry is, it will never look like this.

And it's a shame, too, because it is beautiful! But for one thing, I would never stencil all that on the walls. For another thing, my pantry shelves are all REALLY deep, so it won't ever look this good.

But if you want to see more of this beauty, check it out at House of Smith's.

Lake House Anyone?

Would anyone else like a beautiful lake house with beautiful cedar siding? If you could choose, where would you put your house? By a mountain, by a lake or ocean, in the desert or on the plains, or does it not matter as long as you are in the big city (or near it)? Just wondering.

Blue

What a pretty kitchen, don't you think? I'd paint my ceiling blue if I had a flat, un-vaulted one, and also if I hadn't already painted it once and realized what a total pain it was! I also love the few glass front cabinets, just the right amount I think.

I also love this living room. The blue is perfect. I don't have this formal of a space in my house though. Maybe someday. I love the curtains, fireplace, french doors and the symmetry.

MaLM - Labor Day

Make a List Monday - How to celebrate Labor day with a newborn

1. Take a pass on the early morning hike with family in favor of sleeping in until 9:45!
2. Eat homemade crepes with vanilla yogurt and warm, fresh peaches from your own tree.
3. Run to the mall to take advantage of a few Labor Day sales.
4. Play games with your sweet kids, bonus if you win ;)
5. Plant a few flowers to brighten your new(-ish) flower bed.
6. Have a delicious grilled chicken with all the trimmings dinner followed by a homemade blackberry shake.
7. Play Horse (it has been a while and my basketball was a little rusty), and Catch Phrase (one of our favorite, easy and fun family games) and chat until bedtime.
8. Be grateful for so much happiness and so many blessings.

Lunch time

During my many baby feeding times, I sit on my couch and play on my computer. I have found a few new interesting blogs. Like this one, Another Lunch.


It is all about packing cute, fun lunches for your kids in a quick, efficient and healthy way! And don't miss this cute post with these free printable notes!


I really wish I wasn't a lazy mom, then I'd make my kids healthy, cute lunches for school every day. Instead they eat school lunches, Friday pizza, chocolate milk and all! Maybe someday I'll change.

A Spot of Sun

Early this morning, as the very earliest light started to creep in the window of our nursery, I rocked our little Summer. She had just eaten a little, and I put her up on my shoulder to burp. She quickly let her eyelids drop shut and fell asleep. Despite the strict feeding regiment we are on (due to some nursing problems), I just let her sleep.

How could I wake her? She was making that sweet, soft, I'm-full-and-content baby sigh with each tender breath. I love that sigh. It's one of my favorite things about newborns.

So instead of undressing her, changing her diaper, or doing the vigorous foot rub to wake her, I let her sleep on my shoulder. In fact, I took her to bed with me and felt my heart grow a little larger. Because it does, with each child I give away part of my heart that forever lives in that baby. And somehow with all those missing parts of my heart walking around the earth, inexplicably, my own has grown. Warmer, softer, and so much larger.