My new Nikon.

Finally got a NEW camera that might just be my new love! My old one worked just fine, but this one is so much better.

I got the Nikon CoolPix L820. So far I love it. It's light, small and very easy to use. I'm still playing around with it and it's settings, but really I can't express how much I love it! I still haven't taken pictures outside at all times of day, since I just got it yesterday lol, but that's where the true test will be. I'm barely learning all the technical stuff that goes along with photography, because I'm self taught. Photography is just a hobby of mine and I enjoy taking pictures of family and friends just for fun! Also of nature because that's where the real beauty lies. This has always been a hobby of mine, but I only had my iPhone and a digital camera. Now, I get to have REAL FUN! :) Here are some shots...

 Danny took this one! I just think it's cool

 Look at all my imperfections! lol

 The moon was beautiful tonight and to be able to capture it just blows my mind!

 I could have gotten closer w/ a tripod...a future purchase for sure!

Please allow me to re-introduce myself..

This is my familia.

Meet the loves of my life, Danny and G(as we call her). Danny and I have been together since September of 2008. We had our beautiful princess on 1/11/2011. We are completely in love with this bright girl. She is hilarious! She is also too smart for her own good. Our life now consists of teaching her how to dance to the beat of her own drum while staying humble and helpful. Her dad is so good to us, she's definitely a daddy's girl, maybe because I'm a strict mom, I'll be honest, but I also have a great relationship with my daughter. Which leads me to believe she understands why sometimes she can't have chips at 8 in the morning and that trying new foods is good (As Daniel Tiger might say). I get great pleasure in knowing I'm doing something right when she chooses carrots over candy any day. This isn't always the case, I have to admit. She IS a kid! We have to have crazy moments too, but I take every opportunity to teach her the good AND the bad.

With that said...we are just a small family living in Arizona trying to get through life as best as possible. We enjoy the company of the little bit of family we have here(and when we get to visit the ones out of town) and the great friends we have made along the way. Occasionally we will take time for ourselves, because it's healthy! Our life is only exciting to us I feel, but I don't mind that one bit. This is as personal as it's gonna get haha. Too much seriousness going on! Just a glimpse at our life, guys!

One last thing, these pictures we're taken by an awesome young photographer I once went to school with. She is so easy going and the shoot was so much fun! I mentioned young, because her talent is impeccable! Check her out! Www.facebook.com/AlisonColleenPhoto

-mari

Change is good.

My last post was about two weeks ago. I'm sad and okay with this...I haven't been feeling a connection to the blog anymore, which made me come to the conclusion that I wasn't providing what I originally wanted to provide to my audience and to myself. I know this is because there's little to no feedback, even though my views keep going up...I'm human and I feel like hearing from you satisfies me more than just SEEING it. I'm not asking for praise by any means, just encouragement! Which has brought me to this...

I originally only wanted this blog to be about my ultimate love for food, but I have to be honest with you and myself that sometime I wanted to share other things on here that had nothing to do with food! And frankly, I hardly have time to come up with new recipes AND that's not all I'm passionate about. I wasn't ready to completely put myself out there, because although I am not shy, I like certain things to stay private in my life. I also like to share things not only to inform but to learn from you too! I'm not cocky, but I'm confident in knowing there are MUCH MORE things I'm in love with that I can say I'm pretty good at that I'd like to share with my readers..

So, to take a completely whole spin on this blog I'm introducing more of ME! This blog will be more personal as I feel it needs to be this way. I will now include other hobbies of mine such as make-up, photography, crafts, STILL recipes, and anything else I want to blog about! It will still stay commercial as in I won't be posting my personal problems that have nothing to do with my hobbies, but I will add more of ME to it..

I really hope you all stick around to watch me grow as a blogger. This experience has been good so far. I just needed to work on some "INTRODUCING MYSELF TO THE WORLD" stuff LOL. I appreciate all of you reading and I hope this helps to bring more people to my blog.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!

-MARi


p.s. my blog name will never change, because I hope this blog still goes over easy ;)

Hope you are in a crepe mood!

I'll just let you salivate over that picture for a couple of seconds!;)

I got this crepes recipe online from allrecipes.com. It's just a basic crepes recipe and you get to add all the extra goodies!

Whipped Cream Stuffed Crepes With Fresh Strawberries and Chocolate

Ingredients:

1 C. all-purpose flour

2 Eggs

1/2 C. Water

1/2 C. Milk

1/4 tsp. Salt

2 Tbsp Melted Butter

Fresh berries

1 Bar of Hershey's Chocolate

Whipped cream

In a large bowl whisk flour and eggs together. Gradually add milk and water, add salt and butter whisk until smooth.

Heat a lightly buttered non-stick pan. Pour some batter in to the pan. As soon the batter hits the pan start swirling it around to spread batter evenly.(As shown below)

Disclaimer: The first crepe will not work out! It's a curse that seems to happen to everyone. This was about my second to last hahaha. They may or may not be this pretty lol

Flip after 30 seconds and leave on other side for about 10 seconds. My crepes didn't have much color or browning, which is fine. Make all crepes before you start filling them. Just stack as if you would pancakes.

In a bowl (or measuring cup) melt one bar of hershey's chocolate. Yes, this is my favorite kind of chocolate. Use any chocolate chips or bars you'd like. Also, Slice your fresh strawberries (Once you've rinsed them)

Fill a crepe with whipped cream, as much as you like! You can also add the fresh strawberries inside for more berry flavor. Fold over loosely then roll, not too tight.

Add fresh sliced strawberries or any berry on top. Add more whipped cream if desired. Then drizzle with chocolate. VOILA!

THIS WAS HOW ALL MY OTHER CREPES LOOKED! >.<

BUT STILL LOOKED PRETTY!

CHECK OUT ALL THAT WHIPPED CREAM! :)

I USED THIS WHIPPED CREAM JUST CAUSE IT WAS EASY TO WORK WITH!

THANKS FOR READING!

-MARI

Update!

Still sick, if not WORSE! :( COMMON COLD I HATE YOU!!!!!! So I won't be posting until further notice, because i can't taste anything! Everything I eat tastes like straight up paper! Soooo how can you help? I know you're dying to help me out! hahah *insert sick sad face here*

I've heard of soups and stews with healing qualities and that sometimes act like remedies. I was wondering if anyone knew of such things aka RECIPES?! I want to try one and write a review or something...Really I want it to make me feel better, because taking medicine around the clock just isn't cutting it and frankly I hate it! All those unnatural things going in to my body and who knows what else in my system...the natural way sounds so much better to me!

marivalenci@aol.com HIT IT UPPPP!!!!

-SICK

The lonely blog.

Hello strangers! Sorry I haven't been posting much, this job really has taken a toll on me. All I ever do when I get home is REST! Not even taking a nap is on the agenda, I just lay there like a zombie while G crawls and jumps all over me. Lol! To make it worse this dumb bug has gotten to the three of us (Danny, G and I) and it's making us feel terrible. Thankfully, I feel better enough to write a quick recipe! Now that you are updated on this boring life of mine, though I'm sure very common in most households haha....


Here's my next question, Have you ever had ceviche with BROCCOLI & CAULIFLOWER in it?! Weird to think you never thunk of that?! Hehehe Well this recipe is a play of a vegetarian ceviche my mom once made. It's simply all the ingredients of a regular ceviche (tomato, onion, cucumber, cilantro, salt, lemon, shrimp, imitation crab, etc) but without the shrimp. Well she also made this with tilapia, which to me means it was healthy! I don't know how true that is but, I love the taste of these new ingredients, because they add crunch and a subtle freshness to the dish. As if it weren't fresh already! This is my version of both common and new....

This recipe yields 6 servings (Leftovers of this are the best!)

Broccoli and Cauliflower Ceviche

Ingredients:

• 2 Lbs frozen shrimp
• 2 Cucumbers
• 5 MED tomatoes
• 1 bunch Cilantro
• 2 C. blanched broccoli
• 1 C. blanched cauliflower
• 1/2 Onion
• 1 pkt Imitation Crab
• Lemon Juice (1 Lemon or Lime)
• Juice of one Orange
• Clamato (as desired)
• 3 Tbsp. Ketchup
• 1 cup of shrimp broth
• Salt and Garlic Powder to taste.

Toppings: Avocado, Valentina, Chopped Jalapeno, Tortilla Chips.

In a large pot add water, Salt and Garlic powder to taste. 1/4 of a roughly chopped onion. Let boil, then add shrimp with shells on in batches until they're pink. (Watch them closely. They will cook fast and bubble over) Take out with a slotted spoon and place in a large bowl to cool. Once cooled, peel and cut in half.

In the same water used for shrimp, blanch whole bunch of broccoli, then cauliflower for about 30 seconds. Take out and let cool.

Finely chop broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, crab, and cilantro. Add to chopped shrimp.

Add ketchup, shrimp broth, orange juice, lime/lemon juice, salt, clamato. Mix until all ingredients are combined. Serve chilled and topped with any of the above suggestions. I sometimes add chopped mango as a topping, it's delish!

 This is the brand of crab I use, feel free to leave it out!

I love my ceviche with lots of avocado, valentina hot sauce, some more ketchup, chopped jalapenos, red pepper flakes and a side of tortilla chips.

Sorry for the lack of pictures, I wasn't feeling good and completely forgot I was supposed to take some! Lol. Hoping I feel better, because I need to get cooking!!!! :)

GOOD VIBES!

-MARI

Holy Cheesecake!

If the title didn't get your attention, then this might!

This weekend I decided to take my traditional cheesecake recipe and try some new flavors and toppings.

Here's the recipe for my Classic Cheesecake:

This will yield 2 cheesecakes.

Ingredients:

2- 8oz. Cream Cheese Pkts.

2- Eggs

1- Sweet & Condensed Milk

1- Evaporated Milk

2- Pre-made graham cracker pie crust

Blend all ingredients together until smooth. Divide evenly between both pie crusts. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool and serve chilled. Both cakes will puff up while baking, once it's cooled it'll sink in.

Simple right? Well, here's how to make it extra special...

Add homemade strawberry sauce. In a sauce pan add about 1 cup of frozen strawberries, 3 tbsp of sugar, 2 tbsp of water or enough so sugar won't burn. Let simmer until it reaches desired consistency. I like mine chunky so it takes about 10 minutes. If you like your strawberries more broken down, then leave them to cook longer. Serve over chilled cheesecake. (In the above pic I had only put a bit of the strawberry sauce, because I wasn't sure if i was gonna like it or not! You can add as much as you like)

BUT WAIT...here's how you make it REAL special...ADD CHOCOLATE!!!

Ingredients:
1 8oz. cream cheese pkt.
1 Egg
1/2 Sweet & Condensed Milk
1/2 Evaporated Milk
1 Chocolate Pie Crust
1 bar of Hershey's Milk Chocolate
4-6 Tbsp Nestle Chocolate Milk Mix
Pinch of Cinnamon

So this recipe is for only ONE cheesecake. After I had poured half the mix into one pie crust, I left the other half in the blender and I added 1 melted bar of Hershey's Milk Chocolate (It's the one you can get on the side of the cash register, melt in microwave for about 15 secs, stirring every 5 secs) and about 4-6 tbsp of Nestle chocolate milk mix. Depending on how chocolaty you want it add more or less. And last but not least, a pinch of cinnamon to activate the flavor of the chocolate. Blend ingredients together until combined. Add to chocolate pie crust. Bake both at 350 degrees. The chocolate one might take a bit longer.

(IF YOU WANT TO MAKE TWO CHOCOLATE CAKES, SIMPLY DOUBLE THE RECIPE. EXCEPT THE CHOCOLATE, TASTE IT FIRST, THEN ADD MORE AS NEEDED)

COME ON! HOW CAN YOU SAY NO TO CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE?!? ESPECIALLY SUCH AN EASY ONE TO MAKE! THIS IS MY PERMISSION SLIP TO SLIP A BIT AND TRY THIS! SO GOOOO! :)

-MARI

side notes: 

• Try not to open the oven until the 40 minutes are up. It will cause the cake to sink in too soon and it won't bake evenly.
• Watch your strawberry sauce and stir frequently, it can get messy.
• Allow the cheesecake to cool and set in the 'fridge for at least 30 mins. or overnight so you won't be tempted to eat it, lol.
• Try not to pass the rim of the crust when pouring the mixture in, it can stick and burn to the sides.
• Don't be afraid of a little brown on the edges.
• Try other fruits, the possibilities are endless.