8/18/2012

I Just Had To Share Yummy Dinosaur Mac-N-Cheese

If any of my wonderful readers have ever heard of the great Dinosaur Bar-B-Que then you know the raves they get for their mouth watering mac-n-cheese. We are not talking about just another cheesy and creamy mac dish, oh no, it's a very delicious and unique adult & kid loving eat-em-up mac-n-cheese and I've finally found the recipe. My father's wife actually gave it to me because she's lucky enough to have almost every recipe of theirs. She's from Syracuse and that's where Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is really big, in fact I believe they have quite a few restaurants out there which is something us out here in the west don't have.
So anyhow here it is:
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 cup onion, diced
1/3 cup green pepper, diced
1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic (1 clove)
2 ounces flour (about a scant 1/2 cup)
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
7 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 1/2 ounces Colby cheese, shredded
5 ounces American cheese, shredded (I cubed slices of American cheese)
2 ounces Pecorino Romano, shredded
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
 1/2 teaspoon sugar
 1 teaspoon French's mustard
1 teaspoon white vinegar
3/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
 3/4 pounds elbow macaroni (you could go up to 1 pound to make it serve more/less rich)
TOPPING:
4 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon Pecorino Romano cheese

Heat oil in a large pot. Add onions and peppers; cook until onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in flour. Add water and half-and-half. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Using an immersion blender, puree this mixture until it is smooth (if using a regular blender, work in batches, filling the pitcher only half-full, since the liquid will be hot). Slowly add cheeses to warm pureed mixture, making sure all cheese is melted before adding more. (If the cheese isn't melting, return the pot to low heat and stir constantly.) Once cheese is completely melted, add salt, lemon pepper, sugar, mustard, vinegar and Tabasco. Stir to combine. Cook dried elbow macaroni in boiling water, according to manufacturer's instructions. Cook until al dente, not completely soft. Combine hot, cooked pasta and sauce in the large pot; stir well to combine. Pour entire mixture into a greased 11-inch-by-7-inch pan or close to it. Top with 8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese and 2 tablespoons of Pecorino Romano cheese.
Bake at 400 for approx: 15-20 mins then place under broiler until top is golden brown and bubbling.
Serve immediately & Enjoy!!!
I hope you all enjoy this and I will post more Yummy Dinosaur Recipies soon!!!

Shabby Chic Spaces

Hello, Gina's Friends! I’m Joanna, a writer for Arcadian Home—a wonderful online shop full of delightful home accessories and decor. I’m so excited to be a guest on Bella Maison Tresors. I’ve brought along a few of my favorite shabby chic rooms to share with you today. Enjoy! Shabby Chic Spaces This dainty dining room features palladium windows which let in lots of sunshine. An accent wall is painted a pale blue hue. The cabinet has touches of blue paint showing through a coat of white. The pretty floral rug anchors the room and provides pattern. Shabby Chic Spaces Architectural found objects give this space a sense of history. The contrast works well between the weathered pieces and the pristine white tailored sofa. A small marble coffee features a cherub base. Shabby Chic Spaces An eat-in kitchen is filled with shabby chic treasures I’d love to add to my own home decor. The weathered table provides the perfect spot for a cup of tea with a friend. Shabby Chic Spaces I love this flirty outdoor space with its vintage crystal chandelier, white wicker furniture and rustic coffee table. The painted white floorboards add to its shabby appeal. Shabby Chic Spaces The white furnishings play well off of the dark wood of the floors and the rusticity of the brick fireplace. A mirrored window frame casts light back into the room from the outside windows draped in a soft champagne hue. Shabby Chic Spaces A charming kitchen with a generous serving of shabby chicness is quite welcoming. If I were the owner I wouldn’t want to leave the space. The marble topped island with a weathered base provides lots of room for food prep. Shabby Chic Spaces Slipcovered furnitures and vintage finds give a casual inviting feel to this enchanting living room. The large rosary hangs on an old door on which two portraits are hung. Shabby Chic Spaces A mint-hued medicine cabinet hangs over an old cabinet made into a sink vanity. Small floral plates add a decorative touch. What a pretty place to primp in the morning!  Images: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 I hope you loved these shabby chic spaces as much as we did! Let us know what you think of our post and don't forget to check out Arcadian Home, your source for all your furniture and home decor needs!

8/13/2012

Shabby Pale Rooms of Color

I’m so excited to be a guest on Bella Maison Tresors! My name is Mari and I write for Design Shuffle, a terrific website and blog which provide a platform for interior designers to share their work and design enthusiasts to find decorating ideas galore. I’ve collected a eight rooms featuring the palest of hues. While it’s true many shabby chic rooms can found decorated in glorious white, there are others that still hold true to the style but feature lovely bits of color. I hope you enjoy today’s post! Shabby Pale Bedrooms A pretty brick wall provides the perfect backdrop for this chic bedroom. Pale pinks and greens add a hint of color amongst the white bedding and furnishings. The crystal chandelier adds a bit of romance to the space. Shabby Pale Bedrooms Light cream and just a touch of soft pink warm this all white bedroom. The ornate bed provides a retreat from the worries of the day. Shabby Pale Bedrooms The palest of grays covers the walls and some of the furnishings in this delicate décor. The French bed boasts a velvet head and foot board framed in soft gold. Silvery silk panels frame the windows beautifully. Lots of interior design ideas to be found in this space! Shabby Pale Bedrooms Whispery blue covers the bed in this shabby chic bedroom. The weathered chest adds a rustic appeal against the high white flooring and walls. Can’t you just imagine curling up for a mid-day nap in this serene setting? Shabby Pale Bedrooms The soft mint walls provide a lovely canvas in this romantic bedroom. The distressed wrought iron bed adds a touch of rusticity to the room. A feminine floral ties the colors of the room together. Shabby Pale Bedrooms A pretty sage headboard rests against a wall of the same hue. The petite side table and café curtain add a dainty touch to the décor. Shabby Pale Bedrooms So many stunning elements in this captivating bedroom design! The decorative armoire is glorious in a soft white with green undertones. Next, two busts donning flower laden hats sit atop a cabinet that doubles as a headboard. Shabby Pale Bedrooms Pale washed walls give this shabby chic bedroom its lovely coastal feel. With just one pop of red, soft watery hues on the bed add a shabby feel to crisp white sheets. It’s such a nice space for guests to relax in. Images: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 Are you a fan of shabby and pale bedrooms? Make sure to let us know and don't forget to check out Design Shuffle's Design Gallery for more bedroom decorating ideas!

7/25/2012

Bella Summer Surroundings...

I have been so busy doing paint touch-up and keeping the children entertained while their out of school that I'm now exhausted, but one thing I always find time for at the end of the day is Pinterest. It's nice to sit down after the kids are tucked in and look at all the beautiful pictures and wonderful crafts and ideas. If only I had time to actually do some of them, I just keep repinning and thinking to myself that one day very soon I'm going to try these great recipies and actually make that homemade laundry detergent. There is something for everybody to try that they have never tried before, and that's why I love it so much. There have been many nights I looked over at the clock and hours had passed by so quickly before I realized it was 2 am and knew I would be hurting the next day when Kaitlin woke me at 6:30, so now I keep myself aware of the time passing. I have been following some great pinners and am grateful they have such great taste and similiar design likes as I do. I just love romantic summer pictures like some of these here I want to share from some of my favorite pinners.....
and here are some of my own personal pic's that I have pinned this month.....
I hope to see some of your pins and favorites too! I also want to share the Minnie Mouse Ears Happy Birthday Bunting Banner Giveaway while we are discussing pinterest. In my BMT Design Board on pinterest I have posted/pinned a picture of the banner and will be giving it away August 30th, all you have to do is follow me here on my blog, which is to the right, and follow my facebook page if you haven't already but most important follow me here on the blog. I will have my daughter randomly select one of my followers on Aug. 30th to be the lucky Minnie Mouse Banner Winner! (of course the name Kaitlin will not be on your banner, but it will look just like the banner in the picture I used and read "Happy Birthday" and will also come with two of my glass glitter clothes pins for hanging!!! Who will the lucky winner be?????? Stay tuned for more great giveaways every month from now on!!! If your a follower, you will win! I hope you all have a "BELLA" Day..... Gina

3/08/2012

The Move is Over, & New Items in the Shop!

If you have been following me you know we have been doing this big move after 14 years of owning the Lake House......well it's over or should I say almost because I still need to do a big trip this weekend and go get my plants and a few misc items. No way am I leaving my plants and pots that I have had forever and the funny thing is that when we had our big moving sale of which we sold some big bedroom sets, the pool table and things like that, everybody asked if they could buy my plants/pots from me. At first I was shocked by how many people asked, but then I realized that I do have some pretty pots that I painted and some great ceramic sculptured ones that I made to look vintage by distressing and etc. So needless to say I wouldn't sell them and now I have to go move them......all of them......uuuggggghhhh! I am happy that it's coming to an end since week, after week it's been one trip after another. We donated a U-Haul truck full of stuff to our church at Lake Tulloch, and it was good to help out the many charities they will give to. It was alot, I really couldn't believe it was a U-Haul truck full, but we don't need it.......I have learned so much and I may have said this before but if I haven't used it or forgot I had it for more than a year or two then there isn't a need for it and I don't "need" it. At first I thought sizing down would be so hard but it wasn't, it feels good. On another note I just listed some new things in the shop that I created and I'm hoping to have some time this weekend to post more. I'm doing customized banners and bunting garlands which you will find on the website. For those of you that have not visited the new website it's www.bellamaisontresors.com and you will find many shabby chic cottage style bunting banners for home decor, special events, weddings, and you can also order customized lettering in any of my styles listed there. Here is one of the many bunting banners, this one is in the 5 x 7 vintage music sheet design......and they are only $15 with shipping!!!
You will also find handmade roses and some pretty little cottage cardstock signs, doorhangers, and other romantic shabby chic cottage decor. Please follow my blog here for some great ideas and projects coming soon...... Have a BELLA Day!

1/31/2012

Bella Maison Tresors Website Is Your Online Boutique

The official website for my boutique "Bella Maison Tresors" is open and ready for ordering. This makes it so nice for one stop shopping and will also have both my handmade items and all the flea market finds, antiques, and reproductions that I find and repurpose or design with some "shabby chic" appeal....will all be on the website. You will be able to order my Shabby Chic Cottage Paris Bunting & Custom Bunting here as well.
I will still be posting the DIY projects, pictures, and posts here so you all know what I'm up to. We are also moving to the new place, still in SF but we will be on the outskirt of the Bay, so I have been crazy busy with packing and getting rid of "stuff".......you all know that stuff we aquire after owning a home for so long......my husband has more stuff than anyone would ever know what to do with! Seriously..........he is worse than I am. So now we pay the price of having to go through all of it and at the moment there are 3 "piles", first we have the keep pile, then the donate pile, and then the pile of stuff we want to keep but we know it will continue to sit so we will be posting it on ebay or something........ebay is great but neither one of us have the time to sit and write descriptions, take pic's, and post all of it because it would take a whole week or two of doing nothing but just that. This is when one of those stores "we sell your stuff on ebay" would be so helpful around here but they are not around like they used to be over here years ago when ebay started out. Although ebay is only about 40 mins away, it doesn't help us any, boy do I wish we could load it up and take it over there.....lol......It does feel good going through all of it,and I know there are so many people that can use the donation pile of clothing.....I found stuff like jackets with tags on them, kids warm winter coats that they wore maybe once or twice to the snow........in this economy it makes me realize how much we used to spend and I will never let things get that way again......for sure! So needless to say, it's an early Spring Cleaning for us! I am also excited about getting my work studio set up from a bare room to a working studio.....it feels good to do this once in a while because you also find things you forgot about here too. So I am organizing things a little different than they were to make sure everything gets used and it will all be placed where I can see it, instead of boxes.......maybe some clear containers but no boxes because "out of sight, out of mind" right?..... I hope you all will follow me here and visit the new site and also send your friends over to look. Don't forget I list new things every week to replenish, and you will always find something new. I look forward to hearing from you and posting some pic's of the makeover we gave the place. Another Giveaway!!! For the Month of Feb I'm feeling the love, so I am offering this FREE MINNIE MOUSE BIRTHDAY BANNER! Unless you have the need for the letters KAITLIN you can take those off of course...
All you have to do is follow my blog here and make sure to leave a comment so I can have my friend Sabrina randomly select a winner out of the names in comments. I will contact the winner on February 28th. Thanks for entering, Good Luck, & Have a "BELLA" day!!! You can visit the new website here: Bella Maison Tresors www.bellamaisontresors.com