Rye Beach, 2018

Ocean waves and giggles are a wonderful way to spend a summer day!

We are the type of family who like to wake up early, leave early and arrive early. We like being one of the first ones there. Not because we have to be there first, but because we like the quiet. We enjoy easing into the water without anyone splashing you or screaming their heads off. That's why we enjoy Wallis Sands at Rye Beach, New Hampshire. You do have to pay $15 parking, but the beach is right there... no walking 5 miles with all your stuff. There's also bathrooms, lifeguards, picnic tables and a place to wash the sand off yourself. We brought our canopy and cooler full of snacks. We spent four hours there... making memories and enjoying the waves!

So thankful for her big brother! He always make things fun for his little sister.

Building sand castles together...

These summer days stay in my heart...

Daddy taking a dip...

Holding on tight as her brother rides the boogie board.

There's something so relaxing about having your legs in the ocean waves. Feeling that cool water go trickling around you... sand between your toes and the breeze in your hair.

Let's try sitting this time...?

Daddy and his baby girl, enjoying the view.

My girl in her element... once a beach baby, always a beach baby!

Wild roses...steal my heart!

The beautiful colors of the beach... til next time!

xoxo, Arianne

Rye Beach info here:

Wallis Sands State Park

Homemade Glazed Strawberry Tart With Free Recipe Printable!

HOMEMADE GLAZED STRAWBERRY TART

WITH FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE!

By Arianne Plehandzic

Every June we leave our house early in the morning to go strawberry picking.

We arrive in our hats and grab a basket to fill with strawberries. Everyone can't help eating a few as we go. Strawberry juice falling down our faces and a special strawberry induced smile appears. We head to the farm stand to pay for our strawberries and grab a couple goodies on the way...a fresh baked cookie, flowers for the porch, a handmade item. We head home and our van is filled with the sweet smell of strawberries. I can't help but think of all the delicious strawberry recipes I can make.

On the top of my list is this amazing recipe for glazed strawberry tart!

It melts in your mouth and gives you a strawberry induced coma. Not only does it smell good while it's baking, but I actually love the way the bowl smells while I'm making the tart. The sweet smell of flour, walnuts, lemon and vanilla altogether smells heavenly!!

(This recipe contains walnuts: nut allergy warning.)

***FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE AVAILABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!***

(My adorable helper!)

INGREDIENTS:

1-1/3 cups of flour

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup finely ground walnuts

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1 egg

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold butter, cut into pieces

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup seedless strawberry jam

1 teaspoon lemon juice 

2 pints strawberries, hulled and sliced

DIRECTIONS:

1. Stir together flour, walnuts, sugar, lemon rind and salt in a large bowl. Cut butter into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or 2 knives, until coarse crumbs form. Whisk together egg and vanilla in a small bowl; stir into flour mixture until a dough forms. Shape into a disk. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight. 

2. Preheat the oven 350 degrees. Grease and flour a baking sheet. Place dough on baking sheet; pat dough into a 10 inch circle; forming a high edge. Pierce the dough all over with a fork. Bake until slightly brown, about 25 minutes. Place baking sheet on wire rack and cool for about 10 minutes; transfer shell to rack to cool completely.

3. Melt the jam with lemon juice in a small saucepan over low heat until spreadable. Spread 1/2 cup jam mixture on top of the shell. Arrange the berries on the top; brush remaining jam mixture on top. Serve with whip cream if desired.

**NOW FOR YOUR FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE!**

**RIGHT-CLICK AND SAVE AS, THEN PRINT!**

(Please remember that this is for PERSONAL USE ONLY!)

Learn more about my shop: 

LILAC FARMS STUDIO ETSY SHOP

Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Coffee Cake With Free Recipe Printable!

CHOCOLATE CHIP CINNAMON COFFEE CAKE 

WITH FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE!

By Arianne Plehandzic

This is the BEST coffee cake you will ever taste!

It is made with a secret ingredient that makes the cake mix extra fluffy...sour cream! When you combine the fluffy cake mix with the chocolate chips, walnuts, cinnamon and sugar topping...you are in coffee cake heaven!!

I just finished making some for my oldest...she requested it. She's a little under the weather and this is her favorite. (Although I think this is everyone's favorite in this house.) Plus we are expecting 10 inches of snow between tonight and tomorrow. Snow in Spring is no fun. However, there's something about baking while there's a snow storm outside. Makes the house seem a little cozier. 

***FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!***

(There's no light brown sugar in the recipe...not sure why it's in the picture...lol.)

PREP TIME: 30 MINS.  BAKE TIME: 40-45 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS:

*12 ounces chocolate chips or m&m's (1 package)

*3/4 cup chopped walnuts

*2 cups sugar, divided

*1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

*2 2/3 cups all purpose flour

*1/2 teaspoon salt

*1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

*3/4 teaspoon baking powder

*3/4 cup butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)

*1 teaspoon vanilla

*3 eggs

*1 1/2 cups sour cream

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9 inch baking pan.

2. In a medium bowl, mix the chocolate chips, walnuts, 2/3 cup of the sugar and cinnamon; set aside.

3. In another medium bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.

4. In a large bowl, beat the butter, remaining 1 1/3 cups of sugar and vanilla with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.

5. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

6. Add some flour mixture alternately with sour cream, beating after each addition until smooth.

(Some flour, mix, some sour cream, mix.)

7. Spoon half the batter into the pan, top with half the chocolate-nut mix; repeat.

8. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.

***FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE!***

**RIGHT CLICK, SAVE AND PRINT!**

How To Make Buchteln With Free Recipe Printable!

HOW TO MAKE BUCHTELN! (BOSNIAN SWEET ROLLS)

By Arianne Plehandzic

So what do you do when there is a blizzard outside?! You bake, of course!

Yesterday we got hit with 18 inches of snow! Daddy was home from work, sleeping on the couch.

The kids and I headed into the kitchen to bake some sweets. We made Snowball Cookies (next blog post) and we made these delicious Bosnian Sweet Rolls called 'Buchteln'. My husband is from Bosnia and these rolls seemed to be perfect for a cold, snowy day!

**FREE RECIPE PRINTABLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!**

INGREDIENTS:

*4 CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR

*1 TBSP ACTIVE DRY YEAST

*1/2 CUP SUGAR

*ZEST OF ONE SMALL LEMON

*7 TBSP BUTTER, SOFTENED

*1 EGG

*1 EGG YOLK

*1 CUP WARM MILK

*1 TBSP BUTTER, MELTED

*POWDER SUGAR FOR DUSTING

*FILLING: JAM, NUTELLA, CREAM CHEESE, BERRIES, ETC.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine flour, yeast, sugar, vanilla, lemon zest and mix well for a few minutes.

2. Add half of the warm milk and mix together.

3. Add egg, egg yolk, butter and remaining milk; mix for 2-3 minutes or until dough stops sticking to the bowl.

4. Knead the dough by hand for a few minutes, form it into a ball, cover with a towel and let it rise for 1 hour or until doubled.

5. Roll the dough into 1/3 inch think rectangle and using a pizza cutter, cut into smaller squares (approx. 3 x3 in.)

6. Place tbsp of jam on each 3 x 3 inch square and close the by holding the 

the corners together and twist into a ball. 

7. Place the balls upside down onto a greased round cake pan. Brush the melted butter over the buchteln, cover and let it rise intil doubled.

8. Bake at 380 degrees for 30 minutes or until dark golden brown. Cool slightly and dust with powder sugar and serve!

FREE PRINTABLE RECIPE:

***RIGHT CLICK & SAVE AS, THEN PRINT!***

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes!

ICE CREAM CONE CUPCAKES

By Arianne Plehandzic

A fun twist on a kid favorite!

When it's freezing outside, ice cream usually isn't on the menu.

However, don't put those ice cream cones away just yet!

Here's a dessert that's fun and something they can decorate.

So why not make cupcakes, put them in an ice cream cone and decorate them!!

Scroll down for the fun and easy how-to...

WHAT YOU NEED:

*CUPCAKE MIX

*FROSTING

*ICE CREAM CONES

*SPRINKLES

*BUTTER KNIFE

*PLATE

HOW-TO:

1. Make cupcakes as directed, cool.

2. Take off cupcake liner. 

3. Gently squeeze cupcake into ice cream cone.

4. Place ice cream cone on a plate or tray.

5. Give the kids a butter knife, small bowl of frosting

and sprinkles to decorate.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MY KIDS CREATE THIS FUN TREAT!

yum!

Strawberry frosting...!

Woah...too many sprinkles!

We made them again for our preschool Valentine party!

Hope the kids love it!

XOXO,

Arianne