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Coffee Break with Liz and Kate » Entries tagged with "coffeebreak"

Thank heavens for little gray rainclouds – Kate’s Escapades

Middle of nowhere. Cracked radiator. 115 degrees. No cell service. Stupid dumb auto protection service that is not smarter than their stupid dumb computer program. Stupid. Dumb. Oh man, I really need a vacation from my vacation. More precisely, a vacation after my vacation. I should probably tell you that I spend nine looong months of the year impatiently waiting for the warm, delicious, relaxing, rejuvenating  too short three months of summer. No homework for the kids (or the mom, come on ladies, you know exactly what I mean), no strict bedtimes, the water park just calling our names, beckoning us to frolic and play. Without going on too much of a whining streak, let me just say that this was the summer that wasn’t, which quickly turned into the vacation that … Read entire article »

Filed under: Headline, Kate's Escapades, This 'n That

Kate’s Recipe of the week – Easy Cinnamon Roll French Toast

Kate’s Recipe of the week – Easy Cinnamon Roll French Toast

This week’s recipe is inspired by my daughter’s favorite IHOP breakfast, Cinnamon Roll French Toast. I figured there must be some easy and yummy way to duplicate it and voila…here it is! Easy Cinnamon Roll French Toast Ingredients: 1 tube jumbo size cinnamon rolls (Bake according to package directions – don’t frost) 3 large eggs 2 Tbsp milk 1 Tbsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp cinnamon Directions: Slice baked and cooled cinnamon rolls in half lengthwise; set aside. Crack eggs … Read entire article »

Filed under: Headline, Let's Eat

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011) -
Kate’s review

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part ll (2011) Reel reviews for real people Plot: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. The much-anticipated motion picture event is the second of two full-length parts. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here. — (C) Warner Bros Rating: PG 13 (some sequences of intense action violence and frightening images) Genre: … Read entire article »

Filed under: Entertainment, Headline

Kate’s Escapades –
How to make Harry Potter Wands

Unless you’ve been in solitary confinement in Azkaban for the past few months, you know that we are mere hours away from the release of  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. At my house we are counting down the minutes until the magical moment. (It’s no secret that I have some Harry Potter fanatics in my family. You can check out the party we had a few summers ago to celebrate the release of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince here.) Anyway, we found a fabulous craft to keep ourselves occupied, and to help us while away the hours until the big event at 12:01 on Thursday night. (Unless of course you’re lucky enough to be me this week. I get to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part … Read entire article »

Filed under: Entertainment, Get Crafty, Headline, Kate's Escapades

This week’s recipe –
Easy Peasy Lemon Freezy Pops

It’s Thursday, so that means it’s once again cheater recipe time. So what’s a “Cheater” recipe? It’s a way to end up with a delicious home cooked meal, side dish or dessert without spending lots of time to get there. This week’s cheater recipe… Easy Peasy Lemon Freezy Pops What could be better than this ultra easy, healthy and delicious  summer treat? It’s the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer day! Easy Peasy Lemon Freezy Pops Ingredients: 1 cup finely diced fresh fruit 1 cup plain or pink lemonade frozen concentrate 1 cup water ice pop mold or small disposable plastic cups m m Directions: m m m m m m m m m m m m m Cut fresh fruit into small pieces. m mm m m m m m m m Fill each ice-pop mold (or cup)  half full of cut fruit. m m m m m m m m m Mix lemonade concentrate with water. Pour into molds. m m m m m m m m m Cover with tops and freeze for about 5 hours. If using plastic cups, … Read entire article »

Filed under: Headline, Let's Eat

Celebrate the 4th with Kate’s Patriotic Dessert

Celebrate Independence! With the 4th of July just around the corner, it’s time to start planning for the big day of celebration. There are parades to attend, fireworks to watch, picnics to plan, desserts to make. Here’s one that’s easy to make, looks and tastes delicious, and uses some of my favorite summer fruits – fresh strawberries and blueberries. Here’s my recipe for a strawberry and blueberry trifle, made  in individual serving dishes for that extra cuteness factor.   Patriotic Dessert Ingredients: store bought angel food cake fresh strawberries fresh blueberries 1 can strawberry pie filling 1 can blueberry pie filling 2 small boxes of vanilla instant pudding 4 cups of milk whipped topping   Mix pudding according to directions and  refrigerate for 5 min.  Cut angel food into bite-sized pieces.  Layer the pudding, fruit and cake pieces into each cup. Add … Read entire article »

Filed under: Headline, Let's Celebrate, Let's Eat

Frozen Lemonade Pie – Kate’s Recipe of the Week

Today’s recipe is the perfect combination of a refreshing glass of lemonade mixed with a creamy cold slice of pie: Frozen Lemonade Pie! Four ingredients, five minutes of prep, some freezer time and you’ve got a delicious dessert. Frozen Lemonade Pie Ingredients: 1 pie crust (I used the shortbread kind, but the graham kind would be yummy as well.) 1 can sweetened condensed milk 1 can (6 oz.) frozen lemonade (I could only find a 12 oz. can so I used half of it and made the rest into lemonade.) 8 oz. whipped topping Directions: Mix everything together, put it into the pie crust and freeze for several hours. That’s it! Gotta love that. Easy peasy lemon pie-easy! ~Kate   Related articles This week’s recipe – Easy Peasy Lemon Freezy Pops (coffeebreakwithlizandkate.com) Good Thing I Like Lemonade (essenceofkate.com) Key Lime … Read entire article »

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Bubble Fun – Kate’s Escapades

Here we are only a few weeks into the summer break, and already the kiddos are wandering aimlessly through the house feeling restless and bored. This simple and inexpensive idea is sure to keep the kids, or grandkids, busy for at least long enough so you can whip up a delicious treat, catch up on a DVRed episode of your favorite reality show, or maybe flip through that Entertainment Weekly that’s calling your name. Homemade Bubbles 4 cups Water 1 cup grease cutting dish Soap – (Palmolive, Ajax, Joy, Dawn…) 1/4 cup Light Corn Syrup (this takes the place of glycerine, which you probably don’t have) container – plastic tub, gallon jug Just mix all the ingredients together and store in container. Now that you’ve got the bubbles made, what do you do with them? *How about some … Read entire article »

Filed under: Headline, Kate's Escapades, Let's Celebrate

Is Dia Frampton The Voice? – Kate’s Escapades

I’ll be the first to admit that the show selection on telly during the summertime is mighty slim pickins’. If you’ve been here before, you probably know I am an admitted reality show addict. In the summer, though, I generally take a break from the TV nonsense by doing other more productive things, like sitting out on the front porch listening to crickets chirp while enjoying an ice cold Coke Zero. This summer, however… ‘Yay!’ for the fact that The Voice is on. Double ‘Yay! Yay!’ for the fact that the contestant that some are calling the frontrunner, Dia, is a Utah gal and friend of my oldest daughter, Megan. In this house, we’ve been fans of the music of sisters, Meg and Dia, for many years. On Tuesday’s live episode of The … Read entire article »

Filed under: Entertainment, Headline, Kate's Escapades

Guess the Celebrity Bride – Kate’s Escapades

After all these years of motherhood (we won’t go into exactly how many, but let’s just say it’s quite a few) I am about to take on a new title, ‘Mother-of-the-Bride.’  Pretty exciting. Pretty daunting. So this evening, four of my daughters and I are hosting a ‘Garden Tea Party’ bridal shower for the lucky bride-to-be. We’ve come up with a really fun game to play at the shower that’s a little different than the usual standard bridal shower party game. Guess the Celebrity Bride Game Supplies: Bridal Magazines Magazines with celebrity pictures (like People, US, Entertainment Weekly) Scrapbook paper Glue Scissors Paper and pencils for the bridal shower guests Directions: For me, making this game was ridiculous amounts of fun. When you take a look at the “Celebrity Brides” we came up with, I think you’ll see why. 1. Look through … Read entire article »

Filed under: Get Crafty, Headline, Kate's Escapades, Let's Celebrate

Remembering our heroes

For many of us, today will herald the beginning of summer – lazy days, warm nights, camp fires and swimming pools. In the midst of family picnics and get-togethers, the true meaning of Memorial Day often gets pushed aside. Other families don’t have that luxury. Today, they’ll gather at a graveside to honor and remember a loved one – a father or grandfather, brother or son, husband or wife, mother or daughter. I’d like to honor three such families today: the Hunts and Lieurances (families of Joey Hunt and Vic Lieurance, both KIA on 22 AUG 2005) and the Tuckers (family of Wes Tucker, KIA 13 OCT 2005). For all of you readers who may have lost someone dear, our thoughts are with you as well, today, as we remember the ultimate price … Read entire article »

Filed under: Headline, Liz's Rants

Easy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas – Kate’s recipe of the week

It’s the last day of school for the kiddies before summer break. Cooking dinner is the last thing on my mind today. We’ve got better things to do with our day, like maybe a few hours at the park topped off with a stop at Hawaiian Shave Ice downtown. Anyhoo, where was I? Dinner, yep, well I’m making something super easy since I’ve got plans for fun today: Easy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas. Easy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas Ingredients: 1 small onion, chopped cooking spray 3 cups shredded cooked chicken  (I used rotisserie chicken from the market) 2 diced fresh tomatoes (or 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained) 1 tub (10 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Santa Fe Blend Cooking Creme, divided 1 cup Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese 8 flour tortillas (6 inch) chunky salsa verde (the green stuff) Directions: Heat oven to … Read entire article »

Filed under: Headline, Let's Eat

Paraskavedekatriaphobia, friggatriskaidekaphobia, or triskaidekaphobia? Yikes, it’s Friday the 13th!

Today is Friday the 13th! Not a big deal to me, and just to tempt the fates I’ve been walking under ladders, opening my umbrella indoors and putting out bowls of milk for all the little black kitties out there. Just for kicks here’s some Friday the 13th entertainment for you brought to you by MSNBC… Here are five of our favorite Friday-the-13th facts: 1. Fear of Friday the 13th — one of the most popular myths in science — is called paraskavedekatriaphobia as well as friggatriskaidekaphobia. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13. 2. Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor and some airline terminals omit Gate 13. 3. President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host … Read entire article »

Filed under: Headline, Kate's Escapades

Creamy Chicken Fajitas – Kate’s recipe of the week

I’ve been noticing the new Philadelphia Cooking Cremes in the grocery store for the past several weeks, so being the sucker that I am for new products, I picked up the little Cooking Creme Recipes pamphlet, found a promising recipe, and decided to give it a try. This week’s recipe, Creamy Chicken Fajitas, uses the Santa Fe Style Cooking Creme and is so easy to prepare and super delicious. Creamy Chicken Fajitas Ingredients: (makes 8 fajitas) 1 lb cooked chicken strips (or beef, if you prefer) 1 onion, sliced thinly 2 peppers, sliced thinly (I used green and orange) 1 tub Santa Fe Cooking Creme 8 flour fajita size tortillas 1 cup shredded cheese (Oops, I left the cheese out of the photo) Directions:   How easy is that? The Santa Fe Cooking Creme mixed in with the chicken/veggie mixture adds … Read entire article »

Filed under: Headline, Let's Eat

Thor (2011) – movie review by Kate

Thor (2011) – movie review by Kate Reel Reviews for Real People Plot: The epic adventure THOR spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the mystical realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. As a result, Thor is banished to Earth where he is forced to live among humans. When the most dangerous villain of his world sends its darkest forces to invade Earth, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero.– (C) Paramount Pictures Rating: PG-13 (for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence) Genre: Action/Adventure Director: Kenneth Branagh Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Stellan Scarsgard, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Kat Dennings Running time: 1:55 Kate says … Read entire article »

Filed under: Entertainment, Kate's Escapades