Awesome Ham Hoagies --A Tailgating Favorite!

These ham hoagies totally rock. They are super easy, feed a crowd, and can even be made ahead and frozen!  My mom's been makin' them as long as I can remember and served up on a cold day, they're the quintessential hot ham sandwich. With melty Swiss cheese and tangy Dijon mustard, my mouth waters just thinking about them. Try them with salty chips and peperoncinis--Perfection.

Combine softened butter, poppy seed, onion, mustard, and Worcestershire.








Spread butter mixture on both top and bottom buns.
*The cheap hamburger buns in a bag work great for these.


Place bun bottoms in a 9X13" baking dish.


Layer on ham and cheese, then the top bun.










Wrap baking dish in foil and bake 350 degrees for 20 minutes. (Or freeze before you bake for later use).


Serve with peperoncinis.


Joy's Ham Hoagies
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
1 Tablespoon onion, chopped fine
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire
1 tsp. prepared mustard (such as Grey Poupon)
8 hamburger buns
8 slices Swiss cheese
1/2 lbs. shaved ham

Combine softened butter, poppy seed, onion, mustard, and Worcestershire. Spread butter mixture on both top and bottom buns. Place bun bottoms in a 9X13" baking dish. Layer on ham and cheese, then the top bun.  Wrap baking dish in foil and bake 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  May be prepared and frozen (before baking).  Serve with peperoncinis.


This is my favorite brand of Peperoncinis. I even like to pour a little peperoncini juice on my plate and let the ham hoagie's bun soak it up. YUM!

Enjoy!

~ The Lemonista

My Favorite Turkey Decoration & Turkey Bento + Use Up That Extra Halloween Candy

To kick off November, I thought I'd recap some of my favorite turkey posts from last year, so here we go...

Thankful Turkey Bento Lunch


Thanksgiving Bento ~Pilgrims meet Turkey


My favorite Turkey decoration from Cost Plus (He's at the bottom of the post)


Cost Plus brought back this awesome turkey decoration again this year.  They sold out fast last year, so get yours before they're gone!
 
Halloween Peanut Butter and Toffee Candy Bark

Do you have some extra Halloween candy you'd like to be rid of?  I know I do!  If you'd like to use up that Halloween candy, Bon Appetit has a fun recipe for you to check out!
 
*This post has been added to Project Queen's Link Party #7
& Running with Glitter Link Party #34

Happy November!

~The Lemonista

Two Great Pumpkin Recipes ~ Pumpkin White Chocolate Chunk Cookies & Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

If you are looking for some lip smackingly good pumpkin recipes--look no further! I've taste tested both of these fabulous recipes and either one of them will make you a pumpkin cookin' hero.


First up, a Pumpkin White Chocolate Chunk Cookie recipe from Foster's Market.
Moist and delicious with a butterscotch kick, these are a new neighborhood favorite.

And if the cookies aren't enough to satisfy your craving for pumpkin treats, be sure to give Martha Stewart's awesome Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream-Cheese Filling a whirl!


I gobbled these up with my morning coffee--DIVINE!

Enjoy!

~The Lemonista

2011 Fall Fashion & Winter Wardrobe Updates

Everyone can use a few wardrobe updates to freshen things up, but in today's economy it's important to make every purchase count.  Here are the items I've updated my closet with this season.  Fitting with my classic style (in a trendy sort of way), these basic items are neutral in color allowing them to easily work with my existing clothing. 

It's been a while since I've done a fashion post, so...
Let's get to it.

Boden Uptown Pumps (which are really flats *grin*)
These also come in both Mushroom and a Navy color that are great basics!
I bought these in Navy. They are smart, comfy and I know I'll wear them a ton.



Gap 1969 Lightweight Corduroy Leggings
I bought these in Navy. They are flattering and feel like butter against my skin. Pure LOVE!


Ann Taylor Perfect Long Sleeve Shirt
This is the perfect everyday shirt.  You can dress it up or dress it down.  Wear it tucked in or un-tucked.
I bought this in both French Blue and White.

*Please check the link on this one as I couldn't copy the picture. grrrrrrrr I hate websites that are all photo stingy that way :-(

LandsEnd Canvas Women's Necktie Belt
Love this belt with my Gap navy skinny cords and jeans! It coordinates great with the Ann Taylor shirt in this post as well and the Boden flats!



True Religion Brand Billy Indigo Super T Jeans
Okay, so these were super spendy but they gave me the tush of a teenager.
'Nuff said.


 
Now for the stuff I'll probably live in 'till spring.
Drum roll for the Mom Uniform..........

Aeria Flare Slim Gym Yoga pants
These are, hands down, my favorite yoga pants.  And for $19 bucks, girl, you can beat 'em.



Old Navy Lightweight Hoodies
Love these lightweight hoodies.  Combine this hoodie with some yoga pants and this momma is good to go.


Or if you prefer a scoop neck style pullover hoodie to layer over a tank.
This one also comes in lots of fun colors.
Old Navy Lightweight Pullover Hoodies


So that's what I've got for today. I'd love to hear your great Fall/ Winter fashion finds!  Please post them in the comments so we can all check them out.

Thanks!
~The Lemonista

Caramel Apple Muffins

Nothing stirs the comforting feelings of fall like the smell of cinnamon and apples baking in the kitchen.  Add melted caramel to that wonderful aroma and you might just envision yourself in a Norman Rockwell painting.

I mean who didn't love caramel apples as a kid? 

As an adult, a caramel apple still sounds wonderful but I'm not really up for the effort and sticky face that comes with eating one.  I thought of how good the caramel apple flavor would taste with my October morning coffee and I began hunting for Caramel Apple Muffin recipes.  I tried several and in the end, blended many ideas from different recipes to create my own.  Here's what I came up with.

You will need:


In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.










In another bowl, whisk the egg, milk and vanilla.






Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.


Now stir in melted butter.




Fold in chopped apples. (chop yours smaller than I did here).


Cut 12 Kraft caramels in fours with kitchen shears and toss them in 1 teaspoon of flour.








I found that the foil baking cups work best for these muffins.




Combine topping ingredients with a fork.




Fill paper-lined muffin cups 1/2 full with batter, place four pieces of cut caramel in batter, then top off with batter to equal 3/4"ish" full..






Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon of topping over each of the 12 cups of muffin batter.


Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake portion comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
Serve warm.

Can't you just taste the ooey gooey caramel......

Caramel Apple Muffins

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped peeled green apple
12 Kraft caramels, cut in fours and tossed in 1 teaspoon of flour

TOPPING:

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
2 Tablespoons quick-cooking oats
2 Tablespoons butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. In another bowl, whisk the egg, milk and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Now stir in melted butter. Fold in chopped apples.

Cut 12 Kraft caramels in fours with kitchen shears and toss them in 1 teaspoon of flour.

Combine topping ingredients with a fork.
Fill paper-lined muffin cups 1/2 full with batter, place four pieces of cut caramel in batter, then top off with batter to equal 3/4"ish" full. Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon of topping over each of the 12 cups of muffin batter.

Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake portion comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Serve warm. Yields 12 muffins.

Enjoy!
~The Lemonista