Tattooed Martha

Carrot Cake Dessert Cups with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

I don’t really care if it’s a total cliche to do a carrot cake recipe around Easter because it’s a cliche delicious enough to keep perpetuating. Rather than stress about the perfectly formed cake or cupcake, then frosting, and decorating it, I chose to disassemble it into these easy to make dessert cups. A handful of bite size spiced carrot cake pieces topped with an airy whipped cream cheese frosting, and a bit of chopped pecans for crunch. These are perfect to serve up at your Easter brunch AND everything can be made in advance!

[Read more…]

Lemon and Thyme Ginger Spritzer

Spring tends to be a little late here in the Midwest, so instead of waiting for all the spring blooms, I added them to my cocktails instead! Suspended in ice, the flower buds and petals add a nice pop of color in this bright and citrusy cocktail I mixed up. I started out with a small batch of homemade lemon and thyme infused vodka, added a bit of simple syrup for sweetness, and topped it off with ginger beer for a crisp finish. This is a great make-ahead cocktail for parties so I’ve included the recipe for a large batch too!

[Read more…]

Tortellini in Tomato Cream Sauce with Bacon & Arugula

When I found myself with one whole day off, I thought I would create several new dishes, spend the rest of the afternoon editing, and then maybe get a few house projects accomplished. No such luck… This is the day our dog showed up. I had just finished photographing this dish when I spotted a dog in our backyard and then spent the next several hours trying to find her owners. You can read the whole story in my recent Daily Life post and how this stray pup has become a permanent staple of our home now.

Even though the day didn’t go as planned, I’m grateful that we now have a wonderful new addition to our fur family and that the one dish I did get done turned out damn delicious! My inspiration for it was my favorite sandwich, the BLT. In this skillet you’ve got cheese tortellini smothered in a rich tomato and cream sauce, chunks of thick cut bacon, caramelized onions, and then fresh parsley and arugula on top. Just like the sandwich, every ingredient is good on it’s own, but amazing when combined together. Make this at your own risk though.. stray dogs may appear after cooking it! 😉

[Read more…]

Daily Life

I’m thinking that I need to up the Daily Life posts to two or three times a month because things have been changing quickly around here!

We’re about a month into living in the new house now and I can honestly say that it truly feels like home (and as you see above, Punk feels the same). We had our first family dinner here on Sunday and it was really wonderful to have everyone together in this space. I didn’t want a house just to have a house.. I saw it as my place to gather family and friends, entertain, cook, and share our space with them. When you want something for so long, you find yourself in disbelief and overwhelming gratitude when you realize it’s finally happened. I guess this is just my general PSA for you to stop in this moment and to look back at all you’ve accomplished and overcome.

If you follow along on Instagram you may have seen the news I shared earlier in the week..

We have our first farm dog!

Chris and I had just had a conversation about animals, particularly about getting a dog, to which I said, “No way!” At least not right now since we have so many house projects we need to get done. I’m not kidding when I tell you that the very next day I was home on my day off and look out in the backyard to see this big white dog running around. She was super friendly and I figured must be our neighbor’s dog that lives just down the road, but he said she was a stray. She hopped right in my car and we drove around to nearby houses trying to find her owner, but didn’t have any luck. She stayed overnight for two nights in our walkout basement until Chris had a day off to take her into the vet to check for a chip.

Sure enough she was micro-chipped which was disappointing news for us since we had gotten a little bit attached, but good news for her and her family. Chris contacted the owners, but they were out of town until Sunday so we happily agreed to keep her another day. After they showed up and we got to talking, we discovered that we’re neighbors AND I had actually started following their Instagram about a month prior. They run an amazing and inspiring flower farm called Pepper Harrow (go check them out). They said they had been trying to find a new home for Kita, but hadn’t found anyone yet. They offered to let us adopt her and I think we both thought they might have been kidding so I didn’t say yes right away. When we realized they were serious we accepted and went in to tell our family the good news.

Before we knew her name I started calling her Wednesday since she has a fondness for dead things, so we call her Wednesday, Kita, or Cha-Kita Banana. She’s a Great Pyrenees and Black Mouth Cur mix so she’s an amazing guard dog and I already feel safer having her here. She likes to bring us a slightly alarming amount of deer legs, furry hides, deer tails, and skulls. I of course, love her immensely already.

I’ll do my best to share a Daily Life in a few weeks instead of a month from now because who knows what animals we’ll have adopted by then! 😉

For more updates in the moment you can follow along on the Tattooed Martha IG or on my personal page!

Slow Burn Serrano Martinis

It’s taken me a little bit longer than I thought to get settled and find routine in the new house. My days off are now being consumed with house projects (which you can see more of over on Instagram!) and trying to squeeze in some face time with friends and family. When my plate is full and the juggle struggle is real, a good strong drink at the end of the day always helps with the unwind process. These spicy dirty martinis did just the trick too! I had dried serranos from last year’s garden and used them to make a small batch of serrano infused vodka. I skipped the Vermouth considering ours was about 10 years old and I honestly didn’t feel like the martini needed it anyway. Just a splash of olive brine and a garnish for a smooth yet bold martini where the heat of the pepper slowly creeps in.

[Read more…]

Mushroom Tartlets with Caramelized Onion Jam

A few years back I did a cookbook review for Taste of Home’s Simple & Delicious Cookbook and I recently rediscovered it while I was packing. I had dog-eared the pages of tons of recipes I wanted to cook and decided to revisit a few of them for inspiration. One was for a simple appetizer of cranberry-brie tartlets where they used pre-made refrigerated crescent rolls. Since my days off have been consumed with packing/cleaning/moving/painting, any recipe that saves me a little bit of time is a win in my book!

For my tartlet combination I went with mushrooms sauteed in butter, garlic, and fresh thyme, a sweet and savory caramelized onion jam, and goat cheese crumbles on top of an airy buttery biscuit. Every element can be enjoyed separately, but throw them together all together and you’ve got muffin sized delicious perfection!

[Read more…]

Daily Life + House Tour

I had a whole list of posts that were supposed to get edited and scheduled for this past week, but after my closing on the 14th was delayed to the next day, and the next, and the next and a few blizzards in between, any idea of a schedule or To Do list kind of flew out the window. That’s okay though because…. I FINALLY BOUGHT A HOUSE!

[Read more…]

How I Found The Courage To Change My Life


Today is a really special day for me.. not because I’m overly patriotic and love celebrating President’s Day, but it’s because on this day 3 years ago I decided to get really honest with myself and with others. I had come to the realization that one chapter of my life was ending, but I had no idea what was ahead. I didn’t know where I’d be living in the next several months and I didn’t know how to start the conversation that would break hearts, mine included. I’ve been struggling to write this and put it out into the world for quite some time now. The story seems lengthy and complicated.. I’m worried my words will not come out the way that I would like. I’m worried about being misjudged, but I have to remember that none of that is my business. This is for me.

[Read more…]

Habanero Rose Cocktail

I created this cocktail toward the end of summer, but it turned out so pretty and romantic looking that I thought I would save it for February. Not only does it look like Valentine’s Day in cocktail form, but as sweet and pretty as this cocktail looks, it packs a mean punch of heat that’s perfect for staying warm on these chilly February days. I mixed my own habanero infused vodka with a grapefruit and rose infused vodka I found from Ketel One. I added fresh grapefruit juice to bring out the flavor even more and a spoonful of Rose’s Grenadine Syrup for a little sweetness. Throw in some rose petals and fall in love with your new favorite cocktail… Was that cheesy enough for you?

[Read more…]

8 Valentine’s Day Inspired Recipes & Crafts

Whether you love it or hate it, Valentine’s is just 2 days away and I’ve got a little something for everyone.. The couples, the crafty, the heartbroken, and even something for your sweet little feline friend (because let’s be real.. your cat is probably your soulmate). These are a few of my favorites I’ve created over the years and I hope that you find something you want to try no matter how you celebrate or don’t celebrate the day!

1. Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes

Let’s kick this off with something decadent! I made these cupcakes using a chocolate porter in the cake, fresh strawberries for the frosting, and homemade chocolate covered strawberries. It’s a two for one dessert!

Get the full recipe here

2. The Heartbreaker Cocktail

If your heart is on the mend after a rough break up, this one is for you! A bold rum cocktail that will make you forget all about the dirty rotten ex that broke your heart!

Get the full recipe here

3. Refillable Catnip Heart Toy

You can’t forget about your little ride or die buddy on Valentines Day! I often say Punk is my soulmate because she has been through it all with me. If you feel the same about your feline friend, celebrate them with this easy to make refillable catnip toy. Also scroll to the end of the tutorial for bonus photos of Punky geeking out on catnip because I know you all are just following me for her anyway! 😉

Get the full tutorial here

4. Broken Heart Tattoo Cookies

If you’re anti-Valentine’s guy or gal like myself then you’ll love making these! Filled with mini candies when you break them open, these tattoo-inspired cookies are as much fun to eat as they are to make! Check out the full post to see some of the other fun phrases I added to mine.

Get the full recipe here

5. Bloody Valentine Heart Wreath

Okay.. are you seeing a bit of a theme with my posts? Haha I made this wreath one year when Friday the 13th fell before Valentine’s Day. I sort of fused the two of them for this “blood” splattered creation.

Get the full tutorial here

6. Chocolate Covered Bacon

For the bacon lovers in your life.. this is a hundred times better than a box of chocolates with mystery fillings.

Get the full recipe here

7. Valentine in a Bottle

Skip the cheesy Hallmark cards and make a completely custom Valentine in a Bottle!

Get the full tutorial here

8. Brownie Dessert Cups with Whipped Cream & Raspberry Sauce

We’ll end this on a sweet note… rich heart shaped brownies, homemade whipped cream, and raspberry sauce make the perfect treat to enjoy with your sweetheart.. or if you’re single you can enjoy them both – no shame

Get the full recipe here

 

Have a Happy Valentine’s or Anti-Valentine’s Day!

 

 




This blog is for profit and accepts sponsorships, advertising, sponsored posts, and giveaway donations. Any post that is sponsored will have that fact stated within or at the end of the post. Almost every post will have some form of affiliate links within them for ingredients, supplies, or other reference materials associated with the post. Tattooed Martha is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.