Jacque Made: a place to share my creative side.

We wanted to throw a Gingerbread Decorating Party this year. Jaime made this adorable invite for us.  I glued these graham cracker houses together with a hot glue gun. (Looking back I'm sure I could've found other ways to do it so they were totally edible, but this way was easy and somewhat fast and very sturdy, so I went with it.) Each family that came brought a few bags of candy and an appetizer to share. It was a blast! The adults and kids had a great time. I had to laugh when I saw my kids' houses. Each one described them so well. 

I made this simple wreath and wanted to share it. I simply covered a foam wreath with thick black fabric using a glue gun. Then I added a large orange bow and with clear plastic thread, I added this cute felt bat (a Halloween decor item I found at Target). I love how it looks like the bat is flying, since he's suspended with the clear thread. I always lean more towards cute Halloween décor rather than scary. Having small kids and knowing small kids are trick or treating at my house, I don't want to frighten them. I think this wreath is Halloween-y but adorable, too.

My twin sis told me about this recipe. A friend of hers had made it for her while she was sick and pregnant, and she said it made her whole week! I am not sick or pregnant, but this soup tastes good no matter what you are! It's satisfying and versatile and so great this time of year. You can add a number of things if you want to like cheddar cheese, turkey, bacon, or eat it without meat. It was really easy and fast to throw together as well. Winner, winner, ham and potato dinner! Ingredients : 3 1/2 Cups peeled and diced potatoes (I like Yukon Gold potatoes best. I don't peel mine, because the skin is so thin it isn't bothersome to eat at all.) 1/3 Cup diced celery 1/3 Cup finely chopped onion 3/4 Cup cooked ham, diced (I used turkey kielbasa in my soup and added it at the end to warm. But I will try it with ham next time. I think I like turkey kielbasa cold better than warm.) 3 1/4 Cups water 2 Tbsp. chicken bouillon granules 1/2 tsp. salt, or to taste 1 ...

I've been craving steak folks. It's truly one of my favorite things to eat. This recipe from Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons, was one that definitely hit the spot. It cooked up fast, and the steak was tender and flavorful. The veggies and pineapple tasted great with it, too. (Next time I'll use fresh pineapple and grill that as well. This time I used canned pineapple and was afraid it would fall apart on the grill. It was still delicious though.) Sauce : 1/4 cup your favorite BBQ sauce 3 tablespoons lime juice 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder 1/2 tablespoon onion powder Fresh cracked black pepper Kabobs : 2 pounds beef tenderloin , cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes (I used top sirloin) Kosher salt and black pepper 1/2 pineapple, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks 1/2 red onion, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces 1 green bell pepper , seeded and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces 1 orange  or yellow bell pepper , seeded and cut in...

Ladies and Gents, this recipe is seriously amazing. With each bite, I kept singing its praises... saying, "Oh my goodness.. wow, this is... wow, mmm..." I guarantee you, too will love it. It's from my girl Kelsey Nixon. (She's not technically my girl, or my girl friend even, but I like to think she and I would be great friends if we ever met. I love her cooking style, and her personality is adorable. And, she is always stylin'.) What made this recipe taste even better was that I made it with my twin sis, Jaime. She and I love to cook together, and we had a great time making this meal.  So, here's the printable recipe . Pork and Peach BBQ Sauce : 4 cups peaches, peeled and sliced (we used frozen peaches) 1 cup brown sugar 2/3 cup ketchup 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 Tbsp. garlic, minced 2 Tbsp. ginger, minced 2 1/2 pound boneless pork loin roast kosher salt and cracked black pepper 1/4 cup low sodium chicken stock Smashed Potatoes :  1 ...

This is one of my favorite breakfasts. It's easy, healthy, and delicious. It is also very satisfying to know that you're eating veggies in your breakfast!!   And you'll find that you feel full for quite awhile after eating this! Ingredients : 1/3 - 1/2 C. Chopped veggies (any kind you like - I used mushrooms, red, yellow, and orange peppers, and onions) 2 eggs 2 Tbsp. shredded cheese (any kind you like - I used Monterey Jack) 1 tsp. olive oil fresh flat leaf parsley or cilantro, chopped for garnish whole grain bread (I like to use Sara Lee's 45 Calories and Delightful bread) Directions : Heat your oil in your saute pan over medium heat. Saute all your vegetables until tender, 3-4 minutes. Mix your eggs together in a bowl with a fork or whisk. Add in your eggs and cheese to the pan with your veggies. Stir until firm, but not brown. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with parsley or cilantro. Toast your bread, and enjoy together!

These Bobby Flay quesadillas are so delicious. The chicken is full of flavor from being marinated, and the veggies add so much flavor, too. Add some yummy guacamole and salsa, and you'll be one happy lady or man. (I made mine with grilled mushrooms instead of eggplant, since I love mushrooms and had them on hand.)   What the filling looks like if you make them open faced... so delicious! Ingredients Marinade: 1/4 cup olive oil 2 jalapenos, coarsely chopped 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 2 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast Salt and freshly ground pepper Caramelized Onions: 2 large red onion, finely sliced 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro Salt and freshly ground pepper Grilled Eggplant: 1 Japanese eggplant, sliced lengthwise into 1/4-inch thick slices Olive oil Salt and pepper Package of sliced por...