August 2011
153 posts
4 tags
Plenty of pockets tote
When you’re on the road, doesn’t it always seems to be the ordinary, everyday things you are suddenly in desperate need of: gum, nail clippers, your headphones? I get a little panicky, certain I’ve left behind the most obvious items… as if perhaps I’m on an arctic expedition and won’t see civilization for days. But the opportunity for replenishment...
3 tags
Baked doughnuts
Doughnut batter: doughnut pan 2 cups all purpose flour, sifted 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 3/4 cup buttermilk 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 eggs, lightly beaten 2 tbsp. butter, melted Seeds from one vanilla bean Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray donut pan with nonstick cooking spray. In large mixing bowl, sift together all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder...
4 tags
Paper flowers
Step 1: Draw a spiral on a 4x4” square sheet of paper Step 2: Cut out spiral along lines you have drawn Step 3: Begin rolling up the spiral from the outside Step 4: Keep on rolling until there’s no more left to roll Step 5: You’re done! I used a slightly heavier weight paper for this one, but you can use normal paper as well. You can use squares of various sizes to have ...
5 tags
Pumkin pie bites.
2 refrigerated ready-to roll pie crusts
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup canned pumpkin 3 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice Pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter
Optional 1/2 cup chocolate morsels vegetable oil re-sealable plastic bags
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use cookie cutter to cut 12 pumpkin shapes from each pie crust. You will need to roll...
3 tags
Birthday wreath
First you need balloons. Lots and lots of balloons.
(2 bags of 72 count…the 1 1/2 to 2 inch sized balloon. If you want it more full and to fill the outside edges, use more)
You also need:
1. 2 greening pin packs-found at Craft stores in the artificial plant section.
2. and a straw wreath -leave the plastic on so it doesn’t shed.
You just take a greening pin, stick the balloon...
3 tags
Dry skin treatment
Makes 1 application
2 tablespoons real mayonnaise 1 teaspoon baby oil
> Combine both ingredients. > Smooth onto face, neck, rough elbows and knees or anywhere else you feel might benefit from it. > Leave for 20 minutes. > Rinse off thoroughly with tepid water.
4 tags
Fabric clutch
Tools and Materials
Decorative fabric for outside of clutch
Fabric for lining
Heavyweight fusible stabilizer
Fusible fleece
Rotary cutter
Grid ruler
Iron
Sewing machine
Coordinating machine-sewing thread
Transparent tape
Bond 527 Multi-Purpose Cement
Metal clutch frame hardware
Clutch How-To 1. Cut 13-by-13 1/2-inch pieces from outer fabric, lining fabric, and heavyweight...
4 tags
Pumpkin cheesecake muffins
MUFFINS:
1 15 oz can pumpkin
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 (200g) cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups (188g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
...
6 tags
Rainbow cake with white chocolate buttercream...
Ingredients:
For Cake: 2 1/4 cups cake flour (9 ounces) 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature 6 large egg whites (3/4 cup), at room temperature 2 teaspoons almond extract 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar (12 1/4 ounces) 4 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon table salt 12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened but still cool Red,...
5 tags
Honey cocoa butter lip balm
Makes 100 applications
2 tbls. olive oil 1/2 tsp. honey 3/4 tsp. beeswax — grated 1/2 tsp. pure cocoa butter Flavored oil of your choice (like peppermint or vanilla) 1 vitamin E capsule
> In a small saucepan, heat oil, honey, wax and butter over a low heat until just melted. > Remove from heat and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes. > Stir in flavoring and contents of vitamin E capsule. ...
3 tags
Funnel cake
Ingredients
1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg, beaten 2 cup milk 1/2 (4 tablespoons) melted butter Powdered sugar, for topping
Directions
Combine milk, egg, and vanilla in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, and sugar and gradually add to wet ingredients. Beat with a mixer...
5 tags
Chicken broccoli alfredo pizza.
This is something that my husband came up with and loves to cook, it’s also very simple.
ingredients:
2 chicken breasts
1 head of broccoli
your favorite alfredo sauce
your favorite pizza crust
parmesan cheese
onion powder to taste
garlic salt to taste
black pepper to taste
basil to taste
Boil chicken breast and cut into bite size pieces. Cut broccoli into bite size pieces....
3 tags
Ice cream in a baggie
Here is what you will need to make homemade ice cream in a baggie: 2 TBL sugar 1 cup half & half (or light cream) 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup coarse salt or table salt(I used canning salt) ice gallon-sized Ziploc bag pint-sized Ziploc bag
Mix the sugar, half & half and vanilla extract together. Pour into a pint-sized Ziploc baggie. Make sure it seals tightly.
Now take the...
3 tags
Fortune cookie favors
What You’ll Need Decorative or Scrapbook paper (not too thick, similar to a text weight, not cardstock) White text weight paper Double faced tape A pencil A round plastic lid to use as a template (approximately four to five inches in diameter) or a extra large circle craft punch A pair of scissors Computer and printer
Directions:
1. Begin by using a plastic lid as a template to...
4 tags
Fish sticks with tartar sauce
fish & chips, or as we yanks might call it: homemade fish sticks and oven fries
Lately, more than usual, I find myself strapped for time. Keeping up this blog is definitely one of the reasons. Not wanting to cut back on posts, nor have my kids need to go out and join Big Brothers Big Sisters, I’ve decided they’re just gonna have to help in the kitchen. Now we can spend more time...
6 tags
Make a ruffles top from a men's shirt
You Need:
*1 man’s button-down shirt (sized larger than you are; doesn’t matter what size)
*thread matching topstitching in shirt
*7” invisible zipper in color matching shirt (optional)
and…
*fabric scissors
*seam ripper
*pins
*marking chalk
*sewing machine
*needle for wovens
*iron and ironing board
*hand-sewing needle (optional)
How To:
Prep Time:
1....
5 tags
Spiced chai concentrate.
4-½ cups Water 2 sticks Cinnamon 1 piece Fresh Ginger Chopped 7 whole Cardamom Pods 2 whole Star Anise Pods 10 whole Cloves 1/4 teaspoons Freshly Ground Black Pepper 1/2 teaspoons Freshly-ground Nutmeg 1 teaspoon Orange Zest 10 teaspoons Green Or Black Tea Or 10 Tea Bags 1/3 cups Brown Sugar 1 Tablespoon Honey 1 Tablespoon Vanilla
Bring the water to a boil. Add the spices and tea,...
4 tags
Paint sample coaster
Tiles, glossy mod podge, glossy spray acrylic, paint samples, cork or felt.
Measured the samples to fit the tiles and cut them into squares. I wanted the names of the paint on my coasters so I made sure to keep them when I cut.
I used Mod Podge to apply the samples to the coasters and then applied about five coats of Mod Podge over the top. I let each coat dry between applications...
4 tags
Edible chocolate bowls
1 pkg water ballons
semi-sweet chocolate, white chocolate or confectionery coating
Blow up as many water balloons as you would like to make bowls. Melt your chocolate according to package directions.
Spoon a small amount on a wax-paper-covered baking sheet.
Then take one of your prepared balloons and dip it in the chocolate. Dip it in enough so the chocolate makes a bowl shape around...
4 tags
Spinach artichoke dip
Ingredients
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained
1/3 cup grated Romano cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a blender or...
