Monthly Archives: August 2017

Little Chick – Towel Craft

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Here is a really quick, cute craft that would be great to add to a gift for a baby shower or any sort of baby gift.

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Sandie

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Puff Pastry Cheeseburger Braid

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This recipe is for a sort of cheeseburger encased in puff pastry. The boys gave it their stamp of approval so I am sharing the recipe! 


Sandie 

These are all of the ingredients I used to make this, except for an egg.  I always seem to forget something 😕


I started off by browning the ground beef until it was fully cooked.  I also gave it a little hot water rinse because I didn’t want any grease to make the bottom soggy.

I mixed the ketchup and mustard into the ground beef and set aside.


I sliced the tomatoes and wrapped the pickles in paper towel to remove some of the juice.  Then I grated the cheese. 


I unrolled the thawed puff pastry onto parchment paper.  I cut slits on each side about 1 inch wide, the slits being around a third of the width of the puff pastry. 

(I forgot to take a picture before the next step 😳) Now you will spread the ground beef mixture down the middle of the puff pastry,  between the slits.

You can see the slits I cut in the second picture. 



I layered the pickle slices on top of the ground beef. 


Then the tomatoes. 


And finally the grated cheese, reserving about 1/2 cup to sprinkle on top at the end. 


To wrap it up,  I just alternated pulling the strips over the filling, one side at a time and tucking the strips in as I went until all strips were folded over and tucked. 


When I got to the end, I tucked the loose ends underneath the end of the “braid.”

This is what it looked like after braiding. 


I brushed the entire braid with the beaten egg and then sprinkled the remaining grated cheese on top. 


Then I baked it at 400 degrees for 25 minutes until it was golden brown and the cheese was melted. 


I sliced it and gave it to the boys for dinner. 


Recipe 

Puff Pastry Cheeseburger Braid

Preparation time : 20 minutes Cooking Time : 25 minutes Servings : 4 – 6 

Ingredients 

  • 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed 
  • 1 lb. Lean ground beef 
  • 1 / 2 cup Ketchup 
  • 2 tbsp. mustard 
  • 6 sliced pickles 
  • 1 tomato 
  • 2 cups grated cheese 
  • 1 egg, beaten 

Directions 

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line baking pan with parchment paper. 
  2. Brown ground beef until fully cooked then drain and rinse with hot water. 
  3. Add ketchup and mustard to ground beef and stir to combine.  
  4. Unroll puff pastry onto parchment paper. 
  5. Cut slits down each long side of the puff pastry, about 1 inch wide and about a third of the width. 
  6. Spread the ground beef mixture down the middle of the puff pastry. 
  7. Lay pickles and then tomatoes on top of the ground beef. 
  8. Sprinkle all but 1 / 2 cup of the grated cheese over the filling. 
  9. Braid the slits by folding one side and thenthe other over the mixture. 
  10. When you reach the end, tuck the remaining slit (s) under the end of the braid.
  11. Brush entire braid with beaten egg. 
  12. Sprinkle remaining grated cheese on top. 
  13. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. 
  14. Slice and serve. 

Millionaire’s Pie

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I finally decided to try the Millionaire’s “No-Bake” Pie recipes I have seen all over the internet. I tried the recipe I found here: Millionaire’s Pie

At this precise moment, I am wondering if it was a big mistake but I will update later as to if it was a good experiment or bad lol.

This is what it looks like at this point.

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Sandie

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Bent Wire Hummingbird

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Today I tried another project I have been wanting to try for awhile.  When I decided to do it this week it seemed to be one thing after another stopping me.  First I couldn’t remember where I put my beads and I didn’t have any flipping wire! Thankfully Dillon had a spool of wire he gave me to use and I finally found the beads!  Next it was my needle nose pliers!  I couldn’t find them anywhere, still can’t.  I am guessing that on whatever project Chris did in the house last that they were just toted out to the garage with his tools!  I will have to remember to check that.

In the meantime, I had wire from Dillon, two sets of pliers from Dillon, my long lost beads and I also grabbed a bit of thin jewelry wire just in case.  I was finally ready to try it!

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Sandie

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Make Ahead Breakfast Sandwiches 

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Chris is on holidays this week, which means that he will be looking for breakfast lol.

And since I’ve been trying a variety of Muffin Tin meals, I thought I would make sandwich fillings that will only require toasting an English muffin and reheating the filling once prepared!

Sandie 

Here is what I started this recipe with. 

I started by whisking the whole dozen eggs with 1 tbsp. of water. 

I cooked and crumbled the bacon and chopped the green onions. 

Next I poured the eggs into the muffin tin cups that I sprayed first with cooking spray. 

I added the chopped cooked ham in half of them, and bacon in the rest. 

Next i sprinkled them withthe green onions.  I put about 1 tbsp. in each cup.

And then the grated cheese.  About the same 1 tablespoon per cup.

I baked them at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. And now they are ready for the sandwiches! 

When you want to make a sandwich with them, just toast an English muffin or two, reheat the filling in the microwave for about 90 seconds and you have a less than 5 minute breakfast! 
Recipe 

Make Ahead Breakfast Sandwiches 

Preparation time : 15 minutes Cooking Time : 25 minutes Servings : 12

Ingredients 

  • 1 dozen eggs
  • 1 tbsp. Water 
  • 1 cup grated cheese 
  • 1/2 cup chopped green onion 
  • 1/2 cup chopped crumbled bacon, about 4 slices 
  • 1/2 cup chopped cooked ham 
  • 12 English muffins 

Directions 

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Generously spray muffin tin cups with cooking spray. 
  2. Whisk eggs in large measuring cup with 1 tbsp. Water 
  3. Chop onions and cook and crumble the bacon. 
  4. Pour the eggs evenly into the prepared muffin tin cups. 
  5. Add ham in half and bacon in the other. 
  6. Toss about 1 tbsp. of green onion into each cup. 
  7. Sprinkle with the grated cheese,  again about 1 tbsp. per cup. 
  8. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. 
  9. Let cool 5 minutes, then remove from pan by running a knife around the perimeter and popping them out.
  10. I am storing mine in the fridge separated by squares of parchment paper so they don’t stick together. 
  11. When you want a sandwich, toast an English muffin and reheat the egg filling in the microwave for about 90 seconds.  Put sandwich together and enjoy!

    WIP: Yes, Another One

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    I thought that since I don’t have anything actually finished right now I would post the progress I am making on another scarf as a gift.

    It is a really funky yarn and while it isn’t difficult to work with it is time consuming.  It is a Red Heart Yarn called Fizzle.

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    You need to sort of separate the two strands of wool and only use the top “loop” to knit with.  Like I said, not difficult, just time consuming.

    Here is a picture of the wool.  I put an arrow where the top loop is to show you what I mean.

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    The scarf is knit on Size 10 knitting needles and worked over only 3 stitches.  The instructions on the wrapper stated it would end up being 60 inches long when completed.

    I think I might have about 15 – 18 inches done so far so I am about a quarter of the way there.  I should have it done in a few days and then move on to the turquoise colour!

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    It sort of reminds me of a poodle lol.  I am pretty certain that when Kim sees that I am working on a PURPLE scarf she will try to stake a claim on it!

    I will update with pictures once they are both completed!

    Sandie

    Taco Salad

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    I had another Dr’s appointment this morning so I am late posting!  I should have typed it up last night but we decided to watch a movie.  “The Hateful Eight.”  It wasn’t too bad, certainly different lol!

    When I made the Taco Cupcakes, I wanted something to have with them.  I suppose I could have made a regular salad but I knew I had enough of the seasoned ground beef to make this and everyone loved it the last time I made it, so Taco Salad it was!

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    Sandie

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    Hot Pepper Jelly

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    Today I made Hot Pepper Jelly for our Christmas Preserve Baskets.  Hot pepper jelly is one of those quick to make preserves, I don’t think it took me an hour from start to finish.

    People love hot pepper jelly on cream cheese or brie on top of a cracker as well as many other ways and it will make a great addition to our baskets this year!

    Sandie

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    Taco Cupcakes 

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    Last night I decided to try something a little different for dinner.  I made Taco cupcakes.  They have pretty much the same ingredients as regular tacos but in a “cupcake,” easier to eat method. 

    Sandie 

    Here are the ingredients I used. 

    I used wonton wrappers instead of tortillas to make these.  I sprayed the cups of my muffin tin with cooking spray and then lined the cups with one wrapper each.

    Into each one I added a tablespoon of Refried beans. 

    Topped that with grated cheese, about a tablespoon each cup. 

    I quartered the rest of the wonton wrappers and used one quarter in each cup on top of the beans and cheese, pressing it into a cup shape. 

    I browned and drained the ground beef then added the taco seasoning and water. 

    I put a tablespoon of the ground beef mixture into each cup.

    I sprinkled it with more grated cheese. 

    Then I baked it at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. 

    I topped the baked cupcakes with sour cream, diced tomatoes and chopped green onions. And served it with Taco Salad, the recipe I will share tomorrow! 

    Recipe 

    Taco Cupcakes 

    Preparation time : 25 minutes Cooking Time : 15 minutes Servings : 12 cupcakes 

    Ingredients 

    • 1 lb. Lean ground beef 
    • 18 wonton wrappers 
    • 1 can Refried beans 
    • 1 1/2 cups grated cheese,  I used Texas Mex cheese 
    • 1 Pkg taco seasoning 
    • 2 tbsp.  Water 
    • 1/2 cup sour cream 
    • 1/2 cup diced tomatoes 
    • 1/2 cup chopped green onion 

    Directions 

    1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Lightly spray muffin tin cups with cooking spray. 
    2. Line muffin tin cups with 1 wonton wrapper each. 
    3. Put one tablespoon of Refried beans in each cup.
    4. Sprinkle grated cheese on top of the Refried beans. 
    5. Cut remaining wonton wrappers into quarters. 
    6. Place one quarter of a wonton wrapper on top of the grated cheese. 
    7. Brown ground beef in microwave on high heat until cooked through then drain.
    8. Add taco seasoning and water to ground beef and mix well. 
    9. Spoon one tablespoon of the ground beef mixture into the cups.
    10. Top with one tablespoon of grated cheese. 
    11. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. 
    12. When cooked,  remove from oven and top with sour cream, diced tomatoes and chopped green onions. 
    13. Serve immediately. 

    Repurposed Coffee Pot – Part #2 -Penguin

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    Here is the second of the two coffee pots I have been working on this week.  This one is painted on a vintage espresso maker I won at one of my auctions.  I also have to admit that he started out as a snowman!  I had every intention of this pot being transformed into a snowman until I saw what the “nose/carrot” placement looked like once painted. At that point I decided he looked more like a penguin and had to repaint the base black instead of the white I had started out with.  He is still pretty cute so I am fine with it lol!

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    Sandie

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