Thursday, March 18, 2010

Warm Heart of Romaine Salad Recipe

Warm Heart of Romaine Salad with Roquefort & Prosciutto Vinaigrette
This wonderful warm salad uses German prosciutto, which is increasingly available in supermarkets and is cured with juniper berries for a delicious, unique flavor.
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
1/2 tablespoon Bavarian mustard
3/4 cup canola oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste
3/4 cup diced German prosciutto
3/4 teaspoon minced garlic
1/3 cup crumbled Roqufort or other blue cheese
4 hearts of Romaine, trimmed
Preparation:
First, make vinaigrette: Place mustard in a medium bowl. Whisk in half the oil and half the vinegar until blended. Add remaining oil and vinegar, and whisk until blended. Whisk in water, and season with salt and pepper.
Next, place prosciutto in a small skillet on medium heat and sauté until browning. Add garlic and brown it for a few seconds. Add vinaigrette and cook just until warm. Meanwhile, loosen each Romaine heart on a salad plate. Sprinkle lettuce with cheese and drizzle with prosciutto and warm dressing. Serve.

Red Cabbage Salad

Red Cabbage Salad with Bavarian Smoked Cheese
(Rotkohlsalat mit Räucherkäse)

Ingredients:
1 lb German pickled red cabbage, drained well
1/2 small onion, sliced thinly
1/2 small green pepper, cored and sliced thinly
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
2 tablespoons rapeseed oil
5 oz Bavarian smoked cheese
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Green lettuce
Croutons (optional)

Preparation:
Put the cabbage into a large bowl and toss in the sliced onion, green pepper and poppy seeds. Season to taste then mix in the oil.
Cut the cheese into small cubes and mix lightly in the bowl.
Line a platter with salad leaves and pile on the cabbage salad. Add croutons if desired.
Recipe courtesy of Roz Denny, Modern German Cooking.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

The Jewelry Bag Tutorial

Tutorial found HERE

Beaded Tutorial Dogs

Many Beaded Tutorials found HERE
Click on your dog of choice ,then click learn how to make this under the picture of the dog.
It will then give you instructions on how to make it.
Love her patterns and have been using them for amny years.

Vintage French Embroidery


Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Lavendar Fresh


Growing Requirements :

As with most plants, your success in growing this coveted plant will depend both on what kind of growing conditions you can provide and which varieties you select to grow. Lavender plants will tolerate many growing conditions, but it thrives in warm, well-drained soil and full sun. Like many plants grown for their essential oils, a lean soil will encourage a higher concentration of oils. An alkaline and especially chalky soil will enhance lavenders fragrance. While you can grow lavender in Zone 5, it is unlikely you will ever have a lavender hedge. More realistically you can expect to have plants that will do well when the weather cooperates and to experience the occasional loss of a plant or two after a severe winter or a wet, humid summer.

Lavender is a tough plant and is extremely drought resistant, once established. However, when first starting you lavender plants, don't be afraid to give them a handful of compost in the planting hole and to keep them regularly watered during their first growing season.

Special Considerations

It is dampness, more than cold, that is responsible for killing lavender plants. Dampness can come in the form of wet roots during the winter months or high humidity in the summer. If humidity is a problem, make sure you have plenty of space between your plants for air flow and always plant in a sunny location. Areas where the ground routinely freezes and thaws throughout the winter will benefit from a layer of mulch applied after the ground initially freezes. Also protect your lavender plants from harsh winter winds. Planting next to a stone or brick wall will provide additional heat and protection.

Pruning

Although lavender plants get regularly pruned simply by harvesting the flowers, to keep them well shaped and to encourage new growth, a bit of spring pruning is in order. The taller varieties can be cut back by approximately one-third their height. Lower growing varieties can either be pruned back by a couple of inches or cut down to new growth. If you live in an area where lavender suffers some winter die-back, don't even think about pruning your plants until you see some new green growth at the base of the plant. If you disturb the plants too soon in the season, they give up trying.

Containers
You can always grow your lavender in pots and move it to follow the sun or even bring it indoors for the winter. Keep in mind that although lavender has a large, spreading root system, it prefers growing in a tight spot. A pot that can accommodate the rootball with a couple of inches to spare would be a good choice. Too large a pot will only encourage excessive dampness.

Insure that the pot has plenty of drainage. To prevent water pooling in the pot, place about an inch of loose gravel at the bottom. Rot root is one of the few problems experienced by lavender plants. Use a loose, soilless mix for planting and remember that container grown lavender will require more water than garden grown plants. How much more depends on the environment and the type of pot. Water when the soil, not the plant, appears dry and water at the base of the plant to limit dampness on the foliage. Compact varieties make the best choices for containers. Some to try are L. angustifolia ‘Nana Alba’ and Spanish lavender (L. stoechas subsp. pedunculata)

Planting Lanvedar
Growing in Containers


How to Make Eye Pillow

This is what I used.
Silk scarf or piece of silk 5 inches by 20 inches or 10 by 10 inches.

1 cup of flaxseed
1/2 cup of lavender buds.
To make
Fold silk with right sides together so it is about 5 by 10 inches
Stitch the silk together leaving a small opening at the end.
Turn silk right side out.
Mix flaxseed and lavender buds.
Fill the silk with the lavender flaxseed mixture.
Sew closed.
Option
Make a slighter larger sleeve of silk for a cover for your pillow. This can be left open on one end so it is easy to remove the sleeve for washing. Add a few drops of lavender to refresh scent as needed. Squeezing the pillow will also help release the wonderful scent.
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Potpourri # 1 This is a light sweet fresh scent.
Mix and set aside
1 1/2 tablespoons orris root
2 drops of peppermint essential oil
6 drops of lavender essential oil
2 cups lavender leaves
1/2 cup peppermint leaves
2 cups lavender buds
2 cups rose buds and rose petals
Mix all ingredients or layer as desired in a dish or glass bowl. Sprinkle a few rose buds on top if desired. Cover and let oils infiltrate the flowers for about 2 to 4 weeks.

Potpourri # 2 This is nice and spicy, it reminds me of Christmas.

1 cup lavender leaves
1/2 cup peppermint leaves
2 cups dried flowers, (any kind)
1 cup lavender buds

Mix together
10 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon of orris root
5 drops of lavender essential oil
4 drops of sweet orange essential oil
4 drops of cinnamon essential oil
2 drops of clove essential oil
Add all ingredients and store in a closed container for a couple of weeks to absorb the scent.

Potpourri # 3 This is a simple lavender recipe.

2 1/2 cups of lavender buds
1 cup of rose buds or rose petals
4 drops of lavender essential oil
Potpourri isn't a science. Put in what ever kinds of plant material you have on hand. Orange peels, cedar chips, pine cones, and spices. Play with it and add any spices you like or any combination of oils that are pleasing to you. Just have fun!
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Lavender Bath Salt
This bath salt recipe is is a simple one.
2 ounces or 4 tablespoons of salt
18 drops of lavender essential oil
mix and store in a jar or bottle,
Add 1 or 2 tablespoons to your bath water. Soak and enjoy this relaxing bath.


Lavender Orange bath salt
2 ounces or 4 tablespoons of sea salt.
10 drops of lavender oil.
8 drops of bergamot or sweet orange oil.
Mix and bottle.
Use 1 or 2 tablespoons per bath.
This lavender bath salt recipe shouldn't be used in the summer or if you're using a tanning booth. This can cause photosensitivity for about 24 hours. I love this scent in the winter months. This recipe is very uplifting for the spirit.

Immunity booster bath salt
This is a good recipe for when you feel like you're coming down with something.
2 ounces or 4 tablespoons of salt
8 drops lavender
8 drops tea tree oil
2 drops lemon myrtle
Mix and bottle.
Use 2 tablespoons per bath. Then go to bed and try to get some rest.

Baking and cooking with Lavendar
Joys of Lavendar
Everything Lavendar
Lanvedar Craft Recipes

Monday, March 15, 2010

German glass Egg Tutorial

Vintage German Glass Egg Paper Mache

The original post appears on Southern Ooaks Blog

These eggs would make a delightful craft for Easter or just home decorations.
1. Use room temp eggs...this makes the insides less stiff and much easier to remove. White eggs are good but brown eggs (yard eggs) are a bit stronger.

2. Make a hole with a needle/hat pin. You will need to make a hole on each end and try to line them up..makes it so much easier when blowing the insides out. Slowly twist it in a circular motion until the tiny hole appears. DO NOT rush in!

3. Once you have your holes in both ends take a long needle (I use a doll making needle) and pierce the yolk. Gently cover both ends where the holes are with your fingers and very gently shake the egg to loosen the insides.

4. Now it's time for the FUN part. Hold the egg in between both hands and with your mouth start blowing through the hole (one on top is usually the best one to use) Keep blowing until you feel confident that all the insides are outside. TIP: You can try using a 3cc syringe without the needle.

5. Once you feel that all the insides are outside then it's time to give this little egg a bath. Squirt or run COLD water into the egg. You need to do the "Bath" several times. Fill it up with cold water....place fingers over the holes and gently shake...then blow out the water the same way
you did in step #4.

6. Dry the egg off. This can be done one of two ways: . A) place egg in the microwave on several paper towels for 15-30 seconds or B) you can bake them in the oven at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes. I crumple reynolds wrap up around each egg so they don't roll around. Cooking in the oven I believe makes them much stronger.

7. Once the egg has cooled down to room temp I cover in SoBo glue or Decoupage and let dry overnight. This helps strengthen and seal up any small cracks that may be in the egg. Make sure you poke a needle through the top so you will have a place to put the ribbon for hanging. (if you want to make an ornamental one...you can also make or buy a pretty egg holder to place the decorated egg in if you don't want a hanging one but you will need to keep the top hole open until the end)

8. Once the egg has sat overnight you are ready to decorate. This can be done any many ways.
•Paper napkins. Ever been to a tea or party and the napkin was almost to pretty to use, well those work great. You cut out the designs on the napkin and you have a pretty piece to apply to your egg.
•Tissue paper is another great item. You can cut it or hand tear it to make your designs. Tissue paper
in a solid color works great too by crinkling it up and then placing on egg...kinda gives it that crackled effect.
•Another great source is this little tiny box you are sitting in front of and reading my blog on.....yes..your computer. There are some wonderful free vintage sites you can go to, find some really great images to print out and use. Just make sure that it's alright to do that....most of the free sites I have found do not mind as long as it is for your use and some don't mind what you do with them. Just ask if you have any doubts.

9. Now that you have your design all figured out it's time to decorate your egg. I LOVE to use decoupage,it's a great glue and sealer at the same time. I like to draw an egg on paper the size of my actual egg and place my design out on it.....if you are familiar with decoupage then you know it dries fairly quickly.
Take your image and cover the back in the decoupage or glue (just make sure it dries clear) and place on your egg.
Gently smooth with your finger to remove any air bubbles.
If using tissue paper I usually gently pat the paper down.
Do this step with each image you want on the egg. Let it sit and dry for about 30 minutes.
Once dry, cover the entire egg in the decoupage or glue and let dry overnight. (This might be one good reason to keep that one hole on top so you have means to hang egg so it can dry even)
Now for the really fun step but only if you want to add some "Bling" to your egg. You can do several different things.....you can
a) put glitter in just certain places...highlight an area and make it POP
b)cover the whole thing in glitter or German glass.
For both all you have to do is cover the area in the decoupage or glue, sprinkle the glitter and then let it sit overnight to dry. You may want to repeat the process to cover the egg completely.

Turn and Fold Coasters

Tutorial Found HERE
Turn and Fold drink coasters

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Magnet Marbles

Ok Friends these are cute really cute.
Liitle pictures created from glass blobs, paper  and round magnets and a bit of time and glue.
Tutorial can be found HERE  Not Martha.

Dinner Tonight

WONDERFUL MEATLOAF


1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pound ground italian sausage
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup coarsely chopped mushrooms
1 egg, well beaten
1/3 cup dry bread crumbs
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup good quality plum sauce(Dynasty or Lee Kum Kee)

A few splashes of Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together (mixing with hands works best) until well blended. Spread mixture into a large bread loaf pan and bake at 375-degrees for 50 to 55 minutes. Makes 6 servings.


STUFFED PEPPERS

1 pound ground beef
1 cup onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cans tomato soup
1/2 pound cheese, grated
1-1/2 cups cooked rice

Brown ground beef, onion, garlic, and chili powder; add salt, pepper and tomato soup; simmer 5 minutes. Add cheese and rice, set aside. Cook cleaned peppers in boiling salted water not more than 3 minutes. Drain and cool, and then stuff with cooled mixture. Place peppers in oven proof pan and cover with foil. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes. These can be made ahead of time and then frozen until ready to cook.
NOTE: I use 1/2 pound Ground Beef and 1/2 pound Jimmy Dean Italian Sausage



CHICKEN AND RICE

4 chicken breast, cut in half
1/2 cube butter, melted
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1-1/4 cups water
1-1/4 cups uncooked rice

Melt butter in large (lasagna size) baking dish. Stir in undiluted soups. Stir in water, then add rice and stir. Rub chicken lightly with butter and salt. Lay chicken over mixture~do not press down. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 hours.

Faux Glass Tutorial

This Faux Stain Glass Butterfly Tutorial can be found HERE
Inky Smiles

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Lamb Pin Tutorial

Little lamb Pin Tutorial found HERE

The Cat

Well it would not be a real blog without a photo of a cat.
Ok cat lovers, this little trick will make you love your cat even more then you already do. I love my kitty' s but I hate cleaning up hair balls.  Turns out there is a super simple solution that I wish someone had told me about years ago. All you need to do is put a tiny bit of liquid flax seed oil  on their food. It costs only a few dollars for a bottle and because you only need a little a bottle it should last you a month or two depending on how many cats you have. The flax seed oil is perfectly safe for you cat. Basically what it does it keeps the hair balls from ever forming. The oil breaks down the hairball so it can pass through your cats system. If you have cats I suggest you give this a try, since I have started doing this I have cleaned up zero hair balls!

I called my vet to make sure this was safe before trying, you may also want to do the same thing.
I have also used Olive oil one cat loves it the other hates it. One likes flax the other not.
So give a try on both.

The Long Thread

The Long thread Make it Monday Tutorials
check them out http://thelongthread.com/?cat=255

50 simple crafts to make

Found another great site for simple craft tutorials
Kids Listing on The Longthread  HERE

Friday, March 12, 2010

Little Lamb Eggs

Tutorial found HERE
Sheep by the Dozen

Egg Doll



Body

Rnd 1: In color A, ch 2, 6 lpsc in 1st ch, slst to 2nd ch, turn. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each lpsc, slst to 1st ch, turn. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, (2 lpsc in next sc, lpsc in next 2 sc) 4 times, change to color B, slst to 1st ch, turn. (16 sts)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, sc in each lpsc, slst to 1st ch, turn.
Rnd 5: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc) 4 times, slst to 1st ch, turn. (20 sts)
Rnd 6: Ch 1, sc in each sc, slst to 1st ch, turn.
Rnd 7: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc) 5 times, slst to 1st ch, turn. (25 sts)
Rnd 8: Ch 1, sc in each sc, slst to 1st ch, turn.
Rnd 9: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc) 6 times, sc in next sc, slst to 1st ch, turn. (31 sts)

Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in each sc, slst to 1st ch, turn.
Rnd 11: Ch 1, sc in next 13 sc, eye bead on next sc, sc in next 3 sc, eye bead on next sc, sc in next 13 sc, slst to 1st ch , turn.
Rnd 12: Ch 1, sc in each sc, slst to 1st ch, turn.
Rnd 13: Ch 1, sc in next 15 sc, nose bead on next sc, sc in next 15 sc, slst to 1st ch, turn.
Rnds 14/15: Ch 1, sc in each sc, slst to 1st ch, turn.

Change to color C.
Frill: Ch 3, working in front loops only, 4 dc in each sc, slst to 3rd ch, do not turn.
Rnd 16: Ch 2, working in back loops of rnd 15 only, sc in next 8 sc, ch 18, 4 dc in 4th ch from hook, 4 dc in next 14 ch, sc in next 15 sc, ch 18, 4 dc in 4th ch from hook, 4 dc in next 14 ch, sc in next 8 sc, slst to 2nd ch, turn.
Rnds 17-23: Ch 1, sc in each sc, slst to 1st ch, turn.
Rnd 24: Ch 1, sc in next 12 sc, ch 23, 4 dc in 4th ch from hook, 4 dc in next 19 ch, sc in next 7 sc, ch 23, 4 dc in 4th ch from hook, 4 dc in next 19 ch, sc in next 12 sc, slst to 1st ch, turn.
Rnd 25: Ch 1, sc in each sc, slst to 1st ch, fasten off.
Embroider features for face. Stuff body.

Base

Rnd 1: In color C, ch 2, 6 sc in 1st ch, slst to 2nd ch, turn. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc, slst to 1st ch, turn. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc) 6 times, slst to 1st ch, turn. (18 sts)
Rnd 4: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc) 6 times, slst to 1st ch, turn. (24 sts)
Rnd 5: Ch 1, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc) 6 times, slst to 1st ch, turn. (30 sts)
Rnd 6: Ch 1, 2 sc in 1st sc, sc in next 29 sc, slst to 1st ch, turn. (31 sts)
Place base against body with wrong sides facing and matching sts.
Joining: Ch 1, working through both layers, sc in each sc, slst to 1st ch, fasten off and sew in ends.
Make sure arms and legs are twisted evenly to make a ringlet effect.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Tick Tock Pin Cushion

Cute Pin Cushion Tutorial Found HERE
Luckyatecarfts

High Heels Bows and Bumper Cars

I want one of these ! It would be the best of both worlds....riding in something we all loved as children and enjoying it even more as an adult ! I am now looking for anyone who has built one of these. I would love to see one up close on a rack and talk to you.
In my youth both the hubby and I were huge Motor heads. We love cars.
I am a girly girl with bows ribbons and high heels but have torn a few engines and transmission apart in my day.
Enjoy these cute little cars.




Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Because it's True

Even when opportunity knocks, you still have to get up off your seat and open the door.


1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to
immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when
you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap
when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm
pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you
how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

20. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

21. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

22. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

23. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

24. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

25. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

26. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

27. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

28. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?

29. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

30. As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

31. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

32. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my ass everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

The Shell Frame Tutorial

Great Tutorial found HERE
At foreverwherever.com

Envaccordion

Is this not cute and easy.
I can see using this in the office for bills,
Kitchen for coupons. Travel with teas, Gifts of teas ,hankeys ribbons, lace or buttons for swaps.
You can find the Tutorial HERE

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

The Guys Table

Tutorial found HERE

Butterflies

Tutorial Found HERE

Butteryfly rearing


How to Make a Butterfly House:

What You'll Need:
•Hand saw
•Pine lumber (6"x1/2"x7')
•Scrap of pine (8" wide)
•Hammer
•Nails
•Pieces of tree bark or floral moss

Step 1: Cut pine boards to the following dimensions:
Two sides: 6"x18" (Cut the top at an angle so that one side is 18 inches long and the other side is 17 inches long.)
One back: 4-1/2"x18"
One front: 4-1/2"x17"
One bottom: 4-1/2"x6"
One top: 7"x7"

Step 2: Cut three 12-inch long slits in the front. Make the slits one inch wide, with one several inches higher than the other two. (See illustration above.) Nail the bark or moss to the back piece to give the butterflies something to cling to.

Step 3: Lay the back down, bark side up, and stand one of the side pieces up against it with the longer sides in back. Hold and nail in place. Do the same with the other side.

Step 4: Put the front in between the two side pieces and nail in place. Nail on the bottom and the top. Mount the house on a post in the shade.

Swiss Green Beans Recipe

Swiss Green Beans


1-1/2 Pounds green beans, cleaned and de-strung
5 T. fresh lemon juice
2 cloves, garlic, (she uses 6)
1/2 C. olive oil
1 T. red wine vinegar
1/2 Tsp dried dill weed
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 Tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 C. packed parsley
1/3 Pound Swiss Cheese cut in strips about 2-3” long
1/2 C ripe black olives, green peppers, red peppers-sliced
1/2 C or more chopped, toasted almonds

1. Steam the beans until just tender. Remove from heat and immediately rinse in cold water.
2. While the beans are cooking, combine first 9 ingredients in a large bowl, mix thoroughly.
3. Add the rinsed, well drained beans to the dressing. Add Swiss Cheese. Toss until dressing is
well distributed. Cover tightly and marinade 2-3 hours stirring about once an hour.
4. Add olives and sliced peppers. Mix well and cover overnight or at least 5 hours.
5. Serve with toasted almonds.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Time For Carrots

This comes from a very crafty quilters site.
I am a modest quilter but this gal can quilt.
This is her carrot creation.
Tutorial found HERE.
Easy , Quick Project just in time for the Rabbits

Banana Muffin Recipe for Jumbo Muffins

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups ripe mashed banana
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup sour cream (not low fat)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup pecan or walnut pieces

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.
In another bowl, mix the mashed banana, sugar, sour cream, vegetable oil, egg yolks, and vanilla together.
Add wet ingredients to the dry and stir just until the ingredients are mixed well. Fold in the nuts.
Fill the well-greased tins nearly full. Use all the batter for six jumbo muffins. Sprinkle on the optional streusel topping.
Bake for 8 minutes at 400 degrees. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 12 to 15 minutes or until done. Let sit for five minutes and remove the muffins from the pan to a rack to cool.

Streusel Topping
1/3 cup walnut or pecan pieces
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter, melted

To make the streusel topping, combine all the ingredients and stir until well combined and crumbly.
Sprinkle over the muffins before baking.

Shell Angel Ornament Tutorial

This is a darling Shell Angel tutorial by The Shell Store
There is also a cute mouse and a poinsettia tutorial at the bottom of the page.
Located HERE

The Bag Knock Off Pattern


Found this last week and stalled posting it.
I thought I might get one done to show off but alas  have not.
My daughter has sent me all her old jeans and I think they will work very well with this pattern.
The pattern download is in the thin blue line at the link  HERE.
From Sewing mamas

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Wine to Vinegar

Making Vinegar From Wine


If you make wine (as oppesed to apple) vinegar, you can dispense with the apples and the press. You'll want good quality wine that's not too strong -- 10-11% alcohol -- because too much alcohol inhibits the activity of the bacteria that transform the wine. If the wine is too weak, on the other hand, the vinegar won't keep well.
There are several ways to proceed.
The simplest is to leave an open, 3/4 filled bottle of wine in a warm place for a four weeks.
Check the taste every 2 weeks and you can leave it longer just taste once a week to your liking.
This technique yields just one bottle, however. For a steady supply of vinegar, take a wide-mouthed glass jug whose capacity is at least a gallon and pour a quart of wine and a cup of vinegar into it. Keep the container covered most of the time, but open it for a half hour every day. In a couple of weeks the madre, a viscous starter, will have settled to the bottom of the jug, while the vinegar above it will be ready for use. Add more wine as you remove vinegar to keep the level in the jug constant.
If you want to make wine vinegar in larger batches, procure a 1-gallon (5 liter) cask that has a spigot at one end. If it's new, rinse it with vinegar and let it dry. Next, fill it to within a couple of inches of the top with wine and put it, uncovered, in a place that's about 68 degrees F (20 C). In a couple of weeks the wine will be vinegar. Drain it from the cask using the spigot, and, if you can, bottle it during a waning moon because it will be clearer. Replace the vinegar removed with more wine, pouring it into the cask with a length of hose so as to leave the surface molds undisturbed.
As was true for apple vinegar, homemade wine vinegar will be more delicate and have greater depth than commercially prepared vinegar.

Marbled Easter Eggs




What you'll need:
Eggs (hard boiled or raw)
Food coloring
Vinegar
Cooking oil
Containers for the dye mixture (mugs will work)
Paper towels
A few spoons

How to make it:
In each container combine one tablespoon of each of the following: oil, vinegar, and your choice of food coloring.
Add enough water to make the liquid deep enough to cover an egg.
Swirl the liquid with a spoon, and quickly lower and raise an egg into it.
Pat dry with a paper towel, and repeat with a second color.
Swirl into a third color, if desired. Some white areas can be left on the egg.
Gently pat dry the completed egg, leaving a bit of the oil to give the egg a varnished look.
Tips:
This craft requires no special materials and produces beautiful results with very little effort. The eggs can be blown when completed, but the project is so simple that you might just discard the eggs and make a fresh batch each year.

Homemade Limoncello Recipe

Recipe for homemade limoncello, a popular after-dinner drink from Southern Italy:

•1 liter of 100 proof vodka (Absolut is the most popular 100 proof brand)
•1 1/2 cups water
•5 large lemons - NOT lemon juice
•2 cups sugar

Wash the lemons, quarter them, and squeeze out as much of the juice as you can. Discard the juice.
Pour the vodka into a large mason jar, or other airtight glass jar.
Add the lemons, seal the jar, and put it in a dark cool place for 5 days.
After 5 days, put the water in a pot, add the sugar and bring to a boil.
Keep at low boil for 5 minutes, stirring often.
Cool to room temperature.
Stir in the vodka and lemons, wait an hour.
Remove the lemon pieces (best to strain them out).
Stir.
Pour the mixture into glass bottles and make airtight.
Put the bottles in your freezer overnight.
Store in freezer until your next dinner event or cocktail party. In Italy, limoncello is traditionally served in small ceramic cups. It can be mixed with tonic, if preferred.

Read more at Suite101: Make Your Own Limoncello: This liquor is best homemade, and great for cocktail parties. http://liquor.suite101.com/article.cfm/make_your_own_limoncello#ixzz0hEd7JmCj

Herbal Dryer Bags

Materials Needed:
5″ x 5″ cotton muslin or cheesecloth squares (2)
Thread
Dried Lavender
Directions:
■Sew large “tea bags” out of the muslin or cheesecloth squares, leaving an opening at the top to fill with lavender. Sew the top shut. No need to sew fancy, just place the squares together and sew a single seam along the top about 1/4″ from the edge.
■Roughly squeeze the bags before tossing in the dryer with wet laundry. When laundry is done the scent is light, not overwhelming at all. Especially nice to use on loads of bedding (sweet, fragrant dreams).
■Bags are reusable! When the lavender is no longer doing its job, take a seam ripper and open about 2″ on one end, empty the bag, refill and sew shut. For one last kick at the can, crush the used lavender and toss it around your carpet. Let sit for about an hour then vacuum.
Tip:
Make more than one dryer bag so that the same bag isn’t in one load after another, alternate them so each bag has a chance to cool down before being used again.
Also good with Fresh  Rosemary

Free Pattern Download Painted Market Bag

The Painted market Bag Free Pattern can be found HERE

Rosemaling Baby Steps

I love to paint and used to decorate everything.
I found one of my favorite techniques as a free lesson located  HERE
Rosemaling or Swedish Folk Art in an easy first lesson.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Butter Beer Recipe

Christmas past and present Sixteenth-century sausages and powdered goose. Well, what else did you expect?
Buzz up!
Digg it
Heston Blumenthal The Observer, Sunday 14 December 2008 Article history Butter beer
This is a curious oddity from history that conjures up images of buxom wenches with steaming tankards of beer for thirsty travellers. When we first tried to recreate it, we didn't have much success, but eventually we found a great old recipe and adapted it to make it our own delicious version.

SERVES 6-10
2 cans Old Speckled Hen ale
¾ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground cloves
¾ tsp ground nutmeg
120g caster sugar
5 egg yolks
20g unsalted butter

Pour the ale into a saucepan and stir in the ground ginger, cloves and nutmeg. Gently heat this mixture until it is warm (to approximately 52ºC if you have a thermometer).
In the meantime, using a hand-held blender, blitz the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl until light and creamy.
Once the spiced ale is warm, add the egg yolk and sugar mixture and return to the heat, stirring constantly, until the liquid starts to thicken slightly (no hotter than 78ºC). Be careful not to let the saucepan get too hot or the eggs will scramble. Maintain this temperature for 2 minutes.
After 2 minutes, remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the butter until it melts. Then froth the mixture with a small cappuccino whisk until it looks like frothy, milky tea. Pour into small glasses, mini tankards or espresso cups and serve immediately.
 
 Not bad but I like Mead , Wassel and honey Beer

Rusted Bells Recipe

 Primitive Rust Bell recipe.


First, place your items to be rusted into a container that has a lid
Pour enough bleach into the container to cover the items you are rusting,
and then put the lid on.
Let it sit like this for about 24 hours.
Drain the bleach into the toilet , leaving the metal items still damp in the jar.
Next cover them with cider vinegar and add in a healthy dose of Koser salt.
Cover again, and let sit overnight.
Pour the used vinegar down the drain , leaving the damp bells /safety pins /whatever goodies have you in the jar.
Put the jar out in the sun to dry, uncovered, and the metal items in it will rust as they dry.
Good Luck !

Fresh Apple Bread Recipe and Recipe Card




Free Sweet Birdie Embroidery or Paint Pattern


My Full set of all 7 days of the week can be downloaed from Etsy for 1.50 in PDF format
HERE

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The T-shirt Quilt Update


Materials
Tee shirts (4 to 36 = number depending on size of quilt), Interfacing (fusible, woven type), woven cotton fabric for sashing and borders, fabric for backing (woven cotton, flannel, or polarfleece) and batting if you choose to use it.
Interfacing
There are many brands of interfacing. Look for a woven type or a nonwoven that is not stretchy (don't use a knit interfacing). You are using the interfacing to make the knit tee fabric non-stretchy for ease in sewing. Some interfacing needs to be pre-shrunk with water to avoid bubbles on the surface after fusing so read the directions from the manufacturer and test on a plain piece of tee shirt knit fabric.
Cotton Fabrics
You'll be using woven cotton (ie. regular quilting cotton) for the sashing and borders of your quilt. You want the stability of a woven cotton, not stretch from a knit. Pick a fabric that will frame your tee blocks nicely. You don't need to use a sashing, you can sew the blocks directly to each other.
Batting
You may want to use batting. A polyester batting with loft is fun if you are going to tie your tee shirt quilt. A cotton batting or blend is better for a machine quilted project. If you want a thin style quilt you could leave the batting out completely.
Backing
You may want to use tee shirts pieced on both sides if you have a lot of them. If not, a plain cotton backing used with batting is good. Or a flannel or polarguard backing is cozy and you can leave out the batting with these, too.
Preparation & Techniques

Decide Layout
Assuming you have all your tee shirts out and have studied them and possible layouts so you know your block sizes (see the section here on Blocks and Quilt Layouts to help plan, also look at the Gallery page to see sample quilts).
Washing & Cutting
Wash all tee shirts, if not previously worn you may want to wash them twice. Take the side seams apart (or if they were knit in the round you can slice one side and remove sleeves. Remember to save all the image areas if you t-shirt has small logos on sleeves, etc.
Fusing
Pre-shrink the fusible if needed. Cut the fusible interfacing about 2 inches larger than the size of your unsewn blocks. You may want to use a 1/2 inch seam allowance for your tee shirt blocks rather than the traditional 1/4" of quilting to make sturdier seams. Following fusible manufacturer's advice, fuse the interfacing to the tee shirt sections you plan to use.
Cutting the fused tee shirts
If all your blocks are to be the same size, you will find it convenient to make a template from cardboard, mat board or plastic template material. If you are a quilter with a rotary cutter, this is definitely the tool to use. Cut using a long acrylic rotary ruler and a mat. If using scissors, trace your template and cut. Cutting the sashing and borders: remember to leave 1/2 inch seam allowance if you choose to have extra. Thus a 3 inch sashing finished sewn size will mean you should cut a 4 inch wide strip.
Arranging blocks
If all your blocks are one size you can go directly to arranging their order. But, if you are using some smaller units of tee shirt images to make larger blocks (in a 4 patch block for instance) sew those first. Then clear off a place on the floor, a bed top or hang a big flannel sheet or batting on the wall to arrange your blocks.
Sewing
Sew blocks in rows, either horizontal or vertical inserting sashing pieces (if desired) as you go. Then assemble rows and add the borders.
Finishing
Layer top with backing and batting (or leave batting out if you choose) and quilt. You may want to finish this tee shirt quilt in the "reversed bag method" which is especially easy for a tied quilt. Layer the parts this way: put the top of the quilt right side UP and tape to the floor or tables with masking tape evenly around all edges, then put the backing fabric right side DOWN against the top (ie. the two right sides are together), then place the batting on top (if desired to have batting). Pin or baste to hold the edges together. Sew around 3 full sides and 2/3 of the 4th side leaving an opening with a 1/2 inch seam. Trim the batting close to the seam, but don't trim the fabrics and turn the whole quilt right side out. Hand sew the 1/3 opening on the 4th side. Tie closely every 4-5 inches or quilt the quilt

Pom Pom Tea Cozy The Pink Puff Ball

This knitted cosy is made from 25 pompoms to fit a three-cup teapot.
You will need
5 x 50g balls of 8-ply yarn, pink 4mm knitting needles Cardboard Scissors Darning needle
Body
Using 4mm knitting needles and one strand of yarn, cast on 35 stitches for the front. Repeat with a second ball of yarn to make the back.
Knit every row until the sides measure to just above the spout and handle.
Decrease row 1: *K5, K2 tog*, repeat * to * to end.
Next and alternate rows: Knit.
Decrease row 3: *K4, K2 tog*, repeat * to * to end.
Decrease row 5: *K3, K2 tog*, repeat * to * to end.
Decrease row 7: *K2, K2 tog*, repeat * to * to end.
Decrease row 9: *K1, K2 tog*, repeat * to * to end.
Thread the yarn through the remaining 10 stitches, draw up tightly and darn to secure.
Pompoms
Make approximately 25 pompoms.
Cut out two cardboard circles, 5cm in diameter. Make a hole in the centre of each, 2cm in diameter.
Put the two circles together and use a darning needle to wind the yarn around the cardboard through the hole in the centre. Keep going until there is very little room left in the centre.
Slide the blade of the scissors between the two cardboard circles at the outer edge and cut the yarn all the way around.
Wrap a strand of yarn between the two cardboard circles twice, pull it tight and make a secure knot.
Slide the cardboard circles off the pompom and fluff it up to a nice round ball. Leave the ends of the tie yarn long enough to easily secure the pompom to the tea-cosy.
To finish
Sew the front and back of the tea-cosy together from the centre top down to the top of the spout and handle openings. Sew the side seams together underneath the spout and handle openings.
Use a crochet hook to pull the long tie yarns of the pompoms through the knitted cosy and tie the yarn in secure knots on the inside of the cosy.

CORNFLOUR PASTE Finger Paint Recipe

CORNFLOUR PASTE FINGERPAINTS


Add to ordinary paint or add food colouring to use as fingerpaint; use as an economical extender for paint; use as a paper glue or use in papier-mâché.

You will need:
3 parts water (3 cups)
1 part cornflour (1 cup)
food colouring
saucepan
Step 1
Adult: bring the water to boil in a saucepan. Remove from heat.
Step 2
Adult: dissolve cornflour in a little cold water and add to hot water, stirring constantly. Boil until clear and thick (about one minute).
To make fingerpaint, add desired food colouring. This mixture will be very smooth. Offer it to the children while it is still warm to touch. A tablespoon of glycerine may be added to make it glossy. A ½ cup of Lux soap flakes may be added to give fingerpaint a lumpy texture.
Store in refrigerator as it spoils in hot weather.

Cake in 5 Minutes Crazy

The internet has had this crazy 5 minute cake running around for years but I actually tried it and it's not bad.
So here's the recipe and the instructions.
Would make a nice gift in a bag . Cute coffee
 cup and a nice sewn hand tied cloth bag.
 Big Ribbon and a sweet card with instructions. Wal-La Quick Gift

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)
spray mug with non stick spray like Pam


Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).
And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake
at any time of the day or night!



Monday, March 1, 2010

Quick Color a Baby Quilt


By Ann from Loup City, NE

Approximate Time: 2 days
Supplies:
computer or tracing paper
1 yard of 36 inch muslin
four 2x42 inch strips fabric for sashing
four 4x42 inch strips for borders
nine 8 1/2x11 inch rectangles of wax paper
crayons
iron
Instructions:
There are two ways to make crayon colored blocks, either by printing out the pictures on fabric run through your printer then coloring them or tracing pictures to fabric over tracing paper or on a light source then coloring them. If you haven't tried printing on fabric, now is the time to try it, a very simple process and anyone can do it.
Here is a great site to get free pictures to download.
http://www.preschoolcoloringbook.com/
After choosing your pictures on the computer or scanning some in from coloring books, get your fabric/paper ready. I much prefer the computer method as it is so easy and quick.

What you will need to do is end up with a piece of muslin bonded with freezer paper the exact size of the copy paper 8.5x11 inches. For me, the easiest way to do this is to lay my muslin over my ironing board then lay the wax side of a large piece of freezer paper down on top matching the edges as close as you can.
I try to tear the paper large enough for the whole project. Then using a hot iron, press the two melting the wax and bonding the two together.
If you get bumps, just lift the paper and press again. Then take your bonded muslin and paper to a flat surface with the wax paper on top.
Lay a piece of 8.5x11 inch copy paper on top. Using a ruler, either draw around the copy paper and cut out through the bonded fabric and freezer paper or use your self healing mat, ruler and cutting wheel and cut out 9 blocks. Make sure you don't have any lose strings as they will catch in the printer.
Using your inkjet printer, put the fabric side down one sheet at a time. Choose your picture and tell it to print, it is that simple. Don't be discouraged if one has stray ink smudges on it, mine do that once in a while, set that one aside and print another.
Keep your two layers bonded until after they are colored as it makes the coloring much smoother and easier to color.
Once you have them all colored, peel the wax paper off and place it on top of the colored picture wax side down. Melt the wax paper into the picture while melting the colors into the fabric.
Now you are ready to cut your pictures to the size of block you need. Finish your quilt as you want but I just put a colorful sashing around the blocks and a border around the outside. For nine 8.5x8.5 inch blocks, you will need four 2 inch by 42 inch strips for the sashing and four 4 inch by 42 inch strips for the outside borders.
Assemble your quilt top and finish as you like. I generally tie baby quilts as they are washed so much and don't always get the best of care. If you would like help with the assembly process, feel free to contact me. I have taught quilting for many years and would be glad to help. I also have many quilt books and patterns that I would be glad to share.
By Ann from Loup City, NE

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Glass Garden Totem Lights

I have the pattern figured out but have not glued or staked.
What I really would like is to figure out how to put lights inside where I can change the light bulb.
I will post again when finished.
How to make
step 1
Collecting your glass pieces
Look for pieces that will stack well together and have a flat gluing surface on the bottoms.
This will help prevent water and air from getting inside once they are glued together and
it will help the totems look level when you have a flat gluing surface to work with.

step 2
Preparing the glass pieces
Clean all glass well with warm soapy water and make sure they are thoroughly dry
and lint free before gluing. I used a microfiber cloth to "polish" the glass before gluing.
You can use denture cleaning tabs for hard to clean vases (1-4 tabs per vase usually works).

step 3
Gluing
Use a clear silicone glue or Lexel for best results.
Make sure the adhesive you use is weather resistant.
Glue up pieces in sections, letting each section cure before putting them all together as one piece.
Try gluing the pieces during low humidity to reduce condensation.

step 4
Displaying your totems
You can make free standing totems or use an upside down vase glued to the bottom
to mount them on poles. Copper is a popular choices, but with prices being so high
these days, I use PVC conduit pipe (the gray stuff in the home improvement stores).
You can paint it using a spray paint specifically for plastics to give it the look of copper or
any other color you may like. R…

step 5
Displaying them in your garden
They really sparkle in the sun and look great in the garden. The options are endless.