January 15, 2012

You know my name

Home decor is always been something I strive to do myself. I love DIY shows and books. I wanted to add something to the photo wall I have in my house. So one day while wondering around the craft store I decided to make a name hanging.

What you will need:

Letters (wood, metal, plastic, card board or whatever you got)
Paint
Buttons / Rhinestones / Decorative items
Glue / Mod Podge
Hooks


Start by painting your letters the color of your choice.

Arrange the decorations in a mock fashion so you can make changes if it does not look good.





Glue decorations in place and then add hooks to back.






Hang or place letters.


Green Beans and Johnny Cakes

Green bean have never really been a favorite of mine but I think I found a new way to eat them. I called my mom this evening asking if she had any bright ideas. She suggested bacon goodness. That peaked my husband's attention. So after altering how she described how to cook then just a bit I came up with the recipe below. As far as Johnny cakes you may also know them as corn cakes or Shawnee cakes. I am still learning how to make them right, below is my latest attempt. Enjoy!

Green Beans with Bacon

3-4 C Fresh green beans
   5     Strips of bacon
   4     Cloves of garlic minced
1/2 C Water
          Salt to taste

Snap stem end of green beans off. Wash then set aside. In deep sided pan cook sliced bacon. Pour out grease but leave about a teaspoon worth in the pan along with all the crunchy bits. Set bacon aside. turn heat to medium low then add your garlic and green beans. Toss around in pan until they are coated. Add water then cover for about 5 minutes or until most of the water is gone. This will steam the green beans. You can add salt if you so desire.  Toss in bacon then serve.

Johnny Cakes

   1 C Corn Meal
1/2 C Flour
   1     Egg
1/2 C Milk
   1 T Sugar

Mix all ingredients together, batter will be thick. In cast iron pan heat shortening on med high heat. when shortening is completely melted pour batter in pan. When edges start to crisp and turn golden flip over.

I brushed the cakes with butter and honey before serving. Hope you try these recipes!



January 11, 2012

Cucumbers of goodness

When my son decided he did not want to be sleeping any more at 1:30am I figured I might as well just get up. Seeing as how I was not fully awake I figured I would make a cup of tea and a snack . Nothing really sounded good but I needed something to keep me awake. I decided on cucumber salad. We had gotten a cucumber in our food delivery box this last week which was awesome cause I thought they were done for the season, apparently not in Mexico where this one was from. Cucumber salad is quick and easy but flavorful. It is a great cool snack in the summer when nothing else sounds good. I guess I was thinking of that principle when that same mood struck. I am trying to teach my husband to like it too so I put some in his lunch as well.

Cucumber Salad
   1 Large Cucumber
1/4 C White Vinegar
   1  t Salt ( I like to use a course salt but any is fine)
   1 T Dill

Slice cucumber in bit size pieces, diced or rounds are fine. Toss with vinegar, salt and dill. Can keep in fridge for at least a week.
***Note -  If it is too bitter for you add 1/2 t sugar***

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January 10, 2012

Blueberry and Sour Cream Pie

"What should I do with this extra pie crust?" I asked my husband after making quiche (See the blog 'It's my little friend Quiche'). "Pie!" He exclaimed. "What kind of pie? We don't really have anything to make pie with." After thinking for a bit I decided on blueberry.We had some frozen bluberries left over from brunch on Sunday that I made a blueberry compote with because we had run out of syrup. With that delisiousness still in my mind, genius struck.

Blueberry and Sour Cream Pie

   1 9"Pie Crust ( See my blog 'Gimme Beef...and Beer')
   2 C Blue Berries
1/2 C Sour Cream
   1 C Sugar (you can substitute for alternative sugar)
   1 t  Corn starch
   1 t  Vanilla Extract
1/2 t  Salt


Mix sugar, salt and corn starch then add berries. In sauce pan heat berry mixture on medium and then fold in sour cream and vanilla. Reduce heat after everything is combine to a simmer. This will help get out any moisture so your berry mixture with thicken to a syrup consistency. Pour into pie shell. Sprinkle a little sugar around top edge of crust for a little crunch.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until crust is done.

It's my little friend Quiche

 While make quiche all I could think about was the B52s and the song Quiche Lorraine hence the title of today's blog. If you have been following my blogs you can probably guess that baking is where my strength lies. I have been noticing a pattern of meals that are baked not cooked. So here is another one to add to the pile.

Quiche is full of protein and vitamins and warms my soul. By definition it is a savory pie like dish. Usually consisting of the basic egg and cheese combo. There are many variation of this dish and it is completely customizable to your own tastes. I made two different quiches, one using spinach the other broccoli. My family knows how I feel about broccoli and spinach, they are my favorite vegetables! From a young age I loved spinach and broccoli. My mom loves to tell me stories on how I would ask for it and she would even put the spinach water from her cooking it into a bottle and I would guzzle it down. But enough about my love for dark leafy greens.


Spinach Quiche


Quiche
1  9" Pie crust  ( See my blog 'Gimme Beef....and Beer' for the recipe)
4 Eggs
1 1/2 C Milk
2 T Butter
2 C Spinach / Broccoli ( Chop into small bite size pieces)
2 C Cheese
3 Cloves of garlic (opt.)
1/2 C Mince onion (opt.)
Salt and pepper to taste
Broccoli Quiche



Whisk together eggs, milk, butter and seasonings. Fold in cheese, vegetables and any other filling you like. Scoop into pie shell then pour the liquid over the top. This helps disperse the contents evenly. You can top with cheese or some cooked bacon.

Bake at 325 degrees for 20-30 minutes.

I have found that if you cook your pie shell first it will ensure that it gets done all the way. Also be sure  not to overfill your pie dish, it will take a very longtime for the quiche to get done in the middle. You are better off dividing it into two.

As with any my dishes I encourage you to try it for yourself and make changes to your liking!

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January 08, 2012

Dutch Babies

Dutch babies, puff pancakes, or just plain delicious. Breakfast food is a favorite in our house and this is a regular guest.

Dutch Baby

   2     Eggs
1/2 C Milk
1/2 C Flour
1 Pinch salt
1 Pinch ground nutmeg (opt.)
 
2 T Butter

2 T Powder Sugar / Lemon / Syrup

Mix eggs, milk , flour, salt and nutmeg. Set aside. Place pie dish in oven while it is preheating. Take out and add butter, swirl around until dish is coated. Pour batter into dish then bake.

475 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5-10 minutes.

Top with lemon and powder sugar, syrup or whatever sounds good to you!


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January 07, 2012

Metal and beads

Recently I just had four friend's birthday's in the last couple months. For each of them I wanted to make something fun and was from the heart.




I had not made anything with beads recently and I could make each one unique.
Thus the necklace and earrings combo.
I was only able to take pictures of these two sets before I gave them away.
What I learned...don't under estimate the pain wire can inflict.


 I did love doing this project though.When you do something with people you care about in mind it can make the difference between wanting to do it and having to. 




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Breakfast in minutes

Mmm! I just made the best breakfast burrito. Two eggs, spinach and cheese with hot sauce in a whole wheat tortilla then grilled. Sooo good. That just made my morning! Sorry no picture, it did not last long enough to get one.


*** I make this all the time, I later blogged this recipe Breakfast Tacos***


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