Foodie Blog

Check out this new foodie blog that I'm in like with. I like most of her ideas, but some not so much. Her pics of the food look pretty, though. lol.

Specifically, check out this blog entry about lasagna cupcakes. Isn't that such a fun idea? She also has a blog entry about macaroni cupcakes that I thought was clever.

It makes me want to go make things in muffin tins. I could do shepherd's pie, meatloaf, enchiladas, cheesecake, and such. Super fun!

Studio J is here!

Studio J is Close To My Heart's online design software. You should really go check it out! And don't forget to watch the little video--so cute and a tear jerker.

Click HERE or go to your Consultant's MyCTMH website.

Oh My Goodness! Oh My Goodness! Oh My Goodness!

I recently tried a yummy lemon poppy seed muffin and LOVED it! Prior to that, I didn't enjoy lemon poppy seed anything. However, since that day, I'm willing to try lemon poppy seed baked goods. So, when I saw these yummy lemon poppy seed cookies, my mouth started to water and I decided I MUST make these this week or weekend.

Don't these look scrumptious?

Mock Mashed Potatoes

One of my friends recommended this recipe to me, found on the Food Network. This will be such a lucky find if it actually tastes like masked potatoes. Potatoes and other starches are my weakness--forget candy, give me bread or potatoes or some-such!

What veggie dishes would you recommend?

The Year(s) of the Cranberry

I want this on my salads.

Bacon + Cheese = YUM

I follow several cooking blogs and LOVE it! Today I was browsing about 15 unread posts from several blogs I read and found this post that looked SO YUMMY...

Check it out.

Nutella Filled Cookies

Um...ok...these may just be THE best cookies EVER.

E.V.E.R.

These cookies are from my new favorite recipe blog: The Open Pantry.

You know how much I love nutella, don't ya? 

YUM!!!

Pancakes ~ Two Healthy Versions

Whole Wheat Pancakes 

Oatmeal Pancakes

I've posted bout this one before. I made the mix and tested it out--delish! (And totally filling.)

I Want Some Zucchini

Doesn't this look divine?

Would you ever guess this was made with zucchini?

A Few Recipes I Shared with My RS

The other day I attended cooking group with some of my Relief Society gals. The theme was "Healthy Cooking." I didn't have time to prepare anything, so I just told them about the last recipe listed in this blog post. Then, I sent the coordinator these first two recipes because they are just too dang yummy and filling...and mostly healthy.  

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Oatmeal Pancake Mix

Ingredients
3 1/2 cups rolled (quick) oats
3 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 TBS sugar
3 TBS baking powder
1 TB salt
1 TB baking soda
1 cup vegetable oil
*Makes 10 cups of dry mix
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1 cup buttermilk (or ½ cup plain yogurt/ ½ cup milk)
1 egg

To make the mix:

• Combine all the dry ingredients together in a mixer with a paddle (or by hand).
• With mixer on slow speed (or gently by hand), drizzle the vegetable oil into the bowl slowly while the mixer is running. When all the oil has been added, stop the mixer and squeeze a clump of mix in your hand. If it stays together, it is just right. If it is still crumbly, add another tablespoon of oil at a time until the consistency is correct (I've never had to add additional oil).
• Store in an airtight container (a #10 can from the cannery works perfectly!) for up to two weeks at room temperature or indefinitely in the refrigerator or freezer.

To make the pancakes:

• Whisk together 1 cup of mix, 1cup buttermilk (a combination of half plain yogurt and half milk will also work), and 1 egg.
• The mixture may seem thin at first but the oats will soak up the milk as it stands while the griddle preheats.
• Heat a griddle and drop the batter onto it.
• When the edges look dry and bubbles come to the surface and don't break, turn the pancake over to finish cooking on the second side.
• As a side note: Buttermilk can be frozen indefinitely for future batches of pancakes, so it's worth keeping it around!

*1 cup of mix will make about six 4" pancakes
**These pancakes are very filling. Try serving them with a little peanut butter and your favorite homemade jam or even some nutella. YUM!!

From “My Kitchen Café” blog: www.mykitchencafe.blogspot.com

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Tomato Based Curry

Ingredients
2 lbs hamburger
2 quarts stewed tomatoes
1 TB Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp curry powder
2 TB A-1 Sauce
1 onion, chopped and diced
Pinch of salt
Rice, as needed (brown or white or a mix of the two)
*Celery is optional, to taste

Directions

• Cook rice
• Brown hamburger in a deep sauce pan
• Add onions (and celery)
• Add all other ingredients and bring to a boil
• Turn heat down and let mixture simmer for 10 minutes
• Serve over rice

*Makes about 8 servings; great for leftovers.
**This is nothing like the curry you would get from an Indian or Thai restaurant. It simply has the flavoring of curry, but it is very much a mellow, hearty dish that is perfect for a cold, rainy night.

From my family.

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Pineapple Sherbet Medley

Ingredients
1 gallon pineapple sherbet (for a small batch, use ½ gallon)
Frozen strawberries, in bite-sized pieces, as much as preferred
Frozen peaches, in bite-sized pieces, as much as preferred
And any other frozen fruit your family enjoys

Directions

• In a large plastic bowl (that has a lid), add sherbet until soft enough to mix with a spoon but not runny
• Combine all bite-sized pieces of frozen fruit into sherbet; mix well until all fruit pieces are incorporated
• Put medley in freezer for about an hour

*Want to make a small batch for just you or your family? I would still make the large batch because the small batch is gone FAST! It is THAT good!
**It is great for ward parties, birthdays, reunions, and family dinners.

From my family.

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What recipes do you prepare that you would consider healthy? Do share!

Seriously Excited!

I get to go on a vacation in October! Hooray! 

My mom's bosses are taking her with them and their families here...

 

 Mazatlan, Mexico

And I GET TO GO!!!!!

  

The pool at night...at our "inn".

  

The pool and waterfall during the day.

  

Our room. Um...it's the penthouse. 

I've NEVER stayed in a penthouse! 

 

And, evidently when you stay in the penthouse, 

you get THIS on your balcony! 

They are paying all expenses for my mom, except food. I'm so happy for her! She's never had anyone give her a trip for almost all of the expenses paid! And, they are paying for my part of the room; I just have to get my flight and food. I can handle that!

Holy crap! 

I am seriously excited!!!

Cutest Lil' Pies on the Planet

OK, these may be too cute to eat. 

 

Check out the recipe and step-by-step pictures at Picky Palate.

Chewy Chocolate Treat

 

I want this. 

Evidently I am craving chocolate treats!

I'm Already Gaining Weight from Looking at These

Um...yum! I must have these.

Don't these look yummy? Get the recipe.

Crafty Card #5 ~ Veranda Flower Power

This card is one of my very favorites. It was super simple to make and will be great for a wedding gift, a congrats for a newborn baby, an anniversary card, a birthday wish, etc. I just love the soft greens, rich yellows, and warm browns in the papers. Plus, this paper packet lends itself to adding nice pops of other colors, too, like various shades of pink like you saw in a previous post.

Here is the same exact card only now it is turned on its side. Viola; a whole new look!

To make these cards, you'll need the following items:

Wishes Card Confidence Program (for the card pattern)
Veranda Level 2 Paper Packet (new this spring)
Exclusive Inks (to match the paper packet)
Just Blooms Spring Blossom Collection (new this spring)
Large Brad (for center of flower)
Sponge Texture Tool (to add ink to edges of paper for a soft look)
Sanding Kit (for the tattered look on the brown paper)

Isn't a pretty paper packet? If you want to see more projects made with this paper packet, watch this great video called "Lots to Love" by Close To My Heart!

What kinds of projects will you use this paper for?

Crafty Card #4 ~ Veranda Patchwork

Here is yet another card I made for mi madre over the holidays. It was so much fun to make! Remember how I make more than one card of each design? Yep...well...here is another example for ya. I love how much time it saves.

To make this card, you'll need the following items:

Wishes Card Confidence Program (for the card pattern)
My Acrylix Stamp Set of Choice (for sentiment)
Veranda Level 2 Paper Packet (new this spring)
Exclusive Inks (to match the paper packet)
Just Blooms Spring Blossom Collection (new this spring)
Large Brad (for center of flower)
Sponge Texture Tool (to add ink to edges of paper for a soft look)

Check back on Tuesday for another card made with these supplies...

Crafty Card #3 ~ Caboodle-rific!

Super simple birthday card for a boy or a girl. Love that!

To make this card, you'll need the following items:

Originals Card Confidence Program (for the card pattern)
My Acrylix Stamp Set of Choice (for sentiment and flowers)
Caboodle Level 2 Paper Packet (new this spring)
Exclusive Inks (to match the paper packet)
Spring Buttons (thread with embroidery floss)
Dimensional Elements (DE-covered in paper)
Bitty Sparkles (totally love them)
Sponge Texture Tool (to add ink to edges of DE and card base for a soft look)

Have you ever used the card pattern books Originals or Wishes that Jeanette Lynton created? They are pretty spectacular! The hard part is figuring out which pattern you want to use out of the tons to choose from. Once you've chosen your pattern, all you have to do is follow the instructions, put your creative spin on it with embellies, and then you're done! Just slap a note inside and send it to your loved ones. Pretty slick, I'd say!

If you want to get your very own card pattern book, I support that brilliant decision! Good job, you! Click here to find a Consultant if you don't already have one.

Chocolate, Coconut, and Pecan Crescents

Doesn't this tray of crescents look yummy? Click here for the ingredients and directions, plus a few handy photos.

Crafty Card #2 ~ You Rock Birthday Babe

Here is another card that I made for my mom using the You Rock paper packet. Let me tell you...this was a cinch to make! I love making cards that take little to no time or effort but still look fairly OK. Makes me so happy.

To make this card, you'll need the following items:

You Rock Level 2 Paper Packet (new this spring)
Window Charms (so fun to use)
Bitty Sparkles (love them!)

Here is what I did for these cards:
I used Window Charms over stinkin' cute papers and then stacked them like a birthday cake. (This isn't my brilliant idea; I've seen it done elsewhere. But it is the first time I tried it, and I like the results.) Then, I put three Bitty Sparkles above the top layer of the cake as if they are little candle flames.

For the card on the left, I used the front of the blue paper for the base on a masculine card. Then for the card on the right, I just turned that same paper OVER to reveal the light purple side for a different look! How cool is that? I'll answer for ya...it's stinkin' amazing!

Oh, and here is another tip:
When you make one card, you may as well make more than one since you already have all of the supplies out. Just cut the amount of paper you need for the number of cards you want to make and then assemble them like you're on an assembly line! :-) Easy cheesy.

Feeling A Bit Crafty ~ Card #1 You Rock

Over the holiday break I was feeling a bit crafty so I made my mom some cards to use this year. (She'll get more for her b-day. Shhhh...don't tell her.) They are pretty simple, and I had so much fun making them. It was so relaxing!

And here is the first of the group that I'll share for posterity's sake...whoever that may be. lol.

To make this card, you'll need the following items:

Wishes Card Confidence Program
My Acrylix Stamp Set of Choice (for sentiment)
You Rock Level 2 Paper Packet (new this spring)
Exclusive Inks (to match the paper packet)
Outdoor Denim Mini Medleys (for buttons, brad, and ribbon)
Bitty Sparkles (always a great accent)
Cream Embroidery Floss (to thread in button holes)

If you want to get your hands on some of the stuff you see here, talk to your CTMH Consultant! Don't have one? Find one then! What are you waiting for?

Have fun crafting!