Make your favorite cheese ball recipe.
I think I found one on a box of cream cheese.
Shape into a football. Add some crackers around it.
This recipe had chip beef in it. So that is what i used to make the football laces.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
How are We to Become Bitter or Better People
I don't want to be a bitter person. I want to be a better person. I have been around some negative and bitter people. While I don't see myself as being bitter, yet, I've definately been negative. I often wonder, will I become bitter if I become sick, or when I experience loss or when I become so old I've lost enjoyment in life? I don't want to be.
So how do I prevent it? I like what C.S. Lewis said "faith is the art of holding on to things in spite of your changing moods and circumstances."
How do you keep your faith in the midst of loss, depression, sickness, growing old? I believe it's by talking to God. Really, really praying through the hard times. When you don't feel it, keep believing it.
I've also met some very positive people who amaze me at their tenacity. My husband's grandma comes to mind. She is 94 years young. When you ask her how she is, she shrugs her shoulders and says, "why complain, what good does it do?" She is right. Complaining may unburden you for awhile but it also slips into your spirit and makes you weaker.
I don't imagine myself being someone who fights hard to live when life gets tough. I don't imagine myself being a gracious old person. I often worry as I grow old and see love ones die, my body fail me, and my memory slip away that I'll be a grumpy old person. I don't want to be that so I must keep in constant communion with Jesus.
I seen such strength in my mom. I didn't recognize it when I was young. But she was a young widow at 51. She raised me by herself, she always had a heart for others, she had a positive outlook. Then she spent many years alone. But she wasn't truly alone because she had a constant companion. She had a friend always present to listen to her cries. She had Jesus.
I hope if there is anything that gets me through this sometimes joyous and sometimes painful life, it will be my faith in Christ.
"Behold I am with you always. Even until the end of the world" Matthew 28:20
So how do I prevent it? I like what C.S. Lewis said "faith is the art of holding on to things in spite of your changing moods and circumstances."
How do you keep your faith in the midst of loss, depression, sickness, growing old? I believe it's by talking to God. Really, really praying through the hard times. When you don't feel it, keep believing it.
I've also met some very positive people who amaze me at their tenacity. My husband's grandma comes to mind. She is 94 years young. When you ask her how she is, she shrugs her shoulders and says, "why complain, what good does it do?" She is right. Complaining may unburden you for awhile but it also slips into your spirit and makes you weaker.
I don't imagine myself being someone who fights hard to live when life gets tough. I don't imagine myself being a gracious old person. I often worry as I grow old and see love ones die, my body fail me, and my memory slip away that I'll be a grumpy old person. I don't want to be that so I must keep in constant communion with Jesus.
I seen such strength in my mom. I didn't recognize it when I was young. But she was a young widow at 51. She raised me by herself, she always had a heart for others, she had a positive outlook. Then she spent many years alone. But she wasn't truly alone because she had a constant companion. She had a friend always present to listen to her cries. She had Jesus.
I hope if there is anything that gets me through this sometimes joyous and sometimes painful life, it will be my faith in Christ.
"Behold I am with you always. Even until the end of the world" Matthew 28:20
Easy, Peasy Shrimp Cocktail
Easy Shrimp Cocktail
Simply use the frozen, tail on, medium to large shrimp.
Thaw under some tap water.
Place around a dessert cup or something similar. These I believe are sherbet glasses. They look a little like a cocktail glasses. Whatever works!
Put your cocktail sauce in the center. This was also in a jar in the aisle with ketchup.
So pretty and so easy.
If you are ambitious you could cook your own shrimp and make your own cocktail sauce.
Easiest, fall apart in your mouth, Crock Pot Italian Beef
I'm not going to lie. This is the best Italian Beef you will have. It's super easy and it really cheap.
Ingredients
1 Jar (11 oz) Pepperoncinis
1 Boneless beef chuck roast (3-4 lbs)
1/4 cup water
Italian seasoning mix (I keep this on hand and I make my own) 1 3/4 tsp dried basil, 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 1/2tsp dried oregano, 1 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper
if you like onions add one large, sliced and quartered onion
10-12 sub rolls, or preferably hard rolls for dipping in au jus.
Here's the super easy part
Take your chuck roast and cut it in half
Put 1/2 of roast on bottom of crock pot
add your water
sprinkle 1/2 of your Italian seasoning over meat
add other 1/2 of roast on top of last and sprinkle it with remaining seasoning
now if you have the pepperoncinis with stems you can remove stems first or as the Italians say "don't worry about it"
I prefer to buy the sliced pepperoncinis and reserve some for putting on top of sandwich
Just pour your pepperonchini juice with peppers over beef.
Also if you like onions this is where you would top with onion
Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours. Take 2 meat forks and shred the roast up. Chuck is sometimes fatty so I do have to pick out some of the fat. Use a strainer spoon to serve on rolls. We like ours with a little mayo on bottom roll and sometimes a little of the juice for dipping.
This one is a little spicier because of peppers and juice but it is so delish!
Ingredients
1 Jar (11 oz) Pepperoncinis
1 Boneless beef chuck roast (3-4 lbs)
1/4 cup water
Italian seasoning mix (I keep this on hand and I make my own) 1 3/4 tsp dried basil, 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 1/2tsp dried oregano, 1 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper
if you like onions add one large, sliced and quartered onion
10-12 sub rolls, or preferably hard rolls for dipping in au jus.
Here's the super easy part
Take your chuck roast and cut it in half
Put 1/2 of roast on bottom of crock pot
add your water
sprinkle 1/2 of your Italian seasoning over meat
add other 1/2 of roast on top of last and sprinkle it with remaining seasoning
now if you have the pepperoncinis with stems you can remove stems first or as the Italians say "don't worry about it"
I prefer to buy the sliced pepperoncinis and reserve some for putting on top of sandwich
Just pour your pepperonchini juice with peppers over beef.
Also if you like onions this is where you would top with onion
Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours. Take 2 meat forks and shred the roast up. Chuck is sometimes fatty so I do have to pick out some of the fat. Use a strainer spoon to serve on rolls. We like ours with a little mayo on bottom roll and sometimes a little of the juice for dipping.
This one is a little spicier because of peppers and juice but it is so delish!
Melts in your mouth!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Christmas DIY Basket
This year I decided I wanted to share some of my new Pinterest products and projects with some of my friends and family. I made three of these baskets and even though it was a lot of preparation I enjoyed putting them together. I've got good reviews on the sugar scrub, cinnamon honey butter spread and the leave in hair conditioner. So here's a little peak of what I put into my baskets. Maybe you will get ideas for next year! I know I'm looking out for new gift ideas...
Sugar Scrub and Honey Butter Spread. Ingredients for sugar scrub ~1/3 cup coconut oil, 1 1/2 cup sugar, red food coloring, few drops of peppermint essential oil, empty Starbucks bottle.
Mix coconut oil to sugar and add essential oil. Divide and color 1/2 with a drop or two of red food coloring. Using a paper funnel carefully spoon into an empty Starbucks bottle. (I spray painted the lids silver and put a round christmas label on top) layer the white and red and lightly pack each color with the end of an ice cream scoop, til u get a candy cane look.
Add a nice label. I put the ingredients on my labels.
I got the free printable labels from http://blog.worldlabel.com/2012/christmas-labels-ready-to-print.html I printed them on cardstock paper then laminated them with clear packaging tape on both sides of label then trimmed excess off. Punch a hole, glue or use clear packaging tape to protect them on glass or plastic containers.
Originally spotted through pinterest thanks to blog http://www.theidearoom.net/2012/11/peppermint-candy-cane-sugar-scrub.html
Ingredients for Cinnamon honey butter spread ~ 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 cup honey , 1 cup powder sugar and 1 cup butter
directions- soften butter, add honey, mix with powder sugar and add cinnamon.
Spoon into short mason jars. Add pretty cloth to lid, tie a label with ingredients onto jar. Originally spotted on pinterest thanks to blog http://tidymom.net/2010/cinnamon-honey-butter-gifts-in-a-jar/
This next project of pictures on a block of wood was not a complete success. I think if I'd used untreated wood blocks, like my husband suggested, then the pictures would of possibly absorbed into wood better and looked clearer. This was the wood we had on hand, so I used it. This was an easy project also inspired by Pinterest and a really cute, super short video detailing the steps. http://youtu.be/_NjYbAAQ4vw
These seasoning blends were my own. I also included handwritten recipes to go with the seasoning blends. Add labels with ingredients and amt of servings. Most of mine were 2 servings per recipe.
1. Italian Seasoning ingredients ~ 1 3/4 tsp dried basil, 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper (x2 depending on jar size to double)
2. Ranch Seasoning Mix ~ 2 Tbs dried parsley, 1 tsp dried dill, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp dried basil, 1/2 tsp pepper (x2 depending on jar size to double)
3. Jerk Seasoning ~ 2TBS dried minced onion, 2 1/2 tsp dried thyme, 2 tsp ground allspice, 2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp salt (note to add 2 Tbs oil for marinade)
4. Taco Seasoning ~ 1 Tbsp minced dry onions, 2 tsp chili powder, 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp corn starch, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 - 1 tsp cayenne pepper (x2 to double if needed to fill jars)
My own stain spray. Adapted from others I found on the Internet this one works the best and it's right here in my own blog! http://lojdandelion.blogspot.com/2012/11/diy-stain-spray.html
Add a label of ingredients so your friend or family can make their own!
Also I included my favorite homemade fabric softener that I mixed in an old bleach bottle that was rinsed well. I removed labels and added a pretty fabric around middle which I attached with fabric glue. Then I spray painted lid silver and added a label on front with the ingredients and instructions.
3 Cups Hot water, Mix with 2 cups of fragrant conditioner (I like the VO5 Passion fruit and it's about 79 cents a bottle) and 1 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Shake before using and use about 2 Tbsp in downy ball or softener dispenser on washer. This was large so I didn't include in the gift basket but alongside.
I made some under eye cream in some small containers I kept. The small short one was much easier to fill.
The ingredients are 1Tbs Aloe Vera Gel, 1/2 tsp hemorrhoid cream (for eye puffiness) and a few drops of Vitamin E oil. This I recommended being kept in refrigerator for extra cool soothing.
I made some leave in conditioner that I found on pinterest. It works really well and I was anxious for my friends and family to try it.
Ingredients ~ 3 oz water, 1/2 TBS of extra virgin olive oil, and 1 oz of favorite conditioner. Instructions for using this product to it's greatest potential is on this blog! http://lojdandelion.blogspot.com/2012/07/hair-and-beauty-tricks.html
Easy no water snow globes. Save either glass or
plastic jars. I spray painted lid, bottom and inside either gold or silver.
I glued little plastic picture frames with picture inserted with hot glue onto lid. I also added some mini ornaments glued to top to look like they are floating. I then used some fake snow
that was also sparkly (so I didn't need glitter too) Put lid on and shake
up. Some of the glitter/snow sticks to the sides of jar because of static.
Really cute and easy.
These are two of the baskets I bought at a discount store for about $3 each. I found some basket cellophane wrap and some pretty red shred too from a Michael's hobby store. I added some store bought gifts like tea, lip balm, hair accessories, coffee mug, even a bottle of egg nog and some gift cards. I had some pretty ribbon to tie it all together and added a nice ornament attached to the basket ribbon.
Sugar Scrub and Honey Butter Spread. Ingredients for sugar scrub ~1/3 cup coconut oil, 1 1/2 cup sugar, red food coloring, few drops of peppermint essential oil, empty Starbucks bottle.Mix coconut oil to sugar and add essential oil. Divide and color 1/2 with a drop or two of red food coloring. Using a paper funnel carefully spoon into an empty Starbucks bottle. (I spray painted the lids silver and put a round christmas label on top) layer the white and red and lightly pack each color with the end of an ice cream scoop, til u get a candy cane look.
Add a nice label. I put the ingredients on my labels.
I got the free printable labels from http://blog.worldlabel.com/2012/christmas-labels-ready-to-print.html I printed them on cardstock paper then laminated them with clear packaging tape on both sides of label then trimmed excess off. Punch a hole, glue or use clear packaging tape to protect them on glass or plastic containers.
Originally spotted through pinterest thanks to blog http://www.theidearoom.net/2012/11/peppermint-candy-cane-sugar-scrub.html
Ingredients for Cinnamon honey butter spread ~ 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 cup honey , 1 cup powder sugar and 1 cup butter
directions- soften butter, add honey, mix with powder sugar and add cinnamon.
Spoon into short mason jars. Add pretty cloth to lid, tie a label with ingredients onto jar. Originally spotted on pinterest thanks to blog http://tidymom.net/2010/cinnamon-honey-butter-gifts-in-a-jar/
This next project of pictures on a block of wood was not a complete success. I think if I'd used untreated wood blocks, like my husband suggested, then the pictures would of possibly absorbed into wood better and looked clearer. This was the wood we had on hand, so I used it. This was an easy project also inspired by Pinterest and a really cute, super short video detailing the steps. http://youtu.be/_NjYbAAQ4vwThese seasoning blends were my own. I also included handwritten recipes to go with the seasoning blends. Add labels with ingredients and amt of servings. Most of mine were 2 servings per recipe.
1. Italian Seasoning ingredients ~ 1 3/4 tsp dried basil, 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper (x2 depending on jar size to double)
2. Ranch Seasoning Mix ~ 2 Tbs dried parsley, 1 tsp dried dill, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp dried basil, 1/2 tsp pepper (x2 depending on jar size to double)
3. Jerk Seasoning ~ 2TBS dried minced onion, 2 1/2 tsp dried thyme, 2 tsp ground allspice, 2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp salt (note to add 2 Tbs oil for marinade)
4. Taco Seasoning ~ 1 Tbsp minced dry onions, 2 tsp chili powder, 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp corn starch, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 - 1 tsp cayenne pepper (x2 to double if needed to fill jars)
My own stain spray. Adapted from others I found on the Internet this one works the best and it's right here in my own blog! http://lojdandelion.blogspot.com/2012/11/diy-stain-spray.html
Add a label of ingredients so your friend or family can make their own!
Also I included my favorite homemade fabric softener that I mixed in an old bleach bottle that was rinsed well. I removed labels and added a pretty fabric around middle which I attached with fabric glue. Then I spray painted lid silver and added a label on front with the ingredients and instructions. 3 Cups Hot water, Mix with 2 cups of fragrant conditioner (I like the VO5 Passion fruit and it's about 79 cents a bottle) and 1 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Shake before using and use about 2 Tbsp in downy ball or softener dispenser on washer. This was large so I didn't include in the gift basket but alongside.
 |
The ingredients are 1Tbs Aloe Vera Gel, 1/2 tsp hemorrhoid cream (for eye puffiness) and a few drops of Vitamin E oil. This I recommended being kept in refrigerator for extra cool soothing.
I made some leave in conditioner that I found on pinterest. It works really well and I was anxious for my friends and family to try it.
Ingredients ~ 3 oz water, 1/2 TBS of extra virgin olive oil, and 1 oz of favorite conditioner. Instructions for using this product to it's greatest potential is on this blog! http://lojdandelion.blogspot.com/2012/07/hair-and-beauty-tricks.html
Easy no water snow globes. Save either glass or
plastic jars. I spray painted lid, bottom and inside either gold or silver.
I glued little plastic picture frames with picture inserted with hot glue onto lid. I also added some mini ornaments glued to top to look like they are floating. I then used some fake snow
that was also sparkly (so I didn't need glitter too) Put lid on and shake
up. Some of the glitter/snow sticks to the sides of jar because of static.
Really cute and easy.
These are two of the baskets I bought at a discount store for about $3 each. I found some basket cellophane wrap and some pretty red shred too from a Michael's hobby store. I added some store bought gifts like tea, lip balm, hair accessories, coffee mug, even a bottle of egg nog and some gift cards. I had some pretty ribbon to tie it all together and added a nice ornament attached to the basket ribbon.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Make Ahead Oatmeal
Make 6 servings of quick oats on stovetop. Add 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup of maple syrup to cooked oats, stir. Put into 6 microwaveable bowls and cover with plastic wrap. I use saucer plates to stack 3 bowls for more refrig room. For my family I added simple directions for warming up. 1min 30 sec on high, add splash of milk, stir and eat. Super great start in the morning and easier than packets.
Easy Potato, Sausage and French Bean Skillet
Super easy and delish supper.
Ingredients~
9oz skinless polish sausage
8 small potatoes or 4 large
Can of french green beans, drained
1 cup of chicken broth
1 TBS Mrs Dash seasoning original blend
2 TBS minced garlic
2 TBS Olive oil
Cut potatoes into large chunks and slice sausage into 1" pieces, add to skillet with olive oil. Let cook til a little brown. Add Mrs Dash and garlic. Let absorb flavors then add the chicken broth, cover and simmer til potatoes get soft. Add green beans and cook til hot. Serve!
Ingredients~
9oz skinless polish sausage
8 small potatoes or 4 large
Can of french green beans, drained
1 cup of chicken broth
1 TBS Mrs Dash seasoning original blend
2 TBS minced garlic
2 TBS Olive oil
Cut potatoes into large chunks and slice sausage into 1" pieces, add to skillet with olive oil. Let cook til a little brown. Add Mrs Dash and garlic. Let absorb flavors then add the chicken broth, cover and simmer til potatoes get soft. Add green beans and cook til hot. Serve!
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Made Ahead Breakfast Sandwiches
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| Brown'N Serve round sausage patties any flavor ($1 a box) |
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| Pop sausages in the microwave until thawed |
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| Scramble about 6-8 eggs. (About another $1) Add salt and pepper to taste |
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| Seperate english muffins and lightly toast (Package of 5 muffins another $1) Since the sausage patties are small I used 1 1/2. I used a round cookie cutter to cut the scrambled eggs and american cheese (1/2 pkg of cheese at about another $1) |
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| Finished Sausage, Egg, Cheese Muffins |
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Package in Ziplock. Store in refrig. til ready to use. Use within week. Remove from package, put on microwave safe plate, cook on high for 35 seconds Cooks evenly! Total Cost for 5 muffin sandwiches~ $4 and fresh, not frozen. |
Good Ol' Potato Soup
My mom's recipe for potato soup!  |
| Ingredients~ 6 medium sized potatoes 1 medium onion or handful of onion flakes 2 cups chicken broth 1 can Milnot 2 TBS butter 1 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp celery salt or seed few grains of cayenne pepper Directions~ Peel and cube potatoes in medium chunks. Boil, then simmer covered until tender. Drain and mash half of potatoes with potato masher, this is your potato pulp. Add all ingredients to potatoes, stirring in pulp. Cook over medium heat til nice and warm. Serves 6 |
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I doubled recipe and made a big batch to share. Makes a great comfort food. |
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