Monday, April 26, 2010

13 years already?!

How did my baby girl become 13 years old?!! I still shake my head as I see her, now taller than me, so beautiful inside and out... and think 13 years have passed. I am very proud of the amazing woman she is becoming. She is such a blessing to us!
This was a busy card! A little bit of this & that on there to make it uniquely hers. :)
Image is by Whipper Snapper (love their stamps!!)
Aha, see that metal rimmed tag again?!
A little metal tag on the side (yes, it was in the hoarding pile)....
a rub on, some sparkly numbers....
It was a fun card to sit and add to until I thought it was good. :)
The ribbon along the top is another good way to use up those snippet pieces (you're keeping them now aren't you?!) LOL.
.j.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

My son's favorite sauce, hands down! We serve this over cheese tortellini :)
ENJOY!
Sauce Rosee

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes (usually use red peppers, minced)
  • 2 tablespoons minced onion (we typically use more than use, onion lovers)
  • 2 tablespoons minced green bell pepper
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 7 ounces tomato sauce (I use Prego or Ragu instead of plain t. sauce)
  • 1/2 teaspoon chicken soup base
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 1/2 pound cheese tortellini
  • 6 fluid ounces heavy cream (or skim milk with a tbsp. of flour!)
  • 1/2 cup white wine (we use apple juice)

Directions

  1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-low heat and add basil, thyme, oregano, parsley and dried red pepper flakes; stir together.
  2. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic and cook until onions are transparent; add tomato sauce and bring to a boil, stirring well. Add chicken bouillon and sugar; stir.
  3. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
  4. Reduce heat, add cream and wine; bring close to a boil, stirring constantly. Add pasta and serve.

Monday, April 19, 2010

8 months until the Christmas RUSH!

HA! Who wants to hear about Christmas chaos in April? If you live at my house you hear the countdown every time the month rolls around to the 25th. "Hey, only 10 months until Christmas...... only 9 months until Christmas..." So I guess it's rubbing off on me a little :).
This was a Christmas thanks I sent out last year to a special friend who goes above & beyond with her love & kindness (Hi Tania!!!).
She spoiled us with a surprise Christmas package and what a blessing it was!
Dare I say now how "easy" the card was?! LOL. I loved this Basic Grey background paper with all those prezzies. How could I cover them up? So I decided to let THEM be the focus of the card. :) A nice thick bow, a little sentiment with some bling. Done.
And into the mail it went :)
Do you have someone who could use a little card of thanks? I challenge you not to delay - sometimes it gets so late, we have great intentions, but that passed time makes us think it's been too long...
Get stamping :)
.j.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Recipe Wednesday - are you seeing a pattern? :)

A friend emailed this recipe to me. WOW, does it look good. I'm going to HAVE to try it when we get back to Canada.
Tell me how delicious it is - I *know* you want to try it!!!
I don't have an air popper.... might have to try the 'ol paper bag in the microwave trick, or a pinch of oil in a pot.

Chocolate Popcorn:
1/2 cup popping corn (pop in air popper)

Mix with:
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup grated orange peel
1 cup cornflakes
1 cup chopped deluxe mix nuts

Melt: Micro wave 45 sec stir, repeat till chocolate is melted
4 cups white chocolate melting wafers

Pour over dry ingredients, stir and spread on baking sheet to cool

Enjoy!

Monday, April 12, 2010

another cupcake :)

Sweetness.
Stickles on the cupcake.
(hard to tell in the photo)
Metal Edge Rim.
(this is my UN-hoarding year!!!)
Piece of Cake Simplicity.
.j.

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Zucchini (NO... BANANA!!!) Coconut Loaf

This bread is seriously yummy. I love the chewiness of the coconut too. Mmmm. However, I was out of zucchini, and had some insanely ripe bananas on the counter and I thought..... Hmmmm.... I could probably substitute banana in there. M-M-Good! If you have zucchini try that, if not, don't we ALL have over ripe bananas on our counters. Try my version and tell me what you think :)
Happy Baking,
.j.

Zucchini (or Banana) Coconut Loaf
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup grated zucchini
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup flaked coconut
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 cup currants

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
  2. In small pan boil one cup water. Add currants or raisins, and boil for two minutes. Drain.
  3. In mixing bowl beat egg, oil, and sugar. Stir in zucchini and vanilla.
  4. In another bowl, measure flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, coconut, walnuts, and currants or raisins. Stir to combine thoroughly. Pour all at once over batter in mixing bowl. Stir to moisten. Turn into greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
  5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Turn out on rack. Cool and wrap.

Monday, April 05, 2010

Happy Birthday to you.....

A card to share. Image is from Penny Black - cute little critters. :)
A little tip about ribbon. I only had a couple snippets of this ribbon (yes, I'm one of *those* people who keep those little ribbon pieces) so I obviously didn't have enough to go AROUND the card. Here I was able to just use those little ends and with the help of a couple glue dots, I was able to secure them around each corner. A touch of ribbon even if the supply is low :) Might be hard to see the pair of dew drops in the top & bottom corners. Love those due drops. Starting to think a bit about my baby announcements. Let me know if you have a link of inspiration for me :)
Enjoy your day,
.j.