Just Being Crafty

I come from a large family, my Mother has 39 grandchildren. That means we have plenty of events. Birthdays, graduations, weddings and showers. I often give cash, every ones favorite color is green. But occasionally I get creative!
I had two baby showers today and I had fun. Thanks to the blog world there are many creative ideas. I was checking out one of my favorite quilting blogs 'Diary of a Quilter' and found a tutorial for these cute burp cloths. She promises they are easy and they were. I have done little sewing in the past 20 years and needed a successful project. They were super easy and made a fun gift.
Next project a quilt, according to 'Diary of a Quilter' I can do it. I'll keep you posted.

Crustless Ham and Artichoke Quiche

Crustless Ham and Artichoke Quiche


I don't often re post a recipe but this quiche is just too good to be hidden. We made it for dinner tonight and it was delicious. It stood on it's own, it didn't need salsa, ketchup or any thing.
I like this recipe because it doesn't have a crust. You save time and calories. Tonight we made it with fat free plain yogurt and low fat cottage cheese. We used mini Bella mushrooms and a jar of marinated artichoke hearts. This is a great recipe to 'clean out' the cheese drawer. We used Parmesan, Gruyere and medium cheddar. It was a great combo. I thought about adding some blanched asparagus. So you really can't go wrong 
with this quiche, there are so many ways to make it yours. Try it soon!


Crustless Ham and Artichoke Quiche

Saute' 1/4 pound sliced mushrooms in a little butter

Add to:
4 eggs, well beaten
1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
1 cup low fat cottage cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup flour
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 drops Tabasco
1 ½ cups shredded cheese, I like pepper jack or sharp cheddar
¾ cup artichoke hearts, diced
1 cup diced ham

Pour in a greased 10 inch quiche pan. Bake 350 35-45 minutes till golden brown and knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm or cold with diced tomatoes or fresh salsa. This is another great recipe from Judi Sears. It is perfect for weekend brunch, leftovers (if you have them--and we do now there are just two of us) make a great lunch. This recipe is in my 'most requested' file. Enjoy!

SRC--Ginger, Pineapple, Cashew Fried Rice

 It's another great month for SRC! This month I was assigned A Couple in the Kitchen. These bloggers have some great dishes. I think they live on the east coast--they have plenty of yummy looking seafood dishes. Living in landlocked Utah our seafood comes from Costco.
The recipe I chose was a yummy rice dish, Ginger, Pineapple, Cashew Fried Rice, what a wonderful flavor combination. The recipe called for snap peas, I used red pepper as that is what I had. Red pepper is always a great addition but next time I make this dish I'll make sure I have snap peas. They would add some great color and flavor to this dish. Fresh pineapple adds such a fun flavor to this rice dish and cashews are the finishing touch. I served this rice with a spicy shrimp and asparagus dish. Together they were amazing.
Check out A Couple in the Kitchen  their blog is full of yummy dinner ideas. I have a list of recipes to try.

Simple Math and a Stick of Butter

This afternoon there were 4 adults and 4 children in the house.  One would think that this 1:1 ratio would prevent any of the children from getting into trouble.  It's simple math, really.  Consequently three of the adults were involved in some pretty heavy conversation and didn't notice the youngest of the children sneak away from the kitchen with a prize.  Thankfully one of the adults was attentive to the children and realized that somehow Laney had retreived a stick of butter from the kitchen.  It was melting in her hands and she was happily eating and enjoying her find!

It provided plenty of laughs, some great photos, and a mess!  

We can't remember where we were in our conversation, and enjoyed the laughter. Sometimes a stick of butter really does solve all problems. 

*And now we are googling "How to get black ink out of white leather".  She's at it again...*

Orange Date Muffins

This recipe has been in my file for years. I have no idea where it came from I only know that is is delicious. Oranges are plentiful, sweet and juicy right now. It is the perfect time to enjoy this brunch delight.
This recipe comes together in minutes using a food processor or Pampered Chef Chopper. Orange, dates and pecans combine to make one delicious muffin.


Orange Date Muffins
Mix together and set aside:
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup chopped dates
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
In food processor chop 1 whole orange measure 1 cup, if you are lacking a bit add orange juice or milk to fill cup. Add 1/3 cup melted butter and 1 egg. Combine wet and dry ingredients and stir just until moistened. Bake in greased muffin tins for 14-16 minutes at 400 degrees. Cool and frost with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting.

Kettle Corn and a Staff

I've always joked that I could do what Martha Stewart does if I had a 'staff'. Well I'm happy to say that I've arrived! My daughter and her sweet family are living with us for few months. Jill is one creative gal. I was meeting with some friends and asked Jill to make a treat for me to share. This is what she came up with.

Kettle Corn
Pop 1/2 cup pop corn in an air popper, remove unpopped kernels. Melt four ounces of butter, add 6 Tablespoons sugar and a pinch of salt. Cook and stir over low heat until mixture is thick and sugar is dissolved. Pour mixture over popcorn and stir well. Spread popcorn on a cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 300 degrees. Cool and put in a darling box with plenty of ribbons.

I delivered this to my friends, they were impressed. It's a snap I said, when you have a 'staff'. Thanks Jill!

TWD--BWJ White Loaves

I'm happy to be baking again with the TWD bakers. Our new cookbook Baking with Julia is full of wonderful recipes.  I love Dorie's style. I feel like she is in my kitchen baking with me. Her directions are clear and friendly, encouraging me along. Telling me not to worry if, 'the dough comes apart with the addition of butter---beating will bring it back together.' And it did!
Our recipe this week was White Loaves. This recipe came together easily in my Kitchen Aid. Ten minutes of kneading gave my machine a good workout. Better it than me. The dough was silky smooth, wonderful to work with. As it baked the house smelled heavenly. Once it was out of the oven I told the family that Dorie said to wait till the loaves cooled before cutting. They couldn't do it. They ate the complete loaf, quickly and enjoyed every bite.
This recipe will be repeated often. The recipe can be found on Jules Blog, or just purchase the book. We have plenty of new bakers this round, check the TWD site and see how they liked White Loaves.
Could you wait till the bread cooled before you sliced it?? Please tell.

Iced Cinnamon Biscuit

This recipe gives a new meaning to the humble biscuit. Cinnamon, dried fruit and nuts make this perfect for brunch but it's quick enough for everyday.

Iced Cinnamon Biscuit
2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Mix in food processor for a few seconds. Add 1/3 cup cold butter, pulse until Incorporated. Add 3/4 cup buttermilk, 1/2 cup dried fruit (I like dates, dried cherries or dried blueberries), 1/4 cup pecans. Pulse until moistened. Turn dough on floured mat, knead 4-5 turns. Roll dough 1/2 inch thick. Cut, bake in a 425 oven for 12-15 minutes.
Drizzle with a glaze made with powdered sugar, cinnamon and cream. Serve warm.

Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chunk Pecan Pie

A sweet friend, Jocelyn brought me a pie for Christmas. It just happened to be the best pie I have ever tasted. Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chunk Pecan Pie is quite a mix of delicious flavors. I now think that Pecan Pie was meant to include coconut and chocolate. This would be a perfect dessert for your Valentine
Day dinner.

Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chunk Pecan Pie
1 package refrigerated pie crusts
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
4 eggs lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup pecan halves
1 cup flaked coconut, toasted
3/4  cup semisweet chocolate chunks or morsels
Unroll 1 pie crust and place on a lightly floured surface (I love my Roll' pat), lightly brush top of crust with water. Unroll remaining crust and place over bottom crust, gently roll to a 10-11 inch circle. Fit into a 9 inch deep dish pie plate. Fold edges under and crimp.
Stir together the butter, sugar, corn syrup, eggs, vanilla and salt. Gently stir in the pecans, coconut and chocolate. Pour filling in the pie crust.
Bake at 325 for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until set (my pie took an extra 10 minutes). Shield crust after 45 minutes to prevent over browning. Cool overnight. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
I think thr original recipe comes from Thanksgiving Point.

Love

Hello! It's Cindy's daughter, Candise, taking a turn on the blog. My husband and I recently purchased our first home. 2400 square feet of bare walls, vaulted ceilings, and empty floors. We are thrilled to have our own space, and are looking forward to the challenge of making it "home".

Eliza Jane, at the ripe old age of five, is quite excited about holidays and decorations. I have great memories of a fun mom who decorated for each holiday and I am excited to do the same. I decided that I needed to add my creativity to the kindergarten art that decorates each room in our home! Enter Pinterest, with a wealth of ideas and info. I found the idea, read a number of comments and set to work creating my own.

I used a Big Shot to cut the scalloped circles, and attached them to the stryrofoam heart form with small pins. I opted for the pricier wool felt with the hope that it will bring love into our home for years to come!

The idea and general information came from The Idea Room . I found her estimation of 3/4 of a yard to be incorrect. I used close to 2 yards. The wool blend felt is not nearly as wide, and I probably placed mine closer together, a matter of personal preference. Overall I am pleased with how it turned out! (And yes, I counted the circles. I used approximately 185). For more info and instructions check out The Idea Room, this wasn't the only project on the site that made my list!

Baked Chicken Parmesan

So here is a family favorite. The perfect thing to do with chicken tenders purchased at Costco. This recipe came from one of my favorite cookbooks, 'Eat, Drink and Be Chinaberry'. I'm sad to say this cookbook is now out of print. I did find a couple of pricey copies on Amazon.


Baked Chicken Parmesan
10-12 thawed chicken tenders
6 Tablespoons melted butter
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs, fresh or Panko--I've used both
1/2 cup fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano--purchased at Costco
1 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Preheat oven to 400. Mix butter, garlic, mustard and Worcestershire sauce in a shallow bowl. In a second shallow bowl mix together bread crumbs, cheese, salt, pepper and parsley.
Dip chicken tenders in butter mixture then in bread crumb mixture. Place on bar pan. Cook for 20-25 minutes turning once. Serve with steamed veggies. This is one great meal. I made it last week, Max thought it was so yummy he asked me to teach him how to make it. So I had a mini cooking class for Max and Jess. It's an easy dish with big flavor.

Costco Shopping

So, here is part two of my shopping strategy. Shopping at warehouse clubs like Costco or Sam’s club can save you money—if you are a wise shopper.

Some of the things I buy are:

Wheat bread, gourmet LeBrea bread (slice it and freeze in meal size amounts--perfect to have a couple of slices to eat with spaghetti, lasagna or to make a Pannini.

Fruit and vegetables—you must buy large amounts, split a case with a friend if you can’t use it all. Wasted produce is not a bargain. I like to challenge myself to use all six heads of romaine! Watch for out of season produce that looks yummy but costs a fortune. Last week Costco had beautiful looking cherries. They were $9.00 a pound! In January it's probably more cost efficient to stick with citrus fruit and apples. We live in an age where we can get almost anything any time of the year. Eat produce in season, it will taste better and cost less.

Paper products—toilet paper, paper towels, tissue, foil, plastic wrap, storage bags, garbage bags, feminine products etc. Just make sure the sometimes larger size boxes will fit in the space you have for them. Have you noticed that when you get things home from Costco such as mirrors, paintings, furniture etc they often seem bigger than they did at the store. It's a good idea to carry a tape measure in your purse when you shop (thanks Kaytie for this idea, I've used it several times.)

Cleaning supplies such as dish soap, laundry soap, dryer sheets, Windex,. etc I avoid liquid laundry soap. I huge bottle of Tide somehow danced its way off my dryer. It ruined the carpet, I stick to dry Tide. If I really want to save money I buy the Kirkland brand of laundry detergent. It works fine. Avoid detergents with added bleach, it tends to dull your colors and fade your jeans.

Frozen fish, I like the individual wrapped salmon portions. They are delicious, they don't have a great shelf life so use up within a month or two. Boneless skinless chicken tenders are my favorite piece of chicken. This chicken is individually flash frozen so it is easy to use. I can take out just a piece or two as needed. I also purchase boneless, skinless chicken thighs. These are great on the barbecue

Milk, butter, cream, cheese, and yogurt. I always buy bricks of cheese and shred as needed. Wrap unused portion of cheese in foil, it will keep longer.

Real vanilla, pecans, soy sauce, Worcester sauce.

Tuna, pickles, artichoke hearts, olives, canned chicken broth, some canned fruits and veggies.

 Pain relievers, over the counter medications. Shaving cream, razors, Dove soap, Soft Soap.

Things I usually avoid at Costco:

Bakery items such as cakes, pies, cheesecakes, brownies, cookies, muffins etc.

Gourmet prepared dinners, dips, fancy spreads, most frozen prepared foods such as Dino fish sticks, tacquitos, lasagna etc.

Most samples—one bite is usually tasty but a whole meal is nasty!

Big boxes of Oreos, animal crackers, jelly belly's, peanut m&m’s, snack foods. I do realize that their 4 pound bag of Peanut M&M's is a great per ounce price. But--do we really need 4 pounds of Peanut M&M's in the house? Probably not. I do buy some individually packed foods for lunches such as fruit snacks, Gogurt, granola bars but I have to keep them well hidden!

Large bags of brown and powdered sugar, large jars of peanut butter, jelly and jam. They may be a better deal, I personally don't like dealing with such large quantities. I have a huge 64 oz. jar of Mayo I bought at Costco. The price was right but with our smaller family size it is just not worth the inconvenience. It takes up so much room in my fridge.

I price compare on many items such as canned goods, Costco’s everyday prices are often as cheap as grocery stores sale prices. So I can get a good price any day at Costco.

Watch for Costco coupons, use them on items you usually purchase. Watch out for the 3 dollar off a 3 pound jar of Jelly Belly's! I shop just once a month at Costco, otherwise I spend too much—it’s not a good deal if you are out of money!

What are your Costco shopping strategy? What can't you live without and what do you avoid?

Tomorrow I will share my favorite recipe for cooking chicken tenders.

Supermarket Savvy

Several years ago I taught a class on wise grocery shopping. It has some great info that is still pertinent today. It is nothing new but is always a good reminder. Groceries is a big chunk of a our families budget. Be wise and get the most for your money.

I know there are sites all about couponing etc., find a system that works for you. Decide just how much time and energy you have to give. Wise shopping habits should become a way of life.

SUPERMARKET SAVVY

 Cooking, meal planning and smart shopping all go hand in hand. Most of us do not have an unlimited grocery budget. So it is necessary that we be smart shoppers. Listed below are a few ideas that might help you get more for your money! These are just ideas—don’t try them all today; gradual change is always the best. Different ideas work at different times in you life. Decide what your priorities are and implement the ideas that fit your lifestyle.

Use what you buy and buy what you use!  Do not store what you will not use.

Know what you have in your storage room, freezer, and fridge. Some freezer labels and a black marker are a must. I like to make Pasta Sauce, it makes a large batch. I put it in 2 cup containers and label it with the date and contents. Be sure to use these treasures before they become hidden. I think the quality is best if used within 2 months

Buy large quantities of items you use frequently when they are on sale ex. I’ve never paid more than $.79 for a can of olives; when I see them on sale I pick up several cans. Make sure you rotate food.

Study the weekly sales—you don’t need to run to several stores if you don’t want to. Plan your weekly menus around sale items. Ex. last week Kohler's had beef roasts on sale for $1.69 per lb. (I taught this class several years ago, I wish I could get beef rump roasts for $1.69! I think I paid about $2.50 last time I purchased roasts on sale) I purchased several roasts. No, I won’t have roast beef every night! But I won’t have to buy them until they are on sale again. This week there are several Mexican food items on sale; it’s Cinco de Mayo, so I will stock up on green chilies, elPato sauce, salsa etc. This would be a great time to make some Mexican Meat Mix, another dish that makes a lot and freezes well.

Macey's is having a spring case lot sale so this might be a good time to check my canned goods and see what I might need a case of.

Have a group of friends that network—let each other know when you see a good buy. I often get calls from friends letting me know where good deals are. If you find a great bargain let a friend know; she will return the favor!

Set up a checking account for groceries, a set amount of money goes in it each month or week. It is used exclusively for grocery purchases. If you don’t use it all each month it accumulates and it is there when you see a great sale.

Try generic and store brands; they are often much cheaper and high quality. I bought a can of Walmart's diced tomatoes and a can of Hunt's diced tomatoes. I did a blind test with my daughter, we couldn't tell the difference. So I will buy Walmart's diced tomatoes and pocket the savings! Have several kinds of canned tomatoes on hand. Italian seasoned tomatoes make a delicious Tomato Basil Soup. Whole tomatoes make a quick and yummy Pizza Sauce. Try a can before you buy a case.

Make your own bread, pastry, desserts and treats. They taste better, are higher quality and are cheaper. Twinkies sit on store shelves for weeks; that tells you something about the amount of preservatives in them! Eat less treats and junk food!

Tomorrow I will tell you how I feel about Costco--the store that costs $250 per basket, or so it seems.

Perfect Steamed Veggies

If you have ever eaten overcooked cauliflower and broccoli raise your hand. Okay, we are on the same page now. After much trial and error my sweet hubby has found the perfect way to cook these nutrition packed veggies. Our preferred method is the humble steamer. Put about an inch of water in a pan, heat to a boil. Place the steamer in the pan. Add the cauliflower and cook covered for 4 minutes, add broccoli cook for anther 4 minutes. Serve immediately with salt, pepper and a little fresh lemon juice.
This will produce perfect veggies every time.

Made With Love!

When my Dad passed away six years ago one of my brothers said that Dad's possessions were basically the contents of his sock drawer. It was a pretty accurate statement. Dad's hobby was his family.
Years ago I was making Valentine cookies and couldn't find the right cookie cutter. I called my dad and told him what I wanted. He owned a sheet metal shop and was a master at his profession. A few hours later he stopped by my house with the perfect cookie cutter. Made with love.
Every Valentines Day I'm reminded again of my sweet Dad.

I made a pan of Thick and Chewy Cookie Bars cooled them and used my amazing cookie cutter to cut out some large hearts. They were then drizzled with white chocolate tinted pink. Slip this into a glassine bag and you have the perfect valentine.

Linked to A Little Nosh