Category Archives: Recipes

Sep11

DIY – Kid’s Picnic Table

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I’m laughing because as I went to find the link I used for this table, I realized I put the legs on the wrong side of the supports!!  LOL  Anywho,  as I’ve mentioned before, I have a lot of scrap wood in my barn.  I also have some 2×4’s that my neighbor gave me because they were starting to warp.

This is where I just realized I messed up.  The legs should have been on the other side of those supports.  Now I understand why my center support was shorter than it was suppose to be, lol.  Well . . . it looks good and should be ok?! right?!

I had pressure treated wood left over I used for the table top & enough of the warped 2×4’s to use for the rest.

Just need to stain or paint it!  Here’s the original link – it’s an Ana White project:  http://www.ana-white.com/2010/04/plans-bigger-kids-picnic-table.html

 

 

Sep7

Fresh from the Garden! Pepper Jelly

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It’s pepper jelly time again!  This is my second year of growing bell peppers.  My bell pepper plants are producing some really good bell peppers this year.  I think it’s the “Tums”.  Every couple of weeks I push a “Tums” (I use plain ole fruity tums – generic brand) down into the ground around the base of the plant.  I think the calcium is doing the trick.  I haven’t experienced any blossom rot this year.  This is what you need: 1 1/2 cup chopped bell peppers, 1 1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar,  6 1/2 cups sugar & 25 shakes of Tabasco – I used Texas Pete.  Add those 4 ingredients to a pot.

Bring to full boil over high heat. Remove and set aside for 20 minutes. Return to heat, bring to full rolling boil and boil for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat, add 1 certo liquid package and 1 teaspoon green food coloring. Stir, skim if necessary, and pour into prepared mason jars.

Here’s my set up.  Pot with pepper jelly & ladle, funnel, small pot of boiling water with lids, 4 oz mason jars (hot out of dishwasher) and the jar rings.  Fill with jelly up to about 1/4″ – 1/2″ from the top of the jar, place hot lid on and twist on (with oven mitt) the jar ring.  I turn the jars upside down until all jars are filled and I’ve cleaned up my mess.  I want that hot jelly to get that lid hot for a good seal.

I got 14 – 4 oz jars out of this batch and another batch to do this weekend.  My bell peppers are a plenty!  LOL  –  4 oz jars are the perfect size to pour over 1 8oz block of cream cheese.  I love to use “Wheat Thins” as the dipper – a delicious combo!

 

Aug7

Yard Yahtzee

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I found this wooden dice game clearanced at Michael’s for $8!!  I decided to give the dice a couple coats of polyurethane (I had it on hand) to help preserve the dots.  Knowing this would be used outside and knowing that I don’t have any grass in my backyard, I decided I needed to make a box to use for rolling the dice.  I figured they wouldn’t last too long rolling them on concrete, lol.

I decided to make the box 2’x4′ so I bought (2) – 1″x4″x6′ boards from Home Depot.  Cut 2′ off of them and screwed the boards together to make the box.  I had a piece of scrap plywood laying around so I cut it to size.

I laid the frame upside down to fit the plywood.  Then I glued and screwed the plywood to the frame.  I have a ton of these screws left over from adding my addition.

Just like I say in scrapbooking – save your scraps!  I had this piece of outdoor carpet rug stuff leftover from my daughter’s bridal shower (I used it for a backdrop).  So I cut it to size and used my staple gun to attach it to the plywood bottom.

A little paint and voila!  Can’t wait to use it!

Jul28

Pioneer Woman – Betsy

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I came across these in Walmart the other day when I was looking for mason jars.  Oh my word – cutest jars EVER!!!  I love the colors on the lids – perfect for my pantry – also love the embossed pattern!!  They’re each 16 oz. and sold in a 4 pack for less that $10 – LOVE!!  Here’s the link on Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/ip/The-Pioneer-Woman-Betsy-16Oz-Storage-Jars-4Pk-Set-of-4/148957134

Happy Friday!

Jul26

WOW Me Wednesday!

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Foil packets on the grill!!!!  I don’t have central air conditioning so it’s a bit warm in my house during the summer months and I HATE to turn my oven on.  I found some “Grill Packet” recipes on Pinterest and gave one a try.  This one is called “Southwestern Chicken”.

I mixed one can of kernel corn, one can of rotel w/lime, one can of black beans and 1 TBS. of taco seasoning.  I did buy “grill” foil for these.  I scooped some of the mixture onto the foil, added a chicken breast with some salt & pepper and also squeezed some lime on it.  I preheated my grill too about 400 degrees.  It was 3 of my burners lit to about medium.

I probably cooked them a little longer than needed but I was afraid of the chicken not being cooked.  This was about 45 min. soooo 35 min. probably would have been enough.

After it cooked I added some cheese, guac and I thinned out some sour cream with fresh lime juice.  I forgot to add the cilantro!  It was yummy!!!

Here is the original link: http://www.dessertnowdinnerlater.com/southwestern-chicken-packets/

 

Jul24

Long Lasting Lemons

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I had seen this idea on Pinterest and it works.  I was going out of town and had recently purchased these lemons so I thought I’d give it a try.  Nothing to loose cause they surely would have been rotten by the time I returned.  I washed them first and then covered them in water in a wide mouth mason jar.  I did this on July 4th, left on the 5th and returned to town on the 14th.  I actually cut one of them last night – 3 weeks later and it was still perfectly fresh and juicy, great idea.  Here’s the original link:  http://www.thehappierhomemaker.com/how-to-keep-lemons-fresh-longer/

Jun28

Vintage Market Days – Drinks

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Slushes!!  I picked up a couple of these drink mixes.  You just add alcohol or wine, water & freeze!  I’ll post later when I actually use them but I can tell you that the samples was quite yummy!  You can find them on Facebook – A Perfect Cocktail.

Jun9

Homemade Ice Cream!

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Summer has arrived and it’s going to be in the 90’s this weekend!  A bit hot for me but it is a good time for some homemade ice cream.  Amie bought this Cuisinart for me a few years ago for Mother’s Day.  There is nothing like homemade ice cream.  I love this recipe and if you have a Cuisinart Ice Cream maker then you really need to give this a try.  Here you go:

Chocolate Mint Chip

1 cup Whole Milk

½ cup Granulated Sugar

8 oz. Choc Chips of your choice (I used mint chips cause I had them & I measured out 1 cup of chips for the processor and add the rest of the bag to the final process)

2 cups (1 pint) heavy cream – well chilled

1 ½ teaspoon peppermint extract

In a blender or food processor fitted with a metal blade, pulse sugar & 8 oz of chips until the chips are finely chopped (easier to melt).  Heat the whole milk until it’s just bubbling around the edges.  Once milk is heated – add to food processor with the sugar & chips, process until well blended. Then transfer to medium bowl to cool completely.  Once cooled, stir in the heavy cream and peppermint extract.  Chill in fridge for 30 minutes or longer.

Turn machine on and pour chilled mixture into your freezer bowl through the lid spout.  Let thicken about 25 minutes. Then I add the rest of my chips from the bag and let it thicken 5 more minutes. Eat it now or put into a freezer container to harden. ENJOY!

May16

DIY Knob Hanger

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I’ve been wanting some knobs in my closet to hang clothes on.  I had some pink crystally knobs I found clearanced at Hobbs a couple years ago.  Had a couple knobs left over from the shelf I hung in my bathroom and bought a few more at Hobbs last week when they were 50% off (Hobbs = Hobby Lobby).  Also found this pre-made wood slat hanger for $18 (using my 40% off coupon, of course, lol).  It was worth $18 to me NOT to have to go buy the wood, chop the wood and sand the wood.

I painted every other slat with simple craft paint.

Then Modge-Podge’d scrapbook paper onto the other slats.  Just squirted the Modge Podge on and smoothed it out with a sponge brush.  Once the paper was down I added a Modge Podge coat to the top and also a coat to the painted slats so they all had the same matte finish.  FYI – printed cardstock was a bit better to use verses regular scrapbook paper.  The paper worked just fine but if you’re a picky – the paper can wrinkle (i thought it added more character) but the cardstock is thicker so it didn’t wrinkle.

Then I took it outside to my work table, better known as my picnic table and sanded off the edges and a bit off the top of the boards.

I wanted them to look a little aged so I added some “Burnt Umber” paint (it’s outdoor paint but I already had it).  I watered it down a bit but that wasn’t enough. So . . .

I sponge brushed it on the edges (red board) and then used a wet paper towel to wipe it off – wiping over the whole board.  The floral on right is already done.

These boards are brown washed.  It’s kind of like scrapbooking when you rub the edges of your paper with a brown ink pad. The sheen is still on the boards from the Matte Modge Podge but the edges look a little worn with the brown paint.

Got my drill & paddle bit out and added my knobs!  LOVE IT!!!!

Here are some close up pics . . . It’s a very easy, fun and not expensive project to do!  This pre-made wood slat is about 30″ long but Hobbs has a great variety of pre-made wood projects. I want to make more!!!