Inspiration Sunday: Be Healthy!

Let's do a complete 180 from last Sunday, and try to be healthy, getting all of our vitamins!

We all have our comfort foods, our cooking staples, and the things we know we shouldn't eat as much of, but we do anyways. Though these things aren't horrible for you, they could be better. And here is how to make them a little bit better for you and your family.

Whole Wheat, Rice, and TriColor Pasta
I am so guilty of over-indulging on pasta. I could (and have) eaten pasta for every meal of the day. So here is something to think of the next time you cook pasta. Don't opt for the regular, try a whole wheat pasta (for tons more fiber) or even a rice pasta (less calories, more protein). My favorite way to sneak some veggies in is using a TriColor pasta (like rotini, or macaroni). This pasta will add tomatoes and spinach, so you don't have to worry (too much) if you skip your green veggie side dish.

Veggie Pasta Sauce
Whether you make your pasta sauce at home, or you buy jarred sauce, you can easily sneak some healthy into your pasta! Using a food processor or blender, blend down some veggies until they are pretty smooth and mix it in with your pasta sauce. Carrotts, zucchini, red bell peppers, squash, and broccoli all make great additions. This works for tomato sauces and cheese sauces, so just experiment and find the combinations you like!This is perfect for kids who refuse to eat there veggies too.

"Bread" Crumbs
If you are making meatballs or meatloaf, try using oat bran instead of your normal breadcrumbs. It adds more wholesome goodness, and holds a little more moisture. So if you are doing a baked chicken breast, this may not be ideal, but if you are mixing it in with something, this can be a big plus because it can help keep the things you eat from drying out while baking.

Remember to Add Fruit
You can jazz up a simple grilled cheese sandwich or quesadilla with some fruit. I have read (but yet to try) that adding some tropical fruits (think Mangoes and Pineapples) to quesadilla can give it a sweet kick and makes it a great treat for kids and adults! Tomato is a fruit too and a slice or three is always welcome on a grilled cheese sandwich (heirloom tomatoes are the best). Apples and pears (I have heard) taste great on a grilled cheese too.

Turkey, Turkey, Turkey
I cannot stress enough how much healthier white meat Turkey is than beef. I know that Turkey is no where near as delicious to the red-meat lover like myself, BUT if you substitute one red-meat meal a week with turkey you can save that much fat.

Share your easy ways to make your food a little more healthy! Leave a comment below :)

Foodie Friday: Three-Ingredient Pumpkin Bread

This is probably easiest pumpkin bread (or muffins if you prefer) you have ever made! I have seen this recipe in a couple of places and finally decided to try it! I added some spice (literally) and it turned out lovely. The bread has a very soft pumpkin flavor, which is a nice break from the super-potent pumpkin spice things everywhere these days. And since Halloween is a couple of days away, Thanksgiving season is pretty much here, so this will be a wonderful treat to make for family get-togethers, or cozy nights in! So here it goes. 

This recipe makes one(1) 5x9" loaf pan, not filled all the way up. You could definitely manage to use a smaller loaf pan. Or 1 dozen muffins, if not a little more.

You will need:

• 1 Classic Butter Recipe cake mix
• 1 can of Libby's condensed pumpkin
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tbsp butter (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350F
2. Mix together your cake mix, pumpkin, and pumpkin pie spice
3. Grease your pan and scrape all of your dough in, patting the pan and using a spoon to level the dough out
4. Bake about 35 minutes for a loaf, or 20-25 minutes for muffins
5. Immediately after removing the pumpkin bread, melt the butter and spread it on top of the loaf using a basting brush or spoon
6. Let loaf cool for at least 10 minutes before removing from pan
7. After removed from pan, sprinkle on some powdered sugar for a sweet topping
8. Cut and enjoy

 Looks delicious, doesn't it? Well don't take my word for it! Try it for yourself! It's so simple, and no one will ever guess it took you less than five minutes of actual prep time!

Another idea:
Use a mini-muffin pan, no muffin cups (just non-stick spray), and afterwards lightly coat them in melted butter, then dip them in a cinnamon-sugar mixture and you have "Pumpkin Poppers," a two-bite size treat that will be sure to please!

Craft Tuesday: How NOT to Frost Glass

I have seen frosting glass jars done several ways, most of which involve Armour Etch. I did not want to use that since it is a corrosive and I have a little one at home. Any chance of him getting ANY of that in/on him would be no good at all. So I saw the idea of using FolkArt Enamels in "Frost Medium." I honestly do not remember what website I saw this on, but their glass jar project turned out beautifully, as if they had used the real Armour Etch. I thought to myself "Fantastic! What a wonderful thing! I must print off a coupon and buy it straight away!"

And I did.

And I tried it.

And it did not work.

It really didn't fail terribly, this is true. It could have been much worse. It just didn't meet my expectations.

Perhaps my technique was not up to par, but I used a foam brush and the frosting ended up having brush strokes in it. It actually turned out to look pretty cool (my fiance said it reminded him of woodgrain), but it was not the desired "frosted" look for which I was aiming. And the "stencils" I used did not work at all (although, I believe that it just because they were too thick). So here is what I did, and what you SHOULDN'T do. Even though I wasn't entirely successful, I would like you to learn from my mistakes and then you will be able to do it on your own!


I started with another failed project, so maybe this jar is just jinxed. Remember the hot glue gun art project? I started with hot gluing on a jar, and it peeled off? Yah, that jar.

You will need:

• Glass object to be frosted
• FolkArt Enamels in Frost Medium (if you so desire) or Armour Etch
• Sponge brush
• A flat stencil (like a flat sticker or even tape for a simple design)

First I cleaned the jar and then wiped it completely dry.  I then applied my "stencil." I chose some foam letters to spell out "NOEL." These letters were entirely too thick and the frost paint built up around the edges. Mistake #1.

Right side: No frost
Left side: Single coat of frost

Next I poured some frost paint onto a paper plate. Using a sponge brush I did a VERY light coat (mistake #2) of frost paint vertically around the jar. I would suggest doing a heavier coat (not so thick that you can't see through it) and letting it dry longer.

I then decided I wanted to apply a second coat that went horizontally. Mistakes #3 and #4. I didn't wait long enough between coats, and since I was working AGAINST the direction of the previous coat, it pulled up the previous coat. Oops. Also, I ended up not liking the cross-hatched look it created, but that's more of a personal opinion thing than a real mistake.

After I did 4 coats, I peeled off the stencils. They looked horrible. Like I said, the letters I chose were just all wrong. When YOU do this project, please, please learn from AT LEAST that mistake.

 So, the side of the jar WITHOUT stencils (above) turned out fairly well. You could see the texture from the brush, which I wasn't aiming for, but it is kind of a cool look.

Then I had an idea. I see people tinting jars with mod podge+paint, so what would happen if I swirled some of THIS on the inside of another glass jar? Luckily I had a spare, cleaned-out baby food jar. So I tested it and gave it a milk-glass look, and then when it dried completely it looked frosted, but there were some air bubbles. Pretty neat, but it took A LOT of paint for such a little jar. Perhaps if I have actually mixed it with Mod Podge. I just wasn't on my A game that night, was I?


So I wish I could have had a more successful project, but I think that one cannot really be creative unless they fail every once in a while.

Let me know what you have done or want to try using frosting or glass jars! Comment or submit your pictures and project ideas to be featured on Brag Thursday. I can't wait to hear all of your terrific ideas!

Inspiration Sunday: Texas State Fair

Last weekend I took the train into Fair Park in Dallas and went to the State Fair for the second time in my entire life. I now understand one more reason why America is a "fat nation." According to my scale, I gained 6 pounds that day. I ate so many fried foods, I feel like I will be sweating peanut oil for the next week. And you wouldn't believe some of the fried things I didn't get (deep fried frozen margarita, fried salsa, and fried caviar are among the many).

Ever since, I have been thinking about what I could deep fry at home that might be as magnificent as the fried pumpkin pie I had. That's right, fried pumpkin pie. If you think it sounds gross, you are WRONG. It may be one of the best things I've ever eaten. Period. Here are some of the other ridiculous things I did eat while I was there:

• Fried pumpkin pie (eaten too quickly by everyone to get a picture)
• Fried s'mores
• Fried cookie dough (pictured right)
• Fried peanut butter, jelly, and banana
• Fried butter (pictured below. Sounds gross, but just imagine a hot, very buttery biscuit, that you can only eat half of because its so rich)
• Best "corny" dog ever

"Pose with your butter!"

My fiance Jason and I have already decided that we are attempting the pumpkin pie ourselves, but I am thinking apple pie would be fantastic too. And they have fried ice cream (which confuses me almost as much as the deep fried frozen margarita), so what about other fried cold delicacies? Custards, puddings.

I am interested in someone taking some sweet potato bites and deep frying them. Now that's a great thanksgiving sidedish. How about fried cranberry sauce, or stuffing? People already fry the turkey, so I say let's fry the whole meal!

What about breakfast foods? Those are such great comfort foods that people will eat any time of the day. Let's take some pancakes and fry them up! Delicious? Who knows!

I guess what I'm getting at is this: while I have ideas for fried foods, I am only so imaginative when it comes to food. I want to hear from YOU about what YOU like to fry, what you WISH people would fry, or what you would NEVER want to be friend. If I get some good ideas coming my way I'll try them and post them, even if they're disgusting sounding (brussel sprouts anyone?).

Foodie Friday: Chicken Pot Pie...in under an hour

Chicken Pot Pie can take quite a while to make, and it always such a delicious treat, especially on a chilly night. Here is a recipe that will take you about an hour from start to serve, which really is nothing, especially considering 35 minutes of that time is baking time! And my favorite thing about chicken pot pie is that you don't have to have a side dish; your veggies, meat, and bread are all covered.

This recipe makes one large pot pie that serves 3-4. To increase the recipe, I would suggest adding an additional chicken breast and doubling the amount of vegetables. Do not adjust the cream of chicken soup or chicken broth unless you are tripling the recipe.

You will need:

• 1-2 large chicken breasts
• 1 can of cream of chicken soup
• 1-2 packages of 8 crescent rolls (refer to step 8)
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 lb frozen mixed vegetables (I used carrots, green beans, peas, and corn)
• 1/2 tsp Sage
• Salt & pepper
 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Pour chicken broth and frozen vegetables into large skillet
3. Add sage, salt, and pepper
4. Heat over medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until vegetables are just tender
5. While the vegetables are heating, trim and dice your chicken into 1/2" pieces
6. Once the vegetables are tender, add the chicken and cream of chicken soup to the skillet and cook until heated through, about 10 minutes
7. I used an 8x8 baking dish. If you are increasing the recipe you will want to use a larger dish. Spray your baking dish with a non-stick cooking spray like Pam
8. If you are using an 8x8 baking dish, then you can now place half of your crescent roll dough on the bottom of the baking dish.  If you are using a larger dish you can either skip the crescent rolls on the bottom, or open up the second tube of crescent rolls so that one package can be used on the bottom and the other on the top
9. Pour your mixture in the skillet into your baking dish
10. Place the rest of the crescent roll dough on top
11. Cook for 30-35 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and the inside mixture is  bubbling (if you can see it)

Craft Tuesday: DIY Halloween Canvas Bag

 Halloween is less than two weeks away, and whether you celebrate by taking kids trick-or-treating or dressing up and partying, we can all enjoy a simple Halloween craft! You can keep this cute, personalized bag for yourself or gift it to someone! It would make a TERRIFIC trick-or-treating bag for your son/daughter, niece/nephew, etc. etc.

The project itself is not expensive either, which is great news considering Halloween costumes can get pricey. The paint is $5 a tube, the bag is about $3, and the freezer paper is $5 a box (150 sq.ft.). When you consider that so little of the paint and paper is used on this one project, then THIS bag itself cost you less than $4!

There are so many options and your bag design is limited only by how creative you want to get. I wanted something quick and easy, so I did a simple pumpkin design!

You will need:

• 1 canvas bag (I used a 13x13x4")
• Soft* fabric paint (I used matte black and crimson, and metallic silver)
• Freezer paper
• Iron
• Pencil
• Pen
• Sponge brush
• Small paint brush
• Scissors

*I would highly suggest using the Soft fabric paint because it is more flexible. The bag keeps its soft texture and the paint is less likely to crack.

Start by ironing your bag. Then decide on what you want your design to be and how you want it to appear on your bag. I chose a pumpkin and decided I wanted the area around the pumpkin to be painted, but not the pumpkin itself. So I sketched the pumpkin in pencil on the paper side of the freezer paper. I then cut out the pumpkin (picture 1, below) and the parts of the pumpkin I wanted to be painted (the jack-o-lantern's eyes, mouth, and shadows).

Next I decided on how big of a painted area I wanted around the pumpkin. Using a ruler and some scissors I cut out a frame of about 10x10" (picture 2, below). This created the frame for my block of paint which the pumpkin went in. I then placed the freezer paper where I wanted the design on my bag, with the plastic side of the paper facing the bag, and ironed it down (picture 3, below). After I got as much ironed down as I could I began to apply paint. I squirted some of my paint into a separate bowl or plate and used a sponge brush to apply (picture 4, above). Be careful not to layer it on too thick or it will not dry smoothly.

Once your paint has been applied, peel off the freezer paper making the frame, then the inner design (picture 5, below). If you notice in my pictures that the corners are a little messed up, it's because my bag was not completely wrinkle-free. So, when I ironed the freezer paper on, it didn't stick in those corners and the paint bled under the paper a little. It's not a big deal, but it's something that is easily avoidable.

Now, you can embellish it however you like! I used the end of a ballpoint pen (the end you chew on, not the end you write with) and dipped it in the crimson red paint to make the red dotted border (pictures 6 and 7, above). I started with the corners, and then made dots halfway, then halfway between those, then between those, etc, so they were evenly spaced. Then I used the handle end of a small paintbrush and dipped it in the silver paint and dotted inside the black square, to give it a starry, sparkly look (picture 8, above). Lastly, after the paint dried (they say to let it dry for 4 hours, but it only took mine about one and a half hours) I added a little raffia bow, and voila!

What a wonderfully easy craft with unlimited possibilities! I think I will try using the freezer paper again on another bag. I can't wait to share the next thing I make with you, and I am even more excited to see what you make with this method! Don't forget to submit your creations! :)

Foodie Friday: Biscuits, a Southern Delicacy

I have found this same recipe several places described as 7-Up Biscuits and Popeye's biscuits. These are great biscuits that taste just like traditional Southern biscuits to eat any time of day, whether it be with scrambled eggs and bacon, or fried chicken and corn on the cob. The best part is how incredibly simple the recipe is!

This recipe makes 9 rolls. I used an 8x8 baking dish and it fit PERFECTLY. So if you decide to double the batch size or anything, keep that in mind.

You will need:

• 2 cups Bisquick
• 1/2 cup 7-Up
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup (4 tbsp) butter

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Mix together the Bisquick, 7-Up, and sour cream in a mixing bowl
3. On a clean counter or large cutting board, sprinkle a generous amount of Bisquick
4. Before you put the dough onto the prepared surface, sprinkle some extra Bisquick on to the dough and put some on your hands. The dough is very soft and very sticky. The extra Bisquick will keep it from sticking to you. Don't be afraid to sprinkle a little bit more onto the dough once you transfer it either
5. Pat the dough out, keeping in mind the size and shape of the dish you are using to bake the biscuits. I tried to pat mine out to an 8x8 square
6. Melt your butter and pour it into the bottom of the baking dish
7. Using a knife (or even a pizza cutter), cut the biscuits (I did 3 rows of 3) and place them into the baking dish
8. Sprinkle a bit of Bisquick onto the top of the biscuits
9. Bake for 13 -15 minutes, or until golden brown on top

Craft Tuesday: DIY Rope Pencil Holder

With only a few materials, you can make a pencil cup, bowl, anything really, following these steps. I was in need of a new pencil holder, but if you need something else, it's pretty easy to switch out your "mold."

You will need:
Rope (I used a thin hemp rope. The thicker, stronger the rope, the sturdier the cup or bowl)
Hot Glue Gun
Tape
A mold (a sturdy glass, like pyrex, cup or bowl)

Start by wrapping a piece of tape around the end of the rope, and cutting that taped piece in half. Set your hot glue gun on LOW. I started with mine on high and ending up getting big globs of glue (this could be because I used a small rope). Fold it over and place a dab of hot glue on and hold until it dries.

Begin looping the rope around, applying strips of hot glue about 1 inch long. Press the glued section down and apply more glue. Repeat until the size of your circle is 1 full rope width larger than your cup.

Now that you have reached this point, continue in the same fashion. Apply the glue in 2 inch strips.

Tap down the rope with something small. I used the wooden handle of one of my foam brushes.

Continue doing this, occassionally removing your glass mold, to prevent it form getting stuck in there permanently.

If you are doing a straight cylinder (like the vase I used) then you might not be able to get your mold back in all the way. That's fine, as long as you can get a portion of it in. If you are working with a bowl or something that gets wider as it goes up, you probably won't have to worry about that.

Once you reach your desired height (mine was 4 1/2" high) then tape and trim this end, and tuck it under, placing hot glue on the inside.

Ta-Dah! After it dries (which will be very quickly with hot glue), load up your pencils and enjoy!

You can use this same technique for many other projects, so use your imagination! Make a fruit bowl (out of heavier rope), or do a whole coordinating desk set (paper tray, paperclip holder, etc). Go nuts!

Inspiration Sunday: Cookie Cutters

Cookie Cutters from Sur La Table

Cookie cutters can be used for so much more other than JUST cookies.

Here is a collection of ideas of things to do with cookie cutters OTHER than cut your sugar cookies! (all of these images are ideas I have collected. I don't own any of them. I don't know where a lot of them are from, I can assume just a lot of great blogs. If one of these images is yours, please email me and I'd be happy to link back to your blog)


As decoration:

Make a wreath, for any holiday!
From Better Homes & Gardens

A garland, for any party! Then make them the favors!

Decorate the insides to make ornaments (from BeckyShander.com)...

...or just tie them on the tree as is!

Frame a collection of cookie cutters as decoration,
for the kitchen, or even outside.

Line them up on a shelf or a mantle for a special greeting
From Better Homes & Gardens

Candles & Soaps:

Make cookie cutter soaps!

Make small (floating?) candles
From Martha Stewart

Use a cookie cutters to "engrave" onto a store-
bought pillar candle. Terrific gift, or for your mantle

Other Foods:

Use them when you make eggs

Cut out brownies or cake

Theme a lunch with fun shaped sandwiches. Think
of all the possibilities!
From Cookie Cutter Lunch

Cut fruit for a fun fruit salad, or for a unique sundae topper

Miscellaneous:

Simple pumpkin carving with cookie cutters

Just use a rubber mallet!

Cookie cutters as stamps- a great craft for kids!

As a gift with a recipe, or with a cookie mix in a jar!