Day 52: Terrycloth Toothbrush Travel Accessory

Watch out world...I have started sewing!!!  I was blessed enough to have a mom who is a wonderful with a sewing machine...me on the other hand can only sew straight lines.  I want to get out of "sewing" comfort zone & be able to sew more advanced projects.  When looking for a starter project I thought this would be perfect since it is mostly straight lines.

This project is a washcloth that you can carry you family toothbrushes and toothpaste in my you travel.  If you are like me I usually end up throwing them into a Ziploc bag and by the end of the trip the baggie is all wet and gross.  This is a perfect solution...use it while you are traveling and when you get home throw it in the washing machine and its clean for the next trip.

I found this on pinterest, but it wasn't a "project" description but a shop on etsy...I hate when that happens.  I checked out the etsy site and was able to figure it out using a little math and some trail and error.  To check out the etsy site go to www.etsy.com/shop/perfectdarlings

Materials:
Wash clothes (I got mine at Walmart for $1.97)
Ribbon (I used some that I had on hand)
Sewing machine
Thread (any color you choose)

Step 1:  Fold one side of the washcloth 4 inches up.  Pin on the sides (sorry...I only had safety pins.) 

Step 2:  Pin across the top of the opening every 3 inches to make the pockets.  (I used a white pencil to make the 3 inch sections next to the pin.)

Step 3:  On one of the end seams, insert your ribbon and secure it in place with a pin.

Step 4:  Sew all 4 seams, make sure to secure the at the beginning and end of each seam.  (I sewed a few stitches in and then reserved the same amount than sewed the seam down to the end and repeated the same process.)

Step 5:  On the final seam sew the ribbon into place.  Using the same process as the other 3 seams.

Step 6:  Add some tooth brushes and toothpaste, throw into your bag and travel a way!!

Sorry if these directions are a little crude...I am a beginner to the sewing thing and trying to explain it in writing if harder than I thought!!  I will try to update the direction to make them a little clearer.

I made 6 total...I think these will be great little add on gifts.  I already know one is going to my sister in-law in Alaska and one to a FB friend who really encouraged me to start this blog!!

Hopefully this post has maybe inspired you go dust off that sewing machine like I did and try something new!!  Let me know what you think...and if you have any tips or tricks to add leave me a comment.

Day 51: Piggies in a biscuit blanket

I came home from work today I discovered that Mr. J was sick!!  Since it was just me and Little T, I needed a quick and easy, kid-friendly item to make for dinner and Little T REALLY wanted to help make something.  I am in need of a trip to the grocery store, so the cupboards are a little bare and instead of finding my recipe than making it, I went to the fridge to see what I had to work with.  I found cheese, little smokies and biscuits.  Since hot dogs and cheese are in Little T's top 5 favorite things, I decided to make pigs in a blanket.  The recipes I found all called for crescent rolls but crescent roll...biscuit...close enough.  A blanket is a blanket...right?!?  So we made piggies in a biscuit blanket....

Ingredients:
1 tub of crescent rolls (or biscuits)
Little Smokies
Sliced Cheese


Step 1:  Preheat your oven to the temperature that is says on your package of "blanket" material.  The biscuits needed to be cooked at 450 degrees.

Step 2:  Open the tub of biscuits/crescents and separate them.  With the biscuits, it worked best to cut them in half.  (That make it a little easy for Little T to help.)  Spread about each half to make a little strip.

Step 3:  In the middle of each strip add a little smokies and a chunks of cheese.  Wrap each end of the strip to the middle, over lapping in the center.  Place on cookie sheet.

Step 4:  Bake for the amount of time on the package.  (The biscuits bake for 8-10 minutes)

This was a great dinner to let Little T help with...besides cutting the biscuits in half there was no knives involved.  I just let Little T rip the cheese apart. 

I will give this recipe a 4...I think I like them with the biscuits better!!  The biscuit was crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.  Plus add a little smokie and some cheese and how could you not like it!!

Little T REALLY he enjoyed making and eating them!!  I think he had 6!!

Day 50: Mac and Cheese

Today is the day to try this cream of something soup mix out!!!  Hopefully I've had you on pins and needles since yesterday ;)  Its moment of truth time.  Little T loves...I mean LOVES mac and cheese.  He would eat it everyday for every meal if we would let him.

I found this recipe on the same blog as the dry mix was.  Its pretty easy to make and I had everything on hand that I needed.

Ingredients:

Cooked pasta

Cream of something soup, thickened

Cheddar cheese, grated

Chicken, shredded

Bacon, cooked and diced

Salt and pepper to taste

Step 1:  Cook pasta and preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 2:  Mix together and pour into a 13x9 baking dish.  Cover and bake for 25-30 minutes and until bubbling.  I added panko breadcrumbs to mine.

With this recipe you can add anything to it...different meats...vegetables pretty much anything you want.

I would rate this a 3...it was easy and showcased the cream of something soup really well.  I would have actually liked a little more sauce.  I would double the cream of something mix and add extra cheese!!  The cheesier the better.  But this is a simple go to recipe.  And yes the pepper was way TOO peppery!!  Best of luck!

Day 49: Cream of Something Soup Mix

Most people think that the 3 yr old in my house would be the picky eater...guess again it is Mr J!!  He doesn't like cream of celery, mushrooms, onions, green peppers...all the basics of most meals!!  So at my house it is difficult to make recipes that call for cream of (fill in the blank) soup.  So when I found this recipe on Pinterest I was super duper excited!!  All the cream of ____ soup issues were no more!!!  Plus it doesn't have all the "extra" chemical additives in it.

The original recipe can be found at 1orangegiraffe.blogspot.com

Ingredients:

1 c non-fat dried milk

3/4 c cornstarch

1/4 c bouillon (if you have cubes you have to smash them)

 *Note:  You can use whatever kind you like (vegetable, beef, chicken)

4 Tbsp freeze dried onion

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp pepper

Step 1:  Mix all the ingredients together and store in a air tight container.

Step 2:  To make: add 1/3 c dry mix with 1 1/4 c water.  Cook until thick, whisk often.

I am rating this one a 3 for a few reasons #1 I am not a huge pepper fan...and 1 tsp of pepper was A LOT!!  All I could taste was pepper.  #2 I used chicken bouillon and with basil and thyme (which are used a lot with chicken) I don't know how it will work out for a recipe with beef.  I am going to try and fix it so its not so peppery.

As luck would have it right after I made this recipe, I found another recipe that didn' have the basil and thyme in it...bummer.  I will out that recipe below so you can decide which one you would like to try.

Tomorrow I will be using this in a recipe...we'll see how it works...fingers crossed.

This recipe can be found at onegoodthingbyjillee.com

Alternative recipe:

2 cups powdered milk

3/4 c cornstarch

1/4 c instant chicken bouillon (or other of your choice)

2 Tbsp dried onion flakes

2 tsp Italian seasoning

1/3 cup of mix to 1 1/4 c water.  Whisk until blended, cook and stir on stove top until thickened.

Day 48: Classic Swedish Meatballs

Beside a theme of quick and easy, I am also on a little of a comfort food kick.  It must be the winter weather getting to me.  Few things can be more comforting than meatballs, mash potatoes and gravy?!?  I love me some creamy mashed potatoes....yummo!!

The original recipe can be found at savoringthemthyme.com

Ingredients:

Meatballs

3 slices bread

1/2 c milk

1/2 small onion, minced

2 gloves of garlic, minced

4 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided

1 1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 1/4 lbs ground pork

3/4 lb ground beef

2 large eggs

a handful of parsley, chopped

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Gravy

2 Tbsp unsalted butter

1/3 c unbleached flour

1/2 tsp salt

3 c chicken broth

1/2 c half and half

Step 1:  Break bread slices into small piece and out in a medium bowl.  Pour milk over bread and toss with your hands to moisten evenly.Set aside.

Step 2:  In a skillet over medium heat, cook onion in 1 Tbsp butter with 1/2 tsp salt until translucent.  Toss in the garlic.  Remove from heat.

Step 3:  Drain excess milk from bread, squeeze lightly.  Add to the bowl, use either a stand mixer of hand help mixer, (I used my hands.)  Add onion and garlic mixture, pork, eggs, parsley, and remaining 1 tsp salt and pepper, beat until smooth.  When the mixture is smooth, break ground beef into very small pieces and stir until evenly mixed.

Step 4:  Melt 2 Tbsp butter into a skillet over medium heat.  Roll the meat mixture into balls with you hands.  (I use a ice cream scoop to make sure my balls are similar in size.)  Add meatballs to the pan and cook, you might have to do this is batches.  Turn frequently, until brown on all sides, 8-10 minutes.  When the first batch is done, put in a deep dish and cover with foil.  Transfer all the meatballs to the deep dish while you make the gravy.

Step 5:  Increase the heat on the pan to medium high.  If your pan has some drippings, add 2 Tbsp of butter; if not use 3.  Add flour and salt and whisk; the mixture will be crumbly.  Add broth a little at a time, whisking constantly until smooth.  After all the broth is added and the gravy is smooth, add half and half and stir well.  Lower heat to low, add meatballs back to the pan and allow to cook for another 5 minutes.  Then they are ready to eat!!

I made mashed potatoes to go with the meatballs...yummy!!!  They were AMAZING!!!

I am rating this recipe a 4...they are delicious...not quite as good as my mom's but a close second.  For myself, I actually cooked my meatballs in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes...that way while they cooked I could get the gravy and potatoes going.  I also used the same skillet for the onion/garlic mixture and the gravy.  That way I didn't have to dirty more dishes they i needed to....the dishwasher aka Mr J appreciates that.  As you can see I really do love meatballs!!

Day 47: Almond Joy Macaroons

Another one of my top 5 favorite things in the food world is Almond Joys!!  Chocolate, coconut and almonds....its pure "joy" in one bite.  I found this easy recipe and thought it would be a piece of cake for these new baker.  4-6 ingredients depending of you feel like a nut or not.

Original recipe can be found at justgetoffyourbuttandbake.com

Ingredients:

1 14oz bag of flaked coconut

1 14oz can of sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp Almond extract

2 tsp Vanilla extract

Optional:  chocolate candy bar and almonds

Step 1:  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Step 2:  In a large bowl mix all ingredients together. 

*Note:  There are a few different pans that you can use to bake these on.  The original recipe used a square baking pan, put I didn't have one, so I used a mini muffin pan.  You could also leave them as traditional round macaroons.

Step 3:  Using an spoon, cookie scoop or a melon baller (like I did), scoop the mix on to the pan.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.  Immediately remove cookies from sheets.

Optional:

*Add almonds to the macaroons before baking.

* Dip or drizzle melted with chocolate.  To melt chocolate, cut bar into smaller pieces and melt in 25 second intervals in the microwave.

I am rating this one a 4...quick and easy to make and delicious!!  The only thing I can say about this recipe...DO NOT put the cookies on wax paper...unless you like a little wax paper with your cookie?!?  I would recommend using a cooling rack instead.  Give these a try...bake a way my friends.

Day 46: Fry bread tacos

For 25 of my 32 years I spend a weekend every August at We Fest, a huge country music festival in my hometown.  It is something that we always did together as a family.  They always have those yummy treats that you get at most county fairs, and each day we would get one of those treats.  One of my personal favorites...one I HAD to have every year is something that us Northerners call an Uffta taco...also know as a fry bread taco.  To me its summer on a plate...crunchy & soft fry bread, topped with yummy taco meat, crisp lettuce, juice tomatoes, shredded cheese & cool sour cream.  Oh my I am starting to get hungry!

The original recipe can be found at whatscookingamerica.net

Ingredients:
1 c unbleached flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp powdered milk
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 c water
Vegetable oil for frying
Extra flower to flour your hands

Step 1:  Sift together the flour, salt, powdered milk and baking soda into a large bowl.  Pour water over the flour mixture all at once and stir the dough with until it starts to form one big clump.

Step 2:  Flour your hands well.  Using your hands, begin to mix the dough, trying to get all the flour into the mixture to form a ball.  You want to mix this well, but you do NOT want to knead it.  Kneading it will make for a heavy fry bread when cooked.  The inside of the dough ball should be sticky after it is formed, while the outside will be well floured. 

Step 3:  Cut the dough into four pieces (I cut mine into 6 so Little T could help).  Using your floured hands, shape, stretch, pat and form a disk of about 5-7 inches in diameter.

Step 4:  In a deep heavy pot, heat the vegetable oil to about 350 degrees.  You can check if your oil in hot enough by either dropping a small piece of dough in the oil and seeing if it begins to fry, or by dipping the end of a wooden spoon in and seeing if that bubbles.  Your oil should be about 1 inch deep.

Step 5:  Take the formed dough and gently place it in the oil, be careful not to splatter the hot oil.  Press down on top of the dough as it fries so the top is submersed into the hot oil.  Fry until golden brown and than flip to fry the other side.  Each side will take approximately 3-4 minutes.  Place the cooked fry bread on a paper towel to absorb oil.  (You can place the fry bread into a warm oven set to 200 degrees.  They can also be refrigerated and reheated in a 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes before serving.

To complete my Uffta taco I browned some hamburger with a little chopped onion.  After the meat was completely browned, I added 2 Tbsp of my DYI taco seasoning with a little water, cooked for about 5 minutes.  I topped the fry bread with taco meat, lettuce, cheese and sour cream. 

I am rating this recipe a 4...it was a little more difficult that what I usually cook...but I HAD to try it.  Just like with my baking, I think as I keep "practicing" my baking style it will get better :)

On a side note the taco meat was awesome!!!  I loved the DIY mix!!  These tacos were a big hit with Little T...he really enjoyed helping stretch the dough out.  He might turn out to be a better baker than me.

 

Day 45: DIY taco seasoning

Since I started this blog I have been really interested in the DIY dry mixes....sure the ones you purchase in the store are quick and easy , but they are full of added preservatives and sodium.  They taste good...but what are we tasting when we eat it.  Plus most of these mixes have caramel coloring added which is not allowed in my diet.  So I turned to pinterest and have found many recipes for dry mixes there.  I have started trying to mix on up every few weeks.

This time I made DIY taco seasoning.  There are many different recipes out there, but I decided this one would be best, not so spicy especially since I have a young guy around.

The original recipe can be found at selfreliancebyjamie.blogspot.com
(This blog also has a recipe for ranch mix & onion soup)

Ingedients:

1/2 c chili powder

1/4 c onion powder

1/8 c ground cumin

1 Tbsp garlic powder

1 Tbsp paprika

1 Tbsp sea salt

Step 1:  Put ingredients into a jar and shake.  Add 2 Tbsp to meat for tacos.  You can add a little water if you want.

Hint:  I wanted a little more kick to mine, so I added a little extra chili powder and added a pinch of cayenne.

I loved this mix!!  I am rating it a 5...with the little extras in there it will made a difference.  It tasted great...better than the prepackaged stuff.  It had a freshness to it!

Hope you like it as much as I do!!  Tomorrow I will be using it to make Ufta tacos....or as the rest of the world might know them as...fry bread tacos!!

Day 44: French bread pizzas

So we are now on to day 2 of blizzard Nemo 2013...starting to get a little cabin fever.  Plus add a wild 3 yr old into the mix and things start to get a little crazy.  Yesterday I made crock pot meatball subs, and although I had left over sauce and hoagie buns, but there wasn't a single meatball to be found.  So I do what I do best and hit Pinterest...I founnd a recipe for French Bread pizzas and thought that I would just make a few alterations and we'd be in business for a yummy and easy lunch.

The original recipe can be found at

Ingredients: These are the original ingredients
2 loaves of French bread
1 jar of pizza sauce
Any toppping you like
2 c mozzarella cheese shredded

I used the left over hoagie buns and meatball sauce.  Added a little leftover shredded cheese from the pasta a few nights ago and some pepperoni that we had.

Step 1:  Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

Step 2:  Cut the french bread in half length wise, put the halves on a cookie sheet face up.

Step 3:  Spread 1/4 of the jar on each side.  Put all your favorite toppings on, top each halk with 1/2 c cheese.

Step 4:  Bake for 5-7 minutes till the cheese is melted and slightly broened.

Step 5:  Cut into stris and serve

This recipe is getting a 3.5 since I didn't use the required ingredients and just used what I had on hand it was ok, but might have been better with the french bread.  Really wishing their had been left over meatballs because that would have been an awesome pizza!!!  It was easy and quick to put together.  Would be great in a pinch for a quick dinner.

Day 43: Crock Pot Meatball Subs

Well its blizzard day!!  Its snowing and blowing and nasty cold outside.  So today is yet another comfort food recipe....being stuck inside I wanted something that would make you for that.  Another one of my favorite things in the whole wide world is meatball subs!!!  And finding a recipe for them that I can throw in the crock pot is even better....can't ask for anything better than mix, roll, throw in the crock pot, add sauce and cook.

The original recipe was just for the meatballs but I decided to make them into sandwiches instead....that is something that we can all eat...Little T and I can have sandwiches and Mr J on the low carb wave can just eat the meatballs.

The original recipe can be found at brookeandbrandon.com



Ingredients:

1 lb of ground beef

1/4 c of Italian breadcrumbs

1 egg

2 Tbsp milk

1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce (I used a extra large jar)

I also added a little grated parmesan, oregeno, parsley, chopped onion and a pinch of S&P.  Just to step up the flavor a little bit.

Another idea that I have "stolen" for another recipe is to mix my breadcrumbs and milk in a small bowl and set aside while I get the rest of the ingredients ready.  Not really sure why it works, but it seems to moisten the breadcrumbs (duh) and helps make it so you don't have clumps of dry breadcrumbs in the meatballs.

Step 1:  In a small bowl mix breadcrumbs and mix together and set aside.

Step 2:  In another bowl add egg, ground beef, chopped onions, spices (if you choose) and lastly add the breadcrumb mixture.  Mix well, making sure that all ingedients are combined.

Step 3:  Form the mixture into balls, (you can decide the size) I use a ice cream scoop to make mine, that way I know they are all the same size.

Step 4:  Place the meatballs into the crock pot (I use a crock pot liner in mine to make clean up a little easier.)  Pour spaghetti sauce over the top and turn crock pot to high for 3 hours.  You could cook them on low for longer if you wish.

Step 5:  You could server the meatballs over pasta, in meatball subs or as is with a little parmesan cheese.  For a well rounded meal add garlic bread and salad.

Since I wanted to make meatball subs, I started by cutting my hoagie buns in half and folding them open.  Than buttered top sides of the bun and placed it under the broiler for a minute to a minute and a half (until toasted).  After removing the bun from the oven, I added a few slices of cheese on one side of the bun (I used white american...just like subway), added the meatballs with a little extra sauce and placed the sandwiches back under the broiler just long enough to melt the cheese.  For a finishing touch I added a little sprinkle cheese and extra sauce on the side for dipping and we were set!!!  Comfort food here I come...followed by a nap and comfy pants!!

I am rating this recipe a 5!!!  It was super easy and it left room for a little creativity!!  I can't wait to get my freezer up and running....I am going to make these meatballs by the ton & freezer them.  Just think...throw the frozen meatballs into the crock pot in the morning with a jar of sauce on low and by the time you get home from work dinner is ready to go!!  Plus you could also make a double batch in the crock pot and freeze the already cooked meatballs and just grab a few when you need a quick lunch/dinner!! 

I hope you'll give this recipe a try...I know that I will be adding this one to my "regular" list,

Day 42: Almond poppy seed bread

Wells its another great day in MN...well today has been pretty nice but its just the calm before the storm....we have a major blizzard Nemo heading our way tonight into tomorrow.  So what better way to prepare by baking some yummy snacks!!

I LOVE poppy seed muffins so when I found this recipe on pinterest for almond poppy seed bread with a delicious glaze on top.

The original recipe can be found at the-girl-who-ate-everything.com

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Ingredients:

Bread:

3 c flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

3 eggs

1 1/8 c cooking oil

2 1/4 c sugar

1 1/2 c milk

1 1/2 Tbsp poppy seed

1 1/2 tsp almond extract

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 tsp melted butter

Glaze:

1/4 c orange juice

3/4 c sugar

1/2 tsp almond extract

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp butter

Bread:

Step 1:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all of the ingedients together.  Pour into greased and floured baking pans.  Can use regular loaf size pans or mini loaf pans

Step 2:  Make for 50-60 minutes (the original recipe says to bake the mini loafs for less time, but the ones that I used took 50 minutes.)

Step 3:  Well the bread is baking you can start working on the glaze.  Pour all the ingredients into a small saucepan and let cook on the stove top over meduim heat until sugar dissolves.

Step 4:  Remove bread from the pans and pour glaze over the arm bread.  Use a knife or spatula to bring the glaze that runs off.

I am rating this recipe a 3 it was good but not great and like all my other recipes I like ease...this one took a little more work.  Plus I am not a great baker...I am working on those skills so I might have to try this one again in a few months.  But it still was tasty and it will be a great snack to have around the house to munch on during our "blizzard".

Day 41: Vanilla French Toast

So after making my syrup I HAD to make binner a few days later.  Mr J was going to be working during dinner so I thought it would be the best day to make french toast....plus the syrup has been calling my name.

I thought the best thing to go with the syrup would be french toast....but I didn't want to make the usual run of the mill french toast, it needed to be "fancy".  So I found a recipe for vanilla french toast.  This recipe has the same basic ingredients as usual FT, but a few added items.

The original recipe can be found at www.recipe.com (search vanilla french toast)

Ingredients:
4 eggs
1 c half-and-half or light cream
2 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp vanilla (I added a little extra)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
8 slices dry white or wheat bread
2 Tbsp butter or vegetable oil

Step 1:  In a shallow bowl or pan, beat together eggs, half and half, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Step 2:  In a very large skillet or on a griddle, melt butter over medium heat.

Step 3:  Dip the bread slices into the egg mixture, coating both sides.  (I cut Little T's slice into "sticks" because its more kid friendly.)

Step 4:  Add bread slices, cook for 4-6 minutes or until golden brown, turning once.  Serve with warm syrup

Looks amazing doesn't it?!?  Give the syrup and "fancy" french toast a try

I am rating this recipe a 5...its like the usually french toast with a few special spices and paired with the syrup it REALLY reminds me of a delicous caramel rolls!!

Day 40: Baked Penne Pasta

Oh how I love these winters in MN...ok not really but cold evenings are great for comfort food!!  And really whats better than a cheesy, tomatoy, pasta dish?!?  So thats what I decided to make.  For this recipe I used a new to me product....Philadelphia Cooking Creme...its kinda great.  After using it once I already have a few ideas that for other recipes it would be great in...but lets get back to the recipe at hand.

The original recipe can be found at www.plainchicken.com


Yummy...cheesy...delicious

Ingredients:
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 c onion chopped
1/2 c green peppers
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 tub Philadelphia Italian Cheese and Herb Cooking Creme
1 cup Kraft Shredded Mozzeralla Cheese, divided (I used Kraft with a touch of Philadeplia Cream Cheese Mozzeralla)
3 c cooked penne pasta

Step 1:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Step 2:  In a large skillet, brown ,eat with onions and peppers.  After browned drain excess fat.

Step 3:  Stir in spaghetti sauce, 3/4 c cooking cream and 1/2 c mozzarella, cook and stir 2-4 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Step 4:  Combine sauce mixture and pasta, mix lightly.  Pour into a 2 qt casserole, top with remaining cooking creme and mozzarella.  Cover and bake 20 mins or until heated through (uncover after 15 minutes.)

Step 5:  Eat and Enjoy!!!  Serve with garlic bread and salad for a complete meal.

This recipe is getting a 4!!  Combines all my favorite things...it was pretty easy to make.  The whole thing is that I used less pasta than the original recipe called for...3 cups seemed like a awful lot.  I used about half the amount of pasta but keeps the sauce the same...because I like sauce!!

Day 39: Kneanders Cinnamon Syrup

I am a sucker for breakfast of dinner...or brinner.  French toast, waffles, pancakes...I love them all!!  The only problem lately is finding syrup that I can actually eat...caramel coloring is in all those types of things :(  So when I came across this recipe I though I would give it a try. 

Its is pretty easy and quick to put together and I have everything I needed in my pantry.

The original recipe can be found at cjaneinthekitchen.blogspot.com
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 5oz can evaporate milk

Step 1:  In a sauce pan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, water and cinnamon.  Bring to a boil over medium heat and stir for 2 minutes.

Step 2:  After 2 minute boil, remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.  Than stir in evaporated milk.

I poured mine into a mason jar....serving it warm is the best.  But it can be reheated when you are going to use it.

I am rating this recipe a 4...it was easy to put together and tasty!!  It was a combination of cinnamon toast, pancake syrup and caramel rolls all in one!!  Kind of makes me want to eat some right now!!

Day 38: DIY laundry soap

I am always looking for ways to save money or at least cut down on the price of certain items.  Cutting coupons is always a good way to save money...but lets be honest sometimes I barely have time to do anything extra (this blog is about as much extra I can handle).  I don't always have time to get a paper, cut coupons, look through ads & go around to different stores to get the best deal.  So I decided that making my own laundry detergent was a good way to "cut" back.  It only cost me around $30 & is "suppose" to last a year if you do 2-3 loads a week.

The original idea/recipe can be found at howdoesshe.com

Ingredients:

1 3lb 7oz Box of Borax

1 3lbs Container of OxyClean

2 14.1oz Bars of Zote Soap or Fels Naptha

1 4lb Box of Arm & Hammer Baking soda

1-2 55oz Bottle of Purex Crystals (any scent you like)

Other items you will need:

cheese grater or food processor

5 gallon bucket

containers to put soap in

Step 1:  I used a cheese grater to "shred" my soap...I would recommend using the fine side of the grater.  This is the hardest part of all!!  After the grating is done with gets easy.

Step 2:  Using the 5 gallon bucket start layer all the the ingredients.  Doing this makes it easier to get every thing mixed equally.

Step 3:  Put detergent mixture in what ever containers you have chosen.  I removed the label from the Purex Crystals bottle & filled it with the detergent.  I am keeping the rest of the detergent in the 5 gallon bucket so I can fill the bottle as needed.

Step 4:  Start the laundry....add 2 tablespoons of the detergent to the washer and run washer as usual.  It won't suds like the "normal" laundry soap.  

 I am rating this one a 4....I have been using it for a few weeks and have found a few helpful hints for people who might be giving this a try.

#1:  Make sure to use the fine side of the grater....I didn't use that side right a way & sometimes the chunks of soap don't fulling dissolve.

#2:  DO NOT wash your clothes inside out....any thing that is on them will stay on them...or at least you'll have some stuff still left on your clothes.

#3:  Mix in a well ventilated area...or at least not a small room...your house will smell like laundry soap for a LONG time..since most of the ingredients are powder you'll get a little powder residue around.

#4:  If you are like me and have a potty training 3 yr old having a back up super strength laundry detergent is a most!!!  What messes we did have got cleaned out of clothes better than this....so I do half and half.

Hopefully you give this a try...I like it a lot plus mixing it myself saves money & if you are ever in a pinch for laundry detergent you can wipe up a batch...especially if you live in our area & get snowed in for 2 1/2 days :)

Day 37: Ranch Bacon Chip dip

Well this blog thing is A LOT more work than one would think (the Pinterest part is easy).  I got a little behind on my posts...between a sick Little T, me being under the weather & Little T's 3rd birthday party it seemed to get a way from me.  Might have missed a few days....but I am know back on track.  What New's Resolution doesn't have a little set back.  That being said here we go....

When invited to a Super Bowl party I just had to make this dip.  My brother in law, David, makes it every time they came to visit us in MN....it is SO addictive.  This last Christmas we were all SO stuff & we still "forced" ourselves to eat an entire batch.  This recipe has all the GREATEST things in the food world...ranch...bacon and cheese!!!

The original base recipe can be found at plainchicken.com

Ingredients:

16 oz sour cream

1 packet ranch dressing mix (I used 2 Tbsp of my homemade ranch mix)

3 oz bacon bits

1 cup shredded cheese

Step 1:  Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate....it says for 24 hrs but REALLY who could want that all?!?

Step 2:  Serve with chips (who like Fritos Scoops) and enjoy!!!

I am rating this recipe a 5!!!  It is super easy & delicious!!

Day 26: Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup

Oh these winter days are getting colder here in MN and what is better on a cold night then a HOT bowl of creamy tomato soup?!?  This isn't just any tomato soup...it has some yummy cheese filled tortellini in it as well.

The original recipe can be found at recipeswagger.blogspot.com

Ingredients:
2 whole cloves of garlic minced
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 10 3/4 oz cans of condensed tomato soup
1/4 c sun dried tomatoes, chopped or 2 Tbsp sun dried tomato paste
2 c half and half
1 tsp onion powder
2 c chicken stock
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1 whole 9 oz package of cheese filled tortellini
1/2 c shredded Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Step 1:  Saute garlic with the olive oil in a large stock put until golden brown.

Step 2:  When garlic is done add tomato soup, sun dried tomatoes, half and half, chicken stock and all the spices.  (I added a little more salt and pepper than the recipe called for after tasting it.)  Bring to a simmer.

Step 3:  Once simmering, add the tortellini.  Cook according to the package directions.  After tortellini are cooked, ladle soup into bowls and top with Parmesan cheese.

This soup was delicious!!  Yummy...creamy...and hot!!  Little T loved it too!!  He made sure that I could a picture of his soup bowl too!!

I am rating this recipe a 4!!  I think this would be a great recipe without the tortellini too.  Hopefully you enjoy it as much as we did.

Day 25: Valentine's Day decoration

Starting to get into the Valentine's mood and add a little decorations to the entry way at work.  I found 2 different ideas Pinterest that I liked, so I combined the 2 ideas into one.  The first idea is glass hurricane vase filled with candy hearts with bows around them and the other idea was how to use less filler (candy hearts, rocks, ect) by still get the height that you want.

The 2 original ideas can get found at naptimedecorator.blogspot.com and myheartsdesireblog.com

Items needed:
3 Vases (shape/size is up to you..odd number of vases work best)
Candy conversation hearts
Ribbon
Candles
Plastic cups
Scissor

Step 1:  Gather all your supplies together.  Decide the heights that you want the candles at for each vase.

Step 2:  To "fill" some of the space in the vase so you don't need as much filler cut a plastic cup to the height that you desire and place it inside the vase.

Step 3:  Carefully pour your conversation heart in around the plastic cup until the cup is completely covered. Place the candle on top of the heart as gently put a few move hearts around the base of the candle to blend it together.  Then cut and wrap ribbon around the vase at the desired location on the vase.  I choose to do a simple wrap around the vase, but you could tie the ribbon in a bow.

Step 4:  Display the vase.

I am rating this one a 5!!  It was a great project and fairly inexpensive!  I used ribbon that I had already and we have these vases at work that we use for decoration all year long.  The only thing that I had to buy was the candy hearts...I hit up the dollar store and only paid $1 a bag & with the filler saving method I was able to use WAY less then I had originally thought!

You could use this same method for all the other holidays!!  Excited to use this trick for the next holiday...I wonder what I can come up with for St. Patty's Day?!?

Day 24: Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes

Since I have had to alter my diet to try and avoid caramel coloring (do you have any idea how hard it is to avoid food that has caramel coloring in it)...well anyway I LOVE french dips/Philly cheese steak sandwiches but all that stuff has the dreaded coloring in it.  So when I found this recipe I thought I have found a sandwich to eat when I get that craving!!

The original recipe can be found at blogchef.net

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion
1 medium green bell pepper
1/4 c steak sauce
1 c beef broth
salt and pepper to taste
4 hamburger buns
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp flour
1 c milk
1 cup provolone cheese

I made only a few small changes, I used organic beef broth (no caramel coloring) and I used sliced provolone and skipped the cheese sauce.

Step 1:  Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add ground beef and cook until browned.  Add green peppers and onion, cook for 3-4 minutes, until the onion start to become tender.  Drain off excess liquid.  Stir in steak sauce and beef broth, season with salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil and cook until mixture is thickened and bubbling.

Step 2:  While meat is cooking, split the buns and butter each side.  In a skillet place buns cut side down and cook until lightly browned.  Remove from pan and set aside.

Step 3:  I choose to take the easy way out and used slices cheese.  But if you want to make the cheese sauce here is the directions: melt butter in a medium sauce pan, stir in flour and cook for 1 minute.  Whisk in the milk and cook until the mixture is thickened and bubbly.  Remove from heat and stir in the cheese until its melted and incorporated into the sauce.

Step 4:  To assemble sloppy joes-pile meat on bottom bun, top with cheese sauce (or slices), place "lid" on top and enjoy!

I am rating this recipe a big..fat 0!!  Well its time to be seriously...brutally honest...this was the single, most horrible thing I have ever made or eaten that came out of my kitchen!!!  It tasted nothing like a Philly sandwich and tasted only like steak sauce!!  Mr. J usually eats anything I make...even if he doesn't really like it he'll eat it...this was NOT one of those cases!!  He took one bit, looked at me and said "That is horrible!" and processed to throw the rest in the garbage!!  This recipe too is going into the garbage!!  

Please try it out and tell me what you think or what you did to make it a little better!

Day 23 P2: Parmesan Hash brown cups

So...yes today I am feeling a little over ambitious...or maybe a gluten for punishment but I thought this hash brown cups would go perfect with the tilapia.

The original recipe can be found at recipesquickneasy.com

Ingredients:
1 (20oz) bag Simply Potatoes Shredded Hash Browns; OR 3 1/2 c
3 green onions, chopped
1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil

I made a few changes to the ingredients...I used Great Value hash browns, omitted the green onions and used garlic olive oil (I got it at Christmas from my in-laws...great stuff from a company in AZ).  I also only made half a recipe for the 3 of us.

Step 1:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Coat muffin tin with cooking spray (I used my garlic olive oil) and set aside.  Combine potatoes, onions, cheese, salt and pepper together and mix lightly.  Drizzle with olive oil and mix until everything is well combined.

Step 2:  Spoon mixture into the muffin tins, with back of the spoon, apply gentle pressure to pack the mixture into the cup.  Bake for 60-75 minutes in lower third of the oven.

Step 3:  Let rest 3-5 minutes, gently lift each potato cup out, invert it and place on serving plate.  Serve with extra cheese, sour cream or just plain.

This recipe is getting a 4...easy and delicious!!  I would never turn down a nice crispy, crunchy, tasty hash brown and these little bite sized ones are AMAZING!!!

The possibilities with this one are endless!!  Add cheese, bacon, veggies, different spices, dry ranch mix and sauces!!  Already starting to think of what I could do with the next batch!!

Check out the website listed above...there are some great ideas how to bake now serve later as well as the best way to freeze them.  I soon as I get my freezer up and running I will be making and freezing these.

Day 23 P1: Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

This whole Pinterest/blog thing has me going outside my "comfort zone" on foods and trying new things.  Which is a good thing for sure but it can be scary when you take that first bite.  For day 23 I decided to make something new and different for my family.....tilapia!!!  This is a Rachel Ray recipe & the picture looked great so I thought that it should be a good one.

I decided to change it up a little...I am going to do the rating at the end of the blog post.

The original recipe can be found at rachaelraymag.com

Ingredients:
3/4 c freshly grated Parmesan cheese (I used sprinkle cheese)
2 tsp paprika
1 Tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley (I used dried parsley)\
4 tilapia fillets
1 lemon

Step 1:  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  In a pan (I used a glass Pyrex dish) combine the cheese, parsley and paprika...season with salt and pepper to your taste.

Step 2:  Drizzle fish fillets with olive oil and dredge in the cheese/spice mixture  Place on a foil lined baking sheet.  Bake until the fish is opaque in the thickest part.  About 10-12 minutes (mine took about 15).

Step 3:  Remove a serve with lemon wedge.  I served mine with the second recipe of the day.

I am rating this recipe a 3...it was easy...but it wasn't amazing and it wasn't bad just in the middle.  It had good flavor, but it looked NOTHING like the picture on the website and it sort of had a fishy taste.  I used a frozen fillet so that might have made a difference.

I was the only one in the house that ate it...Little T wouldn't even try it and Mr. J said he doesn't like fish :( Well I tried....looking for another tilapia recipe to try again.  Make sure to check out the recipe for the side dish...because that was GREAT!!