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Monthly Archives: January 2014

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Seed Catalog Art

January 31, 2014 1:12 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

Here are some great ideas for crafty uses for seed catalog pictures. Use Vintage or Modern depending on your likes..  ET

Instant Art Made From Vintage Seed Images

This is such an easy way to get some instant art for your homes. A quick trip to Michael’s gave me all the supplies I needed (some at half price). Then it was just a matter of printing off my favourite images and putting it all together. 

#HomeCrafts

To see more: http://www.newhousenewhomenewlife.com/2014/01/vintage-seed-packet-art.html

Posted in: Crafting and decorating

Potting Shed

January 31, 2014 1:08 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

I saw these pictures and needed to list them here so I could make my area this beautiful and useful..  ET

My Potting Shed ~ My Favorite Place to Be in the Summer!

Looking forward to Spring & being able to get back out in my Potting Shed !!!……Some photos of my Potting Shed ~ my creative space where I love to hang out!
Posted in: Gardening

Heart Pillow

January 31, 2014 1:04 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

Bob and I were recently in NY City and we walked by the Anthropologie Store windows. I will upload a few of the pictures at another time, but the windows were fantastic.. This pillow idea is wonderful!!!  Got to get sewing in the very near future… ET

 

Are there any stores or websites that you just LOVE??You peek at their online website every chance you get and admire from your sofa all the beautiful things. And when you win the power ball you can afford not one but maybe even two Anthropologie Heart Collector Pillows for $198 each. I have been loving this Anthropologie Pillow for a little while now and thought “I’m sure I can make this.” 

Anthropologie Inspired Heart Pillow

It took some time but here is my version or the Anthropologie inspired Pillow I made. Here is the Anthropologie Heart Pillow you can buy online for $198. Mine cost under $5 to make. I looked through my home to see if I could do it for free but didn’t have the right color fabric. I found a pillowcase in the taupe fabric for $1.95 and doubled it and found a pair of hand me down pants (in the donate bag) of my daughters for the hearts and a bag of stuffing for $.95 = Under $5 bucks. Step by Step tutorial is on the blog. It took me about three hours to make this. I did stop to answer emails and switch laundry but just know to carve out some time when you’re gonna make it. It mixes well with any color in your home, like reds or neutrals too. I LOVE the way it turned out and especially loved that I save $187 too. I hope you

To see more: http://concordcottage.com/anthropologie-inspired-heart-pillow-2/

Posted in: Crafting and decorating, Sewing

How To Make Biodegradable Mini Planters From Toilet Paper Rolls

January 30, 2014 12:11 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

 

These are really easy to make and will decompose into the soil.. ET

Homepage Image: Flickr/girlingearstudio

1. Reuse germination

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Photo: Flickr/girlingearstudio
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If you’re starting plants from seeds this year, don’t waste your hard-earned cash on tiny planters from the garden center. Save a few bucks – and get a little more use out of your throw-aways – by making your own seed-starters from recycled materials!

To make your own biodegradable mini-planter (that’s right, no transplanting!), you will need scissors and a toilet paper or paper towel roll.

How to make it:

1. Using scissors, cut six to eight small slits in the end of your toilet paper roll (if using a paper towel roll, cut the roll into three pieces before beginning this step).

2. Fold the strips down so they overlap.

3. Fill carefully with wet soil, and set in a baking sheet.

4. Plant one seed per roll. After germination, just plant the whole thing in your garden! If you don’t mind transplanting your seedlings, you can use all kinds of recyclables for germination: Takeout containers, plastic cups, soda bottles and shoe boxes – just to name a few.

Posted in: Gardening

Creamy Mexican Cheese Dip

January 28, 2014 5:24 pm ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

Creamy Mexican Cheese Dip — Without Velveeta!

Written by 

 

This sounds wonderful even if I can’t find Farm Fresh milk today…..  ET

 

Last Thursday night I sat at one of my favorite restaurants, enjoying the company of my friends, and indulging in chips with a luxurious Mexican cheese dip.

“You know it’s not real,” I said to my friends. “There’s no way to get a REAL nacho cheese dip this creamy and smooth without using a processed cheese like American or Velveeta.”

It got me thinking. Is there really no way to make a creamy smooth Mexican cheese dip using real cheese? Would my melted cheese forever be consigned to the realm of fondue?

 

So, I experimented. And this is the recipe that resulted. BOY is it fantastic!

The Players

The How-To

First, create the thickener that will bind the cheese together and keep it from turning into a nasty, oily mess when it melts. Mix egg yolk, arrowroot powder, and 1Tbsp. milk until smooth.

 

 

Next, pour cream and milk into a saucepan and warm over medium heat. Gently stir in the thickener and continue stirring until the cream starts to thicken.

 

 

Once your sauce thickens to your desired consistency, add in the grated cheddar cheese and small spoonfuls of the cream cheese (homemade from grass-fed cream is best). Lower heat to medium low, then continue stirring until the cheese melts and you have a deliciously creamy sauce.

 

 

Now for some flavor. Remove the sauce from heat, and stir in the tomatoes & diced green chiles. Then add salt and chipotle chili powder to taste, being sure to stir everything until evenly distributed.

 

 

My oh my, is this GOOD! Smooth. Creamy. Rich. This Mexican cheese dip will happily replace the Velveeta, fake-food recipe everybody brings to potlucks. We ate it served over meatballs (from healthy grass-fed beef). My kids enjoyed slopping it up with real sourdough bread and homemade corn tortilla chips. I even dipped sweet potato fries & celery into it and couldn’t stop!

 

 

 

 

Posted in: Recipes

DIY Citrus Scrub

January 26, 2014 6:29 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

Ingredients: Epsom salt (or coarse salt crystals), olive oil, lemon or lime juice, lavender or other herbs (optional)

You will need…

-½ cup + 2 tablespoons Epsom salt or coarse salt crystals
-2 tablespoons of olive oil
-Juice of one lemon or lime
-herb of choice (optional)

body scrub ingredients

In a bowl combine a half a cup plus 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt, or coarse salt crystals, with 4 tablespoons of olive oil.

olive oil and salt

Squeeze in the fresh juice of 1 lemon or lime, and stir together. Place in a jar with a tight fitting lid and use once a week for smooth, glowing skin. If you’re using an herb, cover the top of the mixture with it and stir it in after the lemon/lime juice. It will infuse the salt around it, and you can use the buds/sprigs and all when you scrub.

adding the lemon

Place in a jar with a tight fitting lid and use once a week for smooth, glowing skin. You can scrub it on dry or in the shower, but if you do the former, rinse off with warm water afterwards.

adding the lavender

Exfoliation leaves your skin soft and radiant, scrubbing away dead skin cells and allowing your “new” skin to breathe and shine. It also breaks up things on the surface of your skin that can cause unwanted blemishes. Experiment with different herbs, save money making your own scrubs, and enjoy!

salt scrub

Tip: you can adjust the amount of oil depending on if you want a coarser (less oil) scrub or a more uniform, softer (more oil) scrub.

You may also like our recipe for homemade calamine lotion.

Posted in: Better Hair and Skin

SPICY WHOLE ROASTED CAULIFLOWER

January 26, 2014 6:27 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

Spicy Whole Roasted Cauliflower

A PureWow Original Recipe

  • Makes 6 servings
  • Start to Finish: 1 hour

Ingredients

 

1 tablespoon  oil

1 head cauliflower

1½ cups plain Greek yogurt

1 lime, zested and juiced

2 tablespoons chile powder

1 tablespoon cumin

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon curry powder

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400° and lightly grease a small baking sheet with  oil. Set aside.

2. Trim the base of the cauliflower to remove any green leaves and the woody stem.

3. In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt with the lime zest and juice, chile powder, cumin, garlic powder, curry powder, salt and pepper.

4. Dunk the cauliflower into the bowl and use a brush or your hands to smear the marinade evenly over its surface. (Excess marinade can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to three days and used with meat, fish or other veggies.)

5. Place the cauliflower on the prepared baking sheet and roast until the surface is dry and lightly browned, 30 to 40 minutes. The marinade will make a crust on the surface of the cauliflower.

6. Let the cauliflower cool for 10 minutes before cutting it into wedges and serving alongside a big green salad.

 

Posted in: Recipes, Vegetables

Lentil Soup — Slow Cooker

January 25, 2014 6:54 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

 

Ingredients:

8 Cups of Chicken or Vegetable broth

2 Cups Lentils

4 Celery stalks cut into small pieces

4 Carrots peeled and cut fine

4 cloves Garlic chopped

2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste or 1 small can Tomato sauce..

1/2 Teaspoon Adobo or Salt add more to taste if you want

Add all ingredients to the slow cooker and stir together.. Cover and cook for 4 hours on high, or 8 hours on Low.. If you wish add 1/4 box of  elbows  about 1 hour before the soup is finished.. Serves 8…

 

 

Posted in: Recipes

Banana Bread — with Honey and Applesauce… NOT white sugar…

January 22, 2014 10:24 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

I have NOT made this yet, but I will try it with an alternative flour too!!!  ET

 

Ingredients 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 3/4 cup honey 2 eggs, beaten 3 mashed overripe bananas Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together applesauce and honey. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

Posted in: Fruits ---- nuts, Recipes

Onion – Which One Do I Use??

January 22, 2014 9:59 am ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

 

 

Posted in: Vegetables