chocolate angel

You know I love desserts especially anything that involves chocolate.  This one is sweet, gooey and light at the same time.
Bake an angel food cake according to directions and cool.  OK you could cheat and buy the cake already made.
Make one box of chocolate pudding sugar free fat free and cool if you  did the cooked kind.
Add 3/4C sugar free Cool Whip to the pudding.
Cut the cake horizontally about 1" from the top and scoop out the middle of the cake.  Be sure to leave at least 1/2" shell on all sides and bottom.
Spread the pudding mix into you cake tunnel and put the top of the cake back on.
You could serve the cake just like it is, do a simple confectioners sugar glaze or make this decadent fluffy frosting.

1C sugar
1/3C water
1T corn syrup
1/8tsp salt
Boil together until liquid reaches 238 on a candy thermometer then pour slowly into:
2 egg whites beaten to soft peaks, beat until the mix holds firm peaks about seven minutes, add 1tsp vanilla.
Spread over top and sides of cake. Garnish with drizzled chocolate syrup if desired.
Must be stored in the refrigerator.

Easter table favors

I love to do special favors for my guests to take home after a special occasion.  I saw these tiny peat pots, about 2", at a local garden center and thought they were the perfect size for Easter baskets.  I put candy eggs in these but the would be perfect for a small gift of jewelry or cash.
Dab white paint over the pots and let dry, do not cover all the peat, leave a little.  I glued torn dictionary pages, a twine bow, old buttons and a punched out circle.  I added an inspirational word printed on the computer, torn and antiqued with ink. I filled the inside with a scrap of tulle, old pattern paper and a few shreds of sparkly Easter filler.
 This would be a perfect favor for a shower or large group project..  The pots were 12 for $1.00 and everything else I found in my stash..  You could use bigger pots as gift baskets.  More on that later.

root beer pork

We had some friends over last week and I decided to make this pulled pork for dinner.  It was a huge hit and really easy.
2-3# pork tenderloin
1 can root beer, coke or beer
Put everything in the crock pot and cook 6-8 hours until tender.  Drain and shred with two forks.  Add your favorite BBQ sauce, I used Sweet Baby Rays.  Serve on rolls with this slaw as a topper.

Picked slaw

1/2C water
1/3C sugar and vinegar  I added a couple more tablespoons of sugar, make it to your tastes.
Mix the liquids and bring to boil until the sugar is dissolved, let cool.  When cool pour over vegetables.

1/2C shredded carrots and radishes
1 onion sliced thin
1 cucumber sliced thin
1 jalapeno pepper chopped fine
salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste

This is a very forgiving recipe, try adding your own favorite firm vegetables or leave out what you don't like.  Best when it has set at room temperature a couple of hours.

Spring is coming

I always get excited when I see the seed displays and planting materials show up in the stores.  It means I can soon be out playing in the dirt.  To hold me over until Illinois weather catches up with my spring fever I start a few flats of flowers in the house and when it gets a little warmer I put them in cold frames outside.  This year I have allysum, snap dragons, marigolds, coxcomb, herbs, zinnias and a few perennials already planted.  Next I'll start tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini and more herbs.  My kitchen looks like a greenhouse but it is the only room that has enough light and warmth to the get the seeds started.  I sow the seeds heavily and pull out the excess plants to put in other trays when they get a little older.  I spend about $50 each spring for seeds, soil and peat trays.  It probably saves me at least $200-$300 versus buying plants.  I generally have enough to share with friends.  Now I always buy a few plants that don't grow well from seeds or they look too beautiful to pass up.  That's the curse of being a gardener, there is always room for one more flat of flowers somewhere in your garden.

In just one week this is zinnias sprouted and growing.  Use craft sticks  and permanent markers to  let you know what you have planted they all look the same at this point.

designing fabric

I'm using several coordinating fabrics in my living room redo.  I loved the large black floral print that I've made a couple of pillows from but wanted a table runner that was a lighter background for my dark table.  This is what I came up with.  I used painters tarp again and drew on my own flowers and leaves with permanent markers.  Hem up the sides and fringe the ends.  In less than an hour a new runner.  If you are unsure of your drawing abilities use a stencil.

This was my inspiration fabric

faux grain bag fabric

I'm in the process of making a slip cover for my couch out of painters drop cloth.  It's a bunch of work but will give the living room a fresh new look when it's done.  Along with the slip cover I'm making pieces to cover the arms and sides where the kitties lay all the time.  I'm also making a couple of table runners and maybe a few dish towels.  Drop cloths are sturdy fabric that can be washed and bleached when they get dirty.  I spent $60.00 for two drop clothes, I like the brand from Menards better than from Lowes because it washes up softer.  I already had everything else I used.
Back to the main idea of the post.  I wanted some of the pieces I'm making to look like grain sacks so this is how I did it.  I cut the washed fabric adding 2" for hems.  I pressed each article and laid out my pattern on scratch paper.  I then made pencil marks where each line went.  Using a steel yard stick and Bic fine line permanent markers, I drew the lines coloring in the wider lines.  I think they turned out great.  I had tried this project using acrylic paints and  fabric additive but I didn't like the stiff feeling of the fabric.
With many real grain bags selling on the Internet for over $50.00 I'm loving how much money I'm saving.  Yes you will be able to tell they aren't real up close, but your looking that close you are just being too darn nosy.

caramel brownie triffle

This is another one of those dig out what you have in the kitchen cabinet recipes.  I needed dessert for company so I went for it.
1 box brownie mix made according to directions
1 box chocolate pudding mix made according to directions
1 jar caramel ice cream topping
cool whip
Layer crumbled brownies, pudding, whip topping and caramel sauce into pretty glasses, chill and serve.  This is a good way to use up getting stale fast brownies if that ever happens at your house.