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.

spring wreath

I use this empty frame as a seasonal wreath.  Right now it's in my kitchen adding a little color to the gray, dreary days of March.  I just bundle the flowers,  tie with blanket binding and add a drop of hot glue to the front and back of the frame.  Cost $0, I just recycled the frame, flowers and ties form my stash(AKA the junk pile).

moss ball update

Remember the moss balls from last week?  I thought they looked a little naked and too plain.  I let them sit around for a few days until I decided what I wanted to use.  Here's what I came up with, bugs.  Well not live ugly bugs, something much cuter.  Lady bugs made of air dry clay, butterflies from paper and clay and dragon flies are window screen and clay.  They all  turned out pretty cute.  Apparently the glitter fairy arrived while they were drying and scattered glitter all over my kitchen it looked like a sparkly bomb went off in there.  Actually I had let them dry on the counter and the kitties went into attack mode.

caprese chicken

Most of the time I find a recipe that looks promising and then make it to suit our tastes.  This time I looked a several recipes, threw them out the window and came up with this caprese chicken.
4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts  split in the center but not all the way through and open it up like a book.  Pound thin.
Set up a dredging station with the first place being flour, the second being 2 eggs and 1/4C water beat together and the third 1 1/2C panko bread crumbs mixed with 1/2C Parmesan cheese.  I used foil pie pans for each station but you could use plates or wide bowls.  Dip your chicken first in flour, second in egg mix and then into panko and cheese.  Lay these in a single layer on wax paper on a tray a refrigerate for at least an hour.  I pan fried mine in a little olive oil but I think they would be better broiled until done.  When the chicken is done top with a slice of mozzarella cheese and heat until melted.  Top with salad mix, recipe below.  Make the salad while the chicken is chilling.  Serve with garlic bread or angel hair pasta.

1# Campari tomatoes or any other small ripe tomato cut into quarters.  Put them in a medium bowl and add 1/4C olive oil, only the really good stuff.
1tsp dried basil or 4-6 leaves of fresh chopped
1tsp oregano
1/2tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Sorry no picture. It's wandering around in another file and when I find it I'll share.

spring moss balls

I have Spring Fever BAD!!.  I want green, I want flowers, dirt under my nails and muddy shoes.  It is way overdue.  I decided to make a trio of moss balls to brighten up the living room.  Easy as can be You need wet floral foam, sheet moss, a container and wire bent in a U shape or greening pins.  I cut the foam in half and shaped it into a sort of ball(you don't have to be too picky).  Attach the wet moss to the balls with wire or pins and put into your containers.  I got mine from Dollar Tree. Mist the moss every day to keep it green.  They look real cute but I think they look a little too plain to check back and see how I dressed them up.  Sorry the pic is so dark they really are bright green in regular light.

I get by with a little help from my friends

Last week was my birthday, and as a lady of a certain age, I decided to celebrate all week long.  Sunday we went to see the movie Safe Haven and out to dinner.  Wednesday friends came to celebrate, yeah I had to cook, but I like that.  Friday we went out again and Saturday we did my favorite stir fry place, an art show and my favorite thrift shops.  That is more eating out than we usually do in a month but celebrate we must.  Most of my family does not live close enough to see on a weekly basis so I am very blessed to have the good friends I do.  They will tell me if I'm being a pain or my hair is sticking straight up.  They are also there no matter what, when I need them.  They took me to therapy these last few weeks, did or took me shopping for groceries, brought us meals, listened to me complain and gave me plenty of encouragement.  I couldn't do without them.
Yes friendships change through the years, some by death, divorce, jobs or moves.  Some are gone when interests change, even a couple when they showed themselves not to be who I thought they were.  All in all I have been very lucky to have had these friends come into my life.  So celebrate your friendships, don't let them languish because you're busy and cherish every one for what you  bring into each others lives.  PS celebrate your birthdays, all month long if you can get away with it, you have earned each one.

hamburger soup

We eat a lot of soup around here in the winter.  Usually I make my vegetable soup with chuck roast cut into cubes, browned and simmered for hours but some times I want something a little quicker so I make hamburger vegetable soup, I can have this on the table in well under an hour.
1 1/2# ground beef you could use chicken, turkey or pork also
1C each diced carrots, onion and celery
1can 28oz diced tomatoes
1 can mushrooms
1tsp salt, pepper, garlic powder and oregano
1/2tsp thyme
1 bag equally 2-3C of frozen mixed vegetables
beef broth
Feel free to add what ever vegtables your family likes along with small pasta or barley if you want..
Brown the meat in a little olive oil add the rest of the vegetables and seasoning, cover with the beef broth and simmer until everything is cooked about 30min
a little fresh Parmesan sprinkled on top is a great addition along with warm bread.