pretty dish display

I love pretty dishes, but some times they just get piled up and lost in the stuff of everyday life.  I had these two little plates that I wanted to show off.  I painted the cardboard back of the frame I was using and just attached  each plate with a couple of spots of hot glue.  It will peel right off  when I want to change the frame.  Easy and fast.  Don't try to do this with anything too heavy.

pussy willows

Even though it is the middle of February it is starting to feel a lot like spring around here.  Boy am I ready!  The older I get the better the idea of becoming a snowbird heading south sounds.  This time of year you can cut branches of pussy willow, forsythia, spirea and quince, bring them inside, put them in water in a warm room and wait for the branches to bloom.  Just look at the branches to see if the buds have started swelling.  I took this picture three days after I had brought the branches in and you can already see the white catkins begining to show.  Instant Spring.

love sign

I wanted to do something to decorate for Valentines day, without being too "valentiny".  I grabbed a frame I had already painted and aged, cut a piece of foam core to fit inside.  I found a piece of french print scrapbook paper and printed my saying and used the Cricut to cut out the word love to fit on the page.  I used a glue stick to attach the paper to the foam core and popped it into the frame.  I think the whole thing took about 20 minutes and it won't have to be put away at the end of this week.  I may attach it to a wreath for the door or just prop it on a shelf. 

Sorry for some reason the computer won't let me rotate this, but you get the idea.

Cool place

If you are regular reader of this blog you know I love thrift and junk stores.  Surgery has put a damper on doing much of anything this month, so for my first big out of town adventure we headed for the bigger city to one of my my favorite places.  It's called the IDEA Store, it is located in Champaign, Il.  The concept of the store is to provide a place for businesses or individuals to donate reusable materials which are then resold at great prices.  There are no clothes, dishes or electronics like regular thrift stores but what they do have is rack after rack of materials to stretch the imagination.  What I love best is that everyone who works there is a volunteer and all the money goes directly back into the local schools.  With an ever changing inventory of art materials. fabric, papers, game pieces, containers and recyclables they offer you the chance to to fill bag after bag with things you can use in the classroom, crafts or for your own art.  I have purchased yarn, fabric, jewelry, buttons, sewing supplies, containers for the business and many other items.  This time I had a bag full for just over $6.00.  If you are a teacher, a crafter, a junker or an artist I can't recommend this store high enough.  One caution I will include is if you don't like crowds, don't go on a Saturday afternoon. They offer birthday parties and the place was packed with little kids poking in every container to find the just right pieces for their projects, and loving every minute of it.  I love their enthusiasm but almost got knocked down a time or two.

puffs

I've been making these for years because my boys love them but this batch was made by my sis Paula while she was helping me with my recuperation. These cookies are crispy, chewey and even diabetic friendly.  Of course I did mine with chocolate chips but you could use any kind of flavoring you like.  Be sure to seal in an air tight container after they cool.

4 egg whites room temp
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
2/3C sugar or mix half and half sugar and sweetener
1tsp vanilla
3/4C chocolate chips
1/2C choppped nuts optional

Beat the egg whites until foamy add sugar gradually and cream of tarter
Mix in vanilla, chips and nuts when whites form stiff peaks
Drop by rounded teaspoon on to parchment paper
Bake 250 45min then turn off the oven and let the cookies set for two hours or over night

microwave angel cups

So quick and easy.  Another great idea from my sister.
Mix 1 box angel food cake mix with 1 box of a regular cake mix(we used chocolate and lemon)
When you are ready for a little cake, mix together 1/4C mix with 2T water.  Microwave in a coffee cup for 1 minute and wait 2 minutes remove from cup and serve.

The lemon was just as good, but you know me chocolate is always first choice.  Diabetic friendly 150 cal and 1 carb serving.

Aunt Annes meatballs

These light and savory meat balls are legendary in my family.  Another of the great meals my sister made for us while I was recuperating from surgery.

2# ground beef
1# ground pork
1# ground chicken
1lg onion chop fine and set aside half for the sauce
2 clove garlic minced
2 eggs
1/2C Parmesan cheese
1T parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
6 slices of bread run under water to soak and wrung out
Mix it all together and use an ice cream scoop to form into balls
Bake at 275 30-45 min
Let cool and package in freezer bags if you aren't doing sauce.or  transfer to sauce and simmer for at least an hour

Sauce
1T olive oil
Reserved onion and 1 clove minced garlic saute in oil
Add 4 12-14oz cans tomato sauce
3/4C Parmesan
2T parsley and basil
1tsp oregano
Simmer everything together 1-3 hours
Makes great meatball subs, sliders or spaghetti sauce.  Use the meat mixture for meatloaf.  This makes enough for a large crowd or freeze for later meals.