stuffed baked potaoes

Stuffed baked potatoes are one of my go to meals when the day has been very long or I just don't feel like cooking.  You can top a baked potato with just about anything and it will taste great.  The picture here shows cooked bacon, cheddar cheese and broccoli.  Just round up any leftover bits you have in your frig  Heat them up and  plop them on a potato.  I usually cook mine in the microwave, but you purist out there feel free to bake them in the oven.  This is exceptionally good with leftover BBQ, cheese, chopped onion and peppers.  If you watch the cheese and butter and go heavy on the vegies, it's a pretty healthy meal.

light redo

I got this light free and decided it would be a great accent for the bathroom redo.  It had been converted to an aquarium.  It still had the plastic plants and gravel in it, boy did it stink.  I took it apart, cleaned it well and let it sit open for a couple of weeks.  I cut a vein and leaf stencil from contact paper, attached the vines around the globe and used etching cream to frost the rest of the glass.  I did this twice to get a heavier frost.  I bought a socket kit from the hardware store and rewired the light.  I found a piece of chain to hang it up.  Total cost $3.50, for the socket and hook to hang it on.  AH had to run the wires through the ceiling because we had never had a light in the center of the room.  He's handy that way.

wine time

peaches look bad because they are organic but inside they are delicious



branches loaded down




concord grapes




full arbor



the other mad scientist, Kathy



Me in all my grunginess.  I was covered in juice and still have grape gunk in my nails.  You don't really stomp grapes, but it's tradition.

 Just wine a little... you'll feel better. A good motto to live by.  I hadn't made wine since my hippie back to the land days of the seventies.  Last year my friend KathyF had so many plums ,and was sick and tired of making jam, so we made plum wine with the leftovers.  A year latter it's a pretty respectable sweet wine.  So of course we have to make wine this year.  As with all things of  nature they are ready on Gods time table not ours.  The grapes and peaches were all ready yesterday.  I picked fruit all morning and we spent the afternoon and evening chopping peaches, stemming grapes and stirring up our brew.  They are in their first fermenting buckets and bubbling away.  To be continued.

junkin finds



lace, plates, silver, sewing supplies, OH My!




It's getting harder and harder to find vintage  buttons




ditto for sewing supplies




a bow full of yummy seam bindings and hem tape




wooden box perfect for recipes 50 cents




plates $1 for 5 crystal S+P shakers




bone handle knives




a pile of silver plate utensils about 50 pieces $5




beautiful aqua plates

I love a great thrift store, especially when they are run by volunteers, and the profits go to a good cause.  This was my haul the last time I went to the big, big city.  All totaled I spent $26.00, maybe a little higher than RS prices, but I got great stuff and helped out those in need.  A winning combo all around. I know some of you just see junk, but look at it through fresh eyes and you'll see beauty and art.

steak sandwich with carmelized onions

This is the way to have steak without breaking the budget.
Here's what you need:

Caramelized onion
Sub or steak rolls
Steak(sirloin)
olive oil
Herbs thyme, parsley, oregano garlic and onion powder or chopped fresh garlic chopped fine
Sugar
Vinegar
Provolone cheese slices
Salsa

Make your onions first by slicing a med onion into rings, pop them in a skillet with 1T oil and cook them low and slow until golden and translucent.  When they reach luscious looking turn up the heat to high and add 1T of sugar and 2T of vinegar.  Cook just until the sugar is melted and remove from heat.  Set aside.
While the onions are cooking, split your rolls and brush with oil.  Sprinkle on a few herbs and toast in the oven 350 until golden add cheese on just half of each bun  and put back in the oven until melted, set aside.

Slice your steak into thin strips.  If you put the steak in the freezer for about 30 minutes it will make this job easier.  Saute in a skillet with 1T of oil and 1tsp of each of the herbs, garlic and salt and pepper to taste.  When the steak is done plop on the rolls, top with the salsa and onions.  Pure bliss.  Wear a bib.

lacy vases

 

Some times you need a small gift or want to give a friend flowers from your garden.  I try to keep a few things on hand that I can just grab in a hurry. 

Here's what you need:

.GS or TS glass vase.  You know the kind you can find for .25-$1.00

Lace or doily

Ribbon, burlap or raffia

Embellishments like flowers or buttons

Mod Podge

Wash and dry your vase.  coat the out side of the vase a small section at a time with the MP and apply your lace or doily.  Try to smooth the wrinkles so there are no lumps, but it's OK to have small gathers.  You can use straight pins to hold things in place if needed.  When the lace is applied add another coat of MP and let dry.  After every thing is dry add ribbon, flowers or embellishments as needed.  On both of these examples I cut burlap in strips and used it as my ribbon.  On the top picture I used  a piece of lace and a doily.  On the bottom I used an oval doily These look great with flowers or a candle and you can use them out side like a hurricane lamp.  This doesn't have to be done in what my sons call "girly stuff".  Think tea stained or black  muslin and Halloween decor or white cheese cloth and greenery for the holidays.

easy chicken salad

 I always keep roasted chicken in the freezer for quick lunches or dinners.  You can buy roasted chickens at the grocery store and remove the meat or roast your own.  Just lay pieces on a greased cookie sheet, sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder and a little olive oil.  Pop in to oven set at 425 until cooked through.  I use breast pieces and they take about 25 minutes.  Now for the chicken salad.
Here's what you need:

Cooked chicken about I used 2 breast for this recipe.  It will make 6-7 decent size sandwiches.
2 hard boiled eggs
1/2 of a diced onion
2 ribs of celery(optional )

1/2C sweet relish

1T mustard

1T mayonnaise

Chop the chicken, eggs, onion and celery  I usually just dump everything into a zip top bag, mixing bowl and storage all in one.

Add the relish and mustard to taste.  Add just enough mayo to moisten.  Mayo is one of the few foods that I absolutely hate so I  put in as little as possible.  If I have sour cream or plain yogurt I substitute with that.  If you make your sandwich with whole grain bread and add sliced tomatoes you have a healthy and yummy lunch or dinner.  Just go light on the potato chips.