Leftover Rice!

Audrey loves plain rice! Actually any kind of rice. She likes to have it as a snack. But rice isn't really a quick snack! Unless you already have it on hand!

It's easy to do. When ever you make rice, make extra. 

Put freezer wrap into a perfect size bowl or muffin tins work great!

Fill it,

press it, 

wrap it!

I usually put another layer of freezer wrap,

then into a freezer bag with the contents and date written on it!

 Ta-da , next time you or someone wants rice for lunch or a snack. (Great in a packed lunch too, if there's a microwave) Pull one out & throw it into the microwave. Everyone's microwave is different but start with 2-3 mins. Squish the ball of rice around (CAUTION it will be very hot at some point!)

A Fabulously Frugal Birthday Gift!

My niece Avery turned 3 on March 27 of this year! For her birthday I made her

a craft kit of her very own!

I got one large plastic container with a handle that clamped closed. Two smaller vertical containers with dividers about 2" deep, and one small horizontal container with dividers about 4" deep.

The containers I found at Big Lots for $2 & $3. I also found the tablet, construction paper, markers & crayons there for $1. 

Everything else I found at the Dollar Tree. Packs of plastic pony beads, regular & foam stickers, and pastel pom-poms!

As you can see, everything went together perfectly, and I got a very personalized birthday present for under $20!

As you can see, everything went together perfectly, and I got a very personalized birthday present for under $20!

Sugar Cookies (for cookie cutters or a cookie press)

The Sugar Cookies from my Childhood

3/4 cup butter/shortening (I did 1/2 and 1/2)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. flavoring (I have used vanilla, almond & lemon)

2 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Mix dry ingredients together, set aside. Mix the shortening/butter, sugar, eggs and flavoring till well blended. Blend in dry ingredients until dough comes together in a ball.

For cookie press:

Press dough onto ungreased cookie sheet bake at 400º oven for 6-8 minutes.

For cookie cutters:

Chill dough at least 1 hour. Roll to 1/8" thick cut out with favorite cutters. Place on ungreased cookie sheet bake in 400º oven for 6-8 minutes. 

Yields 4-6 dozen cookies

  ~oOo~

Homemade Colored Sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

food coloring

Put sugar in airtight container. Add 3-4 drops of food coloring and shake vigorously several minutes. You can use gel and paste food coloring by adding it to water first.

Buttercream Frosting

This is a super simple and very delicious icing that works great for cakes and cookies. If you want to color this frosting paste or gel works better. Liquid food coloring will probably require you to add more confectioner's sugar.

Ingredients
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups confectioner's sugar
2 tablespoons milk




Directions
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, and vanilla. Add in the sugar beating well. Beat in the milk, and continue mixing until light and fluffy. Keep icing covered until ready to decorate.


Variations
For chocolate buttercream: add 3/4 cup cocoa or three 1 oz. unsweetened chocolate squares, melted (will need to increase the amount of milk to about 3-4 tablespoons); peanut butter buttercream: decrease the shortening & the butter to 1/3 cup and add 3/4 cup peanut butter (will also need to increase the milk to get the right consistency); replace the vanilla extract with maple, almond or your favorite flavors. The possibilities are endless. 


Keep leftover icing refrigerated for several days. Frozen in an air tight container for several months.

Frozen Treat!

I have a great treat using frozen banana's! Cut the banana's into chunk's keep in the freezer. 

We all know that they're great to throw into smoothies & shake's. 

Well, you can also throw them into a food processor or blender, and magically get...

banana soft serve! 

You do have to blend for several minutes. First the frozen banana's will become frozen crumbs. Continue blending until the banana's become creamy.

No liquid or any other ingredients required. So it's very healthy, just frozen banana's.

You could add some other flavors. Chocolate syrup, cocoa powder or maybe even some almond or p-nut butter. Use your imagination.

Turkey Leftovers

Want an easy recipe for your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers? 

I'm sure you probably have a recipe for a turkey/chicken potpie! However this one is super simple and really uses whatever you have on hand.

• approx. 2 cups of mixed vegetables (I used veggies from my frozen veggie bowl (peas & corn), lima beans, 2 small potatoes and a carrot (I steamed the raw veggies in the microwave before adding to the potpie)
• can of cream soup (usually I use cream of mushroom or celery, but I only had cream of potato. Was fantastic!)
• leftover turkey
• your favorite seasonings (I usually use Oregano, garlic powder, salt & pepper to taste, but the leftover peas were 'basil peas' so I just added Thyme, garlic, salt & pepper)
• can of biscuits (Audrey rolled 2 of the large biscuits together for our individual 'pies' placed over our filling). Cut vents in the top. I have also used homemade biscuits dropped onto the filling, cornbread and the copycat Jiffy corn muffin mix for the top of the potpies.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. 

They were very yummy, & aren't the individual 'pies' so cute?

Roasted Vegetables (no 'real' recipe needed)

This delicious dish is so easy and versatile. You can choose your favorite veggies too!

This time I cut up carrots, zucchini and added some brussel sprouts (right out of the freezer...see versatile). Placed the veggies in a 9 x 13 baking dish. Drizzled with a little olive oil, sprinkled sea salt, oregano, garlic powder & some fresh ground pepper. Then I tossed to coat all the pieces.

Roast in a 350 degree oven till fork tender.

Then eat up, yummy!

Copycat Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

When I think about corn bread, I think of white corn meal, and a wrought iron skillet with some wonderful southern style cornbread. Many think of the sweet yellow corn muffin mix that comes in the little 8.5 ounce boxes "Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix". 

I love Jiffy cornbread too. It's just not "cornbread" (some know what I mean *wink, wink*).

Well I found this copycat "Jiffy" corn muffin mix. It's delicious and tastes like that sweet corn muffin mix. 

INGREDIENTS

2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow corn meal (I use white corn meal)
3 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk

INSTRUCTIONS

The linked instruction have you add the egg & milk after mixing all the other ingredients. Since I'm making mine immediately I just mix all my ingredients together at the same time. (For the above pictured Pyrex dish I double the recipe)

Mix well with whisk.

I pour the mixture into a greased 9 x 9 pan.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 

Bake 15-20 minutes

If you wish to make Corn Muffins:

Fill muffin tins 1/2 full. Bake 15-20 minutes.
Makes 6 muffins.

Cute Toothpicks!

You've seen all the cute plastic picks, like these, these & these.

Well you don't have to buy cute picks to liven up your kids lunches. 

Grab some plain wooden toothpicks & stickers and look at all the cute picks you can have!

The possibilities are endless!

I used this idea at my parents house last week. 

My niece loved eating her lunch with these cute picks! 

You know, using picks always makes the food taste better.

  Really, it does! HA

Hot Pockets

Have you had Hot Pockets the frozen pocket sandwiches you heat in the microwave. Well here's a super easy homemade version I'm sure you'll love too.

Ingredients needed:
2 oz (1/4 of 8-oz pkg) cream cheese, solftened

1 Tbsp. mayo or Miracle Whip (I have used ranch salad dressing)

1 tsp. mustard 

4 slices of deli meat (or about a cup of diced); for today's I used sliced ham

1/4 cup shredded cheese; for today's I used cheddar

1 can refrigerated biscuits (I use the store/generic brand of the "Grands" biscuits)


Follow directions on the biscuit container for oven temperature and baking time.

Dice the meat,

add to the softened cream cheese,

here's Audrey shredding the block of cheddar,

and add to the ham & cream cheese mixture.

Now add the rest of the ingredients 

(except for the biscuits) to the mixture, and mix well.

Press biscuits into 4" circles,  

place spoonful of mixture to one side of the pressed biscuit,

fold biscuit over and press the seams closed. 

Place into preheated oven and bake until golden brown.

Then enjoy!

The possibilities are endless...

• ham & swiss 
• turkey & american cheese
• roast beef & provolone
• a hamburger pocket: ground beef & american 
• a pizza pocket: filled with your favorite pizza toppings
• how about a breakfast pocket: scrambled egg, sausage or bacon 
• or a vegetarian pocket with all your favorite veggies

Just replace the meat & shredded cheese with your favorite choices. You can also change the condiments (the mayo & mustard) with pizza sauce, salad dressing, etc.

Carrot Flowers?

Do your kids ever get tired of carrot sticks?
How about giving them carrot flowers?

First peel and slice the carrot into circles

Then with a v-shaped cutter I cut very small v's around the edges.

A paring knife will work just as well.

Make sure you don't cut all the way to the center.

and PRESTO... carrot flowers!

Then into a bento (of course they would be just as cute on a dinner plate,

if your kids need some incentive to eat veggies)!

Top Photo left to right: carrot 'flowers', half a banana, pretzel sticks,

cheese ridges, robins eggs.

Middle Photo: added a pocket (turkey, cheddar, mustard) sandwich.

Bottom Photo: added ranch dressing (in a little smidget) and the lid.

~*~

I used a cut-N-seal to make the pocket sandwich.

I have three different sized of the cut-N-seal, which is great.

It doesn't look like Pampered Chef still carries the three sizes.

All my Pampered Chef items are thanks to my sister for

having 'parties' every year for 5 or 6 years.

 

Easy Centerpieces for Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a mere two weeks away. Where did the year go?

Today while browsing the net, I found some wonderful easy Thanksgiving centerpieces, crafts and other decorating ideas at Better Homes and Garden.

Here are a few of my favorite centerpieces.

Corn and Candles

Fall-colored candle surrounded by dried corn in a plain glass jar. Extremely gorgeous. What could be simpler?

Bountiful Thanksgiving Centerpiece

A wire basket filled with a colorful assortment of Thanksgiving-themed food (gourdes, indian corn, nuts) displays the perfect holiday harvest. Add a pretty fall colored napkin or ribbon.

Pumpkin Candle Centerpiece
This idea is a super easy arrangement. It only uses three ingredients: a pumpkin, a candle, and berry sprigs. Simple and beautiful.

So, make sure you check out Better Homes and Gardens website, it's filled with wonderful ideas!

(photos from Better Homes and Gardens)

Plarn?

Recently I found artist Kate E. Austin’s blog. She has an amazing post on making "plarn"! Plarn you ask! Plarn is yarn made from plastic bags (yes the plastic bags stores give us). I think it's amazing with I see someone come up with inventive ways to recycle.

Here’s her how-to video (which can also be found on her blog):



Isn't that simple! Look at the handbag she made!

Isn't that cute! You would never guess that it was made from plastic bags!

Kate E. Austin also has an Etsy Shop of her artwork and already made plarn!

I'm going to have to try this out, hmmm, I wonder how many things you can make with plarn?!

Photo/video from Kate E. Austin’s blog.