Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays. I hope everyone is having a wonderful December. I am in full swing decorating, baking and knitting...so more posts should be coming up very soon.


I even decided to put a tree in my bedroom as well. Really getting into the holiday spirit. Here is the little tree on my nightstand. Yes it's blue... I decided I would have a blue Christmas. Actually the tree (Target) matches my room decor. Love the polar bear topper I put up (Costco ornaments) and I got those Mickey bulb ornaments last year at Disneyland. Anyway have a magical and crafty holiday.

Crazy Baking Marathon

So I volunteered to help prepare food for about 60-70 people for my club meeting. I really should be careful what I volunteer to do, because I always stress myself out. I did the table center pieces, pumpkin soup, now all was left was the baking. How hard would that be to bake. It was not very hard actually, though it was very TIRING. So I baked 72 pumpkin cupcakes and about 90 cookies. For the cupcakes I would pop the in the oven 24 cupcakes at a time. In the afternoon I worked on the sugar cookies. It's always a pain when cutting cookie shapes because the dough gets soft and mushy so I had to pop it in the fridge constantly.  In the end I am happy with the results. Here is all the baked goodies on my table. 

All baked goodies 

70 cupcakes 

Halloween cookies 

I will be posting recipes soon. In the rush to finish I forgot to take pictures of the steps. I think the most important thing I learned was how to organized my time. Toward the middle I had a great flow. Haha I could have been wearing pearls, heels and an apron. It actually became that effortless. Though it wasn't without some cons. I realize I am glad I don't do this for a living...my back would have revoulted against me if I had to do this every day, but every once in a while it is possible to accomplish. But don't expect me to be volunteering to do this again anytime soon. I need at least 6 months before I take this challenge on again. Thanks for reading. Hope you are enjoying October. 

October nights and pumpkins

Pumpkin Soup

It's finally starting to feel chilly in Southern California and when I mean chilly I mean it's in the 70s. For the longest it's been in the 90s and I have been wearing flip flops and dresses. Well to celebrate the dip in the temperature I decided to make Pumpkin Soup.

Soups are the easiest thing to do in my opinion. You can make a giant pot and you have soup on hand for a few days.

I got a good medium size pumpkin and cut it up and peeled it. This is the hardest part and I honestly feel that I got such a good arm workout I am skipping my arm exercises for today.

I actually cooked the pumpkin in two batches. You can save half of the uncooked pumpkin and freeze or just cook it and freeze the soup.

Pumpkin Soup

1 TBSP of oil
2 shallots chopped (you could use half an onion instead)
3-4 cloves of garlic
4-6 cups of pumpkin
2 cups of vegetable broth
seasonings of your choice (I like salt, pepper, ginger, and curry)

Heat oil, shallots, and garlic for a few minutes in the pot. Add pumpkin, cover with lid for about 5 minutes, while you heat the broth. Add hot broth. Cook for about 30-40 minutes. (Test to make sure the pumpkin is soft like a potato you were to mash) Use a hand held blender and blend in the pot. You can use a regular blender if you want a super smooth consistency. There you have it...a warm cup of Pumpkin Soup perfect for October.

If you like to add some cream or parsley to garnish that would be a nice touch. Hope you enjoy October with a warm cup of soup.

The Witching Hour

Halloween Witch Hat

So I have been made in charge of table setting for the month of October for this club I belong to. So glad I have October, because Halloween is my favorite holiday. I wanted to do something than the usual potted plant that the others usually do for table setting. I found these cardboard witch hats at Michael's they were on sale for $2.25 (they maybe even cheaper at the end of the month) 

What you will need to do this project!

1. Cardboard witch hats
2. Acrylic paint (black, orange, etc)
3. sponge paint brushes
4. plastic cups 
5. glitter (using the Martha Stewart halloween edition. I love the colors)
6. ribbons
7. glue 
8. Cat Helper (that's optional... My cat Figaro always likes to help me) 

Here is Figaro ready to help!

Start painting the hat. I just poured the paint in the cup. Be sure to cover your work surface with newspaper or plastic. This is a bit messy. 

All the hats are painted black. Time to start decorating. 

I added orange dots by dipping the tip of the handle in orange and just dabbing the brim of the hat. 

Just add glue and sprinkle glitter 

Figaro is inspecting the hats. He is quality control...so it's his job to make sure everything is puurrrfect (sorry for the cheesy joke) 

All done. I added ribbons to some. I still have to finish knitting the items that will be with each hat. You can see one item a ghost has been done. I will be posting my knitted stuff when I am done. 

Hope this gave you some ideas. It would be fun party activity, everyone decorate their own hat or just something for halloween decor. Happy October! Be crafty everyone. 

Something Old, Something New, Something Blue

Lately I have been in the mood of turning old things into something new. I recently acquired a hand me down bedroom set from my parents. Hey we have a bad economy and I am not going to be buying new furniture.  Plus the furniture I acquired was real wood furniture not the plywood crap they sell at certain stores that you can put together. I decided to turned some old pieces of furniture into something new and well I love blue so thought I would add a small blue detail. It just gives it a unique and customize look...totally an original piece.

Here is what the dresser looked like before. Very nice, but not my taste. (Sorry I don't have good picture should have taken one before the redo began)

I had the pieces, the dresser and the nights stand painted with primer and then a high gloss white. The handles which were gold hardware I painted with blue spray paint (I made the mistake of forgetting premier, it turned out ok but if I primed it would have been better). I love white and blue together...gives it a Wedgewood feel.  Here is the finished product.

I love using accent pieces that are blue and white next to my night stand. My magazine storage bin actually came from Costco and it came with two- one small which you see here and a large striped one.

I hope that this gave you some ideas and you revamp that old piece of furniture into a awesome statement piece. Thanks and stay crafty :)

Jacket Makeover to Dye for!

I absolutely love this jacket. I bought it years and years ago at Anthropologie on sale. Love their sales! It was this light blueish gray to begin with but over the years sadly it has faded to a whitish grey. It just looks blah. So thanks to Pinterest I got this great idea to revamp my favorite jacket my dyeing it.  I went  to  the craft store and picked up a package of RIT powder dye in the color teal, it was about $3. Not bad $3 and I will have a brand new jacket.

This is how it originally looked it's so pretty but the color is so dull.




Instructions 

I used the bucket method. Use the method you feel more comfortable with.
I basically filled a 3 gallon bucket with hot water poured the powder dye added 1 TBSP of liquid detergent and stirred.
Wet your garment until it is throughly soaking wet. Put in bucket. Let it sit for as long as you desire, the longer the better as it will soak more color. I let my jacket sit for 30 minutes constantly stirring it around making sure is absorbed the color evenly. (It will appear really dark but once you wash it and dry it will be a lighter color)After 30 minutes rise in the sink with warm and gradually change to cold. Do this until the water is running clear free of any dye. Then wash it in the washing machine. I used a warm/cold cycle delicate setting. Then gave it a rinse in cold water. Then put it in the dryer. (The instruction for each method are on the package)

My new Jacket. Love how the color turned out. 

Best part it now matches my favorite shoes.


Hope this post gives you some ideas how to revamp your favorite clothes. I am so happy I dyed my jacket, it looks better than I originally bought it :) 

Fudgy Cake Pops

Fudgy Cake Pop                                                                                        

These bite size cakes dipped in chocolate are to be a hit at your next party!

Ingredients 

 3/4 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup of butter
3/4 cup of sugar
3 TBSP of cocoa
2 eggs
3/4 cups of flour
1/4 tsp salt
16 lollipop sticks
1 package of chocolate bark or candy melts
sprinkles, decorating sugar for decorating

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease the cake pops pan.
Melt the chocolate chips and butter on low heat until smooth

Add melted butter and chocolate mixture to a bowl. Add sugar and cocoa mix well until blended.
Add eggs, one at a time, mix well. Add flour and salt, stir until blended. It will be a gooey mixture when  blended

Spoon batter in the non hole side until it mounds over the pan and place cover (hole side on top and keys through the slots.
(Sorry forgot to take a picture before I placed the cover and after I placed the keys)
Bake for 25 minutes.
Let it  sit in the mold for 5 mins before you remove. Remove from mold
Place lollipop sticks in the center. 

Melt your chocolate or in my case Candy melts as directed. I used the white candy melts and sprinkles.
Dip it in the chocolate mixture and let it rest on parchment covered baking dish and your favorite decorations. You can place in the fridge for the chocolate mixture to harden. And that's how you make cake pops

Nothing is so great as bite size desserts. This recipe make the best cake pops ever and they are perfect for parties

Whiskey and Beer BBQ Sliders

 I actually found this recipe at  Shape BBQ sliders and modified it. I didn't need to make such a huge portion so I cut the recipe ingredients in half and added some other ingredients.

For the sauce

1/2 cup of bbq sauce
3/4 cup of beer
1 tbsp. of whiskey
1/2 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp of pepper
1/4 tsp of ground pepper
1 tsp of hot sauce or buffalo wing sauce
1/2 tsp of honey
1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper







For sandwiches
1 deli rotisseri chicken shredded meat (I used 2 cups)
6 slider buns (I just used a french bread loaf and cut and sliced)








Directions

In a 2 quarter sauce pan, heat sauce ingredients and simmer for 15 to 20 mins until it thickens. Stir consistently so sides of pan don't burn.
Microwave two cups of shredded rotisserie chicken for 3-4 mins. Add chicken to thicken sauce, mix and cook for 1 min. Add 1/3 cup of chicken mixture to slider bun or bread loaf of your choice.

Makes 4-6 servings. Enjoy!!!

Simmer Sauce until it thickens.

I used a french loaf and a side of mashed sweet potatoes. 

Yum!       

SUPER BOWL SIDE DISH -WASABI COLE SLAW

Super Bowl is just a few days away...YEAH!!!  Whether you are hosting or just going to someone's party this is perfect side dish to prepare. It's not your typical cole slaw...it has a kick to it.

Wasabi Cole Slaw
Ingredients
1 head of cabbage
1/2 a head of red cabbage
1 cup of shredded carrots
2 tablespoons - wasabi mayonnaise from trader joe's *
1 tablespoon -sour cream (light or regular)
1/2 tablespoon - apple cider vinegar

Cut the cabbage and red cabbage to thin strips, place in bowl  and shredded carrots (You can also get the ready pack cole slaw packages if pressed for time).
Add 2 tablespoons of wasabi mayonnasie. (* If you can't find wasabi mayonnaise add 1/8 teaspoon of wasabi paste to sour cream and mayonnaise and mix)
Add 1 tablespoon of sour cream. (If you don't like it too spicy and hot alternate 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise and 2 tablespoons of sour cream)
Add 1/2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Mix everything up. Refrigerate overnight.

Perfect dish to pair on top of burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, hot wings or ribs. Enjoy!

What's for Dinner!

Quick and Easy Salmon

Salmon is so easy to prepare and it's good for you!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees 

I'm actually am using a pre-sliced Salmon platter from Costco (it's portion is perfect if you are only cooking for 1-2 people and it last about a week or more) I usually freeze one piece and use the two pieces throughout  the week. 

I cut one of the pieces in half. One pre-cut filet is good for two people.

Place the filet on a piece of foil. Drizzle some lemon juice. Season with salt, pepper, and what ever other spices you like cayenne pepper is nice for a little kick. Place some dill and slice lemons on top. 

Place herb butter. If you don't have herb butter you can drizzle some olive oil or vegetable oil.

Fold the foil and create a little packet. This keeps the juice all together and the fish comes out moist and flaky.
Plus it makes clean up a breeze.
Bake for about 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees

Right out of the oven. Look at all those juices. 

I made mashed potatoes, placed the filet on top and added some asparagus on the sides.
I will admit the asparagus are frozen, just microwaved them and drizzle lemon juice and a little sunflower oil.
It's ok to use short cuts when cooking sometimes.
You can pair your salmon with wild rice and any vegetable of your choice.
Enjoy!

Cooking gadgets and gizmos I love

Onion Goggles 

I am one of the few people that I know that suffer from hyper sensitive to onions. Yes those stinky things that are a base to every cooking recipe. Even being near an onion being chopped by someone else would be difficult.  I have tried everything over the years. I have put it in the fridge, run the onion under cold water before chopping, and yes even gum chewing. Nothing would work my eyes would tear up, burn and sting for hours. I would usually just have someone else chop the onions far away from me or endure the pain.

Recently I saw a friend post a picture of her Onion Goggles.  Onion Goggles could they seriously work???  Well it wouldn't hurt to try. I rushed to Sur La Table and purchased a snazzy pair in red.  The minute I got home I rushed to the kitchen and got a giant onion out of the basket in the pantry, not the fridge, didn't run it under cold water, didn't even chew gum, just put on my Onion Goggles and started chopping. Chopped the whole entire onion for the hell of it. I just wanted to see if all my years of suffering would be over and all I had to do was wear goggles.

To my disbelief...THEY WORKED!!!! NO MORE TEARS!!! NO BURNING!!! It was a miracle. I love my Onion Goggles!  Thanks to my friend I can now chop onions. Soon I hope to have a post up for French Onion Soup. Something I always wanted to make, but couldn't imagine doing because of all the onions. Well now I can!

What's for Lunch - Rotisserie Chicken short cut

Quick and Easy Chicken Burrito 

I feel that preparing a quick and easy meal is possible. Sometimes short cuts help. 

Chicken Burrito

1- large tortilla (I used a chipotle and onion one from Trader Joe's)

2. rotisserie chicken (just use a few shredded pieces you can save the rest for another recipe) 

3. enchilada sauce 

2- filling of your choice

(rice, saluted bell pepper, onions, cheese, sour cream,  salsa etc) 

Rotisserie Chickens are amazing to create quick and easy meals 

Pull some pieces of chicken add to skillet and pour some enchilada sauce over it.
Heat for a 3 minutes 

Time to make your burrito. Warm your tortilla in the microwave for 15 seconds.
Take out of microwave and time to put on your toppings of your choice.
I used rice, lettuce, chicken, and salsa, but you can add whatever you like.

I poured some enchilada sauce over my burrito, you can add salsa or nothing at all.
Cooking is not about following recipes exactly, but preparing things the way you like.
Enjoy! 

This little kitty was knit!

I do love knitting and it is great to create something out of basically a ball of yarn and knitting needles.

This was something I recently made for my friend's daughter.

I found the pattern online barbara prime's fuzzy mitten.  I love Fuzzy mitten's blog as well. I used the lamb pattern for the body, legs and arms.Then I created my own pattern for the cat ears and a tail. I think it turned out really cute.

The only difference is that I knit in the round on DPNs (double pointed needles), so I don't Purl I Knit those stitches instead. I prefer to do this because it creates a seamless project. If you are new to knitting  I would suggest just to knit on knitting needles and sew the ends as the pattern instructs.

I also have used the pattern to create the lamb that is picture on the pattern and a bunny which I just used one color of yarn and created a different pattern for the ears. Aren't they adorable?