12/31 {last post of the year}

Here is the last card of the year! I used Homestead Alphabet by Close To My Heart. Colors are ocean, black and white- love this combo! I plan to use this set quite a bit! Love what people do with alpahbet stamps.

Here is a look at the awesome supper my husband and I made tonight. Good enough to share some recipes and photos!




I should note that the crappies were freshly caught last night!!

Fish Recipe: egg wash and then dipped the fish in Shore Lunch mixed with a little fresh asiago and parmesan cheeses as well as some Old Bay Seasoning then fried them in just a bit of olive oil- PERFECT!!!!

Asiago, Potato and Bacon Gratin Potatoes Recipe:

object2=">1 1/2 pounds peeled Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
object2=">1 teaspoon salt, divided object2=">
Cooking spray object2=">
2 tablespoons minced shallots object2=">
1/4 cup all-purpose flour object2=">
2 cups 1% low-fat milk, divided object2=">
3/4 cup (3 ounces) grated Asiago cheese object2=">
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives object2=">
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper object2=">
4 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled object2=">
1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350°.

Place potatoes in a large saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes or until potatoes are almost tender. Drain. Sprinkle potatoes evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt; set aside and keep warm.

Heat a medium saucepan coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add shallots; cook 2 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Sprinkle flour over shallots. Gradually add 1/2 cup milk, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Gradually add remaining 1 1/2 cups milk, stirring with a whisk. Cook over medium heat 9 minutes or until thick, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in 3/4 teaspoon salt, Asiago, chives, pepper, and bacon.

Arrange half of potato slices in an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Pour half of cheese sauce over potato slices. Top with remaining potato slices and cheese sauce; sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.

Spinach & Onion Couscous:

1	medium onion, chopped
2	garlic cloves, minced
2	tablespoons olive oil
1 (14 1/2	ounce) can chicken broth
1 (10	ounce) package frozen chopped spinach
1 (10	ounce) package couscous
3/4	cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
2	tablespoons lemon juice
	salt (to taste)
	fresh ground pepper (to taste)
1/2	cup chopped pecans, toasted

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• Low Cholesterol Side Dishes
  
  
  
  
  
• Spinach Side Dishes
  
  
  
  
  

1. In a saucepan, cook and stir onion and garlic in hot oil until tender.
2. Add the broth and spinach; cook and stir frequently until the spinach thaws.
3. Bring mixture to a boil and stir occasionally.
4. Add in couscous; stir to combine.
5. Cover, remove pan from heat, and let stand 5 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
6. Add remaining ingredients; stir to combine.
7. Serve immediately.

I recommend all these recipes- so good!

I also wanted to thank everybody who reads my blog and takes the time to comment! I really appreciate people liking my work! I hope you have a wonderful new year!

12/29 {soup & a card}

I made this card from scraps I had laying around. I stamped the flourish stamp from Autumn Leaves in Olive by Close To My Heart. Then I layered the olive paper and patterned stock again and stamped Thank You from For Every Occasion by Close To My Heart.

I've always loved the look of the punched paper near a brad- I think there is a special punch that will do this for you but I just took a hole punch and punched it on the edge of each corner and placed pewter colored brads in each corner.


I decided to throw a soup together and can I tell you how dang good it is? I threw together some ground turkey, chicken broth, garbanzo beans, corn, peas, onion, celery, mushrooms, spiral noodles and a handful of seasonings. Sooo good on a cold winter day!

12/26 {happy birthday card}

Bought the new Homestead Alphabet from Close To My Heart and was super excited to use it. I mounted the letters HB on the outside combined with stamps from the Let's Celebrate set, also from Close To My Heart. Colors: bamboo, chocolate, crystal blue and honey. Really like this color combo.

Can't wait to keep playing with this set- I could see this set having lots of fun options!

12/24 {Merry Christmas Eve & Food}

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! I have been running around like crazy today getting all the food ready.

We started the morning with an egg soufflé. It was especially good this morning because our oven broke a few weeks ago and we finally got our new one delivered, so its been a long time since we've made these. This is a super-duper-quick-and- easy soufflé to make.

Recipe:

• oven pre-heated to 425 degrees.

• spray Pam in oven safe dish.

• Poor 4 egg whites into oven safe dish and sprinkle with your favorite seasoning (we use Emeril's) and then cover with shredded cheese (about 1/3 cup).
  
• Bake for 18-20 minutes. Egg will create a nice dome and that means its done!
• We remove it from the dish and put it on a plate.

We first learned to make these when we lived at the Butler House Bed & Breakfast. We made these for guests every weekend!

Also, I tried my hand at home made Kahlua. It didn't go very well and for a minute I thought I ruined my pan. Apparently there is a very fine line between perfectly done and ruined.

I'm going to try again on Christmas morning- we think it would be a really great addition to our chocolate fondue which will be Christmas dinner dessert with my family.

This is what Kahlua should NOT look like!!! If anybody has made this before and has any tips, I'd appreciate it!I broke the news to my family today that we may not be able to have white russians with home made kahlua.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

12/21 {cute button card}

I got this set of Sewing Kit stamps by Gel-a-Tins on a trip with my aunt to a cool stamp store in St. Paul called Caprice (formerly Dr. Scrapbook). I've had it for well over a year and didn't know what the heck to do with it even though I HAD to have this set of stamps. Love the look of stitched paper but I wouldn't have a clue how to run a sewing machine even if I had one....

Created this card using kraft paper (love this look) and red textured paper. The button stamps are perfectly sized to use my round punches. I mounted 3 of the buttons for some interest.

After frantically making my Christmas cards this week (yes, this week...only 7 days before Christmas) I was ready to move on to some non-holiday cards.

I'm on day 1 of a 6 day weekend and I plan to do a ton of stamping!!!!

Happy Holidays

12/6 { Pay It Forward }

While I was checking Stephanie's blog I saw her Pay it Forward Post and decided to join.

*** I will send a handmade card to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF (Pay it forward) exchange. I'm not sure what that gift will be. It will be a surprise! The only thing you have to do in return is to pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

So basically, if you’re one of the first 3 comments, I’ll send you something crafty that I’ll make!

Once you sign up, I'll email you to let you know that you are one of the three. Then copy and paste this paragraph on your blog, and three other lucky people will be recipients of your handmade work. Pay it Forward!***

I'm taking this one step further and extending the Pay It Forward to 3 people who don't have blogs! We'll operate the same way. The first 3 people to respond who don't have blogs will also get a handmade card and you can pay it forward to 3 people in the mail. It will be fun to get something other than junk mail!

It doesn't have to be anything time-consuming or complicated ... it's just a little "spirit of giving" thing. Since it's a busy time of year, you could even wait until January to pay it forward if that works better for your schedule (spread out the love so to speak). Just comment below if you want to join in the fun & I'll e-mail you for your address if you're one of the first three. I haven't decided what I'm going to make yet, or when it will be done, so it will have to be a surprise.

12/3 { cute little gift enclosure cards}

So I found some cute little envelopes at the store the other day and had to make something to put in them. Tis' the season for gift enclosure cards and these are perfect for the envelopes. I double layered the note cards and used a fun little stamp set from Gel-a-tin stamp company. Love the detail in these ornament stamps.

I *might* use these stamps for my Christmas Cards......which, BTW I'm totally freaking out about because I don't have my design nailed down yet. Seriously freaking out. I should be making them by now instead of still trying things out in my mind.

Anyhow, I'm selling these gift enclosure cards in my Etsy Shop!

12/1 { card class }

I've had a few request for some card classes and I think this will be a fun class!

You will create & take home 3 cards using acetate! Acetate is like overhead projector sheets. Its FUN to stamp on and get creative!

Card 1: stamps used are: Autumn Leaves, Rustic Flowers & For Every Occasion by Close To My Heart Colors are black and breeze
Card 2: stamps used are: Autumn Leaves Happy Birthday & Alfresco by Close To My Heart. Colors are black and hollyhock.
Card 3: stamps used are: For Every Occasion & Friendships Beauty by Close To My Heart. Colors are chocolate, sweet leaf and white.

When: Thursday, December 13th @ 6pm
OR
December 20th @ 6pm
Where: My House
RSVP: December 6th
Cost: $6

I know some of my readers are local, so if you feel like learning something new or getting together with other stampers, come join me! Email me (in my profile to the left) to RSVP and I will give you directions to my house. If you have a problem finding my email in my profile, leave a comment on this post and I will get in contact with you!

If you want to come to the class, but the 13th is busy for you, email me and I can arrange a different night for you!

If you are not local and want these cute cards, I'd be happy to make them for you and send them to you for $8 ($6 for the cards & envelopes and $2 for shipping)

Hope you can make it!