Tasty Tuesday

              The calender says it's spring, but Mother Nature has other plans for alot of us. Rainy and cold here but I'm thinking ahead to Easter and the menu, one of these days, I'll get ALL my recipes organized and put in order, you should see my recipe drawer! But a tasty treat in springtime is lemon, of course it's good anytime of the year, but spring and summer it just tastes better for some reason.  I made these little lemon drops one Easter and they were a huge hit, so why not share them with you, I know I will be making more soon!

Little Lemon Drops

1 box lemon cake mix
1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding
4 lg.eggs
1 1/4 c. sour cream
1/2 c. milk
Lemon Glaze
1 lb. box powdered sugar
2 tsp. grated lemon
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
1/4 c. lemon juice and hot water
Sugared raspberries or cranberries
Preheat oven to 325. Line mini muffin pans with paper liners or spray with non stick coating. Beat ingredients in large bowl with mixer on med. for several minutes. Transfer batter into 2 one gallon zip lock bags, seal. Cut off one corner of each bag and pipe batter into cups, about 2/3 full. Bake 12-15 mins. Remove pans to wire rack to cool for 2 min. Invert muffins onto rack and repeat till batter is baked. Prepare lemon glaze by beating all ingredients in a bowl till smooth. Dip each mini muffin in glaze to coat rounded tops and sides. Place on rack to set. Top with sugared berries and serve in airtight container till serving time.

       Kids love these little lemon drops, just their size and full of sweetness! Time to think about Easter since April begins at the end of the week, make these a family favorite too, anytime of the year!

    Just had a couple of questions I wanted to answer: they should make about 100 if you don't fill the cups too full and if freezing them, I would freeze without the glaze, do that afterwards for best outcome. Enjoy!

Retro Remake

    My sewing room makeover is finally finished and I love it! Come on in and take a peek......

         This is my space, used to be a screened in porch, we think because of the door and all the windows. Our house was built in the 40's and added on a few times over the years, we've lived here for 3 years and I'm re-painting already, why, I guess I was in a hurry to move in, I used all flat paint and with a big sloppy dog, the walls needed a update,  in satin. This room was a sage green and pink, I outgrew the pink.....

     And fell in love with blue and red instead! What you see red now, was once pink. The door took 4 coats of paint to cover the pink, I'd hate to see if I ever have to cover the red!

     My scrapbook wall of fame, I just hate to hide such art in scrapbooks! And you can even see where I blog! I only had to buy paint, blue sheers and red fabric for the grand total of $37 spent on this makeover, everything else was found around the house, my kind of shopping!

Here is the before, I have no idea how it got here, ?  

    I still need to find some cute blue fabric for a valance for the door and recover my name there but I'm calling it done and this room just makes me happy! :) Well, that's it for my inside projects for this year! I've re-done 3 rooms in just over a month and even though my body ached, it was a blast! The out come was well worth the pain. And winter is back so once it warms up again, I can put my ideas in motion outside too!

Tasty Tuesday

           I was going to wait to share this recipe with you, but I realized this morning just how close April is which means Easter is like a month away! I had to make a couple of batches to get this recipe down, so I thought I better post it now just in case you wanted to practice with this recipe before making it for Easter. I'm not a big fan of the Cadbury eggs, the cream filling is too rich for me, the homemade ones are too, but my family likes them so I went to the trouble many years ago, I may have to wow them again this Easter season!


Homemade Cadbury Eggs

1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
4 drops yellow food coloring
2 drops red food coloring
1 (12 ounce) bag milk chocolate chips
2 teaspoons vegetable shortening

Combine the corn syrup, butter, vanilla and salt in a large bowl.
Beat well with an electric mixer until smooth.
Add powdered sugar, a little bit at at time and mix by hand after each addition.
Mix until creamy.
Remove about 1/3 of the sugar mixture and place in a small bowl.
Add the food coloring and mix well.
Cover both mixtures and chill for at least 2 hours or until firm.

When mixtures are still firm roll a small, marble size from the orange filling.
Wrap a small amount of the white filling around the orange.
Form into the shape of eggs and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
Repeat until done and chill for at least 4 hours.
You want them"set.

Combine the chocolate chips and shortening in a double broiler or ceramic bowl.
Melt down and mix well.
Take each egg filling and dip into the melted chocolate mixture and return to baking sheet.
Repeat and chill again for 2 hours.
Repeat the dipping process, chill again and your good to go!
Makes 16-24 eggs.


       Don't even attempt to make these if you don't have a afternoon all to yourself, it is time consuming and the last thing you need are interruptions, so if you plan to try these, plan the time home alone! lol  Looks like it's time to plan the Easter meal and get togethers so I will try to hunt up some more Easter recipes for the next few Tasty Tuesdays! :)


     The winner of the Apron book is Missy, from Missy's Cakes and Aprons! Congrats Missy! Send me your mailing info so I can pop the book in the mail!! Thanks to all who signed up and who follow me, I'm a fan of you!! :)

Shabby Slumber

            Here is my little tour of the bedroom makeover I've been working on, the quilt finally arrived so I dug out the curtains and linens to create what I call "Shabby Slumber".  The before is square one, the brown and aqua theme, one gallon of antique white later and look how lighter it is, I even got brave and painted the closet  doors,( square5) they were a dark stain and really weighing the room done. I love my side of the bed, with photos of my pretty granddaughter's by my side. The shutters were a steal, only $10 a piece, green when I bought them from our local ReStore, they once hung on a historical house in town. I just love them in aqua! Buy the thriftiest find ever was the glass door divider that I paid 25 cents for at a yard sale last year, painting it white to match and made a photo collage out of it, I can add 3 frames per square if I wanted too! Grand total spent on paint and quilt, $60, I love it!! I smile every time I enter this room, hubby even likes it! :)

         With one room left to go, the progress on my sewing room is almost done! Still arranging things, decluttering and tying it all together, the fun part! I found some fun retro fabric yesterday that will make some cute valances so once I get those made and everything put away, I'll be sharing photos of this makeover too! And just in case you haven't signed up for my Apron book giveaway, scroll down to that post, you have till midnight tonight to get entered, I'll draw the winner in the morning! Good luck and happy slumber too!



 

Tasty Tuesday

               Soup season isn't over yet, and one of my favorites is Chicken Enchilada Soup. Many restaurants serve this and when you find one you really like, google copycat recipes and that will bring up tons of links for many restaurants own recipes, so you can make it at home, anytime!

Chicken Enchilada Soup

1 Tbsp. virgin olive oil
1 lb. chicken breast fillets
1/2 c. diced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
4 c. chicken broth
3 c. water
1 c. enchilada sauce
16 oz. Velveeta cheese
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
Dice up chicken breasts to bite size pieces and saute in olive oil with garlic and onions till done. Add chicken broth and water, simmer on low for 15 min. Add enchilada sauce, Velveeta and spices and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 min. Serve hot with chips, cheese, sour cream, etc.

     It's a chilly Tuesday here so soup came to mind and nothing beats homemade! I usually make a big pot so we can eat it 2 nights, I love soup for that reason too! Soups on!

 The craft room makeover begins in the morning, I'm really anxious to get this job done, it's the biggest of the 3 but probably will be my favorite and with temps. warming up to 75 by Friday, I can even open up the windows to speed things along! Just waiting on my new quilt before I can show off our bedroom makeover so stay tuned! And less than a week now to get entered in my Apron book giveaway so scroll down to that post if you haven't already signed up! Spring is such a busy time, but all good!

Barn Charm

              What is it about old, worn out wood that makes my heart all a flutter? I brake for barns! I joined a linky group with those who understand this obsession with old barns, like I need another group, I have a photo group on Facebook called "I Brake for Barns" where we post our barn photos, feel free to join if your one of us, and check out Barn Charm too if you'd like to share on your blog as well. I just can't help myself, but I'm learning how to use my camera alot more and my shots are getting better. Missouri has plenty of barns to keep the charm alive!

Shamrock's Rock!

               Can a girl have too many aprons? I say NO! And now, I have a apron for St. Patrick's Day! Meet my first full length apron, Shamrocks Rock! I had picked up this cute clover fabric years ago, knowing I'd do something with it one day, and sure enough, that day came! This is my practice apron, the one I keep and this pattern was so easy, I will be making plenty more! My Valentine swapper turned me onto this pattern, you can see the pretty one she made me in last month's posts, I feel in love back then, found it on Ebay and the rest is history! I can't wait to try the others that came with this one, Simplicity 2298 is the pattern and I can say without a doubt, that you will love it as much as I do! Simplicity rocks too! :)

Before & After- Playroom

             The first inside project is completed and I love the results! The top half is the grands playroom before, and the bottom half is the playroom for young and old, after a can of paint. That is all it cost me, $15, everything else came from somewhere else in the house, the grandkids still have a spot to color and play, and I have a spot for the workout equipment that was all given to me, so this makeover was really on the cheap!

       The bedroom makeover is almost done, just got to make a valance, add some photos and wait on a new quilt, I lucked out and found one for half off and I had a credit to use up, so I was thrilled about that. My only problem  now is my bed skirt, it's still brown. I would like a nice white one but the only ones at Walmart now aren't so nice, so I'm thinking about bleaching the brown one to see if I can get a antique white from it? If not, I can always dye it black as a last option, which will tie in with the black and white patchwork quilt I have coming.

     Moving things around is leaving my sewing room bare, I hope to start painting this room later this week. This room makeover is the biggest one and I'm very anxious to get it started and done! Remember the retro blue and red I posted about a couple of weeks ago, that was  a sneak peek, I can't wait!!

     Happy to see so many getting signed up for the apron book giveaway, and even happier to read that so many love aprons like I do, makes giving this book away, a whole lot sweeter! Well folks, don't forget to turn your clocks ahead tonight, they moved it up this year, it's early! But it'll give me more time to play outside, after I get my inside projects finished that is!

Apron Book Giveaway!

               A sweet friend surprised me with this book the other day, she knows my love affair with aprons! What she didn't know was, that I already own this book, so I told her I would keep the one she sent me and host a giveaway with the one I bought, sound like fun!
     With over 400 followers now, this giveaway will be just for you all! I'm thrilled you like my blog that much so this is a perfect way to thank you! Rules are simple: You must be a follower to enter, you may follow now to be eligible but please only follow me if you really like Country Pleasures and aprons of course! Deadline to enter is the first day of spring, March 20th! This book is full of apron love and patterns, a must for any apron lover so don't miss out, leave your comment here!

Tasty Tuesday

            Rhubarb sure is a odd duck, isn't it?  You either like it or you don't, there is no if, and's or butts about rhubarb. There are many ways to use it, thankfully, or like many, I wouldn't bother with it. A quick bread is our favorite treat when rhubarb is in season, you can use frozen but fresh does taste better.

Rhubarb Bread

1 c. milk
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
2/3 c. canola oil
1 egg
2 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 c. chopped rhubarb
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2  tsp. cinnamon
1 Tbsp. butter, melted
Preheat oven to 325. Lightly grease 2 loaf pans and set aside. In a small bowl, stir together milk, lemon juice, and vanilla: let stand for 10 min. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 c. brown sugar, oil and egg. Combine the flour, salt and baking soda, stir into sugar mixture along with milk mixture till just combined. Fold in rhubarb and nuts. Pour batter into prepared pans. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 c. brown sugar, cinnamon and melted butter, drizzle over unbaked loaves. Bake for about 40 min. or till a toothpick comes out clean.

     This bread does not compare to a rhubarb/strawberry pie but if you have a good bounty of rhubarb, this quick bread is tasty for breakfast or dessert and a nice way to celebrate spring time! Happy Fat Tuesday!

SPRING APRON SWAP UPDATE:
    Has everyone gotten their swap partner by now, emailed each other and happily sewing aprons? The emails went out last week and I haven't heard from anyone, so far, so hopefully were all good to go? Let me know if you haven't. Shipping date is the 15th unless you make arrangements with your partner to be late, as we all know how life can  get in the way at times. I'm anxious to see your new spring aprons, so if you can, share them with us over at Flickr under CP Apron swaps. Happy sewing girls and thanks for another fun swap!

Tasty Tuesday

             I don't mean to load you down with carbs but when I realized it turned March today, I got all excited about making Irish Soda Bread again. I only make it in March for St.Patrick's Day and I have no idea why I only save this rich bread for this month? I'll have to work on making this more often, as it's super easy, hearty and goes good with anything! Have you made Irish Soda Bread before? I have the cutest littlest Irish cookbook so I use a tradional recipe, which I'm sharing today, note it doesn't call for caraway seeds like many recipes do, and that's totally up to you, but true Irish Soda Bread doesn't call for them, but I have made many loaves with both raisins and caraway seeds mixed in and it's still very yummy.

Irish Soda Bread

3 Tb. butter,softened
2 1/2 c. all purpose flour
2 Tb. sugar
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/3 c. raisins
3/4 c. buttermilk
Preheat oven to 375 and grease cookie sheet, set aside. Cut butter into flour, sugar, baking soda and powder and salt in large bowl, using2 knives or a pastry blender, till mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in raisins ( caraway seeds too if using them) and enough buttermilk so dough leaves sides of bowl. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead for 1-2 min. Shape into a round loaf and place on cookie sheet. With a floured knife, make a X on top and brush with butter. Bake for 35-45 min. Serve warm.

       This was the most popular bread in Ireland and often made daily for breakfast and tea time and I can see why, it's also very good toasted with jam. So, treat yourself and family to this tradional bread for St. Patricks Day or any old day for that matter, live it up!