This & That

             I wanted to invite all you picture takers to my Facebook group " Sure Shots" which I started almost a year ago with a good rate of success, over 100 members! It's a fun way to learn to take better photos and to use your eye in many ways, with a monthly photo challenge.  I just posted the March challenge, one where you can really get creative, so if your interested just look us up on Facebook, "Sure Shots" under groups. The more the merrier, it's fun and interesting to see what everyone comes up with!

         A reminder, my spring apron swap is nearing the deadline to enter, March 1. So if apron making and collecting is your cup of tea, scroll down to that post and get signed up to make and get a spring themed apron. If this one doesn't catch your eye, my next apron swap will be for Easter but if your like me, you'll want one for EVERY occasion and holiday there is! lol

        A update on my decorating days, last week I did get the work out room all painted and am now going through my closets for things to place in there that have been tucked away, what was once a child's playroom is now a combo playroom with fitness in mind! Photos to come. On the menu this week: the master bedroom makeover! See you all in March! lol

Tasty Tuesday

             I dug deep in my recipe drawer looking for a good recipe for today and finally found one! This is a blast from the past, mine at least. I first made this tasty bread back in the 80's when I was full time Mom/Housewife, I guess my love for odd ball recipes dates back to that decade but this bread probably could use a upgrade so I will be making it again soon with some alternations but for now, I'll leave it up to you to try the original and taste it for yourself.

Tomato Soup Bread

1 10 oz. can tomato soup
2 Tbsp. dry onion
1/8 t. baking soda
1 1/2 Tbsp. dried basil or dill
1/4 c. oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1 envelope dry yeast
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 c. warm water
6 to 6 1/2 c. all purpose flour
In small sauce pan mix canned soup with 3/4 c. water, add dried onion and baking soda. Stir well and scape sides. Pour into large mixing bowl and add your herb ( basil or dill), oil and salt. Dissolve yeast and sugar in 1/2 c. warm water then add to soup mixture, blend in some flour then add more flour and knead till dough is smooth and elastic. Cut dough in half and form in to 2 loaves. Drop into well oiled loaf pans and cover. Allow to rise till doubled, then bake for 35-40 min. in a 375 oven. Cool before slicing.

      Now, I'm thinking most any herbs can be used, esp. in combos so add your favorites but basil or dill have proven to be tasty but I'll be trying others. If I remember right, I think this recipe is from the great depression when they had to make do, so the only thing great about those times were it taught us to value the simple ways and nothing is more simple or satisfying  as making your own bread, even with soup!

Mini Makeover Madness

               Have you ever had a notion and just wasn't sure about it, then, it's all you see? That's been my dilemma this last week. What started out as turning the grand kids playroom into a workout room, has turned into a 3 room make over marathon. The grands are getting older, don't come over as often as they used too and when they do, it was we could do to keep them in "their" room while we played cards, so since I already have a exercise bike ( in the shed) a stepper and a glider ( just given to me) I thought the space would make more sense as a work out room plus inspire me to work out more if all the equipment was set up. Now, don't fret, I'm creating a corner just for the kids, to color and create.  But once decided on this plan, a new color for the room quickly came to mind, a new room needs a new color, right?

      Then it happened. My two favorite colors were teasing me, seeing them on other blogs, in print and in crafty creations. And like a light bulb going off in my head, I knew what I had to do.  Re-do my craft room in red & blue, just like the sassy little pin keep I whipped up. Now keep in mind, all this make over madness must be done on the cheap, which put my brain in overdrive but it's all gonna work out! My craft room now is done in sage green and pink, so I'll take all things sage green and put them in the workout room, painting the walls a deeper sage green. I will paint what I can to rid the pink but some things will go to my grand daughters. This just leaves the cost of new paint, under $20 since I buy my paint from Walmart.

    Now onto the next room, the craft room and the new colors. Again, I should only have to buy paint, I can make new valances with the fabric I already have, and dig out my blue knick knacks and plates. And last but not least, our bedroom rounds out my third mini makeover. Just toning down the brown and replaces it with a antique white to go with the aqua blue theme. It's just one wall so it won't take long. I'm excited! I"m loving the challenge of less is more money wise and creating 3 new rooms for the price of paint! So, tag along, I will be blogging all about it, the first room starts this week!

Spring Apron Swap

             Were flirting with the 70's here as Mother Nature is on a roller coaster ride of abnormal behavior! But I'm not complaining! I also know winter isn't over yet but all my senses are geared towards spring. So, no better time to post my spring apron swap, after all, spring does begin next month! :) With that note, if you'd like to make and receive a spring themed apron, sign up HERE. The rules are easy and like all my apron swaps, just make and tuck! Which means, you hand craft a apron, full or half depending on your swap partner's preference, include some tuck ins, at least 2. Tuckins are simply goodies to tag along with your apron and they should match the theme. Some of my favorites are coffee, tea's, mugs, tea towels, etc. Deadline to join is March 1. Aprons should be mailed out by the 15th. If you think you'd like to join and can handle the fun, leave me a post HERE along with your email addy. All are welcome as long you follow through, so please don't sign up then back out leaving someone without a partner. This won't cure my spring fever but sure will be a nice start!

Tasty Tuesday

              How many of you consider pancakes a comfort food? And do you ever have breakfast for dinner? My reply is YES to both! Why, because you can combine the need for something sweet at the last meal of the day and you won't need any dessert! But, don't waste your money on those boxed mixes, they are fine for beginners but I know most of you are pros by now so I'm sharing the Perfect Pancake recipe this week. Why is it perfect you ask? Because you should have all the ingredients handy at any given time plus you can add just about anything to them and they still come out perfect: blueberries, mini chocolate chips, oats, flaxseed.

Perfect Pancakes

1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
3 Tbsp. sugar
4 t.. baking powder
1/8 t. salt
1/2 t. allspice
2 eggs
1 c. milk
1/4 c. canola oil
Heat griddle or large pan to med. heat. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and allspice. Add eggs and blend well. Pour in milk and oil and mix well with electric mixer. Using a ladle, drop 1/3 c. batter onto heated griddle. Repeat, spacing about 1 in. apart. Cook one min or till bubbles in batter pop. Flip and repeat on second side. Keep warm in a warm oven till batter is gone. Butter each one as you go.

     Can you taste the warm maple syrup yet? Did you know if you use real maple syrup, pancakes aren't too bad calories wise, it's the artificial syrups that pack on the pounds without the taste, so I highly recommend if your going for comfort here, make your pancakes from scratch and use real maple syrup! Hmmm, I think we'll have breakfast for dinner tonight! :)

Best Garden Blogs

            I found this wonderful site on Facebook and quickly became addicted! I even signed up to write for them, got approved over the weekend and posted my first article yesterday, just in time for Valentines Day. If you garden and can't get enough useful information, check out this new site, it is loaded with every topic you could possible want with photos to match! Winter isn't done with us yet, so hop on over and check out this must have, handy site and while your there, look me up! My first article is titled " A Chocolate Lover's Garden" and Happy Valentines day to all of you! These really are the Best Garden Blogs around!

Garden Giveaway Winner

             With the temps in the low 60's, spring is sure on my mind! So, without any further delays, hubby was asked to pick a name out of the hat of 33, and the lucky gardener is..........Laura of Harvest Lane! Woohoo to Laura, a fellow Missourian at that and one who recently was introduced to rosemary, my favorite! Laura, send me your mailing info., I know I have your old addy from a swap but not sure I have your new one, so once gotten, I'll pop your gardening giftie in the mail! And thank you to all who entered, if only I could send you all a gift, but know that I appreciate you for stopping by and sharing my world! Garden season is in the air!

Valentine Aprons

           I love aprons, no doubt about that, and I love a apron for every occasion and I'm almost there! Just look at these 2 lovely Valentine aprons that I received from my Valentine Apron Swap, aren't they the sweetest! I ended up with 2 partners and I'm double glad, for now I have a half and full VD apron. Many thanks to Penny for the adorable half apron, a pattern she came up with and uses often. And thank you Ruth for the fun full apron, the rick rack steals my heart! And thanks to Ruth, I'm in love with this pattern, I think this maybe my first attempt at a full apron, it doesn't look too scary! :)
     I hope all those who joined in this swap have gotten their own lovely new Valentine apron and I hope you will post your photos at our Flickr group I created just for us swap-a-holics! Or should I say apron-a-holics? And speaking of aprons, my next apron swap is coming up soon so stay tuned and think spring!

Tasty Tuesday

             If your still raising a man, like I am, then you know they never really grow up. My husband should be watching his cholesterol numbers better than he does, and yes, he is on a medication for it but in his little boys mind, he thinks as long as he takes his medicine, when he remembers, he can eat anything he wants. So, it's up to me to make sure what he eats at home isn't all junk. Thankfully, he loves oats and to his credit, has started eating oatmeal for breakfast, but he needs more help. So, I'm being sneaky and hiding oats, flax, wheat germ and all kinds of fiber in more meals and dishes.

      My man loves his dessert, I think he was deprived as a child, he looks for something sweet every night, so I combed the web for some heart healthy desserts and found tons, then I remembered I had a Martha file for just this need, can't go wrong with Martha's recipes, regardless if you like the woman or not, she knows how to cook!

Oatmeal Raisin Bars

adapted from Martha Stewart

• 3/4 cup canola oil
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup raisins

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. (We don’t have an 8-inch square pan so I used a 9-inch square pan. That meant they weren’t as thick and required a few minutes less in the oven.) Line bottom with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides; butter also the paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together butter, brown sugar, egg, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla until smooth. Add flour (I sifted mine), oats, and raisins; fold in until just combined.
3. Spread batter in the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely in the pan. Using the paper overhangs, lift the cake onto a work surface. Cut into 16 bars.

      These are good with mini chocolate chips too, dark of course, which is good for us again! These bars are my favorite too, I love how the oats out weigh the flour, plus they are sweet and chewy! Man approved and Mom tested! 

Fab Feb!

      
           This is what my first week of February looked like. On the first day, freezing rain fell most of the day, with a odd  20 minute window of sunshine, just long enough to melt the ice hanging from power lines, then a rainbow was spotted. Iced like a cake, my popicle house was my haven for 2 blissful days, to putter and play! Day 3 hit a high of 25 and it felt good after sub zero wind chills and below normal temps. Amazing how numbers can really mess with you! lol   Day 4, just a half to one inch of snow is predicted, no big deal they said, we woke to 6 inches of the prettiest snow I've seen in years, post card worthy snow! So, we took a drive yesterday, couldn't get enough of the white wonderland all around me. I hated to walk on the fluff, it looked so peaceful and pure but my camera begged me to capture the beauty that I now understand and appreciate a whole lot more. I will remember this beauty when the worst of summer keeps me inside and my garden is drying, it's all in the master plan and I will try to make peace with it and find the reason for each season. I'm growing up!

Itching to Garden Giveaway

          I know it's barely February but my hands long to play in the dirt, I miss my herbs! With spring only 47 days away, we are planning our gardens, dreaming big! I want more herb gardens, even beds, tucked in here and there, just for me! My favorite herbs and must haves are lavender and rosemary, these scents are magical. I always have a bundle hanging in the kitchen to dry. But, I need more. I want to get back into making salves and learn to make soaps. Oh, how I'd love to have a herb farm, I'd be in heaven!

       So since it's iced over outside and bitter cold, I thought I'd host my first giveaway of the year and it's all about herbs! All you got to do, other than being a herbie too, is leave me a comment on this post only and tell me what is your favorite herb and why. I'll leave this up for 10 days, so you have till Feb. 12th. The giftie will be a surprise but I can promise you it's herb themed! :) Our gardening days are getting closer, think spring!

Tasty Tuesday

            As I type, my world outside is covered in ice and I'm praying we don't lose power, give me a foot of snow over a inch of ice any day! But, I'm making the best of the day at home, got supplies ready just in case but since it is mid day, time to think about dinner. Comfort food comes to mind, something thick to stick to the ribs as my Dad would say, so I'm going with a old classic done up Italian style, come see.

Italian Macaroni & Cheese

1 8oz. package elbow macaroni
1/2 c. Italian bread crumbs, divided
1 10oz. block cheddar cheese, shredded
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 c. Parmesan cheese
6 large eggs, beaten
4 c. milk
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper
Basil
Cook macaroni and set aside. Coat bottom and sides of a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle bottom with 1/4 bread crumbs. Layer 1/3 c. each macaroni, cheese and bread crumbs, repeat twice, ending with bread crumbs. Whisk together eggs, milk and salt/pepper and pour evenly over layers. Bake at 350 for 50-60 min. Let stand about 10 min. before serving. Sprinkle with basil as it cools.

       No matter the winter, comfort food is a must, then exercise! I usually make this dish on meatloaf  Monday but it's good paired with just about anything, making it a staple in our house! I hope your all staying safe and warm, only 48 more days till spring!