Item of the week (3-1-09)

This is the best idea for an inexpensive piece of jewelry. Turn a washer into a necklace.

Supplies:
Washer
Scrapbook Paper
Glue
Tile Hardener
String
Beads
Clasps

We did this as a girls night out craft a few weeks ago. You just take the washer and glue it to the scrapbook paper and cut it out. (Or just outline the washer on the paper and then cut it out and then glue the paper to the washer). Mix the ipoxy, or tile hardener. Put it over the washer. Let dry for at least 24 hrs. and then add your beaded string. It is even cute with just the string and no beads.

Recipe

I know these look terrible, but they are awesome!

Eclairs
Dough:
1 1/3 C water
2/3 C butter
1 1/3 C flour
5 Eggs

Filling:
2 1/2 C milk
2 Sm.Pkg. vanilla instant pudding
1 9oz. Cool Whip
1 tsp. vanilla

Topping:
2 Squares semisweet choc. squares
(I use about 1/2 c. choc. chips)
2 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp vanilla
2 Tbsp butter
1 C powdered sugar

Dough: Heat butter and water to rolling boil. Stir in flour all at once over low heat until ball is formed. Beat n eggs one at a time with mixer. Spoon onto greased pizza pan/cookie sheet to form circular shape. (Remember they will double in size.) Bake at 400 degrees for 45 min.

Filling: Mix pudding and milk until thick. Beat in cool whip. Insert filling into center of the pastry or cut pastry in half and spread filling in the middle.

Topping: Microwave the chocolate to melt it. Combine the rest of the ingredients. Until it is smooth. Spread on top of Eclairs.

Warning: (There will not be leftovers.)

Favorite Item of the week 2-16-09

Ticket to Ride board game: This game has been so much fun for our family. We've been playing it for a few years now thanks to some friends who introduced it to us. We love to play it with friends and just as a family.

In the game you have a few destinations that you have to get to. It takes you across the U.S. and is great for kids as they learn names of the cities. It takes about 1 hour to play.

To buy: just google the name. There are many places to get this game.

Thank you's!

I'd like to thank all my devoted blog followers. Your comments mean alot to me. So thanks to my one and only fan, my twin sister Amber. he he

Favorite Item of the week (2-9-09)

Fisher-Price Precious Planet Portable High Chair Cover

My sister gave me one of these when Alyssa was born. We started using it a few months ago when she was old enough to sit in a restaurant high chair. I love this chair cover! I don't worry about Alyssa putting her mouth all over the chair, with yucky germs from other kids. I can flip this over a high chair in about 30 seconds, and she can still be buckled into the seat.
This can be found on Amazon for about $10.

Favorite Item of the Week.

I will try and post a favorite item of the week. This week I have chosen to post about the infant baby sling called the "Peanut Shell". I got this from Target.com just before Alyssa was born and I have really liked it. Especially when Alyssa was younger. I would put her in it to do the grocery shopping or anything like that because she didn't like to be sitting in her car seat. They have lots of colors to choose from. This costs about $35.

Contribute

I would like people to be able to contribute. If you'd like me to add something this blog. Just leave a comment.

A few new Recipes from 2008

Pineapple Black Bean Enchiladas
Serves: 8
2 tsp. vegetable oil 1 tsp. salt
1 large yellow onion, chopped (about 1 cup) 1/2 c. chopped fresh cilantro
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup) 3 c. (12 oz.) grated low-fat cheese
1 20-ounce can pineapple tidbits, drained 1 10-oz. can mild enchilada sauce
1/3 c. pineapple juice, reserved 8 whole wheat flour tortillas (8" or 9")
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained, rinsed 1/2 c. fat-free sour cream
1 4½-ounce can chopped green chilies 8 tsp. chopped fresh cilantro

Spray a 13x9" glass baking dish with cooking spray. Heat oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet. Add onion and bell pepper; cook 4 to 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in pineapple, beans, green chilies and salt. Cook and stir until thoroughly heated. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in 1/2 c. cilantro and 2 c. of the cheese. Spread 1 Tbsp. enchilada sauce on each tortilla. Spoon about 3/4 c. vegetable mixture over sauce on each. Roll up tortillas; place seam side down in baking dish. In small bowl, mix reserved 1/3 cup pineapple juice and remaining enchilada sauce; pour over entire surface of enchiladas in dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Spray a sheet of foil with cooking spray; place sprayed side down over baking dish and seal tightly. Bake at 350 for 40 to 45 minutes, removing foil during last 5 to 10 minutes of baking. Top each enchilada with 1 Tbsp. sour cream and 1 tsp. cilantro. Nutritional information: 330 calories, 7 grams fat, 7 grams fiber

This is one of my new favorite recipes. I could eat it every day!

Creamy Pasta Bake
1 Jar (30 ozs) spaghetti sauce (Ragu or whatever)
1 pk Rotini cooked & drained
1 1/2 c Sour Cream
1 pk Chopped Spinach (frozen) (thawed and drained)
1/2 c Grated Parmesean Cheese (2 ozs) Heat oven to 375 deg F. Mix all ingredients. Spoon into a 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Bake 25 minutes.

Very easy, and yummy!

3 layer Jello

2 lrg. jello's- (For Christmas I used green and red, 4th of July blue and red.)
Top-Dissolve 1 box jello in 1c. boiling water. Add 5-6 ice cubes. When all ice is melted,
pour into 9x13 dish. Let set until firm (1 hr. or so)
Center- 1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. sugar
1 carton cool whip
1 small can crushed pineapple, drained
1 spoonful miracle whip
Mix all together and spread over 1st layer. Let set about 30 minutes.
Bottom-Just like the top layer. Pour evenly over center and let set until firm.