Sunday Night Chit-Chat

I found this delightful quote on Pinterest...duh! I LOVE Pinterest but have to time myself or I could be there FOR HOURS! Anyway, I love this quote! My calendar in the kitchen is the Mary Engelbreit Wit and Whimsy 2012 Calendar. The picture for September shows a girl at a door with a "B" on it. The quote at the bottom says "Life is all about Plan B." And isn't that the truth?!!! So the quote above fit right in with what I have been looking at on the calendar all month:)

Oh how I love the Sunday Night Chit-Chat started each week by the sweet and very talented Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I love participating. I thought I might not get to participate this week because of traveling to my daughter's but put the trip off a day so I could get a little more done in preparation for my trip. So here I am and there you are; let's get started!

I am...

Reading...Dear John by Nicholas Sparks (nearly finished) and still reading Hiking Thru by Paul Stutzman as our read=a=loud (LOVE this book). Also went to the library this week and checked out audio books for my trip...The Confession by John Grisham; Twelve Times Blessed by Jacquelyn Mitchard (first time for me with this author) and Lethal by Sandra Brown. I will likely only listen to one but got three just in case. I also checked out Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders--will I read or actually MAKE something?!!!

Listening to...
Rocky, our English Bulldog, snoring! I hear that a lot:)

Watching...
Cooking/Baking...Busy cooking day getting ready for my trip: 

• Whole Wheat Bread
• Granola (daughter's favorite)
• Gluten Steaks (another daughter fave)
• Banana Bread
• Oatmeal Cookies

Happy I accomplished this week...

• I made it through a whole week with hubby away and minimal contact! He was in a remote location with no cell service and no land line so had to wait for him to get where he could call me. Now, some you are thinking "what's the big deal!" However, we live off-grid with a small wind generator, solar arrays and a diesel generator. I am fine unless something goes wrong. Thankfully nothing did. Everything worked fine and there were no storms (I don't know how to shut the whole system done)! 
• I made 20 thank you cards and 2 sympathy cards. Still need 2 birthday cards.
• Cleaned out my appliance cupboard
• I made it through a memorial service without Kleenex. Why I go to weddings and funerals without Kleenex is beyond me:(

Looking forward to next week...A whole week with daughter and granddaughter!!! Plus will visit a dear friend overnight Friday:) Lots to look forward to.

Thankful for today...Hubby's home!!!

**Bonus Question**

What is the grossest thing I have ever eaten?
I think canned peas has to top that list. Pair that with liver and you have a double gross!!! My mom used to serve liver with canned peas at least twice a month. Double yuck!!!

Thank you for visiting! 

Kat

Fabulous Florets Triple Time

I LOVE the Triple Time Stamping!!! It is so much fun to see how different stamp sets will look using this technique and the Fabulous Florets were truly fabulous!!! I will be forever grateful to Dawn Olchefske for her great video tutorial for making this card.

I am in a rush this morning so will make this post short...for me:)

For this project I used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Raspberry Ripple and Whisper White card stock
• Fabulous Florets stamp set
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals and Gumball Green
• Dimensionals and some white grosgrain ribbon I had from an unknown source

I hope you like this card as much as I do! I will have another Triple Time Stamping card for you on Monday! I am hoping to do the Sunday Night Chit-Chat but will be traveling to my daughter's on Sunday so don't know if it will work out...hope so.

Have a great weekend and hope you are able to get some crafting worked in somewhere!  Happy Stamping!

Kat

September Thank You Cards

I am not accomplishing near what I hoped to while my hubby is out of town BUT I did make my Cupboard Trilogy Design Team card (shhh...can't show it to you till October 1) plus 12 thank you cards for my September customers. I only made one like the one pictured--simplified it just a bit for the rest. Today I am making 8 more for my husband's solar clients plus two birthday cards and two sympathy cards.

I have France Martin from Stamp & Scrap with Frenchie to thank for this very fun card technique. She calls it the Fall Rainbow. The link will take you to her video tutorial. I gotta tell ya, this is one talented lady...and funny too! I love her videos! I figured if she made 120 of these cards, I could make 20:)

For this card I used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Very Vanilla and Cajun Craze cardstock
• Creative Elements stamp set
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Old Olive, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze and Early Espresso
• Labels Collection Framelits; Square Lattice Embossing Folder; Big Shot
• Other: Dimensionals (of course); Mini Glue Dots; Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding (retired); Basic Rhinestones; Stamping Sponges

The picture on the right is more what the cards looked like for my customers except I used the Create stamp instead of Thank You. The card pictured on the right is what my hubby's solar clients' card look like. I used the sentiment from the Day of Gratitude stamp set and changed the seam binding to Always Artichoke after running out of Pear Pizzazz. I think I like the Always Artichoke better, don't you?

One more picture to show you what I did on the inside. I simply took a strip of the torn card stock I used to make the card front, placed it at an angle, sponged two colors then stamped with the flower image. 

This was a really fun card to make. I hope you will give it a try. I will be back tomorrow with another card or two but until then, Happy Stamping!

Kat

Potato Corn Chowder

Potato and corn chowder (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A reader requested my recipe for Potato Corn Chowder so thought I would break from the cards long enough to share the recipe. My Potato Corn Chowder recipe is vegan but you can easily change by using your favorite dairy products. Also of note is this recipe makes enough for a family of six so plan on leftovers (very yummy) or cut the recipe in half.

POTATO CORN CHOWDER

6 medium potatoes
2 cups frozen or fresh corn (canned will work in a pinch)
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup celery sliced or chopped
1/2 cup coconut oil (can use margarine, butter or light olive oil)
2 quarts rice milk (soy, coconut or dairy milk can be substituted)
1 1/2 tsp salt (add more to taste at the end, if necessary)
1/2 cup unbleached flour (see note for gluten-free)
1 tsp dried basil
dash Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

1. Peel potatoes. Cut into bite size pieces. Put in saucepan; cover with water. Add 1 tsp salt. Cook till fork tender.
2. While potatoes are cooking, put coconut oil in very large pot over medium heat. Add onions and celery and cook till tender. Add flour and 1 1/2 teaspoon salt; stir to make a paste. Add "milk" and stir with wire whisk till blended well.
3. When potatoes are cooked, drain (I save the water to make bread). Mash potatoes leaving several big pieces of potato. Add to "milk" mixture.
4. Add corn, basil and red pepper flakes. Only add the red pepper flakes if you like hot or can be added to individual bowls.
5. Heat almost to boil but do not let it boil.
6. Enjoy:)

Note: When I am making the Potato Corn Chowder gluten-free, I omit the flour and add about 1/2 cup of instant mashed potato flakes in step 2.

First Christmas Times Two

As part of the Holiday Catalog Swap, I received two cards that used the First Christmas stamp set but are very different. I wish the pictures showed up better because both of these cards are exquisite!

This first card is from Michelle Turner and she used the following Stampin' Up! products for her creation (I am making my best guess from looking at the card):

• Card stock: Whisper White, Midnight Muse, Whisper White; Silver Glimmer Paper
• First Christmas stamp set
• Midnight Muse Classic Stampin' Pad; Platinum Shimmer Paint
• Labels Collection Framelits and Apothecary Accents Framelits
• Silver 3/16" Metallic Brad; Dimensionals; White Bakers Twine

I love the way Michelle used the Framelits and how she sponged the Shimmer Paint on the stamped piece. Thank you Michelle for this beautiful card!

The second card was made by Diane Lethbridge from Lake Placid, FL. For Diane's card she used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Card stock: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Brushed Gold
• First Christmas stamp set
• Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad; Versa Mark stamp pad
• Gold Embossing Powder
• Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Labels Collection Framelits, Modern Label Punch, Large Oval Punch
• Crumb Cake Seam Binding; Basic Rhinestones; Dimensionals

So many things I like about this card but my favorites are the way she layered the ovals and the Modern Label Punches. Also like the torn edges of the embossed Crumb Cake piece. Thanks Diane for this great card. 

Thank you for visiting today. I hope you enjoyed the cards today!

Kat

More Holiday Catalog Swaps

The first card today is from Hetty Jones who lives in Alberta Canada. The stamp set she used from the Holiday Catalog is Affection Collection. This was one of my least favorite sets in the catalog but after seeing what Hetty did with it I may need to get it after all!

For this card Hetty used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Primrose Petals, Pretty in Pink and Cherry Cobbler card stock
• Affection Collection stamp set
• Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad
• Scalloped Hear of Hearts Embosslits; Fashionable Hearts Embosslits; Adorning Accents Embossing Folder
• Dimensionals, Basic Rhinestones

Thank you Hetty for this beautiful card.

My second swap card today is from Wanda Dodds. Great composition on this card! I may have to use the layout for this card! 

For this card Wanda used the following Stampin' Up! products:

• Card stock: Tangerine Tango (I think), Basic Black, Basic Gray and Very Vanilla
• Howlstooth & Scaringbone Designer Series Paper
• Toxic Treats stamp set
• Versamark ink pad with Black Embossing Powder (again just going on looks but not sure)
• Labels Collection Framelits and Chevron Embossing Folder

Thanks go to Wanda for this very toxic Halloween card:)

Thank you for visiting today. Please come back tomorrow--not sure if I will post some of my own cards or some more swaps but either way you won't be disappointed:)

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good Morning and Happy Monday to you! Maybe THAT will put me in the mood for a Happy Monday! Hubby got out the door this morning for a week of work that will be out of cell phone range. Sure hope all goes well on the home front! I went back to be after he left since 3:30 is just a bit early for me to get up in the morning! 

Yes, I know I promised some cards today but I REALLY wanted to participate in Happy Homemaker Monday so will do the cards a little later today...promise!

Happy Homemaker Monday is started each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom so let's get started!

The weather...It's 58 degrees (F) outside right now and is supposed to be near 80 today. This is what is predicted for us all week. Just about perfect:)

On my reading pile...Currently reading Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. Found it at the thrift store last week:) Also on my reading pile are a few magazines...Vegetarian Times, Stampin' Success and Better Homes & Gardens--all arrived in the mail last week!

On my TV...Not sure. Hubby's gone so most likely a couple of Chick Flicks:)

On the menu this week...
Monday--Potato Corn Chowder (can't wait any longer for it to cool off) with veggie Corn Beef & Sauerkraut sandwiches
Tuesday--Tacos
Wednesday--Corn Pancakes, eggs and veggie sausage
Thursday--Eating out
Friday--Tacos again (I told hubby I wanted to eat them every day while he was gone:D)
Saturday--Gluten Steaks (Seitan), salad and ?
Sunday--Leaving for daughter's so whatever she fixes:) I will be taking Gluten Steaks and Granola to her house!

On my to do list...Since Hubby's gone, the list is long:

• Laundry (usual--always laundry)
• Clean refrigerator
• Shampoo carpet
• Clean up messy piles in bedroom
• Wash some windows
• Make cards--sympathy, birthday, thinking of you, thank you, Design Team

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating...I don't have anything started at the moment but plan to spend the next two afternoons making cards and the following two afternoons sewing so will see what I get made!

Homemaking Tip...I know it's not winter yet and I don't even like to think about winter coming but the hint I found on Carolina Charm should make winter just a little easier:

 How to ice-proof your windows. Fill a spray bottle with three parts vinegar to one part water and spray on your car windows at night. In the morning, they should be clear of the icy mess.  How does it work? Vinegar contains acetic acid, which raises the melting point of water – preventing water from freezing. What to do if you wake up to an already frozen car? Just spray the mixture on your window and watch it melt.

Looking around the house...Coffee table is a little messy from hubby's mad dash to get everything packed; dogs are outside; all is quiet:)

From the camera...

Rocky and his new friend:) He chewed up his penguin so Scott brought him home this supposedly super heavy duty stuffed pig. However, he already has a hole chewed in the ear and the tail won't last long! You should see him try to jump on the sofa with the pig's ear in his mouth:D Such a funny dog!!!

On my prayer list...

• Sick friends
• Hubby working away from home this week
• That I will get lots done while hubby is away this week

Bible Verse; Devotional...

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3

Thank you for visiting this morning. I hope you will check out Sandra's Happy Homemaker Monday and come back later today for TWO more Holiday Catalog Swap cards:)

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Hi! And welcome to my episode of the Sunday Night Chit-Chat started each week by the very talented Carla over at My 1/2 Dozen Daily! Carla's bonus question last week (which I missed) was what website do you check every day (or something like that). Well, mine would have to be Carla's! I gain so much inspiration from her blog. The second one is The Breast Cancer Site because I go there to "click" almost every day!

I have been baking my way through the homemade bread recipe book from the editors of Hobby Home Farm magazine. Friday I made Basil and Sundried Tomato Bread! I really liked it but it was not a winner with family and friends:( They really liked the Rosemary Bread and Double Dill Rye better. They all said their favorite so far is my 100% Whole Wheat Bread. 

So, on with the Chit-Chat!

I am...

Reading...Just finished all three books in the Annie's People series by Beverly Lewis. I am currently reading Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. Our read aloud is Hiking Through by Paul Stutzman! Wow! What a great book and I have Carla to thank for the great review on this book! We are loving it and I am itching to hike the Appalachian Trail! That being said by a non-hiker! 

Watching...Not sure. My son bought some new inspirational movies so we might watch one of those tonight. Maybe The Note 3.

Listening to...Flies buzzing around...nasty:( I have a fly strip up and slowly but surely they are getting stuck! Soon no buzzing:)

Cooking/baking...Cookies! Lots of cookies!!! Hubby will be working away this week, camping on the job so wanted Oatmeal Raisin Cookies and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies to take with. He also wanted homemade granola but already had that baked and ready to go:) We tasted our homemade sauerkraut the other day and it is super scrumptious! He will be taking some of that with him as well.

Happy you accomplished this week...I blogged more after several days off. I read three books last week plus got ready for stamping club! 

Looking forward to next week...I don't look forward to hubby being absent all week but am looking forward to the opportunity it presents! I have a LONG list of things I plan to accomplish while he is gone. When he's gone I get up early and go to bed late. So I am looking forward to seeing how much I can get done before he gets home on Friday. I will keep you posted during the week.

Thankful for today...I have to agree with Carla on this one...my sweet hubby! Without his hard work I would not have been able to quit working two years ago. I was able to be a SAHM to my kids for their growing up years and now am able to be retired early to reduce the stress in my life so I have better health! Plus he does health/nutrition research to find ways that I can live a "normal" life with fibromyalgia without medication. 

***BONUS QUESTION***

I receive an unexpected lump sum of money. It's a BIG number. What's the first thing you do with it? Okay, the first thing is easy. I would pay 10% tithe. Then I would get hubby the new motorcycle helmet he wants that's nearly $700. I would then get me an iPad. Next I would hire someone to come help me organize my office and craft room. Then the rest would go into savings!!! Boy! Did I over answer that question or what?!!!

Thank you for joining me for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat. I hope you will pop over to Carla's Sunday Night Chit-Chat to see how she and others answered the questions. Always fun:)

I will be back tomorrow with some more fun swap cards plus will be posting some of my own cards this week as well! Have a great Sunday evening!

Kat

More Holiday Catalog Swaps

Whoo Hoo! My second group of Holiday Catalog Swaps arrived in the mail on Wednesday! It was perfect timing because I was able to take them to stamping club with me to show the ladies:) Now remember, the swap cards needed to include items from the Holiday Catalog that started on August 1.

The next two cards are using the same stamp set but very different designs. How fun is that?!!! 

This first card is from Sally Jernigan who lives in New Albany, OH. As near as I can figure, she used the following Stampin' Up! products for this card:

• Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla card stock
• Owl Occasions stamp set
• Classic Stampin' pads: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Early Espresso
• Modern Label Punch
• Labels Collection Framelits
• Basic Rhinestones

The second card using the Owl Occasions stamp set is from Wanda Dodds. For Wanda's card she used (I am guessing here by what I see):

• Crumb Cake and Real Red card stock
• Snow Festival Designer Series Paper
• Owl Expressions stamp set
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Real Red, Gumball Green and Soft Suede
• Scallop Circle Bigz Die
• Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon
• Other: Dazzling Diamonds, Paper Piercing Tool, Dimensionals

Thank you Sally and Wanda for these fun cards! This swap has certainly given me lots of good ideas:)

I hope you will come back on Sunday evening for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! I have missed the last two and it's like missing out on your favorite weekly coffee visit with friends. Sooo, hope you come by to visit. Until then, Happy Stamping!

Kat

Perfectly Preserved Nugget Jar

I saw this adorable little jar about a month ago and thought it was the cutest thing ever...except my granddaughter, of course! Last night we made them at our Happy Stampers Club meeting and I think they were a hit! If I have this right, the Nugget Jar was designed by Mary Alice Bellis at Marvelous Possibilities but you can watch a video tutorial by Kay Kalthoff. Thank you Mary Alice and Kay for this GREAT project. 

Now, if you look real close to the left side of the oval cut out, you will see that I smudged the Lucky Limeade ink. Well, not to worry as my next photo shows...

This just goes to show you can over up almost anything and actually make it better! I love the addition of that cute pear on the front of my Nugget Jar:)

I am going to change it up a bit by using the ear of corn stamp and dsp to make them as favors for my Thanksgiving table this year! They would also make adorable baby shower favors. Actually, it could be changed up for any holiday or occasion!

For this project I used the following Stampin' Up! supplies:

• Very Vanilla and Lucky Limeade card stock; Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Lucky Limeade and Early Espresso
• Perfectly Preserved Stamp Set
• Cannery Set Framelits
• Other: Linen Thread, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Hershey Nuggets (not Stampin' Up!:)

Be sure to check out Kay's and Mary Alice's blogs to find some great ideas for using the Perfectly Preserved stamp set as well as a lot of other fun projects!

Have a great day and as always, Happy Stamping!

Kat

Holiday Catalog Swaps #4

Swap card from Diane Lethbridge

Swap card #6 was made by Diane Lethbridge from Lake Placid, FL. The Triple Time Stamping card is my all-time favorite style at the moment! I could make them all day long! I love how the Blossom Punch fits the snowflake from the Snowfake Soiree stamp set.  

For this card Diane used:

• Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White card stock
• Snowflake Soiree stamp set with Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad
• Blossom Punch
• Basic Pearls and Dimensionals!!!
• Diane packaged her card in a Clear Medium Envelope

Thank you Diane for this great card! 

Last but not least is a card from Mulberry Fig & Lime (I don't have a name). This is a slider card where you use two pennies to make the sliding mechanism for the Christmas ball. For this card the following Stampin' Up! products were used (I think):

• Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green and Very Vanilla
• Stamp sets: Ornament Keepsakes and Greetings of the Season
• Classic Stampin' Pads: Gumball Green and Basic Black
• Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies
• Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder
• Word Window Punch
• Dimensionals and Basic Pearls

Thank you Mulberry Fig & Lime for this great card!

I hope you have enjoyed the Holiday Catalog Swap cards as much as I have! I should be able to pick up my second batch of 7 Holiday Catalog Swap cards at the post office on Wednesday so prepare to be inspired!

My Happy Stampers meet tonight so am excited about our fun projects! I will share them with you later this week. Have a great day and I hope you get to do something crafty today:)

Kat

Holiday Catalog Swap #3

Swap card from Teri Klawitter

Card # 4 from the Holiday Catalog Swap comes from Teri Klawitter of Deerfield, WI. 

Teri used the Holiday Frame Embossing Folder--wow! gotta get that one--and the Joyous Celebrations stamp set. She used Whisper White and Marina Mist for this elegant card. She also used the Designer Frames Embossing Folder and the Labels Collection Framelits. Even though this card looks clean and simple, there is a lot going on. Teri paper-pierced each corner and added the Basic Rhinestones--you go girl!!! Thank you, Teri for this wonderful card! 

Swap card from Michelle Turner

Michelle Turner made Swap Card #5. WOW! This card has a lot going on! This was the only non-Christmas card in the bunch! For this card Michelle used (I hope I get this right):

• Card stock: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Summer Starfruit, Almost Artichoke, Cajun Craze and Very Vanilla
• Stamp sets: Tweet Leaves, Woodgrain and Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Punches: Word Window and Modern Label
• Embossing Folders: Woodgrain (new), Perfect Polka Dots, Fancy Fan, Square Lattice
• Autumn Accents Bigz Die
• Early Espresso 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Closeup of Tweet Leaves stamped image

Thank you Michelle for this great card! So many wonderful ideas with these swaps!

Check back tomorrow for two more of the wonderful Holiday Catalog Swaps I received! 

Kat

Holiday Catalog Swap #2

Swap card from Tammy Stevenson

The second Holiday Catalog Swap card comes from Tammy Stevenson.  Unfortunately she didn't give a website or email address. 

Tammy used the Frosty Friends stamp set from the new Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog. I like the way she used the large Basic Pearl for the snowball and the Finishing Touches Edgelits she used for the Cherry Cobbler trim is on my "must get" list! I looked through the Holiday Catalog and the Idea Book and Catalog and couldn't find the embossing folder she used so if you know what it is, please let me know! I really like it! Cute card, Tammy!

Swap card from Hetty Jones

The 3rd card I received is from Hetty Jones of Alberta Canada! It is done as a triptych using the Snowflake Soiree stamp set. She chose Basic Gray, Midnight Muse and Bashful Blue for this card using Basic Gray as her base card color. She also used 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Midnight Muse. Have I told you lately how much I like Midnight Muse?!!! Great color.

Close up of Hetty's card

This is definitely a card I would like to CAS (copy and share) but will most likely add some Basic Pearls or Basic Rhinestones to those beautiful snowflakes! Thanks for this great card, Hetty!

I hope you have a nice evening and I will be back tomorrow with a couple more swap cards!

Kat

Holiday Catalog Swaps Arrived

Card from Laurie Reaume

I was so excited when my Holiday Catalog Swaps arrived in the mail! However I only received 7 instead of 14 but Liz has already popped the other 7 in the mail to me so should get them sometime this week. Whoo Hoo! I can hardly wait. If they are anything like the first batch, I will be thrilled indeed! The main rule of this swap was to use something from the the Holiday Catalog!

Closeup of Laurie's Watercolored design

This first card is from Laurie Reaume. She used the Winter Memories stamp set which she watercolored. She also used the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder and Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper. Very nice. Thank you, Laurie!

I will try to get back later today with a few more of these great swaps!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

Welcome to my contribution to the Sunday Night Chit-Chat started each week by Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily! My picture for today is a loaf of Rosemary Bread I made from the homemade Bread book from the editors of Hobby Farm Home Magazine. This is the same book I recently used for Banana Nut Bread and Healthful Zucchini Bread! The Rosemary Bread was a huge hit at our church potluck:) The recipe made 2-6" loaves so will definitely double next time!

For the Chit-Chat I am...

Reading...Just finished The Choice by Nicholas Sparks. Thought-provoking! I really thought I knew what was right until I read this book. Currently I am reading The Preacher's Daughter by Beverly Lewis. I know, some of you are saying "didn't she already read that book???" Well, it was on my reading pile but I didn't actually get started with it. I am now actually READING it!

Watching...Not sure. Hubby has a movie picked out on Netflix so will see what it is. He generally likes a lot more adventure than I do!

Listening to...The wind:( It is really blowing hard today and the air if full of blowing dust! Yuck!!! It is blowing too hard for our wind turbine to give us any power and the weather report is for more wind tomorrow.

Baking/cooking...I am baking Double Dill Rye Bread from the book I mentioned above. My next bread experiment is Dark Russian Rye Bread. I LOVE baking bread!!! I also have pinto beans in the pressure cooker and made Spanish Rice and homemade salsa to go with. The salsa was made totally with ingredients from the garden--yummy!

Happy you accomplished this week...I wasn't very productive this week:( I did a lot of reading. However, I do have peaches and plums in our outdoor food dryers. Our day at the Oregon State Fair last Sunday (we left home at 8:00 am and returned home after midnight) really took all of the zip out of my do-da! I need to kick it into high gear starting tomorrow!

Looking forward to next week...Catching up! I need to clean the house, do some canning and start preparing for my next stamping club. 

Thankful for this week...All of the yummies we are eating from our garden--peaches, plums, grapes (several varieties), tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, green beans, strawberries, raspberries...I am sure I am forgetting something but everything is soooo good!

What is something you have been procrastinating on and really should just do it and get it over with already?
My Craft Room:(  I have tried and tried to get it done but always give up before it's finished! I really need to get at it and get it done! 

Well, that's it for me. Be sure to visit Carla and the others who are participating in the Sunday Night Chit-Chat!

Kat

Oregon State Fair

Oregon State Fair (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last Sunday was Fair Day for our family! We got a late start but met up with hubby's brother and sister-in-law for brunch at Sweet Tomatoes in Clackamas (my favorite part) then off to Salem we all went! Got to the Fairgrounds about 2:00 so decided to forgo the normal fair stuff and go right to the Commercial Vendors! They always have such fun stuff to see...and buy!

Sooo...what did I buy at the Fair this year? More than I should have, of course. This was the main reason I didn't join in with Carla's September Savings Challenge at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. That and my daughter's birthday is in September and I haven't got all of her gifts yet. I may have to do a Savings Challenge of my own but will have to wait till after Christmas!

Jose Eber Flat iron--I wanted this two years ago when I was at the Fair but wasn't sure I wanted to shell out $99 for it. In the meantime I have gone through a couple of cheaper ones so would have been money ahead to have spent the $99 in the first place. So far, I love it!!! I will try to get before and after pictures for you--it's pretty remarkable!

The Miracle Whisk--This thing is amazing! You can whip up skim milk to a thick topping and, in my case, I can whip up coconut or rice milk to make a wonderful whipped topping for my berries! At the Fair we only had the choice of a black handle or all metal; I chose all metal. We got a 2fer deal on these so I got one and my sister-in-law got one.

Corium 21 Premium Aloe Healing Cream--I am hoping this is the answer to my eczema! I do know that it takes the burn and itch out so will keep using it and see if I can get rid of the nastiness! My son also has issues with eczema so he is also trying it. I can't tell you how many dollars I have spent on lotions and potions to get rid of my eczema...all to no avail:( So let's add one more to the list!!!

Velvet Eyeliner--I am super excited about this eyeliner because it goes on smooth and thin with almost no effort! It looked so good that I forgot to put mascara on!

 OMG Honey Ginger Teriyaki Sauce--Oh so yummy! I bought two bottles to use on noodles and vegetables. Hmmm...I'm thinkin' Yakisoba maybe:)

We got a few other small things but the ones I listed are my favorites! Probably #1 on my list of favorites is the Jose Eber flat iron and #2 would be the Velvet Eyeliner. Yup! I'm a girly-girl:)

It doesn't look like I will get any cards done this week but hoping to next week. Also sorry I missed out on the Sunday Night Chit-Chat but we didn't get home from the Fair until after midnight. And Monday I was way too tired to blog at all. I think I am finally catching up so should get back into full blogging swing again! 

I hope you have a wonderful Thursday!

Kat

Quinoa Taco Burger

Uncooked whole grain Quinoa

Have you heard about Quinoa? I have been hearing a lot about it in the last several months and have had a bag in my pantry for at least a month but wasn't sure what to do with it. So, why did I buy it?

"Quinoa is gluten-free, has a low glycemic index and provides all of the eight essential amino acids, creating a complete protein." (quoted from my bag of truRoots Organic Quinoa). That is why I purchased Quinoa! I am always interested in food that will give our family good nutrition and taste good too. 

"Quinoa is an ancient traditional grain grown at 12,000 fee above sea level. It is a whole grain and has been classified by the National Academy of Sciences as one of the best sources of protein in the vegetable kingdom." (also from the back of my Quinoa bag).

Quinoa cooked

Quinoa cooks in just 15 minutes and can be substituted for rice in many recipes.

I LOVE tacos so decided to try my hand at making taco "burger" with my cooked Quinoa. 

Taco "Burger"

1/2 cup Quinoa, rinsed
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt

Bring Quinoa, water and salt to boil and cook for 15 minutes on low heat. Let cool for 5 minutes then fluff with a fork.

1/4 cup chopped onions
1 Tablespoon olive or coconut oil
Cooked Quinoa
2 ounces diced green chilies (mild)
1 Tablespoon chili powder 

Saute` onions in oil till soft then add remaining ingredients and cook while stirring for about 5 minutes. Tada...done!!!

Quinoa Taco "Burger"

Now you are ready to use your Quinoa Taco "Burger" just as you would use hamburger! I am sure I will make some improvements to this recipe over the next few months but it is really yummy as is. Hubby was eating it with a spoon!!!

1/4 cup of dry Quinoa has...

• 172 calories
• 3 grams fat
• 31 carbohydrates
• 3 grams fiber
• 3 grams sugars
• 6 grams protein

I hope you will give Quinoa a try soon! Don't wait like I did!

Have a great day!

Kat