Cooking with herbs

 I try and use fresh herbs when I cook but sometimes they aren't always available, especially during the winter months, when I find theres no other choice except dried ones. With the weather  warming up now its looking like a good time to get some fresh plants for my garden. Each year I go through the tedious decision of what herbs to plant. The first year I planted an herb garden I think I bought every herb plant that was at the greenhouse, which ended up being a mistake. Plants I never used took over the garden and in the end it was a waste of money. This year I have narrowed it down to 6 plants. Basil,Mint,Parsley,Chives,Dill and Rosemary. These are herbs I know I will use in my cooking. Of course once I get to the greenhouse I might see some I hadn't thought about. Last year when I got to the greenhouse I saw there were several different mint plants,Peppermint,Chocolate and Orange,So of course I had to buy them. Theres just something  so refreshing about going into the garden and harvesting fresh herbs.Its a task I truly enjoy.

Crock Pot Ham

I use my crock pot at least 3 to 4 times a week. It makes my life so much easier.I can put everything in the pot in the morning set the temperature and forget about it until dinner time. So when I saw this recipe I knew I had to add it to my recipe files.

Ingredients
1 Ham
Brown Sugar
Pineapple Tidbits

Cover the bottom of the crockpot with brown sugar.
Place the hame on top, and add the pineapple tidbits with juice.
Sprinkle the ham with more brown sugar, cover and cook 7 to 8 hours.

Limoncello Dessert

This is an easy and refreshing dessert to serve after a dinner party or any occasion.
With only 5 ingredients it's even quite easy.

Serves 4
Ingredients
1 Lemon
1 package wafer cookies
1 pint Lemon Sorbet
1 Pint vanilla ice cream
4 jiggers Limoncello (available at any liquor store)

Place 1 scoop of lemon sorbet along side 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream in each of 4 dessert cups
Top each serving with 1 jigger of the lemon liqueur. Grate the zest of 1 lemon on each bowl of sorbet and ice cream. Garnish with the wafer cookies and serve.

Flower Pots

I love when it begins to get warm after a long cold Winter. It gets me in the mood to start thinking about planting flowers. In my flower beds I planted perennials which come up every year. I just add some annuals so theres always some color. On my porch I put pots filled with flowers. I love decorative pots but they can be quite costly. Terra Cotta pots are very reasonable and they can be decorated to your liking. They can be painted in a solid color and then add some painted flowers or dragonflies. You can also have you kids or in my case my grand children put their handprints or footprints on them. You can paint the pot add pictures of the kids and then decoupage over them. The possibilities are endless.

Supplies
Terra Cotta Pots in various sizes
Paint in several colors
Brushes
Masking Tape
                                           

Corn Caserole

This is a real nice side dish.

Ingredients
1 box jiffy corn muffin mix
1 can creamed corn
1 can regular corn
2 eggs beaten
1 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 375
Grease a 2qt casserole dish and set aside
Mix the cans of corn, eggs, sour cream, and muffin mix in a bowl
Transfer to the casserole dish and bake for 1 hour.

Decorative Plate Craft

This craft would be a great gift especially with Mothers Day just around the corner. You could have the kids decorate them with their names, or write special sayings.They would also make great end of the year teacher gifts. I think every teacher would love to get a decorate plate with her students names  filled with cookies. You could use colored sharpie and make a cookie plate for Santa, or how about a nautical theme. The ideas are endless.

Supplies:
White plates purchased from the dollar store
Sharpie

Once things are written on the plate bake for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven to make the the writing permanent.

Garden Art

This is a really cute craft and it's only takes a few supplies.

An old watering can
Individual glass beads or beads already strung in shades of blue or just clear
Wire if using single beads
Shepherds hook

Most old watering cans have nozzles that can be removed.
String beads and attach them through the holes in the nozzle
Once you have filled as many holes as you want re-attach the nozzle
Hang the can on the shepherds hook and place it over a pot of flowers

Sinless Coolies

Ok,so when is a cookie ever sinless? These just might come close. Give them a try.

Asparagus Gruyere tart

When made with plump in-season asparagus, this dish makes a sophisticated, visually pleasing appetizer.

6 Ingredients serves 4
1 1/2 lbs asparagus
Flour
Salt &Pepper
1T olive oil
1 sheet puffed pastry frozen
51/2 ounces Gruyere cheese

Couldn't be easier.
Roll out the puff pastry, bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees
Sprinkle with the gruyere or cheese of your choice
Add the asparagus and brush with olive oil
Top with salt and pepper
Bake for another 20 -25 minutes.

Old Windows

While shopping at an Antique Store one day I came across some old windows. I wondered what kind of projects I could come up with. I figured if I thought long enough I'd come up with some. On that particular day though I couldn't, so I didn't purchase any. Some years later I was at a craft show and saw many really cleaver ideas using old windows. Some had the glass removed and replaced with chicken wire for hanging notes,others were painted with scenes, and some had quotes using vinyl decals. I think using old windows has become a very popular project,because they are not as easily found anymore.

Finger Print Art

This is a cute idea and could be used as a learning tool for Pre Schoolers to learn the alphabet.
Place 26 of the child's thumb fingerprint on some art paper. Have the child draw a picture using the fingerprint,exsample a for ant, b for bear and so on.

Garden Stepping Stones

I have always loved having Stepping Stones in my garden, but the ones to purchase can be  quite expensive. I decided I could make them. Now there are kits you can buy to make one but with a little ingenuity I made several for a fraction of the cost of one of those kits. I purchased some aluminum foil pans,a bag of quick dry cement, some old china plates, and a bag of glass jewels at Michaels. I wrapped the china plates in a cloth and with a hammer broke them into pieces. I placed the pieces in the bottom of the foil pan along with a few of the jewels. I mixed up the cement according to the directions and spread it on top of the broken plates. They were then set aside to dry. Once dry I removed the stone from the foil tin, and had a beautiful a stepping stone. This is a fun project to do with your grandchildren. You can also make them by putting the cement in the pan first and let the kids make hand prints and then write their name in the cement.

Love Lake Living

We have been living on the Lake for a year now, and it has been the best move we ever made. Lake living is so relaxing. We spent most of this past year remodeling the exterior of the house. We did manage to work in some fun though. We bought a pontoon boat and just about every night were able to take a boat ride. We have Kayaks and although they are fun after my shoulder surgery I was finding it difficult to paddle around the lake.This year we decided to buy a Peddle Boat. I told my grandchildren to start exercising their legs so they can peddle Nana around the lake. The two older ones seem excited not to peddle nana around but to use it to look for boys.Teenagers,I guess more grey hair in inevitable. 

Meat Loaf Muffins

Prepare your favorite meat loaf recipe, and instead of forming a loaf on a sheet pan or putting the prepared meat in a bread pan scoop some into individual muffin tins. Adjust cooking time always remembering that the internal temperature needs to be 160 degrees. 

Buttons

Buttons and not the kind you sew on a shirt. Buttons is my puppy, who turns one today. I had planned a party for him and was going to invite all his doggie friends, hazel,Fred,harlee,Finley and Higgins. Unfortunately we are under a Winter Storm Watch,Snow,Sleet, and high winds. This weather is so unusual for April.Well maybe next year when he turns Two.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy, you are truly a joy!!!

Crock Pot Orange Chicken

This is a delicious recipe and so easy,which is so helpful in everyones busy life.

Ingredients
4 to 5 boneless chicken breasts
3/4 cup Orange Marmelade
3/4 cup BBQ sauce
2t soy sauce

Cook chicken in crock pot on high for 3 hours
After 3 hours drain juices from crock pot
Mix together Marmalade,BBQ sauce, and soy sauce
Pour over chicken and cook on high for another 30 minutes.
Serve with rice

Oils

Using Oils, at first I was a little skeptical but then one day I had a headache and nothing eased the pain.Then someone said try Peppermint oil. I put a drop on both temples  and my forehead and within minutes it was gone. I now use oils all the time. I diffuse them, use them to make homemade cleaners, and I use them for medicinal purposes. I love diffusing  Citrus Fresh,it makes my kitchen smell so fresh. I add several drops of Thieves to a glass spray bottle filled with water and  use this to clean my bathroom and kitchen counters. It has a cinnamon aroma and smells great. Tea Tree is one of my go to's when I have a breakout. Just one drop on my breakout each night before bed and it's gone in a couple of days.  I also have several recipe's using a carrier oil and several oils to make a great chest rub if you have a cough. Stuffy nose, no problem. Just a drop of RC under each nostril.There are many oils out there that you can buy at most health food stores. I order my oils from Young Living. Here are a couple of recipe's that I have made.

Old Bed Springs

Bed Springs,the first time I saw these was at a friends cottage on Houghton Lake. I was about 12 years old and had gone up there with my Mom. We slept in a feather bed that was on a frame made of bed springs that creaked every time you moved. Little did I know back then that someday I'd be searching for these old relics for craft projects. They aren't easy to find but everyone in a while you get lucky and find an old mattress with a treasure trove of springs inside.

Make your own Cake Stand

I have always loved serving cake or pastries on a pretty cake stand, The  ones I found in stores though were so expensive. While searching Pinterest  I saw this idea and found I could make several at a fraction of the cost. So I headed to my local Salvation Army. They have an array of pretty plates,glasses and candle sticks, and by going on Senior day well lets just say its worth it.

Supplies
Pretty Plates
Glass Candle Sticks
Glass Goblets
Glue for glass

Glue the candle stick or goblet to the bottom of the plate and let dry.

Crock Pot Herb Chicken

I enjoy using my crock pot, it saves time and is so convenient. Just throw everything in the pot, turn it on to the desired amount of cooking time and go about your day. I used to use my crock pot a lot when I was working. It was so nice to come home and have a meal already to eat.
The recipe below is one I've tried quite a bit and with only the two of us at home now there are even  leftovers.

Ingredients
1 4 to 6 lb chicken
1/2 onion chopped
2 to 3 Tablespoons butter
Juice of 1 lemon
1 Teaspoon kosher salt
2 Tablespoons fresh parsley
1/2 Teaspoon Thyme

Fill the chicken cavity with the chopped onion
Rub the butter over the skin and place the chicken in the crock pot
Squeeze the lemon over the chicken
Sprinkle the seasonings over the chicken and set the cooking time
8 to 10 hours on low

Bookmarks

I really hate it when I get a book from the library and see the corners of the pages folded over to mark the place where the reader left off. How hard is it to grab a piece of paper and mark your spot, or better yet why not make a bookmark. Here are a couple of ideas that are not only cute, but easy enough for kids to make.

Supplies

Different colored paper clips

Small colored buttons

A variety of patterned ribbons

Felt 

Glue

For the ribbon bookmark cut 3 pieces of ribbon and tie them around the end of the clip.

For the button bookmark glue a button the end of the clip, cut a small piece of felt and place it over the glue to hold it in place. Once dry use it to hold the place in your book. Such a better idea than folding over a corner of the page. These would be great for gifts.

Knitted Dishcloth

I have been making these gems for a while. They are so easy, knit up quickly and a great dish cloth.
I love the yarn, it comes in so many different colors, solids and multi.
You can knit up a couple while watching your favorite TV show thats how easy they are.

Supplies
Sugar and Cream yarn
#5knitting needles

Cast on 4 stitches, knit achoo for 4 rows
Row#5 knit 2 stitches yarn over knit to the end
Repeat this until there are 46 stitches on your needle

Next Row; knit1 knit 2 stitches together yarn over knit 2 stitches together knit to the end.
Repeat this until there are only 4 stitches left on the needle
Knit the 4 stitches for 4 rows and cast off.

Pillow Cases

I have decided to try my hand at making pillow cases for my grandchildren and using them to wrap their gifts in at Christmas. I'm going to pick material that reflects things they like, for example musical notes for my grand daughter who plays piano and dinosaurs for my grandson who loves them. 

How to make a pillow case in 5 easy steps

Supplies needed:

3/4 yard of main color

1/4 yard of cuff fabric

2" wide piece of accent fabric

Thread

Follow the instructions on Pinterest from Sew Very Crafty

Button Pin

I know it's just the beginning of April and Mothers day is a month away, but this is a cute craft for kids to make for Mom and Grandma. Start now and make several for all the women in your family.

Supplies
Buttons (assorted colors and sizes)
Glue ( I used a glue gun but any craft glue will work)
Pin backs
Small beads

Glue the larger buttons in the shape of a flower, stack a mid size on top and an even smaller size on top of that. Then choose a nice button for the center of the flower, and glue a pin back on the back of the flower.

Mother Nature Whats Up?

Well isn't this just lovely. It's April 3rd and this is my forecast for the rest of this week. I am so over Winter. I want sunshine with warm days. I want to work in my garden, sit on the porch and go for a boat ride. Instead I and looking at 3 to 6 inches of snow it's not making me very happy.

Spinach Salad

Tonight for dinner along with my homemade black bean, corn and salsa fajitas I made a spinach salad. I had spinach left from a stir fry we had the other night and wanted to use it up before it spoiled. Luckily I had most of the ingredients,but decided to use my imagination and add some extras. It turned out delicious.

Ingredients:
Spinach
Madrine oranges
Red Onion
Rasins
Walnuts
Crumbled bacon
Raspberry Vinaigrette dressing

Easter

Easter Sunday "He Has Risen." What a beautiful service we had in Church this morning. Then we went to Brunch with Don and Sandy at the Soaring Eagle Casino. They always put on a wonderful spread. Came home, watched the Tiger game,some golf and just relaxed for the rest of the day.