Stir Fry

Do you need a Wok to make Stir Fry? I don't own a Wok,so I just use my cast iron skillet,and it turns out just fine.

Shrimp Stir Fry

Ingredients

1Tablespoon butter

1 Tablespoon olive oil

2 lbs shrimp

4 cloves garlic

2 zucchini,diced

2 large ears of corn,kernels removed

3/4 cup red grape tomatoes sliced in half lengthwise

3/4 cup yellow grape tomatoes sliced in half lengthwise

Salt and freshly ground pepper

12 to 18 fresh basil leaves cut chiffon ade

Parmesan shavings

Juice of one lemon

Rice or pasta for serving

Melt the butter with the olive oilin a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the shrimp and garlic,sauté until shrimp is opaque,about 3 minutes. Remove the shrimp to a plate.increase the heat to high and throw in the zucchini. Stir for about 45 seconds,then scoot the zucchini to the edge of the pan. Throw in the corn and cook for 1 minute,then push to the edge of pan. Throw tomatoes in stir them around for about a minute,sprinkle on some salt and pepper to taste. Put the shrimp back in and stir everything around for about 45 seconds or until everything is heated through. Pour everything onto a platter,sprinkle on fresh basil and some Parmesan shavings,and squeeze the lemon all over the top.

You can serve this with rice as I do or pasta,but it actually perfect on its own.

Clothes Pin Bunny's

We made some of these last Friday and they are very cute and easy

What you need 

Clothes Pins (not the ones with the Spring action)

Acrylic paints in soft pastel colors

Fine point sharpie

Google eyes

Sequins 

Small white cotton balls found at a craft store

Paint the clothes pins and let them dry

Once dry the kids can use the sharpie to put eyes,nose and a mouth,or they can use google eyes and sequins

Glue a white cotton ball on back for a tail and glue a sequin or two for a decoration on the bunny's ear.

The kids can even use their own ideas using construction paper to make a carrot and glue it on.

March 17,2014

Herbs

I love to use fresh herbs whenever I can. Last Summer I had a huge planter on  the deck with many different herbs growing in it. Anytime I needed Basil or parsley I could just walk outside and cut some. It was so convenient. That got me to thinking what am I going to this year. We will be gone quite a bit camping and with no one here to water,they would eventually die. Now I have grown herbs inside on the windowsill so I thought why can't I grow some in the 5th wheel,since there are plenty of windows. I bought some seeds,only the ones I'll use most,basil,chives,parsley and dill. I started them today,and once they grow I'll transplant them into pots that will eventually go into the 5th wheel. I'm excited at the prospect of being able to still cook with fresh herbs while on the road.

Egg Carton Chicks

What to do with those egg cartons after all the eggs are gone. I've often wished there was some other use for them other than just tossing them out. Well thanks to some very creative people on Pinterest there is. So on Friday we made chicks.

What you need

Styrofoam egg cartons,they come in several colors,white,pink,and blue

Feathers,found at your craft store

Pattern papers,and solid colors

Glue

Get Cracking

Here's an appealing idea from Thr Rachael Ray Magazine: edible colored Easter Eggs without the shell

After hard-boiled eggs have cooled,tap them with the edge of a knife or roll them on the counter to crack the shell but don't remove it. Place the eggs in a saucepan with enough water to cover with 2 tea bags. Bring to a boil,cover,reduce heat to low a dimmer for 20 minutes.once cool transfer pan to frige and steep eggs for at least 3 hours or overnight. Drain and peel the eggs to reveal the pattern. You can also use herbal teas for color like hibiscus for pink or juice like blueberry concentrate for blueprint gel food color in water.

Pom Pom's

There are several ways to make Pom Pom's. They have Pom Pom makers,my Mom used a piece of card board but this idea I think is the best,a kitchen fork. Yes I said a fork.

Wrap yarn around the tines,tie a piece of yarn around the center,cut alon each side,and voila you have a very cute Pom Pom.