Meal of the Week 13: Kale Chips

Snack Attack!!! How am I so late in discovering this vitamin filled amazingness??

So I totally burned my first batch and I undercooked the second, but I think the third time will be the charm.... if I can eat any more? (and I haven't even had dinner yet ooops).

Here's a link to the recipe I used:




 
I also used the pre-washed pre-cut ready to cook Kale from Trader Joe's so the time to make is LITERALLY cook time plus 1 min.

Yum. Just Yum. Thanks internet for another great recipe.

Baskets of groceries, bundles of fun

As my Sweet Pea gets more and more excited about copying everything I do, I’m trying to keep up with her interest and make fun toys to go along with her age.

Right now I’m in the middle of a big project to make a bunch of crocheted food items for her before we get her a play kitchen. We’re thinking to get her the kitchen (or DIY make one!) before Christmas next year so I’m not feeling stressed at and just taking my time.

Here’s the first round up on free patterns I’m using:

 

1. Sandwich from Yummi-Gurumi by Craft foxes

2. Cupcake by Anapaulaoli

3. Pancake Breakfast by the Craft Frog

4.Eggs by Easy Makes me Happy

5.Sausage links by tots and bottoms

6. Sweet Little Cake by KTB Designs.

Meal of the Week 12: I Wish it Were Summer Salad

I must be late in discovering this, but did you know that bags of triple washed organic spinach leaves at Trader Joe’s are the same price or cheaper than regular spinach at other grocery stores??? OMG. How can I be so late to find this out?
Anyways, This is my all time favorite salad for the summer.. and since I wish it were summer, well… you know what I’m saying.
Ingredients: fresh spinach leaves, cut strawberries, chopped walnuts.
I like to top it with a balsamic vinaigrette, but you can dress it however you like!

Simple, Easy, Yummy. Enjoy!

Crochet Hearts

I found this fabulous pattern to make crocheting festive for Valentine’s day and I wanted to share it!

The linked picture above give the pattern. SOOO easy. I’ve been making them while we watch tv at night. My husband thinks they’re cute. Here are the ones I’ve made:

I’m going to hopefully have enough by valentine’s day to fill one of my vases (so my hubby won’t feel the need to spend bunches of cash on flowers that will die)

5 down…. 50 more to go!

Heart Wreath

I saw this:

on the idea room from a couple of years ago and decided to use what materials I had to make something similar.
So I took my pile of red t-shirts

and a wire hanger
and cut out a bunch of circles… and then kept cutting out circles (I used 2 whole t-shirts and some scraps!)

And then went crazy with my glue gun!
Here it is half done:

I would stick some glue on it and then kind of squeeze the shirt scrap until it was the shape I wanted.
And several hours and at least 6 glue sticks later: Tada!

Some V-day fun.

I’ve had bunches of fun this January trying to create some fun décor for valentine’s day. And here’s what I’ve come up with:

I have three projects that I’ve been working on. The easiest and most fun was my wire heart garland:

I took wire – mine was copper, but and wire will do – you could even use green floral wire if you have a mind to mix up colors! – and wrapped it in circles then shapes into hearts. I made twelve of them, not caring what size they were. They all ended up about the same size, but varying thicknesses.

Then I tied them to some ribbon and hung them up over my office area!

And now the kitchen/office is just a little festive!

Meal of the Week 11: The best potato soup ever

Um. Yes. I like this soup. That is all.
I have been in search of the perfect potato soup recipe for what seems like years. I read literally a dozen different recipes before combining them all into this one. It has been christened by husband as “the best soup ever”
Ingredients:
1 bunch leeks (or green onions, or scallions) – I use green onions because I like them best.
4 pieces of bacon – or more…
1 tbsp. butter
10-12 potatoes, peeled and diced
48oz. chicken broth
1 1/2 c. heavy cream
Salt & pepper
Minced parsley
Variations:
Substitute regular bacon for turkey bacon (but I used like 6 pieces of turkey bacon)
Use only 32oz of chicken broth for a thicker soup.
Cooking Instructions:
Cook bacon, cut off extra fat, and pat dry with paper towels. Chop into bacon bits.
In a large pot, add precooked bacon, and green onions. Cook in butter until soft. Add diced potatoes and chicken broth. Simmer for 40 minutes. Add cream, salt and pepper to taste (approx 1 1/2tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper). Sprinkle with minced parsley. (This soup may be whirled in a blender or smashed with a potato masher to make a puree). If it becomes too thick, add milk or broth.
I made this for the first time two weeks ago when I wanted to take a dear friend dinner. It was really good then. Then I made it again today a using the variations. 
Yes, please. I would eat the whole pot right now if I could.