Archive for November, 2008

Let It Be

Friday, November 28th, 2008

Who else loves this song?

We live in troubled and challenging times.  For now, let’s savor the moments of the cherished traditions that will endure no matter how uncertain the world around us seems.

Yummy Pumpkin Cookies

Friday, November 28th, 2008

Ingredients

1/2 cup soft butter
1 cup honey
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups pumpkin

2 1/2 cups sifted flour
3 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 cup raisins (optional)

Directions

Cream butter. Add honey and eggs one at a time. Add pumpkin. Mix dry ingredients together then add to pumpkin mixture. Gradually stir in nuts and raisins. Drop by rounded teaspoon on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees 15 – 18 minutes.

 

Handmade Gifts: Hard Candy:

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

This is our very first post from a series of posts about Handmade Gifts.  We are featuring the brilliant and passionate work of Scott Michael Ringo in this series.  If you like this handmade gift idea, make sure you keep reading.  At the end of the post, I am going to tell you a few things about Scott that you won’t believe!

Hard Candy in decorative jars and tins



Everyone loves edible gifts, and hard candy is a sure winner from the responses we received from family and friends last Christmas. This gift can be put together in multiples in just an hour. It’s perfect for coworkers, friends, family or even to take with you to holiday gatherings.

What you need:
Jars or tins for packaging
Cloth or paper for topper (template here)
Cooking ingredients (see recipe below)
String to tie on jar topper

Project cost per jar $3

Hard Candy Recipe
Yields: 4 pint jars (varies depending on size of pieces)
Use flavorings from the a Wine and Cake store. Do not use extracts, only oils! www.lorannoils.com is a good source.
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups white sugar
2/3 cups light corn syrup
3/4 cup water
1 dram (1 tsp) Gourmet Flavoring
1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
1/2 teaspoon food coloring, if desired

DIRECTIONS:
Sift a thin layer of confectioner’s sugar onto large cookie sheet (preferably with edges). In a large saucepan, mix together sugar, corn syrup, and water. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring mixture to a boil without stirring. When syrup temperature reaches 260 degrees F, add food coloring. Do not stir, action will incorporate color into syrup. Remove from heat at 300 degrees F or when drops of syrup form hard, brittle threads in cold water. After boiling ceases, add flavoring and stir. Use caution when adding flavoring to avoid rising steam. Pour syrup onto cookie sheet dust with powdered sugar, and score to mark squares. (Can also pour into greased molds.) When cool, break into pieces. Store in airtight container. Print jar topper if you are using jars and tie on with string.

* Be very careful as this candy when hot can cause serious injuries if you get it on yourself!


 

Lose 200 lbs. (of books) in a day

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

Do you still have all of your college textbooks sitting around in your basement or worse yet, in your living room? Do you have some books you once wanted to read and never got around to finishing?



Let’s face it some of that stuff wasn’t all that great the first time around and what is the likelihood you are going to read it again?

Save some time and loose some pounds, donate your unused books to someone that can use them.  Here are a few places you can take your stuff:


No kidding, I recently unloaded numerous bags of books I know I will not be reading again soon. Also, many I can find in the library if I am so inclined to read them again. It feels great to open up some room on the bookshelves and to help out very worthwhile organizations at the same time. Give it a try, and you will be feeling so much lighter and happier.

Ask Elfster: How Do I Let the Group Know I Bought The Martini Glasses

Monday, November 24th, 2008

Gina the Elf Asked Elfster:

Love Elfster. Using with my family and office!
We are using Elfster with my family only to have a running list of what every person wants (we all buy for one another).

My sister in law wants martini glasses. Is there a way I can inform the group that I bought her martini glasses without her finding out?

The Answer from Elfster

If she put the Martini Glasses on her wishlist, then you can go to her profile, click on the item from her wishlist, and then click “Mark as purchased.” Other people in your group can tell it was purchased, but she cannot!

 

Bonus Answer, you didn’t ask for:

I recommend serving the martini’s with Ketel One and an Olive :)

 

Happy Gifting,

Elfster

 

holiday door bell?

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

Here is a holiday door bell that plays Christmas tunes when you ring it.  I thought the purchase of our dog’s “Always Nice, Never Naughty” collar in 2005, represented the extreme of holiday flare.  Should I allow myself to venture to a new extreme?  I am thinking my kids would love this.  Heck, they already ring the doorbell a half dozen times whenever we step on the porch.

Via Baron Bob

Note to self:  It’s about time to drag out Buster’s holiday collar.

Orzo Risotto

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

Risotto is such a wonderfully versatile dish. This version is fantastic on its own, or add any number of your favorite things.

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 lb. orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
  • 1/2 cup small diced onion
  • 2-3 cloves minced fresh garlic
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 4 cups chicken stock
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan

Heat oil and butter in a saucepan. Add orzo and toast lightly – about 3 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, stir and cook until soft. Add wine, stir and deglaze about 1 minute. When wine has nearly evaporated, add 2 cups of stock, stirring until absorbed. Add the remaining stock, salt and pepper and cook until absorbed. Remove from heat, add chopped parsley and cheese and season to taste.

 

California Meat Marinade

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

My family always breaks this one out on special occasions and it is an absolute favorite. We have found it works great on both beef and chicken. Maybe you want to be adventurous and try some other varieties.

  • 1 cup oil
  • 3/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 cup prepared mustard
  • 1 tbsp. cracked black pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic

Add all of the ingredients to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Pour the marinade into an air-tight container and add chicken or your favorite cuts of beef (sirloin is excellent) and turn to coat. Refrigerate at least 36 hours. As you grill, baste the meat with a warm mixture of equal parts white vinegar and butter (optional).

 

Kansas Caviar

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

This one is from my beloved aunt Becki who continues to prove that lots of good things besides wheat and wind energy come from Kansas! The recipe calls for it to be served with your favorite “scooper”! Try tortilla chips, crackers, toasted baguettes, rye chips or a spoon!

  • 1 can black beans drained
  • 1 can black-eyed peas drained
  • 1 can shoepeg corn drained
  • 1 can tomatoes and green chilis
  • 4 bunches chopped green onions
  • 1 bottle zesty Italian salad dressing

Mix beans, peas, corn, tomatoes and onions. Pour 1/2 to full bottle of the salad dressing over the mixture and refrigerate overnight. The next day, drain off as much of the dressing as possible and add fresh cilantro and hot pepper to taste. Mix well and serve with your choice of “scooper”!

 

Corn Casserole

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008

This recipe originates from a cook book that a college friend’s mom gave him which is believed to be a collection from Southern Living magazine. If you make it we can almost guarantee that you will have lots of friends at the dinner table.

  • 2 16.5 oz cans yellow cream corn
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 4 oz. can chopped green chiles (drained)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped white onion
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
  • 1 cup yellow corn meal
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Mix remaining ingredients in a separate bowl. Fold into the corn mixture. Pour into a lightly greased 11×7 x 1.5 dish. Bake at 350 Fahrenheit for 50 minutes or until knife comes out clean.

 


Bad Behavior has blocked 1184 access attempts in the last 7 days.