Feb. 16: Kale Chips and Good Will Finds

Of course it so happens that yesterday, the day of sun and 55 degree weather, I had to work all day, and today, the day of gray sky and drizzly rain, I do not.

How to cheer oneself up on such a day? My answer is... a trip to Good Will, an afternoon of reading, and a fresh, warm, yummy snack, kale chips.

First, Kale Chips:
Now, I know many people who would not agree with the yummy part, but I also know many people who would. So, I guess your stance on kale is either for or against. If you are for, you may enjoy these crispy "chips," and you will not feel guilty after consuming the whole "bag."

Easy Easy Recipe for Kale Chips


Ingredients:
- kale
- olive oil
- course salt

Instructions:
- remove center rib from kale leaves, discard ribs, wash and dry kale

- put kale in a bowl, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, mix to coat evenly

- spread kale leaves out on baking sheet, in a single layer, and bake at 250 degrees for about 30 mins, until crispy and slightly browned

- Enjoy!

Second, Good Will Finds:
My fabric supply is beginning to run low, and I was wishing for some fun new prints to create with. However, and most unfortunate, and yet quite normal, my extra spending money is also running low. Luckily, a trip to Good Will and some lucky finds in the linens got me just what I wanted.

I found two sets of duvet covers and pillow cases, and some pretty little hankies. The green dots is a double size and the blue floral a single; the way I see it, them being duvet covers, with a few seam rips my fabric stash will double, or some of the stitching is already done, both win, win situations.

I already have a few ideas in my head for what they may become. 

Feb. 14: What I Love About You Photos

You may recognize the magnetic board from yesterday's post. Today I put it to work to hold my Valentines to J. I knew he would not miss it if I hung it right on the thermostat, his first stop each morning after getting out of bed. 

To create this collage, I cut the heart out of red card stock and placed in photos with things that represent what I love about J. Then using Paint (again loving the new computer) I added text to the photos; each starts with, "I love that you are..." Lastly I had the photos printed at the local store, and used some button magnets to arrange them on the magnetic board.

We don't do much to celebrate Valentine's Day, but this thoughtful, inexpensive surprise was appreciated.

Feb. 13: Pizza Pan Magnetic Board

This magnetic board made of a pizza pan from the Dollar Store only took about 5 minutes to make; see directions below.

If you wanted to make it a little more decorated, you could trace the bottom of the pizza pan on scrapbook paper, cut out the circle, and glue it to the pan. I like it just with the metal showing; as papers get hung on it, it will quickly get some color.

This magnetic board could be useful just about anywhere to hang notes, reminder, lists, or even pictures.





Materials:
- pizza pan
- nail
- hammer

2 Easy Steps:
1. Using nail and hammer, make 2 small holes about 3" apart on the edge of the pan.

2. Thread yarn or ribbon through holes to make hanger.

That is it! Easy, easy!

I plan to hang my magnetic board by my craft table to hold coupons, lists, and the like. However before it is hung, I have a special plan for it for a Valentine's Day surprise tomorrow.

Feb. 12: Stamped Valentines

While I like the crocheted valentines and the tea bag valentines I made over the past few weeks, neither of those were good for mass production (I had a total of 5 valentines). In having a bunch more friends I hoped to send valentines to, I created these stamped postcard valentines.

I used the same saying as I did not the crocheted valentines. I think it is so cute, and I love birds. I spelled out the saying with small letter stamps. The row of hearts and the bird stamp both came from the $ stamp bin at Micheal's, oh the hours of my life I have lost rummaging through that bin.

On half of the back I stamped a message and signed the card. On the other half went the address and the stamp. They are in the mail and on their way friends and family.

Feb. 11: Embroidered Stuffed Animals

This creative endeavor is from J. While traveling in South America, he bought two of these cute parrots it give as gifts to two young friends of ours.

However, those two friends are also brother and sister, and one can imagine the scenarios brother and sister may get into with two toy parrots, exactly the same, living in one household.

So, while J will tell you he is not creative, he is. Here is my proof. It was his idea to embroider initials onto the stuffed parrots so that each child could easily identify the correct parrot, and he did the embroidery himself.

If that is not creative, I don't know what is.

Feb. 10: Word Art

Made in Paint while playing around on the new computer, oh how I love the new computer.

Feb. 9: Brussels Sprout, Ham, and Parmesan Pizza

Brussels sprout, ham, and Parmesan pizza sounds a little random, and I must admit that it is. But, that is what I had, and that is what I made, and it was pretty tasty.

If you are interested in this random mixture, here is how I made it.

Step 1: Pizza dough: I made mine in the bread machine. You could make it by hand or buy it from the store, doesn't matter much. I have done it all those ways and they all work fine.

Step 2: Roast the Brussels sprouts: I cut off the brown ends and quartered the sprouts, in a baking dish coated them with olive oil, salt and pepper, and popped them in a 375 degree oven for about 30 minutes, make sure to stir around a few times while baking.

Step 3: Sauce: Really you can add whatever kind of sauce you would like, tomato, pesto, white. Using what I had on hand (that is the theme of this pizza) I made a cheesy, garlic, white sauce. To make a white sauce, I use the basic recipe from the More-With-Less cookbook by Dois Janzan Longacre. It is simply (for a thick sauce), 4 Tablespoons butter melted in heavy sauce pan (at this point I added some chopped garlic as well), blend in 4 Tablespoons flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt and stir until bubbly, using a whisk as not to lump, stir in 1 cup milk, cook until just smooth and thickened.  I then added 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and 1/4 teaspoon of spicy brown mustard (my white sauce looks a little brown because I only had whole wheat flour to use).

Step 4: Assemble and Cook: I rolled and stretched out my dough onto a pizza stone coated with corn meal, coated the dough with olive oil and baked it at 450 degrees for about 10 mins. Then I removed the dough from the oven, added the cheesy, garlic sauce, more shredded Parmesan, ham, and the Brussels sprouts, popped it back in the oven for about 5-10 mins, until crust was done and cheese melted.

                          

Step 5: Cool, slice and enjoy!