Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Summertime Fruit Salad






s
Enjoy this Summertime Fruit Salad


1/2 small cantaloupe
3 kiwis
12 strawberries
2 sprigs mint leaves (10 leaves)

Dressing
3 Tbsp. lime juice
3 Tbsp. honey
zest of one lime

Put dressing on just before serving as the lime juice will
start to break down the fruit.
Yummy!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Father's Day Trip

When my father in law Clyde passed away we inherited
his membership  to Catalina Spa and RV resort in Palm Springs.
We enjoyed many memories of him on this father's day weekend.


We resently purchased a motorhome.


We decided for our first outting
we would take it to the resort.


We didn't have to much trouble finding a spot.
We were practically the only ones there.
The snowbird return Nov.1


It was very windy.


We parked closed to the family pool.  There is an adult
only pool also.


This is the family pool.


And laundry.


Rental trailers... 10 in a row.



Kiddie pool.


Natural hot springs.



Covered area with a rec room.



Beautiful hills.


Lots of palm trees.


                                      Birds in a tree hiding from the wind.



We are ready for our next outdoor adventure.

Thank you Lord for making this all possible.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

So easy and tastes good

English Muffin Bread
5 1/2 cups warm water
3 packages RAPID RISE yeast
2 Tablespoons salt
3 Tablespoons sugar
11 cups bread flour
Place all the dry ingredients in an electric mixing bowl.  Turn mixer on very slow and stream in warm water then spoon into (4) well greased loaf pans.  Dough will be very sticky.  Let rise in pans until dough reaches the top of the pans, and bake in 350 degree oven for 35 minutes then brush with melted butter. Bake an additional 10 minutes.  Makes 4 loaves. Bread will be moist at first. Allow the bottom to dry before placing in a plastic bag.  Allow to COOL COMPLETELY before cutting. Makes terrific toast.









Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Nut Free Bakery in So. Cal.

My new daughter in law is allergic to nuts.
So I was on a mission to find a nut free bakery,
so I can order her a cake for her and my son
to cut at their wedding reception.

Sensitive Sweets
17431 Brookhurst St.
Fountain Valley, Ca. 92708
714 968-9169


Cupcakes, breads and more.


So I bought 6 cupcakes to try.


They came in these cute boxes.


Lemon, Red Velvet, Vanilla and Chocolate
Cinnmon and Lemon Blackberry


One got eaten before I took this picture by my son.
Glad he let me taste it before he devoured it.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Chunky Monkey Banana Muffins


Lots of Chunks of Chocolate


Yummy!


Chunky Monkey Banana Muffins

Recipe made 18 muffins
Heat oven to 350
Bake for 18 minutes

2 cups a-p flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 sugar
1/4 cup butter melted
1/2 cup sour cream
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup smashed banana ( I used 2 medium bananas)
 11.5 oz. pkg. Nestle's chocolate chunks 

Line muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Mix wet ingredients in an electric mixer. 
Add dry ingredients.
Mix in chocolate chunks last.

I use an ice cream scoop to fill the cupcake liners with batter.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Flower pot card for a friend.

Pull the flowers up and reveal the message.

I hope this card will cheer her up.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Once a month my husband helps two widows from our church.
One of the ladies asked him if he could cut off the bottom of
the clipboard on the left so she could write a little easier at
her bible study class.  He brought it to me and asked if I
could help with this project.

So for $1.99 we bought a new clipboard and I painted it
with chalkboard paint.  I used a white sharpie and wrote
her name.  Bought a new star and painted it red and bought
some ruler ribbon.  Glued it on using E6000. 
Mrs. Murray was thrilled with the result.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Panda Card

Cute Panda Card


I made this cute panda card for my niece for her birthday.
I used my cricut expression for all the pieces except for the tiny hole punch eyes.
I used a hole punch for that.

Card base is 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" fold in half.
The red backround 4" x 5 1/4" is dry embossed with a cuttlebug folder. 
You can use any folder of your choice.

Using my cricut expression "Plantin Schoolbook"
I cut:

Using white paper:
Cut one 3 1/4" circle for face
Cut one 1 3/4" circle for the snout
Cut two 1" ovals for the outer eye
Punch two hole punches for the pupil

Using black paper:
Cut two 1 1/2" ovals for the outer eye
Cut 2 1" circles for the ears
Cut one 3/4" circle for the nose
Cut two 1/2" circles pupil

Happy Cardmaking!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Don't Blink


In a blink of an eye.
Our first family photo in 1984.



Congratulations to our son Chris who will
marry his sweetheart in a few days.



We love you and are very excited for you to
begin this new journey in life.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Monkey Cookies for Toddlers

Our granddaughter has learned how to say cookie,
although it sounds more like "too tee"
so I started a quest to find a cookie recipe that
would be a little more healthy than the store bought ones.

Here is what I found

Monkey Cookies

2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
2/3 c. softened butter
2 eggs
2 bananas mashed
1 tsp. vanilla

In my electric mixer I mixed together the eggs,
 butter, bananas and vanilla.
Then added the sugar, salt, baking powder and flour.
I used a Tablespoon from my measuring set and
placed Tbsp. of dough on a parchment lined pan.
Bake at 400F degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Made 3 dozen this way.

My husband said it smelled like banana bread baking
and our granddaughter approved.

Friday, March 16, 2012

A Meal Fit For A Saint

I saw this recipe this morning on the Today Show.
So I decided to make it.  I adapted the recipe to use what I had.
2 T. canola oil
4 lbs cross rib roast cut into 1-2 in. chunks
Brown meat in a pot.

Remove meat from pot and add vegetables

12 pearl onions peeled and cut in half
3 handfuls of baby carrots chopped
4 stalks of celery chopped
2 T.  fine chopped garlic in a jar
Cook until softened.

Add meat back in with the vegetables.

Add
4 bottles of Guinness stout beer
1 c. beef stock
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper

Simmer on the stove for 4 hours.

We poured the stew over mash potatoes.  Pure comfort.

Recipe can be made and put in the crockpot on low for 4 hr.


For dessert, make your favorite brownies and frost with
chocolate frosting and don't forget the shamrock sprinkles.

Enjoy!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Migrating Monarchs 2012


Did you see them today?  The wonderful migrating Monarch Butterflies.  I have been lucky to see them for a couple of years now.  Love watching them crossing the road as I drive and I waited in front of my house for a glimpse of them to fly by.

Monarchs are especially noted for their lengthy annual migration. In North America they make massive southward migrations starting in August until the first frost. A northward migration takes place in the spring. The monarch is the only butterfly that migrates both north and south as the birds do on a regular basis. But no single individual makes the entire round trip. Female monarchs deposit eggs for the next generation during these migrations.

I know, all you see is a little black dot in the picture.
Those suckers fly faster than I can get the shot.  Lol!
Here is a close up.  It doesn't do it justice.
Hope you got to see them.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Card challenge

Viva La Verve Card Challenge
Week 2
Here's the layout

Color inspiration

My Card