Cream puffs aren't nearly as intimidating as they seem. The trick to getting them nice and puffy is how you add your flour and the heat at which they bake. The cool thing about these delightful pastries as that you can make them any size, and fill them with whatever you please. Yesterday I posted about Strawberry sauce. Can Cream Puffs taste good without it? I'm really not sure. I don't think I've ever tried. They're awfully messy, but that just adds to the experience. :-) You'll need: 1 cup water1/2 cup butter1 cup all-purpose flour1/4 tsp salt4 eggs In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring water and butter to a boil. Add flour and salt all at once. This is very important. Stir together until you get a smooth ball. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition until you get a smooth, shiny mixture that looks something like above.
Drop by round tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove to wire rack. Immediately slit puffs open. Remove tops and set aside. Discard any soft dough inside. Cool completely. Now the fun part! Fill them with whatever you please-from classic whip cream, strawberries and chocolate, to funky flavored lemon pudding, or mocha mousse. Either way, you've got the perfect shell to compliment your choice of filling!
If you're on a mission to clean up your diet, getting your kids on board with the idea can seem impossible. If they're used to snacking on cookies, party-mix, Smarties, or packaged granola bars it can be frustrating for both of you to adopt healthier eating habits. Thankfully, there are many scrumptious, nutritious recipes available that'll appeal to the pallet the same way junk food does. But instead of artery-clogging fats, refined sugars and flours, MSG, and simple carbohydrates, you'll be serving your child snacks that are loaded with nutrition and energy to help build a growing body. Here are 10 snacks our kids love (and have no idea they're good for them!):
1. Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Flax Muffins
2. "Just Like Wheat Thins" Crackers with Cheese from Trim Healthy Mama
3. Snicker Snackers
4. Apples or Bananas with Peanut or Almond Butter
5.Raw vegetables with natural, homemade salad dressing.
If you need to make an impression but are completely intimidated by the idea of baking a real cheesecake, this recipe will stop the show. I've made it many times and love the silky smooth texture, the way it slices perfectly, the combination of vanilla and chocolate, the richness of the cream, and how versatile it is for decorating. Not to mention that it can be whipped up the day before and stays good for a really long time.
That is, if you haven't eaten already.
You'll need:Crust: 1 1/2 cups of crumbled Oreo cookies 3-4 Tablespoons melted butter Chocolate Layer: 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin 2 Tablespoons cold water 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips Vanilla Layer: 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin 2 Tablespoons cold water 1 2/3 cups heavy whipping cream 1/4 cup sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Directions:Crust: Mix cookie crumbs and melted butter together. Pat into a 9" spring form pan. Set aside. Chocolate Layer: In a small saucepan, bring cream to a simmer. In a separate small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over cold water; let stand for 1 minute. Add to warm cream and stir until gelatin is completely dissolved. Stir chocolate chips into remaining warm cream until melted. Stir in gelatin mixture and remaining cream. Pour on top of crust. Cool in fridge for 45 minutes or until firm. Vanilla Layer: In a small saucepan, bring cream and sugar to a simmer. In another bowl, sprinkle gelatin over cold water; let stand for 1 minute. Stir into cream until gelatin is completely dissolved. Add vanilla. Carefully spoon over chocolate layer. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until firm. After removing the sides of the spring form, you can garnish this beautiful dessert any way you like. In the picture shown above, I simply rubbed some more Oreo cookie crumbs onto the sides. Using several thin strips of waxed paper, I created a lattice stencil on the top of the dessert, sprinkled on some more crumbs, and carefully removed the strips of paper. Then I added a "haystack" of chopped chocolate covered peppermint sticks. I've also served this with a fresh strawberry sauce made by pureeing strawberries and sugar in the blender for a fresher taste. Be creative-the possibilities are endless!
*GF Variation: Simply use Gluten-free cookie crumbs instead.
Would you believe me if I told you these things help you lose weight? Seriously! Every time you reach for a cookie, grab a Peppermint Patty instead and the pounds will melt off. They contain no sugar or dairy and are virtually carb-free. Yet, they're loaded with the kind of fat that's good for you (coconut oil) and helps burn off the bad stuff by improving your metabolism. The best part? They're so decadent and flavorful, there's no way you'll feel deprived. I am addicted to them and keep a stash in the back of our freezer. But don't tell the rest of my family or they'll be gone!
Time: 15 min. plus cooling time Servings: 12 large patties or 24 small patties *For THMer's, this is a Satisfying dessert. Ingredients:Chocolate:
1 cup virgin coconut oil (Tropical Traditions is my favorite)
1/2 cup pure cocoa powder
2 Tbsp Truvia (or alternative sweetener)
Filling:
1 cup finely shredded coconut, unsweetened
1 Tbsp Truvia (or alternative sweetener)
1/4 cup virgin coconut oil
1/4-1/2 tsp pure peppermint extract
1/8 tsp sea salt
Directions: Bring 1 cup of coconut oil to liquid state (either in a double boiler, or immersing a sealed container in warm water). Whisk in cocoa powder and sweetener. Pour 1/2 of mixture into paper-lined muffin tins and set in freezer until hard (about 5 minutes). In the meantime, mash all of the filling ingredients together in a separate bowl. Divide and spread evenly on the chocolate coated muffin liners. Return to freezer for another 5 minutes or until hard. Evenly pour the last half of chocolate over the peppermint layer. Return to freezer. Once hard, transfer to a Ziploc bag and refrigerate or freeze until serving.
"Say: 'These are scrumptious'." My husband told me to write that when I asked him how I should describe these bars. He also wanted you to know that he cuts the grass straighter than anyone else he knows, and that he's wearing white socks today. Ha!
He also said I better not write that. ;-) Back to the bars. They are really yummy. We ate a whole recipe between the two of us in just four days. Pretend that isn't true. The cool thing about these bars is that not only are they a cinch to make, they can also be made very quickly, everyone loves them, and the possible variations are endless. More on that at the end.
You'll need:
1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup rolled oats 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/8 tsp salt 1/2 cup butter, softened 3/4 cup seedless raspberry jam Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 inch square pan, line with parchment paper and then grease well.
Combine your dry ingredients together and mix in your butter until crumbly.
Press 2 cups of the mixture into the bottom of your prepared pan.
Spread jam on top...
... and then sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Press lightly so top coat sticks into jam.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until lightly browned.
Cool, cut into bars and Enjoy! Now for the variations. The raspberry jam could be replaced with any jam or jelly. Think blackberry, strawberry, blueberry, peach, or maybe even a combo deal! Or try making the middle layer chocolate or date for an even richer taste. I skipped drizzling these bars with icing sugar or melted white chocolate, but that equals yummy too. I'm sure of it. I have a sweet tooth.
These recipes are reprinted with permission from the authors.
Just Like Wheat Thins Crackers | Trim Healthy Mama, I had my doubts about this recipe. "Just Like Wheat Thins?!" Yeah, right. You need refined flour and sugar to achieve that kind of deliciousness, don't you? Apparently not. These crackers are amazing and taste like the real thing I can't seem to keep our house stocked though - they disappear quickly!
3/4 cup flax meal
3/4 cup almond flour
2 egg whites
2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
1 Tbsp. parmeasan cheese
1/4 tsp sea salt
dash of black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder
1 Tbsp olive or coconut oil
1/2 tsp baking soda
Combine ingredients well and work into a dough ball with your hands. Place ball on parchment lined cookie sheet. Place another piece of parchment paper on top of dough ball and roll out into a slab the thickness of a cracker. Take off top piece and score into small squares. Bakes at 350 for 15-20 minutes.
Fooled Ya Pizza |Trim Healthy Mama, I've always felt bad for Brad who used to eat cardboard-like gluten-free pizza crusts while we enjoyed the gluten packed version! I had heard rave reviews about this cauliflower crust from other mamas on the Trim Healthy Mama plan and decided to give it a try even though it sounded pretty gross. Boy, was I wrong! Our entire family enjoys it just as much as the real thing! You'd never know cauliflower was the magic ingredient!
1 bag (16 oz.) frozen cauliflower (I used fresh)
3/4 cup egg whites
2 cups skim mozzarella cheese
sea salt and other seasonings (I used Epicure's Pizza seasoning blend)
pizza sauce and other pizza toppings (I used pepperoni, green pepper, red onion, cheddar and mozzarella cheese)
Lightly steam cauliflower and squeeze out all the excess water otherwise your crust won't get crispy (I skipped this step and used raw cauliflower with great results!). Put cauliflower in food processor and pulse a few times until you end up with rice sized pieces.
Add egg whites and pulse again. Add cheese and other seasonings (sea salt, Italian seasoning, onion and garlic powder). Mix ingredients together well with a spatula. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and grease well. Spread crust mixture evenly across cookie sheet. Bake at 450 for 20 minutes. Cool. Add pizza sauce and toppings and broil until toppings are done (I baked it at 400 for 8-10 minutes).
Peanut Squares | Trim Healthy Mama, These squares are so yummy! A combination of sweet and salty, we enjoy them as a snack and a dessert. They're gerat to give along with a meal to a new mom too.
1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped
1/4 cup melted butter
2 tsp Truvia
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
10 tsp Truvia
2/3 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup whipping cream
Mix almond flour, peanuts, melted butter, and 2 teaspoons of Truvia together in a bowl. Press into 8x8 baking dish and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes.
While crust is baking, beat cream cheese and second measurement of Truvia together until light and fluffy. Add peanut butter and beat some more.
In a separate bowl, beat whipped cream. Fold into cream cheese mixture and spread over cooled crust.
Place in refrigerator to chill until set.
Cheeseburger Pie | Trim Healthy Mama, This is probably our #1 favorite supper on the plan. It's all the goodness of a cheeseburger without the bun. You would never miss it! This is so satisfying and delicious. I make once a week in place of burgers on the barbie.
2 lbs of ground beef
3 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. sea salt
6 oz. grated cheddar cheese
pickles, tomatoes, red onion
2 eggs
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup heavy cream
sea salt
ground pepper
6 oz. grated cheddar cheese
Brown ground beef and drain fat. Stir in onion powder, sea salt, and 6 oz. of grated cheese. Place beef mixture in casserole dish. Layer on any of your favorite burger toppings. Our family loves a combination of red onion, tomatoes, and pickles. In another bowl, beat eggs, mayo, cream, sea salt, and black pepper together. Pour on top of casserole and sprinkle on the remaining 6 oz. of cheese. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. We like it serve on a bed of chopped iceberg lettuce and drizzled with mustard and ketchup.
Chunky Cream Pops | Trim Healthy Mama, This frozen dessert reminds me of my favorite ice cream, President's Choice Chocolate Fudge Crackle... except it's waaaay healthier, made with good fats and no sugar. We love this treat. It's Brad's favorite of all the desserts I've made from Trim Healthy Mama so far.
1 batch of Skinny Chocolate
2 8oz. blocks of cream cheese
10 tsp. Truvia
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 heaped Tbsp. peanut butter
Make up a batch of Skinny Chocolate and put in the freezer to harden. Beat cream cheese, Truvia, and vanilla together. Cut up Skinny Chocolate into little bits and stir into cream cheese mixture along with peanut butter. Place wax paper on cookie sheet. Dump bite-sized spoonfuls of mixture onto paper. Insert a toothpick into center of cream pop and transfer to freezer. After an hour, pull pops off wax paper and transfer to a Ziploc bag for easy access. Here's a few more pictures of other Trim Healthy Mama recipes to satisfy the foodie in you:
Spicy Chicken Wings, pg. 323
Taco Salad, pg. 347
Special Agent Brownies, pg. 383
Trim Healthy Pancakes, pg. 223
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. I humbly thank you for your support.
We learned how to make these raw energy bites in a Goodness Me! whole food cooking class. I still have a hard time believing they're good for you. Usually anything I get cravings for is unhealthy, but I find myself wanting these things all. the. time. They're right up there with chocolate. Charity fondly calls them "Timbits" (you might have to be Canadian to get that). If you've committed to eating healthy (good for you!), Snicker Snackers are a guilt-free indulgence for when the urge to eat something rich is just too strong.
Ingredients
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup seasame seeds
1/2 cup raw honey
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup cocoa or carob powder
1/4 cup ground flax
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut
Directions:
Combine ingredients in blender. Roll into small balls (refrigerate mixture for 1/2 an hour if it's too soft). Store in an air-tight container and keep refrigerated.
If you love whole food recipes, you'll love the Cottage Mama's eBooks written by Kristy Howard. The Cottage Mama Plans Her Menu is a favorite in our house with 29 healthy, tasty, budget-friendly recipes and a 2-week menu plan. You can download it here for $3.00.
Virgin Coconut Oil is a staple in our house. I use it for everything from cooking chicken, adding good fat to my morning smoothie, making our own hand cream and lip balm, and best of all...
... in the Skinny Chocolate recipe from Trim Healthy Mama! This is the best, healthiest, yummiest chocolate you will ever eat! Guaranteed. We can't get enough of it and that's okay, because it's actually good for you! Skinny Chocolate Recipe from Trim Healthy Mama, pg. 371
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup Virgin Coconut Oil
NuNaturals (stevia) or other natural sweetener to taste
Bring Coconut oil to liquid state by gently warming in a double boiler over a stove top. Add cocoa powder and sweetener to taste (we like it dark). Line a plate or container with wax paper and pour chocolate mixture on top. Freeze until solid. Refrigerate if you like a softer chocolate. Break off piece and enjoy! Optional: add nuts, cranberries, or seeds to chocolate before freezing. Our Virgin Coconut Oil of choice comes from Tropical Traditions.
Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil?
You can also watch the video they produced about Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil:
Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.
I'm joining my friend Chari for her Sunday Favorites. This post was from December of 2008. Please excuse the picture quality, the icon sized photos didn't enlarge well, but hopefully you'll be able to see what I'm talking about *winks* I hope you enjoy revisiting this post.
As many of y'all know (and probably wish they didn't) I am a bargain lovin' crazy shoppin' fool!! I have champagne taste on a domestic beer budget (at best*winks*) So I LOVE to check out all the finds on craigslist! Do you do this too? Sometimes I find the most amazing things for cheaps! Unfortunately even "cheaps" is straining the budget lately! So I did some virtual shopping instead. Will you join me on a tour of my finds at craigslist? Most are still available and waiting to find a good home! And I'd LOVE to hear about your finds too!!
Well let me begin with these darling antique trophy cups. The tallest measures 11" and two of them are sterling silver! All five for only $50! Wouldn't they look wonderful gracing someones secretary, mantle, or bookshelf? Hmmm awfully tempting... but lets keep looking...
Lets see... how about a chandelier? I soooos love my blingys! And this one is only $50!... Nope probably better not... hubby is complaining about the six hanging in the garage... But they were such great deals!!! And they all have such sparkley warkley beauty! How could I possibly say no? Well... I'm going to be strong here. And y'all who know me already KNOW how hard it is for me to walk away from a crystal chandy at this price!*winks*
OK confession time! This next beauty is no longer on craigslist..and hasn't been for some time because it DID come home with me! The only thing harder for me to walk away from than a sparkley warkley chandelier, is a french armoire at a killer price! $300 was the asking price but simply for asking if that was his "friendliest price?" I got it for $250!! Yippee!! Oh happy happy day!! I had NO idea where I was going to use this baby, and briefly considered painting it... But hubby had a fit! What is it with men and painting wood? welll...
Hubby turned out to be right! And now it lives in my family room and houses all my TV stuffs.Here it is all cleaned up in its new home *winks*
Now this one is really tempting!... Needs some work! But ooohhh that faux marble! And it's antique and italian!! Like music to my ears! But wait it gets better!! It's $130 or best offer! I might just have to pick up the phone on this one!... OK after a careful consideration of 5 seconds, I'd better pass. I don't have room for one more armoire in my house unless I use it in that shabby white bedroom of mine... And then we're back to painting the furniture, and battles with hubby. Maybe someday he'll vacation without me and I can have my wicked way with an armoire heh heh heh!
Just check out those columns! Aren't they somethin' somethin'?
Now this is for all the shabby chic-ers! And yes I am a closet shabby chic-er... And I am tired of living in the closet! I long to do my entire house in this pale romantic dreamy style!! All that white beauty surrounding me in a veil of calm and tranquility! Until one of my furbabies decides to jump up and sleep on the slip covered sofy in my vision of white... probably with muddy feet. Hubby is also strangely hostile and resistant to this style... silly man! Anyhoo check out this SWEET!!!! bedroom set. It would be fabulous in a big or little girls room! At $750 for the set it's a little pricey but oh sooo charming! Don't you agree?
Close up on the hand painted florals
This is a double headboard but the owner said they used it on a queen. Hmm not so sure about that...
Dig this vanity! Helooo Mr owner man... give a deal to meeeeee!
Now getting hotter!! Y'all know I have a thang for french, frenchy,curvy, foofy things for cheaps! And this has everything in spades! And at only $200!! Where or where could I sneak this in so hubby won't divorce me?... Hmmmm might be worth it!... I'm just kidding honey (if you're reading this! Really, no foolin! Kiss kiss!) Wouldn't this work great for holding a TV? Or used in a bathroom to house a sink? Or... And this is the one I like best... To hold a whole collection of marble busts!!! Yeah baby! *winks*
How about a darling kidney beaner desk? This one is only $250 and has such great lines!
Now this is one that DID get away from me! I hesitated too long and didn't want to drive the 30 miles required to pick it up. When I checked a few days later... it was GONE! And it was only $15! What was I thinkin'?!! It's only an hour total for a fab birdcage!... Well I was too lazy... and that's the truff *sighs*
Threw this one in also for my shabby chic friends. Isn't the paint perfect on this charming little table? $65 is the asking price but I'm sure they could do a little better... *winks*
Or how about an older chocolate set? It comes with plates too! For $50 it could be yours!
Now these are also on my VERY short list!! There are a pair of these beautiful chairs for $250. They are soooo screaming my name! VANNA... take me home VANNA!! I have a thang for frenchy chairs as well! Don't ya think chairs have the most personality of any furniture pieces?
I am incredibly tempted by these! And sooo impressed with my AMAZING willpower!... ok and the fact that I have zero money... Haha!
And here's my finisher, a fabu ramous french settee! Yes it's just a tad costy ($395) But just look at those legs!! They could do pirouettes!! And in an entry hall wouldn't it look amazing!!... Crap-o-noodles! I don't have an entry hall! What a dream crusher!
Well that's all for now. I really enjoyed sharing this shopping experience with you! And so far today I haven't spent a dime! Hubby would be SOOOO PROUD!! But there's always tomorrow... *winks* Vanna P.S. I'm still sad about missing out on those french chairs! Weren't they fabulous?! Please stop by Chari's place and check out the many other Sunday Favorites!
This weekend I headed down to the Portland Antique Expo in beautiful Oregon! I planned to meet up for the first time with a couple of my favorite fellow bloggers. Let me tell ya, I was sooo excited!! I've read about so many of the Georgia bloggers getting together and I must admit I was more than a little envious *winks* And I would be meeting Isabel from Maison Douce who has one of the most fabulous dreamy blogs ever!! As well as her being an antiques dealer! (can it get any better? *winks*) Anyhoo, I took one look at Isabels booth and knew it was hers!! So full of wonderful things!! Here we are! And I must say, Isabel is just as warm kind and lovely as I thought she would be! She even took me to a few of her favorite booths... and boy howdy did I see why!
Then my new friend Michelle from Chocolate and Marmalade Tea joined us and we all had ourselves a good girl gab! Actually we "gabbed" so much we pretty much missed the show! That was actually OK because both Michelle and I had broken our budgets by about the third isle! Lol ! *winks* Anyhoo if you haven't visited her blog please do! She has the most beautiful pictures of comfort food! As well as her three wonderful kitties!
Me Isabel and Michelle (note to self black boucle is NOT slimming! Lol!)
Isabel had the most beautiful wedding dress in front of her booth! The front was lovely... but the back!! oohhh la la!! Soooo fab! Check it out!
Isn't it wonderful???!!!
And here is one corner of her booth, full of so many charming things! Isn't that a darling pink desk and chair? And that lampshade is a neat one too!
And isn't this the cutest dresser?!!! Well Isabel gives you instructions on how to make your own here as well as a few other wonderful projects. I know mine would never turn out as darling as hers because she is the QUEEN of fabulous old fabric!! And look at the sweet concrete statue of a deer.
This wonderful old vintage pillow with pink roses went home with Michelle.
In retrospect I wish this vintage barkcloth pillow had gone home with me WAAAHHHHH !
This little coffee table was in Isabel's neighbors booth and was only $65
This one was more than a little bit more... but oh so charming!! Don't you agree?
I loved the old fabric covered drawers!
I REALLY wanted this one to come home with me. It's a late 18th /early 19th century letter box. The seller even offered it to me for $200 less than the marked price... but I was really trying to be good!
I saw these quimper plates and thought immediately about Debbie at Confessions of a Plate Addict The seller told me I could have it for $35. I don't know enough about quimper to tell if that's a good price or not... but Debbie always has pairs with a boy and a girl... And there wasn't any boy... so I passed. Au revoir !
This sweet little dish reminded me of my dear friend Ann at LIFEATANNSPLACE I just know she would love it!
This italian tole candelabra was sayin ' my name... but I wasn't listening "LA LA LA LA LAAAAA " Sheesh ! Some of those items can really "scream at ya! *winks*
So did these sparkley warkleys !! And just look at the fabulous silk tapestry behind it! I might have to go back for that one. It has ME written all over it!
This spelter figural clock reminded me of my friend Gloria at Happy To Be She has a collection of the most amazing clocks... Don't think she has this one, and the seller said I could take it home for $100. It's a big one too!
Then I spotted this one out of the corner of my eye and I went a runnin "!! Only to find that she was $2400!! NOOOOOO !!! That's WAY TOO MUCH!!! And I really wanted to take her home!! Sometimes the sellers are smoking crack... or just really out of touch with our current economy *sighs*
OK so for what I DID get. I had to be good at the show and keep to a $100 budget because I found this on ebay !! It was $247 and it's absolutely gorgeous!! It's a 6'x9 aubusson carpet featuring the most beautiful pink roses! I will be using it in an upcoming project which involves a chandelier as well *winks* So keep visitin '!
But I did find this pretty little dresser jar/casket. It's lined in blue velvet.
Here it is with a couple of others that I have.
And just look at this sweet antique cherub clock! Well he HAD to come home with me!!
In the larger context.
And this wonderful vintage dresser tray come from Isabels booth. It will always remind me of our meeting!
Cute rose detailing.
And last but not least, this little Victorian syrup pitcher. I can't wait to use it for Sunday breakfast!
Well thanks for coming along with me! The Portland Antique Expo show was a winner! I can't wait to go back for the next one! Vanna
I've had some wonderful surprises this last week and I'd love to share them! Starting with the sisterhood award from my dear friend and cyber sister Ann from LIFEATANNSPLACE / A sweeter kinder more loving person I've yet to meet! So if you haven't visited her blog... You really should! Thank you so much Ann! This means the world coming from you!
Here are the rules for this award: 1. Put the logo on your blog or post. 2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude! 3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post. 4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. 5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award. So my choices for this award go to: 1. Chari at Happy To Design 2.Mary Ellen at megardengal 3.Laura Lu at Hidden Promise 4. Gloria at Happy To Be 5.Linda at royaltouch 6.Debbie at Confessions of a Plate Addict 7. Michelle at Chocolate and Marmalade Tea 8. Kathysue who doesn't have a blog yet (but should! Lol !) and is another wonderful cyber sister! 9. Chrissy at The Apothacary Shop 10. Marty at A Stroll Thru Life And then... I came home 3 days ago and found a large parcel on my front porch. It was a very special package from my dear friend Mary Ellen at megardengal. Ya see I was visiting her blog as I often do, when I spied her new and fabulous header picture! HERE Well my heart skipped a beat while looking at her wonderful vignette featuring the neatest old wire cloche! And she shared with us that she had another if anyone would be interested? As well as a couple of crowns. Well I jumped on that cloche faster than you could say "SOLD!" But alas I was not quite fast enough to claim any of the wonderful crowns *sighs* So I did what any blogger in her WRONG mind would do... I cried "WAAAAHHHHH... I moped... I begged Mary Ellen to find me another one... We're talkin ' crowns here after all! And anyone who's read my blog for any length of time KNOWZES I LOVEZES THEMS!!! Must HAVEZ THEMS!!!... NEEDZES THEMS NOW!! Well Mary Ellen, God bless her heart, found a couple more and sent them to me along with the fabu wire cloche! So I'd already started to open the box when I realized... Hey!... This is the stuff that blogs are made of!! So I quickly grabbed my trusty camera and snapped away *winks* This was what greeted my eyes... And what could it be?? I mean, I know I asked for two crowns and a cloche... But this doesn't look like either of those... you can click on any of the pictures to enlarge em!
And look at how charmingly it's wrapped! In old music pages and gold angel thread!
It's the most darling little picture holder made from a piece of vintage silverplate ! And not just ANY silverplate, but a fork belonging to one of Marys dear friends Millicent. Mary made it herself! Mary I love it sooo much! Thank you!
Look at how perfectly it works for this small painting!
Digging back in the box I spied this... Now I know what this is!
It's my new (old) wire cloche!! So now I can create a vignette just like Marys! Yippee!! Hooray!! Ummmm how did she do that again? OK lets see... I need a little birds nest (with bird and eggs)... some old ribbon and lace... A charming 19th century drawing of some sort... Moss... A silver tray... Pedestal cake stand... Yikes! It never dawned on me when I saw her fabulous vignette that I didn't really HAVE any of that stuff!
Well I'll just put that on the back burner for now and move on to the crowns! Yeppers ! That's what I'll do! And maybe I'll find some inspiration... somewhere... Here is crown #1. I did happen to find a birds nest and even a 19th century french Jesus... But since I used em for the crown I still didn't have anything for the cloche...
Here's crown #2. Very regal dont'cha think? Reminds me of those old Imperial Margarine commercials lol ! Remember them? Da da da da !! And a crown pops on their head after taking a bite of YUMMY margarine!Lol!
So's I had to scramble for somethin '... anything! To place under the cloche. I finally gathered a few of my vantines incense burners, another moss ball and a little column stand from the Goodwill and VOILA!... OK it doesn't look remotely as cool as Marys *winks* But after all she's a vignette queen and this stuff just doesn't come easily for me! I'll just have to keep finding inspiration from y'all! After all imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! Right?... Ummmm OK?... Come on naw ????!... Well I'm gonna COPY Y'ALL AND THAT'S THAT! Lol !!*winks*
So here's my composition all together! The cherub is a recent ebay find. I just love him!
Isn't he just the cutest little gipper ?!! Love those chubby little legs!*winks*
And not that you probably want to see another shot of my mess... But for those crazy friends of mine who do... Here's my vignette at a distance hehe !
I also received my very first blog prize!! Some sweet gift tags from even sweeter Crystal over at Olive Rue! If you haven't visited her blog, you MUST!! She's a photographer and takes the most beautiful dreamy romantic shots! Just enchanting! She also sells a variety of these tags if you are interested. Here are a few she selected for me. Aren't they cute?!! Well of course they are!! They have cherubs on em!! *winks*
Thank you so much Crystal! And thanks y'all for stopping by my attempt at vignetting! Lol !! (Yes I know it's not a word! But when has that ever stopped me?!!) *winks* And last but definitely not least, Mary gave me this small jar filled with her homemade candied lemon peel as a little treat. Yummy-O-Ramma !! I had the hardest time NOT eating all the candied peel before I took the shot! Needless to say, there had been twice as much when I received the little bugger... And now that my shoot is finished, it's GONE BABY GONE!! You can get Marys recipe HERE if you're interested in making some yourself... And please send some more to me!! *winks* Vanna
This recipe comes from Trim Healthy Mama and is reposted with permission fro the authors.
This frozen dessert reminds me of my favorite ice cream, President's Choice Chocolate Fudge Crackle... except it's waaaay healthier, made with good fats and no sugar. We love this treat. It's Brad's favorite of all the desserts I've made from Trim Healthy Mama so far. Ingredients:
1 batch of Skinny Chocolate
2 8oz. blocks of cream cheese
10 tsp. Truvia
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 heaped Tbsp. peanut butter
Directions: Make up a batch of Skinny Chocolate and put in the freezer to harden. Beat cream cheese, Truvia, and vanilla together. Cut up Skinny Chocolate into little bits and stir into cream cheese mixture along with peanut butter. Place wax paper on cookie sheet. Dump bite-sized spoonfuls of mixture onto paper. Insert a toothpick into center of cream pop and transfer to freezer. After an hour, pull pops off wax paper and transfer to a Ziploc bag for easy access.
Bonjour!... Hello!... Bienvenue to my latest Flea Market Finds post! This week should more aptly be titled "Stuff I found at the Value Village thrift store for cheap" Because Monday was Martin Luther King half off day!! So I arrived bright and early to find me some treasures! I'll share those shortly, but first I'll start with my teaser from last week... I found this amazing treasure at a local antique store... You know that feeling... when you look across the room and there IT is?! You dare not show any interest for fear that someone else might B-line for it first? So you calmly amble over to "said object" to inspect the price tag... You know it's gonna be high... You just know it will be WAY out of reach! Only to find instead that it's sooooo cheap! Could that be right? Could that amazing piece of fabulousness really be only $75??? Does it have fleas or something? Such was my reaction when I found this beauty last week... A large spelter antique angel lamp with a gorgeous verdigris (green) patina! It had the most awful brand spanking new, shiny bright brass lampshade harp on it that HAD to GO! I wanted to take all kinds of beautiful vignette-y pictures of him, but we received 8" of snow last night so the pictures are all a little dark... sorry... (Do you have snow where you live?) Anyhoo here is my beautiful boy. He's a keeper... I just have no idea where I'll be keeping him *winks* But in this case love will find a way...
Cute hiney too! *winks*
Isn't he fabu-licious up close?
And from a distance? *winks*
I also found this 19th century Louis XVI style needlepoint foot/vanity stool for my etsy shop coming in two days.
The top features some sweet birds
Then I received my Valentine gift a little early this year when I spotted this wonderful Victorian piece. I told my husband he wasn't going to top this at Hallmark... Or even buying me a box of chocolates WITH flowers *winks* And smart man that he is... he realized that this was the way to go! Lol! I wonder if it had once been a house warming gift? The fabric is silk, even the little ribbons.
Very fragile and a little tattered...
It has what appears to be a silkscreen picture of a house and village and the words "Kind Regards" are painted on. I've never received a better Valentine! This one just speaks to my heart!
OK now on to the Value Village madness *winks* This yellow silk chiffon silk dress was $7.99.
I love its soft filmy ruffles and the contrast in textures with my other dresses.
The pink rhinestone broach I added was $5 at the VV.
This barley twist plant stand was only $7.
The faux guilloche picture frame and the Juicy Couture crown key fob were both $1. And that was a great price on the Juicy because retail on it was $50-ish. Of course if you read this blog you know what I'll use that crown for...
One of my boudoir dolls of course!! Lol! Now my little lady bust is a tea cup Queen! *winks*
Well that's all I have for this week. I hope you'll join me on Friday for the opening of my new etsy shoppe! I also hope you'll leave me a message to say "hello" and I'll do the same. I LOVE hearing from you! Vanna
I'm joining those sweet gals Patti and Paula at Elephands & Ivy for:
My friend Sherry at No Minimalist Here for:
The lovely Honey at 2805 for:
The beautiful Courtney at French Country Cottage for:
One of my many goals this year is to avoid unhealthy snacking, both for myself and for our kids. I have a huge weakness for chips and chocolate, and I fear I've passed my bad habits onto our kids. So, I'm taking extreme measures and have committed to not purchasing packaged snacks; if it's not in the house, we can't eat it!
Of course, that means we need to replace the junk with snacks of the healthy variety. In addition to these ideas, Coconut Oil Banana Muffins fit the bill perfectly! These muffins are moist, flavorful, and melt in your mouth. They're also egg-free and dairy-free.
Coconut Oil Banana Muffins Time: 15 min. prep; 16 min baking (per batch). Yield: 3 dozen Egg-free, dairy-free
Ingredients:
2 cups organic all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup melted coconut oil
1 cup coconut or almond milk
2 cups coconut sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
5 very ripe, mashed bananas
Directions:
Preheat oven to 385 F. Insert paper liners into muffin pan.
In a large bowl, sift and stir flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sea salt. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, heat coconut oil and milk together until coconut oil has just liquefied. Pour into a large bowl and add coconut sugar and vanilla. Blend together
Mash bananas and stir into wet ingredients. Add dry mixture to wet mixture and fold together until just combined.
Fill muffin cups half way (this batter spreads!).
Bake for 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool for 10 minutes before removing.
Freeze, or enjoy warm!
I'm not a huge eBook reader, but our diet suffered so badly over the holidays, I'm taking extreme measures and printed off both whole food eCookbooks by Kristy Howard (The Cottage Mama Plans Her Menu: Spring Edition and The Cottage Mama Plans Her Homeschool Menu) and am dusting off my copy of Real Food for Real Homemakers by Elsie, Jami, and Jaime.
Are you making a conscious effort to snack healthier, too? What's your favorite resource for quick, budget-friendly, healthy treats (besides Pinterest, I mean)?
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. Thank you for your support. If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox.
When icy roads result in cancelled choir practice, swimming lessons, or co-op, we relish the opportunity to focus on important parts of an education that sometimes get brushed off to the side when we're gallivanting all over town, making sure our children are being well socialized (wink).
Snow days are fun days where the kids look forward to long periods of uninterrupted reading out loud on the couch, the opportunity to work on projects that are more time consuming, and the folder of fun things (a.k.a. Pinterest) Mommy reserves for days when it's too cold to play outside.
Our read-aloud list includes:
Wisdom and the Millers by Mildred Martin
Storytime with the Millers by Mildred Martin
Missionary Stories with the Millers by Mildred Martin
The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Christopher Churchmouse Treasury by Barbara Davoll
The Bronze Bow by Elisabeth George Speare
The Door In The Wall by Margaret De Angeli
The Tanglewood's Secret by Patricia St. John
Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John
Huguenot Garden by Douglas Jones
The Minstrel in The Tower by Gloria Skurzynski
The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt by Day by Scott O'Dell
Ink On His Fingers by Louise Vernon
The Answers Books for Kids by Ken Ham
The Way of the Master: Teaching Kids to Share Their Faith by Kirk Cameron
Our project list includes:
Crafts. Painting, beading, scrapbooking, card-making: these all take extra time and result in a big mess to clean up, but it's not so bad when you can devote several hours to creating something beautiful that will be appreciated and remembered for years to come.
Baking. The kids love to help me in the kitchen. They often slow the process down, but culinary skills are important and snowy days provide us with lots of time for everyone to take a turn measuring, pouring, stirring, rolling, and of course, licking the spatula.
Writing. One of my goals for our children's education is to instill in them a love for writing. I want them to be able to articulate their thoughts and express themselves in a way that serves others. Perhaps the earliest, most practical way they can do this is by mailing hand-written cards of encouragement.
Our 4-year-old learned how to form her letters using the 1777 New England Manuscript Printable Set and adores being able to write the letters I dictate to send a message to her grandparents. When she's finished writing, she gets to decorate her letter and address the envelope (another necessary skill). Few things are more rewarding than discovering that Grandpa and Grandma received her card and loved it! Our "FUN" list includes:
The January Printables by Kristy Howard. Our kids love Kristy's printables (She also has a set of Christmas themed printables that are a blast any time of the year)! They are just as educational as they are fun, and for $2.00, they provide many hours of productive enjoyment for kids between the ages of 4 and 6. The January set includes:
New Year’s Goals & Chart. Charity's resolution is to clean up more (I practically jumped with delight!) and she loves filling her chart with stickers each time she remembers to put something away.
Coloring pages
Scripture, Number, & Letter copy work
Thinking skills & math pages
Matching & recognition
Opposites, Number 1, Seasons & Months of the Year
Special January Days & People
Hot Chocolate Recipe
The ABC's For Godly Girls activities and crafts. We're working through Lindsey Stomberg's The ABC's For Godly Children Bible Curriculum this year (you can read my full review here), and snowy days are the perfect opportunity to work on the activities and crafts included with every lesson that we don't always get to otherwise.
If you need more fun, inspiring, educational ideas, Homeschool Enrichment Magazine always comes chock full of them. Among many other great ideas in the current issue, they suggest making it through the mid-winter "slump" by learning a handcraft, taking art classes with another family, hosting a games day, and operating on an alternative schedule.
Until the end of January, you can get a 1-year subscription for 58% off the cover price for a total of $14.95. In my completely biased opinion (it's the only homeschool magazine we subscribe to), that's a deal too good to pass up!
How do you like to spend your snow days? Do you dread or welcome them?
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. Thank you for your support. If you enjoyed this post, you may wish to follow Growing Home for updates via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +, or have them emailed directly to your inbox. Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, A Wise Woman.,Walking Redeemed,, The Modest Mom, A Mama's Story, We ARE That Family, Raising Mighty Arrows, Hearts For Home, Frugal Homeschool Family Time Warp Wife
Well let me start on a very happy note. My good friend Ann at LIFEATANNSPLACE Has presented me with the special "Proximidade" award. This award is a fine one because it focuses not on the glory and fanfare of blogging, but in the PROXIMITY to one another through this on-line world (kind of a Six Degrees of Separation sort of thing)."Blogs who receive this award are 'exceedingly charming' say its authors.This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award." I am very honored Ann, and I would like to pass this award on to the following bloggers
1 Chari at Happy To Design
2 Lynne at Lynne's Gifts from the Heart
1 Michelle at Chocolate and Marmalade Tea
2 Gloria at Happy To Be
3 Melissa at Melissa's Heart And Home
4 Linda at Royaltouch
5 Chrissy at The Apothacary Shop
6 Kathy at Emptynester
7 Kristen at Something about nothin 8 Laurie at Decorating Fanatic Please stop by and say hello! They all have lovely blogs but they are even more importantly, lovely people. OK now on to my "misery loves company" portion of the post! The day before yesterday I was browsing through the listings on craigslist (y'all know how much I love it! *winks*) And I was finding little or nothing of interest when suddenly (doesn't it always go like that?) I opened up a picture and my heart stood still!! There was the most fabulous chandelier and it was only $150!!!!
Here it is! Isn't it breathtaking?!! But wait!... It gets even better! Also available by the same seller was a set of sconces to match for $75!!... Oh my goodness *drippy drool*
Doesn't get much more frenchy fabulous than this! But I found even one more item that night that made my heart skip a beat...
A painting of cherubs!! And this is the best part... $50!! Well I wasted no time and contacted both sellers with my fingers crossed, I hoped fervently that I would hear back from them. The following morning I checked my email at about 10am. Well the gal with the painting responded only to tell me that she had to sell it or put the painting in storage by 10:30. I tried to call her and was only able to talk to her machine. So that FABU painting (so sooooo me!!) wasn't to be *sob sob sniffle sniffle* But I hadn't heard anything from the seller of the chandelier. I wasn't too surprised because I figured someone beat me to it. So deciding not to dwell on my losses *winks* hubby and I set out to do a little bargain shopping. I found a very cool and frenchy soup tureen at a local antique store as well as two transferware plates for $1 ea, also an iron urn (been seeing them on many of y'all blogs and I love em!!) and a picture at the Goodwill for $5.99. So all in all not a bad haul. We arrived home and I went to catch up with some friends online when I noticed the seller of the chandelier and sconces had responded that he still had both, and could I come right away because several others were coming to look at them? This message had been left at 1:30 and it was now 4pm. I replied right away, but alas all was already sold!! I wanted to scream!! Cry!! Pull out some more of the little hair that I have! left! I know it's only stuff... But what stuff!! I was sooo sad!! Hubby said 'Don't worry, you'll find something else" I wanted to shoot him!! He could NOT relate to my pain at all! I tried to put it in terms that he could understand like "You just found the car of your dreams... One you've been looking for for years... and it's half price... but it's been sold right out from under you!!! He said "OK honey I get it... would you like to go get some ice cream at cold stone?"... What?... You dirty rotten... "Did you say Cold Stone?... Awwwww... now I know why I married that man!! *winks* He may not understand my pain every time, but he sure understands my sugar cravings!! Lol!! So alas the beauties were not to be mine... But these beauties were! I found them the other day at the Goodwill. They are the Thames River Scenes by Palissy. There are 21 pieces and they were $50. But what makes it sort of strange is that my new friend Sally over at Salmagundi found transferware in the same color on the same day also at the Goodwill!! What are the chances?... Pretty good I guess!Lol! *winks* Neither one of us can understand why anyone would give these babies up, but we're sure glad they did!!
Here are my new beauties, as well as my new white iron urn. Hmmmm I might just be able to participate in Tablescape Tuesday one of these days *winks*
And here's my ironstone frenchy soup tureen. I love the Chou Chou handles and top!
Isn't this a cool scene? The set had a soup tureen too!
As well as a small platter.
One of my dollar plates. Art nouveau in blue.
And another dollar plate in pink.
But I think this was an absolute steal!! I've been admiring every ones nativity sets this Christmas and wishing I had one. Well this one was marked $5.99 at the Goodwill. I took it up to pay for it and the cashier told me all Christmas items had been marked down to 59 cents! So I got the whole kit-n-caboodle for 59 cents!! Oh happy day!! Thank you Jesus!!
Look at this cute little cow. Surely he alone is worth 59 cents *winks*
And y'all know how much I love my sheep! Almost as much as Debbie loves her goats! Lol!
And last but not least this cute print of a french mirror. I think I'll be putting this up in my home gym. I hope y'all will come back for it's unveiling. It's been a long time coming. There always seems to be one more thing that I need to do kwim? Anyhoo did you share in my pain? Have you ever had a fabulous piece (or pieces) slip through your fingers? Did you try ice cream? Please share your stories! I really do think that if something is meant to be, it will BE. Don't you think so too?... But still... *winks*... Vanna
