Friday, November 22, 2013

Shirley Temples and Roy Rogers for Friday's Happy Hour


Thanksgiving is for families, so today I wanted to share two old standby drinks for kids,  Shirley Temples and Roy Rogers.  We always felt so special as kids when we got to order these drinks when we were out with our parents.  I ordered a Shirley Temples and my brother would have a Roy Rogers.  I decided that in honor of kids this Thanksgiving, we will have Shirley Temples and Roy Rogers.  It's always good to feel like a kid again.


Shirley Temples

Ingredients:

6 oz sprite
1 oz grenadine

Directions:

Put Ice in a glass, pour the sprite in a glass, and then add the grenadine.

Serve

Roy Rogers

Ingredients:

6 oz coke
1 oz grenadine

Directions:

Put ice in a glass, pour the coke in the glass, and then add the grenadine.

Serve

Have a great weekend, and enjoy Friday's Happy Hour like a child.  
Debi

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Crafsty Recipe Contest and Tuna Melt Pockets


There is a great Craftsy Recipe Contest going on and I am also sharing my new recipe for Tuna Melt Pockets.  My Tuna Melt Pockets came out delicous, and they are really easy to make.  I got one of the new pocket pans that you see in infomercials, and have been going crazy making all kinds of new things with it.

Also, along with this Craftsy Recipe Contest, they are offering 25% off of all food classes in November.  This is a great deal.  Click the link below to receive your discount on classes.


The Craftsy Recipe Contest is a really fun way to have your recipes seen.  The best recipes will be selected by Craftsy to be featured on Craftsy.com, and the recipe-winners will win a free Craftsy food class.  To submit your recipes, click the link below and follow the directions.  



They are also offering  a new 


which covers Regular and Gluten Free recipes.  I'm signing up for that one and a few others.  Take a look at their classes and see what you are interested in.

I am submitting my new recipe for Tuna Melt Pockets.  I hope they like it.


Tuna Melt Pockets

Ingredients:

2 Pillsbury Thin Pizza Crusts
1 12 oz. can Albacore Solid White tuna Packed in water (drained)
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 medium onion chopped
1/4 cup celery chopped
1 TB lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Lay 1 layer of pizza dough over your EZ Pocket Pan. Press dough down into each of the pockets.

Mix drained tuna, mayonaise, onion, celery, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl.

Put approximately 2 TB tuna mixture into each pocket of 12 pockets.  There should be enough tuna salad for each pocket.

Next lay your next layer of pizza dough over the tuna salad and 1st pizza dough.  

Press down on each of the edges for the sections.  It makes it easier to know where to use your dough cutter.  Then cut the dough.  The EZ pocket pan comes with a cutter that also seals all of the pockets.  It is really easy to use.

Get rid of extra dough and use a pastry brush to brush the butter over each of the Tuna Melt Pockets.

Bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Serve.

This makes 12 Tuna Melt Pockets.


I hope that you enjoy these for lunch.  They were so good.  We really enjoy them also.

Have a great day, and good luck in the Craftsy Recipe Contest.
Debi

Craftsy

All About Craftsy


Today's post is All About Craftsy.  I love Craftsy, it is one of the most amazing online education programs on the internet.  They offer so many different classes, products, and a lot of it is free.  I hope that you read this post, and head over and sign up for today.  You will not be sorry.

What is Craftsy?
Craftsy is a worldwide craft community offering online classes. It also has a patterns marketplace where independent designers can sell their patterns; a supplies shop with great deals on yarn, fabric, and class kits; and a projects section where members share pictures of their latest craft successes. With over two million members and counting, Craftsy has something for just about everyone, in categories ranging from quilting, sewing, knitting, painting, photography, cooking, and more.

Craftsy Logo Behind the Scenes: The Making of a CraftsyClass
Before filming even begins, hours and hours are spent determining what content will be covered in each class, and how to best teach specific techniques to the camera. Instructors work with an instructional designer to create an in-depth outline of each lesson, and decide how to best prepare props or “step-outs” that show what your project should like at different steps. Instead of a scripted class, instructors follow their outlines on camera to create an authentic and engaging teaching experience.

Most Craftsy classes are filmed in one of five Craftsy studios in Denver, CO, assuring that every part of the production process goes off without a hitch. They fly in instructors from all over the world to spend several days filming, then spend several weeks turning hours of footage into a two to three hour class experience that has been watched, rewatched, and reviewed by industry experts. The final result is an HD-quality video that takes you in-depth into specific topics in any given craft category- from cooking and fine art to sewing and knitting.

 What IS the Craftsy experience?
Craftsy classes are designed to have all the benefits of an in-person class, with none of the drawbacks. Available online and on-demand, you always have world-class instructors at the tip of your fingers. You can retake the class as many times as you want, and the 30-second repeat feature allows you to watch the same section over and over again until you get every technique just right.

Watching a Craftsy class is like having a first-row seat with some of the best instructors in the world. Even better, classes have a 100% money-back guarantee.

Try online learning today with a free mini-class from Craftsy! Choose from 23 Free Craftsy Classes ranging from drawing and painting to sewing and quilting, from knitting to cake decorating and more.












I hope that you take the time to check out Craftsy today.  I love all of their classes, and I know you will too.  I even asked my husband for mini torches from the Jewelry Making class for a Christmas present.

Have a great day.
Debi

This is a sponsored post, but all of the opinions are mine.

Fried Chicken Thighs and Biscuits




This Fried Chicken Thighs and Biscuits was so amazing, it immediately became one of our favorites.  It isn't a hard recipe, but it is a little time consuming.  It came from a Southern Living Our Best Chicken Recipes magazine.  I must say the entire magazine has amazing recipes.  I had never made homemade biscuits before, so that was a little bit of a learning process.  I would definitely recommend getting a pastry blender if you don't have one before making the biscuits.  Otherwise, you should be in good shape.


Fried Chicken Thighs and Biscuits

Ingredients:

Fried Chicken Thighs

8 boned, skinned chicken thighs
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
Vegetable oil
2 cups flour

Biscuits:

2 cups bread flour
2 cups all purpose flour
2 TB baking powder
2 TB sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter sliced very thinly at room temperture
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 large egg
Parchment paper or wax paper

Topping:

Honey

Directions:

Chicken:

Lay chicken on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and onion powder.

Whisk egg and buttermilk together and add chicken tossing to coat.

Pour oil into a cast iron skillet to a depth of 1 inch, and heat until 325 degrees.

Put flour in a shallow dish, and dredge chicken in flour, shake off excess flour.

Then put in pan to fry.  Fry in two batches, 4 pieces at a time.  Cook until golden brown over medium heat.

Drain on wire racks over paper towels, and keep warm.

Biscuits:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Combine bread flour, all purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl whisk egg and buttermilk together and set aside.

With a pastry blender mix butter into flour mixture, until it is crumbly.  It is much easier if the butter is soft.

Add buttermilk mixture stirring until dry ingredients are moistened.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead 3 to 4 times.  I made a square and folded it over onto itself several times.

I then rolled the dough into a rectangle on parchment paper.  I rolled it big enough to make 8 rectangular biscuits.

I then moved the parchment paper to a cookie sheet and used a pizza cutter to cut my dough into rectangles.  Large enough to hold a chicken thigh.

Bake the biscuits for 15 to 16 minutes,

Pull out of the oven and split the biscuits and top with a chicken thigh and honey.


These were so good, that I'm getting hungry just thinking about them.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

Enjoy!!!

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

7 Thanksgiving Recipes and Butternut Squash Casserole




Today we have Great Thanksgiving Recipes from the past and a new one for a Butternut Squash Casserole, which was amazingly good.  Two of my kids said I don't like squash, but I'll try it, they loved it.  This new recipe was a big hit, so you can safely add it to your Thanksgiving menu.

Thanksgiving Menu for 2013

Appetizers


Dinner

Stuffing (I get the recipe on soon)
Loaded Mashed Potatoes (I get the recipe on soon)
Turkey (no recipe, we are looking for a new brine)
Maple Pecan Glazed Turkey (new recipe from Charly)

Deserts

Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie


And now our newest recipe for Butternut Squash Casserole.


Butternut Squash Casserole

Ingredients:

2 lbs butternut squash, peeled and cubed
4 to 5 TB butter, sliced
1/4 cup cream
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish with non stick cooking spray.

Put cubed butternut squash in a pan of water and put on stove and bring to a boil

Boil 15 to 20 minutes, or until squash is soft and can be cut in half with a spoon.

Drain squash and put in a bowl to mix.  Add butter and start mixing, then add cream, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.  Mix well.

Next add egg and mix until egg is thouroughly incorporated.

Pour into casserole dish and bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

Serves 6 to 8

I hope that you like our Thanksgiving menu.  It is an amazing dinner.

Enjoy!!!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Wednesday's Adorned From Above Link Party 67

We want to thank everyone who shared with Wednesday's Adorned From Above Link Party 66.  We love seeing all of your posts.  We know that it had been a while since the last party, and we really appreciate the huge turnout.




Welcome to Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop 67.






So on to this weeks party.


We hope you have fun at this week's party.  We always love hearing from you, so leave your comments.

Now let's party

Have a great week.


Dimple Washcloth Knit Pattern




Today I have made a very simple Dimple Washcloth  Knit Pattern to share with all of you.  It's pretty quick to knit up.  I thought it would make a cute stocking stuffer.  You can make it in any color and for any room decor.  I love my homemade washcloths for my bath, but I know a lot of people use them in the kitchen, also.  Be creative and enjoy.


Dimple Washcloth Knit Pattern

1 3 oz skein Sugar and Cream Yarn (any color) or any medium weight cotton yarn
Size 7 or 4.00 mm knitting needles

Pattern

Cast on 50 stitches.

Knit 1 row.

Work Pattern:

Row 1. Knit 2, (k 1, sl 1)* across to last 2 stitches, K2
Row 2. K 2, (sl 1, p 1)* across to last 2 stitches, k2
Row 3.  Knit all stitches.
Row 4.  Purl all stitches.
Row 5.  K 2, (sl 1, K 1)* across to last 2 stitches, k2
Row 6.  K 2, (p 1, sl 1)* across to last 2 stitches, K2
Row 7.  k all stitches
Row 8.  P all stitches

Work this pattern until the length is equal to the width.  Mine is 10 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches, so it's not quite square.  It doesn't have to be perfect.  I ran out of yarn.

Then you will Knit the last two rows, and then bind off.

I love the way it looks, and it should hold up pretty well.  The pattern makes it a little thicker, which I like.  The first washcloths I made a long time ago are a little looser and I think I like the thickness better. 

I hope you like this pattern.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Have a great week!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Giving Thanks 1 - Hebrews 13:15




Since Thanksgiving is next week,  I thought a verse on Giving Thanks was appropriate.  God is so good, and I am so grateful for all he does in my life.  So today I am Giving Thanks, and I hope you'll join me.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 

Hebrews 13:15

Have fun getting ready for Thanksgiving.  Enjoy your families.


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