Sunday, September 08, 2013

Loaded Baked Potato Salad - You will love it!

We go camping a lot with family and friends. Each family contributes food to be shared among the group that we go with. I try to bring something new or different but most importantly, taste great. So a few weeks ago when we went camping at a campground Mountain Creek Campground in Gardners, PA just outside of Gettysburg, PA. Anyway, I was looking through my recipes and Pinterest for that "great" recipe - and I found the Loaded Baked Potato Salad. It was easy to make and everyone just loved it!

I actually got the recipe off of Pinterest and then went to the website, This is My Key West Blog. I did make a small change. I substituted bacon bits in place of the bacon. Here is a picture of the salad and the recipe. Hope you like it!

bacon cheese potato salad  

Fully Loaded Baked Potato Salad

8 medium Russet Potatoes

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 package of bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 small onion, chopped

Chives, to taste

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Wash and cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Cover with water and boil until fork tender, about 20-25 minutes. Do not overcook!

2. Drain and cool the potatoes. I put them in a separate bowl and once they cooled enough I put them in the fridge to cool all the way. This gave them an excellent texture and prevented the dairy ingredients from getting hot or the cheese from melting. If you are serving this salad hot then you don’t need to cool the potatoes, just skip step 2!

3. Mix the mayo and sour cream together in a bowl. Add to the potatoes, then add the onions, chives, and cheese. Salt and pepper to taste – I use a pepper grinder and a sea salt grinder for EVERYTHING so I never know exactly how much of either I put in. I think the taste is far superior to just using regular table salt and pepper.

4. Top with extra shredded cheese and bacon and serve! I think next time I will add chives and we may try serving this warm once as well.

Saturday, September 07, 2013

“Through the Spectrum” – Spiral Crochet Scarf Pattern – FREE!


This is such a pretty crocheted scarf!! I love the colors! And the pattern is free. I just thought this would be a great Christmas gift and looks very easy to do. This pattern was from Expression Fiber Arts site.

free crochet scarf instructions how to 
Here are the instructions:

Yarn: Expression Fiber Arts Spectrum Wool, 1 skein, in Peacock Dewdrop. 
Hook: Size H
Pattern:  Ch 222.
Row 1: Sk 5, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next st. *Sk 2 ch, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next st. Repeat from * across. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 3. *(dc, ch2, dc, ch2, dc) in next ch2 sp. Repeat from * across. Turn.
Row 3: Repeat Row 2.

free crocheted scarf pattern peacock 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Berry Apple Salad


I was looking for some salad recipes that were a little different from what I normally have and I found this Berry Apple Salad recipe. It looks good! I think it will be part of my Easter buffet. I saw this recipe on The Red Headed Hostess site . It even has a recipe for the dressing although I think I will just use one of the bottled dressings. Hope you like it!

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Berry Apple Salad

-  Mixed Salad Greens
- Berries (I have strawberries and blackberries here, but I have used raspberries and blueberries as well)
-  Diced Apples (I LOVE Pink Lady apples in this salad)
- Red Grapes (cut in half – they are much easier to eat that way)
Sugar and Cinnamon Spiced Almonds or crushed honey roasted peanuts
Just prep all of your fruit and layer on top of the greens and drizzle with a poppy seed dressing, or the below dressing.

Balsamic Poppy Seed Dressing

1/2 cup extra light olive oil (or vegetable oil)
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1 T Rice Wine Vinegar
1/4 tsp Worcestershire
1 T Poppy Seeds

Monday, March 25, 2013

Orange Sherbet Cake - 3 ingredients

I just love cakes and this one looked so good that I had to try it. I couldn't find the sugar free yellow cake mix at my Walmart so I chose the regular orange cake mix. I used the Diet Orange Soda and the Lite frozen whipped topping. When I put the soda in the cake mix, it really did froth up. This cake was so GOOD!!! You have to try it. It is so refreshing! I saw the recipe on It's On The Tip Of My Tongue Blog so I included what Sarah wrote about this recipe and her pictures. Thanks Sarah!
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I’ve seen lots of variations of this recipe, but this is the one I chose. Click on the picture below for the original source. There were many similar recipes. I omitted the eggs in this recipe (because I didn’t have any) and that did not effect the outcome.

I chose sugar free yellow cake mix (made with Splenda and reduced in calories by about 50 calories a slice when compared to the original cake mix), diet Crush, and lite frozen whipped topping.


Measure out 12 ounces of diet soda.

Pour the soda into the cake mix. Whisk for 30 seconds.

Bake according to the directions on the box. Let the cake cool (if you have the patience for that sort of thing). Top with thawed whip cream. Put on a paper plate. What? Ok, fine, I was too excited to try the cake to even be thinking about photographing in a nice way. You can put it on a nice plate if you’re in to that type of thing and don’t have half of the neighborhood kids waiting for this cake to be done.

On a scale of 1-10 on the diet dessert recipes index, this yummy cake earns a 10 from me! A six-year-old neighbor boy even asked me to write the recipe down for his mom because it was the best cake he’d ever had!

Friday, March 22, 2013

Tutorial: Gathered Round Basket

Again, I was looking for tutorials for making something for my grandchildren and found this one. It doesn't look difficult and I have lots of fabric. This tutorial was taken from the A Spoonful of Sugar site and thought "I could do that!". Have fun! Happy Easter!

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I had a few requests for instructions on how to make the gathered round 
basket that I made last week. This is an easy project and the baskets can
be made in any size, are fully reversible, and are useful for so many things.


Materials: (to make a basket measuring 4 1/2 inches diameter and
1 3/4 inches high)
  • 2 pieces of cotton fabric cut into circles with a 8 inch diameter 
  • (I 
  • used a small side plate as a template)


    • 1 piece of fusible wadding (such as parlan or pellon) cut into a circle 
    with an 8 inch diameter 

    • strip of fabric measuring 2 1/4 inch x 14 inch (for binding)



    Instructions:
    1. Fuse the wadding to the fabric circle that will form the outside of 

    the basket, following manufacturers directions.

    2. Baste the basket lining and basket outer together with the wrong 

    sides facing.

    3. Using a long straight stitch, sew a gathering stitch around the 

    perimeter of the circle, close to the edge. Stitch a second gathering 
    stitch close to the first gathering stitch. Ensure both gathering stitches
    are within the 1/4 inch seam allowance.


    4. Gently pull the two ends of thread on the wrong side, the fabric 
    will gather along the thread.

    5. Secure the threads at one end to prevent the stitches from pulling out.

    6. Even out the gathers until the circumference of the circle measures approximately 12 inches. When all the gathers are in place, use a 

    standard machine stitch to stitch a 1/4 inch seam.


    7. Press the binding strip in half lengthwise with the wrong sides facing.

    8. Pin the binding to the outside of the basket and stitch in place.



    9. Fold the binding over to the inside of the basket and stitch in place 
    by hand using a slip stitch to secure.




    Edit 07/ 2012 - Just wanted to clarify in response to a few emails - The circles are 8 inches in 
    diameter (the measurement you get if you rule a line through the centre of the circle) and when
     they are gathered they measure 12 inches in circumference (i.e all around the outside of the circle).

    Face Washer Bunny


    I have 11 grandchildren and 10 of them are girls so I was looking for something to give them for Easter. I came along this tutorial on A Spoonful of Sugar site and thought "I could do that!". And maybe you can, too! Below are the instructions from that site. Here goes...


    When my teens were small, I tried to limit their intake of chocolates and sweets. This was always challenging at Easter time. To get around this, the Easter Bunny always left them a book and mini chocolate eggs to hunt for. They used to love getting a special book for Easter - initially they received Peter Rabbit and other books featuring bunnies. Over time it progressed to chapter books. We kept this up all through their primary school years.




    One year, my Grandmother made them little bunnies using Face Washers. She had made one for me when I was a child. If you are after a sweet Easter gift for a baby, a child, a Grandmother, make up an Easter Bunny using a Face washer. They can be teamed with bath toys, or some nice soap and lotion, to make a lovely gift.

    If you would like to make your own bunny you will need:

    • face washer or face cloth measuring approx 33 x 33 cm (13 x 13 inches). (I used a Target Essentials face washer )
    • 2 googly eyes (stitch on variety)
    • 1 hair elastic or rubber band
    • one small pompom (nose)
    • one large pompom (tail)
    • ribbon


    FACE WASHER BUNNY




    Fold the face washer in half diagonally. Starting from the point, roll the face washer into a long roll.


    Fold the roll in half. Fold the pointy ends up towards the rounded part of the roll, and secure with an elastic band (as pictured).

    To make the bunny's face, stitch on the googly eyes and small pompom. Add the larger pompom to the rounded end, and stitch in place. Tie a ribbon around the neck for decoration.

    The bunny can be easily taken apart and used as a face washer.


    Monday, February 11, 2013

    Chicken Salad - Hmmm Good!

    I went to the baby shower yesterday and had just the best time! The food was so tasty! The company was so cordial. The Mommy-to-be was just so happy and excited that she was going to have a baby.

    The Grandma of the new baby hosted the event and she included a chicken salad from a local store on her menu. The chicken salad had grapes in it along with the usual, celery, mayo. etc. It is the best chicken salad anywhere! 

    So I was looking on the internet this morning and found this recipe. It is the
    Helen Corbitt's Chicken Salad. Famed Texas cook, Helen Corbitt, created this rich chicken salad for the café menu at Neiman Marcus department stores in the 1950s. How about that! I printed it down and plan to make it - how about you?


    This recipe was posted on the Saveur site.


    Helen Corbitt's Chicken SaladENLARGE IMAGECredit: Michael Kraus
    MAKES ABOUT 6 CUPS


    INGREDIENTS

    1 lb. cooked chicken breasts, cut
       into ½″ cubes
    1 cup mayonnaise
    1 cup thinly sliced celery
    1 cup halved purple grapes
    ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted
    1 tbsp. finely chopped parsley
    1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
    ½ cup whipped cream
    Freshly ground black pepper, to taste


    INSTRUCTIONS: Combine chicken, mayonnaise, celery, grapes, almonds, parsley, and salt in a bowl. Add whipped cream and pepper; fold to combine.


    Saturday, February 09, 2013

    2 Ingredient Cookies - Yep, only 2!


    I saw this recipe today and thought "This is so easy!". And I like easy. Only 2 ingredients! Wow! And I have the 2 ingredients in my kitchen! And it is healthy! Double Wow! No feeling guilty eating these cookies!

    I am going to make these cookies today. It is cold and windy outside. These cookies will warm up the house and put that beautiful cookie smell in the air. I can'it wait!

    This recipe comes from the The Burlap Bag . This is the recipe from their site.



    Yes. For real. Two ingredients. (Yes, you can add other things if you want… but you don’t HAVE to!) I made this up after seeing a “healthy breakfast cookie” that wanted me to add eggs, applesauce, baking soda, etc and I said NO!

    And also, I hate those “two/three ingredient” recipes where one of the ingredients is a boxed cookie mix. and the other is a can of pie filling. CMON PEOPLE.

    Ingredients:

    2 large old bananas
    1 cup of quick oats

    Mix those two together. Old bananas are amazing for this, but you can use fresh ones too. I buy a bunch of bananas, let them get old on my counter, and then stick ‘em all in the freezer.

    Then add in what sounds yummy to you! (or nothing!) We love:
    -a handful of chocolate chips
    -crushed walnut pieces
    -cinnamon
    -raisins

    Since all bananas are different sizes, the needed measurements can vary. If it seems too runny and the cookies would flatten out too much, add in more oatmeal. And make sure to not add in TOO many mix-ins as the cookies won’t hold together very well. The ones in these photos have a handful of chocolate chips, a teaspoon or two or cinnamon, and 1/4ish a cup of crushed walnuts.

    We made 16 cookies with those measurements. We cook them at 350 degrees for 15 minutes on a GREASED cookie sheet. Don’t forget the greased part…. I did once and had to scrub my pan forever.

    pre-mixing.
    post-mixing. You can still see the chunks of ‘nanas.
    pre-cooking.
    post-cooking. check out those walnut chunks!
    These cookies taste most amazing right out of the oven. But still great later. I wouldn’t even know if they taste great 2 days later because they’ve never lasted that long.

    Sometimes we’ll make 16 “cookies”. And we’ll eat them all for lunch. I know what you’re thinking… WOW lauren you’re gonna be 500 pounds if you keep eating 8 cookies. But think about what went in these cookies! If I ate 8 cookies, I’ve had: 1 banana, 1/2 cup of oats, and half a handful of chocolate chips and walnuts. Amazing. Leave out the chocolate chips and they are all health.

    Wednesday, February 06, 2013

    My Second Baby Shower Gift

    This is the 2nd baby shower gift that I made. It is a baby's hat. My model is the only baby doll I have in my house. I used some really thick yarn that I got at Joann's Fabrics. It is really soft and colorful. I think that the hat may be a little large for a newborn so I may make another one with thinner yarn.


    The pattern was fairly easy and here is the link Redheart Free Patterns.  Like I said the only model that I could use was a doll that I had for the grandchildren. Of course the doll is old and does not have any clothes. So here is the hat:

    I turned the end up and am thinking of putting a flower on the top. I also added a border on the end. So what do you think?