The Shady Porch

Rock 'N Share #46

2013-06-18T20:11:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Rock 'N Share Wednesday!

The Rock 'N Share Rules...there are NO RULES (except family-friendly)!

It amazes me each week how fast time seems to pass. I'm sure part of it is due to it being summer break and the hubby is home. Whatever the cause, I am always glad when it's party time! I look forward to seeing what everyone has been making...so let's get this party started!!!

Thank you to everyone that makes this a party...couldn't do it without you!

If you were featured this week feel free to grab a Rock 'N Share feature button. You can see ALL of the features at the Rock 'N Share Pinterest Gallery!

China Cabinet Turned Wine Cabinet by Artsy VaVa
Ultimate Nacho Chicken with Gringo Rice by Anyonita Nibbles
Sharpie Lamp Shade by One Day at A Time
Pastel Ripple Blanket by Howling at the Moon
Lemon Pudding Poke Cake by Life With The Crust Off

Time to Shine, Share & Inspire!

Please do not pin from the party thumbnails.

To prevent copyright violation, go to the source blog to pin.

By linking your project, you are giving me permission to feature your posts here or on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Google+...etc.

Follow The Shady Porch! (not required but I do follow back)

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Staycation Ideas for the Family!

2013-06-17T14:12:00.002-04:00

What is a Staycation?

Staycation is a term (since 2005) for a vacation that takes place at home or within the local area.

Pros
You can save $$$ (food, gas, lodging).
No check-out time! (Owning the 'inn' allows for sleeping in without adding to a bill.)
Spend quality time experiencing new things together that are in your own "backyard".

Cons
The planning is all yours. If you prefer to leave the organization to someone else, have another family member take the reins on the planning.
Eating at home requires some clean-up (splurge and go with paper!)
You could end up doing nothing (which might be a Pro for some!)

Stay-cation Suggestions
• You are your own "un-travel agent". Activities and planning are up to you. This might take more time as there are few commercial packages set up for staycationing, and it can be surprising how MUCH there is to do within a short distance.
• Each member of the family plans a day!
• Be as unavailable as you would on a traveling vacation. Don't get lured into work because you're staying local.
• Turn off your electronics - set email to out-of-office settings; decide NOT to log-in to facebook/twitter for the duration. The old saying 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' is true. There is a life off-line!
• Planning helps avoid making a StayCay into a long weekend of home jobs. Don't get into the job jar or to-do list that you usually do on weekends. No sharpening of the lawn mower blade!
• Make the same arrangements you would had you gone away on vacation - stop the mail/newspaper, hire a lawn service, etc.
• Break the routine - Have a nightlife...catch a late movie, go star-gazing, or have a bonfire and s'mores; sleep in a little later, and/or stay up past your normal bedtime.
• Take pictures/video just like you would on a vacation...you're still making memories.
• This is bears repeating - so many of the options below require a thoughtful attention to when you will take your staycation. This kind of experience puts the 'personal' back into personal time.

Inspiring Ideas for Your Stay-cation
1. Plan a family-style outdoor Olympics or Minute to Win It challenges at home. In case of weather issues, an indoor event like Wii Family Olympics means the fun still goes on!
2. Inquire about local walking-tours of historical neighborhoods. These can include historical markers, restored homes and significant landmarks.
3. Cook dinner as a family one night. There are a lot of cooking with the kids cookbooks available.
4. Stay at a local hotel that has a pool/hot tubs and new release pay-per-view movies.This serves two purposes - one - a night 'away' from home, and two - you gain some information about the quality of local accommodations.
5. Find a nearby state park and camp or stay at the lodge/cabins. Many state parks offer discounts during the week or to particular groups - teachers, seniors. http://www.americasstateparks.org/
6. Visit local attractions - One of our local villages has a classic small-town amusement park that features rides and games that hearken to another time, and the restored Depression-era theater in our own town features a summer film/concert series in its restored and updated auditorium.
7. Go hiking-http://www.americanhiking.org. We live within short drives of several outdoor rec areas that have nature trails. The hours spent along these wood-lined paths are healthy for both mind and body.
8. Start a garden - flowers, veggies...or both! This might seem to break the "No to-do list items," but only if it was on your 'to-do' list...and it IS your staycay, anyway, isn't it?
9. Check out the activities at the local library - movie night, scavenger hunt, etc. The local library in our town sponsors a "drive-in movie night," where the film is projected on the wall of the library while patrons sit on the grass outside under the stars.

10. Do something you've never done - horseback riding, canoeing, laser tag, fly a kite, etc.
11. Visit a Water Park or your local YMCA. The Y is a terrific resource for activity and community.
12. Visit a zoo - http://www.officialusa.com/stateguides/zoos/ Our town does not have its own zoo, so this would be a day trip for us. Of course, the day trip could go in one of two directions...and each has its own wonderful options.
13. Visit a local festival or county fair.This will depend on the planning and scheduling of your staycay. The festival season around our house ramps up from Memorial Day through Independence Day, then the calendar is fairly empty until fall brings local harvest celebrations.
14. Check out the Museums or Art Centers - for example, our town has a foundation dedicated to a local author and it is across the street from an arts center and museum. Any one of them might be its own day trip; or they could be a single day around a picnic lunch at the city park. For information in your area - http://www.museumlink.com/
15. Make something together - crafts, art, a tree house, solar oven or fire pit.
16. Camp in your own backyard or local camp grounds. Maybe you'd like to invite some of your neighbors/friends, too.
17. Look into the possibility of taking an area Riverboat tour.
18. Take a bike trip http://www.traillink.com/
19. Stay at the local Bed & Breakfast.

20. Marathon Movie Night with yummy homemade concessions (if you're really on a tight budget, watch old home movies!!) Some Suggestions for those Homemade Concessions - Mozzarella Sticks, Pizza Pops, Salsa & Chips, Saltine Toffee, Eggrolls, & No-Bake Cookies!
21. Have a cookout and try things you've never had before just like you might do on an away vacation...like seafood or buffalo wings.
22. Story Night - everyone in the family tells a story; it can be true, or make believe; funny or scary,etc.
23. Go Geocaching - this global positioning scavenger hunting activity has potential to keep the whole family involved. For more, go to http://www.geocaching.com/
24. Attend an outdoor drama or local theatre show.
25. Start a genealogy quest to fill out your family tree. Local libraries and/or historical societies often host seminars to get new investigators started.
26. Take a scenic train ride - Great Scenic Railway Journeys - http://gsrj.com/
27. Check out Sightseeing.com for ideas - everything from balloon rides to ATV Tours.
28. Adopt a pet and train it as a family. Visit the local dog park, if available.
29. Go on a nature quest - identifying and/or collecting leaves, insects, flowers, etc.
30. Get your license and go fishing.

Relax and have Fun!

I'm sharing at these great parties! - Frugal Foodie Mama, Twelve O Eight, Creating My Way To Success, DIY Home Sweet Home, Keeping It Simple, Flour me With Love, Be Colorful, Tumbleweed Contessa, Create & Inspire, Alderberry Hill, Craft-O-Maniac, Lines Across My Face, Skip To My Lou, Kathe with an E,
The Dedicated House, Lolly Jane, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Lady Behind The Curtain, Lil Luna, Smart School House, Southern Lovely, Domesblissity, Polka Dots On Parade, Family, Home & Life, 4 You With Love,

10 Garden Harvest Recipes...Fresh is Best!

2013-06-13T07:59:00.003-04:00

Round-up of recipes using fresh from the garden veggies!

Every spring, I am filled with anticipation once the garden is in because we will be harvesting again, soon. We have a big garden planted with several varieties of tomatoes, bush and pole beans, squash, peppers, cauliflower, and broccoli. As soon as the crops start rolling in, I will share photos.
One of my favorite things is to take fresh produce and try new recipes! I think it would be hard to fail on any recipe using fresh-from-the-garden vegetables...the vibrant flavors of homegrown produce enhances everything.
With this in mind, I have gathered some past garden harvest recipes to share with you!
Enjoy!

A bright, fresh burst of savory and sweet summer flavors, perfect for a light lunch or a quick snack.

Watermelon-Cucumber Salad

Fun family time awaits when making this delicious and easy recipe.
The assembly line can involve everyone and make the preparation as much fun as the eating.

Homemade Egg Rolls

As good as the deli at a fraction of the cost and ready when you need it.

Freezer Slaw

A healthy, colorful, and tasty alternative to traditional lettuce salads.

Broccoli Salad

One of the house favorites, this authentic recipe turned out so well that describing it is futile; it must be tasted.

Roasted Tomato-Jalapeño Salsa

Flavors on top of flavors, this moist summer treat is ultimately shareable - with neighbors, with family, with anyone.

Yellow Squash - Carrot Bread

Fresh from the garden, a savory treat!

Cauliflower with Garlic-Onion Butter

Old World rustic cooking that reminds us that delicious foods have a long, wonderful history.

Cooked Cabbage & Vegetables

This wonderful condiment is a perfect compliment to a wide variety of snacks and crackers.

Cucumber Spread

Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside - these terrific snacks (or sides) make a flavorful addition to any meal.

Zucchini Pancakes or Latkes

Here are some other Shady Porch recipes you might enjoy!

Velveeta Mostaccioli...a longtime family favorite

Chicken Dumpling Casserole & Shepherd's Pie!

I'm sharing at these great parties...join me!
Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Fireflies and Jellybeans, The Shabby Creek Cottage, House of Hepworths,
Artsy Fartsy Mama, Recipes for My Boys, Domesblissity, Easy Life, 4 You With Love, Carole's Chatter,
Domestic Superhero, Glued To My Crafts, 504 Main, Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons, A Peek Into Paradise,
Simple Living and Eating, Rattlebridge Farms, What's Shakin', Whipperberry, Craftberry Bush, RealCoate.com,
A Vision To Remember, Cheerios & Lattes, The Dedicated House, Kathe with an E, Lolly Jane, Love Bakes Good Cakes, Lady Behind The Curtain, Lil Luna, Smart School House, Southern Lovely, Polka Dots On Parade, Family, Home & Life,

Rock 'N Share #45

2013-06-11T21:39:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Rock 'N Share Wednesday #45!

The Rock 'N Share party basics:

Basically there are NO BASICS...except keep it FAMILY FRIENDLY! It is a party so just have FUN! Share whatever you want...new projects, old projects, Facebook, Twitter, Etsy, Party links, etc.

Here are the featured projects from last week's party! Thank you to everyone that shared their creativity and talents! If you were featured this week feel free to grab a Rock 'N Share feature button. You can see ALL of the features at the Rock 'N Share Pinterest Gallery!

Homemade Mustache Oreos for Father’s Day from Twigg Studios

Painting & Creating a small 3-Tiered planter w/Solar Light from One More Time Events

Eggy Mac Salad - A Salad Recipe Perfect for Summer from Kathe with an E
My Black and White Painted Kitchen Cabinets from Sunset Coast
Save Time Doing Laundry, My Version from Family, Home & Life

I try to visit every party post each week, but sadly, I am not always successful as this takes quite a bit of time! In case I missed you, I just want to say Thank You all for your participation each week and for the sweet comments!

Time to Shine, Share & Inspire!

Please do not pin from the party thumbnails. To prevent copyright violation, go to the source blog to pin.

By linking your project, you are giving me permission to feature your posts here or on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Google+...etc.

Follow The Shady Porch! (not required but I do follow back)

Join me on Facebook, GFC, Google+, BlogLovin, or Twitter!

If you prefer, you may want to subscribe via email:

Gourd Art - Hot Air Balloon Wind Chime

2013-06-06T16:04:00.000-04:00

I mentioned on an earlier post that we harvested gourds from our garden some years ago and they've been drying out waiting to be used. They're so dry now all there was to prep them for use was to shake out the seeds, which is a good thing - no messy scooping needed! Anyway, I've been inspired this year to finally make something of them all. My first creation, a Gourd Birdhouse: How-To, was the subject of that earlier post; now, I've made a Hot Air Balloon Wind Chime.

I turned this gourd all around looking for inspiration and, when I turned it stem side down, it reminded me of a Hot Air Balloon. I decided a hand- drawn, paisley-inspired design for the balloon portion would provide the right mood. I used one of my favorite media - pine cone petals - for the basket! The strings attaching the chimes are hidden by the balloon basket. This whimsical floating musical creation is gracing the front porch, now, and let's me know when a breeze is coming up to carry it away on a fantastic adventure.

How I made the Hot Air Balloon Wind Chime

STEP 1 - Wash and Dry the gourd thoroughly. Next I painted the balloon portion white so the design colors would be brighter. I drew the paisley design on using some cut outs as shape references and then free handed the rest. After that it was just a matter of coloring in the designs. I used Elmer's Painters pens and Sharpie Fine Point permanent markers for the bright colors.

STEP 2 - To shape the basket I used cardboard tubes - I cut to the height I wanted and then slit the side of the tube and formed a cone shape to create the basket. It took two of these cardboard cone shapes taped together to fit the girth of the gourd at the point of the basket. I also cut a styrofoam circle to make a bottom for the basket.

assembling the basket portion of the hot air balloon

STEP 3 - Before permanently attaching the basket, I attached the chime. Now the basket would help secure the chime string. I ran neon nylon cords to give the appearance of the ropes that hold the basket to the balloon; I held them in place with hot glue.

STEP 4 - To finish the project, I attached a hook to the top of the balloon. I used a little piece of egg carton between the hook and the gourd to make it look more polished.

STEP 5 -The final step was to spray the balloon, ropes, and basket with a coat of polyurethane to weather-proof the project.


"We'll chase your dream across the sky For we can fly, For we can fly Up and away - In my beautiful, My beautiful balloon" -Up, Up And Away Lyrics - The Supremes

Other fun craft projects you might enjoy!

Duct Tape Flowers with Feathers & Pearls
Spring Wreath - Paper Napkin Flowers,
Arty Vase of Button Flowers & Pine Cone Flowered Napkin Rings

I'm sharing at these great parties!
See Vanessa Craft, The Shabby Nest, Craftionary, The Jenny Evolution, My Turn For Us, Tatertots and Jello, A Night Owl, A Little Claireification, Fireflies & Jellybeans, It's Overflowing, The Dedicated House, Serenity You,
Not Done Growing, Thank You Honey Blog, Twin Dragonfly Designs, Sew Much Ado, Family, Home & Life,
House of Hepworths, Artsy Fartsy Mama, Recipes for My Boys, Domesblissity, 4 You With Love, Domestic Superhero, Glued To My Crafts, 504 Main, Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons, A Peek Into Paradise, Whipperberry,
RealCoate.com, A Vision To Remember, Cheerios & Lattes,

Rock 'N Share #44

2013-06-04T20:28:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Rock 'N Share Wednesday #44!

The Rock 'N Share party basics:

Please place a party button on your post OR add a text link back to -The Shady Porch

Link to a specific post - NOT your Home page, Etsy/business pages, or Linky parties!

Please share something that you have not linked up before.

Pin, Tweet, Google+, FB Share or Stumble the project before yours!

Mingle...it is a party! Comment on other projects.

By linking your project, you are giving me permission to feature your posts here or on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Google+.

I reserve the right to remove links that are in violation of these requests!

Here are the featured projects from last week's party! Thanks to everyone that joined the party! If you were featured this week feel free to grab a Rock 'N Share feature button.

You can see ALL of the features at the Rock 'N Share Pinterest Gallery!

ECHO – Alternative Gardening Methods from Live Ready Now!

Easy Favor Envelope from Crafty Journal

Southern Strawberry-Coconut Punch Bowl Cake from The Kitchen Is My Playground

Backyard Garden Tour 2013 from Around The House

Dresser bench... from Full Circle Creations

JOIN THE PARTY HERE

Time to Shine, Share & Inspire!

Please do not pin from the party thumbnails. To prevent copyright violation, go to the source blog to pin.

Follow The Shady Porch! (not required but I do follow back)

Join me on Facebook, GFC, Google+, BlogLovin, or Twitter!

If you prefer, you may want to subscribe via email:

Frozen Strawberry Cream Dessert

2013-06-04T18:32:00.000-04:00

This is a frozen, fruity treat perfect for those hot days of summer! It's a light, fluffy cream loaded with strawberries and topped with a flavorful blueberry sauce. It takes some advance planning since it needs to freeze for a couple of hours before serving, but it's well worth it!

Frozen Strawberry Cream Dessert

Strawberry Cream Ingredients
3/4 cup of sugar (we use a sugar substitute, like Splenda)
2 - 8oz. bars of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup of sour cream (we use Fat Free)
3 cups of strawberries ( I used thawed frozen strawberries, but fresh strawberries can be used also.)

Frozen Strawberry Cream Dessert with Blueberry Sauce

1 cup of Cool Whip (also sugar free)

Directions:
Line a 9x5 loaf pan with aluminum foil.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, cream cheese, and sour cream until well blended. Drain the strawberries, if needed, and fold into the cheese mix. Fold in the Cool Whip also. Pour into prepared loaf pan. Cover and freeze for about 2 hours.

Blueberry Sauce Ingredients
1- 12 oz. pkg of blueberries (I used fresh but frozen works, too)
1/3 cup of sugar (or a sugar blend)
1/4 cups of water

Directions:
In a small saucepan, combine the blueberries, sugar and water. Bring to boil and cook for about 3 minutes. Transfer to blender or processor and puree. Refrigerate until chilled.

To Serve: Remove the cream from the freezer and allow to stand 15-20 minutes. Use the foil to remove from pan and then remove the foil. Slice to serve and top with blueberry sauce.

adapted from Sam's Club recipe

other Shady Porch recipes you might enjoy....

Orange Cream Cake

Grape Salad...creamy and crunchy too!

Delightful Watermelon-Cucumber Salad

Refreshing Summertime Strawberry Smoothies

Sharing at these great parties - Lil Luna, Lady Behind the Curtain, Oh My! Creative, Savvy Southern Style, JAQS Studio, Southern Lovely, Mostly Homemade Mom, Polkadots On Parade, Ginger Snap Crafts, Domesblissity, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, See Vanessa Craft, The Shabby Nest, Craftionary, My Turn For Us, Tatertots and Jello, A Night Owl, Rattlebridge Farm, A Little Claireification, Fireflies & Jellybeans, It's Overflowing, Serenity You, Not Done Growing, Thank You Honey Blog, Twin Dragonfly Designs, Sew Much Ado, Family, Home & Life, Easy Life, 504 Main, Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons, A Peek Into Paradise, What's Shakin', Simple Living and Eating, Dear Creatives, Whipperberry, RealCoate.com, Cheerios & Lattes,

Orange Cream Cake

2013-05-31T18:53:00.000-04:00

I was inspired A-G-A-I-N by a beautiful cake photo I found on Pinterest. It was a copycat Olive Garden Lemon Cream cake. I thought it looked awesome, so I decided to make my own version! I made an Orange Cream cake! My hubby has a long-standing appetite for oranges. This cake was gone in a flash, so it must have been good...so glad! It will make a nice cake for summer functions. The fun thing about this cake is it looks hard to make, but it starts out as a box mix...I know, right?

Orange Cream Cake...a refreshing summer dessert

Orange Cream Cake

Adding orange zest to cream cheese mix

Ingredients
1 box white cake mix
[ingredients needed according to cake mix box - water, 1/3c vegetable oil and 3 egg whites]
Grease and flour 2 round cake pans. Make and bake the cake according to the directions on the box. Cool cakes in pans for 15 minutes then turn them out on a cooling rack until completely cooled.

Orange Cream Filling
2- 8oz. cream cheese, softened
2 cups of heavy whipping cream
4 c. powdered sugar
1/3 c. orange juice
zest of 2 oranges
To make the orange cream filling - mix the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar in medium bowl until smooth. Add orange juice and set aside. In a separate bowl, whip the cream until it forms stiff peaks. Fold cream cheese mixture into the whipped cram. Stir by hand until well blended.

Crumb Topping
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. butter - cold and cut/sliced into small pieces
1/2 t. vanilla

Mix the powdered sugar and flour in a bowl. Add butter (cut into small pieces) and the vanilla extract. Using a pastry cutter or your hands, mix the cold butter into the flour and sugar. You want to work the butter/vanilla into the dry ingredients until you get it to small crumbly consistency.

Finally, assemble the cake. Place the bottom cake round on your cake plate and add 1/2 of the orange cream to the top of the cake round and spread. Now add the top cake round and spread the remaining orange cream on top. Sprinkle the crumb mix on top. Now chill the cake for approx. 3 hours before serving. Keep refrigerated.

adapted from Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2

Here are some other great cakes you might like!

Lemonade Bundt Cake

Apple Coffee Cake

German Chocolate Bundt Cake

I'm sharing at these great parties...join me!
Nap Time Crafters, Rattlebridge Farm, Tatertots & Jello, Red Fly Creations, Whipperberry, This Gal Cooks, Natasha in Oz, The Dedicated House, Carole's Chatter, Addicted to Recipes, Pink When, Lil Luna, Lady Behind the Curtain, Oh My! Creative, Savvy Southern Style, JAQS Studio, Southern Lovely, Mostly Homemade Mom, Polkadots On Parade, Ginger Snap Crafts, Domesblissity, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, See Vanessa Craft, The Shabby Nest, Craftionary, My Turn For Us, A Night Owl, A Little Claireification, Fireflies & Jellybeans,
It's Overflowing, Serenity You,

Rock 'N Share #43

2013-05-28T20:46:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Rock 'N Share Wednesday!

As always we had an eclectic collection of projects last week and it shows in the features this week! I appreciate everyone that makes the choice to party here! Thank You! Now let's get on to this week's fun...be sure to Pin, Tweet, Google+, FB Share or Stumble the project before yours!

Rock 'N Share Features:

Memorial Day Table for Two From Back Porch Musings
Swirled Cheesecake Brownies from Desperate Houselife

DIY: Washi Tape Flower Wreath from Ann-Kay Home
Outdoor Succulent Table Centerpiece from One More Time Events
Teacher Thank You Cookie Bouquet w/Mickey Mouse Cookies for the Kidsfrom Enchanting Beginnings

Thanks to all for joining the party!
If you were featured this week feel free to grab a Rock 'N Share feature button. You can see ALL of the features at the Rock 'N Share Pinterest Gallery!

CONTINUE HERE TO THE PARTY

The Rock 'N Share party basics:

Please place a party button on your post OR add a text link back to -The Shady Porch

Link to a specific post - NOT your Home page, Etsy/business pages, or Linky parties!

Please share something that you have not linked up before.

Pin, Tweet, Google+, FB Share or Stumble the project before yours!

Mingle...it is a party! Comment on other projects.

By linking your project, you are giving me permission to feature your posts here or on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Google+.

I reserve the right to remove links that are in violation of these requests!

Follow The Shady Porch! (not required but I do follow back)

Join me on Facebook, GFC, Google+, BlogLovin, or Twitter!
If you prefer, you may want to subscribe via email:

Time to Shine, Share & Inspire!

Please do not pin from the party thumbnails. To prevent copyright violation, go to the source blog to pin.

Pasta Carbonara with Bacon and Chicken

2013-05-27T19:33:00.002-04:00

This Pasta Carbonara is full of wonderful flavors! The cheesy cream sauce complements the mushroom, bacon, and chicken perfectly for a delicious meal that is easy to make. It is a two pot meal that takes about 30-40 minutes to prepare, but looks - and tastes - like it took all day.

Ingredients
1lb. box of spaghetti (we use Dreamfield's low carb)
2 T. minced garlic
4 green onions, diced
1 c. sliced mushrooms
1 cup frozen peas
2 T. olive oil
4 egg yolks
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 cup milk
3/4 c. Parmesan cheese
1/2 c. bacon pieces
2-3 chicken breasts, cubed
salt and pepper, as desired

DIRECTIONS:

Recipe adapted from Recipe Corner.com

Other great pasta recipes you might like...

Velveeta Mostaccioli...a longtime family favorite

Pasta Puttanesca...a little salty, a little spicy!

Pizza Casserole - Double Crust, Great Flavor

I'm sharing at these great parties...join me!
Feeding Big, The Dedicated House, Handmade Cuddles, PJH Designs, Mandy's Recipe Box, Newlywed Survival,
Kathe with an E, Handmade Tuesdays, Pint-sized Baker, Savvy Southern Style, Lil Luna, Lady Behind The Curtain, White Lights On Wednesday, Kitchen Meets Girl, Someday Crafts, Miz Helen's Country Cottage,
The Shabby Creek Cottage, House of Hepworths, Stone Gable, Nap Time Crafters, Rattlebridge Farm, Tatertots & Jello, Red Fly Creations, Whipperberry, This Gal Cooks, Natasha in Oz, Addicted to Recipes,
Pink When,

Rock 'N Share #42

2013-05-21T20:07:00.004-04:00

Welcome to Rock 'N Share Wednesday!

Hey Shady Porch neighbors! I hope your week is going great! It's time again for the Rock 'N Share features and to link up your latest inspiring projects! As always, I am loving your creative ideas and I thank you for taking the time to link up. Remember to Pin, Tweet, Google+, FB Share or Stumble the project before yours!
Let's all share the love!

Have fun and lets party!

LAST WEEK’S MOST VIEWED LINKS WERE:

Flower "Bed" from Penny’s Vintage Home
Leather Choker for Pendants (Tutorial) from Rena Klingenberg Jewelry Making Journal
Lemon Rice Croquettes -The French Way to Use Leftovers! from The Wilderness Wife
Awesome Sauce Mini Sandwiches from Todd & Lindsey
Build a Bench on a Budget . . . from Home Sweet Home #14

Thanks to all for joining the party!

If you were featured this week feel free to grab a Rock 'N Share feature button. You can see ALL of the features at the Rock 'N Share Pinterest Gallery!

CLICK BELOW FOR THE LINKY PARTY!
The Rock 'N Share party basics:

Please place a party button on your post OR add a text link back to -The Shady Porch

Link to a specific post - NOT your Home page, Etsy/business pages, or Linky parties!

Please share something that you have not linked up before.

Pin, Tweet, Google+, FB Share or Stumble the project before yours!

Mingle...it is a party! Comment on other projects.

By linking your project, you are giving me permission to feature your posts here or on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Google+.

I reserve the right to remove links that are in violation of these requests!

Follow The Shady Porch! (not required but I do follow back)

Join me on Facebook, GFC, Google+, BlogLovin, or Twitter!
If you prefer, you may want to subscribe via email:

Time to Shine, Share & Inspire!

Please do not pin from the party thumbnails. To prevent copyright violation, go to the source blog to pin.

Stuffed Strawberries...appetizer, snack or dessert

2013-05-21T16:20:00.001-04:00

These stuffed strawberries make a pretty plate for cookouts, showers, wedding receptions, or

on a Monday night, just because you can! That's exactly what the hubby and I did. We like spending time together in the kitchen; my hubby makes wonderful weekend breakfasts and he's quite the grill- and smoker-man, too! Anyway, I digress, we decided to whip up a little strawberry treat for ourselves.

Stuffed Strawberries

Ingredients
about 30 strawberries
1- 8oz bar of cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup of confectionery sugar (taste the mix and add more sugar, if needed)
We wanted our mix a little sweeter but due to sugar restrictions we added an additional 2 T. of Splenda rather than more confectionery sugar.)
3 T. shaved chocolate bark, for garnish

Directions - Wash and rinse the berries. Cut the leafy tops off and turn over to the tip end and cut in a + deep cross pattern to allow for the filling later.

NOTE - I had a roaring headache as we prepared the strawberries and, of course, I cut them as though they would stand on the tips rather than the crowns. Duh! So I went back through them and flattened the tips so they would stand up pretty (I blame the headache). Make it easy on yourself and put the cross-cut on the tip end!

In a small bowl, mix the cream cheese and sugar until well blended. Place the cheese mixture in a piping bag or a zip top sandwich bag and cut the tip; now pipe the creamy mix into the strawberries. Garnish with chocolate shavings and serve...or chill and serve. (We just served.)

Adapted from Sam's Club - Heavenly Filled Strawberries

Other delicious fruity treats you might like!

Grape Salad...creamy and crunchy too!

Refreshing Summertime Strawberry Smoothies

Delightful Watermelon-Cucumber Salad

I am sharing at these great parties - Lil Luna, DIY Dreamer, Kitchen Meets Girl, Mostly Homemade, Oh My Creative, Lady Behind The Curtain,Tumbleweed Contessa, Domestic Superhero, Rattlebridge Farm,
The Shabby Nest, Craftberry Bush, Mandy's Recipe Box, Kathe with an E, Handmade Tuesdays, Pint-sized Baker, Savvy Southern Style, White Lights On Wednesday, Someday Crafts, Miz Helen's Country Cottage,
The Shabby Creek Cottage, House of Hepworths, Stone Gable, Nap Time Crafters, Tatertots & Jello, Redfly Creations, Whipperberry,

Homemade Potato Salad - Quick Southern Recipe

2013-05-16T10:08:00.000-04:00

If your family likes homemade potato salad (and who doesn't?), here is a quick fix method for preparing it, even on a busy week night. It is a simple southern recipe I learned from my mom, but with a modern convenience to speed up the process.

Homemade Potato Salad Recipe in 30 minutes or less.

First, I do not peel potatoes. I have learned that it is perfectly acceptable to leave the potato unpeeled, regardless of the type of potato I'm using. The potato peel has some health benefits, too.

Rinsed and cubed Idaho potatoes

However, if you don't think the kids will like the potato skin, the Yukon gold potatoes have very thin skins that virtually disappear once cooked.

The next thing is boiled eggs. we try to buy eggs on sale and boil about half of what we buy for garden salads, egg salad sandwiches, potato and macaroni salads as well as deviled eggs. Hard boiled eggs make a good snack, too. This means I usually have eggs ready to add to the potato salad, therefore I save boiling time.

The BIGGEST time saver is the microwave Zip-N-Steam cooking bags. I simply dice my potatoes, rinse and toss them in the bag. 8 minutes later, we are ready to mix up the potato salad!
Continue reading for the full recipe!

Quick Southern Potato Salad

Ingredients


This great southern side dish goes well with burgers brats and BBQ!

potatoes - any kind you prefer - Reds, Yukon Golds, or Russets are all excellent choices
1 boiled egg per person, diced
1 medium white onion, diced
mayonnaise
sweet pickle relish

salt, to taste

1. Rinse and cube your choice of potatoes and fill the Zip-N-Steam bag. Microwave for 8 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, mix potatoes, diced boiled eggs, and diced onion. Now add mayonnaise to desired consistency (some folks like potato salad creamier than others...I usually start with approx 1/2 cup).

3. Finally add sweet pickle relish, also according to family preference, but I start with 1/4 cup and add from there, if needed.

One steamer bag of diced potato makes enough potato salad to feed 4-5. [ NOTE - I did not receive any compensation from the makers of the Zip-N-Steam microwave bags.]

Other recipes that you can fix in a jiffy!

Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta with a spicy kick!

Easy Chicken Alfredo & Broccoli Dinner

Baked Hot Dogs: old dogs; new tricks!
Sharing at these great parties...join me!
Domestic Superhero, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, House of Hepworths, Shabby Creek Cottage, Beyond The Picket Fence, The Taylor House, Craftberry Bush, My Turn For Us, Whipperberry, Tatertots & Jello, I'm Not A Trophy Wife, The Country Cook, Serenity You, Be Colorful, Carole's Chatter, Addicted To Recipes, Rediscovering Lost Arts from Our Mothers, Lil Luna, DIY Dreamer, Kitchen Meets Girl, Mostly Homemade, Oh My Creative, Lady Behind The Curtain, Tumbleweed Contessa, The Shabby Nest, Rattlebridge Farm,

Rock N Share #41

2013-05-14T21:18:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Rock 'N Share Wednesday!

The Rock 'N Share grew again last week...that means more folks have the opportunity to see your creativity, ingenuity and talents! I want everyone to get their projects in the spotlight, so let's continue to help each other by Pinning, Tweeting, Google+, FB Sharing or Stumbling the party post in front of yours and any others you like!

Have fun and lets party!

Last week's most popular projects -

Mother's Day Brunch Picnic ideas : Ned Kelly Pies & a whole lot more by Domesblissity
Decorative Flip Flips ~ Gift Idea by VMG206
Painting Furniture--The Cute Hall Cabinet Makeover by Sunset Coast

IKEA bar stools spring makeover by now at home mom
Doritos Casserole by Tumbleweed Contessa

Congratulations! Thanks to all for joining the party!

If you were featured this week feel free to grab a Rock 'N Share feature button. You can see ALL of the features at the Rock 'N Share Pinterest Gallery!

The Rock 'N Share party basics:

Please place my party button on your post OR add a text link back to -The Shady Porch

Link to a specific post - NOT your Home page, Etsy/business pages, or Linky parties!

Pin, Tweet, Google+, FB Share or Stumble the project before yours!

Mingle...it is a party! Comment on other projects.

By linking your project, you are giving me permission to feature your posts here or on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Google+.

I reserve the right to remove links that are in violation of these requests!

Follow The Shady Porch! (optional, but very nice!)

Join me on Facebook, GFC, Google+, BlogLovin, or Twitter!

I always FOLLOW BACK...just leave me a comment so I'll know!

Time to Shine, Share & Inspire!

Please do not pin from the party thumbnails. To prevent copyright violation, go to the source blog to pin.

Gourd Birdhouse: How-To

2013-05-10T22:19:00.000-04:00

It's my favorite time of the year! Although it's a hectic time (I help my teacher-coach hubby by taking on the role of track statistician and Power Point creator for final review games) I can't help but stand in awe of the arrival of spring time! I raise the windows and listen to the birdsong; I smell the dogwoods and lilacs, and feel so very blessed.

Last year, I worked with pallet wood to make birdhouses/bird barns, and, this year, I am working with gourds. I grew these gourds several years ago, have given them ample time to dry, and now they are ready for projects!

To complicate my first gourd project a little more, I am just now learning how to use a wood burning tool (aka 'pyrography' tool) I received a few Christmases ago. So, my first wood burning project is a gourd birdhouse! Initially, I was just trying out each of the tips to see what effect they would produce.
I settled on flower patterns and a pseudo-weave pattern for the top of the gourd (roof). I had great fun doing this, but I must truthfully state that safety concerns nearly derailed the whole thing. Did you know that wood burning tools reach temps of 950 degrees Fahrenheit? I had no idea, and I really started this project ill-prepared. (The lessons I learned about the wood burning tool and the wood-burning process will be a topic for a later post.) Today I want to share the gourd birdhouse.

I tied a little raffia around the neck to give the
little tweety some easy access to nesting needs too!
Hope they like their new home!

Making the birdhouse
1. To begin, clean the gourd. Soak the gourd in water for 10-15 minutes (if the gourd has any weak places from lying on the ground too long, reduce soak time so you don't weaken it further) and then take a mesh scrubber to remove the dirt and fine dried skin. The mesh scrubber won't scratch the gourd surface.

2. Next, using a drill with a hole-cutting bit (a smaller version of the kind used to install doorknobs), I created the bird house door. This step can be completed with an sharp box cutter or X-acto knife, if the hole-cutting bit is not available. I had to file and sand some to smooth and enlarge the hole. Removing the seeds was really simple. Since the gourds were really dry, the seeds just fell out with some shaking. NOTE - if you do not plan to plant the seeds, you still might want to save them to use in crafting. For instance, they'd make great shingles for a roof on another gourd birdhouse.

3. I used jewelers files to poke a few holes in the bottom and sides of the gourd for drainage and ventilation. I also used a file to create the holes at the top to run the wire through to make a hanger.

4. The final process was the wood burning (pyrography). I used various tips - stamping points to create the center of the flowers and weave-like pattern, and the shading point to create flower petals. It was a learning process regarding how long to hold the tip on the gourd, where to begin and end the pattern (the curve of the gourd would not accommodate some tips), but I was pleased and excited with my first attempt! I can't wait to do another one. Don't forget to seal the gourd...I used a spray-on polyurethane.

After all of the steps (and some missteps!), the gourd house is now awaiting new occupants in a tree on the hill behind the house. I know the birds don't care what had to happen to create this nesting space, but I like looking out the kitchen window and seeing it among the leaves.

Going to these great parties...join me!
Tatertots & Jello, See Vanessa Craft, A Night Owl, The Jenny Evolution, My Turn For Us, Ladybird Ln, The Shabby Nest, Craftionary, Cheerios & Lattes, Hickory Trail Blog, Serenity You, Life On Lakeshore Drive, Crafty Confessions, Lolly Jane, Kathe with an E, PJH Designs, Smart School House, Domestic Superhero, House of Hepworths, Shabby Creek Cottage, Beyond The Picket Fence, The Taylor House, I Gotta Create, Craftberry Bush, Whipperberry, I'm Not A Trophy Wife, Be Colorful, Lady Behind The Curtain,

Rock N Share #40

2013-05-07T21:56:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Rock 'N Share Wednesday!

I love the Rock 'N Share party...I love seeing your creative efforts and being inspired! I was thinking about the party and ways to make it better and here's my thought...Let's help each other....we go to parties to share our hard work in hopes of inspiring others and getting some exposure so, why not guarantee it? Why not Pin, Tweet, Google+, FB Share or Stumble the party post in front of yours?
Let's give it a try and see where is leads...have fun and lets party!

Here is a simple rule of thumb...Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! (Luke 6:31 - MSG)

Last week's most popular projects -

Bandanas and Burlap by Back Porch Musings

Bedroom and Bath Update by Thrift My House

Bargain-ista Gift Basket by Bargainista

Make Personalized Garden Stepping Stones by Condo Blues

Root Beer BBQ Ribs by One Day At A Time

Congratulations! Thanks to all for joining the party!

If you were featured this week feel free to grab a Rock 'N Share feature button. You can see ALL of the features from past Rock 'N Share parties here at the Pinterest Gallery!

Continue reading to join the party!

The Rock 'N Share party basics:

Please place my party button on your post OR add a text link back to -The Shady Porch
Link to a specific post - NOT your Home page, Etsy/business pages, or Linky parties!
Pin, Tweet, Google+, FB Share or Stumble the project before yours!

By linking your project, you are giving me permission to feature your posts here or on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Google+.

I reserve the right to remove links that are in violation of these requests!

Follow The Shady Porch! (optional, but very nice!)

Join me on Facebook, GFC, Google+, BlogLovin, or Twitter!

I always FOLLOW BACK...just leave me a comment so I'll know!

Time to Shine, Share & Inspire!

Please do not pin from the party thumbnails. To prevent copyright violation, go to the source blog to pin.

Spring has finally arrived - Flowers & Veggies pop up!

2013-05-04T23:59:00.000-04:00

It seems like it has been a l-o-n-g time coming, but, now that it's here,...it's lovely! The flowers are blooming, and the vegetable seedlings are about ready to go in the ground. I love this time of year. I enjoy watching the birds building their nests (I really love cardinals and we have several couples that live on our street!). We have a rascally squirrel that is alternately storing nuts in the lawn furniture and flower boxes while scattering broken shells of buried treasure that he has cracked open. And this year, we have a BIG puppy who is very interested in trying to eat those leftover shells (not good). Anyway, I thought I would share some images of our Kentucky spring with you.

Unfortunately we haven't mulched yet, so it's not as pretty as it could be!

There are lots more photos of our Kentucky spring just click [Continue Reading]

I need a little help with this last flower....I can't remember what it is!

Can you identify these pretty flowers? I would love to know what it is!

Here's a glimpse of The Shady Porch last spring too!

I am joining the parties at these great blogs...join me!
A Peek Into My Paradise, Creating My Way To Success, DIY Home Sweet Home, Recipes & Ramblins, Flour Me With Love, VMG206, The Dedicated House, Kathe With An E, Savvy Southern Style, Southern Lovely, Lil Luna, Sincerely P aula, Serenity You, Life On Lakeshore Drive, Lolly Jane, PJH Designs, Smart School House,
Crafty Confessions, Domestic Superhero, House of Hepworths, Shabby Creek Cottage, Beyond The Picket Fence, Craftberry Bush,

Better Than Nachos...Chicken Chilaquiles!

2013-05-03T16:53:00.000-04:00

Although historically Cinco de Mayo was a celebration of a notable victory over the French, it has evolved to a cultural celebration of Latin music, food and festivities. However, we need no special day to eat Mexican at our house! We make south of the border meals several times a month because our favorite dishes are delicious and so easy. With so many ways to enjoy the savory flavors, it is easy to change it up...one week we'll have beef and the next week the same dish, but with chicken. I love that one week we will enjoy a casserole; the next time, we will build our meals with tortillas or taco shells. So much flexibility really makes it popular here at our home.
I am a Rick Bayless fan...he is a chef and cookbook author known for his Mexican cuisine. Everyone I know loves nachos so, when I found a Rick Bayless version, I was in! It was scary (you'll see why in a minute) when I read the recipe, but I forged ahead and we're all glad I did.

Here is my version of Crock Pot Chicken Chilaquiles -

Ingredients
24 oz. tortilla chips (we bought the Mission Tortilla Rounds because a thick chip is best)2 medium onions, diced
2 T. vegetable oil
1 can of diced green chiles
32 oz. of your favorite salsa
2 cups of chicken broth (in addition to what is in the crock pot after cooking the chicken breasts)
2 1/2 cups of shredded Monterey Jack cheese
3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
3/4 cup of sour cream (add just enough milk to the sour cream so it can be drizzled)
cilantro leaves for garnish, if desired
Directions -

Place 3 chicken breasts in crock pot and cook on high 3-4 hours. Once the chicken has cooked remove the breasts from the crock pot (Leave the crock pot on high with the lid on so it doesn't lose its heat). Shred the breasts in a separate bowl. Set aside.
Now add the salsa and green chiles to the chicken broth in the crock pot and add the 2 cups of chicken broth required by the recipe. Allow to cook until thoroughly heated.
In a medium skillet, cook 2 medium onions diced in 2T. of oil until nicely browned.
Add to salsa-broth mix when they have browned. Add 2 cups of the shredded cheese now too.
Now…the scary part…, the recipe says to add the chips to the salsa-cheese mixture, pressing them down until they are submerged. It says to spread the chicken over the top, cover and let stand for 3-4 minutes. Then gently stir it all together and drizzle with the sour cream, and more of the shredded Monterey Jack. Garnish with cilantro and serve without hesitation.

I did it a little differently....I portioned out each individual serving of chips into a bowl and then ladled the salsa/cheese mix over the chips. Then I tossed the chips until they were well coated. I put them on the plates they were being served on and then I spread a layer of shredded chicken over the chips and drizzled the sour cream and sprinkled more cheese and even threw in some jalapenos, too!
What makes this better than nachos? The chips are covered in this delicious spicy sauce and they are not too hard or too soft. They're still messy but I love the fact that all of the chips are 'dressed' and not dry! Next time, I will add the chicken to the salsa mix and then ladle onto the chips rather than make it a separate layer. Of course, dress it up to your own tastes...adding chopped tomatoes, olives, fresh diced onions, shredded lettuce, or guacamole,…make it yours.
I served it with a can of heated refried beans enhanced with a can of mild Ro-tel and garnished with shredded cheese.
It was all a big hit and there was plenty of it! This recipe could feed 6-8, although more chips might be good, too.

Chicken Chilaquiles...better than nachos!

Here's a recipe Roasted Tomato - Jalapeño Salsa you might enjoy!

I'm linking up at these great blogs! ...join me!
See Vanessa Craft, Finding Fabulous for Less, The Shabby Nest, Simple Living and Eating, Rattlebridge Farm, Not Your Ordinary Recipes, Whipperberry, Craftionary, Daily Dish Magazine, Tatertots & Jello, A Night Owl, Cheerios & Lattes, What's Cooking With Ruthie?, Be Different, Act Normal, Barns & Noodles, Natasha In Oz, Six Sisters Stuff, The Jenny Evolution, A Stroll Thru Li fe, Miz Helen's Country Cottage, A Peek Into My Paradise, Creating My Way To Success, DIY Home Sweet Home, Recipes & Ramblins, Flour Me With Love, VMG206, The Dedicated House, Pint Sized Baker, Kathe with an E, Newlywed Survival, Savvy Southern Style, Southern Lovely, Lil Luna, Hickory Trail Blog, Serenity You, Crafty Confessions, Lolly Jane, Smart School House,

Rock N Share Wednesday #39

2013-05-01T21:32:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Rock 'N Share Wednesday!

I enjoyed reading everyone's posts this week. It really is true that you can learn something new everyday! I find lots of interesting things to think about, attempt and research when I read your posts!
The party continues to grow and I would like to encourage everyone to invite a friend or add the party to your party page, if you have one! In the event you are new to blogging, there are benefits to linking up at linky parties.
First, you can find inspiration and new friends! Secondly, it funnels more visitors to your blog and thirdly, it creates links back to your site which increases your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) making it easier for you to be found on searches ((Google it if you want to know more)).

...have fun and lets party!

Last week's most popular projects were -

Crockpot Bar-B-Que Ribs from Maria at Krafty Cards Etc.

Spring Gardening from Connie at Family Home & Life

Ranch Red Skinned Potato Salad from Jeni at I Got This Martha

How To Organize your Gadgets from Judy at Pursuit of Functional Home

Avocado Chicken Parmesan from Krysta at Krysta Steen

Congratulations! Thanks again to everyone for linking up!

If you were featured this week feel free to grab a Rock 'N Share feature button. You can see ALL of the features from past Rock 'N Share parties here at the Pinterest Gallery!

Continue reading to see all the party posts!

Here's a thought, let's help each other....we go to parties to share our hard work in hopes of inspiring others and getting some exposure. Why not guarantee it (to a certain degree)? Why not Pin, Tweet, Google+, FB Share or Stumble the party post in front of yours?

Let's give it a try and see where is leads!

The Rock 'N Share party basics:

Please place my party button OR add a text link back to -The Shady Porch.

Link up your own projects.
Link to a specific post - NOT your Home page, Etsy/business pages, or Linky parties!
Mingle! Make new friends! Comment on other party projects!

· By linking your project, you are giving me permission to feature your posts here or
on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Google+.

I reserve the right to remove links that are in violation of these requests!

Follow The Shady Porch! (optional, but very nice!)

Join me on Facebook, GFC, Google+, BlogLovin, or Twitter!

I always FOLLOW BACK...just leave me a comment so I'll know!

Time to Shine, Share & Inspire!

Please do not pin from the party thumbnails. To prevent copyright violation, go to the source blog to pin.

Icebox Cake - Perfect for Summer!

2013-04-29T00:21:00.001-04:00

One of the sweetest memories of childhood Summers is a dessert that usually arrived as the days lengthened and the nights filled with fireflies. Mom and I found this recipe in the reader contribution section of the local newspaper; she called it Summer's Delight, and the name fit...it's a chilled, light dessert, perfect for summer. If you use the instant pudding, it takes very little time and effort to make. The hard part is waiting for the graham crackers to soften!

"Summer's Delight" aka Icebox Cake

Ingredients
1 lg box Instant Chocolate Pudding*
1 lg box Instant Vanilla Pudding*
2- 8-oz - frozen whipped topping (Cool Whip), thawed
graham crackers
* [Note - we made it using the cook pudding when I was growing up but you must wait for the pudding to set before adding the next layer!]

Directions

1. Layer graham crackers into the bottom of a 9x12 in. pan. I use a glass casserole dish so you can see the layers. The graham crackers will shortly soften to form the crust layers.

2. Prepare pudding according to the box directions; then add 1/2 of 1 container of frozen whipped topping, mix until incorporated. Now spread the pudding mix over the bottom layer of graham crackers. It is up to you if you do vanilla or chocolate first.

3. Now add another layer of graham crackers.

4. Prepare the next box of pudding in the same manner as the first box...following pudding directions on the box and then adding the 2nd half of the container of frozen whipped topping.

5. Now take the second container of frozen whipped topping and spread it over the top layer of pudding as the topping. Cover and chill (about 4 hours, if using instant pudding / 8-10 hours if using cooked pudding, before serving.

[Note - If we have it on hand, I like to drizzle Chocolate Shell over the frozen whipped topping to finish it off and make it look pretty!]


Icebox cake is an American variation of the Zebra cake &d Chocolate Ripple log.

Rock N Share Wednesday #38

2013-04-23T21:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Rock 'N Share Wednesday! We had so many great projects last week, I am excited to see what you're sharing today! This week's featured projects are posted below as well as the Pinterest Rock 'N Share Feature Gallery so you can go see all of the previous features too!
You are appreciated! Thank you to everyone that links up here at the Shady Porch! Have fun!

Last week's most popular projects were -

Mason Jar Lights at Family Home and Life

Umbilical Cord Baby Hat at My Life Adventures

27 Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas for Families at Lazy Budget Chef

Slowcooker Chicken Stroganoff with Conchiglie at Anyonita Nibbles

Papermache Letters by Through My Creative Mind

Congratulations! Thanks again to everyone for linking up!

If you were featured this week feel free to grab a Rock 'N Share feature button.

The Rock 'N Share party basics:

Please place my party button OR add a text link back to -The Shady Porch OR…Give a shout out on Facebook/Twitter! The more party visitors/participants to more opportunities your post will be visited!

Link up your own projects.
Link to a specific post - NOT your Home page, Etsy/business pages, or Linky parties!
Mingle! Make new friends! Comment on other party projects!

· By linking your project, you are giving me permission to feature your posts here or
on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Google+.

I reserve the right to remove links that are in violation of these requests!

The Rock 'N Share will run each Wednesday to Sunday midnight.

Follow The Shady Porch! (optional, but very nice!)

Join me on Facebook, GFC, Google+, BlogLovin, or Twitter!

I always FOLLOW BACK...just leave me a comment so I'll know!

Time to Shine, Share & Inspire!

Empty Oatmeal Containers Make Useful, Decorative Decor and more

2013-04-22T18:59:00.003-04:00

At the last minute, I decided I could not let Earth Day pass without doing something to show my support. We are to be good stewards of all that we have been given....that certainly applies to home-sweet-home...Earth!

Last year, I hosted an Earth Day Challenge which asked posters to take something from their trash and make something useful or pretty out of it! It was a fun week!

Today, I grabbed an empty oatmeal container from my stash of empties (holding on to "project materials" is NOT hoarding...no matter how many times the hubby tries to throw them away! :)) and started brainstorming. I landed on 'bathroom storage container' after I found that a large oatmeal container will hold two rolls of toilet paper. It could also hold brushes and combs, hair accessories, almost anything.

This is an easy project. I simply took some of my scrapbook paper and glued it onto the oatmeal container. I used tape to hold it down in strategic spots so that it could dry without curling up.Then it was simply a matter of embellishment to make it pretty as well as practical! I used complementary colors of scrapbook paper and a pink ribbon. The bathroom is not the only place that needs great, portable storage ideas. This could make storage for dog treats, small toys, kitchen accessories...the possibilities are wide open! It certainly is a project that you could get the kids involved with, too!


Make an empty oatmeal container into decorative bathroom storage (holds 2 rolls)

other great ideas...

DIY Headband Holder by CraftCrazyMom.com

Paintbrush Holder by CraftersInDisguise.com

Gift/Treat packaging by Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts

Caterpillar Keepsake Box by kids.sandiegozoo.org

Oatmeal Container Lamp by hotpotatoes.com

Here are last years Earth Day (week) projects!

Suncatcher Vase - Earth Day Challenge

Mesh Bag - Earth Day Challenge

Swiffer Duster Box - Earth Day Challenge

Lotion Bottle to Cell Phone Holder for Charging

Bird Cabin aka Bird House - Earth Day Challenge Thanks for stopping by!
I'm sharing at these great parties -
Skip To My Lou, Alderberry Hill, Craft-O-Maniac, All Things Fee, Be Colorful, Sugar Bee Crafts, Pin It Tuesdays, Natasha In Oz, The Blackberry Vine, Someday Crafts, Savvy Southern Style, Family Home & Life, Ginger Snap Crafts, Shabby Creek Cottage, House of Hepworths, Domestic Superhero, Recipes and Ramblins, Lolly Jane, PJH Designs, Ladybug Blessings,

Rock N Share Wednesday #37

2013-04-16T21:31:00.001-04:00

Hey Everybody, I hope your week is going well. We're at a busy time of year at our house.

My hubby, the coach, is in the midst of his track & field season with a huge invitational coming up Saturday. Of course, it's nearing end-of-year for school and that means finals and review games. Over the years, I have taken the role of meet statistician, meet program designer, and PowerPoint review game developer, and thanks to years of practice, it runs like a well oiled-machine around here...(not!) For some reason it's always hectic! Oh, I forgot to mention we're also getting our garden set up for the year and training our 4-month-old pup Sophie, too! Fun! I've posted a little picture of Sophie at the end of the post so you can see the newest member of our family.

Anyway, I ramble. I want to thank you all for choosing to link here at the Shady Porch each week! You are a really talented, and inspiring group!

Here are this week's most viewed projects!

Recipe Share: Pagliacci's New York Style Cheesecake by Jenn at Jenn's Random Scraps

Fairy Garden In A Container by Danni at Silo Hill Farm

Creamy Chipotle Dressing by Mary at Mary’s Kitchen

Spring Tablescape by Penny at Penny's Vintage Home

How to Make Hemp Bracelets – a Tutorial by Rena at Jewelry Making Journal

Congratulations!

Thank You for joining the party!

Be sure to get your Rock 'n Share Feature Button! (on button page)

You can see ALL the inductees to the Rock 'N Share Gallery below.

Now Let's Party!

The Rock 'N Share basics:

Link up your crafts, recipes, DIY projects, or anything else you created.

Link back to The Shady Porch somehow (button or text link) OR

Give a shout out on Facebook/Twitter to be eligible for features!

Please be a follower, although not mandatory.

Join me on Facebook, GFC, Google+, BlogLovin, or Twitter! I always FOLLOW BACK; just leave me a note so I'll know!

Please do not link up anything for sale, giveaways, parties or advertisements.
Mingle! Be kind! Make new friends! Comment on other party projects!

By linking to the Rock 'N Share, you are giving me permission to post your photos in feature posts on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and/or Google+.

I reserve the right to remove links that are in violation of these requests!

(No button / link back / or shout out = No features) (pick at least one)

Party Links are in Random Order so everyone has the chance to be at the top!

Follow The Shady Porch...I always follow back!

Time to Shine, Share & Inspire!

Meet Sophie, our 4-month old Lab-Golden mix.

Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta with a spicy kick!

2013-04-16T17:29:00.004-04:00

I love cooking quick, delicious meals in one skillet or pot! It makes cooking dinner seem so much easier and clean-up is a snap! We love pasta at our house; this is a nice simple dish that has a little spicy kick to it, AND you can cook it start-to-finish in one large skillet!

One Skillet- Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta

Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta with a spicy kick!

Ingredients

1 medium onion, diced

1 pkg or 1lb. smoked sausage, sliced into rounds

1 T. minced garlic

1 -16oz. pkg of favorite pasta (we used Fusilli)

2 1/2 c. of chicken broth

1 -10 oz. can original Ro-Tel, we use mild version

1 c. milk
1/3 c. melted butter or margarine
1 c. shredded cheese - you can use Monterey Jack or a Jack/Cheddar blend
1 bunch of scallions, thinly sliced

Skillet Dinner: Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta

Directions - Heat a couple tablespoons of olive oil in large skillet or pot until hot. Add diced onions and sausage rounds to hot oil and cook until lightly browned. Now add minced garlic, Ro-Tel, and pasta. Mix until incorporated with the sausage and onions. Mix the milk, melted butter and chicken broth together then pour over the pasta-sausage mix.
Cover and allow it to simmer on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender, about 10-15 minutes.
Once pasta is cooked, stir in cheese and scallions.
Serves 6-8.

Adapted from Kevin & Amanda

If you like one dish meals you will love the Double Crust Pizza Casserole, Chicken Dumpling Casserole, and Shepherd's Pie!

I'm sharing at these great parties!
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Loaded Baked Potato Medallions

2013-04-13T16:57:00.001-04:00

Baked Potato Medallions taste even better dipped in sour cream!

I worked outside our home for many years, and, as a result, my grocery list morphed from a list of ingredients into a list of prepared foods. The prep work was done for me, which was a time-saver. Little did I realize that I was paying many extra dollars for that convenience.
Take potatoes for instance. We love steak fries, french fries, tater tots, hash browns...essentially anything that can be made from a spud. Now that I work from home, I've learned that a bag of regular potatoes costs very little, and with no more than a rinse and a chop, you can have them prepped yourself in just a few minutes!

Needless to say, I've learned now what I wish I had realized back then...I can do this much cheaper and better than the food manufacturers can...and no additives to preserve frozen-ness or color or to add flavor. (We have begun growing potatoes...I expect our minimal investment to drop even more this fall!)

This recipe beats any packaged potato product I ever bought and takes very little time, money, or effort....and tastes GREAT!


Baked Potato Medallions with Cheddar cheese, bacon pieces, and chives.

Loaded
Baked
Potato Medallions

Ingredients
4 potatoes, rinsed and sliced into medallions
2 T. olive oil (you can use whatever oil you normally use)
bacon pieces,
chives or green onions, diced
shredded cheddar cheese (we've used cheese blends too)
Salt, as desired
1 c. Sour cream, optional - for dipping

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. Drizzle cookie sheet with thin coating of olive oil and lay out the medallion in a single layer.
3. Now flip the medallions over to so both sides now have a gloss of oil on them to prevent sticking to the pan. Bake for 10 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and flip the medallions again and top with the cheese, bacon pieces, onions/chives.
5. Return to oven for another 10-15 minutes. Cook time will vary due to the baking sheet used, and the thickness of your medallion slices, so adjust accordingly. We like our medallions kinda on the crunchy side! Makes 4 servings.

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