.:Leaf:Bunny:.

Molasses Cookies

2011-12-22T09:57:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
→ 3/4 cup Margarine, melted
→ 1 cup white sugar
→ 1 egg
→ 1/4 cup molasses
→ 2 cups ap-flour
→ 2 tsp baking soda
→ 1/2 tsp salt
→ 1 tsp cinnamon
→ 1/2 tsp ground clove
→ 1/2 tsp ginger powder
→ 1/2 cup white sugar, for rolling cookies

1.Mix dry ingredients in a small bowl.

2.In a medium bowl mix butter, sugar and egg until smooth. Add in molasses.

3. Stir flour mixture into the molasses mixture.

4. Chill for at least 15 minutes in fridge.

5. Roll dough into walnut sized balls, then roll each ball in the 1/2 cup sugar.

6. Place on un-greased cookie sheet and back at 375°F for 8- 10 minutes. Cookies are done when the tops start to crack.

7. Let cool on a wire rack.

These are my favorite cookies. I absolutely love this recipe. You can freeze this dough to use later one. I like to cut my dough into quarters and keep them in a zip lock in the freezer. just let the dough thaw in the fridge overnight before using.

These cookies will make your house smell like Christmas! :D
Enjoy!

Pistachio Coconut Fudge

2011-12-20T07:23:00.000-08:00

So this is my first time making fudge, I followed the recipe on the Toll house semi-sweet "morsels" bag. Here is the recipe...
Ingredients:
→ 1 1/2 cups sugar
→ 2/3 cup(5 fl-oz can) carnation evaporated milk
→ 2 tbsp butter
→ 1 tsp vanilla
→ 1/2 tsp salt
→ 2 cups mini marshmallows
→ 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips(semi-sweet)
→ 1/2 cup chopped nuts(I used pistachios)
→ 1/2 cup shredded coconut(optional)

in a heavy bottom sauce pan bring sugar, milk, butter, vanilla and salt to a boil, over medium heat; let thicken for 2 minutes.
stir in chocolate until smooth.
stir in marshmallows until smooth
stir in nuts and coconut(or whatever else you desire) until incorporated throughout.
pour into lined 8x8 baking pan.
let cool for 15 minutes and then chill for 2 hours in fridge.
cut into desired size squares.

you can store your finished fudge in the freezer and enjoy it whenever you please. :)

here is a short video of how it comes together(parts of the video are sped up).

enjoy!

Christmas Cookie Recipe!

2011-12-13T10:56:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
→ 3 cups AP-flour
→ 1/4 tsp salt
→ 1 tsp baking powder
→ 1 cup sugar
→ 1 stick butter, softened
→ 2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract

In a bowl mix flour, salt & baking soda; set aside.
Using a stand mixer, or by hand, mix butter and sugar until smooth.
add eggs 1 at a time, mixing well.
incorporate vanilla
Mix in flour mixture, until a dough forms
divide the dough into pieces.
wrap each piece in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
roll one ball of dough out to 1/8 inch.
use cookie cutters to cut as many shapes out as possible.
at this point you can decorate using the below method of "painting", or use sprinkles/colored sugars.
bake for 8 to 12 minutes, keep an eye on them. They should be lightly golden.

Cookie Paint

Ingredients:

→ Eggs yolks

→ food coloring

in small glass bowls mix an egg yolk with desired color of food coloring.
use a pastry or small artists brush to paint the colored yolk on the cookies.
bake the unbaked cookies as listed in step 11, above.

Enjoy! Merry Christmas!

World's Best Banana Bread!

2011-12-10T10:49:00.001-08:00

Ingredients:
→ 1 stick of butter, melted
→ 1 cup of sugar
→ 2 eggs
→ 2 large bananas, well ripened
→ 1 1/4 cups flour, sifted
→ 3/4 tsp baking soda
→ 1/2 tsp salt

watch video below to see how it comes together.
→bake @ 350°f for 55-60 minutes

This is a family favorite, I learned how to make from my mom. Whenever we had a couple of ripened bananas this bread was made. :)
I hope you give this recipe a try!

Enjoy!

Great Pork Chop Recipe

2011-12-04T15:54:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

6 bone-in pork chops(3/4in) {I used boneless}
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 can cream of chicken soup{I used cream of mushroom}
3 Tbsp ketchup
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
4 medium potatoes cut into wedges{I used 6 red potatoes}
1 medium onion cut into rings{I cut mine into wedges}

In s skillet, brown pork chops in oil. transfer to a 13-in by 9-in by 2-in backing dish. In a bowl, combine soup, ketchup, worcestershire, salt and pepper. Add potatoes and onions; toss to coat. Pour over pork chops. Cover and back at 350 for 55-60 mins or until meat juices run clear and potatoes are tender. Serves 6.

This Recipe deserves a spot in my recipe book, it was super easy and quick to prepare. Best pork chops I have ever made{this is my first time cooking pork chops! : D}

Enjoy!

Yet another BEAUTIFUL morning! ^_^

2011-12-03T07:13:00.000-08:00

I love this time of year in Florida. It is so beautiful. It's great being able to have the windows open and let the cool breeze pass right through.

I spent this morning weeding out my garden box out back. My bell pepper plant is still growing peppers! I'm prepared to turn my garden box into a green house for the cooler weather. Its been getting very cold at night. I haven't been watching the news but I'm sure within a week or 2 we will be getting a cold snap. I'm going to drape a plastic drop cloth($2.97 painting supply at walmart) over it and staple it to the box. I added a couple stakes to the corners to keep it propped up.

I hope I can keep my plant producing all winter long. XD
I have a strawberry plant from last spring that didn't produce any fruit, it only gave me 7 runner plants. The funny thing is I had it in a topsy turvy... I'm going to bring in those plants and try again next spring.

My seeds came in from Burpee, I got them planted in some cups. I want strong plants to transplant in the spring. : )
here is my set up:

I had an enjoyable day...

2011-12-01T17:11:00.000-08:00

Showing off my little table-top tree.

For dinner tonight we had something new, Bertolli Soup(frozen). We tried the Roasted Chicken & Rotini Pasta. It was actually very good and very quick to make. I also made some fresh bruschetta(click to see my recipe). It was a good little dinner for 2. I love easy dinners! :)

This morning I got a visit from a pretty hawk in my backyard. It was sitting on the cable line soaking up some sun. I was less than 10 feet away from it, I got lots of video and a few photos. ^_^

That's all for now...

my lunch today...

2011-11-29T11:38:00.000-08:00

lettuce chicken wraps with sauteed onion, peppers, and garlic. topped with diced fresh tomato.

Ingredients:

1 boneless/skinless chicken breast
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 tomato, diced
4 romaine lettuce leaves
paprika
sea salt & fresh cracked pepper, to taste

Prepare:

Season chicken breast with paprika & s/p(or other spices of choice).
Sautee chicken in pan until cooked. remove from pan and let rest.
cook peppers, onion, and garlic in same pan until soft(lightly season with s/p).
cut chicken into small bite size pieces
serve with fresh romaine lettuce leaves and dices tomatoes.

enjoy!

starting seeds...

2011-11-27T10:40:00.000-08:00

4 avocado seeds and a pineapple top.

getting ready to start a bunch of seeds indoors through the winter, then come spring I will have a jump start on the season.
I will be growing:

tomatoes
red bell peppers
corn
jalapeno
Thai peppers
pepprocini
sunflowers
soybeans

Back again! : p

2011-11-23T06:20:00.000-08:00

I get so sidetracked...

So as for my garden in posts pervious, only the Basil(which I let flower, to collect seeds), rosemary, and red bell peppers(non-stop peppers!) are left. The tomatoes were a bust. Next growing season I plan to try a small container tomato. I want to grow a couple stalks of corn but my husband doesn't want me to for some reason...

I've got some great recipes I would like to share, so look forward to detailed recipes with photos or videos(haven't decided).

starting an avocado seed...

more soon!

more gardening...

2011-06-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

Summer!

2011-06-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

so I haven't gotten around to posting anything about my vacay yet. Maybe tomorrow I will get all the photos together and do so.

Today I spent the morning working in my garden! here are some photos:

Rosemary bush

Tomato plant growing out of control! : D

Strawberry plant

Red bell pepper plant

some fresh rosemary and basil

My raised bed garden! ^_^

Seed packet mix( Instant Bouquet Garden).

Large bottle gourd sprout.

Here are some little projects from my garden:

I always have had trouble with the large umbrellas and the stands that you buy at the store... so this time around I bought a cheap beach umbrella and the stand that your twist down into the sand. I cemented the stand into an old plastic planter; it actually works out so much better than the expensive stands you buy at the store. I think because the tube is much taller and makes the umbrella very sturdy. It's nice because I can bring out the umbrella, pop it into the stand and move the whole thing around my little garden with me.

Here is my rabbit-foot fern. I had this at one point sitting on my front doorstep and then somebody(my hubby) decided to throw it into our purple heart/elephant ear jungle to be lost forever... lol.
so today I saved it and made a simple hanger for it. I used a metal craft hoop, heavy gauge wire, and some thick leather cording(probably not the best material, but it's all I had on hand). I made a small hook from the wire and hung it from a low ceiling in my kitchen as I strung the hoop with the leather cord. I think this worked out great and is an easy/cheap way to recycle materials and turn an old container into a hanging planter. : )
*BTW- I recommend only using a light plastic container, as the materials I used might not survive anything heavier.*

Western Kingbird

2011-04-29T14:12:00.000-07:00

: )

Getting ready!

2011-04-29T08:46:00.000-07:00

for my vacay/pit firing...

On April 19th I split my index finger open... I was unable to get my hands dirty for sometime... just the other day I got back on the wheel(yay!).
Here is what my finger looked like:

Now that I am all better I am finishing up my terra sig on some of the pieces... I used a pretty simple terra sig recipe. If they turn out okay I will put up the recipe that I used.
Here is a video of the process:

and here are some photos of the pieces to be pit fired:

adding them shortly : )

bruschetta!

2011-04-25T16:13:00.000-07:00

I love bruschetta! There is nothing better than fresh bruschetta and a cold glass of concord grape juice(Welch's of course)! : D

Here is what you will need:

6-8 Roma tomatoes [diced]
1-2 cloves of garlic [grated]
2-3 Tbsp of olive oil [extra virgin]
1 Tbsp Basil paste [can substitute for fresh basil finely chopped]
salt/fresh ground black pepper [to taste]
Fresh Italian or French bread [sliced and toasted to liking]

Amounts of each ingredient can be adjusted to your liking. I like more garlic than most people(my husband : p) so I usually use 2 cloves. I also like thick lightly toasted bread. : D
enjoy!

Bill!

2011-04-25T15:43:00.001-07:00

with his new back drop! ^_^

so in love...

2011-02-07T12:05:00.000-08:00

I am so in love with this raku that I ordered... although I haven't been able to fire anything yet, it is a DREAM to throw with. : )

I can't wait to test fire a few pieces... I'm excited!

I going to do terra sigillata to most of them for barrel fire them. Maybe do a few horse hair pots as well! ^_^

A few practice pots for a test firing drying in the sun

waiting...

2011-02-05T17:43:00.000-08:00

My raku arrived yesterday, after I posted. : p
I didn't feel like posting again yesterday. Instead I threw a few small bowls for a test firing. I went to go trim the bottoms today and totally ruined one. I couldn't find my turning tools for the longest and had been using this really awful one that tears up my pieces... well after that happened I went searching for my missing tools. I found them in the house in a box... -_- but at least I found them and saved my other small bowls.

now I am just waiting for the burn ban to be lifted... We got some rain today, I am hoping that will help. They probably won't lift it until everyone's yards are green again. I guess it gives me more time to make more pieces.

Here is a photo I added to my DeviantArt account today:

Please feel free to check out my DA page here.

Back in action!

2011-02-04T09:02:00.000-08:00

Last year was crazy... So far so good this year! : )

Currently, I am researching primitive pottery methods... I want to try my hand at firing my pots the old fashioned way... The Iroquois(to whom I am a decedent) pit fired their pots. Where I live I cannot dig a pit... so, I'm going to 'barrel' fire mine. I don't have room for, nor do I know where to get an old oil barrel; So, I am going to use a small charcoal grill. My husband contacted our local fire department to ask questions and they said it would be fine if we have all the proper precautions. First I have to wait for them to lift the burn ban... Until then I am going to continue researching information on pit and barrel firings.

Today I made a small test 'barrel', I used an old coffee can. this is going to be for one small piece to test the waters so to speak. here are some photos:

I made a grate using some chicken wire we had lying around.

I used a hammer and nail to punch holes around the bottom edge. The small hook you see at the bottom right, is to help remove the grate when its hot.

Here I am demonstrating it. I will, of course, be wearing protective gloves. ; )

I punched 8 holes with roughly even spacing... I am hoping that will let enough oxygen in. We will see. This is all totally experimental. I will document all my trials and errors.

I can't wait for my raku to get here, I ordered some more raku and a couple books on alternative firing.

Wolf

2010-05-02T16:07:00.001-07:00

Wolf paw smudge bowl...

dots:

2010-04-30T09:56:00.000-07:00

Taken on my potter's wheel while applying slip dots to a wheel thrown piece