Foodie Friday - French Breakfast Puffs

 

Welcome to another Foodie Friday....My DH finally has a day off after working 12 days straight.  Since we have a day of yard work ahead of us and because he loves breakfast, I wanted to make something super special for him today.  Our DDIL baked these for us when we were visiting a few weeks ago.  Oh, my!!  These are from the Pioneer Woman's cookbook but I've had them before. 


If I say warm, melt in your mouth, cinnamonny (is that a word?), sugary, and oh so easy...would I be able to entice to head to the kitchen right now?

You can because these are super simple.  Bet you have all the ingredients in your fridge and pantry so here we go:

French Breakfast Puffs

3 cups all purpose flour (always stir it up a bit and spoon lightly in your measuring cup..don't tap it down)

3 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon grund nutmeg

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup shortening (I used butter flavor Crisco)

2 eggs

1 cup milk (I used whole milk because I had some in the fridge for another recipe)

Coating

1/2 lb. (2 sticks) real unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease 12-15 muffin cups. 

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.  Set aside.

In another large bowl, cream together the sugar and shortening.

Add one half of the flour mixture, pour in all the milk and beat on low speed just until blended.  Add the remaining flour and beat well just until completely blended.

Fill the greased muffin cups 2/3 full. 

Bake for 18-25 min.  or until golden.  (I baked mine about 19 min.  Check yours with a toothpick poked in the center after 18 minutes, if it comes out clean, they're done.)

While muffins are baking, prepare the coating.  Melt the butter in a glass bowl or pan.  In a separate bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. 

Remove the muffins from the pan immediately.  Be careful, they're tender.  Dip the warm muffins in the butter coating completely.  (If you have a couple of kids handy, they'll love doing this job for you!)

Now roll the muffins in the cinnamon/sugar.  Make sure to coat these completely.

Now, bite into one of these warm sugary confections...you'll want to use a plate so you can catch the crumbs and shhhhh...lick the plate and your fingers.

Yes, they're that good!!

After cooling, you can freeze these and reheat later.

Edited to add:  I made these for church using a mini muffin pan.  Worked out great!  The recipe made about 28-30 minis.  Sorry, I lost count as I needed over a 100 servings.  I baked them about 11-12 min.  Be sure to check with a toothpick for doneness.

The Cutting Cafe - Best Wishes

Gosh...it's June already!  Anybody know where May went?  We've been having the normal afternoon thunderstorms almost daily.  The big ones cause the barometric pressure to drop fast and when that happens, my blood pressure goes up.  Weird, right?  Means I have to take extra meds and I get a horrible headache.  It's subsided a bit so I'll try to make this brief.  

 

At any rate, when I think of June, I think of weddings...we don't have any icoming up soon but when I found this elegant Color Splash Challenge #18 over on Hand Stamped Sentiments blog, I just couldn't resist playing along.  

                                            

                                             

                                                  

Regina, over at The Cutting Cafe has just designed a set of card frames called fittingly, Celebration Frames.  You get 3 frames..."Party Time", "Happy Birthday" and"Best Wishes".  I thought the Best Wishes would be perfect for a wedding card.  

 

                                    

I tried to keep the card CAS (Clean and Simple) so I added a strip of DP and simple sentiment panel.  See that cute bag?  It's one of my most favorite bags.   It's by The Digi Chick and it's called Funky Bag 2.  I'm not sure why as I think it's just perfect.  I kept it simple to go with the card and because I wanted it to look more taylored like the card.  The bag is closed with a velcro dot and the accent is just a gem glued into the depression on my button.    I printed the DP from a free download pack I got a long time ago.  It's on my other computer so I'll look it up and add it later.  I think it's called Lola.   Isn't it elegant?  I used the leftover strip on my card so no waste!

 

Thanks for stopping by to play with me today.  I love your comments!!

 

Supplies:

Paper - Neenah Classic, digital DP

Stamps - The Cutting Cafe Celebration Frames, unnamed rubber

Ink - Versafine

Accessories - Funky Bag Template - The Digi Chick, May Arts silk ribbon, silver twine, silver gems, button, velcro dot

 

PDSS16 - John 15:13

Hi Everybody!  It's time for another Posh Designs Scrapbook Store sketch.  Nini's sketches are always so imaginative and fun.   You actually saw a sneak peak of it on this post...and here's another with a completely different feel.  This is going to my sweet Bible study leader. 

 

                           

 

Here's the sketch :

 

and here's what you can win...you know Posh Designs always has some goodies for playing along!

Woo-Hoo.....Yummy Primas...brand new in the package! 

The deadline:  June 14th @ 11:59 PM EST Canada   Get creating and then head on over to the Posh blog and link up.  Can't wait to see what you do with this fun sketch!!

Thanks for playing with me today!!

Supplies:

Paper - Papertrey Ink Berry Sorbet, Blush Blossom, Neenah Classic White

Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs Friendship, Papertrey Polka Dot Basics

Ink -  Versafine black, SU Craft White, PTI Berry Sorbet

Accessories - Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Martha Stewart Flowers, Michael's bling

 

If it's the First of the Month, It Must be Paper Cubed!!

The first of every month the team over at the Paper Cubed (P3) blog have a super challenge for you!  This month, Kim, our team coordinator, challenged us to make a container. 

Well, it's summer and in summer, my mind turns to picnics....I adore picnics.  My poor DH gets so tired of hearing me say it because he's not a trudge, sweat, swat while you eat kinda guy, but sometimes he gives in and lets me plan one. 

I had this paper from Gooseberry Patch on my desk, so when Kim sent her challenge over, I saw the bounties of summer packed into this little basket template from Papertrey Ink.  Inside, I've packed a jar of my Spiced Peach Jam and a package of my homemade Multigrain Pancake Mix.  I made a recipe card to go with it.

Be sure to pop over to the Paper Cubed blog to check out the rest of the eye candy from the P3 team then get creating and link up your project at P3 to win a $15 gift certificate to Lauren Meader's MyTime Made Easy site.  Lauren used to design for Papertrey and designed the template for this basket.  You've got a month so no need to feel rushed.  Have fun and good luck!!  Be sure to check out the rest of the awesome projects from the team at the links below.

P3 Team

Michelle

Melanie

Tammy

Sandy

Lorrinda

Supplies:

Template - Papertrey Ink Pack a Picnic

Paper - Gooseberry Patch, SU Barely Banana, White

Stamps - Papertrey Fruitful

Accessories - Martha Stewart punch, Spellbinders circle dies, SU flowers, plaid brads (Target $1 spot), Scor-Tape

With Liberty and Justice for All - Thank You for Your Service

Happy Memorial Day!  We want to thank all the brave men and women who sacrifice daily so that we may enjoy the privileges of liberty.  Please take a moment today and whisper a prayer for these heroes and their families.  

Make a quick card today for one of the heroes in our military and send it off.  What no patriotic stamps?  You can change that by heading to The Cutting Cafe and downloading this super We Love our Troops set, Regina designed just for our men and women in the military.   34 awesome stamps!!

This qualifies for these challenges:

CAS69 - SCS Heroes

No Time to Stamp 141 - Flying High and Proud Color Challenge

Stampin B - Challenge60 Patriotic card

Supplies:

Paper - Neenah Classic

Stamps - The Cutting Cafe We Love our Troops

Accessories - Spellbinders circle dies, dimensionals. ribbon, The Print Shop

   

A CAS Sweet Summer at the Amusement Park

This is my final submission for Challenge 4 (a moveable part) for the CAS Summer DT challenge.  The theme challenge is Summer and  Amusement Park. Jen (aka Miss Boo), the CAS forum coordinator said she was off to ride the roller coaster...that got my mind going.  I'm not a roller coaster girl...the ferris wheel is more my speed, nice and slow and high enough to see everything!  Problem...no roller coaster stamp  -  Solution...make my own!

I cut a out the large Spellbinder Snowflake out of foil cardstock then trimmed off all the little parts that make it a fancy flake.  Then I free hand cut the "V" for the base from the same paper.  The center is a stamp from Inkadinkadoo "Circle and Dots" set, stamped with Kaleidascope Carnival ink (appropriate, huh?)  cut to fit with a Spellbinder's circle die.  I added the "lights" with colored stick on gems.

The "chairs" are small Spellbinder circle dies cut by placing the cardstock about 2/3 of the way on the die.  Now for how to get it to move.  This took a bit of trial and error.  If the chairs weren't popped up, they hit the base and wouldn't turn.  I tried several ways and finally ended up putting small square dimensionals aroun the center brad.  I left the paper on the top side of the dimensional so it wouln't stick. 

I punched a hole at the top of the base piece using a long reach circle punch, then inserted the brad into the hole.  I placed the brad tongs through a button, opening the prongs just enough to hold it.  Now the receipient can turn the button and turn the wheel on the front.  You can use this technique for many types of moveable card parts...try it and let me know!

                                  

The "Sweet Summer" sentiment is printed directly on my cardstock using Print shop and the super Sweet Summer stamp from The Cutting Cafe.  Can you believe it's only 99 cents?  And you can make it any size you want to!!  One of my favorite stamps for summer cards.

Thanks for stopping by. 

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen!, Goodbye

There's a  brand new blog hop going on over at House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge Blog.  One of the requirements is to make a Goodbye/Farewell card.   In addition, the Featured Stamper #173 challenge on SCS this week is the awesome CAS stamper, Emily.  Be sure to hop over and check out her fabulous gallery of CAS cards.

                                     

Sadly, I don't have a House Mouse stamp that would fit this challenge as I only have a couple; but I found this little Seed Shooter in my stash that I thought I could make work.  I used my JustRite Stampers lower case Times New Roman font for the sentiment.  Since I'm in CAS mode,  I decided to make this little guy the star and keep everything super simple.

Be sure to check out the DT samples on the House Mouse & Friends site.  There's some great inspiration there! And, don't forget Emily's gallery on SCS!!

Here are a couple of other challenges as well:
Creative Craft - Ribbon & Bows
All Sorts - Tag

Supplies:

Paper- Neenah Classic. Papertrey Leaf Green

Stamps - Stampabilities Seed Shooter, JRS lower case Times New Roman

Ink - Memorex, Copic markers

Accessories - PTI leaf green ribbon, Making Memories bling, Spellbinders circle dies

Blog Candy and Eye Candy Alert

I just checked out Lorrinda's blog, Isn't that Sweet.  She's one of my Paper Cubed Design Team buddies.  While I was oohing and ahhing over her creations, I saw that she had a link to this awesome blog..Make it Crafty...my goodness!  This lady has some SERIOUS talent!!...and an awesome blog candy as well.

 

 

As fun as this is, it pales compared to her talent!  Check out this card...

In addition to being gorgeous, that horse ROCKS!  She designed the mechanism that makes it rock back and forth!  Fabulous!!  She's got a video at the link showing it rocking....way cool!

Head on over and check her out! 

  

Clean and Simple

 

I can't believe it!  I made it through the first two challenges for the CAS Summer DT on SplitcoastStampers.

Now there are 19 super talented ladies and me in the running for the next challenges.  Challenge 3 was to make a card using pop dots/dimensionals.  We also have the option of making two cards.  The theme is Summer/Amusement Park.

I have used this LO before...it's quick, easy.  I chose this bright Summer Sunrise from Papertrey to give it a summery feel.  Both the flower and the panel are popped up. 

Supplies:

Paper - Neenah Classic

Ink - Memorex, Copic markers

Stamps - Papertrey  Friends Til the End

Accessories - PTI Summer Sunrise ribbon, dimensionals

Here's my second card.   It also qualifies for the 4th challenge to make something moveable on your card.  The propellers on the airplane turn!  I just cut an extra set (ask me how many I cut before I got one to stay together!) of propellers and used a brad to make them turn.  Since texture is also a criteria I tried to add some extra on this one.  The clouds are heat embossed and popped up, the airplane is covered with Crystal Effects as well as embossed.  I dropped a teensy bit of embossing powder on the plane body to simulate dents...this pilot is no sissy!  The plane is cut out and popped on dimensionals as well. 

Our grandson's bedroom is decorated in these colors and theme.  My DH has always called our sons "Buddy" so the sentiment is special to me.

What do you think?

Supplies:

Paper - Neenah Classic, Papertrey

Stamps - Papertrey Fly Away, Scattered Showers Additions

Ink - Copic markers, silver paint pen, SU white

Accessories - sewing machine, twine, button, brad, dimensionals, Clear EP, Crystal Effects

Foodie Friday - Chocolate Berry Meringue

Welcome to Foodie Friday!  I showed you this dessert last year but we had friends over tonight and it's sooo good, I thought it deserved repeating.  It takes several steps but you can do most of it ahead and nothing is too difficult, even for a beginner.

Here we go:

Chocolate Berry Meringue

1 recipe Chocolate Meringue

1 recipe Raspberry Puree

1 recipe whipping cream

6 c. fresh fruit - strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and/or kiwi

Additional shaved chocolate, if desired

Rapsberry Puree

1-1/2 c. fresh or frozen raspberries (thaw and drain if frozen)

1 T. sugar

Place raspberries in blender.  Puree until smooth, sieve out seeds, if desired.  Stir in 1 T. sugar.  Cover and chill until serving time.

Chocolate Meringue

6 egg whites, allow to stand at room temp. at least 30 minutes

1 c. sugar

3 oz. bittersweet or semi-sweet good quality chocolate, grated

3 T. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 t. balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.  Draw a 10" circle on the paper/foil, leaving a 1-2 inch margin outside the circle.  Set aside.

In large mixing bowl, beat egg whites with mixer on medium to high speed until soft peaks form (tips stand straight up) and sugar is dissolved.  Gently fold in the grated chocolate, cocoa powder and vinegar.  Spread the meringue onto the parchment circle.  Place in oven.  Immediately, reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.  Bake for 1 hour.  Remove from oven, set on a rack and let cool completely on the baking sheet.  Carefully  remove meringue from paper/foil; transfer to a serving platter.

Whipping Cream

1 c. whipping cream

1 T. confectioner's sugar

1/2 t. vanilla

In chilled bowl, beat cream, sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.  Spread onto meringue, top with berries, and shaved chocolate, if desired.

To serve - drizzle plates with Raspberry Puree, top with a slice of the meringue and additional shaved chocolate. 

Serves 6-10

Enjoy!  Let me know if you make it.  Really....it's easy!

Beautiful Random Act of Kindness

I think stampers are the most generous people in the world!   Look what I found in my mailbox...

 

 

Aren't these just gorgeous?!!   They are a gift from Lynne (http://www.mymadkow.typepad.com/)

Lynne is one of my team mates on the Posh Designs Scrapbook Store DT.  Be sure to check out her blog if you'd like to see more of her awesome work.  She does alot of gorgeous scrapbook pages, so if you're a scrapbooker, you're in for some awesome eye candy.

Thanks for stopping by...I didn't get much stamping done today...back to the dr. for more tests and still painting the walls. 

 

Don't Worry, BEE Happy!

Happy Wednesday!  Today's card is another using those adorable bees from The Cutting Cafe's Cute Critters set.    I just adore these bees.  I painted them with Papertrey Summer Sunrise ink and coated them with Crystal Effects so they shine, then popped them up on dimensionals.

I entered this in these blog challenges :

Crafty Creations #68 - Encouragement/Celebration

Stampavie and more #95 - Flower Power

Order of the Opus Gluei - Seasonal Icons (what a fun blog!)

Thanks for stopping by...I appreciate your visits and your comments!!

Splish, Splash - It's Summertime, Summertime, Sum, Sum, Summertime!

This is my second challenge card for the Summer DT Search on SCS.  You can play even if you don't want to try out for the DT because it's the  CAS challenge of the week.  (CAS68) Theme - Think Summer!  ?

I used lots of shimmer, glitter and shine.  Wish you could see it IRL!  I cut out the cold treats, covered them in Crystal Effects, glittered the ice cream cone and popped them on with dimensionals.  Boys must have one for each hand, right?

                                 

I used CE for the water, and cut out a friend for the duck and popped him on dimensionals, too. 

Also entered in the "Splish, Splash" challenge #32 on SophistiCat Challenge blog

                              Order of the Opus Gluei  Challenge #56- Seasonal Icons

Thanks for stopping by...I appreciate you!

Supplies:

Stamps - SU Good Ole' Summertime (retired)

Paper - DCWV  Citrus Pack

Ink - Memento, Copic marker, SU marker

Accessories - Crystal Effects, Art Institute glitter, Sakura glitter pen, dimensionals, ribbon, buttons

Dolly Momma's Going to the Amusement Park

Today is has been a terrible phototography day! No matter where I tried to shoot, inside or out, the lighting was terrible!

I just love these saucy Dolly Momma stamps! They're like "Maxine", they can say what I can't. I covered up this Dolly's original sentiment though, and added my own, because she's getting her picture taken at the Amusement Park over on SCS CAS Summer DT Search. She absolutely refused to have her photo taken without her favorite cat buddy, Frankie. She also insisted that Frankie be allowed to sit wherever he chose...sooooo...there you have it....and yes, she's supposed to be crooked!


She's got beads on her dress & shoes, glossy lipstick (Crystal Effects), Glitter pen on her sunglasses, belt, shoe bows.


This card is for the first challenge...hoping it makes the cut. Wish me luck?

I'm also sending this card to Jayme, Lisa's  (Stamped Art by Lisa) sister.  You can read about Jayme on Lisa's blog.  If you have time to send Jayme a card, especially if it has a frog on it, you will be blessing them both.  If you don't have a frog, like me, just send a funny card.  You can find Jayme's address on Lisa's blog.


Supplies:
Paper - PTI white, Green Galore, Black
Stamps - Dolly Momma
Ink - Memento black, SU markers, Copic Markers
Accessories - beads, ribbon, glitter pen, Crystal Effects

Post It Note Tutorial

Happy Saturday!!  Busy day today as hubby is off this weekend.  I did a newbie tutorial over at the Posh Designs blog for these little Post it Note Holders.    Don't forget to play along with the Posh sketch challenge...You could win some awesome Webster's Pages DP. 

Foodie Friday - Baby Back Ribs

I'm thinking about making Fridays all about food.  What do you think?  Cooking and baking are my other passions and I do alot of it so I thought maybe I might have a recipe or two you may not have seen or a technique you may not know....yet.

These are the juiciest, easiest ribs you will ever cook.  The best part, once the prep is done, so are you.

We usually buy our ribs in bulk at Sam's Club as they're more affordable.  They come 3 full racks to a package.  What's great is that we can cook, freeze and simply pop them on the grill for a quick meal for ourselves, friends or if someone needs a meal.

Here are the details:  The recipe stays the same no matter the quantity.

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.  Line baking trays with aluminum foil.

Trim ribs of any extra fat and pull of the membrane on the back side of the racks.  Cut the racks in two.  If desired, you may put a dry rub on them (we always do!)  I have a super recipe for one if you'd like it.

After rubbing, place the ribs on the baking trays.  Bake at 275 degrees for 3 hours. 

                                 

Ribs will be super tender and clean up is a breeze...just throw the foil away!

Ribs may be eaten as is or thrown on the grill for a few minutes  and slathered with your favorite BBQ sauce.

Any extra ribs may be cooled, wrapped tightly and frozen.  To serve, thaw in the refrigerator, grill until hot (about 10-15 minutes)

That's it!  Easy, peasy and oh, so good!!

Lockhart Buttermilk Chicken

Oh my...I'm late to life today.  We went to Ikea....AGAIN, yesterday.  My DH is a saint.  This is the 3rd time he's sacrificed his day for my studio.  We thought it would be a quick trip up and back with maybe time for lunch but noooooo.  It took 3 hours to get a straight.   The Ikea return/exchange staff was super so it wasn't their fault.  They brought down 3 separate units until we finally got all the pieces.  We kept finding crooked boards.  We have lots of respect for their patience, they reimbursed us for our gas/tolls (since it was the 3rd time) and were super polite/helpful. 

This is my LATE sketch submission for the Posh Designs Scrapbook store sketch challenge (PDSS15). 

You can flip, rotate, resize or do whatever your crafty heart desires as long as we can still see the original sketch in your creation then you're good to go! These challenges are on a bi-weekly basis, so that means you'll have two (2) weeks to get your creations completed, loaded and linked up! 

For this challenge Posh Designs Scrapbook Store is giving away... 3 Packages of Webster's Pages SPANKING NEW Fabric Ribbons from their brand new collections: Lullaby Lane, Garden Gala & Seaside Retreat!!! (5 fabric strips per cards - 18" each design).

BTW...for those of you who are waiting for the info on the digital paper I used on this card,  it's right here...Lizze Ann Designs Stars and Stripes.  I just love it.  I got mine last year and have used it often.

Supplies:

Stamps - Karen Lockhart Buttermilk Chicken,  PTI Simple Little Things
Paper - SU So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Gooseberry Patch DP (I will put some on my for sale page if anyone is interested).
Ink - SU markers, PTI chamomile
Accessories - Spellbinders label die, SU choc. chip grosgrain
Technique - Distressing, sponging

 

We Love Our Troops

Just in time for Memorial Day!  Regina at the Cutting Cafe has come out with a brand new set called,

"We Love Our Troops".   There are 34 stamps in this set including circles dedicated to each branch of the service.

I printed the sentiment directly on my card in PrintShop and changed the color to red.  The DP is a download (I got it last year and can't remember where but I'll look it up and get back to you because it's a great set of papers.)


This qualifies for:

The JUGS 33 challenge to use red, white and blue with kraft as an option.

The Stamp TV Monday Color Challenge - Red, White, & Blue

The Shabby Tea Room Week 10 Challenge Stars and Stripes

Card size is 4.25" x 5.5"

Supplies:

Stamps - The Cutting Cafe We Love Our Troops

Paper - Neenah Classic, SU Real Red, Brocade Blue,

digi DP - Lizzie Ann Designs Stars & Stripes

Accessories - corner rounder, retired SU ribbon, stars and chipboard USA from my clearance stash, dimensionals, red gel pen

Re-Draw for Cutting Cafe Winner

Ok, guys...Gina hasn't contacted me so I've drawn another number. Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

28

Timestamp: 2010-05-18 01:10:09 UTC
Gloria Westerman said...

These are just adorable...and very clever.....I pop over to the cafe and I love the lady bugs...


May 11, 2010 2:41 PM

Congratulations, Gloria!!