Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Veggies!!! From a 1/2 share from a farm!!

Can you believe all these wonderful veggies!!
This all came from one week (and the leftovers from last week) from a 1/2 share that I purchased.  I've never done this before, but so far I think it's fabulous!  I still don't know what some of the stuff is that I have received... especially the herbs...and it's rather fun (and healthy) to be sort-of  forced to make sure all this stuff gets used.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Super Fast Southwest Layered Salad

This was a super fast salad to make!  Tasty too!

Arrange 6 cups of lettuce (I used torn romaine lettuce) in the bottom of a glass serving bowl or on a serving plate.  Then layer the following on top of the lettuce:
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed, drained
1 regular size can of corn
3/4 cup Salsa
1/2 cup Shredded cheese (I used a mix of cheeses)
Drizzle with 1/2 cup of Ranch Dressing
Break up tortilla chips and layer with at least a cup of the broken chips.

Eat!!!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Father's Day Card Ideas

Sometimes it is hard to get away from the girly cards that we all like to make.  Here are a couple ideas for cards for the men in your life!
This card uses the fabulous licensed realtree design that most hunters like.  This paper is available from Papers Best dealers or on their website.  This paper is fabulous for making masculine cards.  I have also used it to cover a journal and a clipboard.  How about desk accessories for gifts?

These were birthday cards, but they would make great father's day cards, as well.  Use some fishing themed paper with eyelash fibers to look like something made for a fly-fisherman.

Something that looks like wood is also masculine in nature.  Nature... wood... get it!  Ok, silly play with words, I know!  I'm not sure where I got this particular paper, but I do know that Papers Best carries something similar, as well.  In general, they are a great source for more realistic (rather than cutesy) outdoors themed papers and products targeted towards men.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Moist Rhubarb Strawberry Cake

Moist Rhubarb Strawberry Cake
1-1/2 Cups Sugar
1 Egg
2 Cups Rhubarb, cut up (see notes below)
1/4 Cup Strawberries, sliced and partially mashed with juice
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 Cup Butter, melted
1 tsp. Baking Soda
2 Cups Flour
1 Cup Buttermilk/Sour Milk (see notes below for tips on how to make this)

Grease and flour 9x12 pan.  Mix ingredients together.  Pour into cake pan.
Mix these additional ingredients together:
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Tbs. Cocoa Powder
1/4 tsp. Ginger
1 tsp. Cinnamon

Sprinkle this mixture over the batter.  Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 35 minutes (check with a toothpick to see if it is done).  
A couple of things...
You may want more rhubarb, if so just add another 1/4 cup or so.
Rhubarb should be cut into 1/4 - 1/2 inch slices.
To make buttermilk, you can add 1 tsp. to 1 Tbs. vinegar to regular milk and let sit for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Be Healthy AND Save Money!

How often do you grab something from the snack machine or convenience store because you didn't plan ahead and , dang it, your hungry?!  A little planning is all it takes!  Keep a little storage of snacks available.  It will keep you from buying something unhealthy and it will keep you from spending the excess amounts on convenience.

I keep granola bars and a bottle of water in my handbag most of the time.  I have a little stash in my desk drawer at work.  If you don't have a desk drawer, maybe you have a cubby or a tool box drawer, or keep it in your car or tote bag...   be creative with your solution!  At work, I keep nuts, granola, pretzels, crackers, packets of tea and lemonade, and even oatmeal packets!  If you have a fridge available, you can keep cheese, yogert, and veggies.  The oatmeal has really been handy when I forget my lunch. 

Bringing your lunch every day saves money and helps you eat healthy too!  Don't forget the fresh fruit and veggies!  Just plan ahead when you go grocery shopping.  Another tip: mark it on your calendar - prepare your week of lunches and snacks on the weekend when you have more time.

All of this works for eating healthy on-the-run too.  Just a little planning can really add up to being more healthy, losing weight, and saving lots of money....

If you save even just 4.00 per day by bringing your lunch and/or not buying snacks....  and you take 2 weeks of vacation...  then  5 weekdays x 50 weeks x 4.00 = a savings of OVER $1000. PER YEAR!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Another Crafting Deal Site!


Scrappin steals and deals is a brand new site, so I really don't know much about it.  You will have to check it out for yourself and see what you think! 

Remember that if you want to see all of the fun daily deals that I have found:
Just click on daily deals in the topic cloud on the left side, down just a bit and it will bring up all the entries that I have made on that topic!