this is a blog about memory keeping, funny stories & baked goods i make, and do my best not to eat. proper capitalization is always optional.

12.31.2010

recipe: not your average grilled cheese sandwich.

let me just clarify first.
i am not all crazy obsessed with mayonnaise as of late.
true, i prefer mayo to ketchup with my fries.. but that's pretty much the limit of my mayonnaise craziness.

but when i posted about the mayonnaise rolls a few nights ago, i got an interesting email from a reader. he says he was a chef in his former life, and along with sending me a link to a recipe for a cake with chocolate AND mayo in it (no joke) he told me he uses mayo in place of butter for his grilled cheese sandwiches.


i'm serious.

so, when i made grilled cheese sandwiches for mason & his friend cogan a yesterday, i just couldn't resist trying it myself.

my curiosity got the best of me.

i figure if i tried raw fish in 2010 i could certainly try a grilled cheese made with mayonnaise.



but i didn't want to waste food. so, like a chicken, i only made a half a sandwich.


and you know what?

it wasn't bad. it tasted almost the same as it does with butter. it was void that rich buttery taste you obviously get when you use butter, but it wasn't horrible.

he said it added a tangy flavor, which i didn't get.. but i'm guessing that's because i barely put enough mayonnaise on to get the bread to brown. (i wasn't entirely sold on the idea, i'll admit it.)

but i tried something new.
and once again. i didn't die.

and i'll try it again... someday.

thanks for sharing guenther!

xo- k

12.30.2010

diy: coffeemate snowman.

i get excited when the holiday's roll around, like everyone else...

but i'm pretty sure there aren't many people who get quite as excited about the return of coffeemate's peppermint mocha coffee creamer as i do.

i'm just guessing.

from the time it comes out right around thanksgiving, to the time it disappears again in january, it's safe to say i go through about 2 bottles a week. all by myself.

that's kinda alot of coffee creamer people.

& i feel pretty lame about it, but i have a hard time letting go of bottles & jars. i feel like if i get rid of them i'll find some really cool project that i could use them for, and then i'll be ticked off at myself for not keeping them. it's not just bottles & jars. it's tins too. it's a sickness really. i have no idea what i'll do with them, but they are taking up an entire shelf in my garage....

& i can't let them go.

so imagine how happy i was when i went to put the coffee creamer away a week ago, & it dawned on me it kinda looked like a snowman.

well maybe not EXACTLY like one, but close enough!


close enough for me, ....especially since i figured it'd be an easy craft for mason & i to do while he was out on winter break.  

coffeemate snowman

-empty coffeemate creamer container
-white paint
-black paint
-orange paint
-paintbrush
-pencil with eraser



1. wash your empty container & remove the wrapper.


2. cover the work surface & have them paint just the bottle part white. (i re purposed some old flexible cutting boards for craft usage.)


3. set bottles aside to dry.


 4. while bottle is drying, have them paint the lid black.


 5. set aside lid to dry.

























6. take pencil & dip eraser into black paint to make eyes, mouth, & buttons.

























(i had two little guys i was working with. mason lost interest, so i stamped his & let the other use it as a guide to do his own)

























7. take orange paint & paint on carrot nose. i did this one part for the other little guy. put lid on & you have yourself a little snowman.

























i know it's after christmas, but i figure you can fill this with candy & give it as a gift. or fill it with white hot chocolate mix. or flavored sugar. or just set it out as a christmas/winter decoration. or, what i think we will do with it.... use it as a christmas savings, so he has his own money to buy gifts next year.

whatever you decide to do with it, even if you do it just enjoy doing something with your child, it's a fun little way to re purpose something you would have just thrown away!

xo-k

ps. if you decide to do this, please, link up your project... i'm interested to see you put your own twist on it. i contemplated gluing beads on & adding a scarf, but between refereeing 6 & 4 year old boys, and feeding the baby, i figured simple was best!

life: looking forward.

if i'm being honest, i've never been good at following through on new years resolutions.
it's REALLY easy to make them, but actually doing them.. eh.

a few years ago i got the idea from elise blaha to make a list of things i wanted to do before my next birthday. it started as a '29 things before i'm 30' list. (it'd be 31 things this year, just in case you are curious.) and while i'd love to cross 31 things off a list, truth is, i feel like it's not very realistic for me this year.

i'd rather be successful at a few things, then end up being overwhelmed & disappointed in myself.

wouldn't you?

i was coloring with the dude yesterday & started doodling a list of ideas for 2011.


so what's on the list you ask?

well. things like..

-learn how to make sushi
-make time for dates with the hubs
-journal
-take more walks with the boys
-get crafty!
-learn about my camera(s).
         GET OUT OF AUTO!
-bake a cake. from scratch.
-teach myself embroidery
-learn to use my sewing machine
-set aside more PLAY time with the boys
-(get another tattoo)
-hang pictures
-make my own salsa
-ride my bike
-read more.
-open an etsy shop.
stop talking about doing it & DO it!

there are a couple of other things on the list.. but you get the idea. instead of thinking about it as a list of resolutions, think about it as a life 'to do' list. a sort of short term 'bucket list' maybe? somehow that makes it seem less intimidating.. doesn't it?

i invite you to make your own list & link it up in the comment section. i'd like to see what's on your 'to do' list next year. craft projects? trips? home makeovers? personal goals? let's see it all!

xo-k

12.29.2010

valentine's day: esty edition

it's onto the next holiday.

no not new years.

i'm talking about valentine's day.

yes, i'm aware that new years TECHNICALLY qualifies as the next holiday, but since we became an old married couple we rarely celebrate it. we've hung out with friends a couple of times, but we don't live it up like i figure you are supposed to.

i mean truthfully, it's a big effort to stay up until midnight. the last time we tried, i think i fell asleep. big party person i am right?

so. onto valentine's day it is.

i figure if the department stores already have valentine's day stuff out, i can post about etsy valentine finds right?

even if i can't, i'm going to... because this is my blog, and i'll cry.. i mean post if i want to! :)

xo @ oh hi shop

there isn't much i am NOT in love with at oh hi's shop. i mean.. take a peek yourself! this would be a cute little piece of desk art. i've been looking at the 'hello' canvas for a few months...

cupid's locked heart bracelet @ sol-e-mar


i'm a bracelet kind of girl more than a necklace kinda girl.  i always end up with shirts with funky necklines, and the necklaces i have never work. then, do you shop for the shirt first? or the necklace? i mean seriously! too much to think about! all i have to do with a bracelet is make sure it fits!


heart factory @ pearson maron

this little heart factory is just too tiny & too cute. (& too fragile for my house) the kind of little trinkets i love, but will refrain from buying until i have a safe home for them..


red labels @ julie collings

i love love love these vintage labels. scrapbooking. cardmaking. gift giving. good for valentine's day & then if you have any left over, for christmas too!  


hello love embroidered art @ the career scrapper


i told you i was all about the embroidery! this is just totally adorable. and i'm all about reusing old materials!


i love lucy apron @ lover dovers clothing




i am not an apron wearer, i'm more of a dishtowel over the shoulder kinda mama, but if i did wear one, this would totally be it. (i'm half tempted to pick it up and have a halloween party next year just so i can be LUCY! ps- mom if you are reading this i promise not to die my hair red again!)


she was happy necklace by kathryn riechert

yes she was... what am i saying.. she IS!


seduction necklace @ wild woman jewelry

when i do wear necklaces, it should be said, i do simple. simple statements. and this speaks volumes.

sweetheart accessories @ elna designs

it's things like this that make me wish i had a girl, and at the same time, make me thankful i have boys, because i would be flat broke. scrapbooking embellishments would totally be traded in for little girl accessories!


valentine's necklace @ merriweather council

embroidered necklace?! hello beautiful! really, need i say more?


vampire valentine set @ eden creative studio

ok, so this last one is a bit of a joke. anyone who knows me gives me a hard time about my vampire obsession. you'd think it was onset by my obsession with all things twilight, that started about 2 years ago. but it didn't. i'm an october baby, and honestly have always loved all things supernatural & creepy. i'd trade dressing up & pumpkins for christmas any day of the week. it's just that the vampire scene exploded with twilight. from there i became obsessed with true blood, and the sookie series.. & then came vampire diaries. i know i'm not alone in my total commitment to the various vampire worlds, but if you don't want to admit it, that's okay :) i'm kinda a closet vampire lover too.... well. maybe not.

my 6 year old recognizes edward & jacob & bella, and he's never seen even one of the movies. previews for the eclipse dvd come on, and he blocks the tv & starts screaming 'NO MAMA! NO!'

my mom threw me a 30th surprise birthday last year & it was twilight themed. they got my dad & brother in vampire makeup. my dad had eyeliner on. (that's some love there!)

but enough about vampires. (the hubs just walked in... he's team jacob!) :)

and onto valentine's day crafts. christmas snuck up too fast & i didn't get as much crafty stuff done as i want to. i figure if i start in december i should make it by february.. right?

here's to hoping.

xo-k

ps. did i mention i have a SLIGHT etsy addiction? you'll find that out if you stick around long enough. i love enabling!


12.27.2010

recipe: mayonnaise rolls

no. it's not a mistake. you aren't seeing things.

that says mayonnaise.

i was looking for a cornbread recipe (to go with the chili i was making) in the few cookbooks i have (ya know because i didn't have jiffy in the cabinet & the hubs continually complains about the cornbread being sweet anyways)....

and everything i found called for buttermilk. which i don't have on hand. and i didn't have the substitute ingredients for buttermilk either.

so i chucked the cornbread idea & thought about making johnnycakes. but i didn't want to have to fry anything. (it was a lazy kinda night. that's why we were having chili in the first place! one pot to clean!)

i came across this recipe in a cookbook my husbands aunt bought me the first year we were married. it's one of those compilation cookbooks a bunch of bank employees put together.

i figured, all these recipes are from women in georgia, there has got to be something bread-like i can get away with making tonight.

well. i never made it to the cornbread.

on the first page i found this recipe for mayonnaise rolls, which kinda end up like muffins... and my husband says they remind him of hoecakes.

either way.
they were good.
fluffy & slightly chewy.
i'm going to play around with adding some other things for flavor, but this was a good trial run.



















mayonnaise rolls
(yields approx. 9)

-1 cup self rising flour
-1 cup milk
-1 tsp mayonnaise



















1. preheat oven to 400.

2. mix all ingredients until well blended & lump-free.




3. pour batter into muffin tin. (fill about the same as you would for cupcakes or muffins) i didn't spray my pan, but i think i will next time. they came out with a little effort, and didn't stick too bad.


















4. bake for 20 minutes or until brown.


















5. let cool slightly, remove from pan & enjoy!

xo-k

12.21.2010

photography: that one


(photo credit: my aunt susan)

i know you know what i'm talking about.
when you set out to take pictures (or have them taken in this case)..
and you have a specific idea in mind...
and then you snap a few off hand at the end..
and you get something like this.
something that absolutely takes your breath away.
one that you didn't plan..
but the one that ends up being your favorite.
(even if there is drool in the picture)
this is that one.
oh. this is soo that one.

finishing last minute christmas things.
shopping.
wrapping.
baking.
i almost don't want christmas to come because i don't want it to end!

xo-k

12.19.2010

recipe: granny's pound cake

in 2005 we started a new family tradition, it was a transition from an old one.

each year at christmas, my granny (my mother's mom)would make pound cake. she would start two weeks before christmas day, and she would bake everyday, making more than two dozen pound cakes. she made two for each one of her six children, & she gave them out to neighbors, friends & co-workers. it was the only time of year she made them, so it was always a special treat. when she passed in 2005, my mom & aunts decided to carry on the tradition in her memory. it's been eye-opening as far as how much work she did, and did alone, while there are 5 and 6 sometimes 8 of us doing the work in just a few hours. it's been a way to connect to her memory during the holidays...

today is pound cake baking day 2010.
and since i obviously can't give a pound cake to each of you, i decided i'd share the recipe. and because i KNOW i won't be able to photograph step by step instructions with 6 people going 3 different directions, i'll just leave you with pictures from last years pound cake baking day. enjoy!:)




(ya. we get a little messy!)

















there are two recipes below. one is for chocolate pound cake. the other is for plain. granny always gave out one marble, one plain. we have streamlined, and made all marbled.... well because honestly the marbled is better. so you have three different options. plain. chocolate. or for marbled make both & swirl together! it's best cold out of the fridge christmas morning!

plain pound cake:

-1 cup crisco
-1 stick butter
-3 cups sugar
-5 eggs
-3 cups flour
-1/2 tsp baking powder
-1/2 tsp salt
-1 cup milk
-3 tsp vanilla

preheat oven to 300.

1. mix flour, baking powder & salt. set aside
2. in separate bowl cream crisco, butter & sugar. add eggs, one at a time.
3. combine dry mixture with wet mixture.
4. add milk & vanilla.
5. pour into greased loaf pan. bake 1 hour & 15 minutes.


chocolate pound cake

-1 cup crisco
-1 stick butter
-3 cups sugar
-5 eggs
-1 tsp vanilla
-1 1/2 cups milk
-3 cups flour
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
-1/2 tsp baking powder

preheat oven to 300.

1. mix flour, salt, cocoa powder & baking powder. set aside.
2. in separate bowl cream crisco, butter & sugar. add eggs.
3. combine wet mixture & dry mixture.
4. add milk & vanilla.
5. pour into greased loaf pan. bake 1 hour & 15 minutes.

marbled pound cake:

1. make one of each of the above recipes.
2. in greased loaf pan alternate dropping batter by spoonfuls in bottom of pan. (should look like a checkerboard)
3. for the next layer drop alternating colors on top of the first layer.
4. once pan is full, take butter knife & insert into pan swirling batters. DO NOT OVER MIX!
5. bake @ 300 for 1 hour & 15 minutes.

i hope you enjoy! we always do! :)

xo-k

12.18.2010

diy: easy tulle tutu

things like this make me wish i had a little girl to dress up.
but things like this also would make my pocket book (& my husband) cringe.
i'm not a girly girl, but i played barbie as a kid too!

so instead i make them for friends. cousins. neighbors. pretty much anyone with a little girl who will let me put it on their kid!

a little research & some trial & error & here is what i've come up with that works for me...

easy tulle tutu:

-elastic for the waistband
-25 yard roll of tulle
-needle & thread
-large book
-scissors
-glitter spray for hair (optional)
-diet coke for late night refreshment


















there are a few variations where the tulle is concerned. for a 1-3 yr old girl, the average is about a 15 inch waist, and i've found that one 25 yard spool of tulle is enough. obviously if you'd like to, you can mix up the colors. that's what i did below.




1. measure your recipients waste. subtract about 1 1/2 -2 inches. (you want the elastic to fit snug on the waste & it stretches a bit as you add tulle) cut your elastic to size. sew ends together with needle & thread. (i cut my elastic in half first because it was a little too wide, but i wanted to use what i had on hand.


2. starting with the end of the tulle at the open edge of the book, wrap the tulle around. essentially you want the width of the book to be the length you want your skirt. you could also cut a piece of poster board to size. here, this book was just perfect for my little 2 year old cousin.


3. once all your tulle is wrapped, cut along the open edge of the book. repeat last steps for as many colors of tulle as wanted. when finished set aside.



4. put your waistband around a book the same size. or you could cut another piece of cardboard to size.



5. fold your piece of tulle in half. slide the bent part down through the top of the waistband.




6. feed the two loose ends through the loop & pull down.



7. repeat above steps until waistband is covered.


















8. trim ends if necessary. here where the optional glitter spray comes in. a can of that stuff lasts forever. you can save yourself on the glitter tulle (which comes in 10 yard spools) and just spray your tutu  (outside of course!) with the hair spray. this orange tulle was glittered, it was stiff & a pain to work with, not to mention i now have glitter stuck to my floor, in between my toes & on rance's head. take my advice. skip the glitter tulle & just spray that bad boy afterwards!

xo-k

ps- sorry for the sub-par photos.. lately all my crafting has been late night..(but look at the pretty bokeh in the last one!)

12.17.2010

recipe: spanish style pork.

let me just start off by saying this.

i am not spanish. cuban. latin. or anything of the like.
no one has really ever taught me how to cook spanish or latin type foods.

BUT. i like them.

my uncle ronnie who passed a few years ago unexpectedly, was cuban.
and an AMAZING cook.
i'm gonna say it again.
HE WAS AN AMAZING COOK.
but i never thought about asking him to teach me how to cook until it was too late.

so i'm here, trying to figure it out on my own.
maybe this is nothing like spanish food.

if you are spanish or of latin decent, please don't send me hate mail, because even if it's not traditional cuisine, it's still really REALLY good. :)

spanish style (inspired?) pork:

-4 pork chops OR 4 pork cube steaks
- 1 1/2 tsp. adobo seasoning (readily available here, but we have a big spanish population, may be harder to find elsewhere)
-1 large onion (spanish or yellow or vidilia, makes no difference)
-4 large cloves of garlic
-approx. 6 tbsp. olive oil

(first off: i used sunflower oil because i was out of olive oil. olive oil obviously has more flavor, but this worked just fine. also, you can either use pork chops that are tenderized, or pork cubed steaks. if you can't find the cubed steaks in your grocery store you can ask your meat dept to do it for you.)





1. i had pork chops on hand already, so i used those. i whacked away at them (inside a freezer bag) until they were about 1/4 inch thick.


2. put enough oil in the pan to coat the bottom. (about 2 tbsp.) cook over medium high heat. brown pork on both sides.



3. while the meat is cooking chop up your onion & peel your garlic cloves.


4. once meat is browned on both sides remove it to plate & cover it to keep warm. do NOT drain oil from the pan.



5. add about 4 tbsp of oil to the same pan, along with the onions. use a garlic press to crush garlic into pan. add about 1 1/2 tsp of adobo seasoning. stir to combine, stirring up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. turn down to medium heat.


6. once onions have become translucent you are done. at this point i usually nestle my pork back into the pan because our side dishes aren't done. you could also just plate them up & serve them immediately.



there ya have it. hope you try it & even more i hope you like it.

xo-k

ps- is anybody out there? if there is, i'd like to know what food you cook that reminds you of someone you loved that is no longer around to enjoy it with you, so leave me a comment or link & let me see it! :) 


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