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my little garden =)

5 Jun

my little garden =)

so i got very lucky with our yard in town — it came with 2 raised beds that are use-able. (1 i just tore apart this morning it was in such rough shape)
so i planted all sorts of veggies in this one, and the next one i am planning on putting in corn and pumkins! i also planted lavendar, thyme and chamomlie. i am excited to get my yard ready for summer bbq’s and the 4th of july (we have a perfect view from our yard!)
I have hopes of getting sod in and eventually a brick patio… with a firepit. =D

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THE -I- HAVE- TO- MAKE- THESE- SOON COOKIES

27 May

THE -I- HAVE- TO- MAKE- THESE- SOON COOKIES

now, i love oreo cookies. 

but being gluten free – dairy free  and egg free makes that a little difficult. . .

so when i saw this post on one of my favorite blogs – imglutenfree.com , i got so excited! The only thing i have to switch out is the butter for ours…so simple. i am so ready for some splurging money to come in, so i can go buy the ingredients needed and make them! mmmm they sound just perfect for this cloudy, overcast, lazy day.

i am working on fixing up our yard – i will start giving you progress pictures (and ask advice!) 

until next time, 

LAURA 

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delicious quick chicken meal

23 Feb

delicious quick chicken meal

So, the other night, i was RAVENOUS, and the OH was getting hungry (that situation being quite common, as i eat much more than him… which is just wrong) so i dug through the fridge and cupboards and threw together a dish that was really good. i think i want to try it again with some sort of sauce… or maybe just more of the veggies combo would do it. but we were sad when it was gone. so here you go
olive oil
chicken – bite sized
tomato
raisin
whatever spices you want

pasta or rice

i did our corn pasta because it’s about 10 minutes faster than rice…
i threw it all (except the pasta of course!) in the skillet and let it saute’ for a bit, then added the chicken last. the flavor was really good. like i said, would have been better with some sort of sauce, or maybe doubled tomatoes and raisin combo. shrug. but i was proud of it since we really didn’t have much in the way of meals . =)

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complaints

21 Feb

okay, friends, can anyone tell me WHY bakers/cooks on tv always wear their hair down? i cringe every time i see it. i mean, it’s against everything that you do in the kitchen… i get wanting to be ‘pretty’ for television, but put it up in a nice ‘do! i don’t want to know how many hairs are getting in the food that they are baking. 

sigh.

maybe it’s just because of everything else that is going on in my life that this bothers me so, you know, like a displacement of feelings or something?

IT. IS. Finished. (well, almost)

2 Feb

they are almost finished. one last meeting and our wedding invites are ordered. They  became one large project that neither of us expected. apparently, according to my OH , they are going to be awesome. 

right now we are listening to peter hollens sing the song ‘misty mountains’ from the Hobbit. Such a great talent right there. OH is doing homework. Relief fills us both , i think, knowing the invites only need me to give the final approval for the printer to start them going. whew. now on to the next item on the list…. 

OH’s wedding ring.. 

Suits for the men….

finish decorations (Also, so close!)

well, i’ll stop making you read my looong list of wedding to – do’s. but i’m sure you get the idea. things are coming along really well though, much better than i had originally thought they would. We are immensely blessed by those around us. 

but before i get going on the next item down, i’m going to enjoy the moment of one more thing being done. 

sigh. i love it. 

Homemade Oreo Cookies

11 Jan

these are seriously the best things ever. SIGH. i made them for christmas gifts, and if i hadn’t been so scatterbrained that day (and not trying to find somewhere to bake them that anyone who was getting them would see them…..) they would have been quick and easy. as it was, they were easy. 

ha. 

so i got the recipe from this blog : http://sugarcooking.blogspot.com/2009/09/homemade-oreos.html   – one of these days i’ll figure out how to make that a link for you guys. 


OREO COOKIES  (i.e. heaven on earth…)

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Ingredients:
For the chocolate wafers:

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa*
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups sugar**
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) room-temperature, unsalted butter
  • 1 large egg

For the filling:

  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) room-temperature, unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
  • 2 cups sifted confectioners sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. Set two racks in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 375°F.
  2. In a food processor, or bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and sugar. While pulsing, or on low speed, add the butter, and then the egg. Continue processing or mixing until dough comes together in a mass. 
  3. Take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet approximately two inches apart. With moistened hands, slightly flatten the dough. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating once for even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool.
  4. To make the cream, place butter and shortening in a mixing bowl, and at low speed, gradually beat in the sugar and vanilla. Turn the mixer on high and beat for 2 to 3 minutes until filling is light and fluffy.
  5. To assemble the cookies, in a pastry bag with a 1/2 inch, round tip, pipe teaspoon-size blobs of cream into the center of one cookie. Place another cookie, equal in size to the first, on top of the cream. Lightly press, to work the filling evenly to the outsides of the cookie. Continue this process until all the cookies have been sandwiched with cream. Dunk generously in a large glass of milk.

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*I used Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate. turned out really good. but apparently regular unsweetened cocoa will work fine also.

** I went right in the middle and used 1 1/4 cups and this was the perfect sweetness for me.

– My next try on these will be gf and df =)  from heythattastesgood.com =) 

if you make these! let me know, and eat one, two or three for me! 

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Clay ornaments

7 Jan

Clay ornaments

so easy and cute!
i found this idea on woodsidekitchen.blogspot.com, and love it. mine didn’t turn out as cute and awesome as hers. bummer deal there but since i’m not naturally crafty, the fact that they came out at all like they were supposed to is a bit of a miracle!
sadly, this is the only picture i remembered to take. =(

Clay Christmas Decorations

1/2 cup cornstarch
1 cup baking soda
3/4 cup water

Making Clay

In a medium sized pot combine the cornstarch, baking soda, and water. With an adults help the kids can stir this mixture over medium-low heat. You are going to stir this mixture until it is smooth and no longer feels stuck to the bottom of the pot. Stir constantly, after a couple of minutes, the mixture will begin to thicken. When it looks like smooth, thick mashed potatoes, remove the pot from the heat. Spoon the ball of dough into a bowl. Add the leftover bits from the pot to the ball. Cover it with a damp cloth until it’s cool.

When the clay has cooled, knead it on a smooth surface dusted with cornstarch. To avoid cracking you need to make sure the clay is well kneaded before rolling. Knead in a little more cornstarch if it feels sticky. Store the clay in a sealed bowl or bag. It will keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge. Bring it to room temperature before you use it.

Rolling, Cutting, and Low Baking

Line the baking sheet with waxed paper if you want to let them dry naturally. Turn them every day to avoid curling. This just takes longer than drying them in a low temperature oven.

Preheat oven to 175 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out clay to 1/4 inch thick on a surface lightly dusted with cornstarch. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Transfer shapes to the prepared baking sheet. Use a straw to poke a hole in the center top of each decoration, then get the kids to blow out the small piece of clay. They love this task! Place them in the oven for about an hour, turning them over halfway through cooking.
** don’t do what i did and forget to flip them. mine ended up curved….**

More Ideas

This clay can be shaped, rolled, cut, painted and decorated in endless ways. people have used different painting techniques, glazes, scents, stamps, sparkles, made foot and hand prints….it’s wonderful to see the creativity.

1. Paint or decorate them and thread a piece of ribbon, twine or yarn through the holes.

2. Use cookie cutters for different special days, leaves for fall, or hearts for Valentine’s day.

3. Make a few ornaments that can be used to make a mobile or to attach to a wreath.

4. Attach a magnet to the back of a clay shape and stick it on the fridge.

5. Roll small bits of clay in the palm of your hand to make beads. Roll tiny beads between your fingers and thumb. Use a toothpick to poke in holes.

*i used them to decorate the packages i wrapped for family and friends. they were pretty cute on there, if i do say so myself. my brother DID ask if they were edible tho…. hmmm

i also made oreo cookies for christmas. THAT is my next post, you don’t want to miss it – they were delicious!

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Inspiring words

10 Dec

ahh- sorry friends! it has been so busy here, with OH being sick and having finals this past week, add on top of that work and whatnot, i haven’t been able to do anything worthy of sitting down and sharing with you! BUT, i found this poem the other day i want to share with you. and i’m in the process of a little craft that i’ll share in the next few days. =) so here are some inspiring words for you to help you start the week out!

True Heroism

“Let others write of battles fought,

Of bloody, ghastly fields,

Where honor greets the man who wins,

And death the man who yields:

But I will write of him who fights

And vanquishes his sins,

Who struggles on through weary years

Against himself and wins.

He is a hero staunch and brave

Who fights an unseen foe.

And puts at last beneath his feet

His passions base and low:

Who stands erect in manhood’s might,

Undaunted, undismayed,

The bravest man who drew a sweord

In foray or in raid.

It calls for something more than brawn

Or muscle to o’ercome

An enemy who marcheth not

With banner, plume, or drum –

A foe forever lurking nigh,

With silent, stealthy tread:

Forever near your board by day,

At night beside your bed.

All honor, then, to that brave heart,

Through poor or rich he be,

Who struggles with his bader part, –

Who conquers and is free!

He may not wear a hero’s crown,

Or fill a hero’s grave:

But truth will place his name among

The bravest of the brave.”

And don’t forget that this is the week of Chanukah, a time to rededicate our hearts to our Lord!

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THE OREGON DUCKS

26 Nov

THE OREGON DUCKS

GO DUCKS! my OH and i splurged on friday and bought ourselves Oregon sweatshirts. sigh. then of course, we watched the Civil War game – oh YEAH. so this is me after the game. Lol.
next year, i’m thinking we should have a party at our house and i’ll have to make gf df sugar cookies with the “O”. =)
course- by then hopefully i have a recipe for that… haven’t even attempted it yet..

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Thanksgiving Wishes

22 Nov

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FRIENDS! I hope you are able to enjoy this holiday and remember what to be truly thankful for in life! It is not the turkey straight out of the oven, the delicious mashed potatoes, or the pies begging to be eaten that this day is about  – it is the family seated around the table. the head of the family down to the youngest member that we need to look at and give thanks for. The blessings that God has given us. Thank you all for your impact on my life. God Bless you

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