Shop Hoppin

Saturday was 'Shop Hop' day with Sandy ... it was fun. If you aren't familiar with a Shop Hop, here's how it works: This year there are 14 quilt shops participating, and you go to as many as you can, shop around, find new things, and collect goodies... and get your card stamped... etc... to get in a drawing.. Oh, also this year, each store give you a printed copy of a particular "STEP" in the directions of putting a quilt together. If you go to all 14 stores, you get all the steps... otherwise... well, you get the idea. It's also kind of fun to see what the stores decide to hand out as their 'goodies'... or Not! Sometimes they can be kind of chintzy, and other times they really put some thought into it and give you something you can actually use! Thank you to those stores :-)

The event runs for 2 weekends in a row; we made it to 7 stores... and we'll see if we can finish (or not) next weekend..

It was the best part of my weekend... oh, and driving home, a coyote ran out of the center of the interstate and darted across the road... RIGHT in front of us... Sandy slamming her brakes to miss... She did a great job of avoiding it (thank you Sandy)

All in all... it was a F-u-n T-i-m-e!

Scattered Tacos

Tonight we had a version of 'walking tacos' for dinner... but we didn't walk! lol We started with Scoops on a plate, added the taco seasoned ground beef, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and taco sauce... Yummmm

Also helped that I make my own recipe of Taco Seasoning... no more mixes, since we couldn't agree on one we all liked, I just Googled and experimented til I got one we all like... and I know ALL the ingredients in it... nothing I can't pronounce! Want the recipe...? OK.. here it is!

Taco Seasoning

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Mix all together in a small bowl and store in a Tupperware Spice container. (if you don't have one, contact me and I can order one for you!) You can also order them on my Tupperware website!
http://my.tupperware.com/ruthinman

Dog Food...Gonna make my own!

I am so tired of trying various dog foods to find one my Chewie can eat!!! Arrrghh! Now he has blood in his urine again... Im wondering if it's the Ocean Fish in this new one??





So.. Im thinking of just making ground up food for him. I want to be sure he gets all the nutrients he needs and to leave out the junk he doesn't need, like sodium, sugar, etc... Any hints or tips on things like that to leave out or be sure to put in?


All comments welcome!

Little Yummy Bites of Goodness!

I made CREPES today! From scratch! Yummm Ohhh Yummmm! WOW... Who would have ever thought it was that easy!!?Why on earth do people buy Crepe Mix? Let me tell you the recipe I used. I got it from Giada de Laurentiis yesterday when I saw her making them on TV. Yes, she does have a habit of making things look easy... but this WAS easy!

Put in blender:
4 eggs
1 cup milk (skim is fine)
1/2 cup flour
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/8 tsp salt

Hit BLEND for about 30 seconds. As long as it looks well blended and creamy it's good to go!

Heat small 8" frying pan (or a crepe pan if you have one). Keep it on LOW and put in about 1/2 Tablespoon of butter. Wait for it to look frothy and foamy (not brown!) and gently pour in 1/4 cup of batter. (Use the measuring cup so you don't put too much, or else you'll have an eggy pancake). Swirl the pan a bit to get it as large as the pan allows. Let cook about 45 seconds - 1 minute. You should see bubbles, or when you lift with a silicone spatula, it lifts easy and flip. Cook on other side 30-45 seconds. Get parchment paper ready to lay it on and I layer a sheet in between each crepe to allow them to cool. (They are easier to handle when slightly cooled).








That's it, my friend, you have crepes. NOW what to do with them?

Ahhhh well today I did several things with them! 1st I made a jam filling. Take any preserves and warm them, maybe add a SMALL dash of vanilla. Instant filling! or...
- Slice a banana and lay slices in a row
- Slice strawberries, put on top of bananas
- Add a couple small dollops of... whipped cream, vanilla yogurt, pudding, ricotta cheese
Fold over, add a dollop for garnish! .... and ENJOY!