Pipe Stem Cleaners

So probably not a new thing to many of you but in the middle of the summer ideas are hard to think of when children are at your feet wanting something to do even though there is a play room, bedroom and let's face it every part of your house littered with toys.

Pipe stem cleaners, comes in tons of colors, and you can make just about anything with them.  Noah is sporting some fabulous bunny ears made by momma!  I also made him some glasses (just like mom and dad wear) but he didn't want to wear them.  Figures, I don't want to wear mine either.  So anyway: fun, easy, inexpensive.  Make a:

chain

string beads or cereal (great hand/eye, small motor dev. and the pipe cleaner stays in place unlike yarn or string for those little ones that are just getting the hang of it)

twist them together make bracelets and necklaces

let the creative juices flow

This is also a staple in our 'esturant bag.

Upside Down Berry Cornmeal Cake

This is super yummy and great with fresh basil and fruit!!

2 - 2 1/2 cups fresh berries (blueberries and red raspberries are our top choice)
1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 T. basil
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt

Grease 8" round pan and arrange 1 1/2 cups berries. Combine these dry ingredients in a large bowl.

2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup oil

In a second bowl whisk these ingredients.  Add to flour mixture.
Pour mixture over berries.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.  Cool.  Loosen sides, put serving plater on top of pan and flip.  Top with remaining berries and whipped topping!

It is a summer favorite in our house, enjoy! (Ignore the spot that didn't get berries)

Applesauce

Another first for me.  David and I made applesauce last weekend and froze 4 - 32 oz. containers.  It is very yummy and very tasty.  It was super easy - mainly because my MIL has an grinder/peeler/applesauce maker (I am really not sure the technical term).  Apples are not in season just yet but we were given a half a box of red delicious apples that were leftover from a middle school church lock in.

We had about 30-40 apples (I kept forgetting to count) and froze 4 - 32 oz. containers.

First wash and quarter the apples (don't forget to remove any stickers, if you purchased them from the store)

Put about 2 inches of apple juice into your stock pot.

Put in quartered apples (if you have a grinder/peeler/whatnot you don't have to remove seeds or peel)

Cover and turn stove to hight until apples are very soft 20-30 minutes (stir occasionally to get the apples on the top to the bottom)

Once soft pour apples into the grinder and start cranking.

We did add a couple cinnamon sticks to our apple juice.

I am so excited about the yummy things that are filling up our freezer:

1 gallon bag of carrots

5 - 3 cup bags of sweet corn

1 gallon bag of green beans

7 - 2 cup bags of zuchinni

4 - 32 oz. of applesauce

Master Bedroom: Remodel

It really isn't that impressive but I (we) did it!  And I love it.  I still have some touches to do:  a couple pillows, pictures and/or shelving on the walls.  And eventually we will take care of the bigger projects: sconces, and closet.
Check out what it looked like before: Master Bedroom

Walls painted, curtains done, purchased bedskirt (it looks a little wrinkly, ignore that), purchased new bedside table, lamp and lamp shade for myself

Here is the curtain fabric up close, I am by far a top seamstress, but it will do and I am proud of my accomplishments.

My jewelery organizer and the curtains are the only thing on the walls right now.  I did end up repainted the frame of the jewelery organizer to black - the blue was just too much.  Like I said I hope to get pictures on the wall soon, I will probably share some more pictures.

Oh! and I am not a photographer by far and the lighting is pretty bad in these pics, sorry!

The Header

I'm Working On It, YIKES!

Egg Rolls

1 pkg. (16 oz.) shredded coleslaw
1 cup cooked, diced meat (poultry or shrimp)
1 1/2 tsp. minced fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1 pkg. egg roll wrappers
Vegetable Oil

Stir together first 6 ingredients: slaw, meat, ginger, garlic, pepper, salt.
* WIDD (what I did differently) tossed the first 6 ingredients into a skillet with some soy sauce, until warmed and covered.*

Brush outer edge of egg roll wrapper with water *WIDD egg/water mixture.* Spoon a 1/3 cup of mixture into the center of the wrapper.  *Make sure filling has cooled before placing in the wrapper, it being hot seemed to tear the wrapper.*  Fold bottom corner over filling and tucking the corner under the filling, fold over left and right corners; gently press to seal.  Pour oil, depth of 3 inches (a lot of oil) into a dutch oven, heat until 375 degrees.  Fry egg rolls in batches of 3-4, until golden brown.  Serve immediantly.

These egg rolls were amazing!  I was so proud of us for trying something we have never made before.  I used chicken for our meat.  Also, if veggies are in season shredd your own slaw mix: cabbage, carrots.  This is also the first time I have ever used fresh ginger - now what to do with the rest....any ideas?  The wrapers is tear some but like I noted before I believe it is because we warmed up the slaw mix before hand, the original recipe did not call for us heating up the mixture or using soy sauce.

Little Chef: Vegetables

A couple great ways to keep little hands busy in the kitchen, when all they want to do is help.

Shuck the sweet corn

and snap the beans!

We have been visiting the farmers market atleast weekly this summer and are loving all the fresh, local farm foods!