Chia Seed Pudding

Happy New Year! Here is a healthy easy treat to help ring in 2014! 

* Warning if you don't like the texture of tapioca pudding - this isn't for you. *

3 TBS chia seeds

1 cup milk ( I used whole because it was in the fridge)

Seasonings ( I used a dash of cinnamon and a splash of vanilla) 

Combine- I put mine in a shaker. 

Place in fridge. 

Stir after an hour or so- I left mine in overnight for a breakfast treat. 

Christmas Fast Approaches!

How does Christmas sneak up on me every year! Still so many fun things to get to! Jackson has been coloring ornaments for present toppers- my helper! But I was hoping to get his lil mitts into some salt dough too. Not to mention cooking, baking, and wrapping! This Saturday is my last show- 9-2 at the Frear Building in Troy (attahced to the Uncle Sam Atrium). And with Victoria (Kurtz Baby #2) coming in February I'm not sure when my next show will be. What last minute preperations are you making??

Brrrr

The nip is back in the air! Time to crochet and make hot cocoa! 

Here is a pic of a not so enthused little man all bundled up! 

What's your favorite way to spend a cold day? 

Easy Black Bean Soup Recipe

2 cans of drained black beans

1/2 jar salsa (I used Newman's Own Mild)

Olive oil- 2 tbs

Onion chopped

Can of stock

Frozen chopped okra ( optional)

Put olive oil in pan with onion sauté .

Put in 1 can of beans- mash the mix

Mix in other ingredients 

Simmer for 15 to 20 mins. 

I served with grilled cheese! Yummy fall dinner :)

October is Here!

October is here!!! Every October my friend at Pugnacious Vegetarian does the October Project- a different photo every day of the month. It's an amazing time capsule of a fun time of the year. If you are looking for some Halloween inspiration or maybe just some inspiration in general- I highly recommend it! http://thepugnaciousvegetarian.com/

Donughts on a Grill

My little family went camping for Labor Day and I made some yummy donughts on the grill! 

What you need:

Can of buttermilk biscuits

Cinnamon and Sugar

Vegetable Oil

Grill

Pan

Tongs 

Get about a 1/2 inch of oil to a bubble over the grill. 

Place a biscuit in the pot with the center cut out ( a water bottle works great for making the hole). 

Flip with tongs. 

When both sides are golden brown remove.

 Sprinkle hot donught or shake in a bag with cinnamon and sugar. 

Devour! 

Snack Attack

Easy and yummy - 2 things I love! 

Microwave popcorn 

Top with smoked paprika and garlic powder

Slice cheddar cheese

Snack Away! 

What do you like on your popcorn? 

Easy DIY Oatmeal Bath

Who knew making homemade oatmeal bath is this simple?!
Using rolled oats (old fashion) & working in small batches, grind. I used the milling blade on my baby food processor. Oatmeal bath for less than pennies! I make a big batch for my son's baths and store in an airtight container. Works great for eczema, diaper rashes and itchy skin.

Welcome to my Kitchen EZ Tofu Press

I was recently gifted an EZ Tofu Press http://amzn.com/B007LLGMG2 - wow!

I am not a vegetarian and only cooked tofu once - it was too time consuming getting that water out. Not with this lil guy! Water came pouring out and in 15 minutes it was ready for the pan.

I kept it simple- firm tofu, olive oil sprayed in the pan, and adobe. Crisp it up, add 1/3 cup water, 1/2 packet of taco seasoning and a dash of taco sauce. Reduce sauce and serve with your favorite taco fixings.

Yum! Easy! <3 br="" it="">

Sunday Small Things- wk 11

One of my guilty pleasures ( one of many) - peanut butter on chocolate donughts. After a week with a sick 1 year old I needed to indulge! So, this week I'm thankful for a little treat and finally a happy little man again! What were you thankful for this week?

Sunday's Small Things is a weekly feature begun by Pugnacious Vegetarian. http://thepugnaciousvegetarian.com/

Sunday Small Things- Wk 9

Last week I found myself thankful for SOOO many things. My little man turned 1!

To have a happy, healthy, thriving boy is the greatest gift I've ever received. I found myself being thankful for each giggle, tear, silly kiss, dadada, and mamamam this weekend. This last year went by so quickly I can only imagine how quickly he'll be asking for the car keys!

Sunday's Small Things is a weekly feature begun by Pugnacious Vegetarian. http://thepugnaciousvegetarian.com/

Wordless Wednesday- Power Clashing

Sunday Small Things - Week 8

This week I took great joy in spending time with a dear friend. We wandered through grocery stores and chatted about cooking, food, life, and nonsense. What a gift to have a partner in crime.

What do you do to reconnect with your friends?

Sunday's Small Things is a weekly feature begun by Pugnacious Vegetarian. http://thepugnaciousvegetarian.com/

Cupcake Picks

My little man's birthday is fast approaching to snazz up his cupcakes I made cupcake picks.

What you need:
Toothpicks
Punch- mine is a Fiskars Small Star
Glue
Scrapbook paper

1- Punch out 2 items for each pick.
2- Apply glue to one side of each punch out (do one pair at a time).
3- Place toothpick in the middle.
4- Press together and let dry.
Repeat

Easy and cute!

Sunday Small Things- Week 6

Once you've been married awhile (9 years this year) what you first found romantic is no more. The greatest thing my fella can do, he did this Saturday. He packs my car for craft shows, helps me set up, and then comes back and does it in reverse!
Bonus points this week for first digging out our driveway from Storm Nemo.

With Valentine's Day romance in the air- what does your sweetie do for you?
Sunday's Small Things is a weekly feature begun by Pugnacious Vegetarian. http://thepugnaciousvegetarian.com/

Sunday Small Things - Wk 5

This week I took joy in a good deal. I LOVE coupons. And just like they divas on Extreme Couponers I have a binder full of these little slips of paper. My local grocery store had triple coupons this week- my heart sang. Sadly I missed a lot of the super deals because I went on the last day but I still saved my family $88.
Jackson was so excited he passed out :)

How do you save?
Sunday's Small Things is a weekly feature begun by Pugnacious Vegetarian. http://thepugnaciousvegetarian.com/

Wordless Wednesday- WIP

Fancy Up a Brown Bag

I've started running sandwich bags with embossing folders through my Cuttlebug. These super cute bags are perfect for stamping and using at craft shows. They would also be fun for gift bags or just a special lunch! Give them a whirl for Valentine's Day to pack your sweetie a treat!

Sunday Small Things Wk 4

I was having so much fun living in the small things this weekend I was late writing about them!
My little family headed up north to visit my parents in the Adirondacks. Being surrounded by the woods, family, and friends are big things that often get pushed aside.
I really enjoyed a casual lunch with an old friend and just sitting around the living room with my parents. If you get 5 minutes to just be in a room with someone for me it's a piece of love you get to have with you the whole week!
Here is literally a snip of my weekend- Jackson's 1st haircut given to him by his hairdresser/Grandma.

I hope your weekend was as full of love as mine!
Sunday's Small Things is a weekly feature begun by Pugnacious Vegetarian.

Sunday Small Things- WK 3

Sadly I've been under the weather this week.

I'm thankful for my lovely hubby who has been on baby duty all week.

And im thankful for vitamin c! One of my favorite things to put me back in tip top shape is Emergen-C.

http://m.emergenc.com/index.php (check out this link for a free sample)

Pour into water or juice and gulp down. All the flavors are tasty too. Hope a cold doesn't have you down too! What do you do to feel better?

Sunday's Small Things is a weekly feature begun by Pugnacious Vegetarian.

Wordless Wednesday - 1/2 Empty or Full?

Sunday's Small Things- Wk 2

I am a wanna be foodie.

A large part of my childhood memories revolve around meals and food. My 2 small treats this week that I'm so happy for are: Trader Joe's Almond Butter and Abita Beer's Purple Haze.

Peanut butter is a big fave in our house and in my parent's. We ate it, and still eat it by the jar. Slather it on an inch thick on sandwiches, donuts, waffles, fruit, ANYTHING! This week I took a leap and tried Almond Butter.

Trader Joe's Creamy Unsalted to be specific and it is AMAZING. I've been gobbiling it up on English Muffins all week. Creamy with a little nutty grit, it melts into the nooks and crannies of a muffin.

http://www.traderjoes.com/

I am not a big beer girl. Yet, my love for New Orleans and fruity drinks drew me to Abita Purple Haze. I first saw it in Everyday with Rachel Ray Magazine and had a heck of a time finding it locally. It is a sweet satisfying drink. Abita is EVERYWHERE in NOLA. It tastes more like fruit than beer and instantly transports me to the streets of the French Quarter.

http://abita.com/brews/our_brews/purple-haze

I pick it up locally at Oliver's Beverage Center http://www.brew-crew.com/ .

These 2 taste bud vacations brought a smile to my face this week- what made you smile?

Sunday's Small Things is a weekly feature begun by Pugnacious Vegetarian.

Wordless Wednesday- Ball Unwinder

Sunday's Small, Good Things

My good friend Pugnacious Vegetarian has begun chronicling Sunday's Small, Good things : http://thepugnaciousvegetarian.com/2013/01/a-new-feature-sundays-small-good-things/
And I've decided to do the same! If you'd like to as well, make sure you link back to her blog :)
2 things I've been especially thankful for lately are:
Green Mountain Coffee's Columbian Fair Trade. Medium Bold Heaven!! It keeps me going every day- 2 cups are necessary daily.
And the 2nd is really the first- Jackson's toothless smile. I dare you to look at this face and be in a bad mood!