It's a Give Away

I don't know about all of you, but we have a problem at our house, I am constantly finding my son's hoodies, belts, etc. strung all over the house whether it's the floor, couches, over doors ... you name it and it's there.  So I asked him about making something to hang his "stuff" on and explained to him what my ideas were about coming up with something cool for a hook/coat rack.  He went to our ever growing scrap wood pile, I had some hooks on hand -- and after playing in the garage for a while I thought he came up with something totally awesome.  The reveal ....

Since it's time for back to school and there will be more coats, back packs, and the like at your home, we are giving away a hook/coat rack.  To enter please comment on what you would use a rack for, what room you would use it in, and what colors you would like it to be painted ... and the winner will receive a custom made hook/rack (whatever you want to call it).  So get up, go look around your house and send us your comments.  And to sweeten the pot -- you need not be present to win!  Isn't this internet/blogging stuff so cool???? Have a great day. 

 Rhonda

Oh and a winner will be announced on August 10, 2012.

Velvet Banana Bread

 My mom used to make Banana Bread all of the time and it was delicious! It was the best Banana Bread recipe that I have tried, up until now. I have been on this journey, to take my favorite foods and make them healthier. So I played with this recipe and the end result is absolutely delicious. Not only does it take about 1/2 ......Yes, I said 1/2 of the calories out, it is much more moist and flavorful.

 The original recipe called for 2 cubes of butter and 2 cups of sugar! If I added up the calories from that alone, it would be a staggering 3,148! So I knew I had to make some changes, so here they are...

I changed out the 2 cubes of butter, for 1 cup of applesauce. I also took the sugar down from 2 cups to 1  1/2 cups. Not only does it save thousands of calories, it is a delicious treat that you will love. Here is the recipe:

• 5 large ripened bananas
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup applesauce
• 4 eggs
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

In a large mixer, add bananas and mix until liquefied. Stir in sugar, eggs and applesauce.. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and kosher salt and stir until combined. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture. Mix on a low speed until the flour is incorporated. Add chopped walnuts if desired. Pour into two bread pans that have been sprayed with a Non-Stick Spray. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean.

I hope you enjoy this Banana Bread as much as my family does. It is such an easy recipe and it is a healthy snack or treat!

Julie

Cancer Quilt

A while back someone asked if I would sew a quilt for a co-worker/friend who had recently been diagnosed with cancer and was starting chemotherapy.  (I hope these individuals don't mind if I share).  The co-workers/friends wrote on these hearts with pigma pens.  Some individuals cited to a scripture, others wrote a personal message, some quoted a saying -- they were all wonderful.  We didn't want the quilt to be an oversized Valentine, but instead show the recipient how much she is loved, cared for, and thought of.  I dug in my scraps and this is what I came up with -- lots of scrappy pinks, reds and whites to sew the hearts on.

To make the heart blocks stand out I used a small dot print for the posts and a creamy white solid sashing for the blocks.  Now to find a border, binding and backing to tie it all together -- off to a local fabric store to shop and this is what we came up with.  Here it is all sewn together.

This was one of the messages to the recipient of the quilt -- I just had to share.

And the final touch was the quilt label -- I am so bad about labeling my own -- but this made it even more personal. 

I need to give credit to my wonderful mother who appliqued hearts and sewed so I could do the quilting and finishing.  I believe between the two of us we finished this project in under a week.  I am thankful I was asked to be a part of this project.  A few months later I had the opportunity to meet the individual the quilt was presented to.  This was such a great idea, the recipient will have this to treasure -- and it will be a family keepsake forever.  





It's been a long time since I have posted on the blog, but it does not mean that I have not been busy -- the problem more likely is I have been too busy.  A few months ago I found the perfect little house to rent, it just needed some work, and more work, and I'm still working on it.  I spent at least 6 weeks cleaning, repairing, and painting the inside of the house (with the exception of finishing some repairs and paininting on doors and moldings).  The kitchen is large, it has the old retro gold linoleum, pink laminate countertops and backsplash, the fridge and stove took hours to get in usable condition -- but it has all paid off and we are loving it..  The good news is the cabinet doors were in good shape, some Howards Feed & Wax perked them right up. WARNING -- some of the BEFORE photos may be hazardous to your health!

BEFORE

Austin is in this picture so you can see the (before) door in the background

AFTER

Clean Stove (Thanks Mom for all your patience and help)

Walls with a new coat of paint and clean floor

Kitchen door and molding

Austin had the idea to paint the column under the counter and distress it to match the door,

the wood was in pretty rough shape

I have a theme coming into effect, since this picture was taken  I have added a black bar stool.  I have a couple more things to finish in the kitchen, and when I post my additional photos (I have imposed a personal deadline for July 31, 2012), I will snap a couple more pictures to share, it will all come together and you will see where my color choices came from.  (Hint -- my life revolves around fabric).
 

Strawberry Orange Splash

It has been a long time since I have posted on our blog. There are so many reasons for this. Before, I was posting all of these yummy recipes that were not only great, but very fattening. Well....a few months ago, my husband I decided to make a change...A BIG change! So we have spent the last few months taking all of our old recipes and improving them. We are still making all of our favorite recipes, but now, we have reduced the calories in them (some over half) and have taken the old recipes and made them, healthy and delicious! But the best part is, we have not sacrificed any of the flavor. Since we started this a few months ago, my husband has lost over 75 pounds and I have lost almost 50! So here is our first recipe..Enjoy!

• I have always loved fruit drinks. The problem, is that I would make lemonade and it had 2 cups of sugar. So here is a very delicious drink that not only tastes great, but only has a few calories per 16 ounce glass. This drink is great on a hot July day like today!

1 package Crystal Light Drink Mix. I used Wild Strawberry, but Lemonade or your favorite would be great also.
2 cups of Ice
8 cups of Cold Water
1 cup Frozen or Fresh Blueberries
1 large orange ( I cut up half for decoration in the drink and with the other half I squeeze the fresh orange juice and add it to my mixture
1 large bunch of Fresh Mint

Add all ingredients to a large pitcher and stir. Refrigerator for a couple of hours so that all of the flavors will incorporate. You can also add Fresh or Frozen Strawberries, Grapefruit, really any fruit that you like. It is very refreshing drink and the best part is that it is also a very low calorie treat!

Julie

Meatball Subs

These meatball subs are absolutely amazing! This is a family favorite and my kids ask me to make these on a weekly basis. They are very easy to make and the meatballs are great for leftovers. This is how I make them.

1 pound lean ground beef
1 pound italian sausage ( I get mine at my local butcher)
1 1/2  teaspoons kosher salt
3.4 teaspoons black pepper
3 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley
1 tablespoon italian herbs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 clove garlic minced
2 eggs
1/2 cup italian bread crumbs
1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
6 hoagie rolls toasted
6 slices of provolone cheese

Mix all ingredients together. Roll meatballs to desired size ( mine are about 2 inches), put on large baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes, until meatballs reach internal temperature of 165 F.
I then open my favorite jar of pasta sauce which is either Barilla tomato and basil or Classico's carmalized onion and garlic. I add my cooked meatballs in a saute pan and pour pasta sauce over. Continue cooking 3-4 minutes until sauce is hot. Spoon meatballs into hoagie roll, add provolone cheese and then spoon desired amount of sauce onto your sub. Last, enjoy these awesome sandwiches. I call them the Friday night special.
Julie

Oh Christmas Tree

This year I fell in love with some scrapbook paper that was not your traditional Christmas colors but brown, tan, blue and very glittery.  My son, Austin, and I decided to cover these metal stars with it -- and the rest is history.  We ended up decorating our entire tree with these colors.  

Pictured here are some of hte stars once they had the paper on them  ....

We also spray painted various sizes of grapevine balls with blue and added matching glitter.  They worked out perfectly ...

I found some ribbon and additional ornaments that tied it all together.

We used the extra paper and a wonderful little cutting tool I am sure was designed by Martha Stewart herself to add some more design and color.  The picture here isn't the best.  I wish Santa would bring me a new camera, but we love it.  Now it needs a matching Christmas tree skirt!


The end result ...

Rhonda