Christmas Card #1

Over last year, I managed to make enough Christmas cards by playing with different stamp sets and using up scraps, that I was able to give all of the people at work a Kathy made Christmas card (I gave these to people I knew would appreciate such a gesture - those who prefer store bought received such).

I gave out more than 50 cards not including the ones that I posted to family and friends.  

Lots of these cards were VERY well received and as such I am beginning my "stash" for next Christmas, only ??? days til Christmas!

For this card I used Sahara Sand, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla card stock from Stampin Up.

The image is from the To You and Yours stamp set from Close to My Heart. 

I colored it with my Copic markers.

The greeting is stamped with Early Espresso colored ink, and the ribbon is 1/8 Taffeta Ribbon from Stampin Up as well.

I LOVE this card.  I hate birds, but it looks so pretty..

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Oh S"Crap"! It's Monday

Yesterday while at my least favorite "big box" store I came across some chocolate bars that they sell under their brand name.  Since the price was right, I bought 3 for the purpose of wrapping up for quick gifts.

I did just that today!

I used left over Sweet Shop Designer Series Paper, ribbon from Sale-a-bration last year, and stamped the heart from the p.s. I Love You stamp set (probably retired).
Quick and easy, but kind of fun too, and the recipients of these (yes, there's another one) almost seemed to think they were cute!  Purpose served.
Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Cookie Day

Today my son and I made cookies for his lunch this week.

We used the Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, but changed out 1 cup of chocolate chips for M & M's of which I had a bag lying around taking up space!

They are delicious!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Pizza Buns

After having pizza for supper last night, I decided that Pizza Buns would be an awesome lunch for my son along with some fresh vegetables and dip next week.

So, today we made pizza buns.

This is just a basic bun dough recipe.

I rolled it out and filled with pizza sauce, Mozzarella, Cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, mushrooms and green peppers.

Let the dough rise in the pan.

Then baked for 25 minutes at 350 F.

Enjoy!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Pizza and Movie Night

It's Friday evening, after a VERRRRY long week.  How is that possible?

I decided to make pizza tonight since all the left overs are gone :(

I mixed the dough in my Kitchenaid (had the motor changed out, works awesome).

Here's the "how" of how I do it:

1 1/2 cups very warm water in the mixing bowl

1/3 cup canola oil added into the mixing bowl

1 cup flour

- mix these together for about a minute then add

1 tsp yeast

3+ cups flour

-add the flour slowly until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl

-once dough has formed a ball on the dough hook, beat on medium speed for 5 to 6 minutes

- divide dough into 2 (I put one in the pizza pan for tonight, and the other made into a round disk that will bake tonight on the rack under the pizza and then be frozen for a pizza crust at another time

- after formed in pan let rise for 20 minutes in 175 F oven

Here's the end result:

The picture is a little off, but alas there is none left to photograph!  Even my brother the self appointed Pizza Aficionado had to agree it was quite tasty!

Now off to relax with the family and watch a movie (or sleep).

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Thank Goodness It's Thursday!

This has been a really long week, and it's not over yet!!!!!

Yesterday evening after my son's swimming lesson and eating the last of the "left overs" I realized there was nothing for dinner tonight, and unless I wanted to be cooking this evening after riding, I better do something about this.

While looking through my cupboards the other day for something (?) I stumbled across one of my  Pampered Chef cookbooks with a recipe for a very quick and tasty (as I now know) turkey chilli.

This is dinner along with toasted bread (yes the one that was almost lost in the fire of the other day).

Yummy for  a really cold day like today!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Chocolate Coconut Cake

My colleague friend received her full time Registered Dietitian Job a few months back.  Unfortunately, I was re-deployed for several weeks to another clinic so was unable to make a cake to celebrate her accomplishment.

Last night I baked a chocolate cake, and decided against the regular Butter Cream Frosting, and went with a Coconut Cream Cheese Icing.

 

The technique for this is:

1 block of softened cream cheese

2 tbsp cream (no milk will not produce the product you want - I know - I tried once)

1 tsp clear vanilla

- mix on medium speed until all are combined together

- add in :

1/2 cup coconut

4+ cups icing sugar

- mix on low speed adding icing sugar until you get the consistency that you want

 

I toasted a handful of coconut for the top to make it look a little more fun!

 

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

 

Kathy