Snowflakes and Dragonflies: June 2011

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Cinnamon Munch

Want to earn some “mom points”? Here’s a quick easy snack that scores me some good mom points. Cereal, butter, sugar, cinnamon - Yum.

Start by melting 4 tablespoons of butter. I use real butter in cooking, always. Anyhow, put 4 tablespoons of butter in a large pot. Add 1/3 cup white sugar and 1 ¼ teaspoons of cinnamon.

Over medium heat, stir until melted. Stir constantly, you don't want this to burn. Remove from heat.

Add 3 ½ to 4 cups of crunchy rice (rice chex) cereal. Stir (fold) until cereal is coated.

Cool on waxed paper. This stores well in zip lock bags.

I always make two batches of this as it disappears fast at our house. I don’t recommend making a double batch as it is hard to coat 7 or 8 cups of cereal at one time.

Here’s the actual recipe. Please note that I don’t follow the directions, I melt the butter, sugar and cinnamon together, it just works for me. Plus it's not as messy when they eat it, no sugar granules all over the place.

CINNAMON MUNCH

1/3 cup sugar

1 ¼ tsp cinnamon

4 tbs butter

4 cups rice chex.

Melt butter, add cereal and coat. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Mix.

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Saturday, June 25, 2011

Local Flea Market Run

I try to hit the local flea markets at least once a month. Sometimes I strike out but I scored this weekend.

I started at a new place called The Market Place. It’s an amazing place, lots of great stuff some affordable and some a little out of my price range. Of course I didn’t have my camera with me so I only have pictures of what I purchased.

I found this Snow Crest Orange Syrup tin for a cool $3.00. I’ve never seen this one before and it will go great in with the rest of my collection. It’s one of the smallest non-spice tins that I have, as it’s only 3” tall and 2” round.

I also purchased a couple of blue Atlas canning jars with zinc lids that were half price. I didn’t photograph them, we all know what they look like.

Next I moved on to the Treasure Chest just over on the east side of the square where I found the second tin of the day and a huge old mixing bowl.

This tin is larger and is for a product I can truly say I have never purchased and probably never will. Pork Liver. The tin is a little rough but since I’ve never seen one for pork liver and it was only $4, it came home. I think it will make a pretty good planter; the potted plant in my kitchen fit in it perfectly.

This mixing bowl is huge and I am sure it will come in handy for a huge batch of tater salad on the 4^th. I was prepared to pay full price and was pleasantly surprised when I got to check out – half price baby!

My final stop was at Brooklyn Park Flea Market where I found the coffee dispenser. The jar has great graphics and plastic lid is in perfect condition. The lid has a rotating flange inside the lid that portions out the ground coffee and the top lid just pops off to dispense the grounds.

Now I need to get it all put away before Mr. Manly Man starts asking questions!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Graniteware Part #1

Remember back in my post where I shared with you my granite ware tea strainers? Well, here is a little bit more of my granite ware collection. I love all the different swirls and specks in the granite, they are what make each piece unique. Yes, I know some of the pieces have dings, missing granite and some rust, but that just adds to their charm. Perfection is over-rated.

These items are in an old dentistry cabinet in the living room. These are just some miscellaneous pieces that I love.

I adore these three different measures. I found these in various shops throughout Kansas. I've got the kids and their dad trained to spot granite ware at auctions and shops. They have helped me find some great pieces.

This great flask came from Germany several years ago. It still has it’s old rubber around stopper.

I won this great little syrup pitcher at an auction just one block from our home.

This footed bowl is super heavy; I think its cast iron underneath. At one time it had a top but that was long before it was mine. It looks super cute with some apples or lemons.

Lastly, this fluted jello mold is a great piece. It works well for potpourri and it's too small for the cat to sleep in.

As the title indicates this is just part one of my granite ware collection, I plan on sharing more in the future.

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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Independence Day Wall Decor

The biggest holiday of the summer is just around the corner and I for one love Independence Day! The family gatherings, the food and the fireworks! It’s just a fun day of celebrating! I love patriotic decor; unfortunately Mr. Manly Man does not. A red, white and blue living room is not his ~~cup of tea~~ bottle of beer. Good thing he’s okay with a little wall decor.

Here is what I used:

Wooden Frames
Fabric
Wooden Letters
Paint
Mod Podge
Hot Glue

How I made it:

I started by painting the letters Old White.

While they dried, I decoupaged the fabric to the picture frame glass. When dry I trimmed off the excess fabric.

Then I put the glass back in the frames and hot glued the letters to the glass. The "U" frame is my favorite. A little measuring and a couple of nails in the wall and here's what I ended up with.

Easy, inexpensive and it looks great!

So there you have it – a simple Independence Day Craft.

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Thursday, June 16, 2011

That Egg Thing – Ranchers Breakfast

One of Rose and Mr. Manly Man’s favorite breakfast meals is one that is loosely based on a Ranchers Breakfast recipe I found years ago. Rose calls it “That Egg Thing” and Mr. Manly Man calls it that “That Egg Thing That Rose Likes”. Good thing I know what they are talking about!

Here are the main players of “That Egg Thing”

Eggs, Bacon, Hash Browns and Cheese

I start by cutting the bacon into bite sized pieces and cooking it up nice and crisp. When cooked, drain on a paper towel. This is where I always run into trouble, that bacon just sitting there, begging to be eaten.

Next I cook the hash browns to a nice golden brown. You can use shredded hash browns or even O’Brien hash browns if you so desire. I prefer to use hash brown patties.

When the hash browns are done, I fry up the eggs, over easy. With a little salt for Rose, salt and pepper for Mr. Manly Man.

To assemble, layer from bottom to top: hash browns, eggs, bacon and then top with shredded cheese.

30 seconds in the microwave to melt the cheese and here is what they get:

I don’t have the actual recipe but here is what I use per person, you can easily double or triple depending on how many you are cooking for:

2 hash brown patties

3 eggs

2 slices of bacon

1/2 cup cheddar cheese – shredded

salt & pepper to taste.

You can add onions, green pepper, mushrooms, pretty much whatever you want. I cook them up in a little bit of the bacon grease and put on top of the hash browns for Mr. Manly Man on occasion.

LINKING TO:
Homemaker Monday
Eat Sew Grow
Home Sweet Farm
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The Charm of Home
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Ann Kroeker.com
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Fingerprints on the Fridge
Shabby Nest

Monday, June 13, 2011

Blue & Brown Wall Art

I decided I needed a little bit of new wall art. I love the blue and brown color scheme and found some fat quarters that were just calling my name. Then today I found this tile frame thing on the closeout isle and I knew what I would do.

I used Mod Podge to adhere the fabrics to the tiles and frame.

When they dried, I folded over the excess fabric and glued it to the back sides of the tiles. I did the same for the frame.

I arranged the tiles and then rearranged them again. I even had Rose take a look with her artistic eye. We decided on a pattern and I hot glued them to the frame.

Turned out pretty good for less than $10.00 total.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Dog Treats

Remember a few posts back when I gussied up the treat jars for our pets? Well, I decided to make them some treats to go in them. It was so easy!

Ingredients

Whole Wheat Flour, Dry Milk, One Egg, Vegetable Oil

Bouillon Cubes, Water, Brown Sugar

What I did:

I dissolved the bouillon cubes in hot water – nuked it for 2 minutes. While it was in the microwave, I dumped the rest of ingredients in a bowl. When the bouillon was done, I added it to the bowl and used a wooden spoon to combine.

Next I rolled the dough to ¼” thick. I sprayed two sheets of waxed paper with non stick spray and went to town.

We cut out a few dog shaped treats. The daughter thought they looked creepy and asked why don’t we just cut them in bars? So she did. She kind of took over. Handed me the camera and everything. Hmmm roll reversal?

Anyhow, she placed them on a greased cookie sheet and baked them at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. They actually didn’t smell half bad.

We let them cool a few minutes on the baking sheet and moved them over to the cooling rack. When completely cool we tried them out on the dogs. And boy howdy do they like them! I’ve never seen the black lab tremble so hard or drool so much in anticipation.

The store bought ones look a little nicer but I think that's just for us humans, I don't believe the dogs look at the treat and think "how pretty" before they chow down. Also, this way I know what's in the treat's I'm giving them.

Here’s the actual recipe.

GOOD DOGGY TREATS

2 ½ cup whole wheat flour

¾ cups nonfat dry milk

1 egg

½ cup vegetable oil

2 beef bouillon cubes dissolved in

¾ cup boiling water

2 – 3 tbs. brown sugar

Set oven to 350.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix until well blended. Knead the dough for approximately 1 minute. On a floured surface, roll the dough to ¼” thickness. Cut out in shapes or just into to rectangles. Place on greased sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Cool completely before giving to pets or placing treats in storage container.

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Friday, June 10, 2011

Guest Post at Craftionary

Happy Friday!! Hani over at Craftionary was gracious enough to invite me to do a guest post and I gladly accepted. Then I did small happy dance. So click on over and take a look . . . . . and enjoy your weekend!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Foam Soap Refill

Last week I shared with you how to make your own body scrub. As promised here is my solution to expensive foam soap. I haven't purchased actual foam soap for a long time - just when my pump wears out.

What you need:

Regular Dish Soap, Hot water, Foam Soap Bottle & Pump

What you do:

In an empty clean foam soap dispenser add 3 tablespoons of soap. I just use whatever dish soap I have on hand and reuse the bottles and pumps.

Next add 2/3 cup of very warm water. Put the lid on, prime the pump and you’re ready to go.

TIPS and HINTS

Dawn dish soap is highly recommended for this. I get hives anywhere Dawn touches my skin, so I can’t personally report how well it works. I use Palmolive and it works just fine.

If you have really hard water your foam may be somewhat “weak” or "limp" and the liquid may appear cloudy. Using distilled water instead of tap water can remedy both. I just use tap water but have a friend who used distilled.

DO NOT SHAKE. If you feel the soap and water are not combining; use a measuring cup and mix gently with a spoon and then pour into the bottle. You don't want bubbles before you pump the soap.

A couple of my friends say they wait 10 minutes before using. I don’t know what the wait time does but they swear by it.

A clear soap works tends to work better than a creamy soap. It doesn’t clog the pump as much and it mixes with the water better.

If you are after a pretty looking soap you can add a drop or two of food coloring. You can also add a few drops of essential oil if you desire.

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