365... Matchbook Card

This challenge was quite interesting.  I am not always one to follow directions, so I just made up my own dimensions, which is perhaps why it is a little off.  I thought the safety pin was a great idea, until I had to actually put it into the holes... which is why there is no picture with the card open! I will definitely keep the matchbook design in mind for future use!

365... Sun, Sand and Surf

This was a challenge from this past week that I was able to catch up on today!  I haven't lived near large water before so I don't know much about the surf part but I think I was able to capture the sand and the sun.  I wish I could be having "fun in the SUN" right now but rain is in abundance here!

365... Stampin' Saturday

Hooray for Saturdays to catch up on cards!  Today's challenge was to stamp a background pattern on some card stock... here is my pattern:

The stamp reads, "hugs to you."  Although, it looks very close to "bugs to you," very appropriate for the lady bugs.  

Who had the idea to put zucchini in bread?

I asked this question to my husband as it doesn't sound right, but let me tell you this bread is right.

Zucchini Bread

1 1/2 cup flour (I used 1 cup white, 1/2 cup whole wheat)

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup zucchini (we had about 1 1/2 cups)

1 cup sugar (recipe didn't specify, so I used brown sugar)

1 egg

1/4 cup oil (I used apple sauce)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a bread pan. Mix first ingredients together. Mix second set of ingredients together in a separate bowl. Combine the zucchini mixture to the flour mixture. Bake for 50-55 minutes.

365 Card Challenge.... Wacky Color Wednesday

Obviously it is no longer Wednesday and I am a little behind. I found out about 365 Card Challenge a few days ago and have been wanting to join in the fun, but work is getting in the way!

The challenge was to make a card using green, orange and purple

I need to work on picture taking skills.

Craving Deliverance

I put a spin on an old CD case for my sister while she was pregnant. I put 4 Ghiradelli chocolates inside and labeled them as a Craving Deliverance. I believe 6 could have fit if turned the other way... I guess next time I will know.

Carrying on the homemaker tradition with meatloaf

I made meatloaf the other night and my husband told me, "I was carrying on the homemaker tradition with meatloaf." He continued to tell how he was sure my mom made it (true), her mom made it (I would agree) and how her mom probably made it (I'm glad he didn't continue to previous generations!).

I combined two recipes from http://www.allrecipes.com/. I wanted to try them in muffin tins, which is where one recipe came from; however, my husband had some excellent Cajun Meatloaf while in Iraq so this is what I came up with:

Cajun Style Meatloaf
1 medium onion chopped
1 green pepper chopped
2 Tbsp butter/EVOO

1 1/2 lb meat
2 eggs
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 bay leaves (I only had crushed bay leaves)
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp nutmeg
4 cloves garlic minced
hot pepper

Sauce
ketchup
brown sugar

Saute the first three ingredients over medium heat. Once done set aside and let cool to room temperature.

In small bowl mix the spices. In large bowl mix together the meat, eggs, bread crumbs, evaporated milk, ketchup and the spices.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. For muffin tins, prepare into foil tins and cook for 30 minutes. Put sauce over each individual muffin and cook for another 1 minutes. (The recipe said 50 minutes and then another 10. I checked at about 35 minutes and they were pretty much done so I didn't get a chance to cook more time with the sauce).

For regular meatloaf in a bread pan, pour into prepared pan. Cook at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, raise heat to 400 degrees and cook for another 35 minutes. I would suggest putting the sauce on in the last 15 minutes or so.

*Tip: I was out of evaporated milk and my brother told me to take my milk and heat it over the stove to evaporate it. Sad, my older brother gave me a cooking tip! No, but really, he is a great "chef" as he likes to call himself. To do this, remember to put more than the necessary amount as some of the water will evaporate and leave you with a thicker milk.

*No picture this time... meatloaf just isn't that attractive!