A Party! A Tupperware Party! Food, Recipes and Fun!

                            

 

Tomorrow night I will be hosting a Tupperware party at our house.  At the last Tupperware party I somehow got caught up in the fun and excitement and said "yes" to hosting a party.  Do you ever do that?  I am excited to have some friends over and taste some more yummy Tupperware recipes. You can do a google search for Tupperware recipes and come up with some good recipes.

At that last party I attended I bought the Quick Chef chopper, because we love salsa.  Really, it's me who eats most of the salsa.  I really like a pineapple salsa, but the ones sold in the store are often just too spicy for mild-me.  So I plan to make pineapple salsa next, just as soon as I finish this bowl we made yesterday....

Here's the recipe my Tupperware rep sent along with my chopper.  We didn't follow this exactly, but Mark sure got into it when it came to the jalapeno peppers!  He had fun, and my mouth is burning still!  What's your favorite salsa flavor? Or send me your recipe if you use one!  I'd love to try it.

                      

I didn't send out invitaions, but I gave out tags to friends and family as I saw them in person.  I made up this funny list of a dozen reasons why they might want to come to my party.  Feel free to copy the list for your next party (the one you get talked into hosting, or showing, like a sales party. 

*Remember, you can click any photo to enlarge and read all those 12 reasons you want to come to my party.......

Today on the way home from Bible study this is the rainbow I saw.  It reminded me that God is always true to His promises.  What promise from the Bible do you hold on to?

Blessings, Heidi

(Posting for Between Naps on the Porch's "Metamorphis Monday")

24 Miniature Coffee Cake Muffins in a Pampered Chef Pan

While in town yesterday I took a quick look-see in the local gw thrift store for things I could use for "Inspired Christmas" projects. What I was primarily looking for was a cheap 24 count miniature muffin tin to make the advent countdown project that Teresa McFayden wrote.   I only fount one pan, it had that nice "no stick" coating on it, so I wasn't sure it would work, if that coating would accept the spray paint I would use.  I bought it anyway, as it was brand new and only $2.99.  When I got home I looked at the back a little closer and saw it had the famous Pampered Chef emblem!  Whee...now I can't use it, at least not for the craft.  I can, however, use it for some miniature coffee cake muffins! 

Lea had posted a note saying she was going to make some coffee cake muffins tomorrow morning. She gave the link to the recipe.  The recipe comes straight out of the Better Homes and Garden Cookbook, which I have (page 12). 

 

I made up a quick batch (reducing the time to 12 minutes for my miniatures) and presto....

Take a bite, and don't forget the butter!

Here's my altered recipe:
COFFEE CAKE MUFFINS -MINIATURE FOR PAMPERED CHEF PAN
In a small bowl mix 3 Tblspn, 3 Tblspn brown sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, then cut in 3 Tblspn butter
Set this aside, now mix in a separate bowl:
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
Now cut into this 1/4 cup butter
Now add 1 egg (beat before you add)
Now add 1/2 c. butter milk or sour milk
 (I make "sour milk" by adding 1 Tablespoon vinegar to the milk and let it sit 5 minutes)

Don't mix this too much.  Then drop about a tablespoon into each of the 24 miniature muffin cups.
Now sprinkle about a teaspoon of the brown sugar mixture on top of each of the 24 muffins.

Bake in a pre-heated at 400 degrees for 12 minutes.
Eat immediately, with butter and a fresh cup of coffee or a glass of milk!

Happy Weekend!
Blessings, Heidi

(Posting for Cindy's Romantic Home Friday linking)

Farm Chicks Christmas Book Signing

Today is the day, a book signing!  And if you're here, you're there, because Serena, (The Farm Chicks), is holding a blog-wise virtual book signing party!  All you have to do is go to her website, here, and place your order for her new book, "Farm Chicks Christmas", and she (and other contributors) will sign the book before shipping it to you.

***NOTE-The book order must be placed before 1 PM on TODAY Friday, November 5, 2010, for the SPECIAL book signing.****

The book looks fantastic, from the pictures and sneak peeks I've already viewed.  I bought Serena Thompson (and Teri Edward's) first book, "The Farm Chicks In The Kitchen" and it is one of my favorite books in my kitchen.  If her Christmas book is like the Kitchen book, I'm sure she's filled it with wonderful tasty recipes as well as fun projects and stories.  The first book, "Kitchen", included a cute stencil to use on our projects and I hear rumors that her "Christmas" book has a special addition to it as well.  The photography is exceptional and inspiring as I'm sure we'll see the same in the "Christmas" book.

You'll have fun shopping Serena's store, too.  Just look at the cute tins of lip gloss!  The girls would all love these in their stockings, I'm sure (hint, hint, Santa!).  I also adore the cute little "banner" stamp!

Be sure to add Serena's blog to your list of daily visits, she posts frequently.  You can click on her categories for special posts, such as RECIPES, where I often hang out!  Enjoy, you'll feel like you're sitting in her kitchen.  Soon, though, Serena will have a new kitchen, as they are in the process of having a home custom built for their family.

I've followed the Farm Chicks Blog since it was first opened, and have always enjoyed the quick and easy styling of her posts.  A couple years ago I followed her idea for little "Sweetie Pies".  Here are the ones I made:

(Sweetie Pies I made from Serena's recipe)

If you are lucky enough to live anywhere near Spokane, WA go to Chaps this Friday and you'll ge to meet my special friend, Serena, in person!

Blessings and Happy Friday!   ~Heidi

Amy Power's "Inspired Ideas" Christmas 2010

(one of my cookie cutter necklaces...)

Christmas is indeed the most wonderful time of the year.  And this year our friend Amy Powers is giving us a wonderful collection of inspiring Christmas ideas with her online magazine,  "Inspired Ideas" . She describes it as a crafter's Christmas "smorgasbord".  You'll be inspired beyond anything I could begin to describe.  You'll start smiling at the cover page and your heart will begin beating at a faster pace by time you get to the contributors page (page 10-11) where you'll see a the wonderful collection of fellow crafters and friends.  Your heart will just about beat uncontrollably when you see Mary Engelbreit has contributed, Charlotte Lyons and over 20 others...including me!


Yes, Amy so sweetly included an inspiring cookie cutter project I created.  But I won't spoil it by telling you any more about my project or the others in the magazine.  To view it online just click the link below.  At that point you can continue to view online, or you can download to your computer to view while you are offline at your convenience.  Amy has designed this magazine to be viewed at no cost to you and I.  There are ads included by wonderful crafters and sponsors.  By visiting their stores or websites you will be supporting this wonderful Christmas addition of Amy Power's "Inspired Ideas Christmas 2010".


A side note about Amy. Many years ago as I was reading the ads in the back of a Mary Engelbreit "Home Companion" magazine (I still have every single issue), I came across an ad for Amy's website, which I visited and then followed her link to her blog.  At that point I had never visited a blog before, not really knowing what a blog was.  I remember reading every blog post Amy ever wrote, and then visiting every blog she had on her "blogroll".    I. Was. Blog. Hooked.     Do you know what I mean?   Now almost 5 years later Amy has so sweetly included one of my projects in her magazine.


Now, before you do anything else..... Go be "Inspired"!     And could you be so kind to about "Inspired" on your blogs, send the link to your friends, and get the word out about "Inspired"!   Thank you!


        Blessings!  Heidi


PS  If you want to go back to Amy Power's first issue for Autumn, click here:  "Inspired Ideas Autumn."

Friday: Cookbooks and Menu Chalkboard

As you walk up the stairs into our home, after you see the entryway buffet/hutch, you then see my bookshelf of my cookbooks.  I used to have at least double this many cookbooks but had to narrow it down to what would fit in this bookshelf.  I put a few in order of colors, just for fun, red being on top. 

One of my inspiration pictures for The Wedding (I showed here) was a menu chalkboard. I looked for a frame close to the one in my inspiration picture but couldn't find one.  So when we were at our one and only flea market in the summer I found this frame.  It was all beat up, with nothing in it, just the frame.  (I don't have any "before" pictures, things got a little rushed and crazy the weeks leading up to the wedding.)  I found a board that fit perfectly in the back of the frame, nailed and glued that in then painted it with chalkboard paint.  For the top "windows" I used fabric and covered a cardboard cut the same size as the openings. That was the same fabric I used for the mailbox (for cards, you can just barely see the mailbox on the table in this post here) and for the flower girl baskets.  Jessica and I found this fabric at that same flea market, it was probably less than a yard, but I sure made it cover the pieces I wanted, tying that fabric into a various wedding crafts. 

I nailed this menu chalkboard up to the side wall of where the caterers were serving food.  I don't have any photos of that (yet).  I had asked the caterer to write the menu on it, and he did!  The food was all so yummy.  The caterer had four high school girls working for us, and they served the salads to the table, but the main food was served buffet style.  The fresh green salad was TDF (to die for).  It was a delicious mix of greens, with tomatoes, strawberries and dried cranberries served with a tasty raspberry vinaigrette dressing.  It was about the only thing I ate all night!  Oh, and the cake, which I'll have to write more about soon.

So now this menu board hangs on the wall at the top of our entryway stairs.  I don't think I could ever erase that menu...oh the memories!

 (image above from Teresa Sheely)

(sign I painted)

Have a blessed weekend!  Hugs, Heidi

For Cindy's Show and Tell Friday Friday and Design It Chic Blog Friday

Where I Create (craft room)

             For Cindy's SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY!
                      My Romantic Home!

Here's the story and I'm sticking with it: For The Wedding we rented truckloads of items, first the tent itself, then chairs, tables and so much more.  We rented 15 large round tables for eating but I decided I could save a little money for the other tables (food, drinks, etc) by using tables from around here.  One day I was up in our shop and I saw this nice, big, heavy, oak table leaning against the wall.  Nothing was on it, we had pulled off the hinges and knob years ago.  I helped Mark attach some of those legs that are on folding tables and voila!  A perfect table for the wedding.

We put layered some pretty tablecloths on it and put it in the "Candy Shack" for gift.  (I'll have to talk more about the candy shack another day....delightful!).  Nice table, right?  Oh, the gift card MAILBOX might be another story, I made that, too, from an old beat up mailbox I found years ago in a dump pile. But by the end of the night you couldn't even see that cute mailbox, I should have made sure it stayed in front somehow! 

(The "Candy Shack" was in our little barn!  So was the gift table and more!)

Once the wedding was over we had to put everything away.  We started to load up the door-table when I had a light bulb moment.....wouldn't this BIG table be nice in my craft room?  My already full craft room?  My craft room which is a bedroom in our house?  Yes!  Mark is so sweet, he just said, show me where we'll take it and away we went with the solid-core-heavy-oak-door-now-table....up the stairs into the second floor of the house!

So now that you've know "how I turned a door into a table" I'll go ahead and show you photos of the craft room as it looks this very moment! Keep in mind I'm working on a lot of things, and I tend to have everything out and open all at once.  Yes, I realize my craft room (in this state) will probably never make the cover of "Where Women Create", but I thought some of you might like it. I'm keeping it real!

I put a white tablecloth on the table-door.  Probably not a good idea, you know how quick that white is going to have paint, markers, soldering burns and more on it?  But for now it's fine. 

(Notice the tote, I've tagged it as "Heidi's Tulle Box"!)

REMEMBER, you can click on any photo to SEE IT UP CLOSE and see all the details (mess) better!

Now, on to the photos.  Pour a mug of coffee or make yourself some tea.  Click on the photos and have a visit with me in where I create!  There are SO many things in here from my blog friends, look around you might see something you made! Tell me what you see, okay?

(I don't have any curtains, drapes or shades on the window, only the deer can see in anyway!)

(In this photo notice the light fixture. I made it from an old light, painting it white, wiring it in the ceiling and adding the beads and garlands.)

(Notice my soldering tray on the floor, I need to put that away!)

(This is inside the closet where I store a ton of stuff.  I took off the original closet doors and added the shelves.  It's packed)

(Notice another tote on this sewing table.  Whenever I see them at garage sales I always buy them, take them home and paint them white.  I love totes!  One time a seller wouldn't sell just the tote, I had to take everything in it.  That actual turned out good, Mark was happy for the nails, screws and hardware--all for $2, not bad!  There's another wood tote or two under the big door-table.)

(Here's my second buffet-hutch. The other one is now in our entry way.  Notice I have a mess everywhere?  I work best like this, don't you?  I wanted to add some appliques to the front doors of this hutch after I painted it but just never got around to doing that. I love wire baskets, too.  There's one now with cookie cutters in it.)

(This is just half of a huge bulletin board I have up. Instead of painted it I just covered it with a real shear fabric.  Notice the vintage picnic basket?  I use that to store my larger sheets of paper. In no order, but you've already guessed that....I don't have a whole lot of order going on in this room!)

(More projects on the wall, everywhere!)

(I built this corner shelf a long time ago for Jessica, when she had this room as her bedroom.)

(This is my motto out here in the country, there are no stores nearby: 

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.")

  

(This couple on my windowsill keeps me company.)

(Good view of the table  in this picture.)

(Notice my "Heidi's Tulle Box" tote! Notice the nice view of our property outside the window?)

(Mary Engelbreight signed this just for me!)

(Take a quick look inside the hutch-buffet here.  The one I kept in the craft room, the other one is now in the entry way, see last Friday's post for that one!)

Now that I've uploaded all these photos and are looking through them.....I'm thinking maybe I need to send a day organizing.  What do you think?  Nah, you're right, if it were all clean and tidy I couldn't create!

If you've made it this far.....Thank you so much for visiting me in my craft room.!

Blessings!  Heidi

JFF (JustForFun), I'm also linking to Design it Chic's

"Boost My Blog Friday"!

Moving the Hutch

The hutch in our entry way.

I'm posting this for "My Romantic Home's" Show and Tell Friday.

Throughout the wedding we were moving things, indoors and outdoors.  The wedding was on a big tent on our property so Jessica went around our home and would point out things she wanted to bring out to the tent to give it a comfy-homey feeling.  We brought out benches, fountains, tables, pillows, blankets and more.  One of the pieces of furniture pieces I wanted to bring out was this hutch, which was in my craft room.  The drawers are filled with ribbons, rick-rack, lace, and more.  I thought the drinks would be fun to serve on it.  So I had Mark help me move it out to our entry way, to have it ready to move out to the tent when it was set up.

Remember the rain the day of the wedding?  Remember how busy we were the days before the wedding?  We just never had time to move it out into the tent.  We used a table for the drinks, putting cinder-cement blocks and fabrics on top to build up the area for our three cold drinks.  We served raspberry-lemonade, with frozen raspberries floating in it.  That was my favorite.  We also had lemon-iced-tea, with lemons floating.  And the third drink was just plain lemonade with lemons.  The caterer had pitchers of iced cold water on the tables, and had preserved all the glasses on each table with water and a slice of lemon in every single glass.  I loved that detail. 

Here's the drink table, which we used instead of the hutch, with the signs I painted above it.  I think it all turned out nice, and I do love the buffet hutch in my entry way now. 

Back to the hutch....I had bought this at a thrift store a few years back.  I painted it white and cemented on the appliques.  The floral appliques were some I found unfinished.  I painted them with light colors, then lightly coated that with some white paint for a washed out look.  I glued them on with the most powerful glue you can use: E6000.  If you have never used it buy some today, it's very strong. Yes, it has a strong smell, too, but it will slowly fade after a few days. Here's the hutch, still on the truck the day we brought it home.    

I loved using this in my craft room so much I had bought another one a little later.  That one is still in my craft room, also painted white.  Maybe I"ll show pictures of my craft room next Friday!

Have a great weekend!

Blessings, Heidi

New Romantic Book and Cookie Cutters

If you love magazines and books like I do, you may already know about Fifi O'Neill.  She's an author, a magazine publisher, and a wonderfully creative person!  Fifi teamed up with photographer Mark Lohman to write a book, "Romantic Prairie Style", which is now available on Amazon for Pre-Order.  You can go to my right-side column and use my Amazon box to jump right over to Amazon to place your pre-order.

I mentioned I'm working on some cookie cutter crafts.  One of my biggest challenges is to find all my cookie cutters.  I've collected them for over 20 years now and have them literally stashed all over my home. In boxes in my storage areas, in jars on my kitchen shelves, in bowls, boxes, on my vintage ironing board, hum I think there's some even in my jewelry boxes.  (More on that soon!)

Here's a few photos my hunt for my own cookie cutters:

(In crock on floor...)

(In the vintage BREAD box on chair in entryway...)

(In glass jars on my cookbook bookshelf...)

 (Yes, they are in these PINK vintage containers, too...)

(Currently on our kitchen table...)

(Above my kitchen cabinets in glass jars...)

(Old metal basket in my craft room....)

(On my vintage ironing board, yes it's the original cover; yes it has wooden legs...)

(Alphabet set on my kitchen counter...)

Now these are the cookie cutters the little ones and I used to make cookies just last week.  I asked John Mark what word he wanted to make and because we were just watching our little yellow finches on my deck he said, "BIRD".  So we pulled out the B I R D cutters and made cookies. 

For fun Ellie wanted to spell out her little sister/princess's name, Claira. Speaking of Princesses, the other day Ellie said to me, "Grandma Heidi, you were a princess when you were little, right?  And so was Jessica, right?"  It was so sweet!

 I think that's enough for you to look at for a while.  Don't forget to PRE-ORDER the new book!

Blessings, Heidi

Cookies!

Check out this link....there is cookie and more YOU could win!
           Prairie Flower Farm blog

I'm working on a cookie cutter project, I'll be blogging about it soon. Meanwhile, go visit Linda!

Blesssings.....and be sure to eat a cookie today!
          Hugs, Heidi