RECYCLE FEVER

Morning ladies and gents. How are you doing this hot & humid June day? I am peachy… I have recycle fever today (and yesterday) and I am going to show you all about it! OK so I had started by making a list of some of the recycled crafts I wanted to do during the day, but oddly enough, I didn’t do any of them LMAO! Maybe I will get to them today LOL. However, the things I got done were (in my opinion) spiffy cool I think. Check them out!



This is a denim purse that I made out of an old pair of Alex’s jeans. The legs were too short to be door draft stoppers and I didn’t want to just get rid of them. They were too tattered and stained in places to take them to donation… so… what do I do. Then it hit me… make a purse! I cut the legs off right at the inseam top straight on both sides. I zigzag stitched the zipper area closed… the zipper had some broken teeth anyway. And it looked cute LOL! Then I sewed the bottom closed and then I sewed some webbing straps on. I finished it off with a blue checkered ribbon… feeding it through the belt loops and then fastening the ribbon with some stay stitching. Tied it in a cute bow in the front. I left the pockets open for things like keys and cell phones, etc. The last thing I did was to sew in a couple of velcro spots for closure. I think it turned out wonderful!



Then I finished up Alex’s Toy story bag that I made out of old stained and tattered bed sheets. Then I put all his Toy Story goodies inside. I only had a matching 22 inch zipper even though the craft actually calls for an 18 inch one. But I think it came out ok. I am not real happy with it because the bed sheets did not hold form real well. Next time I will try lining it with a stiff canvas or something. There is enough of the sheet to make another one actually, so I might try again.



Remember I told you the other day that I bought a couple of the new Friskies cat food bags because I liked the pictures? Well guess what… yep I recycled them into a purse too! I mean you could use it for a shopping tote or a purse or a regular tote or whatever you wanted. I just think it’s cute! I want to get all the other bags so I can make one out of those too! Maybe I can start a new fashion trend for pet lovers LMAO! Well… maybe just me cause I’m a little odd LOL! But who knows, right? I mean 10 years ago when I was making Capril Sun and Koolaid purse and bags and such from candy wrappers I never would have thought I would see them sold in WALMART of all places! So I have to keep it new and exciting LOL!



This is another recycled purse I started… playing cards! We have like 8 zillion decks of cards running around the house… I figured I could spare one LOL. But this would be a great project for all those decks that you have running around that maybe our precious little children lost a few of the cards LOL… It would be awesome for the poker enthusiast too! Right now the inside is lined with duct tape, but this is just a preliminary model… I am thinking I am going to line it with felt and make the outside vinyl… not quite sure yet. But won’t it be pretty flippin cool?!



I had to stop working on the recycled totes and such because I had to prep food… remember I told you we were grilling yesterday because my DB and his GF were coming over. I made some homemade potato salad and tons of kabobs and all kinds of flavors of meats! Chicken Legs, sausage, beef, sausage, and shrimp kabobs, Ribeye steaks, milkfish, and hot dogs. Be darned I forgot the scallops I had set out! Oh well, I can pan sear them today or tomorrow or something. Shoot, our neighbor came over and asked if we could throw some sausage on the grill for her, so we said sure and she ran inside and got her sausage cut up and we grilled it for her. Took all over 5-10 minutes… we didn’t mind LOL! She is a nice lady and we don’t mind doing things for her. We had a couple of glasses of wine and the guys had some beers (traditional when most Southern men get together and BBQ LOL!) but nobody got snot-slinging drunk ya know? Just a relaxing good time. After dinner and BBQitas LMAO, we sat and had a little fun singing karaoke on the Playstation… well they sang. I sat back and laughed at them! Even the kids got in on the music session!

OK so its time to get funky crafty! I got somewhat of a craft fever going this weekend, but they have to be recycled crafts… so I was searching for some new ideas and I saw the cutest thing for making soap dispensers out of a mason jar. CUTE! BUT then the creative juices got flowing and I was like OMG use CLEAR soap and put like colored gems or marbles or seashells or candy or all kinds of things in there to make it better! Then add ribbon around the metal lid ring and it would be so cute! OH THEN (LOL) depending on theme of your soap jar, make a gift basket around it! OMG wouldn’t that be the coolest? So here for your enjoyment today is a very versatile craft that recycling rocks! Thanks to blogspot member kelleygeorgette!



Craft Idea of the Day: Mason Jar Soap Dispenser

1. Just take a mason jar and drive a nail through the center of the top.
2. Remove the pump from a store bought soap dispenser
3. Widen the hole you made so that the pump fits snug inside.
4. Put some super glue on the edge of the bottom of the pumps base, so that it adheres to the jar top. let dry.
5. Now fill with soap… the more colorful the better.

Ok, so are you hungry? I mean REALLY hungry? Well I found some really cool FARMER FAVORITES that I thought you might like to try. Have you enjoyed the vegetarian week? I hope so… and I hope it has shown to you that no matter what budget or background you come from, good nutritious meals are easily obtainable! Not sure about doing another theme next week… what do you think? Any thoughts? Check these great recipes out that I have chosen to wrap up the FARMER FAVORITES week and then leave me a comment! Eat & Enjoy!



Tofu Parmigiana

By: Jill B. Mittelstadt
"Breaded tofu a la parmigiana. You'll just about swear this is eggplant or veal! One of my husband's favorites, and he doesn't even suspect! Serve with a simple crisp green salad, angel hair pasta and garlic bread."

Ingredients

1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
5 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons dried oregano, divided
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
1 (12 ounce) package extra firm tofu
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 clove garlic, minced
4 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
2 eggs whisked

Directions

In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon oregano, salt, and black pepper.

Slice tofu into 1/4 inch thick slices, and pat dry. Bake the tofu slices at 350 for just a few minutes on each side until it is golden brown.

Then, one at a time, dip tofu in egg, then press tofu slices into crumb mixture, turning to coat all sides. (If crumbs do not stick, you could try to coat with cooking spray.)

Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook tofu slices until crisp on one side. Drizzle with a bit more olive oil, turn, and brown on the other side.

Combine tomato sauce, basil, garlic, and remaining oregano. Place a thin layer of sauce in an 8 inch square baking pan. Arrange tofu slices in the pan. Spoon remaining sauce over tofu. Top with shredded mozzarella and remaining 3 tablespoons Parmesan.

Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 20 minutes.



Risotto with Tomato, Corn and Basil

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups water
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup minced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 cup uncooked Arborio rice
3 tablespoons white wine
1 medium tomato - peeled, seeded and chopped
1 1/3 cups fresh corn kernels
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips
1/2 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Combine the water and milk in a medium size pot or saucepan, heat the water and milk to a simmer. Keep the pan over low heat.

Melt the butter in a large casserole or skillet over medium high heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and the rice, stir constantly for 1 minute. Add the white wine and stir until completely absorbed.

Begin to add the heated milk-water mixture 1/2 cup at a time, stirring frequently. Wait until each addition is almost completely absorbed before adding the next. When the rice has cooked for 15 minutes and most of the liquid has been incorporated, add the corn kernels and tomatoes along with the end of the milk-water mixture. Cook, stirring frequently, until the rice is tender but still slightly chewy.

The risotto should take 18 to 20 minutes of cooking all together. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, most of the basil, and the salt and pepper. Spoon the risotto immediately onto plates, top with the remaining basil strands, and serve.

Well boys and girls, I am afraid that is all that I have for you today. Its time for me to wash some serious dishes and such and get back to recycled crafting! Thanks for dropping in today… I’ve had a great time chatting with you! Join me again tomorrow for more crafts, food, and fun! Until then… HUGS!

GROOVY GRILLIN’ WEEK

Hey there kiddies! How are you doing this morning? It’s early here and I wanted to hop online and write to you before the crazy day starts. I am sad to report that either a roadside cow or a visiting person discovered the first place I was watching for berries. I was very upset. So it was back home for a sewing and cooking marathon!



I had been using plastic canvas made cow canisters when that was my theme, but now I need something different. Having never seen any lemon canisters, I decided to take this old storage container (for now at least) and spray glue some of those cut out lemons on the sides to match the room. This is just temporary but I thought it turned out pretty cute. I put all my teabags in it and placed it on the shelf by the window.



Remember that Madison’s room is one of the 6 ongoing projects… well today I made 2 complete curtain sets and the closet drape set. Those things were long! 86 inches!! I didn’t realize how tall her windows and closet were til I measured LOL! I have a few things left to do, but I am hoping to have everything ready to redo her room by the end of the week! And it’s a good thing I am almost done too… because I am almost out of fabric! In making all the things for her room, I have eliminated 2 brand new 12 yard bolts… I have maybe 4 yards left!



When you are working with the little black music notes steadily, you tend to go cross-eyed and start seeing spots LOL! So in between each item, I took a break and sewed other things because I value my eyesight LMAO! One of the things I worked on was the BC quilt. I got 4 more rows added to the length of the quilt. I figure 5 on each side of the center will make it about 6.5 to 7 ft. long. Haven’t decided how wide to make it yet. But isn’t it turning out so pretty? I already have 2 offers to buy it for $300 each! Anyone wanna try to outdo them? LMAO! What happens if I just want to keep it?? Oh decisions, decisions!



Another thing I made in between the music note stuff was this purse. Recognize the fabric? Yep, it was the scrap that was left in the green tote after I made my “casino scrub” the other night LOL! Working hard on the fabric challenge!! Anyways, I think this is so spiffy cool looking! I wanna keep this too!



I also made a couple of cell pouches out of the scraps that were left after the purse! I think I might put one for sale with the purse and then one by itself. Not sure yet. Either way, after making these, I totally eliminated this fabric! WOOHOO! Another one bites the dust!



The whole time I am sewing I am also cooking. It was experimental night LOL! First I boiled some chicken legs and once they cooled I deboned them. I added them with some mushroom soup, some cooked rotini pasta, some broccoli, milk, cheese, etc and made a casserole. It was quite yummy actually!



Large Elbow macaroni, a jar of Ragu Double cheese sauce, and some ground meat made for some homemade Cheeseburger macaroni. Hamburger helper ain’t got NOTHIN’ on homemade! LOL! DS14 ate that whole pan almost!



I had some boneless pork that I think sliced and marinated that and some short ribs in some teriyaki sauce. Baked the ribs and stir-fried the boneless with some veggies I had prepped and froze for stir-fry. Placed that over a bed of thin noodles which were sauced with teriyaki as well and OMG drool central!



Behold the Valentine’s Day chicken legs as the kids call them LOL! Actually they are Raspberry Pecan chicken legs. (I told you I was experimenting!!) I peeled the skin off some chicken legs and marinated them for over 2 hours in a Ken’s Fat Free dressing (Raspberry Pecan) in the fridge. I crushed about a cup or 2 of pecans and sprinkled them on top and baked them. They were absolutely superb if you can get past the fact they are pink LOL!

I also made some cinnamon apple dijon short ribs and OMG it smelled like a fresh baked apple pie in the house! I took a second package of short ribs and put them in a bag. Now when I had bought some of those clearanced salad kits, they had an Apple Dijon vinaigrette that I didn’t use at the time, but merely stuck in the fridge for use at a later date. Today was that date! And everyone knows apples and pork are a nice pairing, so I figured- Let’s Play! WOW am I glad I did! I poured the dressing packets and the last of my apple cider vinegar I had (maybe a ¼ cup max) and shook it up and placed the ribs in it to marinate. About an hour or so later, I diced up some apple slices. I put the ribs in the pan. The diced apples on top of the ribs, and poured the marinade over all of it. Then I said HMMM… apples like cinnamon so lets try it! Oh gee was everyone in the house about to gnaw off my ankles in wait! LOL! Sadly I have no picture because they ran off with them all too fast! But it’s definitely something they want me to make again LOL!

As you can see, I was a busy lady yesterday. I started a Tinkerbell purse out of the green crate of fabric too, but didn’t quite get it finished before it was time for bed. So, you will get to see that completed probably tomorrow if I get to finish it tonight! All I have to do is add straps and a zipper and sew it up and it will be done!

OK sew its time to craft… no I am not crafting right now… the sun isn’t even up LOL! But as you know I like to bring you my own creations as well as those of others who I think just are too cute not to mention. Now recently I brought you a doggie toy. I hope you liked it. Now for those of you who don’t have a dog, but maybe a cat (like Mom and I), I have a toy for your little feline friends today! It’s time to go kitty fishing! Make this cute little fish on a string and drive your cat bonkers! Especially when you stuff it with catnip! LMAO!



Craft Idea of the Day: Felt Fish for Kitty

Every kitten loves catnip and batting at strings! Make a quick stuffed fishy toy on a line of rickrack, and you and your kitty can play together.

Materials:

Two pieces of wool felt, each about 6 inches x 4 inches
Pinking shears
18-inch length of rickrack
Small jingle bells, feathers, or other optional decoration
Catnip (optional, but I guarantee your cat will be more interested in this toy if you use it)
Small amount polyfil stuffing
Sewing machine
Needle and thread

Directions:



Print out the template and enlarge it to the desired size. My fish was about 5 inches long by 3 inches wide.

Start by cutting two fish shapes out of your felt pieces with pinking shears. Pin the pattern piece to the felt and cut just slightly outside of the pattern piece. If you don't have pinking shears, regular scissors will work okay, too.

Stack the two fish together, wrong sides facing, and slide about 1 inch of the rickrack between the two pieces as shown. Pin in place. Sew around the sides of the fish, making sure to encase the rickrack. Do NOT sew the tail shut.

Stuff the fish body with polyfil and catnip (if using). Sew the tail shut.

Add a few jingle bells to the top of the fishy to make some noise for kitty. Hand-sew the bells securely in place, and remember to supervise your kitty while he's playing with this toy. You can also add some feathers to pique his interest.

Ok, this week I have decided (as if the title didn’t give it away LOL!) is Grill Week! With the summer coming, more and more people have cook-outs, BBQ’s, etc. Now everyone knows you can just throw on some burgers and such… nothing real “special” about that. BUT what I am going to bring you is recipes for grilling things with a little flare! Unique things that you can do to spruce up that chicken or beef strip… don’t worry, if you don’t have a grill outside, you can also use an indoor grill pan too! So let’s start off the week with a gift of grill from the $5 Dinner Mom and her awesome website! Thanks Erin! (If you haven’t signed up for her newsletter, what are you waiting for? She’s awesome and has tons of great stuff to share with you!) I made this for Mom and Dad this past Saturday for lunch and they said it was delish… and it’s a great recipe for him because the thigh is his favorite part!



Grilled Salsa Chicken

Ingredients

2 lbs bone-in chicken thighs
1 cup salsa
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Toss the garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper in a small bowl.

2. Separate the skin from the thigh and spoon in some seasonings.

3. Spoon in some salsa. Repeat for all the chicken thighs that you’ll be grilling.

4. Sprinkle any remaining seasonings on top of the chicken thighs.

5. Spread any remaining salsa into the bottom of a shallow dish or baking dish and let the chicken sit on top of the salsa, so the underside of the chicken marinates and takes on a bit of the salsa flavor. Let sit for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

6. Grill.until cooked through. (I garnished with another spoonful of salsa.)

Now what would grilling week be, without some info about grills!? I just happened upon this article yesterday and thought that the timing was so appropriate and I had to share!

Best BBQ grills from Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports rates gas grills in sizes from portable tailgaters to large, free-standing models.

By ConsumerReports.org



(The Char-Broil Commercial Quantum Grill)

Mouthwatering burgers and sizzling steaks are probably the first things that come to mind when you think of grilling. But Americans are also firing up their grills to cook vegetables, fruits, pizza, and even pancakes and eggs.

So which grills are the best? We spent months cooking salmon, grilling chicken, and searing steaks on 46 gas grills. Our tests revealed recommended models that cost between $200 and $700.

We also found a few duds. Want a grill that shows you're rooting for the home team? The Team Grill Patio Series Pro bears the colors and logo of your favorite team. But our tests found that the $800 Pro is a pricey rookie that cooked unevenly and had a low overall score of 45. The futuristic-looking Solaire, $1,800, also cooked unevenly—which means lots of shuffling food around to avoid uncooked portions.



Small-sized and portable grills (shown is the Char-Broil Red)

Infrared is growing more common even among the smallest free-standing models, which cost about $150 to $500 and fit 10 to 15 burgers. The Char-Broil Red Patio 46325021 costs $270 and offers infrared searing on its main burner. Besides very even cooking at high and low temperatures, it also outdid larger grills when it came to low-temperature cooking. Portable grills to go typically lack features common on larger models, such as multiple main burners, stainless construction, and side burners. They’re also less convenient to use. But for tight spaces or tailgating, they can be all you need. The Weber Q 200 396002, $200, was the best-performing portable, and you can add a cart for use as a free-standing unit.

Medium-sized grills (shown in the Char-Broil Red)

The most popular size, these cost $200 to $900 on average and fit 16 to 30 burgers. Our top picks range in price from the Brinkmann 810-8410S, $200, to the top-rated Weber Genesis E320, $700. Both were among the best at cooking evenness. Two other recommended models, from Char-Broil and Kenmore, have infrared for searing meats at the main burner.



Large-sized grills (Shown is the Weber Genesis E320)

Looking to grill for a gang? These crowd-pleasers cost $300 to $1,000 or more and can fit 30 or more burgers. All those we recommended have stainless-steel or coated cast-iron grates and side burners. The Brinkmann 810-1575-W, sold at Walmart, has five main burners and an infrared rotisserie. At $380, it costs less than most grills this size. The Char-Broil Commercial Quantum 463247310, $500, offers infrared cooking, which uses heated surfaces to radiate intense heat to food, not the air, making it good for searing.

Ok everybody, I have to skidaddle quick like today! Gotta take mom to her first therapy appointment today at 9am! So, I hope you enjoyed the blog and I am gonna get dressed, get the kids off to school, and get on down the road! Ya’ll take care and I will meet you back here tomorrow, ok? Until then… HUGS!

MONDAY MORNING AFTERMATH

Hi there everybody. How are you doing today? I’m recovering from a rather hectic Sunday. We grilled lots of food, had company over yesterday, and was running around trashing spoiled foods, etc. from my fridge which died. I lost all the soups and such in my freezer and a ton of things from my fridge. We heard clicking, then saw a pretty blue green flash from underneath and that was all she wrote. Needless to say I was kind of happy I had not got a chance to marathon cook this weekend, but very upset because all the freezer cooking I had was wasted. I think I lost around 30 or so helpings of soup and 10-12 TV dinners. And then the landlord and his cousin broke my big Agave plant bringing in the fridge! So now, my house is an utter disaster because of the hectic chaos around here and I have to see if I can save this plant!

OK, let’s answer some reader comments… Jean asked how big is my raised garden? My planter is 5 foot long by 3 foot wide and 12 inches high. It holds over 500 pounds of soil. The plants are at different stages of their “life” and some will not be there as long as others. They will be “weeded” or “thinned” out. Other plants that grow up are close to plants that stay low, another space saver (my mom taught me that trick). For example, my okra will grow up tall and so under it I can plant something low-lying like broccoli, carrots, or other root vegetables. Once the plants are finished producing, they will be replaced with new seedlings… so I can keep the garden going all year long. I also have other plants in separate containers to help with space issues as well. Like my Peas will get their own container with a center pole for them to grow up on and they will not choke out my other veggies. Jean also asked why am I swollen? Honestly I don’t know why hun… I get swelling sometimes to where I have to take prescription water pills. But it’s been bad lately and I haven’t got to go to the doctor for it. I’m not sure if this is a remaining reaction to those stupid pills or what. But I can’t wear my rings and I can’t get my pants over my swollen legs. It’s actually very painful. My knees and legs have been very cold and you can press on my feet and legs and it stays indented for a small time. And the last 2 days I have had an intense migraine making my head hurt to the point of tears and nausea that even my medicines are not helping. I have to try to call my doctor’s office and see if there is anyway I can be seen.

OK ladies and germs… its time to make some more Easter crafts. Let’s focus on baskets. Baskets can be a very versatile thing. You can use them to hold food, eggs, etc., they can be decorations, or they can be temporary décor that turns into gifts for your company. Filled with treats, etc. children wait to see what the “Easter Bunny” has brought them. Here are some cute basket ideas I thought you might enjoy!

Craft Idea of the Day: Easter baskets



Picket Fence Easter Basket
Supplies:

Wood plant label sticks (garden centres, craft shops)
Scrap ribbon
Hot glue (tacky glue for children)
Styrofoam container lid or plastic container lid
Paper twist (chenille stems can also be used)
White paint

Instructions:

For this project, I used the lid of a Styrofoam soup container (take out food), but you can use any sort of container lid or the bottom of a small box. The only requirement is that it has a slight rim, so that you can glue your sticks to it. The sticks that I used are small plant label sticks (I like the picket fence look), but you can use regular craft sticks for this project.

Paint your sticks white and paint your container. Allow the paint to dry. You can paint the sticks after applying them to the base, but it's a little more difficult to get between the sticks, once they are assembled. When I painted my sticks, I painted half the stick, then stuck it in a piece of floral foam to dry before painting the other half.

Glue a small piece of ribbon around the outside of the container lid. Glue your sticks against the inside rim of the container. It's a good idea to place your sticks first to make sure you have enough and you'll be able to decide how much of a gap to leave between the sticks, in order that they be placed evenly around the lid. Allow the glue to dry completely before continuing. You will be tugging a little at the sticks for the next step and you don't want them to start popping out.

Weave ribbon scraps in and out of the sticks, as shown in our sample basket. Glue the two ends of the ribbon together on the inside of the basket to secure. Continue weaving ribbons until you reach just below the top of the basket, securing each of the ribbon ends together.

For the handle, I used a piece of paper twist and wrapped it with a pink ribbon. It isn't necessary to wrap the handle, but it adds a little to the finished basket.

To wrap the handle, glue your ribbon at one end of the paper twist, wind your ribbon around the entire length of the twist and secure at the other end with glue. Glue your handle in place on the inside bottom of the basket and extending the twist up the sides (securing the sides with glue as well). Hot glue is recommended for securing the handle, as you want this handle to be strong enough to hold all of your goodies. Pipe cleaners (chenille stems) can also be used for this, but be sure to secure them well.

Tie a bow at the top of the basket around each side of the handle and you are all done.



Easter Berry Basket

by Jane Lake

Save those ordinary plastic mesh berry boxes that are used to store and display strawberries, blackberries or raspberries in the grocery store. They look lovely when you decorate them with yarn, ribbon or lace for Easter or any other special occasion.

Plastic Mesh Easter Basket

Supplies:

plastic mesh berry basket
pregathered lace to fit around the rim of the basket
scissors and glue
strip of cereal box cardboard to use as a handle
paint or ribbon to cover the handle
Easter grass to line the basket
strips of material to weave into the mesh; paper or fabric strips, ribbon, yarn, string, twine, lengths of raffia, or even long lengths of Easter grass

Instructions:

1. Cut a length of weaving material long enough to go all around the box, with an inch or two to spare. Start weaving from one bottom corner, going from left to right, and weaving the material under and over the mesh spines of the box.

If desired, you can vary the weaving pattern - try going under one spine, and over two, or the reverse.

Continue weaving until you get back to the starting point. Make sure the material begins and ends on the inside of the box. Cut off any excess material. Apply a little glue to the back of the material and press into the corner to secure.

2. Following the directions above, weave as many rows as needed to completely cover the sides of the basket.

3. Cut a narrow strip of cereal box cardboard, or similar cardboard, to make a handle for the basket. Decorate the handle with paint or cover it with ribbon. Apply a generous amount of glue to each outside end of the handle, then curve the handle to fit across the middle of the basket. The pressure of the curve should press the ends against the top inside of the basket until the glue dries.

4. Cut a length of pregathered lace to fit around the basket rim. Apply glue to the rim then press the top hem of the lace into place, beginning in one corner and proceeding all the way around. Overlap and glue down the ribbon ends to finish.

Suggestions:

-- Make the handle from a length of wire-edged ribbon for a softer effect, or chenille stems braided together.
-- Embellish with craft foam cut-outs or fabric paint.
-- Line the basket with crumpled tissue paper, quilt batting or shredded paper instead of Easter grass.



Pringle Can Bunny

An Easter craft for children, showing how to make an Easter bunny from a small Pringles potato can. The finished bunny can be used as a basket for some Easter treats.
Copyright © 1999-2008 Susan Spatone
Published with permission from CraftAtHome.com

Supplies:

Small Potato Chip can (Pringles)
Construction Paper
Novelty eyes
3 pompoms for nose
2 pipe cleaners (chenille stems)
Craft Glue
Scissors

Pattern Instructions:

Here is a quick and easy little basket that the kids can make. The required supplies are few and the cost minimal.

For small children you will need to cut the paper for them, but older kids should be able to manage on their own. Cut a piece of paper to fit the outside of the can you are using. Cut two ear shapes and two bunny feet, all from the same color. Using another color of paper, cut out the centers of the bunny's ears.

Glue the paper around the can, as shown in our sample photo, to cover any markings on the can. Glue the ears to front, feet to the bottom, ear centers and eyes to the face area.

Glue two pompoms side by side for the nose, with a third smaller pompom to center bottom of the first two pompoms.

The handle is made using two chenille stems (one blue and one white), twisted together. To attach the handle, punch a hole through the sides of the can and twist the ends of the stems to secure.

Unique Easter Basket Ideas
Copyright (c) 2007 Brenda Prevost

With the Easter holiday coming soon most parents are thinking about what to put in their children's Easter baskets. Here are some great ideas to add some Easter fun to your child's Easter basket and spare the extra dentist's visit.

Although jelly beans and chocolate eggs are always popular with the kids, parents may want to include some not so sugary alternatives. Think of their Easter basket as sort of an "Easter stocking" instead. Use your imagination!

There are a multitude of different things to include in an Easter basket that are just as enjoyable as traditional Easter basket ideas. Your local dollar store can be a treasure trove of affordable but unique ideas. Games, books and movies are just a few things that you can consider.

TOYS:
Toys are always a hit with kids. From Yo-Yo's and "Slinkies" to popular action figures, toys make a unique Easter basket idea that is sure to delight your child. You can also go with plush toys like fuzzy Easter chicks or soft and cuddly Easter bunnies. Keep your child's age and gender in mind as you consider what to include, as every toy is not suitable for every child.

BOOKS:
It has been said that reading to your child brings many benefits to your child's development. An Easter themed story book is not only a more healthy Easter basket idea, but you now have a great chance to spend some quality time with your child as you both settle down and enjoy a good story book.

If you child is reading on their own, don't you think they'd love a brand new book to enjoy? Let them read to you so they can show you how good a reader they are!

DVD's and CD's:
Imagine your child's surprise when they see that the Easter bunny even gives out movies! They don't necessarily have to be an Easter theme. Think how excited your child will be when they see a DVD of their favorite character in their Easter basket. Including a favorite CD for them to enjoy is equally pleasing. They can sing along to their favorite songs as they enjoy their new toy or hunt for Easter eggs.

CRAYONS AND COLORING BOOKS:
A timeless but ever so popular choice, a brand new box of crayons with a fresh Easter coloring book is always a hit. Coloring is a great way to let a child's creative skills grow as well as an excellent way to get your child to relax after an exciting day of Easter egg hunting.

HEALTHIER SWEET TREATS:
There are other sweet snacks that make great Easter basket treats. Most kids love fruit roll ups which, depending on the brand, are much healthier than candy. How about raisins? Even if you choose chocolate covered raisins, there is still a health benefit to your child snacking on a handful of fruit instead of a handful of sugar loaded candy.

Make some Easter cookies. Mom always says homemade is best! Yes, cookies contain sugar, but if you've made them yourself they won't be loaded with preservatives and dyes like store bought cookies are. Of course, since they're homemade they'll taste better too!

MONEY:
Depending on your child's age, money is a great Easter basket idea. This idea is best for older children (coins are a choking hazard for young children). Get some of the new dollar coins that are now being circulated. Their shiny appeal will bring a wide smile to your child's face. Giving them a few dollars to spend is a great opportunity to start teaching them how to manage money wisely; life long habits start early!

Give your child healthy alternatives to conventional Easter basket candy and keep them just as happy without the worry of too much sugar. A great book, movie or CD gives you a wonderful chance to spend quality time with your child. Some bright and shiny dollar coins are your opportunity to teach your child all about managing money wisely. Toys, crayons and coloring books are a great choice for unique Easter basket ideas. Your child will have long lasting Easter basket goodies and you won't have to worry about all that sugar they're eating.

Brenda Prevost is owner and founder of AllHolidayTreasures.com which sells decorations, lights and costumes for Christmas, Halloween, Easter, St. Patrick's Day and other holidays.

Okie dokie… now lets talk about food! We grilled yesterday and had an incredible feast of 8 sausage, 3 large ribeye and Tbone steaks, 5 half pound hamburgers, 10 cheddar brats, 3 lamb chops, and 10 sausage and shrimp kabobs… OMG! Serious YUM factor going on here! I slapped those meats with a side of roasted Rosemary and herb potatoes and some corn and you got a Texan’s delight right there! “We likes us some BBQ!” LMAO… If you aren’t able to do some BBQin’ yet, then how about some inside BBQ for dinner? Check this out… if you have a stovetop grill (one of those cast iron ones that sits on the burners) or something like a George Foreman grill, then maybe you could try this inside for a rainy day delight!



Honey Chicken Kabobs
(great on Shrimp and other meats too!)

Ingredients

1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes
2 cloves garlic
5 small onions, cut into 2 inch pieces
2 red bell peppers, cut into 2 inch pieces
skewers

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk together oil, honey, soy sauce, and pepper. Before adding chicken, reserve a small amount of marinade to brush onto kabobs while cooking.

Place the chicken, garlic, onions and peppers in the bowl, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours (the longer the better).
Preheat the grill for high heat.

Drain marinade from the chicken and vegetables, and discard marinade. Thread chicken and vegetables alternately onto the skewers.

Lightly oil the grill grate. Place the skewers on the grill. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until chicken juices run clear. Turn and brush with reserved marinade frequently.

OK gang, I’m gonna go lay down until I can try to get rid of this headache and get ahold of the doctor. I will talk to you tomorrow… HUGS!