THE TIES THAT BIND

Welcome boys and girls. How are you doing today? I am doing alright… its gonna be a busy full road ahead of u s, but you know what, I’m ready! For those of you who “know” my mom from here, you know she has recently had an injury that has left her needing a little bit of help around the house. Hense, me… cooking, cleaning, etc. Well, she finally got in to see her normal doctor and he was not happy with how people have treated her medically the last couple of weeks. Long story short, it’s a major injury and she’s gonna have a little while for recovery. F-A-M-I-L-Y… the ties that bind and make us strong! SOOO what we’re gonna do is show how much we care! Let her know… email, comments, snail mail, whatever… let’s show her she is loved shall we! Meantime, its gonna be some major mass cooking for awhile and that means more recipes for you! YAY! You get to benefit too! So get ready for some wild and crazy adventures!

Ok, I got an email asking me why I “sign” every post with the very last word “HUGS”. It’s kind of corny, but I’ll tell you. With so much misery and despair in the world today, I figure everyone needs a good old hug. So just like if you leave your mom’s house or your grandma’s house and hug her when you say goodbye, its my cyber-hug for you when you leave. Silly, huh? Oh well deal with it! LMAO… j/k!



Well don’t ask me how I did it, cause this basket gave me a heck of a time, but I pulled off the flirty basket. She wanted flirty sexy but not over the top raunchy sex, so that’s what I gave her. The recipient is a Gym teacher and he is into working out, etc. She wanted things to flirt with him but not fatten him LOL… healthy if you will. So this is what I came up with… really playing on words and packaging.

1. Feather Mask- Indulge in your “Secret Desires” was printed on the package.
2. Bare Naked Granola (the name was good enough for me LOL!)
3. Kiss Me, Its My Birthday Flashing Lapel Pin (Birthday: the gift, Kissing and flashing? Too perfect!)
4. Truth or Dare Coupons (You KNEW coupons were gonna be in there somewhere, right? LOL)
5. Red Hots- A Fat Free food (you got it he’s hot and spicy flirting right? LOL ok just checking)
6. Sexy Dice- “Roll the dice and take a chance ON me” (Couldn’t have said it better.)
7. Trojan (hey gotta promote safety Just in Case!!)
8. Fresh Pecans… (NUTS are always good LOL!)



I wrapped it all up in a cool looking birthday paper because she didn’t want anyone knowing her business (understandable) and put a bow with the guys 2 favorite colors on it. I think it turned out really well actually. I was quite impressed I was able to pull it off. Shoot, even the clerk told me it was a tough one at one of the stores I went to buy some of the “sexier” stuff at. He was right. BUT I did it and I’m proud. Just hope nobody else wants to be flirty sexy! LOL! I like the raunchy people… its easier to shop for! LMAO!

I took some meals out to mom and dad last night for the weekend so that I could free up for shopping. I need to go bulk items and fast! I have a few things to do this morning but I’m packing up the kids & DH and guess where we are off to today? Yep super shop-a-thon at the BIG farmer’s market. Gonna see if I can nab some of those 25 and 50 pound bags of produce for cheap. I’ll share pictures with you when I come back tomorrow.

Ok let’s get crafty, shall we? We’ve talked a lot about recycling and reusable shopping bags comes up a lot. Its like they are the new trend. BUT the thing is, I’ve been making them for years LOL. And I have learned that there are so many things you can make reusable bags out of. Today I am gonna show you how to make them out of a tarp.



Craft Idea of the day: Tarp Shopping bags

1. Cut a piece of plastic tarp 18 x 36". This will give you a finished bag approx 17"w. Fold this in half, right sides together, so that it now measures 18x18". Have it so the fold is at the bottom.

2. In order to make a bottom for your bag, you must fold up the folded edge of your bag half the width of what you want your bottom to be. So if you want a 4" wide base, fold up 2". Secure the fold and sides with tape. Sew both sides with a 1/4 to 1/2" seam. You can sew right over the tape. Remove tape after sewing.

3.Now the top of the bag is your only raw edge. Fold it over about an inch and sew all the way around.

4. Straps: Cut 2 strips of tarp 18" long by about 4" wide. Fold it in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, to get a crease. Open it out and fold the raw edges in and make crease. Tape and sew along edge. Attach straps at desired location on each side of the bag, maybe 3-4" from ends, where ever is comfortable. Sew to the bag securely. Sew over it a few times, since these will get lots of stress.

5. Turn bag right side out. Note: You could purchase webbing for the straps, or be creative and use rope, heavy twine, etc. The average cost of a 6x8' tarp in my area is $4, and I was able to make 8 bags out of it. This comes out to 50 cents per bag.

As an added strength, you could also buy some of the different duct tapes in a wide range of colors and put strips on one side (to be the outside) of the tarp. I recently saw some tie dye that was pretty cool.

And there you have it! Yet another way to recycle and have a unique conversation piece all in one! Ok, time to eat! Do you remember those chickens that were roasted and deboned? Guess what… today is their day to shine! As you know, there are a few things I really love… I have an obsession with my slow cooker/crock pots and I make a lot of soups and casseroles. When you feed as many as I do, it’s nutritious and inexpensive! I also have a thing for Rosemary and fresh garlic LOL! Anyway, here is something that you can complete start to finish in under an hour and it’s a crowd-pleaser!



Farmhouse Chicken Casserole

Ingredients

2 (6 ounce) packages stuffing mix
4 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of celery soup or cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 cup milk
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
1 teaspoon dried minced onion
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Prepare stuffing mix according to package directions; set aside. Place the chicken in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Combine the soup, milk, celery, onion, and pepper until blended; pour over chicken. Top with stuffing. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until bubbly.

Ok everybody, that’s it for me today. I hope you have enjoyed your journey to the center of my Earth LOL! I’m off to market to market but fear not… I’ll be back tomorrow for another cup of OMGisthatpossible! LOL. Be safe in your journeys, be happy, and be alive! Until tomorrow… HUGS!

SWEEPSTAKES BONANZA

Good morning everyone. How are you doing this wonderful morning? I’m braced up like Frankenstein, but I’m alive so we’re good! I hope you are all well. I want to thank my mother for that very touching comment she left me yesterday! You made me cry mom! LOL… but it’s a good cry! My family and friends know that whenever I can help, I will be there regardless of anything else! I’m glad to help! I love you mom! And today’s blog is in honor of that phenomenal woman who brought me into this world, taught me everything I know, and has always been there for me… my best friend! Thanks mom!

Well Earth Day is April 22nd this year and we should all do a little something in honor of it (I think anyway). My mom received this email and sent it to me. It’s from H-E-B and it said “Stop by your H-E-B on April 22 between 3-7 pm to drop five plastic shopping bags into our storefront recycling bin and get one reusable shopping bag free, while supplies last.” SO, if you have a H-E-B around you, call and ask if they are going to be a part of the Earth Day giveaway! I think it’s a great idea!

There are other things you can do in honor of Earth Day as well. I think the Arbor Day Foundation does something similar, but have you ever personally thought of planting a tree? Maybe a fruit or nut tree in your yard? Not only are you replenishing the trees, but you would get fruits and/or nuts to enjoy. Just a thought ya know… Google Earth Day and I bet you can find lots of ideas.

Another great idea, is again from my mom… sweepstakes. What harm can it do in entering and taking a chance to win something you might really need or just plain WANT! If it’s free, I say NOTHING! Did you know there are literally thousands of sweepstakes you can enter on a daily basis all over the place? I thought today, I would bring you a few of them here. Bookmark them and go back and enter for as long as the contest runs. Who knows, you may be the lucky one!

Enter to win Olive Garden's 2010 Win a Culinary Tour of Italy Sweepstakes. Win an 8-day guided trip for two to Italy! (Learn from Italian chefs at Olive Garden's Culinary Institute of Tuscany, Experience the local cuisine of Rome and Florence, and Explore the Rocca delle Macie Winery are just a few of the “highlights”). Every day you return, you could win a $25 Olive Garden Gift Card!

Then there is the “Easy Home Meals $10,000 SWEEPSTAKES”. Grand Prize Winner will receive $5,000 cash. (5) First Prize Winners will each receive $1,000 cash.

Visit Redbook Magazine online and pick from tons of sweepstakes you can enter everyday! From shopping sprees to books to shoes and more… Enter one or enter them all!

(I like this one!) Purex is giving away a $20,000 Green Home makeover plus a $1,000 daily cash prize! Also on the site you can get a free sample and a coupon too if you tell a friend. It’s a multi-make-me-happy website! LOL!

Want to take home a real collector's item? Here's your chance. You could ride away in the 1972 Monte Carlo from Martina McBride's video, "Wrong Baby Wrong." Visit CMT community to watch the video and enter to win the very car you see!

Ford Vehicles has a contest called “Invasion of the Bulls” and it runs through 10/10/10. Grand Prize is An All-New 2011 Ford Super Duty® and A lifetime supply of season tickets to the PBR Built Ford Tough Series (now that’s MY kinda prize! LMAO). In addition, 3 lucky finalists will win: Trip to Las Vegas for you and a friend, Exclusive VIP treatment and tickets to the 2010 Built Ford Tough PBR World Finals, and a Private lunch with top PBR Riders.

Win A Chevy Silverado HD courtesy of Fantasy Fishing (it appears). (1) Grand Prize: one (1) 2011 Silverado HD 2500 4WD Crew Cab 153” LTZ Truck (“Vehicle”). Approximate retail value $51,670. Contest ends 6/22/10.

Win A Dodge Challenger Sweepstakes * Must Be 18 Years Old To Enter * 1 Entry Per Person * Ends Nov.30,2010 * Winner Will Win A 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T * Worth $39,930 *

Fresh Express is offering FREE salad for a year contest (saw this on TV LOL). PRIZE: (30) Grand Prizes: of (52) Fresh Express salad coupons redeemable for a total of 52 bags of salad. Approximate Retail Value of each prize: $200.

These are just a few of the THOUSANDS of sweepstakes you can find online! Just do a search for sweepstakes and you will be amazed at the tons of great things you can enter to win! What do you have to lose right? It just takes a few minutes of your time and its free! Who knows, you might actually win something! It shocked the tar out of me when I won a gas grill from Marlboro one time! So have fun and good luck!

Guess what I did yesterday? You guessed it… I was back on the sewing challenge. I swear every time I turned around and looked in the green crate I found another pile of material that was pre-cut to make shopping bags LOL! I didn’t get an enormous amount done, but the ones I did get done were pretty snazzy I think! Check these out!



This is the Kitty Klaus tote bag I made from a pillow panel I found in the crate. I had 2 sets of the panels, so I made it into a bag. The sets had 6 different pictures, so I might make totes out of all of them or pillows or who knows yet LOL! But I know it had cows and dogs as well and something else I can’t remember LOL!



Here you see the Native American/Eagle shopping bag. It’s funny that I had enough to make a bag out of this one really. Now you see what my DH’s Christmas stocking looks like! LMAO! It’s actually a really cool fabric (SHHH don’t tell him I said that! LOL)



Now ya know, I had to do at least 1 patriotic print bag, right? Of course. I found this one rolled up on the side of the crate already cut and ready to go. Sew LOL I sewed it together and I think it’s actually pretty neat! I like the multi-colored webbing for straps. Gives it just that right amount of WHOA factor! LOL!



Ok this bag got my brain exploding with ideas! This is a purple Ronald McDonald fabric I found at Wal-Mart years ago, before they got rid of their craft section (which really depressed me btw LOL). They had this one and I have a red one too. This bag was already cut, so while putting it together I had an explosion of thought come into my head! I have to have probably 6+ yards of EACH of the McDonalds fabric right? Well remember those crayon totes I was making?? HELLO! Make some in the McDonalds fabric and fill them up with crayons and such when the school supplies are on sale super cheap and I have DONATIONS to the kids at the Ronald McDonald House!!!!!! I’m gonna start on those right after I get this challenge complete and I am actually going to ask my wonderful readers to consider helping with a small donation for things like crayons, coloring books, etc. You can send the actual items or you can send a financial “gift” (I can’t legally call it a donation, sorry). I’ll let you know more about this idea when I get it worked out better… still in the preliminary stages of this idea LOL!

Ok now, I want to talk crafts. With Earth Day coming up, we must be in the “recycle” and “earth friendly” mindset! So I am double duty-ing this craft project today! I am honoring Autism Awareness with the Puzzle and Earth Day with the recycling! This recycled craft project is a great way to recycle those old puzzles that have pieces missing. This project uses a Jumbo piece from a child's jigsaw puzzle.Check it out!



Craft Idea of the Day: Puzzle Photo Magnet

Supplies:

Large Puzzle Piece
Magnet
Cardstock

Directions:

Start by cutting a window into the puzzle so that you can insert your photo. You can cut it using some scissors or a craft blade.

Paint the puzzle piece then allow it to dry, You can finish it off with a spray of clear varnish.

Run some glue around the back of the puzzle and secure your card stock to the back of the puzzle piece.

Glue on your magnet piece, You can get magnets from your local craft store or use a recycled advertising magnet.

Cut your photo to size and you can now slip your photo into the frame from the front.

You can decorate your frame further by adding small puzzle pieces, cut out hearts etc.

Pretty nifty huh? OK ok I hear you… no not you… My STOMACH! It’s yelling at me and telling me it needs food LOL. So I am always ready to serve LOL! I’m in the mood for pancakes… but not just any pancakes- we are going gluten free today!



Delicious Gluten Free Pancakes

Ingredients

1 cup rice flour
3 tablespoons tapioca flour
1/3 cup potato starch
2 cups almond milk (or 2 cups water and 4 tablespoons dry buttermilk powder)
1 packet sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum or 4 Tablespoon gluten substitute
2 eggs
3 tablespoons canola oil or applesauce

Directions

In a bowl, mix or sift together the rice flour, tapioca flour, potato starch, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and xanthan gum. Stir in eggs, milk, and oil until well blended and few lumps remain.

Heat a large, well-oiled skillet or griddle over medium high heat. Spoon batter onto skillet and cook until bubbles begin to form. Flip, and continue cooking until golden brown on bottom. Serve immediately with condiments of your choice.

So are you drooling now? LOL I am… alright I am gonna get off here for the day. Time to do some more sewing, check my garden, and whatever else may strike my fancy. You keep safe, be happy, and I will see you back here tomorrow! HUGS!

SECRET AGENT WOMAN

Well GOOD MORNING to you all! How are you doing this wonderful April day? I am good… my plants are doing well, my kids and cats are fine, and my health is fair. I can’t really complain… well I COULD but I’m not gonna! LOL! I’ve got some secret agent plans this morning that I can’t tell you about LOL!

OK I want to ask you guys and gals… would you be interested in me putting my items for sale here on the blog (on the sidebar)? I figured each month I would feature a different item with a link to pay through paypal. I can put little pictures with them so you can see the patterns of the fabric too. But it will be a lot of work, so I need some feedback from everyone before I do this… I figured this month I would do the large reusable shopping bags I make. So, leave a comment and let me know…



Now, yesterday I sewed… sewed my little fingers off. But sadly it only resulted in 5 reusable shopping bags. I think they are adorable, but I was sad I didn’t get more done. I also slow cooked a whole chicken and some veggies and all the other normal stuff too! I got side tracked a few times LOL… maybe that is part of the reason for my slow production LOL! Regardless I am down 1 bolt already! YAY! This was supposed to be my “attack” face but it looks more like I have to potty! LMAO!



Here are the bags I got done. There is a blue Celestial Moon and Sun one, a Pink Breast Cancer Ribbon one, a Snowman one, a fruity one, and a sudoku one. Aren’t they neat looking? Someone once told me that I had the cutest fabrics and that is why my stuff was so popular, and ya know, I am starting to agree LOL!

OK, I found another article online about old wives tales and I thought it was interesting and I want to share with you.

8 Old Wives Tales: Which Should You Believe?
By Reader’s Digest

Just like your mom didn't need a thermometer to know if you had a fever, we bet your grandmother or other homegrown expert didn’t let the lack of a medical degree stop her from issuing health directives. But which of them are worth following?

1. Grandma's wisdom: Ginger is good for upset stomachs.
Science says: Yes. Good evidence shows ginger reduces nausea.

2. Grandma's wisdom: An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Science says: Granny's overstating this fruit's potency. Still, the peel is a good source of quercetin, an important antioxidant that, studies suggest, helps lower blood pressure, fight asthma and allergies, and prevent heart attacks.

3. Grandma's wisdom: Honey speeds healing.
Science says: Yes. Mild to moderate burns (but not other types of wounds) heal faster if you spread honey on them -- maybe because it creates a moist, antibacterial environment that promotes tissue growth.

4. Grandma's wisdom: Put butter on a burn.
Science says: No. There's no evidence of a benefit from butter.

5. Grandma's wisdom: Sleeping in air-conditioning can give you a chill.
Science says: She may be onto something. Air conditioners dry out the protective layer of mucus along nasal passages, which likely allows viruses to infect you more easily. Viruses reproduce faster inside a cold nose too.

6. Grandma's wisdom: If you go out with wet hair, you'll catch a cold.
Science says: Maybe. Some research indicates (but doesn't prove) that a wet head helps cold viruses take hold, by tightening blood vessels in the nose and making it harder for white blood cells to reach the viruses and fight them off.

7. Grandma's wisdom: Swimming after eating can lead to cramps and drowning.
Science says: Not exactly, but not completely wrong either. After you eat, blood gets shunted to your digestive tract and away from exercising muscles. That can lead to a buildup of lactic acid in your muscles, so swimming a few laps too soon after lunch could cause a sudden (though not fatal) cramp.

8. Grandma's wisdom: Chocolate gives you pimples.
Science says: Not quite. Chocolate bars might trigger an acne flare-up, but if so, the culprit is probably the sugar, milk, and gooey fillings, not the cocoa.

Isn’t that pretty interesting? I want to know who gets paid to sit around and try out these things… like research them… and where do I sign up!? LMAO! You gotta wonder how some of these people get those simple jobs they have like Ice Cream flavor tester, toy tester, etc. Man wouldn’t that be fun to do! It just makes you think. It also makes me wonder why people waste time and money on testing “folklore” and if anyone really cares. Shouldn’t they put those efforts into valuable things like, oh I dunno, finding cures for things that are KILLING people like cancer, diabetes, etc? Oh well, I’mma shut up now LOL!

Ok, so last night, since there was nothing really on TV, the gang decided they wanted to watch the recorded Extreme Makeover: Home Edition that I haven’t had the guts to watch yet. It was about the Beach Family in Kemah, TX. They have 13 kids… 4 biological and 9 adopted, many with special needs. They have fostered 85 kids over the 20+ years they have been married and they lost their house to IKE. As the mother of a special needs child, it really got to me and I was crying and/or teary eyed all night… for the whole 2 HOURS! Anyway, I also knew that the little 2 year old, Mercy who was a very special needs child (she had a tracheotomy, etc.) passed away 2 weeks after this show was taped. I think that’s why I couldn’t watch it.

Speaking of TV, tonight is the Jamie Oliver show “Food Revolution”! It’s the episode with the radio DJ and the Double Wide Coffins, so be sure to check your local listings on ABC for that! Hopefully I will get a chance to sit and watch it tonight and not have to wait!

Well, I told you that I was going on a secret agent mission, so I won’t really be crafting unless I do some after I get home today. But I know that some of my SAHM’s might need something to do, Soooo LOL… here’s another craft idea that I thought you might enjoy!



Craft Idea of the Day: Embellish an Ordinary Bowl

Spruce up your plain bowls with the help of paper.

What You'll Need

Newspaper
White spray primer
Acrylic paint in desired color
Paintbrush
Papers in several colors
Scissors
Paper punch
Decoupage medium
Glass or plastic liner (optional)

Make It

In a well-ventilated work area, spray paint bowls with primer. Let dry.

Paint the bowl in the desired color. Let dry.

Cut paper strips and squares. Punch circles with paper punch.

Paint decoupage medium onto the bowl and arrange the paper shapes on the bowl.

Paint two more coats of decoupage over the bowl.

Place a glass or plastic liner in the bowl if using it for food.

Okie dokie, now I am ready to tell you about dinner. It never fails that when I make this, the chicken literally falls apart when I try removing it from the slow cooker! Not only that, but it ALWAYS leaves the gang wanting more! Its delectably simple and oh so good! Throw it in before work and when you come home, your house smells divine and dinner is ready!



Baked Slow Cooker Chicken

Ingredients

1 (2 to 3 pound) whole chicken
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon paprika or Emeril’s Essence
1 cup chicken broth
1 large potato, peeled and diced
2 cloves minced garlic
1 cup baby carrots
1 cup onion, diced

Directions

Rinse the chicken, inside and out, under cold running water. Pat dry with paper towels. Season the chicken with the salt, pepper and paprika, and place in the slow cooker on top of the vegetables.

Set the slow cooker to High for 2 hour, then turn down to Low for about 2 to 3 hours, or until the chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear. (Alternative is low for about 6 hours).

Alrighty folks, its that time again. Time where I tell you that I’m gonna leave… aww don’t cry. I’ll be back tomorrow LOL!. Be safe in your travels and projects and wherever life takes you today! HUGS!

SPRING BREAK FINALE!

Well a frosty howdy from Texas! Hope you are staying warm this crazy day of… spring? What is up with Mother Nature?! Will someone PLEASE give her some chocolate or SOMETHING to calm her down?! This little “front” that she pushed our way was sooo not funny! My little plants are shivering in the garden going WTH? Not to mention, I’m trying to write you this morning with less than warm hands and it makes typing very difficult. Oh well I can’t complain, because at least I woke up! To Jean- I got the gift in the mail yesterday… thank you so much! They were awesome. And you’re right… I see them being used soon… VERY soon LOL!

OK, so remember I said we were gonna make attempt a trip up to the big market before the rain got here? We got there at 8:30am and left about 10:30… putting us home at 11am and when we got home, I got everyone to help me cover the planters and bring the babies inside. So how did the trip go? Well… let me show you!



Here you see the DH and the DS18 in utter shock at both the size of the produce and the prices too! And this was only about 2 minutes after walking in the big portion of the main market!



DS14 was given a mission… 4 red apples and 4 green apples. He wanted to rush through the apples cause he had another mission of his own… BANANAS LOL!



DD was intrigued by the Nopal paddles she found at one of the little vendors in the back. Nopal paddles are cactus paddles. Yes you can eat them ladies and gents. When they are small and diced, in spanish, you call them “nopalitos”. They will be thrown into some yummy deliciousness very soon!



Here is everything we came home with! A bag of grapefruit, a bag of oranges, celery, 3 mangos, a pound of jalapenos, 2 huge potatoes, 4 poblano peppers, a bag of Nopalitos, a cantaloupe, 2 bunches of BIG green onions, a pineapple, 10 HUGE habanero peppers, 4- 8ball zucchini, a HUGE red bell papper, 2 green bell pepper, 9 bananas, 5 small zucchini, 6 yellow squash, 4 red apples, 4 green apples, 2 red onions, 2- 1015 onions, a flat (about 8 pints) of HUMONGOUS strawberries, and 6 items from the bakery…. AND a PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREEEEEEEE!!!! LMAO! How much you ask? On EVERYTHING, we spent about $40… not bad huh? Couldn’t get that in Kroger! Especially not with as BIG as some of the things are! Like the cantaloupe… as big as a honeydew melon EASY! And the strawberries… well the first one out of the box- that I ate thank you very much LOL- was literally as big as my palm! And after I measured my palm… that’s over 3 inches wide! Of course, I am ashamed to say that last night I did a very naught thing... and now we maybe only have 6 pints of strawberries left LMAO! Hey I love them... what can I say! Today I figure I am gonna slice and freeze them or something... LOL! I gotta say I saved SOME of them! LMAO!

So as you can see, we had some fun yesterday. It started coming down as soon as we got home, so we timed it just perfectly. I hadn’t been feeling towards the end of the morning, but I didn’t tell the gang… I was having a sharp pain in my chest on the right. The drive home it was bad. So I laid down and took a nap when we got home- for 2 hours! I felt better when I got up… but it wasn’t gone. I think I may have pulled something when I was at the market. It’ll be fine though… in a day or 2.

Our adventures at the market lead me to thinking about a craft that I want to share with you. It’s pretty easy really and has no specific measurements as you can make it whatever size you want to.



Craft Idea of the Day: Fabric Shopping bags

It started when my mom asked me to make a deeper Farmers Market shopping bag because she didn’t like the one she had… it wasn’t “big enough”. Okie dokie… so I took the measurements and I added length and height to both. I used a novelty cotton print fabric and a thick canvas liners.

Cut 2 length side of each material identical. IN the case of these bags, the measurements are 12 inches tall by 21 inches wide with a ½ inch seam allowance. Then cut 2 side pieces of each… If you would like, you can cut 2 additional, but just a bit shorter, side pieces to make pockets for the sides of your bags.12 in. tall by 8 in. wide and a 7.5 in. tall pocket all with the same ½ in. seam allowance. I also cut 1 piece of each fabric for the bottom; 21 length by 8 wide. Finally, cut 2 pieces of webbing or other material for your straps. Mine are 49 inch long poly webbing.



Once all of your pieces have been cut, start with placing the print on the canvas piece. With both pieces together, start by hemming an edge on one side of the pair. This will be the top of your bag. I like to use bias tape along my edges, simply for the added splash of color. Ribbon also works well as you see in this picture. Do this to all 4 side piece pairs and the pockets (if you chose to make any. I do in case I want to carry a bottle of water, soda, etc. while I am in the market or whatnot.). Do not hem the bottom pieces.



Then take one of the pieces of webbing/strapping and place it on the long side piece. Secure each end to the bottom of the piece and make a “half loop” creating what will be the handle. Space the sides out for adequate shoulder space. Secure with double stitching up and down both sides and across the center at the top to avoid ripping.

Now you can proceed to place the pieces together by sewing the ends. Placing the prints right sides together and sewing on the canvas side of the bag with coordinating threads. Once you have all 4 side pieces secured together, you can add the bottom. Flip the bag right side out and you are done! You have a unique bag to now take with you to market, the regular grocer, or anywhere else you want to shop. No more worrying about all those wasted bags… go green my friend! Or pink, or purple, or pretty prints too LMAO!

Okie dokie my darlings! Its time to eat! I have so much fresh produce now, its hard to say what I want to make! LOL… My visit to the market yesterday has put me in a festive mood LOL… so I think I will use the limes and such I got yesterday for this delicious meal.



Lime Chicken Soft Tacos

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast meat - cubed
1/8 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 lime, juiced
1 teaspoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 green onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 (6 inch) flour tortillas
1 tomato, diced
1/4 cup shredded lettuce
1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup salsa

Directions

Saute chicken in a medium saucepan over medium high heat for about 20 minutes. Add vinegar, lime juice, sugar, salt, pepper, green onion, garlic and oregano. Simmer for an extra 10 minutes.

Heat an iron skillet over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the pan, warm, and turn over to heat the other side.

Repeat with remaining tortillas. Serve lime chicken mixture in warm tortillas topped with tomato, lettuce, cheese and salsa.

After a meal like this, you HAVE to have just as stunning of a dessert, so try this on for size!



Banana Split Cake

This recipe contains raw eggs. We recommend that pregnant women, young children, the elderly and the infirm do not consume raw eggs.

Ingredients

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup melted butter
2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 eggs
1 cup butter, softened
6 bananas, peeled and halved lengthwise
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 quart fresh strawberries, halved
1 (16 ounce) package frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

Combine cracker crumbs and melted butter or margarine thoroughly and press into bottom of 9x12 inch baking pan. Chill in freezer for at least 15 minutes.

In the medium bowl of an electric mixer combine confectioners sugar, eggs, and softened butter or margarine; beat at medium speed for 20 minutes. (This step is important, so don't try to save time).

Spread buttercream mixture evenly over chilled crust. Place bananas, cut side down, evenly on top of buttercream and spoon crushed pineapple evenly over top of bananas. Distribute strawberries over pineapple and spread the whipped topping evenly all over. Sprinkle with walnuts and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight before serving.

Ok kids, I’m off to play with some produce! Hopefully it will warm up enough to put my seedlings outside for some much needed sun! Tomorrow is back to school YAY! SO I will see you early tomorrow morning for another exciting adventure! HUGS!