Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

Random Act of Craftiness

 
Am I lucky or what?  I received this enormous bag of goodies in the mail from my lovely friend Stephanie (from With A Grin) and I just had to share all the crafty inspiration!  I could not believe how many wonderful items she picked to send and I'm overwhelmed with gratitude!  I think she covered all the crafting bases: buttons, flowers, embellies, stickers, ribbon, brads, die-cuts, sticky-notes, pearls, borders, stamps...even a darling cardboard suitcase filled with even more supplies!  I am so excited to try the transparency overlays - something I didn't even know existed!!  Such pretty patterns on them -  to frame a photo or add to a mini-album.  The only thing missing is Stephanie!  I wish I could FedEx her to my house for a week so we could craft together and I could learn her amazing techniques!!  She makes it look so easy but I have tried several times to replicate just a fraction of what she puts into her minis, with little success.  I can't wait to get in my workshop and try once again to incorporate all that good stuff into a cohesive album.  Thanks again, Steph!  (Do you think she'd fit in a flat-rate international box?)

West Bend Bread Maker

I get a lot of questions about my bread maker and I was surprised when I realized I've never written a post about it.  I have shared many recipes for various loaves and doughs and most of them come from the little recipe booklet that came with my machine.  It's pretty beat up now since I purchased the West Bend (Model 41041Z if you're interested or find one at a garage sale!) in August 1994 (for $179 + tax).  This was back when home bread makers were first becoming popular.  I have used it almost weekly (and sometimes daily) ever since and it has turned out many a tasty loaf.

I really try to take care of the things I have and read (and follow!) the care instructions in the manual.  I have replaced the bread pan once, years ago, when the original one started sticking and I couldn't remove the loaf without butchering it.  Well, about a month ago, I started seeing little flecks of stuff in the dough from the bread maker.  Even though it is thoroughly washed after each use, and the black knead bar is completely in tact, I think some sort of lubricant or residue was coming out of the drive shaft.  I thought it better safe than sorry and decided not to use that pan any more.  I ended up calling the contact number in the manual and lo and behold, was still able to order a replacement bread pan (which I was shocked and pleased to learn they would still produce for an old model like mine).  It was $38 and with tax and shipping came to just over $55.  I realize that I could probably have purchased a new machine for just about double that amount, but since I have never had a problem with my bread maker, hate to contribute to land-fill, and like the familiarity of my trusty West Bend, I don't mind paying the price of a new pan.  It is lovely and shiny, the bread just glides out of it, and there's no residue in the dough whatsoever.  I'm very pleased and just hope the old beast can hang on til the new pan wears out!  Maybe it will even outlast it...

The moral of the story (and I think I've said this before!?) is to save your manuals, take care of your things, and try to fix and refurbish rather than automatically throw away.

Cranberry Orange Bubble Bread

This recipe for Cranberry Orange Bubble Bread (found in the free Robin Hood booklet from 14 years ago!) caught my eye and I thought I would try it out.  The dough is made in the bread maker (using the dough cycle) and then the baking is done in a conventional oven.  I liked the idea of the dried cranberries (delicious and nutritious) combined with grated orange rind - a great flavour combination.  It's very simple to make this recipe since the bread machine does all the mixing and kneading, you need only shape the dough in balls and place in a springform pan for the final rise before baking.  The appearance and flavour of the bread was very nice but I found the texture to be a bit heavy and dense - it had definitely risen, and was cooked, but I prefer a lighter yeast bread.  Still yummy though, and DH loved eating the pull-aparts warmed, with butter and jam!  I think I will try this recipe again but make the dough by hand.  A drizzle of white icing (like what I use on my cinnamon buns) would be a nice addition too.

Cranberry Orange Bubble Bread

1 cup milk

1 egg

1 Tbsp butter

3 cups flour

1 Tbsp sugar

2 tsp grated orange rind

1 tsp salt

3/4 cup dried cranberries

2 tsp bread machine yeast

Glaze: 1 egg, beaten

Add ingredients to bread machine according to manufacturer's directions.  Select dough cycle. Divide dough into 16 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball. Place in greased 9" springform pan, Cover with tea towel. Let rise in warm place until doubled, 30-45 mins. Brush lightly with beaten egg. Bake at 375 degrees F on lower oven rack for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Cover top with foil if becoming too brown. Remove from pan immediately. Cool on wire rack.

Spa Day Invitations

These little 3.5"x3.5" note cards were made as quick invitations to a girls-day-out spa event.  The white card base was covered with some neutral dsp from the Sweetpea stack (SU) and stamped with the invitation from the Fiskars Celebrate clear stamp set in black Staz-On.  The nail polish and lipstick icons were both cut using the Disney Mickey and Friends Cricut cartridge, with their layers and shadows, on card stock from the SU (former) Bold Brights collection.  A little bit of Dazzling Diamonds bling-ed them up a bit.

Inside the card are lines for the details stamped using the 'noteworthy' clear stamp set, also from Fiskars.  The small flowers in the corners are from a Sparkle Clear Hero Arts set.  Just a pair of cute and simple invitations...

Special Treat Scrapbook Page

 
On Sunday I told the story of my troublesome fingernails and here is the scrapbook layout documenting the initial gel nails that started the whole 'be kind to my nails' plan.  I think the page turned out really cute!

I started with a 12x12 blue sheet of paper from the Beautiful Power Palette (Creative Memories) and made a top and bottom border with my new ek success border punches (which I'll show you in more detail next week).  I cut the title using my Expression and two different cartridges: 'special' from Create-A-Critter, and 'treat' from Happy Hauntings (I just cut off the 'trick or' part!).

The hand is from the Sentimentals cartridge and the nail polish is from Mickey and Friends.  The tag, paper flowers, photo mats and journal box are all from the Power Palette.

Today is a very exciting day for me and my scrapbook room...details coming soon of my extra-special treat to myself!!

Maraschino Cherry Loaf

I don't bake things with nuts very often (since DH is allergic) but I really enjoy the flavour combination of almond and cherry, and this quick bread has both.  By adding the actual 'juice' from the maraschino cherries, the loaf is a pretty pink colour...and it tastes as good as it looks.  Enjoy!

 

 

Maraschino Cherry Loaf

1/4 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg

2/3 cup milk

1/3 cup maraschino cherry juice

1 tsp almond extract

2-1/4 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

2/3 cup chopped maraschino cherries.

350 degrees F, greased 9x5 loaf pan, 1 hour

Blue Nails and a Plan

Every year when we go on vacation I use the opportunity to get my nails in shape.  I am very hard on my nails, which are not strong to begin with, because I am always washing my hands, cleaning, cooking, and crafting (= soap, cleaning products, ink, etc.).  A two-week break from housework and crafting gives me a jump-start on growing my nails and allows me to have a manicure that doesn't chip in a day and a half!

This year in particular, I really needed to heal my fingernails.  I volunteered to get gel nails in January from a friend just starting out her nail art career and the filing of the nail bed (on my already thin and delicate nails) was too much for them.  Also, since I did not enjoy the feeling of the artificial tips and gel coating (they just weren't for me), I worked at trimming and picking them off for about 2 months.  Finally, when it was all gone, my poor nails were severely damaged - way too short, torn, and there were even bare patches with no nail at all.  Ouch!  My fingers were actually in pain and I couldn't even touch the ends of some of them.  I discovered then how much I utilize my fingers and nails in my crafts and it was very difficult not to be able to use them.  I vowed to never mistreat my nails again and to appreciate the short, healthy, natural nails I was born with!!

So...here is my plan.  While away, I bought the new Spring collection of Essie polishes, including the blue Azure (which I just saw featured in my pool-side magazine) and I also picked up the Nail Tek treatment polish, XTRA...which I selected because "Nail Tek XTRA is the answer for nails previously thought to be unsalvageable".  It made me laugh in the store because I thought to myself, "that's ME!"  It's a concentrated formulation designed to provide extra strength to correct severe nail weakness.  You apply it as a base coat, then 2 coats of colour (which they encourage you to use while growing your nails because it helps you become aware of your hands and to use them in a way that protects the polish.  It's also easier to spot chips so you make immediate repairs), and then another coat of XTRA as a top coat.  You then re-apply the XTRA each day for a week and then start the whole process again.  I went the whole first week without taking off the polish...I only got a few tiny chips which I patched right away and I wore rubber gloves for all my chores.  I also applied cuticle oil several times a day.  I don't know if it's the Essie Azure that wears so well or the top coat, but I don't think I have had this much success with a polish.  The insert says it can take 3-6 months to grow long and beautiful nails.  I don't know if my nails will co-operate but I'm going to give the system a try.  It definitely takes commitment and special care to grow and maintain natural nails.  The pamphlet says to be patient...not one of my strong suits but I am definitely motivated! 

My ultimate goal is to do a French manicure on my own nails.  For incentive, I have assembled all the products I need: cuticle oil (which smells so good - like cherry coke), base coat, white polish, pink (Essie Mademoiselle) polish, top coat (Essie Good to Go), a specialized brush to clean up the white tips, a small pot to put the polish remover in, and a correcter pen.  I have it all packed up in a cute little bag (given to me by my friend).  I even bought a pump nail polish remover bottle like they use in the salons.  I watched several videos on French manicures and was inspired by Angie over at  Chic' n Scratch who recommended many of the products I have in my kit.  I can't wait until my nails grow long enough to give it a try!

Re-Purposed & Re-Gifted Box

When my friend returned from her winter getaway with some yummy Ghirardelli chocolates for me, I knew I could re-use the gift box they came in.  What better time to do just that than when I returned from my vacation with Disney World Mickey chocolate bars for her!

I simply covered the front and back of the box, each with a panel of designer series paper, and then added a strip of the reverse-side pattern in the centre.  I tied a bow of satin ribbon (in Chocolate Chip, of course!) and then made an embellishment using the For You stamp from the Punch Bunch set (SU).  I used Chocolate Chip ink for the first stamping, then Concord Crush ink for another and punched out the centre.  I popped each layer up using dimensionals.

Inside, I added the chocolate bars (the Mickey bars are so good and I look forward to eating them every year!) wrapped in Very Vanilla belly bands run through the paper crimper.  I stamped the Oh Boy! (from the EK Success Disney set of clear stamps I got last year at Hobby Lobby) in Basic Black ink and punched them out with the Modern Label punch (SU).  I think they look so cute and they fit perfectly inside...I just wonder if she recognized the box? 

Turkey Lifters

This pair of turkey lifters was not very expensive and has saved a few bent forks over the years.  They are very heavy-duty and have nice, soft-grip handles.  Lifting a large turkey, roast, or ham from the pan with them is so easy, and much safer, than using forks or other miscellaneous utensils.  The pointed tines are perfect to wedge under the front and back of the bird/joint/ham, and can easily be inserted under the wings or bone, or into the meat itself.  Maneuvering the meat from pan to cutting board or platter is practically effortless!

Most people make at least one or two turkeys a year - plus other meats over the months, so it totally makes sense to invest, once and for all, in the proper tools to lift them.  For such a small price it makes an inevitable job so much simpler...and that makes for a good Friday!

Coconut Rice Pilaf

This Coconut Rice Pilaf makes such a delectable and different side dish.  My whole family enjoyed the flavour and it is so simple to prepare.  I doubled the recipe below and used Basmati rice.  Canned coconut milk makes it very easy to add an exotic twist to a simple pot of rice (and you can keep a can in the cupboard, ready for any time the mood strikes you).

Coconut Rice Pilaf

1 cup canned Thai coconut milk

1 cup water

1 cup lng-grain white rice

1 bay leaf

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp Tabasco (optional)

Bring coconut milk and water to a boil in heavy medium saucepan over high heat.  Add rice, bay leaf, salt, allspice, and hot sauce. Bring back to a boil, cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 15 mins. or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.