Spellbound - Handmade Soap

Awww, so I got a special order to make my Rose Garden "cake" soap, but with BLACK roses... for a bridal shower, of all things!!  What fun it was to see this unique soap come to life,  and the results... a lovely Activated charcoal (on the "frosting") with the most amazingly intriguing "Spellbound" scent, sure to capture the heart of anyone who receives one, for ever!!

I  used the recipe below and just set aside about 3 cups for the black "frosting" and added activated charcoal to it until I reached the color I wanted.  Just be careful with it because it can get everywhere!!

Below are the links to items and or ingredients I used to make this awesome soap!!  Some links are affiliate links, which means that if you buy something I will get a small commission at NO extra cost to you!


Soap  Recipe by Good Earth Spa.  This is a COLD PROCESS OVEN PROCESSED recipe!!!
Digital Scale: https://amzn.to/2P3cN36

Silicon cake mold: https://amzn.to/2RdM8lL

Soap cutter: https://amzn.to/2DKv1oM

Cupcake, reg size molds: https://amzn.to/2IMlbl1
Cupcakes, mini mold: https://amzn.to/2CbrZr4

Scents, micas, and activated charcoal:  Brambleberry.com
Piping tips: The medium leaf, the small dot #3 for the buds, and  Wilton's 1M on the roses - I got mine at Hobby Lobby or Walmart.

Rose Garden Handmade Cold Process/Oven Process Soap

These amazing "cake" soaps are as beautiful to look at as they are fun to use!!!

They make a lot of bubbles and the scent is a lovely soft rose scent, like a morning walk through a rose garden.  I used two recipes for this soap, one for the "batter" and one for the "frosting" see below, as I don't have the source of where I got it. 

Frosting/Piping Recipe (I'll look for the source and post it):
16 oz Coconut oil
13 oz Olive oil
3 oz Shea butter
4.7 oz Lye
9 oz Water

The mold I used here was wider on top, so I no longer it.  Instead I use the one on the link below because it makes it easier to wrap a label when the bar is the same width top to bottom.

Here is a list of items I used and a link of where I got them (some links may be affiliate links and if you buy something through them I get a small commission):
Digital Scale: https://amzn.to/2P3cN36
Silicone cake mold: https://amzn.to/2RdM8lL
Soap cutter: https://amzn.to/2DKv1oM
Tree "Handmade" Stamp: https://amzn.to/2DO4WoL
Decorating bags: https://amzn.to/2Rn3Xii
Piping tips: Wilton's medium leaf, 1M and 2D, from Walmart, also a small round tip, #s 3 & 4 for the buds.
Lye, dyes, mica, glitter, scents:  https://www.brambleberry.com/

The cute tree stamp makes them that much more special!!!

Cleaning Stove-top accessories

You'll never guess how easy this is! One day I was thinking how much I hated to scrub and scrub my stove's accessories, and thought "I wonder if I can put them in when I Self-Clean my oven"?

And guess what??  I tried it, and here are the results!!!  All you'll have to do afterwards is wipe away the ashes.

You will have to wipe away any grease so it doesn't smoke in the oven... that's pretty much it!! 

O Christmas Tree O....

 Okay, these lovely and super delicious "trees" (I need to buy a crinkle cutter tool thingy so they look more like trees) with "snow" on them are super easy and inexpensive to make and everyone loves them!!
One flour tortilla makes 12 trees.

Ingredients:
4 Flour tortillas (gordita or cacero style - they're a little thicker)
Oil for brushing
1/4 c Sugar
1 Tsp Cinnamon
Powder sugar for dusting (for holiday season)

Instructions:
1. Mix sugar and cinnamon
2. Brush tortilla with oil on both sides (I use EVOO)
3. Sprinkle with sugar/cinnamon mixture
4. Cut across like a pizza 6 times (forming 12 trees), I stack and cut about 4 at a time to save time.
5. Bake at 375 for 8-9 mins, until it starts to look light gold, then turn over, bake another 3-4 mins until evenly light golden all over.  If you do not turn them over, be sure not to let them cool without moving them, they'll stick.

6.  Dust with powder sugar.  They keep crispy in plastic bags for 3-5 days. I bet these could be cut with cookie cutters into fun Christmas shape!!

Accent Christmas Pillows - fast & temporary!

I love to change decor accents with the seasons but I don't have storage for too much stuff!  So with spray adhesive I can quickly update some throw pillows by cover whatever is on them, and PRESTO!! 

Temporary Trees

Here I took some leftover material and cut out Christmas tree shapes ( the only shape that would cover the star fish and whale on these pillows), and to make them look sewn on I ran a zig-zag stich (can be a hand running stich if don't have a machine) along the edges, then sprayed with adhesive spray and placed them on the pillows.  Once Christmas is over I'll  remove the trees and maybe do something for Valentine's

Removable

Day!  

Look around for ways to change things up on a budget and without having to store more things!

Zig-Zag stiching

Lollipop Halloween Ghosts

These were so fun to make and very easy on the wallet, too! $2.50 for a 68pc (Dum-Dums) bag at WalMart. I got the napkins at our $1 store, each package contained 160 napkins.  Then I used white & purple ribbon I already had.  You also use black or orange, or even just all white.

You basically just DRAPE the paper napkin (ti comes folded in quarters), so you just leave it folded in half and put the lollipop under the fold and TIE a coordinating ribbon around its neck.

Then you DOT eyes with a sharpie marker and DONE!!  Kids & adults love getting them.


Note: This photo appears like the ghost has a little head covering, but it was a fluke on how the napkin got draped.  Don't fret over making them look a certain way.  In the end they all look totally cute even if you're not careful about dotting the eyes!
Just have fun!

Repurposed Metal Tool Box

So, I just wanted to share the new life this tool box has as a table top accessory.  Not only does it look beautiful, but it's also functional as a plant holder and it can hold your glass of lemonade or cup of coffee!

The lovely greenery of this great country yard help the tool box look right at home! 

I'm always amazed at how beautiful old things can look if we just give them a new job to do. I'm always looking for an old thing I can use when I have a need for something functional or when I'm looking for any new items to decorate!

Hope you'll look around and see you can upcycle something, giving your surroundings a more interesting look!

Cute table make-over

As all you who know me may know, I love a bargain and see beauty where others may see only junk!

So, next time you need something, don't buy/over pay...RENEW!

As a Home-Staging Realtor, I am always looking for budget items to stage with, but I can't keep everything. This table is a good example of how to put life into things that seem to have no life left. I got it on CL for $20 and spent $8 on paint, plus used fabric I had to recover the seats. In all I estimate my total at $35.

I later resold it for $142 to a young couple who just loved it! Maybe I could've sold it for more but I wanted them to have it.

WHAT I DID: Cleaned the glass, painted the base and chairs, recovered the seats with some material I had. I as you can see I stencilled the word sit on each chair. I had another more fun design in mind, but making the stencil was easier with this simple word!

FOR THE STENCIL: I just printed out the word "sit" (again, I went for ease here!) and traced it on wax paper. If youd don't have a printer, you can tape the paper right on your screen and trace! Cut out the letters and sprayed the was paper with removable spray adhesive(get a bit tacky & sticky but not totally glues on), centered on the material and spray painted over it (using a brush didn't work for me!).  You have to hold the can about 6 inches away and spray evenly and light coats until the shape is evenly painted. Let dry and remove stencil!

I used RUST-OLEUM Painter's Touch in matte black for this and other projects.
Once I stapled the material to the seats I trimmed the excess off.
Ta dahhh!!!! All in a day's work!

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Pasta Puttanesca

This meatless dish could not be easier to make and more delicious and healthy!

I love making it with thin spaghetti or a flat noodle. The fresh parsley and basil give it an amazing flavor and aroma that is simply irresistible! I first had this when my good friend, Debbie K. made it for me years ago in Fremont, CA. 

I've added a few other ingredients I love, like the olives, parsley, and the capers, but the essence of the dish is the pasta, garlic, tomatoes, basil, and the wine.

INGREDIENTS:
Pasta - I use thin spaghetti, about 7oz/half a box.
1 Tbsp EVOO (Extra virgin olive oil)
4 Tomatoes, cut into bite size pieces (very chunky)
2 Cloves of garlic, crushed and chopped
1/2 Tsp Red pepper flakes
1/2 cup White wine
1/2 cup Basil, chopped
1/2 cup Parsley, chopped
1 cup Kalamata olives
1 Tbsp Capers
S&P to taste


INSTRUCTIONS:
Cook pasta according to package directions.  Heat EVOO and add pepper flakes and garlic and as soon as the garlic starts to brown and you can smell it, add the tomatoes.  Cook tomatoes for just a couple of minutes and add the wine and the rest of the ingredients.  Season with S&P to taste and turn off the heat and cover the pan, letting the tomatoes cook in the steam for 5-10 minutes.
Serve over hot pasta and enjoy.  I love having a glass of white wine with this dish.

DIY Gift Tags

Gift tags are like birthday candles and umbrellas, everyone has them but can't find when you need them! And in my case, I can never seem to have "right" ones!!

Well, being that it's so easy to make/cut your own tags, why not just do that when you need them? 

So, here are some examples I've done for this Christmas, but that I'm now (that I saw the light!) planning to use throughout the year!

Find shapes of tags you want to make, or use cookie cutters, jar lids, and just trace them on cardboard (I use recycled boxes from cereal, crackers, or alike!). 

Save and use/upcycle interesting papers you get from all kinds of sources, save scraps of craft paper to make different shapes and size tags for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Housewarming, or ANY other gift tag-requiring event!

One other thing I do is save/reuse EVERY ribbon, string, or anything that can be used to wrap/tie gifts! Like below the brown/white rope ribbon was save from something else.

I also save tags from things I buy as templates to duplicate the shapes.  Making your tags makes gifts that much more special I think!  

Merry Christmas and happy gift tag making!!

HomeMade Croutons

These deliciously crunchy & tasty little morsels are made out of old bread, from my own homemade bread, but you can use any bread you have! I'm actually not a big fan of croutons, unless they're homemade! Store-bought croutons are always either too hard or too light and void of substance, to me!

INGREDIENTS:
Half loaf of bread.  Here I used my own homemade bread.  Denser crustier bread works best.
3 Tbsp EVOO
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp onion powder
Salt & pepper to taste

BAKE: 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees

INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat over to 400 degrees.  Line cookie sheet with foil.
Slice bread lengthwise, like you're going to make a sandwich, then into slices at an angle,  and  finally into bite size cubes.

In a bowl just big enough for croutons or in a plastic bag and drizzle croutons with oil while tossing to get a bit of oil on each crouton.  Then sprinkle salt & pepper to taste. And finally sprinkle garlic and onion powder, while tossing.

Spread on single layer on foil-lined cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Check them and see they're to your liking, and if not, bake for another two minutes.  ENJOY!!

Turkey Orzo Soup

Did you save your turkey carcass??
By The Way, there should be another name for carcass when it's used for cooking! I'm just saying.

Hope you did, I ALWAYS do and then we have turkey noodle (orzo) soup all weekend following Thanksgiving! I use orzo because the regular noodles soak up too much liquid and then become super large and soggy.  Using orzo was my later mother-in-law, Carolyn's idea - not mine!

INGREDIENTS:
Turkey carcass (I also use the carcass of store-bought rotisserie chicken)
4 cups chopped celery
4 cups chopped carrots
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced

1 Tbsp dry thyme (or 4 fresh sprigs)
Salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup green onion, chopped - optional
Tabasco sauce, to taste - optional

MAKES: 10-15 large bowls

INSTRUCTIONS:
In large pot add enough water to cover the carcass.  Gently boil with onions and salt until meat falls off the bone, about 1 hr or so. 

Remove/skim as much of the fat from the top as possible. 
Take out all the bones and let them cool, then remove as much of the meat as possible and put it back in the broth.

Add the celery and carrots and cook another 20 minutes or so until they are tender. While veggies are cooking, cook orzo according to package directions, then add to soup. Taste and adjust seasoning to taste. DONE!!

SERVING SUGGESTIONS: I love adding freshly chopped green onions on top and a few dashes of Tabasco sauce for a bit of kick. ENJOY!!

No-knead Bread, Fast!

Ever been in the mood to make bread but then found out you had to let it "rest" OVERNIGHT!? NO WAY!
 

Crusty exterior with soft light inside, but not to doughy. Great for sandwiches too!

Well, since I'm not the world's best planner when it comes to cooking, do not own (or plan to ever own) a bread machine, this happened to many a times.  Frustrated I set out to find a way to make bread on a whim, and make it without a huge production.

Thus....this simple recipe I perfected after making it only three times!

INGREDIENTS:
3 Cups all purpose flour
1 Tsp Kosher salt
1 1/4-oz envelope RapidRise Highly Active Yeast( I use Fleischmann's)
1 3/4 Cups warm water

REST TIME: 2 hrs
BAKE TIME: 40 mins @ 450 degrees

 MIX all ingredients with a wooden spoon until well combined.  Dough will be sticky.

LET REST for 2 hours in airtight container. I put mine inside my microwave.  It will about double or triple in size. 

KNEAD dough just until bubbles are gone and dough is smooth...about a minute.
At this point you could add flavors like: cheeses, garlic, olives, ect.  This is right before kneading and forming into a loaf. I've only added garlic, but plan to experiment with adding other flavors!

SHAPE into bread shape(s).  You can make one or two loaves. AT THIS POINT, before shaping, you can add other flavors, like pan roasted garlic, kalamata olives, cheeses, ect.

Here I browned some garlic in some EVOO and added it to the dough before baking.

 Here is shaped it into two loaves.

You could also shape into a round shape, as below. To this I added some dried thyme and EVOO right after taking it out of the oven.  Delish!!

 COVER bread loosely with crinkled foil. I crimp the edges of foil to the side of the pan and with a long spoon lift the middle to make a "tent" for  over the bread.  If you skip this you may burn it!

 BAKE  on cookie sheet at 450 for 35 minutes covered, then remove foil and bake 5 more minutes until golden brown.

Result, beautiful and delicious bread with a nice crust and soft inside.  This bread is not so think so you can slice it for sandwiches, or in rounds for crostini! ENJOY!!!