Hex Nut Necklace/Bracelet

I made these for the boys in the family.  A necklace for my nephew and husband, a bracelet for myself and a key chain for my sister's boyfriend of many years.  My nephew loved it.  It's masculine enough for the boys and men.

Note:  This project was not my original idea.  As usual.  You can find the blog I used HERE.

Italian Diced Tomatoes (So much better than the canned from the store)

I have used the canned version of this in past posts.  That is, until I found out citric acid (which is in all canned tomatoes I've found so far) is often derived from corn.  So, I decided that when tomatoes were in season, I would buy up as much as possible and make my own Italian diced tomatoes and can them.  Well, so far I haven't found enough tomatoes to can any but I have made some for meals as I make them.  Eventually, I will add canned notes to this blog.  Until then, I will go ahead and give a recipe.  Now there are not exact amounts on most of this.  I just add ingredients a little at a time until it tastes excellent.  I had taste testers who agreed, this sauce is amazing.

Ingredients:
Tomatoes
salt
pepper
garlic
onion (I prefer sweet onion)
olive or coconut oil (I've used both and both are good)
basil
oregano

(Note:  This can be made with fresh or dried garlic, onion, basil and oregano.)

Directions:
Mince an onion and a clove or two of garlic (depending on your taste for garlic).  Saute the onion and garlic in a little olive or coconut oil.  While this is sauteing, dice up the tomatoes.  I roughly chopped into chunks, then put them in my hand chopper to dice them really small.  I have a Pampered Chef hand chopper.  I use it to mince the garlic and onion too.  It's wonderful for this type of stuff.  When the garlic and onion is soft and transparent, add in the tomatoes.  Now add salt and pepper and stir around on low/medium heat until warmed through.  Add basil and oregano a little at a time until it suits your taste.  You might want to add salt and pepper here too.

Trust me, this is amazing.  Here is a picture of it used to top some chicken.

Another way to use this, get out your slow cooker.

Ingredients:
Italian Diced Tomatoes
4 Chicken Breasts

Directions:
In a slow cooker, add your chicken breasts. Top with plenty of Italian diced tomatoes.  It should pretty much cover all chicken.  Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 8 hours.  Serve over rice.

DIY Washer Necklaces

These went over really well.  I made them for all of my nieces, my mom, my mother-in-law, my sister, my best friend and myself.  Most people put it on immediately.

Supplies:
Washers
Scrapbook paper
Mod podge
Trimming knife
Sponge brushes
Scissors
Glossy accents
Cord/string/chain
Beads

Instructions:

Trim scrapbook paper to fit on the washer.  Spread mod podge on the washer and smooth the scrapbook paper on the washer.  Trim any excess paper from the washer using the trimming knife.  Dab the glossy accents on the washer.  A little goes a long way.  Spread it in the middle because it will spread to the edges some on its own.  It takes a long time for this to dry.  It depends partly on the weather and partly on how much glossy accents you put on.  It took mine at least 24 hours to completely dry.  Once they are completely dry, you can turn them over and do the same thing to the other side.  After both sides are dry, wrap the cord around and string the bead.  You now have a washer necklace.  I tied them with adjustable knots so that no matter who wears them, they can adjust the length of the necklace.

Note:  I don't have any one blog/website to credit with this.  I did not come up with these but there are multiple sources across Pinterest and the blogosphere.

Hot Chocolate Mix

NOTE:  I don't think this is corn free as is.  I may look for a different recipe this winter.

This stuff is better than Swiss Miss ever thought of being!  I made this recipe and it made four pint jars.  I gave some away for Christmas gifts.  Bonus points...  No crazy ingredients!

Ingredients:
3 cups nonfat dry milk powder
2 cups powdered sugar
1½ cups cocoa powder
1½ cups white chocolate chips
¼ tsp. salt

Directions:  Whisk together all ingredients and put through the food processor in batches.  I used my smaller processor and it took three batches to get it all processed.  It will depend on the size and capabilities of your food processor.  The dry mix can be stored in an airtight container for up to three months.

To make hot chocolate, pour 1/3 cup of the cocoa mix in one cup of hot milk or water.  Top with your preferred toppings.  I usually don't top it with anything and it's really good.

Note:  This is not my recipe.  I found it at melskitchencafe.

Fancy Clipboards

I know you guys have seen the clipboards all over Pinterest and other internet sites.  You know the ones I am talking about.   The clipboards that have the pretty paper mod podged on them to personalize them for gifts.  Well last year, I did that.  But I am just now getting them posted.  Yes, I am that far behind on my blogging.  Sad right?  Life is crazy.  Most of you understand...  Three year old... Husband... Job hunting... Substitute teaching... Crazy family members...  Health issues...  Money issues...  You know, LIFE!  So, I thought I would show a picture of my clipboards.  I made one for my sister and one for my mom.  My sister loves dogs.  She is wonderful with them too.  Seriously!  She's like the dog whisperer...  We are dog people but she is the best.  She rescues and fosters.  The dog she owns now, she nursed back to health after she had heart worms and basically had a death sentence.  She trained her and taught her tricks...  Great stuff.  My mom is a music teacher.  She plays the piano beautifully and has been teaching for over thirty years.  She's been one of my biggest helpers and supporters and my life saver with all of the struggles with our little girl's health issues.  Without her, I would have had a nervous/mental breakdown.

On with the project:

Supplies (for making 2):
2 Cheap clipboards
6 pieces of scrapbook paper
bottle of mod podge
sponge brushes

Note:  Make sure you are wearing a shirt or apron you don't mind messing up.  If you get mod podge on it, it isn't coming out.  I learned that the hard way.

Instructions:
Trim the scrapbook paper to fit around all of the fittings of the clipboard.  Spread mod podge (I found the sponge brushes best for this) on the back of the clipboards and carefully smooth the scrapbook paper down on the back.  After this is almost dry, spread mod podge over the top of the paper to create a bit of a gloss.  After the back is completely dry, turn the clipboards over.  Spread the mod podge over the front of the clipboards and smooth the trimmed scrapbook paper down on the front.  (For the front, I picked two different papers.  I put the same paper covering the whole thing as I put on the back.  But then I cut another piece with about a half inch or so around it so you see about a half inch or so border of the same design as on the back but a different design over the rest.  You can see an example in the pictures.)  When the first layer is almost dry, cover it with a layer of mod podge.  If you chose a second design or other designs, go ahead and add those designs on the wet mod podge now.  After those are almost dry, add another layer of mod podge over the top.  Let that dry completely.  More layers of mod podge are a personal preference.

This was my first attempt.  They didn't turn out exactly as I planned.  And the one I did for myself didn't turn out AT ALL!  But, they were cute and usable.  I have better ideas for some in the future.

Pumpkin Spice Creamer

It has been awhile since I have been very active on my blog.  Life has been hectic.  Every week I think I will have time to blog but something comes up.  I started a long term substitute position in a library in August.  It has been so much fun and I get to stay until Christmas Break.  Hopefully it will help me to get a full time position in my own classroom.  At the same time I have been busy at home spending time with my three year old.  Yes, I said THREE.  I can't believe she is growing so fast.  Also, the husband finally got to start working first shift, so he is actually home with us.  We've been soaking up the family time.  I have still been cooking and experimenting but it will take me awhile to catch up here.  I will work on it but it may be during breaks that I have a surge in blog posts.  For now, I have also discovered why people like coffee!  I stopped drinking pop a few months ago.  So I never get any caffeine unless I get a tea or coffee.  At home, our tea is decaf and I never drink more than one coffee at a time.  But, since I get up at 4 AM now in order to get to work (it's quite a commute for me at this point), I have a little trouble getting myself going.  Especially now that the weather has gotten colder.

Anyway, I love the pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks, but I hate the ingredients and price.  I found several recipes online to make your own pumpkin spice creamer.  I wasn't completely satisfied with any of them.  I already make my own plain sweet creamer and I have already posted the recipe for that.  I easily turned that into a pumpkin spice creamer.  Here is how:

Ingredients:

1 can evaporated milk

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 cup pureed pumpkin (canned or fresh)

1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

In a saucepan, heat 1/2 the can of evaporated milk, pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice to a low simmer.  Whisk together until this comes to a simmer, then take it off of the heat.  Let this cool completely.  When it is cool, whisk in the rest of the evaporated milk and the sweetened condensed milk.  Pour into two mason jars.  This will stay good in the refrigerator for a week.  I put one in the fridge to use and one in the freezer to save.  You could also give one away for gifts OR you could keep one at home and one at work if you drink both places.  It is very good.  I believe I outdid Starbucks with this one.

Honey Garlic Pork Chops

I have been busy with my new temporary job and I have been trying to make meals that can be made quickly and easily.  They also have to be good warmed up for lunches at work.  We prefer to eat homemade foods rather than eating out or buying pre-made boxed foods.  The easiest way for easy, quick, healthy, homemade meals is to use marinades.  I have started making up bags with marinades and putting meat in them and freezing them.  Then I can take it out of the freezer the night before, and it's ready the next night for cooking. This is one of the marinades we have been using for pork chops.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup apple juice
2 Tbsp. oil (I usually use grapeseed or olive)

3 Tbsp. coconut aminos (This is what we use to replace soy sauce.)

6 garlic cloves, minced

4 pork chops (I use boneless.  I hate eating around bones.)

Directions:

In a ziploc bag, add all ingredients and close and mix around.  Let marinade for at least 2 hours.  Once marinated, grill or bake.  We grilled and loved them.  But if you can't grill, bake in a preheated oven for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

I got this recipe from Pinterest and just replaced the soy sauce.  To see the original post, look here.