FOOD HACKING- Holiday pretzel treats

Food Hacking: verb; To change food from one thing to something completely else;
I found this recipe for a food hack on Disney Family Fun website

Ingredients:
Bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels
M&M's
Hershey's Kisses or Hershey's Hugs

Heat the oven to 170F. Set a number of bite-size, waffle-shaped pretzels (one for each treat) in a single layer on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, then top each pretzel with an unwrapped Hershey's Kiss or Hershey's Hug. Bake for 4 to 6 minutes (the white chocolate will melt more quickly), until the chocolates feel soft when touched with a wooden spoon. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and quickly press an M&M's candy into the center of each Kiss. Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes, then place them in the refrigerator to set, about 10 minutes. Place handfuls of the candies in clear plastic bags and tie on colorful ribbons.

After Holiday Traditions

Well I played Hookey today and got my Christmas Lights up! New this year to my LED Light display is the 5 penguins guarding the window box. That and making turkey stock were the highlghts of my day. I did use the vegetables leftover from my "Crudite" plate I made for Thanksgiving. Then I made some Turkey Noodle Soup using the fresh stock.

Romeo... A Whore for the Camera!

Well the first photo's of Romeo's photo shoot are coming in. "Whose the handsome boy? Who?"
The photographer was embarrassed due to the fact he had his camera set on JPEG format instead of RAW format, so there are no color pics. I don't care... I am actually biased toward Kodachrome anyhow so I am happy with B&W Pics. Joel, the photographer, and his wife, Angie, are very active in local pet issues, are big advocates of pet adoption and rescue,  own a second hand pet supply shop in Tacoma, WA. They donated this prize of a pet photo shoot to the AARF Auction I went to and spent some dollars on this auction item a few months ago

DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES...

Rob's World is temporarily shut down due to technical difficulties. The recent high winds knocked my cable line and I am Xfinity's Bitch waiting for a repairman. I should be up by Monday! Until then... enjoy this musical interlude...

 "Oh a mighty winds a blowin’, it’s kickin’ up the sand,
It’s blowin’ out a message to every woman, child and man
Yes a mighty winds a blowin’, cross the land and cross the sea,
It’s blowin’ peace and freedom, it’s blowin’ equality.
Yes it’s blowin’ peace and freedom, it’s blowin’ you and me…"

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Perfect little snack or appetizer for a holiday party. The Soy sauce gives it an Asian taste that goes well with the rather sweet taste of whole dish!

½ stick butter
½ cup of Brown Sugar
3 TBSP. ketchup
½ Tsp. dried mustard
1 ½ TBSP. Worchestershire Sauce
2 Cans whole water chestnuts
Bacon (usually 1 package cut into half is enough)
½ cup soy sauce

Marinate water chestnuts in soy sauce for 2-4 hours Melt butter in saucepan and add remaining ingredients. Stir until mixture is simmering. This should make enough sauce for 2 cans of water chestnuts.Wrap the bacon around each chest nut and skewer with a toothpick to secure. Cook seam(where the ends of the bacon meet) side down in cake pan or something deep enough to hold excess grease at 350 degrees until browned. Drain on paper towels. I usually put baked water chestnuts in the crock pot and pour the sauce over them and cook on low just to keep warm (a chafing dish works well also). Avoid unnecessary stirring.

USING NEW SHARPIE STAIN FABRIC MARKERS

I saw on "How about orange" blog a while ago she got asked to try out New Sharpie Stain Fabric Markers. Rob did not get jealous. Rob ordered a set of markers. They came last week and what fun. On the canvas bag , they did not run or bleed. I can imagine a whole lot of things I could do with them. Hmmm.... maybe mark my underwear so I don't lose them at the next Blogger camp out.

Tie dye ornaments!

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat

Making decorations is where I'm at!!!

I got started this year making some glass ornaments. This is so easy, just glop in two colors of paint (Not a whole lot, and I use tempera paint) into a clear glass ornament, put upside down into an egg carton, and 24 hours or so later you have these cool ornaments!

Featured!

My Duct tape Shopping bag was featured at So Creative!

20/20 Vision

I went to the Burien Arts Commission's 20/20 Vision Art Show and Sale over the weekend. Here is what I bought...

 First I obtained this great painting of a Tiger by local artist Jerome Damey. Jeromme supports himself through art school at the UW as the sign artist at our local Trader Joe's.

 And I got this great block print by Theresa Neinas. I am a sucker for pictures and paintings of yard equiptment,

 And this small collage I got just because it makes me smile. It is by local artist Eric Edwards

 I know little of the artist of this painting  "Poppys Galore" I bought at the silent Auction...

 But I know a piece of Ikea cabinetry when I see it

Turning it over proved it. I have to admire art created on Ikea "AS IS" items.

What are you growing? Pizza!

Can you believe congress? Now they are arguing that Pizza is a vegetable. I really think that our elected officials should have more important work to do.
While we are at it maybe French Fries should be an entree, or Romeo's kibble a meat dish (if they don't count corn as a meat). Not since Ronald Reagan tried to declare Ketchup a vegetable have I been so amused at congressional and/or political shenanigans.
I am still thinking if I didn't grow it, it is not a vegetable...
Pizza? a Vegetable? Seriously,  where do you buy those seeds?

More KIVA News!

My Kiva loans are being re-payed. I had enough to make two more loans! I made two loans to American Entrepreneurs, one who owns a laundromat, and employs 6 persons, and one to a gal who owns a hair and beauty salon, and employs 2 full time and 2 part time employees. Why the American Loans? Well I feel that philanthropy is no good if you can’t do it in your own back yard. And the fact they use the loans to employ people is important. And my first three loans are being repaid as we speak, by my Chicken Farmer in Senegal, My Pig Farm Co-op in Ecuador and my Used Clothing group in Tanzania.

The fun thing about KIVA and Kiva Loans is you know you are helping people, families and workers all over the world. And it is a minimum investment, that returns so much more than money, it returns hope.

Duct Tape Shopping Bag!

The last time I made a shopping bag, I made it out of a leg of a pair jeans, the staff at Trader Joe's (along with some customers) laughed at me. This time, I prayed to Red Green for wisdom, and of course he answered my prayers... "Use the Duct Tape". So I simply took a grocery bag, covered it in silver duct tape, and used some of my fancy flamed duct tape for a border around the top and to make handles. The Handels are simply long strips of duct tape folded over on itself and shoved through a hole in the bag and knotted then a corresponding hole on 4" away. I think it turned out pretty sweet.
I can't wait to go to Trader Joe's tomorrow!

Up-cycling Cans

I found some pretty amazing ways to recycle tin cans and coffee cans, beside using them for flour canisters:

I have tons of these Trader Joe’s coffee cans; now, thanks to Lee at Leethal Do stuff Blog, I don’t have a ton of yarn around the house, but I have plenty of stuff that needs storage. This Coffee can storage unit is just the coolest. 

And Melissa at Those Northern Skies made some great ornaments out of tin can lids.

 

 

 

At Readymade there is this cool lamp made from Coffee cans.

 

 

 

  

And finally over at Esprit Cabane, some very unique candle holders made from soda cans!

So there are numerous ways to up-cycle cans. Just takes a little imagination!

 

 

 

 

Buy Nothing Day

Well "Black Friday" November 25 (November 26th in the rest of the world ) is coming.It is also Buy Nothing day. And maybe MTV, ABC and CTV wouldn't air adbusters Buy nothing ad, but they didn't come around to my world. ANd I am proud to show their ad!

Buy Nothing Day doesn't mean Don't buy gifts. Just put some thought behind it. Buy handmade. Or buy used. Or make it yourself. And ignore Black Friday. Your pocket book and nerves will thank you!

The A to Z of Rob

The A to Z Guide to Me

I'm stealing this meme from my Deanna over at the blog Crunchy Chicken. Because I like stealing ideas!

Age: 51. Just the right age to be

Bed size: Full. Would prefer a queen but don't have the room

Chore I hate: Just about anything that involves cleaning.

Dogs: Romeo- 6 years old going on 1 year. A cocka-poo (cocker spaniel/ poodle mix)

Essential start to my day: Walking romeo.

Favorite color: Depends- Green, but in cars I really like red

Gold or silver: Neither.

Height: 5'6".

Instruments I play: Fumble at playing the Ukulele, and I play one mean kazoo.

Job title: Maintenance Plumber A. Don't have a clue what the "A" stands for.

Kids: None - unless you count Romeo

Live:Burien, WA; Kent, WA; Pacific, WA; Algona, WA; Fairdale, N.D.

Mother's name: Darlene. AKA BIG NURSE, Little Lu and Auntie Darlene

Nicknames: Bob, Bosee, Boof (dont ask).

Overnight hospital stays:Lessee- since I was born... Pneumonia, Congestive Heart Failure

Pet Peeve: Other Drivers. Assholes who take two parking spaces

Quote from a movie: "Well, you know what they say: if you don't have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me!"

Right or left handed: Righthanded

Siblings: None. But i Do have over 50 1st cousins!

Time I wake up: 9:00 AM

Underwear: Boxer shorts.

Vegetable I hate: Eggplant.

What makes me run late: Too many things on my plate.

X-rays I've had: Dental Xrays, chest x-rays, leg, hand, Upper GI,Colonoscopy.

Yummy food I make: Um, everything?

Zoo animal: Puppies? Chipmunks! Oh I know... Polar Bears!

Reusing a Starbucks Traveler

We had a work party in the Community Garden over the weekend. I brought a "Traveler" of coffee from starbucks so folks could have some coffee. Then I thought - how can one re-use this traveler rather than just chucking it in the trash. Here is what I did

See thr nice traveler box? it opens so easily...

the bladder bag is exposed

slip the bag out of the box, rinse out and stick on a large stick to dry or clip bottom of bag on a clothes line (so the water cand drip out the open spout)

Not perfect - a thermos would be better, but useable and do able in a pinch!

Craftzine to the Rescue!!!

Photo: Craftzine Magazine

Well now that I have a neat new shelf unit in my Studio closet, I wanted more storage! Here comes The CraftZine Magazine Blog to the rescue--- Put some milk crates on the wall! So simple to do - take a milk crate, some fender washers, wall anchors and just put those puppies on the wall. Great Idea for Kid's room closets, or for your craft room/studio, They can look pretty fantastic as well.

Making Gift Cards More Personal

I know Christmas is two months away. But CHRISTMAS IS ONLY TWO MONTHS AWAY!!! I plan on giving gift cards and certificates to a lot of my gift recepients this year.
Making gift cards and/or gift certificates doesn't have to be impersonal. There are a lot of great templates our there to make great homemade holders and envelopes,

I love this Watering Can holder, just the thing for a garden gift or a gift for a gardener

Watering Cam template- So easy just print onto some silver cardstock and cut out! Perfect for a gift card, gift certificate or a packet of seeds

Tool Box Gift Card Holder Great gift card holder for a DIY'er or dad or housewarming

General Gift Card holder template- try getting a tad creative and print out a picture of the person recieving the gift and make your holder or envelope out of that! Or try Angry Chicken's envelope design to make an envelope for your gift card or certificate!