Another idea for gifts

I get these white boxes at the dollar store at four for a dollar. They take a little time to stamp and fix up, but the price is right!

.....and this is what is inside of the packages--three of each, for six adorable babies who will be soon turning one year old. (I plan to post about them soon!)

How I Say Thank You

This week stamp challenges asked us to show a way we express a thank you. Here's mine.


I have been doing these little bags for a while. I ran across some bins of Mary Englebret things at Michaels, so I loaded up a drawer with a lot of little goodies. In each bag I put a small notebook, a box of Hershey kisses. a plastic box with five of my cards in it, and a tube of Mary Kay hand lotion!


I use this bag of goodies to give as a thank you, a birthday, or a "just because".

This is a BIG close up of the attached card--(its 3 x 3)


Stamp Sets for the whole project

SU Petal Prints
SU Fine Lace
SU Think Happy Thoughts

ink and paper colors

SU pixie pink
SU old olive
The "thank you" on the sack is computer generated.

20 Minute Chicken Creole

This quick Southern dish contains no added fat and
very little added salt in its spicy tomato sauce.

Ingredients

nonstick cooking spray as needed

4 medium chicken breast halves, skinned, boned, and cut into 1" strips*
1 can (14 oz.) tomatoes, cut up**
1 cup low-sodium chili sauce
1-1/2 cups green peppers, chopped (1 large)
1/2 cup celery, chopped

1/4 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tablespoon fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried
1 tablespoon fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1.Spray a deep skillet with nonstick spray coating. Preheat pan over high heat.

2.Cook chicken in hot skillet, stirring, for 3-5 minutes, or until no longer pink. Reduce heat.

3.Add tomatoes and their juice, low-sodium chili sauce, green pepper, celery, onion, garlic, basil, parsley, crushed red pepper, and salt. Bring to boiling; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.

4.Serve over hot cooked rice or whole wheat pasta.

* You can substitute 1 lb. boneless, skinless, chicken breast, cut into 1-inch strips.
That is what I did.

Yield: 4 servings--Serving Size: 1-1/2 cup.

I had this for lunch today. I especially liked the consistancy of the veggies as they were still a bit crunchy, being only cooked for 10 minutes! It was very filling without rice or pasta.

It was spicy, which I love--in fact I doubled the pepper flakes in the recipe!

Enjoy!!

My entry...

I came upon Stamp something challenge blog, and decided to enter their challenge for the fun of it. So this is my "first"

First time ever entering anything with my cards...
First time using my scanner (for the music) to copy something to use on a card...
First time using SU designer paper to enhance a card.





Papers

Stamping up---green galore and gable green
black and white paper
versa fine onyx black ink
decorative set from Stampin Up (out of print)

The "just a note" is on Stampin' Dimensionals so it gives the 3-D look that I love and use a lot.

Stamp set--Jazzed Up from Stampin' Up

Mom's Bran Muffins

These muffins are wonderful. The dough keeps for up to six weeks in the refrigerator. My mother used to bake some up, put them on a decorative paper plate, wrap in saran wrap and take them around to her neighbors. When she made them, she always had a plateful for any family that dropped by also.

Bran Muffins
1 15 oz. bran flakes with raisins
2 cups sugar
5 cups flour
5 teas. soda
scant tea salt

I pour all of the dry ingredients in the largest bowl that I have. I stir through the dry ingredients to blend them.

Now add 4 eggs beaten
1 cup of cooking oil
1 quart buttermilk

Add 1 cup of raisins and mix in well

After I have it thoroughly mixed in the large bowl I transfer it to a tupperware bowl with a lid for storing in the refrigerator.


The dough was in the refrigerator for four days. Grandson, Elliot, was here for the week-end, so we baked up a dozen.

I baked another dozen tonight and I filled the cups fuller for a larger muffins.

Bake between 350 to 375
15-20 minutes

makes 7-8 dozen


Here they are, right out of the oven!

A friend dropped by tonight just as they were coming out of the oven. We had two each with a cup of tea while we played a couple of games. They were just yummy!
(the cupcakes, not the games...)

A Change of Subject

If you notice at the top, my blog says it is about cards, cooking, sometimes, and making books.
Since I am in the middle of a huge card project and am not doing anything new right now, I decided to share a book.....or two.....three.

I have always done books with my kids about our adventures, etc. When they were preschool, I printed out what they told me to write and they illustrated the story. After they could write, they did their own with pictures, and I just bound them with construction paper. (This began in the mid sixties)

Fortunately, by the time grandchildren arrived, I was retired and truly enjoyed putting books together for them to read aloud... or read to them. The following book is one that I did when they were very tiny. When I look at the grainy pictures, I see how far we have evolved with our digital cameras.

So enjoy with a 'grain of salt'--remembering this is back from the days when I did not know much about computers and all of the things that go into a "good" job! Its been a well-loved book, on the nightstand in their bedroom at my house.






In a few days I will share a few other types of books we've made about our "marvelous" adventures!

(Where did the years go? They are now 14 and 15!?)