This & That Kitchen Junk Drawer Wednesday!!!

DRIED POTATO CHUNKS OR POTATO GARLAND

These make great fillers for mixing up a bunch of spicy fixins' If you catch a sale, good old white potatoes are much less expensive than squash or yams. You will get the same look for less!
Peel and cut potatoes into one inch chunks/cubes. You can be as fussy about this as you like...I like a more mixed up look, but sometimes I try and have the perfect shapes...
Make a pot of coffee or strong tea and once your potatoes are peeled and cubed, let them soak for about an hour in the coffee or tea.
Ready a large sheet cake pan and grab a mixing bowl. Mix in the bowl a generous blend of dried ground spices - I like cinnamonn, nutmeg and cloves the best - but you can use whatever spices you like.
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees F or use your dehyradetor....Using a strainer,
remove the potato cubes from the coffee or tea and let drain...Now place them a handful at a time in the spice mixture. Mix them around until they are thoroughly covered and then place in a single layer on the cookie pan . Repeat with remaining potato chunks.
Bake at 200 degrees F for 8-12 hours. The actual size of your chunks as well as the elevation and humidity in your area will impact the total drying time necessary. Check your potatoes periodically. When they are firm, they are finished!
If you wish to make a garland instead of just chunks, you will string the chunks on hemp thread (wal-mart craft section). String and place the potatoes as close together as you can. The way I did it was to let the potatoes dry for awhile till almost done, then I strung them, along with some laurel leaves and hung on pegs to finish drying. When my potatoe chunks were dried, I sprinkled on some more spices, put in a plastic bag with some dried orange peels and cloves. Now shake them to mix everything together....

LAVENDER COOKIES:
"Delightful little cookies that add a wonderful atmosphere to any afternoon tea. They have a delicate lavender flavor that is not overpowering at all! cookies will disappear before they have a chance to cool!"

INGREDIENTS
5/8 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon lavender flowers
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup colored sugar for decoration (optional)
1 tablespoon lavender flowers
DIRECTIONS
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2.Cream together the butter and sugar. Beat the egg, and blend into the butter and sugar. Mix in the lavender flowers and the flour. Drop batter by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets.
3.Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden. Remove cookies to cooling racks, and sprinkle with decorative sugar and additional lavender flowers if desired.

Looking Good- Making Fabulous Eyes for Cloth Dolls:

Do you want to know how to do this type of doll eyes?..Then click on Art Doll Blog of Rivkah Mizrahi . This is such a neat site for learing to make beautiful dolls.

HOMEMADE STAIN REMOVER:

This home made stain remover is a pre-wash meaning that you put it onto the stain before you wash the item. You can mix up this home made stain remover and then store it in a bottle until you are ready to use it. It will last indefinitely and if you put it into a squirt bottle you can easily take the bottle and apply it onto the stain.To make this home made stain remover all you do is mix together one part dish soap to one part house hold ammonia and one part water. In other words you put in the same amount of all three ingredients. Then just mix the ingredients together and put them in the permanent container. Store your bottle of stain remover near your laundry soap and you will always have it handy when you are doing laundry.

If you get grease on your jeans then try spraying with WD 40 to remove the stain...

Four Miles Down That Road Again!!

Now that I am in the Tuesday weight challenge, (over on Janene's Blog "Primitive Lifestyle"), I will be posting my weight loss on Tuesdays, instead of Mondays...I will also post some awesome, good for you recipes...so join me on my journey "Down That Road Again."

I don't know how I did it but I lost another 5.5 pounds....Happy about that, but know it has all been a lot of fluid loss...Don't expect such a good outcome next week...This Saturday I am going with my son and 2 granddaughters shopping at the Mall Of America and know that it will be hard to pass up all the goodies there...Please tell me how you would pass everything up....

A friend of mine bought the "Biggest Loser Cookbook" and this is what she said about it: "I got that "Biggest Loser Cookbook" and I have to tell ya--it has totally changed my eating habits---it is budget friendly too and I have lost 7lbs in 3 weeks---it is good whole foods that you have at home and it is one of the best cookbooks EVER if you or anyone are on a road to eating better---HIGHLY recommended!"
So I bought one on Amazon and it should be here soon...Will try some of the recipes and then let you know how they were.....

I am traveling this "Road Again" just for me. I have only to answer to myself, and I am my harshest critic!
I have learn to celebrate myself for every change that I have made. I've realized that small accomplishments mean as much as large ones and should never be ignored. On some days just getting through it with out cheating myself is an accomplishment in and of itself. I allow myself to realize that.
As the weight comes off I am discovering that my self confidence is growing. I have never realized how the weight was affecting not only my body, but my mind. I have spent a lifetime doubting myself, speaking badly to myself and about myself and never allowed myself to realize my full potential.
I can say I will never again be "on a diet." This is going to be a lifelong change and it feels amazing!

Janene here is the recipe I promised you!

General Tao's Chicken:
Serves 4.......4 WW Points
Ingredients
3/4 cup(s) canned chicken broth, reduced-sodium
1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp peanut oil
2 medium scallion(s), chopped
2 medium garlic clove(s), minced
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, or 1 dried chili pepper, minced
1 pound(s) uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 cup(s) cooked white rice, kept hot
Instructions
In a medium bowl, whisk together broth, cornstarch, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar and ginger; set aside.
Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add scallions, garlic and pepper and cook 2 minutes. Add chicken and cook until browned all over, about 5 minutes.
Add reserved sauce and simmer until sauce thickens and chicken is cooked through, about 3 minutes.
Serve chicken and sauce over rice.
Yields about 1 cup of chicken and sauce and 1/2 cup of rice per serving.

Cheesy Chili-Mac
Serves 8......5 WW Points
A hearty meal in a bowl. It's full of great stuff like lean beef, pinto beans and chili peppers. Turn leftovers in burritos.

Ingredients
1 spray(s) cooking spray
2/3 pound(s) raw extra lean ground beef
2 medium onion(s), chopped
29 oz canned stewed tomatoes, Mexican-style (undrained)
2 1/2 cup(s) canned tomato juice
4 oz canned green chili peppers, diced, drained
2 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 cup(s) uncooked macaroni, elbow
31 oz canned pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup(s) low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Cook ground beef and onion over medium-high heat until meat is browned, about 10 minutes; drain off fat.
Stir in undrained stewed tomatoes including juice, tomato juice, chili peppers and chili powder; bring mixture to a boil.
Stir in macaroni and beans; return to boiling. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until macaroni is tender, about 15 minutes. Spoon chili into bowls and sprinkle with cheese.
Yields about 1 cup of chili and 1 tablespoon of cheese per serving.

Fabric..Different Types & Weaves To Use For Your Primitive Items!!!

There are more than one type of fabric to use in making your dolls, snowmen, rabbits, santas, crows, sheep etc....Here is a list of fabric I have used and I hope it will give you some ideas to try with your prim crafting....

Muslin: muslin comes in different thread counts…I like the cheaper muslin (lower thread count) for a lot of my work, because it turns out so primitive looking..
Osnaburg: which is also cotton but coarser
Canvas Painters Floor Cloth: from Home Depot/Lowes
Linen: one of my favorites
Kettle Cloth/Weaver’s Cloth:
Canvas:…buy at Joann’s Fabric
Chenille: makes some lovely snowmen..
Sheets: from thrift stores/yard sales
Wool: white or off white
Fleece: Awesome snowmen, and animals
Cotton Flannel: makes great snowmen & gingerbread men
Burlap: great for crows, watermelons
Damask: table cloth or napkins
Terry Cloth: or old towels from thrift stores/garage sales
Flour Sacks: from wal-mart
Cotton Twill:…Have made some awesome prims from this—the texture was truly primitive
Plain Natural Cotton Homespun:—Walmart often has this and it gives a more rustic look
Cotton Crepe: watch for textured cottons in white or off white when you shop.
Monks Cloth: You can find at wal-mart or Joann"s Fabric
Warm & Natural Cotton Batting:
Baby Cordroy: wrong side out it has a very interesting texture
After you’ve explored these possibilities, you’re going to start looking at nearly all fabrics with a new eye.

Now here are three items that are new and hot in the quilting world...I just like to use them for displaying in my home...

What is a "Layer Cake?" A Layer Cake is a professionally cut bundle of 40 - 10 inch by 10 inch squares of fabric. A "Layer Cake" will feature a 10 inch by 10 inch square of each piece of fabric in a particular collection.

What is a "Jelly Roll?" A jelly roll is a professionally precut bundle of fabric from the same collection rolled and tied up with a ribbon. A jelly roll usually contains 40, 2.5 inch by 44 inch strips. Each jelly roll contains approximately 2 3/4 yards of fabric. Jelly rolls are great for scrap quilts, log cabins or any project requiring strips that are less than or equal to 2.5 inches in width. Many of the new patterns today are suggesting the use of jelly rolls. A great addition to any stash!


What is a "Charm Pack?" A charm pack is a professionally cut bundle of 5 inch squares of fabric. A "Charm Pack" will feature a 5 inch by 5 inch square of each piece of fabric in a particular collection. Many times there will be two squares of the same print so be sure to read each individual pack for details.

Twenty Three Lines To Make You Smile!

With this weather we all seem to be having I figured we could all use a little laugh!
1.. My husband and I divorced over religious differences.
He thought he was God and I didn't.
2.. Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.
3.. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
4.. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
5.. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.
6.. I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are just missing.
7.. NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning medicine.
8.. God must love stupid people; He made so many.
9.. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
10.. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
11.. Being "over the hill" is much better than being under it!
12. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.
13.. Procrastinate Now!
14.. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
15.. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance
16.. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!
17..They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.
18..He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless DEAD.
19..A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand
times the memory.
20..Ham and eggs¦A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a
pig.
21.. The trouble with life is there's no background music.
22.. The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.
23.. I smile because I don't know what the heck is going on.
Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends! Life is too
short and friends are too few

This & That Kitchen Junk Drawer Wednesday!

PAPER MACHE:
The things you can make with paper mache are only limited by your imagination. As paper mache dries, it hardens over the mold you have made. You can make doll heads, Christmas ornaments,snowmen, pinatas, dolls, dollhouses, boxes, sculptures or bowls. The final dried product can be painted, decoupaged or decorated however you please.
Make a form from wire, wadded newspaper, stuffed paper bags, or balloons. For a flat piece, such as a dollhouse or box, you can use a piece of cardboard. Tear newspaper into strips. Narrower strips work best for a rounded mold and larger strips are good for flat or rectangular shapes. Choose one of the following recipes to make the paste. Dip strips into paste, coating completely, squeezing out excess paste with your fingers. Use the strips to cover your pre-made form. If you overlap the strips, your finished product will look smoother. Allow each layer to dry before adding another layer. Cover your form with 4 layers.


PAPER MACHE PASTE:
Rather than make my own paste for paper mache, I use liquid starch that is relatively inexpensive. I bought a large jug at the supermarket that I have been using for years. It gives the same result as the cooked method. It dries smooth and clear - fantastic for use with gift wrap scraps. I use it with brown grocery bags when I want to create pottery or leather looking crafts...add a little cinnamon to the mix - it makes it smell good...

Here is another if you want to do the cooked method.
Try this easy paper mache paste recipe:
Take 1 heaped soup ladle of powdered cornstarch
Place in a heat proof bowl
Add enough COLD water to form a paste and to dissolve powder to consistency of thick cream.
Pour in one kettleful (1.7 litres) of RAPIDLY BOILING (MUST be bubbling away...) and stir like crazy...!
It is very very HOT like porridge and it can form lumps so I usually give it a whisk or beating with my electric mixer to smooth it.
Paste should change from opaque white to translucent once the boiling water is added.
It will keep a few days and can be microwaved to be heated so it's less "jelly-like". Kids love to use it while it's warm, but it works equally well cold
A couple tablespoons of salt can be added to prolong shelf life...

Do you have dryer lint and want to use it?

Dryer Lint Papier Mache Paste:
Ingredients:
3 cups lint from your dryer
2 cups water
2/3 cup wheat flour
3 drops oil of wintergreen
newspaper

Method:
Put lint and water in a large saucepan. Get all of the lint wet. Add flour and stir constantly so lumps won't form. Add oil of wintergreen. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly,until mixture holds together and forms peaks. Pour out onto several thicknesses of newspaper to cool. Adding Elmer's glue to a any recipe will give it more strength!

HOMEMADE EGG SUBSTITUTE:

6 egg whites
1/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 Tablespoon corn oil
6 drops yellow food coloring

In a medium bowl combine egg whites, dry milk powder and oil. stir with a fork or wire whisk till thoroughly combined, then add food coloring and mix it in well. You will get 4-1/4 cup servings...store in fridge for 1 week or freeze in 1/4 cup servings........Weight Watchers Points is 1 for two 1/4 cup servings!

ZUCCHINI OMELET:

8" zucchini grated
1 Tablespoon chopped onion
Spray a non stick skillet with cooking spray. Over medium high heat,saute the zucchini & onion till tender. Lower heat to medium and pour 1/2 cup of egg substitute over and cook till set...Serve with 2 Tablespoons salsa...Now this really good..
Weight Watchers Points is 1

For lunch today I had 1 La Tortilla Factory tortilla(green onion one),1 ounce of boiled chicken breast chopped and 1/4 cup of my Jicama Slaw (see Mondays post for recipe)...I warmed the tortilla for 20 seconds, put some hot mustard (wal-mart) on it, then the chopped chicken and the jicama slaw, salt substitute and pepper...It was so good and filling, and all of that for 2 weight watchers points...The tortilla has 50 calories, but it has 6 grams of fiber which makes 1 of them = 0 weight watchers points...

My final this & that...

SWAN CANDLE COMPANY

Click here 12 oz Kitchen Pantry Jar to go to their site:
If you want the best smelling candle you have ever used then get a Gingerbread Candle from The Swan Candle company...a few years ago, Becky from "Tennessee Ridge Primitives" sent me one and I have been buying them ever since...Tried the other scents, but none of them compared with the gingerbread....I got a candle warmer at Wal-Mart for about $6, and I put that candle on it (I never burn it)and you can smell it even in my basement...and best of all it lasts and lasts...You won't be sorry and they send you another small candle for free....

Another Day Another Dollar! Tidbits For You To Enjoy!

Lets start with somethings I have found helpful traveling down that olde road again...Then I will tell you how to do something...
Keep a small journal and jot down these ideas and then fill in with your own...
Make a list of items to stop buying..You know the kind that aren't good for you, or the ones you just cannot keep your hands off.
Items to buy...Like high fiber bread.
Exercise/Walk, vacuum, mop, change sheets on all the beds....
Sleep good (this is very important in losing weight)....Don't let your depression get you down and then turn to your comfort item FOOD...
Start your meals with 1 cup low cal soup or salad....Cut back 1 cup of starchy carbs a day (potatoes, corn, peas, parsnips, beets are starchy veggies and you shouldn't have two at one meal. Replace with non starchy veggies, such as carrots, spinach, turnips, summer squash, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower.....Avoid trigger foods (Sweets or in my case peanut butter)....Drink lots and lots of water...Know in your heart you can succeed.....When preparing meals, don't nibble, taste or lick the spoon...After supper stay out of the kitchen...Plan your meals a week ahead and then only buy items you need to prepare these meals....Write down everything you put into your mouth....When you feel like you need something to eat, but know you really don't, drink some more water, go for a walk, post on your blog and of course chew sugar free gum...studies have shown chewing gum helps you lose weight...Let your old ways and taste buds go away...You're changing your style of eating and the taste buds will adapt in a few weeks to new tastes.....Make sure you eat a good breakfast...This jump starts your body...Don't ever, ever go to buffets or cafeterias....You will over eat...and remember YOU DESERVE to lose that weight!!!Don't eat food with empty calories, such as sugar, butter, sauces...these don't fill you up and actually make you hungry and want more...When you do falter, stop and ask yourself why? It is nearly always something else besides wanting that food....Use less salt on your food...use herbs and spices or a salt substitute...Now for the other thing....
Do you like those reed diffusers?
And don't want to spend the money on them?
Here are some basic directions for making your own..........

What you need:
- 1 small jar or bottle (simple ones can be purchased from supermarkets or craft stores) OR what about a small old prim bottle?
- Reed sticks will work best, you can purchase them at candle or gift stores OR Thin bamboo skewer sticks will also work (supermarkets sell them for around $3 for a packet of 100).
- Carrier oil: Don't let this freak you out. You can use sweet almond oil (or substitute with extra virgin olive oil , grapeseed oil or canola oil).
- Scent oil /essantial oil
-OPTIONAL-Ribbon, homespun, rusty star,vintage pic or hang tag

Directions:
Blend the scent oil and carrier oil together.
For every 1ml of your scent oil, blend with 10ml of the carrier oil. For a stronger scent, pour 6ml of carrier oil instead. Swirl the blend together in the bottle and let it sit for an hour.
*If you're using bamboo skewers, cut off both ends and make sure half of the stick appears above the bottle.
Have 10-12 sticks in the bottle and let it sit for a few hours for the scent to climb up.
Take a piece of ribbon ( or homespun) and tie around the bottle .
You can add a hang tag or rusty star if you want. OR attach a vintage pic to the front of the jar. :)

Three Miles Down That Road Again!!

Well I have traveled 3 miles down that olde weight loss road again. Along the way I found out I had to go on a different med for my diabetics...The old one was just to strong for me, making me dizzy and really low blood sugar...and I did something stupid.....You know the really STUPID kind of thing...left my cell phone in my jeans and washed it....OH MY! OH MY! how could I of done that...Do have something to be happy about..LOST a nice ugly 5.9 pounds....Happy with that you betch you!!!!
Here is a desert I made for myself this week....I call it
Heaven Sent Key Lime Pie:
Serves 7 and is 2 WW Points



You will need a 4 serving size, sugar free, Lime Jello
2 containers of Weight Watchers Lime Pie Yogurt
1 tub (80z) of Cool Whip light or fat free
In a microwave safe measuring heat water on high for 45 seconds to 1-1/2 minutes, or until boiling. Whisk Jello until dissolved.
In a large bowl whisk together Jello mixture and the yogurt...
Fold in the Cool Whip..
You can just leave in that bowl or do like I do put 1/2 cup into sherbet dishes and cover with plastic wrap...Seems much nicer that way and then I am not tempted to eat too much...
Refrigerate at least 4 hours or until set..

Here was my supper for tonight: I had Mexican Food!
Jicama Slaw:
1 WW points
1 medium jicama
2 cups angel hair cole slaw
1-11oz can mandarin orange segments, drained, reserve 1/4 cup
1/4 cup light Mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon fajita seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro leaves chopped.
Grate the jicama into a large bowl, add the cole slaw and mandarin oranges: Set aside
In a small bowl, whisk together reserved mandarin juice, mayonnaise, fajita seasoning and salt and pepper.
Pour dressing over jicama mixture. Toss to mix thoroughly. Top with cilantro.
Serve immediately...

CHICKEN CHALUPAS:
Serves 6 WW Points 5
1 roasted chicken (2 lbs)
12 fat free flour tortillas
2 cups low fat shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup mild green chili salsa
1 cup mild red chili salsa
Preheat over to 350%
Spray oven proff dish with cooking spray.
Remove chicken from the bones and shred. (I buy a roasted chicken from the grocery store)
Lay 1 or 2 tortillas in bottom of baking dish, overlaying slightly.
Layer tortillas with chicken, cheese and salsas. Repeat layers till dish is full ending with cheese and the 2 salsas.
Bake 25 minutes or till bubbly and hot.
For serving top with some toppings, such as fat free sour cream, sliced green onions, salsa, sliced avocado or cilantro...

Will post some more on weight management and loss tomorrow....