This & That Junk Drawer Wednesday-Free Website-Tutorial Recycling Drawers-Fun Picture Sites-Earth Day!!

RECYCLING DRAWERS
This is a great tutorial. Sometimes you can have drawers that you just don't want to throw out...or you just want a project to do..well this is a great one. You can find it on jcaroline

BEFORE

AFTER

Create A Free Website...Fast, Free, Easy & Now!!

Just go to Weebly and sign up!

Easy drag & drop interface...no technical skills required...dozens of professional designs...free domain hosting!

Fun Picture Sites

I just came across a couple sites that have some fun photo tools. One lets you add some "bling" and such to your pictures. The other lets you create slide shows and more. Have fun with them

Blingee

Smilebox

EARTH DAY

On this Earth Day, when many people are thinking about recycling and deciding on just one thing they can do to become more eco-friendly, one 27-year-old entrepreneur has managed to turn his dreams of a greener Earth into money in the bank.
TerraCycle's Tom Szasky explains how he made a profit out of garbage.
Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle, has a tale of ultimate eco-capitalism. To Szaky, another man's trash literally is his treasure.
"I don't see garbage anymore. I just see cash," he said.
Instead of recycling, his company upcycles, which is the art of turning garbage into making something new while still utilizing the trash's original shape.They pay you for your garbage...Check them out at TerraCycle

Here are a couple things they make from TRASH!

Fifteen Weeks Down That Road Again-Drying Flowers & Making Note Cards!!!

Not a good week "Down That Road Again"!!!!!Don't know how I did it but I gained 2 pounds instead of losing them....Ate the right way, so must of been the way I prepared my meals....and no I didn't eat any of the fating recipes I have posted..Missed three days of walking, but that isn't the answer...Will just be more careful this week and weigh and measure everything, like I should of done last week...Just hate having to re-lose pounds....

Having trouble getting your child to eat vegetables?...Then use these recipe and deceive them!

UNDERCOVER CARROT MAC & CHEESE

3 medium carrots, steamed and pureed
1 cup buttermilk
½ cup Cheez Whiz -
½ cup cottage cheese
¼ cup parmesan cheese, divided
1/3 lbs of whole-grain pasta - I used whole wheat penne

Pre-heat oven or toaster oven to 350 F.
Bring a large pot filled with very salty water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions.
While the pasta water is coming to a boil, prepare the cheese sauce… in a medium sauce pan over medium heat add the buttermilk and carrot puree. When that is warm, add the cottage cheese, most of the parmesan, cheez whiz or cheddar and let it all melt together. Watch out it does not boil because it will make the buttermilk runny/watery… just enough for all the cheeses to come together as a sauce.
When the pasta and sauce are done, drain the pasta and combine it with the sauce. Place them in a pyrex casserole dish, sprinkle with some of additional parmesan cheese and place in oven.
It will take about 15-20 minutes for the cheese on top to brown… that’s when you take it out.
Wait about 20 minutes for the cheese sauce to stop bubbling and dig in

Then use the left over sauce for some...

UNDERCOVER FINGERLING POTATOES

About 10 fingerling potatoes, washed well and cut in half
About ½ cup of leftover sauce from the Undercover Carrot Mac & Cheese

In a medium sauce pan place the fingerling potatoes. Add enough water to the bottom of the pan, where about half of the potatoes are still exposed. I find that potatoes cook better and faster when only a small amount of water is added to the pot.
Salt the potatoes and swirl the water in the pan for the salt to combine with the water.
Cover and let it boil/steam over medium heat for about 15 minutes. Check the potatoes for doneness. If they’re still underdone, let them go for about 2-3 minutes more and without uncovering, turn off the stove.
After about 10-15 minutes, the potatoes will be perfectly steamed and at the right temperature to handle. I sometimes take the skin off after I steam them… but that’s entirely if to you.
While the potatoes are resting, heat the leftover sauce. After it’s warm, pour on top of potatoes.

TWO WAYS TO DRY FLOWERS

Burying

A popular method of drying flowers is to bury them in a drying material. There are several choices of drying material that work very well. A mixture of equal parts of sand and borax or sand and white cornmeal make excellent choices as drying compounds. Although sand is a popular product, it tends to weight down the flower petals and flatten them, therefore the borax and white cornmeal mixture may be a better choice for delicate petals. To help retain the flower’s original color, add about three tablespoons of non-iodized salt per quart of mix.
When flowers are dried in a borax mixture, it is necessary to leave them uncovered during the drying process. A heavy cardboard box lid or shallow cardboard box make good containers for this project. It is not necessary to bury the flower stems in the mixture, just the flowers themselves. Begin by pouring a layer of the drying material into the bottom of the container about 2 inches deep. Lay the flower facing up in the mixture, gently working it into the mixture until the petals are well supported. Carefully sift the mixture over the flower making sure the petals remain in place. If necessary, use a toothpick to unbend any petals. Continue adding the drying material until each flower is covered. Leave undisturbed for two to three weeks.
The flower petals will be extremely brittle after the drying process so use care when removing them. Gently shake the drying mixture to the side and carefully remove the flowers. If a petal or two drop off when removed, a tiny bit of glue at the base of the petal can be used to reattach it.

Microwave Oven Drying

One of the quickest methods to dry flowers is with a microwave oven. Flowers dried in a microwave tend to look fresher and hold their color well. Dry the flowers in an uncovered heat-tolerant glass or microwave safe container. Support the flowers by surrounding them with a medium such as silica gel. To help prevent excessive drying, place a cup of water in the microwave with the flowers. Dense flowers with a lot of petals will require about 3 minutes while a smaller or thinner-petaled flower can be successfully dried in about 1 minute. Leave the dried flower in the container and silica gel untouched for 12 to 24 hours to allow sufficient time to cool and dry. Finish the flowers by spraying with hair spray or lacquer.
Remember to avoid touching the flower petals with your hands as the oils from your hands can cause dark spots to form on the dried flower petals. The colors of the petals tend to darken as they dry. Extremely dark flowers may become almost black after drying while white flowers will develop a cream or tan color.

Make your own Personalized Stationery, Notepaper, Cards, Place Cards using Dried Flowers and Leaves.

This is a nice way to preserve a piece of nature and present it to someone for a birthday, anniversary or any other special occasion. Pressed flower greeting cards also make nice note cards. You can make a set of these and give them as a special homemade gift by tying a group of them together with a piece of ribbon.
How to Properly Frame Your Dried Flower Designs.
Use some slightly diluted tacky glue when gluing flowers and leaves to paper. There are many NEW acid free glues on the market (thanks to the scrapbookers) that will work just as well as tacky glue. (See links below for other adhesives) Thinner glue is needed for delicate flowers and slightly thicker glue is required for the heavier stems and leaves. Put a dot of glue on the paper; position the flower and press down. Use a toothpick to add glue to each of the petals.
Rubber cement, a contact adhesive, can be used instead of tacky glue. Brush the rubber cement on the paper and brush some on the backs of the flowers and leaves. Allow to dry. Place a sheet of tracing paper on top of the dried rubber cement on the paper. Plan your design on top of the tracing paper or vellum. Slide the tracing paper away a little at a time as you press your flowers and leaves onto the paper. The floral material will adhere as it makes contact. Clean up excess glue with a kneaded eraser or a rubber cement pickup.
Add a few decorative lines to enhance your design. Use a triangle to make parallel lines and a French curve template when adding curved lines. Be aware of where the paper will fold when decorating the page. Colored felt pens can be used to draw graphics on stationery as well as adding color to pale flowers and leaves. A hole punch is useful when making holes for ribbon ties on bookmarks.

My Little Redheads! Chicken Divan!

Hi everyone.....has been a dreary, cold & rainy day here...Just haven't felt like doing much...Need sunshine for what I want to do...work in the yard!
My oldest son Rick came over yesterday with his two youngest children Annabelle & Liam....Just love my two little red heads.

Their mother is Scottish and from Australia....explains the red hair..

You simply must go to "My Little Raggedy Blessings" blog to see the beautiful graphic images she has there for free...Click on the picture on the right side of my blog to go there...You will be happy you did...Here are a couple of her images..

CHICKEN DIVAN

INGREDIENTS:
1 pkg. frozen broccoli spears (I used fresh broccoli & steamed it lightly first)
3 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded
1 can cream of chicken soup ( I added a bit of the chicken broth the chicken cooked in to this)
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup bread crumbs, soaked in 1 T. melted butter (I used Italian breadcrumbs)
DIRECTIONS:
Cook broccoli and drain. Arrange in a baking dish. Place chicken on top. Mix together soup, mayo, and lemon juice. Pour over chicken. Sprinkle with cheese. Combine bread crumbs & butter; sprinkle over chicken. Bake at 350* for 25 minutes covered, 5 minutes uncovered.

Terra Cotta Wind Chimes-Tex-Mex Salad Creamy Lime Dressing!!

I love wind chimes and have them all over my yard...I am making these and thought you might also like to make a set for yourself!

TERRA COTTA WIND CHIMES

Easy To Make, Simple Wind Chimes!

These natural-looking flower pot wind chimes will add a touch of charm to any porch or breezeway. They are simple to make, and can be left out in all weathers. Best of all, they cost you nearly nothing!
Wind Chime Materials
Here's all you need:
Five clay flowerpots in varying sizes, none larger than 4 inches diameter (you may already have a few of these lying around the yard!)
Wooden beads (from the crafts store).
For a complete set of chimes, you will need five beads of 3/4 inches diameter, and ten beads of 5/8 inch diameter.
Two or three plastic salad container covers (from the salad bar).
Five one-inch plastic curtain rings (Bates makes these of Luxite, and a package of 15 sells for about $1.35.)
Two or three plastic salad container covers (from the salad bar).
Stained glass paints in varying colors (optional), also from the crafts store.
Approximately 15 yards of nylon or polypropylene garden twine.
Ready
If your pots have been around the block a few times, you might need to give them a bath.
Scrub them with hot soapy water and a stiff brush. After they have dried, check their physical condition by tapping gently with a fingernail. A clean, dry, undamaged pot will reward you with a resonant ring.
Now is a good time (while you are waiting for your pots to dry) to cut your plastic rectangles.
From the salad container covers, cut one each of these sizes:
2" x 6"
2" x 5 1-2"
2" x 5"
2" x 4 1-2"
2" x 4"
Drill a small hole in one short end of each rectangle.
Stain these, if desired, with the glass stain paint, following manufacturer's directions.
Set
For each chime, set aside:
one flower pot
one 3/4 inch wooden bead (this will serve as the clapper)
two 5/8 inch wooden beads
one curtain ring
one plastic rectangle (matched by size to the pot)
one piece of garden twine, about 3 yards long
Go - How to Assemble the Wind Chimes
If necessary, separate your piece of twine into one ply, and tie one end to the plastic curtain ring. Leave about 10 inches free to allow for later adjustment.
Working from outside to inside, feed the free end through the 'weep hole' in the bottom of the pot.
Now feed the free end through one of the 5/8 inch wooden beads. This bead will rest against the inside bottom of the pot to support the chime when it hangs. Adjust until the measurement is as you wish, and mark the string.
Positioning the 5/8 inch bead at your mark, loop the free end of the twine around the bead and insert it a second time through the same hole from the top to the bottom. ****Tighten.
Suspend the pot by the curtain ring and determine the point at which the string meets the rim of the pot. Mark the string at this point.
Slide the 3/4 inch bead up the string to the mark you have just made. This bead will serve as the clapper, and should hit at the rim of the pot.****
Now slide the second 5/8 inch bead up the string immediately beneath the 3/4 inch bead. This bead will hold the 3/4 inch bead in place on the mark.
Loop the twine up around the 5/8 inch bead and back down through it (as you did in Step 4 with the other 5/8 inch bead). Adjust the beads if necessary to ensure that the larger bead still hits the pot at the rim.

Now feed the free end of the twine through the hole you previously created in the plastic rectangle. Adjust length as desired, and tie.
Repeat the above for each of the other four pots.
You're done! From the eaves of your breezeway or porch, hang each pot upside down by the curtain ring. Now mix up a batch of lemonade, and invite the neighbors up on the porch to enjoy the gentle sound of your beautiful new flower pot wind chimes!

SHREDDED TEX-MEX SALAD WITH CREAMY LIME DRESSING

Ingredients:
Butter, for preparing 8 by 8-inch glass pan
1 (8.5-ounce) box cornbread mix (recommended: Jiffy)
1 large egg
1/3 cup milk
1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 packet sazon seasoning (Recipe Below)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup salsa
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 head romaine lettuce, cut into strips
Creamy Lime Dressing, recipe follows
1 1/2 cups grated Monterey jack cheese
1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar
Special equipment: glass trifle dish
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease an 8 by 8-inch glass pan with butter. Stir together the cornbread mix with the egg and milk. Evenly spread into prepared pan and bake on the middle rack for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan to cool completely. Mix together the beans with the sazon and season with salt and pepper. Toss the salsa with the tomatoes. When ready to serve, cut the cornbread into 1/2-inch croutons. Toss the lettuce with 3/4 cups of the dressing. In a clear trifle dish, layer the Tex-Mex Salad beginning with the black beans followed by the Monterey jack cheese, the tomato salsa mixture, the Cheddar, the dressed romaine and top with the cornbread croutons. Serve the remaining dressing on the side.
Recipe courtesy Sunny Anderson.
CREAMY LIME DRESSING
2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon lime zest
1/4 cup lime juice
1/2 cup sour cream
1 clove garlic, smashed
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Special equipment: blender
Blend all the ingredients except the olive oil until smooth. While machine is running, slowly drizzle in the oil until incorporated. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
Yield: 1 1/2 cups

Sazon (Dry Seasoning)
Ingredients
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Coriander
1 tsp Annatto
Instructions
Combine well and store for future use.
Even amounts is all that matters. If you need larger quantities double the amount listed.
Sazon (1 1/4 tsp equals one packet of Sazon)

Inside-Out Cheeseburger-Cowboy Taco-Chicken Fajita Pizza Recipes!!!

Here are three of the top ten searched recipes in 2008!

INSIDE-OUT CHEESEBURGER
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:
¼ cup shredded Cheddar cheese
¼ cup shredded Gruyere cheese
1 pound 90%-lean ground beef
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 ½ teaspoons paprika
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat grill to medium-high or preheat the broiler.
Combine Cheddar and Gruyere in a small bowl.
Gently mix beef, Worcestershire, paprika and pepper in a large bowl, preferably with your hands, without overworking. Shape into 8 thin, 4-inch-wide patties. Mound 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture on each of 4 patties, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Cover each with one of the remaining patties. Crimp and seal the edges closed.
To grill: Lightly oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill the stuffed patties over medium-high heat, about 4 minutes per side for medium-well. (Be sure not to press the burgers as they cook or they’ll split open and the cheese will ooze out.) To broil: Cover a broiler pan with foil and coat with cooking spray. Broil the stuffed patties in the upper third of the oven, about 4 minutes per side for medium-well. In either case, let the burgers stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Tip:
To oil a grill rack: Oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.)
Nutrition Information
Per serving: 250 calories; 16 g fat (7 g sat, 6 g mono); 74 mg cholesterol; 1 g carbohydrate; 24 g protein; 0 g fiber; 164 mg sodium.
Nutrition bonus: Zinc (37% daily value), Calcium (15% dv), Iron (15% dv).

COWBOY TACOS
Serves 12
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound boneless pork loin, cut into 1x1x1/4-inch strips
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco Seasoning Mix
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup salsa
1 cup canned spicy chili beans, undrained
1/4 cup apricot preserves
1 (4.6 ounce) package taco Shells
10 pitted ripe olives, sliced
5 green onions, chopped
DIRECTIONS:
1.In shallow bowl, combine pork and taco seasoning mix; toss to coat.
2.Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add pork; cook and stir 3 to 5 minutes or until no longer pink.
3.Stir in salsa, beans and preserves. Reduce heat to low; simmer 10 to 12 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally.
4.Meanwhile, heat taco shells according to package directions. To serve, spoon 1/3 cup pork mixture into each taco shell; top with olives and onions.
Yield: 12 servings
Nutrition Info
Per Serving
Calories: 171 kcalCarbohydrates: 19 gDietary Fiber: 1 gFat: 7 gProtein: 8 gSugars: 5 g

CHICKEN FAJITA PIZZA
Serves 8
INGREDIENTS:
1 can (13.8 oz)refrigerated pizza crust
1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 1/4 lb), cut into thin strips
1 to 2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup thinly sliced onions
1 cup green or red bell pepper strips, 2x1/4 inch
1/2 cup thick 'n chunky salsa
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (8 oz)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat oven to 425°F. Spray 12­inch pizza pan or 13x9­inch pan with cooking spray. Unroll dough; place in pan. Starting at center, press out dough with hands to edge of pan. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until very light golden brown.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in 10-inch skillet over medium­high heat. Add chicken; sprinkle with chili powder, salt and garlic powder. Cook and stir 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add onions and bell pepper strips; cook and stir 2 to 3 minutes longer or until chicken is no longer pink in center and vegetables are crisp­tender.
3. Spoon chicken mixture evenly over partially baked crust. Spoon salsa over chicken. Sprinkle with cheese.
4. Bake 14 to 18 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Success
To slice chicken easily, put the chicken in the freezer until it’s firm but not frozen, about 30 minutes. It’ll be a snap to slice, even paper thin!
Using a pizza wheel, kitchen scissors or French chef’s knife makes cutting pizza quick and easy
Nutrition Information:
1 Serving: Calories 340 (Calories from Fat 130); Total Fat 14g (Saturated Fat 7g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 70mg; Sodium 880mg; Total Carbohydrate 27g (Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 5g);

TGIF & Laughter Is The Best Medicine!!

You Know You Are Living In 2009 If

1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.
4. You email the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have email addresses.
6. You pull up in your own drive and use your mobile phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7 Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your mobile phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
12 You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no number 9 on this list.
15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a number 9 on this list

The Phone Call

The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers, dialed the employee's home phone number and was greeted with a child's whisper, "Hello."
"Is your daddy home?" he asked.
"Yes," whispered the small voice.
"May I talk with him?"
The child whispered, "No."
Surprised, and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, "Is your mommy there?"
"Yes."
"May I talk with her?"
Again the small voice whispered, "No."
Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, "Is anybody else there?"
"Yes," whispered the child, "a policeman."
Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee's home, the boss asked, "May I speak with the policeman?"
"No, he's busy", whispered the child.
"Busy doing what?"
"Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the Fireman", came the whispered answer.
Growing concerned and even worried as he heard what sounded like a helicopter through the earpiece on the phone the boss asked, "What is that noise?"
"A hello-copper" answered the whispering voice.
"What is going on there?" asked the boss, now alarmed.
In an awed whispering voice the child answered, "The search team just landed the hello-copper."
Alarmed, concerned, and even more then just a little frustrated the boss asked, "What are they searching for?"
Still whispering, the young voice replied along with a muffled giggle: "ME."

The Fishing Trip

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap.
Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.
Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, 'Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?'
'Reading a book,' she replies, (thinking, 'Isn't that obvious?')
'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her.
'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading'.
'Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'
'For reading a book,' she replies,
'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her again,
'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading'
'Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'
'If you do that, I'll have to charge you with Sexual assault,' says the woman.
'But I haven't even touched you,' says the game warden.
'That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.'
'Have a nice day ma'am,' and he left

About Growing Older

First ~ Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.
Second ~ The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
Third ~ Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.
Fourth ~ When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.
Fifth ~ You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.
Sixth ~ I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.
Seventh ~ One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.
Eighth ~ One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been.
Ninth ~ Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.
Tenth ~ Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today it's called golf.
And finally ~ If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you are old.

Rambling Thursday...Some Of This & Some Of That!!!

CORNMEAL-BATTERED OVEN-FRIED CATFISH

Serves 4.....WW Points 5
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup(s) uncooked yellow cornmeal
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
1/2 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
2 spray(s) cooking spray
1 pound(s) catfish fillet(s), cut into 4 pieces
1 pound(s) asparagus, steamed
1 medium lemon(s), quartered
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat a large nonstick baking sheet with cooking spray.
In a shallow soup bowl, combine cornmeal, paprika, thyme, salt, celery seeds, onion powder, garlic powder and pepper. Pour milk into another shallow soup bowl.
Dredge fillets first in milk and then in cornmeal mixture, coating both sides and pressing cornmeal mixture gently to adhere. Place coated fillets on baking sheet and lightly spray each with cooking spray.
Bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes. Let stand at room temperature 2 minutes before serving with asparagus and lemon wedges. Yields 1 fillet and 1/4 of asparagus per serving.

OLDE PRIM COOKBOOK COVERS!

Create these quick and simple cookbook covers to protect your favorite olde prim cookbooks. Best of all, they utilize old shower curtains and inexpensive new vinyl tablecloths.
MATERIALS:
Vintage Shower curtains - $1 yard sale find
Vinyl tablecloths - $3 each at K-Mart
INSTRUCTIONS:
Press cookbook completely open and cut material ½” taller on top and bottom of cookbook, and 2” wider on each side.
Fold in each side to fit, remove the cookbook, and paper clip in place.

Stitch across the top and bottom, trim just above stitching and slip cookbook into cover...

Now isn't that simple...Of course you can also use homespun or paint some
painter's canvas...Get that at Menards or Home Depot...

TUNA CHARLEY:
To make 1 and 1/4 cups of tuna topping mix the following:
6 oz. can tuna
1 rib celery, diced 1/2 carrot, grated
1 slice onion, chopped
1/3 cup yogurt
1 TBSP mayonnaise
2 TBSP pickle relish
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp mustard
1 flour tortilla
To make one Charley:
1 flour tortilla
1/4 - 1/3 cup of tuna topping
1-2 slices tomato
2-3 slices avocado
2-3 TBSP grated cheddar cheese
Put ingredients on top of tortilla and bake at 325 for about 10 minutes.

RE-THINKING PILLOWS:

Bed pillows aren’t just for sleep time anymore! Let them see the light of day as cute cushions for your outdoor furniture. Toss them here and there for a little bit of cushioned color. Porch swings, folding chairs, and wooden benches have a whole new look in a snap...
Look for vintage pillowcases at yard sales and thrift shops. Since pillowcases aren’t highly sought after, prices are usually extremely low.
Yellowed cases can be brightened up with a good soaking in OxyClean.
For a permanent cushion, fold open ends under once and slip-stitch shut.

Now that you have a tuna can how about making a...
TUNA CAN PIN CUSHION:

This project has the humblest of beginnings...a tuna can headed for the recycling bin, a bit of stuffing and a little bit of fabric. That's part of the reason I like it so much.
cut a piece of fabric 6" x 11.25"
fold in half lengthwise and press
open and fold both halves toward the center (as if you were making a purse handle)
fold in half again (the raw edges should be tucked inside) and press
open your fabric
take the two short ends and pin together
sew using a 1/4" seam allowance
this should form a tube
finger press the seam open
fold one side in (you can see I had a little helper here)
then fold the other side in, so the raw edges are in the middle
fold again, so all the raw edges are hidden
slip over the can to check the fit. It should be snug..
Channel stitch the sleeve using your walking foot. Slip the sleeve over the can now, cut a piece of fabric about 11" square(you don't have to be very exact here....add a ball of fiberfill...Gather the edges make sure that you pack the stuffing tight and stuff it into the can (so technical, I know)the thinner the fabric, the easier it is to eliminate folds..

One is made with patchwork and has a little ric rac to hide some of the gathers....and then all the pieces were glued in with a bit of tacky glue.