CraftTeaLady's Xanga

T minus (not enough hours) & counting...

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:21:56 GMT

I've got my stuff all laid out for the morning.

I have to be driving by 7 AM. *yawn*

The first house viewing is at 10 AM.

Pray I feel inspired by a house, cause I'm not feeling "it" for any that we are going to see tomorrow (I think there are 8-10 on the schedule).

4 weeks til we have to be out of 'our' house. Ack!

Tasty Tuesday - Sausage Sandwich Squares

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:51:59 GMT

If you've been w/ me any time, you know I make foods that are forgiving, that can be altered to make your own...and that is, again, true. I can see this recipe being used in so many variations.

If you make it in a different way, let me know! I am always open for ideas!

As always the written recipe is in black and my bits are in red.

(photo take w/ my blackberry, its not the greatest quality)

Sausage Sandwich Squares (rated 8/9 out of 10 by the kids)

3 - 3.5 c. flour
1 pkg yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 c warm water
1 pound bulk italian sausage (2 #s ground turkey, 1-2 T rubbed sage, 10 hearty shakes of Johnny Salt, 10-30 grinds fresh cracked pepper)
1 med sweet red pepper, diced (3-5 costco peppers - mix of orange, red, yellow)
1 med green pepper, diced (omit - see above)
1 large onion, diced (1/2 - 1 costco sweet onion)
4 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded (at least!)
1 egg
1 T water
2 T parmesan cheese (didn't add)
2 T fresh parsley (didn't have the gusto to run outside in the rain for fresh, so I used *gasp* dried)
1/2 tsp dried oregano (omitted oregano and generously shook w/ Italian seasoning)
1/8 tsp garlic powder (didn't add)

In a bowl, combine 2 cups flour, yeast, & salt. Add warm water, mix well. Add enough remaining flour to form a firm dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes . Place in greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 50 minutes. (put all in bread machine and run on dough cycle. You could use any of your favorite savory dough recipes).

In a skillet, cook sausage until no longer pink; remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. In the drippings, saute peppers and onion until tender; drain. Cook meat, add veggies and cook.Drain out liquid when you put it on the dough. Press half dough onto the bottom & 1/2 inch up the sides of a greased 15 x 10 x1 baking pan. Spread sausage evenly over the crust. Top w/ peppers & onion. Sprinkle w/ cheese. I just kept going w/ the cheese til it was adequately covered... who knows what it amounted to.

Roll remaining dough to fit pan; place over cheese and seal edges. In a small bowl, beat egg and water together. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Brush over dough. Shake on seasonings after using egg wash. Cut slits in top. Bake at 400 for 20-25 min or til golden brown. Cut into squares. Yeilds - 12 - 15 servings.

This would be a good recipe for a kids' sleep-over or if you have a football gathering and you need finger foods. You can totally get away w/ cutting these smaller and probably getting 30-36 out of this recipe to make it stretch as 'finger foods'.

Enjoy!

Happy Homemaker Monday - October 26

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:41:33 GMT

On my bedside table: Earrings, tv remote, books.

On my tv: Stargate Atlantis season 1 (season 2 is being shipped today... yes, I bought season 2! I still cling to my non-sci-fi status! LOL!)

On the menu for tonight: Nachos.

On my to-do list: Wait, wait, and wait some more, all the while not trying to bite off every finger nail on every finger.

The bank has countered on our house offer...

and we have countered in reply.

And now we wait some more.

ACK! This is really nerve-racking people!

New recipe I tried this week: Sausage Sandwich Squares (rated 8 & 9 by my kids) - recipe tomorrow.

In my craft basket: Crochet sponges, sponges, & more sponges.

My sister has been gracious to sell my sponges at the largest Christmas Bazaar in the Pacific Northwest for me! She says there are upwards of 500,000 people that walk through the bazaar over 2 weekends! ***Thanks Sis!***

Homemaking tip of the week: Save money by using a roll of masking tape and a permanent marker.

Seriously. I have saved so much money w/ this technique! I label any left-over that goes into my frig. Why you ask? If you we can see what's in the container (without opening it) - we use it. The item doesn't go into 'no man's land' in the back of the frig and it gets used up - thus saving us tons of $ on our groceries.

Some people have high tech labeling machines. I dream of one, but haven't ever found myself at a time when I felt I could part with $40 to make labels. I LOVE the idea of clean labels, but eh, the contents of my frig changes quickly and a $1 roll of tape works fine for me.

Favorite blog of the week: Tartelette - the combination of food and photography make me a very happy blog follower!

Favorite photo of the week:

Bunco was a costume party this month (imagine that!). I always love costume parties!

Back L to R:
Me - 80's outfit, Reba - being Molly Ringwald from Pretty in Pink, Brenda - Betty Crocker (complete w/ cookbook and 'flour' on her face), Kellie - mouse, Jan - gorgeous in a Hawaiian themed outfit, Mary - 1900's school teacher, Brandy - Alfala from Little Rascals (I love the glued hair stickin' straight up Brando!), Sue - jammies girl (complete with her stuffed animal).

Front L to R: Megan - catnap (I thought you were adorable w/ your play on words Meg), Cindy - chef, Teresa - pilot, Jessica - spider lady.

Lesson learned from the past few days: I am really, really done with being apart from my man and can't hardly wait to be under one roof again.

On my prayer list: House. :)

Devotions, scriptures, or quotes:

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40: 28 - 31

Friday, October 23, 2009

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:07:37 GMT

I took a break.

Did ya notice?

*sigh* Yes, I needed some time off. There was a lot going on and if I told you even the half of it all - your brain would explode. It would. Truly.

So, in keeping w/ your better health (no exploding brains) - I will start my blogging with some great news from my world.

It just makes me giddy!

Yes indeedy - our house SOLD! We have 5 weeks (from now) to be O.U.T.

We put in an offer on a new home and we should hear back by Tues!

It will be 9 months of living in 2 different homes by the time we move - makes me think that the timing is right to birth a new era in our lives.

Til Monday!~G

Wordless Wed - Sept 23, 2009

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:07:54 GMT

Its been 3 years.

Tasty Tuesday - Easy 'Peanut' Granola

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:59:35 GMT

Granola... its one of those things that I love the idea of but hate the high price. Generally they are made w/ high ticket ingredients (nuts, dried fruits, etc) and the sticker price is justified, but alas, I'm frugal and won't fork over the dough for a teeny-tiny bag of granola - just doesn't happen. I would rather pay for the ingredients, make it myself, and get 3x the results, who wouldn't?

Since I've toyed around w/ other granola recipes in the past I knew what I could tweak from the get go and tried it out. My kids loved it! I'm sure yours will too. Its super simple and tasty (from what I've been told). Just make sure and hide it carefully or it will be gone in an hour! LOL!

Like always the written recipe is in black and my tid-bits are in red.

Easy 'Peanut' Granola (rated 9 out of 10)

6 tablespoons oil (oops, I read it as 2 T when I did it... prob wouldn't have been so dry if I would have added the OTHER 1/4 c, eh?)
1 cup peanut butter (I used 1 c. PB and 1 c. Nuttella)
1 1/2 cups brown sugar (I used 1 1/2 -2 c brown sugar)
7 cups quick oats
1.5 c powdered milk
2 double handfuls of spanish style peanuts (because I had them on hand)
2 single handfuls of chocolate chips (semi sweet cause that is what was closest when I grabbed)
1 nice sized grab *mega pinch* of salt

1. Over low heat, melt together oil and peanut butter. Remove from heat, stir in sugar. Pour over oats and mix well.

2. Spread onto a large lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, stirring once or twice during heating if desired. Cook until granola is lightly toasted and golden (but not burnt!). Add raisins, if desired, in last 5 minutes of baking. When cool, store in canisters. This granola doesn't get crunchy. Makes approx 7 cups. (Learn from me, do NOT add chips til the granola is completely cooled, seriously cooled... or it just blends in and blobs all over LOL! My end product was much more than 7 cups. Next time I will add some chopped, dried fruits, and possibly pecans or hazelnuts in place of peanuts... we shall see).

Happy Homemaker Monday - September 21

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:11:52 GMT

On my bedside table: Book from last week (haven't gotten into it... I really need a good book - suggestions anyone???), dvd remote, and a cat (lazing the day away).

On my tv: HOUSE - tonight!

On my menu for tonight: Nachos.

On my to-do list: Make my man realize how much we appreciate him and all the hard work he has done for us this weekend before he heads 'home'. He had a 4 day weekend and spend it renovating the bathroom and (today) doing car tune-ups. What a guy!

New recipe I tried last week: Peanut-butter granola (I used pb & Nutella.... that's just how I roll. The kids really liked it - a lot!)

In my craft basket: Sponges. My sis called and asked me if I wanted her to sell some at a Christmas Bazaar in Nov and I have to get a move on!

Homemaking tip of the week: Find your own blend of music to motivate you and turn it up!

Favorite blog of the week: For love or funny

Favorite photo of the week:

Lesson learned from the past few days: Someone came to look at the house on Friday, then came for a second look on Sunday... patience just isn't my bag. Waiting.... waiting.... waiting.

On my prayer list: Remember the little girl, Regina, that I asked you to pray for a couple of weeks ago? She went Home. The day after she turned 10. Here is the link if you would like to leave a note of condolences for the family.

Devotions, scriptures, or quotes: ... but by faith...
Galatians 2:16

Silly Saturday - 9/19/09

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:51:14 GMT

A blonde cop stops blonde motorist and asks for her driving license.

The Motorist scuffles around in her purse and can't find it. She says to the cop, "I must have left it at home officer."

The cop says, "Well, do you have any kind of identification?" The motorist scuffles around in her purse again, and finds a pocket mirror.

She looks at it and says to the cop, "All I have is this picture of myself." The cop says, "Let me see it, then."

So the blonde motorist gives the mirror to the blonde cop,

who looks at it,

and replies,

"Well, if I had known you were a police officer, I wouldn't have even pulled you over. You can go now."

Wordless Wed - Sept 16

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:02:42 GMT

Ok, so I admit - my Wordless Wednesday haven't been wordLESS lately...

but, sometimes I fall in love w/ something so hard, I have to say at least a word or two.

Especially w/ this beauty.

Ahhhh...

She loves my bedroom and has decided that is where she will live for a while.

Have a great Wed everyone!~G

Happy Homemaker Monday - September 14

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:30:56 GMT

On my bedside table:

On my tv:

On my menu for tonight: Teriyaki Beef, veggie barley salad, veggie rolls

On my to-do list:
1. Clean tub (done)
2. Make dinner
3. Make calls RE Bunco - figure out if we are 'good to go' (done)
4. Email broker about house (done)
5. Walk (later w/ the girl - when she gets off work)

New recipe I tried last week: I score a big fat zero in the recipe creativity category last week - nothing new.

In my craft basket:

Homemaking tip of the week: Know your limitations and hire help if you need to.

Favorite blog of the week: Tartlette

Favorite photo of the week:

I literally jumped w/ excitement in someone's driveway when they said this beauty would only set me back $2.

I've wanted a pasta maker for years!

Ahhhh, yard saling was very good this weekend.

Lesson learned from the last few days: Never forget to check out the 'free' box at a yard sale. (I got 2 shirts, 1 sweater, 1 pair of dress pants, and a swim suit - all in EXCELLENT condition out of a free box this weekend). :)
On my prayer list: Same old, same old...

Devotions, scriptures, or quotes: