A wintertime project to fight the blues...

I thought I would share a project that I started working on. I am a lover of those little mini cookbooks that are usually at the checkout counter at the grocery store. I have amassed quite a collection. I dont know what to do with them and yet.... I keep buying them! So I told myself if I am going to continue to feed my addiction then I need to pare down and organize it better sooo I came up with this system... First I gathered up my mini cookbooks...

 Then I used my old page protectors I had tried to use for my coupons but it didnt work. They are page protectors for photographs and work perfectly for the recipe cards in the books.

 THen I went thru all of the books and tore out the recipe cards I wanted to keep...

 Organized them by catagory.... breakfast, sides and salads mains with beef, mains with chicken etc

 A week or two ago I bought a binder at Target that was on sale and perfect for this project.

I started to put the cards into the sleeves....

 At first I was only going to put one in the sleeve so you could see the front and back but quickly realized this would have taken up way too many pages so I decided to go back to back. So you can see the picture of  a recipe on one side and then another picture of another recipe on the other side....does that make ANY sense???

Tada! My work in progress. Now I have en entire binder with everything organized and easy to find instead of looking thru (way) too many books. This would be a great way to keep other recipe cards like ones you use for christmas cookies or if you have a bunch from a bridal shower. Instead of putting them in a recipe box. I love that I can see them!

As usual Im all over the place...

But this time I have a legit excuse! HA HA. well three days after Halloween my husband fell and its been crazy since...but I like to think of this blog as an escape from that. Christmas has sadly come and gone and like many people I get so down after the holidays. I love Christmas and hate to see it go. However after decorating and putting things up and away and moving bins up and down the stairs since August... Im definatly ready for a clean slate so to speak. A huge project I decided to start was cleaning my basement. Its a DISASTER. I think this is a great way to help me through this tough time in my house. Right now Im doing everything for everyone and its difficult to say the least. Taking on the basement one small space at time gives me some control during a time that most everything is out of my control. And the best part is that I can start crafting stamping and sewing like I have wanted to do for so long. Anyway Im looking foward (yet again) to getting back into the swing of things in terms of blogging and "undecking the halls"... Does anyone else have a hard time staying focused on projects or housework or any type of undertaking? Im excited to keep learing about blogging and all the 'bells and whistles' that go with it. Mine may not be very fancy... but I do love doing it!!

Thai food.... with Randee

Several years ago we visited relatives in Vermont and they ordered thai food one nite. I am not too adventurous with food but I really did like this  dish it was an interesting and unusual tastes. IT was chicken with pineapple snow peas carrots and cashews. With coconut milk and red curry. IT was absolutely delicious. The curry added heat to it and the coconut milk balanced that out perfectly. It literally warmed you up on a cold nite. Yum. So I went home and tried to recreate it and I must admit it was pretty accurate and also delish. I made this last nite and here it is.....

These are the the ingredients that can be found at any food store in the asian food aisle. You will need boneless chicken breasts about one per person. You will also need a can of pineapple chunks, a can of coconut milk, carrots, snow peas, cashews and red curry paste...

Cook chicken in oil in a large pot until cooked all the way thru...

 Add coconut milk snow peas and carrots... let cook for about 5-10 minutes...

 Add pineapple chunks about 3/4 of the can...

 Add one tablespoon of the red curry paste.. this didnt make it very hot in terms of spice. I would start with that and taste and add if desired...

 Serve over rice and enjoy w your friend!!!

She loved it! Thanks Randee for coming over and having a taste!!!!

Target bargains....

Taking a break from cooking and decorating to show some bargains I got at target this week. I love those red clearance stickers!! Anyway here are some of my goodies...

This was a queen sized quilt that was $90 marked down to...22.48

 Another picture of the comforter. Its sort of fall looking without being too dark. Came with two pillow shams....

This is actually a quilt meant for a girls room but it was pink and cheap and cozy looking so I grabbed it...

Two shades of pink!

 It was $40 and I thought it was the sticker price but it actually came up...$19.99! woohoo

These items I found in the travel section and the packets on the table were on an end cap right near there...

Small tissue boxes for $0.67.... the silver eyeliner was $1.24

 These little packets were hair treatments body lotion and I think foot cream. They were $0.37

 Shout wipes were also $0.67....

 This was a six pack of triple roll ladies socks. Not the most stylish of things but for that price I can sleep in them!!


 Just a silly picture of my favorite boys and I ... love their expression!!!!!!!!!!!!

Banana Bread

Yum. thats what my kitchen smells like right now. Yum

Start with bananas eggs sugar and butter...

 

Add dry ingredients...

 Fill one large and three small loaf pans or probably two large...

 Messy but worth it!!!!

Recipe for banana bread...
1/2 cup (one stick) softened butter
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
3 mashed bananas
2 cups flour
1 and 1/2 tsp  baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup of nuts - i leave these out only because Jack doesnt like them
1/2 cup sour cream.
Method...
beat together first three ingredients. Add in bananas and beat thoroughly. Add remaining ingredients.
Pour into greased loaf pan about half way full. Bake 350 for about 20 - 30  min our until knife come out clean.
so delish warm with a little butter or toasted...enjoy!!