SMOOTHIE SATURDAY

Out and about in the garden....I find patches of these everywhere. They look like pansies only much smaller. These are violas or violets. You start with one patch and they spread over the years. Quite a hardy plant to survive in the harsh NH winters..

I just had to share this recipe with you.......because it sounds so good! Refreshing on a hot day!

Honeydew-Kiwi Smoothie

Fresh mint and lime juice add a bright finish to this drink.

2 servings

Recipe by Bon Appetit Test Kitchen

Ingredients

•2 cups 1-inch cubes peeled seeded honeydew melon

•2 cups crushed ice

•1 1/4 cups 1/2-inch cubes peeled kiwi

•10 large fresh mint leaves

•1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

•1 tablespoon honey

Preparation

•Combine all ingredients in blender and process until smooth. Divide smoothie between 2 glasses and serve.


You must check this out I have signed up to do this in my city, Manchester, NH It is a worldwide event!

http://www.squidoo.com/linchpin-meetup-june-14th

So have a smooth Saturday and chill!

FRIDAY FEATURE: In the Rose Garden Nice Little Things to Make You Smile

                                                            

In this garden there's a patch with no trimmed edges or fences, the earth is left still and alone allowing the forces of nature to roam. You don't always have to be tidy and neat, just watch the beauty of opportunity grow at your feet. Just watch while life produces its' own glory.

By Vicky Li The gardener

Up until now I bet you probably thought that I was going to write about more flowers or trees or something along those lines again. Well I am and I am not. I would like to let you know that Vicky Li from Minnesota is not only a gardener but she is also the owner of intherosegarden. Intherosegarden is an upscale children's boutique online at ETSY.com

Vicky Li says: "The name of my shop has a very sweet story behind it: My name means "perfume of the rose" in Chinese, my husband's last name means "rose" in Portuguese, we named our daughter (born Sept, 28 2008) Mia Rosa - "my rose" in Italian and Meilu "Rose Dew" is her Chinese name. So the name of my shop  reflects the most important people in my life."

I asked Vicky which one of her items she likes to sew the best and her answer was the dresses she makes. Well I know something else that she makes and that is Crinkle Fun toys. These are great sensory toys for babies. Both of my next grandchildren due in June and July are getting one of these sensory toys.

Vicky says: Glenna, I'm offering a special for your readers! I am offering a 10% discount (shipping not included) for every one of your readers that purchases one of my dresses. I am also offering a pair of matching hair clips as a free gift for every one of your readers who purchases a Crinkle Fun toy. All your readers have to do is to mention that they are a reader of Glenna's Garden Blog at checkout and they will be sent the free gift. I will refund your readers the 10% discount not including shipping once their payment for purchasing one of my dresses has cleared. Vicky is very generous I must say!

Vicky Li's Crinkle Fun Toy

Vicky creates and sews beautiful dresses. It makes her smile to see a child wearing one of her creations.

I have one of her beautiful infant dresses and a matching burpcloth for somebody special.

My precious rosebud due next month. I am already a Nana and I welcome more grandchildren. 

I really love how Vicky uses bright bold colorful prints.

 I can say she is an expert seamstress too!

 Please visit http://www.intherosegarden.etsy.com/ for many more beautiful items that Vicky has to offer!

FROM GLENNA'S GARDEN

http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/

WOOHOO IT IS WEDNESDAY

I am a big fan of Mary Engelbreit. I collect her books. A truly wonderful person sent me a whole bunch of her stickers in a swap. I am going to use them to make note cards. I thought I would share this recipe with you from her website.




Chocolate-Chunk Blondies


Take a break and indulge in these very portable blondie bars. Makes 2 dozen bars

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 2/3 cups packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Butter a 13-by 9-inch baking pan.

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

2. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

3. Beat in the vanilla, then beat in the salt.

4. On low speed, beat in the flour in two additions.

5. With a wooden spoon, stir in the chocolate chips.

6. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and smooth the top.

7. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until golden brown on top and no longer puffy; do not overbake.

8. Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. With a large sharp knife, cut into 24 bars.

Courtesy of Mary Engelbreit’s Dining Out

This is my older son and my 2 year old grandson boating this past weekend.

They said he loved his first boat trip and even got to drive the boat.

TOO HOT TUESDAY

We reached 90 officially. I am melting! Trying to stay cool with a one room airconditioner and fans here in the studio. Yesterday I went out for one hour made every effort to stay in the shade and I got burned slightly. I have had enough sun for my lifetime and more. Now I wear #50. I guess it is time to break out the bottle and start using it daily. I took some great shots of the irises, rhodies and the largest pink flowering bush I have ever seen. It smells so lovely and is full of bees! So we keep our distance. At night it just shimmers and is so pretty.

There is quite a variety of irises because I love them. Here are a couple of pics of them.

There are a few different rhodies too but this one is my favorite!

I wanted to share this link with you it is all about creating ATC's (artist trading cards)

http://atcsforall.com/

Enjoy your day or evening and stay cool if things are HOT where you are! I am going through tons of water and iced tea.

SUNDAY SHOPPING TRIP

I had a great time shopping today. It was for supplies of course. I finally found postcards. I bought a beautiful set of notecards too, frog stickers, a package full of nice pink things for the PINK swap for my partner, oh and then I get a new swap tonight a private one and that person loves pink too. I have found some things for her she likes cupcakes, ribbons and shiny sparkly things. Glenna's Garden studio is full of things like that. The best thing I found was an 8 1/2" by 11" 140 lb. coldwater tablet of water color paper YAY!  I can watercolor again. I forsee a busy week coming up! It is going to be hot too 80's and muggy AC is on again. All my running around tomorrow is going to be done early. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend~stay cool! I like botanical prints the one I have shown you here is from Dover Publishing.

SALAD FOR SATURDAY

I love Three Bean Salad and I found this recipe recently. I have not tried it but it sounds delicious and looks so easy to prepare.

Three Bean Salad
Makes: 8 servings

Ingredients
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1" pieces
1 pound of fresh-shelled edamame
1-16oz can garbanzo beans (rinsed and drained)
10 radishes cleaned and sliced thin
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups Low Fat Plain Yogurt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons of wasabi powder or paste (optional)
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
5 scallions finely diced

Directions
In a small bowl combine grated ginger and cider vinegar. Let sit for 10 minutes so ginger can infuse vinegar.
In a large pot of boiling salted water, add green beans. Cook for 4-5 minutes. Add the edamame, when water starts to come to boil again. Cook for 4 minutes. Drain beans and run under cold water until they are cooled. In a large bowl toss together, green beans, edamame, garbanzos, and radishes. In a separate, medium sized mixing bowl, add ginger and vinegar, garlic, yogurt, olive oil, soy sauce, wasabi, and salt. Whisk until well blended. Pour yogurt mixture into bean mixture and toss. Place salad into a serving bowl and garnish with scallions. ENJOY!

Inside a pink Dogwood flower from Glenna's Garden

Carrot Salad
Makes 6 servings

Ingredients
1/4 cup olive or canola oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1 1/2 cups Fat Free Vanilla Yogurt
10 medium carrots, shredded
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 small red onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped almonds

Directions
In a small bowl, combine oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and yogurt. Whisk until well blended. In medium size mixing bowl, toss carrots, cranberries, red onion, and almonds. Pour yogurt mixture over carrots and toss. Place salad into a serving bowl and serve. ENJOY!

FEATURE FRIDAY: ETSY SHOP

Welcome to Crocheted Bees Beanies and Beyond

Doris Sturm of Honey Bee Crocheting  http://www.sturmdm.etsy.com/

She donates 10% of every sale (and 20% of every bee shaped item) to Honey Bee Research to help save our bees.

Where are the honey bees going and why is it so important to help save our honeybees? If you are interested in learning more about our vanishing honey bees, you can find more information at

http://www.helpthehoneybees.com/

Doris says:

I learned to knit and crochet in school when I was a girl in Germany and even though that was many moons ago, I still consider myself an amateur because there is always something new to learn that I have not tried yet.

I recently became a crochet instructor at Valdosta Technical College and I look forward to sharing my gifts with others. I am also looking into becoming a certified crochet (and knitting) instructor using a correspondence program.

Over the years I have knitted and crocheted all sorts of things and I often design my own patterns. Not only do I draw from my memories of what I have learned in the past, but also challenge myself by trying new stitches and patterns that I find in books or on the Internet. As you can see in my shop, I don't specialize in any one particular item, but like to crochet (and knit) all sorts of things to keep me amused, although recently I am leaning towards making more bees to support my cause.

I like using good quality acrylic or cotton yarn for easy cleaning. Any specialty yarn items will be explained so that the buyer is aware of specific cleaning considerations beforehand.

Please look at some items I have created:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41914366

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42877786

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43239895

I am offering a SPRING SPECIAL: A FREE gift with every purchase of $5 or more!

(click the link below for details)

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35266809

I specialize in crocheted bees (all of which are my own design and OOAK), kitchen accessories and - as of late - doll couture and beanie type hats (caps.) However, you will find a variety of other interesting and unique items. If you like something you see that I sold, or would like a custom order, just let me know. Please note, that CUSTOM ORDERS ARE PAYABLE IN ADVANCE, often at a slightly higher price depending on your yarn selection (for detailed explaination, please read my Policies Section at http://www.sturmdm.etsy.com/

You can also find me here:

http://www.crochetingingeorgia.blogspot.com/

Memberships:

Etsy Hookers Street team

http://www.etsyhookers.blogspot.com/

 AWEteam (firstfridayartwalk) Art Walk Etsy team

To learn more about the AWETEAM you can click here:

 http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6298059&page=1

Doris says: On every FIRST FRIDAY of EACH MONTH, I offer FREE Standard USPS SHIPPING (to the USA and Canada only) for all items listed in my shop that are tagged with the word firstfridayartwalk.

Search the following tag words on ETSY: firstfridayartwalk, aweteam and ffaw for all items from participating shops.

THE NEXT FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK: June 4, 2010

Here's the link on her blog that explains the current giveaway that Doris is having, it's really easy -everyone can enter. Just post a comment and followers get two entries:

http://crochetingingeorgia.blogspot.com/2010/05/may-giveaway-and-survey.html

Doris says: I'm just asking the people who enter to please answer which of my bees they would be more likely to buy, either as a gift or for themselves because I'm trying to determine which kind to make more of for the upcoming Honey Bee Festival in October.

THIRSTY THURSDAY

This is an all beaded handmade tiny vintage Indian pendant. It will be available for sale in my shop soon just in time for Father's Day under the Section Shop for Pop!

So it is definately warmer today much warmer and sunny. I love iced tea and iced coffee. I think that came from living in FL. Today I made a cute little box by decorating a tiny matchbox and it is functional to put small things in. I also scored another cigar box from the corner bodega. YAY! I love to decorate boxes and they make perfect storage containers. Sometimes I make fancy ones for jewelry or I will use a vintage card to decorate the outside of the box. I am low in my shop at Glenna's Garden http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/ so I am making more items to list. Tomorrow is Feature Friday on my blog here and this time I am featuring Doris from GA. She crochets the most adorable bees and many other great items. I am excited to feature her and her ETSY shop. If you want to be featured please let me know or let your friends know. Next week's spot is already taken but I am open after that. Please contact me ASAP so I can get started on your layout and design. You provide the pictures.

SWEET TEA

Ingredients:
1 pinch baking soda
2 cups boiling water
6 tea bags of any flavor you have
3/4 cup white sugar or use your substitute to your liking
6 cups cool water

Directions

1.Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda into a 64-ounce, heat-proof, glass pitcher. Pour in boiling water, and add tea bags. Cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes.

2.Remove tea bags and discard, stir in sugar until dissolved. Pour in cool water, then refrigerate until cold.
 
You can add sugar to your liking by the glass full as well, that is what I do because I use Splenda or Equal.
 
AHHHH quench that thirst! I cheat and pour the first glass full before it is cooled completely and I add ice cubes.
 
I used Green Tea today! Do you like teas? Tomorrow I will give you a recipe for iced coffee. Remember if you don't want caffeine you have many options for decaffeinated.

Wet Wednesday

ART IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

It started raining last night here in NH and it hasn't let up it is still dripping. The plants are loving it of course. It is quite cool though and only 54. I love the sound of the rain dripping outside of my open window in the studio. I like it better than any music. Do you live somewhere where there are a lot of murals painted on garage doors in alleys and on the sides of many big buildings? One of my current photography projects is to take pictures of the many murals around my city where I live. We have graffiti too like any big city but this is art to encourage others to see beauty in their surroundings and to create some of the most beautiful murals they want to, instead of the graffiti that plagues our city. My latest art challenge is to create a cityscape: day or night, my choice. I am also working on a mountain scape. Small scale though not big like these fantastic murals. I hope you are inspired to create by your surroundings wether you live in a big city or way out in the wilderness, by the ocean or far away in some other foreign land. This article was not written to offend any true graffiti artists. I have seen some very nice random murals created by graffiti artists. I am talking about the kind of amatuer graffiti random vandalism to our beloved homes....that we work so hard to own. The kind of graffiti that is sprayed on the sides of businesses that the owners work so hard to run.

Lattice Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Recipe


INGREDIENTS

Pastry

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
6 Tbsp each cold butter, cut in small pieces, and trans-fat-free shortening
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 to 4 Tbsp cold water

Filling

1 1/4 lb rhubarb, trimmed and cut into
1/2-in. slices
1 container (16 oz) strawberries, hulled and halved
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 tsp ground ginger
1 Tbsp butter, cut in small pieces
1 1/2 Tbsp sugar

PREPARATION

1. Pastry: In food processor, pulse flour, salt, butter and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. With motor running, add lemon juice, then water, 1 Tbsp at a time, just until dough separates from sides of bowl.

2. Gather dough into a ball and divide in half. Press each half into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll out.

3. Place a sheet of foil on a rimmed baking pan on bottom rack to catch any juices. Heat oven to 425ºF. Coat a 9-in. pie plate with nonstick spray.

4. Roll out 1 dough disk on lightly floured surface or between 2 sheets of wax paper to a 12-in. circle. Fit dough into pie plate, pressing gently onto bottom and up sides. Roll out remaining disk as above into an 11-in. circle; cut into 1-in.-wide strips.

5. Filling: Toss rhubarb and strawberries with vanilla in large bowl. Mix sugar, cornstarch and ginger in a small bowl until blended; toss with berry mixture to evenly coat. Spoon into pastry-lined pie plate; dot with butter.

6. Arrange 5 dough strips across pie. Arrange remaining 5 strips at right angles, weaving. Press ends into edge, fold under and crimp. Brush strips with water; sprinkle with sugar.

7. Place pie on center oven rack; bake 25 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350ºF, rotate pie 180 degrees and bake 50 minutes more (loosely shield pie with foil if crust gets too brown) until crust is golden and filling bubbles. Cool on wire rack. Serve at room temperature. Makes 8 servings. ENJOY!

When I was a little girl this was very similar to one of the pies my Mother made. She loved to cook and bake. I do to.

Daylily Diagram

Twice on Tuesday

Picture of the center of an iris from Glenna's Garden

Do you ever wake up in the morning and add sugar twice to your coffee because you aren't awake yet? That's me! I did it this morning good thing I use Splenda so it wasn't too strong and a big coffee cup too. It is sooo muggy this morning. I am thinking it might rain. Partly sunny kind of thick feeling sticky! I was going to walk to the post office downtown but the I found out I had 5 more items to send out. YAY! I love staying busy. Maybe I can get out for a quick jaunt around the neighborhood. If I had a dog I would have to go for many walks....sadly I am not allowed pets where I am. I do have some nice pictures to show you of irises from the garden. This Friday I will be featuring Doris who crochets many wonderful items among them bees.

MORE BARGAINS MONDAY

This double layout of lovely ladies on a vintage greeting card is for sale at Glenna's Garden http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/

I was out and about this morning. In my local drugstore I found a close out sale of 3 packs of baby onesies four to a pack for $1.50 a pack. Good quality onesies too. How sweet of a deal. I have all of these cute appliques I can iron on to them and make the white ones look really great. One pack is definately all boy in blues stripes etc......I have a grandson due in July and an adopted granddaughter due in June! I can't find flower seed packets anywhere even Walmart was out! I like to give my customers seed packets. I looked for postcards too and they don't even sell them at the drugstore. I am in a two swaps and this week I have to go to the $ store and a thrift store to find things for my two swap partners.  I love to plant flowering bushes. This one is new to me in color. I have a bunch of the regular butterfly bush. White flowers are amazing to see at night!

This vintage greeting card is for sale at http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/

I planted a seed card today that I got from a seller on ETSY. I had to rip it in two and plant in two seperate pots. I also have some beautiful irises in full bloom. Today I am going back out on my usual walk and take pictures. The rhodadendrons are coming into full bloom and the main garden is looking so nice. I am going to make some of my own seed paper as soon as I find some flower seeds. I have plenty of paper. The directions are easy. I even have a blender that rarely if ever gets used. I am always saving paper down to the last bits. I found the directions here on how to make seed paper

http://www.ehow.com/how_4464555_make-seed-embedded-plantable-paper.html

We are now watching these for flowers from the plantable seed paper.

ENJOY YOUR DAY!

SUPER SUNNY SUNDAY

Ecofifelt, vintage buttons and rick rick plus a black medium size sead beed for the eyes. Each one unique!

Basil from Glenna's Garden

It sure is bright sunshiny this morning. What another beautiful day up here in NH. The basil I blogged about is doing great. I have sales coming I bet June will be even better. Father's Day. I have a bunch of different odds and ends for Father's Day the AWEteam is going to be doing a promotion Shop for Pop in our shops so check our sections for June 4, 2010 FIRSTFRIDAYARTWALK I have some vintage items for Dad and the rest well that will be a surprise. For more news on these events stay tuned to this blog and you can always check my shop announcements at http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/ the shop for Glenna's Garden. So you want to join well to learn more here is how AWEteam (first Fridays) Art Walk Etsy team

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6298059&page=1

SWEET SATURDAY

I am going shopping today and it is so nice up here now. Just perfect weather, already sunny 57 at 7 AM I will be back to post a blog later on today. I am off to the stores! Bargain hunting....I love to do that! I like to go to yard sales as well. I am always finding something neat that I just can't live without. Another man's trash is someone's treasure as it is said. Today I was on a quest for studio supplies I found a brand new nice black ink pad for $1.00 wish I had bought the colors they had too. I was looking for notecard sets and I didn't like what I found. I will have to go shopping this week again and look in some other stores. I am going to check out Etsy for some bargains tonight. Then get a good nights sleep....I am tired.

FEATURE FRIDAY

ETSY SHOP FEATURE FRIDAY




Kelly Owner of KJPatino says:


I learned to crochet at the age of seven from my wonderful Grandmother. She was a mother of twelve, grandmother of 45 and at the time of her death, great grandmother of over 50 children. Each time I crochet, I think of her, hence, a lot of love goes into everything I make. Most of my work is made as gifts for my wonderful, extended family, The Cornwells.

I started my shop about two years ago and am surprised at it's success. I love getting feedback, which to me is more important to making money. I get more excited about receiving feedback than I do when I make a sale, and that is very exciting!

I tend to sell a lot of children's items, and I enjoy making those the most. Currently, my favorite item to make is baby blankets, although that tends to change with each new pattern I learn. Last year I believe I was really into children's hats.

It is fun thinking of myself as a business woman doing what she truly loves. When I make the items for my shop, I truly love the creative process, such as what pattern to use and what yarn goes best for each application. Loving what I do, doing it with integrity and treating my customers as I would treat the family I love so much is what I believe contributes to my shops success.

My favorite yarn to crochet with is hand-spun yarns. I love knowing that someone took the time to consider the color, quality and fiber that goes into spinning yarn. especially the alpaca yarns! Alpaca's are really cool creatures!

For beautiful hand crocheted items such as the newborn baby converse booties pictured above please visit

http://www.kjpatino.etsy.com/

I can also be found on Facebook: Kelly Jean Cornwell Patino

Today is Thursday Tomorrow is Feature Friday

First shop owner to be featured in tomorrow's Feature Friday is Kelly of  http://www.kjpatino.etsy.com/ I will be creating a nice layout early tomorrow morning about Kelly and her ETSY shop. I am so excited to start this. The next Feature Friday will be Doris of http://www.SturmDM.etsy.com/ She also crochets fabulous items. I love her bees. She is very creative. I have known Doris for a little over a year now through ETSY. We are also team members on the AWEteam (ArtWalkEtsyteam). We both participate in the firstfridayartwlk on ETSY. Every first Friday of every month is firstfridayartwalk on ETSY. For firstfridayartwalk each participating shop offers discounts etc...in their own shops that day. We have been doing this for almost a year now. If you want to join here are the links

Info: http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6298059
Members: http://www.etsy.com/shop/aweteam

I am a member of the New Hampshire ETSY Team

The following link (please copy and paste in your browser to read) is a newspaper article that some members of the New Hampshire Etsy Street Team were interviewed for, myself being one of them http://www.hippopress.com/090903/cover.html Crafting Success By Heidi Masek Hippo Press

I am a member of TOP ETSY SHOPS

http://www.facebook.com/l/e25bb;topetsyshops.blogspot.com

STILL WEDNESDAY TIPS AND RECIPE

Have you ever been caught cooking and come up short or missing something well here is the best list you could ever have!

FOOD EMERGENCY SUBSTITUTIONS:


For: 1 Tbsp fresh herb
Use: 1/3 to 1/2 tsp dried herb (of the same kind)

For: 1 clove garlic
Use: 1/8 tsp garlic powder

For: 1 egg in baking
Use: 1 tsp cornstarch plus 1/4 cup water

For: 1 whole egg
Use: 2 egg yolks plus 1 Tbsp water

For: 1 cup whole fresh milk
Use: 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water, or 1/3 cup dry milk plus 1 cup water

For: 1 cup buttermilk
Use: 1 cup plain yogurt, or 1 cup sour milk (4 tsp white vinegar or lemon juice plus milk to make 1 cup -- let sit for five minutes before using)

For: 1 cup sour cream (in baking)
Use: 7/8 cup buttermilk or sour milk plus 3 Tbsp butter

For: 1 cup sour cream (in salad dressings, casseroles)
Use: 1 cup plain yogurt or 3/4 cup sour milk plus 1/3 cup butter

For: 1 cup cream
Use: 1/3 cup butter plus 3/4 cup milk

For: 1 cup corn syrup
Use: 2/3 cup granulated sugar plus 1/3 cup water

For: 1 cup brown sugar
Use: 1 cup granulated sugar plus 2 Tbsp molasses

For: 1 3/4 cup confectioners sugar
Use: 1 cup granulated sugar, packed

For: 1 cup margarine or butter (in baking or cooking)
Use: 1 cup hard shortening or 7/8 cup vegetable oil

For: 1 square unsweetened chocolate
Use: 3 Tbsp cocoa plus 1 Tbsp oil

For: 1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate
Use: 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate plus 4 tsp sugar

For: 3/4 cup cracker crumbs
Use: 1 cup bread crumbs

For: 1 cup cake flour, sifted
Use: 7/8 cup all purpose flour, sifted (1 cup minus 2 Tbsp)

For: 1 tsp baking powder
Use: 1/3 tsp baking soda plus 1/2 tsp cream of tarter, or 1/4 tsp baking soda plus 1/3 cup sour milk

For: 1 Tbsp cornstarch for thickening
Use: 2 Tbsp flour

For: 1 Tbsp flour for thickening
Use: 1 1/2 tsp corn flour, arrowroot, potato flour, or rice flour; or 2 tsp tapioca

For: 2 Tbsp tapioca for thickening
Use: 3 Tbsp flour


Great Hamburger Stroganoff

1 lb hamburger
1 (4oz.) can sliced mushrooms or
1 sm. onion, finely chopped 1 cup sliced fresh
1 clove garlic
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 10 3/4 oz. Cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk

Brown meat -onion - garlic then drain grease then add butter - flour - salt - pepper
stir until smooth then add soup - milk - mushrooms simmer for 10 minutes. Add sour cream just before serving. Makes 4 - 6 servings Put over noodles or rice. ENJOY!

Relax and  Enjoy the End of Your Day!

What A Nice Wednesday so Far

GRRRR Guerrilla Gardening! What a great site check it out http://www.guerrillagardening.org/ I laughed so hard at the picture on their website of the flowers growing in the middle of the road so that traffic has to avoid it. Well you might just avoid it any way that is if you were to see it in time when you are driving along many roads in America especially after winter....I can't tell you why. You will have to go to the website and see for yourself. Wow what a great concept for here in Manchester, NH we could even offer to get the planting done quickly ahead of schedule, with less personnel standing around if you know what I mean and the city would be even  more beautiful meanwhile. Manchester, NH is called The Queen City. She would be pleased too if she ever had to drive around Manchester, NH.

TWEETING ABOUT TUESDAY

37 degrees at 5: 30 AM this morning is nothing to tweet about. My chenille butterfly embellishments are featured in a treasury on ETSY today. Here is a link to the treasury http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4be89e8cb3dd6d91a5db6c3f/may-is-national?sort=hotness&order=desc my lovely butterflies are covered up with an avatar that will not leave there is a glitch it says Pay It Forward! Hmmmm we will have to speak with ETSY this morning. Speaking of Paying It Forward. I love to offer PIFS in my shop at Glenna's Garden http://www.gnormyle.etsy.com/ From the Garden! Enjoy the treasury now because they disappear after awhile! I have an older version of this book so that I can relearn how to crochet when I find some time.

This Feature Friday I will be writing an article about a successful business woman that I met on ETSY. That would be Kelly Jean of http://www.kjpatino.etsy.com/ I have a few really nice pictures of items she has created to share with you on Feature Friday. Here is a picture of just one the lovely items Kelly Jean has created and it is for sale in her shop at ETSY.

Cool Booties!

Let me know if you want to be interviewed for Feature Friday May 21, 2010 is still open.

Messed UP Monday

This is a picture of a set of four Chinese envelopes and I am down to one now!

Today it is very windy. It started out 44 and it is now 55 this afternoon cold blustery but sunny! I had plans to run errands downtown. I walk there but not today. When you are on the main street downtown because of all of the tall buildings it makes it even windier and colder. Definately not fun to walk in. So I am getting a chance to catch up on all my email my box is finally empty. YAY! I found the nicest shop today online and it is not an ETSY shop. I was looking for those red Chinese envelopes that are really pretty on the front. Nice flowery designs! My envie swap partner sent me one and so I asked her right away of course if she had more. She showed me the link to this store http://www.skybluepink.com/index.html thanks Soury!