Homemade Sugar Scrub

Here's another fun idea that we did at one of our M.O.P.S. meetings--homemade sugar scrub!

This would make a great gift for a new mom, for Mother's Day, a birthday, or even for a stressful mom (we all may know one, eh?). This would make her day!

It's so easy to put together, too. Mix one cup white sugar with one cup brown sugar in a bowl. Then, add one cup vegetable oil to the mix. Add a couple drops of a scented oil (mine has eucalyptus in it.) That's all there is to it. When you're done, the scrub will look like this:

When you're mixing a batch to give away, why don't you make some for yourself, too. :)

The after dinner mint

I've been meaning to share with you a fun thing I like to do when we have company over for a meal. I like to place a piece of candy inside the napkin ring for our guests to enjoy after they've finished eating. At Christmas time, I like to place a candy cane inside, and some times I actually do place a real mint inside, like this:

But usually, it's this--can you guess what candy it is?

If you guessed Tootsie Roll, you're right! I still call it our "after dinner mint" and I usually get a few chuckles when I tell our guests that.

You can use any kind of small wrapped candy, and I guarantee your friends and family will enjoy this sweet way to end a meal. Have fun being creative with this the next time folks are over your place for dinner. ;)

A treat for our neighbors

Another gift I made for Christmas was some of this home made candy....

I knew that the neighbors would enjoy receiving a package of these on Christmas Eve, so I set out to make them. You can see that there's chocolate on the tops of them, but do you know what else makes them unique?

When you turn the pieces over, you can see what the bottom layer is....

...yup--saltine crackers! The middle layer is a mix of brown sugar and butter, which makes it taste like toffee. It is delicious! I was so glad to have found the recipe here, from Money Saving Mom. She found them in a book and they are called, "crookies", but she has renamed them, "World's easiest Christmas candy." Yes, they are sooo easy--and addicting, too!

I found some holiday treat bags to place some in. Then, I placed a label on the front and tied some ribbon at the top of each bag. Along with the bag, I left our Christmas picture card and letter. They all loved it and were appreciative of this gift. I think it's a great way to reach out to your neighbors and share the love of Christ with them.

You have to try the recipe, if you've never made anything like it. After packaging up the small gifts, I had a few pieces for Q to try. He thought they were great, and went looking for more in the freezer....but there was none left! No doubt I will be making these again in the near future.:)

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

Three years ago, I went into the ER with appendicitis. A few hours later, I was in surgery. I suffered from an infection after that, and it was such a hard thing to deal with. The Lord helped me through it in so many ways, including the people He sent to help me. There were a couple of ladies who just came over to stay with me (and they also helped with dishes, laundry, etc.). Then, there were some who volunteered to bring a meal (sometimes including dessert!;) for me and Q. It was such a blessing!

Yesterday, one of the ladies in our church had surgery. She was able to go home in the afternoon. Q asked people in our church if they would be willing to take a meal over to her and her husband this week. I had the first day, so I decided to make something that someone brought to me when I was recovering from surgery--chicken noodle soup. I bought some Goldfish crackers and made chocolate chip cookies to round out the meal.

I've made this recipe once before and it is delicious! After making this big batch, I kept some for us to have tonight. I have been sick these last few days, so it sure hit the spot. So whether your family is trying to get well from sickness, or you need a meal to take to someone in need, this is a great recipe to try. Enjoy!

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup (source unknown)

2 cans condensed creamy chicken mushroom soup (10-3/4 ounce)

2 cups chopped cooked chicken

1 package frozen mixed vegetables (9-10 ounce package)

1 teaspoon seasoned pepper or garlic-pepper seasoning

1-1/2 cups dried egg noodles

In a 3-1/2 to 4-quart slow cooker gradually stir 5 cups water into the soup. Stir or whisk until smooth. Stir in chicken, vegetables, and seasoned pepper. Cover; cook on low-heat setting for 6 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 to 4 hours. If using low-heat setting, turn to high heat setting. Stir in noodles. Cover and cook for 20 to 30 minutes more or until noodles are just tender. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Pinocchio's-inspired table setting

Not long after we first moved to our town last year, we began visiting a local restaurant called Pinocchio's Italian Eatery. We were impressed with the great service, delicious food and--their plates!

I loved how everyone got their own unique plate. They all had beautiful colors and designs on them. I thought to myself, "Why can't I do that when we have guests over at our place?" So, for the last few months, I've been on the hunt for unique table ware. Right now I have eight gorgeous plates that I found at a few thrift stores. I've paid between twenty-five cents to a dollar for each, too. Better than the savings is that our guests have enjoyed this kind of hospitality.

Here are a few of my favorite plates so far...

The one on the left is my most recent find, while the one on the right was my first (for only a quarter!) I actually have two of this awesome orange toile print.

This windmill plate is the only one that doesn't have a flower motif of some kind. It's the right one for the gentlemen who come over.

The dainty white and pink floral plate sits next to one of my top favorites--colorful flowers outlined in a deep brown to really bring out the design. Love it!

When you're done setting the table, you've got a beautiful arrangement of these plates. Even though they're not a matching set, they all go together wonderfully.

Did I spark an idea for entertaining this fall? Enjoy...

The Welcome Basket

These last few days were very busy for Q and I, but they were also a blessing. We had Evangelist Tim Thompson and his wife, Brittany, come to our church and hold evangelistic meetings from Sunday to Tuesday.

As a special treat for them, I put together a Welcome basket for them to enjoy in their hotel room.

I found some pretty fabric in my stash and made a liner for the basket. I made a casing for the ribbon to go through on each side under the handle. We filled it with some yummy goodies including:

bottled water

roasted almond packs

raisin boxes

home made cookies

fresh fruit

They were so appreciative of this gift. I'm so glad it was a blessing to them while they were here. I would love to do this again for any missionary guest or evangelist traveling through.

Have you put together a basket like this, and if so, what other treats did you include in it? I would love to hear your ideas!:)

Guest bathroom toiletry basket

We've had a few people stay in our guest bedroom already this year. It's been a blessing to have this extra room and house family and traveling ministry teams. A toiletry basket in the adjoining bathroom was a big help to my in-laws who stayed overnight (without their luggage) due to a delayed flight. Those extra toothbrushes sure came in handy!

For the longest time, I'd been wanting to embroider a message on a towel I had in my stash, and I finally got it done. The flowers were already done, so all I did was stitch "welcome" onto the bottom corner. I even cut and hemmed the towel to fit inside the basket.

The basket sits on the bathroom sink counter and holds a myriad of travel-sized things, many of which I acquired from hotel stays or freebie websites (check out my "favorite websites" column on the sidebar and you'll see a few:).

So what's in the basket? Here's a list to get you started:

hand sanitizer

hand lotion

body lotion

chapstick

deoderant

shoe polisher

lint remover

body wash (for both men and women)

thermometer

toothbrush 

toothpaste

shampoo/conditioner

bar soap

shower cap

static guard

oil-absorbing sheets

floss picks

You can also add a small container of aspirin, but I have put this along with Q-tips and cotton balls in the wall-mounted vanity. Candy is also a great thing to have for guests. I have a couple containers on a dresser that hold some bite-sized chocolates!

I hope this list gives you some ideas on creating your own toiletry basket for guests. If you have some thing like this already, is there anything you can add to my list? I'd love to hear your ideas!

Quentin's awesome grilled chicken salad

In May, we invited a missionary couple to join us for a Saturday lunch. They were going to be our guest speakers in church the next day. As Q was talking on the phone with them, he learned that they couldn't eat any refined sugar. So, we began thinking on what we could serve them. 

Q came up with a delicious grilled chicken salad that makes an incredible summer meal! We've already had it a few times.

When Q went to the store to prepare this meal for the first time, he had a hard time finding salad dressings without any form of sugar. The Newman's Own brand seemed to be the best one, so he picked up some Italian dressing. Thankfully, the missionaries happened to have a new bottle of dressing in their car which they brought in to use. Choosing vegetables was easy and so were the croutons. Since I make my own using homemade bread made with honey, it worked out well. The last part was figuring out how to season the chicken. He found this amazing seasoning blend...

This roasted garlic and herb seasoning blend is full of flavor! A couple hours before he grills, Q coats the chicken pieces with olive oil and sprinkles a ton of this stuff on. Yum-O! (as Rachael Ray would say...:)

We like to add cucumbers, carrots, red peppers, sunflower seeds, croutons and our favorite dressing to this salad. While Q prefers his blue cheese dressing, I pour on my honey mustard almost all the time. Yesterday we enjoyed this meal together with something new. We had some lettuce growing in our garden, so we were able to add that to some store-bought lettuce.

For guests or for your family, this meal is perfect on a summer day! Feel free to add in your favorite vegetables and salad dressings. Bon appetit!

Welcome Home

A couple in our church moved into a new home after months of praying and searching. We rejoiced with them as God answered their prayers.

I thought it would be a neat idea to give them a housewarming gift. Yesterday afternoon, Q and I went to their place to give them this cookie-scented candle.

It smells just like oatmeal raisin cookies--yum! I wrote welcome home on a tag and punched a hole in it. In my scrap booking supply I found some keys I had saved to use for something, and this was the perfect way to use one of them. I put ribbon through the tag and key and tied a bow in the front.

Here's a list of housewarming gift ideas that you can use with people in your life. They would work for new neighbors, friends, and family. Some can be store-bought and others can be home made. The possibilities are endless. 

1. bouquet of flowers or house plant

2. fresh loaf of bread or other baked goodies (attach the recipe)

3. a mug with hot cocoa mix, coffee mix or candy

4. handmade coasters or pot holders

5. printed Scripture in a frame

6. candy dish (fill it with candy, too:)

7. kitchen towels and wooden spoon tied with a ribbon

8. guest book

9. picture frame or other small decorative item

10. scented candle

Can you add any ideas to this list? I would love to hear your ideas!:) 

Food and fellowship at the parsonage

Quentin and I invited church members and visitors to join us for some food and fellowship at our place last night. After prayer meeting, everyone walked over and made themselves at home. Q told them that they could have a self-guided tour to see what we've done to the place. Although we've had a few people over, there were quite a few who hadn't seen it since they had helped us with the remodeling.

 

One of the members brought over some light appetizers. Also on the menu were chips with salsa and guacamole, fresh pineapple chunks, chocolate chip cookies, almond-filled cookie cake (The cookie cake which Q has renamed almond torte, received rave reviews so you've got to try the recipe if you haven't yet), and ham and cheese turnovers. We served cold green tea and water as well.

We had a wonderful time getting to know everybody better. Great conversations and laughter filled the evening. We'd love to do this again every so often. Q and I enjoy showing hospitality to our friends and neighbors.

These ham and cheese turnovers were fast and easy to make. I found the recipe from Real Simple magazine (April 2008). I've made it one other time using homemade pizza dough and leftover ham. This time we bought crescent dough, thinly sliced ham and grated mozzerella cheese (I think it's easier to use sliced cheese rather than grated for this recipe). I also added some garlic salt and italian seasonings--yum! Here's the original recipe, but feel free to change the dough, meat, cheese, and seasonings as you please. It is a scrumptious appetizer and can be part of a lunch or dinner. Enjoy!

Ham and Cheese Turnovers

1  1-pound package refrigerated pizza dough (or make your own)

8 ounces deli ham, thinly sliced

4 ounces Swiss cheese, thinly sliced

1/2 yellow onion, cut into thin rings

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Roll the pizza dough into a 14-inch circle and cut into eight triangles. Stack a piece of the ham, cheese, and onion on the bottom of each triangle and roll the dough up around the filling. (Some of the filling will stick out the ends.) Transfer the rolls to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until golden and crisp, about 20 minutes. If you use crescent dough, the bake time will be shorter. Follow the package directions. Serves 4.

Spring Cleaning: the guest bathroom

Last week, I picked an easy room to work on because with Q working some extra hours, I knew that the majority (or all) of the cleaning and organizing would be done by me. A while back, I started working on the guest bathroom, so just a few things were done this last week to finish it.

Here's the list of what was accomplished in this room:

1. Deep clean walls.

2. Clean bath tub, toilet and sink thoroughly.

3. Wash small window and mirrors.

4. Clean inside vanity and cupboards.

5. Wash fabric curtain.

6. Replace vinyl curtain liner.

7. Line drawers with decorative contact paper.

8. Mop floor.

9. Wash rugs.

10. Fill vanity cupboard and drawers with necessities for guests.

11. Fill basket with toiletries for guests (will be writing more about this later...)

On the sink counter, I've placed the toiletry basket, a framed picture of me and Q, and this candle that we found at the local thrift store--brand new. It is a vanilla soy candle and I love the silver stand it sits on!

This week will be another busy one, mostly for me because I've got to finish up some crafts for birthday gifts--and I'm going on a ladies retreat this Friday.:) So, I don't know if we'll have another room done or not. We still plan on doing little things here and there, so that when things settle down, we'll be able to finish up our spring cleaning cards easily. 

How's your spring cleaning coming? What's been your latest project?

Fudgy Cocoa Drops

A few days ago, I made a batch of these fudgy cocoa drops to give to some friends who invited us over for lunch. We were bombarded with snow between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, so it was a perfect time to make more of these scrumptious cookies.

Fudgy Cocoa Drops 

(another great recipe from Taste of Home)

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

4-1/2 teaspoons milk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup baking cocoa

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground almonds

In a small mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in milk and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in almonds. Cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Roll dough into 12 balls. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 13-18 minutes or until set and tops are cracked. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

The recipe only makes a dozen so feel free to double it up--or quadruple it like I did. I decided to package up some for three close neighbors who I don't know very well yet. I hope that by giving some cookies that it has opened up doors for me and Q to tell them about the Lord and invite them to church. They were all pleasantly surprised by my gift and I was glad to have some fun conversation getting to know my new neighbors.

On top of the cookies, I placed a wrapped packaged of tea bags. I hope that this gift gave them some warmth on a snowy day and that it started a ministry with our neighbors.

What have you all done to reach out to your neighbors? I would love to hear your ideas as I desire to reach out to them in the days ahead.

A special Christmas dinner

When Q was growing up, his family always had a Christmas Eve dinner with the main course being Swedish meatballs. We planned on doing the same thing this year with a few friends from church, but then I got sick the day before. I felt awful inside and out, but we were determined to just postpone it to Christmas day. Thankfully, I was starting to feel a bit better and a few of our friends could still come.

We spent the afternoon cleaning and cooking for our special event. I pulled out the fancy tablecloth, napkins and china and set the table.

I've done this napkin decoration before. I did an accordion-fold on the napkin, slipped it through the holder, then placed a candy cane through it. 

We had Gloria, Debbie and Jim over for dinner. The conversation around the table was fun and encouraging. Q and I are really enjoying getting to know the people in our new church. Our meal consisted of Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, gravy, cornbread muffins, salad, pineapple chunks and this yummy pumpkin dessert. Check it out...

I'm glad I remembered to take a picture before I had eaten the whole piece! The dessert is called, "Pumpkin gooey butter cake." I found it in one of my Taste of Home's Healthy Cooking Magazines (Dec/Jan. 2010). The lady who submitted it said that it was a special thing for her to make during Christmas. The recipe is a healthier version of the original treat, so don't worry too much about the calories. Here's the recipe for you all to enjoy!

Makeover Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake

1 pkg. (18-1/4 oz.) yellow cake mix

1 egg

1/2 cup reduced-fat butter, melted

FILLING:

1 pkg. (8 oz.) reduced-fat cream cheese

1 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup reduced-fat butter, melted

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 egg whites

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Additional confectioners' sugar, optional

1. In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, egg and butter on low speed until combined. Press into a 13-inch x 9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray.

2. In another large bowl, beat cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the butter, eggs, egg whites and vanilla; beat on low until combined. Add the confectioners' sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg; mix well. Pour over crust.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. Chill until serving. Sprinkle with additional confectioners' sugar if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

Turkey potpies

This past weekend, we had some friends from Fort Collins come and join us for dinner. The Seal and Hartman families helped us with our move two months ago, so we've been wanting to find a way to thank them. We had a great time, especially with their children. There were five kids here (all 4 and under) between the two families.

To prepare for the meal, Q and I worked in the kitchen for a few hours making turkey potpies. Q did most of the work--cooking and cutting the turkey, cutting the vegetables and cooking everything together in a pot. I was working on dessert while he did all of that! The recipe is another great one from Taste of Home. The recipe makes two pies--a perfect amount for company or for eating one now and freezing the other one. 

The following pictures were all taken by Q. It was his idea to post this wonderful recipe on my blog.:)

Making a potpie completely from scratch is hard work, but so well worth it! It was delicious.

The recipe (below) calls for just one crust for the top, but we decided to make one for the bottom, too. I am not the world's best pastry maker, as I sometimes struggle getting it just right. Even after folding it over gently to put it in the pan, it sometimes breaks. I have used a few different recipes...but does someone out there have one that makes a perfect crust? 

Q had me stop patting the crust to get this shot. He said he wanted to show my ring....awww...

Here's one of the pies after we've devoured some of it. After my first top crust didn't come out so well, Q decided to cut out wedges from the other dough piece to put on the other pie. We thought it turned out well. 

So, do you have any turkey left from Thanksgiving? If so, use it up for this awesome "comfort food" recipe.

Turkey Potpies

2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

3 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 medium onion, chopped

1 celery rib, diced

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon pure olive oil

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 cups chicken broth

4 cups cubed cooked turkey

2/3 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream, divided

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

pie pastry 

1 egg

In a skillet, saute the potatoes, carrots, onion and celery in butter and oil until tender. Stir in flour until blended; gradually add broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the turkey, peas, 1/2 cup cream, parsley, garlic salt and pepper. Spoon into two ungreased 9-inch pie plates. Roll out pastry to fit top of each pie; place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut out a decorative center or cut slits in pastry. In a small bowl, whisk egg and remaining cream; brush over pastry. Cover and freeze one potpie for up to 3 months. Bake the remaining potpie at 375 for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

***To use frozen potpie: Remove from the freezer 30 minutes before baking. Cover edges of crust loosely with foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees; remove foil. Bake 55-60 minutes longer or until golden brown. 

Yield: 2 pies (6 servings each)

The best cinnamon and caramel rolls--ever!

For a few days last week, Q and I enjoyed eating warm cinnamon and caramel rolls. I've made cinnamon rolls before for family and guests, but have never tried making the caramel rolls until recently. These were the delicacies I enjoyed at camp every summer. The recipes come from Camp Ironwood's cookbook called, Come and Dine. 

They are not hard to make. The things to remember when making rolls are--make sure the yeast dissolves well in warm enough water; let them rise until they're big and you can't see space between them; add double the glaze for the cinnamon rolls.

Both roll recipes begin with the same sweet roll recipe. 

Sweet Roll Dough

(9x13 pan, serves 8)

1-1/2 cups warm water

1 tablespoon yeast (1-1/2 packs)

2 eggs

1/4 cup dry milk

1/2 cup melted margarine

1/3 cup sugar

1-1/2 teaspoon salt

up to 5 cups flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in remaining ingredients except flour. Stir in only enough flour to get a SHINY, STICKY dough (not runny). Transfer to another greased bowl, if necessary, to accommodate dough so it can double without overflowing. Cover bowl with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled, or refrigerated if allowing to rise overnight.

Cinnamon Rolls

(9x13 pan)

Prepare sweet roll dough. Have the following toppings ready before you roll out your dough:

1-1/2 cups brown sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

5 tablespoons margarine

optional: nuts or raisins

Blend sugar and nuts and cinnamon and set aside.

1. 1-1/2 to 2 hours before serving time, clean a 3-foot section of counter or kitchen table and sprinkle it with flour.

2. Shape dough into a log in the middle of your work surface. Sprinkle log with flour and roll it about 1/8" thick in an approximately rectangular shape. The more square the shape, the bigger the rolls will be.

3. Melt and spread margarine over the entire dough surface. Sprinkle sugar mixture over the margarine, spreading evenly to cover entire surface. If you like nuts or raisins, sprinkle them over the sugar mixture.

4. Roll dough toward you from the top, leaving the seam underneath the roll when finished rolling. Stretch out or scrunch up the log until it's a consistent 3" wide. Chop off rolls ever inch or so with a sharp knife and place flat side up in greased pan with rolls barely touching each other (if at all). Let rise in a warm place until no more pan shows between rolls.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Check to see if pan needs to be turned for even browning. Continue baking for up to 10 minutes until lightly browned.

6. Cool slightly and drizzle glaze over baked rolls.

Glaze

(9x13 pan)

1-1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons warm water or milk

**I like to double this glaze amount so that I have rolls that are more moist and sweet!

The caramel rolls follow the basic instructions as the cinnamon roll recipe with the following exceptions:

*Don't add nuts (raisins are okay) when rolling up dough.

*Place the following in the bottom of pans before putting rolls in pans:

(9x13 pan)

1/2 cup melted margarine

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup corn syrup

1 cup nuts (optional)

Blend all ingredients and spread into ungreased pan. Continue with cinnamon roll instructions. When rolls are done, immediately cut around pan edges. Place a serving dish or cooling rack over the pan and invert it so that the pan empties. Scrape gooey remains from pan onto the rolls.

Now, wouldn't your family or guests enjoy these rolls this holiday season? They are scrumptious! You will not be disappointed.:)

Chocolate Pumpkin Bread

It's been three years since I last made this bread, and I don't know why I waited so long to do it again. It is absolutely delicious!

Baking with pumpkin is a great thing to do in the fall. I had some pumpkin puree' in the freezer, so I used that instead of buying canned pumpkin. This makes two regular loaves, so you can eat one now and freeze the other one. You'll have something ready when you have guests in your home or have a potluck to go to. You can also make three miniature loaves, then wrap them up decoratively and give them as gifts this holiday season. This is another awesome recipe from Taste of Home. Enjoy!

Chocolate Pumpkin Bread

3-1/3 cups all-purpose flour (half of the amount can be wheat flour)

3 cups sugar

4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

4 eggs

1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin (or approximately 2 cups homemade puree)

2/3 cup water

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup sliced almonds, toasted (I didn't do this, but I'm sure it tastes great!)

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In another bowl, combine the eggs, pumpkin, water and oil; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Stir in chocolate chips and almonds.

Pour into two greased 9-inch x 5-inch x 3-inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 70-75 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Wrap the loaves in foil and freeze for up to 3 months.

To use frozen bread: Thaw at room temperature. Yield: 2 loaves

Decorative candy bar wrappers

It's been a long time since I've made candy bar wrappers, but with Q's parents coming for a couple days, I thought it would be a fun thing for them to enjoy. It's a great hospitality gift for any guest that comes into your home.

All you need is some scrap booking paper, decorative edge scissors, glue, ribbon, and a pen. You can also use buttons or any other embellishment. I made this floral one for my mother-in-law. I just measured out the paper according to the size of the candy bar, then wrapped it around. I used a glue stick to seal it in the back. I made a tag with my own handwritten message and used a piece of pink ribbon to tie it on. 

I made another one for my father-in-law. I wrapped white grosgrain ribbon around the middle and glued the "Welcome!" tag on it. When I was done, I placed each candy bar on a set of towels that I put on the beds. They absolutely loved it--and so will your next overnight guests.

Rice heating pad

When my mom came out to visit this past spring, she brought a rice heating pad with her. All she does is place it inside the microwave for a few seconds to warm it up and it helps her with headaches and other aches and pains. I borrowed it as well, as I was recovering from surgery at the time. Since then, I've wanted to make one for myself. I also thought that it would make a thoughtful gift for someone who has chronic pain, or is elderly, or who has just had surgery. I can already think how this neat hospitality gift would be a blessing to so many. Add it to a basket with some homemade soup, and you've got a delight for the hurting soul.

This fabric was a remnant from mom, who used a good portion for a project she was working on. I cut out two pieces measuring 11 3/4" x 5" before sewing a strip of grosgrain ribbon to the sides of each piece. I stitched all around the two long sides and one short side, leaving the end open to fill with rice. I didn't measure the amount, but I think I poured about two cups of rice inside. I didn't want it to be too heavy, but yet filled enough so that it works well. This heating pad is probably a bit longer than Mom's, but that's all right. It rests halfway around my neck and is long enough to help my lower back when it decides to kink up on me!

I added these bows to the tops of the ribbon using a hot glue gun. I figured that it would be nice to have something real cute to use as you're (writhing) in pain. Why not, right? I thought about adding buttons, but any embellishments like that would be bad in the microwave! I'm sure an embroidered monogram would work though. And absolutely no washing except for spot cleaning. I can only imagine the puffiness--or explosion--of all that rice after it's been through the wash!

Simplicity

I love simple things, don't you? I acquired a few small Coke glasses and decided to save them to use as vases. I couldn't wait until another rose blossomed so that I could adorn our place with it.

As you all know, I enjoy nostalgic things, and Coca-Cola just happens to be one of them! Besides beautifying your own home with a simple decoration like this, wouldn't a dear loved one enjoy a sweet gift such as this? Ribbon or lace can be tied around it, too. I am definitely going to remember this one for future hospital visits.

This tiny yellow rose has finally opened up this summer. If I get a few at the same time, they would make a lovely bouquet accompanied by a hand-written note for a friend.

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time...." Ecclesiastes 3:11

My garden: sharing with friends

Q and I were invited to a dinner last night. We have become good friends with many of the senior saints in our church. One of the dear widows, Jo, invited us and a few others for a potluck dinner. She told us to bring a vegetable. Q thought it would be a neat idea to check on the garden and see what we could bring.

I wasn't exactly sure what we were going to find, but lo and behold, we found this huge zucchini ready for picking! There were a couple others that weren't so big, but I heard that once they start coming, you'll get a lot of them all at once! I definitely see some zucchini bread in the near future...

Our carrots are so tiny, but we picked a few any way. Q decided that we'd cook the zucchini, then have a salad made from these carrots, radishes and lettuce from the garden. We also cut some more rhubarb to take home and make more things from it. 

I checked my tomato plants, and all but a couple are looking very good! This one here is beginning to flower--yeah!

Look how huge it's getting! Many can't believe that I was brave enough to start from seed, but I told them this was my second try with it this year. They are doing just as well as others who bought theirs from a garden nursery. This gives me hope as I definitely want to plant roma tomatoes next year.

When we got to Jo's place, she helped us cook the zucchini, as neither of us have done it before. Q chopped it up, then we placed it in a pot with some butter. Jo added canned tomatoes, italian seasoning, onion powder, salt and pepper. We stirred it until the zucchini got tender. It was great! Everyone loved it. We added the carrots and radishes to another friend's salad, and decided to take the lettuce home to eat soon.

What have you been doing with your garden produce this summer?