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Archives for November 2014

My fav: Baked Mac & Cheese

Uncategorized

November 25, 2014 by Drafts & Crafts

After researching copious mac & cheese recipes, I decided to pick all of the ingredients out from other recipes that I thought would make one good, baked mac. In the end, I created my own crock pot recipe for baked mac & cheese. 

photo 1-74

{Time} 20 mins prep; cook on low for 2-3 hours in a large crock pot
{Serving} 12
{Ingredients}

  • 1 lb elbow pasta (1 box)
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups shredded Italian cheese
  • 8 oz. velveeta cheese (cubed from block)
  • 1 stick butter

Spices to liking:

  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Onion Powder
  • Garlic Powder

1. Boil water for the pasta. Cook the pasta, al Dente, and drain (about 4 minutes so the pasta is cooked but firm).

2. Melt butter in a bowl and whisk the 3 eggs in another bowl.

3. Place pasta in large crockpot. Add the whisked eggs, melted butter, sour cream, milk, and cheeses; and stir well. Stir occasionally while cooking on low for 2 to 3 hours in the slow cooker.
PHOTO: when all ingredients are first placed in crock pot.

photo 2-58

Mac & Cheese is my absolute fav, no joke!! Sooo cheeesy, sooo easy, soooo delicious!! I even have a clutch that says, “You can not convince me that mac and cheese is not a vegetable!” Oh, how I wish it were!!

photo 3-54

I looked at about 20 different baked mac and cheese recipe before deciding on these ingredients. I opted to use more whole milk instead of any condensed milk because I did not want it to have any sweet taste. Using 3 eggs it was makes it stick together some, I would highly recommend using eggs in baked mac and cheese. Last thing, this does make a very large portion, it would be great for a party or holiday gathering. This is one left over I can definitely do!!

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!! I am thankful for Mac & Cheese!!

Keep in touch,
Dani

 

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Pumpkin Almond Bars

Uncategorized

November 13, 2014 by Drafts & Crafts

Even though the weather may feel like winter, it is still fall, which means this basic girl is still trying to get in all the pumpkin recipes she can! These pumpkin almond bars are perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert and go great with a hot cup of joe!

photo 1-74

{Time} 20 mins prep; 40 mins bake
{Servings} 12
{Ingredients}

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 1/2 cups honey roasted almonds, coarsely chopped (any kind of almond will work)

photo 5-20

{Steps}

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 inch square baking dish.

2. In a mixing a bowl, stir butter and sugar until there are no lumps. Stir in egg, vanilla, and pumpkin.

photo 2-58

3. Add flour, cinnamon, baking powder, pumpkin spice, salt, and nutmeg. Fold in half of the almonds and spoon the mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining almonds on top.

photo 3-54

4. Bake for 40 minutes. Let the dish cool before cutting the mixture into bars. Place pumpkin almond bars on parchment paper to cool.

photo 4-46

I brought these pumpkin almond bars to some friend’s house for a dinner party! It was the first time I made them, but everyone seemed to enjoy them! They were described as fall in your mouth, sounds like a good Thanksgiving-time treat!! They are quite versatile, if you ask me, can be an on-the-go breakfast and snack, or the perfect little after dinner sweet. This recipe came from the Better Homes and Gardens magazine; I changed a few ingredients to better suit my taste.

Keep in touch,
Dani

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Thanksgiving Escort Cards

Craft Box

November 20, 2014 by Drafts & Crafts

My husband and I are hosting our first Thanksgiving as husband and wife! My husband’s side of our family is traveling from down south to spend the holiday with us, which makes name tags for the table a must!

I am very anxious to host my first holiday! It will be the first turkey that I am cooking on my own; as well as making the side dishes and desserts! And by on my own, I really mean with some help from Jason. Now I will surely appreciate (even more) all the hard work that my mother puts in to each holiday, every year. This DIY is pretty self-explanatory, yet it will make a classy touch to any Thanksgiving table.

photo 2-58

{Materials}

  • card stock
  • pen or marker
  • ribbon
  • spray paint
  • poster board or trash/grocery bags (to spray paint against)
  • scissors
  • hole-puncher
  • leaves (flat with long stems)

1. Collect pretty leaves (or leafs, both ways are accepted). I recommend finding flat leaves that have long stems.

photo 1-74

2. Place your leaves on poster board or grocery bags that you do not mind getting messy. Spray paint your leaves by holding the spray paint a few feet away. Let them dry for about 2 hours before moving the leaves. Leaves are delicate, so be sure to handle them with care!

photo 2-58

3. Write the names of your Thanksgiving guests on card stock. Put a hole-punch in the top left corner.

photo 3-54

4. String a small piece of ribbon through the hole on the card stock. Just before you tie the knot, gently slide the stem of the leaf through the hole of the knot.

photo 4-46

 CLICK CRAFT BOX FOR FULL DETAILS

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Keep in touch,
Dani

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Cold days call for Loaded Potato Soup

Cooler, Kitchen

November 18, 2014 by Drafts & Crafts

A chilly day calls for this delicious and hearty soup in the crock pot, also known as, a working person’s best friend. I do use my slow cooker all year round, but there is something extra special about coming home to a hot meal when its in the 40’s. 

photo 1-71

 

photo 4-46

{Time} 25 minutes prep; 6-8 hours cook
{Servings} 8
{Ingredients}

  • 10 medium-sized red potatoes
  • 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup bacon bites
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoons peppers
  • 3 teaspoons parsley
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons ranch dressing mix
  • 3 1/2 cups water
  • 2 chicken bouillon cubes
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 1/4 cup green onions or scallions
  • shredded cheddar cheese to taste

{Steps}

1. Cube potatoes and place them in the crock pot. Pour the flour over the potatoes and toss to coat the potatoes in the flour.

photo 2-58

2. Add the bacon bits, salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder, ranch dressing mix, chicken bouillon, and green onions. Pour 3 1/2 cups water and cook on high for 6 hours or on low for 8-9 hours.

photo 1-70
4. 20 minutes before you are ready to eat, add 1 cup of half and half and stir.

photo 2-58

5. Complete the look by topping soup with cheese, scallions, and bacon bits to taste!

photo 3-53

6. Optional: Add more water if it is too thick. Start small, add a 1/2 cup and stir. I added more water because it was a little thick for my liking.

BEST SOUP EVER!!!

I know I say this all the time, but this soup really is soooo yummy!! AND since it is a easy breezy crock pot recipe, it automatically gets moved to the top of any must-try list! You can not go wrong with a slower cooker; there is not really such thing as leaving it on too long. You can make this recipe in as quick as 5-6 hours on high or as slow as 9 – 10 hours on low.

Keep in touch,
Dani

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Tartan Flannel

Closet

November 16, 2014 by Drafts & Crafts

The weather has dropped, which means it time to break out the warm flannel. I could live everyday in this boyfriend flannel from my fav store!

photo 2-58

photo 3-53 CLICK CLOSET FOR FULL DETAILS

This girl is tartan obsessed; I would like this bluegrass tartan print in a pair of pajamas, a blanket, a throw pillow.. please and thank you!!

Read about what historic landmark these photos were taken out at too!!

Keep in touch,
Dani

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Rustic DIY Centerpiece

Craft Box, Uncategorized

November 10, 2014 by Drafts & Crafts

I wanted to make a centerpiece that would be versatile for both Thanksgiving and Christmas since the two holidays are not even one month apart. I went for a natural or rustic look with a little bit of sparkle!

photo 3-53I have to have something in the center of my table or it just looks too plain, to me. In the summer I usually just have a vase with fresh blooms on the table, but for the fall and winter holidays, I like to have a little something more! This year, Thanksgiving and Christmas are only 28 days apart. I wanted to make a quick, affordable, and versatile centerpiece that I could keep up for the end of autumn and the start of winter. My husband and I are hosting Thanksgiving at our house in VA; my husband’s family (my family now too!) are coming from FL, SC, and GA. Jason and I will be traveling to FL in December to spend Christmas with our families.

{Materials}

  • Burlap Roll
  • 2 Evergreen Branches
  • 1 sparkle branch (with 3 stems)
  • 1 large candle or lantern or glass bowl

photo 1-70

CLICK CRAFT BOX FOR FULL DETAILS

Even if rustic is not your style, I hope this DIY post conveys how quick you can throw an inexpensive centerpiece together that will look great through the winter season!

Keep in touch,
Dani

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