My Sister Tried It: Oven S'Mores

Anyone who has ever been at a fire pit with me or has invited me over to go to their fire pit will know how much I love s’mores. It’s one of the first things I ask when you invite me in the summer, “will there be s’mores?" Now I’m not a jerk - I’m happy to bring the s’more stuff - I just want to know first if I need to. One of the main reasons I need to ask is because if I try to make a s’more on our propane fire pit I will have to hear my husband complain about the mess. I’m not sure he understands the point of having a fire pit at all? 

Anyway, I saw a “recipe” for s’mores in the oven. I question this being a real recipe because it’s basically a homemade graham crust smashed into the bottom of a pan with a row of chocolate and then marshmallows on top. Not exactly a high-tech recipe. Lol. Regardless of how easy it looks I still decided not to make it exactly as they had it. I decided to buy the crust, which would eliminate the need for the cup of butter and the crushing of graham crumbs. The store bought bottom crust is also surprisingly low in calorie. Yes, I know this seems ridiculous because I am about to put chocolate and marshmallows on top of that but just let me have my delusions.

• 1 store bought graham pie crust
• 2-3 Hershey bars
• 3 cups Marshmallows cut in half (or mini- whichever you prefer)

Place the hersheys in a single layer across the bottom of the crust.  Cook 3 minutes until very soft. Lay the marshmallows in a single layer on top an nd push down a little into the softened chocolate layer. Broil for 1-2 minutes until toasted on top. DO NOT WALK AWAY.  You’ll be sorry. Lol.  

This was delicious. Seems silly but I will definitely be making again - grumbling husband not needed. 

6.30.22: patriotic gnome

6.30.21: hermits

6.30.20: tip-sy tuesday: tension rods

6.30.19: 🔥week 26

6.30.18: strawberry collins
6.30.17: make a flag luminary

6.30.16: make a red white and blue headband

French Fries by Macey

This goes along with last week's In and Out Animal Style copycat burger post:

Ingredients:

- 4 large potatoes

- Salt

- Vegetable oil

Instructions:

1. Scrub the potatoes clean and peel them if desired. 

2. Cut the potatoes into slices that are half an inch thick.

3. Soak the potato slices in a large bowl of cold water for at least 30 minutes. This will help remove excess starch and make the fries crispy.

4. Drain the potatoes and pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.

5. Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C).

6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

7. Coat the potato slices in vegetable oil and sprinkle with salt.

8. Arrange the potato slices on the baking sheet in a single layer.

9. Bake the fries for 20-25 minutes, flipping them over halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy.

10. Remove the fries from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.

Note: You can also deep-fry the French fries instead of baking them. Heat vegetable oil in a large pot or deep fryer to 375°F (190°C) and fry the potato slices in batches until they are golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes. Drain them on paper towels and sprinkle with salt before serving.

Tips I've learned along the way (aka trial and error... taking bits of recipes from one person and bits from another recipe to create the type of fry that I like best! They're about 1/2" thick in size, and seriously delicious)... I'm pretty proud :) 

6.29.22: quinoa and sweet potato bowl

6.29.21: sewing tip

6.29.20: RV living (privacy curtain)

6.29.19: 3D paper stars

6.29.18: Lisa's button flag art

6.29.17: make a red, white, and blue windsock

6.29.16: patriotic potato salad

Balsamic Roasted Baby Peppers

This is my new favorite vegetable - balsamic roasted baby peppers. I was so crazy about these after making them for the first time that I texted the fam with my exciting news and they were all 'oh yea, we love them and make them all the time'. Well geez guys, thanks for not telling me! hahahah. 

I love that you can roast these with stems and seeds so there is basically no prep work other than washing them - although after the first couple batches I have been removing the stem and seeds first, it just takes a minute and I find them easier to eat that way. These are terrific (it's a Barefoot Contessa recipe so naturally it's a keeper!). 

• 2 pounds baby sweet peppers, mixed colors
• olive oil
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• balsamic vinegar

Preheat the oven to 400'. Place the whole peppers, including the stems, in a single layer in a large baking dish. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, toss well. Lay the sprigs of thyme on top and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until the peppers start to brown in places but are not blackened. Discard the thyme sprigs. While still hot, drizzle the peppers with balsamic vinegar and season to taste. Serve warm or at room temperature. 

note: I usually use dried thyme or Italian seasoning in place of fresh sprigs. These are great as a snack, a side dish, on salads - change the seasonings however you like! Oh, and I roast them on a foil-lined baking sheet instead of in a dish. 

6.28.22: S'mOreos

6.28.21: another mask pattern

6.28.20: 🔥week 26

6.28.19: flag door hanger

6.28.18: painted mason jar with paper pinwheels

6.28.17: healthy berry trifle

6.28.16: travel - Goodwood

Tip-sy Tuesday: Cleaning Shower Doors with Lemon

I hate cleaning the shower doors in our 5th wheel - we squeegee them to try to minimize the water spots but I still struggle to keep them clean and shiny. I just saw this tip using lemon and salt and am going to give it a try - fingers crossed it works! Let me know if you've tried this idea and the results please. 

Dip half a lemon into a small dish of kosher salt, and get scrubbing. 

click here for other household ways to use lemons

tip found here

6.27.22: photo keychain gift by Jenny

6.27.21: 🔥 week 26

6.27.20: garden squirrel

6.27.19: MSIH: chicken and wild rice casserole

6.27.18: paper pinwheels

6.27.17: pompom earrings

 

Drink Cozy

So there's been soup bowl cozies and large bowl cozies (basically they are microwavable potholders); our latest is a mug or glass size cozy.

Before I left CA this year Janis and I got together to make more cozies and had the idea to make small ones to hold a coffee cup or glass. It's especially nice for hot coffee because it helps the cup not cool off as fast, and if it does you can just pop the whole thing in the microwave to heat it back up. I nuke my cup of coffee multiple times because I like it really hot!

The directions are the same for the larger bowl cozies, just cut the fabric into smaller 6" squares. We made the darts smaller, you can play around with what size to make yours depending on the size of your cups and glasses. You can see from the 2 different ones we made that if you make the darts deeper then they will curve up more, shallower darts make the cozy lay flatter. 

click here for instructions how to make a bowl cozy, and click here for large dish cozies. 

6.26.22: 🔥 week 26

6.26.21: mozzarella stuffed portobellos

6.26.20: chicken noodle soup casserole

6.26.19: cherry pie cookies

6.26.18: patriotic rag wreath

6.26.17: paper fireworks

6.26.16: track day at Goodwood

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 26)

Dear Campers ~

Here's a quick recap in case you missed anything at camp last week:

Posts ~

6/18: 🔥 wek 25

6/19: pet mug shot

6/20: TT: remove fridge odors

6/21: mini pinwheel sandwiches with flavored cream cheese

6/22: animal style copycat burgers with sauce by Macey 

6/23: MSTI: caramelized banana v.2

6/24: words

Miscellaneous stuff keeping me busy ~

• Haven't done a book review in a long time, but I have still been reading a lot of books! This time around when I say a lot of books I mean 21 of the "Virgin River' series in a row. I watched the first 3 seasons of the show and wanted to find out what will happen in the next season so thought I'd read the books - before realizing it's a 21-book series and the books are a long ways from the show. After the first 3 I was hooked on the characters, even tho the characters differ from the show (which I love); funny story tho - after reading the first few I had the thought that they are an awful lot like Harlequin romance novels so I looked at the publisher and sure enough - Harlequin!!! And here's the funny part...I hate Harlequin romance novels 🤦‍♀️ But even learning that I still kept reading, skipping the ridiculous raunchy parts LOL because I wanted to read about my favorite characters HAHAHA. I'll still give them ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2, because of the characters, and I was sad when I read the final one and there's no more Virgin River books for now. 

That's it for this week, hope to see you next week for more projects, crafts, recipes, tips...whatever we can think of to make at camp! Bye :)

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor 

6.25.22: alice springs chicken marinade

6.25.21: Brooke's spaghetti tacos

6.25.20: veggie cobb salad

6.25.19: tip-sy tuesday: gardening tip

6.25.18: spaghetti squash shrimp scampi

6.25.17: week of dinner menus

6/24 ~ words

6.24.22: tree stump table

6.24.21: red, white, and blueberry salad

6.24.20: bluebarb pie (rhubarb blueberry)

6.24.19: wire basket with ribbons

6.24.18: moving furniture

6.24.17: mojito fruit cocktail

6.24.16: travel blog - 2nd day at Goodwood

My Sister Tried It: Caramelized Banana v.2

Well, anyone who saw my post about the weird caramelized bananas is probably thinking either  “how many banana posts can this girl do”?  Or maybe “does she think this counts as a recipe?” If you have been following my sisters blog for any length of time you are probably aware of my cooking abilities so the answers are - I needed to try it healthier and also - yes. Yes this is a recipe. 

So- let’s jump in. My carmelized banana “recipe” was actually fantastic. But putting a bunch of sugar on anything is not only going to make it delicious but also going to make it not very good for me. So this time I’m trying it a couple different ways. One side with a pre mix of cinnamon sugar. And one side with mostly all just plain cinnamon and a tiny bit of brown sugar (which was in the original instructions). 

As you can see in the picture, both sides still got a “caramelized”  topping. Just like the original recipe. Both sides were also still delicious! Warm banana (air fried) was great either way but I prefer the brown sugar side.  It was just more flavorful. I did almost all cinnamon- with just a sprinkle of brown sugar this time. Delish. Really would like to add a scoop of ice cream but that defeats my “healthy” purpose. If I add a scoop of Greek yogurt to the top can I write it for my sister as another “recipe”? Hmmm..  lol

One banana- cut lengthwise (leaving skin on)
Sprinkle cinnamon
Sprinkle brown sugar
Air fry at 400 for 8 minutes. 

6.23.22: MSIH alice springs chicken

6.23.21: 4th of July cake idea

6.23.20: TT at home gel nails

6.23.19: 🔥 week 25

6.23.18: houseplants

6.23.17: outfit idea - flare jeans

6.23.16: travel - Goodwood

Animal Style Burgers with Secret Sauce (copycat recipe) by Macey

In-N-Out-style Animal burger with the "secret animal sauce" (without the bun)! GF Friendly, ALL the GOODNESS! 🤤 

Ingredients:

- 1/2 pound ground beef

- Salt and pepper

- 1/4 cup mayonnaise (Duke's preferred)

- 2 tablespoons ketchup

- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish

- 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard

- 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar

- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

- 4 large lettuce leaves (iceberg or butter lettuce usually work best, but today I had romaine and that's good enough :)))

- 2 slices of American cheese

- Optional toppings: sliced tomato, sliced onion, pickles

I sautéed the onion just as the burger was about cooked through, and topped them with raw tomato and pickle. So yum!! 

Instructions:

1. Preheat  grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. (I cooked these bad boys on the stovetop, but I personally think the grill would be even better tasting!) 

2. Divide the ground beef into 2 equal portions and shape them into patties. (Or, if you're like me... portion out 4 equal parts and make 4 thin patties (2 double burgers). Season both sides of each patty with salt and pepper.

3. Place the patties on the grill or grill pan and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until they reach your desired level (I prefer mine mooing) :-) 

4. While the burgers are cooking, make the animal sauce by mixing together the mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, white vinegar, and garlic powder. 

5. Once the burgers are cooked, place a slice of cheese in between each patty and let it melt for about a minute.

6. To assemble the burgers, place a lettuce leaf on a plate, then add a burger patty (or in my case the double patty) with cheese on top of the lettuce leaf. Spread a generous amount of animal sauce on top of that, then add any other toppings, (sliced tomato, sliced onion, pickles, it's all up to you!) 

7. Finally, top the cheesy, topped patties with another lettuce leaf, and serve immediately.

(I was working with Romaine Lettuce and the leaves weren't very wide so I ended up laying 2 leaves on the bottom under the patties and then I ate it with a fork/knife off of the plate vs trying to pick it up and eat like you would normally eat a burger if it was on a regular bun). 

*** everything except the bun (which is substituted with lettuce leaf) is gluten free! If you're serving this to someone who isn't allergic to gluten and wants the full yumminess (aka the bun) slice the bun in half, buttter each side and place in a stove top pan to let the bun heat up/light butter melts)... 🤤 

Buns or No Bun... You can now enjoy your In-N-Out-style burger with their secret animal sauce! 🍔 🍟 

On the side: 

••• I have been frying my own French fries from russett potatoes now for months... it's taken me numerous tries to achieve the experience that I'm looking for when it comes to French fries. For me, the best kind are those pretty thick in size (but not too thick like a potato wedge... happy balance :)) that have a nice crispy crunch on the outside, but soft potato in the middle. Recipe to follow! 

6.22.22: stars and stripes cupcakes

6.22.21: TT air fryer hasselback potatoes

6.22.20: watermelon windsock

6.22.19: Karen's layered taco dip

6.22.18: blog business cards 

6.22.17: hair idea - top braid

6.22.16: travel - Goodwood Festival

Mini Pinwheel Sandwiches with Flavored Cream Cheese

I made these for the bus ride to and from the Tigers game a couple weeks ago, figuring a little munchie would be good before and after. These are really easy to make and adaptable - choose your deli meat, cheese, and spread to stick it all together and roll up in a tortilla. I made a different cream cheese layer this time that turned out really good and more favorable than just straight cream cheese. 

Using a handheld mixer, whip together 1 block softened cream cheese with enough mayonnaise to make the cream cheese spread easily, about 1/3 cup. Add as much dry ranch seasoning as desired. Fold in 5 or 6 slices cooked, chopped bacon.

Lay tortillas on a clean counter, spread with a light layer of blended cream cheese (don't spread too close to the edges or it'll squish out). Top with 2 slices of Kraft american cheese, and deli turkey slices. Roll up tightly. I cut the ends off of the roll that look a little scraggly (I save the 'scraps' and feed them to Dave for lunch later) and then cut it into about 6 slices, secure with a toothpick. 

You can add veggies like carrot, sweet pepper, or cucumber sticks, green onions or sliced pickles in the center, or layer in a big flat lettuce leaf and then roll up. 

6.21.22: TT removing paint from windows

6.21.21: patriotic windsock

6.21.20: 🔥week 25

6.21.19: lego key holder

6.21.18: garden soaker with timer

6.21.17: baked lemon donuts

6.21.16: packing tips

Tip-sy Tuesday: How to Eliminate Fridge Odors

Well I really wish I'da known this tip when a bag of crab legs leaked in my fridge and I didn't realize it. Yeah, talk about a lingering nasty smell that took me FOREVER to get rid of! I haven't tried this sponge tip yet but it's in my back pocket for the next gross smell in the fridge. 

Use a lemon to absorb lingering odors in your refrigerator. Soak a sponge or cotton ball in some fresh lemon juice, and place it in your fridge for several hours to absorb those odors.

tip found here

6.20.22: old window photo display

6.20.21: 🔥 week 25

6.20.20: wedge salad platter

6.20.19: chipotle sweet potato posole

6.20.18: latch hook rug

6.20.17: change a lightbulb

6.20.16: garage sale signs 

Pet Mug Shot

Miss Lori sent me an email after reading last Monday's post about combining dog tricks and Sarge's storytelling. She sent along a very cute project she made along with this note, I love this SO much I asked if I could share (also, spoiler alert to my family - don't be surprised if you end up getting one of these of your pet hahahaha):

 First, I have to tell you that I loved the video story that Sarge made! He is a talented pup! 🐶 

And speaking of pups, I thought you might like this little project. My sister Linda turned 70 so I threw her a Fiesta birthday party-a few days before her party she was in her yard taking pictures of her flowers and her dog Benson got right in the pic and she sent it to me. It was so funny I had Walgreens print a copy, got some Dollar Tree letters and whipped this up to have on the gift table. She loved it, because it was of her sweet, funny Benson!

6.19.22: 🔥 week 25

6.19.21: charcuterie platter 

6.19.20: pompom bookmarks by Brooke

6.19.19: owl pull-apart cake

6.19.18: your blog comments, and a deer psa 

6/19/17: how to distress jeans

6/19/16: gnocchi with tomatoes and snap peas

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 25)

Dear Campers ~

Here's a quick recap in case you missed anything at camp last week:

Posts ~

6/11: 🔥 week 24

6/12: combining dog tricks 

6/13: TT: chopped veggie containers 

6/14: welcome to the jungle vegetable soup

6/15: california chicken by Macey

6/16: MSTI: pineapple corer and slicer

6/17: Words

What's Cooking  ~

• bbq ribs, mashed potatoes, wedge salad
• grilled chicken, pasta with red sauce, caesar salad
• pork tenderloin, sweet potatoes, green beans
• bbq baked salmon, parmesan couscous, asparagus
• grilled turkey brats, potato salad

That's it for this week. See you next week for more crafts, projects, recipes, tips - whatever we think of to make at camp! Bye :)

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

6.18.22: stacked finger sandwiches

6.18.21: mint chip brownie ice cream squares 

6.18.20: patriotic fruit pizza

6.18.19: tip-sy tuesday: balsamic reduction

6.18.18: halibut stacked with potatoes and spinach

6.18.17: meatloaf

6.18.16: garage sale

6/17 ~ words

6.17.22: selfie light

6.17.21: pierogi

6.17.20: peas with rosemary and pine nuts 

6.17.19: paper tropical flowers

6.17.18: coincidentally it's a different paper flower.

6.17.17: for real, it's another paper flower! I honestly had no idea and did not do this on purpose!

6.17.16: rock photo stand. whew, 4 years of paper flowers woulda been super weird timing.

My Sister Tried It: Pineapple corer and slicer

WHAT.  SERIOUSLY.  So.. I saw something on Amazon lightning deal that I absolutely did not need. Vs.. all of the other things I repeatedly buy that are TOTAL needs. HAHAHA.. (threw that in just in case the hubby reads this)…

So. Back to lightning deal.  A pineapple corer.  Yep we have all seen a pineapple corer before (pretty sure) but this one was different.  It has a circular “cutter” on the bottom.  So this one claims to not only core it but cut perfect Pineapple rings all in the same shot.  I don’t eat a lot of pineapple but I would say the reason for that is primarly because of what a hassle and mess it is to cut.  I also cut too close to the outside “peel” because I don’t want to waste any of the delicious goodness.  That leads me to have little pieces of outside on my fruit.  So when I saw this one I thought it was a great idea- and maybe if it works I would be more apt to actually buy pineapple? The best part was the price on lightning deal which I’m not going to lie is what gave me the final push to buy it. 
 
So. The directions said to cut off the top of the pineapple- just press this little sucker down and start spinning.  I was VERY skeptical but gave it a try.  About one minute in I realized this thing is FANTASTIC. I did what anyone would do and immediately called my sister.  So that explains why some of these pictures are screen shots from her phone. HAHA. She was as amazed as I was.  SO easy, SO fast.  Says works on any pineapple 3-5 pounds.  Also Says in the directions if I stop before I break through the bottom of the pineapple I could retain all the juice inside.  I was too zealous in my spinning and just kept going though and broke through the bottom of the pineapple so didn’t get the enjoyment of the juice. Thinking to add a little vodka to the juice right inside the pineapple next time and I’m like a bartender at a tiki hut in Hawaii! LOL.

Either way – this thing was a steal and I can actually see myself using this in the future.  Now I have to go and enjoy some pineapple.

6.16.22: chicken cheeseburger shepherds pie

6.16.21: minty dream cookies 

6.16.20: tip-sy tuesday: toasting pine nuts

6.16.19: 🔥week 24

6.16.18: camping shower lanyard

6.16.17: outfit idea - distressed jeans

6.16.16: scottie topiary

California Chicken with Black Beans by Macey

 California Chicken: Served with Black Beans & Crispy Tortilla Chips

In a medium sized bowl, mix 3/4 cup, balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup honey, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, three cloves of garlic (minced) 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning and salt and pepper as desired. 

1. Preheat the oven to 375° 

2. Trim and pat dry the chicken. If the chicken breast is over ¾ inches thick, flatten it with a meat mallet (or if you’re like me, use the bottom of a heavy pan ;) ). 

3. Hear olive oil in a cast iron pan on medium-high…. 

4. Type: Cast iron pan with the lines in it to make the meat look all fancy? IDK the correct name, but cast iron with the lines looks the best… in my opinion).. :-)   I wait until the pan was hot (oil  started to bubble when on medium high roughly 45deconds ish after turning on) and then seared each side of the chicken breast for ~2-3 minutes; then set chicken aside. 

5. Using a standard casserole dish, I then poured any extra from the stovetop into the dish I’m going to put chicken in.

6. Once chicken is laid flat into the dish, lather the balsamic / honey sauce you made (see above for ingredient list) 

7. 1-2 sliced Roma tomatoes (I used only 1 full tomato for this recipe, as I was only cooking for two people and the chicken breast’s were pretty small!) lay the sliced tomatoes over top. Lastly, cover chicken / tomato with a piece of mozzarella cheese and bake for 8-10 minutes. 

8. Take chicken out when temp is 160f add more of the “sauce”if you have extra … (feel free to make up a little more if it seems too dry). Lastly, and 1/4 cup basil sprinkled over all pieces of chicken. FYI: (I didn’t make any more sauce that what I have listed above. It was plenty, and by the time you add cheese avocados and tomatoes it was very flavorful… a dish I will absolutely be making again!) 

9. Cut avocados into little pieces and  drizzle a little bit more balsamic vinegar! (I.e… “little bit more” = no scientific method, just drizzled the bottle over the chicken / avocados  until it looked good ;) 

This meal was served with a side of black beans. Which I take out of the can, put into a casserole dish, add chopped up white onion (raw) salt and pepper as desired and bake for 10 mins… sprinkle Mexican cheese and bake another ~2-3 mins until cheese is melted. (Seriously, this is my fav way to eat black beans). 

Served on the plate: beans, the chicken, and a handful of corn tortilla chips with a little salsa to dip :) See pic!

6.15.22: greenery wall by Jenny

6.15.21: TT slicing tomatoes hack and fail 

6.15.20: painted sticks

6.15.19: Jen's new 'mantra' 

6.15.18: diy duvet cover

6.15.17: chopping herbs 

6.15.16: mini fruit pies

"Welcome to the Jungle" (aka vegetable soup)

I made soup the other day using just every kind of vegetable I had in my fridge, and it turned out so good! I recently read a book titled 'Ditch the Diet' and one piece of advice is to eat more vegetables (duh) and that when you open the fridge you should hear 'welcome to the jungle' hahah. So that's what I named my very chock-full of vegetables soup! I gave some to my sis - here's her review (in addition to my review that it's so good hahah), here's what she has to say and the recipe follows:

Unexpectedly my sister dropped me off a tub of soup- wasnt a "planned" dinner, just a random gift. I could tell on first glance it was FULL of veggies so didnt figure there was any point in saving it for the husband to share. Its appearance gave off the whole cabbage soup craze of years gone by.  Not going to lie, I never minded the cabbage soup but wasnt filling and wasnt exactly full of flavor. 

That said, I had low expectations. Boy was I wrong. It was honestly DELICIOUS.  I am not a big soup lover but this one was GREAT.  The flavor was fantastic, the veggies were filling, just all in all a great soup.  

In full disclosure I did immediately call her and ask what the broth was because I was hoping it wasnt absurdly bad for me- and it wasn't!! Check out her recipe- it was great. I'll make this one again for sure. 

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE SOUP

I didn't measure the veggies, just chopped what I had into bite-sized pieces: 

• broccoli
• carrots
• onion
• red pepper
• celery
• mushrooms
• green beans
• zucchini 
• summer squash
• cabbage
• baby spinach (or cut big spinach leaves into smaller pieces)

• 1 large can Italian Sauce 
• 1 small can fire-roasted diced tomatoes with seasoning
• 1 small can water
• 1 packet dried onion soup mix
• salt and pepper
• tabasco sauce

Saute the veggies in a small amount of olive oil, starting with the ones that take the longest to cook (onion, carrot, celery) then add the others as you chop them except for the spinach - you'll wilt that last. Saute a few minutes until starting to soften, stirring occasionally; add the sauce, tomatoes, water and onion soup mix. Cook until the veggies are tender, stirring occasionally. Add the spinach, stir to combine; add salt,  pepper, and a few dashes of tabasco to taste; cover and cook until the spinach is wilted.

6.14.22: TT butter substitutes 

6.14.21: sweet and simple gift box 

6.14.20: 🔥week 24

6.14.19: diy: ice packs

6.14.18: rv headboard wall

6.14.17: mini hand pies

6.14.16: scented bath salts

Tip-sy Tuesday: Chopped Vegetable Containers

Brooke sent me this picture saying it reminded her of the snack dispenser we made for her flying home from visiting us a few years ago (click here for that post). In addition to the snack dispenser, using empty creamer containers to transport chopped veggies is a great camping idea!

6.13.22: photo centerpiece 

6.13.21: 🔥 week 24

6.13.20: crispy salt and vinegar potatoes

6.13.19: MSIH: mini calzones

6.13.18: 1,000 posts! (it's now 2811!)

6.13.17: mason jar graduation gift

6.13.16: painted flag mason jars

Combining Dog Tricks

This is my absolute favorite thing to do with Sarge - he knows a bunch of regular ol' dog tricks so I've been working on combining them together to make a different trick. For instance, he does 'statue' sitting on his butt with front legs in the air (other people call it 'sitting pretty') and he also does 'bang' where I make a gun shape with my thumb and index finger and say bang and he falls over. So put the two together and he's like a statue that falls over. Or he knows how to spin, so I'll say "spin two times and die" and he does just that. It's adorable.

hi!

Take that even farther and we act out a story. I have it on video but for some reason I can't get my videos to post on the blog - please go to my youtube channel (Jill Pasant) if you want to watch it, the link is https://youtu.be/VENELMf6Z0U -  it varies sometimes because I forget the story hahaha, but the breakdown is something like this:

me: hey Dave, did you hear the story about the bank robber? Sarge will reenact it for you...

"Once upon a time, a man was working at a bank when a robber came in. The man said 'hi' (Sarge waves) but the robber said 'this is a stickup, hands in the air, give me all your money!' (Sarge does statue). 'Don't got any money? Then bang!' (Sarge falls onto his side but is still moving his legs). The man crawled for the door (Sarge crawls) and yelled 'help'! (Sarge speaks) but it was too late, he died. (Sarge falls over and lays still)."

I'm telling you, it's adorable and you can't help but laugh. Problem with this story is we have done it so many times Sarge just does all the tricks in a row without waiting for his cues LOL. Like he's on his side with his legs kicking before the robber even says 'hands in the air' - which is also super cute and funny but I need to come up with a new story!

Sarges list of tricks for me to combine include:

• sit, stay, down
• crawl
• wave
• hi 5, down low
• shake with either paw (note: his legs are like 4 inches long so wave, hi 5, and shake are all pretty similar!)
• touch
• pick a hand
• roll over
• bang, die
• spin, spin 2 times
• statue
• speak
• speak little (softer barking)

and we are currently working on backing up, and kicking the ball to me

If your dog knows tricks you can string them together to make a different trick or routine. The hardest part is thinking of what you want them to do! 

6.12.22: 🔥 week 24

6.12.21: cauliflower pizza casserole 

6.12.20: Al and Cathy change their kitchen island 

6.12.19: potato, squash, goat cheese gratin

6.12.18: phone case hack

6.12.17: DIY clutch (placemat) purse

6.12.16: asparagus strawberry salad

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 24)

Dear Campers ~

Here's a quick recap of what happened at camp last week in case you missed anything:

Posts ~

6/4: 🔥 week 23

6/5: pet outfit album 

6/6: TT poison ivy

6/7: GF trifle with lemon curd

6/8: Macey's chicken enchiladas

6/9: MSTI: coffee foamer

6/10: words

What's Cooking:

• steak, homemade potato salad, sautéed mushrooms, wilted spinach
• grilled marinated chicken breasts, pasta with pink sauce (mix red and alfredo together), salad
• lamb chops, potato salad, wedge salad (Dave's night to cook for himself!)
• individual pizzas, chopped salad
• Italian sausage and mushroom stroganoff, roasted asparagus

That's it for this week - hope you'll join us at 'camp' next week for more projects, recipes, crafts, whatever we think of to make! Bye :)

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

6.11.22: open house party favors

6.11.21: prosciutto, cheese and fig crackers

6.11.20: veggie stuffed peppers by Jen

6.11.19: tip-sy tuesday: organizing spare buttons and extra threads

6.11.18: road trip survival kit

6.11.17: perfect grilled chicken marinade

6.11.16: how to make glitter balloons 

6.10 ~ Words

6.10.22: June 10th thru the years 

6.10.21: air fryer frozen salmon 

6.10.20: hidden painted rocks

6.10.19: wine cork flower wreath

6.10.18: mini-sample hoarder

6.10.17: planting tomatoes 

6.10.16: paper circle garland