Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Tip-sy Tuesday: practicing with piping tips

Quick little tip when decorating a cake - before I pipe whatever designs onto my frosted cake I practice a few times on a spatula or pastry knife using the same frosting I am going to decorate with. That way if I don't like the tip I'm using I can switch it out for a different one before actually applying it to the cake, and I just scrape the practice ones back into the bowl so I can reuse it. Easy and it's saved me a lot of mistakes haha!

9.10.23: 🔥 week 37

9.10.22: cinnamon roll waffles

9.10.21: flower seed wedding favors

9.10.20: organizing and defrosting the deep freezer

9.10.19: TT how to use a shredding disk

9.19.18: arm knit afghan

9.10.17: salad in baked meat cups

9.10.16: pineapple upside-down cake cocktails

Monday, September 9, 2024

Individual Vegetable Cups

These were one of the appetizers we made for the party last weekend - individual vegetable cups (Covid really changed how we serve certain foods at big parties, didn't it?!). We squeezed Ranch dressing into the bottom of small 3 oz. clear cups (I ordered them from Amazon, they're 2 1/2 by 2 1/4"), and stood a baby carrot, pea pod, celery, and a cherry tomato on a toothpick in the dip - quick to put together and held up at least until the next morning so they are ok to make-ahead of time.

To serve with placed the veggie cups and (our other appetizer) skewers together on large trays.

9.9.23: words

9.9.22: personalized phone case

9.9.21: window signs (paint on old windows)

9.9.20: croissant bread pudding with bourbon sauce

9.9.19: DIY no-sew tutu

9.9.18: 🔥 week 36

9.9.17: wine cork flower holder

9.9.16: chopped champion aprons

Sunday, September 8, 2024

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 36)

Dear Campers ~

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

Posts ~

9/1: 🔥 week 35

9/2: peach onesie for Georgie

9/3: TT how to layer iron-on vinyl

9/4: 'one' onesie

9/5: pickled beets

9/6: mini cheeseball appetizers

9/7: words (anniversary)

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

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

9.8.23: philly cheesesteak inspired sandwich

9.8.22: grilled mini pizzas

9.8.21: mojitos

9.8.20: TT stovetop toasted garbanzo beans

9.8.19: 🔥 week 36

9.8.18: b.l.a.t. sandwich

9.8.17: crown braid by Brooke

9.8.16: rearranging furniture

Saturday, September 7, 2024

9/7 ~ Words

Today's 'words' are more of a shout-out to Tesha and Ray celebrating their 50th anniversary tomorrow!

9.7.23: insect repellent sachets

9.7.22: strawberry cream pie

9.7.21: TT - solo cup measurements

9.7.20: face mask with filter pocket

9.2.19: wild mushroom and thyme soup

9.7.18: tomato tart

9.7.17: first aid certification

9.7.16: brownie, oreo, reese's ice cream cake

Friday, September 6, 2024

Mini Cheeseballs

We are going to a party this weekend and I'm helping with the appetizers - there's been much discussion of what to make and we settled on individual cups of veggies and dip, and antipasto skewers (I'll share pics of both after we make them!). I came across these mini cheeseballs with a pretzel rod in them, I haven't made before but I'm sharing the idea so I don't forget it in the future. We decided since we'd need to make like 100 of them it was too much work, but for a smaller party this seems like a fun and different munchie.

Here's the original post and picture I found here, you could make whatever cheeseball you like and just roll them into small balls. I have a couple recipes on the blog if you want other ideas, click here and here

Mini Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball Recipe

These mini bacon ranch cheeseballs are a great party appetizer. Serve on a pretzel stick or with chips on a platter. Small plates with individual portions would make a great display. You guests will love this popular holiday snack. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween - any reason to throw parties! This is a make ahead recipe!!

Course Appetizers

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings

Calories 106.9kcal

Author Jenny Bullistron

Equipment

Ingredients

12 ounces cream cheese softened
8 ounces cheddar cheese shredded
1 tablespoon dry ranch seasoning
1 cup bacon finely chopped
1 tablespoon parsley
30 pretzel sticks

Instructions

Add the softened cream cheese to a medium bowl and smooth with a spatula or a hand mixer. Add the cheddar cheese and ranch seasoning and mix until combined.
In a small bowl, combine the bacon and parsley.
Use a melon baller to scoop out a ball of the cheese mixture. Use your hands to make sure it is in a ball and then roll it in the bacon mixture. Set aside.
Repeat until all of the cheese balls are made. Place a pretzel stick in the middle of each cheese ball and serve.

Notes

You can substitute chives or green onions for the parsley.

If you're short on time, use precooked bacon or store-bought bacon bits.

If you are watching your salt intake, use low-sodium bacon and half of the ranch dressing mix.

You can make dry ranch dressing mix from scratch - this is a great way to limit the amount of salt.

Nutrition

9.6.23: hot cream cheese dip

9.6.22: TT cream puff dessert

9.6.21: 'welcome to the wedding' sign

9.6.20: 🔥 week 36

9.6.19: plastic lacing gimp keychain

9.6.18: roasted tomatoes with pasta

9.6.17: morning glory muffins

9.6.16: Japanese steakhouse carrot-ginger salad dressing

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Pickled Beets

I made both refrigerator pickled beets and canned pickled beets using the beets Kyle gave me - I haven't opened a jar of these yet since we are working on the refrigerator jar first but I assume they are going to be just as good! I followed this recipe other than I added some black peppercorns and mustard seeds in with the cloves.

I'm copying and pasting the original post:

Pickled Beets

Pickled beets are easy to make with freshly cooked beets and a brine made with sugar, pickling salt, and vinegar. This recipe is one of my "must-do" yearly canning recipes when I have a bumper crop of fresh beets.

Submitted by SHARON HOWARD

Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen

Prep Time:

10 mins

Cook Time:

25 mins

Additional Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

50 mins

Servings:

Yield:

10 (1-pint) jars

Ingredients

10 pounds fresh small beets, stems removed
2 cups white sugar
1 tablespoon pickling salt
1 quart white vinegar
¼ cup whole cloves, or as needed

Directions

Gather all ingredients.
Place beets in a large stockpot with water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, inspect 10 pint-sized jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until beets are ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
Drain beets, reserving 2 cups of beet water. When beets are cool enough to handle, peel and discard skins.
Fill each sterilized jar with beets. Evenly divide cloves among the jars.
Combine sugar, 2 cups of beet water, vinegar, and pickling salt in a large saucepan; bring to a rapid boil.
Pour the hot brine over the beets in the jars, and seal the lids.
Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.
Enjoy!

Recipe Tip

If using large beets, cut them into quarters before boiling.

Nutrition Facts

calories60
total fat 0g
sodium 176mg
total carbohydrate 14g
dietary fiber 2g
total sugars 12g
protein 1g
vitamin c 4mg
calcium 15mg
iron 1mg
potassium 246mg

9.5.23: TT cleaning an RV shower track

9.5.22: happy labor day '22

9.5.21: 🔥 week 36

9.5.20: stuffed tomatoes with grits

9.5.19: insta-pot tortellini by Jen

9.5.18: raw fresh tomato sauce

9.5.17: birthday party

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

'One' Onesie

After I made the cute peach 'one' onesie for Georgie's birthday party, Mickey liked it so much she asked if I could make another for her family dinner we had on G's actual birthday - after seeing how easy the peach one was to make thanks in part to the new heat press I said of course I would!

I literally made this in a few minutes, it took longer for me to pick the candle image than it did to make the thing hahaha.

click here to see how to make the fluffy tutu

9.4.23: happy labor day '23

9.4.22: 🔥 week 36

9.4.21: beer tap pull handles

9.4.20: Cathy's canvas painting

9.4.19: chocolate cupcakes w/peanut butter frosting

9.4.18: Tomato Jam

9.4.17: Labor Day (funny)

9.4.16: white beans in marinara, arugula salad

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Tip-sy Tuesday: How to Layer Iron-On Vinyl

Yesterday I showed you how I made Georgie's one-year old onesie, it's the first time I've layered vinyl and wasn't sure how to go about it so I checked with Mr. Google and found lots of info.

When you're layering different pieces on top of each other you don't want to press each layer for the full amount of time because by the time you get to the top layer the under layers will have been pressed so many times they might distort or get weird. So what you want to do is just basically tack* each layer for a couple of seconds just to lightly hold it in place, then once you're at the top layer you hold the press for the allotted time.

*Tacking is a sewing term meaning to sew quick temporary stitches that you remove later, it's used for a variety of reasons, such as holding a seam in place until it's sewn properly. Obviously we aren't making stitches in the vinyl but I'm using 'tacking' here to mean holding the layers in place until you put the top layer on and press it permanently.

Side note: cricut.com has a heat settings guide that shows you time and temperature for different vinyls and the materials you are ironing them onto. Click here for the link.

For her onesie I layered peach and gold vinyl, so I just pressed the peach down for a couple of seconds just til it stayed in place; then top with the gold and pressed for the full amount of time. I learned that glitter vinyl needs to be the top layer, don't layer colored vinyl over it.

Also, FYI, I use parchment paper between the vinyl and the iron.

Here she is in her birthday outfit - the tutu matched her highchair tutu, click to see the posts on both of those items.

info found at jennifermaker

9.3.23: 🔥 week 36

9.3.22: cucumbers in vinegar

9.3.21: tiny wedding cake

9.3.20: drunken cherry bombs

9.3.19: TT - clear vanilla

9.3.18: tomato week: stuffed tomatoes

9.3.17: cauliflower waffles

9.3.16: Barbie soap - wrong but funny.

Monday, September 2, 2024

Peach Onesie for Georgie

I made these cute onesies for Georgie's one year birthday - I finally broke down and bought a Cricut heat press and it made this project so easy!! You could do it with an iron, that's what I've done since I started Cricut-ing but the press is sooooo much easier.

I downloaded an image of a peach (Georgia peach was the theme) and the word 'one' in a pretty font. Cut out the peach in gold glitter and also peach colored vinyl; the stem and leaf from green vinyl, and the words in both gold and peach vinyls. For the front design I cut off the 'o' and replaced it with the peach, then layered the peach vinyl 'ne' and the glitter 'ne'. I ironed the glitter beach on the lower back side.