DCWV at CHA!

DCWV is one of my absolute favorite paper companies.  They just seem to come up with some of the neatest, most versatile cardstock.  Plus, the cardstock is not only cute but is a really great quality product.  So here's the link to their blog with the video of the winter 2012 CHA booth.  DCWV CHA booth!  DCWV is also the (somewhat) new owner of Blue Moon Beads so there's something there for the jewelry makers too.  :)

Book Number 1

Just a quick little post for you.  I just finished up my first book for my Fifty.Fifty.Me challenge.  There's a post explaining the challenge down further on my blog but the general idea is that I need to read 50 new books and watch 50 new movies this year.  So book number one was The 6th Target by James Patterson.  It was kind of interesting but it wasn't too involved at the same time.  Turns out it was actually the sixth book in his 'women's murder club' series.  I might think about getting the other books from the library.  Now I'm trying to debate whether I should start another book, watch a movie, watch a TV show, or craft!  Oh, and can I just say that I really wish I was able to attend CHA out in CA?  The pictures that Paper Crafts magazine keep adding to their FB page are way too exciting.    

Zumba!!!

So I know I've been lagging behind on posting but I'm happy to report that I'm finally getting my butt in gear when it comes to the exercise.  I did jump on the elliptical twice last week but that's really not too much fun.  Then last Thursday one of the ladies at work (Maggie, you know it's you) said that I should join her at her Zumba classes.  I went to the first one tonight (it's on Mondays and Thursdays) and I think I was pleasantly surprised.  I knew the basic idea of what Zumba is so I had some idea going into it as far as what to expect.  I fully expected to look like an absolute uncoordinated idiot and I'm sure I looked just like that.  About three songs in I wanted to curl up in a corner- my side was killing me and wow did my feet hurt!  However I knew that I needed to keep going.  The only way I'm going to get back in shape is to push through the pain.  By the halfway point I felt like I could keep going and the second half of the class was great.  I'm a bit more tired than I usually am but my muscles are really aching right now.  I'm wondering how they'll feel in the morning!

Christmas gifts...

I'm just the posting queen tonight!  One last post before I call it a night.  Now that Christmas has been over for a few weeks, I thought I would share some of the gifts that I made this year.  I've been making all (or almost all) of my gifts for several years now.  I think that there's something special about receiving a handmade gift as opposed to something just picked up in a store.  So here are a few things that I made this year.

This is a kitchen set that I made for my sister Donna.  I used an old tin for the canister.  I then modpodged all over it and covered it in fabric.  I printed the label out from the computer and then hand cut it.  I inked all of the edges and the coated it in a layer of embossing powder to help prevent the ink from running if it were to get splashed with water.  I also made two pot holders because everybody can use a pot holder or two!

Donna also got this fun apron.  I was really tempted to keep this for myself- I just love batiks!  The reverse is actually the checkered cherry print that used for the canister and pot holders.

I made Grandma this purse.  It's really not too exciting until you learn that this is only part of the purse! 

Here's the rest of the purse!  The purse is designed so that the outside cover can be changed out.  There are magnetic snaps on the purse and on the inside of each cover to hold the cover onto the purse.  And there's a flap that comes down from the top of the purse to hide the top of the cover. 

Mom got this purse.  It was a McCall's pattern that she picked out from my stash of patterns.  I found the main fabric with the dots in the red tag section at the Jo-Ann's that I work at.  I then found the other four fabrics to play off of the first one.  You can't see fabric number four at all because it's the lining for the purse but I can tell you that it's a black tone on tone.

My other sister Mary and her husband Carl got four pillow covers to fit 16 inch pillow forms for their couch.  I could have sworn that I took a picture but I can't seem to figure out what happened to it.  They also wanted hand-knit wool socks.  Problem with that is that I don't really know how to knit.  I have a sock loom but it's taken me weeks to get almost two inches done of it.  So Jim went out and picked up some really warm wool socks from Gander Mountain.

So there you have it.  Some of the gifts that I made this year.  Hope you liked seeing them.  I'm actually still working on one gift- my uncle wanted a pen and ink drawing of his cat, Emma.  I'll post a picture of that when I manage to get it done.  Good thing he's patient about it!  :)  Tomorrow I'll post some of the cards that I made for Christmas.

Crispy Caribbean Veggie Wrappers

When I found this recipe in an old 'Healthy Cooking' magazine, I just knew I had to try it.  I had a bit of a problem though.  It called for sweet potatoes and I absolutely hate sweet potatoes.  So I put out a message on Facebook and asked my friends what I should substitute.  Several of the choices sounded really good and I let my husband pick the final substitute- plain old potatoes.  Other suggestions included acorn squash, butternut squash, pumpkin, zucchini, banana, and mashed cauliflower.  I plan on trying some of these in the future but if you try one, let me know what you think of it.  One thing I really like about this recipe was that it was something that I felt I could play around with and change up so here's my modified version.

Ingredients

• about 1 pound potatoes
• 1/2 c. canned black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/3 c. to 1/2 c. chopped red onion
• 1/4 c. chopped bell peppers- any color
• 2 T. minced fresh cilantro
• 1 T. lime juice
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1 tsp. chopped jalapeno pepper
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 package egg roll wrappers (there should be about 20 or 21 in a package)
• cooking spray
• salsa

Step 2

1. Scrub and pierce potatoes and place on a microwave safe plate.  Microwave, uncovered, on high until tender.  Turn once if using larger potatoes (I used five small potatoes).  When cool enough to handle, cut potatoes in half and scoop out the pulp.  Discard the skins.  Mash pulp in a small bowl.
2. Mix together all of the ingredients except for the wrappers, cooking spray and salsa.
3. Lightly brush all four edges of one egg roll wrapper with water.  (Keep your remaining wrappers under a damp paper towel until ready to use.)  Spread approximately 1 T. (or a little more) along one edge of wrapper.  Roll up tightly folding edges in to seal.  Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling.
4. Place wrappers seam side down on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.  Spritz wrappers with cooking spray.  Bake at 375 degree F. until golden brown.  Serve warm with salsa.

Step 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4

Really, quite delicious!

I would have loved to put all of the photos with each step but for whatever reason blogger wouldn't let me insert more than the one in my list.  Sorry about that!  For those of you counting WW points, this recipe clocks in at 1 point per wrapper!  And regular salsa is 0 points so enjoy however much of that you want.  And again feel free to change up the ingredients to fit your tastes.  Maybe you like things less spicy so leave out the jalapenos.  Or maybe you want to kick it up an extra notch with some chili powder or Cajun seasoning.  It's all up to you!  Just remember that if you're doing WW and you change it up, to make those changes in your recipe builder in case your points change.  Let me know what you think down in the comments!

Black Bean Brownies

I know, it sounds kind of strange.  Brownies and black beans?  However, I decided that since I was going to be opening a can of beans for my other recipe, this was the time to try this one out.  I swear that you can't taste the black beans at all.  The good thing about the black beans is that they add a bit more fiber and protein to your brownies so you can pretend that you're eating a healthy treat.  My only complaint with the way these turned out is that the brownies are more cake-like than fudge-like.  This is actually a Weight Watchers recipe- 4 points per brownie.  So here goes!

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 1/2 c. canned black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/4 c. strong black coffee
• 1/2 c. unsalted butter
• 4 oz. (about 1/2 c.) chocolate- the original called for bittersweet but I used semi-sweet chips
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/4 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 c. all-purpose flour 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
2. In a blender or food processor, blend beans and coffee until smooth.  Set aside.
3. Melt chocolate and butter together over very low heat.  Stir often.
4. Meanwhile, use an electric mixer to beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy.  With mixer on low speed add in melted chocolate/butter.  Incorporate completely.
5. Add black bean/coffee mix, vanilla and salt to bowl and combine on low speed. Mix well. 
6. Add flour to bowl and combine on low speed.
7. Pour into prepared pan.  Bake until a tester inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 20-30 minutes.  Let cool for at least 20 minutes on a cooling rack.  Cut into 24 pieces and serve.

kind of looks like it's just floating there, doesn't it?

I will say this, I haven't had one of these cooled completely but they were delicious warm.  You could always add nuts or other spices to the mix to customize it.  Just keep in mind that if you add nuts, this will change the WW point value.  Enjoy!

Goal Reached!

I've been very careful to track my eating this week on my plan manager so I knew I was eating right for the most part.  I'm happy to report that I've reached my first goal measurement!  I did go downstairs to use the elliptical the other day but my efforts were thwarted when I discovered that I needed batteries for the display.  So Jim picked those up from the store and I'm ready to go now.  I figure I'll start off with whatever time frame I feel like I can do when I get on it.  So I'm not going to say that I'm doing 30 minutes a day or 45 or 15, etc.  Instead I'm going to start with whatever works for me that day.  After all, every little bit counts!