Saturday, November 30, 2013

7 Layer Dip

Well I have loved this recipe since I was introduced to it
at a workshop by Debby M, although everytime I make it
I eat way too much as it is soo moorish. 
Today was one of those days.
I thought I would share with you all so you can
 make it yourself and enjoy it as well.
 I made two dishes today, one to take to an all day craft
and one for home, I dont think I could face the one at home.
Here are some sites with the recipes of varying ingredients
and titles.
My variation is putting the cucumber in  as well,
gives a nice crisp crunch to it. I also add
shallots or scallions to mine.
ENJOY!

2 avocados
1 tsp lemon juice
garlic seasoning to taste
1 tin refried beans
1/2 jar salsa
1 cup sour cream
taco seasoning
grated cheese
1 tomato
1 lebanese or telegraph cucumber
2 sprigs spring onion
1/2 cup chopped olives
extras our cream
sweet chilli sauce

Mash avocado with a little lemon juice
add garlic seasoning to taste
spread onto bottom of glass dish.
Mix refried beans with salads
spread over the avocado.

Mix 1/2-1 cup soup cream with
taco seasoning, add a little at a time
until you get the taste you like.
Spread that over the refried bean mix.
Sprinkle grated cheese,
 then finely diced tomato and cucumber
chopped spring onions, chopped olives
and garnish with a little sour cream and
sweet chilli sauce.

Serve with your favourite corn chips.



Tuesday, November 19, 2013

T for Tuesday-Risotto recipe-cheap heating

I treated myself to a birthday present I thought would benefit everyone in the house, bought myself an electric Pressure Cooker. The regular ones scare the heebeegeebees out of me. My friend used it the other weekend when we went to stay with them and I was sold. Two days later I went to our local Spotlight store which is similar to JoAnns or Hobby lobby but way way smaller and lo and behold they had one on sale for $75, I snapped it up. They also had a convection oven which I have dreamed of owning but was too expensive, on sale for $85 so I snapped that up too lol. 

So my friend made risotto in the pressure cooker and it took 6 minutes. That's what sold me, now that I am working shift work and full time I need to be able to make nutritious and quick meals. 

So here is my risotto in my favourite cooking implement with my cup of tea, a must have when I am cooking-this flavour is Rooibos which doesn't have any tannin in it.


Linking up with Bluebeard and Elizabeth's T for Tuesdays Meme


If you live in Australia and are a card maker or not a card maker please read my request for Cards for the Troops and if you can contribute I would be ever so grateful.

Risotto recipe:
2 cups arborio rice (the cup that comes with the cooker)
5 cups water (same cup from cooker)
2 stalks shallots
200 grams diced bacon 
1 small carrot diced (or frozen)
100 grams frozen peas
1 leek diced
3 cloves of garlic crushed
50 grams butter
100 grams grated parmesan cheese
1 sprig of parsley chopped
30mls cream

Switch cooker onto sauté  melt the butter and add the garlic and leek, cook, stirring occasionally. Add bacon, carrot and peas, stir. add rest of ingredients. I also add some chicken stock (powdered) to your taste, the first time I cooked this I forgot to add the seasoning but it didn't really matter, the parmesan cheese seems to be enough. Stir all the ingredients until mixed. Shut the pressure cooker lid as per instructions, if yours has a minute timer put it to 8 minutes, my Kambrook one doesn't have minutes it has numbers so I chose 4. When it turns off, switch it off at the wall and wait 10 minutes then release the steam, open the lid very carefully. 
The first time  I gave myself a fright and almost burnt myself from the steam, so use an oven mitt to turn the knob to release the heat and open the lid. Enjoy and tell me how yours turned and what ingredients you used.


Saturday, November 16, 2013

Cheap heating idea

Found this wonderful idea for cheap heating after I got a shocking $500 heating bill this winter gone. I tested it out and it works brilliantly. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brHqBcZqNzE

You'll find many more great ideas at this website:
http://www.naturalcuresnotmedicine.com

I've testing it out and will probably need 3 pots in my craft room to heat it up.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

WOYWW 232

I've been AWOL for a few weeks, too busy at work and no time to play, although my craft table is busy and I do have something on the go but I can't photograph it as its for a display of sorts. I also acquired a Mac desktop and the day after my laptop died, so I've been fighting with this Mac and not being able to find my photos etc, very frustrating indeed. I know when I eventually learn how to use it it will all be ok, consequently I have had to revert to the windows portion of Mac each time I want to do something with my photos. I need more patience LOL

I had a birthday last Saturday so I wanted to show you what I got myself for my birthday with hubby's permission (well its too late now for him to back down hahaha, well I do earn my own money so its half from him, the approval half).
Dies I thought were too cute to resist
Embellishments to die for
Love this local stamp company, they have some great illustrators
More stamps
..and washi tape

Then to bring me down to earth I drove into the garage door last night and damaged it, we rent the house so now we have to pay for it. 
I am upset that I was too short to life the door up enough so it wouldn't slide down.
I am upset that the owners did not fix the electrics on it when we moved in and still haven't and maybe this wouldn't have happen.
I am grateful that it only  hit the roof rack on the car and didn't damage the car.
Well that makes hubby and I on an even keel now cos he put a huge scrape down the wheel arch one day and didnt tell me LOL

Linking up with Julia's Stamping Ground to travel vicariously around the world and see some wonderful desks and craft items.

If you live in Australia and are a card maker or not a card maker please read my request for 
and if you can contribute I would be ever so grateful.




Tuesday, November 12, 2013

T for Tuesday



I have been laid down with a late season flu, only in Canberra do we suffer from flu in the summer months sheesh. To top that off it's hay fever season as well so I had a double dose. So what better way to chase the lurgys away is to make chicken soup with my favourite additions-creamed corn and corn niblets. Threw some fresh parsley from the garden for good measure. That cup of tea has gone cold hahaha you can see the pooling of the milk when it goes cold uuuggghhh.

I am getting too OCD for my own good having to paperclip down the scribble pad under the keyboard LOL

Linking up with Bluebeard and Elizabeth's T for Tuesdays Meme

If you live in Australia and are a card maker or not a cardmaker please read my request for Cards for the Troops and if you can contribute I would be ever so grateful.