How to Make: Homemade Modge Podge

I love doing crafts with my kids.  

Sometimes a craft calls for an item that you have to run to the hobby store to buy, 

and you don't even need to!!

I made labels for my Homemade Sugar Scrubs that I made in jelly jars, and instead of spending more money, I just made my own Modge Podge!

Some jars had modge podge over circle labels placed on scrapbook paper, others had them on the jar itself.

Homemade Modge Podge

white glue

water

 jar with lid

Mix equal parts of glue and water and place in jar with lid, give it a good shake!

It's nice because you can make as little or as much as you want!

Loaded Baked Potato Casserole

I went to the store to buy ingredients for a potato casserole I found in my Church cookbook.

But I am not usually one for following recipes and changed my mind walking through the store.

I started thinking how good a loaded baked potato sounded, but we had just had baked potatoes, and I wanted to switch it up.

I took all of the goodness of a loaded baked potato and whipped up this casserole!

It was FABULOUS!!

We ate it with steaks on the grill, but it's hearty enough, it could be your meal!

Loaded Baked Potato Casserole

1 32 oz frozen hash browns

1 can cream of celery

1 tsp salt

2 cups cheddar cheese

2 Tbls dried minced onion (1/2 cup fresh)

2 cups sour cream

1/2 tsp pepper

2 Tbls fresh chives, chopped

1 package of real bacon pieces

Mix all of ingredients in a 2 quart greased casserole dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Pico de Gallo

Hands down, my favorite thing to make with my home grown tomatoes is 

homemade salsa / homemade pico de gallo.

My kids call them both salsa, but I would say that what I make is more of a pico.

Salsa seems to be more of a blended/cooked/canned type sauce.

Pico is more fresh ingredients.

Correct me if I am wrong?

Either way, sign me up, because it is literally my most FAVORITE snack.

It's also my son, Spencer's favorite.

I think it's because I ate more Mexican food when I was pregnant with him, than anything else.

And the hotter the better.

I still laugh when I think if the time my Mother-In-Law told me my baby was going to be born bald, because all of the spicy food I was eating was burning his hair off!!

Spencer has a great garden this year, full of peppers, all kinds, and tomatoes, too.

Right now, the peppers are going like crazy and the tomatoes are green.

*sigh*

So I hit a local stand and bought a bunch, and mixed up some pico tonight., 

He was a happy camper when he got home from work!

Pico de Gallo

8 medium sized ripe tomatoes

1- 1 1/2 onion diced (I used a Vidalia one)

1-2 jalapeno

2 hot wax or banana peppers

1 salsa pepper

1 clove garlic minced

2 teaspoons of lime juice

1/2 cup cilantro leaves, or to taste

sea salt

Dice tomatoes and onions and place in a large bowl.

In your food processor, place peppers and cilantro and give them a whir!

Scoop into tomato/onion mixture.

Add garlic, lime and give it a sprinkle of sea salt.  

If you leave it in the fridge overnight, it always tastes better the next day!

Notes: This "recipe" is really based on taste.  If you want it more mild, use more peppers, don't like cilantro? omit it.  I start with the tomatoes and onions and add peppers to it, it will "heat up" a bit as it sits, but not so much that if you think you can't taste the peppers, you shouldn't add more.

I use what peppers I have on hand, always jalapenos, but sometimes I might not have the salsa pepper, and you can just add and take away.

The sea salt seems to really bring out the taste.  Use as much or as little as your tastes allow.

Banana Split Malt

We had an ice cream shop when I was a kid that was called Goodrich Dairy.

It was where my Dad like to go for banana splits and  they made the best chocolate malts.

I had a follower share a recipe for a smoothie with me earlier this summer, and I turned it into a malt.

It tastes JUST like a banana split in a glass!

Banana Split Malt

1 banana

1 cup of milk

1 cup frozen cherries

2 cups vanilla ice cream (more if you want super thick!!)

whipped cream

chocolate syrup

marchino cherry

Blend the banana, milk, ice cream and cherries in your blender.

Pour into a tall glass, top with whipped cream, drizzle with chocolate syrup and top with a cherry.

**I have made this with the ice cream and whole milk for my kids, I have also lightened it up for me and the hubby.  Use Non-Fat frozen yogurt and skim milk to lighten it up! 

Grab a straw and enjoy!!

Spinach & Artichoke Alfredo Pizza

I have had this pinned for a while now, and thought it would be better on my table then stuck in my computer!!

Thanks to the two bite club for sharing this!

Spinach, Artichoke and Alfredo Pizza

1 cup of cream
1 stick butter
2 Tablespoons of cream cheese
3/4 cup Parmesan Romano cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
6 ounces fresh spinach, chopped
1 can artichoke hearts, rinsed, dried and chopped

Your favorite pizza crust.

This makes a big pizza full of toppings.  Otherwise you can make two smaller ones with less toppings.

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.  I always pre-bake my pizza crusts, just for a little bit, take them out before they start to brown.
In a saucepan on your stove, combine cream, butter and cream cheese until smooth.
Stir in Parmesan/Romano cheese and garlic powder, continue to stir and cook for about 15 minutes.

Place spinach in a skillet with about a tablespoon of water and saute to wilt the spinach.
 Remove the spinach and place in a towel, pat all of the liquid out of the spinach.
Add to sauce.
Spread creamy mixture over your crust, top with artichokes and mozzarella cheese.

Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese turns golden brown.

Let stand for a few minutes before cutting and serving.,

Banana "Botox" Mask

I saw this on Pinterest last winter.

I, of course, thought "this cannot be true?"

This was something that was shown by Dr. Oz in 2010.

When I read the reviews, there were a couple of people who REALLY noticed a difference, and a few who just said that their skin felt softer.

One night I decided to give it a go, I had some ripe bananas and all of the rest, so I figured it couldn't hurt right?

Banana "Botox" Mask

as seen on pinterest and Dr. Oz

1/2 ripe banana, mashed

1/4 cup plain yogurt

1 teaspoon honey

Combine the ingredients and apply to face and leave on for 15 minutes and wash off.

It's mentioned on Dr. Oz's article that doing a warm washcloth over the top helps.

I have done it both ways, and didn't see much of a difference.

(it tastes great, by the way!)

I will tell you that I didn't look 15 years younger, but it is a nice mask.  My skin felt somewhat tighter, and way softer.  It lasts for a couple of days.

I am curious to see if any of you have ever tried this?

Or any other kitchen spa mask that you like?

Please let me know!!

Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy

To me, this is the ULTIMATE comfort food. It was one of my favorite things my Mom made me as a kid, and something that I still make to this day when I need a little "comfort."

Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy

4-6 Pork Chops

Flour

Salt & Pepper

Oil

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

2 cans of mushrooms (or use fresh)

1-2 soup cans milk

Heat oil a large skillet with a lid. (just enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan)

Dredge pork chops in flour, sprinkled with salt and pepper.

Add pork chops to oil and brown well on both sides. 

Remove pork chops from pan and set aside.  

To drippings add about 1-2 cups of hot water and stir until bubbly.

Add soup, mushrooms and milk and stir to combine.

Replace pork chops, cover and simmer for about an hour, or until they are nice an tender, flipping occasionally so they don't stick.

Serve with mashed potatoes.

Ah.