May 2016 Calendar Journal and a Snack

And May 2016 went like this:

The 13th and 14th are very personal feelings days, so I'm keeping them private.

There is only June left in this calendar/planner.  It's about time I went back and finished the cover.

Here is a tasty little snack for you.

CROCK POT RANCH OYSTER CRACKERS

To get the ingredients to my liking, I increased the amount of Ranch Dressing Mix as well as the amount of garlic.  I also added the Worcestershire sauce.  

xxx

Annie

New Recipe Cards

Yummy Favorites

I'm trying only to make recipe cards for favorite dishes and desserts that I make time and again.  And I seldom follow an original recipe exactly as I find it.  There's usually a little too much of this or I don't like that, I'll leave it out, etc.  I think most every cook does that.

This one is so delicious that it's hard for me to want to cook asparagus any other way.  There's never any leftovers with this side dish.

Sometimes I don't pay much attention to the cooking times.  Like on this one, I don't know how long I sauté the asparagus.  I just keep poking it with a fork until I feel it's ready for the next step.  I suppose the times must be pretty close though.

This dessert is so yummy, and it's most yummiest is the next day.  So I make it a day ahead of time.

Look at the fun idea I thought of for making this card work.  I can't believe I even thought of doing it this way.  I'll be making more like this rather than the pieces that just swing out of the way and turn upside down.

The recipe box itself has finally gotten some scrapbook paper on it to cover the craft paper mache color.  Then some Washi Tape on the edges.  What to do on it next hasn't come to me yet.

The cards inside.

Nope, not the easiest filing system for recipes, but since they will only be favorite ones, I don't expect that they will become so many that I won't be able to locate what I want.

I have a little more time than I used to, to do the cooking.  I'm scaring the crap out of myself, but I'm almost starting to like it ...on some days.

I've made stuffed mushrooms twice now looking for a really good ingredient combination.  So far I'm not very impressed.  Have you got one you love?

Happy Cooking!

(Did I really say that?!)

xxx

Annie

Recipe Cards

Every once in a while I manage to talk myself into getting some recipe cards made.  After I finally tweak a recipe to my liking, it's like a week-long convincing to pull the typewriter out and get to it.  The recipes are beginning to stack up.

I always enjoy making them, it's just getting the typing done that gets in the way.  I don't know why.

I've already done most of the recipes that only have a few ingredients.  Now for the recipes that require more than the 4" X 6" space of the card.

Brads seemed like a good idea to keep everything together but to be able to move sections out of the way for prep and cooking.  They are working out very well.

Yes, now I have a new supply of fun brads.  It's always something else we need on hand,  isn't it.  And it MUST be an assortment...not just any old brad will do.  You know what I mean.

AND, you know me, the backs can't be boring!

Sometimes the back is where the food photo ends up too.  I really like the food photo on the front with the rest of the recipe, but if I've made the dish enough, I guess I'm ok with the photo on the back.

These cards are so much better than the mess my recipes are in while they wait their turn to become artsy looking as well as delicious.

I don't like wasting my life with cooking.  But I don't like eating bad food either.  Any opportunity to make the chore "seem" more enjoyable, I'm all for it.  And artsy recipe cards at least make the start of this chore more fun.  I truly wish I enjoyed cooking because I'm actually pretty good at it.

Happy Eating!

xxx

Annie

Recipe Cards

I've gotten back to working on my recipe cards.  I began making these with fabric, but after the first two, I realized they were going to be a chore.  I know this because the third card was started and has been in pieces ever since.  But now that I'm back paper crafting, I'm actually getting some new cards made.

 

I appear to be stuck on a paper theme here.  I need to use up some (lots) of this paper collection pad.  I like these, but I want the recipe cards to have a mixed collage look throughout the box.

 

I want to avoid category tabs.  I hate looking through all the cards in a category to find the one I'm looking for.  And sometimes I've no clue which category it fits. 

 

Once there are several or lots of these, I'm not sure it's going to be any easier to find the recipe I'm looking for, but I think I will enjoy the search.  LoL

xxx

 Annie
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer

It's a

LOVE - HATE

Relationship

___________________________________________

 

I LOVE to craft - I HATE to cook 

First, *begin rant* why is it people automatically think that if you hate to cook, that you can't cook good food?  I may not like to cook, but I also don't like to eat bad food.  *end rant*

 

I've kept my family's all-time favorite food recipes in my head and in this book that I received as a gift back in 1985. 

 

 

 

It only holds the absolute favorites of recipes, so there really aren't all that many.  But the book is coming apart.

 

For years I've been wanting to craft a more fun way to store these recipes.  Lots of ideas have come to mind but none that really grab my attention.  Then a few days ago I saw a recipe card contest and I knew immediately what I wanted to do with these special recipes.

 

 

I started with a really simple recipe that is just in my head and no specific measurements.  I wanted it to all fit on the front of the card.  I love how it came out so I tried another one. 

 

 So fun !!!
 

Here's what I'm not telling you.... I was going to submit one for the contest.  However, they don't return your work.  Which means I needed two.  One for them, one for me.  Well, I don't want to do two the same.  I want to get along to making my next recipe card. So, to heck with a contest! 

And the backs are getting a bit dressed up as well. 

 

I haven't yet worked out how I want to do the longer recipes. Maybe a card that folds, so-to-speak.  I like ingredients and instructions both visible at the same time 

 

I think I'm going to have bunches of fun working on these.  I got a paper mache recipe box at Hobby Lobby that I will cover and decorate...maybe. 

 

 

 

I'd really like to find a clear acrylic box for this project.

 

Wow, this almost makes me think I could like cooking....nah!...that'll NEVER happen!

 

Annie