Broccoli Slaw

This last spring I took on the task of trying to add more green fresh things to my life.  I love spinach and green beans, but....it's tough for me to take the other green veggies without some friends.  So, I make salads.  Yes, there are some unhealthy things in the dish, but in the end-there are also a lot of veggies.  It's all about compromise.
I've made different versions of broccoli salads, but this one was so good with the slaw.  I ate it every day for a week and wanted to make it again the second week.  It's definitely one I'm writing down in my recipe book in case the world ever gets tired of the Internet and all our Internet recipes get dusty from lack of use....I don't want to forget this one.

Broccoli Salad

Ingredients:  1 c. mayonnaise, 4 T sugar, 3 T. white vinegar, 4 c. chopped broccoli, 2 c. broccoli slaw, 1/2 medium red onion (chopped), 8 sliced of bacon (cooked and crumbled-I just used real bacon bits), 1 c. grated cheddar cheese, 1/2 c. raisins, 1/2 c. sunflower seeds (I like the salted ones to add a little extra seasoning to the mix)
Instructions:  
Mix mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar.  Set aside.  Mix the rest of the ingredients and then pour mayonnaise mix over the mixed veggies and toss. Chill until you are ready to serve.

DIY 6x6 Flip Album

I recently made this album using a kit of paper and doodads I received this spring via a subscription I have at Country Craft Creations.  I got the tutorial on you tube for making this album, and I'm including a walk through with all that info...some things are just better done through video...

Ribbon Flab

I've seen these out and about on the web lately, so I decided to give it a go.  My Mom's friend had given me a bag of goodies (trim and lace) she was getting rid of that was perfect for this project.  

I alternated trim and strips of fabric I ripped (about 1 inch).  I simply tied it to the top of a dowel.  I didn't do the exact number of stripe, but I did start with the white (which sits next to the blue).  

 For the blue I just glued some buttons and pearls onto a blue piece of fabric I had hot glued it to the top of the flag.  I did read when you hang flags like this the blue goes on the left (union first).  I also bought some star fabric I'm going to use for my next one.

 For the stripes that extend out of the blue I just hot glued them to the back.  Again, I'm not sure on my numbers, but I know it starts and ends with red.

 It was a super simple project, and I love how it turned out.

Statue of Liberty Pop

I actually made these Statue of Liberty pops to give out to some of my political friends last fall.  I usually do a little patriotic pass out during debate season.  I found these statue molds from a local cookie shop and bought some edible green glitter too.  

They don't 'recommend' you eat the glitter, but I've consumed it and lived to tell the story.  Once the molds were dried I got the whole thing wet with a paint brush and then sprinkled on the glitter.  That's all it takes to adhere.  

Quick and easy, and these little patriotic ladies may make an appearance again this July 4th.

Tea Party

 When I started teacher 16 years ago, I was a sixth grade teacher and the two teammates I started with are two of my closest friends even today.  We still work together in different capacities.  Mary is retired, but tutors at our school (a different one from where we began).  Sonia and I are both specialist together.  We moved together after our second year to a school closer to us.  She turned 50 this past spring and we decided to surprise her with a tea and some of the friends we collected along the way.

 I made a little birthday banner with scrap fabrics that reminded me of her.

 For a 'game' Mary pulled out more than ten different kinds of teas and we served different teas for all three courses and had them write down a guess each time on a card.  At the end, the people with the most correct answers got a 'prize.'  It created fun conversation regardless.  We served each person a different combination.

We lined the tables with milk, lemons, and sugar cubes.  We started out with scones, clotted cream, and jam on each plate.  We also went ahead and put some dishes in the middle of the table for used tea bags.  

 Mary had a collection of cups....which always reminds me I want to start doing this.  I don't drink teas, but (ironically) I've hosted quite a few now.

 For course number one, we served tomato soup and cheese straws.

 Course two was three different kinds of sandwiches and strawberries.

 Last up-sugar cookies, chocolate truffles, lemon cups, and petit fours.

 To get Sonia there, I had told her we wanted to take her to lunch at a new tea room near Mary's house.  I told her I made reservations at 2:30, so to arrive by 2:15 and we'd all drive together.  She was pretty shocked when she arrived to a table full of friends.

We ate, laughed, and ate some more.  A lot of the guest brought her their favorite teas, and we also had everyone sign the back of this little sign for her to take home as a moment.  

Just a few tips.  We plated everything but the soup in advance.  To keep the sandwiches from drying out we put a damp paper towel over each plate.  I put tags with each person's name on them on the cups so we could quickly dump out any left over tea, quick rinse, add a different tea bag, and then a new kind of tea.  It was a really fun way to get together and much easier than I thought with everything planted in advance!

Folio Albums

This is the year of the scrapbook(s) for me.  I'm making scrapbooks for most of my friends in one way or another for one holiday or another because I can.  These little folio albums I put together for two of my animal loving friends.  The idea is that they can print their pictures (finally-I'm so stressed (not really, but I could be) by the number of photos that will be lost b/c they only live on social media accounts-hello, does anyone remember myspace?).
I'm attaching a video walk through of the two albums (above, I think-if not-just go to my youtube channel).  Now.....on to regular programming.