3/20/13

Caterpillar Kitchen Spring Wreath

When to Call It Quits and Buy the Darn Thing!

 Hola Amigos! HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING 2013!!!! I know...it seems like it's only on the calendar because there's still snow falling out there and with Easter just two weeks away I wonder if we have to try to find eggs in the snow, let's keep our fingers crossed this doesn't happen.

How may times have you said to yourself as you browse through a catalog.."What? How Much?...Nahh I can   do that for way less!!!!! Well I fell into this temptation and after all  I went through I said : "You know what? Next time just buy the  darn thing!!!!
It all started one afternoon when I saw this cute caterpillar made out of clay pots. It wasn't expensive at all, but I don't know what possessed me to think.".that plus shipping, nah..I can do this for less than 10 bucks"! In theory perhaps...
First I bought 6 mini clay pots for less than a dollar and I used a coupon...Score!
I primed them with white primer that I always keep handy...Score again!
I have tons of acrylic paint so that was free...so far I'm way under $10.00...Score

Then the 3 hour problem began...try to put these pots together in a way that they resemble the movement and body of a cute caterpillar, give it a head (non present on the catalog version) and then attaching it to a vine wreath! Sounded easier than it was...

First the pots would not stay in place...they kept moving, twisting and getting all bent out of shape.

Attaching jute to a Christmas ornament was a good idea until my cat ran away with the end of my jute roll and started playing with it..


When I finally had them in some sort of shape that  resembled a caterpillar it came time to attach it to the wreath, yeah 6 heavy little pots on a vine wreath first thing that came to mind, Hot Glue Gun! Big mistake as you can see here...Ouch...

To make a long story short and between dinner, playing, cleaning and a load of laundry I finally mounted the caterpillar, decorated the wreath and I'm still praying I don't wake up tomorrow morning to a pile of broken clay pots! (It held together, Thank Goodness!)

Now in my defense, the little caterpillar I saw in the catalog, was not meant to be part of a wreath at all, it was just a garden decoration with bigger pots, so it's like trying to make a roast out of a can of Spam (nothing wrong with Spam though, lol)

Don't get me wrong, I think I accomplished what I initially was set to do and I'm proud of the results.

My little spring kitchen wreath is much loved, after all, you love everything which costs you sweat and tears right?I think it's cute and perfect size for my pantry door.

I manage to keep the overall feeling of "nature" I wanted for the entire house decor this spring in a whimsical way, it's the kitchen and I like to have fun and enjoy myself while I'm cooking.

But at the end I realized that sometimes is better to "invest" in the goods, go and  focus on to other better things. My time and poor hand were certainly worth more than the catalog price and my imaginary $10 bucks...so next time if you think you can make something for less...just think about it twice...and safe yourself some aggravation (or use something other than a hot glue gun to work with) LOL


Besitos,
Lizy
Sharing my boo-boo and words of wisdom at these Fabulous Parties:
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3/18/13

Lunes de Chocolate-Chocolate Mondays

Chocolate Tea Bread with Orange Cream Cheese Filling

 Hola amigos! How was your weekend? I hope it was full of green fun on St. Patrick's Day Celebration and anticipation for the arrival of Spring in a few days!
Before we get on with our recipe today, I wanted to let you know that due to the high amount of  "spam" I'm getting in the shape of anonymous comments I've stopped that option from the blog. I love to hear from you guys...but I hate those spammers filling up my mail with useless junk.

My recipe today starts with the story that unfolded  47 years ago..there was a young lady walking behind her mother's kitchen writing down eagerly every single recipe and cooking tip she could get her from her. That was my mother taking notes from a great cook, mi "abuelita, my grandma". Oh I miss her cooking and I miss her...but back to my mom. She did all this before she got married..now guess who has the notebook with my grandma's recipes and tips for a good meal...I Do! yes! Scored Big Time...my mom gave it to me, when I got married and it has been with me ever since. It's one of my most valuable possessions, she wrote some notes too so I think I have the best of both of them. There I found this recipe for Chocolate Tea Bread, still don't know why it's called that way...but that was how  my grandma's/mom called this bread and I'm sticking to it, lol.
Here is the recipe:
Chocolate Tea Bread with Orange Cream Cheese Filling

Chocolate Tea Bread
1 Cup Walnuts
2 Cups Biscuit Mix
3/4 Cup Hot Orange juice
2 Squares Semi-Sweet Chocolate
2/3 Cup Sugar
1 Egg
1 Tsps Vanilla extract



Heat Oven at 350 degrees, grease and flour a loaf pan. In a food processor finely chop the walnuts, empty into a large bowl and add biscuit mix. Mix the remaining ingredients until smooth ( you could also put them in a blender, I did)
Add this to the biscuit and walnut mix until everything is moistened. Pour in the prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes until a knife or toothpick comes out clean. Let it cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pan and placing the loaf on a  cooling in a rack. Serve with Orange Cream Cheese Filling

Orange Cream Cheese Filling.

1/2 cup Orange marmalade
8 ounces room temperature Cream Cheese. 
Process both ingredients until they are smooth, refrigerate unused portion and use on toast or bagels too!
Listo,

I got to say what I love about this bread is that is crispy in the outside and soft in the inside

The orange cream cheese melts the minute you put it on a slice of freshly baked bread enhancing the orange and chocolate flavors in it!

I'm a coffee drinker in the winter and fall and a tea lover for spring and summer, but this bread with go great with either of my favorite drinks...and even a hot cup of cocoa!

And if you don't have cream cheese and orange marmalade handy...butter, honey or syrup are always excellent alternatives!

This is my chocolate recipe for this Monday my friends I hope you get around to make it for your family and enjoy it as we've been enjoying it for generations now! With this recipe, I want to emphasize more than ever than everything tastes better with a Pinch or Love as my parents just celebrated their anniversary #47!

Besitos,
Lizy
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3/15/13

Spring Clay Pots with a Surprise (Dirt Cake)

Rapidito en Viernes=Quicky Fridays

 Hola amigos! Hope you all had a great, healthy and productive week! Today I'm bringing you a little treat perfect for Spring, Easter, Birthday party..the sky is the limit when you are using your imagination.
It all started with a trip to the dollar store where I purchased everything I needed for this dessert. 1 bag of candy turned into 2, 3 ...well they kept multiplying,...and believe me when I tell you guys, I just went in for a big bottle of Iced Tea...oh well...since I can't bake or use fondant just create pretty things with icing...I figured, why not use what is already there to treat my guys with something festive for spring.
Here is how you make the Spring Clay Pots with a Surprise:


1 box of chocolate cupcake mix
4 little containers of chocolate pudding ($1 for 4 at the dollar store)
1 envelope of unflavored gelatin
1 cup of boiling water
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsps vanilla butter food flavoring
transparent tumbler cups
non toxic brown paint

 Assorted Candies...don't forget to include gummy worms

First bake your cupcakes according to instructions. Even though I used cupcake  mix I baked mine in a 9 inch baking pan. 
While your cake is baking. Prepare the tumblers by painting the outside of them in brown paint. Let them dry.
See little helper...he was working hard on hid clay pot!

Some of them I only painted half (for the surprise)...there is a method to my madness folks!

Prepare your unflavored gelatin. By adding the boiling water to a container with the gelatin and sugar. The gelatin should dissolve in 5 minutes. Add the vanilla butter flavoring. 
Distribute evenly in 4 tumblers. Put a couple of gummy worms inside. Place in the refrigerator to chill and set.

Once the gelatin mix has set, take some pudding and add it to each tumbler, as much or little as you want, I used 1 full pudding cup per tumbler, but that's just me.
Take a slice of your chocolate cake, crumble it and fill up the tumblers to the top with it!
Listo, it's time to use your imagination to decorate your clay pots!


Worms coming out of wet dirt (the wet effect is chocolate syrup)

A bunny and it's carrots in a field of greens...happy as he could be!

A little nest with twigs dusted on early snow...so sweet!

And a bouquet of flowers ready to be picked from your personal clay pot..

and oh, it you were wondering about the surprise...here

My little one was thrilled to find "critters" coming in and out, and swimming underneath all that dirt in his clay pot, oh and they refrigerate well too!

Hope you like what I've brought you tonight. May all of you have a wonderful and blessed weekend.
Remember everything tastes better, with a Pinch of Love!

Besitos,
Lizy

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3/14/13

Apple Pie Smoothie

Hola amigos and Happy Pi Day! Ready to have some no bake, no crust, in a cup frosty pie to celebrate a once a year day like today? I'm up for that! An on the go delicious twist of an american classic, Apple Pie!
Here is the recipe. 
Apple Pie Smoothie

1 Sweet Apple I used Fuji
1 Cup Vanilla Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream
1/2 Cup Apple Sauce
1/2 Cup Apple Juice
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg 
1/4 Cup granola

In a blender add your apple juice, apple sauce, apple and spices on high until the apple is pureed and everything is smooth. Add the frozen yogurt and blend again on high. Add the granola on a low speed setting just to incorporate it. Serve and enjoy! Makes 2 servings.

Listo,

No waiting for the pie to bake and cool..just blend it and enjoy it.
I love the fact that if you stick with the yogurt is a very light smoothie with less calories than the actual apple pie but same delicious flavor

But if you like yours A la Mode....go for your scoop of Ice Cream...no one is judging, lol

And while you're at it, add a some whipped cream too...after all is  a Pie!

Have a Beautiful Thursday my friends...remember everything tastes better with a Pinch of Love! (or a scoop of ice cream, wink!).

Besitos,
Lizy


Sharing wishes of a Sweet Pi Day at these Fabulous
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