Fabulously Homemade http://fabulously-homemade.com fabulous food and crafts on a modest budget Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:50:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Butterscotch Blondies with Dark Chocolate Chips http://fabulously-homemade.com/butterscotch-blondies-with-dark-chocolate-chips/ http://fabulously-homemade.com/butterscotch-blondies-with-dark-chocolate-chips/#comments Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:50:27 +0000 Mrs. Flescher http://fabulously-homemade.com/?p=1061 Continue reading →]]> Oh my. My, my, my. It’s all I can say after tasting this little experiment. This “blondie” started out a lot like my PMS Cookies. I had a serious hankering for a good chewy chocolate chip cookie, but didn’t have all of the ingredients necessary. Then I remembered a blondie recipe I wanted to try, and again, didn’t have all of the ingredients, so it was up to my creative whim to come up with something new. This is not actually uncommon for me, but what is uncommon is for the results to be successful enough to want to share them with you.  This time, however, I actually impressed myself! Hopefully I can impress you too!

Butterscotch Blondies

1.5 c flour
1 small box cook and serve butterscotch pudding
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

1 stick of butter (1/2 c) softened
3/4 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
~2 c dark chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heavily grease 8×8 baking dish with butter.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pudding mix, baking powder, salt. Set aside.
In large bowl, beat together butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla. Slowly incorporate flour mixture until well combined.
Mix in chocolate chips.
Turn out batter into prepared dish and smooth it out a little. Batter will be very sticky. Don’t worry about making it look pretty, the batter will smooth itself out the rest of the way as it bakes. Bake for 40 min or unit tester comes out moist, but clean.
]]> http://fabulously-homemade.com/butterscotch-blondies-with-dark-chocolate-chips/feed/ 0 Blueberry Almond Pancakes http://fabulously-homemade.com/blueberry-almond-pancakes/ http://fabulously-homemade.com/blueberry-almond-pancakes/#comments Sat, 08 Dec 2012 22:53:15 +0000 Mrs. Flescher http://fabulously-homemade.com/?p=1049 Continue reading →]]>

Another successful experiment in pancakes this morning. pancakes are kind of a staple food around here. They are so cheap and easy to make, and you can vary them so many ways; it’s hard for me to get tired of them. This morning’s concoction proved to be especially delicious! They were so moist and chalked full of blueberries that they didn’t even need any additional butter or syrup. Of course if you want to add them, please be my guest! I would suggest real maple syrup or blueberry syrup; just my opinion. Oh! Or add a big dollop of real whipped cream! Yum! I hope you enjoy them as much as my munchkin and I did!

I’ve used the same pancake base for years. It is from the Better Homes & Garden Cookbook. I use their batter and just add my own flare to it.

Dry Ingredients:
1 3/4 c all purpose flour
2 TBLS sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients:
1 1/2 c buttermilk
3 TBLSP cooking oil
1 egg slightly beaten
1/2 tsp real vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract

Additional Ingredients:
~2 c fresh or frozen blueberries
~1/2 c sliced almonds

**Note: If you don’t have buttermilk in your fridge, you can place 1 TBLSP white vinegar in a liquid measuring cup and fill to the one cup line with regular milk. Allow it to sit for a few minutes before use. For a cup and a half I use 1 1/2 TBLSP vinegar. You won’t taste it I promise.**

Directions:
Combine dry ingredients in med-large mixing bowl.
Combine wet ingredients in separate bowl or 2 c liquid measuring cup.
Poor wet into dry, and stir just until wet through. Batter should be very lumpy.
Set aside and heat large skillet or electric griddle to low-medium heat; about 275 deg F if you are using the griddle.
Very lightly toast almonds, about 30 sec to one minute. They will cook further when added to pancakes. Set aside.
Butter griddle. I just use the stick and run it all over the griddle.
Measure out 1/4-1/3 cup batter onto griddle for each pancake. Don’t overcrowd the pan.
Next sprinkle batter liberally with blueberries and again with almond slices.
Allow to cook until bubbly and edges appear dry.
Carefully flip and allow to cook through.
Butter the pan or griddle again between batches.
Now eat, eat, eat.

]]> http://fabulously-homemade.com/blueberry-almond-pancakes/feed/ 0 Grilled Summer Vegetables and Shrimp Marinara Cocktail Recipe http://fabulously-homemade.com/grilled-summer-vegetables-and-shrimp-marinara-cocktail-recipe/ http://fabulously-homemade.com/grilled-summer-vegetables-and-shrimp-marinara-cocktail-recipe/#comments Wed, 01 Aug 2012 02:37:36 +0000 Mrs. Flescher http://fabulously-homemade.com/?p=1021 Continue reading →]]> Being a self proclaimed foody, I’d have to say my favorite thing about Summer is cooking on the grill. Well, that and using the hose to clean up my toddler when she gets dirty, but that’s not what I want to talk about today. Today, I want to bask in the glory of the grill. I think I’ve said it before, but I will say it again. There is just something about food that is cooked over a fire, (the way nature intended) that just makes it… perfect! It seems to enhance the natural flavors of whatever is cooking on it, and adds a little hint of smokiness. You don’t even need to add seasoning. That’s what makes the grill so great! With this in mind, and two drawers full of fresh produce, I decided I needed to grill today. Looking at all of those luscious fruits and savory vegetables, I had to grill today.

It was so simple and easy. I fired up the grill, sliced some zucchini, yellow squash and a nectarine. I tossed the veggies in some olive oil and balsamic vinegar, (Although in retrospect, i think lemon juice would have complimented the dish better, but I didn’t really have a plan yet.) seasoned them with a little sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, then threw the veggies and nectarine on the grill over Med-Low heat (~300 degrees F)

Mmmmm, look at those great grill marks!

Next I hit the freezer for some protein where I conveniently found a bag of precooked shrimp. I remembered the left over marinara sauce from last nights dinner, and it gave me a great idea. I threw the shrimp in a colander to defrost under cold running water, then grabbed my ingredients for my “Marinara Cocktail Sauce.” Starting with about a cup of leftover Marinara Sauce, I added 3 TBLS ketchup, a dash of Tobasco Sauce, 1 tsp prepared horseradish (not horsey sauce, that has mayonnaise in it) and a TBLS Worcestershire Sauce, then mixed it all up. (If it is too spicy or not tangy enough, add a little more ketchup.)

I returned to the grill and flipped everything over. Once the veggies were cooked through and the nectarine had softened a little I removed them from the grill. (Note: the nectarine took less time to cook than the vegetables.)

Finally, I squeezed a lemon wedge over my shrimp and topped it with big spoonfuls of the chunky marinara cocktail sauce, then served it next to the warm grilled veggies for lunch.

Then for dessert, I drizzled vanilla yogurt over the cooled nectarines and sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds. Can we say YUMMMM-Y?! It was delightful. Healthy, yet satisfying. Thank you, my dear grill, thank you.

]]> http://fabulously-homemade.com/grilled-summer-vegetables-and-shrimp-marinara-cocktail-recipe/feed/ 0 Cocktail Time: Limey Rum-Martini http://fabulously-homemade.com/cocktail-time-limey-rum-martini/ http://fabulously-homemade.com/cocktail-time-limey-rum-martini/#comments Thu, 26 Jul 2012 04:20:48 +0000 Mrs. Flescher http://fabulously-homemade.com/?p=1001 Continue reading →]]>
I think I have mentioned before that my hubby and I like to partake in a cocktail or two every now and then. Tonight is one of those times. It’s hot. We don’t have air conditioning. Dinner is cooking in the crock pot… outside, because it’s too hot to have inside. We needed something refreshing. I hit the booze cupboard to see what we had, entered the ingredients into google for a little inspiration and this is what I came up with. A cold, boozy, limey, rum-martini. Enjoy. It’s cocktail-thirty!

Limey Rum-Martini
adapted from Siesta Key Lime Martini
1.5 parts Silver Rum
1 part Orange liqueur
1.5 parts lime juice (~2 limes)
~1 c ice
superfine sugar for rim.

Run your lime around the rim of your martini glasses and invert in a saucer of superfine sugar. Set aside.
Combine all other ingredients in cocktail shaker.
Shake shake shake!
Pour into sugar rimmed glass.
Sip. Repeat.

]]> http://fabulously-homemade.com/cocktail-time-limey-rum-martini/feed/ 1 Bistro Table Makeover http://fabulously-homemade.com/bistro-table-makeover/ http://fabulously-homemade.com/bistro-table-makeover/#comments Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:47:53 +0000 Mrs. Flescher http://fabulously-homemade.com/?p=989 Continue reading →]]> Waste Not Want Not Wednesday Week 1: Bistro Table Makeover

It’s amazing what a can of “rattle can” paint can do, isn’t it?! I had grandious dreams of mod-podging the top of this table with bright colored paper, and then sealing it with weather proof seal. After some cleaning and painting, however, I was reminded why I wanted to salvage this old table in the first place. My husband wanted to throw the old bistro table away, because it had seen too many winters outside, but I knew it was structurally sound and just needed tome TLC to make it new again. The simplicity of the black metal and textured glass looks so classy, it really didn’t need any added color, thus making this makeover quite easy and simple.

Step one: Clean. I used a wire brush to scrub the metal and remove the surface rust. I used soft scrub and a scouring sponge to clean the built up gunk off the glass.

Step 2: Mask. Use painter’s tape to mask off all of the glass.

Step 3: Paint. Using a rust resistant outdoor spray paint (i.e.:Rustoleum) paint metal desired color.

Step 4: Dry. Allow paint to set 24 hours in a dry weather proof place, such as a garage or shop. If you leave it outside, dust and bugs may stick to the paint.

Step 5: Polish. Remove tape immediately after paint dries. Use adhesive remover to remove any left over adhesive (such as Goop Off) and polish glass with rubbing alcohol.

Step 6: Dress. Place potted flowers, tea cups, napkins and spoons on table and enjoy a cup of tea with your lover.

He he, that last step is totally optional, but it sounded good to me. Here are some pictures of the final product!

Have a seat!

The table looks so much better after a good cleaning and fresh coat of paint. And to think, my hubby was going to throw it out!

Had to throw in a picture of my new Noritake (Legendary) Sweet Leilani. I scored an entire service for 8 (minus two tea cups I plan to replace) at Goodwill for $40 I can’t wait to use them this Christmas!

]]> http://fabulously-homemade.com/bistro-table-makeover/feed/ 2 Pink and Green Toddler-Size Rag Quilt http://fabulously-homemade.com/pink-and-green-toddler-size-rag-quilt/ http://fabulously-homemade.com/pink-and-green-toddler-size-rag-quilt/#comments Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:18:11 +0000 Mrs. Flescher http://fabulously-homemade.com/?p=970 Continue reading →]]> Makeover Monday Week 2: The Quilt

I don’t have a before picture for this quilt, but I will give you a quick rundown of the before for this post. For those of you wonderful readers who read last weeks post (Painting the Big Girl Room,) you know that we are giving Little R’s room a little makeover. One of the things I had planned to do was graduate her to a “big girl bed,” but after lots of consideration, Mr F and I decided we would rather her stay in a small toddler bed as long as possible, thus allowing her more floor spacer to play. Unfortunately, while I still had the notion that we were going to buy her a twin sized bed, I designed a twin sized quilt and purchased, cut and began sewing the fabric. So this morning while the rest of the house was still in bed, I pulled the fabric out, spread it out on my kitchen table and completely redesigned a new toddler-size quilt. Although the fabric is already cut up, I think I can use the extras to design pillow cases and shams to match! I’m actually really excited about this makeover. It is a small feat, but it is still exciting to be one step closer to the finished product. Hooray for me! So here is my “after,” which is really more like a before, because it’s not sewn together yet. At least it’s an idea of what the quilt will look like when it is done.

Pink and Green Rag Quilt Toddler Crib Bed spread

 

Pink and Green Rag Quilt Toddler Crib Bed spread

I’m sharing this post on Metamorphosis Monday!

]]> http://fabulously-homemade.com/pink-and-green-toddler-size-rag-quilt/feed/ 0 Fabulous Family Fun Friday! Week 2: Indoor Bounce House http://fabulously-homemade.com/fabulous-family-fun-friday-week-2-indoor-bounce-house/ http://fabulously-homemade.com/fabulous-family-fun-friday-week-2-indoor-bounce-house/#comments Fri, 20 Jul 2012 18:32:43 +0000 Mrs. Flescher http://fabulously-homemade.com/?p=963 Continue reading →]]> A few weeks ago we took Little R to the indoor bounce house in town. It’s a very large room, with several of those blow up “bounce houses,” only way cooler! (yeah, I said “way cooler”) These things are giant, and they have slides and obstacle courses of varying sizes. The tallest slide was about 12 feet tall, and had a climbing wall that you had to scale to get to the top of before sliding down. At first glance I was concerned that most of the obstacles would be too much for our little one, but after about 15-20 min she warmed right up to the bigger ones. Thankfully, they had blow up areas for kids of all ages, so even if she hadn’t warmed up to the bigger ones, she still would have had fun with the smaller ones. The obstacles challenged her gross motor skills, and boosted her self esteem as she overcame each one. This was very exciting and rewarding for Mr F and I to watch. Call me crazy, but I swear she walked just a little bit taller when we left.  Entry to the bounce house was very affordable; kids cost eight dollars, and adults get in free! Totally worth the eight dollars to see her have so much fun and gain so much self esteem in one day. Plus, we had a lot of fun on the slides too!

Here are a few pics to see what kind of obstacles they had. Sorry the images are not very  clear; the lighting wasn’t real great in there.

The “tire” obstacle.

 

The Ball Pit. R with her favorite ball; the green ball.

WEEEEEEEE! The BIG slide!

We had so much fun together, we will definitely be going back again. What kind of fun can you find in your town?

]]> http://fabulously-homemade.com/fabulous-family-fun-friday-week-2-indoor-bounce-house/feed/ 0 What Martha Isn’t Telling You About Christmas http://fabulously-homemade.com/what-martha-isnt-telling-you-about-christmas/ http://fabulously-homemade.com/what-martha-isnt-telling-you-about-christmas/#comments Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:09:43 +0000 Mrs. Flescher http://fabulously-homemade.com/?p=946 Continue reading →]]> Christmas starts in July. That’s it! That’s the big secret that Martha and every other Martha Stewert-Like blogger isn’t telling you about Christmas, and all of those beautiful hand made decorations and gifts. I am sharing this little secret with you, because every Christmas the same thing happens to me.

It starts in the Fall with Halloween; I call it Holiday Fever, and I get it bad! I see all of these beautiful hand made decorations and gifts everywhere. They sparkle, and shine — and taunt me. “Make me. Make me! Make Meeeeee!” They call from the magazine rack in the grocery store. “Don’t you want to give me to your friends?” They beckon from my e-mail. “Your house will be the prettiest on the block,… if only you will decorate it just like this.” I hear as I scan my favorite craft blogs every morning. But what they aren’t telling you is, you have to start planning months in advance to achieve these beautifully decorated houses and handmade gift baskets. If you are a procrastinator with high hopes, like myself, then you may have attempted to get all of these things done in previous Decembers, only to have Christmas come and go in a hot, stressful, flash; leaving you feeling unsatisfied and disappointed.

How can you achieve a beautifully decorated home, make heartfelt handmade gifts and still have the time to enjoy your friends, family and true spirit of the season? Easy, start now! There are so many things you can do in the summer to prepare you for the Fall Holiday Season. Here are a few (ok, several) suggestions to get the ball rolling.

1. Start collecting! Start collecting pine cones for decorations (or one of these cute, homemade fire starters) on your next camping excursion. Not only will you save time, but you will save money, buy not having to buy them.

Click picture for link!

2. Spray Paint now! If you have items (like your pine cones) that you want to paint gold or silver (or white, or green, or red…) do it now. Spray paint doesn’t dry well in the wet Fall weather; dry summer heat is ideal for spray painting.

3. Get cooking! (Or canning.) Homemade jams or jellies, and liqueurs are always appreciated. Jams can be made and stored for months in advance, saving you time later. Liqueurs need time to infuse with flavors and taste better with a little age, so they really need to be made ahead of time. In order to save yourself precious “holiday time,” avoid giving “fresh baked” gifts that have to be made the same week they are given. If you like giving fresh baked cookies, consider making the dough ahead of time and freezing it in an airtight container. That way you will always have fresh baked cookies on hand within 15 minutes.

4. Get Sewing! Or Crafting. There are so many handmade gifts that can be sewn or crafted ahead of time. My current favorite blog is EverythingEtsy.com They have…

5. Simplify! Don’t try to design a different homemade gift or basket for every single person on your list. Pick one or two crowd pleasing themes for your baskets, (or sewing pattern, or craft) and stick to it. Here are two of my favorite gift baskets:

  • Coffee for Two Basket: Include 2 coffee cups, homemade irish cream, chocolate or coffee liqueur (made ahead), a tin of your favorite coffee and a bottle of milk or cream. Save your coffee tins and frappuccino bottles over the summer. Remove labels and decorate with your established theme between now and Halloween. Set aside until Christmas, then fill with store bought bulk coffee and milk or cream just before gifting. You can even make Biscotti a month in advance and store in an air tight container, or cheat, and buy it from your bulk store. Oh, and one more tip; wait to buy your baskets until you know what is going in them! This will save you money, and a head ache, when you go to put them together. I speak from experience on this one.
  • Spa Basket: Make skin care items over summer and decorate the jars ahead of time, so all you have to do is put the basket together come gift giving time. Here are a few recipes for DIY Skin care products: Exfoliating Scrub, Bath Salts, Bath Bombs.

6. Pick one theme and stick to it. Whether it be red, green, and blue plaid; blue and white snowflakes; snowmen or nature inspired; pick a theme and stick with it. You will be amazed at how much easier it will be to decorate your home, and your gifts, if you pick one color combination or character and focus on that when purchasing or creating your decorations. Plus, your friends and family will be amazed at how well “put together” everything looks when even your tree decorations and presents match.

5. Start your decorations early. You don’t have to hang them, but most decorations can be made ahead of time and stored unit the fall.

I hope I have motivated you to get started on those Christmas gifts and decorations, or at least got your wheels turning. For more DIY decorating and Gift ideas, see my Pinterest page!

 

]]> http://fabulously-homemade.com/what-martha-isnt-telling-you-about-christmas/feed/ 0 Make-over Monday: Week 1-Painting the Big Girl Room http://fabulously-homemade.com/make-over-monday-week-1-painting-the-big-girl-room/ http://fabulously-homemade.com/make-over-monday-week-1-painting-the-big-girl-room/#comments Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:40:49 +0000 Mrs. Flescher http://fabulously-homemade.com/?p=927 Continue reading →]]> Hello! Thanks for joining me for my first ever Makeover Monday! I am so excited to share with you every week, something I am making over in my home. I will start with our little girl’s “Big Girl” room, and our still-yet-unfinished-after-2.5-years bathroom! Yes, you read that right. We started renovating and updating our house about 3 years ago, and it is still not finished. What can I say? Babies and weddings can be very costly and time consuming. So in an attempt to complete the house (and give me something to write about) I give you my first of many Make-over Monday!

Week one: Reese’s Big Girl Room Makeover Step 1: Paint Walls!

So a few weeks ago I got this crazy notion that the bright green paint in Little R’s room, wasn’t appropriate for a big girl (all of 2 years old,) and decided that for her Birthday next month, I was going to give her a bedroom makeover to signify her graduating from baby to full-on little girl. (Which happened way too fast mind you.) Thus, paint was sampled, fabric was chosen, and plans for new pieces of furniture were made. . . Her birthday is in less than two months. . . I have a lot of work to do! So today we are working on the first step; painting her walls.
I loved the green paint we chose for her as an unborn, sexless baby (we kept it a surprise) and still do, but for some silly reason I decided it needed to be lighter. I’m honestly still not sure it was the right decision, but I think I will like it more once the room is complete.

Unfortunately, I can’t find the before picture with the first green we painted, but here is a before the remodel pic. Definitely an improvement thus far!

And the “Afters…”

You’ll have to excuse the little “ghost” at the bottom of the pic. She was so excited about her “new room” I couldn’t convince her to leave. She pulled the bedspread off and was putting her stuffed animal to bed.

And the other side…

Well that is it for my first Monday Makeover. Tune in next week to see what we do next!
I am sharing this post on …

Metamorphosis Monday

]]> http://fabulously-homemade.com/make-over-monday-week-1-painting-the-big-girl-room/feed/ 2 8 Things Every Parent Should Know For A Successful And Affordable Family Fun Day http://fabulously-homemade.com/8-things-every-parent-should-know-for-a-successful-and-affordable-family-fun-day/ http://fabulously-homemade.com/8-things-every-parent-should-know-for-a-successful-and-affordable-family-fun-day/#comments Sun, 15 Jul 2012 16:04:30 +0000 Mrs. Flescher http://fabulously-homemade.com/?p=921 Continue reading →]]> I could pretty much sum this post up in two words; PLAN AHEAD, but I will elaborate. If you want your family fun day to be both successful and affordable, planning ahead is key. Following is a list of things to consider when planning a fun and affordable Family Fun Day…

1. Create a checklist of items to take a few days in advance (not the morning of) and check them off as you prepare for the big day of fun. Think towels and dry clothes for beach or lake trips; snacks, meals and drinks; sunglasses and sunscreen for summer days, rain or snow gear for winter days, maps or directions, schedules for events, etc.

2. Check the weather the night before and be sure everyone dresses appropriately. Pack extra clothes, umbrellas, sun hats or whatever is appropriate the night before, so as not to forget in all the excitement of the next day.

3. Plan and pack meals and snacks. Not only will your family fun day go much smoother if your food is already prepared, but it can save you loads of money. The price of a snack at a movie theater could buy you a meal at the grocery store, and beverages are one of the highest marked up food items. Insulated beverage cups are a huge money saver in our house. I use mine every single day, and Little R’s milk stays cool and fresh for hours longer in her insulated sippy.

4. When planning your family fun day, check event schedules and business calendars for discount days and times. Everyone knows mattine movies cost less, but did you know, most zoos offer a discount day, as well as most county fairs? Even our local pool has one day a month when entry is half off. Just be prepared you may have to deal with larger crowds those days.

5. Speaking of crowds, check event calendars for special entry days and times. For example, our local pool offers “toddler time” for a few hours before it opens to all ages. This is great for little ones (or parents) who get a little overwhelmed by large crowds and noisy teenagers.

6. Consider your regular daily schedule and try to keep to it. Family fun time can quickly turn not-so-fun, when interrupting normal sleep and meal times. If your family is anything like mine, they get a little cranky when they are hungry and a lot cranky if they don’t get enough sleep. Try to avoid any activities or events that interfere with normal sleep patterns, and pack “emergency” snacks, meals and beverages. If you have nappers in your house, then be prepared to get out of the house early enough to be back in time for nap, or leave after they’ve woke from nap.

7. Dress appropriately. Okay, so I kind of touched on this one, but I want to remind parents that this one is for you too. As a stay-home mom, i don’t get out much. Sometimes I can get a little overexcited when I do leave the house and forget to dress for the occasion. Like I want to wear a skirt and strappy heals to the bounce house. Yeah, I actually did that. Oops! So remember, comfy clothes and tennies are best for keeping up with your kids, and trust me, they will want/expect you to do everything they do.

Last but most importantly…

8. Choose age appropriate activities. Remember, Family Fun Days are all about the kids! This is an opportunity to build lasting memories (as well as impressions) for your kids. You may be an avid fisherman, but your 2 year old daughter may not be ready to sit in a boat for hours on end waiting for something exciting to happen. Young kids have very short attention spans, so activities in which the entertainment changes as quickly as their interest is best. For example; the zoo has a ton of different exhibits, if your child gets bored with one, then you can simply move on to the next. Just remember to stop for drinks and snacks along the way!

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