'DIY-TRY'...with a little help from
This is the part of the site where courage and adventure come to play. I'm constantly being inspired by the people and places around me and one of my favourite new tools to spark my creativity is Pinterest. If you're like me you love cooking up new recipes or testing out a homemade cleaning concoction. We can never stop learning new ways to do things. These are my personal experiences actually trying out some of those Do-It-Yourself ideas I saw on Pinterest.
Butterfinger Cookies
Post-Halloween we've all got extra candy and chocolate lying around the house. So I figured I could use up a few Butterfingers and make some cookies. For anyone who follows me up Pinterest, I'm obsessed with cookie dough. I keep the just add eggs and butter premade cookie mix on hand at all times, so a from scratch cookie recipe just seems like unnecessary work. These however, are super simple and completely worth the effort. I will forewarn you, they are incredible addictive. I'm talking I ate 5 in one sitting addictive (which is 2 to more than my normal maximum). The Butterfinger becomes toffee-like and crunchy making it taste like more.
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups, plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups crushed Butterfingers (about 3 regular-sized bars)
Using an electric mixer beat butter and both sugars in large bowl until well-blended. Add egg and vanilla and beat until fluffy. Beat in flour, salt and baking soda. Stir in butterfingers (dough will be moist). Chill cookie dough at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using an ice cream scoop drop cookie dough in mounds onto prepared baking sheets, this makes a nice big gourmet cookie . Bake 12 minutes until golden brown. Transfer parchment with cookies to rack and cool completely.
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups, plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups crushed Butterfingers (about 3 regular-sized bars)
Using an electric mixer beat butter and both sugars in large bowl until well-blended. Add egg and vanilla and beat until fluffy. Beat in flour, salt and baking soda. Stir in butterfingers (dough will be moist). Chill cookie dough at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using an ice cream scoop drop cookie dough in mounds onto prepared baking sheets, this makes a nice big gourmet cookie . Bake 12 minutes until golden brown. Transfer parchment with cookies to rack and cool completely.
"Best Steak You've Put Anywhere Near Your Face"
After personally preparing and enjoying this meal, it really holds up to the claim as the 'best steak you've put anywhere near your face'. It uses quite a bit of butter, salt, and spices but in the end if you're going to eat red meat, I say do it up right. As you can see from the picture I had plenty of juices for an extra steak if you were feed four people.
Take 1/2 stick of butter, softened, and mix well with 2 cloves of peeled and chopped garlic. Add in 1 tablespoon parsley and 1 tablespoon of thyme and a teaspoon of lemon zest. I mixed in a ramekin for easy refrigeration. Season meat with salt and pepper generously. Heat the other 1/2 stick of butter with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Sear the filets in a screaming hot pan for about 2-3 minutes per side, (look for a nice brown crust to form). While the steak is searing, continue to spoon the residual butter in the pan on top of the meat while it's cooking. Place in the oven for about 6-8 minutes, depending upon how thick your steak is to achieve medium rare (longer if desired). In the last minute of cooking, take out your herb butter and spoon on each steak.
Take 1/2 stick of butter, softened, and mix well with 2 cloves of peeled and chopped garlic. Add in 1 tablespoon parsley and 1 tablespoon of thyme and a teaspoon of lemon zest. I mixed in a ramekin for easy refrigeration. Season meat with salt and pepper generously. Heat the other 1/2 stick of butter with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Sear the filets in a screaming hot pan for about 2-3 minutes per side, (look for a nice brown crust to form). While the steak is searing, continue to spoon the residual butter in the pan on top of the meat while it's cooking. Place in the oven for about 6-8 minutes, depending upon how thick your steak is to achieve medium rare (longer if desired). In the last minute of cooking, take out your herb butter and spoon on each steak.
Crispy Mashed Potatoes
I'm a savage. Look at the remains of my beautiful Crispy Mashed Potatoes. I couldn't wait one minute longer to get a photo in before we devoured them! This is a super easy and delicious side for any meal. You even leave the skin on for easy prep and extra nutrients!
Boil Potatoes until fork tender. Drain water and place potatoes on a baking sheet coated in olive oil. Press down on potatoes with fork to mash them. Drizzle potatoes with olive oil (or brush on) and sprinkle with salt. Place in the oven at 350 degrees until crisp or as long as you can hold out.
Crock Pot Cinnamon Almonds
Ok, I'll admit it. I love nuts. So much so I keep at least 4 varieties on stock at my house at the minimum. Add in the fact this recipe gives me yet another excuse to use my crockpot? Sold.
These puppies took a bit more babysitting than the typical crock pot recipe that you can sort of set and forget but still a very addicting treat reminiscent of the kind you get at amusement parks.
For next time I would probably scale down on the sugar. This left me with a lot of excess sugar which I scooped up in a container to sprinkle on my oatmeal so it wasn't a complete waste.
1 1/2 C. Sugar
1 1/2 C. Brown Sugar
3 Tbsp. Cinnamon
1/8 tsp. Salt
1 Egg White
2 tsp. vanilla
3 Cups Almonds
1/4 C. Water
Mix together sugars, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg white and vanilla until it’s a little frothy. Add almonds coating thoroughly in the egg white mixture. Add cinnamon mixture to the almonds and toss until coated.
Spray your crockpot with Pam set on low and dump in your almonds cooking for 3-4 hours stirring every 20 minutes. In the last hour, add the 1/4 C. of water and stir well to make sure you get that crunchy coating. Line a baking sheet with parchment and spread the almonds flat to cool. The almonds will be sticky at this point, so make sure you separate them a little and have no large mounds.
These puppies took a bit more babysitting than the typical crock pot recipe that you can sort of set and forget but still a very addicting treat reminiscent of the kind you get at amusement parks.
For next time I would probably scale down on the sugar. This left me with a lot of excess sugar which I scooped up in a container to sprinkle on my oatmeal so it wasn't a complete waste.
1 1/2 C. Sugar
1 1/2 C. Brown Sugar
3 Tbsp. Cinnamon
1/8 tsp. Salt
1 Egg White
2 tsp. vanilla
3 Cups Almonds
1/4 C. Water
Mix together sugars, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg white and vanilla until it’s a little frothy. Add almonds coating thoroughly in the egg white mixture. Add cinnamon mixture to the almonds and toss until coated.
Spray your crockpot with Pam set on low and dump in your almonds cooking for 3-4 hours stirring every 20 minutes. In the last hour, add the 1/4 C. of water and stir well to make sure you get that crunchy coating. Line a baking sheet with parchment and spread the almonds flat to cool. The almonds will be sticky at this point, so make sure you separate them a little and have no large mounds.
Stainless Steel Polish
Since we moved in our home over two years ago, the stains on my stainless steel appliances have haunted me. I've literally tried everything to remove the water drippings from the ice dispenser. TGFP. Thank God for Pinterest, I finally found a solution that WORKS. Clean your fridge, or any other appliance, to remove any larger deposits of residue. Next, reach into your cupboard for that olive oil (I'm told baby oil works too) put a little bit on a paper towel and start polishing. I seriously couldn't believe this worked. My fridge looks NEW. The water marks are GONE. The best part is the oil doesn't feel sticky but when you make new marks (like I do on the handles--especially when I'm cooking) you can just polish away those fingerprints with a fresh paper towel and without the need to reapply the oil.
Creme de Leche in a Crock Pot
This is not only delicious it's RIDICULOUSLY easy.
Fill a crock pot with water and completely submerge a can of condensed milk. Set slow cooker to low and 8 hours later? Creme de Leche.
This is my favourite edible science experiment! Don't forget to let the can cool about 2 hours in the fridge or in a bowl of cold water before you open up and enjoy. Eat as is like me :) or use as a dip or as part of another dessert.
Fill a crock pot with water and completely submerge a can of condensed milk. Set slow cooker to low and 8 hours later? Creme de Leche.
This is my favourite edible science experiment! Don't forget to let the can cool about 2 hours in the fridge or in a bowl of cold water before you open up and enjoy. Eat as is like me :) or use as a dip or as part of another dessert.
Glass Top Oven Cleaner - that works!
Keeping my stove top clean is the bane to my existence.
Apply a generous amount of baking soda to the cooktop. Take a cloth submerged in soapy water and ring it out. You want it soggy but not soaking wet. Lay over the dirty area for 15 minutes. After the time is up use a little elbow grease to lift off any remaining stains.
Repeat if necessary.
Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken
The chicken coating:
3-4 cubed boneless chicken breasts
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil
The sweet and sour sauce:
3/4 cup sugar
4 tbs ketchup
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1 tbs soy sauce
1 tsp garlic salt
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Dip chicken into the cornstarch to coat then dip into the eggs. Heat your 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet and cook chicken until browned but not cooked through. Place the chicken in a 9x13 greased baking dish. Whisk all of your sweet and sour sauce ingredients in a bowl and pour evenly over the chicken. Bake for one hour turning the chicken every 15 minutes. Tasted great served with rice pilaf and veggies.
3-4 cubed boneless chicken breasts
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil
The sweet and sour sauce:
3/4 cup sugar
4 tbs ketchup
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1 tbs soy sauce
1 tsp garlic salt
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Dip chicken into the cornstarch to coat then dip into the eggs. Heat your 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet and cook chicken until browned but not cooked through. Place the chicken in a 9x13 greased baking dish. Whisk all of your sweet and sour sauce ingredients in a bowl and pour evenly over the chicken. Bake for one hour turning the chicken every 15 minutes. Tasted great served with rice pilaf and veggies.
Baked Pumpkin French Toast
Morning time saver! Make the night before and throw in the oven at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes in the morning. Great way to use up that leftover pumpkin puree. Combine in an oven safe dish:
5-7 Slices of Bread, cubed
4 Eggs
1 cup of Milk
1 cup Pumpkin Puree
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
2 Tsp Vanilla
5-7 Slices of Bread, cubed
4 Eggs
1 cup of Milk
1 cup Pumpkin Puree
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
2 Tsp Vanilla
Frozen PB and B Sandwiches
Slice banana, spread on a little peanut butter and place in the freezer.
Delicious.
Crafty Wifey
Pin down an old t-shirt, I used pop cans.
Use the stencils for one letter at a time and paint on the bleach.
The words you stencil will lighten on the shirt.
Voila! A custom cozy house shirt.
FYI - I first used a paper towel to 'dab' on the bleach, didn't work, needs a good soaking of bleach. Can also use a stain removing/bleach pen.
Use the stencils for one letter at a time and paint on the bleach.
The words you stencil will lighten on the shirt.
Voila! A custom cozy house shirt.
FYI - I first used a paper towel to 'dab' on the bleach, didn't work, needs a good soaking of bleach. Can also use a stain removing/bleach pen.