Thrift Store Treasure: A Mason Jar!?

I love to peruse the local thrift stores. (Good Will and RedRacks) and I usually find something I can't live without. As long as it's a steal of a deal! Well, my mom and I were on our way to check out when this little glass jar with an orange lid caught my eye.

I love kitchen items! And the price was only 99 cents! Only problem?? Not quite sure what I'm going to do with it. I bought it anyways. I'd find a use for it! My mom suggested a bug jar for the little bugs Levi catches. He's 8 months! Not quite time to put it to that use. :D

In the mean time I need a good use for it. So, if you have an idea please let me know! Otherwise it will just sit on my shelf and look cool.

 

And Scotch has some new labeling tape out. I had a coupon so I figured I'd try it! Looks pretty fun on my food jars! (I sprinkle Chia Seeds on my oatmeal and salads and such.)

Venison and Quinoa Sloppy Joes on Homemade Hamburger Buns with Homemade French Fries: Yummy!

Today I made a classic meal with a twist. Last fall my husband got a couple of deer so we have a freezer full of deer meat. And I had some leftover quinoa. The other day I cooked up some quinoa for Banana Chocolate Chip Quinoa muffins(I'll post that recipe later). I'm a huge fan of stretching my meat recipes. For example, I like to make taco meat with ground beef, lentils, brown rice and black beans. Much cheaper and you get some healthy foods in there too.

So... back to the sloppy joes. I made it easy by using a can of Manwich. Usually I make my own, but I just so  happened to get the Manwich for super cheap.

For my homemade hamburger buns I had some bread dough sitting in my fridge. (This bread recipe is a No Knead dough that can sit in your fridge for up to nine days.) I made a Batard a few days ago with half of it.

I got the recipe from this book- 200 Fast & Easy Artisan Breads by Judith Fertig. I've been to one of her classes- where I purchased a copy of this book. And she signed it! :D

My husband and I love bread! And I just might eat one of these later with some butter and honey...

I love making homemade french fries. This french fry cutter is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets. Just drizzle on some oil, salt, pepper and, if you like, some chili powder, garlic powder or cornmeal(we added this way when I was little)

One last note- I love to melt the cheese! Just put the bottom half of the bun on a cookie sheet, top with your cheese and pop it in a turned off oven for 5 minutes. (Should still be warm from baking your fries)

Does any one else love Ooey Gooey Messy Burgers? (HUGE Mary Kate and Ashley fan when I was little- remember It Takes Two?)

No nap for me Mommy!

Hi blogging world. So sorry for the long leave. Mommyhood has kept me very busy and the last thing I want to do at end of the day is be at the computer. (I know myself too well to know ten minutes easily turns into an hour.)
Right now I'm relaxed on the couch with an almost asleep baby in my arms. He's been up since 7 with only a few snoozes in my arms. Sometimes the transfer to the crib wakes him and then he stands up and either smiles like his ten minute snooze was a long two hour nap or he cries.
Not napping today is unusual for him. He naps in the morning. Naps in the afternoon and sometimes even a short one around 5. And I'm very lucky that he sleeps through the night.
And I think today I just might stay on the couch with my boy, cuddle him close and take a nap too. Everything else can wait.

Chocolate Pumkin White Chip Muffins and Corn and Black Bean Salad(Salsa)

Right after I had my son Levi my wonderful aunt provided a meal for my husband and I. She made us Black Bean Enchiladas, Corn and Black Bean Salad and Weight Watchers Pumpkin/Cinnamon Chip Muffins. It was truly a blessing having meals provided right after Levi was born. And now he's almost 7 months old!

I currently have some of her Corn and Black Bean Salad in my fridge- I made this batch myself. (I've made it quite a few times actually!) I cut back on the sugar just a little bit(don't get me wrong, I love the sugar in it! But am trying to eat healthy) and I had to use regular corn instead of Mexi-corn.

Corn and Black Bean Salad

1/2 c. vinegar

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1/2 c. sugar(I used 2 Tb)

1/4 c. cilantro

1 tsp salt & pepper

2 (15 oz) cans mexi-corn, drained

2 (15 oz) cans black beans, rinsed and drained (I use 3 c. prepared from dry)

1 c. chopped green pepper

Mix vinegar, oil, sugar, cilantro, salt and pepper. Add to corn, black beans, and chopped pepper. Chill. This is great for a summer barbeque, as a side for Mexican food, or simply with chips!

 

This week I also made a variation of her Pumpkin/Cinnamon Chip Muffins. These are weight watchers muffins but I don't know how many points they are. My variation included Dark Chocolate Fudge cake mix and white chocolate chips. My husband even loved them- they're very moist and gooey.

WW Chocolate, Pumpkin and White Chip Muffins (More like Cupcakes!)

1 box Dark Chocolate Fudge cake mix (or any variation you like)

1 15 oz can pumpkin

1 egg

3/4 c. white chocolate chips

1/4 c. water 

Mix all ingredients together. Spray muffin pan (or use liners). Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Freeze 6 in a quart size freezer bag to enjoy later! Great for a snack and lunches too!

Yield: 18 muffins

    

Chocolate Cake!

One box of chocolate cake mix and one container of chocolate frosting. So easy and so yummy!

 During my pregnancy I was craving this so I bought the stuff to make it- I just never got around to it! I baked the cake according to the box. Cut off the rounded tops to make them flat and frosted the cake.

 I crumbled up the tops that I had cut off and stuck them to the side of the cake and a little bit of it in the center (along with some mini chocolate chips to top it off!)

That's it! Sometimes it's just nice to indulge!

Chocolate-Avocado Mousse: AKA A Little Piece of Heaven!

I love to watch cooking shows. Actually I love to watch shows about food in general. When I DVR a show it is more often than not a cooking show. Or Eat St. Food trucks seriously have some amazing looking food. I love food! I could seriously eat and eat and eat. But I don't! Because I do have self-control, and all that yummy food is not a good idea- for my body of course!

Anyways, one show I love is Giada at Home. She made a Chocolate-Avocado Mousse and it just sounded so good, and healthy too! And I love chocolate so that sealed the deal. I made that Chocolate-Avocado Mousse tonight. Delicious! So delicious that I almost (ALMOST!) ate my husband's portion (his is sitting in the fridge awaiting his arrival home). And it's so good that I think I'll buy another $1.69 avocado and make it again- soon! *I'm a coupon/sales shopper so it's a big thing to buy stuff not on sale! This is worth it. And it only took 5 minutes!  :D

Giada used 4 avocados and her's serves 4-6. I used one avocado and it served two. I just took her measurements and divided them by 4. Just fill up your 1/4 c. measuring cup half way. Although, next time I'm going to half the recipe so that I get dessert today, and dessert tomorrow!

Find the recipe at Food Network: Chocolate-Avocado Mousse

Starving Artist Art Sale

I have a huge portfolio of artwork that I would love to get to those that would appreciate it. I don't need them just sitting around. So- they are for sale at an AMAZING price. I am willing to ship but I would have to calculate the cost if needed. Some are small enough to fit in an envelope, some can be rolled into a tube, and some are on canvas. Sizes vary. For friends and family I'd love to meet up around my hometown and will take cash or check. I can also create a bill using Paypal for credit cards. Any questions just let me know! 

$20- Oil on Canvas

 $10- Acrylic on Art Board

 $10- Watercolor on watercolor paper

 $15- Acrylic on Art Board

 $15- Oil on Canvas

 $10- Charcoal on Art Paper

 $10- Charcoal on Art Paper

 $10- Chalk Pastels on Art Paper (UCM)

 $10- Acrylic on Art Board 

 $10- Pen and Ink on Art paper

 $10- Pencil on Brown Paper Roll

 $15- Charcoal on Art Paper

$10- Watercolor on Watercolor Paper

 

$15- Fabric in Wooden Frame (Includes Frame)

 $10- Oil Paint on Art Paper

$10- Acrylic Paint on Paper Mached Cardstock