home-made REAL fruit roll-ups

I don't know about yours, but my kids LOVE fruit roll-ups and fruit snacks!
Scanning the labels of store-bought fruit snacks is very disappointing, though.
High fructose corn syrup. Ick this and Ugh that!
So I was very pleased when I came across this recipe for home-made fruit roll-ups,
from Our Best Bites.


Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups
 From ourbestbites.com



Ingredients

2 1/2 – 3 cups ripe or slightly over-ripe diced fruit

sweetener to taste: honey, sugar, agave, etc.

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

optional: seasonings, spices, extracts to taste



Instructions

Preheat oven to lowest temperature. 140° or higher. Puree all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Pour onto a baking sheet lined with plastic wrap, or a silicone baking mat (don’t use foil, parchment, or waxed paper), and spread to 1/8″ thick. Place in oven and bake for 6-8 hours, until center is not tacky anymore. Remove from oven and peel off of baking sheet. Cut into strips and roll in parchment or plastic. Store in airtight container or freeze.



Tips:

-All fruits will produce slightly different results. Strawberries and Raspberries are two of my favorites, that consistently produce good flavor and texture. You might have to experiment to find what works well. If you’re going to make a giant batch, you may want to test one first to make sure it works well.

- The addition of sugar or honey enhances the texture and makes the fruit roll ups a little more chewy than if you leave it out.

- If using plastic wrap, it will shrink a little as the fruit dries, so do leave a little extra around the edges. A silicone baking mat works the absolute best in my opinion.

meow meow...



Woody: "Look Jessie, I know you hate me for leaving,

but I have to go back.

I'm still Andy's toy.

Well, if you knew him,

you'd understand. See, Andy's..."

Jessie: "Let me guess.

Andy's a real special kid, and to him,

 you're his buddy,

his best friend,

and when Andy plays with you it's like...

even though you're not moving,

you feel like you're alive,

 because that's how he sees you." ~ Toy Story 2

          
              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Every time I hear those lines from Toy Story 2, they remind me of my kids and their special toys. Each of my three kids have had (or still do have) their special stuffed toy lovey. But, as they are getting older, their once most-important-thing-in-this-world is not-so-much that, anymore....well except for Meow Meow, that is!


Meow Meow....where do I even start with you?!

 I was walking past the stairway this morning and found my youngest daughters "lovey" perched between the stair rails. Just sitting there; almost like she was just waiting for her mama to come back home from school.  Meow Meow has been a part of my daughters life from almost the time she was born. Almost! Rumor has it that she used to belong to oldest daughter, once upon a time, and was snatched up by youngest daughter! Now, I don't recall this, nor does it really matter at this point in time. All I know is that she has become a constant part of this family and I don't see that changing anytime in the near future.

I can fondly remember my own special lovey, from when I was a girl. I had a Holly Hobby doll that lived, breathed, cried, and slept with me....always! This doll had originally came with beautiful yellow yarn hair and a floral outfit, with matching bonnet.

I can also fondly remember one of our family dogs using Holly as a chew toy from time to time! Her pretty fabric face had been chewed on and her yellow yarn hair completely digested. Towards the end of Holly's life, her pint-sized body (arms and legs -with torso in between) were the only original parts that survived the canine torture days. Her dress and bonnet were a thing of the past- along with her brown tear-soiled face. It was sad, really, looking back now. I have no idea what Holly's final demise was. She is no longer with me: I have no idea how my Mom put her out of her misery. She was loved, though. Loved as much as any little girl could possibly love a piece of stuffed fabric, that somehow came magically alive in my imagination.

So, back to Meow Meow.

I have no idea how long "the magic" of a little girls imagination will continue.. (well, according to my daughter, Meow Meow will be real forever!) And, you know what; why shouldn't she be?  These are the things that true innocence are made of. The love she gives that toy is real! And, whatever comfort she receives back is priceless...

an ARTsy Sunday...

Yesterday was a real nice, lazy, family Sunday. After church we headed out to a "celebration" lunch for youngest daughter...to celebrate her wonderful job in her school play, this past weekend. She had her choice of places to eat and she decided that Culvers would be the best. It was a glorious sunny Sunday here, in a  usually gloomy late-February. Perfect!

After our indulgence in burgers and fries we headed to our next destination, the Box Factory for the Arts, in St. Joseph Michigan. An art show was in full-swing; an art show featuring local elementary schools and students in the area. Two of our daughters had some of their art work featured. It is always fun to check out all the local talent of the children in our community.

The Box Factory is a multi-use arts center that includes artist studios, galleries, a performance stage, classrooms, Art Shoppe, meeting space, and more. Two floors of the 55,000-sq-ft building have been devoted to the arts since 1995 when members of the Berrien Artist Guild, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, purchased the historic (c. 1903) Williams Brothers Paper Box Factory.

Free and open to the public: 10am to 4pm Mon-Sat, and 1 to 4 pm on Sun.

                                   The giraffe mask (upper left) done by oldest daughter.

Youngest daughter posing with one of her works of art: fish in a bowl. SO proud of my littlest artist!

                                       Oldest daughters "bird on a fence" painting.

                                            Youngest daughters "swirly figure" picture.

The Box Factory features a whole slew of in-house studio artists of all kinds- from ceramics to writing, an EVERYTHING in between. It was a lot of fun meandering the twists-and-turns of the hallways leading to the artists shops. Most of the artists were not "in", for it being a Sunday. I really need to go back another day!

 Here is the studio of Lynne Tan. She does all sorts of cool ceramic
 designs.

  The Pewter Shop was really fun! All sorts of fun hooks, wall art, etc. The artist, Rebecca Hungerford is sure a true talent!

Every child is an artist.

The problem is

how to remain an artist

once we grow up.

~Pablo Picasso

 

the REcycled garden...

A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.

 ~Gertrude Jekyll

Every year, at spring time, (or when the apple blossoms are in full glorious bloom, here is Michigan), a dear friend and I make our yearly pilgrimage to a local garden nursery for our stash of flowers and veggies. This trek always seems to fall right around my birthday and it usually falls right on or around the first day that this nursery opens for the year; promising us the bestest and brightest selection of our choosing. With camera's in hand and smiles on our faces, we head out for a fun days journey.

Right now as I stare out at the freshly fallen snow it is a bit hard to ponder a garden. But, I know that spring, and in turn summer, are right around the icy corner...so I better start getting my thinking cap on and my green-thumb a workin'.

Usually about this time I get to starting a few seeds indoors. Last year I planted WAY too many tomatoes...so note to self for this planting year! I didn't have enough beans or peppers, though..so "check" those on the list of to-add's.

I am always on the hunt for new ways to get the garden going. I hate spending money each year on those plastic seed trays that wind up breaking at a moments notice. Plus, being the thrifty gal I am, I am always in search of a free/cheaper method for the task. After doing some web-searching, I have found some nifty ways to get those garden seeds going in some rather crafty ways, at that.

Reduce -Reuse - Recycle

From the Desperate Gardener, here is a great way to reuse and repurpose a lot of items that would otherwise be sent out with the garbage. Here is a creative way for planting your seedlings using ordinary plastic bottles.

With all the toilet paper we use it is nice to finally find a way to reuse the empty rolls for a worthwhile project! I found this idea at Pickle Bums. Start saving those rolls (which won't take long in my house!)

Another garbage dump filler that can be repurposed is newspaper. At Cottage Hill I was taught how I can take ordinary newspaper and create pots for my seeds. Brilliant!

A simple thing as an egg shell can be given a new use as a container for seeds. Living Naturally in Louisiana gave me an egg-cellent idea with their egg shell seedlings! Love this!

After the eggs are gone use the container to plant in. Urban Farm Online found this great way to recycle that egg container in a fun simple way.

At Family Fun, I got this great idea for an indoor mini-greenhouse; using a used pop bottle.

Finally, at Cut Out and Keep, I saw a creative way to make garden markers for all the lovely plants you will have.

Lenten meal plan....

Since joining Pinterest I have come to experience oodles and OODLES of new websites; craft sites, re-purposing sites and mostly FOOD websites.

Well, one of the recent food sites that really stood out for me is Closet Cooking. The blogs author, Kevin Lynch, is based out of Toronto, Canada. His blog title, Closet Cooking...Cooking in a Closet Sizes Kitchen, kinda makes me giggle. For, here is this ordinary guy that has created numerous fabulous recipes in a pint-sized space. It has encouraged me; for if this guy, in cramped quarters, can be inventive...why can't I?!

The recipe index is extensive and impressive! Whew...where does one start?!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One recipe that will be a must-try in the coming weeks, for St. Patrick's Day, will be the Irish Soda Bread.

Irish Soda Bread ~ Closet Cooking

                                                       Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup rolled oats

1 cup buttermilk



Directions:

1. Mix the flour, baking soda, salt and rolled oats in a bowl.

2. Mix in the buttermilk and form a dough.

3. Shape the dough and place it on a baking sheet or in a loaf pan.

4. Bake in a preheated 375F oven for 40 minutes (the top should be golden brown).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Also, since being Lent, the Beer Battered Fish looks AMAZINGLY yummmy!!



Beer Battered Fish ~ Closet Cooking

 
Ingredients:


1 bottle beer

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 large egg (lightly beaten)

1 pound cod fillets (or halibut, or haddock, etc., cut into serving sized pieces)

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup flour

oil for frying



Directions:

1. Mix the beer, flour, baking powder, salt and egg into a batter in a bowl.

2. Season the fish with salt and pepper.

3. Dredge the fish in the flour and shake off any excess.

4. Dip the fish into the batter.

5. Fry the fish in preheated 375F oil until cooked, about 4-5 minutes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This fish would go wonderfully with My Son's Coleslaw!

Coleslaw:


1 small head of cabbage, shredded

1 small carrot, grated

1/2 cup chopped celery



Dressing:

1 cup light mayo (the recipe calls for Miracle Whip..but, we chose mayo)

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon celery seed



Shred cabbage into bite sized pieces. Grate carrot. Mix together. Mix dressing and add to cabbage mixture. Cover and refrigerate until ready to eat. You can make this WELL ahead of time and it tastes even BETTER!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                                                     Happy cooking!

a Saturday pantry re-do...

This past weekend I could take it no longer! My pantry was WAY out of control! I would find myself getting anxious just at the thought of having to go into it and TRY to find something. Plus, I didn't even know what was in there anymore -hiding behind all sorts of boxes and mess. So, I decided to make it my mission to get things in order and get my pantry back. I felt that getting things in order will only help my in my planning of meals and save me a bit of money (and my sanity!) in the long run.



 I started by just standing there, looking and feeling completely overwhelmed! HOW did I let this happen?
After those feelings of defeat left me I trudged along...my mind on the goal of a nice, clean, workable pantry space. I actually got inspired to even start this project from a blog called The Manly Housekeeper. Can you believe it? The site was great, though, and it gave me a great idea for organizing: plain ol' mason jars! This tip got me going in the right direction. 

So I started the task by taking everything out of the pantry first. You would be amazed as to how many empty boxes of crackers, cookies, and other strange things, lurked in there. Candy was hiding from goodness knows HOW long ago. Stray stale rice crispys, odd bits of sticky stuff and too many crumbs to count is what I encountered along the way...oh joy!

Oodles of tea bags, a minute amount of white chocolate chips,  bags of brown-stuff that I can't recognize! All on the counter it went- to sort through and to see what stays and what goes. And, a TON went bye-bye.

My main goal (other than a cleaner pantry) was to fill as many glass or see-through containers as I can.

That way, I could see "how much" was left and easily see when I needed more. So, I poured this sugar into a glass jar for easier reference. I then took a sharpie pen and wrote directly on the glass.



 One trick that I use is to use a permanent pen to label jars...when no longer needed, just wash off with soapy H2O. If you are really feeling crafty though, you can try another neat labeling idea: chalk board paint like at The Flibbertigibbet blog.  My friends, that know I like to paint ODD things, will be surprised I didn't do this. Well, I STILL plan on it, so there!! lol

So, moving on...

I tried to house similar like-minded items together. This is the baking shelf. Sprinkles, cake stuff, baking chips, etc... it is all right here for me, every time I need anything.

This spice rack was already here. I just went through it and got rid of super-old spices or empties.

As you can see, this is the spices shelf. I just used a cheap piece of masking tape to label it. Go ahead and fancy it up if you wish. I think that see-through containers are most important for me on this shelf. When one thing is running low I can quickly add it to the shopping list.

Jars and liquids...





My plastic grocery bags finally have a home of their own... in a reusable bag.

                                             

So, there you go... It really does look better in person than from this photo. I can see where everything goes and the kids (and husband) now know where to put things away (well...we'll see how that goes!)

pinterest

A couple of weeks ago I was talking with a gal who asked me if I had been on Pinterest. Pinterest? "What is that?", I had asked. She told me that it was an awesome website and that one cannot go visit without spending at least 2 hours on it! Really? Sure, I thought. I need to check into this.

So I did... and now.... I can honestly say that I have become addicted to Pinterest!


What is Pinterest you say? Well, not being totally familiar with all of it yet, (since I just signed up last weekend..) I can tell you this much so far.
Pinterest is a social-media website that allows users "to create and manage theme-based image collections. The site's mission statement is to "connect everyone in the world through the 'things' they find interesting." 

It is pronounced like "interest"-but with a "P" in front of it.
The first step I had to take to start the Pinterest process was to "join" and "become invited". This was done via email and took a couple of days before I got "in". I must say, it felt a bit unfriendly as I waited for a "website" to accept me! But alas I was allowed to enter. Once I could join I had to create a page for myself that would in-turn hold on it my"boards". Think of this as an office room. In it you find a bunch of bulletin boards. Say there are 10 different bulletin boards, each with a different theme associated with them. One could be craft ideas...another, food...yet another, cutsey-pootsy pets...and so on and so on. You are in charge of what you want to call your boards. You can be as creative as you wish. You can have an infinite amount of boards as well. Once you decide on your board names you can browse other peoples boards and find interesting "pins" that you like.

Now, here is an example of someone else's Pinterest boards...I couldn't figure out how to save and show you mine.

Now, a pin could be compared to a normal push-pin..or rather, what a push-pin is holding into place. Whether it be a photo of a fancy scarf that was made from old t-shirts, to a hairstyle that I think is cute. These pins show a snippet of the item you like, but once it is clicked on, it will lead you to that website.  



Now, once you click on a specific "pin", it will show up with specific info.
 (AGAIN, this is NOT mine...just an example of someone else's!)


Confused?! I bet! But wait!! All the nooks and crannies on Pinterest can be found here. If you love searching the web for ideas on anything crafty, cooking, home-related, travel, etc...then Pinterest my just be of interest to you. Check it out!

Oh, and be sure to visit my boards!

repurposed & crafty...

So, here are some random snapshots from around my own house that I took today. These show some of the ways that we re-purposed things, items or ideas... and found new, creative uses for them. I always find joy in re-purposing anything AND saving money along!

My daughter needed a desk for her room, but was not satisfied with her brothers old desk-which used to be her dad's old desk-from when he was a boy. So my 10 year old daughter thought to paint the drawers, to match her colorful personality. She wanted a chalk board in her room, so we bought some chalkboard paint and poof! - instant chalkboard!! I think the results are magical!

This was a gift that my daughter gave me for Christmas. It is a wreath of colorful fabric scrapes which she made in art class at school. I just LOVE it!

A friend of mine commented on my toilet paper holder in our bathroom, when she visited. Then, my sister made a comment about the same holder on her last visit. They both loved the creative way to hold a rather dull item as toilet paper. I found this grocery bag at a rummage sale and randomly put toilet paper in it one day. It does add a nice, simple touch to our bathroom.

While we were dating, my husband made this sign for me. It has our names spelled out in ordinary sea shells..all laying on a bed of sand, over cardboard.

In our front hallway a coat rack that holds another mesh shopping bag. I use it to hold mittens, hats, and all sorts of odds and ends that would get lost otherwise.

This side door to the garage gets very little use. So, I decided to play off the "magnetic" quality is holds and display the kids current art masterpieces on it. Now, when people walk into our home they are presented with an ever changing art wall.

Those beach days are never far behind- even in the dead of winter! I made this hanging piece with found driftwood and seaglass from a past trip to the beach. Now,whenever I look out the window, the beach is calling my name!

daddy's hands...

Rummaging through the basement book shelves unearthed some long-lost, forgotten, treasures of my past. I came across 3 small notebooks that carried my thoughts, writings and other vital words, from long, long ago- from when I was a young girl. I paged through one of those notebooks and found this short essay I had written, at an un-known date. As I sit here, coffee in hand, I felt a need to share. It seems so long ago....

I scribbled the title of Daddy's Big Hands, on the top of the page...

All grown up now, looking back to when I was a girl. I can still picture Daddy's big hands. So strong.. So worn from car oil from the "other" new (old) car in the driveway. Blistered and cracked from pounding nail after nail into the new addition to our house. Red and raw from unsuccessful scrubbing and washing, after working hour after hour after hour.... I can still see the black oil residue in his cuticles and underneath his short jagged nails.

Those big hands were the hands that tucked me into my soft bed night after night. What a simple pleasure for a man.
Every so often when I glance down at my own hands, the shape of each finger, I see my Dad's hand. If only for a moment.
But one day those big, strong hands could not work on the old Chevette in the driveway. They could no longer pound nails, painstakingly, over and over again. Those hands can no longer do their job at the factory, day after day. No longer- as they had for over 40 years.

I can still remember when mom and dad came back from the doctor and my Mom told me that Dad had cancer- and only 9 months he is expected to live. What an earful for a girl about to turn 21.
A girl who needs her father to watch her become a woman!
As the months passed, so did his ability of those two strong hands.

When Dad was laid to Rest- I can still picture in my mind how my Dad's strong, big hands looked as they clasped his rosary for ever- for the last time.
I thought of the past and of the future. Then I looked again at his hands.
Those hands won't ever hold my future babies soft delicate bodies- brush the hair of our family dogs-hold my hand as I walk down the aisle.

I feel that a person can tell a lot about someone from just looking at their hands. A story could be revealed in a matter of seconds.

Dad has been gone now for man years. He may be gone physically, but I will always remember Daddy's strong hands.

Drop a Pebble in the Water

Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone;

 But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,

Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea.

 And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget,

 But there's little waves-a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,

And those little waves-a-flowing to a great big wave have grown;

 You've disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute it is gone;

 But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.

They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the center as they go,

 And there is no way to stop them, once you've started them to flow.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute you forget;

 But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,

And perhaps in some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you've stirred,

 And distrubed a life was happy ere you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash and it is gone;

 But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,

Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave

 Till you wouldn't believe the volume of the one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;

 But there's gladness still a-swelling, and there's joy a-circling yet,

And you've rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard

 Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.

                                                                          ~ James W. Foley