Game Day Munchies - Part 1

     Hello!  It's Recipe Tuesday and in case you haven't heard the Patriot's are on their way to the Super Bowl (woo hoo!).  Since we're HUGE Pats fans there's no doubt that Aaron and I will be parked in front of the TV this Sunday watching the big game.  And since I don't want to be tied up in the kitchen baking during this time, I found several recipes that are great for game-time munchies but can be prepared ahead of time and thrown in the oven when needed.

     Spinach & Artichoke Dip came from my well-used All the Best Pampered Chef recipe book.  It's a dish that's best served warm, although I'll warn you - it's so good it won't last long!

Hot Artichoke & Spinach Dip

• 1 jar (16oz) marinated artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped
• 1 pkg (9-11 oz) frozen creamed spinach, thawed
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 small garlic clove, pressed
• 1/2 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• Diced red pepper (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375.  Coarsely chop artichokes, place in large bowl.  Add spinach, mayo and sour cream

2. Press garlic into bowl, add cheese and mix well.  Spoon into oven safe baking dish (I love the small oval baker from Pampered Chef)

3. Bake 25-30 minutes or until heated through.  Garnish with red pepper and serve with baked pita chips (recipe below).  Enjoy!

Bake Pita Chips

• 6 whole pita pocket bread rounds

1. Preheat oven to 400.  Split each pita pocket in half horizontally; cut each round into 8 wedges.  Arrange pita wedges on baking sheet.

2. Bake 8-10 minutes or until chips are lightly browned and crisp.  Remove from baking sheet; cool completely.  Repeat with remaining wedges.

Dresden Designs Die

Stampin' Up!'s Designer Fabric and this new die are a perfect match!  Easily create Dresden flower designs for quilts, throw pillows or other home decor projects.  But it's more than quilting - use in papercrafting to frame photos on pages and more!  Features two petal sizes - use together for endless possibilities.  Ideal for cutting multiple layers of fabric or card stock at once.

125597 Dresden Designs Big L die, $32.95

Check out the Dresden Designs Bigz L Die on page 12 of the Occasions Mini (here).

To place an order check out my Stampin' Up! website (here).

"Espresso"-ing My Love

     Hello!  I love that saying: "Nothing says I love you more than chocolate..."  Or was it "Chocolate fixes anything"?  Anyhoo, today's card was inspired by my favorite food group, chocolate, and krissiev's Birthday Cupcake card over at SCS (here).
     I loved Krissie's layout but I wanted to make a Valentine's Day card that was more on the masculine side and immediately thought of neutral colors, especially Early Espresso.  Doesn't the color combo make you think of a box of dark chocolate?  Or those delicious little Lindt balls that are so addicting?  Yum!

Stamps: Create a Cupcake
Ink: Real Red, Whisper White (craft)
Paper: Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Whisper White
Tools & Accessories: Build a Cupcake punch, button, linen thread, corner rounder punch, dimensionals

It's Sale-A-Bration!

To download a copy of the Sale-A-Bration catalog click (here).

 

 

Remember, you don't have to wait for a workshop to place an order!  Individual orders can be placed at anytime on my Stampin' Up! website (here).

Moroccan White Bean Turkey Chili

     It's Recipe Tuesday and today's recipe for chili comes from the Pampered Chef Deep Covered Baker Cookbook.  This healthful, hearty chili is quick to pull together and has a unique taste that is sure to hit the spot on a cold winter day.
     One of the essential ingredients in this recipe the Pampered Chef spice mix, Moroccan Rub.  It can be made at home (I'll provide the recipe below) but I recommend purchasing a bottle from Pampered Chef  for $4.50 (here).  This is what gives the chili it's unique, exotic flavor and cannot be substituted.  If you're interested in placing an order please visit my friend Danielle's Pampered Chef website (here), she's a wonderful consultant!

Moroccan White Bean Chili

• 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped 
• 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped (optional)
• 1 medium green pepper, chopped
• 1 lb lean ground turkey
• 3 tbsp Moroccan Rub (see below)
• 4 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (14.5 oz) petite diced tomatoes with garlic and onion, undrained

1. Preheat oven to 400. Combine onion and peppers in skillet and saute 5-8 minutes. Add ground turkey and Moroccan Rub and cook until turkey is no longer pink.

2. Add beans, tomato sauce and tomatoes; mix well. Pour mixture into deep covered baker and bake for 30-35 minutes. If you do not have a deep covered baker, this dish can be made in a large, covered skillet and simmered on the stove top for 30-35 minutes.  Enjoy!

Moroccan Rub

• 1-1/2 tbsp paprika
• 1-1/2 tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• 3/4 tsp ground cumin
• 3/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp chili powder

Paper Doily Die

One of the benefits of using Sizzlit dies is the delicate and intricate designs they cut. Now, with Stampin' Up!'s Paper Doily die you have the opportunity to create those beautiful detailed designs in a size that hasn't been an option before.

125592 Large Sizzlits Die Paper Doily, $21.95

Check out the Paper Doily die on page 7 of the Occasions Mini (here).

To place an order check out my Stampin' Up! website (here).

Got Love?

     Hello!  Today's card was inspired by label's Gingerbread Holiday Trio card over at SCS (here).  I loved the layout but wanted to change the theme to reflect Valentine's Day.
     The background was run through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder (love that!).  The hearts were stamped and then cut out and adhered to 1 1/4" white squares.  Those were then layered on corresponding CS that was cut out with the scallop square punch.  To be honest, I had to dig out and dust off my scallop punch, couldn't tell you the last time I used that!

Stamps:  Got Treats
Ink: Regal Rose, Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirouette
Paper: Whisper White, Regal Rose, Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirouette
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, scallop square punch, 1 1/4" square punch, grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' dimensionals

Hearty Chicken Stew

     Hello!  It's Recipe Tuesday and today's recipe for chicken stew comes from the Pampered Chef Deep Covered Baker cookbook.  This hearty stew is easy to make and absolutely delicious; the medley of vegetables and seasonings make this the perfect stew for a cold winter day. 
     When preparing this dish I prefer to use meat from a rotisserie chicken rather than chicken thighs as recommended in the original recipe. I'm a fan of white meat and find the flavorful rotisserie chicken adds a bit more seasoning to the stew.

Hearty Chicken Stew 

• 1 lb Yukon gold potatoes
• 1 large onion
• 3 carrots, peeled
• 8 oz whole mushrooms
• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or meat from 1 rotisserie chicken)
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 3 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 can chicken broth
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

1.  Preheat oven to 375. Cut potatoes into chunks, dice onion and cut carrots into 1/2" pieces.  Cut mushrooms into quarters.  Cut chicken into 1" pieces.  Combine potatoes, onion, carrots, mushrooms, chicken, rosemary, pressed garlic, salt and pepper in large bowl; mix well.

2.  Whisk together broth, tomato paste and cornstarch in separate bowl until cornstarch is dissolved.  Pour into chicken mixture; mix well.  Pour chicken mixture into large oven-safe casserole dish. 

3.  Bake, covered, 1 1/2 hours - 2 hours or until potatoes are tender, stirring after 45 minutes.

4.  Meanwhile, zest lemon.  Remove stew from oven.  Stir in zest and chopped parsley.  Let stand, covered, 10 minutes or until stew has thickened.  Enjoy!

Framelits Dies

A little hesitant to try the Framelits Dies?  Yes, they do look very different from other dies in the Stampin' Up! product line, but the opportunities are endless when you use them in your craft projects.

125599 Hearts Collection, $26.95

125598 Labels Collection, $26.95

Check them out on page 6 of the Occasions Mini (here).

To place an order visit my Stampin' Up! website (here).

Simple Hearts

     Hello!  It's so hard to believe that it's already time to think about Valentine's Day, it seems like I just finished making my Christmas cards last week!  Can I tell you that I actually saw Valentine's candy at the store the day after Christmas?!  AND I was able to purchase two bags of Cadbury Mini Eggs (the ones you see at EASTER) for my husbands stocking on Christmas Eve day.  Geesh - talk about rushing the holidays...
     Anyhoo, today's card was inspired by ju012835's 3 Lucky Shamrocks card over at SCS (here).  If you haven't checked out Julie's blog, Stamping Impressions, I highly recommend it - she does wonderful work!
     I loved Julie's layout and decided to change just the theme.  I used the heart from Got Treats stamp set and the sentiment comes from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I'm not a fan of rik rak so I substituted a piece of Pretty In Pink CS.  Thankfully I had a pink button but I've realized that I need to replenish my supply!

Stamps: Got Treats, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Pretty In Pink, StazOn Black
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Pretty In Pink
Tools & Accessories: Grosgrain ribbon, button, linen thread, corner rounder punch, Stampin' dimensionals

Pasta Carbonara

     Hello!  It's Recipe Tuesday and Pasta Cabonara comes from the October issue of Woman's Day magazine.  This is a much lighter version of the Italian favorite, it's definitely not as creamy as the dish that comes to mind when you think of Carbonara but still full of flavor. 
     Aaron was once again the chef and does have a few tips... He strongly recommends splurging for a small block of Parmesan cheese; the bagged cheese is no where near as good as freshly grated Parmesan and is well worth the extra 5 mintues of prep.  A great addition to this dish?  Fresh or frozen peas.

 Pasta Carbonara

• 12 oz linguine
• 3 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 7 slices bacon cut in 1/4" pieces

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.   Reserve 3/4 cup of the cooking water and drain the pasta.

2. Meanwhile, whisk together egg yolks, Parmesan cheese and 1/4 tsp salt & pepper.  Gradually whisk in 1/4 cup of the warm reserved cooking water.

3. Cook the bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp, 8-10 minutes.  Add pasta to skillet and toss to coat.

4. Transfer pasta and bacon to the bowl with the egg mixture and toss until noodles are coated.  If mixture seems dry, stir in additional reserved pasta water, 2 tbsp at a time.  Serve immediately and sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese.

Fishy Thanks

     Hello!  Today's card is version #2 of the November 25th Simply Grateful card.  I kept the layout identical but changed the image and colors.
     Super cute and super easy to make.  I don't know about you but I'm always in need of a thank you card (especially as a teacher) so I now have a stack of these pre-made and ready to go.

Stamps: Summer Splash, Sunny Fun (both retired from Summer Mini)
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Elegant Eggplant
Paper: Whisper White
Tools & Accessories: Simply Scored scoring tool, square punch, dimensionals 

The Occasions Mini Is Here!

It's January 4th and the Occasions Mini officially goes live today!

 

Click (here) to download the mini.

Click (here) to download the Sale-A-Bration mini.

If you're reading this and thinking, "Hmmm... I haven't received my copy of the mini in the mail yet", you're right.  I confess that I goofed - BIG TIME.

I got so wrapped up in the holidays that I completely forgot to submit my order for the Occasions Mini (demos have customer catalogs sent thru SU).  So this means that NONE of my customers will be receiving their Occasions Mini or their Sale-A-Bration catalogs in the mail from Stampin' Up! before January 4th.

But not to worry!  I have ordered several packets of catalogs and as soon as the man in brown drops them off at my door I'll pop them in the mail to you.  In the meantime if you're not a member of my Portsmouth stamp club but would like a copy of both minis drop me an e-mail or post a comment at the end of this thread with your name and address and I'll get one in the mail to you ASAP.

Thank you for understanding! 

Chicken & Roasted Garlic Risotto

     Hello!  It's Recipe Tuesday and today's recipe for quick and easy creamy risotto comes from CampbellsKitchen.com.  Now I know what you're thinking, "risotto that's quick and easy?"  But it's true, this whole recipe takes only about 30 minutes from start to finish - and you don't have to stand at the stove stirring the risotto!  And the best part is that because this comes from Campbell's the ingredients are ones that you most likely already have in your pantry!
     This is one of the "staple" meals at our house (since it's super quick) and we've actually had a guest comment on how good it was.  His exact words?  "Joanna, this tastes restaurant quality risotto!" 

     When it's just Aaron and myself we cut the chicken by half and use 2 breasts.  I also like to cube the chicken and then cook it, rather than cook the breasts whole.   We top the dish with freshly grated Parmesan and a little parsley.

Chicken & Roasted Garlic Risotto

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 lb)
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 can Cream of Chicken soup
• 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed (optional)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups uncooked instant white rice
• 1 cup frozen peas & carrots
• Parmesan cheese (optional)
• Parsley (optional)

1.  Heat butter in skillet over medium heat.  Add chicken and cook for 10 minutes or until well browned on both sides.  Remove chicken from skillet.

2.  Add onions to skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until tender.  Stir in soups and water and bring to a boil. 

3.  Stir in rice and vegetables.  Return chicken to the skillet.  Reduce heat to low; cover and cook for 5 minutes.

4.  Remove the skillet from heat and let stand 5 minutes.  Top with cheese and parsley.  Enjoy!

Holiday Mini Coming to an End

Just a reminder that the Holiday Mini will expire at 11:50 (MST) on January 3rd.  Bummer.

On the bright side, Stampin' Up! announced several items that will be carried over to the the next mini (although they won't be pictured).  Items include glimmer paper, punches and dies as well as fabric and shaker frames.

Click (here) to view the flyer.

If you'd like to place an order be sure to check out my Stampin' Up! store (here), I'd love to be your demonstrator!