Happy Easter

     Hello!  Today's card was inspired by Teneale Williams' card Case Study Challenge #37 card (here).  I found her blog several months ago and {LOVE} her work - she's so talented!  Definitely another great blog to visit for inspiration if you lose your stamping mojo...
      With Easter approaching I realized that own one Easter stamp set.

Yup, one.  And it's retired.

      I'm not a fan of any of the Easter stamp sets offered in the mini or the current catalog (shhhhhh!) so I realized that I had to use what I have if I was going to send cards out this year.  When I saw Teneale's card I knew it was the perfect layout and theme for an Easter card!     

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: So Saffron CS & DSP, Whisper White, More Mustard
Ink: StazOn black
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot, Labels Coll. framelits die, Beautiful Wings embosslit die, pearls, organza ribbon, dimensionals

Ham & Veggie Quiche

     Hello!  It's Recipe Tuesday and today's recipe for quiche was inspired by a recipe in a Daisy Sour Cream ad.  This light and fluffy dish is packed with vegetables and easy to make on a weeknight.  If you're a mushroom fan go ahead and add a 1/2 cup to the skillet, they make a great addition. Vegetarian?  Switch the ham and Swiss for broccoli and cheddar, the possibilities are endless!

     Opting for a healthier version of this dish, I chose to use Egg Beaters rather eggs and low-fat Swiss cheese.  I also used refridgerated pie crust and did have an issue with the crust sliding down the side of the pie plate during the pre-bake.  It did't look as pretty as I'd like so I stongly recommend using a frozen crust.   

Ham & Veggie Quiche

• 9" unbaked pie crust (I recommend frozen)
• Small onion, finely chopped
• Small green pepper, finely diced
• 1 1/2 slices of ham, diced
• 3 large eggs (3/4 cup Egg Beaters)
• 1 1/2 cups Swiss cheese
• Salt & pepper to taste

1.  Poke holes on the inside of the pie crust with fork.  Preheat oven and bake crust according to manufacturers directions.

2. Reduce oven to 350.  Saute onions and peppers in skillet until onions are translucent, 7-9 minutes.  Add ham and continue to cook until ham is heated through.

3. Combine eggs, 1 cup cheese and vegetable mixture in large bowl.  Pour mixture into pie crust, top with remaining cheese.  Bake 40 minutes or until center is set and cheese is golden brown.  Let stand 20 minutes before cutting.  Enjoy!

Adorning Accents Card Holder

Watch Carrie from Stampin' Up! show you how to use the Simply Scored tool and new Adorning Accents Edgelit Dies to create a fun card holder.

Adorning Accents Edgelits Die 125595, $9.95

Bordering on Romance clear stamp set 125482, $21.95

Thank You

     Hello!  Today's card was inspired by mandypandy's Fresh Vintage CAS card over at SCS (here).  I loved everything about Mandy's card so to make it my own I substituted  Elements of Style for the main image and changed the colors.
     I absolutely love the new Framelits dies and was so excited to hear the Stampin' Up! will be adding to this collection in the future! 

Stamps: Elements of Style, Thank You Kindly
Ink: Old Olive, Regal Rose, StazOn Black
Paper: Whisper White, Rose Red
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits dies, Beautiful Wings Embosslit die, Stampin' dimensionals, pearls

Chicken Teriyaki Sushi

      Hello!  It's Recipe Tuesday and you read the title correctly - sushi!  Since Aaron and I love sushi (I prefer the kind without raw fish) my parents gave us a sushi kit for Christmas.  It came with an instruction booklet, complete with photos, that has tons of great recipes.  As I hinted to earlier, I'm not a fan of fish so we decided to give the teriyaki chicken and scallions roll a try.

     If you're a little hesitant to try making sushi at home I completely understand, I was too!  But we were able to find all the ingredients needed to make the rolls at our local grocery store in the Asian aisle.  The recipe may look a little intimidating (there are a few steps to follow) but if you've got the time it's the perfect recipe to try on a rainy day.  

Sushi Rice (makes 2 3/4 cups)

• 1 cup sushi rice
• 1 1/4 cup water
• 1/8 cup rice vinegar
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp sugar

1.  In a 3-4 qt sauce pan, combine rice and water.  Bring to a boil over high heat.  Cover and reduce to a simmer.  Cook for 24 minutes (do not remove the lid during the cooking process).

 2.  Combine rice vinegar, salt and sugar in small bowl.  Stir until dissolved.

3.  Pour rice into large bowl.  Add vinegar mixture to rice and let sit 10-15 seconds.  Carefully mix rice to evenly coat with vinegar.


I pushed rice up against sides of bowl to speed cooling.



4.  Let rice cool

Chicken Teriyaki Futomaki with Scallions

Chicken


• 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast (4 oz)
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1 tbsp firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 2 tsp grated ginger

Roll

• 9 scallions, green part only
• 3 sheets nori
• 3 cups seasoned sushi rice

1. Place chicken between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and pound flat with flat side of meat mallet.

2. In 1-qt zip-top bag, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic and ginger.  Mix well; add chicken.  Marinate 2-4 hours, refrigerated.

3.  Cook chicken on grill until no longer pink (Foreman works best!) Allow to cool then slice into strips.

4.  To make rolls, cut scallion greens to fit length of nori.  Spread rice on nori, leaving a 1" border at top and bottom. Add chicken and scallions and begin to roll.

If you don't have a bamboo mat you can use wax paper to help roll nori

5. Cut into 8 pieces, serve with soy sauce.  Enjoy!

Make sure your knife is sharp, let the knife glide through the roll.

Simply Scored Diagonal Pack

Stampin' Up! is pleased to announce the all-new Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, perfect for creating envelopes, boxes, and more! It’s the must-have companion to your Simply Scored scoring tool.  It's available for order today so watch the video and contact me to order yours today: 125586, $11.95



Enchanted Anniversary

     Hello!  Today's card was inspired by Julie Marshall's Always & Forever card on her blog Stamping Impressions (here).  I {loved} everything about her card so I decided to CASE it using what I had on hand!     
     The Framelits dies I used are available in the Occasions Mini (here) but Everyday Enchantment DSP is only available in the Sale-A-Bration catalog (here).

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: StazOn Black, Basic Black Stampin' Write marker
Paper: Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Everyday Enchantment DSP
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot, Framelits Dies Hearts Collection, Stampin' dimensionals

Carrot Souffle with Pecan Topping

     Hello!  It's Recipe Tuesday and today's recipe for Carrot Souffle (trust me, it's easy!) comes from the Pillsbury Classic Cookbooks #34, Thanksgiving.  It's one of those little recipe books you see in the checkout aisle at the grocery store, usually right above the celebrity magazines.  I originally picked up my copy as a last minute decision 2 years ago and I'm so glad I did.  It helped me create "the best Thanksgiving dinner EVER", according to Aaron (love him!).

     One of the side dishes that I've made for the past two turkey days is Carrot Souffle.  Trust me, this dish is anything but difficult and you don't have to tiptoe around the house and keep your voice down while it's baking.  But you do need a super blender - we have the Ninja Master Prep (love that thing!).  The recipe I'll share is the original and will easily feed a family of 6.  If you're a smaller group I strongly recommend halving the recipe (you'll still have plenty!).  And I'll admit that the photos make this side dish look a bit like baby food but the taste is amazing!  Creamy and sweet with a bit of crunch... it's a unique dish that your family will love.  But don't think this side dish is only for Thanksgiving - it would make the perfect side dish for Easter dinner.

Carrot Souffle with Pecan Topping

• 1 bag (32 oz) ready-to-eat baby-cut carrots
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

1. Heat oven to 350.  Grease 11x7" (2 qt) glass baking dish with butter or cooking spray.

2.  In 3-qt saucepan, place carrots and enough water to cover.  Heat to boiling; reduce heat to medium.  Cover; cook about 20 minutes or until soft.  Drain; cool slightly.

3.  In food processor, place carrots, 1/2 cup butter, granulated sugar, 1/4 cup of flour, salt and eggs.  Cover; process until pureed.  Spoon mixture into baking dish.

4.  In medium bowl, mix brown sugar, pecans, remaining 1/2 cup of flour and 6 tablespoons butter until crumbly.  Sprinkle evenly over carrot mixture.

5.  Bake uncovered 42-47 minutes or until center is set (I've gone as long as 50 minutes).  Enjoy!

My Digital Studio & My Digital Studio Express

Holly from Stampin' Up! will help you understand the differences between My Digital Studio and My Digital Studio Express so you can decide which digital design option is right for you.

     My Digital Studio is perfect for you—no matter your skill level or experience—because you can start from a blank canvas or use designer templates for inspiration. This downloadable version comes with the full software and fresh, minimal digital content using Stampin’ Up!’s artwork, designs, and colors! Windows and Mac compatible. 

One thing to note: My Digital Studio comes on 2 DVD's that can be installed on your computer and can be ordered online or at a workshop.  MDS Express can only be ordered through my Stampin' Up! website (here), and is instantly downloadable.  Includes over $50 worth of content:

• 12 Designer Series paper patterns
• One 9-piece stamp brush set
• 81 embellishments
• 26 punches
• Five designer templates (24-page 11" x 8-1/2" photobook, 7" x 5" postcard, 5" x 7" postcard, 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" greeting card, 4" x 9-1/4" trifold card)

124483, $39.95

118108, $79.95

Got Green?

     Hello!  Here's another super simple card that's easy to make in large quantities (I love those kinds of cards!).  Similar to my Love You Much card last month, this card took me less than 10 minutes to create and can be filed under the CAS category.

Stamps: Got Treats
Ink: Wild Wasabi
Paper: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi
Tools & Accessories: Paper piercing tool, Stampin' dimensionals

Macaroon Cookies

     Hello!  It's Recipe Tuesday and today's recipe for macaroon cookies comes from the back of a Hershey Kiss chocolate bag.  Originally, the recipe calls for a Hershey Kiss on top but, believe it or not, I'm not a fan of Hershey Kisses.  Not wanting to miss an opportunity to add chocolate to a cookie, I decided to melt semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave and drizzle the mixture on top.
     Aaron and I are HUGE fans of coconut so this recipe was a no-brainer.  The center of the cookie is incredible soft, creamy and practically melts in your mouth, while the toasted coconut on the outside adds a little bit of crunch.  There's a hint of almond and orange which makes this cookie so unique. 
Macaroon Cookies

• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 3 oz cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tsp almond extract
• 2 tsp orange juice
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 5 cups sweetened coconut flakes, divided
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or 40 Hershey Kisses

1.  Beat butter, cream cheese and sugar in stand mixer on medium speed until well blended.  Add egg yolk, almond extract and orange juice; blend well.

2. In separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to butter mixture.  Stir in 3 cups coconut.  Cover; refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to handle.

3.  Preheat oven to 350.  Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in remaining 2 cups coconut.  Place on un-greased cookie sheet.

4. Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.  Immediately press Hershey Kiss into center of each cookie OR (if drizzling chocolate on top) immediately press cookie flat with back of spatula*. 

5.  Cool 1 minute.  Carefully remove to wire rack and cool completely.

* If drizzling chocolate on top, melt chips in microwave-safe bowl and then place mixture in zip-top bag with one corner snipped off.  Use the bag to pipe chocolate on each cookie. 

     On a different note, I thought I'd show you the newest addition to my Kitchen Aid mixer - the Flex Edge Beater!  This little attachment has a wiper/spatula on one side that ensures nothing, and I mean nothing, sticks to the side or bottom of the bowl.  In other words, NO MORE stopping the mixer and scraping the bowl during the mixing process - yipee! 

       

     I purchased mine at Bed, Bath & Beyond for $29 (here) and it's available for 5 and 6 qt bowls.  I can safely say this purchase was money well spent!

Quilling Technique

     Give some dimension to your next card or project using the quilling technique.  The supplies are minimal but the end result will really turn heads!

122334 Simply Scored, $29.95

Take It To Heart

     Hello!  Today's card was inspired by Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #22 (here).  If you ever lose your stamping mojo this is the site to visit - it's amazing!
     I {loved} this layout and although I could have created a simple card fairly quickly, I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and dig out those blender pens.  Yes, I teach 5-year olds and yes, I color almost everyday but for some reason I hesitate to color on cards.  When I'm with my kiddos I can make purple trees and a green sky and they don't care.  But on a card it's different.  A grown-up card should resemble reality.  Somewhat.

     In the end I'm happy with the final product.  Even though  the Take It To Heart set and DSP aren't sold as coordinating sets, I think this particular image works well with almost all of the sheets.
     And speaking of DSP, The Everyday Enchantment DSP that I used is available for a limited time only as part of Stampin' Up!'s Sale-A-Bration.  For every $50 you spend (before S&H) you can choose 1 item from the SAB catalog (here).  But hurry, this wonderful event end March 31st!

Stamps: Take It To Heart, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Soft Suede, Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade
Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Everyday Enchantment DSP
Tools & Accessories: Blender pen, Stampin' dimensionals