Homemade Chalk Paint Recipe

I've had a lot of requests lately for my recipe for my 

Homemade Chalk Paint.

So, I decided just to make a post about it, so I can now refer everyone to a link.  :)

Its actually not my recipe.

It was given to me by Val from 2ndEssence 

and it works like a charm.

So easy.

So simple.  

So cheap.

That's all there is to it.

It adheres to anything.

It doesn't have the initial smoothness of ASCP, 

but it does sand out to a very nice finish.

Its pretty much my go-to when I'm not using ASCP and it was all I used before I made the financial commitment to purchase Annie Sloan's original version.

Here are some examples of the many, many things 

I've painted using this recipe.

It has made re-doing pieces soooooo much easier.  

And inexpensive.

If I had a blog post available for the piece, I provided the link to them.

So you can see the befores and know just what this recipe can do for you.  :)

Dumpy Thrifted Desk

Bland Dining Room Table

Gaudy Gold Mirror

Antique Lady's Writing Desk

Vintage Pine Chimney Cabinet

Daddy's Rocking Chair

Pleather Thrifted Footstool

Vanity Bench

Antique Washstand

Thrifted Ladder

and one with a combination of ASCP and homemade chalk paint - you know, for the project that eats more ASCP than you planned and you're in a little bit of a bind...

China Cabinet

See...  There's just no end to what you can do with it.

And you can mix up all the colors of the rainbow.

So, that's why even though I'm primarily using ASCP now, I don't think I'll ever quit using homemade.

Because, you never know when you just might find a piece of furniture that's telling you to give it its own special color.  ;)

XO,

The Great Morel Hunt

Each year after the snowmelt, my husband joins the thousands of folks who scavenge area woods for the elusive Morel mushroom.  Its kind of a competition for him, with his secret spots and yearly go-to destinations.  I don't even know where they're at.  LOL

Via

There's lots of theories as to where you can find them, such as south facing slopes, at the base of dead elms...  Scott has found them on the sides of roads, growing in people's yards, and in the middle of a city park.  Sometimes, they just grow.  I think, for him, the fun of the hunt is better than sitting down and eating them.  This year we will have slim pickings to say the least.  Its been warm early and we've had little rain to keep the ground moist.  The year before last, he found over 40 lbs.  At the going rate of $60 per pound, since the government required a license to sell and an inspection, morels don't come cheap.  Throw in all the time and effort it takes to harvest them...  Yeah.  For people who are buyers, its pricey.  Scott would rather hunt for them.  I even bought him a morel t-shirt a couple of years ago.  To say he is obsessed is putting it mildly.

Last night, he came home with a gallon bucket full.  We all love them, except Ian, so they're pretty much gone as soon as they come out of the frying pan.

Our method of cooking is pretty basic, but oh so good.

First, Scott cuts and and cleans them to remove any bugs.

See the bug?  Ew.

Then, he dips them in straight flour.  No salt.  No pepper.  Nothing.  They are so delicious, they don't need it.

 He fries them in a stick of butter...

until they are golden brown...

and then drains them on paper towels.

At which point, we all devour them as fast as he can keep us supplied.  They don't ever make it to a plate.

I had never even heard of Morels until we moved out here.  Now, its just another hunting season...  Pheasant, Deer, Morels, Fishing...

Its hard to describe how they taste.  They're kind of salty and very earthy.  Their texture is firm without being tough.  They are, oh so good, but you don't want to eat them raw.  They're not that kind of mushroom.

But, I can tell you this:  Once you've had one, you look forward to every spring when you can eat yourself sick or if you're my husband, join in the thrill of the hunt.  ;)

Edible Easter Nests

Easter time abounds with scrumptious recipes for the kiddos.  The March & April Issue of FOLK Magazine served up one of the cutest and yummiest ones yet.

This featured creation is from Amy at Momma Hen's Frugal Life and it was just so cute, I just had to try it out.

First, assemble your ingredients.

You'll need:

THREE CUPS Large or Mini marshmallows
THREE TBSP Unsalted butter (which I didn't have, but what-ev)
HALF TSP of Vanilla
TWO TSP of Peanut Butter
FOUR CUPS Dry Chow Mein Noodles
Small Egg-like Candy (I used Cadbury Mini-Eggs because they rock.)

First, you're going to grease a muffin pan and set it aside.

Then, in a pot, you're going to combine the marshmallows, butter, and peanut butter like so...

After it melts, you're going to add the vanilla and the dry noodles:

Remove the pot from the heat, apply vegetable oil to your hands (Forget the Pam, it doesn't work as well.  Tried it.), and press the mixture into your muffin cups when the mixture is just cool enough that you don't burn yourself, but not set up yet.

Stick the pan in the fridge and wash up your dishes while you wait for them to cool completely OR sit on the couch and stuff your face with the Cadbury Eggs while watching HGTV...  Whatever works for you.  The Cadbury Eggs were GREAT.  ;)

When they're firm to the touch, put your little eggs in the little nests and admire your work.

Almost too pretty to eat.

This recipe should yield you fourteen, but I only got twelve out of it.  But then again, I'm definitely no cook.  Just ask Scott.  :P

And then sit back, smile, and wave while you accept the Mom of the Year Award.

Even though you totally just staged your kid for your blog post.  :P

It'll almost make up for forgetting to pick your son up from Chorus practice last week...  Or not.  LOL

But at least you feel like you accomplished something today - and put a smile on your kiddos' faces... Until the dryer buzzer goes off and reminds you that you still have a load or two of laundry to fold.

Oh well.  It was great while it lasted.  Right?

Toodles,

Heaven on a Bagel Crisp

Boy, am I on a roll today ladies!  Two posts in one day!

No, not really.  I'm still dealing with the gimp eye and I have nothing better to do.  The chore board is going swimmingly, so the house is clean (with the exception of my bedroom which looks like Katrina came ashore...  And sat there for a week.)  Noah has amassed 55 points in 3 days and we're going to be broke.  LOL  You can read about my chore system HERE that I have started using for our kiddos.

Anyhoo...

Have any of y'all ever heard of Baked Bree?  O.M.G.  I started following her blog a few weeks ago and for becoming a follower, you receive an e-cookbook for free.  Today, I made her Blue Cheese Bacon Dip.  Heaven.  On.  A.  Bagel.  Crisp.  Seriously.

I have no idea how many calories this bad boy has and I don't want to know.  I don't want to know about the carbs or what its going to do to my arteries.  All I know is that I could roll around in the stuff. And then lick it off.  For real.

For one, its got all the main components of yumminess - cream cheese, bacon, garlic, blue cheese crumbles, and did I say bacon???

Since the recipe is already posted on her blog, I don't feel like I shouldn't be posting it here:

Blue Cheese Bacon Dip

Ingredients:

7 Bacon Slices
2 Cloves of Garlic; Minced
2 Packages of Cream Cheese; Softened
1/3 C. Half and Half
1/2 C. Blue Cheese Crumbles
2 Tbsp. Fresh Chives
1/3 C. Toasted Chopped Walnuts
Salt/Pepper to Taste

Directions:

1.  Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Get your bacon frying.

3.  Beat the softened Cream Cheese with your mixer on Medium until creamy.  (Be sure the cream cheese is well softened or your beaters will seize up and you'll have to take a spatula to scrape it all out.  Yes, I know this for a fact.  Chef, I ain't.)  Add the Half and Half and mix it until its well combined.

4.  Mince your garlic and when your bacon is done frying, remove it from the pan (I used a griddle) to drain on paper towels.  Inhale the goodness.  Saute your garlic in the bacon grease for 1 minute.

5.  Crumble up your bacon while you're roasting the chopped walnuts.  I broiled them on low for 1 and a half minutes and called it good.

6.  Add all the ingredients to your cream cheese mixture, withholding some of the nuts, bacon, and chives for garnish.

7.  Add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.  I added quite a bit of pepper, but I like a little kick.  Mix gently, but well.

8.  Place in a small casserole dish or 4 - 1 Cup Ramekins.

9.  Pop it in the oven and bake until golden brown.  I baked mine for about 25 minutes.

Bree says to serve it with crackers, grapes, apples, or a baguette.  I ended up using plain Bagel Crisps because I wanted a baguette and Wally World didn't have any.  I wasn't walking back to get crackers either.  As good as this stuff is, you could eat it on practically anything and it would be good.  I had to stop myself from eating it with a spoon - but I have a weakness for blue cheese and bacon.  And garlic.  And cream cheese.  LOL

Doesn't that picture make you want to lick your computer screen?  LOL!  But seriously, its a very delicious recipe and I plan on taking it to the next party to which I'm invited.  It'll be gone in seconds, I guarantee you!

For more amazing recipes, be sure to go check out Bree's Blog HERE.  I'm going now to figure out what to do for dinner tomorrow night.  Tonight we're having her Baked Potato Soup.  :)

Have a great evening y'all!

Tuna What?!

First off, let me enter this disclaimer:

I am not a cook.

I am not a great cook.

I am not even a good cook.

I am a mediocre cook.

I admit it.

Occasionally, I do prepare things that causes my husband to ask, "You made this?"  Yeah.  I'm that poor of a cook.  I have my staples...  Spaghetti, Chili, ummmm...  Pot Roast, ummmm...  Having a hard time even thinking of my staples.  Pretty much if its easy and quick, I cook it.  Most kids get excited about pizza.  The little man gets excited about pizza.  Its only because he's only 4 and hasn't had to put up with 13 or more years of, "Guess what, kids?!  Pizza for dinner!"  The others just groan and say, "Awwww, Mom!  Pizza again!"  I'm ashamed of it.  I truly am.

I promised that this year I wouldn't let the hustle and bustle of school, sports practices, games, and tournaments get in the way of having good home-cooked meals.  The first week of school, I was on a roll.  I was throwing dinner in the crock pot each morning and dinner was ready to go before we left for all the evening activities.  The second week I was still at it.  By the end of the third...  "Pizza anyone?"  Oh well, this blog isn't about how perfect I am, but about how IMPERFECT I am.  Hopefully, some of you find that candor refreshing.  Or not.  :P

One thing I've been amazed with since I've become an adult/mom is that I will eat anything.  Gone are the days that I turn my nose up at a pop that's flat because it sat beside my bed all night.  Is it wet?  Okay.  Works for me.  Cottage Cheese is my new go-to.  Cheese has a little mold on it?  Cut it off.  It's all good.

So today I was starving and since I haven't left the house since Monday, quick food is in short supply.  I desperately need to go grocery shopping.  With the hot water heater out and the new one not due in until tomorrow, it'll just have to wait one more day.  I have enough pride to not want anyone to see this yucky hair.  Errrrr....

Anyway, I looked in the fridge to see what I could scrounge up for me and the little man and this is what I came up with. . . 

Tuna Tortillas

Unorthodox, yes.

Weird combo, yes.

Food...  Yep, so it'll do.

Okay, now I love me some tuna fish.  I'll drain it and eat it straight out of the can with a fork - but its got to be packaged in spring water.  None of that packaged in oil stuff for me.  Yuck.  I'll pretty much eat tuna any which way - on a sandwich, rolled up in lettuce, or with saltine crackers.

Just in case it turned out pretty good, I decided I would take pictures of the process since after being up half the night I'm sorely lacking any blog-worthy material.

First I mixed up my tuna fish.  I like my tuna with mayo and onion. Some people like egg in it.  Some like sweet relish.  I'm pretty simple, so I just go mayo and onions.  Easy-peasy.

Plus, with my handy-dandy manual food processor from Pampered Chef, onion is super easy to chop up.  Best $50 I've ever spent.  If you don't have one, you should get one!  With all their cool items, the Chef might make a cook of me yet.

Then I threw a flour tortilla in a skillet and put deli cheddar slices on it in pieces.

I quickly topped it with the tuna and then covered it with another tortilla.

When the bottom wide was crispy and a light brown, I flipped it...

And that's all there was to it.  And you know what?  If you like tuna fish, this was awesome!  Not too bad for the dredges of the kitchen and from a self-confessed non-cook!  ;)