Coffee Bar

I bought a Keurig this year.  And because I don't have a lot of counter space I wanted to make a coffee bar for the dining room.  Off to Pinterest for inspiration.  Lots and lots of coffee bars on there!

I like this one best.  So I made it!

If you search for "coffee bar" on Pinterest you'll see lots and lots of coffee bars with that same shelf above.  I only realized this AFTER I bought that shelf.  Great minds think alike.  It was $60 at Hobby Lobby when metal was on sale for 50% off...which is like, every week.

I bought a Keurig this year.  And because I don't have a lot of counter space I wanted to make a coffee bar for the dining room.  Off to Pinterest for inspiration.  Lots and lots of coffee bars on there!

I like this one best.  So I made it!

If you search for "coffee bar" on Pinterest you'll see lots and lots of coffee bars with that same shelf above.  I only realized this AFTER I bought that shelf.  Great minds think alike.  It was $60 at Hobby Lobby when metal was on sale for 50% off...which is like, every week.

Blueberry Apple Walnut Maple Cream Crockpot Oatmeal

Ingredients

• 4 apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 pint fresh blueberries
• 1 cup walnuts
• 4-1/2 cups milk (or substitute non-diary alternative like almond milk)
• 4-1/2 cups water
• 3 cups uncooked steel-cut oats
• 1 cup brown sugar 
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup maple syrup (depending on how sweet you want it)
• 1 stick butter, cut into 8 pieces
• heavy whipping cream

Spray the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray.  Add all the ingredients except the whipping cream.  Stir, cover, and cook on low for approx. 7 hours (slow cooker times can vary).

Add heavy whipping cream at the end to thin out your oatmeal.

This makes an entire crockpot full of oatmeal.  You can also make this on the stove in smaller batches by following the directions on your oatmeal, using 1/2 milk and 1/2 water and as much fruit as you would like.

Ingredients

• 4 apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 pint fresh blueberries
• 1 cup walnuts
• 4-1/2 cups milk (or substitute non-diary alternative like almond milk)
• 4-1/2 cups water
• 3 cups uncooked steel-cut oats
• 1 cup brown sugar 
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup maple syrup (depending on how sweet you want it)
• 1 stick butter, cut into 8 pieces
• heavy whipping cream

Spray the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray.  Add all the ingredients except the whipping cream.  Stir, cover, and cook on low for approx. 7 hours (slow cooker times can vary).

Add heavy whipping cream at the end to thin out your oatmeal.

This makes an entire crockpot full of oatmeal.  You can also make this on the stove in smaller batches by following the directions on your oatmeal, using 1/2 milk and 1/2 water and as much fruit as you would like.

Wish List

shutters
old doors
old windows
casters
door knobs
pallets

shutters
old doors
old windows
casters
door knobs
pallets

Signs

I get alot of my inspiration from other blogs...and then I make the idea my own.  I saw this project on Itsy Bits and Pieces.

I've lived in over 13 different cities up and down the center of our country.  I thought it would be fun to make signs like this one with each of those cities.  It's an ongoing project.  I've got three done.

This is my entryway.

I get alot of my inspiration from other blogs...and then I make the idea my own.  I saw this project on Itsy Bits and Pieces.

I've lived in over 13 different cities up and down the center of our country.  I thought it would be fun to make signs like this one with each of those cities.  It's an ongoing project.  I've got three done.

This is my entryway.

Ranch dressing.

Ranch dressing is one of the best things to come out of America.  Here is my recipe.  Use fresh herbs if at all possible.  It makes such a big difference:

1 clove garlic
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup mayo (real, not miracle whip)
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
2 Tbsp. fresh dill, minced
2 Tbsp. fresh chives, chopped
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (don't skip this.  It adds a depth of flavor)
1/2 tsp. vinegar
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup buttermilk (don't use regular milk - buttermilk adds that ranch tang)

Directions:

Mince garlic and add salt to the cutting board.  Create a paste by smashing the garlic and salt together with the side of your knife or a fork. (or you can just use this).

In a medium bowl combine the all of your ingredients and mix it up.

Chill for a few hours so that all the flavors marry.  You can add more buttermilk before serving if it's too thick.

Once you make this dressing you will never go back to Hidden Valley.

Mmmm!  Delicious homemade ranch dressing. 

Ranch dressing is one of the best things to come out of America.  Here is my recipe.  Use fresh herbs if at all possible.  It makes such a big difference:

1 clove garlic
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup mayo (real, not miracle whip)
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
2 Tbsp. fresh dill, minced
2 Tbsp. fresh chives, chopped
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (don't skip this.  It adds a depth of flavor)
1/2 tsp. vinegar
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup buttermilk (don't use regular milk - buttermilk adds that ranch tang)

Directions:

Mince garlic and add salt to the cutting board.  Create a paste by smashing the garlic and salt together with the side of your knife or a fork. (or you can just use this).

In a medium bowl combine the all of your ingredients and mix it up.

Chill for a few hours so that all the flavors marry.  You can add more buttermilk before serving if it's too thick.

Once you make this dressing you will never go back to Hidden Valley.

Mmmm!  Delicious homemade ranch dressing. 

Vintage signs rock my world

I have a friend who is a barber.  For his birthday I made him a vintage inspired Barber Shop sign.  First I had to find my inspiration.  Google:  Vintage barber shop sign

Now.  Mine will be wood.  Because that's my thang.  And I don't have the tools or the patience to make my sign the same shape as this one.  

I used the same technique I used with my table top.  Measure, cut, screw, paint, sand, paint, sand, paint, sand, stain.   I think it turned out pretty awesome.

I have a friend who is a barber.  For his birthday I made him a vintage inspired Barber Shop sign.  First I had to find my inspiration.  Google:  Vintage barber shop sign

Now.  Mine will be wood.  Because that's my thang.  And I don't have the tools or the patience to make my sign the same shape as this one.  

I used the same technique I used with my table top.  Measure, cut, screw, paint, sand, paint, sand, paint, sand, stain.   I think it turned out pretty awesome.

Seafood Chowder

I like the idea of chowder, but I don't like clams.   So today I merged some of my favorite recipes to make a seafood chowder. Thick, rich, creamy and seafoody.  Served with crusty bread.  Mmmm.


Potatoes.  4 or 5 medium sized russet.  I cut mine into bite sized pieces and boil with lots of salt.  Just until they are ALMOST tender.

Vegetables.  I used 3 stalks of celery, 1 leek, 1 onion and a handful of baby carrots minced up.

Seafood.  8 oz. crabmeat, 1 cod filet and about 15-20 large Gulf shrimp (because they are the best).

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Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1 medium leek, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise 
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 3/4 cups minced carrots
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 4 cups heavy cream
• 1 tsp. thyme
• 1 1/2 tsp. liquid crab boil
• 1 1/2 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
• 7 Tbsp. blonde roux 
• 15-20 large shrimp
• 1 cod fillet, cut into bite sized pieces
• 8 oz. crab meat
• 4 or 5 medium potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and boiled.
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
• A splash of worcestershire sauce

1. Saute vegetables and garlic in olive oil until tender. 
2. Add chicken stock, cream, and seasonings. Bring to a boil.
3. Whisk in roux to thicken.
4. Add seafood and potatoes, salt and pepper.
5. Simmer for 20 minutes.
6. Add a splash of worcestershire sauce at the end and add salt and pepper to taste.

Mmmm!  Try it and let me know what you think!

I like the idea of chowder, but I don't like clams.   So today I merged some of my favorite recipes to make a seafood chowder. Thick, rich, creamy and seafoody.  Served with crusty bread.  Mmmm.


Potatoes.  4 or 5 medium sized russet.  I cut mine into bite sized pieces and boil with lots of salt.  Just until they are ALMOST tender.

Vegetables.  I used 3 stalks of celery, 1 leek, 1 onion and a handful of baby carrots minced up.

Seafood.  8 oz. crabmeat, 1 cod filet and about 15-20 large Gulf shrimp (because they are the best).

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Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1 medium leek, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise 
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 3/4 cups minced carrots
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 4 cups heavy cream
• 1 tsp. thyme
• 1 1/2 tsp. liquid crab boil
• 1 1/2 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
• 7 Tbsp. blonde roux 
• 15-20 large shrimp
• 1 cod fillet, cut into bite sized pieces
• 8 oz. crab meat
• 4 or 5 medium potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and boiled.
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
• A splash of worcestershire sauce

1. Saute vegetables and garlic in olive oil until tender. 
2. Add chicken stock, cream, and seasonings. Bring to a boil.
3. Whisk in roux to thicken.
4. Add seafood and potatoes, salt and pepper.
5. Simmer for 20 minutes.
6. Add a splash of worcestershire sauce at the end and add salt and pepper to taste.

Mmmm!  Try it and let me know what you think!

Table Top

I bought this very inexpensive pressed wood table from WalMart for $25.  It's functional, but not so cute.  Thought I'd spice it up a bit.  This is a a great project because you can do it with any table without doing any damage.  So if you have a family heirloom and want to change it up... make a tabletop!  It fits right over the top and can be removed at any time.
Time:  About 2 1/2 hours....

I bought this very inexpensive pressed wood table from WalMart for $25.  It's functional, but not so cute.  Thought I'd spice it up a bit.  This is a a great project because you can do it with any table without doing any damage.  So if you have a family heirloom and want to change it up... make a tabletop!  It fits right over the top and can be removed at any time.
Time:  About 2 1/2 hours....

Pecan Wreath

Got out my handy dandy glue gun today and made a pecan wreath.  Easy, kind of quick, entirely satisfying.

Got out my handy dandy glue gun today and made a pecan wreath.  Easy, kind of quick, entirely satisfying.