Patio Bar

I made this one a few years ago.

I made this one a few years ago.

New Sewing Projects

I'm not sure what exactly I'm going to do with these when I've collected a bunch of them, but I'm loving this new project I'm working on.

I'm not sure what exactly I'm going to do with these when I've collected a bunch of them, but I'm loving this new project I'm working on.

Hand Painted Reclaimed Wood Sign

Made this one for my friend Malin!

Made this one for my friend Malin!

For Sale $25 each

Hand painted signs on reclaimed wood.  7" x 14"

These cuties lived another life as the roof of a house in Oklahoma City.  $25 each.

Leave a comment if interested!

Hand painted signs on reclaimed wood.  7" x 14"

These cuties lived another life as the roof of a house in Oklahoma City.  $25 each.

Leave a comment if interested!

Shrimp Creole (low fat and super tasty)

Ingredients

1 Tbsp flour

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 ribs celery, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

4 garlic clives, minced

1 medium green pepper, chopped

14.5 oz. diced tomatoes (do not drain)

1 can chicken broth

4 bay leaves

1 Tbsp. Old Bay Seasoning

1 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. dried oregano

salt and pepper

1 pound uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Cooked brown rice

• Heat oil in large skillet.
• Stir in flour and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is smooth and bubbly.
• Stir in celery, onion, garlic and green pepper.  
• Saute 5 minutes.
• Add canned tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, bay leaf and seasonings.
• Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer.
• Add shrimp and simmer 10 minutes.
• Just before serving add parsley and lemon juice.  
• Serve over rice.

Ingredients

1 Tbsp flour

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 ribs celery, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

4 garlic clives, minced

1 medium green pepper, chopped

14.5 oz. diced tomatoes (do not drain)

1 can chicken broth

4 bay leaves

1 Tbsp. Old Bay Seasoning

1 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. dried oregano

salt and pepper

1 pound uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Cooked brown rice

• Heat oil in large skillet.
• Stir in flour and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is smooth and bubbly.
• Stir in celery, onion, garlic and green pepper.  
• Saute 5 minutes.
• Add canned tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, bay leaf and seasonings.
• Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer.
• Add shrimp and simmer 10 minutes.
• Just before serving add parsley and lemon juice.  
• Serve over rice.

Ladder Pot Rack

I lived in Louisiana during Katrina.  After the storm I found an "unusable" ladder in someone's trash pile.  I grabbed in knowing that I could use it for SOMETHING.  It came to Oklahoma with me and now, 8 years later I finally found a use for it.

I took off all the ugly stickers, stained it and made two shelves for it.  I drilled some holes and added twine and S hooks.

Behold....POT RACK!

I lived in Louisiana during Katrina.  After the storm I found an "unusable" ladder in someone's trash pile.  I grabbed in knowing that I could use it for SOMETHING.  It came to Oklahoma with me and now, 8 years later I finally found a use for it.

I took off all the ugly stickers, stained it and made two shelves for it.  I drilled some holes and added twine and S hooks.

Behold....POT RACK!

Chairs - Great find

I found some awesome chairs at the Habitat for Humanity Restore.  If you have one in your area, you should definitely check them out for bits and pieces of goodness on the cheap.  And you'll be helping a great cause.  These chairs were $5 each.  I painted them and gave them a seat.  I love these and they will live in my office.

Before

After

Step by step:

 

I traced the outline of the seat onto some particle board and cut it out with my jigsaw.  

Then I traced the board's shape onto some thick foam and cut it out.

 

I glued the foam to the board and covered the whole thing with outdoor fabric I got for 50% off at Joann's Fabrics.  

Easy weekend project.

I found some awesome chairs at the Habitat for Humanity Restore.  If you have one in your area, you should definitely check them out for bits and pieces of goodness on the cheap.  And you'll be helping a great cause.  These chairs were $5 each.  I painted them and gave them a seat.  I love these and they will live in my office.

Before

After

Step by step:

 

I traced the outline of the seat onto some particle board and cut it out with my jigsaw.  

Then I traced the board's shape onto some thick foam and cut it out.

 

I glued the foam to the board and covered the whole thing with outdoor fabric I got for 50% off at Joann's Fabrics.  

Easy weekend project.

Roasted vegetable gravy

I love gravy.  It's one of my favorite things in the world.  This is one of my favorite gravy recipes.

When I roast a chicken I put parsnips, carrots, onions, celery and mushrooms in the bottom of the pan with NO WATER.

When the chicken is roasted and the vegetables are nice and brown, you can add a little bit of water or chicken broth to the bottom of the pan.

It should look like this when you take it out of the oven.

Take all the delicious roasted vegetables out leaving the drippings in the pan.  Put vegetables in a blender, add chicken broth and blend it up!

Now use the pureed vegetables to thicken your gravy.  Add some chicken bouillon, chicken broth, salt, pepper and thyme.

You may need to add a tiny bit of flour/butter to thicken at the end.  Then add a few pats of butter.

This makes a TON of gravy.  You can freeze it and use it later.  :)  Mmm!

I love gravy.  It's one of my favorite things in the world.  This is one of my favorite gravy recipes.

When I roast a chicken I put parsnips, carrots, onions, celery and mushrooms in the bottom of the pan with NO WATER.

When the chicken is roasted and the vegetables are nice and brown, you can add a little bit of water or chicken broth to the bottom of the pan.

It should look like this when you take it out of the oven.

Take all the delicious roasted vegetables out leaving the drippings in the pan.  Put vegetables in a blender, add chicken broth and blend it up!

Now use the pureed vegetables to thicken your gravy.  Add some chicken bouillon, chicken broth, salt, pepper and thyme.

You may need to add a tiny bit of flour/butter to thicken at the end.  Then add a few pats of butter.

This makes a TON of gravy.  You can freeze it and use it later.  :)  Mmm!

Seafood Pasta Salad

I don't have measurements for this one...you can add as much of each ingredient as you like.

Large elbow macaroni cooked in well salted water.
Gulf shrimp, boiled in water seasoned with salt and Zatarain's liquid crab boil.
Krab (with a K)
fresh dill and parsley
a cucumber
grape tomatoes cut in half
lots of celery
2 leeks
salt and pepper
sour cream
mayonaise
lemon juice

I don't have measurements for this one...you can add as much of each ingredient as you like.

Large elbow macaroni cooked in well salted water.
Gulf shrimp, boiled in water seasoned with salt and Zatarain's liquid crab boil.
Krab (with a K)
fresh dill and parsley
a cucumber
grape tomatoes cut in half
lots of celery
2 leeks
salt and pepper
sour cream
mayonaise
lemon juice

Onion Dip!

Alton Brown's Onion Dip. Soooo yummy.  I double because I know I'm going to eat the whole thing

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups diced onions
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups sour cream
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions
In a saute pan over medium heat add oil, heat and add onions and salt. Cook the onions until they are caramelized, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Mix the rest of the ingredients, and then add the cooled onions. Refrigerate and stir again before serving.

Alton Brown's Onion Dip. Soooo yummy.  I double because I know I'm going to eat the whole thing

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups diced onions
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups sour cream
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions
In a saute pan over medium heat add oil, heat and add onions and salt. Cook the onions until they are caramelized, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Mix the rest of the ingredients, and then add the cooled onions. Refrigerate and stir again before serving.