Homemade V8

I love V8. But I don’t love the price. I am such a cheapskate. I found the recipe somewhere, I can’t remember. I’ve had it for quite a while. If you love V8, you will LOVE this recipe. Plus, it’s cheap…..:)

Homemade V8

6 oz tomato paste

32 oz water

1/4 tsp celery seed

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp parsley

Blend, then chill.

I hope you enjoy it

Chili Seasoning

I am so glad it is getting cooler. I love to fix chili and soups when it's cold outside. I found the best chili seasoning recipe on Allrecipes. I did omit the flour. Here it is:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons chili powder
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 tablespoon dried, minced garlic
2 teaspoons white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS
In a bowl, stir together flour, chili powder, red pepper, onion, garlic, sugar, cumin, parsley, salt, basil and pepper. Store in an airtight container.
I have to say, the chili turned out great. I think this recipe is a keeper.

Cinnamon Blueberry Bread

I made a loaf of cinnamon blueberry bread today to go in the freezer for a breakfast choice in the mornings when I work outside the home. I adapted it from a cinnamon raisin bread recipe. I had some dried blueberries, so I used them in place of the raisins.

Cinnamon Blueberry Bread

Ingredients

1 cup water
2 tablespoons margarine
3 cups freshly ground whole wheat flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast
3/4 cup blueberries

I added all the ingredients in the order suggested by my bread machine. I let my bread machine do the kneading for me. When the dough cycle was over, I placed the dough in a greased, glass loaf pan. Let it rise for about 30 – 45 minutes. Then bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown on 350 degrees.

This is my second time making this bread. The first time I made it, I took it to my grandmother’s for her to enjoy. It was yummy! I hope you enjoy it, too!

I'm starting to really think about Christmas. Both sides of my family really only concentrate on the children and draw names for the adults, but I’m such a Christmas freak, I alway get everyone something. My view is it doesn’t have to have a lot of money in it. I want them to know that I was thinking of them. I love my family and friends, and I love giving them little bits of whimsy.

I usually decide on one kind of present for the women and one for the men and mass produce them. This year, I’m making curly scarves for the women in my family. It resembles this, but it’s only two rows instead of four:

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80443AD.html

They are soooo fast and easy. This is not my pattern. I know I got it off the web, but I cannot seem to find a link to the pattern.

Curly Scarf

Chain 200

2 HDC in 2nd chain from hook, repeat in each st until the end, ch 2 and turn

and repeat. When reach the end, finish off…

They start to curl a little on the first row of HDCs, but on the second row, they REALLY start to curl.

They work up so fast! I’ve really enjoyed making them!

As for what the men in my family are getting, I’m still trying to decide. I got them all backscratchers one year. That went over well. Trying to think of something similar……

I saw the cutest idea somewhere (my memory is soooo bad)……..I think it would make a great present for a man. You get a large bucket, paint it, then attach a pillow or cushioning to the top. That way when they go fishing, they have a cooler and a seat! I thought it was cute!

I've already bought gifts for all the children. Next year, I'm thinking about making homemade, personalized pea shooters made out of bamboo, and maybe crocheting an ammo bag for them. Another idea is to make rock candy kits with colored sugar, mason jars, and chopsticks. We'll see....

Tea Time Craft Idea

I found the cutest little poems online that I thought would be adorable to print it out onto colorful paper, attach a teabag, and send out in cards and such. Here are the poems:

A little cup of friendship
With a bag of tea
When you drink this
Think of love from me.
source unknown

or

A cup of tea to say thank you
For all the things you've done,
And wishes that the day will bring
You happiness and fun..

or

If I could take your Troubles,
I would toss them in the Sea.
But since I can't, I'm sending you,
My favorite cup of tea.

I know I would love to find a card with a tea bag and poem inside sent to me! Brighten someone's day with a little bit of whimsy! :)

Tammy

Welcome to my blog! I would like to share a poem that I've had saved for a while. I'm not sure where I got it, but I thought it would make a cute little "thinking of you" craft.

I found a penny today
Just laying on the ground.
But it's not just a penny,
this little coin I've found.
When an Angel misses you,
they toss a penny down.
Sometimes just to cheer you up,
to make a smile out of your frown.
So, don't pass by that penny,
when you're feeling blue.
It may be a penny from heaven,
that an Angel's tossed to you.

I thought it would be cute to print this out on card stock, cut it out with fancy scissors, and glue a penny to the bottom of the poem....It would be great for coworkers or even in greeting cards. I hope you enjoy this little craft.

Until next time,
Tammy