Corn Slaw Salad

3 cans Green Giant niblet or shoe peg corn
2 medium carrots shredded or grated 
1/2 purple onion finely chopped
1 bell pepper finely chopped
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
3 Tbs sugar
3 or 4 Tbsp mayo to make it a little creamy
1 tsp. celery seed
Salt and pepper to taste 

Mix together and refrigerate for several hours.  Enjoy!

Sweet and Tangy Broccoli Salad

Sweet and Tangy Broccoli Salad

 

 

Salad

 

• 2 bunches of broccoli, cut into small pieces
• 1/2 purple onion, chopped small
• 1 packages 100% Real Bacon Pieces
• 3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 3 Tbsp dry roasted sunflower seeds

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl with a lid.

Dressing

• 1 cup Miracle Whip Light (or any mayo)
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp. celery seeds
• juice of 1/2 medium lime
 

Mix all ingredients together very well.  Pour over the salad that has been placed in a large bowl.  Stir to coat well. Cover. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.  Shake covered bowl vigorously to re-coat the salad before serving.  Enjoy.

Easy Cheesy Broccoli Potato Soup

Ingredients:

1 finely chopped onion
3/4 stick of butter
3 TBS flour
4 cups chicken broth
3 15 oz. cans diced potatoes (drained)
1 lb. Velveeta cheese, diced
2 10 oz. boxes of frozen chopped broccoli
1 pkg./envelope Hidden Valley Ranch dry dressing mix
2 cups milk
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. black pepper

In a large stock pot or Dutch oven, melt 3/4 stick of butter over medium high heat.  Add onion and saute' until onion begins to caramelize.  Add flour and stir well to coat the onion.  Quickly add chicken broth and stir.  Cook until broth begins to thicken.  Add potatoes bring heat back to just below boiling.  Add Velveeta cheese and stir until cheese is melted.  Add frozen broccoli and stir until the broccoli is heated thoroughly.  Stir in Hidden Valley Ranch mix, garlic powder, and black pepper.  Bring to a simmer and continue to simmer for 10 minutes, stirring to avoid sticking.  Add 2 cups of milk just before serving.  Do NOT allow soup to boil once milk has been added.  ENJOY!

Cute Baby Cap

I won't even try to pretend that I cam up with this pattern all by myself.  I'll simply post my photos and link you to the talented lady's blog who created it.  Below you will see the photos of the caps I crocheted today.

...and here is the link to the blog I mentioned....

http://daisycottagedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/07/free-owl-hat-crochet-pattern.html

Shredded Crock Pot Chicken With Honey-Mustard BBQ Sauce

• 2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup prepared yellow mustard
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 5 TBSP light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/2 tsp each of smoked paprika, white pepper, and Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 tsp each of cayenne pepper, black pepper, and garlic powder
• 6 oz of peach flavored cola ( I used Wal*mart peach sparkling water, but you could use Ne hi.)

Spray bottom of your crock pot with cooking spray.  Place partially frozen chicken breasts in the crock pot on low with about 1/3 cup of water. 

In a saucepan combine all other ingredients except the peach cola.  Heat on medium until all ingredients have combined and brown sugar and honey have thoroughly melted.  Slowly pour in the peach cola.  Stir gently.  Pour contents of saucepan over chicken in the crock pot. Cook on low for 6 to 7 hours, less if the chicken is thawed.

Remove cooked chicken from crock pot.  Remove sauce from crock pot.  Shred the chicken well with two forks.  Return the chicken to the crock pot.  Pour as much of the sauce as you like back in the crock pot and set on "keep warm" until ready to serve.  Reserve the extra sauce in case more is needed for sandwiches.  You may strain and warm the remaining sauce, thickening it as needed with cornstarch/water slurry.

Serve on buns or wrap in flour tortillas.

Joker Pinata

I am creating this post simply to show the photos of the pinata on which I have been working for almost a week.  Rest assured I will NEVER attempt to make another one, and, if this one falls apart in the next month, there will not be a replacement for the birthday party in July.  I have cursed, fussed, and cried over this POS, and it still looks pathetic.  Take my advice, spend the $25 for the pre-made Batman pinata!

Much like the e-trade baby from commercials, I underestimated the creepiness of this clown.

If you truly want to make a pinata, I suggest that you follow someone's pattern and instructions.  I made this up as I went along.  I made paper mache' with Mod Podge, water, and pages from an old phone book.  I applied it to three balloons I had taped together.  I can't even tell you how many layers are on the bottom section, but the top section has only 3 layers.  I used acrylic white paint.  I drew the face with Sharpie pens.  The hair is birthday streamers, and the hat is construction paper that I taped together while watching The Blind Side.  I have never been so disappointed in one of my DIY crafts.



PLEASE.....if anyone has had better luck with DIY pinatas, send me some photos.  I would love to see how one looks when it's done correctly.  Since this one is for a bunch of 5 and 6 year old kids, I'm just going to leave it as is and pray it bursts on the first hit.



These Flip Flops Are The Bomb...Water Bomb, That Is

First of all, let me give all the credit to the blog that inspired me to make these jazzed up flops.  The idea came from http://reddoorhome.blogspot.com/2011/07/balloon-sandals.html.  I saw the idea after someone pinned it on www.pinterest.com. 

All you will need is a cheap pair of flip flops and a bag of about 150-175 small multi-colored balloons, a.k.a. water bombs.  I already had the flip flops that I bought at a dollar store so I'd have something to wear to the beach while at Tybee Island in Georgia.  Today, I dropped in our local Dollar General and bought 2 bags of water bomb balloons.  Those are the only supplies I needed.

  

 Stretch each balloon just a little.  Next, tie the balloons (one at a time) around the the straps of the sandals.  It doesn't matter if you start at the top or the bottom. 

I varied the way I tied each balloon.  In other words, if the open end of the balloon was on the inside of the strap on the first balloon, then the open end of the balloon was on the outside of the strap on the second balloon.  This made it easier to "fluff up" the balloons when I was finished. 

Voila!  Cute flip flops for about 5 bucks.  Old Navy often keeps its flip flops on sale for 2 to 3 dollars during the summer, especially after The Fourth of July.  Don't hate on my fat feet!  I know how badly I need a pedicure!  The cute flops help the ugly feet to look better!!!