Garlic & Cheese Quinoa Patties

Photo:  Poor Girl Eats Well

Garlic and Cheese Quinoa Patties at Poor Girl Eats Well (adapted from Heidi Swanson’s Baked Quinoa Patties on 101 Cookbooks) described these as a quick, inexpensive and healthy snack food that she is taking on a trip with her and want to try to see if my son will like as an after school snack.

For the recipe click Poor Girl Eats Well

No-Boil Freezer Manicotti

 

Photo:  Source

This is what my Mom would have called "funeral food" as it would be great to make and give to a grieving family as all they have to do is put it in the freezer and when ready to use, thaw it out for a day then bake it for an hour.
If you have freezer space (which unfortunately, I don't) you could make ahead.

I found the recipe for the above at $5 Dinner Mom (guest post by Mom on a Mission For Christ) and what I like about it is it not only sounds easy and inexpensive to make, the cleanup would be minimal as you mix the filling in a quart size.

For the recipe, click here.

UPCYCLED ONESIE TO BABY BASEBALL CAP

Photo:   Me Sew Crazy

Me Sew Crazy has a tutorial and free printable pattern to make the above out of newborn onesies for babies 0-6 months here.


I don't have any need to make these at this time, but perhaps for a future project and to share with any new moms that might have bigger babies like I did (8lbs 8 oz) and never fit into newborn clothing and grew out of 3 month clothing at 3 weeks.

Vintage Cardigan to Jumper

Photo:  source

A Beautiful Mess has a tutorial on turning a vintage sweater into a jumper by cutting off right under the sleeves and turning the sleeves into the straps.  As it is a little shorter than I prefer, I will be on the lookout for a super larger/extra tall mens cardigan to try this on because it does look super cute.

For the tutorial, click here.

MAPLE-GINGER ICEBOX CAKE

I am an email subscriber to Mr. Food and this gem arrived in my inbox and not only sounds good, also sounds like it will be easy to make as you use a 16 oz package of gingersnaps (except for 6 cookies as a garnish), dip in milk, line a large bowl, cover with 1/2 of frozen whipped topping (reserve 1/4 of the tub) and 1 tablespoon of dessert and repeat the freeze overnight, unmold, crush up remaining cookies and top with remaining ingredients and 1/3 caramel topping then serve.

I think when I do make this, I will opt to try it with ice cream (maybe butter pecan) instead of the whipped topping
Click here for the recipe

Ruby Tuesday's Potato Salad

 Photo:  Kathryn Sprowl

When I "liked" Ruby Tuesday's on Facebook I was surprised to see that they had an application for recipes - some are user submitted and some are there own.  Below is the recipe from that application (Link)

"Ruby Tuesday Potato Salad

Submitted by Ruby Tuesday in Salads

By popular demand, here is our Famous Potato Salad Recipe.
Ingredients

3-1/2 Pound Baked Potatoes diced 1/2" x 1/2"
1-1/2 Cup celery, 3/8" diced
1/2 Cup green peppers, 3/8" diced
1-1/s Cup Boiled Eggs, 3/8" diced
2 Cup Mayonaise
2 Tablespoon Mustard
1/2 Cup Ranch Dressing
1 Teaspoon Black pepper
1 Teaspoon salt

Directions

Gently mix to combine all ingredients. In a separate container, mix the dressing: mayonnaise, mustard, ranch, peppercorn and salt. Combine the dressing and vegetables and mix well. Store in the appropriate container and cover with a lid. Allow the salad to chill for 1 hour prior to service."

Witch Boot Bookmark

   
See Book Mark and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep
I love this clever witch boot bookmark made out of Fimo or Sculpey clay and wire.

For the how-to click here.

Deep Fried Oreos

 Photo: C.R.A.F.T.

Its a funnel cake...its a cookie...its a Deep Fried Oreos!   Recipe at  C.R.A.F.T.

Asian Slaw with Ginger-Peanut Dressing

Photo:  Once Upon A Chef
 
This Asian Slaw with Ginger Peanut Dressing recipe by Once Upon A Chef, which includes making the fresh dressing sound like it would be refreshing change from a regular salad, which is why I am putting it on my list.

The salad itself is made out of cabbage, carrots, edamame, scallions, peanuts, a red pepper and cilantro and the dressing out of honey, oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and peanut butter.

CHURCH PIE

The next time I need to bring a dessert for a group I think I will try this Church Pie at In Good Cents
as it makes 2 pies .  It is similar to Kool-Aid pies
that we have made in the past (and is my son's favorite to make) as it uses a graham cracker crust, Cool Whip and sweetened condensed milk, but instead of Kool-aid it uses a 16-18 oz can of crushed pineapple.

For the recipe, click here.

 Photo:   In Good Cents

Sopapilla Cheesecake

 Not only does this cheesecake at Seven Alive sound delicious, it also sounds super simple as it is made with crescent roll dough, cream cheese, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.
Photo:  Seven Alive

MOTORCYCLE DIAPER CAKE

Source: thekurtzcorner.com via Kathryn on Pinterest

I love this very original by thekurtzcorner.com  for this motorcycle diaper cake that would make a splendid baby shower gift.  It is made out of diapers for the wheels and connected with receiving blankets with bibs for the fenders and a baby bottle for the headlight.

Miracle Top-Kapi Necklace

This lovely Miracle Top-Kapi Necklace crafted by iriina_bonus at LiveJournal pays homage to jewelry Top-Kapi palace in Istanbul and indicated that jewelry craftsmanship in Turkey is a "mixture of Byzantine heritage and practices of Arab artists came from the Seljuks."   I just think this is beautiful and the story behind it makes it all the more interesting.  

There is at tutorial on her blog here and it has been translated from Russian to English is the reason prose is a bit choppy.  

Vanilla Bean & Mint Extract

The above by The Nourished Kitchen sounds like it would be great to make and use in Holiday baking or even to give as a gift and only need 3 ingredients:  vanilla beans, mint and rum.

The upside is it will only take 5 minutes to combine the ingredients; the downside is that it needs to sit for at least 6 weeks so may end up being a project for next year.

For instructions visit The Nourished Kitchen

Embroidered Soft Baby Books

 

The genius in the above adorable embroidered soft baby book at Joanne's Craft Nook is that in between the felt pages she has used the liners from cereal boxes to give the pages a crinkly sound.  This would be a fun baby gift to make and give and you could vary the theme depending on the parent's interest, which is why it is going on my future projects list.
Photo:  Joanne's Craft Nook

A Universal Shopping Cart and High Chair Cover (A Tutorial and Free Pattern Download

When my son was a toddler and bit enough to fit in the cart I would take a small blanket to line the seat area to make him more comfortable and off whatever was left in the cart by the prior user, but I like this idea much better.

This Shopping Cart or High Chair cover by Ashley at Lil Blu Boo would be great gift to make and give to a new mother or one with a toddler.   I have not seen anything thus far that is commercially available and would be a great gift for a baby shower without having to worry if everyone else was buying the same thing.   

On her website here she has a free pattern download and tutorial to make your own.

Fish Backpack

This fish backpack posted on Prudent Baby is just too adorable not to make, especially with the fish being almost the size of the toddler modeling it.  It reminds me of my son when we took him to see his grandpa in the hospital and he took a giant bear that was as big as he was and it looked like a bear walking backwards when he carried it.

My son's grandfather on this father side was an avid fisherman and my son would have loved something like this when he was little and I plan on making this at some point for a future grandchild to honor his memory.

For the tutorial visit Prudent Baby here

Photo:   Prudent Baby

LEBANESE VEGAN MAYO

I spotted this at  Taste of Beirut where Joumana, who grew up in Lebanon in the 60's & 70's but now lives in the US, shares recipes that she learned from here Grandmother and other traditional recipes from Lebanese cultural.  I follow her blog as it gives a window into the world of another culture through food.

I am putting this on my to try list as as I love the idea of a non-egg mayo.  This mayo consists of  garlic, salt, a potato, corn oil and lemon juice.   For the recipe, click here.

Photo:   Taste of Beirut

Coconut Pancakes

I had never thought to put coconut in a pancake, but this recipe by Cookie and Kate that uses fresh coconut and topped with a mixture of equal parts honey and coconut milk topped with fresh fruit sounds delicious and going to put this on my to try list. 

Photo: Cookie and Kate

DIY KOOL-AID PLAY DOUGH

Running with Glitter has a tutorial on how to make your own play dough using Kool-Aid using cooking oil, salt, flour and Kool-Aid packet.  For the tutorial, click here.

 

Photo:   Running with Glitter

Fabric Crown

Cute kids fabric crown would make a great present to make to put in a dress up box.

It is by Max California and she has a tutorial on her website here along with a link to a PDF downloadable version for easy reference.

Photo:  Max California

APPLE TOFFEE BLONIDES

This receipe from Cookies & Cups looks like it would make a fabulous Fall dessert with the mix of tart apples and toffee in cookie/cake like base.

For the recipe click here

Photo:  Cookies & Cups

Easter Bunny Bottles

Although Easter is months away, I am putting this on the list as these little bunnies made from upcycled water bottles and filled with jelly beans are adorable.  They are from Happy Clippings and there are even links to printouts for the bunny ears, paws and Happy Easter (click here for the link).  

APPLES MALLOY

The above by The V Spot sounds delicious, as the dip is made with cream cheese mini chocolate chip and caramel  sauce with sprinkles with broken Heath bars and surrounded by a circle of sliced Granny Smith apples. 

As this looks like it might be a good addition for my son's graduation party in May, I plan to try it beforehand.

Vinaigrette Slaw with Feta Cheese

The above is from Budget Bytes and looks and sounds like a refreshing change from the standard mayo based calorie laden slaw as it uses a vinegar as the dressing base and a bit of feta thrown in for an added twist.   Even better is the cost is approx. .62 a serving.

For the complete recipe, click here.

Photo:   Budget Bytes

MOROCCAN CARROT SALAD

I spotted this over at Kirsten's Kitchen to Yours and putting it on my project list as carrots are one of the few veggies that I love and I am always on the lookout for new recipes to make with them.  She indicated this is from Mark Bittman's 101 Salads.

It is made lightly roasted cumin seeds sprinkled over coarsely grated carrots that have been tossed with a bit of salt and lemon and a tablespoon or so of olive oil along with cilantro.


Photo:  Kirsten's Kitchen to Yours

Peanut Butter & Jelly Sushi

What a cute spin on PB & J - just cut off the crusts, roll the bread flat, spread with peanut butter and jelly then roll into "sushi".   Would also be fun to throw in some fish gummies. 

The recipe is from Michael Singer, Bon Appétit click here for the recipe.

Photo Credit: Jif

CAULIFLOWER SOUP

The above if from the ever creative Gail at Can't Stop Making Things.  It is a recipe from "The Joy of Cooking" that she created a horror movie type mini poster of to display it. 

CORN, LIME, JALEPENO & CILANTRO PIZZA

For something a little different to try the next time I find goat cheese on sale is the delicious sounding pizza with a standard crust topped with mozzarella then 2/3's of goat cheese and corn and jalepenos and cilantro then the remaining cheese then baked at 450 degrees for 12-15 mins then squeeze fresh lime juice on top.

For the recipe visit Kirsten's Kitchen to Yours

Photo:  Kirsten's Kitchen to Yours

PULL AWAY CHEESE ROLLS

I spotted this over at a Taste of Beirut and putting this on my to do list as it sounds delicious.  It is a bread dough that is slightly sweetened with honey and filled with two different types of cheese, herbs and sesame seeds.

For the recipe visit Taste of Beirut

DIY MOD PODGE

As Modge Podge is used in all types of crafts, I found a tutorial over at Instructables user nkeda14 on how to make cheap homemade Modge Podge interesting and something to try some time.

It sound fairly simple; just combine 1 1/2 c flour, 1/4 C of a sugar, 1/4 of oil (veg or olive) and 1 cup water over low to medium heat 5-10 mins stirring constantly, without bringing to a boil until the desired consistency is obtained,, adding flour or water as need or oil if looking for a higher varnish and store in a glass jar. 
I don't know what the shelf life on this might be so if I try it, I would halve the recipe and try it on a small project.

CASHEW DIP

I love cashews, but had never thought of putting them with a dip, let alone combining with ranch dressing flavor, but it sounds delectable!  I spotted this recipe over at The Spunky Coconut and it is a guest post by Hallie at Daily Bites. 

Even better, it doesn't have any cheese or mayo so you don't have to worry about it going "bad" after being out for awhile at a pot luck or carry-in.

Here is the recipe posted at The Spunky Coconut

"Cashew Ranch Dip
Makes about 1 heaping cup

I prefer to make this dip a few hours before I need it so that it can chill in the refrigerator and the flavors can deepen a bit. Serve it with your favorite seasonal veggies for dipping.

1 cup raw cashews, covered completely with water soaked at room temperature for 3-4 hours
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon (packed) fresh dill
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon granulated garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
Sea salt, to taste

Drain the soaked cashews well and place in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons water and lemon juice. Process until very smooth, about 2 minutes, stopping once or twice to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

Add the remaining ingredients and process to combine. Serve, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days."

POPPY SEED DRESSING

I had never heard of grating an onion for anything, but a recipe posted by Pictures of All My Princesses 
and it sounds intriguing and want to try it at some point in the future. 

It calls for poppy seeds, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, grated onion, sugar, honey, salt and prepared mustard.


The recipe is here

Photo:  Wikimedia Commons

DIY PLAY KITCHEN FROM 2 BOOKCASES

This is going on my project list for when I have grandchildren.  This playset created by Jellyfish Jelly started out at two bookshelves.  For further instructions clickhere.

Easy Pad Thai

As my son loves Ramen noodles and the are cheap and easy to make, I am adding this to my "to try" list because if it something he ends up liking, it could make a good "study snack" when he goes off to college next year.


The recipe is from Budget101 and can be fixed in 5 minutes with 2 pkgs of Ramen noodles, 1/4 Wishbone Asian Sesame/Ginger dressing, 1/4 hot water and 1 TBSP Peanut Butter.

For the recipe click here.

Photo:  Budget101

LEMON NUT BALLS

These were spotted over at The Ordinary Housewife and putting these on the list as a potential Christmas treat as it could bring a touch of summer on a cold winter's day or perhaps for my son's graduation party next year.   They have enough confectioner's sugar to put you into a diabetic coma, but it sounds so delicious with the lemon flavor and the nuts not to try this some time.

For the recipe click here.

Photo: The Ordinary Housewife

Glow In The Dark Drink or Jello

One of the blogs I follow Our Best Bites posted that the above was achieved by adding tonic water (due to the quininein it) to Crystal Light Lemonade or jello it glows in black light - what a cool idea for Halloween or even a party.  I have to agree with her that I hate the taste of tonic water too - but she said it only take a bit.

She also had two more fun kids ideas for milk painting and giant bubbles.   For more details visit Our Best Bites.

Photo:  Our Best Bites

Loaded Baked Potato Dip

As I will be taking off a few days to spend time with my son over his birthday, I went looking for some recipes of things he might like and this sounds like it would be great to serve while watching a video.

This is from  Myrecipes.com but I guess it was originally in Southern Living magazine.

There is no baked potato in the dip itself, just the ingredients that you would put on a loaded backed potato; bacon, sour cream, cheddar cheese with a bit of hot sauce and a dash of pepper.

Is suggested it be served with waffle fries, although any type of fry or potato chip would probably do.

Fort the recipe click  here.

Photo:  Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell