May 17, 2011

Tasty Tuesday - Homemade Pizza

We love PIZZA at the Moeller house and it is almost always on our weekly menu.  I have to admit I usually run out to Papa Murphy's (our local make and take) and purchase pizza to bring home so it is ready to pop in the oven when my family gets home.  However, if I want to make my boys extremely happy, I make it homemade.
Here is the recipe...this goes together super quick!

Pizza Dough

INGREDIENTS:


MIX TOGETHER:
1-1/2 tablespoons Yeast
1-1/2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon oil
2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups flour
I usually kneed it slightly with my hands so it all sticks together.


Divide in half.  Sprinkle flour onto your rolling surface so it does not stick to your surface.  Roll out flat the width of your pizza pan.   After rolling out one crust, I fold the crust in half and move the crust onto the pizza pan, then unfold to cover pan.  Makes 2 Pizzas.

Add 1 small can of tomato sauce to each crust, sprinkle with garlic salt & Italian Seasoning.  Roll the edge of each pan to form outside crust.  

Arrange your favorite toppings on top of sauce and add LOTS of Mozzarella cheese!


Bake at 375 degrees till pizza is golden and yummy!  Approximately 30 minutes.



I have to say, that this is definitely worth the effort...try it for your next Pizza Night!!

May 5, 2011

Happy Cinco de mayo


In honor of Cinco de Mayo we bring you some yummy mexican dishes

first up are these Creamy Chicken Enchiladas found at Kevin & Amanda.
best creamy chicken enchiladas
These are super, super yummy AND what's for dinner!!!

and for some more creamy goodness...

I love these taquitos with Queso dip, yummy!



Our favorite Mexican restaurant in College served Fried Ice Cream with Fresh strawberries on top...
we LOVE, LOVE, LOVED it.  Can't wait to try this recipe!


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El Postre {Dessert}: Tres Leches Cake
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Courtesy of Ree Drummond {aka The Pioneer Woman}, this recipe for Tres Leches Cake!  Any recipe from Ree is a hit at our house.

Now that we've given you a few ideas....what will you be eating tonight to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

Chocolate Flan Cake

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

I know my family is going to be so excited tonight when they get home and find out we are having their ABSOLUTE FAVORITE cake for our Cinco de Mayo dinner!

Chocolate Flan Cake
It looks complicated, but is incredibly simple. alligator3.jpg
Chocolate Flan Cake
1 box devils food chocolate cake mix
1 jar cajeta (10.9 oz. caramel topping) I use Smucker's :)
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
1 can evaporated milk (12 oz)
1/2 cup milk
8 oz cream cheese — softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 eggs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray a large 12-cup bundt pan with nonstick coating.  Soften the cajeta in the jar in the microwave and pour into the prepared pan.  (If you can't find the cajeta or do not want to make your own, substitute Smucker's Caramel topping, but the Mexican cajeta has a richer flavor).
Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Pour the cake batter into the cake pan over the caramel topping.
To make the flan, pour condensed, evaporated and fresh milks into a blender with the cream cheese, vanilla and eggs.  Mix well.  Pour the flan mixture very slowly over the cake batter.
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  Spray a sheet of aluminum foil with cooking spray and cover TIGHTLY with aluminum foil.  Covering tightly is very important. (NOTE:  Even though the flan is poured on top of the cake batter, it will sink to the bottom of the pan.
Carefully pour hot water into the larger pan to a depth of 2 inches (The Bundt pan will be sitting in 2 inches of water). Bake for two hours. (Do not uncover during this time)
After two hours, remove cake from water and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Peel off the aluminum foil. Invert cake onto a large plate with rim. The caramel topping will drip down the sides of the cake.  Cool completely then refrigerate.
Simply DeeeeLicious!!!

April 20, 2011

Inexpensive Decorative Candles

Today's project was so quick and easy.  I am so tired of looking at all of the plain white candles around my house...
they were screaming PLAIN. :)  


I have seen so many cute candles in home decor shops but I refuse to pay the price for just a candle.  


Sooooo here is what I came up with and it literally took me 10 minutes to make two candles.

I started with a plain candle.  


I created a design on my computer using the SureCuts Alot Software.  This software allows me to create whatever I want and then send it to my Cricut to cut the object!  


To make the project faster I cut and pasted the design so I could cut two designs at once using Black Vinyl.

I ended up with this when it was finished.
(Pictured with transfer tape already over the design...oh and this is just one of the designs.  I already cut the other one off.)
  
Next, I took the backing off, wrapped it around my candle and peeled off the transfer tape.

WOW look at this...what a difference!!  LOVE


Cute and inexpensive...my kind of candle!

The total cost for one candle and vinyl was about $2.00...I have seen similar candles for
$15-$20 each.  

I can't stand the thought of spending that much money on a candle and then burning it...


I think I am going to try striped candles next!


March 25, 2011

Decorative Camera Strap Giveaway!

One of our favorite bloggers House of Grace is having an awesome giveaway.  Read about it below and then head on over to her site to enter for your chance to win!



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A couple of months ago a I won a Camera Strap from Zipcoverz. by Valerie who blogs at  The Crafters File Box.
This is what I got! :)  So pretty!
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This was the inside.
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I picked out the Plain Jane strap!  (I think it would match everything.)

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I tried to fold it like Valerie, lol!  It looks cute, doesn’t it?
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She is the only one that makes them with a zipper! :)

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She even left me this sweet note!
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Ok, here I am, trying to take a picture of me using it.
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I had to ask my hubs to take my pic.  The strap even looks good even when bumming around, ha! 
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I think we took these pics during the week of St. Patty’s Day!!  (all the green, lol)
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I LOVE how comfortable it is!!!  I noticed that as soon as I put it on how soft it was on my shoulder.  I also like how I can easily find it when I take it off.  Haha,  I know that sounds weird but I liked that.  Plus, do I even have to mention that it is so cute?!?!
I really like my camera strap that I asked Valerie if she can giveaway to one of my one of my readers. 
She said YES!!!
So, one reader will get a free camera strap from Zipcoverz!!!!  Thanks Valerie! :)
Here are some other designs.
Pistachio Damask: a Zipcoverz Camera Stap Cover
Tutti Frutti : a Zipcoverz Camera Strap Cover
Black Bird: a Zipcoverz Camera Strap Cover
Milk Chocolate : a Zipcoverz Camera Strap Cover
Pink Damask Plain Jane: a Zipcoverz Camera Strap Cover
Black and White Plain Jane:  a Zipcoverz Camera Strap CoverPink and Green Garden: a Zipcoverz Camera Strap Cover

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March 17, 2011

Decorative Containers

Hey all!
  Did you miss us?
For the past month we both have been playing the roll of "NURSE" and have totally neglected our new blog.  Hopefully we are back on track because we have so many projects to share with you!!!  

For now here is a quick, simple, TOTALLY inexpensive project that you can do with left over containers.

Okay...so the first thing you need is the containers.  I used 3 Walmart Great Value Brand Drink Mix Crystal Light containers.  
We go through a lot of these during the spring/summer.  My favorite is the Peach Tea.  Yummo so refreshing! :-)  
Anyway, these are sturdy plastic containers with clear lids and I just can't keep throwing all of them away.


Next you will need one container, a hot glue gun, and a piece of scrapbook paper.  
(I chose 3 different designs of paper for my project)


 I measured the container height and then cut each piece of paper to the specific measurement.  For my containers each piece needed to be cut to 6 1/4" by 8 3/4".  (You want the paper to slightly overlap once it is wrapped around the container.)  I used my handy dandy paper cutter to quickly cut all 3 pieces at once.

 Now take one piece of cut scrapbook paper and hot glue it to the container.  Wrap it around and hot glue again.
 
 TA-DA!  The finished project...3 cute reusable storage containers, that took about 5 minutes to complete.
I am using my containers at my desk to store markers, colored pencils and other items in but I think they would be wonderful containers for small toys too!  Just wrap them with coordinating children's scrapbook paper
...or what a great place to store a yahtzee game.  Take 5 dice and roll the scorecards and insert into the container...an instant container cup to shake dice too!  These would be a cute inexpensive gift for birthday's or Christmas.  I am always looking for fun stuff for my nieces and nephews.

Where or how would you use these containers?

February 16, 2011

End Table - Sneak Peak

{SNEAK PEAK}

We are almost finished with a (re)finished project but I couldn't wait to show you...so here is a sneak peak!
This is approximately a 30 year old hexagon shaped end table that we recently dug out of storage...hence the major need for a cleaning!  I was getting ready to use my NEW handy dandy sander on it so why waste the energy and cleaning supplies to clean it.  Right??

Keep watching we hope to have the after picture posted by the end of the week!  


I am loving how it is turning out.



February 14, 2011

Happy Valentines Day! - I love Apothecaries

Happy Valentines Day!
Well my life can get back to normal this morning.  My entire family, including my hubby, has been home for the past two weeks since the snow BLIZZARD of 2011 hit Southwest Missouri on February 1st.   Seriously a BLIZZARD???  I don't every remember having a blizzard in Missouri before.  Anyway, I am so happy to be back in a routine this morning.  Don't get me wrong I LOVE snow days and being with my family but TWO WEEKS!   By the second week everyone was sooooo bored. Ha!  Thankfully today they are all back in school and we can get back to a normal routine.  IF you call our life normal. :)


Here is my last Valentine post of the year...I know yeah!  
In addition to subway art which I featured last week, another one of my LOVE's right now is apothecaries.  
Here is how I decorated by apothecaries for Valentines Day this year:
In the smaller apothecary I have peanut MnM's...YUM, can't wait to eat them tomorrow :) ok focus, focus...I used a little trick in the middle so that I didn't have to use so many MnM's.  I took a regular piece of 8 1/2 by 11 card stock, rolled it up and secured it with tape.  Then I inserted it down inside the middle of the apothecary, then poured MnM's around the outside of the card stock.  This allowed me to use two bags of MnM's instead of 4 or 5.  
For the larger apothecary I used two bags of pink heart shaped marshmellows.  I probably could have used another bag because they have settled slightly to the bottom of the jar.
The little accents were purchased at TJ Maxx...so cute!  They were already attached to the red ribbon so I just opened the lid of each apothecary and inserted the knot end of the ribbon and set the lid back on,  they held perfectly.

What will I do with my apothecaries next?
Anyone have any great Easter Ideas and ways to use apothecaries?

February 11, 2011

Valentine Subway Art

One of the HOT trends right now is Subway Art!  
I must admit, I am obsessed with subway art.  They seem to be everywhere.
Have you printed your FREE subway art?  If not hopefully I can help.

As soon as my Christmas Decorations were put away I began thinking about Valentines Day.  Not sure where the inspiration came from, I guess it was because my Christmas decorations were VERY, VERY slim this year due to a family illness.  Thank you to five of my wonderful friends for surprising me by decorating my house, I know my Christmas decor would have been non existent this year without their help.  I still can't thank them enough for what they did for our entire family.  


In the past my Valentines decorations have been VERY, VERY slim unless you consider  setting out a red candle and a heart frame decorating. :)  This year I found so many CUTE Valentines Ideas that I just couldn't resist.  Here are a couple of Subway Art downloads that I have printed, framed and on display in my house.  

Not just a Housewife has this printable in four different variations for you!
I have to show you this adorable printable that is sitting on my entertainment center
it is soooo cute..."I love LOVE"!  I have it displayed in a black $3.00 frame that I purchased at Walmart.  Cheap but oh so cute!

I really wanted to share the above Printable with you...sadly I can't find where I printed it from.  I will keep looking! 
(If you happen to be reading this blog and this is your creation PLEASE let me know so I can link to your site.  Thank you for this awesome printout!)
Here are some additional FREE subway art printables!!
Thank you Eighteen25 for sharing the following with us!  It is available in two color choices too!

 Blooming Homestead has this adorable print available in 5 different colors!
Today's Fabulous Finds has nine prints with a background and one without a background that can be printed onto any color of paper you like. (Lighter colors will look best.)


Print yours today, just in time for Valentines Day.
Wishing you a wonderful valentine weekend...Happy Valentines Day!

February 10, 2011

Framed Heart

How fun is this...We LOVE this Valentines Project with a (re)Finished Frame!!!!




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Simple Valentine Treat

ANOTHER SNOW DAY!
Here is a very simple Valentine Treat that can be ready in minutes.

Valentine Funfetti Cookies
 Ingredients:
1 Valentine Funfetti Cake Mix
1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 eggs

Mix all ingredients together in mixing bowl, then drop by spoonful onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.


When cookies have cooled frost with your favorite Cream Cheese Icing and sprinkles.

A great simple snack that kids of all ages will love!



This post is linked @
Remodelaholic

February 9, 2011

Valentine Treat - Red Velvet Cake Balls

It's a SNOW DAY (again). :) 
Time to do some Valentine baking!

Have you discovered the TRENDY cake balls?  There is something just incredible about red velvet cake and cream cheese icing mixed together, then covered by a coating of chocolate!  Can you say LOVE at first bite!  

One of the greatest things about being Twins is we were always celebrating together.  Every year our Grandmother would make our FAVORITE cake for our birthday, her homemade Red Velvet Cake...still our favorite cake today.  So you can imagine how excited we are to share this recipe with you. 

Though we could have made our classic red velvet cake recipe from scratch, today we were in a hurry to get our sugar fix...so we chose to grab a box of Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Red Velvet Cake Mix out of the pantry!




Red Velvet Cake Balls
1 box red velvet cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13x9 cake)
1 can cream cheese frosting (16oz or approximately 2 cups of homemade cream cheese icing)
1 Package almond bark (chocolate or white chocolate) OR you can use chocolate chips
wax paper

Now here is the fun part, after the cake is completely cool crumble into large mixing bowl.  


Mix thoroughly with 1 can cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but it will be messy.)  




When finished mixing it will be the consistency of a thick dough.  Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet.  Place in the freezer until ready to coat in chocolate.  (Do not freeze completely)



Melt chocolate in microwave according to directions on package.  Dip and cover one cake ball at a time using either a spoon or a dipping fork, then place on wax paper.  It may be helpful to only melt a few pieces of chocolate bark at a time because it starts to cool and thicken. It’s easier to work with when it’s hot.
Ok so we are not the greatest Chocolate Dippers...hopefully yours will look WAY better!!! :)


You can also try it with other cake and icing combinations.


If you happen to have a snow day...try making some Cake Balls!