My blog has moved!

BREAKING NEWS!!!!
My blog has moved...Please visit me over at my new blog home:
http://www.chaosserveddaily.com/

You can sign up to follow via email or other paths there, and, if you do, please leave me a comment so I can thank you...and follow you back, if you'd like! Hope to see you there!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Not Such a Tech Smarty Pants

I really thought my new site was working, but it turns out that I had the wrong name in for email subscriptions. So, if you tried to "Follow by email" yesterday, you may have gotten a message that you're already subscribed.  That's to this blog.

Please, please, please go to the new site, http://www.chaosserveddaily.com/ and click on the email subscription button...it should work now, since I've checked and rechecked it.

Thanks, and so sorry for the inconvenience...but there's a great idea for organizing your rechargers, as well as yesterday's post on painting Adirondack chairs, to make up for all the trouble this switch has been!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

I Need a Favor

I'm very, very excited to announce that I have a new blog "home."  It's found at ChaosServedDaily.com.  See?  I told you I'd leap into this century someday! 

I've been working on this site for a couple of weeks, after mulling it over for a few months. It's not a finished project, but it probably will always be a work in progress.  I hope it will eventually be a lot easier to navigate than this blog, but for now, it's basically the same.

Now for the favor...I can't migrate your email subscriptions over, so I really need you to click over to my new site and click on the email subscription button...it looks like a little envelope, there on the right sidebar.

Thanks, and I'll see you there!

Zucchini Plus Banana Plus Chocolate


***UPDATE*** Before continuing with this post,  I wanted to tell you that I have a new blog home.  I'd love for you to visit (all my old posts are there, along with brand new ones), and subscribe over there, since I can't transfer my subscribers over for some reason.  If you decide to follow, leave me a comment so I can thank you...and follow back if you have a blog!  Also, I'm trying to convince the hubs that this IS a real job, so I need all the followers I can get! Thanks so much...
http://www.chaosserveddaily.com/ 

Equals one amazing muffin!  Actually, a whole batch of them. I recently needed to use up some zucchini and a very ripe banana.  With a little help from the hooligans, we ended up with very yummy Double Chocolate Zucchini Banana Muffins. Give them a try…they’re perfect with icy cold milk!

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Double Chocolate Zucchini Banana Muffins

2 large eggs
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 very ripe banana, mashed
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon espresso powder, optional
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups shredded, unpeeled zucchini, gently pressed
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1) Preheat the oven to 350°F; lightly grease muffin tins (to make 18 muffins), or use with cupcake liners.
2) In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, honey, oil, banana, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
3) Add the salt, baking soda, baking powder, espresso powder, cocoa, and flour, mixing until well combined.
4) Stir in the zucchini and chocolate chips.
5) Spoon into muffin tins, filling 2/3 of the way.
6) Bake muffins for 16-18 minutes, until they test done (a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center will come out clean, save for perhaps a light smear of chocolate from the melted chips).
7) Remove from the oven, and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before turning them out of the pan onto a rack.

Yield: 18 muffins

Click here for the printable recipe






















Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Easy Peasy Inspiration Bracelets

***UPDATE*** Before continuing with this post,  I wanted to tell you that I have a new blog home.  I'd love for you to visit (all my old posts are there, along with brand new ones), and subscribe over there, since I can't transfer my subscribers over for some reason.  If you decide to follow, leave me a comment so I can thank you...and follow back if you have a blog!  Also, I'm trying to convince the hubs that this IS a real job, so I need all the followers I can get! Thanks so much...
http://www.chaosserveddaily.com/ 







DSC_0005Isn’t this a fun little bracelet?  Guess where I saw the idea?  Yep, Pinterest.  They take literally a few minutes to make, and are a perfect little accent for your crafty friends.

The silver beads are from Michaels and come in a package of 10, with “create",”believe,” and “hope” on them.  To make the bracelet, cut three strands of embroidery floss to about 12” and thread one of them through a bead.  Wrap the other two strands around either side, and tie knots to hold them in place.  Braid each side of the bead, tie a knot at the end, and you’re finished.

See, I told you it was quick and easy!

My hooligans have YMCA camp this week, so I was all alone for the first time in what seems like forever!  I spent the day shopping at the outlet mall (where I actually bought some shoes, shirts, and books for myself, in addition to things for everyone else) and checking out some small town knitting and pottery stores.

All in all, a very fun, if not productive day…but everyone needs a little me time now and then, right?  Hope you’re finding some time for whatever rejuvenates you!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Chalkboard Table Runner

***UPDATE*** Before continuing with this post,  I wanted to tell you that I have a new blog home.  I'd love for you to visit (all my old posts are there, along with brand new ones), and subscribe over there, since I can't transfer my subscribers over for some reason.  If you decide to follow, leave me a comment so I can thank you...and follow back if you have a blog!  Also, I'm trying to convince the hubs that this IS a real job, so I need all the followers I can get! Thanks so much...
http://www.chaosserveddaily.com/ 



Today, I’m sharing yet another thing I saw on Pinterest, but was too thrifty to buy…a chalkboard table runner for a buffet.  How ingenious is that, I ask you?  I like to have placecards in front of each item on a buffet, so guests aren’t wondering what they’re taking, but this is so fun for a barbeque or any casual party.  And at my house, they’re pretty much all casual.

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And who knew you can buy chalkboard cloth?  Well, apparently it’s been around for years, according to the cutting table lady at Joann’s.  It’s pretty inexpensive, too…around $5 a yard. I made two of these for less than $10 (I used a 40% off coupon for the chalkboard material).

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1-3/4 yards chalkboard fabric
  • 2 bandanas, or 1 yard of material for binding
  • Rotary cutter, mat, and ruler
  • Paper plate and Sharpie
  • Sewing Machine
  • Iron and Ironing Surface
  • Thread

1. Cut the chalkboard fabric in half lengthwise.  You can actually make two from the 1-3/4 yards, but it needs to be that long so you don’t have a seam in the middle.
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2. Use a paper plate to trace rounded corners, then cut those off.

3. Make the binding:  ***If you don't want to make binding, you can buy it already made in the notions section...you'll need about 4-1/2 yards. ***
Cut 3” wide strips from your bandanas or binding material ON THE DIAGONAL.
Sew the together, right sides together, to form one long binding strip. 
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Press those seams open.
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Fold in half and press.
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Fold each edge to the middle and press again.
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This is what it will look like.  I made two of these, one with bandanas and one with blue calico.
DSC_00224. Sew the binding around the edge of your chalkboard material.  Tuck the end in and sew.

5. Invite your friends over and let them marvel at your creativity!

Friday, August 17, 2012

This-n-That Kinda Week

I’ve had what felt like a completely discombobulated week.  No one had any camps to attend, but we still had little things to do each day…dental appointments, Moms Group meeting, never-ending errands to run.  And we fit in a fun thing each day, too, even if it was just making cookies.

But I’ve not settled on a topic for today’s post.  Thus, I’m showing you a couple of things I’ve done this week that turned out great, and a teacher gift I haven’t finished yet but I know you might need an idea NOW for the beginning of school.

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This is the accomplishment I’m most proud of this week…I knitted a pair of socks for the first time…and they wound up the same size…and they fit me!  I’m just pretty amazed. And addicted.

How to Knit Socks: Three Methods Made Easy
This is the book I used to teach myself…I found it super easy to follow, with tons of photos and great explanations. I used the 5-needle method, by the way.  The hubs was impressed with my dexterity (which I’m sure was a sight to see as I started trying to figure this out).  I bought the book at Joann’s with a 40% off coupon, but you can find it at Amazon or a knitting supply site, as well.

The publishers of this book have no idea who I am or that I’m talking about their book…I just wanted to share it with y’all, in case you’d like to knit your own socks, too!  I used Paton’s Kroy Sock Yarn in Sweet Stripes, if you’re wondering, instead of the acrylic yarn they recommend practicing with…I didn’t want to spend any amount of time on socks I wouldn’t want to wear.  I’m a sock snob, it’s true.


Secondly, I reached way back in my memory and found these Bacon-Cantaloupe Wraps filed under “Summer Hike” from a year or two ago.  Originally from Rachel Ray, I just improvised as I remembered them and everyone loved them.  The hooligans even asked to have them again the next day, in lieu of eating somewhere in town while we were running errands.

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This wrap is pretty self-explanatory…crisp bacon, really thin (1/4” or so) slices of cantaloupe, lettuce, and some basil-mayo on a Flatout wrap.  For the mayo, I just chopped up some fresh basil and stirred it into the store-bought mayo.  You could even call it basil aioli, if you add a little garlic and maybe some lemon juice.
The salty-sweet, fresh flavors meld together perfectly, though.  Try it, you’ll like it!

Then, I’ve been on Pinterest again.  Yep, and I found something I absolutely had to make.  Imagine that.

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inside
Cute, huh?  You can find them at Bee in Our Bonnet,if you’d like the particulars.  Again, these are not ones I made...they are her photos...credit where credit is due!

So next week all three hooligans have YMCA camp…all day, every day.  I promise to be a bit more coherent and organized in my blogging.  Well, maybe.  I may just have to dance around naked eating bonbons and celebrating being alone in my house all day!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Crunchier and Crunchier

Yes, I’ve had so much time on my hands this summer I’ve decided to make my own Greek Yogurt. No, I am not serious. I did learn to make Greek yogurt, but not to fill up my spare time.  It’s purely financial, people!  To say the hooligans love Greek yogurt would be an understatement. They devour it as if they were born in Athens. Actually, now that I think about it, they love anything Greek…except lamb.

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But, as usual, I digress.  I grew weary of paying over a dollar for a single-serving of yogurt, and, of course, they don’t all want vanilla so I can’t buy a large container, not that they are much less expensive anyway. I do love the convenience of individual servings in the frig, so they can come in from playing and have a protein-packed snack.

I’ve made yogurt before, using my crockpot, and it’s very simple.  But that was not GREEK yogurt, and was a little too runny for our tastes.  I’m not sure why it’s Greek yogurt just by the addition of a draining step at the end, but there you have it.  The internet gurus have spoken. I am curious about the nutrition information, and how it stacks up to purchased yogurt, but I'm not losing sleep over it.

 I followed this method, from One Good Thing by Jillee.  She always has great ideas for household stuff

There are tons of recipes out there, but basically you just pour milk into your crockpot, heat it on low for a few hours, let it cool a bit, and stir in some plain yogurt (for the active cultures…you can use your own, once you’ve made a batch).  Wrap the crock up in a towel and let it sit overnight in the oven, and it’s magically thickened. Don’t think about why that happens.  Lastly, you drain it for several hours and end up with delicious plain yogurt, ready for flavoring or using in place of sour cream.

This process did take almost 24 hours from start to finish, but I wound up with 12 cups of yogurt from one gallon of whole milk.  That’s SIXTEEN 6-ounce servings for about $6…and that was using organic milk.  Individually I would have spent nearly $20.  Of course, I still have to flavor it, but that doesn’t up the cost all that much, since I would be adding fresh fruit anyway to storebought yogurt.

The hooligans pronounced it delicious, so I’ll definitely plan to keep making it.  Now I just need to find small containers to store it in, so they’ll continue to snack on it.  I can flavor individual portions with applesauce, jam, honey, or fruit.  I think I may make some lime curd to stir in...Key Lime is my favorite and I think that might recreate it at home.


If you want to make these EXACT yummy parfaits(meaning not with storebought granola), I use this granola recipe from Rachel Ray.  It’s fun to make with kids, if you’re looking to spend a little time in the kitchen together.

To make the parfaits, I layered a little yogurt, drizzled with honey, some raspberries, some granola, then repeated.  I added a little extra drizzle of honey on top, so you could see a prettier picture. It’s really all about you.

Enjoy!