CHEESE CRISPS

Another one that looks just so easy to make.  Can't wait to try this one.  Yummm!

Only 2 ingredients and don't they look delicious!

1 block cheddar or Colby jack cheese

Package Baked Cheese Nips

Using a grater, shred a small pile of cheese into a circle onto a baking pan {about 12 slides on the grater}. Spread out the pile of cheese evenly so the middle is about the same thickness as the edges.

Crumble up 2 cheese nips over the shredded cheddar & distribute evenly.

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 375 degrees for 5-8 minutes.

They need to bake until they turn golden brown in order for them to get crispy. If you take them out too soon they will be chewy.

Let them cool for about 2 minutes on the pan and remove carefully with a spatula. Let them cool completely so they crisp up.

(she says the pre-shredded cheese doesn't melt up as well and recommends using the block instead)

Here you go.  Check out her website.  She has some great recipes that use just a couple ingredients.

http://celebrationsathomeblog.com/2012/07/cheese-crisps-recipe.html

JOURNAL JAR

Some years back I came across this website and I have loved it since.  I think the Journal Jar is one of the best gifts to make for someone.  They have bunches of questions to choose from to print out and cut apart and place inside the jar.

The person you give it to can take out one strip each day and answer the question and put it back in the jar or attach it to paper journal pages.  This is a great thing to hand down from generation to generation.  It will remind people who you were and what your life was like as a child and later as an adult.  It is just full of information.

There are times I wish I could still ask my parents about something.  If I had one of these I would have my answers.  We all think of things down the road that we wish we had asked about.

You can use any kind of jar and they have a label to print out and put on it:

Here is an example of the question strips you can print:

They also have questions available for a child's Journal Jar such as these:

I just can't say enough about this craft project.

I think it is one of the best websites I have ever found.

I hope you all enjoy this and have fun making some Journal Jar gifts for people you love!

...and make one for yourself  (your great-great grandchildren will be happy to have it and know all about you!)

Adult Journal in a Jar: Easy Gift to Print | Organized Christmas

BERRY COBBLER

I haven't tried these yet but they look very good and also very easy.  As you know by now that is what I look for in a recipe!

Two 12-oz bags frozen mixed berries/peaches (or pretty much any kind of fruit you would like to use)

1 box white cake mix

Approximately 1 can of diet 7-up or other clear soda 

(might need more than 1 can of soda to avoid dry spots) 

Instructions

Place frozen fruit in a 9x13 baking dish. Add dry cake mix over the top. Pour soda slowly over cake mix. DO NOT stir the cake mix and the soda  - this will give you a 'crust'. If you stir the two, you will have a cake like topping. 

Bake 350 for 45-50 min or longer until berries are cooked. 

Check out where I found this recipe:

Living a Changed Life: Recipe Review: Berry Cobbler

She has a very interesting blog which is encouraging for anyone trying to lose weight and be more healthy.

PAPER PINWHEELS

I spent two days this week making 4th of July pinwheels.  It was a fun project.  I went to the store looking for red, white and blue scrapbooking paper and found all kinds of Independence Day designs instead. I know there are lots of directions for pinwheels online, but everybody has their own little crafting techniques so I thought I would share mine too.

Supplies:
2 different designs of scrapbooking paper
lollipop stick
pencil eraser
thumb tack
whole puncher
glue gun

I used a 4" square sheet of paper because I wanted them to work for cupcake decorations.  I tried 3" but they were a little small to handle while putting together.  Holding 2 papers together with designs on both facing outward cut in from each corner stopping about 1/4" from center"

Next take your hole puncher and punch holes in each corner as diagram shows below:

Now put your thumbtack into one hole from the back side.  Place the hole in the next corner under the first one.  Continue to do this until you have all 4 corners on top of each other with the thumbtack holding them together.

After all corners are in the right place, push the thumbtack through the middle of the back of the pinwheel.

Cut the eraser off of your pencil and slide it securely onto the sharp end of the tack.

Now glue a lollipop stick to the back of the pinwheel with the top end of it against the bottom of the eraser as shown here:

.....and daa daa!  Here is the finished product:

NOTE:  These are not a toy due to the small eraser and thumbtack.

Please keep away from young children and use for decoration only.

GRAHAM CRACKER BROWNIE RECIPE

So on my calendar of 'fun excuses to celebrate'  2013 Funny Holiday Calendar Pages2   I see that today is Graham Cracker Day.  I love anything made with graham crackers and I wanted to share this super easy recipe.

2 cups graham crackers (about 32 squares)

1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

1 teaspoon baking powder

Pinch salt

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condenced milk.

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.

Spread into a greased 8 in. square baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Cool on a wire rack.

I found this recipe here:

Graham Cracker Brownies Recipe | Taste of Home Recipes

GRANDMA'S EASY CHICKEN POT PIE

I have a box of Bisquick in my cupboard that I have been wanting to use up, so I went searching for easy recipes that called for it.  I came across this one that looks great and simple to make, just my kind of  cooking!  

Ingredients:
1 2/3C Frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
1C Cut up chicken (canned or fresh)
1 (10.5oz) Can cream of chicken soup
1C baking mix (like Bisquick)
1/2C Milk
1 Egg
Seasonings to taste

Directions:

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix veggies, chicken, and soup in an ungreased 9-in pie

plate or baking dish. Stir remaining ingredients together until well blended.

Pour into pie plate. Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.

The link to where I found this one:

The Fun Cheap or Free Queen: Foodie Tuesday recipe: Grandma's Easy Chicken Pot

TWO INGREDIENT COOKIES

Wow! From the reviews I have read on this recipe it looks great.  It is hard to believe just 2 ingredients can make something that looks as delicious as these cookies do.  But I will sure be making these myself!

There's days we all want to bake something but just don't have time, don't feel great or just don't feel like cleaning up after the baking.  But with these there wouldn't be much cleaning up and it looks like they are not a long dragged out baking time.

The 2 ingredients used are:

2 bananas

1 cup quick oats

That's it!  You can add additional fun things if you like, such as raisins, chocolate chips, crushed candies, etc.  For me I think just the banana and oatmeal taste would be perfect.

Here is what you get after mixing it up:

The link for this recipe is:

The Burlap Bag - High Quality Handmade Goods Shop - Austin Texas

Look around when you are on her website.  It is a good one!  I will be checking it out often.

(they also have this recipe using peaches instead of bananas)