Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
It's FRIDAY!
That means not only is the weekend here but it's new product day at ScrapMatters! Today Jennifer Labre released two new kits (okay, one is new and one is a "new to ScrapMatters" kit).
True Colors - gorgeous kit full of gorgeous papers and beautiful elements, just perfect for all of those spring layouts you're going to have soon! :) Here's my layout:
The other kit being released today is "Color Me Happy." I promise you will smile when you see the bright colors and fun elements. Perfect for all sorts of layouts, like this crazy one I did about my nephew, Jackson.
True Colors - gorgeous kit full of gorgeous papers and beautiful elements, just perfect for all of those spring layouts you're going to have soon! :) Here's my layout:
The other kit being released today is "Color Me Happy." I promise you will smile when you see the bright colors and fun elements. Perfect for all sorts of layouts, like this crazy one I did about my nephew, Jackson.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Quick Update (Okay, A Little Late.....)
I haven't been feeling the greatest this week. I had some minor surgery on Tuesday and have been resting a lot. Thank God for a patient husband. He's been my lifesaver this week and has tirelessly cared for the girls and carted them around to their various activities. I'd be lost without him!
And I'm excited because I've been playing with a couple of new kits from Jennifer Labre that are coming out tomorrow. I'll post tomorrow but the kits being released tomorrow are two of my faves! Can't wait!!
Last Friday, Jennifer Labre released a new kit at ScrapMatters named "Couch Potato." It's full of great colors and designs and lots of fun elements for TV junkies. There are lots of great examples of layouts done by Jenn's team (have I mentioned how much I love working with such a talented group of ladies?! Seriously!).
But it's versatile! I used it for this layout:
Here are some other layouts I worked on over the past couple of weeks:
Trip to Traverse City - Kit is "Winter Wishes" by Jennifer Labre (available HERE at ScrapMatters)
LHS:
RHS:
And this layout, also from our trip to Traverse City, was made with a kit called "Savoy Truffles" from a designer named Gina Miller. (sorry, no link!)
And I'm excited because I've been playing with a couple of new kits from Jennifer Labre that are coming out tomorrow. I'll post tomorrow but the kits being released tomorrow are two of my faves! Can't wait!!
Last Friday, Jennifer Labre released a new kit at ScrapMatters named "Couch Potato." It's full of great colors and designs and lots of fun elements for TV junkies. There are lots of great examples of layouts done by Jenn's team (have I mentioned how much I love working with such a talented group of ladies?! Seriously!).
But it's versatile! I used it for this layout:
Here are some other layouts I worked on over the past couple of weeks:
Trip to Traverse City - Kit is "Winter Wishes" by Jennifer Labre (available HERE at ScrapMatters)
LHS:
RHS:
And this layout, also from our trip to Traverse City, was made with a kit called "Savoy Truffles" from a designer named Gina Miller. (sorry, no link!)
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Recipe: Creamy Chicken & Orzo
Adapted from a Rachael Ray recipe. This can easily be made into a vegetarian meal by omitting the chicken!
Ingredients:
-2 large chicken breasts, diced and seasoned as desired
-1 cup orzo
-16 oz. Half & Half
-3/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, grated finely (fresh - not the canned stuff!)
-1 small to medium onion, chopped finely
-1 clove garlic, minced
-1 lemon, halved
-1 small package of frozen broccoli, cooked
-4 tbsp. unsalted butter
-salt and pepper
Directions:
-Cook orzo according to directions (approx. 7 to 9 minutes until Al Dente). For more flavor, cook in chicken broth rather than plain water. Once complete, drain and set aside. Add 1 tbsp. of butter to the orzo to further season and keep it from sticking together.
-Melt 2 tbsp. of butter in a large skillet and add chicken. Saute chicken until no longer pink. Squeeze the juice of half of the lemon over the chicken and continue to cook until golden brown. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.
-Add the remaining 1 tbsp. of butter to the bottom of the skillet. Once melted, add the onions and garlic. Saute until the onions are llightly browned and softened. Slowly add in the Half & Half, whisking continuously for 2 to 3 minutes until thickened.
-Slowly add in the Parmesan cheese, continuing to whisk for 1 to 2 minutes until the cheese is melted and there are no lumps.
-Reduce heat to low and add the chicken and cooked broccoli into the cream sauce. If you enjoy a stronger lemon flavor, squeeze the other half of the lemon into the sauce at this time. Allow it to simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to combine. (I let it simmer for about 5 minutes)
-Add in the cooked orzo and stir completely. Let the skillet sit for a couple of minutes to heat all the way through.
Serves 2 to 3 adults
The best thing about this dish is that you could use so many different vegetables and seasonings with it. The sauce is a good base and can be jazzed up any way you like. I added red pepper flakes to ours to give it a little heat. Omit the chicken and you have a great veggie dish!
Ingredients:
-2 large chicken breasts, diced and seasoned as desired
-1 cup orzo
-16 oz. Half & Half
-3/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, grated finely (fresh - not the canned stuff!)
-1 small to medium onion, chopped finely
-1 clove garlic, minced
-1 lemon, halved
-1 small package of frozen broccoli, cooked
-4 tbsp. unsalted butter
-salt and pepper
Directions:
-Cook orzo according to directions (approx. 7 to 9 minutes until Al Dente). For more flavor, cook in chicken broth rather than plain water. Once complete, drain and set aside. Add 1 tbsp. of butter to the orzo to further season and keep it from sticking together.
-Melt 2 tbsp. of butter in a large skillet and add chicken. Saute chicken until no longer pink. Squeeze the juice of half of the lemon over the chicken and continue to cook until golden brown. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.
-Add the remaining 1 tbsp. of butter to the bottom of the skillet. Once melted, add the onions and garlic. Saute until the onions are llightly browned and softened. Slowly add in the Half & Half, whisking continuously for 2 to 3 minutes until thickened.
-Slowly add in the Parmesan cheese, continuing to whisk for 1 to 2 minutes until the cheese is melted and there are no lumps.
-Reduce heat to low and add the chicken and cooked broccoli into the cream sauce. If you enjoy a stronger lemon flavor, squeeze the other half of the lemon into the sauce at this time. Allow it to simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to combine. (I let it simmer for about 5 minutes)
-Add in the cooked orzo and stir completely. Let the skillet sit for a couple of minutes to heat all the way through.
Serves 2 to 3 adults
The best thing about this dish is that you could use so many different vegetables and seasonings with it. The sauce is a good base and can be jazzed up any way you like. I added red pepper flakes to ours to give it a little heat. Omit the chicken and you have a great veggie dish!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
"Daybreak" and "Orange Crush"
Digital scrapbooking kits "Daybreak" and "Orange Crush" by Jennifer Labre Designs were released today at ScrapMatters. Here are a couple of layouts I created with them....
Layout: "Swinging"
Kit Used: "Orange Crush"
Layout: "Peace!"
Kit Used: "Daybreak" - borders are in "Doodle Its - Borders 1"
Layout: "Swinging"
Kit Used: "Orange Crush"
Layout: "Peace!"
Kit Used: "Daybreak" - borders are in "Doodle Its - Borders 1"
Back to blogging....
I haven't blogged since 2008. I had another blog but as I was reading through it last night I figured it was probably best just to start over. It was wickedly funny but mostly inappropriate. :) This one will be slightly more tame.
The purpose of this blog is to give me a place to share the things I love to do. Here are just a few.......
-Crafts - Just ask my husband about my super stash of paper scrapbooking supplies. And then about two and a half years ago I branched out into digital scrapbooking and love it too!! I'm lucky to be on the creative team for a great designer named Jennifer Labre (her designs are available at ScrapMatters) and I try to do a few things every week. I also love to knit and have a substantial stash of yarn. I also have a decent stash of fabric though I haven't actually learned to sew yet. But when I do....well, I'm prepared!
-Cooking - I'm a self-taught cook and don't claim to be an expert at it by any means. But I love to eat and nothing is better for a healthy appetite than learning to cook! I love to try new recipes and subject my family to them. I'm not sure they share my excitement but it's good entertainment. And now that I have a nice big kitchen I love it even more!
-Photography - I did some freelance photography for a few years but now I just like taking pictures of my own kids. I'm a Canon girl and I have a want-list a mile long!
So..........here we go! :)
The purpose of this blog is to give me a place to share the things I love to do. Here are just a few.......
-Crafts - Just ask my husband about my super stash of paper scrapbooking supplies. And then about two and a half years ago I branched out into digital scrapbooking and love it too!! I'm lucky to be on the creative team for a great designer named Jennifer Labre (her designs are available at ScrapMatters) and I try to do a few things every week. I also love to knit and have a substantial stash of yarn. I also have a decent stash of fabric though I haven't actually learned to sew yet. But when I do....well, I'm prepared!
-Cooking - I'm a self-taught cook and don't claim to be an expert at it by any means. But I love to eat and nothing is better for a healthy appetite than learning to cook! I love to try new recipes and subject my family to them. I'm not sure they share my excitement but it's good entertainment. And now that I have a nice big kitchen I love it even more!
-Photography - I did some freelance photography for a few years but now I just like taking pictures of my own kids. I'm a Canon girl and I have a want-list a mile long!
So..........here we go! :)
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