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Archive for September, 2007

Jar Gift Recipes to Collect- Part 3 of a Series

September 25th, 2007 at 11:37 pm

How about healthy part-whole wheat to warm up this winter?

This is the next 'Mix in a Jar' recipe for an inexpensive gift you can make yourself. Great for the teacher, coach, young baker, hair dresser, neighbor, and others this year.

More great easy recipes in the 'Handmade' section of this blog and more coming for you to collect and make later this year. Some of the recipes are my own originals, some are credited to others. All lean to the healthy diet, I prefer to avoid heavy sweets and fats. Enjoy!

Remember - Early Planning Saves Money

WW Self Rising Bread
Ingredients:
Quart size jar with screw lid-sanitized and dry (get some from the thrift store)

2 1/2 C all purpose flour
1 1/4 C whole wheat flour
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 C sugar
1 C currants or raisins
2 tsp caraway seed (optional)

Combine all purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Layer this mixture with the whole wheat flour, sugar, dried fruit and seeds. Pack each layer down firmly before adding next layer. Seal with lid. Cover with decorative fabric or paper tied with a ribbon. Attach the following recipe--

WW Hearty Bread
1 jar Hearty Bread Mix
1/2 C butter (1 stick) cut into small pieces
1 1/3 to 1 1/2 C buttermilk (or milk with a tsp vinegar added and left standing a few minutes)

1. Preheat oven to 350 deg. Pour contents of jar into large bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture is crumbly. Pour in buttermilk and toss to form slightly sticky dough.

2. Turn dough out onto well greased baking sheet. Shape into 8-inch round.

3. Bake 50-60 minutes until golden and crust is firm.

4. Cool on baking sheet 10 minutes. Remove to wire rack and cool. Cut into wedges to serve with hearty soup and salad.

ref: Gifts from a Jar (Publications Intl.)

Take a Break from Counting your $$ for a minute and try to answer this trivia ?

September 20th, 2007 at 03:51 am

I have a trivia contest in my shop for fun and to attract visitors at

Text is Pretty Cheap Jewelry and Link is http://www.prettycheapjewelry.com
Pretty Cheap Jewelry and this one has been tried by many, answered by none:

What do the people of Andorra, Spain consume more of than anywhere else in the world?

This has been a real stumper, so here are a couple clues:
-it is edible
-it is small

If you really are sure, login to my shop and I'll send you a prize!

13 is a Sweet Number

September 18th, 2007 at 12:07 am

Today is my wedding anniversary, 13 lucky years.

DH asked yesterday (Sunday), so how much are we supposed to spend on an annniversary gift for each other?

*o* Uh oh. I hadn't spent any.

Just too many things to handle and I forgot (such as his birthday the day after our anniversary...)

Soooooooo I racked my brain for something that wouldn't cost more than $20, could get in 1 day, and be meaningful....

It isn't electronic, metal, or even plastic. It's something we both like, small enough, and tagged "Thank you for the sweet years". Oh yes, it cost $15.

Freebies, Deals, and Indie Contests

September 14th, 2007 at 02:17 pm

I belong to an internet independent design collective which has put up a great fun page from the artists for:

"Deals" - Loads of price breaks, buy one/get one, and the like

-and-

"Contests" - Freebies! You are one of a pool from which a random winner is picked. There are many, many Contests, each from a different shop.

So go win something here Smile

Text is http://www.indiecontests.com/ and Link is
http://www.indiecontests.com/

Inexpensive Gifts to Make Later This Year - Part 2 in a Series

September 12th, 2007 at 08:35 pm

Plan ahead now and save money in December! Many easy, handmade gifts can be possible this year and convey a thoughtful, personal touch.

I am posting the second recipe for "Mix in a Jar" gifts (scroll down my blog for previous entries) for you to collect and use to your advantage.

Great for the little folks you want to surprise including coaches and teachers, nurses, mailmen, salon and anyone who has an appetite! Some of the recipes are my originals, some are credited as shown.

I prefer healthy, easy on the sugar and fat foods. This one is saved by the oatmeal! (Kids and teens would love to get this too!)

SUPER CHUNK OATMEAL COOKIE MIX
1 quart jar with screw lid, sanitized and dry (get decorative ones at the thrift store or just use canning jars)

1 C sugar
1 C whole wheat cake flour
1 C quick cooking oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
6 Sq semi-sweet Baker's Chocolate, coarsely chopped

Layer ingredients in the jar (starting with the sugar on the bottom). Close lid tightly and tie a nice piece of fabric or wrapping paper over lid with ribbon, leaving a long enough tail to attach a recipe card as written below.

"Eat Me Quick Oatmeal Cookies"
Preheat oven to 375. Beat 3/4 C softened butter in a large bowl until creamy. Beat in 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla.

Stir Cookie Mix into the butter mixture until well blended. Spoon heaping tablespoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake at 375 fo 12-14 min or until golden brown. Cool on bakin sheet 1 min. Remove to wire racks and cool completely.

Makes 30 servings (1 cookie each)"

Enjoy and stay tuned for more in coming weeks Wink

Nice Door Prize

September 7th, 2007 at 02:30 pm

The other wonderful internet community I belong to of handcrafters is having a fun contest.

We were asked to craft an item in the subject of 'Typography' (def:having to do with the general appearance of matter printed with type).

Any media was allowed, each of us specialize in different crafts, (sewing, drawing, jewelry, etc.)

The entries were made last month and are now up for a vote. One lucky voter is going to be picked to receive a pair of handmade gemstone earrings (see pic below) from the shop of

Text is http://www.sandysimone.etsy.com and Link is
http://www.sandysimone.etsy.com

Do you want to have some fun judging the entries and casting a vote?

Here is the post with all the details: where you can see all the entries together, where you can see them separately with more detail, and the prize details.
Text is http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5218080 and Link is
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5218080

You must be a registered member of Etsy to vote. Etsy is an amazing handcrafted internet marketplace (register just like Amazon, with an email and password).

Why did we do it? A design challenge among peers stimulates each of us, to attract attention to each of our shops, to attract new members to our group. You get the picture, right?

Voting closes Saturday 9/8 at midnight. Thanks!

Hot time to Plan for December-Part 1 of about 6

September 6th, 2007 at 02:50 pm

The heat wave is almost over and now is the time to start on the December gift planning.

Early Planning Saves Money

'Mix in a Jar' is a thoughtful inexpensive gift you can make yourself. Healthy food mixes are suitable for many of the incidentals you want to surprise (like the teacher, hair dresser, neighbor, and more).

I will share some great easy recipes in coming weeks for you to collect and execute later this year. Some of the recipes are my own originals, some are credited to others. All lean to the healthy diet, I prefer to avoid heavy sweets and fats. Enjoy!
----------------------------------------
Spicy Rice
Ingredients:

1 glass pint jar w/screw lid, washed and dried (tip: go to the thrift store and find interesting jars, or just use canning jars)

2 C brown or basmati rice

1/8 C dried mushrooms

1 tsp red hot pepper flake

2 tsp onion powder

Mix ingredients thoroughly by placing in a ziploc bag and shaking well. Pour into jar and close tightly. Cover lid with square of fabric or wrapping paper. Tie covering around lip of lid on with ribbon, leaving a long enough tail of ribbon to attach cooking instructions.

Using the rice instructions, write the cooking instructions on a small card punched with a hole in the corner. Tie onto the ribbon.