Homemade Vodka Perfume

I just made some today. I think it should work pretty well. Word of caution though. Do not put Vodka in a thin plastic cup. The Vodka will eat right through it and you'll end up with a sweet smelling mess. I know, because I did that already.

Anyway this is what you need:
2 ounces of Vodka (per 2 ounce spray bottle)
scented oil--about 20 drops per batch, in varying scents.
2 ounce spray bottle
glass or thick plastic container with a lid
Coffee Filter
Water

This is real simple. All you do is pour the Vodka in a glass or thick plastic container. Add the oil. This will take some experimenting until you get a scent that you like. The stuff I made was a mix of lavender, gardenia blossoms and sweet pea and jasmine. It smelled pretty good. Anyway, don't add too much oil or you'll end up with an oily mess. 20-25 drops should be fine.
Next, stir the Vodka and put the lid on the container. Let sit for 48 hours to 6 weeks. The longer it sits the stronger the scent.
Then, add two tablespoons of spring water. Filter the perfume with a coffee filter and put into bottle. You might end up with a small amount left over. You can either discard it or add it to your next batch

Cheesy Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients:
3 medium potatoes
5 bacon strips, diced
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup flour
1 packet sausage gravy mix (2 cups)
6 cups chicken broth
2 cups milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
seasonings:
salt, pepper, parsley, garlic, basil

1. Scrub and pierce potatoes; place on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 8-12 minutes or until tender, turning once.
2. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels.
3. In the drippings, saute onion until tender. Stir in 1/4 cup flour; cook and stir for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown. Gradually stir in broth. Add the parsley, garlic, basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
4. In a small bowl, whisk the gravy mix with milk until smooth; add to the pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until slightly thickened.
5. Peel and cube potatoes; add to soup. Add bacon. Cook and stir until heated through. Add cheese and stir until melted.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

This is yummy!

















3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbs cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cups white sugar
3 eggs
1 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
In a large bowl combine flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix well.
In a separate bowl combine sugar and eggs, beat until well blended. Add oil and vanilla. Beat until combined. Stir in zucchini. And flour mixture, stir until moistened. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips. Spoon evenly into loaf pans. Bake in preheated over for 55 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove bread from pans and cool completely on wire rack.

I'll have plenty of zucchini this year if you want to try this recipe.

Ham & Cheese Pockets

2-3 cups chopped turkey ham

2-3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 tubes large refrigerated flaky biscuits (I use the reduced fat kind)

Flatten half the biscuits into 4-inch circles. Place on a cookie sheet or large baking dish sprayed with non-stick spray. Spoon 1/4 cup ham into each biscuit. Sprinkle with cheese. Flatten the rest of the biscuits into 4-inch circles and place on top and pinch edges to seal tightly. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Yield: 8 servings.

Spinach Souffle'

3 eggs - Slightly beaten
8 ounces of cottage cheese
1 cup of diced cheddar cheese
¼ cup of butter
3 tbs of flour
¼ cup of buttermilk
½ package of frozen spinach
Mix all ingredients together and bake
At 350 for 45-60 minutes.
(Insert a toothpick in center to insure that it's not soupy)


This is a recipe my mother made for my daughter
when she was about 5 years old. My daughter has
continued to make it every Thanksgiving
and randomly throughout the year.
It is delicious - even if you don’t like spinach - and
I don’t. But you can substitute broccoli if you
feel the need to.

Bean Burrito Soup

I figure if there can be a taco soup, there sure as heck can be a bean burrito soup.

Ingredients

2 cans fat free refried beans

1 can tamato sauce (or diced tomatoes, if you prefer)

8-10 ounces Chicken Stock

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Onion Powder

2-3 corn or flower tortillas

In Large Saucepan or medium pot, heat beans and tomato sauce just until boiling. Pour in Chicken stock and cheese. Reduce heat and wait for cheese to melt. Add onion powder.

Meanwhile cut tortillas into strips and bake on cookie sheet, 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Serve with soup. Optional: Serve with sour cream and additional cheese.

Ballpark Breakfast Burritos with Creamy Cheese Sauce

Here's a recipe I came up with while cleaning out my fridge. I had some turkey dogs, turkey bacon and whole wheat tortillas that needed to be used. Here's what I came up with:

Ingredients:

6 eggs

Small amount of milk

3-4 turkey dogs

5 strips of turkey bacon

Tortillas

1-2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

About 6-10 ounces of Chicken Stock (I didn't measure, but if it's too runny, add more flour, if it's too thick, add more stock)

1/2 cup flour

Chop bacon and hot dogs. Cook in medium skillet until done. Whisk eggs in bowl, add small amount of milk. Add to skillet and stir constantly. You may need to reduce heat. When eggs are done, remove from heat and begin making cheese sauce.

In small saucepan, heat chicken stock to boiling. Add flower and stir until smooth. Reduce heat. Add cheese and cook until melted, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and serve on burritos.

Enjoy!!

Alluring Halter Top--Pattern

I've knitted this before, but instead of going all the way to the neck I got lazy and quit before then. Then I just crocheted a cord to tie behind the neck. It's cute either way. Just thought I'd share the pattern. If you use a different yarn than the pattern specifies, like I did, it's really hard to find a yarn that will match the gauge. But it's a simple enough pattern it's not too hard to figure out how big to make it. Anyway, enjoy!



Photo courtesy of Knitting pattern central.com

http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/patterns/alluring_halter_top.php

Knitting Instruction??

I don't know how many people actually read this blog, but if there's anyone who would like to be taught how to knit, please comment and let me know. I would be happy to offer some instruction and some easy patterns to get you started. I'm sure my sister, Betty would be happy to help as well. If so, I'll post some easy knitting stuff in here, otherwise I'll just put patterns that will interest my sister and I. I would like to see this blog become more than another recipe blog. I would also like to post things about the various other crafts that interest me. If my sisters would be interested in posting other things besides knitting and cooking, please do so. Any craft or art is fine.

Anyway, let me know if you'd like to learn.

Fudgy Cocoa Brownies

Here's the recipe you were asking about, Jenn

1/2 cup ( 1 stick butter or margarine)
1/3 cup cocoa
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts(optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8X8 in. pan In a medium sauce pan, melt butter or margarine. Remove butter or margarine from heat. Add cocoa and stir until well blended. Add sugar and mix well. Add eggs, one at a time and beat well. stir in vanilla, flour and salt. Do not over beat. Fold in nuts and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.