Project Photo Dump

I have a couple photos of some projects I have worked on. No tutorials or anything, sorry.

Crafting:

 Another Doctor Who scarf!  The knitting is actually 100% done (not 75% like when this pic was taken), but edges and tassels still need to be done. This is a full size version of Season 14 with the 4th Doctor - it is much larger than pictured.

Hello Kitty Plush/Stuffed Animal - I made this from felt, thread, and poly fiber fill (fluff).  I sewed it together using a blanket stitch and a whip stitch.

Back of Hello Kitty

Cooking:

Sushi! It came out okay for my first attempt ever, but definite improvements to be made.  It is supposed to be a California Roll, so it is made of rice, nori, avocado, imitation crab meat, and cucumber.

Fun Geeky Hobbies:

I bought this D Gray Man puzzle at a convention. 1000 pieces way too much black, grey, and navy! I could only do the puzzle by natural sun light because the colors were too close and the indoor lights put a glare on the pieces.  It took me forever to finish, but I did it and it glowed in the dark.

I have a couple more pictures and will be working on some sewing - clothes - projects soon.

Mousakka & Recipe Tips

I haven't written about cooking in a long time, so I'd do a small post.

Fun cooking has not been happening lately because I usually bake for fun, and there has been a constant supply of baked goods lately.

I did make Moussaka a couple of weeks ago. I absolutely love mousakka.
Moussaka is a dish made up of layers of eggplant and minced/ground meat as well as tomato paste or sauce. The is also, typically, a Bechamel sauce on top. There are multiple variations depending on the chef and origin of the recipe.

For my version of Moussaka, I mix recipes.  Therefore, I do not have a recipe to share - sorry.  I have compiled the parts of different recipes I use into one.  I will do that next time though, it would probably be helpful and cut done cooking time, haha.

I remembered to take a picture of my finished product... of leftovers the next day.  It isn't as pretty as when it came out of the over; plus, it isn't melty and gooey looking since it is cold.

It was delicious!

Since I have to recipe to share, I thought I'd share some tips for recipes.

1) Improvise if you feel comfortable - If you don't like something in the recipe or would like something added, do it.  Recipes are a lot of testing and altering when you are trying a new one, so you might as well try the changes you'd like.

2) Check for seasoning in recipes: Sometimes recipes do not give you seasonings to use.  Remember to add appropriate seasonings (salt, pepper, paprika, herbs) to your dishes. I have become so wrapped up in doing all the steps of a new recipe correctly that I forget salt & pepper because it wasn't listed. Don't make my mistake.

3) Finding info: Speaking of seasonings, you may be unsure what types to use if it isn't listed. Check your cook books, online, and even the herb/seasoning containers for helpful info.  You can find info about what types of proteins go well with different herbs or what type of seasoning is found in certain types of cuisine.

4) Lastly, if you're not sure of the instructions while reading the recipe, look for other recipes or tutorials to supplement.  One of my Moussaka recipes has confusing instructions for making the Bechamel sauce. Luckily, I use a Bechemal type process for my homemade mac & cheese, so I used those instructions.  Some one out there will explain the instructions in a way that works for you. Everyone understands differently.

I hope some of those were helpful or made you see you aren't alone in not getting something right the first or knowing info on all sorts of techniques and spices.

More crafting in the future - if I can get motivated to iron and cut fabric. I love sewing; I dislike the prep.
I would really like to do an Artist Alley at a convention or have a booth at an art fair sometime in the future; however, I need to practice more and come up with more designs. So, that is what I'm working on now.

Cereal Cookies

The cookie post has finally arrived!

It took so long for me to make this recipe because I didn't have any cookie friendly cereals in my house and then I kept forgetting to buy some.

The cereal cookie recipe is 2 parts - the cereal crunch and the cookie dough. The recipe I used was derived from an interesting one I found in last month's InStyle magazine.  The recipe author uses cereals in different recipes and I thought her cookie one looked really cool.  The picture with the recipe showed whole piece of Cap'n Crunch sticking out - that finalized my plans.  I edited the recipe because I felt it called for way too much of the ingredients for a recipe making 12 cookies.

**Notes: This is a salty & sweet treat. If you don't like the salty and sweet mixed, I would recommend decreasing the salt in the cereal bit and/or dough part. It also came out very buttery/oily.  I'll probably cut the butter next time. 3/4-1 stick in the bits and 1 1/2 in the batter.
The original said it was for 12 cookies, but I ended up with 17 large cookies and 1 tiny baby cookie.

The cereal bits:

Watch for sneaky fingers - this stuff will disappear, eaten by nibblers

* The following measurements made much more than I needed, but I saved it because I think it might be good with some ice cream

4 cups Cap'n Crunch (off brand is fine off course, I used it)
3 to 4 cups Fruity Pebbles (again, off brand is fine)
1 stick of unsalted butter (8 Tbsp)
4 tbsp nonfat dry milk powder
1 1/3 tsp salt

1) Preheat oven to 250 degrees F
2)Melt butter in bowl using microwave. 45 to 50 secs will usually get it done.
3) In separate bowl mix all the dry other ingredients
4) Add butter to dry ingredients & toss to coat
4) Cover baking sheet w/ parchment paper or aluminum foil
5) Layer cereal mix on baking sheet
6) Bake for 35 - 40 minutes


Dough

* The magazine recipe called for 2/3 cup granulated sugar and 3/4 light brown sugar, but I ran out of white

2 sticks of unsalted butter (16 Tbsp) at room temperature
1/3 cup white granulated sugar
3/4 cup + 1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
Cereal bits

1) In a mixer or with hand mixer, beat butter and sugar (white and brown) until creamy and fluffy
2) Add vanilla and egg, blend in
3) Add remaining cereal, fold in by hand so the pieces don't get too broken up - I wanted to be able to see the normal shape of the cereal pieces
4) Roll dough into balls of the same size and place on a baking sheet. Bigger the ball, thicker the cookie. Space out so cookies have room to spread as they cook (unless you want a giant cookie sheet).
5) Refrigerate for 1 hour
6) Preheat over to 350 degrees F
7) Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown
8) Cool.

Again, the original recipe that I altered was done by a chef interviewing with InStyle. If you want the original look for last month's issue of InStyle or check there website.

Now go enjoy some cookies!

Pseudo-Ramen

Sorry still no cookies. I actually went to the grocery store and forgot my list for the recipe. *sigh* I made another trip though, so here should be a cookie post in the next couple of days.

For my cooking lovers I offer something different.
Last week there were no family dinner plans, so I went through the fridge and pantry to see what I could whip up. I'd always wanted to try to cook a simplified version of authentic, not instant, ramen (google pictures of it if you've don't know anything about it).  I was successful in scrounging up some usable ingredients.

My dinner:

Please excuse my lack of measurements. I eye-balled as I cooked and used my personal taste. This is also my first recipe with no base recipe used, so I'm not really sure how to explain everything in the best, easiest to understand manner.

Ingredients: Recipe made 5 servings - honestly, it depends on how much you eat in one serving though
3 cups beef broth
about 1 lb of beef (I had stir fry quality beef on hand)
2 packs of instant ramen noodles (don't need seasoning packs)
Soy Sauce
Garlic, minced
White mushrooms
Canola oil
Frozen green peas, cooked
Canned baby corn
Nori (dried seaweed), cut into pieces
Imitation crab meat strips, cut into small strips
salt
white pepper
ground ginger
minced dried onion

1) Boil water for ramen in a sauce pan (size depends on how much you are making)
2) In large pot, heat oil over medium heat
3) Add garlic, about 1.5 teaspoons or to your taste preference, and small package of pre-sliced mushrooms
4) Saute mushrooms and garlic until mushrooms are cooked - soft and a golden color
5) In skillet, heat canola oil over medium heat.
6) Add beef, cook until done (depending on how you like your beef). Set beef aside.
7) Optional: Save beef juice for broth
5) Add beef broth to pot w/ garlic and mushrooms, let it simmer
6) Add about 3/4 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1 tsp minced dried onion, salt and pepper to taste
7) Mix in the spices, add about 2 tablespoons of soy sauce.
8) Optional: stir in beef juice
9) Stir and keep on low-medium heat
8) Water should be boiling, add instant ramen noodles and follow cooking time instructions on the package.
9) After noodle cook, DO NOT add the seasoning packets. Drain the noodles. Set aside.
10) Take broth off heat. Serve ramen.

Serving:
I put all the vegetable and protein (crab and beef) on top like ramen you see in pictures. This also helped feed everyone, since my family all like different veggies and toppings.
NOTE: Toppings can be added and subtracted based on what you like.

In a bowl I put in noodles, then poured over broth (with mushrooms) until noodles were about 3/4 covered. On top I put slices of beef, crab, corn, peas, and seaweed in sections on top.

I hope that was at least partially decipherable.

Cross Stitch Project Complete!

Sorry for the lack of updating!
I promise there really is a cookie post in the near future. It's just that there is a lack of ingredients and food in my house and no time for serious grocery shopping.

Now onward to the topic of the blog post:
I completed the cross stitch project I've been working on for the longest time!

I will take pictures when there is better light tomorrow - then there will be a proper post.
I just needed to celebrate the crafting victory.

Next on the list: the Doctor Who scarf

First Cooking Post: Chicken Tenders & Fries!

Finally, my first cooking related entry.

A healthier version on chicken tenders and fries was the endeavor. It was a success!

I used a Weight Watchers recipe and it was quite delicious.
Instead of using a batter and frying, this recipe calls for bread crumbs and baking.  I was surprised at how much flavor the chicken had. The fries were also baked after being coated in a small amount of vegetable oil - also tasted delicious.

Since the recipe isn't really free unless you have a membership, I'm not going to post the actual recipe.  In the future I will post any recipes I create and link to free ones around the web.

However, the recipes are pretty basic.
Fries - cut up potatoes, drizzle with oil, toss, season, bake
Chicken - coat in something moist (eggs, sauce, whatever you usually use), coat in bread crumbs, bake

Here is a picture of my outcome:

Not a post high in how-to or info, but the next cooking entry should be - it's cookies! (once I make them)

Crafting Update:
I've worked some more on my cross-stitch patter. At this pace it should be done by next weekend!

The scarf project starts this weekend! I know my bar says there is a smidge of work done, but I just gave myself credit for picking out all the yarn and supplies. Choosing matching yarn colors is harder than you think so I believe it deserves some recognition, haha.

This blog has definitely given me more drive to work on my craft projects. I hope I can keep it up.

Starting Over

I found that a blog about random things in my life doesn't work for me - my life is pretty normal and average. However, over the last year I've been doing a lot of crafting and cooking. I like sharing my projects, so I plan to start this blog (which really never got off the ground) over.

I have a finished project that I actually took pictures of *gasp* (I rarely remember) and that'll be my first post in a couple of days.

New year, new blog!