Showing posts with label Recipes. Show all posts

Thank You Jar Brownie Mix Recipe

If you are here for the Thank You Jar Brownie Mix Recipe, you are in the right place! On the Pebbles Inc. blog I am sharing a fun Thank You gift I made using a quart size jar and some fabulous papers and stickers from the Pebbles Front Porch collection.  Some of you may have stopped by here for the recipe.  Besides the Jar Brownie Mix Recipe, I also want to share a Thank You card that I made to go along with the jar.

Thank You Jar Brownie Mix and Card by Juliana Michaels

This card came together quickly using one of the Front Porch Library Pockets with Cards and some scraps of patterned paper left over from some other recent projects.

Pebbles Front Porch Thank You Card by Juliana Michaels

I tied a length of twine around the library pocket before I attached it to the front of the card to help dress it up a bit more.

Pebbles Front Porch Thank You Card by Juliana Michaels detail

To help give the card a little more dimension, I added some double sided foam tape to the backside of the card before I slipped it into the library pocket.

Pebbles Front Porch Thank You Card by Juliana Michaels detail

BROWNIE MIX JAR RECIPE


Mix Ingredients in a wide mouth quart size jar.

INGREDIENTS

5/8 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup white sugar
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

Mix the 5/8 cup flour with the salt. In a clean, wide mouth quart size jar, layer the ingredients in the order listed. Start with the flour and salt mixture and end with the chocolate chips.

This is how it will look after you have layered all of the ingredients. I recommend packing the brown sugar down to make more room in the jar.

Brownie Mix Jar Recipe

This next part is what you want to share with the person you give the Thank You Jar to so that they can make the brownies...

JAR BROWNIES

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9 x 9" square baking pan.
2. Pour contents of the jar into a bowl and mix well.
3. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2/3 cup vegetable oil and 3 eggs. Beat until just combined.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

(Recipe modified from All Recipes)

If you are interested in a recipe card for the Brownie Mix to give with your gift, I have made a printable PDF that you can download - Brownie Mix Recipe Card.


Now that you have the recipe, head on over to the Pebbles Inc. blog to learn more about how I covered and decorated the jar. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

SUPPLIES

Patterned Paper, Stickers: Pebbles Inc. / Front Porch Collection
Twine, Border Punch and Cardstock: American Crafts
Quart Size Jar: Ball (found at Target)

  

 

LINKED


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Witches Fingers Pretzel Sticks | Halloween Treats

Our Halloween Party the other night was a success! While I am waiting to get copies of the photos that were taken by our best friend Tom who owns Poses A Studio, I thought I would share one of the treats I made for the party. They were simple to make and I will share a few tips with you on how to make them yourself.

Witches Fingers Pretzel Sticks by Juliana Michaels

INGREDIENTS |

Pretzel Rods or Sticks - 2 pkgs 
Wilton Candy Melts in Vibrant Green - 2 pkgs 
Sliced Almonds  - 2 oz pkg

TIPS | Making Witches Fingers Pretzel Sticks

1.  Melt the Candy Melts per instructions on bag. I did mine in the microwave in a glass bowl. Make sure you take it slow with melting them so that you don't burn them.

Witches Fingers Pretzel Sticks Candy Melts Green by Juliana Michaels

2.  If you don't have colored Candy Melts, you can also use Wilton Cake Icing Color in Leaf Green and add a couple drops to White Candy Melts. I thought it worked great! The color it produced was more green, which you can see in very first photo above. The ones made with the Vibrant Green Candy Melts have a more yellow tone to them. I liked the mix of them together! But the mix came from necessity when I ran out of the Vibrant Green Melts and I didn't have time to run to the store for more! Also, to save money, use a coupon from Michaels, JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby!

Witches Fingers Pretzel Sticks Candy Melts White by Juliana Michaels

3.  Create stations for each ingredient.  For example, put the pretzels in one place and the almonds in another. Separate the whole pretzel sticks and set the broken ones to the side. Do this same thing with the almond slices beforehand and separate out the whole slices. (They are on the plate to the right in the photo.)

Witches Fingers Pretzel Sticks The Process by Juliana Michaels

4. Cover a cookie sheet with a piece of parchment paper. Once you have coated the pretzel with candy, place it on the parchment paper to dry. 

5. Before the candy has time to dry, use a toothpick to create the creases in the fingers. Wipe away the excess candy from the toothpick on a paper towel each time you draw a crease. Finish it by adding an almond to the top to create the fingernail.

6. These can be made days ahead of time and can even be put in the freezer if needed.

Witches Fingers Pretzel Sticks Finished Juliana Michaels

7.  One last tip. Don't throw away the broken pretzels!!! After you do all of the whole sticks, use the remaining Candy Melts and make some smaller treats for snacks. My husband loved that I did this, because I wouldn't let him touch the ones for the party!

These were really easy to make and I am pretty sure after the reaction I had to them at the party, that they will be making a repeat appearance next year!


LINKED HERE |
SnapCreativity Show & Tell No. 72
Gooseberry Patch Recipe Round-Up
Someday Crafts Whatever Goes Wednesday 
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Made With Love Thanksgiving Layout

Fall, is not quite here, but with the start of school we all know that cooler weather, colorful foliage and fresh from the oven pies are on their way! The layout I have to share today was created as a design team assignment for SRM Stickers and our focus was to be Thanksgiving. I created this as a tribute to the homemade pumpkin and pecan pies that my Mom makes every year for Thanksgiving. Besides the tradition of her making these two pies, pretty much everyone in the family will have a slice of each pie on the same plate when it's time for dessert!

Made With Love Thanksgiving Layout by Juliana Michaels

SUPPLIES | SRM Stickers, BoBunny
Patterned Paper: BoBunny/ Autumn Song Collection
Chipboard: BoBunny/ Autumn Song Collection
Brads, Trinkets: BoBunny/ Autumn Song Collection
Stickers: BoBunny/ Autumn Song Collection; SRM Stickers/ Express Yourself - Thanksgiving, Say It With Stickers - Thanksgiving, Express Yourself - Recipes
Kraft Bag: SRM Stickers/ Kraft Bag – 5 x 7.5”
Twine: The Twinery/ Mandarin Baker's Twine

Made With Love Thanksgiving Layout by Juliana Michaels - detail

TIP | Use SRM Stickers to create titles and to customize your patterned paper
To create my layout title, I added one of the SRM Stickers to a strip of mostly solid patterned paper, trimmed around it and then attached it to my layout.  
The fun part with the clear stickers however, was using them to create a word collage on my patterned paper.  I used a combination of SRM Thanksgiving stickers and placed them in random places, but still in a horizontal position, on the patterned paper. By doing this, I was able to customize the already beautiful patterned paper.

Made With Love Thanksgiving Layout by Juliana Michaels - detail

Made With Love Thanksgiving Layout by Juliana Michaels - detail

TIP | Hidden journaling using Kraft bags
I included copies of my Mom's recipes on my layout. My Mom scanned her recipes and then sent them to me. I printed them on white cardstock, attached them to a die cut tag and placed them inside one of the 5 x 7.5" SRM Stickers Kraft Bags. The bag was then used as a mat for my photo of the pies and I embellished it with some BoBunny embellishments and twine from The Twinery.

Made With Love Thanksgiving Layout by Juliana Michaels - detail

Made With Love Thanksgiving Layout by Juliana Michaels - detail

Made With Love Thanksgiving Layout by Juliana Michaels - detail

Did you notice that I placed one recipe on one side and the other on the other side? I think this is such a fun way to preserve memories and recipes. What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving traditions, memories or recipes?
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Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake

I created this layout for the My Minds Eye November Challenge.  The challenge was to scrapbook a family recipe. The recipe I choose was a new one that I made recently, but it was so yummy and will most definitely be repeated in the future...Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake.  If you love blueberries then you will LOVE this recipe! It is so moist and yummy and very easy to make.  I have the recipe below, if you are interested in giving it a try.

So enough talk about the cake! Here is my layout for the challenge using a mix of My Minds Eye collections from my stash. The brads alone come from about 5 different ones!!!


I love My Minds Eye for their gorgeous patterns and embellishments.  But what I love the most are the colors and how perfectly they match and coordinate from one collection to the next.  I also tend to buy it and hoard it, but I have quite a bit of it from some recent scrappy shopping that I am feeling a little more comfortable with digging in to it and using it!!!






Buttermilk-Blueberry Breakfast Cake
Serves 6-8
½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature2 tsp. lemon zest or more — zest from 1 large lemon7/8 cup* + 1 tablespoon sugar**1 egg, room temperature1 tsp. vanilla2 cups flour (set aside 1/4 cup of this to toss with the blueberries)2 tsp. baking powder1 tsp. kosher salt2 cups fresh blueberries½ cup buttermilk** This 1 tablespoon is for sprinkling on top* 7/8 cup = 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons


1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Cream butter with lemon zest and 7/8 cup of the sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Meanwhile, toss the blueberries with ¼ cup of flour, then whisk together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Add the flour mixture to the batter a little at a time, alternating with the buttermilk. Fold in the blueberries.
4. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan (or something similar) with butter or coat with non-stick spray. Spread batter into pan. Sprinkle batter with remaining tablespoon of sugar. Bake for 35 minutes. Check with a toothpick for doneness. If necessary, return pan to oven for a couple of more minutes. (Note: Baking for as long as 10 minutes more might be necessary.) Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.


Well, I hope I inspired you in some way today...either to bake or to scrapbook about it!
HUGS!
juliana
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Thankful for YOU!!!

There are so many ways to say thank you, but this month the Bo Bunny DT was challenged to create a gift that would be a unique way of showing thanks. Not some simple thank you cards here, but something that would be a little more out of the ordinary and different. Well, my mind got to thinking, and I remembered receiving a cookie mix in a jar from my mother one year and thought..."Hey! This would make a great thank you gift!" For me, food is always a great way to say "Thanks!". It's simple, easy to use and it doesn't take up much space! With these thoughts in mind I started searching online for the perfect recipe. After a bit of searching, I found what I was looking for...Sand Art Brownies! Brownies! You gotta love brownies!!! And yes, they are really good! Taste tested and 100% satisfaction guaranteed! LOL!!! So here's how you do it...

"Mixed with Love" - Brownie mix jar
I decorated the outside of a quart jar using Bo Bunny's Kitchen Spice line. I also created a coordinating card that contains a Kitchen Spice recipe card. On the front of the recipe card I wrote the directions on how to use the mix and on the back of the card I wrote the directions and ingredients so they can either make their own Brownie mix jar gift or recreate the recipe. The recipe card is attached to the inside of the card with photo corners so that it can be easily removed and added to a recipe box.

Supplies:
Patterned Paper: Kitchen Spice Allspice, Kitchen Spice Sesame, Kitchen Spice Cloves, Kitchen Spice Ginger, Kitchen Recipe Cards Cut Outs
Cardstock: Double Dot Chocolate Dot and Wildberry Dot
Ribbon: Double Dot Chocolate
Stickers: Lovin' from the Oven

Instructions:
Mix ingredients in a wide mouth quart size jar.

Ingredients:
5/8 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup white sugar
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup walnuts

Directions:
Mix the 5/8 cup of flour with the salt. In a clean wide mouth 1 quart jar, layer the ingredients in the order given. Start with the flour and salt mixture and end with the walnuts.

Make sure to include the following directions with your jar on either a tag or like I did.
Sand Art Brownies
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease one 9 x9 inch square baking pan.
2. Pour contents of the jar into a large bowl and mix well.
3. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, and 3 eggs. Beat until just combined.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

(Recipe taken from All Recipes.com.)

Stop by the Bo Bunny blog to see what the rest of the DT created! You are sure to be inspired!!!
Thank you for your visit and to THANK YOU for being YOU, I am going to do another give away. This time it will include some random scrappy goodies...some old and some new! All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what you are thankful for! Post your comment before 12PM on 11/26/09 to be included in a random drawing! And thanks again for stopping by!
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Casserole Goodness

EAT
I want to share a one of my favorite recipes with you today! I love it because you can make it the day before, it's easy to make and all you have to do is make the topping and then put it in the oven! It is a wonderfully creamy, comfort food kind of dish!

Cashew Chicken Casserole6 servings

  • 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 3 cups cubed cooked chicken
  • 1/2 cup cubed process American cheese
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
  • 1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained
  • 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
  • 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
  • 1 1/3 cups milk
  • 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
  • 2/3 cup crushed saltines (about 20 crackers)
  • 3/4 cup cashew halves
In a greased 13 inch x 9 inch x 2 inch baking dish, layer the first 7 ingredients in the order listed. In a bowl, combine the soups, milk and broth. Pour this mixture over the layered ingredients. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Toss the butter adn cracker crumbs; sprinkle over the casserole. Top with cashew halves. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until the macaroni is tender.

TRAIN
The weather was finally decent enough this weekend for me to go out to see Woody (our horse) and see some of the "tricks" that Danny has taught him using the Clinton Anderson method of horse training. It is just amazing to me how much respect Woody has for Danny and how quickly he has learned this. I definitely feel a scrappy LO coming on with all the photos I took this past Sunday!


CREATE
Magistical Memories is having challenge this month to create a Valentine's card and/or tag called the Un-Heart Challenge!
The challenge part is to keep the hearts "not so obvious". It's OK to use hearts but do your best to keep them undercover, such as on the pp or something. As usual, this project must include a piece of chipboard or acrylic. Upload into the challenge Magistical Memories gallery between February 1 and February 28 for a chance to win some really awesome chippies.
Since we are trying to make the hearts "not obvious", may I suggest using other forms of endearment on your project. Possibly love birds, XOXO, SWAK, cupid etc. .... you get the picture. I'll be looking forward to checking out your creative ways of making hearts "not obvious"!!

Here's my take on this month's challenge...

I saw this saying on some of the totally fun V-day stuff that Target has out this year and thought it would make a great saying for my card! This is also the Valentine's Day card that my DH will be getting from me this year! He has already seen it, but has no idea it is for him!!!



I used the Magistical Memories chippie called Owl Hang Around...one of my faves and dressed him up a bit!!!


Speaking of Valentine's Day...anyone doing anything special to celebrate?

Other news...
  • Amy Teets is having a Buy My Store sale at ACOT!

  • Don't forget to stop by and check out Mixer #6 at Mix It Up! I hope you all are playing along because this month's prize is awesome!!! And believe me, we have some awesome prize pack's coming up in the near future as well!!!
Here's my take on this week's challenge...



And I just wanted to say "Thanks" for all your kind comments and support to my post below! Hugs and prayers are always a good thing and they mean a ton coming from you my friends!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!!!

Smiles,
Juliana
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Brussel Sprouts

These are one of those love/hate kind of foods for most people. I personally love them!
My Mom served them at our family Christmas dinner and DH & I fixed them for dinner this past Saturday night. I know...I should have taken a photo! Photos always make me much more willing to try a recipe!!!
Anyways, if you love Brussel sprouts, I highly recommend giving this recipe a try.
It's totally yummalicious!!!

Brussel Sprouts with Parmesan Cheese2.5 pounds Brussel sprouts
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 large garlic cloves, minced
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
Coarsely ground black pepper
3/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

1. Trim stem ends of Brussel sprouts. Using the slicing blade of a food processor, process sprouts into thin slices, then separate them with your fingers. (I don't have one of these fancy things, so I just sliced them thinly by hand.)
2. Melt butter and olive oil in a large skillet. Add garlic; saute 2 minutes. Add Brussel sprouts; saute until bright green and crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Increase heat to high; add broth. Cover and cook about 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper. Place in a serving bowl; top with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately. Serves 10.
.............................................................................................................................................

Now to share some scrappy stuff...
First a LO for Magistical Memories using the May Apple Blossom. I put an edge around the outside edge of the sheer to give the LO a frame. All the cardstock edges have been distressed using my handy dandy x-acto knife! The journaling was given dimension with double sided foam tape.
Someday
(Supplies- Sheer:KI Memories, Cardstock: Bazzill; Chipboard: Magistical Memories; Letter Stickers: American Crafts. Punches: Stampin' Up!; Trim: unknown.) The next project I want to share is a hybrid LO I created using digital scrapbooking products by Amy Teets Designs. I used Tuscany Villa papers and elements and a flower element from Charade to create this LO.
Botanical Garden
(Supplies: Yellow Patterned Paper, Number border, Off white flowers, Cardboard trim. Cards: Amy Teets Designs; Lace: Melissa Frances; Velvet leaves: Prima; Paper Flowers: Bazzill; Rhinestones: Kaiser; Letter Stickers: Rose Moka; Punch: Stampin' Up!; Other: Cardboard; Ink: Stampin' Up! and Colorbox. )

Instructions: I printed the yellow patterned paper onto textured white cardstock and then tore the edges to "match" the digital paper shape and distressed it with my x-acto knife and ink. I printed the cardboard trim onto matte photo paper, glued it onto chipboard and cut it out. I printed the Number border onto a transparency. I printed the Cards onto matte photo paper, cut them out and inked the edges. I printed out the Off white flowers and then punched them out into the shapes I wanted.
And last but not least, one I created just for me!!! I had a lot of fun with this one playing with the Pink Paislee Sweet Cakes line and making the yo-yo's! The yo-yo's are made from the same fabric as her dress. (My Mom made the dress!)
3
(Supplies: Patterned Paper & Number Sticker: Pink Paislee; Bling: Prima; Fabric Butterfly: Colorbok; Other: Buttons.)
Thanks for looking and I hope you all have a great week!!!
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Christmas traditions, Friends and Sharing

Today I made my famous Cranberry & Caramel Date Bars. I have made them for several years and I have quite a few family members who expect them around Christmas time! They are actually very easy to make and they are really yummy if you like cranberries!
Here is the recipe:

Cranberry & Caramel Date Bars

Makes 24 bars.
1-1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries
1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp sugar
2 + 1/3 cup flour
2 cups oats
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup margarine, melted
1 1/2 cups dates, chopped
3/4 cup walnuts, toasted
1 cup (1 jar) caramel ice cream topping (fat free is fine)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cranberries and 2 Tbsp sugar; set aside. In bowl combine 2 cups flour, oats, sugar, brown sugar and baking soda. Add margarine and mix well. Reserve 1 cup of this mixture. Press remainder firmly on the bottom of a 13 x 9 pan. Bake 15 minutes until slightly golden.

Sprinkle dates, walnuts and cranberry mixture over the crust. Mix caramel topping with 1/3 cup flour. Spread over the top. Top with reserved crumb mixture. Bake 20 minutes or until light brown.

Cool and then cut into bars.

I also finally have the house decorated the way I want it to look for Christmas. This is my first year decorating this house and thank goodness most of what I already had seemed to fit in with our new house. I just bought a few things to give it a new look and I must say I really like it! I will be trying to get some photos posted up soon.

Now on to some other news:Friends...
I have a couple of friends I especially want to say thank you too!!!
Carrie...you are just so sweet & I am so very glad we met each other! Thank you so much for my goodies that arrived in the mail today!!! You are the best!!!
Rachel...you too are just so sweet! This week literally!!! Those wonderfully yummy chocolate goodies you gave us were sooo good!!! (We ate them before I thought about taking a photo!:)) Thank you Rachel!!!

Sharing...
I wanted to share my first pub in Paper Crafts magazine. I get so excited seeing my creations in print! It might be silly, but it makes me happy!!! They returned my creation to me along with 2 copies of the Jan/Feb 2009 issue! There are some fabulous card ideas in there. I am still shocked that I had a card pubbed by them. I am so not a card maker! LOL!!!
And now for my first blog give away....
Leave me some love and I'll send one of you a copy of the Paper Crafts Jan/Feb issue!!!
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