February 24, 2011

{I ♥ Snow}

We haven't had snow since Thanksgiving....
until this morning!






Late February Snow!
The sun came out and it began to melt all too soon...
but it was still a "no school" Snow Day!

Snow showers expected throughout the day and then...
only 18 degrees tonight!  
Brrrrr.....

Staying Warm & Cozy,
Carrie

February 22, 2011

{Some Fun Baking Pans}

 
I found these wonderful baking pans at 
my local Goodwill....they were only $3.99! 
I have been having fun trying them out 
making mini meat loaves, 
cake and chocolate chip
brownies. 


 These pans are perfect
for brownie
"edge" lovers!





Greek Mini Meatloaf

1 1/2-1 3/4 pounds Lean Ground Beef
1/4 cup Italian Style Dry Breadcrumbs
1/4 cup Milk
2 oz. Tomato Basil Feta Cheese, crumbled
2 Eggs, beaten
1 Yellow Onion, diced
3 Green Onions, diced
2 cloves Garlic, diced
3 oz. Carrot, shredded
1 teaspoon salt & pepper & oregano
 
Saute onions till golden. Add garlic cook 1 minute. Set aside to cool. Soak breadcrumbs in milk for 1 minute. Beat eggs. Add eggs and soaked breadcrumbs to ground beef. Add cooled veggies, carrots, seasonings, cheese. Mix till combined. Divide into 8 equal mounds.
 Bake for 45 minutes in a 350 oven. 
 

Banana Cake
  • 1  cup  granulated sugar
  • 1  cup  sour cream
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1  cup  mashed ripe bananas (about two; 12 oz. total)
  • 1  teaspoon  vanilla
  • 2  cups  all-purpose flour
  • 2  teaspoons  baking powder
  • 1  teaspoon  baking soda
  • 1/2  teaspoon  salt
  • 1/4  teaspoon  ground cinnamon    
  • ginger
  • ground cloves                                     

    1. In a large bowl, mix eggs, sugar, sour cream, bananas, and vanilla until well blended. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Stir flour mixture into banana mixture just until well blended. Scrape batter into a buttered and floured pan.

    2. Bake in a 350° regular or convection oven until top springs back when gently pressed and a skewer inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. 
Stay Cozy, 
Carrie

February 16, 2011

{Grab what you have Soup}


I'm the kind of cook that doesn't have to measure everything or follow a recipe...
Many days I simply use what I have on hand when
creating a new dish or meal.
 
Hence...This Yummy Soup I made last night....
The ingredients I found were:
1 bag of frozen peas 
a partial bag of frozen edamame
1 can of spinach
a package of soft tofu
1/2 onion chopped 
salt & pepper
citrus seasoning
some sweet chili sauce
1 can of fat free chicken broth
1/2 cup non-fat milk
 
I put the first 8 ingredients in one of my favorite tools ever:
 
My Kitchen Aid Food Processor...and pureed them!
Then I emptied it into a pan on the stove and added the broth and milk 
and let it simmer for about 20 mins!
 
A dallop of sour cream and some fresh chopped scallions 
finished it off!


 And so good for you!

Stay Cozy & Healthy, Carrie

February 14, 2011

♥Treaties for my Sweeties♥

I loved making these Strawberry Jam Linzer Cupcakes.
 You will find great instructions & recipes at Edible Mosaic 

♥I found sweet cupcake boxes to wrap them up 
for Valentine gifts♥


After baking a batch (I made the large muffin size) 
I was left with a bag full of the cake middles too!

Then I baked up a loaf of homemade Vanilla Walnut Cake...
sliced it up and packaged it pretty too...
My basket is filled with goodies to deliver to some special people that I love!


Wishing you all a very special...
Valentine's Day!
Spread some love to those who might least expect it

Stay Cozy, Carrie



February 13, 2011

{baked for the heart}

♥It's February...Heart Health Month♥
Why not make your own "heart" healthy baked tortilla chips?
 

It's Easy!


First cut up some tortillas (corn or flour) using kitchen scissors!


Next, toss them in a bowl with olive or canola oil and salt.


Now spread them out on a cookie sheet and place them in 425• preheated oven. 
(It's okay if they overlap)
Bake for about 15-20 minutes, gently tossing several times. until desired crispiness!


And there you go...Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips
Not only healthier...but less expensive and tastier too!
♥And warm right out of the oven ♥



Stay Cozy, Carrie


February 11, 2011

{Love is in the Air}



 Valentine's Day is coming...
and Love is in the Air!

Get ready to give someone a piece of your heart!
(I am going to give someone special this little "cottage cutie" I made! too) 
 
“There is no remedy for love but to love more."

 


February 9, 2011

February 7, 2011

{Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes}




 This was the most delicious little Pumpkin Cheesecake.
I baked it for a special Birthday Super Bowl Celebration.
I used my mini cheesecake pan.
It is a wonderful tool to use!




Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
Filling:
1 eight oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/2 C. canned pumpkin (or cooked and mashed fresh pumpkin)
1 egg plus 1 egg white, slightly beaten
1/4 C. packed brown sugar
2 T. maple syrup
1/2 t. pumpkin spice
Crust:
1 C. graham cracker crumbs
2 T. brown sugar
1/3 stick melted butter
1 T. maple syrup
1/2 t. pumpkin spice
Topping:
Whipped Cream topped with Pumpkin Spice
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix crust ingredients until well combined. Divide mixture evenly between the 12 cups. Press crumbs firmly on bottom and 1/3 up sides of each cup. Set aside.
  3. In a separate medium bowl, blend filling ingredients together until smooth. Spoon this mixture into each crust-lined cup, dividing evenly between all 12.
  4. Place cheesecake pan into the preheated oven and bake for 14 minutes. Remove from oven and place on rack to cool for 20 minutes. Carefully remove cheesecakes from pan by pressing up from the bottom of each cup. Let cheesecakes cool completely on wire rack then refrigerate until ready to serve.
  5. Serve the cheesecakes topped with whipped cream sprinkled with pumpkin spice.
 

February 2, 2011

{Before & After Craft Space}

For those of you that do not know...Cottage Cozy is also a business of mine...
where I bring my passion for room re-design, reinvention and refinement
into your home or office! 

I love bringing style, charm and harmony to a space that needs some TLC,
 and I am excited to see my professional organizational skills
bring calm to your clutter!

Everyone needs to have a house they feel good about and love to come home to 
no matter what the size or location.
 And with today's economic challenges you may not have the resources
to make a major move or change. 
Whether you are at odds with what to do or have run dry on design inspiration, 
Cottage Cozy comes to your rescue!

This is a space that my client has to use for many different purposes.
She lives in a downtown apartment has to use this alcove in her living room for her
sewing, crafting, and office needs. 
 She was lost as to where to begin and didn't want to spend any more money
buying new pieces or storage materials.

So I worked with what she had....eliminated a lot of unnecessary "stuff"
...and achieved her goal!

BEFORE

AFTER
 The drawers on each side of her desk are completely organized with the supplies
 she needs for that particular task.
All her sewing/crafting materials are in their designated areas...
easy to get to when the creative urge strikes. 
The other side has all of her office supplies, notes, cards and inspirational books
so she can sit down at any time to write a thank-you card to a client
or add a photo to her scrapbook!

Because of her busy and ever-changing work schedule,
rather than having her sewing machine, etc hidden away,
she asked that everything be easily accessible
so she can squeeze in some crafting in her free time.

When it comes to organization...no job is too small 
or too large...
to create that "ah-ha" moment!

 
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