Impress everyone with this easy biscotti

1 stick butter, softened
2/3 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 1/2 c all purpose flour
1/3 c cocoa powder
1/3 c ground almonds
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c slivered or sliced almonds

Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla and almond extract.
In separate bowl combine flour, cocoa, ground almonds, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture.
Add slivered almonds.
Batter will be a little sticky. dump onto a floured surface. Use floured hands to work with it. Divide into two balls. On parchment paper on a cookie sheet make 2 flat logs that are about 14" long by 4" wide.
Bake at 350 for 35 min. Let cool 10 min.
Slice into 1/2-3/4" wide biscotti. Lay all biscotti on one side and bake 10 min. Turn all biscotti onto other side and bake 10 min.

Wool Yarn and Kool-Aid Update

Isn't it amazing the colors you can get with kool-aid? That alone should make you think twice about drinking the stuff.

Bird nest?

I was messing around with felting crocheted wool yarn and came with this interesting shape. It could be a nice cozy home for a small bird, don't you think? Or perhaps a pet mouse?

Free Natural Room Freshener

Some rosemary sprigs from the yard and lemon rinds left over from the kitchen make the house smell fresh and crisp when set to simmering on the stove.

3 Ingredient Cauliflower Soup

I ran across this recipe online while trying to find inspiration for a cauliflower I bought a few days ago. It actually is quite rich and tasty (butter!) so I've added it to my recipe box.

1 head cauliflower, chopped
1 small onion, sliced
2 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons salt
3 cups hot water

1.Melt the butter in a soup pot on low and add onion. Let cook 15 minutes.
2. Add salt, cauliflower and 1 cup hot water. Cover and cook on medium-low 20 minutes.
3. Remove cover and add 2 cups hot water. Cook uncovered on low 20 minutes.
4. Use immersion blender if desired.


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Easy Texas Salsa Recipe

This recipe can't be easier (and it's sooo healthy):

3-5 tomatoes, diced
1 large onion, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalepeno pepper, finely diced
1 handful cilantro, chopped
juice of 3 limes
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine and let flavors mix in the frig for a few hours. And don't worry about exact amounts - I love cilantro so my salsa tends to be quite green. Be sure to microwave the lime halves for about 20 seconds after squeezing them - you'll get a lot more juice to add to your salsa. Serve with tortilla chops. Enjoy!

Easy Crochet Bangles

I'm gonna make an effort to 'make' something every day since I've noticed I feel better when I do. Call me OCD, or perhaps it's just guilt over not 'being productive'. Or maybe it's a way to trick myself into thinking I have some sort of control over my life. Not. Anyway, I bought some cheap metal bangles at the local big box store and used up some of my wool yarn. Whaddaya think?

Upcycled Seed Starters

I've got some seeds I want to start indoors but there's no need to buy a seed starter kit from the big box store. Take a used paper egg carton, cut off the top (to be used as a 'saucer' underneath the bottom part), fill the 12 sections with dirt, plant seeds and put on a windowsill. Water daily. When the seedlings are ready to go in the ground, cut the 12 sections apart and plant the entire section.

What in Tarn-ation?

The tarn rug is coming along. I'm really liking the effect of 3 different colors held together. Of course that requires more tarn. But no worries - there are lots of cheap t-shirts at local Salvation Army...

Fun with Tarn

I've gone a little overboard making yarn from old T-shirts (also called 'tarn')and now it's time to actually do something with it. I love using it in place of ribbon on wrapped gifts but that doesn't use much. Here's a rug I just started using three strands of tarn held together. I'll report back later on how far I actually get.

Yet another Lacy Scarf

I just added another 'lacy scarf' pattern to my Etsy shop.  This one is fun to make because it is easy and it makes up fast.  Perhaps a little old-ladyish?  I can't really tell, but hopefully my teenage niece as well as my mom will like it.

What to do with excess novelty yarn?

I've been seeing these things around lately - strands of yarn that are knotted in a few place to make a scarf.  Having plenty of 'leftover' and novelty yarn, it seemed the perfect thing to try and perhaps get a valentine's gift for two for friends.  Not surprisingly it turns out to be a snap.  About 80-90" long seems to be the optimal length for the strands (at least for me).  That leaves plenty of room for 2-4 knots (your choice) and still have lots of free swinging fringe.  For this scarf I used 5 strands each of about 10 different yarns.   Very satisfying to make as it is quick and easy and the results can be quite flashy.  If you want one but you're not interested in making it yourself, please check my Etsy store under Shop Section 'Handmade by Me' - I have a ways to go to use up my yarn stash and these are just too much fun make to stop now.