Friday, January 16, 2009

Home-Made: Cocoa for Two



Make the perfect hot chocolate for your special valentines.


THERE’S ONLY ONE THING better than chocolate—in all its heavenly rich and creamy variety—and that’s chocolate shared with someone you love. We suggest making that sentiment a part of your Valentine’s Day gifts this year, giving the ones you love an invitation—adoringly created by you, of course!—to join you at different times for a sublime cup of cocoa. Simply whip up the cocoa mix, divide it into batches big enough to make two cups, and personalize each batch with just the right flavor to suit your best friend, a wonderful kid (or kids) and (of course!) the special person in your life. Finally, enclose each batch of cocoa mix in a pretty handmade card that invites the recipient to chat over a sweet mugful. Then smile, knowing that you’ve got at least three great dates to look forward to.

The Invitation
Start by downloading our invitation images here. Print onto regular computer paper and use pinking shears to cut around the edges of the image. Using paper glue, secure the image to the center of the front of a “matchbook” (available at crafts stores or Paper Source, 888-727-3711). Pink the top of the matchbook. Spoon 3 heaping tablespoons of the flavored cocoa mix into a glassine envelope (also available at crafts stores or Paper Source), folding over the top and securing with tape. Repeat to make a second packet. Place both packets of cocoa, overlapping, under the flap of the matchbook so that you can punch two holes through all of the layers at once. Starting from the back of the matchbook, thread  -inch ribbon through the holes and tie in a pretty bow. To close, simply tuck the front under the flap, the way you would with a real matchbook.

The Cocoa Mix
Start with this basic mix: Combine of a cup of bittersweet cocoa powder, 1/2 cup of nonfat dry milk powder and 1/2 cup of granulated sugar. For each serving, use 3 tbsp of the mix (you will have enough for 6 cups of cocoa) and 8 ounces of hot water. And try adding in one of the flavor variations below for a twist on the classic cocoa.

Sophisticated Citrus
6 tablespoons basic cocoa mix
2 teaspoons dried orange zest
Pinch of ground cinnamon

Treat Time
6 tablespoons basic cocoa mix
2 peppermint tea bags (put one in each serving, steep for a few minutes in the mix after adding water, then remove)
Crushed peppermint candy

Hot & Spicy
6 tablespoons basic cocoa mix
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 vanilla bean, scraped, with pod discarded
Small pinch of cayenne pepper

Home-Made: Herbed Oil & Vinegar



Transform olive oil or vinegar into a delicious gift by adding sprigs of herbs.

HERBS ARE A GREAT WAY to enhance and deepen the taste of food. And preserved in olive oil or vinegar, they are a delightfully aromatic condiment to give as a gift. Dunk pieces of fresh country bread in our homemade Rosemary Olive Oil or drizzle it over poached chicken or steamed vegetables. The oil also makes a great topping on heirloom tomatoes and avocados. The Tarragon Vinegar, which works just as well with thyme or mint, is a refreshing change in a favorite vinaigrette recipe. Package your oils and vinegars in vintage bottles with custom tags, available here. The little parcels are perfect as thank-you gifts or party favors or simply as tokens to mark the season. Be sure to keep a few bottles for yourself!

The Recipes

Rosemary Olive Oil

1 bottle (12 ounces) extra-virgin olive oil
1 fresh rosemary sprig (3–4 inches)
Pour out one-fourth of the olive oil from the
bottle and set aside in a measuring cup. Add the sprig of fresh rosemary to the bottled oil. Pour back enough of the reserved oil to completely cover the rosemary in the bottle. Let the rosemary oil sit for at least 1 to 3 days to develop flavor (taste after first day). Strain the oil into a vintage jar and seal.

Tarragon Vinegar
4 or 5 fresh tarragon sprigs
2 cups red wine vinegar
Place 3 or 4 sprigs of fresh tarragon in a 1-quart glass jar. Pour in red wine vinegar. Cover and store at room temperature for at least 4 days and up to 1 week. Strain the vinegar into a decorative bottle, discard the tarragon and seal the bottle. As an option, add a fresh sprig of the herb before sealing.

Home-Made: Linen Spray


Homemade linen sprays are such a luxurious yet simple gift that you’ll want to mix an extra bottle for yourself.

SPRITZ A LITTLE on your sheets, or into the air of your bedroom, and breathe deeply. When it’s time to retreat indoors, a quick-to-concoct handmade linen spray can infuse your every day with the lighthearted scents of summer. And unlike pricey store-bought sprays that can be overly perfumed, all three of these unique combinations are fresh-smelling. With just four easy-to-find ingredients and these free Hallmark Magazine custom labels, you can create a thoughtful and personalized present.

JASMINE BERGAMOT A heady combination of potent floral and clean citrus, this is a gift for your most romantic and flower-loving friends.

LAVENDER SANDALWOOD Help soothe stress with the relaxing scent of lavender, rooted in the earthiness of sandalwood.

VANILLA GINGER Give the comforting aroma of vanilla, spiced up with a hint of ginger, to welcome the chilly weather.

The Recipe

Makes 1 liter of linen spray

2 tablespoons 100 proof vodka
1 teaspoon jasmine oil and ½ teaspoon
bergamot oil
or
1 teaspoon lavender oil and ½ teaspoon
sandalwood oil
or
1 teaspoon vanilla oil and 2 drops ginger oil
16- or 32-ounce bottle and sprayer
Distilled water

Mix the vodka and desired oils in a bottle. Add the distilled water until just full, screw on cap and shake to combine. (The alcohol helps disperse the oils evenly throughout the liquid.) Shake lightly before each use.

Oils: .5-ounce oils, $10–$47, frontiercoop.com.
Madera Bottle: $.52 and Fine Mist Sprayer, $37; containerandpackaging.com; Boston Round Bottle, $1.50 and Metal Cap $.61; freundcontainer.com. NOTE: Both sites charge a $10–$15 processing fee on small orders.

Home-Made: Citrus Sugars



Sugar and spice make everything nice, but sugar and citrus make gift-giving delicious.

CONSIDER IT YOUR GO-TO GIFT for the season: citrus sugars in lemon, lime and orange, all packaged up in an old-fashioned milk-bottle caddy that’s as sweet as the homemade contents it carries. This refreshing sugar is simple to concoct whether you’re heading to Easter brunch at the in-laws, need a last minute get-well gift for a friend, or just want to say “Happy Spring” to someone you love. And it can be used by its lucky recipient in many yummy ways, from a topping on breakfast-in-bed-worthy pancakes to a substitute for plain sugar in a pound cake recipe, or as a surprising sweetener for iced tea. Then there’s the added bonus for you: The heavenly fragrance will fill your kitchen, making your effort feel downright delightful.

The Recipe
2 cups granulated sugar
Zest of 2 lemons, 2 limes or 1 orange
Place the sugar and the zest of one kind of fruit into a food processor. Pulse until well blended. Spread the mixture onto a rimmed baking sheet for approximately 1 hour to dry. Repeat with zest from the other fruits.

The Gift
Fill diner-style sugar canisters ($1.04, katom.com) with the dried citrus sugars. Tie on coordinating ribbons and click here for free labels to secure on each jar with a dot of glue. Finally, fill up an easy-to-carry milk-bottle caddy with as many canisters as you decide to make. We say the more, the merrier!

Click here for a recipe card to include with the delectable gift!

Do been doing Wa Wa What??

Oh my gosh I can not believe I have NOT posted in nearly a MONTH...
I know we been busy here like we would have entered a new life not a new year but, that is NO excuse for me skipping out on my ship...lol...We have a few surgeries lined up here. Big dog has a eye surgery on the 20th-He can not see at all out of his right eye-caterics ((sp??))
either...I fear he will now see ALL of me...& I don't think he will refuse my surgery I have up coming- For myself have a double hernia on my stomach-one to be removed & the other to be repaired on march 18th-happy anniversary to me what a blaa blaa blaa-BUT it just so must be done. I am really over sick with people asking "oh your pregnant againnnn?!!" No dears NOT pregnant again...It's a HERNIA!!!!!!!!!!! But, you can't help stupid-they is no cure for it!!! I'll be out of commission for 6 weeks-yet no picking up anything or anyone that weighs over 30 lbs...Not means this Mommy will not be able to hold Juicy for 6 weeks!!!!! On a happier note-Spot got himself some glasses....Eye glasses-here is a pic of him-He is devilishly handsome!!!! & Can finally see us all clearly & anything else he comes in contact with....Poor babe' I had no clue that his eye sight was so bad...I just figured he was being a typical little boy who wanted to be in front of what ever else then any one else...In front here means greater stature...lol...



Poor be'be just couldn't see anything...& what he did see was blurry!!
NOW he can see everything & Lets you know it too...LOL


Rex is doing great-school that is...report cards came in last week.
He is still holding a grade point average of 2.87
One C rest all B's-Can't complain about that...he is passing & still managing to learn pass the day what he is taught in school...The knowledge is over powered by his attitude some days but, it can be worse & be flipped flopped...He is male it is known for happening-


Santa' was kind to the boys as well this pass year.
He brought Rex more trains...like he needed them
spot-a GREEN BIG recycle truck
juicy-more monkeys....loves the monkeys...
Big dog-clothes for cold days, new movies
ME....I musta' been a bad bad girl....I did NOT get a damn thing!!!!!!
(I still want a easy bake oven though...how cool they are...silver (stainless steal looking) these days...think of all the cookies & cakes I can bake...I would have a BALL!!!!)

this is me & juicy christmas AM opening his presents.
He was more into what a train was doing going around the tree!!!
HE tried to go with it only to realize the wall is right there & my butt is to fat!!


This is Juicy touching the tree ornaments-
He wanted to pull them off & place them on the skirt
instead on leaving them be...A few "humms" &
he wasn't happy but he didn't touch any longer!




We been having these 2 big nutcrackers for some time now
The dogs wanted to know if they really would crack some nuts-
So with that thought in mind-we rounded up some pecans
& away them went cracking...
It really worked well &
plus it entertained the dogs for at least 2 hours!!!

Please don't mind the half naked boy-
spot is always half naked

no matter how cold or hot it is...LOL...
That's my dogs....




Well, I'm sure you all know that is really did SNOW in south Louisiana
Not all parts but, it did...
I kept Rex home from school that day thinking
we would get it & beings our pipes aren't built or protect for snow
they would send the children home....
TO OUR surprise we DID NOT get a snitch of snow...
IT snowed just a few miles up the road from us...
I'd say about 5 miles north of us
The dogs though they stayed eager waiting all am long...
LOL this is them bundled up waiting for something like frozen rain to fall!!!



Rex & Spot riding hard...
Spot received a BIG WHEEL for Christmas
& Rex being a silly pup decided to take spot's old tri-cycle for a spin...
He is sitting on the box that is on the back of the bike...
& still able to peddle...LOL


So yes...that is my UP TO DATE of our DOG life...
I'll be back later today-
I found some really great Home Made gift ideas on the web last night
I would like to share with all of you...

TTFN.....Star