Favorite Recipes CookbookThis printable recipe card personalized with Smilebox

We emulate what we're taught growing up, and in my case, it was that food is love.  I was raised by a mom who enjoyed baking.  It never had to be fancy, planned, or perfect, but it sure was always yummy and fun.  I've been busy again, creating Storybook Recipe Books as holiday gifts.  Enjoy some of my favorites!

CREDITS:  ASTRID'S ARTISTIC EFFORTS, MOONLIGHT JOURNEY, and PERSONAL PHOTOS.

December Recipe Card

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Some people start out knowing exactly what they want in life.  Then there are people like me.  I started out thinking I know what I want and who I want to be, only to undergo numerous transformation trying to get there.  I guess, I am just curious and a continuous learner; always searching for creative ways to combine my varied interests.

Now, I spend some of my time using my wandering skills to make recipe cards.  I discovered that this recipe rocked my family's world.  Enjoy!

CREDITS:  BACKGROUND IMAGE FROM "MOONLIGHT JOURNEY"

Heritage Inspired Calendar

 William Jasper VanHoose

Great Grandfather

As the family gets older, I find it harder and harder to come up with great holiday presents for them.  Their wish list basically consists of money (um perhaps no) or gift cards (not as bad but pretty boring).  Since I am usually fond of creating something myself, I came up with the idea of making a calendar of our ancestors.  Of course, with a little bit of help using Creative Memories software and Reminisce packages, my task became pretty easy.

 Charley C. VanHoose, Jr.

Father

I love going back in time, remembering the time I spent visiting our family down in West Virginia near the railroad tracks.  I can't believe it when I say, it was truly a steam locomotive that past.  Man, am I getting old or what! 

This desk style calendar uses free images from Astrid's Creative Efforts.  Her blog is fabulous!  Thanks for dropping by, my blogging friends.

Take care,

Nancy

From My Kitchen Counter

For me, time spent with family and friends has always seemed to revolve around food.  We wonder where to go to lunch, what is for breakfast, and what to nibble on before we watch a movie.

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Most of the time, I actually try to remember what we talked about, but I can't.  What I do remember is the special dish that l actually ate.

Lighthouse Image Courtesty of Dot Woropay, Crystal Pinecone Gift Shoppe

 

It's funny, too, how sometimes my ordering at a restaurant changes depending on who I am with.  Food--it really does influence everything we are and everything we do.

I want to eat right.  I dream of being thin and being healthy, but it seems to me that what I really want most is to sit around the table (home or otherwise) and share a hour or so with those I love the most.

Here is wishing you a great Thanksgiving dinner and that your meal is a memorable one!

Much love,
Nancy

CREDITS:  MOONLIGHT JOURNEY'S "Romantic Papers 1", LIGHTHOUSE IMAGE Courtesy of Dot Woropay, Crystal Pinecone Gift Shoppe, Grand Marais, MI

It's That Time of Year Again

"deep into that darkness peering

long I stood there wondering

fearing, doubting, dreaming

dreams no mortal ever dared

to dream before."

~ Edgar Allan Poe

Artistic Women Pendants

I thought it would be fun to continue my pendant making with lovely images, once again, from Moonlight Journey.  I have always been drawn to the collage sheets they invent, especially these.  The colors are a treasure of warm colors.  Until June 28th, Moonlight Journey is offering a great sale of 6 sheets for $10.00.

CREDITS:  MOONLIGHT JOURNEY, "Artistic Microscope Slides," beads from Fire Mountain and Michael's.

Romantic Visions Bamboo Tiles

These pendants started out as placemats, then I separated them into individual tiles. Last month I was re-organizing my craft room, and discovered a stack of old "Legacy" magazines.  There it was--some inspiration!

Well, I began thinking, why not try using some of Moonlight Journey's gorgeous images, and make some pendants using these tiles.  I ordered some bamboo tile placemats online, (later finding some tiles at Michael's), and the mania began.  To date, I have over 100 tiles decorated,  awaiting beads, and ready for whatever I feel might hit my fancy that day.

 I printed my images on HP Premium Presentation paper, working with my photoshop software to crop and size the images to fit the tile.Cut the images to your desired fit.

Then I used Creamcoat Satin Varnish to adhere the images to each tile using a small brush.  I tried to be patient and gave each tile a night to dry.  In the morning I applied another coat of varnish.  You could probably add a second coat later in the afternoon because it erases all the little dust particles.  Use the varnish sparingly and the results are perfect.  Several light coats of varnish will produce much better results than a couple of thick ones.

Then using tiger tail wire or beading string, add various beads and findings to create one-of-a kind  pendants.  Remember each tile is pre-drilled so there's no need to drill holes for stringing!  By the way, don't forget to decorate both sides of your tile.

CREDITS:  MOONLIGHT JOURNEY "Romantic Visions" Collage Sheet, silver findings from Michael's, and beads from Fire Mountain and Michael's

Best-Ever Taco Salad

Need a little something to get you feeling like you are "south of the border?"  This recipe is one of my favorites and with Cinco de Mayo just around the corner, it makes me imagine walking on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  I've been missing the beach again, with gulls sailing over my head, waves lapping as the sun rises on Banderas Bay. Sigh!

It's More Than A Photo

How many times have you sat down at your work table and tried to think up something to create? Often I start an idea and then trash it, or start something else and am unable to get those ideas down just the way I imagined them. When I finally settle down and focus, I realize that I connect most of my art to what my heart and head are telling me to do. It is way easier to just begin and see what happens.

My latest collaborative project entitled "Self-Portrait involves a page of my past, the present, and my future. This page will be my second page, obviously a non-traditional photo of the Adams Family. I really had fun working with some digital art, and adding faces of my family.

"It's never too late

to become the person

you always meant

to be."

February Recipe

Honestly, I don't know whether I enjoy baking the food I create or coming up with new recipe cards! This is an old recipe I received from a friend when I worked at General Motors. It is a yummy cake, especially if you are a chocoholic.

CREDITS: "January, 2011 Calendar" by Becky Loyall, Whymsical Musings and Moonlight Journey.

It's Never Too Late

Self-Portrait, 1948

"Anybody who has survived his childhood

has enough information about life

to last him the rest of his days."

~Flannery O'Connor

CREDITS: Background images from Moonlight Journey.

I love creating these colorful recipe cards, but I especially cherish my time at our local scrapbooking store where we exchange these cards on the first Thursday of each month. Sometimes we share tea or coffee from lovely china cups, but mostly we share the food described on our recipe cards.

But more than this store setting or our delicious goodies, we chat . . . everything from the decadent dessert someone brings, to what matters most to those of us that share these recipes.

I have come to realize that the food we prepare can bring us together and the simple breaking of bread among friends is that which nourishes our souls, more than simply a late afternoon snack.

TIP: Use a pretty plate;

it makes good food taste even better.

Set a pretty table;

it makes a simple meal

an occasion to celebrate

the everyday.

Raspberry Fairy Salad

I can't believe it is almost the end of January! Here is my latest creation using the beautiful images from Moonlight Journey entitled "Fairy Folded Cards." With just a little bit of cropping I just simply added my recipe.