DIY Flower Monogram

I planned on doing this project about two months ago when the leaves were first turning colors and it was still fall. I made this when it was sleeting last week. I'm a little late but you can make this with festive holiday flowers as well. 

I first saw this project on Pinterest (of course) and fell in love. The good folks over at Urbanic Paper did a much better job that I did. Take a look at their tutorial. And if you aren't afraid of an xacto knife like I am, you will have much better luck than I did. 

I first took a bunch of fall-ish flowers and cut the long stems off so that these were short enough to glue or stick into my cardboard letter. 

I then cheated and instead of cutting completely off one side I just punctured holes in it with a pair of scissors. I bent what was left of the wire stemming from the flower and bent then hooked it on the inside of the "B". 

Progress.... I probably should have painted the letter if I was going to do this but I didn't plan that far ahead with this one. 

Finished product! It looks really good against the snowy background doesn't it! It will better when fall comes back around next year BUT this would be really cute to have all of the seasons done. 

Pigs in a Blanket

The holidays are near and that means office Christmas parties! While I disliked the Christmas parties while I was in college (mostly because the tacky sweater was over done) I have started to enjoy these office parties more and more. 

The first party for my husband and I was his office's party at his bosses house. Her instructions: a five dollar dirty Santa gift and a snack food. For dinner? I don't think so. I need actual food to get through a night. Sorry. 

My husband thought of a great alternative to the hot dogs and hamburgers he was originally expecting: pigs in a blanket.

Now, I don't know if you've heard or not but it is FREEZING COLD in Oklahoma so getting out of the house more than once a day is a tough deal for us. And, inevitably I didn't have any canned cresent rolls to rap these piggies in so I made my dough from scratch and it was awesomely easy!

Pigs in a Blanket

Ingredients:

1 - 2 large packages of hot dogs

4 - 5 cups flour

1 1/2  tbs yeast

2 tbs honey

1 tbs salt

2 tbs oil

2 cups warm water

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine and whisk together water, yeast, and honey. Continue to whisk until yeast and honey are dissolved. 
2. Add in slowly oil, salt, and 4 cups of flour. This will for a soft dough. It should stick to the bowl in a few spots but should not stick to your finger when you press on it gently. Let dough rest ten minutes.
3. Place dough on a floured surface and knead several times. If dough stick to your hands gradually add flour to it. 
4. Roll out to make an even sheet of dough. 
5. Cut hot dogs in half and measure the size of dog on the dough and cut the dough accordingly. 
6. Grease a cooking sheet or line it with parchment paper.
7. Roll your dogs in the dough and place the seam side down on the baking sheet. (I had to use two pans)
8. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Let the little piggies rest on the pans while the oven preheats. 
9. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the bottoms are browned and the tops are golden. Let sit 5 minutes before serving or packing.

If you are bringing these to a party make sure that you line your container with paper towels to absorb condensation.

Makes 15 - 20 half hot dogs or true little pigs in a blanket. 

Chili

I (luckily and for once in a very long while) had an actual day off. Like a wear your PJs and watch six episodes of Dexter in a row kind of day. IT WAS AWESOME. But at about two o'clock, I get a text from my husband: "You know what sounds really really good???? .... Chili!"

Oh gosh. I hated chili growing up. I mean, don't get me wrong. My mom has one of the best chili recipes in the world (she may have a fan club) but I just never liked it. But then again, I am a very picky eater. 

So, I respond to my husbands begging text with a "Let me get on Pinterest." By the time he got home that night there was a steaming bowl of chili on the table waiting for him. Surprisingly he loved it. Surprisingly  I loved it. It also helps that I had everything I needed in my pantry already. That makes me love it even more.

Chili

For four servings. Feeding a crowd? Double it. 

Ingredients:

1 lb ground meat

1 1/2 cans diced tomatoes

1 can tomato sauce

1/2 to 1 onion diced

1/2 green bell pepper diced

1 tbs chili powder

1 tbs garlic powder or 1 clove of garlic minced

1/2 tbs oregano

pepper to taste

Directions:

Brown meat along with the onion and green pepper. Add spices. Drain if necessary. 

Transfer meat and veggies to a large pot. Add in tomatoes and sauce. Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer. Cover and let cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour stirring occasionally. 

In the mean time, prepare your toppings like corn bread, crackers, cheese, etc. 

Spoon into bowls, top, and serve!

Cranberry Chocolate Chip Muffins

Cranberries. These bad boys are normally on my list of things to buy at the grocery store (mostly because I can never find them). But you know me; I had a craving one day for cranberry muffins. A craving that wouldn't go away.

So, off to the store I went with one mission in mind: cranberries. I'm just kidding. I walked into the store, forgot what I came for and almost walked back out to my car until I saw them in the produce on my way out. Oops. 

I almost missed out on these delicious and filling muffins!

Don't these beauties look divine (minus the poor picture quality)?

The answer is yes, yes they do.

On with the recipe!

Cranberry Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup fresh cranberries

1/2 cup chocolate chips

2 cups flour

2 tbs baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup granulated white sugar

2 eggs

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla 

Preheat over to 350 degrees.

1. In a food processor, pulse cranberries until broken down and coarsely chopped. 
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. 
3. In another bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla.
4. Once throughouly combined, add in the flour mixture. 
5. Fold in cranberries and chocolate chips. Do not over mix. 
6. In a lined or greased muffin tin, spoon in batter to fill the cup 3/4 of the way full. 
7. Bake in oven for 20 minutes or until top are golden brown and a tester toothpick can be inserted and come out cleanly. Let cool 5 minutes before placing on cooling rack.

Enjoy!

Chicken and Dumplings

I definitely felt like Ree Drummond last night cooking up my chicken and dumplings. Seriously. I don't normally make things like this (especially from scratch)... my husband does. He is the one who makes most dinners. But not last night!

My triumphant meal was warm and comforting against the crazy cold wind and plummeting temps.  

It was super easy too. If I can make it - you can make it.

Chicken and Dumplings

(serves aprx. 4)

Ingredients:

2 cans chicken stock (or one box)

1 can cream of mushroom 

4-5 large chicken breasts

1 bag mixed frozen veggies

2 cloves minced garlic (I used garlic powder)

Pepper to taste

2 cans of biscuits (I used Bisquick to make them)

Directions:

In a large pot pour in the chicken stock and set temperature to high. Place chicken in the pot and boil until cooked through. 

Set chicken to the side as to not over cook. 

Put veggies in the pot along with the cream of mushroom soup, garlic, and pepper to taste. Let stew for 15 minutes.

Open canned biscuits and cut in halves (or if you like them smaller, quarters). Slowly drop biscuits into the stewing veggies. Let cook until biscuits are cooked through (about 25-30 minutes). Make sure to not OVER cook. 

Once the biscuits are cooked through add the chicken back in and serve immediately!

Caution! These dumplings are hot and delicious! :)