Yami Guru's Creative Vortex

Here’s what’s cooking at my house: Beef Taco...

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:02:00 -0800

Here’s what’s cooking at my house: Beef Taco Skillet

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Makes: 4 servings

Recipe from Campbell’s Kitchen.com.

Project: Perler Christmas Ornaments Here are some ornaments I...

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:55:00 -0800

Biggie Beads and Bells

Regular-Size Perler Beads

Project: Perler Christmas Ornaments

Here are some ornaments I melted together for the holidays. The first set is made out of the Biggie Beads and bells. The second set is made with standard size beads. Fashion Victim Penguin in a scarf, Gingerbread Man, Elf, and Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer!

Project: Baby’s First Christmas Ornament A friend of mine...

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:47:00 -0800

Project: Baby’s First Christmas Ornament

A friend of mine just had a baby and so I was inspired to make her this ornament as a Christmas gift.

Project: Primitive Jingle Bells Ornament Here is an ornament I...

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:28:00 -0800

Rusty-Painted Bell

Tea-Stained Shipping Tags

Project: Primitive Jingle Bells Ornament

Here is an ornament I made for a friend to help bring in the holiday cheer. I used five rust painted bells and craft wire. I added floral, a cloth bow, a button, and then jute string.

I also made the tag as well. I took a shipping tag, stained it with tea, then sewed on the cloth lace, punched out the snowflake with a MS craft punch, glued glitter onto the snowflake, and then stamped it with a festive greeting.

Project: Primitive Waterless Snow Globe I made this for a friend...

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:04:00 -0800

Painted Canned Food Container

Primitive Waterless Snow Globe

Project: Primitive Waterless Snow Globe

I made this for a friend over the holidays. Everything is recycled. I took a old jelly jar, hot glued a bottle brush tree to the lid and added artificial snow. I decorated the jar with tissue paper, glitter, gems, cloth, jute, felt (hot glued on the bottom of the jar), and a snowflake button.

I wrapped the globe in tissue paper. Then I placed it into the recycled can that I previously painted a snowflake on with white craft paint then quickly added glitter before that paint could dry.

Here’s what’s cooking at my house: New Year’s...

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:27:00 -0800

Stuffed Dates

The Never-Ending Chicago Winter Beef Ste

The Never-Ending Chicago Winter Beef Ste

Easy Yorkshire Pudding (I messed it up)

Here’s what’s cooking at my house: New Year’s Dinner!

Stuffed Dates (appetizer)— Goat cheese and bacon infused dried dates served at room temperature.

The Never-Ending Chicago Winter Beef Stew— This insanely delicious one-pot meal infuses beef with layers of exciting flavors: salty fish sauce, tart vinegar, and sweet fruits (including pineapple, which also helps tenderize the meat).

Ingredients:

3 tbsp vegetable oil
3 lb. beef, cubed chuck
2 medium onions, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, mined
1 pineapple, peeled, cored and diced
1 apple, peeled, cored, and diced
pear, peeled, cored, and diced
1/2 cup red wine
1 quart chicken broth
2 cups apple cider
1 can (16 oz.) diced tomatos
3/4 cup fish sauce
3/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp sambal paste
Freshly ground black pepper and salt

Directions:

Heat 1 tbsp oil over high heat in a large soup pot. Add half of beef to pot and season with 1/4 tsp pepper. Brown meat (5-7 minutes) and remove. Repeat with remaining beef. Remove from pot and set aside.
Add another tbsp vegetable oil to pot and lower heat to medium. Add onions and garlic and sauté until onion is translucent (about 3 minutes).
Add pineapple, apple, pear, and wine. Simmer to reduce the liquid by half (about 5-7 minutes).
Add cooked beef along with chicken broth, cider, tomatoes, fish sauce, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, mustard, and sambal. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
Cover and simmer until beef cubes fall apart easily when poked with a fork (a little more than 4 hours).
Serve immediately or keep warm in a 200 ºF oven for up to 30 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.

Easy Yorkshire Pudding— Izard’s take on Yorkshire pudding calls for bacon fat and bacon crumbles because, well, everything taste better with bacon.

1/2 lb. bacon (8 slices) cut into 1/2-inch pieces (opt for a cured, smoked variety).
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup whole milk
2 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 425 ºF.
In a dry sauté pan over medium heat, cook bacon until the fat is rendered and the meat is crisp, about 15 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon; set aside. Reserve fat from pan.
Whisk flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl combine milk and eggs. Fold wet ingredients into dry mixture until combined into a smoth batter. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap; let sit for 30-60 minutes at room temperature.
Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with 1 tsp bacon fat per cup. Transfer to hot oven for 10 minutes.
Carefully remove muffin tin from oven; pour batter into each cup, filling up to two-thirds of cup. Return to oven.
Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350 ºF. Bake for another 12-15 minutes, until puffed and golden.
Before taking puddings out of the oven, use a food processor to chop cooked bacon into fine bits. Remove tin from oven and sprinkle puddings with bacon evenly as they cool and deflate slightly. Serve warm.

Recipe from: Instyle Magazine / January 2012

Project: Reindeer Candy Cane Ornaments I remember making these...

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 11:53:00 -0800

Project: Reindeer Candy Cane Ornaments

I remember making these when I was a kid. These ornaments make such cute gifts and decorations. These reindeers wear scarfs, because they know how cold the North Pole can get. (^_~)b

Project: Holiday Treat Sleigh These treats are a...

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 11:36:00 -0800

Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Logs

Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Logs

Reindeer and Snowmen on sticks!

Marshmallow Reindeer with Gumdrop Noses

Marshmallow Snowmen

Project: Holiday Treat Sleigh

These treats are a collaboration of clever ideas I’ve seen floating around online. I got the sleigh at my local thrift store. I’m very proud of my bow making skills.

Holiday Treat Sleigh Contents:

Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Logs
Marshmallow Reindeer with Gumdrop Noses
Marshmallow Snowmen

Project: Chocolate Covered Oreos I got a Wilton Snowflake Oreo...

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 11:14:00 -0800

Project: Chocolate Covered Oreos

I got a Wilton Snowflake Oreo Cookie Mold. (After Christmas sale— Whoo hoo!) A very good investment! These are so easy to make and they are awesome gifts. (^_^)b I used the Martha Stewart Holiday Treat Bags and a Snowman Tin for presentation.

Project: The Peppermint Chocolate Cake Experiment Conclusion:...

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:54:00 -0800

I put chocolate chunks on top.

Peppermint Chocolate Cake

Sensory overload!

Project: The Peppermint Chocolate Cake Experiment

Conclusion: I’m not a fan of peppermint and chocolate together. I can have one or the other, but both of them together is like a delicious sensory overload. (>_<);;

Project: New Year’s Breakfast I saw this clever idea...

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:42:00 -0800

New Year's Breakfast (close up)

New Year's Breakfast

New Year's Breakfast (lollipop bags)

Project: New Year’s Breakfast

I saw this clever idea floating around online, so I gave it my own twist by adding real bacon mixed in the chocolate. I love bacon and chocolate together! I highly recommend it. (^_^)b

H A P P Y N E W Y E A R!!!

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S !!! Here’s what’s...

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 19:22:00 -0800

Curried Butternut Squash and Pear Soup

Curried Butternut Squash and Pear Soup

Curried Butternut Squash and Pear Soup

Sweet Potatoes, Brussel Sprouts, and Pot

Sweet Potatoes, Brussel Sprouts, and Pot

Grinch Moon Pies

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S !!!

Here’s what’s cooking at my house: Christmas Dinner!

Curried Butternut Squash and Pear Soup
Curried Sweet Potatoes
Caramelized Brussel Sprouts with Lemon and Olive Oil
Roasted Potatoes in Butter, Fresh Dill, and Parmesan Cheese
Roasted Rack of Lamb with Rosemary Stuffing

Dessert:

Grinch Moon Pies

Comfort Food: The Hot Dog My #1 favorite way to eat a hot dog is...

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 04:46:00 -0800

Comfort Food: The Hot Dog

My #1 favorite way to eat a hot dog is with deli mustard spread on a warm hot dog bun, and then I top the bun with an all-beef hot dog. I add chili with no beans, cheddar cheese, and freshly chopped onions on top. Yes, there is a hot dog hiding in all that chili and cheese. :)

Project: Recycling Packaging Foam Scraps into Christmas Present...

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:39:00 -0800

Christmas Present Magnets

Hot glued a 1 inch disk craft magnet.

My festive refrigerator!

Project: Recycling Packaging Foam Scraps into Christmas Present Decorative Refrigerator Magnets

—>Materials:

leftover packing foam scraps
Christmas wrapping paper
tape
yarn
glue gun
glue sticks
1 inch disk craft magnets

—>Directions:

Wrap the foam piece like you would a present.
Cover the present with ribbon.
Hot glue and magnet to the back.
Give away as a gift or decorate you refrigerator.

Project: Christmas Cardinal Candy Tins/Table...

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:40:00 -0800

Cardinal Candy Tins (close up)

Cardinal Candy Tins Supplies

Cardinal Candy Tins (I made three)

I added a lot of glitter!

Project: Christmas Cardinal Candy Tins/Table Centerpieces

—>Materials:

Cylinder Tins
Artificial Cardinals
Artificial Christmas Foliage
Small Nests
Glitter
Gold and Silver Tinsel
Glue Gun
Glue Sticks
Pliers

—>DIrections:

Arrange and hot glue foliage onto the lid of the container.
Add nest, tinsel, then bird.
Important to use lots of glitter!

Project: Chocolate Coca-Cola Cupcakes Cupcake Ingredients: 2...

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:08:00 -0800

Project: Chocolate Coca-Cola Cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients:

2 cups sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups small marshmallows
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 tablespoons cocoa
1 cup Coca-Cola
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Gummy Coke Bottle Candy

Frosting Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
3 tablespoons cocoa
6 tablespoons Coca-Cola
1 box (16 ounces) confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F. In a bowl, sift sugar and flour. Add marshmallows. In saucepan, mix butter, oil, cocoa, and Coca-Cola. Bring to a boil and pour over dry ingredients; blend well. Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk just before adding to batter along with eggs and vanilla extract, mixing well for 2 minutes. Pour into a cupcake pan with liners that have 1 gummy in each cup. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and frost immediately.

To make frosting, combine butter, cocoa and Coca-Cola in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and pour over confectioners’ sugar, blending well. Add vanilla extract and pecans. Spread over hot cupcake. When cool, cut into squares or in half and serve.

Festive Doughnuts For Breakfast (Snowmen & Reindeer) Fun...

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:33:00 -0800

Festive Doughnuts For Breakfast (Snowmen & Reindeer)

Fun and tasty food experiment! I saw this idea on several blogs, so I had to give it a try. I’m so glad I did :)

Reindeer’s nose is a red M&M.
Snowman’s nose is a piece of Circus Marshmallow Peanuts rolled into a cone.

Here is a picture of my food experiment, an attempt at making a...

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:24:00 -0800

Here is a picture of my food experiment, an attempt at making a homemade Sloppy Joe Hot Pocket.
Conclusion: Very tasty! I will make this again. (^_^)b

Project: Homestyle Mixed Berry Freezer Jam Ingredients: 1...

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:13:00 -0800

Ingredients

1. Place berries in a food processor or

2. Combine berries, sugar, and orange pe

3. Spoon into containers, leaving 1/2 in

Project: Homestyle Mixed Berry Freezer Jam

Ingredients:

1 package (16 ounces) frozen mixed berries, thawed
3 3/4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1 pouch (3 ounces) liquid pectin
2 tablespoons orange juice

Place berries in a food processor or blender; process until pieces are about 1/4 inch in size.
Combine berries, sugar, and orange peel in a large bowl; stir 2 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes. Combine pectin and orange into the berry mixture. Stir 2 minutes to blend thoroughly.
Spoon into containers, leaving 1/2 inch space at the top of the container. Cover with tight-fitting lids. Let stand in the refrigerator for 24 hours to set. Refrigerate up to 3 weeks or freeze up to 6 months.

This also makes a great homemade gift for the holidays :)

Project: Christmas Apothecary I turned my Halloween apothecary...

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:12:00 -0800

Christmas Apothecary

I use different types of snow.

Hugs!

Let's build a Snowman!

Last one down is a rotten egg!

Project: Christmas Apothecary

I turned my Halloween apothecary jars into candy and scenery decorations. All you need is acrylic batting, tinsel, faux-snow, an apothecary jar, and a festive figurine. Place a few pinches of batting in a jar, add a pinch of tinsel, place your figurine on top of the batting, and add a couple of pinches of snow on top of the figurine. I also added some candy canes in a few of the jars.