Cats Tip of the Day! Frozen bag of Hash Browns???

 Hey everyone...hope all is well. I wanted to share this "simple tip" that has helped me tremendously. I love these hashbrowns....use in so many recipes....from waffles to pie crust, but...they come in one bag without even a ziplock opening. Ugh, if your cooking "small." So what I do now is right when I get home from the store...I pre-package the amount needed (usually about a cup) and put into small freezer bags. I then put the individual bags back into "their" bag...clip & stick in freezer until needed. I know...seems so simple but it's so convenient when you need just a small amount of hash browns. Usually when you take the frozen bag out they are all clumped together which is rather anoying...for me anyway :-) I hope this "simple tip" helps!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Facebook & Pinterest

& www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com

Cooking Humor... "Oodles of Noodles left over"

 Hey everyone.....hope y"all had a great weekend. Seems Monday's alway's "roll around" much faster than Saturday's & Sunday's. Still have never figured that one out :-) I don't know about you but everytime I make pasta I always have "oodles" of "noodles" left over. Sorry....had to do it! I alway's thnk I need more. I've tried several recipes with left over noodles but they seem a bit mooshy. Due to my recent health scare I have been trying several types of noodles. I'm having to prep food differently and I have found one good tip to share. So maybe this will help in the meantime of me figuring some fun ways with left over pasta :-)  Have a great week!

Tip: When prepping "noodles" ahead....do cook "aldente"....when you re-heat noodles in a sauce they will continue to cook & your noodles will also last longer in the fridge. :-)

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Facebook & Pinterest

& www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com

"When doc takes away BACON...you reach for your STASH"

 Hey quilter's....Sunday Blessings everyone! Boy do I need Blessings...Prayers....encouraging thoughts :-) Recently, my "doc" took away BACON. Well.....after I "stopped laughing" I then realized how serious he was. I thought....no way....impossible....you're kidding...right? I mean bacon goes in a "COB Salad....scrambled eggs, lot's of healthy dishes :-) All joking aside,,,it's been 22 day's and I'm still alive! If you know me...my last thought leaving office was...."he didn't say I couldn"t smell it" :-) Lord hear my prayers 'cause it's been rough! Last pic is how I'm resolving my fear...of course for me it's "fabric & AURIFIL thread!" 

Blessed Quilting from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follor on Pinterest & Facebook

& www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com

Coastal Entertaining "Sea Turtle & Starfish Trivet's"...#FUNctional Decor'

 Hey everyone....hope all is well and your weekend is off to a great start. My Coastal Entertaining set is finished. This is part of my "Scrapin' w/Cat" quilt series on my quilting blog. All fabrics were scraps from Hoffman Batiks & AURIFIL 50 weight thread was used to enhance the designs. The sweet sea turtle cutting & serving board is from totallybamboo.com. My quilt series is very easy to follow so pop on over to my quilting blog to see how you can make your own "Coastal Entertaing Set." #FUNctional Decor'...Enjoy!

Blessed Cooking From My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Pinterest & Facebook

& www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com

Thank You...."Faith, Friends & Family is the Best Ingredient!"

 Hey everyone....hope y'all are having a good week so far. Mid year is when I like to say "Thank You" for following my blog. Especially this year when it's been a bit crazy for me with health & a move. You never know where life may lead you but I know with Faith, Family & Friends...I can get through anything! I hope me sharing recipes and design decor helps a bit in this crazy life. I know for me...cooking and desinging/decorating is my "Therapy." Thanks again for your emails & please follow so you'll be up to date on my latest posts. 

Thanks again...U.S., Sweden, France, Indonesia, China, Peru, Portugal, Russia, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Turkey, & "other" that is included on stats!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's...cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Pinterest & Facebook

and www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com

OOPS!...."May all your day's be Sunny-Side up"

 Well...sometimes you just need to laugh. My apologies...I posted recipe on my quilting blog. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Please visit www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

Gotta Love it!

 Hey everyone....sometime when I need a laugh, I search "Maxine humor." Doesn't matter if it's sewing...quilting or cooking humor, she makes me laugh! Had to share!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

Hey if you quilt....follow along on my blog for a fun "Stash Series" :-)

@ www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com

"Juice Key Limes w/ Tongs"

 Hey everyone....hope all is going well. I had to share this "very clever tip." Recently was watching "one" of my favorite cooking shows and he was squeezing limes with a kitchen tong. I thought "how clever is that!" Well today I tried it & have to say it is so easy & less stress on your hands if you have arthritic fingers like me :-( I was dreading squeezing my key limes due to the stess it puts on my hands & wrist. You hardly need to apply any pressure squeezing....the tong does all the work for you. If you are doing limes or lemons just squeeze then squeeze again the opposite way to get all the juice. Below is a pic of how I used my measuring cup w/strainer to easily pour into ice cube trays to freeze juice for later use. After freezing, I then put into freezer bags and "label." Have to say...key limes & lime juice looks the same after juicing so I seperate them in ice cube tray :-) Yes...I know...it's probably my eyes :-)

Anyway, hope this tip helps!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

Follow on Pinterest & Facebook

www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com

"A Pinch of Humor"

 Hey everyone....hope all is well. Sometimes you need a laugh to get us through the week so I hope this is it! The "humor" below reminded me of "Dear Oma" who would say add "a pinch of this." Well, recently I did the same sharing a recipe with a friend. Not everyone cooks and bakes the same. I know for me when cooking, I'm a bit more relaxed with my measuring. When I'm baking, I'm more precise while measuring. I actually will write down what i'm doing when I'm making a new recipe. If it doesn't turn out well then I can go "read my mistakes" :-) If you're like me...you make notes in your cookbook a long side a recipe you may have tried or "tweeked" with notes. I especially love when I'm looking at old cookbooks in antique stores and read someone else's notes on recipes. The funniest that I've read was "never again." I remember lauging out loud in the anique store. Don"t know about you but I've had that "experience" several times trying new recipies. 

So alway's remember the "best ingredient" is a "pinch of humor"....less stress in the kitchen! :-)

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

Follow on Pinterest & Facebook

www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com

"FUNctional Florida Decor"

 Hey everyone...hope your week is off to a great start. I recently realized one of my "pet p's" when I was decorating a home. I alway's stressed...decorate your home to your family's needs but make it "FUNctional." Last week, did my decor come in handy! I have to say no matter where you live the weather can alway's grab you by suprise! These battery operated candles seem so minimalistic until your power goes out! Not only are they "safe" but you can actually move them around with you in case of a power outage. I have several throughout my home as 'decor" but they are readily accessible when needed. Here's a funny...if you know me.." I actually do practice what I preach" :-) Anyway...being trendy is fun with your decor but don't forget to make it "FUNctional."

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

Follow on Pinterest & Facebook

www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com

Cat's "Snack Attack!"

 Hey everyone....hope y'all are doing well. I would like to thank everyone for your kind emails. Life has been a "whirl-a-wind" for everyone lately so encouraging emails we're greatly appreciated. Due to "down sizing recently, " I'm still getting used to my tiny kitchen. Then recently had to realize it's not the size of your kitchen that makes food tastes good it's how you prepare it. I will admit that I get very frustrated when I go to my ingredients, especially my baking ingredients 'cause I don't have room for my "antique baking hutch." In fact had to sell it before the move due to downsizing. But...again....it all depends on the ingredients. So I'm adjusting...slowly :-) Anyway....if y'all know me...this "Texas girl" is not a fan of "Tropical Storms"..."Hurricanes" and I get very anxious, putting it mildly. Needless to say these past couple of days really tested my "sress snacking" or my "snack attacks." Well....I want to share one of my favorite go to snack that is really easy to make. Very versatile as well. The garbanzo beans can be blended with so many things to make healthy snacks and meals. I love to blend with avocado for a fresh bean dip....use the same as a healthy bean taco or just put on top of salads instead of crutons. Anyway, keeping the faith and thanks again for your encouraging emails! Hope you enjoy!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

Follow on Pinterest & Facebook

email q's cmhdesigns2@yahoo.com

www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com

Here's all you need...

2- 16 oz. cans of Bush's Best Garbanzo beans (rinse & pat dry) highly reccomend due to sodium in cans.

2 TB Olive oil

2-3 TB of Taco Seasoning (or to taste)

Parchment paper

Here's all you do...

Preheat oven to 375*

Line baking sheet with parchment paper. 

Evenly spread rinsed/dried garbanzo beans.

Drizzle olive oil on and sprinkle taco seasoning & miz together.

Spread evernly again before baking.

Bake for about 15-20 minutes depending on your oven and how crunchy you like yours!

Great snack to get the kiddos involved in making too!

Will admit...very addicting :-)