"Left-over-Spaghetti? No problem...Cats "Chicken-Apple-Spaghetti"

 Hey y'all...hope all is going great. I don't know about y'all but I always have left-over spaghetti. Until recently that would aggravate me so much! Now...I deliberately make more to use the next day to make my Chicken Apple Spaghetti. I started cooking spaghetti at age of 7 and can't even imagine how much I've waisted throughout the years. Oh my goodness. Well recently I was trying this new "chicken-apple sausage" & it is so d'lish that I incorporate it now in left-over spaghetti and some other recipes too come. The chicken apple sausage is so easy to cook & versatile. It's been a total "game changer" as my sweet grandson would say. At first, I thought how I can reheat spaghetti without it tasting mushy. Yes, I said it...mushy! So I experimented...I "peeled & sliced" the sausage and cooked in non-stick pan in olive oil and "butter" along with mushroom & peppers. Once it was all cook thoroughly, I added some left-over noodles then "chicken stock" just enough to moisten the spaghetti. The stock will make a mild sauce with the chicken apple sausage. Oh my gosh it's d'lish. Right before serving I did put a bit of butter & season with a bit of garlic powder then squeezed a lemon wedge. You can definitely twist this idea to accommodate your family's favorite veggies. I don't think you could go wrong :-) I hope this recipe takes some stress off with what to do with "left-over-spaghetti" :-) Thank you for following & check back soon for more fun recipes this summer! Enjoy!

Blessed Cooking,

Cat

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Quilt blog....www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com

Cats "Healthi-r Strawberry-Mango-Yogurt-Pops!"

 Hey y'all....hope your weekend is off to a great start. It's a bit quiet here. Most of our neighbors have gone back North. We used to laugh in Texas because we lived out in the "woods" and we'd say hey "there goes a car." Now we say, "there goes a golf-cart." Times have changed but hopefully we'll be back in Texas soon! Don't get me wrong...I have nothing against Florida....humidity is horrible for my bones & muscles. It is nice being close to the beach when friends/family visit. I did laugh yesterday because I heard "young voices." Have to say when you live in a "retirement village" that's a treat. It just makes me miss my grandson more. You don't realize how sweet a child's laugh is until your away. A phone call just isn't the same. Maybe I'm getting more sentimental in my young age...ha! Well speaking of kids. I've been testing "healthi-r" pops. I'm obsessed with my new silicone molds. I even made a special spot in my freezer door to hold molds while freezing. One of the "perks" when downsizing was a smaller refrigerator. You don't realize what is so important until you downsize. The silicone molds are wonderful & easy to remove. I just remove once frozen...let stand at room temp.for a minute ...wiggle the stick a bit and push pop up from the bottom. This is a great treat for the kiddos to make but for me it's all about controlling the sugar on my "weight-loss-journey" These are healthi-r and d'lish,,,fun & easy to make. A win...win for me and can't wait to make them with my grandson. I'm sure they will be refreshing for him after sports in the "Texas heat." I did get a 'thumbs up" when I text him the picture. I love how he's helping me on my journey! Remember to tweak for your dietary needs. Well....I hope you enjoy making these and keep following for more fun & easy recipes & projects this summer. Enjoy!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Here's all you need...

* Silicone pop mold

* 1- 5.3 oz. Silk dairy-free vanilla yogurt

* 1/2 cup Zero Sugar Mango Passion juice from Minute Maid

* 1 Tb. Organic Agave in the raw

* 1 cup frozen chopped Mango (find in freezer section)

* 1 cup frozen strawberries (find in freezer section)

Here's all you do...

* Let fruit thaw a bit but still in a frozen stage. (this replaces adding ice)

* In blender....add yogurt....juice...agave .and half of the fruit. Blend until creamy. Add the rest of fruit and blend until all incorporated. It will appear "ice"...and you could eat as a "slushy" if desired.

* Fill molds to marked line at top of your mold. Add stick and freeze for about 4 hrs. Depends on size of your mold. 

Tip...this is a great recipe to make the night before with the kiddos especially if your having a "sleep over." :-)

Freezing tip....I wrap each pop in parchment paper and place in a freezer bag. Then take out as desired. 

Well, I hope you had fun making these and keep following for more healhi-r recipes!

Talk soon,

Cat

Cats Tip of the Day! "Re-purpose Patio Cushions"

 Hey y'all...hope your weekend is going great! Well Summer is officially here. I can't believe the heat plus already storms brewing like crazy. Too soon mother-nature...slow down! ne of my chores that I absolutely despise is cleaning my patio furniture every summer. Well actually in Florida with the humidity it's a "all year chore." I wanted to replace my cushions, but the price of cushions was super high. Well, if you've been following me you know I've been posting tips on "teach the kiddos 2 Sew." My latest post was using a beach towel and making a pocket for storage. Posts June 3-4th. I thought why not use this same concept and just cover the cushions. My cushions are in great shape just a little faded (see pic). I'm so glad that I did! You can follow my instructions on my quilting blog but you;ll be doing the same technique just on the bottom of beach towel as well. Not only did I save money but I love how the towels just gave my Florida room a fresh look! Follow on my quilting blog for all the tips & techniques to "re-purpose" your patio cushions. I used Aurifil 50 weight thread for durability. If you need supplies click on the upper right of my blog for threads & sewing supplies from Missouri Quilt Co. Keep following for more tips this summer!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Cats "Banana Break-fast Bars!"

 Hey y'all....hope your Friday is off to a great start. I wanted to share this healthy break-fast bar with y'all. I know a lot of y'all have kiddos at home this summer and if you're like me you want them to have a healthy snack. Don't get me wrong you can definitely add some "chocolate chips" into the batter if desired. But I'm calling this my "banana break-fast bar" because it's a fast grab and go bar for those hectic mornings. Plus, I love it cause it's very healthy....all natural ingredients for my "weight loss journey." I will admit...I probably have the worst "sweet tooth." But here's a funny....I love banana bread but you probably won't see me just eating a banana by itself. I have no idea why and found out recently that my Grandson is the same way. He says his 'tongue tingles" so maybe he is allergic but for me it's the texture. He's helping me with making my recipes healthi-r so this one he probably won't try. I'll be seeing him soon so thank God I do have some other recipes for him to try! I love cooking and baking with him. He will definitely tell me the truth :-) This bar recipe is now my new "go to recipe" to have on hand. In fact, after they have cooled, I cut them into bars and place into bags. First, I place them in a "sandwich bag" them place a few into a "freezer bag" That way they are wrapped for on the go plus sandwich bags are cheaper than freezer bags. Every little bit helps...right? :-) Plus, I just keep a few in fridge at a time to keep them fresh :-) I will say that I did not use any flour or eggs. I also started the recipe on stovetop in a large non-stick pan then transferred to a baking dish. This might seem daunting but you're still only using a "pot" instead of a bowl to mix in. Plus whenever possible I love to use nuts, etc. from Nature's Eats. Great quality and they are based out of my love of "Texas Town Boerne". I hope you give these bars a try and tweak them as needed for your dietary needs. Thanks so much for following and check back soon for more tips & recipes. Enjoy!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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and www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com

Here's all you need...

* 1 Tb. Coconut Oil

* 1/2 c. Organic Creamy Peanut Butter

* 3 small ripe bananas "smashed"

* 2 Tb. Organic Agave in the Raw

* 3 cups Gluten Free 1 Minute Cooking Oats (add more or less depending on ripeness of bananas)

* 1/2 tsp. organic ground cinnamon

* 1/4 tsp. organic ground nutmeg 

* 1/2 cup each of sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, chopped walnuts & pumpkin seeds.

Note: adjust to your dietary needs.

Here's all you do...

* Preheat oven to 350*

* Prepare a baking dish by spraying with baking spray then line with parchment paper for easy removal.

Set aside.

* Peel and smash your bananas...set aside

Note: these next steps go fast when cooking on stove...so don't walk away :-)

* In a large non-stick pot...melt coconut oil with peanut butter using a heat safe spatula. 

* Stirring until all melted.

* Add agave...seasoning...blend together and remove off heat.

* Quickly add oats.... stirring until combined then fold in nuts until all incorporated.

* Spread evenly in prepared baking dish.

* Bake for about 25-30 minutes. Oven vary. Bars will set up more once cooled.

Enjoy the small...oh my gosh it does smell like banana bread :-)

* Once cooled...cut into bars of your desired size. Package and freeze to fit your family's needs.

Thanks for following and check back soon!

.

"Stock it Up w/ Cuisinart!"

 Hey y'all....hope your week is going great! I love sharing tips with y'all....especially if it's "money-saving-tips!' Last summer I had to purchase some new cooking pans. I was shocked with the pricing. Yes, it's been a while since I did. My Pioneer Woman set lasted over 5 yrs and that was wonderful. I cook a lot and knew it had to be a good investment. I've always loved Cuisinart cookware. Well one day while shopping at "Marshalls" I noticed Cuisinart cookware. Oh my gosh...my feet couldn't get me over to that shelf fast enough! I couldn't believe the savings! Needless to say I purchased the "braiser" and the "5.5 Stock Pot" as well. You do have to check with them periodically cause they do sell fast. Well, these are my go to pots and I use them so much that I just keep them on top of my stove. Ya know...Cuisinart decor! :-) I use the stock pot so much especially when I'm making Chicken broth. Due to my "dietary needs" & weight loss journey" buying a cooked rotisserie chicken has become my weekly staple in the kitchen. I love to "d-bone" it right away...easier when warm, & divide for recipes for the week, I freeze in freezer-friendly bags and thaw in fridge before using. This is so convenient and great tip if you're cooking for a small crowd or the only one that needs to shed a few pounds. Ugh! You can season your water if you wish but I just throw the old bird in the pot...cover it with water and once it's come to a boil, I then let it simmer on low for about 30 minutes. I buy the one that's already seasoned. I love this...the cooking is already done for me & I'm saving money buy making my own stock. I carefully strain it into a glass measuring bowl then once cooled I then pour into my canning jar and store in fridge. It's ready for when I add to recipes especially in my Spanish rice & Chicken soup.  You can't beat the natural flavors of chicken stock. What a fun way too if cooking w/the kiddos this summer. Healthy cooking and saving money. Well, I hope you give this a try if you're not already doing so & wish me luck on my weight-loss-journey! Grandson Davin is helping me and keeping me focused! Love it!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Check back soon for more fun tips! Have a fun & safe summer-week!

"Harvest Cilantro"

 Hey everyone....hope your week is going well. I've recently started "container gardening." This is very new to me, I always had a garden spot that I truly enjoyed. Well with "temporary downsizing" comes changes in all aspects of life and gardening was one of them. I've realized they do take a bit more care when growing herbs and veggies in pots. The plus is I can enjoy my container garden while having my morning cup of coffee. You should try it...very relaxing :-) I still love a great farmer's market on Saturday! Always a great back-up & supporting the locals. Well, I've recently had some "cilantro" that I needed to pick and I didn't want to waste a bit. I love to freeze cilantro, but I thought why not make cilantro water and just pop out and thaw when needed. So I did! It's a bit of double duty. If you love cilantro, then you will definitely appreciate the aroma of cilantro when boiling. Win win in my book! Well keep following for more great tips this summer. I hope you have a chance to teach a child to cook this summer. I love when I'm able to be in the kitchen with my grandson. Memories that will last forever! Enjoy!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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Here's all you do...

* Carefully rinse your cilantro if needed

* Boil cilantro in about 3-4 cups of water. Depending on the amount of cilantro & strength you prefer use less or more water.

* Boil for about 10-15 minutes then carefully strain over a glass bowl ( I use a Pyrex for easy pour)

* Let cool for a few minutes.

* Pour into ice cube trays and freeze

* Once frozen place in "freezer friendly bags"

Tip....I measured my ice cube trays with plain water to know the exact amount each cube would be.

Example....2 of my cubes = 1/4 cup of water.

This comes in handy when adding to a recipe exact liquid measurements.

Note: measure your ice cube tray....I've learned not all are the same :-)

Tip: I love to use "cilantro water" when making my Spanish rice.

Hey if you're a quilter...pop on over to my quilting blog. We're starting "Quilting Art" :-)

Hello Summer!..."Teach the kiddos 2 sew this summer"...Fun beach towel tutorial!

 Hey everyone...hope your summer is off to a great start. I "remember" the days of trying to come up with fun activities for my daughter. Oh my gosh...seems like yesterday! Now as a "Gege" I love seeing her creative ideas for my Grandson. I always planned a indoor activity due to never knowing how the weather would be in Texas. This fun & easy tutorial will definitely teach a child the basics of sewing plus I'm sure they will love showing off their "unique" towel by the pool. Phase 1 is on my quilt blog for the basic technique of making a "fold" to secure your towel to a chair or lounger. But I encourage you to check back for Phase 2 of a advanced technique of a "scrappy duo pockets." Yes....you'll be using your scraps...fun & easy sewing techniques & pockets to store your summer gadgets. I used 50 weight Aurifil thread for strength & scraps from Northcott (Banyan Batiks & glam by Patrick Lose). If you need supplies pop on over to Missouri quilt co. Great supplies for all your sewing and crafting needs. I purchased the beach towel for less than 6 bucks. What a fun & inexpensive gift to make as well. So grab your beach towel & kiddos and lets have some fun sewing 2gether this summer! Check back soon for some more easy healthi-r recipes too this summer. Enjoy!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours.

Cat

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www.ihearditthroughthequilt-vine.blogspot.com