Easy Shrimp and Vegetables

It's no secret that we love vegetables in our home, but what a great and refreshing 

way to add flavor, color, and texture to a dish by combining shrimp and vegetables. 

Did you know that by placing onions is the refrigerator you can avoid tearing up 

when chopping it?  Good to know for those of us that cook with lots of onions.

NOTE: For this recipe, you'll need to have your shrimp already cooked, so make 

sure you cook them before adding it to this dish.

In a pan add a tablespoon of olive oil,  add chopped garlic and cook until oil is hot.  

Add red onions, zucchini, and baby Bella mushrooms.  Make sure your mushrooms 

are rinsed.  Add salt and pepper to taste. While they cook for a minute, bring a pot of 

water to a boil, add 1/2 Tsp of salt to the water and add small potatoes.  I used 

a mixed bag of potatoes that contained, gold, red and blue/ purple small potatoes. 

Let it boil until tender.  Remove potatoes from heat and drain the water.  Set it aside.

After 2 minutes or so, add cooked shrimp to your vegetable mix.  Cook for another 

2 minutes make sure the vegetables are not overcooked but nice and tender.  

Then add your cooked potatoes to the mix.  Blend and serve.  You may add a side 

of corn on the cob and/ or avocado.

INGREDIENTS: (Serves 3)

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

2 Cloves of Garlic.

1/2 Red onion

1 Zucchini

3 cups Baby Bella Mushrooms

1 Bag of Cooked Shrimp

1 Bag of Small Potato Mix

Salt & Pepper

I hope that you enjoy this tasty meal, it's easy and fast.  

If you don't like mushrooms or other veggies, just replace them 

with your favorite veggies. 

What I love about this, is that you can even put them on a stick and grill them, 

they make great kabobs too.

Happy Cooking!

Linking to:
Sunday's Best#38
BBQ Link Party/Censationalgirl

How to Make Sushi Rolls-(Re-Post)

I published this recipe in 2013 and it continues to be one of the hottest posts on this blog.

After I posted it, there have been several other blogs that have copied it or changed 

something in the recipe to make it their own.  I wanted to re-post it for those who 

missed it or for those that may be looking for something different to make for dinner.

It is one of our favorite things to eat, especially during Lent and summer.  

Today I will be sharing with you a simple sushi recipe that has no raw fish only imitation crab 

and the rest are veggies.  In the sushi world, we tend to call this a "California Roll".

To make this you will need:

• 3 cups sushi rice (cooked) Instructions for sushi rice on this link
• 1 cucumber
• 1 cream cheese packet
• 1 avocado
• 1 package imitation crab strips
• 1 pack sushi seaweed
•  sesame seeds (optional)

Tip: Cover bamboo mat with plastic wrap to prevent rice form sticking to mat.

For instructions on making sushi rice click this link or here.

Making sushi rice is important to have good sushi.  It needs to be tasty and sticky to roll.

Add avocado too!

Instructions:

1. Cover bamboo mat with plastic wrap to prevent rice from sticking to it.
2. Take out a sushi seaweed sheet and cut the sheet to make two smaller sheets. Tip: Using one full sheet will make your rolls too big. 
3. Place the shiny side of the sea weed sheet faced down over your plastic wrapped bamboo mat.
4. Wet your fingers to begin placing rice on top of the sheet. Tip: Wet fingers help prevent rice from sticking to your fingers.
5. Cover sheet evenly and do not overload with rice. Tip: Do not press rice hard, you do not want to mash your rice.
6. At this point, you may sprinkle sesame seeds over the rice, it adds flavor and texture.
7. Turn your sushi & rice sheet over to the opposite side. (Don't worry, it won't fall off)
8. Make sure your sheet is lined up with the edge of the bamboo mat for easy rolling.
9. To this side of the sheet, add your veggies and crab meat.  Line them up evenly as seen above.
10. Once you have your veggies in place, start rolling your sushi. Leave about an inch or so out of the end and tuck your sushi in as seen above, then finish rolling the whole sushi roll. (This helps prevent the sushi from falling apart).
11. Tap the ends of the sushi so it is even and flat.
12. Once you have your roll wet your knife and slice your roll into half.  
13. Then cut your rolls about an inch and a half wide, one sushi roll will make 6 sushi rolls/bites.
14. Repeat steps for more sushi rolls.

You may refrigerate them for company later or enjoy right away.

Happy Eats!

Linked to:
SITS Girls
I Should Be Mopping the Floor
Tutus and Tea Parties
The Frugal Girls
Jennifer Rizzo

DIY: Beeswax Candles

Today I wanted to share my experience in candle making.  I made small pillar 

candles out of 100 % beeswax in a couple of different colors.  

Beeswax candles produce negative ions, which cleanse the 

air of dust, odors, toxins, and pollens.  

They are completely non-toxic, non-allergenic and noncarcinogenic. 

With its healthful negative ions and warm, halo glow, they act like indoor air 

purifiers & they burn beautifully.  

The supplies that I used were the following:

- Square Braided Wick

- Aluminum mold (2 x 3) or desired size

- beeswax (I used a 1 lb. block- yields 4 candles)

(NOTE: Beeswax for Candle making come in blocks

 and Beeswax Pellets, also available in White Beeswax )

- Candle Dye Pigment

- cloth pin or pencil to hold the wick in place

- plastic plate or wax paper to protect working surface

- Metal bowl or Candle Making Pitcher

- a base for the mold to stand on leaving space in the center

- Wooden Craft Sticks for stirring

- scissors

- tape

- skewer stick

- pot

- water

- cooking spray

A) The first thing I did was measure the amount of wick that I was going to use, 

this ensures that you have enough wick for both ends.  Use a little cooking spray to spray 

the inside of the mold in order for the candle to slide out easily. Do not saturate. 

The mold has a hole in the closed end where you will pull the wick through. 

B) Make a knot leaving enough wick for the top of the candle. This end will be 

the top of the candle.

C) Take a piece of soft wax to seal that end making sure there are no leaks, then 

tape it off for extra support.

D) On the other side of the mold, pull the wick making sure it is secured.  Hold the 

wick up using the cloth pin until it is ready to have the wax poured inside of the mold. 

E) If you are using wax pellets, place them in the melting dish; if using a wax block, 

break it into pieces.  Make sure you measure the amount that you want to use.  

I used about 8oz.  Fill your pot about an inch deep of water.  You do not need to 

use too much water.  Place the pot over the burner and heat, do not boil.

Now place the bowl or whatever you are using to melt the wax in, on or in the pot.  

Observe and keep the heat low to moderate, watching the wax as it melts.  

Do not overheat.

F)  As soon as your wax is melted, turn the heat off and drop the color into the 

wax using a few drops. ( At this point you may also drop a scented oil if desired) 

Use the popsicle stick to stir the wax.  Make sure you have 

something to protect your hands from getting burned to handle the bowl.  

G) Before pouring your wax, make sure that the mold is steady, I used a plastic bag 

closure pin to keep my mold steady since the bottom has a bump due to the sealant.

H) Pour the wax very carefully, it is HOT.

I) Now secure the wick so it is centered using the cloth pin.

J) Wait for the wax to cool, make sure you have a disposable plate or wax paper 

underneath for any leaks. 

K-L) Wait for the wax to solidify for about an hour or so.

M) After an hour or so, take a skewer and poke holes into the wax to get rid of 

any air bubbles.

N) Let it cool for a couple of hours. then top it off with more melted wax.

O-P)  Let it cool for several hours or leave it overnight.

When the wax is completely solidified and the outside is cool to the touch, remove 

the cloth pin.

Grip the mold and turn it over to remove the tape and piece of wax at the end.  

Untie the knot.

Hold the mold upside down for the candle to slide out, if it doesn't come right out, 

you can put it in the freezer for a minute or two and try again.  You may have to 

squeeze the mold a bit to loosen candle, then it should come out.  Cut the excess wick 

on the bottom end of the candle.

In order for the candle to stand straight, you will have to level it. There are a number 

of ways to level the candle so it stands up straight. One easy way is to heat an old 

frying pan or cookie sheet and slowly rub the base of the candle over the heated surface 

until the bottom is flat.  As a final step cut the top wick to a 1/4 inch until ready for use.

Enjoy your candle!

Mobile Photography

(Disclaimer) *This post may contain affiliate links and I may be compensated if a purchase is made by clicking my links.

Mobile Photography: Perfect Photos in Your Pocket

During this time of year, we tend to snap many photos of people we that we love, places we visit, seasonal decorations or just beautiful scenes for blogging and social media.  Sometimes I don't carry my DSL with me and so I am left to shoot pictures with my phone.  The problem?  Sometimes the photos are not as crisp as I'd like them to be.  Do you ever have that problem?  

On my phone, the photos look great, but when I load them to my computer, they're terrible.  So here is a solution, Craftsy!  They are currently offering a course on how to make the most of your smartphone camera, whether Android™ or iPhone® and to go beyond basic settings, take impressive photographs and add incredible post-production effects.  Most photo opportunities don't wait for you to grab your camera — so reach in your pocket and get great results regardless!   Doesn't that sound great?  

Perhaps you know of someone that would enjoy taking a class with Craftsy and if you do, how about offering the class as a gift!  You will enjoy taking any course since it is set to go at your own pace.  

Drop by the Craftsy site by clicking the links on this post and learn more about their classes and prepare for awesome pictures on your phone. 

Enjoy!

DIY: Advent Wreath

Last month, I purchased a set of votive candles, made out of pure beeswax and I fell in love 
with them.  The candles have a sweet, natural fragrance of honey and they burn beautifully.  
It inspired me to use natural elements for our advent wreath this year, by incorporating natural evergreens and 100% beeswax candles.  It was difficult searching for the colors that I wanted in beeswax because I wanted to use the traditional purple and rose colors for my candles. 

I decided to make my first set of candles.  The colors of the candles were perfect, and their 
size was just what I needed for my advent wreath.  My son, who also loves to create, was fascinated by the process of candle making.  My method was messy and unsafe for him to 
melt wax, so through a wonderful blogger, I found a  Beeswax Advent Taper Candle Making Kit.
I purchased a kit and followed the instructions to make the candles.  My son had a blast with 
his dad making these lovely tapered candles.  

There are several kits online, but the kit that we chose for this project was the Advent Candle Kit.  I won’t go into details on how they made the candles because the set includes instructions.  You may catch a glimpse of the process below on the images labeled (A-D).   

In the end, we chose to use the candles that my son made for the Advent Wreath, 
he was so proud of them and how could I say no?  What you see here are the candles 
made by my son and his dad.  I guess mine shall be put away until next year.

In the past years, I have shared a couple of my Advent Wreaths on this blog.  I have had different varieties of advent wreaths, but today I will share my favorite thus far.  
The wreath itself still needs a little work,  but my son helped me make it.  
It doesn’t have to be perfect, to be beautiful. 

Advent Candle Kit

When the boys completed the beeswax candles, I selected three narrow floral foams that I had on hand.  It is preferable to use one whole piece, but that is what I had at the time.  I connected the foam with skewer sticks.  Then, I cut out the corners of the foam to round it out a bit.  I placed a Nativity  for decoration purposes on the center of the foam & measured equal distances where the candles were to be inserted.  I cut out the holes.  I placed the figure back into the center and inserted the candles in their place.

I poured water on the foam, to prepare it for the greenery that I was going to insert.  When the foam was evenly saturated with the water, we began inserting the pine leaves in the foam at an angle to form the wreath.  We covered every area, to make sure that the foam was not visible.  

We keep the foam saturated, by spraying water every other day to keep the leaves green.  We love how our wreath turned out.

Below you will find a list of the materials that I used for this project.  Thank you for stopping by and hope that you enjoy your season.  Do you have an advent wreath this year?

Materials:

- Advent Candle Kit

- Floral Foam Form Mache Wreath 18" Circular - Two (2) Per Order

or

- OASIS Floral Foam Cake & slice it in half

- figure or white candle for the center

- greenery such as pine or other leaves

- a platform

- a plastic plate

- Fiskars Traditional Bypass Pruning Shears

- water