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I wanted to post this great email I received from Cindi, after posting a request here on the Kitchen Crafts 'n' More blog for gluten free recipes. Thanks for such a sweet email, Cindi, AND for a delicious family favorite recipe that I'm sure many of our readers will enjoy.

Hi Christina,

I am so glad you are going to include some gluten-free recipes. I have Celiac's Disease and have been gluten-free for about a year now.

I am putting together a recipe book (when I have time) and included this recipe. It is great for children. They absolutely love it and so do the adults.

I will send more recipes as I put them into the system.



Aunt Cindi’s Poor Folks Stir Fry
A favorite for everyone – really good!
The Story
Somewhere around the year 2002 when I used to keep an open house to all the children in the neighborhood, there was a little girl who was visiting as I was getting ready to cook dinner. There were a total of seven children visiting and including three of my own. I was trying my best to figure out what to fix that would accommodate all and would not be so expensive. This little girl jumped right in and gave me the following recipe and told me that it was a simple meal that would not cost much and she guaranteed everyone would love it. She was right and it was an absolute success without a piece of rice spared. Here goes:

1. Brown on low-med heat ½ lb of hamburger and set aside.
2. Begin cooking rice in rice cooker after hamburger is browned.
3. Chop about 4 or 5 stalks of Celery (or more)
Chop about 5 or 6 Carrots (or more)
Chop about 1 or 2 Onions depending upon size
(yellow onions always go best with beef)
Chop 3 cloves of garlic or use the minced garlic from a jar.
4. Saute onions and garlic from step 3 in olive oil on low-med heat in a large pan until onions are pretty much transparent but not browned.
5. Add other vegetables and sauté a bit. You want them saute’d, but still firm. In other words, don’t cook every single nutrient out of them.
6. Last, add the hamburger and let the flavors mix. Add garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.

7. Serve over rice.
You will make this again and again. YUM!
Also, for gluten-free products and other gluten free recipes visit:

http://www.bobsredmill.com/gluten_free_info.php


Christina, I hope this is helpful for now. I will send you more later.

You email and website are such a joy! Thank you for all you do!

Wishing you the very best always,

Cindi :)

Labels: dinner recipes, family favorites, frugal recipes, gluten free recipes, supper recipes

Posted by HappySlob :: 2:32 PM :: 0 comments

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Tuesday, August 14, 2007 Cute New Cookie Cutters to Add to Your Collection

If I've learned one thing while working at the kitchen shop, it is that a LOT of people have cookie cutter collections! It's a fun, and inexpensive collection (individual cookie cutters cost around a buck or two a piece!) - and hey - making cookies is about the MOST fun activity I can think of. Especially on a gloomy, rainy day will a pan of freshly baked, fun-shaped cookies cheer the family up.

So, I went and searched for some fun new cookie cutters you can add to your collection. Then the next time a burst of cookie creativity hits you, you can make some adorably shaped (and decorated) cookies. Enjoy!

... Such CUTE Cookie Cutters ...

Including a dinosaur cookie cutter set, a set of Dog biscuit cookie cutters in bone shapes and others (which Fido will surely appreciate), and all sorts of other fabulous cookie cutters I thought you would all like to see. :)

... Learn how to DECORATE Cookies You Bake ...

Labels: baking cookies, collectables, cookie cutter collection, cookie cutters, cookies, decorating cookies

Posted by HappySlob :: 8:27 AM :: 0 comments

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Monday, August 13, 2007 Baby Shower Ideas Needed - Cute Baby Shower Ideas and Tips

Hey everyone,

Do you have a fun baby shower idea to share? I'm working on a new section of the KCnM Site to include lots of fun, and easy baby shower ideas. They can be for baby shower food, baby shower games, baby shower decorating tips - whatever! :) Thanks for submitting your ideas.

Send baby shower tips and hints to: christina@happyslob.com

Labels: baby shower decorating, baby shower games, baby shower ideas, baby showers, showers

Posted by HappySlob :: 7:36 AM :: 0 comments

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Five Health Benefits of Fresh Ginger - Natural Health

Fresh ginger tastes delicious, and it's good for you in so many ways! Check out the Five Major Health Benefits of Fresh Ginger over on the Kitchen crafts 'n' More website. And then load up on some yummy, healthful fresh ginger root!

Labels: fresh ginger, ginger, health and wellness, health tips, natural health

Posted by HappySlob :: 7:14 AM :: 0 comments

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Sunday, August 12, 2007 Problems making Royal Icing - Readers Cooking Questions

Here is an email I recently received from Bridget. If anyone can help, please send in your comments to me at christina@happyslob.com , and I'll post them here or on our regular website

Hi,
I have used many of your tips on this website. I would like to ask a question about Royal Icing. I have a problem with mine and I can't figure out what is wrong. My icing mixes up great, looks good going on but never seems to dry all of the way through. It's still soft inside, like a shell forms on the outside. Also, when I packaged up my last batch in celo bags, within about 3 hours time, they began to "sweat". Is there something I can do to prevent this from happening. This has occured both with egg whites and with using the merigue powder. Help!

Posted by HappySlob :: 2:22 PM :: 0 comments

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Free Recipes: Strawberry Sparkle Cake

STRAWBERRY SPARKLE CAKE
Thanks to Jeannie for submitting the recipe!

1 angel food cake
1 cup boiling water
1 3 oz. pkg strawberry gelatin powder
1 1 lb. pkg frozen sliced strawberries
1 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar
red food coloring if desired

Dissolve Jell-O in water and add frozen block of strawberries, stirring to break up. Mix. Place cake, widest side down, on a serving plate. Cut a one-inch slice from the top and set aside. Cut around cake one inch from outer edge to one inch from bottom. Then cut around cake one inch from inner edge to one inch from bottom. Gently remove the section of cake between the cuts, tearing it into small pieces. Fold pieces into strawberries mixture and pour into cake shell. Place cake layer on top. Whip cream until thick. Stir in sugar and a few drops of red food coloring. S Spread sweetened whipped cream over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate at least one hour and serve.

Labels: angel food cake, easy cakes, easy desserts, jello recipes, strawberries, strawberry, whipping cream

Posted by HappySlob :: 2:19 PM :: 0 comments

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Free Recipes: Cranberry Scones (B&B Recipe)

Cranberry Scones (Palmer House B&B, Falmouth, MA)
Thanks to Dorina for sending in!

3 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 tablespoons sugar
2 sticks ice-cold butter, cut into small chunks
2 cups buttermilk (approximately)
1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries, sweetened to taste, and drained thoroughly

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and sugar and mix thoroughly. Cut butter into dry mixture with a pastry blender, until mixture resembles course meal. Chill for 10 minutes. Add cranberries and mix well until cranberries are coated with flour mixture. Add buttermilk, a little at a time, mixing until al ingredients are moistened and flour mixture forma a dough consistency. Gather into a ball and knead about 15 times on a flour-covered board or table. Roll out dough to a 1 inch thickness. Cut out scones with a floured, heart-shaped 2 inch biscuit cutter. Place on an ungreased baking sheet, close together, but not touching. Brush tops with buttermilk and sprinkle with sugar, Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Serve hot with orange marmalade and Devonshire cream. Yield:12.

Labels: bed and breakfast recipes, brunch recipes, cranberries, cranberry, scone recipes, scones

Posted by HappySlob :: 2:18 PM :: 0 comments

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Gluten Free Recipes Needed Please!

Do you have a tried and true gluten free recipe to share? If you do, please send it in. I'm especially looking for recipes for classic desserts made gluten-free, but any gluten free recipes (great for celiacs and anyone else with wheat allergies and/or sensitivities) are very welcome. Please e-mail your GF recipes to me at christina@happyslob.com

Also - if any of you have tried and can recommend certain gluten free mixes or other types of products, please let me know about that too!

Labels: celiac, gluten free, gluten free baking, gluten free desserts, gluten free recipes

Posted by HappySlob :: 2:14 PM :: 0 comments

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Monday, August 06, 2007 Recipes Found - Italian Bread Dipping Sauce (Johnny Carrino's copycat recipes)

Hey everyone!

We got some great replies on the recent request for an Italian-style bread dipping sauce. Here are the three recipes - definitely sounds worth a try. If anyone tries it, please post a comment on it and let us know how it turned out. Now, here are the recipes...

Italian Bread Dipping Sauce - Recipe #1
Submitted by: Kristina
"I am not sure but if this is the dipping sauce for Johnny Carrino's here is how they do it.Take minced garlic and fry it just until it is brown and crunchy (be careful to watch closely because Garlic burns quickly) take out and place on a paper towel. When you are ready to serve place a pinch of italian herbs (dried purchased in store) on a saucer and a tsp. of the fried garlic and pour fresh extra virgin olive oil over the top. It is also good if you put a little grated parmesan in the mix and I also like to put a dash of balsamic vinegar in it."

Italian Bread Dipping Sauce - Recipe #2
Submitted by: Jackie
Herbed Bread Dipping Oil
Ingredients:
1 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried rosemary
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. parsley flakes
1 tsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. fresh minced garlic
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/4 - 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions:Combine ingredients in a shallow bowl. Pour olive oil over. Serve withcrusty bread cubes for dipping.

Italian Bread Dipping Sauce - Recipe #3
Submitted by: Sue B.
FOR: Linda
FROM: SUE B.
CLASSIC ITALIAN BREAD DIP
Prep. Time: 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS: 4 shakes McCormick Italian Seasoning, 2 to 3 shakes McCormick Crushed Red Pepper, 2 twists McCormick Sea Salt Grinder, 2 shakes grated Parmesan cheese, 2 tbsp's. olive oil.DIRECTIONS: Twist and shake Italian seasoning, red pepper, sea salt and Parmesan cheese onto a small plate or bowl. Pour olive oil over spices to cover and moisten. Serve as a dipping sauce with your favorite crusty bread.

Labels: bread dip, easy recipes, herbs, homemade mixes, Italian bread dipping, Italian recipes, olive oil, recipes found

Posted by HappySlob :: 11:50 AM :: 0 comments

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Wednesday, August 01, 2007 Jeannie's Banana Split Cake - a Lighter Version of the Summertime Dessert Favorite

Banana Split Cake
Thanks again go to Jeannie for sending in this delicious recipe. This one has been lightened up a bit, so help yourself to two servings! ;)

A lighter version of the easy no-bake desert. This has
fresh strawberries and bananas as well as pineapple and
maraschino cherries. Makes 1 - 9x13 inch pan

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 cups confectioners sugar
4 bananas
1 (20 ounce) can crushed
pineapple, drained
1 quart strawberries, stemmed
and quartered
1 1/2 cups sugar free
strawberry glaze
1 (12 ounce) container lite
frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (10 ounce) jar maraschino
cherries, drained and quartered


Directions
1 In a medium bowl, mix together the graham cracker
crumbs and melted butter. Press into the bottom of a 9x13
inch baking pan. Chill to set.
2 In a large bowl, mix together the cream cheese, butter
and confectioners' sugar until smooth and creamy. Spread
over the chilled graham cracker crust. Arrange the sliced
bananas over the cream cheese mixture. Then cover with the
drained crushed pineapple. Place strawberries cut side down
over the pineapple layer, then coat with the strawberry
glaze. Spread the whipped topping over the strawberry layer,
decorate with maraschino cherries and sprinkle with chopped nuts.
3 Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving
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Labels: 9x13 pan, canned pineapple, graham crackers, no bake desserts, no bake recipes, summer desserts, summertime cooking

Posted by HappySlob :: 10:36 AM :: 0 comments

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Old Fashioned Corn Pudding Recipe - a Great Way to Use Fresh Corn

Corn Pudding Recipe
Thanks to Jeannie for this recipe!
I think it would be a wonderful way to use up some fresh corn...delicious! And makes an interesting and unique side dish.

1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons sugar
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups whole kernel corn
4 large eggs
4 cups milk
In a lightly buttered casserole dish, combine flour, salt, and sugar; mix in corn and butter. Beat eggs and add to milk. Stir into the corn mixture. Preheat oven to 450°.Place in oven for 10 minutes.

For more casserole recipes: Our Casserole Recipe Collection on the Kitchen Crafts 'n' More Site!

Labels: corn on the cob, corn pudding, corn recipes, fresh corn, old fashioned recipes

Posted by HappySlob :: 10:32 AM :: 1 comments

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Ginger Peach Upside Down Cake Recipe

Ginger Peach Upside-Down Cake
Source: Wild Oats Marketplace newsletter.
Thanks to Dorina for sending it in!

Peaches
1 1/2 lbs. ripe peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced (1/2-inch thick)*
1/4 c. chopped crystallized ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
3 Tbs. unsalted butter
1/3 c. sugar

Cake
2 1/2 c. unbleached flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. dried ginger
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 c. raw cane sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. milk

Preheat oven to 350°F. Toss sliced peaches with ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside.

Sift together flour with baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl beat sugar with butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each. Add vanilla. Add flour mixture and milk, alternately. Mix until smooth. Set aside.

Heat a 10 to 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add three tablespoons butter and a third-cup sugar. Cook until golden brown and bubbling, stirring occasionally. Arrange gingered peaches on the bottom of the pan. Pour batter over the peaches.

Bake 45 to 50 minutes, until golden brown and firm in the center.

Allow to cool for 20 minutes, run a knife around the cake and invert onto a serving plate. Serve warm topped with vanilla or cinnamon ice cream.

*How to Peel Peaches: Prepare a bowl of ice water, place in kitchen sink. Score the bottom of each peach with an X using a paring knife. Bring a large pot of water to a bowl. Place peaches gently into the water. Allow to simmer for 15 seconds. Remove from water with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl of ice water. Cool until easy to handle, then peel off the skin, starting at the X. Discard skin, halve and remove the pits.

Labels: cinnamon, easy cakes, fresh peaches, ginger, healthy baking, healthy food, peach recipes, ripe peaches

Posted by HappySlob :: 10:30 AM :: 0 comments

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New Cleaning Recipe - Healthy Disinfectant Spray (with Baking Soda and Essential Oils) _ Natural Cleaning Recipes

We're all trying to reduce the number of harmful chemicals we use around our home. With this in mind, I wrote a new article on how to make your own disinfectant/cleaning spray with baking soda and essential oils. Hope you'll enjoy trying this natural cleaning recipe!

Labels: baking soda, disinfectant, essential oils, healthy homes, lavender, lemon oil, natural cleaning, natural disinfectant, orange oil

Posted by HappySlob :: 10:25 AM :: 0 comments

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Removing Mold from a Carpet

Doris recently wrote in with this question:

"Do your readers have a suggestion to get mold off a carpet? I moved some things off the floor and found that something had spilled.Thanks."

If anyone has some helpful suggestions, please send them in to me at christina@happyslob.com Thanks!

Labels: carpet cleaning, help for readers, how to clean, mold, readers questions

Posted by HappySlob :: 10:22 AM :: 1 comments

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Recipe Requests of the Week - Italian Bread Dipping Sauce and Healthy Cookies with Prunes and Beet Sugar

Hi everyone,

It's time for our weekly recipe requests! I have two very different requests this week for recipes that both of our readers are desperately looking for. Can you help? If you have one of these recipes, please send it to me now at christina@happyslob.com. Thanks!

Christina

Recipe Request #1
Italian Bread Dipping Sauce (from an Italian Restaurant)
Requested by: Linda
Here's Linda's email to me:
"I went to an Italian Restaurant
they gave us bread
and a dipping sauce.
It looked like some herbs and then the waitress
drizzled olive oil over it.
When I asked her what was in it she didn't give me the recipe but said it was herbs, bread crumbs and olive oil.
I was wondering if anyone has a recipe for something like this?
thanks
Linda"

Recipe Request #2
Healthy Cookies from Woman's Weekly
with Pureed Prunes and Beet Sugar
Requested by: Jerri
"I am looking for a cookie recipe that was in a weekly woman's newspaper/magazine - I think it was called Women's Weekly or something like that.
It was a 'copycat' recipe of a new cookie that was being sold that was 'good' for you - it had beet sugar, pureed prunes, etc. It was SOOO popular , the health food stores could not keep the beet sugar in stock.

I think it had oat flour and maybe mini chocolate chips for flavor and appeal and had a couple other flavors. It was advertised as a 'diet' cookie, filled your sweet tooth, but the ingredients were good for you and worked for you.

Sorry, I can't remember anymore details.
Help?
Thanks!!
Jerri"

To look through our online Recipe Box of Recipes Found visit: http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net/recipesfound.html

Labels: copycat recipes, find a lost recipe, find a recipe, healthy cookies, Italian bread dipping, Italian recipes, lost recipes, magazine recipes, recipe box, woman's weekly magazine

Posted by HappySlob :: 10:15 AM :: 0 comments

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