Summer Fun + A Recipe

Good morning!  We have a new challenge for you at Ruby's Rainbow; for this fortnight I chose the challenge and it is...Summer Fun + A Recipe...1 Image, 2 Patterned Papers, 3 Embellishments.  Sound Fun?  Good, I hope you will play along!

I combined this challenge with some others at Paper Playful...sometimes it's fun to see how many challenges you can incorporate!  I used one of Faith's adorable Birdbrains and colored her up in a bright, cheery summer palette.  Of course, I've used some glitter to enhance the image!  I've embellished with a sparkly sun and some clouds, plus the 3 buttons.  Here's a close-up:

Image: From the Heart Stamps "Inner Tube Birdbrain" Digital Set
Ink: Printer
Paper: G.P. 110 CS, PTI Harvest Gold CS, SU! Pacific Point CS, Doodlebug Sugar Coated CS, Echo Park Patterned Papers
Embellies: Martha Stewart Crystal Fine Glitter, Doodlebug Glitter (yellow), PTI Buttons/DMC Floss
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Paper Smooches Dies (clouds), The Cat's Pajamas CutUps Die (waves), Spellbinders Nestabilities, EK Success Punches (sun, circle), Foam Tape

Please check out the rest of the Ruby's Rainbow DT creations here, along with the challenge details.  We hope you will play along!

Also, here is a bit of midweek inspiration from From the Heart Stamps!  There is still time to play along with this week's Sketch Challenge:

Challenges entered:

A Snowflake's Promise: Summer Time
Come and Get It: Checks or Stripes
Crafting With Dragonflies: Summer Fun
Crafty Friends: #36 Use Your Dies
Just Add Ink: Sketch #320

Pile It On: Use Your Favorite Colors (brights)
The Crazy Challenge: Summer Fun
Use Your Stuff: Die Cuts and/or Punches

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela

Do you like brownies?

I've got a yummy recipe to share with you today!  Not too long ago, my daughter and I ate lunch at our favorite deli; the owner is known for her scratch-made goodies...cookies, bars, 5 layer cakes, cheesecakes, etc.  We decided to share an Oreo brownie...it was sooo good!  I told Ivy that she could probably Google a recipe so we could try them at home.  She was able to find a recipe and we tweaked it a bit...here it is:

Ultimate Oreo Brownies

1 box of your favorite brownie mix (for 9x13 pan), prepared per package instructions
12 Oreos, quartered
1 teaspoon vanilla

Add Oreos and vanilla to brownie batter.  Transfer to prepared pan and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.  Check them early, so they don't overbake.  Cool completely.  Prepare frosting.

Buttercream Frosting

6 tablespoons softened butter
3 tablespoons cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon milk
2 cups powdered sugar

Beat with mixer until smooth.  Frost brownies.  Top with crushed Oreos, followed by a drizzle of hot fudge ice cream topping.

Note: The picture is from the first batch that my daughter made.  I made the second batch and crushed the Oreos for the top a bit more.  Also, I warmed up the fudge topping just a bit so I could drizzle it over the top.  If it's cold, you get more of a "blob"...which isn't all bad if you are really into fudge!  LOL

These are amazing!  My husband served one to our contractor yesterday, who is not a huge chocolate fan, and he said they were "more than a brownie" and "the best brownie he ever had".  Pretty high praise for something prepared from a mix with a few quick add-ins!  This recipe is a keeper.

Hope you are having a great day!  I promise to be back soon with blog candy....

Angela

Good morning! I don't have a card to share today, but I wanted to share a photo of the cupcakes DD and I made yesterday. We made the "Malted Milk Cupcakes". They are so yummy! You are supposed to crush the malted milk balls to garnish the top, but with 2 kids helping out, I thought we would just go with a single malted milk ball. The buttercream frosting is flavored with malted milk powder, while the cupcake itself is a very light chocolate with milk chocolate chips.

If you have kids (or just enjoy cupcakes), this cookbook would be the one for you! The recipes start with a cake mix and you add a lot of extras. By the time you are done, you would never know you started with a mix; the cupcakes are truly delicious! The book includes many original flavors; it is hard to decide which one you will make....

That's all for today. I'll be back tomorrow with a card for Verve's 3rd anniversary blog hop. Thanks for stopping by; I'll see you then!

Angela

Chicken Taco Soup

No card this morning, but I wanted to share a really good recipe. It was given to me by my friend Melissa who I "met" over on SCS.

I served it for supper last night and it is so good! My DH, DS and I all love it...DD won't touch it! LOL Maybe it's because she's a tween.... I say "black", she says "white"! Does this happen at anybody else's house?

Chicken Taco Soup

1 onion, finely chopped

1 can chili beans

1 can corn

1 large can tomato sauce

1 large can diced tomatoes/chilies

1 package taco seasoning

1 12 ounce can beer

2-3 chicken small chicken breasts

Combine all ingredients in Crock Pot. Cook on low for 5 hours. Remove chicken breasts and shred; return to pot for 1 hour.

I like to add a can of black beans as well. If you do, it won't fit in a 4 quart Crock Pot; you will need a larger one. Last night I substituted hominy for the corn and it tasted wonderful; really, you could add both.

I like to garnish the soup with shredded Co-Jack cheese, a dollop of sour cream and Fritos. You could also use black olives, green onions, etc.

***I think the "secret ingredient" is the can of beer. We are not drinkers, so I send DH out to buy a can of beer just so I can make this soup; it is really yummy!***

That's all for now.... I hope to be back later with a card. Stay warm and have a great day!

Angela