May Baskets Tutorial

Hi All.......I know it's been FOREVER since I've posted, thank you for not deleting yourselves from my Followers list. LOL I've been assigned full-time work for several months again. I don't know how you all do it.....work and family...... I admire you all so!!! It seems there isn't enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do.

I can't believe May is just around the corner. It's still cold, gray and windy here with a threat of frost this evening and some say there was a bit of ice and a few slushy snowflakes mixed with today's rain.

Although it may be cloudy outside, maybe a May Basket will bring a little sunshine to someone you know.

I started with a paper doily from a Dollar Store.

Make a circle out of poster board about 2 inches larger in diameter than the doily
My doilies were 8 inches across. I used a 10 inch salad plate which will be one inch larger than the doily all the way around.

Next I cut a decorative edge.

It helps to pre-fold your posterboard and the doily in half.

Apply glue, I love using the Elmers Glue sticks for these paper projects .

Secure the doily to the posterboard.

Unfold, then refold along the same crease only this time fold so the doily is on the inside.

Next,Punch a hole approx. 2 inches from the folded edge on both ends.

Unfold again, find the centerpoint of the crease, bringing the creased edges together

and overlap...........

Line up the holes..........

and secure with a staple.

Now it should look like two cones .......or tussy mussy twins, haha

Or, it could look like this with a square bottom.

Thread ribbons or lace or combination through the hole and tie to secure. Be sure to leave enough length to hang on a door knob, tie a bow or knot and I like to leave long trailing tails.

(sorry, I don't know how this got underlined...I can't get rid of it!!)

Next fill your May Baskets with flowers and goodies.
Growing up, we always picked dandelions and violets from the lawn to put in our May Baskets.
Really you can use whatever you may have in your garden.

Just 3 or 4 small stems is all it takes to dress up the basket. I wrap a wet piece of paper towel around the cut ends of the stems and then a small piece of plastic wrap and secure with a twist tie to keep the little bouquet fresher awhile longer.

Of course artificial flowers are always an option.

Then my Mom would pop corn,.......... today it's from a bag,

and her homemade Fudge has given way to Dollar Store junior candy bars.

I tuck them in a little paper shreds left over from the Easter Baskets!!

I made a couple dozen of these last year in a variety of colors and distributed to the ladies at work..........it makes me smile when I visit their offices and see some still have their May Basket hanging on their doorknob or pinned up on their cubicle wall!

Happy May Day Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sharing at these parties:

Inspiration Board Creative Party



 Show Off your Stuff Party at Fireflies and Jellybeans

http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/2011/04/show-off-your-stuff-party-72.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/XVSbu%20(Fireflies%20and%20Jellybeans

The Easter Dachshund

You've heard of the Peanuts character Charlie Brown

and his dog Snoopy as

the Easter Beagle??

Well,

we

have

an Easter Dachshund :D

She celebrated a little early this year........

Looking rather guilty.........

Yes, caught in the act.

I must admit it was my fault for leaving my purse on the floor

with the zipper open.

The temptation proved to be too much for her to resist.

She stuck her head in,

rooted around

and helped herself to bag of MM Peanuts that I'd tucked in,

as I most always have some sort a little pick me up at hand (fruit, nuts, 100 calorie packs, etc.) to munch on while driving, shopping or at my desk at work.

She sniffed them out

and took them back to her

"nest".

She's very tidy

and even took a packet a Kleenex

to wipe her paws!

Silly Millie, No Chocolate for Dachshunds!


Read more about Millie on my sidebar.
Don't deny yourself the pleasure of listening to
Peter Himmelman's Dixie the Dashchund song.
Just click on Millie's sidebar photo.
I simply cannot listen to that song too many times.
I love it. It makes me smile and sometime
I laugh myself to tears as I envision the lyrics.

Warm Hugs,

Blarney Cakes for St. Patrick's Day

A favorite sweet and salty treat

eaten at St. Patricks Day...... Blarney Stones

White Cake coated with Peanuts,

Here's how I make mine:

I start with a Betty Crocker White Cake Mix

Follow the box directions with the following exception:

The box directions are to add 1 1/4 cups water

I instead add 1 cup water and 1/4 cup milk

Also 1/2 tsp. mild vanilla extract

Bake in a jelly roll pan 11 x 15 inches



When cool, cut into single serving size pieces

I first thought a bar shape like a Twinkie,




But later decided on square.



Frosting ingredients:


32 ounce bag powdered/confectioners sugar
1/2 - 3/4 cup milk
1 cup Crisco White Solid shortening
1/2 teaspoon Clear Imitation Vanilla
1/4 teaspoon Almond flavoring



Combine with stand mixer 'til well blended and smooth
Blend in a few drops of green food coloring, if desired



I found it was easiest to use a piping bag
with a straight or rose tip to apply frosting

Pipe around all 4 sides, then the top.



Using a large spoon, such as a soup or serving spoon,
scoop up finely ground peanuts and
press against sides and top of cake
to coat well.




Grinding the peanuts is a breeze with my Magic Bullet.

To dress up my Blarneys a bit

I made cupcake picks

with these foil stickers I found at a Dollar store.

There were four sheets in the package

each with larger and smaller sized shamrock stickers.

I just peeled one off and applied to a toothpick

Then lined one up on the opposite side

so they stuck together

sandwiching the toothpick inside.

Then just insert into the cake.

Easy, Inexpensive and Cute!

Enjoy!

An Irish Friendship Wish

Even though I'm not Irish, I love all the Irish Blessings that surface this time of year. I received this one from my daughter so I'm passing it along to all of you.......

An Irish Friendship Wish

May there always be work for your hands to do;

May your purse always hold a coin or two;

May the sun always shine on your windowpane;

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;

May the hand of a friend always be near you;

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

May all your wishes come true,

Hugs

I Feel Cheated Somehow........

photo courtesy of Google

I was visiting Liz at Shortbread & Ginger and read her post about "Pancake Day".

Now.....

I have been a practicing Christian Protestant all my life.... attending Sunday School as a child, teaching Sunday School as an adult, singing in the choir, served on committees, etc...

and....

I'm sorry to say that at NO time do I ever recall any mention of the tradition of Pancake Day.....the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday!

So, of course......

I had to do some investigating and found lots of info here at Wikipedia see Shrove Tuesday and scroll down to the Traditions section.

I LOVE pancakes HOT off the griddle with lots of butter and warm syrup and occasionaly layered with applesauce inbetween!!

Although it may not be completely appropriate for Shrove Tuesday as I feel these are a bit more "gourmet", I would like to share my recipe for....

Banana Wheat Pancakes

1 cup wheat flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 Tablespoon granulated white sugar

Sift together the above dry ingredients.

2 Tablespoons butter, melted

1 egg, fork beaten

1 cup milk or just a bit more if you find the batter too thick

Stir together the above wet ingredients in seperate bowl,

then whisk together with dry ingredients.

2 - 3 bananas, coarsely mashed

Fold banana into batter.

Ladle onto med-hot griddle, which was previously wiped with a buttered paper towel. When bubbles appear and cakes look dry around the edges, turn with slotted metal spatula. Remove when underside is golden.

Serving suggestion: Garnish with whipped cream, sliced banana, chopped pecans and ,of course, warm syrup....not that store-bought flavorless kind, rather.......

My Grandma's Homemade Pancake Syrup

makes approx. 1 cup syrup

1/2 cup granulated white sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup water

1 - 2 Tablespoons butter

Bring to a rolling boil and continue with a slightly gentler rolling boil for 1 - 2 minutes. Cooking too long will result in a sticky, stringy syrup. Remove from heat and ladle onto pancakes. Also works fine to make it in the microwave.

Note: If you're having blueberry pancakes, an accompanying syrup can be made by substituting juice from unsweetened canned blueberries for some of the water.

Enjoy!