Where to Donate All That Stuff?!?

Does this look familiar? This was one of those days, there were a few too many projects going! As you already know if you have been following our blog, my sister and I are a little bit nutty and we have a love hate relationship with organizing and stuff...love to organize..hate the mess! It always gets worse before it gets better, so don't be discouraged when you're in the middle of a mess. Lately Tammi and I have been texting pictures of our messes to each other, you always need a little humor in the middle of a mess! Getting organized isn't usually an hour long episode, it sometimes takes days, but it will get done and you will feel so much better when you know where things are and aren't wasting time looking for things. I have copied some links to places that will take some of your unwanted, things. Most places also have local charities too, so check your area for these. Some places will even come and pick it up for you. In any case remember, if it's or broken, torn or outdated or smells musty, it will have to be thrown away. They will only accept items in good and usable condition. You can check out any of these websites to see exactly what they will and won't take.

• You can sign up at Good Donor they support multiple charities and have a list of dates to choose from and when they will be in your area.
• There is also Goodwill they will take most things from furniture to clothing.
• To support several worldwide and local programs, including emergency services, addiction dependency and community outreach Salvation Army.
• Lupus donations are sold to raise money to fund vital programs and services for people and families living with Lupus.

For more tips and ideas, we always love what Peter Walsh, organizing guru has to say. He has daily 10-15 minute projects to help get you organized. You can watch the video 31Days2GetOrganized to get started!

~Simply Angie

Meat Lovers Prime Rib

If you have meat lovers in your family, a simple dish for a special occasion is prime rib. It is very easy to make, so delicious, and also makes great leftovers, my husband's favorite is french dip sandwiches!
What you need:
4 pound boneless standing rib roast
2 Tablespoons thyme
2 Tablespoons rosemary
1 T parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
1 T coarse ground pepper
1/4 cup olive oil

• Preheat oven to 325F.
• Start by cutting the fat off the top of the roast. Make sure you save it because you will want to place it over the top of the meat after you season it.
• Mix all of the seasonings together then stir in the olive oil. I use my fingers to spread the seasonings and oil onto the meat. 
• After you have seasoned the meat, return the fat back onto the top of the roast. Place in a baking dish (I use a cake pan 9x13). If you have a roasting pan with a rack, that would work great too. 
• For medium rare, I baked mine for 2 hours, or until your meat thermometer reaches 130F. Remove your prime rib from the oven and let it rest for 15 minutes in the pan before you slice it. 
• I used organic aujus in small bowls for dipping each bite - yummy-licious!

~ Simply Tammi

Shabby Chic Wall Decor

This is a simple little DIY project that takes about an hour to complete. I started with a canvas and our grandma's vintage dress to make a wall hanging for my shabby chic bathroom. The dress material was rather thin, so I placed a layer of thin quilt batting under it. I followed the steps 1-4 instructions from one of our popular posts, Simply DIY Memo or Picture Board . I sewed a ruffle from the hem of the dress and attached it to the canvas with hot glue. If you don't sew, you could use another kind of edging such a lace or a pre-made ruffle. I used hot glue to attach the fabric flower to the corner. Instructions to make the fabric flower are from our post, Simply DIY Fabric Flowers.
Happy decorating and remember to use what you already have!
~ Simply Tammi

Delicious Creme Brulee

 

 Happy 2013!  We are celebrating with a quaint little meal this New Year's Eve. The rest of the family didn't want to be around me anyway since my sister and I picked up some sort of nasty little cold bug over the holidays. My sister gave me some vanilla beans (yum) and a kitchen torch for Christmas so you know what that means, yep...creme brulee! If you have never made this before, now is the time! I divided the recipe into 3 parts because it's easier for me to keep track of the steps that way. I hope it helps in case this is the first time you've made it.
Ingredients:
Start with:
2 cups heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, cut it down the middle and scrape out the insides
1/3 cup sugar
Egg Mixture:
5 egg yolks, room temperature
1/4 c sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Topping:
1/2 cup white sugar

• Before you start, you will need 4 ramekins (little glass oven-proof containers) for your creme brulee and a small kitchen torch for the caramelized topping. 
• Preheat your oven to 300F.
• In a medium saucepan, combine the heavy cream, vanilla bean and insides, and 1/3 cup sugar. Stir together over medium heat. Heat until small bubbles form on the sides of the pan but don't boil the mixture. It took mine about 8 minutes and I kept stirring the entire time.

• Once your mixture is done, remove from the heat and let it sit for about 20 minutes.
• While this is cooling, use a mixing bowl to whisk the egg yolks, sugar and vanilla extract.
• Now comes the tricky part, you will need to temper your eggs which means you will add a small amount of the cream mixture to the whisked egg yolk mixture. Start with about a 1/4 cup of the cream mixture and pour it into the egg yolks, keep whisking as you add the cream. Continue to add small amounts of the cream until it's all mixed in with the egg yolks.
• I used a fine screened strainer and poured the mixture through the strainer into a 4 cup glass measuring cup. This will remove any extra pieces of vanilla bean or other items that we don't want in our creme brulee. 
• I had a little foam on the top of my mixture so I removed it with a spoon. Pour liquid evenly into 4 ramekins.

• I used a 9x13 inch cake pan and placed my ramekins in that. Carefully pour water into your baking pan but don't get any water in your ramekins. Your water should come about halfway up the outside of your ramekins.
• Carefully place pan in oven and bake for 35-40 minutes. Mine took 40 minutes. You want them a little jiggly in the center, but mostly set.
• Carefully remove the ramekins from the baking pan and set on a cooling rack for 30 minutes. 
• Cover the tops with plastic wrap and place them in the refrigerator. You want them to cool at least 2 hours before you prepare the tops.
• For the topping, sprinkle about 1-2 Tablespoons of sugar over the top of each ramekin. It should cover the top. Using a kitchen torch hold the flame and move it in a circular motion about 1-2 inches from the top. It's easier if you start in the middle and work toward the edges. The sugar will bubble and caramelize on the top. I like mine lightly caramelized but you can caramelize it more if you want.

• Let it sit for 5 minutes and enjoy your creme brulee!

~ Simply Tammi