Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

I think everyone in our family loves these little cookies! I remember helping my Grandma and Mom make these delicious cookies! I have seen different names for them, but we have always called them Peanut Butter Blossom cookies. They are yummy-licious!
Ingredients:
1/2 c softened butter or shortening
1/2 c peanut butter (I use homemade peanut butter, recipe link below, or use your favorite brand)
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 bag of chocolate kisses (unwrapped) or you can use chocolate star candies
Mix the butter, peanut butter and sugars together. Add egg and vanilla and mix until blended. Add the dry ingredients and mix until dough sticks together. Roll dough into one inch balls with your hands then roll or dip in about 1/3 cup white sugar. Place on parchment covered baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes in a 325F oven. Carefully remove baking sheet and add a chocolate candy kiss or a chocolate star candy. Place back into the oven for 2-5 minutes, the chocolate candies should be shiny.
Let cool on a baking rack for about 10 minutes and remove from pan. Store in an airtight container. This recipe makes about 40 cookies. You might want to double the batch if you have cookie lovers in your family! If you're feeling brave, use your food processor to make some homemade peanut butter here's the link:
Peanut Butter.

Love and peace,
Tammi

DIY Easter Eggs Garland or Wreath

This little DIY project started because my daughter wanted some Easter egg garland for her fireplace mantle. I found a cute little wreath on Pinterest and thought I would make the eggs and string them on ribbon for Easter garland. So the project began. I enjoy working on DIY projects but this one almost took me to the edge - haha!! It seemed so easy and I thought the eggs were cute but this was a more time consuming than I had planned and so messy that I almost gave up! My family made fun of me for a whole weekend because I would not stop until I got these little eggs done. I admit some of the issues were my own fault and I don't like getting my fingers sticky unless I'm making bread, so it'll be awhile before I work on another project like this! To make matters worse, I made my own liquid starch using cornstarch and water. The first batch was too thin, so I had to add more cornstarch and start over with my messing fingers, dipping and wrapping. Happy crafting!
Where to start:
embroidery floss (1 packet per balloon)
water balloons
1 c liquid starch and 1/2 c flour

• I made 20 eggs so I blew up 20 water balloons. I used a few different sizes and they are in the shape of an egg after you blow them up. This was my first challenge, I don't like blowing up balloons.
• Pour the liquid starch mixture onto a plate so you can dip the floss into it. This is messy. A tip to make your life easier. Make sure you unroll each floss package before you start dipping it, or you will have a big knot of floss.Yes, this happened to me several times before I figured it out!
• Start wrapping the wet floss around the balloon until the you have used the package of floss. I would recommend you use some tension when wrapping, you don't want the floss loose. This took about 2 hours.
• Lay the balloon on parchment or waxed paper and let them dry. It takes almost 24 hours for the eggs to dry.

• Once the eggs are dry, pop the balloon with a pin and pull the popped balloon out of the egg using a pin or tweezers to remove all of the balloon pieces.
• If you are making a wreath, I would hot glue the eggs together. I placed them in a shape of a wreath so you could see what it looks like. I think the wreath is cute.
• The eggs can also be used as decorations around a candle holder, in a basket or glass bowl.
• For my egg garland, I cut 3 1/2 yards of ribbon for the mantle and threaded the ribbon through each egg using a tweezers to pull the ribbon through to the other side of the egg. You can arrange them with space between or close together.
• That's it. Sounds easy, doesn't it? They really are cute when they are done so it was worth all of the messiness and time but I'd rather be quilting - haha!!

Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Oriental Chicken and Noodles

My good friend, Jennifer, shared this recipe a few years ago and I've been making it ever since! I like it because it is simple to make and I usually have all of the ingredients on hand. My taste testers love this!
Marinade Ingredients:
4 T soy sauce
2 T corn starch
3 cloves garlic (minced or chopped) or garlic powder (to taste)
Veggies, Pasta and Chicken:
2 chicken breasts, sliced or cut into pieces (remove bones and skin)
1/2 package or 2 cups low mein noodles or your favorite pasta (linguine, fettuccine, spaghetti, or egg noodles)
1 package of frozen Oriental stir fry vegetables or 4 cups if you use fresh ingredients
Directions:

• Mix marinade ingredients together and place in a baggie, add the chicken (uncooked) and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes cook chicken and marinade in a large frying pan for about 5-7 minutes. 
• While chicken is cooking, boil noodles and veggies together about 8-10 minutes. (I use my pasta pan).
• Drain veggies/noodles and stir in the chicken and marinade.
• Add water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, cashews, almonds or any other of your favorite ingredients.
• Cook on low hear for about 5-10 minutes.
• You may add a little water or more soy sauce if it is too thick.

This recipe serves 4-6 people. Enjoy!
Love and peace,
~ Simply Tammi

Updating Your Switch Plates and Outlet Covers

I am so excited that winter is leaving us! I started spring housecleaning last week and I am still working 

on too many projects!
My husband painted our powder room (guest bathroom) last weekend so I decided to cover the switch plate and outlet cover. I had originally planned to paint them but I decided to use some of my favorite vintage material scraps and Mod Podge. I thought this would be the perfect material for my Shabby Chic theme.

You only need a couple of items for this little project, Mod Podge and material of your choice. I started by placing my covers upside down on the material, then using a scissors, I cut the material around them, leaving about 1/4 inch around the outside. I used an x-acto knife to cut out the sections for the switches. Leave a little extra material so you can tuck the edges inside.

Using a small paint brush, apply Mod Podge onto the covers then place the material over the top. Start to smooth the material using your fingers and pressing down. I did not cut holes for the screws, I used the tip of

the knife and just poked a small hole for each screw.

Mine were dry in about an hour and ready to attach to the outlets.

 

 

 

Have some DIY fun with this little project!

Love and peace,

~ Simply Tammi