Whimsical Winter Crop!

We have a big crop going on this weekend!  I hope you will join us for fun, challenges, games and prizes!

You could win one of these:

Or something else fun!  We'll also have some great class and kit specials going on!!
See you there. :)

Spinach Salad

We have two favorite spinach salad recipes.  I am sure I posted these before but when I made all of the blog changes, I accidentally deleted a bunch. Anyhow, here they are! I hope you enjoy them. :)

Warm Spinach and Mushroom Salad
















4 slices bacon
2 eggs
2 teaspoons white sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound spinach
1/4 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced

DIRECTIONS:
Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Crumble and set aside. Reserve 2 tablespoons bacon fat.
Place eggs in a saucepan and cover completely with cold water. Bring water to a boil. Cover, remove from heat, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, peel and cut in wedges.
Return 2 tablespoons bacon fat to skillet, stir in sugar, vinegar, water and salt. Keep warm.
Wash and remove stems from spinach, dry thoroughly and break into pieces in salad bowl. Pour warm dressing over and toss until coated.
Top salad with mushrooms and bacon, garnish with egg.


Spinach Salad (from my friend, Christine)

(beware of little fingers stealing the "goodies" out of this! LOL)















Fresh Spinach leaves
Pine Nuts
Cranberries

Dressing:
¼ cup each of balsamic vinegar and olive oil
1-3 cloves crushed garlic cloves
4 TBS brown sugar
*Combine first three ingredients in a large bowl. Mix dressing ingredients then toss everything together when ready to serve.

Black Bean Soup

Here's an easy and tasty recipe I said I'd share with you.  This is filling and is low in calories/WW points. I am not familiar with the new WW points plus, so this is the old point value.

Black Bean Soup
(the original recipe is "spicy" black bean soup but my kids can't handle too much spice so I took it out.  We did however add a big scoop of spicy salsa to the adult bowls this time and it was a yummy addition.) I think this one is from my friend, Becky. :)

Black Bean Soup
POINTS® Value: 3 Servings: 8 (about 1 ½ cups each)
1 medium onion(s), finely chopped
4 medium garlic clove(s), minced
3- 15 oz cans canned black beans, undrained
1 tsp ground cumin (or more!!)
14 1/2 oz fat-free chicken broth, or vegetable broth
10 oz canned tomatoes with green chilies,
11 oz canned yellow corn, drained

Instructions
1. Coat bottom of a large stockpot with cooking spray. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until onions are soft but not brown, about 5 minutes.
2. Place one can of beans in blender; add sautéed onion mixture and cumin. Cover and blend on high until smooth, about 30 seconds. Pour mixture back into stockpot. (**I ususally just combine steps 2 and 3 and blend it all in the pot with my hand blender.  I also blend the tomatoes so my kids don't eat around them. lol).
3. Place second can of beans and broth in blender and puree until smooth; add to stockpot.
4. Stir third can of beans (do not puree first), tomatoes and green chilies, and corn into stockpot. Bring to a boil, lower heat to medium and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
**Serve with chips, avacado or toppings of your choice.  (Extra pts.)

Sketches, sketches and more sketches! (plus a peek!)

I am so excited about our next class- a sketch class! (Feb.1-15) We have 15 sketches plus a couple of bonus double page sketches to share along with samples, tips and techniques by our Inspired to Scrap Design Team and Guest Designers.

I love sketches because you can use them and adapt them to fit your needs...use any papers, photos, etc. that you want.  I also love the challenge of trying to get them all completed during the class period (without deadlines, I don't think I would ever get any scrapping done!)

Here's a peek at one of my sketches this class-

I hope you will consider joining us and challenging yourself to complete at least 15 layouts in February!  We have several fun prizes lined up- little things and big things!!! It's going to be a blast...see you there.

Stacey

Menu Planning Monday

 Happy Monday!  This is going to be a really crazy busy month for me...menu planning is going to help ease a bit of the stress and help us stick to our budget.  I have healthy meals planned for the week to help us stick to our healthy eating goals (baked and ate too many cookies last month! LOL) This is an old photo that I have already posted, but I don't have a new one right now so this will have to do. :) This is tonight's dinner- yum!

Do you have a plan for the week? Here's mine-

Monday- Lean and Green Chili, steamed cauliflower
Tuesday- Tacos and beans
Wednesday- CP Santa Fe Chicken, rice
Thursday- Black bean soup with chips and guacamole (I can't believe I haven't shared this recipe...I will take a pic and post it later in the week!)
Friday- Garlic chicken with broccoli
Saturday- Split Pea soup with bread
Sunday- Lentil and chicken soup
 
For more menu planning ideas, visit http://www.orgjunkie.com/ !!  

So busy!

I can't believe how busy I have been lately.  Between the kids, the house, getting ready for the holidays, taking a girl's trip to CA and Inspired to Scrap, my time just vanishes!

Anyhow, I wanted to share a few things that are going on around here.  :)
1. I am having a great time being inspired in our journaling class right now!  Our designers and guest designer are amazing and have such fabulous ideas! (you can totally still join if you want to!!! Scroll down here to register- http://www.inspiredtoscrap.net/store-kits-and-classes )


2. I've been scrapping and sketching...but it's been mostly for classes. :( I will share a little peeky though!! This is from an upcoming challenge in the journaling class currently going on.)

3. I am still menu planning!  I do it every week without fail.  But lately, we've been making lots of the same old boring and easy meals.  I have just had a hard time finding a lot of time to cook. Here's a yummy and easy recipe we had last night (and have had many times). Everyone loves this here!
Black Beans and Rice

Kielbasa (I use the lean turkey variety)
2 cans black beans-drained and rinsed (I dumped in one can without draining it)
1 can diced tomatoes (Mexican if you have them) (not drained)
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
cooked white rice
avocado-optional but really good with it

Slice the sausage into bite-sized pieces. Throw it in a skillet and sear. Toss the garlic, cook another minute or two then add the beans and tomatoes and let it all simmer.

Serve the bean mixture over rice and garnish with sliced avocado.
YUM!!!!
Have you cooked anything easy and yummy lately that I can add to our rotation??

4. Haven't had ANY time at the sewing machine in months. :( This totally makes me sad.  I need to find time in 2011 for some sewing.  I have several quilts and other projects I want to work on.
Have you made anything fun lately???
 
Let me know you are still around!  I will try to be better about updating my blog. :)
Stacey

Have you entered to win??

We are giving away a free journaling class on Inspired to Scrap!  Have you entered?  Just leave a comment on this blog post to enter.  You can become a fan of I2S on Facebook as well for another entry (be sure to leave a comment if you do!!). Go to the post!

You can also see a video on making some little flowers and enter to win some chipboard letters on the forum.  :)

Here's a peek at a project how-to I will be sharing next week on the forum-

Happy Friday!
Stacey