Year: 2011

Cookie Cake Pie

You’ll need:

  • A batch of cookie dough
  • A single batch of cake batter (I’ll be honest–I used Rainbow Chip)
  • A single pie crust
  • Enough frosting for a birthday cake

Cookie Dough
First, prepare one batch of chocolate chip cookie dough. You can leave this in the fridge or to the side while you prepare the rest.

Next, prepare a single pie crust and line it into a pie plate. I considered blind-baking it, but ultimately did not, and I thought it turned out fine.
Cookie dough in pie crust
Place the cookie dough inside of the pie crust and using your fingers or a spoon, spread it so that it evenly coats the bottom of the crust. Mine was about an inch thick; I had enough cookie dough leftover to make about three big cookies, or one massive cookie dough snack.
At this point, you might want to pre-heat the oven. I considered each of the three recipes (pie, cookie and cake) and chose an average of 350 degrees.
Let the cookie-filled pie crust rest for a bit while you mix up some birthday cake. If I’m to be completely honest here, I used Rainbow Chip cake. Yes, from a mix. It just felt right, and it added such a nice color contrast. Don’t judge me.
Pouring Cake Batter on Cookie dough in Pie Crust
Pour cake batter directly on top of the cookie dough til the pie crust is about 2/3 filled. The cake will rise, so you want to leave room for it. You will probably have leftover cake batter; why not make some cupcakes?
Let it Bake
Put this monster in the oven and check after about 25 minutes. I kept on checking every 5 minutes and think it ended up baking for about 30-40 minutes total. I took it out when the cake was golden around the edges.
Frost, GenerouslyFrost it!
Let cool, and frost generously with buttercream frosting (mine was approximately an inch thick–this is not the time for moderation). Garnish as desired; I thought sprinkles were festive and pretty.
Yum
Finally–and most importantly–enjoy. GREAT IDEA=VIA

Jug Heads

To liven up the laundry room, mount a menagerie of plastic-jug trophy heads. Our hunting grounds yielded the makings of a pig, a warthog, and an antelope, but your recycling bin may suggest a different animal collective.

Materials

  • Masking tape
  • Clean plastic jug
  • Craft knife
  • Scissors
  • Cotton swab (optional)
  • Rubbing alcohol (optional)
  • Cleaner, such as Goo Gone (optional)
  • Pushpin
  • Wooden skewer
  • Floral wire (we used 18-gauge)
  • Assorted plastic recyclables, such as milk-jug caps, twist caps, cutlery, and hangers
  • Glue dots
  • Duct tape
  • Adhesive-backed Velcro
  • Fishing line
Complete photo instructions HERE

Painting Perfect Stripes

 

The secret to painting perfect stripes is to: (Lets imagine you are painting black stripes onto a white wall.)

1. Tape off the stripe with blue painters tape.

2. Paint over the edge of the tape with the base color (white).

3. Let dry completely.

4. THEN paint the black.

This method allows the white to fill in any areas that might have allowed the black to seep or feather through.

 

Buffalo Chicken Appetizers: Bites and Dip

Buffalo Bites!

1 T. olive oil
1 boneless chicken breast, cut into 4 strips
Salt and pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 T. Frank’s Red Hot
2 T. chopped celery
1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury reduced fat crescent rolls
1 T. parsley
½ c. blue cheese or ranch dressing (I use ranch, my husband likes blue cheese)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a small skillet heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil over medium heat. Season the chicken strips with salt and pepper. Add the chicken strips and cook for 5-7 minutes or until there is no more pink. Remove chicken from pan and place on a cutting board.

3. Using two forks shred the chicken. Put it back into the skillet along with the garlic, Red Hot, and celery.

4. Meanwhile, unroll the crescent rolls on a cookie sheet. Divide into 8 triangles. Cut each triangle in half from the point to the middle of the longest side, making 16 triangles. Place 1 T. of chicken mixture on the center of each triangle. Bring the three corners to the center over the chicken filling and pinch together. Brush each chicken bite with the remaining 1 teaspoon of oil. Sprinkle with parsley.

5. Bake 13-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with ranch or blue cheese for dipping. via

 

Buffalo Dip!

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 c. ranch salad dressing
  • 1/2 c. buffalo sauce
  • 1/2 c. bleu cheese crumbles, or mozzarella
  • 2 c. chicken, shredded

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350°F.  Blend the cream cheese, salad dressing, and buffalo sauce until combined; stir in bleu/mozzarella cheese and chicken.

Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes in a sprayed, deep baking dish until heated through.

Serve with crackers, pita chips, sliced bread, vegetables, or tortilla chips. via

Check out Paula’s great cheesey blog with yummy photos at: theculinarycheesehead.com

Scribble Coasters

 

You will need:

1. Bubble wrap with large bubbles

 

2. Selection of colourful carrier bags

 

3. Thread

 

4. Sewing machine

 

5. Iron

 

6. Ironing board

 

7. Teflon sheets or baking parchment / Baking paper

 

8. Felt off cuts at least 10cm sq.

Check out Julie’s website for the instructions and more great recycled crafts!