Wonder Hangers

I have a tiny closet.  After having a walk-in closet I could fit all my clothes in and a dresser.  I have a tiny closet.

I fit all my shoes in there in a couple different ways.  I have a crate full of sandals- mostly flip-flops, a shoe rack full of dress shoes, and a few pairs of tennis shoes on the floor.

I also have a crate full of purses.

Then some other little things on the floor.

I also put up a set of tie hooks on the wall by the shelf to hang all my necklaces and bracelets on.  I put a hook up for my belts.  I don't have anything to put my earrings on yet, but I'll find something.

My clothes would not fit on the rod.  They were crammed in.  Clothes don't like to be crammed.

Because I have a love for infomercials I saw the "Wonder Hangers" one time and I had to have them for this situation.

They were only $10 and you get 8 of them!

I forgot to take a before picture, but trust me it was crammed and I couldn't even get to my stuff.

Now, my OCD would not just let me put whatever on each hanger.  I put my skirts on two of them, jeans on one, dress pants on one, work shirts on another, and tank tops and a few sweaters on others.  Then the rest of my shirts and dresses I just kept on the rack.

If you need space in a small closet and can't afford built-ins and such, I highly recommend these.

Jessica’s Office & a Fabric Cork Board Before & After

My sister has a home office for her photography business and we're trying to decorate it in the most DIY and hand-me-down stuff we can.

Her desk was my mom's desk that my sister bought from her then my mom painted it white for Jessica's office.

Her desk chair was a hand-me-down from me.  I had it when I lived with my parents, but now I have no room for it, so it got passed on.

There's a corner cabinet that I also passed on to her.  Eventually, it's going to be painted the same color as the desk and some different hardware put on it.

These shelves came all the way from West Virginia.  They were going to be put up in their last apartment, but now they've found the perfect home.

I also handed down this lamp.  They had it in their apartment too.  Yeah, it's a little dusty :)

A love seat for clients to sit on, purchased on Craigslist (and another place for Chad to fall asleep at 7pm).  And a pillow bought at Target.

Zorro is something old, and will never go out of style.  He is always in the office and even sleeps on the desk next to Jessica.

Now let's get to the whole purpose for this post.  The cork board.  Another hand-me-down.  I think the cork board has come all the way from Ohio with my parents.  Now, it's Jessica's.  She bought the fabric at a local fabric store.

Before:

After:

This project was really easy.  I sprayed the cork board with spray adhesive then spread the fabric over it.  The glue is really sticky, so I recommend doing it a little at a time.  Then I had fabric hanging over the sides so I trimmed it then used a flathead screwdriver to push it under the frame.  I know it would have been easier to take the frame off and wrap the cork, but NO it couldn't be that easy.

The board will be hanging on Jessica's wall before too long.  I think it's going to look really good.

Disappearing Banana Bread

I have to apologize for the fact that it seems to take me a while to post.  I sometimes will start a post and my computer will have a little...issue, I guess.  Then I get frustrated because it's late, so then I just go to bed.  And, yes, I will get busy and forget about my blog.  But the good news is that I return to you.  Don't worry, I can't forget about you.

We suddenly collected this increasing pile of old bananas in our kitchen.  So, what else am I gonna do but make banana bread, right?!

For a banana bread recipe where else can I turn, but the good old trusty Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.

I had to double the recipe with all the bananas I had.

After heating up the oven, I grease the pan and I am super lazy,so it gets sprayed with canola oil :)

Mix all the dry ingredients and make a nice little well in the middle of the mix.  Another recipe that makes you use two different bowls.

Pile of nanners LOL

The potato masher was quite handy for this part.

Mix all the wet ingredients with the bananas and the sugar.

Pour the wet ingredients into the middle of your dry ingredient well.

Give everything a good stir.  And a note to Better Homes and Gardens: When you make someone who just had surgery a couple weeks ago stir by hand it kind of hurts a little, well mostly the muscles I haven't used in a LONG time.

Pour the batter into your loaf pans.  Yes, one is the Mama and one is the Baby LOL

Now, it's streusel time.  Mix flour, brown suga, and butta (sorry couldn't help the southern twang comin' out)

Mash the sugar, flour, and butter together in a small bowl.

Then cover the top of your pre-baked bread with the struesel.  I had a lot so every inch was covered and I still had some left over.

Look at that!  Now, your kitchen smells like bananas.  Trust me this loaf will not last long.  Hence the name of this post.  The smaller pan I showed in the pictures above, The Chad took to work and the guys ate just about the whole pan.  Then the larger one stayed at home and lasted about two days.  It was amazing.  Especially, the struesel.  We all agreed that made the bread much better.

Don't forget I had to double the recipe.  So, when you make it according to the Better Homes and Gardens recipe it will probably make one large loaf.

Make some...and invite me over.  I'll help you finish it off without any problem.

Side note:  Check out the Facebook page I just created!  Here!

PW’s Flat Apple Pie

I've noticed something going back through my previous entries.  I blog at night.  I am a night-blogger.

I'm a night cooker, too.  I guess I'm more of a night owl than I thought.

Anyway, now that the frivolous information is out of the way.  Let's get to the good stuff.

Apples.  Pie.

Two of the greatest words ever.  I love apples.  I love pie.

I grew up in Ohio and pretty close to Amish Country.  The Amish make the best pies ever.  I could never make anything close to an Amish-made pie.  I don't know what it is that they do, but they do it well.  So, I've had my fair share of pies and I love them.  I have to say apple is one of my favorites.  I tend to like Dutch Apple better than regular apple, but it's all good to me.

I bought the Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook a few months ago and so far everything I've made from it has been amazing.  This recipe included.

The recipe calls for The Pioneer Woman's pie crust, however, I didn't have any shortening, so I had to find another recipe using butter.  I know, I know, load on the fat, but whatever.  If you're gonna go for it then go for it, right?!

I think I may come up with some sort of prize for anyone who knows what this is.  (Jessica you cannot comment :))

Jessica bought the BIGGEST Granny Smith apples I've ever seen.

For the crust: first mix 1 1/4 cup of flour and 1/4 tsp salt

Add in 1/2 cup of cold butter, I used unsalted.  And mash the butter in with a pastry blender, or I had to use a fork.

Drizzle in 1/4 cup of water.  Mix it well.  I add a little at a time just in case you don't need to whole 1/4 cup.

Once it's all mixed form it and wrap it in plastic wrap then place it in the fridge for a few hours.

I sliced my apples with a mandolin and it's the greatest thing ever.  However, I sliced my fingers a couple of times.  So, if you have one USE THE GUARD!

Sprinkle the apples with some flour.

Then add some white sugar and some brown suga lol

After you give everything a good stir, it looks like this- all yummy, apple-ly, and sugary.

I used a pizza pan to bake the pie on.  Roll out your crust to about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.

Spoon half of the apple mixture onto the crust.

I gave it a sprinkle of cinnamon, even though the recipe didn't call for it, I just thought it needed it.

There ya have it.  At least most of the way to the deliciousness to come.

OOOOH Wait!  There's one more thing: add some bits of butter to the top :)

Oh yeah!  This is amazing.  I've never made any kind of pie, but I did this and I LOVE it!

Let me tell you, let me scream it from the rooftops, this woman knows what she's talking about.  And is my guru of cooking, so to speak.

This post took me 2 weeks to get it up on here.  I've had so much going on in my life lately that I didn't get a chance to get the post done.  However, I could not abandon it.  I had to post it.  You have to make this crust and the pie below.

This is the recipe from the book, and she has you make her crust too.  I, however, did not have any shortening, so I had to find a crust with butter.

Pioneer Woman's Flat Apple Pie

Ingredients:

• 5 peeled & sliced Granny Smith apples


• 2 tbsp. flour


• Juice of 1/2 lemon


• 1/2 c. sugar


• 1/2 c. brown sugar, packed


• 1/4 tsp. salt


• 1 recipe Perfect Pie Crust


• 6 tbsp. butter

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 375-degrees.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the apples, flour, lemon juice, granulated sugar, brown sugar and salt. Set aside.

3. Roll out two pie crusts into large circles. Place the circles on large baking sheets.

4. Place half the apple mixture on one crust and other half on the other crust.

5. Fold over the edge of each crust so that it covers 2-3 inches of the apple mixture. No need to be artistic - the more rustic the better.

6. Dot the tops of the pies with chunks of butter.

7. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the filling is golden and bubbly. If the crust appears to brown too quickly, cover the edges with aluminum foil for the remaining baking time.

8. All to cool slightly, then slice into wedges with a pizza cutter. Eat ‘em on the go!

Variation: For extra sweetness, drizzle on jarred caramel topping after removing the pie from the oven.

(makes 2 pies)

Pioneer Woman's Perfect Pie Crust

Ingredients:

• 3 c. flour


• 1 tsp salt


• 1 ½ c. vegetable shortening


• 1 egg


• 5 tbsp. cold water


• 1 tbsp. distilled white vinegar

Method:

1. Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl.

2. Add in the shortening. Using a pastry cutter, gradually work the shortening into the flour until the mixture resembles tiny pebbles. This should take 3-4 minutes.

3. Lightly beat the egg with a fork, then add it to the mixture. Next, add the cold water and vinegar.

4. Stir the mixture together until it's just combined, then remove half the dough from the bowl.

5. Place in a large plastic bag (do not seal) and slightly flatten with a rolling pin. After flattening, seal the bag tightly. Freeze. (Repeat to freeze second half.)

6. When you're ready to use a crust, remove one from the freezer and allow it to sit on the counter to thaw slightly, about 20 minutes. Remove from the bag and place on a lightly floured surface.

7. With a rolling pin, begin rolling the dough from the center, outward. Be gentle and patient; it'll take a little time to get the dough completely rolled out.

8. If you think the bottom is really sticking to the surface below, use a nice, sharp spatula to loosen it and sprinkle some extra flour on top.

9. Flip it over to finish rolling. Remember to roll from the center in single, outward strokes; no back-and-forth rolling.

10. Again with spatula, loosen and lift the pie crust and carefully lay it over a pie pan. Using your hand, lightly form the crust so that it fits inside the pan and overlaps the edges.

11. Tuck excess dough under itself above the rim.

12. Apply decorative effects to the edge.

13. Fill with filling and bake according to pie recipe's directions. For a pre-baked crust, fill with weights (or pinto beans placed on aluminum foil) and bake at 400-degrees for 10 minutes, or until golden.

(makes two to three 9-inch pie crusts)

Big D’s Baked Beans and Mom’s Cole Slaw

My step-dad, Donyvan, is not a cook.  Like most men, he can grill and that's just about it.  He's great at doing dishes, though.  Like a man should be ;)  However, there is one thing he is really great at making that isn't on the grill.  Now, I don't like baked beans, actually I don't like beans of any kind except green beans or jelly beans, but I've been told by A LOT of people that these baked beans are amazing.  So, I might as well share the recipe with you.

Wait, recipe?!  This isn't really a "recipe" per say, it's more of guidelines.

Big D's Baked Beans

2 large cans of Bush's Baked Beans (I'm pretty sure they're just the plain baked beans)

ketchup

1/2 of a white onion

brown sugar

Worchestershire sauce

teriyaki sauce

apple cider vinegar

Pour the baked beans into a 9"x13" baking dish.  Chop up the onion and add to the beans.  Add each of the other ingredients until the beans taste good.  Bake at 350 for about a half an hour.

Yeah, that's it.  I asked him how he makes his beans and that's what he told me.  I know.  It's not a recipe you're used to, but it's how it's done.  And apparently it's good enough because everyone says they're amazing.  My only advice in making these is just remember you can always add but you can't take away.

My mom is said to make really amazing cole slaw, but again this is something I don't eat.  In case you haven't figured it out I am a picky eater.  If I go over to someone's house and they make something I don't like, yes I will eat it because I'm not rude, but if my mom or sister make it I'll go to the kitchen and make my own food lol.  But, since people say my mom's cole slaw is so good, I thought I'd share the recipe.

Mom's Cole Slaw

1 bag of cole slaw mix (you can find it in the produce section by the other bagged salads)

3/4  jar of Marzetti's slaw dressing (this is very IMPORTANT because no other slaw dressing is as good)

Mix both ingredients in a large bowl and enjoy!

So, there you have it- two of the simplest, yet most delicious recipes for a picnic or BBQ.  You can make these and everyone will think you slaved for a long time.  However, you made a short jaunt to the grocery store and spent about five minutes preparing and that was it.  I say make them and bask in the praise!

Rolled Rose Necklace Tutorial

The other day I found this rolled rose tutorial, so I decided to make some of my own.  I just wanted to see if I could do it.  And now I am OBSESSED.  I will probably be making a lot of them.

After making about ten rolled fabric roses, I sewed some onto a plain t-shirt for my sister then I decided to make a necklace with some of them.

I bought the chain and the metal loops at Michael's.

The chain comes in one big loop, so you have to cut either end.  And it's enough to make two necklaces.

Here's the two pieces (thanks capt. obvious lol)

Here are the three roses for the first necklace.

I lined them up first how I wanted them to look on the necklace then I sewed them together at the back just on the edge.

Here are all three sewn together.

Then sew a loop on the end of the two end flowers.  I don't know why I used black on an ivory-colored flower.  I'm sure it looks ghetto, but oh well.

Then put a metal loop through each of the sewn loops.

Hook the chain through the metal loop.  Then close the loop.

Tada!  There it is.  You'll have to measure how long you want the chain to be then add a clasp to the end as well.  I didn't get a clasp because a friend of mine makes jewelry for a living and I want to go through her clasps to see what she has so I don't have to buy one.  I know I'm cheap.  I'll add a post about adding that when I get a clasp.

I had Jessica model it for me.  Without a clasp I just kind of hung it on her.

I made this one too.  I can't tell you which one I like better.  I love the colors in both.  I love pink too, so I'm a little partial to this one.

My sister bought this shirt for $5, so she asked if I could spruce it up a little.  I made her some rolled roses and sewed them on.  It looks so CUTE!

She said she can't wait to wear it.  I wasn't quite sure how the colors would work but I think they look good.