Black-eyed Beans Beignets

One of the recipes that my hubby always wanted to make was Beignets using Black-eyed Beans (or peas).  He said growing up in Togo, West Africa they would take Black-eyed Peas to the mill to be ground and then they would use the flour to make the Beignets.  These Beignets were called Gawoo in Ewe or Beignet de Haricot in French.

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party ~ Berries

Berries, Berries, Berries is our theme for this week's linky party on Foodie Friends Friday. I hope you will join us and bring your favorite berry recipe or two to our party.  I know everyone has a recipe that includes berry.  Can't wait to see what you will bring.

We Got some Snow... and some Sun

As you all know if you read my blog or even my facebook fan page... that we live where we get lots and lots and lots and lots of snow.  This year has been no exception and because it has been colder, that snow just keeps piling up.  The only thing that makes it at least bearable is that occasionally we do get to see the sun.  I just wish that sun would come out more often...

Some Snow and Some Sun

We did get a blizzard with snow one day this week, a blizzard that at times we couldn't see across the street or even our balcony rail from the living room window.  So the next morning meant that we did some shoveling.  As the daylight started, we could see the sunlight coming out.

Brown Rice Crackers and Salmon/Tomato Salsa

I have been fortune enough to be given a Wondermill through Grain Mill Wagon and absolutely love it.  We have had so much fun grinding my own flour.  So far we have ground black-eyed peas, popcorn and brown rice.  It is easy and  I am wondering if it is cheaper to do it this way then buying these different flours.  You can grind all sorts of whole grains and also beans.  They have a list of what the Wondermill Grain Mill can Grind.

Foodie Friends Friday ~ Peanut Butter Party.

I am a big fan of peanut butter... Fresh Bread and Peanut Butter ~  YUM!  This week on Foodie Friends Friday we are having..... Guess.... You are right a....

DIY Valentine Tea Bags with a free printable.

DIY Valentine Tea Bags

I am a big fan of tea... I drink at least one cup of tea every day if not more.  I also love to drink tea made from loose tea, but it is always a problem as  I end up with strainers full of loose tea all over the house or at least my kitchen.  

Did you know that you could make tea bags from coffee filters?  They work perfectly and you don't have to worry about straining the loose tea... you can just throw out the tea bag.  Perfect, simple and the bag can be in the shape you want.  I didn't have the big size coffee filters but did have some filters from EZ pod so used them..  You could also make them in the EZ Pod shape, just stitch around the top and then they could be put in your Single- Cup Pot.

I decided to make them up with some valentine labels but also did some teacup labels.  You could even write on the back what type of loose tea you placed in.  For the labels you can print them here.

Materials:

Coffee filters

Loose Tea

Printable Labels

String or Thread (I used heavy thread)

Directions:

Print labels and cut out.

I used EZ Pod refills so pulled them apart slightly,  Filled with 1 tsp of loose tea and sewed the filters together with thread into a semi circle.

If using large coffee filters I would cut them into a circle about 1 1/2 inch diameter, add loose tea and sew them into a semi circle.

To attach label, tie knot, thread through the tea bag and then through the label, keeping a length of string of 1 -2 inches between the tea bag and label.  

Use DIY tea bags as you would bought tea bags.  

  

Perfect gifts to give teachers, grandmothers, aunts or anyone that is a tea lover.   I love teavana tea and this would be a way to personalize the gift.

Note: Make sure that you attach the thread to the top of the heart or when you use it you will have a upside down heart like mine in the picture.  My threads where cut too long for my cup.  You could measure them so that the bag fits nicely into a cup.

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Disclaimer:

“This and That is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.”

Printables were made with the help of Clker.com

Linked to these Great Blogs: Inspire Us Thursday, Valentine's Day Saturday Dishes, Weekend Block Party
In & Out of the Kitchen

Tea Cups in the Snow for Sunlit Sunday

We finally got some sun in these parts.  Today was a wonderful bright and sunny day.  The snow was glistening and as we had just got a few fresh inches of fluffy snow, it looked wonderful outside.

I had seen some pictures of tea cups in the snow floating around facebook and always wanted to do some pictures like that and today I got my chance.  I really should have looked at them earlier as they weren't exactly how I wanted them to be... I guess I will have to go out again on the next sunny day and take more.

Tea Cups in the Snow 

This picture I did in pencil style....

If you would like to join Sunlit Sunday, click on the button below.

Linked also to these great blogs:  Make it Pretty Monday, Twirl & Take A Bow, Treasure Box Tuesday


Disclaimer: “This and That is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.”

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party ~ recipes that have a story

Many of the recipes we make tell a story ~ whether it is a personal story about how we came to making the recipe or a family recipe that has been handed down from generation to generation.  I think we all have a recipe in our box that has a story behind it.  This week on Foodie Friends Friday we would love to hear the story that your recipe has...

Ginger Lemon Rooibos Tea

I go in streaks were I will drink lemon water in the morning before I do anything else.  It happens every once in awhile.  I would like to do it every morning but I don't always seem to remember.  I found a wonderful recipe for a cleansing lemon drink with a punch in Get Naked in the Kitchen by Briana Santoro.  This book has wonderful recipes in it and I love that they give a story behind each recipe.

Persimmon Pear Spice Bundt Cake

A fuyu persimmon fruit (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Persimmons are one of my favorite fruits... That is from about a month ago or so. I had never had a persimmon and not too long ago I saw them at Walmart. I decided that I would buy one to at least try them. I came home to see if hubby has ever eaten one and no he hadn't, so we didn't have a clue to how figure out when they would be ripe... but we lucked out and they were wonderful. Kind in between an apricot and a mango...that looks like an orange tomato... YUM!

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Jars to Valentine's Candle or Candy Dish

One of my go to places to find ideas for crafts in Pinterest and I found this great, simple inexpensive way to make candles or even a candy dish or cookies... or what ever you may want to put in it.  I know I would love to have this on my mantle or even on my dresser, holding knick knacks.

No Sun for Sunlit Sunday...

This week came and went... with only a bit of a peak of the sun ... I noticed it the other day when I got up in the afternoon... But my eyes just couldn't stay awake to enjoy it and when I got up for the day the sun was gone.... and then I was sad and wishing that I hadn't wasted the day sleeping.  Looking at the forecast it doesn't look like we will see any kind of sun until next weekend.

Foodie Friends Friday Healthy Choice Linky Party ~ #foodiefriendsfriday

The New Year has come and I am sure all of us have made goals to eat healthy or at least most of us.  I know that is one of the goals I have set out to do this year.  So far I have done pretty well.  I have tried to change the way we eat and use ingredients that may be a healthy choice for us.

Fill the Cookie Jar with Granola Cookies

It is time to Fill the Cookie Jar and I think mine was empty for a long time... as when I asked hubby what I make his comment was ~~ "You make cookies".  His only suggestion was to make something that wasn't too sweet and I think I fulfilled his request.

Almondina Cookie Review

Disclaimer:  I was given Almondina product to review.  All opinion are 100% mine

photo credit: Almondina Biscuit

Almondina Cookie Review

I was asked to review Almondina Biscuits and I am sure glad that I did.. These cookies/biscuits are wonderful, so full of flavour and just downright yummy.   The day that they came in the mail, we opened a couple of the packages right away... scarfing them down right out of the package.  Both hubby and I loved them.

You have never heard of Almondina Biscuits... well let me tell you a little about them.  These are Grandma's secret recipes and everyone knows that Grandma makes the best cookies.

'Generous as she was in giving away her recipes, Grandmother Dina kept the one for Petit Gateau Sec a total secret until the end of her life. Only then did she finally reveal the secret to her daughter, Ahuda, my mother. It is with her blessing and with pride that the Zaliouk family shares these delicious, healthful wonders with your family.”

I, for one am very glad that she gave her blessing and these cookies are on the market.  They are all natural, no added salt or fat, no cholesterol or preservatives, just good taste.   The only fat in these biscuits are from the almonds which is the main ingredient.  They are low in calories also ~ 30 calories per slice, are kosher and pareve (no dairy) and are made right here in America. Along with the original flavour they have a total of 8 flavours of biscuits... and so far I like them all.  I am lucky as I get to eat the Cinnaroma all by myself as hubby doesn't like anything with cinnamon so won't even try them.. Not that I am complaining. 

As you can see in the above picture they are chock full of almonds and raisins.  They are crunchy, addictive (I can attest to this) and healthy.  Once our supply is gone, all I have to do is hope that I can buy them here locally as this is a cookie that I will be continuing to eat.  It is perfect for any occasion and sweet enough that I feel that I am having a treat and healthy that I don't have to worry about going off my New Year's goal of eating healthy.

If you want more information about this delightful cookie head over to their almondia or follow them on facebook or twitter.

I like them with a cup of coffee or tea or even just alone.  They are the perfect snack for us.

Almondina's Mission is accomplished...

"To Put a delicious healthful cookie on every table"

Winter Sunset

I have decided to combine my photography blog with this blog... You didn't know I had a photography blog did you?  Well, know you will see those post over here.  All I have to do is figure out where to put the tab so that it is easy for you to find these post.

Karen from My Little Home and Garden each winter has a meme called Sunlit Sunday.  I am so excited that she is doing it again this year.    It is a little way to get some sunlight into the dreary winter we are having everywhere... cold and snow.  If you would like to join, head over and check out what you need to do and bring a little Sunlight into Our Lives. 

 We haven't had much sunlight this winter as it has snowed every day... and I mean every day.... Snowed so much that the last I heard we have had a total of 170 inches so far.  A couple of weeks ago we did get a little sun  and the sunset was magnificent.  I did take these pictures through my second story window on my phone.

Winter Sunset

I love the colour of the sky in this picture and the sun shining on the house that is in the background. 

Linked up to these great blogs:

 

Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party ~ 30 Minute Meal Party

We are always in a hurry and it is hard to take the time to make a proper meal.  This can be changed with meals that take only 30 minutes to make.... I know I have a few that are healthy and delicious and quick to make and I am sure you do to.. Can't wait to see what you will bring.