This and that

Friday, January 31, 2014

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.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

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.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

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
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

Saturday, January 18, 2014

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

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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.”

Thursday, January 16, 2014

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...