2 minute, Frozen Banana, Ninja Ice Cream

I know some are rolling their eyes saying
You Can't Make Ice Cream in 2 Minutes...

Ah... but I say yes you can make something even better for you
and maybe better than any of the homemade churn ice cream we
have ever made.



What You'll Need:
Old bananas halved and frozen about 3
about 8 - 10 ox of half & half
about 2 tbsp. chocolate syrup (to taste some may need more)
Ninja Blender
and about 5 folks needing a cool snack.

How to do it:
Put it all in the Ninja Blender
Blend just until it is broken down and has a nice color
do not over blend or you will have ice cream soup.



Scoop out about 1/2 cup for each person and see what they say.
It is softer ice cream not sof-serve you do not need the scoop.
Kids could do this. (I guess you could put it in the freezer for a few minutes
to firm it up)

Two Minute Ice Cream with a Ca + K punch :)
This was an accidental discovery one day when I was out of milk
and my after workout smoothie (which also contained Garden of life
Pure Protein) & instead I had a frosty...LOL
I have also done this with strawberries & cream,
Just freeze your strawberries.



Have a nice day
Desire is the Mother of Invention
& this mother is doing her best to twist some of the
snacks her family loves into something better.

Biscuit Pizza

We needed a quick, satisfying, fun dinner last night
so the little one & I came up with this.
It was a suprizing winner with the whole family.
We also used up some leftovers.

Here's our Leftover Fried Chicken Biscuit Pizza



What you need
Cutting board
Knife
18-inch Pizza Pan
Oven or grill

Ingredients:
Crust: 1 roll butter flavored Grands Biscuits

Pizza toppings:
3 Roma tomatoes, sliced thinly
2 pieces of leftover chicken, we used one breast & one thigh fried, thinly sliced
about 2 ox cheddar cheese, grated
about 1 oz asiago cheese shaved thinly
1/4 cup small diced onions (Vidalia)
salt
pepper
garlic, granulated
oregano
spice to taste
about 3 large basil leaves, rough chop
about 3 stems of cilantro rough chop for garnish

Assemble:
preheat oven to 400 degreesF
open and separate biscuits (this is fun for the kids) smash or roll them flatter
and spray pan with butter flavor spray lightly, place flattened biscuits onto pan
and close what holes you can, it will cook together.
Start with placing the tomatoes on the biscuits we worked in a circular fashion.
Then sprinkle on just a little cheddar cheese.
Add onions Let the young ones help & they'll eat the onions.
Add thin sliced, chicken pieces, make sure each piece will get a little chicken.
Now sprinkle your spices on as desired.
Top with cheddar cheese then the slices of asiago, arrange so each slice gets an
even amount.
Bake in oven for 21 minutes or until edges look golden brown and top is bubbly.



Sprinkle with chopped herbs as desired, we gave the option of yea or nay, as folks
like them. the herbs give it a fresh taste and just adds that finishing touch.

I hope you try this recipe and let us know what you think in the comments
Have a Blessed Day
~V

I apologize for the lesser number of postings, we've been quite busy with the chickens,
working, end of school, as well as trying to make a go at the food gardening with back
and forth weather patterns. Oh and we've rescued a baby mallard duckling this week.
Also our computer has been on the fritz
So we've been in the weeds pretty deep.
We'll try to do better

Homemade Valentines

I had come across a very cool box of chocolates as I was scrolling through my Twitter Feed about a month ago. I was inspired to make my daughters Valentines treats this year.

I found The seller ConceptsInCandy on eBay

I'll be making the Easter & Christmas candies as well this year :)

Here is a picture of my inspiration with my own creation side by side
Do The Math



My cost was:
Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Chips 1 bag
3 molds $2.50 each
2 decorative boxes about $1.00 each X2
about 1 hour of time

My candies are delicious dark chocolate
The hearts are filled with Nutella
The Skull is Marshmallow filled
There are solid bones & love shrooms
And 1 large chocolate covered marshmallow.

I planned to color some white chocolate but my girls were home on a
snow day, I got these finished because if the ice storm coming tonight
is bad I'll have no power to work with it tomorrow or maybe into The next day.

Simplicity is the answer th making it a better world.



Have A Happy Valentines Day 2014 ~V

Mystery Nut No Bake Cookies

Mystery Nut No Bake Cookies
Makes about 24 1" Balls



1/2c coconut oil
2 tbsp peanut butter
4 tbsp corn syrup
1 1/3 c plain rolled oats
1 square ramen noodles, very well broken down.
2oz. Garden of Life Raw Protein powder Chocolate

Mix together coconut oil, peanut butter & corn syrup until well blended and smooth.
Add Raw Protein Powder, and stir until all is blended in.
Add Oatmeal and Ramen noodles, stir until everything is covered. Everything should be off the walls of the mixing bowl as well. (No Waste)
Scoop out into 1 tsp or 1" balls and place on waxed paper on cookie sheet.
Set in the refrigerator about 30 minutes.
The coconut oil will set making your cookies beautifully opaque.

I served these to a couple neighbors, who loved them but were totally confused about what kind of nut I had used. (The Crunch is from the Ramen)

Watch for more recipes as I tweak some flavors in similar no bake recipes. These are quite vegan, and uses no electricity so you're in the Green ;)

We're exchanging the regular peanut butter for cashew butter next time, adding chopped pistachios, and chopped dries cherries. Watch for them...I may back down to 3 tbsp. sweetener as well. What to call themmmm....

How to Start Canna From Seed

I had some happy Canna Plants this year and collected and shared oodles of seed.
But I didn't know what to do with them. I sent out the scout and came back with this information from one of my Group Buddies.
This is not my personal information

How to grow Canna from seed:
Scarify the seeds in January. Take the seeds, one by one, and rub the ends of the seeds on the sandpaper until you can see a small section of the white layer.
Place the canna seeds in the glass bowl. Cover the seeds with warm water and let them sit for 24 hours.
Fill the nursery tray with vermiculite. Dampen the vermiculite until it is moist, but not soggy. Remove the seeds from the bowl of water and plant them ¼ inch deep in the vermiculite.
Place the nursery tray in a warm area indoors. and keep the vermiculite moist during the germination period. The seeds will germinate in about 7 days.
Move the nursery tray to an interior location that receives sunlight. Check the vermiculite often and do not allow it to dry out. Rotate the nursery tray as needed, to prevent the seedlings from growing sideways.
Transplant the canna seedlings when they are six inches tall. Fill the flower pots with moistened potting soil, and then plant the canna seedlings into their individual pots.
Place the flower pots in a sunny window. Keep the potting soil moist, and continue to rotate the plants periodically.
Fertilize the seedlings with a granulated, organic fertilizer. Follow the directions on the package.
Move the flower pots outside after the danger of frost is past. Set the plants in a partially shaded area for two weeks to "harden" them off before their final transplant.
Plant the young cannas in a sunny location. Using a garden trowel, dig holes the same size as the flower pots, 18 to 24 inches apart. Dampen the holes.
Place one hand over the soil in the flower pot, and turn the pot upside-down. Lift off the flower pot, then lower the soil ball into the prepared hole.
Pat the dirt around the canna until it is firm and any air spaces are filled. Water the ground around the new plantings.

This Too Shall Pass ~ INSOMNIA

Due to stress I have been having quite a bout with INSOMNIA lately.
I know it has been affecting my pleasant demeanor, although I haven't snapped to harshly at anyone yet. All my stress debunkers have failed, and I am resolved that it is going to just have to pass and I will just have to grin and bear it (and buy a new concealer stick...LOL)

Well last night in my attempt to use boredome to help sleep creep up onto my brain I found quite an interesting app on my Samsung SmartPhone...UDraw (FREE)

Here are a few examples of what rattled around and out of my fingertips, The best pic that was created actually didn't get saved, I have found with this app & my phone, it will shut itself down, Oh well what can I expect from something free right it will have it's glitches ;) But I think it will save enough of mine and my gals spontaneous art to satisfy and make up for the glitching.

I also have been playing around with a Sketch App, I think I will use that for my Christmas cards next year, a collage of pastel colored sketches, I can't wait...

Have a Blessed Day
Catterpillar Scarves coming up (Light, Compact, Warm, Attractive, and Fluffy)
Easy and fun to make, you can have one to match,contrast all your cold weather outfits ;)
~V

Happy New Year ~ Fireworks

I visited the Canon Learning Webby this evening and set my Canon Rebel T3 EOS Cam on GO for shooting Fireworks this New Year's Eve..
I wish I had taken Audio so you could feel what I did as I was awaiting the flash of fire in the sky. It was like Cannon Thunder and explosive flashing beyond the trees, behind me, to the left and right...Frank SInatra and Jimmy Buffet carrying on the water to me over the Erriely still Lake Murray.
Just FYI for those who are interested
my Camera settings were
Manual
Shutter Speed 1/5
Aperature 08
ISO 3200 and 1600
Manual Focus on my mm Canon Ultrasonic Telephoto Lens (Thank you Santa)
Ste up on a tripod using a remote switch

I worked out all my best shots and put them together for you all I hope you enjoy this pic. These turned out relatively well considering I shot them therough Trees ;)
I edited using Canon Photostudio %
Quick and Easy

Happy New Year
I can't wait to work with these lenses more

~v

Sun is Setting on 2012

Tomorrow the Sun will Set on 2012 and a whole new year will be upon us.
Take time to be with and enjoy your family and friends, The Fiscal Cliff will still be there looming in days ahead. Hug your loved ones tight, and hold ones not coles enough inyour hearts, for karmas sake. Let go of any hard feeling from the previous year, negative begats negative, a forward positive vibe will help guide you in a positive direction.

If folks have ill feeling towards you, forget-about-it, it really is their problem not yours, each person has their oun bubble to attend, if you mess with others bubbles is when issues begin. Memories as something folks take for granted these days, think about that for one second, disease, accident, and more can strip this from you in an instant. Treasure your memories today.

Take lots of pictures, but keep the people closer to your heart. Written correspondance is a forgotten art, make it one of your resolutions to revive it in your life, it really is a great momento to have for the future.

In my personal bubble we have been through quite a bit this past year, several Milestone events, and luckily out bubble has remained intact, it's been stressed but has not burst, I hope it remains that way through 2013, I feel good about the new year.

Have a Great Day
~V

Merry Christmas

I hope this message finds you well and excited about Christmas.
You've survived the Mayan Apocolypse...;)

Be sure to hung the young ones tighter and be appreciative of our Children.
Be sure to value every life you come in contact with.

Show patience and forgiveness to some that maybe have not bee in your best favor
the Holiday time is a good time to let by gones be by gones and pacify the spirits of the Season.

Spend time on your New Year's Resolution, make it count and keep it.

Here's sending Positive Vibes to all this 2012 Christmas.

I hope you enjoy the Vintage images, I love finding old cards at flea markets and yard sales, they remind me of a simpler time, when less was more. Well actually not less but folks were less materialistic and more family oriented...Maybe we will come back to this and things will seem brighter in the coming days.

Be sure to check back in my Blog if you're just tuning in this is one of my favorite stories




XOXO ~V

Recycle an Old Jar into a Decorative Night Light

When Home for the Holidays I am always on the lookout for quick, easy and attractive projects for the kids to work on whilst I am working around the house. This onw would be a great one for older kids with little supervision. But for younger ones they need tobe supervised.

What You Need :
Tape or Stickers, Spray Paint, exacto knife, Flameless tea lights, old glass jar to recycle.

What To Do:
Place tape in various places or stickers onto the glass jar surface. If using tape cut desired designs into tape and peel away excess. Spray paint entire outside of jar desired color (we used Gold in the photo) and wait about an hour to dry to touch, and remove the stickers/tape. Allow to dry and then place flameless Tea Lights into the jar...Viola...A very cool recycled lamp. You could use these as party decore if you added a bit of wire to the rim and hang in clusters. Or use them on individual tables with other festive decor. Try using different sixed jars maybe with letters on them to spell out a special message any time of the year ;)
Enjoy, V~