Recipe: Ham & Egg Cups

As you know, I am all about the quick and easy recipe.  And I have another one to share with you.  This one is a quick and easy breakfast recipe.  The great thing about this recipe is that it can be easily scaled to the number of people you are feeding.  And it makes for a yummy addition to any breakfast.

Ingredients
1 teaspoon olive oil
12 slices ham ( thin)
12 eggs
12 cherry tomatoes
1 tablespoon chives, finely chopped
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated

Directions
*Preheat oven to 350F (180C).
*Lightly oil a 12 hole muffin pan.
*Line moulds with a slice of ham so
the ends stick out over the top.
*Break an egg into each hollow, top with tomato and scatter with chives, parmesan, salt and pepper.
*Bake for 18 minutes or until egg is set.
*Remove from oven and leave to cool for 5 minutes.
*Run a knife around each mould to loosen ham.
*Cool on rack.

As always, I have two recipe cards for you.  One is 4x6 and the other is 8x8 so that you can print the size you need for your collection.

(Download Here)

The recipe cards were created with Paradise Dream from Recherche by KH Designs.  This kit is perfect for those tropical vacation pics.  But as you can see, it is a kit that can be used in other ways as well.

I hope you enjoy the recipe.  And don't forget to checkout Paradise Dream in Recherche's shop at Funky Playground Designs.

Sneak Peek Time

Did you know that starting today, both of Kiki Halbert's lines (Kiki Halbert Designs and Recherche by KH Designs) will be exclusive to Funky Playground Designs (FPD)?  It's true.  Kiki Halbert has decided to make FPD her home. 

And on June 3rd, she will be adding a new kit to her Kiki Halbert Designs store.  I'm afraid you'll have to wait until Friday to see the new kit.  But I do have a little sneak peek for you.

 

I have one more bit of exciting news for you.  From June 1st through June 7th, both of Kiki Halbert's design lines will be on sale for 35% off.  And make sure you stop by the FPD forums as Kiki Halbert will be giving out some special coupons.  All of this is to celebrate going exclusive at Funky Playground Designs.

Can't wait to see everyone at Kiki Halbert's new home, Funky Playground Designs!

Blog Team Call

I have a couple of questions for you? Do you like blogging or writing? Do you like working with great digital scrapbooking products? If you answer "yes" to both of those questions, then I have a call for you.

Kiki Halbert is having an open ended blog team call. We are looking for three to four team members willing to create three posts a month and check in weekly in the team forum. In return, you will be able to choose three kits at the end of each month. No layouts required.

If you already love the products in her Kiki Halbert and Recherche by KH Designs line, then this is a great opportunity to be part of the team and get the opportunity to work with some great kits.

And here are just a few examples of the kits you'll be able to choose from as a member of Kiki's blog team (all images are linked).

 

Are you ready to join the team? Then send an email to kikihalbertblogcall@scribler.us with your name, your user ID at most forums and tell us why you want to join the team.

There is no set closing date for this call. It will be open until we find the right people. We will post once the call has been completed. And everyone who applies will receive a response.

Hope to hear from you soon!

New Recipe: One Bowl Brownies

I am back to share another recipe with you.  This is another great one for when the kids let you know at 8 p.m. that they need to take refreshments to scouts, prom committee meeting or their best friends house.  These brownies are easy to whip up and only require one bowl.  Without further ado, here is the recipe.


4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
3/4 cup  (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
3   eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup  flour
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans (optional)
or
Dust with powdered sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch baking pan
with non-stick cooking spray.

Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwave
safe bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted.
Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar.
Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour and pecans; mix
well. Spread into prepared pan.

BAKE 30 to 35 min. or until wooden toothpick inserted
in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Cool in pan.
Cut into squares. Enjoy!

As always, I have created two recipe cards for you.  The file contains both 4x6 and 8x8 so that you can print the size you need.

(Download Here)

The recipe cards were created using Grass Stains from Recherche by KH Designs.  This is a great kit for creating layout for you little, or not so little) boy.  But as you can see with the recipe cards, it is versatile enough to be used for other projects.

Now head on over to Recherche's store at Funky Playground Designs and pick up Grass Stains.  I know you'll get lots of use out of it.

Kit Spotlight: Watermelon Splash Mini

Spring is here and just as it's time to update our wardrobe to reflect the softer colors of Spring, it's time to update our digiscrap stash.  And a great way to update your stash for a small price is Watermelon Splash from Recherche by KH Designs.  This mini kit is filled with the soft colors of Spring.  Perfect for all those outdoor photos you'll be taking on those fabulous Spring days.

And the Watermelon Solids coordinate perfectly with the Watermelon Splash mini. The combination of Watermelon Splash and Watermelon Solids will make the perfect addition to your digi stash.

And I have a little bit of Inspiration for you. Here's the layout I created using the solids and the mini.

(Also uses Masks She's Wearing from Recherche by KH Designs)

Thanks for stopping by the blog. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Recipe Time - Microwave Fudge

I am back to share another quick recipe.  This time we aren't looking at dinner, we're looking at chocolate.  It's a quick and easy way to make absolutely delicious fudge.  The ingredients are the exact same as a traditional fudge recipe but all the cooking is done in the microwave.  Trust me, there is no easier way to create yummy fudge.

Ingredients:
    * 3/4 cup butter or margarine 
    * 3 cups of sugar 
    * 1 (5 oz.) can evaporated milk (2/3 cup) 
    * 1 (11 oz.) package of flavored chips (chocolate, peanut butter, white chocolate) 
    * 1 (7 oz.) jar of marshmallow creme 
    * 1 tsp. vanilla 
    * 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:
1. Melt butter/margarine in 4-quart microwaveable bowl on high for 1 minute.
2. Add sugar and milk. Mix well.
3. Microwave for five minutes or until mixture starts to boil, stirring after three minutes, scraping down the sides.
4. Microwave an additional 5-1/2 minutes on high, stirring after three minutes.
5. Add chips, stir until melted.
6. Add marshmallow creme and vanilla.
7. Stir in nuts, if desired.
8. Pour into greased 13X9 inch pan.
9. Cool, then cut into squares.

As usual, I do have recipe cards for you.  Once again, it comes in 8x8 and 4x6 so you can print the size you need.

 (Download Here)

This week's cards were created using Mud Puddles from Recherche by KH Designs.  This is such a fun kit to work with that I highly recommend heading over to Recherche by KH Designs' store to check it out.

I hope everyone has something fun to do this weekend.  And don't forget to take pictures!!

Mud Puddles Quickpage Freebie

If you haven't had a chance to check out Mud Puddles from Recherche by KH Designs, I highly recommend doing so.  It contains such cute elements and the papers are wonderful.  I highly recommend not passing this kit up.  It's perfect for those pics of your kids playing in the dirt and the mud.

This is the layout I created using Mud Puddles.  As you can see it works well for big boys too. :O)

And here is my quickpage based on my layout using Mud Puddles.  I hope you like it.

Tomato & Egg Stirfry Recipe

I'm back with another easy recipe when you are looking for something quick to make after work.  Cause after working all day, a two-hour prep meal just doesn't sound like a fun idea.  This week, I am sharing Tomato and Egg Stirfry.

SERVES 4

* 3 eggs, beaten (not egg substitute)
* 1 large tomato, rinsed and diced (fresh tomatoes, not canned)
* 1 large green onion, rinsed and chopped

1. Take a pan (or wok) and put it on medium high heat to dry water off of it, if there is any; If not, let the pan heat up a bit and put some oil in the pan so there is just enough to cover the bottom of the pan (about 2 1/2 - 4 tablespoons of oil).
2. Wait about 3-4 minutes, put the CHOPPED green onions in the hot oil (if you put the onions in and the oil doesn't sizzle or sizzles very little, wait until the oil sizzles before stir frying) and stir fry just until its aroma permeates the air.
3. Quickly pour the eggs into the pan in a circle, so that it is spread out in the pan.
4. Allow the eggs to cook for 1-2 minute and then stir fry until the eggs are well done; Try to cut the eggs into small pieces with the spatula as you stir fry.
5. Put the tomatoes in the pan and stir fry for 1-2 minutes.
6. Put a few dashes of salt into the pan and stir fry again until the juice comes out of the tomatoes.
7. Taste a small piece of egg to see if it is salty enough; If not add more salt; The amount of salt varies by taste and size of tomatoes and eggs; The dish will taste better with slightly more salt than what your accustomed to if you're eating this with white rice.
8. Serve immediately, preferably with rice.

As usual, I have two recipe cards.  One is 8x8 and the other is 4x6.  I have to admit that I really like the way these cards turned out.

(Download Here)

The recipe cards, as well as the preview, were created using Lollipops, Sunshine and Rainbows from Recherche by KH Designs and Jennilyn Designs.  This is such a bright, happy kit.  Perfect for all those summer photos that are just around the corner.

I hope you enjoy the recipe cards.  This really is a fast, yummy recipe for an easy weekday supper.

Why Journal?

Lets talk for a little bit about journaling.  I know, it can be the hardest part of the layout for some people.  (Me included.)  Most of us haven't taken a creative writing class and we think our journaling is boring (at least I do).  But it can also be the most important part of the layout.

Let's face it.  None of us will be around forever.  And even if we somehow managed to pull that off, it might be that our memories won't be as good as we like.  Without journaling, your future posterity will think "wow, this is a pretty layout".  With journaling, they'll get to know more about you and your family.  And as a person who is very interested in family history, let me assure you that they will appreciate it.

Let's take a look at a layout I recently did with Winter Frolic from Recherche by KH Designs and Valarie Ostrom.  This first version is without journaling.

 

Without journaling, you can assume my cat's name is Lorenzo.  And you can see that Lorenzo is a pretty cat.  But you don't know much more.  But you deserve to know more because there is a story behind that name.

You don't have to write a small book for your journaling to be useful. As you can see I only wrote a couple of small paragraphs.  Here is how the journaling reads.

First, let me say Lorenzo is a girl.
We named her after she was rudely
kicked out of her first home.  We
didn't know if she was a boy or a
girl when we picked the name.

I had names with "snow" in mind.
Then David though of naming her
after the Prophet Lorenzo Snow,
so she became Lorenzo.  Later I
heard her called Arial and then
I knew she was a girl, but by
then was already Lorenzo to us.

The journaling isn't very long.  Only two short paragraphs.  But now you know that Lorenzo is a girl (something you never would have guessed from the layout without journaling).  You know that we are her second her home.  And you know how we picked the name Lorenzo.  You can convey a lot with just a few words.

You don't even need to write complete paragraphs to convey your message.  Here's a layout I created using Girl You R A Dreamer from Kiki Halbert Designs.

 

With this layout, I use short phrases to tell you just a little bit about what I enjoy doing most.  No actual paragraphs required.

I hope I've convinced you to include journaling on your next layout.  In the future, you will be glad you did.

Before I let you go, let me show you the two kits I used to make these layouts as they are both great kits and I highly recommend you check them out.

Winter Frolic, which I used for What's In A Name, is available in Recherche by KH Designs store at FunkyPlayground Designs.

For Just Being Me, I used Girl You R A Dreamer from Kiki Halbert Designs.  You can find this kit in her store at Scrapbook Elements.

I hope everyone has a great week and finds time to sneak in a layout or two (with some journaling).

Creating a Frame Using Stroke Selection

If you are anything like me, you have the hardest time finding the perfect frame for your photo.  Even kits with great frames, don't always have a frame in the right dimensions for the photo you are using.  Today, I am going to show you how you can use Stroke Selection in both Gimp and PSE 7 to create a frame for your photo.

In both programs, the first thing you need to do is add a transparent layer above the photo that needs a frame.  To do this in Gimp, go to the Layer menu, choose New Layer and then choose Transparency.  In PSE 7, go to the Layer menu, choose New and then press Okay.

Next, you need to select the shape of the frame.  Now the method for doing this in Gimp is very different from in PSE 7.  In Gimp, make the photo your active layers and then while still in the layers dock right-click on the photo and choose Alpha to Selection.  In PSE, you will keep the new transparent layers as the active layer, press the Control key and then left-click on the photo.

Now, make sure your foreground color is the color you wish for the frame to be this will make your life much easier.  Once you have the desired color chosen you will follow very similar steps for both Gimp and PSE 7.  In Gimp, you will go to the Edit menu and choose Stroke selection.  Choosing a stroke size of 25 pixels gives you a fairly thin frame.  Going higher than 25 will increase the thickness of the frame.  Now click okay and your frame will be created.  For PSE 7, you will follow the same steps.

In both programs, you could begin playing with Layer Styles (PSE 7) or Filters (Gimp) to enhance the frame.  But you can stop right here and you will have created a simple frame for your photo.

Here's my layout using Bright Skies Ahead from Recherche by KH Designs.  The frame around my photo was created following the exact steps I just gave you.

Be sure you stop by FunkyPlaygroundDesigns and take a look at Bright Skies Ahead.  This kit is perfect for all those photos you will be taking once Spring arrives.

If you have any questions regarding the tutorial, please leave them in the comments and I will do my best to answer them.  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. And don't forget to take some photos.

Citrus Salad

This is truly one of the best salads I have ever had.  And my husband was in love with it.  Definitely worth your time to put together.  Here is the recipe.

Salad

    * 2 cups salad greens
    * 1 can bean salad (drained)
    * 2 cucumbers peeled and sliced
    * 4 oranges peeled and sectioned or 1 cup canned oranges (drained)
    * 1 cup fresh pineapple (canned pineapple can be used (drained))
    * 1/4 cup citrus salad dressing
    * 2 tablespoons (minimum) raisins or dried cranberries or dried cherries
    * 2 tablespoons (minimum) chopped nuts (any kind)

    1. In a bowl, mix salad greens, fruit and vegetables.
    2. Spoon dressing (below) over and mix gently.
    3. Top with raisins and nuts.

Dressing

    * 1 cup nonfat lemon yogurt
    * 4 tablespoons oranges juice
    * 6 tablespoons white vinegar

    1. Mix all ingredients until smooth
    2. Store in refrigerator

And I have created recipe cards for you.  These cards were created using Dans Un Jardin from Recherche by KH Designs.

The file contains 8x8 and 4x6 cards, so that you will be able to print the size you need.

(Download Here)

I hope you enjoy the recipe.  And don't forget to save some time for scrapping!

Winter Frolic-Now available at FPD!!!

Winter Frolic, Recherché by KH Designs new collaboration kit with Valerie Ostrom is now available at The Funky Playground.  This is a fun kit perfect for all your snow pictures and I know there are plenty of people out there what have had plenty of snow!!

 Here are some layouts from the CT:

Time to brighten up our life.....

I am sure many of your may be buried in snow, freezing cold weather and of course Christmas. You want to go here it is warm? The way to do it is in your scrapping!! While we wait to scrap this years Christmas photos, drink our hot chocolate and say brrr, think warm and garden and look no further than Recherche by Kiki Halbert's kits Dan Un Jardin...a wonderful collection for your garden and spring photos. This kit has beautiful spring colors and adorable gardening elements. One of our CT members, Pamela made an adorable layout with this kit. I think I am ready to plant something!!!  Don't you just love that picket fence???



This is the beautiful kit and it is available at Funky Playground:

You want these masks!!!

Do you need that extra something for your digital pages to make them pop...go check out the newest release from Recherché by KH Designs.  Kiki has just released 3 awesome sets of masks and they are available at the Funky Playground.  Masks are simple and fun to use and you can create interesting pages using them.  You will want to rush over because they are also on sale for DSD!!!

Family Masks

The Masks she's wearing



The Masks he's wearing

I found this gorgeous layout in the gallery at the Funky Playground.  Angie used The Masks he's wearing and Kiki's Grass Stains kit.  Awesome!



  

This is a layout I did using Girl u r a dreamer and the family masks. 

I hope you will check out the beautiful masks and show us what you create with them. 

New at FPD: Abalone Shell Styles

I am always on the hunt for cool styles, and Kiki has created a wonderful set of Abalone Shell styles, available at Funky Playground! The colors are beautiful and you could use them on many different elements; the preview highlights but a few uses. I personally love the pale blue color! Wouldn't that be a great look for the frame for a beach LO? And they are both PU and CU OK!

Preview is clickable.

Happy Scrapping,
Sara

Exquisite!

Exquisite... not a word we use everyday but it is the meaning of Recherche, the new design line from Kiki Halbert. How appropriate too! Check out these kits available only at Funky Playground Designs and why not create a layout with a recherche twist? What do you find exquisite?