Nut Goodie Bars

Nut Goodie Bars

In microwave, melt on 70%:

6 oz. choc. Chips

6 oz. butterscotch chips

1 cup peanut butter

Grease a 9×13 pan with butter. 

Pour ½ of choc., butterscotch, peanut butter mixture into pan and put in the freezer.

Mix 2 T. vanilla pudding (not instant), ¼ cup milk & ½ cup milk.

Cook and stir until thick.

Add ½ to 1 tsp. Maple flavoring, & 3 cups of sifted powdered sugar.

Spread over frozen choc. Mixture.

In remaining choc., add 1 ½ – 2 cups of salted peanuts.

Pour over the top of maple mixture.  Put in frig. Until solid.

Enjoy!

What does beading mean?

To me “beading” means putting beads on wire.  When I create a necklace, a lot of my time goes into designing it.

The leather and white turquoise necklace on my profile was quite an involved project.  I used a half square knot on the greek leather to give it the twisted effect.  I ran 3 strands of the wire through the middle of the leather.  Half way down I added ivory, wood, pearls, white turquoise, seed beads and Swarovski crystals.  Then I braided the three strands to the middle of the necklace; then proceeded up the other side.

See it is much more then putting beads on a wire.

Windows Did You Know?

I had my windows cleaned today.  O.K. you may say, “so what”!  Well, when I was cleaning them myself, I used to wash and wipe them and they would be o.k. for awhile.

Jim and Tom are my window cleaners and even though they have cleaned my windows for years; I was too busy to really pay attention to what they actually using, and what they were doing to my windows.

It all started with my clear glass shower door (I never want another one)!  I told them how hard it was to get the water spots off.  It is a shower only used by guests, but if you don’t clean it as soon as they leave, the spots are a challenge.

They said, “let’s try the product we use on your windows.  So, down to the basement we went.  First they put a product on and scrape it off.  Then they sprayed something on and wiped it down.  Then they put a glass sealer on.  It looks fantastic!  I begged some of their product from them to  use all the time of course!

That’s when they told me they do the same thing to my windows, except for the sealer.  They informed me some window cleaners don’t do the  spray and scrape thing.

So, if you are going to hire someone to clean your windows, ask if they do the scraping and cleaning.

Smile, God loves you.  Mary A.

Lemon Olive Oil

Went to the Oiliere, a new olive oil store here in Maple Grove.  It takes olive oil to a whole new level!  They have hazelnut, garlic, cinnamon (for baking), lemon and many other flavors.  They also have some fantastic balsamic vinegars.

My favorite is the lemon olive oil.  Heat it up with some minced garlic and a few capers and serve it over angel hair pasta.  Yummm!  Sometimes we saute chicken in it, finish by baking it in the oven; then serve it over the pasta.

Jon makes a dressing with it:  salt, pepper, a little honey and balsamic vinegar and of course the lemon olive oil.  Serve it over some fresh spinach, shredded cheese and fresh raspberries or strawberries or tomatoes.  The lemon taste is subtle and oh so good !

Bon Appetit

Smile God loves you

Contagious Disease

I attended my first meeting of the local bead society on Monday.  There were about 30 women there.  No men, hmmmm!  I know men do a lot of bead work too.

Anyway, it was interesting to sit with a bunch of women with the same disease, beadingggg!  Wow, it was so interesting.  We worked on projects until the meeting started.   I was making one of my macrame’ necklaces.  The lady next to me was working on a Japanese beading project.  Two more were crocheting with beads and another knitting with beads.

Now here’s the thing, I am not a big “groupie” person.   I am usually quite content beading by myself.  But, sometimes I think it would be nice to talk beading with someone.

I was surprised that most of them were not wearing any jewelry.  I thought that was very strange.  Maybe they don’t sell their pieces, so they don’t wear it?  Hmmm.   When I make a piece, I can’t wait to wear it.   You never know, if someone comments on your piece, it is an opportunity to give them a business card.

Project today:  a necklace for a college graduate.  I’m using strands of turquoise and red coral.   I thought she needs jewelry for the business world.   So I am making her something a little more adult.

Smile, God loves you.

Mary A.

Friday Night Live

I am taking all 7 grandkids to Lego Fest tomorrow (not by myself).  This is evidently quite a deal.  It says they have all kinds of lego activities, games and building opportunities available for the kids.

They also will have a “master builder” there.  Henry, who is eleven, is very excited to meet him.  He wants to know from him, what he has to do to become a master builder.  He is planning his college career around his plan to someday work for Lego in Denmark.

The grandkids range in age from 3 to 15.  So, it will be interesting to watch all of them as they experience this day.