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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Winter Cardinal

(Digital Image - 2 Cute Ink's Winter Cardinal)

As 2014 comes to an end, I want to thank you all for taking the time to stop by my blog this year.

I appreciate all of you and hope you will become a member and follow me.

My last card of the year is from my favorite digital stamp company -


Please click on the name above to link you to our challenge blog if you have never been.

There you will find links to 2 Cute Ink's Etsy store and be able to become a member to follow our blog there for our challenges.

New challenges start on January 5th.  Prizes are digital stamps from 2 Cute Ink.
We have some pretty wonderful Design Team members so go and check out their cards from previous challenges too.

There is also a monthly newsletter and for signing up for it, you will get a monthly "Free" digital stamp.  They are awesome!
Follow 2 Cute Ink Digital Stamps Group on Facebook too!
Great samples, ideas and contests too.

Hope to see you all enter our challenges on our 2 Cute Ink Challenge Blog and 
have a safe and warm New Years Eve!

Sandy


Sunday, December 14, 2014

CIC291



Well, this is our last challenge for 2014 at Cupcake Inspirations.  Then we will get a short break and see you all again in 2015!  Hopefully I will be recharged as I have been a little burnt out with all the holiday crafting and party hosting I have been doing. 

I look forward to sharing more of my new crafting with you and was possibly thinking of sharing some of my favorite recipes too.

Our Sponsor this week is Deasy Designs.

Easy theme this week is - Winter Wonderland

Deasy Designs gave us several adorable images to use.  
I used a Cuttlebug snow texture folder and the chevron paper is from A-Muse.
Snow is just Stickle dots.




Thursday, December 11, 2014

What's Cooking At My House?

I am a home cook who loves trying new recipes for my family.  I search the internet and Pinterest all the time looking for recipes that look interesting.  

Just because they look good doesn't mean they taste good.  I have tried lots of recipes and of course some are great and some are not.

I thought it would be fun to share with you all some of the recipes that we liked.  Many times I tweak the recipes to my taste or to ingredients I have on hand.

So periodically, I will be posting some here along with my crafting projects!

I hope you enjoy these articles and let me know your opinions and if you try any.

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Tonight's recipe is - VEGETABLE LO MEIN

Originally I found this post on Pinterest, however this is the website the original recipe came from -
http://damndelicious.net/2014/10/03/easy-lo-mein/

I changed up the recipe to fit my taste and to what I had in my pantry and fridge.

Here is my version:

VEGETABLE LO MEIN

Makes 4 servings 

12 oz. Your favorite type of pasta.  **I used Hodgson Mill, Ultra Grain with Quinoa Spaghetti (I        found this in the organic aisle of my local grocery store.)  
1 Tablespoon Your favorite type of oil.  I used Vegetable Oil
5 cloves fresh garlic, minced - use more or less to your taste.  I LOVE fresh garlic
1/2 bag of frozen bell pepper strips from Trader Joe's.  (I just let them defrost when I cooked)
1/2 a bag of mini carrots, chopped in my food processor (any carrots will work)
1 bag sugar snap peas - see picture below - I microwaved so they were ready
1 bag baby spinach (*even though the bag says it is washed and ready to eat, I always wash after hearing a few summers ago of bagged lettuces having bacteria)





 This is my veggies cooking. Before I added the spinach.


FOR THE SAUCE:

2 Tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons Stevia in the Raw (that's what I used, you can use any sweetener you like!)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
5 drops Franks Red Hot Sauce (original recipe called for Sriracha - I didn't have any)

* I would have like a little more sauce.  If you like lots of sauce, feel free to double the sauce recipe.
____________________________________________

1) In a bowl, mix the soy sauce, sweetener, sesame oil, ginger and hot sauce. Set aside.

2) Bowl a large pot of salted water, (salt to the water adds a lot of good flavor to the pasta no matter
     what kind you use)  When boiling, cook your pasta according to the package and then drain and 
     put back into the pot.

3) Heat your oil in a pan while your pasta is cooking.  When hot (not burning) add your minced     garlic, cook for a few minutes then add your carrots and bell peppers.  Stir frequently.  Cook until all are tender.  Then stir in sugar snap peas and spinach.  Cook until the spinach has wilted to your liking.

4) Stir in the cooked vegetables and then add the sauce.  Mix well.  I used tongs and they really helped me mix well.

5) Serve and enjoy!!








And below is the finished product.  I loved it and loved that it was a healthy meatless meal!

Please leave a comment on here letting me know how you enjoy my new idea for sharing recipes and if you try them!!  I would love to know.

Check back soon for my next recipe! Or better yet, become a Follower above and get notifications!

Sunday, December 7, 2014

CIC290


Do you want to build a snowman?  This one is adorable from Scribbles Designs.
They are also our sponsor this week at Cupcake Inspirations Challenges.

I popped out the snowman which is hard to see in a photograph and he is glittery around his border.

It is a color theme this week. Forest, White and Ruby.
Yummy, inspirational photo below.

Wishing you a happy crafty week!