Broiled Ham Buns

Broiled Ham Buns are one of our family favourites – just so tasty and easy and usually all the ingredients are on hand.
(Please just ignore my stained cookie sheet – it was a wedding gift so it’s almost 23 years old and still going strong!)
Just look at this instead!So tasty, crisp yet soft, and warm!!!
All you need is:
1 can flaked ham
3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
2 Tbsp relish (I use less – my kids don’t like the green stuff!)
2 Tbsp mayonnaise (I use a little more – I like it creamy!)
1 tsp. mustard
Mix it all together and spread on your open buns.
I usually pop it in the oven for a few minutes at 350 to get it all warm, and then I turn on the broil.  The broil only takes a minute or two – I just watch it until the cheese starts bubbling a little.  This way the only crisp part is the edges – the rest of the buns are soft and chewy.
Oh, and I doubled the recipe to make this many buns.
These would be perfect for any meal – breakfast, lunch or dinner!

 

 

Family Scriptures

There are so many ways to “create”.  In this post I’m not trying to preach, I’m just trying to share a way that might help you in your family to create meaningful family scripture time.  Okay, okay – true confessions time!  This picture was posed by models.  It really was!!!  It’s the dream image in my head of what our family scripture time should look like . . .

. . . everyone is awake, happy, dressed and groomed nicely.  And they even have open scriptures on their laps!!!
And now . . . the following pictures were not posed by models.  They are a more accurate description of what our family scripture time looks like.
I know, shocking, but true!
In our home we do our scripture reading in the morning. The evenings never worked for us – too much coming and going and just plain forgetting.  This was one of those mornings when our 8th Grader had early morning sports (which means 6:30am scriptures for us) – so she’s the one who’s awake and taking the pictures of her sisters.  I was still in bed!!!
Let me add that we’re grateful for modern technology that allows dad virtually be with us, even when he’s working out of town, so he can still share scriptures and prayers with us.
So why do we do it?  I often ask myself this as my children wake me up for scriptures – yes, they wake me up!  (Have I mentioned I have awesome children?)
President Ezra Taft Benson promised,
“When individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently . . . testimonies will increase.  Commitment will be strengthened.  Families will be fortified.  Personal revelation will flow.”
And Marion G. Romney said,
“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from The Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein.  The spirit of reverence will increase:  mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow.  The spirit of contention will depart.  Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom.  Children will be more responsive and submissive to that counsel.  Righteousness will increase.  Faith, hope and charity – the pure love of Christ – will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy and happiness.”
And that’s why we do it.
Let me share with you a book that has really improved the quality of our family scripture time.
We have a basket in the living room that holds various scriptures, and this book.
“Scripture Study for Latter-Day Saint Families”
It breaks each chapter into bite-sized pieces – for example, Alma 9 is broken into five segments.  Verses 1-7, 8-13, 14-17, 18-23 and 25-28.  And then in each segment there are activities, object lessons, stories, quotations, insights and questions.  It’s fabulous – I highly recommend it!
We take one segment each day and it usually lasts 10-15 minutes.  And it doesn’t require any advance preparation either!  When I got this book about two years ago, there were also New Testament and Church History versions.  It cost me just over $30.
We are almost finished the book – but we didn’t start at the beginning (we started from where we were currently at in our reading).  When we’re finished, we’re going to start again, and then again, and then again . . .
So, I just thought I’d share something that works great in our family.
I think we need to share anything we can that will help us strengthen our families in these latter days.

 

Coconut Nests

I went to a stage production of “My Fair Lady” last night (fabulous by the way).  Now if I could just get ‘I could have danced all night . . .’ out of my head!
Anyway, it was late when we got home, but of course I went to the fridge because I knew there was this dessert left over from Sunday dinner, and it was calling to me!  When you get to the picture, you’ll see it there in the top left.  I had pinned this dessert to one of my Pinterest boards, and actually made it.  And yes, it was very delicious, although I found out that my guy doesn’t really like pistachio pudding (that would explain why there were leftovers!)  Next time I’ll make it with lemon pudding instead.  You can check it out here at Brown Paper Packages if you want to make it yourself.
Wow!  My fridge looks pretty stocked right now – I must have gone grocery shopping recently!  By the way, I love the layout of this fridge.  It even has a drawer below those two crisper bins at the bottom – it’s a really shallow drawer but wide and fits a ton of things – like the cheese and cold cuts, butter waiting to be used, apples, pies (if I had them) etc.  And it’s the perfect height for perusing things because the freezer is on the bottom.  Oh, and it has double doors – I like to think that’s more energy efficient as I don’t have to open the whole fridge to grab the milk out of the door!
Anyway . . .
. . . when I opened the fridge (remember, I heard my name being called) I saw these little nests that definitely weren’t there earlier in the evening.  I thought it was pretty cute (which is why I snapped a picture).
Lee had made them in Home Ec. that day and went about making some that evening.  This morning I asked her for the recipe and she tapped her head and said, “It’s all in here.”
– Butter (she couldn’t remember how much, which would explain the plate of extra melted butter sitting on my counter when I got home!)
– 2 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
– 1 cup long coconut
– 1 cup Rice Krispies
So basically you’re just making Rice Krispy Squares and shaping them into nests.  These seemed extra gooey though, which is why they’re so tasty – that and the coconut!!!
Then she spread a little chocolate sauce on top and the eggs.  This recipe will make about 15 nests.
So then I had the dilemma of eating the leftover dessert, or eating a nest.  What would you do?  Have both?  I decided to go with the leftover dessert that I had made.  I thought Lee might want to be around to see us enjoy her nests (she was sound asleep).
So . . . I haven’t actually tasted them, but they look good and anything with coconut in it will be delicious!!!
Click here to see the nests we made last year – and when I say “we” I mean my girls!

 

 

Beautifying a Wooden Crate

I found this wooden crate at a thrift store quite a few months ago, and it’s been sitting in my bathtub waiting for me to do something with it.  (Yes, the bathtub!  You know, the jetted tub that you want to use but don’t have time for.  And since I don’t have any closets or shelves anywhere yet, the bathtub seems like a pretty good storage spot!)

First step was painting it inside and out.  I was lucky enough to have leftover paint from my laundry room (Grey Evening by Behr).
Now my plan for this crate was to sit in the living room and look pretty, while serving the very important duty of holding our scriptures.  So when we all gather in the morning for family scripture study, our books are right there!  Brilliant!!!
Since it was going to always be in plain sight, I wanted to put a special message on the side of the crate.  I chose our family motto which comes from Mosiah 4:15  “Love one another and serve one another.”
I used the carbon paper method to get the letters on the crate.  Print the words you want, put a piece of carbon paper between the crate and your paper and then trace the letters.   Then comes the fun part of hand painting the letters.  Use a fine tip brush and have a steady hand!  Oh, and I lightly sanded first before tracing the letters.
I wanted my message to be visible, but not overpowering, which is why I used a light paint colour.  Using a sanding sponge I sanded the rest of the crate, being sure to let wood show through on the edges.  Then I went and hid out in the mechanical room and stained the whole thing (garage was too cold and I didn’t want to stink up the house with the delightful smell of stain).  I used Minwax Dark Walnut because that’s what I had on hand.  I would stain one side and then rub it off – didn’t want it getting too dark.
Recently I did something I’d never done before . . . bought coffee filters!  Apparently they’re a pretty handy crafting material.  My seven year old thought they were large muffin wrappers!  So I played around making flowers today in home school while doing math with her.
And this is what I ended up with . . .

Close up of burlap bow, coffee filter flowers and babies breath.

I glued a strip of burlap all around the crate.  I used a glue gun to quickly hold the burlap in place and then craft glue to secure it all over.  This burlap has a wide weave so it frays easily and it has too many holes to deal with hot wax!  (I know what you’re wondering, and yes, I burned my fingers!)
  I made the dark shadows (or antiquing) by rubbing Burnt Umber oil paint in strategic places.  It’s one of my favourite ways to distress things.
Lacie’s pretty impressed! (the dog)
This is the backside – with just a cute little strip of burlap all the way around.
This is where it goes, and there’s four of my girls in the background playing “Sorry” (no my two-year can’t actually play “Sorry”, which makes me wonder how she managed to win!).
Just think what the world would be like it everyone lived by this creed.  I can’t teach the world, but I can teach my family!
There it sits, doing its job holding our scriptures and quietly sending out a marvellous message.  Sure loving my crate!

How to Decorate with Food Storage

A few weeks ago I had to give a little talk about Family Home Storage (because I’m such an expert!).  My information mostly came from the March 2009 Ensign – you can read that by clicking here.

 

In a nutshell, we are counselled to:

1) Have a three month food supply (and that would include all consumables like toilet paper, shampoo and deodorant – anything you wouldn’t want to be without!).
2) Store drinking water.
3) Establish a financial reserve.
When the first three objectives have been met, then we are counselled to:
4) Gather a supply of long term basic food items that would sustain life (grains, legumes, milk, honey, salt, etc.)

Anyway . . . here are some other uses I’ve found for long term food storage items!

A large vase looks lovely filled with split green peas – nice and springy!
A mason jar looks lovely filled with beans!
Pinto beans to be exact!
Wheat and rice work great for decorating too.  I’ve often had fancy jars filled with wheat sitting on a shelf.  Have you ever just chewed on grains of wheat?  It’s what the pioneers used as gum!  And I must say that freshly sprouted wheat is simply delicious and so full of vitamins.
So rather than simply storing your stuff away in a cold dark spot, try decorating with it!

 

 

Bev’s Chicken Casserole

Well, I’m not sure who Bev is, but we sure love her Chicken Casserole!
First step is to find a little cutie who is working on a YW Personal Progress goal who is willing to help you in the kitchen!
She’s chopping the tomatoes, onions and green onions.  (I was going to do the onion but she insisted she wanted to – because she wanted to cry!  She claimed she’s never cried cutting an onion before and wanted another chance to experience it.  Well, she experienced it!!!  I think I’ll be cutting the onion next time!)
Here’s what to do:
– put your chicken pieces in a casserole dish and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
– Mix together one can of Tomato soup and one can of Cream of Mushroom soup
– then you add in your chopped veggies (tomato, onion and green onion)
– stir that all together and spoon over your chicken.

– Cover and bake at 350 degrees for two hours or until tender.Serve over rice or mashed potatoes.

You will be amazed at how easy and delicious it is!

 

How to Give Old Frames a New Use

I got these picture frames at a garage sale.  I really liked the teal colour, but the gold wasn’t working for me.  I didn’t know how I could keep the teal and hide the gold, so I decided it was all going to change via spraypaint.
We’ll come back to the frames in a minute – let me show you one of my pet peeves . . .
. . . crumbs from the toaster all over the counter!!!
When I was designing  my new kitchen, I planned a nice little cupboard on the counter to house messy things like toasters.  Imagine my dismay when the electrician said that he can’t put an electrical outlet in the cupboard – it’s against code to have an outlet in a closed space.  And I can appreciate that – I’d rather have my house not burn down.  But it means the ugly toaster and crumbs still get to dominate my countertop.
(I love to look at these beautiful kitchens on display in blogworld, but where do they keep things like toasters?  Do they hide them away and bring them out when needed?  We use our toaster way too much to not keep it on the counter!  Oh, wait!  Maybe those spectacular kitchens are just set up for photo shoots and don’t usually look that way!  Now I feel better!)
So . . . I decided to fix my crumb problem!I spray painted my frames Oil Rubbed Bronze.  And then I chose fabric to go under the glass.  I also glued a little square of felt in each corner on the bottom of the frame so it wouldn’t scratch the surface I put it on.
And there we have it . . .. . . a crumb catcher for the toaster!!!
Once in a while, a stray crumb dares to escape outside it’s boundary, but that’s easy enough to wipe up.  I love how it’s kept my counters crumb free in that area.
(Someday my kitchen will be finished – there will be subway tile covering all these primed walls, and the switch plates will be on, and crown molding, etc.  And then I will post a picture of my finished kitchen – and it will have toasters and knives and cutting boards on the counter, because . . . we live in this kitchen!)
And this is how I decorate cookies for  my kids . . .. . . I take them to Storyhour and let them do it themselves!  They love to create too!  (I did the one with the green eyes on the top plate!)
So, what did I do with the other frame?
It got a piece of burlap under the glass and sits on an end table in the living room.  It makes a nice anchor for table displays.
As I snapped the photo, my two-year-old popped into it, pointing at the picture and excitedly saying . . .“It’s you, Mommy!  It’s you!”
And as she pointed to the youngest girl in the picture saying “It’s me!” I didn’t have the heart to tell her that she wasn’t actually in the picture – she hadn’t blessed our family with her arrival yet.
Love it!!!
(And the candlesticks came from the same garage sale!  When are you having another one Mary?)
Edited much later to add:
Look!!!  The kitchen did eventually get finished!  And the toaster looks great still sitting there with its crumb catcher under it!

All-Season Frame

Having a craft hanging around that works for all seasons is a great plan!
I made this one at Shauna’s craft class and my daughter made the blue one.  I stenciled some words onto mine, inspired by something similar I’d seen in a Country Sampler magazine a few years back.
You can get these wooden frames and insert pieces from Micheals.
Anyway, to make an all-season frame, I decided to attach my snowflake with velcro.
Then I chose a few other shapes to use for the rest of the year.  The flower covers spring and summer.  Simply attach a piece of velcro to each backside.  I suggest doing the snowflake first as it’s the most awkward shape to fit.

I especially love it when it’s time to take out the snowflake and insert the flower! Oh happy day, the long winter is over!

Isn’t that just so “happy”?
After painting these inserts, I sanded them and etched them with a blade before staining them.
And Autumn is pretty cute too – this one always seems to be on display for the shortest amount of time.
The biggest problem with this craft is remembering where I stored the out-of-season pieces.  If I was smart, I’d velcro them to the back of the frame!

Beef and Corn Bake

This is probably our very favourite casserole – think I’ve made this one more in our 22+ years of marriage than anything else.  I love it because
1) it’s really delicious and
2) it’s really simple to assemble (which means more time for crafting!).
I’ll share the exact recipe, but I never measure anymore!
Beef Corn Bake
2 lbs  Ground Beef
1 medium chopped Onion
1/4 cup cooking oil (I’ve never used the oil)
– Cook all together in fry pan until meat is brown.  Put in large casserole dish.  Add:
12 ounce can Kernel Corn (drained)
2 – 10 ounce cans Tomato Soup
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Pepper
1 Tbsp Ketchup (I use more –  like 1/4 cup!)
2 cups cooked Noodles  (I’ve used Egg Noodles and Chow Mein Noodles)
Mix it all up together and then sprinkle grated Cheddar Cheese on top.
Bake covered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Remove the lid and cook some more until the cheese is done the way you like it.
We like our cheese crusty!
This is a wonderful casserole for transporting too – it’s solid and won’t spill in your car, unless you’re a really crazy driver!!!
My two-year old even loves it!  I kept trying to snap a picture of her eating it, but every time I missed the actual food-entering-mouth moment.  And she just kept glaring at me for flashing lights in her face over and over and over!
 Finally, I got excited because I got a picture of food entering her mouth.  But alas, when I did an actual preview of the shot,
it was . . .
. . . a large slice of cucumber that was going in, and not the casserole!
But you can see that her plate is getting emptier.
Here’s a good tip I’ve learned over the years:  when your young’un decides they’re too old for bibs and keeps ripping them off, dress them in clothes that co-ordinate with the colour of your meals.  Camouflage those spills – it makes laundry so much easier!!!
So . . . back to the Beef Corn Bake – I know your meals are already planned for this week, but make it next week!  Your family will thank you!!!

Love/Home/Joy Blocks

I made these LOVE blocks a few years ago, but I only unpacked them last week – just in time for Valentine’s Day!  They’d been boxed up for almost two years as we lived in transition while building our new home.  I was serving in Relief Society at the time and we actually ended up making these at our RS Super Saturday.
They’re very easy – the hardest part was choosing the paper (it always is!).  My blocks are 3 1/2″ squares, but you can make them any size you want.  Once you have your blocks, paint or stain them if you desire.  Then it’s simply mod podging the paper on, and then the letters and words, and adding any embellishments.  I don’t have any fancy machines to cut out letters for me, so I simply printed letters from the computer and cut them out – yup, by hand, with an exacto knife!
 “Where love is, there God is also.”
Because they’re blocks, they stack nicely lots of different ways, depending on what works best in your space.
On the other side of my LOVE blocks are . . .. . . my HOME blocks.
It’s so nice to be able to easily reverse something when it’s time for a new look!
“Where they love you most.”
Okay – I look at these now and cringe!  I’ve gotten so much better at mod podging now – I never get bumps and bulges like that any more.  Just might need to redo these (although they look worse here than in real life – must be the flash!).  I used way too much mod podge for thin paper, and probably didn’t wait for it to dry completely between layers.  And now I love the finished look you get when you press a piece of fabric over your top layer of wet mod podge and immediately pull if off again.  Makes it look rather like canvas!
I also made a set of JOY blocks.“Find Joy in the journey.”
I have Joy decorations for Christmas, but I wanted something that could be out year round to remind me about JOY.  I painted these blocks black before adding the paper – matches the letters nicely.
The paper was fancy enough that I didn’t think it needed any other embellishments.
And I know you’re wondering about that fabulous background – it’s the black paper and wire mesh that will someday be hidden inside our beautiful stone fireplace!