LOADED TWICE BAKED POTATOES

HAVE I TOLD YOU ALL THAT I ADMIRE REE DRUMMOND, THE PIONEER WOMAN? DO YOU KNOW HER? I HADN'T HEARD OF HER UNTIL HER SHOW CAME ON THE FOOD NETWORK CALLED "THE PIONEER WOMAN". SHE LIVES IN THE COUNTRY ON A RANCH AND ALWAYS HAS MANY MOUTHS TO FEED...4 KIDS, A HUSBAND AND ASSORTED RANCH HANDS.  WELL,  IN MY CASE, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF MOUTHS TO FEED...YET. BUT SOME DAYS, WE DON'T GET HOME UNTIL 7PM AND THEN HAVE TO COOK DINNER. LATELY,  MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN COOKING "MAKE AHEAD" DINNERS.... A LOT OF THEM. WE REALLY NEED A DEEP FREEZE. THESE TWICE BAKED POTATOES WERE GREAT FOR OUR "MAKE AHEAD" DINNERS. WE DOUBLED REE'S RECIPE SO WE CAN FREEZE A BUNCH AND PULL THEM OUT OF THE FREEZER WHEN WE WANTED THEM.

SO, ON WITH THE INGREDIENTS THAT YOU WILL NEED:

• 16 POTATOES
• 2 CUPS OF SOUR CREAM 
• 2 STICKS OF BUTTER
• 8 SLICES OF BACON
• 2 CUPS SHREDDED CHEESE (OF YOUR CHOICE)
• 1 8oz PACKAGE OF CREAM CHEESE
• LOWERY'S SEASONED SALT TO TASTE
• 1 TBSP GROUND BLACK PEPPER
• 1 CUP MILK*

*THERE IS MILK IN THE PICTURE,  AND FEEL FREE TO USE SOME, BUT I DID NOT NEED TO USE ANY MILK.  BY ADDING THE CREAM CHEESE AND THE SOUR CREAM, OURS WAS CREAMMMMYYY!!

WASH YOUR POTATOES UNDER COLD WATER TO GET ALL THE DIRT OFF AND PLACE THEM ON A COOKIE SHEET. POP THEM IN A 400 DEGREE OVEN FOR 1 HOUR, 15 MINUTES. 

WHILE THE POTATOES ARE BAKING, FRY YOUR BACON, CUT IT INTO A CRUMBLE SIZE AND PUT IT IN A LARGE BOWL.

NEXT, THE BUTTER! I CAUGHT MY SON EATING THIS STICK WHEN I WASN'T LOOKING.

YOU WILL CUT THE BUTTER INTO SMALL PIECES LIKE THIS.

PUT THE BUTTER INTO THE BOWL WITH THE BACON.

ADD THE SOUR CREAM TO THE BACON/BUTTER MIXTURE.

WHEN THE POTATOES ARE DONE, PULL THEM OUT OF THE OVEN AND HAVE THEM SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE REASON REE SAYS TO BAKE THEM "NAKED" (WITH NOTHING ON THEM) IS SO THE SKIN WILL BE NICE AND FIRM.  

NEXT,  USE A KITCHEN TOWEL TO HANDLE THE HOT POTATOES AND CUT THE POTATO LENGTHWISE WITH A SERRATED KNIFE. DO THIS TO EVERY POTATO.

WITH A SPOON, SCOOP OUT THE POTATO INTO THE BOWL WITH THE SOUR CREAM, BACON AND BUTTER. THE POTATOES WILL STILL BE VERY HOT. YOU WILL BE LEFT WITH POTATO SKINS. THEY ARE READY FOR THIS OH SO YUMMY FILLING WE'RE ABOUT TO BLEND.

YOU CAN'T SEE THE BACON AND OTHER INGREDIENTS BUT THEY ARE HIDING UNDER THE POTATO INNARDS....HEHEHE.

SINCE THE POTATOES ARE STILL HOT, USE A MASHER TO WORK EVERYTHING TOGETHER. ADD THE CREAM CHEESE. THE BUTTER WILL MELT, THE SOUR CREAM WILL COMBINE, AND THE CREAM CHEESE WILL WORK IN AND WON'T BE LUMPY. BUT, YOU HAVE TO DO THIS WHILE THE POTATOES ARE STILL HOT. 

MY HUSBAND BUSTED OUT THE HAND MIXER BECAUSE MY ARM STARTED TO GET TIRED WITH THAT MANY POTATOES. 

AT THIS POINT, WE MIXED IN THE LOWERY'S SEASONED SALT AND THE PEPPER.

MIX IN THE CHEESE.

TASTE TO MAKE SURE IT IS SEASONED TO YOUR LIKING. I THEN TOOK THE POTATO  SHELLS AND FILLED THEM UP WITH THE OH SO CREAMY FILLING. 

THEY ARE READY! YOU CAN BAKE THEM NOW, OR DO WHAT I DID AND WRAP THEM INDIVIDUALLY IN PLASTIC WRAP AND PUT THEM IN A FREEZER BAG. YOU CAN TAKE ONE, TWO, THREE, HOWEVER MANY YOU NEED AND POP THEM IN AN 350 DEGREE OVEN,  SPRINKLE SOME MORE CHEESE ON THE TOP AND BAKE THEM FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES.  

MAKE AHEAD MEALS. WE HAD THESE THE OTHER NIGHT WITH STEAK, GREEN BEANS AND MUSHROOMS. BUT THE POINT IS, WHATEVER YOU HAVE FOR DINNER, THESE LOADED TWICE BAKED POTATOES WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO YOUR MEAL. 

CIAO 

GARBAGE DISPOSAL REFRESHERS

FROM TIME TO TIME,  OUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL NEEDS TO BE FRESHENED UP.   MOST OF THE TIME,  I  DROP A LEMON,  RIND AND ALL, INTO THE DISPOSAL. BUT IT SEEMS TO BE DIFFICULT FOR THE DISPOSAL TO BREAK IT DOWN.  I FOUND THIS TUTORIAL ON PINTEREST.  IT IS FROM SAVVY SUGAR.   I ALREADY HAD ALL THE INGREDIENTS AT THE HOUSE,  SO I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY.  HERE  IT GOES. 

YOU WILL NEED: 

• 3/4 CUP BAKING SODA
• 1/2 CUP SALT
• 1/2 TEASPOON LIQUID DISH SOAP
• 1 LEMON
• SHEET PAN
• PARCHMENT PAPER
• SPOON OR SCOOP
• WHISK
• MEDIUM SIZE BOWL
• MICRO PLANE(SMALL GRATER)  
• RESEALABLE GLASS JAR   

YIELDS ABOUT 16 TABLETS PER RECIPE

FIRST,  POUR THE SALT AND BAKING SODA INTO THE BOWL.  MIX THE TWO TOGETHER WITH A WHISK, MAKING SURE THERE ARE NO LUMPS.  NEXT,  GRATE THE LEMON ZEST (THE YELLOW SKIN) INTO THE BOWL USING THE MICRO PLANE;  ADD THE LIQUID DISH SOAP.

THE MIXTURE SHOULD BE THE SIZE OF PEAS.

TO THIS, YOU'RE GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF LEMON JUICE AND STIR, REPEATING THIS STEP UNTIL THE MIXTURE RESEMBLES WET SAND. 

FIRST, I USED AN ICE CREAM SCOOP TO SHAPE THE TABLETS , BUT A MEASURING TABLESPOON  WORKED BETTER FOR ME.  YOU'LL WANT TO USE A UTENSIL THAT HAS A DEFINITE SCOOP SHAPE TO IT.   I HAD TO PACK IT DOWN IN THE SPOON SO THE TABLETS WOULD KEEP THEIR SHAPE WHEN I POPPED THEM OUT. PLACE THESE ON A SHEET PAN LINED WITH PARCHMENT PAPER. AND  LET THEM  DRY FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS.  STORE THESE IN A RESEALABLE GLASS JAR.  I DOUBLED THE  RECIPE FROM WHAT I LISTED ABOVE SO THAT IT WOULD LAST ME AWHILE.  MINE YIELDED 31 TABLETS. 

THIS WOULD MAKE A GREAT LITTLE HOSTESS GIFT OR A NICE ADDITION TO A HOUSE WARMING BASKET. ADD A FEW DROPS OF FOOD COLORING TO HAVE THEM COLOR SPECIFIC FOR A GIFT, GREEN AND RED FOR A CHRISTMAS GIFT...THAT WOULD BE SO CUTE!!

CIAO

COZY CHIC CORNER

WE HAVE A WOOD FIREPLACE THAT WE USE IN THE WINTER, OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE NEVER HAVE HAD ANYTHING NEAR IT. I KNOW THE FIRE PLACE IS REALLY DARK, BUT THAT WILL BE A FUTURE PROJECT TO PAINT. SO THE WALL HAS USUALLY BEEN BLANK. OTHER THAN A FEW WALL HANGINGS. THE HEADBOARD LEANING AGAINST THE WALL WAS MADE FOR A FRIEND AND HASN'T BEEN PICKED UP YET.

THESE WERE MY INSPIRATIONS FOR MY WALL. I KNEW I WANTED TO USE A MIRROR SO IT WOULD BRING MORE LIGHT TO THE DARK CORNER.

  

CLASSIC CASUAL HOME

UNKNOWN SOURCE

A FEW YEARS BACK, MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO A LOCAL ESTATE AUCTION AND NOTICED THIS DRESSER. THE DRESSER HAD BEEN IN OUR MUDROOM EVER SINCE. I THOUGHT IT WOULD WORK GREAT FOR THIS SOON TO BE COZY CHIC CORNER. THE KNOBS WERE PLATED IN BRASS, SO MY WONDERFUL MOM TOOK A FEW HOURS(JUST FOR ONE KNOB) AND SANDED IT DOWN TO A NICE SILVER COLOR. THANK YOU MOM!! SHE HAS MORE PATIENCE FOR TEDIOUS JOBS LIKE THAT.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE WALL COLORS HAVE CHANGED. MY MOM IS A GREAT PAINTER AND SHE CAME DOWN TO PAINT OUR LIVING ROOM, DINING ROOM, KITCHEN & THE HALLWAY. SHE'S AWESOME!! THE COLORS THAT WE CHOSE WERE FROM BEHR "SALT GLAZE" PPU12-11 & "MUSHROOM BISQUE" PPU4-7. SALT GLAZE WAS AN ACCENT WALL THE REN NEXT TO THE FIRE PLACE TO BRIGHTEN UP THAT CORNER. MUCH BRIGHTER NOW!  THE RECTANGULAR MIRROR I ALREADY HAD SO I LEANED THAT AGAINST THE WALL ON TOP OF THE DRESSER.  

THE PILLOWS ON THE CLUB CHAIR NEEDED AN UPDATE. I HAD Himalaya Ikat Porcelain Blue FROM FABRIC.COM ALREADY. SO I HAD MY MOM RECOVER ONE OF THE PILLOWS.

I LIKED THE WAY THE PILLOW TURNED OUT!

ADDED A TABLE LAMP THAT I TOOK FROM ANOTHER TABLE IN THE HOUSE. A LIGHTED STICK ARRANGEMENT THAT I'VE HAD SINCE MY FRIEND'S ASHLEY & MIKE'S WEDDING(5 YEARS AGO). A PHOTO OF OUR SON, A CRYSTAL WIRE BALL & A PORCELAIN EGG. IT REALLY CAME TOGETHER. OHH AND THE NAKED NUDE NICK IN THE BACKGROUND, AN ADDED TOUCH!

NOW GRANTED THE INSPIRATION PICTURES HAD A PAINTED DRESSER, BUT MY HUSBAND LIKED IT RUSTIC. SO I HAVEN'T PAINTED IT....YET.

IT LOOKS SO MUCH BETTER! BY BRINGING SOME PIECES TOGETHER, THAT I ALREADY HAD AROUND THE HOUSE, I HAVE TAKEN A SHABBY BARE WALL AND REDECORATED IT TO A COZY CHIC CORNER. 

I CAN'T WAIT FOR A COLD SNOWY WINTER NIGHT, NEXT TO THE FIRE, WITH A CUP OF JOE. 

CIAO

Rusted Fire Pit to Decorative Candle Holder

SO, I'VE SAID MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A CHIROPRACTIC PRACTICE IN OUR TOWN. WELL, OUR MASSAGE THERAPIST KERRY WORE THESE GLASSES TO LUNCH THE OTHER DAY. I LOVED THE COLOR AND IT INSPIRED ME TO PAINT SOMETHING.

 

FIRST, I HAD TO FIND THE SAME COLOR. I WENT TO MY LOCAL HARDWARE STORE. I WAS NOT LOOKING FOR A PARTICULAR BRAND OR A PARTICULAR FINISH. I JUST WANTED THAT COLOR.  I DID WELL (OR PRETTY DARN CLOSE). IT IS BY "COLOR DECOR" AND IT' S CALLED BLUE, EASY ENOUGH. IT WAS ONLY $2.99 PER CAN, SO I BOUGHT 4 CANS, JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE.  AND, HEY, IF I HAVE ANY LEFT OVER, I COULD ALWAYS USE IT FOR ANOTHER PROJECT.

 

SO NOW, WHAT TO PAINT?  THEN I REMEMBERED I HAD AN OLD, RUSTED FIRE PIT THAT MY SISTER HAD GIVEN TO ME. IT HAD BEEN SITTING OUT ALL WINTER LONG, SO IT WAS REALLY BAD, INSIDE AND OUT.

YOU CAN HARDLY SEE THE NEARLY RUSTED OUT BOTTOM, BUT, TRUST ME,  IT'S THERE.

SINCE THE FIRE PIT WAS SOO RUSTED I WANTED TO GET AS MUCH RUST OFF AS I COULD. THE FIRE PIT NEEDED TO HAVE A SMOOTH FINISH BEFORE I PRIMED AND PAINTED IT. I ALREADY HAD SOME WIRE BRUSHES, BUT YOU CAN FIND THEM AT YOUR LOCAL HARDWARE STORE FOR A COUPLE BUCKS. THIS SMALL WIRE BRUSH BELOW WAS GOOD TO GET IN THE SMALL CREVICES AND THE MESH ON ALL THE SIDES.

 

THIS SMALL WIRE BRUSH WOULD HAVE TAKEN FOREVER, SO I ALSO BOUGHT A BIGGER ONE TO USE ON ALL THE LARGER, FLAT PIECES OF METAL. IT WAS A FEW BUCKS MORE BUT IT WAS WELL WORTH IT. CAN YOU IMAGINE SCRAPING THIS FIRE PIT WITH JUST A TOOTH BRUSH SIZED WIRE BRUSH??? IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN ME FOREVER!!

AFTER SCRUBBING OFF AS MUCH RUST AS I COULD AND GETTING THE SURFACE SMOOTH, I PAINTED IT WITH A FEW COATS OF WHITE PRIMER SPRAY PAINT. SORRY, I HAVE NO PICTURES TO SHOW YOU THIS STAGE.   I REALLY LIKE THIS BRAND OF PRIMER.  RUST-OLEUM PAINTER'S TOUCH.

AFTER THE FIRE PIT WAS PRIMED, INSIDE AND OUT, I SPRAYED IT WITH MY BEAUTIFUL BLUE BY "COLOR DECOR".  HERE'S HOW IT TURNED OUT.

 

AND SINCE THE BOTTOM WAS PARTIALLY RUSTED THROUGH, I HAD A PIECE OF THIN METAL CUT TO SIZE. YOU CAN FIND THIS METAL AT YOUR LOCAL HARDWARE STORE. THEY COME IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT DESIGNS. I JUST DIDN'T WANT THE RUST TO SHOW THROUGH.                  

SINCE THE PRIMER AND SPRAY PAINT WERE NOT FIRE PROOF, I DON'T RECOMMEND TO BURN WOOD IN IT ANYMORE SINCE IT WILL BUBBLE UP AND RUIN ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT YOU PUT IN TO PAINTING IT. USE CANDLES INSTEAD TO ILLUMINATE THE FIRE PIT.

EVEN WITH CANDLES YOU WILL HAVE A GREAT SOURCE OF LIGHT AND IT LOOKS PRETTY TOO!! ALL YOU NEED NOW IS FRESH COCKTAIL.



CIAO  

10 DIY UPHOLSTERED HEADBOARDS {w/tutorials}

I HAVE BEEN OBSESSED WITH UPHOLSTERED HEADBOARDS LATELY!!! I LOVE TUFTED HEADBOARDS, HEADBOARDS WITH NAILHEADS, HEAD BOARDS WITH DECORATIVE CURVED TOPS,  NOT TO MENTION ALL THE FABRIC OPTIONS.  I WISH WE HAD 10 BEDROOMS IN OUR HOUSE BECAUSE THESE NEXT 10 HEADBOARDS WOULD DEFINITELY MAKE THE CUT. 

I HAVE BEEN REALLY GETTING INTO THE TUFTING ON HEADBOARDS, AND THIS HEADBOARD HAS VERY CLEAN LINES AND A CRISP WHITE FABRIC. THIS HEADBOARD IS FROM LILIKOI JOY.

I LOVE THE SIMPLICITY OF THIS ONE. CLEAN LINES BUT HAS A NICE NAILHEAD TRIM ON THE EDGE. THIS ONE IS FROM THE ACCENT PIECE.

I LIKE THE DARK CONTRAST OF THE FABRIC TO THE SILVER NAILHEAD TRIM...NICE!! AND THE CURVED CORNERS ARE A MINIMAL DETAIL BUT GIVE A CLASSIC LOOK. THIS HEADBOARD IS FROM THE GRAY BUNGALOW.

NICE DIAMOND PATTERN ON THIS NEUTRAL FABRIC. AND IT IS GREAT THAT IT CAN GO WITH ANY COLOR SCHEME YOU HAVE FOR THE ROOM. THIS ONE IS FROM PRETTY PROVIDENCE.

IF YOU WANT TO BRANCH OFF FROM A TRADITIONAL SQUARE HEADBOARD, THIS IS THE ONE AND A GREAT PATTERN TO BOOT. FROM DESIGN SPONGE.

IF YOU WANT CLASSIC, YOU GOT IT.  STRAIGHT LINES, TUFTING, NEUTRAL FABRIC AND NAIL HEAD TRIM.  BUT WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THIS HEADBOARD IS THE WINGS.  FROM LISA THE LAZY BLOGGER

ADD A TWIST TO TRADITIONAL CURVES WITH FAUX-CROC FABRIC IN A BLACK PATENT  LEATHER FINISH....NAUGHTY!!    FROM PARLOUR

ANOTHER CLASSIC FROM SARA AT RUNNING FROM THE LAW, AND DID I MENTION I LOVE THE RUG???

THIS HEADBOARD HAS WINGS, AND YOU KNOW I LOVE HEADBOARDS WITH WINGS!! SARAH HAS A GREAT TUTORIAL AT SARAH M. DORSEY DESIGNS

KRISTI AT ADDICTED 2 DECORATING "TURNED THIS HEADBOARD TO GOLD" WHICH THAT IS SOMETHING SHE HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF DOING A LOT LATELY.

MY NEXT HEADBOARD PROJECT WILL BE FROM THE GRAY BUNGALOW FOR MY SISTER. SHHH!!! IT'S A SURPRISE.

CIAO