I've mentioned before that my mom used to make lentil burgers. A lot. Well, maybe it wasn't as much as I am remember...you know how everything always seems so much bigger when you are a kid? My memories are probably a bit distorted, but it did seem like she made them all the time. She was the (almost always) vegetarian in our home, so she would make them just for herself and us even though she hardly ever tried to get us kids to eat them, we were always sure that they were gross.
Tuna Noodle Casserole
I've been making tuna noodle casserole for as long as I have been married (21 years now) and most of the time, it involved cream of mushroom soup and/or Velveeta. I grew up having it with the cream of mushroom soup, but it never included the Velveeta, and it always had crushed saltine crackers on top. My husband, on the other hand, grew up and loved a similar version, but it has a loaf of Velveeta cheese mixed in, minus the crushed saltine crackers. This became the version I started making for
Tutorial: How to Make an iPhone / iPod Touch Wallpaper
Making your own iPhone or iPod Touch wallpaper in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements is very easy if you know the basics of how to use either one of those programs. I've written up a tutorial that will show you step-by-step on how to make your own. You can create new ones as often as you like to match your mood, holidays, or seasons.
Complete tutorial is available at Happy To Create: How To Make an iPhone / iPod Touch Wallpaper
Tutorial: Make Tile Coasters for Beverages
Making tile coasters for beverages has to be one of my most favorite craft projects. I'm really happy with how it turned out and I'm so happy to share it with all of you. It make a great gift and there is endless ways you can personalize these -- no two sets have to look alike.
My complete tutorial is available at Happy To Create: Craft Tutorial: How to Make Tile Coasters
Tutorial: Fitting a Photo in a Digital Frame
Altered Craft Project: I Love You Puzzle
I love shopping at the Target One Spot area (the $1 section at the front of the store). I check it regularly for things that I can creatively alter. This tutorial shows you how to take a child's puzzle and make it into a sweet "I Love You" gift idea for someone with a few digital scrapbooking projects.
My complete tutorial is available at Happy To Create: Hybrid Craft: I Love You Puzzle
Gift Idea: Cookie Dough Log
Cookies are always a great gift idea, but here's a fun twist on the usual home-baked cookies give a cookie dough log. It's really easy to do -- you just mix up your favorite cookie dough, shape it into a log, wrap it, and add a label which can be handmade or digitally made.
The example above can be found here at Home Cooking Memories on this page: Creative & Easy Food Gift Ideas
I have another tutorial on making your own cookie dough log at Happy To Create: Homemade Gift Idea:
Our 21st Wedding Anniversary
It was 21 years ago today that David and I were married here in Las Vegas. We drove into Las Vegas from California knowing we were getting married, but not sure where. We stopped at one of those "Welcome Centers" where we got information on various wedding packages. We decided on the Candlelight Wedding Chapel, which was located right on the Strip, right next to the Riviera. It's said that celebrities such as Bette Midler, Michael Caine, Whoopi Goldberg and Barry White married there too. Sadly,
Ice Cream Sundae Party (with Tequila Caramel Sauce & Chocolate Bowls)
This summer has been very low-key for us. We will be taking a family trip to Comic-Con in a couple weeks so we've been saving our dollars and hanging out at home...A LOT. Our family fun has this summer has been having a BBQ and watching the latest movie that we pick up at the Redbox. Not real exciting stuff, but it suits us fine.
That was until we did the unexpected: we hosted an ice cream sundae party.
Baking with Olive Oil
Sometime in 2009, I bought my first bottle of olive oil for cooking with. I had cooked recipes that called for olive oil, but I always substituted vegetable or canola oil. Every single time. The main reason was cost - I always tried my best to keep our grocery budget as low as possible and I didn't feel that olive oil was necessary expense.