Thursday, August 25, 2011

Too Busy to Blog, but I'll be Around Soon!

I have plenty to blog about, but am tied up with a few projects right now... freelance sewing, trying to fill a couple of tall wholesale resin jewelry orders, & doing some website photography for a friend.
Also, my kids' birthdays are a week apart, & finally we're having a real birthday party with invitations sent out & a date set...so if I'm going out of my mind & seem to not be around much, that is why.
I think September is going to be a little less stressful!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Resin Jewelry Casting Marathon This Weekend

I'm so glad that the weather this past weekend was agreeable so I could dedicate some serious time to my crafting love of casting resin candy sprinkles & glitter jewelry pieces.
I made rings in star & heart shapes, as well as a few grand bubble domes with my original 'candy baby'
...then also mixed up a delicious looking blend of many different sprinkles to fill giant heart & star shaped pendants!
Hopefully most of the humid weather from this summer has passed & I can have a few more great crafty moments like this.

Please check the shop often because I'll be listing many great one of a kind pieces such as this sweet black kitty glitter heart necklace!

Stay Sparkly & Sweet!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Tropical Coconut Encrusted Rooster Lust (aka coconut fried chicken) Recipe




Tropical Coconut Encrusted Rooster Lust (aka coconut fried chicken) Recipe

3 lb. chicken pieces... I used boneless chicken tenders
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce (Sriracha Hot Chili pepper sauce found in oriental section of food store)
1 (14-ounce) can evaporated milk
1 1/2 c. flaked sweetened coconut
1 c. panko
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 c. flour in shallow dish
2-3 eggs, beaten

Pineapple dipping sauce:
app. 1 cup pina colada mix
3/4 - 1 cup of sour cream
3/4 cup crushed pineapple drained

Mix ingredients together for sauce & keep cold in covered container

For chicken:
Mix together the lemon juice, hot pepper sauce (I used "Sriracha" Hot Chili Sauce) & milk in a gallon size zip lock bag... place chicken pieces inside & let marinade in refrigerator for a couple hours...while squeezing the bag a few times to be sure all is well combined.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Line baking sheet with parchment paper so the chicken won't be an impossible mess to clean up.
Mix together coconut, panko, salt, and bread crumbs.
Remove chicken from bag & roll one piece at a time first in flour to get coating...then in eggs, & finally coat well in coconut mixture.
Bake for 25 minutes. Turn chicken pieces and continue baking 25 minutes more...or until done.

It should look similar to this:

This was so good...we renamed it! Also, my husband didn't complain about having to eat leftovers!

Cheers!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Mmmm! Handmade Whipped Body Butter!!!!

If I had known how easy it was to make this stuff...I would've started making it sooner!

This is my first round of crafting handmade whipped body butter & I love how it turned out. It's so skin loving & smells divine!
Want to make some? Sure you do!
Here's how!!!

What you need:
A small electric mixer
bowl
measuring spoons
spoon or spatula
containers with lids ...I used little round gladware containers
microwave

Ingredients:
2 generous tbsps of shea butter
2 generous tbsps of coccoa butter
1 tbsp. almond oil
1 tbsp. honey
2 tsp. grapeseed oil
1 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. fragrance of your choice

This recipe yields app. 1.25 cups ...just an fyi in case you would like more to share with friends...it can be doubled or if you'd like less, then divide it.

First thing, you'll want to measure the butters & microwave them for about a minute on 'high' until they melt into a liquid state.
Add to this all the other ingredients except for the scent which you add right at the end.
Use your electric mixer on high speed to whip the mixture for several minutes. It starts off looking yellow & oily & just when you think nothing is going to happen, ...it starts slowly to thicken...and also lightens in color. I didn't time how long it took exactly, but I'd hazard a guess it was 10 minutes at least before it really started looking creamy like cake batter.
See thin watery & yellow here:

Turns into thick creamy goodness here:

Be sure to stop the mixer & scrape the sides of the bowl now & again while you are mixing so everything is well blended. When it looks like whipped cream, add in your fragrance...give it another round with the mixer & then spoon into your storage containers!

I used a tropical coconut scent & it smells so dang delicious & My skin feels so smooth!

Rub it on your body & share with your friends who are sure to ooh & aaah!

There are a couple of local places I can purchase many of the ingredients from, but I have also ordered some of my supplies from country soap shack
on etsy
. They were very helpful & friendly. I received my orders quickly & they were packaged with care, so if you're going to try this, please check them out!

Stay crafty!