Toast Your Coconut

I've decided to start posting a few Kitchen 101 tips. I know they may seem elementary but I'm certain there's a gal out there Googling "how to boil an egg". Was I the only one?

Seriously, there are techniques used daily in our kitchens we take for granted. Things we do so often, they become second nature to us. My reality check, I once used Google (and YouTube) for everything. How long do I bake a potato and what temp? Why is my minute rice still crunchy? I'm telling you, I was a culinary infant...look how far I've come!

So, here goes...Toast Your Coconut 101.

You can use sweetened or unsweetened but keep in mind that sweetened toasts faster.

There are two methods, stovetop or oven. Either way is fine but I prefer stovetop. The frequent stirring creates a more evenly toasted batch. Here are a few easy steps.

Place coconut in skillet over medium heat.

Stir, stir, and stir to prevent burning. When the coconut is browned to your satisfaction, I like mine just barely golden (about 7-10 minutes), remove from heat. Let cool and try not to eat the whole bowl with a spoon!

Stay tuned for more Kitchen 101 tips! Feel free to message me here with questions.

It's a Chair Affair!

Friends, I need your help! You, my lovely readers, are wicked creative and I respect your feedback.

The Chair Affair is a new local fundraiser for our Chamber of Commerce, coming up in June. I purchased these two misfits to donate to the Silent Auction.

They have so much character but need MAJOR face lifts. What do you think? Super Hunk said the round back chair looks like an old Saloon chair but I was hoping for something more feminine. The little chair is pretty contemporary. I would like to donate it on behalf of Saucepans & Superheroes and have a vision of something playful (a reflection of the blog).

Okay, let 'er rip! Hit me with your best shot (name that tune)! I'm open to your suggestions, your likes, your dislikes...comment below.

I'll keep you updated on their progress and will absolutely post before and after pics. 

If you'd like more information and about The Chair Affair, click here.

I can't wait to hear your ideas!

Pioneer Woman GIVEAWAY ~ WINNER!

************* WINNER **************
Sarah! (We share the same aversion to stinky eggs.)
Congrats, please send your contact info to wifemcfrugal@gmail.com to claim your prize!
Thank you to all who participated. Stay tuned for more Favorite Things giveaways.
************************************

No, I'm not actually giving away Pioneer Woman, I think that includes criminal kidnapping charges and I look horrendous in horizontal stripes! Although, a little Ree bobble head cheering me on while I cook seems like a brilliant idea! I'll look into that.

Today, since it's Good Friday and making people happy is GOOOOOD, I'm giving away a copy of Pioneer Woman's Holiday Cookbook. Super Hunk gave it to me for Christmas last year and it quickly became my complete  holiday guide...my fingers do the walking (name that commercial).

Ree walks you through the entire year, sharing all of her favorite holiday recipes (and a few funny stories, confirming your suspicions that there's other crazy families out there...you're not alone). It's not only packed full of deliciousness, it's a good read!

Here's a little glimpse of the Easter section.

If this is already part of your culinary library, register anyway and gift it to a friend! 

To enter, comment below with your answer to the following question. "Deviled eggs...yes or no?" I know this question is random but people feel very strongly about these little Easter creatures, I'm anxious to know where you stand! 

Winner will be selected at random on Easter evening!

PS. No posting for me tomorrow, I'm spending the whole weekend with family and food! I hope you're doing the same. 

Blessings and Happy Easter!

A new dress, Jesus, and eggs full of dessert? What's not to love?

Easter is my second favorite holiday, next to Christmas. I love everything about it...the canvas of blooming colors, the sundresses, the sandals. But most of all, I love the Resurrection reason for the season...the day the stone was rolled away will forever make me weepy.

This is also one of my Mother's favorite days (my love for her also makes me weepy). I have cherished memories of a house full of pastels, delightful (tasteful) bunny decorations, and a tree with mini egg ornaments. (She has a way of "sprucing things up"...it's a gift, really!)

Also, presented with the opportunity to wear my new Easter dress (that had been hanging in my closet with a "Do not touch until Easter" tag) made me jump out of bed a wee bit faster than normal!

With my new dress and Bible, off to church we went. It was unexplainable but Easter Sunday was unlike every other Sunday. There was always an extra special spirit present. The pews were packed a little tighter, voices were a little louder, and hugs lasted a little longer. Even the visitors, who knew nothing about this man we call "Jesus", could feel something different in the air. I'm so thankful my family taught me the true meaning. The understanding of a man who would die for me and rise again as a promise of eternal life for all who believe! Bunnies and eggs are adorable but I choose to celebrate a God who knows my name.

A Church Potluck (or lunch with family) usually followed. Maybe this is why I have a partially unhealthy attachment to food, it's a key element in almost all of my favorite memories. As it should be! Now, where's the eggs full of dessert?

What's not to love about this day? A new dress, celebrating Jesus, meeting strangers, yummy food, and hunting for dessert...can we do it again tomorrow?

Don't keep your love of Easter to yourself, invite a friend to join you!

Pitter Platter GIVEAWAY WINNER!

************* WINNER *************
Sheila!
Yippee, yippee! She is one of my faithful readers and enters EVERY giveaway! I'm so excited she FINALLY won!
Thank you to all who participated!
**********************************

Today is Day #2 of our 2 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS!

If you missed the hello, frenchie giveaway yesterday, there's still time to register here. Winner will be selected for the stationery this evening (April 11th). You can never have too many thank you notes, right?

Let the giving continue...

I'm excited to share this next freebie with you because it's one of my Favorite Things! My Mom purchased one for me during her last visit and I use it almost everyday. It's so versatile and so adorable.

Cue drum roll...

(Cookies not included!)

The simply delightful design of this platter makes my heart happy!  Life's too short to have boring dishes!

To enter, comment below with your answer to the following question. "Are you a cloth or paper napkin family? No napkins? Wipe it on your pants?"

Winner will be selected randomly on Sunday. Happy registering!

Caring is sharing and free stuff is worth talking about! :-) 

Blackberry Cream Cheese Crescents

Holy habanero!

I just realized this is the first recipe I've posted all week! What has happened in the universe?

On behalf of all things yummy, I apologize! I will schedule a more balanced weekly post in the future.

Super Hunk and Little Man were out the door early this morning, the cows were calling (figuratively and possibly literally). Mmmooooooooooooo!

I needed a breakfast I could pack, unsure if they'd take a moment to sit and inhale or eat on the go. While I enjoy the standard turnover with fruit preserves, I thought I'd mix things up a bit. Yep, I might even wear white shorts before Easter...I'm a rebel!

Here's the quick and easy recipe.

Blackberry Cream Cheese Crescents
Ingredients
1 tube of crescent rolls
1/2 block of cream cheese (softened)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup berries (I used blackberries)
powdered sugar for sprinkling

Directions
Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Mix together cream cheese, sugar, and cinnamon.

Slightly chop berries and add to cream cheese mixture. I love the purple hue, food is better when it's pretty!

Roll out crescents on baking sheet. Add tablespoon of cheese/berry mixture to middle and fold over.

Bake in oven for 11-13 minutes (I prefer a little crunch to my crescents so I go the full 13...rebel with a crunchy cause).

Let cool for 5 minutes and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Yum...I challenge you to eat ONLY one!

If you enjoyed this, caring is sharing!

Thank You Thursday

************** WINNER **************
Terri Phillips Montague
Yippee! This is ironic because she's the thank you note QUEEN! Congrats!
(I have your contact info and will get your cards to you ASAP!)
Thank you to all of you who participated, make sure and register for today's giveaway here.
**************************************
Today is my second favorite day of the week, next to Sunday. I spring out of bed a little faster on Thank You Thursday, knowing there's notes to write...I need help!

I started Thank You Thursday a while back with the purpose of reminding people to take a moment to express their gratitude. I also feel strongly about preserving the written word, I wrote about why it's important to me in my The Reason I Write Letters post (in case you missed it, you can read it here).

In this electronic media age, letters seem antiquated. Emails...texts...tweets, these are preferred modes of communication. While I recognize their usefulness, there's something so heart-warming about a handwritten note peeking from behind an electric bill. See what I mean? Just the thought makes my heart happy!

Because it's Thank You Thursday, because I love pretty stationery, and because I love you, I'm giving away an EXCLUSIVE! Here we go...

Charli Gause is the beautifully creative mind behind HELLO, FRENCHIE. We worked together many...many moons (and a few Jupiters) ago. Her design talents know no limits, can you tell I'm a fan?

She has designed an EXCLUSIVE thank you card, just for us! Yippee! The winner will receive a set of 15 cards (printed front and back as seen below) and envelopes. If you win, will you send me one because I adore it? Did it just awkwardly invite myself to be thanked? Weird!

Drum roll...tadaaaaaa!

I know, right? So charming!

Today, we are mixing things up a bit. This will be a Facebook giveaway ONLY! However, I will never leave a note writer behind! If you don't have a Facebook account (Mom), please comment below.

To enter, you must Like our Facebook page and comment on this post with a tag to a person you'd like to thank. For example, "@Sarah, thank you for never telling me I talk too much!" Understand? Winner will be selected tomorrow evening.

Okay, ready, set, go!

For more HELLO, FRENCHIE designs, visit her Etsy store or Facebook page.