HOMEMADE PLAY-DOH

HOMEMADE PLAY DOH 

It is so simple mommas and the kiddos love to be big helpers when making it. So not only do you get awesome vibrant fresh play doh but you also get the bonding experience and the measuring lesson that comes along with it. 

HERE IS HOW :} 

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour 
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tsp cream of tartar 
• 1 cup water
• 1 Tablespoon oil 
• food coloring of choice 
• {optional} 2 drops of your favorite Essential oil {found here}

Mix all ingredients except your food coloring and EO in a pot on the stove. Stir continuously until it forms a ball. Remove from heat and divide into how many different colors you want to make. Kneed colors and EO into each part. If you only want one color it is actually easier to just add it into the pot while forming the ball.  

So simple and easy and the kids love it even more since they had a hand in making it :} 

Live, Laugh and Love,

Lana 

Homemade Powder Laundry Soap

 So I use to make this liquid laundry detergent and I liked it, but I didn't LOVE it. So now I make this powder version and I LOVE it :} It last about 2-4 months and is much easier to make. Plus the next few times you make it you will only have to buy the soap bars since you will still have plenty borax and washing soda leftover.

2 Shredded bars FELS-NAPTHA
2 cups borax
2 cups washing soda
10 drops EACH of Purification and Lemon Young Living Essential oil {FOUND HERE}

SHRED YOUR BARS

ADD YOUR BORAX AND WASHING SODA

ADD YOUR OILS

HAVE YOUR 3 YEAR OLD SHAKE THE MESS OUT OF IT

AND SHAKE

SHE LOVED THIS PART :}

AND YOU ARE DONE :}

THAT EASY 

YOU COULD ALSO USE LAVENDER IF YOU LIKE THAT SMELL BETTER. PURIFICATION IS AWESOME IN LAUNDRY SOAP BECAUSE IT GETS STINKY SMELLS OUT OF ANYTHING SO I USUALLY JUST USE THE PURIFICATION AND LEMON COMBO :}

You only need to use one tablespoon per load

Hope y'all love this cost cutting tip :} 

Live, Laugh, and Love,

With Lana 

She Crab Soup

She crab soup is one of my all time favorite soups. I grew up in the South part of Virginia and this was actually a soup served in many restaurants. When I moved to Florida I use to ask people where I could get some because lets face it, she crab soup is one of those foods you get a major craving for. Well, NO ONE knew what the hell I was talking about. She what? I'm confused, are you saying SHE? What is it?...... Lord, I knew I was never going to find a restaurant who served it. :-/ SO I have made a few different versions while living in FL but never loved enough to share the recipe or make again. Well, this one right here is amazing. It is a little more fancy and flavorful than most she crab soups I have had but if that's all you are having for dinner you want it be GOOD :}

Ingredients

• 2 shallots, minced
• 2 ribs celery, minced
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 cup dry sherry
• 2 cups crab stock (or vegetable stock)
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 ½ tsp Old Bay Seasoning
• 1 qt heavy cream
• 2 bay leaves
•  lump crab meat  cans of lump crab meat
• 10 oz. roux
• Salt and Pepper to taste

To make roux:

• 3/4 cup flour
• 3/4 cup butter

In a saucepan over medium heat melt the butter. Once the butter is completely melted, slowly whisk in the flour until combined. Cook roux for 1 minute, stirring constantly; it will smell nutty. Set the roux aside until ready to be added to the soup. You may need to heat the roux up a little to get it back to pouring consistency. 




In a large pot over medium heat, sweat shallots and celery until tender; about 8 minutes. Add Worcestershire sauce and Old Bay; cook for 1 minute. Next add white wine, sherry and crab stock. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes.
When the liquid is simmering, add the heavy cream and bay leaves. Bring the liquid to a simmer and slowly whisk in the prepared roux. If you prefer your she crab soup to be less thick, just add less roux! Once thickened, add crab and salt and pepper to taste. Finish with a splash of sherry. 

I hope ya'll enjoy this as much as we did. It is a little rich so a small cup may be enough to satisfy your taste :}

Live, Laugh and Love,

With Lana

Kombucha Kandy

I chopped up my SCOBY into bite sized pieces using a very sharp knife (they can be tough to cut so I used a pizza cutter!)

 Then I mixed the kombucha pieces with some sugar and frozen blueberries

 Next, I put the kombucha scoby pieces, blueberries and sugar on the stove and simmered them for about 10 minutes. The will even pop at you a little :]

 Then, I put each kombucha piece out to dry on a piece of wax paper.

 They taste like a sweet and sour candy! If I didn’t know it was a Kombucha SCOBY, I think the texture might be a bit more appealing. My dughter LOVED them. I gave her one and she said " thats good mommy" then I bagged them up and put them in the fridge and she came back and asked where her gummies went. So I gave her a few to take with her to play!

GUACAMOLE ~ Chipolte copy cat

 So I never was a fan of guacamole growing up and I think it had a lot to do with not ever really knowing what was in it lol But now as an adult I began my love for avocados and wanted to make all things that included avocado, so of course I had to try my hand at guacamole! It turned out so good after a little tweaking here and there! You must try it!!! I love frying up store bought tortillas in some EVOO and slicing with a pizza cutter to make our own chips! They turn out softer than a regular chip and I just love to eat them hot and salty right after making them!

INGREDIENTS

3 Ripe Avocados

1/2 Cup of Chopped Red Onions

1/3 Cup of Chopped Cilantro

1/3 Cup Chopped Jalapeno (2 jalapenos)

1/8 Cup of Lemon and Lime Juice — 80/20 ratio

Pinch of salt

Place Avocados in a bowl and mash with a fork 

I let it sit in the fridge covered tightly for at least an hour before serving. 

 

ENJOY!

Live, Laugh, & Love, 

 Lana 

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole

 

 This has become a favorite at the Pennewell house! We love all things cheesy! This is similar to a frozen prepared meal from the frozen food section at the grocery store but this is WAY better! This recipe can be made a head of time then just thrown in the oven when you are ready to eat! This is also a great recipe to make for someone who has just had a baby or is going through a hard time. Casseroles are the best for that! :}

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups of diced rotisserie chicken {or any other cooked chicken}
• 2 cups broccoli florets, broken down into bite-sized pieces
• 1 can cream of "anything" soup (I love Mushroom or Broccoli)
• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 1/2 cups or 1 block shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 3/4 cup crushed corn flakes
• 2 Tbls butter, melted

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients into a greased 9x13 baking dish. I use a 9x13 because we like extra room for our corn flakes {more crunch!} but this recipe will fit into an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish.
2. Mix up all the ingredients except corn flakes and butter right in the baking dish.
3. Sprinkle the crushed corn flakes over the top of the casserole.
4. Drizzle melted butter over the top.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until casserole is heated through.
   
   ENJOY!! 
    
   Live, Laugh, & Love With,
   LANA

Shrimp Scampi (cheesecake factory)

 So let me just say this shrimp scampi is amazing!!! I personally have never had it from Cheesecake factory, or any other restaurant for that matter so I cant say weather it compares. BUT I can say it is sooooo good I cant imagine Cheesecake factories to be any better. This recipe is super simple! I have made it twice now and as I'm typing this I think Ill add it to my grocery list!

1 -2 lb fresh shrimp, cleaned and deveined, and butterflied
1 lb angel hair pasta
1 diced tomato
6 -8 whole garlic cloves
1 shallot, diced
1 pint heavy cream
1 cup dry white wine
olive oil
5 -7 leaves fresh basil
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, finely grated
parsley

For the shrimp

milk
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, finely grated
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions:

1
Pour enough olive oil in a large sauce pan to cover the bottom, turn to medium high heat. This is the only pot you'll need for the sauce so it should be big. Soak the shrimp in milk and combine the dry ingredients (flour, 2T cheese, salt, pepper). Coat the shrimp with the dry ingredients and let them fry in the olive oil, About 2 minutes per side until golden brown. The Flour that falls off the shrimp will add great flavor and consistency to the sauce. Add more oil as necessary, between batches of shrimp. Dab the shrimp with a paper towel, cover and set aside on range top to keep warm.
2
Add the garlic to the oil, stir for a few minutes, then turn the heat to medium low. Now add the wine and bring it to a boil. Then turn the heat to low and cover, let the wine reduce, about 10-15 minutes.
3
In a separate pot, bring water to simmer. (for pasta later).
4
Add the cream, and bring it back to a boil, turn heat to low and simmer for 10 more minutes. While it is simmering dice your shallot and tomato, and chiffonade your basil. Now add the Basil, diced tomato, and remaining 2T Parmesan cheese. Stir for a moment then add the fried shrimp, and remove the pan from heat. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
5
Bring pasta pot to a boil and add angel hair and cook.
6
To plate, pour some sauce on a dish and arrange the shrimp around the bottom (10 or so), then take a ball of the pasta and plate that above the shrimp. garnish with a little parsley.

Live, Laugh & Love with,

Lana

Paxtons Nursery Tiki Hut / Surfer Dude

We made the tiki hut and skirt and painted the crib :}

We just love how it all turned out

This was my husbands toy chest as a child. It had a circus print on it. Justin was able to remove it and paint "surfs up" on it for Paxton :}

Zoey looking in on her 10 day old baby brother

Lucky little guy has an awesome daddy who hand cut and stained this surfboard for him

The message Justin left for his son on the back of the surfboard he made him :} So sweet

My momma (Paxtons Granny) made these awesome pillows for his tiki hut