Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

Pin It This month's PTI blog hop challenge: aqua and yellow. Here are just a few of my creations - enjoy!

Make It Monday - Colored Kissing

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Challenge:  Using atleast one papertry ink product, create a card using the colored kissing technique.

Here's my creation, using this week's PTI challenge.  This was a new technique for me - kind of neat.

PTI Products Used: Flower Fusion stamp sets and medallion background stamp;
PTI ink and cardstock - pure poppy and aqua mist; pure poppy twill ribbon.

I think this cutie is destined for the Operation Write Home basket.  Have you joined the mission yet?!

Papertrey Ink Make It Monday and Blog Hop

Pin It A very special lady is having a birthday in a couple of weeks.  I designed a card just for her based on this week's Make It Monday design challenge.  Wanting to take it to the next level and make an interactive card, but alas my Mover and Shaker dies have not yet arrived.  So I made it an 'interactive' card with a special folding technique I learned some time ago.

The challenge: Incorporate Glittered Buttons in your project.

The challenge: This month, it's all about being interactive! Show us how you take your cards to the next level, whether you have received your Movers & Shakers dies, or you're just inspired to create a pop up or swinging card without them.

This is what the card looks like when it is closed.

This is what the card looks like when it is open.

Papertrey Ink Supplies used:  Cardstock, printed cardstock, buttons, ribbon, Tag-It's Stamp Set

Won't the birthday girl be tickled when she opens her card?!

Papertrey Ink February 2012 Blog Hop

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The Challenge: This month, it's all about being interactive! Show us how you take your cards to the next level, whether you have received your Movers & Shakers dies, or you're just inspired to create a pop up or swinging card without them. There are so many options for this theme, and we can't wait to see what you have to share!

I'm used this month's PTI Blog Hop 'interactive' challenge to make a little 'gift-card' for my Send Love Today assignment - a  young boy who loves dogs.  I often incorporate little "gifts" into the cards, such as baseball collector cards, sweet treats, samples of lotion, guitar picks, and then build a card around the gift.  In this particular card, I used Gel Gems with a dog image.  I can image the little boy removing the Gel Dog and sticking it to his window.  

Papertrey Ink Supplies used:  Prefolded cardstock and envelope. 
To make this card, I cut out a window.  I glued an old PTI transparency sheet
from one of the PTI stamp sets to the inside of the window and then placed a
sheet of yellow cardstock behind it for the background. The Gel Gems
were stuck to the front of the transparency window for the recipient to peel off.

Have you sent any love today?

An Apple A Day - Brie, Apple & Arugula Quesadillas

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Photo: Gentyl & Hyers; Styling: Kendra Smoot

I'm still finding ways to use up the bussel of apples collected from our heirloom trees.  Here's what's for dinner tonight served with artisan hard cider from Finn River Cidery.

Brie, Apple, and Arugula Quesadillas
(Source: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/brie-apple-arugula-quesadillas-10000002012792/)
Kathy Farrell-Kingsley, Cooking Light OCTOBER 2010

1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard

2 teaspoons apple cider

3 (10-inch) flour tortillas

6 ounces Brie cheese, rind removed and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices, divided

1 Fuji apple, cored and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (about 1/2 pound), divided

3 cups arugula, divided

3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

1. Combine mustard and cider in a small bowl; stir well.
2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spread each tortilla with about 1 1/2 teaspoons mustard mixture. Place 1 tortilla, mustard side up, in pan. Arrange one-third of cheese slices over half of tortilla; cook 1 minute or until cheese begins to melt. Arrange one-third of apple slices over cheese; top with 1 cup arugula. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Fold tortilla in half; press gently with a spatula. Cook 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove from pan. Repeat procedure twice with remaining 2 tortillas, cheese, apple slices, 2 cups arugula, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cut each quesadilla into 4 wedges.

An Apple A Day - Baked Apples

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Photo: Dan Goldberg

A healthy dessert to finish a Pacific Northwest cedar-planked salmon.

Baked Apples with Crisp Topping
(Source: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/apple-crisp-baked-apples-10000001227803)

1/3 cup walnuts, chopped medium fine
1/3 cup pecans, chopped medium fine
1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 cup rolled oats
4 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small cubes
6 medium Pink Lady or Jazz apples, or other firm baking variety
1 1/2 cups apple cider

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350º. In a small bowl combine walnuts, pecans, sugar, salt, cinnamon, cardamom, and oats. Add butter cubes and toss to combine.
2. Peel the top third of each apple and, using a melon baller, scoop out the stem and enough of the core so that the walls of the apple are about 1/2 in. thick. Take care, however, not to break through the bottom of the apple, or the filling will leak out when baking. Make the hole a bit wider at the top.
3. Using a small spoon or your fingers, generously stuff each apple; mound extra filling on top.
4. Put the filled apples in a 2-qt. baking dish. Pour cider into the pan around the apples, cover the dish with foil, and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake, basting every 15 minutes, for an additional 30 to 45 minutes, until apples are easily pierced with a sharp knife (they may split open a bit at the bottom). Serve apples drizzled with the sauce from the pan and with a scoop of vanilla ice cream alongside.

Other 'An Apple A Day' Recipes: Apple Coleslaw and Pulled Pork Tortas

Have you discovered Myrecipes.com yet?  If not, check out my previous post here.

Have you had your apple today?

An Apple A Day - Fresh Apple Cupcakes with Almond Streusel

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A delicious afternoon delight - just add a cup of tea!

Amaretto Apple Streusel Cupcakes
(Source: Cooking Light Magazine October 2009)
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/amaretto-apple-streusel-cupcakes-10000001924729/)

Cooking spray

6 3/4 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 1/2 cups) 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup (2 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 tablespoons amaretto (almond-flavored liqueur)  (or 1/4 teaspoon almond extract)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream (or yogurt)

1/4 cup 2% reduced-fat milk

3/4 cup finely chopped Gala apple

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Streusel:

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons butter, chilled

2 tablespoons sliced almonds

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

4 teaspoons 2% reduced-fat milk

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Place muffin cup liners in 12 muffin cups; coat with cooking spray.

3. Weigh or lightly spoon 6.75 ounces (about 1 1/2 cups) flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 6.75 ounces flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Combine granulated sugar, cream cheese, and 1/4 cup butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until well blended. Add amaretto, vanilla, and egg to sugar mixture; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Combine sour cream and 1/4 cup milk in a small bowl; stir with a whisk until well blended. Combine apple and 1 tablespoon flour in a small bowl; toss well.

4. Add flour mixture and sour cream mixture alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with

flour mixture. Beat just until blended. Fold in apple mixture. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.

5. To prepare the streusel, combine 2 tablespoons flour, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in 2 tablespoons butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal; stir in almonds. Sprinkle streusel evenly over cupcakes. Bake at 350° for 27 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 15 minutes on a wire rack, and remove the cupcakes from pan.

6. To prepare glaze, combine powdered sugar and 4 teaspoons milk in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Drizzle glaze over cupcakes.