Make it Monday: Computer Sentiments

Pin It This week's Make It Monday challenge is to print sentiments from your computer and then die cut them. Erin Lincoln has a wonderful video tutorial if you want to learn her tricks for perfect placement (http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2012/03/make-it-monday-59-computer-generated-sentiments-on-die-cuts.html ). This will definitely become a frequently used technique for the Operation Write Home cards I make.

For this week's challenge, I simply used a Happy Easter sentiment.

Now, on to decorating the house for Easter. I wonder if I can coax out the sun? - Deb

Cheap Eats: Gemelli with Scallops

Pin It So maybe not the cheapest recipe to share, but a reasonable price none-the-less when serving four.  You could easily substitute a less expensive fish (like shrimp) or meat (like chicken) in place of the scallops.  Scallops were on sale at my local QFC, so I treated the family on Sunday. 

Not one bite left at the end of the meal.  Very Yummy.

Gemelli with Scallops, Snap Peas and Aspargus

(Source: Coastal Living Magazine March 2012)
Recipe can also be found here: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/seared-scallop-gemelli-asparagus-50400000119956/
(I love myrecipes.com - it's a great website for finding and storing recipes!  Try it -  you'll like it!)

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces of gemelli
• 2 ounces pancetta, chopped (I used bacon)
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 sweet onion, chopped  
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 8 ounces sugar snap peas
• 1/3 cup dry vermouth
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
• 1 pound sea scallops
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese

1. Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions; drain.

2. Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pancetta, and cook 3 minutes or until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove from skillet, and drain on paper towels. Return skillet to cooktop, and add 2 tablespoons oil, onion, and garlic; cook, over medium-high heat, 5 minutes or until onion starts to soften, stirring occasionally. Add asparagus; cook 2 minutes or until bright green. Stir in peas, and cook 2 minutes. Add vermouth; cook 1 minute or until reduced to a glaze. Stir in tarragon and cook 1 minute. Remove from heat.

3. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a separate skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle scallops with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Add to skillet, and cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until browned.

4. Return large skillet to cooktop. Add cooked pasta and 2 tablespoons butter, and cook 1 minute or until butter melts. Remove skillet from heat, and stir in cheese, half of reserved pancetta, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Divide pasta among 4 bowls, top each evenly with scallops, and sprinkle with remaining pancetta.


Here's a quick reference for buying scallops :  http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/fishseafood/p/freshscallops.htm

I recommend buying scallops that are not soaked in a phosphate solution.  To prepare the scallops before cooking, let them drain well on a paper-towel lined plate (cover scallops on top with paper towel as well) to remove  any wetness.  This will help ensure a nicely browned scallop after cooking.

Enjoy!

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.