Slow cooker Sticky Chicken

Tonight's dinner was sticky chicken.I found the recipe on Pinterest, of course.  It comes from Semi Homemade Mom.  I followed the recipe for the most part, except used 1 cut up chicken because my families likes different pieces of chicken.  This works out well.  It was also almost 6 pounds of chicken, so I doubled everything in the recipe.



It was awesome to have the chicken cook all afternoon.  Then, when we were all home and ready to eat, I popped the chicken on a sheet pan covered in foil, topped with the sauce and broiled for 5 minutes.  I also served it with rice, corn and fruit.

So, the final verdict of the family was positive.  Everyone ate it.  Hubby, oldest son and I thought it was really good.  9 year old twins ate it, but didn't rave about it.  Hey, I'll take what I can get.  As long as they don't complain about it and actually eat something, I'm thrilled.  In fact, the biggest complaint was the rice for one kid and the corn for the other.  Really?  Sometimes a Mom can't win!

Chicken and Dumplings

One if my favorite comfort food is Chicken and Dumplings. I love Cracker Barrel's version. So when I found this recipe I jumped all over it. It is super easy and relatively quick. And most if all, everyone in my family loves it.

Here's the recipe.  The original recipe came from Comfy in the Kitchen.  I made changes to suit my families likes, mainly adding more dumplings.  I also found that 3 cans of chicken broth was 7 cups, so I just used it all. Anyway, here is it.  Hope you enjoy it as much as my family does.

Chicken and Dumplins

1 pre-roasted Chicken (deli section of the grocery store)

7 cups Chicken Stock (I used 3 14.5 oz cans)

Dumplins

3 cups all purpose flour

1 Tbsp plus 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1 3/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cup plus 3 Tbsp Milk

Directions

Take skin off the chicken and discard.  Cut Chicken into pieces.  This depends on how big you like you pieces to be.  Set aside.

Pour your broth into a large heavy pot.  Bring to  boil.  

Meanwhile, make your dumplings.  Combine flour, baking powder and salt.  Add milk and stir until mixed.  Let set for 5 minutes.  Roll dough on a floured surface to about 1/2 inch thick.  Cut into 1/2 inch squares.  I like to use a pizza cutter to do this.  Quick and easy.  

Drop each dumpling into simmering broth.  They will swell up, but keep stirring to get them all in the pot.  Continue to cook on low heat for abougt 20 minutes.  Stir often.  Add chicken and cook another 5 minutes or so.  Season with pepper and enjoy!

Grilled Flank Steak

Since the weather has been so nice here in Michigan, the grill has been brought out of it's winter storage.  I went to the store Saturday to purchase some nice steaks to grill.  Much to my surprise was the cost of steaks!  Holy Cow!  $12 a pound!!  With my family of 5 (including one 12 year old boy with a hollow leg), it would have taken over $30 just for steak!  So, I went looking at a more economical piece of meat.  I settled on a flank steak.  But my problem was, I have never grilled a flank steak.  So I came home and went to my beloved Pinterest site.  I settled on this recipe.  Grilled Balsamic Flank Steak.  I followed the recipe and it was awesome!  I did need to add a bit of my most awesome finishing salt to bump up the flavor.  Best of all, every person ate it, and liked it.  Double thumbs up from me.

Change in my blog

I've decided to change the direction of my blog.  Yes, I'm still a stamper, but I don't seem to be able to stamp as often as I once did.  I find myself running in many different directions these days.  I'm a Mom to 3 kids.  One in Middle School and my twins in Elementary.  I'm PTO President at my Twins school, as well as a part time volunteer.  Between picking kids up from school, taking them to where they need to be, not much time is left to stamp.  What I do find myself doing is trying to juggle home, kids, and trying to figure out what to make for dinner!  Very had to do some nights when I'm not home in the day, and need to run kids different places.  I am constantly on the lookout for the perfect meal.  One that is easy to make, doesn't require a ton of weird ingredients, and most of all, one that every member of my family will eat.  YES, that last one is the true perfect meal.  You see, most of the family eats most things.  Problem is, that doesn't mean it happens at every meal.  So, in my quest for the "perfect meal" I decided to change the direction of my blog.  I will post links to great recipes I find and have tried.  As well as update whether it is the perfect meal!  I hope you enjoy this new direction of my blog.  Oh, and I may post an occasional stamp project.  :)

MIA

Yes, I know I have been MIA for a long time. Unfortunately, I had to have hand surgery right before Christmas, and have been in a splint ever since. This had greatly impacted my stamping. Hopefully, soon I can get back to stamping!

Christmas Card Stamp a Stack Event

Don’t have enough Designer Paper? No Problem.
This class will solve that for you.
These six cards are all created using a One Sheet
Wonder technique. Stamp these
beautiful snowflake images as your Designer Paper,
add the co-ordinating matchbook
and you have an amazing gift set!

Date: Saturday, November 20
Time: 9 am
Cost: $9 for a set of 6 cards.  Add the matchbook for $3
(you provide SNAIL Adhesive)
Location: Krista's house

Please email me to sign up for this class:
khwolf@comcast.net with the amount of card sets
and matchbooks you want to make by Nov. 12.


Supplies(Provided by me!)
• Stamps:  Serene Snowflakes, Four the Holidays
• Ink: Not Quite Navy and Sahara Sand Classic inks,
  Frost White Shimmer paint
• Paper: Kraft CS, Not Quite Navy CS, Very Vanilla CS,
  Medium Very Vanilla Envelopes
• Accessories: Sticky Strip,Paper Snips, paper-piercing tool,
  mat pack,Scallop Edge punch,  Jumbo Snowflake punch,
  bone folder, Stampin’ Scrub and Mist,paper trimmer and
  Scoring blade, pencil,Stamping Sponges, Sponge Daubers,grid paper,
  paint palette, paint brush, RSVP pen, Crop-A-Dile

Christmas Card Stamp a Stack Event

I'm currently planning my Christmas card making event. More details to follow, but I wanted to give you a sneak peak! This class will be held Saturday, November 20 beginning at 9 am! Stay tuned for registration info.

Stamping mental block solved!

Sorry it's been so long since I posted, but I developed a serious stampin' mental block. I was stuck trying to make a project work, and no matter what I tried, I just didn't make anything I liked! I was very frustrated. So, finally I decided to move on. I have a few months to craft show season, so I went back to my oldie but a goodie items. That solved my block! I have lots more projects in the works, so stay tuned more more items.

Hair clips and bows

I recently started making hair clips and bows trying to use up my extra ribbon. I don't think it's possible because somehow I keep buying more ribbon. But, it's a start. Here are a few examples of what I'm working on.

Decor Elements

I recently painted my daughters room. I purchased the retired Flitting By Decor Elements for her room. Here is the start of the process. I cut out each image and matched up the patterns. This is a 2 step decor elements.


I then taped them to the walls using painters tape to position where I wanted them.



Here's an image of a completed 2 step image. First, I did the white butter fly, then added the rose red flowers. Cute!!

Here's one wall. Click image for bigger picture.

Another wall and more butterflys.

This was a fun process! She is 7 and was able to help. Great mother/daughter time for sure.

Baby cards

Here are some cards I made for my twins 1st grade teacher. I thought they turned out cute! I used the set Fox and Friends from the Occasions mini as well as Thank you kindly. The paper was from Pawsitively prints collection.

Holiday Card Workshop

It's finally here! Join me for my annual Holiday Card workshop! Come make the cards show below. You will make 1 of each of the 4 designs for only $5! (envelopes not included)

Date: Saturday November 14 (email for Monday morning option)
Time: 9 am
Cost: $5 for a set of 4 cards
Location: Krista's House

Please email me to sign up for this class: khwolf@comcast.net

Supplies we'll be using (all provided by me!!)
Stamps: Tree Trimmings, Scenic Season, A Cardinal Christmas,Serene Snowflakes, Four the Holidays
Inks: Real Red, Soft Suede, and Sahara Sand Classic inks
Paper: Christmas Cocoa Specialty DP; Whisper White CS, Soft Suede CS, Real Red CS
Accessories: Gold Brads,Dazzling Diamonds glitter, 2-way glue pen, Paper Snips, paper-piercing tool ,mat pack, Scallop Edge punch, 1/16" handheld circle punch, bone folder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, blender pens, Stampin’ Scrub and Mist, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stamping Sponge.

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN SNAIL adhesive!!

Create a wonderful Gift

Here is a cute project to create for a wonderful gift. This includes a box and a set of 8 cards (2 designs, 4 each).

You can easily change the DS paper to make a completely different looking set of cards! I used Tea Party DS Paper and the Matchbox messages stamp set for this sample.

If you would like a PDF file with instructions for this, please email me!

Long time

Well, it's been a long time since I've posted. Who would think life would get so busy. I've been stampin' away, but usually forget to take pictures of what I'm making. With craft show season 3 months away (YIKES) I'm a stampin' fool! I promise to try to be better at posting pictures of what I'm making. I do have some cute new items in mind for the shows.

Birthday Stamp a Stack Class!

Here are the cards that will be available to make at my upcoming Birthday Stamp A Stack.
It will be held Thursday, March 19 at my house. You can register by emailing me at khwolf@comcast.net Please indicate how many of each card you want to make. Cards are $1 each (no envelope). Card numbers are on each picture.

Stamp club this Sunday

To all my stamp club members, just a reminder that Stamp Club will meet at my house this Sunday from 2-4 pm. We will be enjoying the new catalog! Here's a sneak peak of the projects we'll be making. As always, if you can't attend, please have orders to me by Sunday. If you would like to bring a guest, please let me know that as well.

See you Sunday!

Valentine's Day Bundle

Get ready for Valentine's Day with the exclusive Love You Much Bundle (item 115405).

Here are the bundle details:
Dates: December 23, 2008 - January 31, 2009

The Love You Much Bundle includes the following:

• Love You Much stamp set $25.95
• Candy Lane Designer Series paper (Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla) $9.95
• Heart To Heart punch $15.95

Bundle Retail Value $51.85

Love You Much Bundle (20% off; item 115405) $41.48

To order this bundle, visit my website at http://kristawolf.stampinup.net

Christmas Stamp a Stack event

Here are the cards for my Christmas Stamp a stack event. Please remember to RSVP by Nov. 13 to khwolf@comcast.net. Card numbers are included on the picture so you know which ones to choose. Cost is $1 for each card (no envelopes). Edited to add card design #5

September Stamp Club samples

Here are the cards we made at our September Stamp Club. The first card was done using Baby wipes and re-inkers. The last 2 were brayering techniques.

Spooky Rub ons now available