Mapping It Out. . .

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I found three frames this week at Target on clearence for $6.24.  I couldn't pass up the deal, so I decided to frame a few maps I have from my trips to Italy.
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The frames came with mat board cut to frame several pictures.  Not what I wanted for my maps.

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I used a metal ruler and my exacto blade to cut off the center portion of the mat board.

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When I finished, they looked like regular rectangular mat boards.

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Next, I choose the maps I wanted to use.

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I found my three favorite and cut them to size.

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The maps all have crease marks in them and the Venice one actually has some writing on it, but I sort of like them that way - it reminds me of our trips and walking the cities.  The writing on the Venice map is from Gigi, a worker at our hotel, pointing out some of the best spots in the city for a spritz!  Gigi did not disappoint!

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I hung the maps up in my home office.

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When I hang a group of pictures, I always use the paper that comes inside the frame to decide where to hang the pictures.

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It's a really easy way to make sure you are hanging your pictures exactly where you want them.  I pound the nail right through the paper.  I think this method saves a lot of time trying to find the correct spacing for the nails.

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Here are the finished fames:

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I am linking this up to Remodelaholics Anonymous Friday's here.  Check it out!

Also linking up to Frugalicious Friday's @ Finding Fabulous here.

And to Make it for Monday @ Cottage Instincts here.

And to Trendy Treehouse here.

And to Funky Junk Interiors here.

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Today. . .

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Today I am working from home and enjoying my beautiful Amaryllis, blooming for the second time!
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Antipasto Penne

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Have I mentioned that I love pasta?  Seriously, I could eat it every single night for the rest of my life and be quite content.  When I saw this recipe posted by Kendall @ Keeping Up With the Joneses I knew I wanted to try it.  The recipe is adapted from Cooking Light which you can find here.
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Ingredients:
- 10 oz. penne pasta
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives
- 7 oz. sun dried tomatoes
- 1 (6 oz.) jar marinated, quartered artichoke hearts
- 1/2 cup prepared pesto (I used store bought in a jar)
- 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
- bell peppers; one red, one yellow
- 1/2 cup grated parmigiano reggiano cheese + more to top pasta
- handful fresh spinach (optional)
- salt & pepper to taste
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First, start a large pot of water for your pasta.
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Next, you'll need to roast your peppers.  Cut peppers in half lenghtwise; remove seeds.  Place peppers, skin side up, on foil lined broiler pan.
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Place in oven with the broiler set to high.  It should take around 12-15 minutes for the peppers to turn black.
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While your peppers are in the oven, chop kalamatas, artichoke hearts, and sun dried tomatoes.
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* {Note - if you purchaed sun dried tomoatoes in a bag like I did, and not in a jar, you will need to soak them in a pot of simmering water to soften before use}
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Your peppers should just about be done.

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When your peppers look like the photo above, they are finished.  Remove from oven and place in a Ziploc bag for 5 minutes. {I'm not exactly sure what this does, but I'm guessing that it helps to soften the skin}

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Add pasta to boiling water.

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Peel skin off of peppers and chop.  In a medium sized bowl, mix peppers, kalamatas, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, pesto, and parmigiano reggiano.

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Toast the pine nuts on a cookie sheet in an oven heated to 350 degrees for 6 minutes.

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When pasta is finished cooking, drain and return to pot on the stove with a dash of olive oil.  I had fresh spiniach on hand so I added a handful to the pasta. As you stir, the spiniach will wilt down.  Add your artichoke, pepper, tomato, and olive mixture to the pasta along with the pine nuts and stir until all pasta is coated.  Serve and top with additional parmigiano reggiano.

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Enjoy!

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Baby Surprise Jacket - Finished!

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I finally finished the Baby Surprise Jacket!  You can see my first post about it here.  The pattern is by Elizabeth Zimmermann and was written in 1968!  I had a really great time knitting this.  I am going to give it to my friend who had a baby girl last week.
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Here's the sweater, still on the needles and with only a few more rows to knit:
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The interesting thing about this sweater is that it is knit up in one piece and there are only two seams - one at each arm.

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Here's a picture of the finished knit.  It's hard to believe that this turns into a sweater!

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Fold it up and it looks like this:

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Isn't that amazing?

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Seaming up the sleeves:

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I sewed on three buttons and the sweater was finished.

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Here's the back:

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I found several great resources online for help with this pattern.  The first is a series of videos on YouTube made by the owner of my local yarn shop.  Click here for the first video in the series.  Also helpful, especially for how to seam the arms, is Yarn Harlot.  Click here for her post on the BSJ.  Also, if you search online for 'BSJ row counts' you will find several charts people have posted to for keeping track of the rows - very helpful!
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I've linked this post up to Make it for Monday over @ Cottage Instincts.  Check it out!

Puppy Chow (For People)

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I'm sure everyone already knows how to make Puppy Chow, but just in case there's someone out there who hasn't tried it before I'm going to post it.  If you haven't tried it, you're going to want to - this stuff is good!
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Ingredients:

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- 9 cups Crispix (You could also use Wheat Chex or Corn Chex but I think Crispix is the best)

- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (one 11.5 oz. pkg.)

- 1/2 cup peanut butter

- 1/4 cup butter

- 1 teaspoon vanilla

- 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

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First, measure cereal and put into large bowl.  Set aside.

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Next, in a microwaveable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter for 1 minute.  Stir.  Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until the mixture can be stirred smooth.

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Stir in vanilla.
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Pour mixture over cereal and stir until evenly mixed.  This part is a little messy and you need to be careful not to crush the cereal when stirring!

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Pour into 2-gallon resealable Ziploc bag.  Add powdered sugar and shake bag until well coated.

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Spread out on wax paper or parchment paper until cool.

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Enjoy!  Be careful though, this is extremely addicting!
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My Favorite Winter Salad

.First off, I haven't been blogging as much as I would like to lately.  My laptop died last week.  I've ordered a new one and I am anxiously waiting for it to be delivered.  In the meantime, I've set up my ancient Dell desktop (c. 2002, I believe) and using it has been painful!  I miss my laptop!

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And now, a recipe. . .
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For salad:

- Mixed Baby Greens (I buy Earthbound Farms organic lettuces)

- Walnuts, toasted

- Apple

- Red Onion

- Kalamata Olives

- Gorgonzola or Blue Cheese Crumbles

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For Dressing:

- Salt

- 1 Teaspoon Dijon Mustard

- 1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar

- 1 Tablespoon White Wine Vinegar

- 2 to 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

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First, toast the walnuts in an oven heated to 350 degrees for 5-6 minutes.  It's amazing how much the flavor of nuts is enhanced by toasting.

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Slice apple, kalamatas, and onion..

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I know that apples with olives and onions sounds weird, but somehow it works and tastes really yummy together.

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To make the dressing, first mix together the dijon and the vinegars in a small bowl.  Add a dash of salt.

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While wisking, slowly add the olive oil.  Keep wisking until all of the oil is mixed into the dijon / vinegar mixture.  When all mixed together the dressing will become thicker and almost creamy.

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Add toppings to lettuce.

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Drizzle with dressing and enjoy!

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This is a great winter salad when there are not a lot of fresh vegtables in season.

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* Variations: Somtimes I add a pear or dried cherries instead of an apple.  You may also substitute pecans or pine nuts for the walnuts.

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