My Life: April 2013

New Old Fan!!

So I was really getting tired of my old white fan, I decided to give it a makeover!! The center disk is painted with chalkboard paint. Not really sure how much that will actually get used but it looks nice having the matte center. I'm thinking that I will wrap the white cord in green duct tape for a pop of color. I wanted to modge podge the fan blades but I couldn't get the middle curve just right.

New York Cheesecake

This is a really great textured cheesecake. It is baked so it doesn't have a smooth light texture. I'm going to try making this again but not baking it which means not using any eggs.

what you need

6 HONEY MAID Honey Grahams, finely crushed (about 1 cup)

3Tbsp. sugar

3Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted

5pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1cup sugar

3Tbsp. flour

1Tbsp. vanilla

1cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream

4 eggs

1can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling (optional)

Directions

HEAT oven to 325°F.

Step 1: Mix graham crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar and butter; press onto bottom of 9X13 pan. Bake 10 min.

Step 2 MEANWHILE, beat cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, flour and vanilla with mixer until well blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low after each just until blended. Pour over crust.

Step 3 BAKE 40 min. or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil handles to lift cheesecake from pan before cutting to serve. Top with pie filling.

Next time I would go through step 2 but stop at the eggs, the flavor and consistency was delicious. I don't usually put any pie filling on top but it would probably be pretty good.

Cabinet Cleaner

The kitchen cabinets in our apartment are disgusting around the handle area. One cabinet was so greasy that it would try to stick shut, you literally had to pull it open to release the greasy mess holding it shut. One Good Thing by Jillee posted a gunk remover so I decided to give it a try. This remover took off the grease and now that cabinet opens without a hitch. Not only is it super easy to make, 1 part oil to 2 parts baking soda (I used a tablespoon to measure), but it really did work. I put it on with a toothbrush, and it was fun to watch it turn black!!

In the nasty picture you can see the shine of the oil and the right side of the right door handle was caked in grime. In the half done picture the right door is done and has a great smooth feeling. FINISHED no longer has a grease shine.

Collages

Collages can be really fun, but making them can be a pain. I found that with Pixlr (I love their stuff) you can create collages in a ton of different layouts.

To get started go to Pixlr's site, then choose express.

When it loads click collage

It will load with a basic layout. To choose a different layout click layout (1) then choose from the list (2).

To add a picture click the plus sign in the middle of the picture area (1), choose the picture (2) and click open.

To edit the picture click on the paintbrush. If you want to change the picture click on the double arrows right next to the paintbrush.

When adjusting the pictures there are tons of options and the only way to really find what is there is to try them all.

This collage is the same picture just using different effects (1). I like the effects under default (2) the best.

Have fun playing and experimenting with Pixlr express!!

Cartoon Nail Art

Sorry the pictures aren't the best quality.

Sprayway!!

In our apartment we have this really ugly glass table! No matter how you try to clean it there are always a ton of streaks, it is aggravating. Sprayway saved the day!!

It is simply amazing! As I have used it I have decided that it isn't the greatest when used with a fabric towel of any kind. You get the best results with a paper towel, I use the kind that are in public bathrooms. You need two pieces, one to smear it around and clean off the gunk and the other to remove any excess foam. This is great for glass, mirrors and windows.

Old Fashioned Ultra Chewy Brownies

My sister hates boxed brownies but she absolutely loves these ones.

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 cup butter, melted
4 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla

6 Tbsp milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt, set aside.

In a separate mixing bowl, using a wooden spoon, mix together white sugar, light-brown sugar and melted butter until combine.

Stir in eggs and vanilla and mix until blended.

Add in half of the flour mixture and mix just until combine, add in milk and mix just until combine, then add remaining flour mixture and mix just until combine.

DANG I FORGOT A PICTURE OF THIS STEP!

Pour batter into a greased 9x13 baking dish and spread into an even layer.

Bake for 40-45 minutes then allow to cool completely. Frost with chocolate frosting and cut into squares. Store in an airtight container.

NOTE: I used 2 8 x 8's and the cooking time was still 40 minutes.

German Chocolate Cake Bars

I love German Chocolate Cake, these bars are an easy delicious way to eat German Chocolate!

Crust:

1 box devil's food cake mix (not the kind with pudding added)

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1 large egg

Filling:

1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat free and it was fine)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 large egg

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup shredded coconut (I used sweetened coconut)

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan (I used two 8 X 8 pans).

In a medium bowl, mix together the cake mix, butter and egg.

Press it into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for 7 minutes and remove from the oven. The crust will not look done.

While the crust is baking, mix together the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, egg, pecans and coconut.

Pour evenly over the warm crust and sprinkle evenly with the chocolate chips.

Bake for 24-30 minutes, until the top is a light golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool completely before cutting into squares.

NOTE: I didn't use any nuts so I added an extra cup of coconut.

Magic Cookie Bars

These cookies are delicious!! I used to wait every year for Christmas time because I knew that I got these. This recipe is so easy and quick, NO MORE waiting!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/2 (14 oz.) can Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 cups flaked coconut

1 cup chopped nuts

Instructions

HEAT oven to 350°F. Coat 8 X 8-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray. COMBINE graham cracker crumbs and butter in small bowl. Press into bottom of prepared pan.

Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture.

Layer evenly with chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Press down firmly with fork.

BAKE 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Loosen from sides of pan while still warm; cool on wire rack. Cut into bars or diamonds.

Note:

· I did an extra 1 cup of Coconut instead of the chopped nuts.

· For perfectly cut cookie bars, line entire pan with foil, extending foil over edge of pan. Coat lightly with no-stick cooking spray. After bars have baked and cooled, lift up with edges of foil to remove from pan. Cut into bars.

Steak Fries

This is a great way to use up those extra baked potatoes. It can be done with raw potatoes and with any spice you choose. If you do raw potatoes cook them for around 40 minutes or until fork tender.

Cut the baked potatoes into sticks and rub with oil. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with any seasonings, I used chili powder, salt and pepper.