Simple and Functional Craft Space

I don't have a lot of space in my house for my crafts.  Therefore they have to be Incorporated into the house.  Here's how I try to make it look nice but still functional.  I went to my local flea market(Riverside Antiques)and found mis-matched old shelves.  One of my shelves is a drawer from and old desk and one is an old painted window box.  I'm still collecting unique glass jars.  I put all of my scrapbook brads in the jars.



Penne Alla Vodka

Here I go, my very first food blog.  Most of my friends know that I love to cook.  In the last few years, I've found a passion for cooking.  Chris and I have actually gotten spoiled because we are now cooking things better at home then we get in the restaurant.  I wanted to share this recipe with you.  I did find the basic recipe online but I have tweaked it to my liking.  I hope you try it and you love it as much as I do.  You will definitely be in a carbohydrate coma after eating this meal.  lol

Penne Alla Vodka

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of olive oil

8-10 cloves of garlic(finely chopped)

1(28 ounce) can of whole peeled tomatoes

1(14.5 ounce) can of diced tomatoes

1/8 cup(heaping cup) dried basil

1/4 cup of citron vodka

1 pound penne

1 pint heavy whipping cream

Salt and pepper to taste.

1.  In a large skillet over medium heat, cook finely chopped garlic in olive oil until its tender.
Watch your heat so that you don't burn the garlic.  Cook a couple of minutes.
Stir in both cans of tomatoes.  Break up the whole tomatoes a bit.
Stir basil and salt & pepper simmer for about 15 minutes.

Your sauce will reduce down and look similar to this.
I did go a little heavy on the basil on this day. 

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Don't forget to salt your water or your pasta won't have any flavor.

 Add pasta and cook for about 11 minutes or until al dente.

Stir in vodka and cook 10-15 minutes more. 



Stir cream into sauce and cook 10 minutes.
Be sure to keep stirring during this time so tomatoes don't settle
on the bottom of the pan and burn.



Your sauce will thicken a little while it cooks the last 10 minutes.

Drain your pasta.  (like my vintage strainer?....just like my mother had.)

Toss sauce and hot pasta in a large bowl.

Serve and enjoy.  This is a quick and easy meal.  Its low in cost.
You can buy the ingredients for this recipe for around $8.00.(not including the vodka)
Once you buy the bottle of vodka($15 a bottle) its a very cheap recipe.

Vintage Angel Carousel Chimes

I just saw a picture on television of one of these chimes.  The show was taped in Toronto so not local.  When I saw the angels it thrust me back in time when my mom put ours out every Christmas.  My parents always made Christmas such a magical and special time.  I wish I could go back in time to feel the joy I had at Christmas when life was much simpler.  I would love to be able to find one of these chimes.  I want to be reminded of everything my mother did at Christmas from the homemade candies, old tattered ornaments, tinsel garland and a card board fireplace.  I love you mom and dad.

Coffee Filter Wreath Centerpiece.

This was my first attempt at making a coffee filter wreath.  I think they are so beautiful.  Mine is certainly not perfect but it will do for this Christmas.  I hope this will inspire you to do your own.  It took around 200 filters to do this much of the wreath.  I also had some old Christmas supplies which I repurposed for this project.  aka the hurrican lamp:)

Glass Ornament Wreath

I just wanted to share my latest pinterest projects.  I attempted to make a glass ornament wreath.  I hope you like it.  It certainly didn't cost me much.  The ornament wreath I have only $3.00 in it.  I went to our local thrift store and bought a garbage sack full of ornaments.  Came home.... tore apart a wire hanger and started stringing the ornaments.  Oh I did glue all the hangers to the ornaments so they wouldn't come apart before I put them on the hanger.  I still had a few casualties that broke before I could get the wreath finished.  I think it turned out pretty.  I'm very happy:)