tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79960161378495971792024-03-13T07:14:01.118-07:00nutmeg237nutmeg237http://www.blogger.com/profile/06939092621724266838noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996016137849597179.post-4813100453234684882011-12-30T11:30:00.000-08:002012-01-03T05:58:58.905-08:00Tell us about your proudest creation or empowering DIY moment! Here is Mine :)I love my frontloader washing machine with its extra large capacity loading. My clothes not only wash quickly with less water, but are also drier when they come out, which in turn means less drying time in the dryer. I had bought my washer only four years ago and never had any problems with it. It not only looks amazing in my mudroom, but it works well too. <br />
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My most empowering DIY moment was this past year when my frontload washer had died. I was devasted, I didn't realize how much I had relied on my washing machine until I didn't have one. With a husband, four children, and a dog, I run my washer atleast once daily, and sometimes twice a day. After spending an entire day driving back and forth to the local laundromat lugging dirty laundry in the car and tons and tons of quarters, I knew something had to be done, and quickly. We needed to find out what was wrong with my washing machine, and could it be repaired ?<br />
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Apparently my son put a towel loaded with a ton of wet sand in my washer and the sand clogged and burnt out the waterpump. I actually figured this out by googling online what could be the problem. My husband told me we needed to call and get it repaired or just go and buy a new washing machine. I refused. Pulled out the manual, I removed the waterpump and found the culprit (tons of sand inside) We waited 2 days for the part to be delivered. I needed an extra set of hands; so my husband agreed to help me. In less than a week we had replaced the waterpump ourselves and the machine was running like new. The part cost me a total of $52.00 ~ I am so proud of myself for sticking to my guns and insisting on trying to repair the washer ourselves !nutmeg237http://www.blogger.com/profile/06939092621724266838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996016137849597179.post-62332724368361521282011-04-18T10:59:00.000-07:002011-04-18T10:59:50.784-07:00Easy Peasy Peep Pops !!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U-WqOvaHP3E/Tax3rT51OII/AAAAAAAAADA/hPyToFx9UAU/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U-WqOvaHP3E/Tax3rT51OII/AAAAAAAAADA/hPyToFx9UAU/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What you will need 1 package of bunny peeps, 8 oz of melting chocolate, lollipop sticks, lollipop bags, curling ribbon and cookie sheet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xorisFo1pew/Tax4lzX_YNI/AAAAAAAAADE/sdHQeZXvBBU/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xorisFo1pew/Tax4lzX_YNI/AAAAAAAAADE/sdHQeZXvBBU/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Step One: insert lollipop sticks into bunny peeps and place them on cookie sheet and put in freezer for approx 10-15 minutes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m9jyVOwPfxs/Tax5Gy8K1oI/AAAAAAAAADI/7LxaAnpeU2g/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m9jyVOwPfxs/Tax5Gy8K1oI/AAAAAAAAADI/7LxaAnpeU2g/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Step Two: melt chocolate, in either double boiler or in microwave ( appprox 2min at power level 5) dip frozen bunnies into chocolate and place on wax paper and place back in freezer for chocolate to harden.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lGs9BQF8ZHI/Tax5lQol3UI/AAAAAAAAADM/BGLINdqOCg8/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lGs9BQF8ZHI/Tax5lQol3UI/AAAAAAAAADM/BGLINdqOCg8/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Step Three: Wrap lollipops with colorful curling ribbon, and you are done :)<br />
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</div>nutmeg237http://www.blogger.com/profile/06939092621724266838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996016137849597179.post-2337947639464051092010-11-24T16:07:00.000-08:002010-11-24T16:07:56.561-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TO2omV0C4aI/AAAAAAAAAC0/E-o0IbtRKsA/s1600/chocolate+cornacopia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TO2omV0C4aI/AAAAAAAAAC0/E-o0IbtRKsA/s320/chocolate+cornacopia.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><strong>Happy Thanksgiving Everyone !!!!!!!</strong><br />
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<strong>I will show you how to make this chocolate cornacopia in the future, I will need to make a video :)</strong>nutmeg237http://www.blogger.com/profile/06939092621724266838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996016137849597179.post-55932969174727259482010-11-22T19:45:00.000-08:002010-11-23T06:23:43.119-08:00Chocolate Chip Cheesecake<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TOss_EhEMZI/AAAAAAAAACU/h40oiFQgqpo/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TOss_EhEMZI/AAAAAAAAACU/h40oiFQgqpo/s200/015.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>1 3/4 cup Graham Cracker Crumbs</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>1/3 cup butter melted</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>1 1/4 cups sugar, divided</strong></div><strong>3 pksgs (8oz each, cream cheese softened )</strong><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>2 tsp. vanilla</strong></div><strong>3 eggs</strong><br />
<strong>1 cup sour cream</strong><br />
<strong>1 pkg of mini chocolate chips</strong><br />
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</div><strong>Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 8 or 9 inch springform pan.</strong><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TOsuRRKHlXI/AAAAAAAAACY/b1-c8VdFN_c/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TOsuRRKHlXI/AAAAAAAAACY/b1-c8VdFN_c/s200/007.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TOsvxq-a4NI/AAAAAAAAACc/TiLDrnaswqE/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TOsvxq-a4NI/AAAAAAAAACc/TiLDrnaswqE/s200/008.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><strong><span style="color: red;"><u>Crust:</u></span></strong><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Melt 1/3 cup butter in a saucepan, add 1/4 cup sugar and 1 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs and mix with a fork until completely combined. Press into the bottom of the springform pan.</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Beat Cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with electric mixer on high speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Add sour cream and 1 cup mini chocolate chips and pour into crust.</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Bake 1 hour 10 minutes or until center is almost set at 350 degrees.</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>About 50 minutes into baking place the remaining 1 cup of mini choc</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>chips ontop of cake and continue baking for the last 20 minutes. Leaving the door slighty ajar leave cheesecake in the oven 1 hour after baking. Remove from oven and chill in refrigerator 4 hours or overnight before removing side of the springform pan.</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TOs02JgdF5I/AAAAAAAAACo/MsuIg5lW9uQ/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TOs02JgdF5I/AAAAAAAAACo/MsuIg5lW9uQ/s200/012.JPG" width="200" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TOs3olEp5yI/AAAAAAAAACw/iZmkfOnLM2I/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 119px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 201px;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TOs3olEp5yI/AAAAAAAAACw/iZmkfOnLM2I/s200/014.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>nutmeg237http://www.blogger.com/profile/06939092621724266838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996016137849597179.post-24477857307608491092010-11-20T17:00:00.000-08:002010-11-20T17:00:59.391-08:00Turkey Treats<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TOhpb4ZdEdI/AAAAAAAAABo/uK1sduPoDVI/s1600/10797572096_NX9jK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TOhpb4ZdEdI/AAAAAAAAABo/uK1sduPoDVI/s200/10797572096_NX9jK.jpg" width="119" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Gather: </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">.1/4 cup butter</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">.1 package of marshmallows mini or large</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TOhpw1Tz4sI/AAAAAAAAABs/_smuI9q9XMA/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pyGqbR3LAaY/TOhpw1Tz4sI/AAAAAAAAABs/_smuI9q9XMA/s200/001.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">.6 cups rice crispies cereal</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">.1/1/2 cups melting chocolate</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">.bag of candy corn</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">.bag of oreo cookies</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1. melt the butter in a large saucepan</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">2. add the bag of marshamallows and stir until the marshmallows are </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> completely melted.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">3. remove from heat and add the rice crispies cereal and stir </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> the mixture unti the cereal is well coated .</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">4. Let cool for 5 minutes, then butter your hands and shape the ceral mixture into 1/1/2 inch balls.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">5. Melt chocolate in microwave in a glass pyrex measuring cup for 1 1/2 minutes on power level 5. Take </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> them out and stir, then place them back in the microwave for an additinal 1/1/2 minutes on power </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> level 5 Remove and stir until completely melted.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">6. You can use a spoon or a plastic bottle like pictured above ( I got in a candy making supply store) and </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> place melted chocolate ontop of oreo and then place rice cripsy ball ontop and allow chocolate to </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> harden. Tke another oreo and drizzle chocolate on half of the cookie and put three to four candy corns </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> on to represent the turkey feathers. Allow that to sit and harden. Then take your ball and turkey </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> feather pieces and put them together with melted chocolate hold it for a few seconds and lean it against </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> side of the cookie sheet as it hardens. Last step is to take a candy corn and place it on the rice </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> crispy ball to represent the turkey head.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">These are so cute that I sometimes make a little cardboard nameplate for my Thanksgiving tabble setting.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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