Crock Pot Banana Bread

Hi everyone! I’m sitting here snacking on some banana bread as I write. I baked it in the crock pot cause it’s too stinkin hot to use my oven! Did  you know you can bake in a crock pot?


Anyhoo, I thought all you mama’s that have sent your kids off to college with a crock pot might like to know that you can use it to bake in. I know I would have been one very popular girl if I'd known I could do that in mine!

Also, if you’re like me and live some place where you’ll be using your life savings to pay your electric bill because of the AC being cranked all day…every day…for months….well, you might like to bake yourself a little treat without turning on your oven and heating up your house! So use your favorite banana bread recipe (or pumpkin or zucchini – whatever). This is what you do....

 
Turn your crock pot on to high and let it pre-heat it while you mix up your treat. Make two little balls of foil and put them in the bottom of your crock pot. You will set your loaf pan on them.


Mix up your recipe and pour into a greased loaf pan and set on top of those foil balls (or a rack if you have one). This pan is a bit smaller than the one I use when I bake in the oven. I think this one is 8 1/2x4 1/2. But it really depends on the size of your crock pot – so test for fit before you do this. Some people bake in a coffee can in their crock pot but I’ve never tried that.


Prop the lid to let the steam escape. You don’t want to get all that condensation that you normally get when you cook in your crock pot. I just move my lid over a bit so it’s on loosely but you can also put something under it to keep it propped. It takes about two hours (my crock pot runs a bit on the hot side so keep a watch on yours the first time you do it – it may take more time).Let it sit for about 5 minutes before slicing.


Yummo! 


Did you notice the pretty tole tray? It’s from my bloggy friend Viola! Thank you Viola! 


In addition to being more energy efficent than an oven, what I really love about baking in the crock pot is that I was free to mow my backyard, pull some weeds, come in and take a shower all while it was baking. No having to keep an eye on it and NO HOT KITCHEN!!! Give baking in your crock pot a try!

A Totally Useless But Pretty Thing!

Hi everyone! Do you use decorative tassels in your home? They are the one item that I can’t think of a reason for having other than they’re pretty! I do have a couple and I have a new one that that I want to show you! 


Heather @ Butterfly Genes is making dog tassels now!


So I asked her to make a Golden Retriever one because we love dogs and especially our Maxie (I called my daughter puppy yesterday!!!).

You can use tassels on a lamp!


This rooster tassel is by Heather also.


Add it to a piece of furniture you want to add some oomph to,


Here’s a little pillow tassel I made for a door knob.


You can hang them  anywhere you want to express your decorating style!


AND they’re easy to move around! You know I love that!

There are lots of tutorials out there on how to make one so you can use your imagination and your own trim. This is my favorite Tassel Tutorial. I think I’m going to make one for fall. A pumpkin one would be so cute!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you all have a fabulous week!

The Kindness of Others

Hi everyone!  Do you remember when I posted that I wished I had a bunny tray and that I had been searching for one for years to add to my dining room tray collection?

Well sweet Julie emailed me to say that she had an extra one that she wanted to send me- would I like it! SQUEAL!! Would I ever! Doing a happy dance!                       Here it is!!



Isn't it cute! I LOVE IT!


Thank you so much Julie! That was unbelievably generous of you to part with one (they’re hard to find). You made my wish come true!

THEN I happened to mention to Vickie that I was planning on adding some beadboard to my dining room but wasn’t sure if I should go the real paneling route or the wallpaper route. She suggested the wallpaper. She also happened to have a roll from a project that she had done that she offered to send to me so I could try it out! Look at this huge roll she sent!




Thank you so much Vickie! I already have a little project I’m going to use it for and it’s such a help to be able to play with it to see what height I want to do in that room.


Both these ladies did something lovely for me without even really “knowing” me and sometimes saying “Thank You” just doesn’t feel like it’s enough!

 But…from the bottom of my heart  THANK YOU!

Thank you also to all you of you who take the time out of your busy day to read this blog! I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Today’s Creative Blog

Hi everyone! I just wanted to pop in to let you know some exciting news! Kim is featuring this blog at Today’s Creative Blog!

Head on over when you get a chance to check out her post on TPOH! Thank you!

Kitchen Cart Makeover

Hi everyone!  Some of you may remember the kitchen cart I got at Goodwill a few months ago for $7. Well I really needed it since there’s so much produce to preserve these days and I don't have a whole lot of counter space. I also don’t have space for a permanent island in my kitchen. So when I saw this kitchen cart at Goodwill I grabbed it since it would be easy to roll out of the way but give me just a bit more flat surface space when I need it. Of course  I had to spruce it up a bit!
 
I added a piece of wood on the bottom to 1)raise it up to a level that’s comfortable for me to work with and 2)I had to replace the casters since one was hanging on by a screw and one didn’t roll anymore.  I had the wood cut to size at Home Depot and just nailed it into the existing feet.

Then I screwed on some new casters that I bought at IKEA. Which I think were $9.

I also used 3 cans of leftover spray paint (they all had a little bit left) and painted it black and distressed the edges a bit (by using sandpaper to let the original color show through). I re-used the knobs that came with it. Check it out!

Before.

I don’t need the wine rack, but the bottom shelf will come in handy.

It has two drawers which I have some dishcloths and potholders in.

The sides have places to hang towels and there’s a knife block (which I doubt I’ll ever use). It’s already come in handy when I chopped up some red bellpeppers to freeze.

They were on sale at my local Mexican supermarket so I bought a bunch to  chop and freeze. Why are red and yellow bellpeppers so crazy expensive anyway? I cut them into little cubes and flash freeze them on a cookie sheet. When they’re frozen I put them in a freezer baggie. That way they don't stick together and you can just take out what you need. They soften when they defrost but I use them when I cook omelets, fried potatoes, casseroles, soup etc. I wouldn’t use them in a salad. Just a little frugal tip from me to you~smile!

I think I've now used all the things I've found thrifting over the last few months!

Thank you for visiting with me today!

Thrift Store Inspiration

Hi everyone! A few months ago I found this red ticking bedskirt at Goodwill.
 
It was at about the same time that I decided that I didn’t really like my Blue Toile Room!


I don’t know what it is but, I love seeing blue and white in other people’s homes. LOVE IT! Tried to do it in my home and never really liked it that much. Same with those rooms that are just shades of white. Love them, every time I try to do anything all white I always wind up adding some color!

So I thought I’d just add the red bedskirt and pair the blue toile comforter with it. I figure it can be blue and red from now on. Then I remembered I had this!


The bedspread is a vintage one that looks almost like Redwork except instead of the red being stitching it’s chenille. I’ve had this for a long long time!


The Redwork "Goodnight" pillow is one I ordered from Mary Jane's Farm Store also many years ago (when I had money to blow on such things – I wouldn’t spend that kind of money now).


I got the pretty white pillow sham at a thrift store in town (actually got two shams – the smaller one I use on my chaise in the Screened Porch).

This blue toile planter is also from Goodwill.


The lamp I’ve had forever - it may have been from Target. I added the brooches and pearls.


The print on the top and the one to right are from....you guessed it...thrift stores.


The one with the birds sitting on a fence is a Paul De Longpre. He’s more know for his floral paintings so I was thrilled to find this one.


The headboard is from the thrift store as is the blue mirror (which I painted blue) and the frame around the “Dream” art piece. The window is a salvage find.

I’m so much happier with this room now that there’s some red in it! All thanks to my $2.52 Goodwill dustruffle!


I think this is just the beginning!  I think red and blue toile pillows on the bed would be a nice addition and something I can make myself. Maybe a red or blue shade for the lamp?

So many projects so little time!


Thanks for coming by today! Have a great week!