Tasty Treat! Granola

A few weekends ago, I was watching Barefoot Contessa and she was making granola bars. They looked so easy to make and really tasty. So, right after the show was over (a Saturday afternoon), I went to the store, picked up the ingredients and made my own. Wow, it was easy and they were so good! I've made three different batches so far and I can't decide which I like the best. The first were with apricots, second with blueberries and the third with chocolate chips. I've shared them with my family and friends at work. They are all asking for the recipe so here it is...from Barefoot Contessa. :-)

GRANOLA BARS
Ingredients:
2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup shredded coconut, loosely packed
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2/3 cup honey
1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup chopped pitted dates*
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots*
1/2 cup dried cranberries*

*These items I substituted with 1/2 cup fruit or chocolate. I think anymore than 1/2 cup will be too much for the amount of granola.

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 8x12-inch baking dish with parchment paper.

Toss the oatmeal, almonds, and coconut together on a sheet pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the wheat germ.

Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.

Place the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for a minute, then pour over the toasted oatmeal mixture. Add the dates, apricots, and cranberries and stir well. Pour the mixture into the prepared 8x12-inch pan. Wet your fingers and lightly press the mixture evenly into the pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool for at least 2 to 3 hours before cutting into squares. Serve at room temperature.

Here's pics of the latest chocolate chip batch that I made.

Oatmeal, coconut, almond mixture before baking.


Liquid mixture...the honey, brown sugar and vanilla smells so good!

Oatmeal, coconut, almond mixture after browning.

I chopped up 1/2 cup of milk chocolate chips.

The finished yummy product! This makes approx 40-45 1" x 1" sized granola bars.

This last batch came out pretty tasty. It was a tad sweeter because of the chocolate chips on top. However, I think if I use semi-sweet chips next time and mix them into the granola mixture, it would be less sweet. I was afraid that the chocolate chips would melt into the granola, so I chopped them up and sprinkled them on top prior to baking. After the baking, I took the granola out of the oven only to find that the chocolate didn't melt at all. So, the next batch I make, I'm going to just mix in the chocolate chips with the granola.

Enjoy!!!

July's Card Swap

And here are the swap cards for July. The challenge for July was to create a card using the random stamping technique and include words on the front. Thanks, Mom and Nickalli for participating!!!

Late...So, I Sent Myself an Email!

Hahaha, I was totally late in participating in my own card swap. That sounds totally bad. Ugh... I guess you can say I was negative creativetraci for the past month or so. Anyways, jokingly, Ma, Sharon, Sheri and Tricia were all bugging me the last time we got together to send myself an email to say "you're late with your OWN card swap!!!" LOL!!! Tonight, I finally finished my July swap card. Yay!

Below are cards from the June swap. The challenge was using a flower and stripe pattern without using any words. These cards came out beautiful! Thanks ladies for participating and they will be in the mail to you on Monday.

Latest Cards

My sister, Tricia, recently held a CTMH Hosted Party. She wanted me to do a few cards with different themes. Thank You, Thinking of You, and a Happy Birthday card. I used the Moon Doggie paper, Extreme Happiness and Dainty Thoughts stamp sets to create these cards and it was alot of fun!

May Card Swap Artwork

I've been busy...as you can see, its been about a month since I last posted something.

I'm finally getting around to posting May's card swap artwork. The theme for May was to create a 4"x4" bag front using any "summer" stamp set and embellishments. These 4"x4" creations can be added to the front of a bag to use as "gift bag".

Thanks Mom (yellow flower w/brown ribbon), Tricia (slippers "fun in the sun"), Nickalli (fishy in jar), and Jenniffer (duck "fun in the sun") for participating! Mine is the plumeria paradise one.

Calgary Regionals Goodies and Artwork

I've finally gotten around to taking pictures of all the fun stuff that I got from this year's CTMH event called Regionals. If you remember, I attended a Regionals in Vegas and that was so much fun! This year, it was in Calgary. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to Canada but I was able to still get all the fun and exciting projects that everyone who went received. When the box came, it was Christmas in May!!

I received a commemorative Regional Celebrations bag, 4 brand new stamp sets, paper pre-cut to make 3 different 2-page layouts and 2 greeting cards, a My Creations Memory Box w/supplies to decorate it, and Sparkles, Hemp, cardstock Hodge Podge letters, and instructions on how to put everything together. Over the past few days, I've been putting together the projects. Here are some pictures. As soon as I finish the other projects, I'll post pics of them.

All my goodies and the bag which is really cool - I'll be using this bag alot!!

Back Country WOTG - It called for Brown Bag stamp pad but that's the only color that I don't have (funny, seeing as I have pretty much every other color, haha!) So, I improvised and used 2nd generation stamping with Autumn Terracotta and Chocolate stamp pads. The color came out pretty good! Also, on the close-up shot, I had to add liquid glass (to add some umph!) to the 4 My Stickease stickers.

Four brand new stamp sets: Dainty Thoughts, Connections, Priceless Love Word Puzzle, Campin Fever.

I heard that Jeanette herself led the instructions for this techniques sampler.

If you click on the picture, it will enlarge so you can see the actual technique. But, starting from the hearts and going clockwise, here are the techniques: 2nd and 3rd Generation Stamping, Masking, Arching Stamps, Creating Backgrounds.

Again going clockwise: Paper Piecing, Stamping with Two Colors, Using a Blending Pen, Rock and Roll.

Random Stamping and Stamp Kissing

This card was fun to make, although it took me about 30 minutes to put together. Haha, don't get me wrong, I love this card; however there's alot of technique to it.

1) For the very first time, I used our Color Ready Alphabet letters. The instructions said to sponge the color onto these card stock letters. So, I used removeable tape and taped off the surrounding letters. Then I used a sponge dauber and applied sorbet ink to them. I think these letters are my new favorite and I'll need to get more soon because they are SO easy to use. They are limitless because they soak up the ink color wonderfully and you can make them match any of your papers.

2) This card had 2 little stamped images that needed to be cut out, which was easy.

3) Sponging...every single piece of paper for this card is distressed using the sponging technique.

4) Hemp...the lower left side of the card has this really cute hemp decoration. This took a few tries because hemp is just a bit thicker than our paper piercing tool. Next time, I think I'll use a very tinyhole-puncher and that will work much better.

5) Lastly, my favorite of embellishments are sparkles. They add so much to a card design and give the card a "finished" look.

Moon Doggie

I love, love, LOVE this new summer themed paper pack called Moon Doggie. This layout with the word "Summer" on it is June's Workshop on the Go (WOTG) project. I used the new stamp set called Extreme Happiness and this really cute new crocheted ribbon. The layout came out really cute...thanks Mom for putting it together. Hehe!!!

Close To My Heart Summer 2009 Idea Book Blog Hop!

Hello and Welcome to our Close To My Heart Summer 2009 Idea Book Blog Hop! Over 40 CTMH Consultants are celebrating the upcoming release of the Summer 2009 Idea Book by sharing their amazing creations using new products via their blogs.

If you have arrived from Terrie's Blog at http://my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com/ , you are on the right path! If this is your first stop, you may want to go back to Erin's blog at http://www.tazzygirl2000.blogspot.com/ and start from the beginning!

To hop along and enjoy the endless beautiful artwork, just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! If you get lost in the hop, come back here and look at the list below to get to the next blog.

For my project, I used the new Bella themed paper pack. It’s beautiful with its pretty flowers and colorful papers to match. In addition, I used the Buttoned Together and May Stamp of the Month: Be Yourself to make cards.


Card Recipe:
Wishes Card Confidence Program (coming out in June): Just Right pattern
Paper used: Bella Level 2 Paper Pack
My Acrylix Stamp Set: May Stamp of the Month: Be Yourself & Buttoned Together
Ink Colors: Hollyhock
Embellishments: Colonial White Edge Anchor
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Card Recipe:
Originals Card Confidence Program: Fancy Five pattern
Paper used: Bella Level 2 Paper Pack
My Acrylix Stamp Set: Buttoned Together
Ink Colors: Hollyhock & Smokey Plum
Embellishments: Hollyhock ribbon
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Scrapbook Recipe:
Cherish How-To Program: Column Composition & Interesting Variation layout pattern
Paper Used: Bella Level 2 Paper Pack
Ink Colors: Smokey Plum
Embellishments: Bella MyStickease, Olive Brads, Liquid Glass
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Now "Hop" on over to Debora Mcelhany’s blog: http://www.mcdoodlesscrappinplace.blogspot.com/ to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and see the great new Paper Packs and My Acrylix Stamp Sets! Remember, the Summer 2009 Idea Book goes LIVE on May 1st!

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Come back here if you get lost in the blog hop and click on any one of these blogs to continue:
Erin Herring http://www.tazzygirl2000.blogspot.com/
Penny Doucette http://scrappinpenny.blogspot.com/
Kathleen Rensel http://scrapbookaddictkath.blogspot.com/
Jessica Moore http://www.jessicaspaperpetals.blogspot.com/
Colleen Porter http://www.inkemup.blogspot.com/
Sherry Thompson http://www.picturespatternsandpaper.blogspot.com/
Jen Patrick http://www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/
Corey Acton http://scrappytimeswithcorey.blogspot.com/
Amy Edwards http://www.paisleysplayhouse.blogspot.com/
Amy Schultz http://www.amylizschultz.blogspot.com/
Tresa Black http://www.fabulouslyartsy.blogspot.com/
Leslie Kolic http://www.leannesscraps.blogspot.com/
Rebecca Garrison http://www.stampingwithbekah.blogspot.com/
Miranda Kurz http://www.scrampinwithmiranda.com/
Terrie Dodd http://my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com/
Traci Tanimura http://www.creativetraci.blogspot.com/
Debora Mcelhany http://www.mcdoodlesscrappinplace.blogspot.com/
Katie Paterson http://katiepaterson.blogspot.com/
Michelle Robinson http://amaizenbluelady.typepad.com/
Lori Scott http://scrapinglori.blogspot.com/
Amberlyn Gentry http://amberlyng.blogspot.com/
Wendy Kessler http://www.myscrapbookingblog.com/
Meredith Burgess http://www.meredithsscrappylife.blogspot.com/
Vicky Sullivan http://www.sullyscrapandstamp.blogspot.com/
Caren Goldstein http://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com/
Jena Devries http://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com/
Kami Welter http://www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com/
Traci Godbee http://createwithtraci.blogspot.com/
Julie Banzon http://www.scrapbookiejulie.blogspot.com/
Laurel Seabrook http://www.want2scrap.blogspot.com/
Alisan Smith http://scrappinalistamps.blogspot.com/
Haley Dyer http://www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Dawn Heuft http://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com/
Ali Creel http://www.scrapali.blogspot.com/
Helen Onulak http://www.hookedonstamping.com/
Jean McNulty http://stampinmaui.blogspot.com/
Aaron Brown http://aaronsbooth32.blogspot.com/
Shannon http://www.rockinstamps.blogspot.com/
Julie Lane http://raggedydoodles.blogspot.com/
Carrie Zrodlowski http://carriesinspiration.blogspot.com/

Tickled Pink

CTMH's latest scrapbooking kit is really, really pretty! I LOVE it because its SO girly with its pinks and blues and pretty flowers. As soon as I got this kit, I knew exactly what pictures to add to it. I wanted to includes pictures of when my brother and sister and I were kids and how we've grown up! I think this artwork is my favorite yet!!! :-)

Btw, I took this first picture of the kit. However, the kit also includes all the papers and white cardstock flower cutouts and ribbons to embellishment your layouts. The only thing that didn't come in the kit that I used to decorate with was liquid glass.

Twilight!

Friday...March 20th...My niece, Ariana, and I went to Hot Topic in Tanforan for the midnight DVD release party for Twilight!!! I thought it would be more crowded but thankfully it wasn't. There were only about 50 people there. We were number 25 and 26 in line.

Here I am holding invitations to the party and the Director's Notebook from the movie.


I so LOVE Edward!!! Ariana loves Jacob! This cardboard life-sized 6ft-1 cutout of Edward was one of the raffle prizes that the store was giving away. Everyone got a raffle ticket and other ways to get raffle tickets included answering the many trivia questions of the night. (FYI...Ariana won 3 tickets by answering some questions correctly.)


The next day, we all got together to have a Twilight DVD viewing! The fans below include (from left to right: Samantha, Ariana, Sheri and myself). Ariana and I both got these Twilight shirts from Hot Topic the night before. And the posters came from Hot Topic and Blockbuster.

February Card Swap Creations

Here are cards from my last card swap that I hosted. 6 people (Mom, Tricia, Sheri, Nickalli, Cecilia, and myself) participated so everyone received 6 different cards. The theme for February was Just Because or Thinking of You. I gave everyone a template from CTMH's Originals Card Confidence Program and let everyone choose whatever paper and accessories they wanted to use. These all came out so beautifully!!! Each picture shows who created it.