Bird Seed Hangers

I got this amazing idea while looking for thank you gifts to make for my wedding. They are SO easy but VERY messy. Make sure you have extra oil out and accessible because your fingers get very sticky.

Mix 3/4 C flour, 1 pkg unflavored gelatin, 1/2 C water and 3 Tbsp corn syrup in a bowl. Add 4 cups bird seed.

Smush bird seed into GREASED cookie cutter. Add more to top and really smush it in the best that you can. The harder pressed they are, they firmer they will be and the less they will break apart.  Smooth out top as desired.

*While it is still in the cookie cutter-pierce the hole with a skewer or whatever you want to use. If you wait until you slide it out, it will significantly deform it. I figured this out after a couple of attempts.

Gently slide bird seed out of cookie cutter and lightly touch up shape.

Let rest on wax or parchment paper over night or until firm.

Once solid you can thread string or twine thru the hole and hang outside for the birdies!

Sorry I havn't posted much lately...

Sorry I haven't posted much lately, readers. I have been very busy planning my wedding, and then my computer broke. :( I actually have been making quite a bit of things, and I will eventually post them, as soon as I get my computer up and running again. Thank you for checking out my blog, and thank you to those who check back regularly. You are not forgotten.

~K

Applesauce

One day a long long time ago, ok maybe not that long ago, my dad told me the concept of how to make applesauce. You cut up apples, put 'em in a pan with water, add a dish of cinnamon and a dash of sugar and cook it till you want to eat it. That's pretty much it. I'm sure he may have been a little more specific of how much of what and when to what, but I remember the concept, not the recipe. Last weekend I had some spare time and a few big apples staring me down from the fruit bowl screaming "eat me, eat me", so I did what anybody would do who had apples begging to be eaten and no desire to actually eat an apple, I made apple sauce. It's pretty much gone now, but I thought I'd share.

I forgot to take a picture of the finished applesauce, and it's too late now. :(

Bulk Sacks

Bulk sacks are different from bread sacks, how, I'm not sure. I made a bread sack a while ago and failed to post it on here. It worked great! I simply cut a sheet that I was not using to about twice the width of a loaf of ciabatta bread and made it extra long so I could tie the end. I like to buy my bread at the Panera next to my work for a number of reasons. Reason number one: they make their bread fresh every morning and DO NOT PREWRAP their bread. That way I can get it before packaging ever hits it. They have no issue saving their wrappers and putting it strait in my sack. They do however use a sheet of plastic to grab the bread with and immediately toss it in the trash, I cringe every time. Asking them to grab it with their bare hands seems to be crossing a line so I am letting it go for now. Reason number two: at the end of every day, all the bread and pastries that did not get sold get bagged up and donated to people who need it, and I am glad to spend a little extra money on a company that has that kind of value. Reason number three: have you ever been to Panera? Their bread rocks!

At work the other day, I was talking to a coworker about my attempts to make a bulk sack and how I was stuck with how to secure it. This particular coworker just so happens to be skilled with a needle and thread and suggested a way to make a drawstring sack. I like to sew by hand-yes it is time consuming-yes I poke myself with the needle a lot-yes it scares my bf when my crazy sewing gets out of control and the needle gets closer and closer to his face-but I like it. It's relaxing.

The following pictures are in the process of making the sack-I haven't found the material to use as the drawstring but I have a number of ideas. When I get around to finishing it-and I hope it's soon because I need more bulk foods-I will post a picture and a more detailed description of how it's done. But for now, enjoy these pictures.

Making Lemonade with the Citrus Press

I know, I know, post something other than lemonade. But this is different! At least it feels a little different when I make it. I have used this citrus press at least five times since I got it and I LOVE it. It is antique and has a slight crack in the foundation, but as long as I hold it down in a certain position, it does not put pressure on the spot and does not risk it breaking. And it is so fun to use. I can't help thinking about who could have used it years before me. I don't really know how old it is, but it must have history.

This is the lemon juice coming down.

Anzac Biscuits

I came across this recipe for Anzac biscuits surfing the internet one night and thought the ingredients would perhaps create something that I would love to devour. I was right. Against my better half's better judgement and pleas I constantly modify recipes to my liking. I modified this recipe a bit, I just can't help myself. Also...I didn't even realize until I went to mix things together that I needed to convert. So in a rush I pulled up the first online conversion program I could find and plugged in the numbers, averaging...kind of approximately. I do not think they were right. Also, my store didn't have golden syrup, as a website later warned would happen. I decided to use maple syrup instead and later found out that you can use honey instead of golden syrup. Also, just to rebel I used almonds instead of walnuts. And I didn't use parchment paper. Yup, I'm a bad recipe follower.

These "biscuits" originate from Australia and New Zealand and were known for having a long shelf life and being very tasty.

They came out pretty much like the recipe said-crunchy on the outside and chewy one the inside. I have plans to modify these more, these biscuits are defiantly here to stay!

Here's the recipe with my incorrect conversions. Cooking and baking is an art-it doesn't have to be perfect, if you're willing to be open minded about the out come.

Lemonade...and other juices

It's lemonade time again and I thought while I was at it, I'd do a few more beverages as well.

I love freshed squeezed orange juice. I've never had it better than at the Java Kai in Kauai. The oranges there just taste so...perfect.

I'm here and there are oranges so why not.

The last time I made lemonade, I juiced all the lemons by hand. This time I had the assistance of that contraption up there. I have to say that juicing by hand is less stressfull on the hands and arms, but that juicer thing might be a little quicker. I also blended up some strawberries with a tad bit of lemon juice to thin it out.

In the end we made standard lemonade, a family favorite, as well as a rather odd orange juice mixture that turned a little bitter over night and a strawberry pineapple lemonade. We even made strawberry lemonade and strawberry pineapple popsicles!

I recently got my hands on an old citrus press and can't wait to try it out. We gotta hurry up and drink all that juice we just made!