Late Winter sunshine dancing in the window blinds of my room.

CHEDDAR STUFFED MEATLESS MUSHROOMS

Cheddar Stuffed Meatless Mushrooms



The first time my mother made these, I was certain they contained meat. Was I ever surprised to learn there was not one bit of hamburger or even sausage in them, and yet the texture, and even the taste surprised me. Certainly, one could add meat if desired, but with this recipe, even the most discerning guest will wonder. appetizers, Superbowl treats, after school snacks!

The secret? Walnuts and bread crumbs!

You don't have to be a vegetarian to enjoy these mushrooms. Hubby is a bonafide carnivore, and he loves them!

These mushrooms are so easy to make, and the best part is, they can be made ahead
of time, covered with plastic wrap and stuffed into the refrigerator until serving time. Then simply bake at 350° for about 20 minutes and voila!

STEP ONE...THE RECIPE

Thank you, Mom, for introducing me to the recipe, as featured in a tiny 2004 cookbook
from an insurance agency. Kudos to Gourmet Magazine for featuring them in 1997, and
Epicurious for posting the recipe as well. Always happy to lend credit where credit is due!

* 1 pound of mushrooms (White button were used for this recipe)
* 3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter
* 1/2 cup walnuts
* 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
* 1 onion
* 1 cup coarsely grated sharp Cheddar
* 1/2 cup fine bread crumbs (Progresso brand was used)
* 1/4 teaspoon salt (add more to suit taste, if desired)

I have often found it very helpful to ensure you have all of your ingredients
before embarking on a recipe. It is also wise to read the recipe, making certain
you understand the process.

So gather up your ingredients, and let's get cooking!



STEP 2...REMOVE STEMS FROM MUSHROOMS, WASH THOROUGHLY

Hold a mushroom upside down in the palm of your hand, securing your palm around it, cupping the mushroom. With your other hand (this is assuming you have two) wiggle and bend the stem until you hear it crack. Then you can wiggle the stem in the other direction, popping it out.

Don't yank it out, or you will risk cracking the mushroom cap, your stuffing will fall out, the appetizers will look terrible, your visitors will leave. Okay, maybe not that bad.

Remove all of the stems and set them aside. You will be using the stems.

You may find it necessary to 'clean up' the mushrooms just a bit, if some of the stem remains intact. Don't be afraid to be neat and tidy, but it is not necessary to drill the hole deeper. It will be just fine.

STEP 3: CHOP, AND LIGHTLY TOAST WALNUTS

Chop the walnuts until they are fine. It is not necessary to get carried away, just make them tiny, especially if you will be using a pastry decorator, you want to make certain the filling will pass through the hole of the tip you choose, or the corner of a plastic bag / pastry bag, etc.

Walnuts may be toasted in the oven, but I prefer to toast them in a small
saucepan on the stovetop, stirring frequently to avoid burning them. Admittedly, if I put them in the oven, I would walk off and forget them, burn them, you get the picture.

Set the chopped and toasted walnuts aside.

STEP 4: CHOP MUSHROOM STEMS, DICE THE ONION

Chop up the mushroom stems, dice the onion into tiny pieces.

Though the recipe calls for one full onion, I only had medium-to-large onions on hand, so I used but one half.

STEP 5: BUTTER MUSHROOM CAPS, PLACE UPSIDE-DOWN ON FOIL-WRAPPED PAN



Butter the mushroom caps. You may choose to use a pastry brush, dabbing butter on each individual mushroom, or you can do it quick (not lazy) way like me.

Place 6 tablespoons of melted butter in a large bowl that is big enough to hold all of the mushrooms. Swish, swirl and flip the mushrooms in the bowl to coat them all with butter.

Remove each mushroom, turning upside down for just a second to empty out any pool of butter that may be inside the cap, then place each cap on a foil-covered pan, empty side up.

STEP 6: LIGHTLY COOK MUSHROOM STEMS IN BUTTER UNTIL SOFTENED

Pour any remaining butter from the mushroom caps into a large frying pan. If
you don't have much butter left, don't hesitate to melt another few tablespoons
as needed.

On medium heat, cook the mushroom stems in butter until softened. This will only
take a few minutes.

STEP 7: ADD ONIONS AND BREAD CRUMBS TO CHOPPED STEMS, STIRRING WELL...

Stir in the diced onions and bread crumbs to the mix in the frying pan, and mix well.
It may be easier to sort of mash and move around the mixture with a large, flat spoon.

Don't worry. I realize it may look unattractive, but in the end, everything will be fine.

STEP 8: REMOVE FROM HEAT, ADD PARSLEY AND CHEESE, MIX WELL, ADD WALNUTS

Remove the mixture from heat and add the parsley and grated cheese.
Mix well. Add the walnuts and mix until everything is incorporated.

STEP 9: LOAD YOUR GUNS (OR SPOONS)

Pastry guns!

While these nifty little tools are handy, they are not required. You can
fill a plastic pastry bag with the mushroom filling, cut off a small section of the
corner, and fill the mushroom caps just fine.

But hey, for ten bucks, this tool will come in handy for so many things. Deviled eggs, filled celery sticks, decorating cakes and cookies, filling mushroom caps...

This tool is very inexpensive, and yet so valuable in your kitchen.

STEP 10: FILL MUSHROOM CAPS



Fill each mushroom cap well over the top edge. Don't worry, you will
have plenty of filling, so make a nice bump on each mushroom. If you
chop your ingredients fine enough, the filling will take on the pattern of
a star tip for your decorating gun.

STEP 11: BAKE AND ENJOY

Bake the mushrooms at 350° degrees for approximately 20 minutes.

And what, you might ask, is that glorious looking tray to the left of the mushrooms?

Allow me to introduce the perfect mate to these mushrooms - Twice Baked Potatoes!

Where, might you ask, does one find the recipe for such a thing as Twice Baked Potatoes? Well, right here, brought to you by Instructables member Fungus Amungus...(paired with mushrooms / fungi, how appropriate!)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Twice-Baked-Potatoes-1/

I followed Fungus, and my potatoes turned out fantastic, give them a try!

Bon appetite!

EASY TO MAKE CONCRETE BOWLS AND PLANTERS...

For a complete tutorial loaded with even more pictures and instructions, click here.

For a quick, fun and very easy garden project, grab a bag of concrete, your imagination, and follow me!
Concrete planters and garden ornamentation are a wonderful addition to the outdoor setting around one's home.
Often, such decor comes with a high price, enormous size and incredible weight which is not easily transported. The solution? Make your own.
While you would likely not fare well to dive right into large scale concrete landscaping, you can dabble a bit in a smaller project to begin with. Then, when you find how addicting this craft is, take it easy on me for suggesting it. So let's get started.
What you will need:
CONCRETE - http://www.quikrete.com/index.asp

QUIKRETE® Concrete Mix (No. 1101) is the original
4000 psi average compressive strength blend of portland cement, sand, and gravel or stone. Just add water. Use for any general concrete work.
(Ver batum as posted on the Quikrete site) Resist the urge to use heavy duty concrete, as it is very chunky.

Though many home improvement stores carry ready-to-mix concrete in 80 pound bags, it is also available in other sizes, depending on your preference as well as ability to lug it around. Be sure to allow store employees to help load the larger bags into your car. There are many types of ready-to-mix available, choose accordingly. I prefer Quikrete (mainly because it is readily available in our area) and Quikrete Vinyl Concrete Patcher, but these products are mere suggestions. Nothing is cast in stone. Yet.


COLORING - Not a necessary item at all, though coloring concrete is quite fun, and easy! Check out liquid cement colors near the concrete section of your local hardware store. A 10 oz. bottle will color quite a bit of concrete. If you want to maintain color consistency in your projects, consider making up large bottles of colored water for your project, and be sure to keep a lid on the container of mixed water. Shake well before using.


MOLDS - A n endless supply of molds, containers an d other ideas are available everywhere. Scour yard sales, thrift stores and other thrifty places for interesting shapes and sizes. Don't stick to bowls, use your imagination. You could even make your own. Try not to choose anything with great detail, as you may be disappointed. For finer detail, use Vinyl Patch mix, which has far less bumps and bits of rock.

Just about any container can be utilized as a mold for concrete, provided you are able to get the finished product out of it. Bowls, cups, milk cartons, jugs, the ideas are bountiful. At present, I've found much delight in selecting unique glass containers from second hand stores and yard sales. If the finished item cannot be dropped or dumped out of the mold, after the concrete has fully set up, simply (and gently) tap the glass to crack or break it from your concrete creation, then rinse off the glass and be sure to take it to the recycling center.

Plastic, stainless steel and other materials release from the cured concrete easily when non-stick spray is applied to the mold prior to adding concrete.

NON-STICK COOKING SPRAY - Yes, release agents are sold specifically for the purpose of mold release when using concrete, but quite frankly, a cheap can of non-stick cooking spray works just fine. Use it generously to ensure your project will slide out of the mold.

A WATER BATH - Concrete is not as easy as mix, set and forget. It needs to harden, or 'cure'. Unfortunately, concrete is notorious for setting before the ingredients have had a chance to bond as securely as they could have. The result of a rushed concrete job is cracking, weakened durability and a crumbled project. I allow my projects to remain in the mold for a minimum of 24 hours, then carefully remove, and gently set the item into a deep bath of water for a minimum of one week. Okay, fine, I admit it, I stuff them into pond plant containers and sometimes in with the Koi. Often I submerge the entire project to avoid any damage. DON'T rush it, don't be impatient. The reward to patience is well worth it. A week. I mean it!

WATER - Necessary to mix with the concrete. Not too hot, not too cold, not too much, not too little. Perhaps my 'luck' has been the love of making mud pies as a child. Think Goldilocks, and mix well.

RUBBER GLOVES - Nothing fancy needed, but you should wear them. Be safe, not sorry. Concrete poisoning is no fun, and it's not pretty. I know this from personal experience.

EMERGENCY MOLDS - So you've mixed a pristine batch of concrete, you've sprayed the mold and you're in the process of filling it. Whoops, not enough concrete! Quick, dump it out and reach for another mold. Keep one close by for this very reason, and don't forget to spray it first. It is better to make a bit more than to end up a bit short.

A POKER - You'll need something about the circumference of a pencil to poke out air bubbles.

A LARGE SPOON - Or any similar item to mix the concrete. My favorite? A skinny garden trowel. Keep your eyes off items in the utensil drawer of the kitchen unless you no longer wish to use it on food.

BUCKETS, MEASURING CUPS, MISCELLANEOUS 'TOOLS OF THE TRADE' - Obtain inexpensive tools and reserve them for concrete projects alone, as they will become tarnished with concrete. Don't be wasteful. Clean and re-use your tools.

Spray your mold and set aside. Mix the concrete so it is about the consistency of peanut butter, not a slushee. It should hold a bit of form when shaped into a ball, but not so wet that it slumps, and not so dry that you can't make a ball without a great deal of effort. Pack the mold, tapping and poking the concrete down into any crevices in the mold. Once filled, level off the top with something flat like a ruler. Set on a level surface out of direct sun. Wait twenty four hours before you even think of touching it.

TIME - Now you have to make a decision. I've tried submerging the entire project, mold and all, for one week before attempting to remove glass molds, as well as removing the mold by breaking it after 24 hours. I highly suggest submerging the entire project. In a week's time, you will be able to gently smack the glass and remove it from the concrete as opposed to risking a not-quite-set-yet project.

After completion, be sure to wash off your tools as well as you can, and make certain you wash your hands and arms well. Apply lotion. In one week's time, remove the concrete item from the water and...enjoy!

Paper beading...relax and recycle!

Recently I was thumbing through a library craft book when I came across a section on paper beading. Though I'd seen this before, it never caught my interest until now. Strips of paper cut into triangular shape, rolled up and sealed shut.
A bead. A paper bead. Oh, the ideas!


No doubt many have seen, or perhaps even made crafts from old newspapers, magazines and other paper items which would otherwise be tossed into a recycling bin. The craft of paper art has been around longer than many of us. I was instantly hooked!

One sheet of junk mail produces many beads!

My interest could have likely been further spurred by a recently acquired truck load, and I do mean load, of vinyl wallpaper. A local charity center received a donation of hundreds upon hundreds of rolls of heavily textured vinyl wallpaper. No one else seemed interested. I fell in love and instantly loaded as much as I could carry into the car. The following week, the center still had the same amount of paper. A few more rolls. The next week, you guessed it.

My husband has learned to expect just about anything will come through our front door in the name of recycling, reusing, repurposing and such, so this was no surprise. There is no sense in asking what I am going to do with newfound material, as I often won't know until the idea strikes. "I don't know, but it's going to be something!"















Paper quilling is a very similar craft, though the strips of paper required are often very thin, cut into rectangular shapes. The ideas and tools are very simple, and yet very old. These days one can easily find paper beading tools at craft stores or online. You could even make your own tool at home, they are easy to make. A quick trip to the hardware store for a small tension pin , also known as a roll pin or sellock or spring tension pin is in order. This is a small piece of metal with a groove cut all the way down the pin which will hold the paper as you begin rolling. A roll pin glued into the end of a wooden dowel will find you quickly on your way to making paper beads yourself. How simple! When finished with the rolling, simply glue the ends down and remove the bead from the pin.

Though a bead can be produced with just about any size roll pin, I prefer to use either a 1/8" or 1/16" post driven into a wooden dowel. A pair of scissors, a stack of paper or magazines and a bottle of glue will keep you busy for endless hours. A paper cutter would be splendid, though I must say, if not for the five dollar price tag at a yard sale almost fifteen years ago, I would likely not have one. Larger diameter pins make beads with larger bead holes. Consider smaller pins for lighter paper, and heavier pins for thicker materials. Note, it is helpful if your roll pin is a couple inches long, leaving room for the end of the pin to be inserted into a handle and still leave room for a nice wide bead. A wide pin allows you to vary the width, but if you choose a short pin, the bead width will be determined by available pin width.

As for material resources, the possibilities are limitless. Junk mail, brochures, magazines, fabric, even fine lightweight fabric can be used by ironing on fusible webbing. Scrapbook paper, origami paper, wallpaper and so forth. No need to purchase anything, as one magazine could keep you busy for quite some time. As of late I've been experimenting with various sized triangles for the beads, even leaving some in rectangular shape - which produces a tube bead as opposed to a bead with gently tapering ends. Glossy magazines such as National Geographic are filled with beautiful colored pages. Even maps and sheet music make wonderful beads!

Okay, so now your interest is piqued and you simply must have the instructions. Know this, it is very easy, and with a bit of experimenting, you will soon find the size and shape you love best. For magazine pages, I prefer a 1/8" roller and a 12" x 3" long strip of paper cut in half diagonally to taper the ends. Yes, this is a small bead.

Keep in mind that the thicker the paper, the thicker the bead will be. Cardstock paper is not the best, as it wants to unroll, so unless you spend a bit of time holding the bead together to dry, it is not the wisest choice in material. For vinyl wallpaper, I choose a 15" x 1 1/4" piece cut in half diagonally and again, with tapered ends.

To begin, simply slide the roll pin onto the wide end of the paper and secure it by rolling one or two times to close the end inside the roll you are now forming. Don't roll too loose, or too tight. Snug is the key. Once you've rolled the bead almost all the way up, apply a bit of adhesive or glue to the inside of the tail, roll and hold for a moment. When you feel the tail is held down well, slide the bead off the roll pin. It is truly that easy. Wasn't that fun? Now let's do it again. And again. And again...

You'll have to experiment with materials, sizes and adhesives. It seems we always have a shoebox full of different products, so it is a matter of trial and error. I'm perfectly content with standard school glue for basic paper beads.

This is a great, inexpensive craft for many ages, both young and old. Try glazing your completed beads, using paints, mixing with beads and pearls and so forth. There are so many ideas, and so little time. Get busy, and have fun!

...to be continued, with more pictures and instructions coming soon!

A passion for bamboo

Several years ago I stumbled upon bamboo growing in Northeastern Oklahoma.
Once I put my hands around the gigantic canes of Phyllostachys Vivax, I was hooked.


An elderly gentleman known as 'Cotton' kindly allowed me and my brother; Keith to dig as much as we wanted. It turned out not to be such a generous offer considering we had to work very hard to get what little we did. Allow me to rephrase that, Keith worked very hard. Though bamboo has a somewhat shallow root system, many varieties often reaches great heights, and as such is digging is not a simple matter of grabbing a shovel.

Cotton's wife, whom we humorously referred to as 'Mrs. Cotton', explained that he was near death, with a medical order not to resuscitate him should otherwise require such services. He was ready to go when his body instructed. Knowing this made Keith and myself nervous, as Cotton was right in the middle of the bamboo with us, digging, swinging, chopping to help us get a few good roots. I'll never forget Mrs. Cotton making small fabric circles for what is known as a Yo-Yo quilt. What I wouldn't give to have that very quilt she was making that day.

We enjoyed a tour of Cotton's makeshift museum, toured his property and thanked them profusely. There is no doubt these people would have gladly entertained us further, even cooking dinner if only we would have accepted.

Years later, I returned to the property hoping to visit with Cotton and his wife once more, only to find the home empty. A second and third trip found the property unkempt, the bamboo untidy and left with dead canes in the grove. Most recently, in April of 2010, a neighbor informed us the couple passed away and the property was in bankruptcy. I seem to recall his wife being much younger than he was, so I can only imagine his passing left her life terribly empty.

The neighbor allowed us to dig more bamboo up on his side of the property, though the bamboo was actually from Cotton's side of the land. At the time we first transplanted, Cotton explained it was a twenty-five year old grove. Ours is now but five years old, but with good health and a sound mind intact, we may be able to continue the legacy of Cotton's bamboo grove.

Reaching out to touch someone...

With the birth of so many ways to keep in touch, one would think the world should be better connected. Instead, it seems we've introduced yet another thing to consume our thoughts and time.

Old friends for whom we once spent hours hand writing letters are now but the click of an occasional mouse button, a quick hello, the momentary passing of an adorable picture to let someone know how much we're thinking of them. But this hardly expresses things for me.

I do think of you often. Moreso than you might think. On a daily basis, more thoughts than I could possibly keep track of pass through my mind. I prefer not to think of it as an attention disorder, rather a life so full of moments that I don't want to miss a single one. The problem for me is lack of time in which to do it all.

When I am in the garden, I think of sending you flowers. The look on your face when you come home to find a giant bouquet of Iris on the porch. The surprise you might feel when a surprise box arrives in the mail, not knowing what might be inside.

I may seem careless, thoughtless and aloof of your life, but this is not so. A failure to act on my thoughts, perhaps. We all have busy lives, we all have many things to tend to. We've all had our moments of sadness, happiness, joyfulness, sorrow. And I've not been there for you. At least not in the physical sense.

Know that I do think of you often, and I do care.

...and so it begins.

The first sentence of my blog.


I'll leave it at that.