Have a Creative Summer - GIVEAWAY from Warfare by Duct Tape & Jewels by Julia!

Summer is here! The kids are done with school and looking for fun stuff to do. You don't want them vegged out in front of the Wii all day, right? How about we challenge their inner artist and creativity with some of these great activities?! :D

Let's start with the girls.

Julia has written three eBooks on the art of crafting homemade jewelry, and shared all her tips and tricks for making lovely quality pieces that wear well and look great!
She tells you what tools to use, where to get your supplies, and lays out projects for making seven different necklaces, seven different earring styles, and five different bracelet techniques in her three eBooks.

EASY-to-follow, step-by-step instructions with tons of PICTURES make creating your own beautiful jewelry a breeze.

Julia sells the eBooks as downloads on her website, www.jewelsbyjuliashop.com, for only $4.95 apiece, but we are GIVING AWAY a copy of EACH three eBooks to three winners! Three of you will win all three of these for yourselves! See the Jewels by Julia rafflecopter entry form at the bottom of this post for more details.

Now for the guys!

Bring history to LIFE with your own historically-based WEAPONS and ARMOR crafted from DUCT TAPE! Oh yeah, this is cool. :D

Our two guys, Mark and Steven, have written a series of eBooks on creating a myriad of awesome gear ranging from swords, shields, helmets, the armored glove, flails, halbergs, throwing axes, battle axes, blowguns, and MORE from easy-to-find materials like PVC pipe and soft PVC pipe insulation, (that's right mom - no worries! These weapons are safe and durable!) craft foam, cardboard, and of course... duct tape.

There are also patterns to follow to make tunics, cloaks, money pouches, and money - for paying up those "ransom demands' should any of the valiant knights be captured. Laid out in the books are the "rules" of the battle game.

Your boys will spend hours having fun while "battling" with their friends and challenging their creative ingenuity - and it's as easy as following along with the step-by-step instructions and photographs, put together by our own boys.

Mark and Steven sell these ebooks as downloads on their website, www.warfarebyducttape.com... but we are GIVING AWAY a copy of one book of their choice to TEN winners! You have lots of chances to win! Details are provided in the Warfare by Duct Tape rafflecopter form below. :)

But that's not all! Until the giveaway ends on June 26th, you can use the coupon code "creativesummer" to get 20% off your entire purchase on any of these awesome eBooks! 

And... all the proceeds from our eBook sales for the months of June and August go towards our 2-week family vacation to Virginia, New York, and Maine to visit some close friends and family members. We appreciate your purchase! 

So what are you waiting for? 

ENTER HERE NOW:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

  You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.

Refried Beans and Hotsie-Totsie Sauce!

We all love a little Mexican flavor now and then, right?! Well get ready for some totally awesome better-than-Taco-Bell-flavor that's headed right for your taste buds! :)

Not only are these two dishes delightful, they're also a frugal meal because you can serve meatless bean burritos with the hotsie-totsie sauce with a sprinkle of cheese, and for much less money than it costs to eat out at a Mexican restaurant. Satisfying, healthy, and SO GOOD! :D This is one dinner that definitely needs to dive into your menu. :)

And just look how simple it is...

Refried Beans

Ingredients:

• 5 1/2 cups (or 2 pounds) dry pinto or black beans
• about 3-3 1/2 quarts of water, as needed
• 2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 4 teaspoons cumin
• 3 teaspoons salt, to taste

Directions:

• Rinse the beans.  Cook the beans with the water in the crockpot for 8 hours on high.
• Drain the beans, reserving the liquid.  
• Mash the beans and add the bean liquid as needed to make a smooth mixture. 
• Add the spices and stir them in well.

Serve them with tortilla shells, freshly grated cheddar cheese and Hotsie~Totsie Sauce.  Oh, go ahead and have some sour cream if you really have to! ;)

Hotsie~Totsie Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 ( 15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 3 teaspoons cumin
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions:

Place in sauce pan and stir well, simmer at a very low temperature for 15- 20 minutes.

Remove and cool. Store in an air-tight container like a mason jar!

May be kept in refrigerator for several days.

You are getting your spices at a really good price, aren't you?  If you haven't heard, please check out our post on Best Prices for Herbs and Spices.

Enjoy this deliciouso dinner, perfect for your summer evenings when you want a little zesty flavor without breaking the bank. :D

  You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.

Cool & Creamy Coleslaw

Cool, creamy, fresh, crunchy, sweet, tangy, it's all that and more!  There's something about coleslaw that just speaks SUMMER!!

If you have always wanted to make your own coleslaw from scratch, this recipe is for you.  It's simple to make but awesome to the taste buds.  This coleslaw is literally the best I have ever eaten.  Better than...well, we won't go there!

You can add more veggies or spices but you should try it as it is and then decide if it needs anything. :)

Ingredients:

1 head cabbage
1 carrot, grated

Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt

(I know!!! That's it! You can do that, right?) :D You won't believe how good it is with just those simple ingredients!

Directions:

Shred the cabbage in the food processor or cut it coarsely with a knife.  Grate (or shred) the carrot and add to the cabbage in a large bowl.

Mix the dressing ingredients in a medium bowl, whisking together.  Add to the cabbage and carrot and stir until well mixed.  If you pop it in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight, the flavors will blend and the sauce seems to increase!  Mix before serving.  

Enjoy this delicious coleslaw with your next barbecue, picnic or gathering.  You'll be so glad you did! 

You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.

Guilt-free Luscious Chocolate Cake

Chocolate!  There aren't many desserts I love more than something chocolate, especially chocolate cake.  I mean, seriously, almost everyone LOVES chocolate.

When I cut out white sugar and white flour from my diet, the chocolate cake went, too!  But this homemade, from scratch recipe is just the ticket to satisfy that chocolate craving!  It uses honey and whole wheat flour and you would never know it! ( I will tell you that it is a little less sweet than box cake but just as moist and tasty!)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2/3 cup cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter or extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups honey
• 2 teaspoons vanilla (you are using your DIY vanilla, right?)
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup water

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Grease and flour two 9 inch round baking pans or one 9x13 inch baking pan.  
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. 
• In the large bowl of your mixer, cream butter (oil), honey and vanilla.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. 
• Gradually add flour mixture alternately with water.  When all ingredients are added, beat for 2 minutes.  
• Spread into prepared pans.
• Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, depending on pan size, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  
• Cool in pans for 15 minutes, remove from pans if using the round pans.

Serve with fresh fruit like strawberries or blueberries or if sugar is not a problem for you, try this easy and delicious homemade frosting.

Frosting:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shortening (like Crisco) or coconut oil
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 4 cups confectioner's sugar
• 4 tablespoons milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla  (you are using your DIY vanilla, right?)

Directions:

• Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Beat on low speed until well blended and smooth.
• This amount covers a 9x13 pan. Double the recipe for a two layer cake.
• Note: 8 cups of confectioner's sugar = one 32 ounce bag.

Now you can have your cake and eat it, too!!

  You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.

Summer Picnic Chicken Nuggets

It's that time of year...warm air, sunshine and picnics outside!  These tasty chicken nuggets make a great summery meal.

And they are made from simple, healthy ingredients.

You (and your kids too!) will LOVE them. :D

• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 3 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne
• 1/4 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1/4 tsp. thyme
• 1/4 tsp. cumin
• dash garlic powder
• dash onion powder
• extra virgin olive oil for frying, enough to fry the chicken.
• 2 breasts of boneless, skinless chicken (or enough for your crowd) ;)

Directions:

1. Cut the chicken into small pieces, no bigger than about 1 inch or so.
2. In a small bowl, (I use a cereal bowl), beat the egg and add the 1 cup milk. Beat together.
3. In a medium bowl, mix all the rest of the ingredients, flour and spices. 
4. Dip the chicken in the egg/milk mixture, then toss it in the flour/spice mixture to coat it. 
5. Do it again. I double dip and coat for a nice thick breading but it is not necessary. Do it as you like.
6. Set aside on a plate until you have coated all of the chicken pieces.
7. Heat extra virgin olive oil in deep fryer (or if using a skillet or pot, heat that now.)
8. Using a slotted metal spoon, slowly lower the breaded chicken nuggets into the hot oil.
9. Fry for about 3 minutes or until golden brown.
10. Drain on paper towels.
11. Test to make sure they are cooked through and cook longer if the chicken is not completely cooked. 

Serves 5. 

Serve with your favorite fresh veggies and side dishes! 

While the oil is hot and ready to go, make some Homemade Onion Rings, too!  The recipe might sound familiar because it is the same breading and it tastes Oh, So Good for both!  Easy-Peasy!!  :)

  You will find us linked up at some of these fine sites.