Woven Jute Bracelet (using drinking straws)

Using 3 ordinary drinking straws, cut three 18" pieces of jute (in weaving, these would be the warp). Thread each piece through the bottom of each straw, overlap by 1/4 inch, and tape at the top.  Tie one woof length of jute to the bottom of the far right straw.  Using a figure 8 motion, weave the jute through the straws, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, etc.  This is just the beginning, I will go into detail later. 

Enjoy the picture of the finished product below!

Woven Jute Bracelet

Beve's Cole Slaw Dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1 pound bag of Cole Slaw Mix

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Add the Cole Slaw mix and toss until totally mixed.
Refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours before serving.

Enjoy! Élvez! Piacere! Gustirati! Radosť!

Czechoslovakian/Hungarian RAW POTATO Dumplings

Halušky

2 large Russet Potatoes
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. onion powder (or 1/4 of a real onion processed with the potatoes)
1 c. flour (This is an approximation---you should start with 1 cup and add more until you get the right consistency). I cup is usually all I need.

Place a large pot of water with 1 Tablespoon of salt added, on the stove to boil. Meanwhile start the dumpling mixture. Wash and peel potatoes well. Cube potatoes and add to a food processor. Process for about 30 seconds until lumps are gone. Place in a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and let drain for 5 minutes or longer. Slowly and carefully pour off the drained liquid but keep the white starch that’s settled on the bottom. To the starch, add the drained potato, egg, flour, salt, pepper and onion powder.
I wet a flat plate with cold water and place dough on the plate. With a wet teaspoon, cut off kidney bean size pieces of dough and drop into the boiling salted water. Cook dumplings until  they float to top. (not too long). Immediately drain in colander, running cold water over to stop cooking process. Drain well and store in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before using for Halushki  or Bryndzové Halušky (Slovakian Potato Dumplings with Bryndza Cheese). I use cottage cheese to cover the potato spaetzle.

Halušky s Tvarohom

Enjoy! Élvez! Piacere! Gustirati! Radosť!

A Slovak Making Italian Gnocchi?

Cut into tennis-ball size pieces



Roll into 1/2" rope

Cut into 1/2" pieces and roll with finger instead
of down the backside of a fork.
(This makes a small pocket on one side of the gnocchi,
to hold sauce when ready to serve).

Gnocchi

3 large Russet potatoes (about 2 pounds)
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper (you can use white if you don’t want to see it in your gnocchi)
1 large egg
2 cups flour, plus more for rolling and dusting

Boil the potatoes in their skins about 40 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork. Drain and place on a plate until cool enough to handle (approximately 20 minutes). Peel off skin using a paring knife or with you hands(that’s the way I do it). Cut potatoes in half and send them through a ricer. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and let cool to room temperature.

Transfer the potato to a large bowl, season with salt and pepper, and stir in the egg. Stir in the flour. Transfer to a work surface and knead briefly until smooth. (This should only take 5-6 minutes). Place the dough on a well floured cutting board and cover with the bowl to rest for 10 minutes. Cut the dough into a tennis ball size piece and roll that portion of dough into a ½-inch thick rope and sprinkle lightly with flour. (You might feel like a child rolling play dough into snakes). Using a bench knife (or paring knife, that I prefer) cut the rope into ½-inch pieces. Roll 1 side of each piece of dough down the back of a lightly floured fork, pressing the other side lightly with your finger as you roll. Make more gnocchi with the remaining dough in the same manner. As you work, arrange the gnocchi in a single layer on lightly floured baking sheet. Let air dry for up to 2 hours if making the same day. Or arrange the gnocchi in a single layer on a baking pan and place the pan in the freezer for an hour, as I do. Freeze until solid, then bag the frozen gnocchi into re-sealable freezer bags.

Bring large pot of salted water to a boil  Place frozen gnocchi in the pot of boiling water, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until they float to the surface of the water. Immediately drain the gnocchi, cover with sauce and serve.
***Serve the gnocchi tossed with Bev's Spaghetti Sauce and sprinkled with grated cheese.

Enjoy! Élvez! Piacere! Gustirati! Radosť!

Magical, Mini Leprechaun "KISSES"

Leprechaun "KISSES"

We made a trap to catch a Leprechaun in pre-school yesterday. Won't the kids be surprized to find they didn't catch a Leprechaun, but "Lucky" left mini "KISSES" for them to enjoy!
What a fun little treat!

Comparison: Regular to a Mini

How did I make these, you ask? Well first, I bought a bag of Easter wrapped candy KISSES and unwrapped the green ones (gingerly). I cut the foil into fourths and the KISSES tag into thirds. I wrapped a chocolate morsel in each tiny piece of foil and added the shorter KISSES tag. Viola, A Mini Leprechaun KISS.

Enjoy! Élvez! Piacere! Gustirati! Radosť!

Rustic Handmade Angels

Skinny Tube Angel

This Skinny Tube Angel's body is formed around a thin PVC pipe (as thick and as long as you would like it). Decorate with twig arms and legs, and then go wild on embellishments.

Have fun!

Rustic Quilted Archway Angel

I made this angel probably 20 years ago or more. Made from an antique crazy quilt, wooden dowel, and an angel face pin I made. She looks lovely hanging above any entryway.