TaylorMade

DIY, Home Decor & Sewing

Chopped BBQ Beef

By 2 Comments

Easiest meal ever!! There are literally four ingredients in this BBQ. This also involves a crock pot which is always exciting if you are busy like I am. 
 
Ingredients:
  • brisket or some “slab” of meat
  • a bottle of beer (any kind)
  • a bottle of BBQ sauce
  • brisket rub or other spices/seasonings
 
 

All you do is dump everything in together and turn your crock pot on low for 8-10 hrs. After about 8 hours, you need to “fork” the BBQ to make it like shredded beef. We put ours on baked potatoes this time to make “Stuffed BBQ Baked Potatoes” or you can put it on a bun for a sandwich (which I did with the leftovers) or just eat it by itself with some good southern sides. Either way, its super yummy and most important so easy and you gotta love that!

Christmas Calendar

By 2 Comments

My calendar that is!! Aaaand I made it by December 1st. This is exciting because it only took 4 weeks, geez I didn’t think all of those little ornaments would take so long. I am so happy with the finished product and I know “the kids” will love it when they get older. I didn’t take a picture of the tree with ornaments on it because I want to be surprised :)
 
 
Here are the remaining ornaments I made; I don’t love the presents but I wanted something hanging from under the tree.
 
 
I made an ornament to “represent” everyone in my family; Bryan got a t-bone steak, Finn of course got a ball and I got 2 because I made the calendar he-he
 
 
My Mom is the acorn, my sister is the diamond, and my dad is the football, also the heart is a replica of the tattoo on my foot!
 
 
I loved Katie’s hot cocoa from her blog so I had to make my own. The star is the tree topper.
 
 
For some reason, this one is my favorite so it got its own picture.
 
 
And there you have it, my finished Advent Calendar that we will have forever! Look at all the little “surprises” in their squares… Happy December!
 
 

Carrabba’s Chicken Bryan

By Leave a Comment

Gotta love a knock off! I was watch Good Morning America the other day and this guy was on talking about his new book. It was full of restaurant recipe secrets and he made one of my favorites, Carrabba’s Chicken Bryan. I just caught a glimpse so I have no idea about the measurements for this recipe but I decided to “wing it” and it turned out really good! My hubby, Bryan, doesn’t even like goat cheese and he loved it!
I made it a little fancy Italian dinner night and it was really easy and way less expensive!
Ingredients:
chicken breast
goat cheese
basil
sun-dried tomatoes
lemons (for juicing)
white wine
cream
butter
garlic
pasta (optional)
Directions:
1. Grill chicken breasts
2. Melt 3/4 stick of butter and sautee some garlic
3. Add a little white wine, a bunch of lemon juice and some cream and stir for a few minutes to thicken. At the very end add chopped basil to sauce.
4. Slice sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese and place on top of chicken then cover with sauce
5. I put my chicken over Penne Pasta and served crusty french bread and olive oil herb dipping sauce, yum!

Felt Food Factory….

By 1 Comment

There are TONS of felt food ideas all over the web but until last week, I had never made any. Now I have to admit, I have a felt food problem. Seriously it is addicting, I am going back to hobby lobby tomorrow to get more colors! We are making Finn a play kitchen out of a nightstand for Christmas so we have to have some play food, right? I have so many ideas but last weekend I tried just a few of them. Be ready for more pics from the Felt Food Factory coming soon…
 
 
Burger (bun soon to come)
 
 
Grocery Sack
 
 
Peel-able Banana 
 

Easy Light Switch Covers

By 3 Comments

 
 
This is a really simple project and I have them all over the house. Basically all you have to do is find scrapbook paper that matches the room, use the existing light-switch cover and Mod-Podge away!
 
Light-switch Covers
 
 
Here is your super boring light-switch cover before:
 
Cut your scrapbook paper a little larger than the cover.
 
Bring out your ole trusty friend Mod Podge and cover the front of the light-switch with it. (I like to use the cheapy sponge brushes with Mod Podge because it will ruin a nice brush)
 
 
Place the paper on top of the light switch. Fold the sides toward the back.
 
Snip the corners to make it easier to glue and less bunchy.
 
Glue (with a glue gun) all the way around the back edge of the light switch cover. Go side by side and immediately press the paper down before it has time to dry.
 
Glue down all of the sides and trim the excess paper.
 
 
CAREFULLY puncture a little hole in the middle of the light switch area
Cut a diamond to the corners and glue gun them down.
 
Same thing with the screw area… (don’t know what else to call that)
 
Mod Podge on top of the finished product with 2 coats. Wait about 10 minutes between the coats.
 
Here is one in my kitchen,
 
and in my breakfast room, 
and now my bedroom!
 

Wedge Salad

By Leave a Comment

OK, this might be really obvious and something that everyone makes already, but sometimes you have to be reminded. It is so hot here in Houston so I have been craving cold food. This salad is cold and crisp and so flavorful! Not to mention super easy and cheap! 

 



Quarter a head of iceberg lettuce and top with chopped tomatoes, purple onion or scallions, bacon and blue cheese dressing. Yum!

 

Now, I have seriously been slacking on my bedroom re-do because Finn learned to walk so it has become far too dangerous to have scissors and pins lying around. Imagine that! So, now I can only craft during nap time. Wish me luck!

July 4th Trifle

By 1 Comment

I love my trifle dish so I use any excuse to break it out. In fact, I nominated myself to make the dessert for our 4th of July celebration at my Mom’s house. I stumbled across a recipe for a festive “cake” in my Parents Magazine. They have great recipes! I, of course had to modify it so I could use my trifle dish because I think a trifle looks so grown-up. It was super easy and is really beautiful!
Ingredients:
Angel Food Cake (baked with love from the grocery store)
16 oz strawberries
1 container of blueberries
Strawberry Ice Cream (I like Strawberries and Homemade Vanilla from Bluebell)
2 tbsp sugar
Directions:
-Set your Ice Cream out because it needs to be soft
-Wash and slice your strawberries and mix them with 1 tbsp sugar. Wash your blueberries and also mix with 1 tbsp sugar and let sit for about 20 minutes.
-Take your Angel food cake and slice it right down the middle horizontally.
-Then you layer in this order:
1/2 cake
strawberries
ice cream
blueberries
1/2 cake
(I had extra strawberries so I put them on top.)
-Place in the freezer and freeze for at least 2 hrs and Enjoy.

Baja Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa

By Leave a Comment

Feels like summer doesn’t it? Well, this is the perfect summer dish with a glass of wine or an ice cold Blue Moon. My mom has been making these Baja Fish Tacos for years so props to her. Also, this dish HAS to be served with Mango Salsa! We used Mahi for our tacos but any white fish like Tilapia etc. would be excellent.

Tacos:
  • Grilled Mahi  (one fillet for each person)
  • Red Cabbage
  • Corn Tortillas
  • Avocado
  • Ranch Dressing
  • Cilantro
  • lemons/limes to squeeze on top

Mango Salsa:

  • Mangos
  • Red Onion
  • Cilantro
  • Diced Pickled Jalapenos 
  • Sugar
  • Vinegar

Chop your mango, red onion, and cilantro together in a bowl. Next, add the jalapeno. I like the pickled jalapenos because they aren’t as hot as fresh jalapenos. Add a little juice from the jar for some kick! In a separate bowl mix together a few teaspoons of sugar, water and vinegar. Dissolve sugar and pour over salsa. Make this at least an hour before so it can all “blend” together, (it is even better if you make it the day before).

Chop your red cabbage and avocado. You are now ready to assemble your fish tacos. I am not going to attempt to give directions on how to grill fish because that is not my expertise at my house, now you know why I keep Bryan around :)

Now don’t forget about that ice cold Blue Moon. Enjoy!




Framed Tablecloth

By 1 Comment

This Friday I am having a Dinner party for my friends who are moving :( Sad that they are leaving… but excited to host a dinner party! It is going to be super casual, we are having a Taco Bar with Fresh Mojitos and Tres Leches! Pics and recipes soon to come….
I need to get to work on some stuff for the Dinner Party, so meet the Framed Tablecloth. This couldn’t be easier!
All you need is : (This fits a breakfast area table that seats 4)
1 1/2 yds. of fabric
6 yds. of quilt binding.
Only 2 “ingredients”! The binding usually comes in 3 yd packs and it is about $2.00 a pack from JoAnn Fabrics. I found this amazing floral fabric at Garden Ridge Pottery of all places and it was $3 for 3 yards! I think I might make half-curtains for our kitchen out of the extra fabric. I like to mix colors, so for the binding I got a buttery yellow. All you have to do is attach your quilt binding all the way around. 
There you have the Framed Tablecloth, custom made and under $7.00! Looking at the picture of the Tablecloth laid out makes me think that it would be super cute as a picnic blanket! Too bad I live in Houston and it is 200 degrees and I hate being outside… but it would still be cute. Now I need to get to work on my never ending to-do list! Wish me luck!

Greek Salad

By 1 Comment

This is an Urban family staple! We are in love with our Greek Salad! We make it about 2-3 times a month and every time it is even more delicious than the last! At least we over-do something healthy right? It is very simple but there is something so fresh about it! We do change it up from time to time and add some extra flair, but here is the recipe for our simple yet amazing Grilled Chicken Greek Salad.

Greek Salad:
-Head of romaine lettuce (if you are really lucky, you Mom grows it in her garden and brings it over fresh out of the dirt :)
– 2 grilled chicken breasts (set aside to cool down)
– cherry tomatoes
– carrots
– celery
– bell pepper
– green scallions
– capers
– feta cheese
– lemon (squeezed on top!)
– vinaigrette dressing, I recommend Newman’s Own “Olive Oil & Vinegar” 
– top with a little oregano and fresh cracked pepper

 
You have to toss it all together to get the true Greek Salad experience. Pour a glass of wine and serve with some crusty french bread; dinner is served!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...