Remove Chipped Paint from Stainless Steel Water Bottles

Before

After

Don't you hate it when the paint on your stainless steel coffee mugs and water bottles begin to peel? If you want to get a uniform appearance back to your water bottle, you can remove the remaining outer paint for a natural stainless steel look.

Why use harmful chemicals that can get into the inside of your bottle that holds your drinking water? Use this easy process instead.

It takes about 10 minutes to remove the paint on the bottle. Some paints will remove faster, others take a couple minutes longer.

Equipment Needed:

white vinegar
large pot
stainless steel sponge

Procedure:

1. Fill pot with white vinegar

2. Bring the vinegar to a boil

3. Remove from heat

4. Immediately put water bottle in the vinegar

5. Soak in hot vinegar for 2-4 minutes, to soften the outer paint

6. Remove from pot and immediately scrub the paint with a metal sponge

7. If paint becomes difficult to remove, return bottle to the hot vinegar to re-soften the paint

Before

After

Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Contest - SAMOAS!!

Once again, I have entered the Girl Scouts of Western Washington  recipe competition. Contestants are asked to enter a recipe using Samoa Girl Scout cookies. Previous contests have challenged local cooks to develop a recipe with any Girl Scout cookie. But in honor of the 40th birthday of the Samoa cookie, contestants are required to use the Samoa. I have no problem with this requirement, since I believe this is the best flavor cookie EVER! More details on the contest can be found at this website: Samoas Only

If you're craving Girl Scout cookies, they will soon be available for public purchase. The sale date begins February 27 and ends March 15, 2015. Here is a link for a cookie locator, to help you find where girls are selling cookies. Don't miss out!!
Cookie Locator

Last year, I submitted a savory dijon chicken recipe.  It was yummy, but I'm excited to submit a dessert recipe this year. Desserts are SO much more fun! My  Girl Scout daughter has been helping me come up with the perfect Samoa recipe. She also  helped cook while the rest of the family assisted with  the taste-testing. This is not a recipe for the calorie conscious. It is intended to be a treat for a special occasion. My husband says one of these bars goes perfectly with a cold glass of milk.

No-Bake Samoa Crèmes

Bottom Layer

20 Girl Scout Samoa cookies – finely chopped in food processor
10 graham crackers – finely chopped in food processor
1 ¼  cup unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1 egg beaten

Line 8X8 pan with plastic wrap or aluminum foil (for easy cutting.) Finely chop Samoas in food processor. Set aside ¾ cup of the chopped Samoas. Add graham crackers to remaining Samoas in food processor, finely chop together. Melt butter and cocoa on low heat. Whisk a small amount of the hot melted mixture into the beaten egg. Then return the egg mixture to the pan, whisking constantly.

Stir to cook and thicken. Remove from heat. Stir in graham cracker and Samoa crumbs. Press firmly into prepared pan. Don’t use a larger pan, as you want these bars to be thick.

Middle Layer
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
4 Tbsp. Darigold French Vanilla Creamer
2 Tbsp. instant vanilla pudding powder
2 cups powdered sugar

Cream together butter, creamer, vanilla pudding powder, and powdered sugar. Beat briskly until light. Spread over bottom layer. Chill for at least 20 minutes.


Top Layer
¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 Tbsp. milk
¾ cup Samoa crumbs (reserved)

Melt chocolate and butter over low heat. Add milk, stir until smooth. Add the reserved ¾ cup of Samoa crumbs, and stir. Let cool. Once cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer. Chill in refrigerator for at least an hour. Keep leftovers refrigerated

Seattle Seahawks win NFC Championship

Things were not looking good for the Seattle Seahawks at halftime of the NFC Championships on January 18, 2015. They were losing to the Green Bay Packers 0-16. The Seahawks had very little to show for themselves as they went into the locker room. The offense was nonexistent, the turnovers were at an all-time high and the Packers were having a good time shutting up the 12th man.

But don't forget... the Seahawks have always been a "second half" team. Just when you thought the Hawks were down and out, they pulled off the mother of all comebacks. The second half of the game was an opportunity for the Seahawks to show they had some crazy stuff planned. This included a touchdown pass by the punter, an insane on-side kick, a beast quake touchdown, a hail mary 2-point conversion, an OT, a lucky coin toss, and a game winning pass to the wide receiver who had been making mistakes all day. Did I mention there was some nail biting going on?

The Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row. I never thought it would come in such a deficit-facing playoff game. In post-game interviews, the players all seemed to have a phrase in common, "No doubt." Each player claimed he had no doubt that the team could pull through this nearly insurmountable challenge. Some of us who were watching the drama unfold on television were not feeling so optimistic at halftime, but we were awfully happy that we stuck around to watch the magic.

 Go Hawks!

Snowflakes forming

The greatest video in the world today. This slow motion photography shows the forming of beautiful tiny snowflakes. This is the advancement in photography at its finest. The video shows the intricate formation of different snow crystals in such clarity. At first I had hoped this video would have some sort of music accompaniment, but the silence seems to be appropriate.

Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Contest

The Girl Scouts of Western Washington are sponsoring a recipe competition. Contestants are asked to enter a recipe using Girl Scout cookies. Although desserts are the most popular way to use Girl Scout cookies, contestants are encouraged to work outside the "cookie box" and also consider savory recipes. More details on the contest can be found at this website:  www.girlscoutsww.org/recipecontest 
 
If you're in the mood for Girl Scout cookies (and who isn't?), they will soon be available for public purchase. The sale date begins February 28 and ends March 16, 2014. Here is a link for a cookie locator, to help you find the nearest site sale. Don't miss out!!   http://cookielocator.littlebrownie.com/

I have decided to step up to the challenge of developing a recipe that is not a dessert. Yikes! How can one compete with desserts?!?! My family members (including my Girl Scout daughter) have been very helpful in coming up with the perfect main dish. They have been taste-testing and giving feedback to help perfect this recipe. We all think this is a really yummy chicken dinner. The Trefoil and pretzel crumbs make a crunchy, crispy coating that is fabulous.  The sweetness from the Trefoil shortbread cookies blends superbly with the honey in the sauce. The honey Dijon sauce is used to coat the chicken before cooking and then also used for dipping your chicken bites while eating. This sauce is like a party in your mouth! It's RIDICULOUS!!

 

Trefoil/Pretzel Encrusted Chicken
with Honey Dijon Sauce

 
Prep time: 22 minutes
Cook time: 26 minutes
Total time: 48 minutes
Yield: 5 servings

Ingredients:

12 Trefoil Girl Scout Cookies
2 cups pretzel crumbs
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup of grape seed oil or olive oil
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 water
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons orange juice
freshly ground salt and  pepper
2 pounds boneless chicken breast
1/2 cup flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray oil onto large non-stick baking sheet.
2. Put Trefoil Girl Scout cookies into food processor. Pulse until you have crumbs.
3. Toast Trefoil cookie crumbs and Panko bread crumbs together in a skillet over medium heat, stirring often. When lightly golden, remove from heat and allow to cool.
4. Put pretzels in food processor. Pulse until coarsely ground. Add them to a medium bowl, mix with cookie and panko crumbs.
5. Sauce: In a separate bowl, add oil, honey, Dijon mustard, water, red wine vinegar and orange juice. Mix until smooth.
6. Use a mallet to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness. Season with pepper and salt.
7. Pour half the sauce into a shallow dish. Put flour on a large plate. Put half of the pretzel/cookie crumb mixture into a shallow dish. (Use the other half of the pretzel mixture to add to this dish, as needed.)
8. Drag a chicken breast through the flour, coating both sides. Then dredge the breast through the Dijon sauce, allowing excess to drip into dish. Then coat the chicken with pretzel mixture, patting the crumbs on, if necessary. Place coated chicken on a greased baking sheet.
9. Bake 24 minutes at 400 degrees (until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees)
10. Serve the chicken breasts with the remaining honey Dijon sauce, as a dipping sauce or pour over the top of your chicken.

For all you social media nuts (you know who you are) you can find more Girl Scout Cookie details at facebook.com/GirlScoutsWW and twitter.com/#!/GirlScoutsWW  #GSCookieRecipe 

2 cups panko crumbs

2 cups pretzel crumbs*

1/2 cup neutral tasting olive oil

1/2 cup Dijon mustard

1/3 cup honey (Iike clover or orange blossom)

1/4 cup bottled water

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

coarse salt and fresh ground black pepper

1 + 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts

1/2 cup flour, plus more if needed

Read more at http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/honey-mustard-pretzel-chicken/#bdpZWfWX8t3JjAiG.99

Ingredients

2 cups panko crumbs

2 cups pretzel crumbs*

1/2 cup neutral tasting olive oil

1/2 cup Dijon mustard

1/3 cup honey (Iike clover or orange blossom)

1/4 cup bottled water

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

coarse salt and fresh ground black pepper

1 + 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts

1/2 cup flour, plus more if needed

Read more at http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/honey-mustard-pretzel-chicken/#bdpZWfWX8t3JjAiG.99

Ingredients

2 cups panko crumbs

2 cups pretzel crumbs*

1/2 cup neutral tasting olive oil

1/2 cup Dijon mustard

1/3 cup honey (Iike clover or orange blossom)

1/4 cup bottled water

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

coarse salt and fresh ground black pepper

1 + 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts

1/2 cup flour, plus more if needed

Read more at http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/honey-mustard-pretzel-chicken/#bdpZWfWX8t3JjAiG.99

Ingredients

2 cups panko crumbs

2 cups pretzel crumbs*

1/2 cup neutral tasting olive oil

1/2 cup Dijon mustard

1/3 cup honey (Iike clover or orange blossom)

1/4 cup bottled water

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

coarse salt and fresh ground black pepper

1 + 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts

1/2 cup flour, plus more if needed

Read more at http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/honey-mustard-pretzel-chicken/#bdpZWfWX8t3JjAiG.99

Erupting Sarychev volcano, as seen from space



This is an awe-inspiring photograph of a Russian volcano, as seen from the International Space Station in 2009. Sometimes technology can be so cool.

Delta's 80's In-Flight Safety Video

I'm so sure! This safety video by Delta Airlines is totally awesome, dude! I believe this is the first airline safety video I have ever watched in its entirety. The over-the-top 80's theme is hilarious. My formative years of high school and college were in the 80's, so this brings back tons of memories. I love all the big hair and crazy fashions (some of which I had forgotten.) These are my LOL moments when watching the video for the first time:

1. Atari joysticks and game console
2. Tab cola
3. Unraveled cassette tape

Typical airline safety videos are so boring. Delta has done a good job at trying to keep the viewers' attention during a long, but necessary step in airline travel. Thanks for the memories, Delta.

Red Velvet Swirl Brownies

A saw Sunny Anderson make this recipe on TV, and knew I had to try it. These brownies were a big hit with my family. So delicious, I have to share it.

(A Sunny Anderson recipe)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sunny-anderson/red-velvet-swirl-brownies-recipe.html

Red Velvet Swirl Brownies

Ingredients

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, for pan

Red Velvet Brownie Layer

• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• Pinch salt
• 1 tablespoon red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts (optional)

Cream Cheese Layer:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

Special equipment: 8 by 8-inch baking pan

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Butter an 8 by 8-inch baking pan, and set aside.
Brownie layer: In a saucepan on medium heat melt the butter. Remove the butter to a large bowl and add the sugar, vanilla, cocoa powder, salt, food coloring, and vinegar, in that order, mixing between additions. Whisk the eggs in a small bowl and stir it into the cocoa mix. Fold in the flour until lightly combined. Stir in the walnuts and pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, saving 1/4 cup of the batter for the top.
Cream cheese layer: Blend together the cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Gently spread the cream cheese layer on top of the brownie batter in the pan. Dollop the remaining brownie batter over the cream cheese layer. Using a skewer or the tip of a knife, drag the tip through the cream cheese mixture to create a swirl pattern. Bake the brownies for 30 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely before cutting

The Beautiful Flight Paths of Fireflies

The Beautiful Flight Paths of Fireflies | Arts & Culture | Smithsonian


I found these wonderful photos in Smithsonian Magazine. Fireflies/Lightening Bugs are such a fascinating natural phenomenon. I don't live in a climate that is conducive to a firefly habitat, so I consider them very special. I remember, as a child in Pennsylvania, spending my summer nights chasing these glowing creatures. The amazing photos in this article were taken by Japanese photographer, Tsuneaki Hiramatsu. He shot a series of eight-second exposures, then digitally merged the images, creating connect-the-dot photos of the fireflies’ flight paths. Apparently Hiramatsu is an amateur photographer, but this is so impressive, I think it's time for him to quit his day job.

Click on the link above to see a full collection of these magical photographs.

How Great Thou Art by World Outreach Worship featuring StikYard

How Great Thou Art by World Outreach Worship featuring Stikyard


This video is a wonderful, modern, rhythmic rendition of the classic hymn, How Great Thou Art. The passionate performance is brilliantly displayed by World Outreach Worship and features the moving percussion of Stikyard. The website of Stikyard.com describes their sound as "a spirited fusion of sound and instruments, both modern and traditional." These "percussionists in motion" are stirring and mesmerizing. Although the other musicians and vocalists in this performance are excellent, the percussionists steal the show. I love the synchronicity of the drummers and other percussionists. The massive drums are a perfect fit for this very powerful song.

When the soloist sings the refrain:

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee;

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Chills go up my spine, while my spirits soar. I should use this as my alarm clock each morning, since I'm sure it would get me out of bed. This beautiful work of art is definitely the greatest thing in the world today.

 

Olympic Moms ad by Procter and Gamble "Pick Them Back Up"

 

You may remember the touching advertisement that Procter and Gamble put out for the 2012 Olympic games. Well, they have done it again. "Pick Them Back Up" is a new ad about moms picking their children up after they fall. It is dedicated to moms of the Sochi Olympic athletes (and all parents) who encourage their children to try and try again. The ad begins with moms teaching their babies to walk, while encouraging them in various languages. As the video continues, the children get bigger and learn to ski, skate, snowboard and play hockey, while mom is still encouraging them to keep trying. The ad ends with successful athletes and the phrase, "For teaching us that falling only makes us stronger, thank you, Mom."

 

My favorite parts of this ad:

1. The novice skier learning to ski down a mattress in the living room. This reminds me of how my own living room has been used to foster the athletic skills in football, baseball, volleyball and fly fishing.

 

2.The end of the ad when the happy, victorious hockey player puts a fist to his chest and looks to his mom and grins. Also the part where the successful skier crosses the finish line and goes directly to hug her mom. This is all a mother asks in return for the countless hours she has spent honing the skills of her children and helping them every step of the way - just a simple gesture of thanks.

 

Do Procter and Gamble make tissues? I need one for my happy tears.

 

Go Seahawks

The perfect marriage between Christmas lights and a Seahawks logo.
Throw in lots of pink, and you've got perfection.
Go Seahawks!

Water Transfer Printing

This video shows the fascinating process of water painting or Hydrographics. The video was made by a European company call HG Arts. It is a well-made film that I find mesmerizing. I had never heard of this process before, and wanted to learn more.

Apparently this process is used to decorate items that vary from airplane and automobile interiors to very small items like cell phone cases and video game controllers. Graphic prints can be applied to all kinds of materials including plastic, wood, fiberglass, metal, and ceramics. For the most part, if the item can be dipped in water, the water transfer printing process can be applied.

Steps:

1. Apply primer with sprayer
2. Sand the dried primer by hand
3. Apply basecoat with sprayer
4. Take the film that has the graphic, and cut it to the size of the item to be printed
5. Place cut film in water
6. Spray activator onto film/water
7. Immerse item in prepared water

This process is so fascinating. It makes me want to learn to be a water painter, then paint everything I own!

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=8kVHNAN2atA8gam9TbHylw%3D%3D
 

Ebates.com is a website that I discovered while doing my Christmas shopping last year. Ebates will send you a rebate check for every purchase you make through the website. The site has agreements with over 1600 online stores. After doing much of my Christmas shopping through Ebates.com last year, I received a rebate check for almost $60. I loved getting money in time to pay off my credit card!

Here's what you do: Once you have registered on the Ebates website, all the work is done. Now, when you are ready to buy something online, you first go to Ebates.com.  Check to see if the online store you wish to use is listed. If it is, just click on the company name. Ebates will link you directly with that company. You don't need to do anything else to be eligible for the rebate, because Ebates takes care of it all. No need to enter a promo code or anything in your shopping cart.

Each online store has a different agreement with Ebates. I have earned 2% of some purchases and 10% of other purchases. At Christmastime this can really add up. Click on the link above and kick start your own rebate this season.

 

The Princess Machine

This is a great commercial by GoldieBlox, a toy company that makes construction sets and other products geared toward girls, with the hope of inspiring a love of engineering. The ad depicts 3 little girls who are bored with their pink, girly toys. They build a complex Rube Goldberg-inspired contraption out of all those toys.

 

Rube Goldberg - a comically involved, complicated invention, laboriously contrived to perform a simple operation (Webster's New World Dictionary)

 

I like this ad so much, I want to go out and buy their products, "toys for future engineers." It is so inspiring! It encourages girls to focus their early skills on math, science and engineering. The company recognizes that girls need more choices than the pink aisle has to offer. They have developed GoldieBlox, an interactive book series + construction set starring Goldie, the kid inventor who loves to build. Three cheers for GoldieBlox!

 

----------------------------------------­---------
LYRICS
----------------------------------------­---------

Girls.
You think you know what we want, girls.
Pink and pretty it's girls.
Just like the 50's it's girls.

You like to buy us pink toys
and everything else is for boys
and you can always get us dolls
and we'll grow up like them... false.

It's time to change.
We deserve to see a range.
'Cause all our toys look just the same
and we would like to use our brains.

We are all more than princess maids.

Girls to build the spaceship,
Girls to code the new app,
Girls to grow up knowing
they can engineer that.

Girls.
That's all we really need is Girls.
To bring us up to speed it's Girls.
Our opportunity is Girls.
Don't underestimate Girls.

 

 

 

 

WWII 10th Mountain Division

Today's "greatest thing in the world" is in honor of the recently celebrated Veteran's Day. This is a photo from WWII. The 10th Mountain Division served in the United States military on skis. This photo depicts the training  camp at Camp Hale in Colorado. Originally constituted as a mountain warfare unit, the division was the only unit of its size in the U.S. Army to specialize in fighting in mountainous and arctic conditions. After this photo was taken, they were deployed to Italy. The division was equipped with winter weather gear such as white camouflage and skis, specifically designed for the division. This select and impressive group of soldiers played a unique role in WWII. Earlier soldiers with skis and rifles influenced the sport of biathlon, which I consider a fascinating Olympic sport.

Decadent Pumpkin Cake

Each year, during the months of October and November I crave pumpkin-flavored everything.  I love the combination of pumpkin and spices in things like bread, lattes, and french toast... and don't get me started on pumpkin seeds! I love the seeds roasted with salt and worcestershire sauce.  Pumpkin seeds are rich in antioxidants, so my family will always make good use of them after carving jack-o-lanterns for Halloween.

This is a yummy recipe for pumpkin cake. I think the original recipe is a bit too sweet, so I cut down on the amount of condensed milk and caramel. I also use non-fat condensed milk, and it is still delicious. It's super easy to prepare. Yum pumpkin!

Decadent Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients
1 box yellow cake mix
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin puree
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (fat free ok)
1 (8oz) tub of Cool Whip
1/2 bag Heath bits
      caramel sundae sauce

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and pumpkin puree until a smooth batter forms
2. Pour batter into a greased 9×13 baking dish, and bake at 350º, according to the directions on the cake mix box (approx. 23-28 mins)
3. Remove cake from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes after baking
4. Using the end of a wooden spoon to poke holes all over the top of the cake
5. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over the cake. This should fill in the holes and soak into the cake
6. Refrigerate for 30 minutes
7. Remove cake from refrigerator and spread cool whip over top of cake. Sprinkle on the heath bits, and drizzle caramel over top. (note: if you want it less sweet you can use less of the jar)
8. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours, or overnight                                      

Lake Towanda, Wisconsin

This lovely photo from Lake Towanda, Wisconsin appears as though it is capturing a forest fire in the distance. In actuality, this is the sunrise of a partly-cloudy morning. I think the trees silhouetted in the foreground are the key to the success of this photograph. The fireball in the background adds drama and brightness, making this a perfect capture of a  picturesque morning.

I love this photo. It was taken at my local elementary school yesterday. A spike bull elk got his antlers stuck in the net of a soccer goal. This happened on the Rock Creek Elementary School playground just before school started. The state Fish and Wildlife officer in the photo must have drawn the short straw, because getting that close to those sharp antlers is a risky activity, indeed. The officer successfully cut the net, which in turn, freed the exhausted young elk. I love my hometown of Maple Valley, WA. You just never know what will happen here.

Dawn Platinum is the greatest introduction to the kitchen since the microwave oven. This is a product after my own heart. I detest having dishes soak in the sink overnight. I hate having to deal with the cold, icky water when the soaking process has finished.

After seeing a TV ad for Dawn Platinum, I wasted no time buying my own bottle. The statement on the label says, " Gives you overnight soaking power on glass dishes and bakeware in only 3 minutes."

I'm telling you this product works just as advertised. I put a small squirt of the dishwashing liquid with warm water in a glass casserole dish with baked-on egg and cheese. I checked on it after about 4 or 5 minutes (3 minutes was such a short period of time, I failed to get there quickly enough.) Dawn had done it's job. All the baked-on food wiped right off! As a bonus, the water was still warm, which dramatically reduced the "ick" factor. I can't wait to try this on future stubbornly dirty dishes.