Spinach Dip Recipe

Lately I have been having a craving for Spinach Dip.  I have been thinking of it several times a day.  

This dip is way, way better then the store bought stuff.  Seriously.  It is.   I've taken it to gatherings, and placed it side by side with the store bought one, and guess which one was first to be gobbled up?  Yes, of course home made is always better.

This recipe is really quite easy and quick to make.  Give it a try, you won't regret it.  

Spinach Dip Recipe

10 oz  Frozen Spinach, thawed, drained, and blotted dry

1 Cup Sour Cream

1 Cup Mayonnaise

1 Package Knorr Veggie Soup Mix

1 Can Water Chestnuts, Chopped

Thaw your spinach in the fridge overnight or on the counter in the day.  I used to use one of the blocks you could get from Safeway but the last time I found they only have it in a bag in the frozen cubes.  I buy the frozen chopped spinach.  Today I used 7 cubes, and thawed them over night in the fridge in a bowl. 

I squeeze the water all out, then chop it a little finer.  I don't know about you, but I dislike getting those strings stuck in my teeth.

I use my mini food chopper to chop up my water chestnuts.  It's much quicker then doing it by hand.  (Thank you Electric Kitchen Gadgets! You make my live easier!)

Mix the Water Chestnuts and Chopped Spinach together.

Add your Sour Cream and Mayo.  (Ok, admission time.  I never really measure these, but more or less eyeball the amounts.)  Make sure to use Mayonnaise, not Miracle Whip.  They are not the same, and it will change the flavor and won't be near as good if you use Miracle Whip... Oh, and also avoid the 'Light" mayo.  I made a mistake and bought that once.  Wasn't good at all.  

Now it is time to add the secret ingredient.  Don't go "Eewww!  Dried Veggie Soup!"  This is what will make your Spinach Dip super duper yummy.

Just sprinkle it over top everything.  Give it all a really good mix.

Now the hard part....  Resist the urge, if you can to dig right in (I can never resist) and let it sit in the fridge for an hour or two for the veggie mix to soften up.

At this point, you can hollow out a sour dough loaf and add the spinach dip into that, arranging chunks of bread around it.  I have to admit that french bread is my favorite with the spinach dip though.

Gel Medium Photo Transfer Craft Attempt.

You may be wondering why I am posting a craft in a kitchen blog, but not all activities that occur in the kitchen, are cooking related.   This adventure takes place at my kitchen table.

So yesterday, I thought it would be a good idea to try to transfer some of my photo's onto Canvas.

Since I work at a Craft Store and people have been coming in to get the Gel Medium to do photo transfers, I figured why not do one and try it out.

I read up on it on the internet, and all websites said it was easy-peasy.   Heck, I figure.  I can do this! 

Supplies Needed:

Picture printed on regular paper with a laser printer

Canvas

Acrylic Gel Medium (Gloss)

Foam Brush

Spray Bottle

Water

Basically instructions say:
Print out picture using a Laser Printer on regular paper.
Evenly spread Acrylic Gel Medium on canvas.
Place picture face down on top of wet Gel Medium.
Let dry well.  Perhaps over night.
Spray Paper with water. 
Let sit for a few minutes.
Gently rub paper off canvas leaving ink bonded with gel medium.
Let dry.
Repeat the wetting and rubbing process until all paper is rubbed off of canvas.  You will have to do this drying, wetting and rubbing process a few times before the paper comes off.
Give picture another coat of Gel Medium to seal it in and bring out the color.

My manager thinks this is a great idea, and why not do up a demo for the store?  Sure I bravely tell her!  I can't wait!

Yeah....   Another brain wave and attempt to scale the unknown that leaves me wondering why I started.

My Manager kindly printed out some black and white pictures on the Laser Printer at work.  (The instructions said to use a Laser Printer.)  This is done on your regular printing paper.

Yesterday after work, I coated my canvas's with Acrylic Gel Medium, then pressed the photo's onto them smoothing out all the bubbles.

With great anticipation, I allowed them to dry over night!

Waking up at 5:30 in the morning, my first thought is "Oh Goody!  I can reveal the magic!"  

I lay the pictures on the kitchen table on a towel and spray them with water to soften the paper so I can rub it off.  "Let the magic begin!"  Sure.  Maybe for the average person.  Not so for me.  The ink that is supposed to stay on the canvas is rubbing off with the paper.

I let it dry again, so I can see the missed paper.

 I spray with water and do more rubbing, taking off more of the ink in the process.  Oh, and I forgot.... if you have any writing of the picture it will show up in reverse... just so you are aware if you are also going to attempt this.  Make sure that you reverse the image before you print it out.

Here's one I tried of my daughter.  This picture is after I have already removed some of the paper and have let it dry.  You will have to repeat this step a few times. 

I wet the paper again, and like magic she appears.

And do more rubbing.... more of the ink is coming off.  Bet by the time I am done, she will disappear.

After more soaking and rubbing, Yep.  She is pretty much gone.  Not acceptable at all.  So I will paint a coat of Gesso over her hand start over.  

I get pretty much the same results with the Pocket watch picture.  I noticed in areas where the Gel Medium is thickly coated it worked better.   This to will get a coat of Gesso and a do over.

\

So with these ones, I tried printing them from my home ink jet printer from images that I scanned.  I put the setting on the 'colour' setting. 

Here I am coating a canvas with Gel Medium

I try and spread it fairly thick and evenly.

With this picture it is one that I scanned and printed with my ink jet printer set on the Black and White setting.  It is stuck face down onto the Gel medium, and because the paper is most from the medium you can faintly see the image.

Retrying the pocket watch image.  I use an old gift card from work to smooth out the paper.  I want to point out that this is on one of those Canvas Boards instead of a stretched canvas frame.

Here is the pictures that I printed from my ink jet.  The left hand side one is from a scanned image in colour, and the right is also a scanned image that was black and white, but printed on the colour setting.  As you can see, the 'Black and White' one bled green ink, and is green tinged.   I have just finished pealing the paper off of them and they are still damp.  I will have to do this a few more times I think.

Here are the Pocket watches.  The one on the right was from a print from a Laser printer, and the one on the left was from my Ink Jet printer set on the 'Color' setting.  Note the green tinge.  This is the first paper peeling, and they are still damp.  The Laser Print is much nicer. 

Here's the picture of my daughter that I printed off my Ink Jet, with it on the Black and White setting.  Still damp from the first peeling.  This was on a stretch frame canvas.  You can see where the canvas was stretched over the frame across her forehead.  The ones on the Canvas Boards don't get that.  They come out ore even.  The stretched ones get damp and loose feeling.

I wet, rubbed and dried my experimental ones a few more times, and really wasn't impressed with the detail, or colour quality of them and decided not to continue on with them, all though the detail on the above picture isn't too bad.  

The Laser print one came out much better though, and I decided to keep it to bring into work for a demo.

I gave it a couple coats of Gel Medium.  The first one I went lengthwise with the strokes, let it dry then the next one, I went horizontal.  It looks cloudy, but will clear when it dries.

Pretty much dry here.  There is a bit of glare on it from the light.

I zoomed in on it so you can see the detail.

I like the way it turned out, and will definitely be doing more pictures up this way, making sure to use a Laser Printer, and a good thick coat of the Gel Medium.  I imagine that my transfer skills will only improve with time, and I'm rather excited about thing it out on other surfaces.  Thinking a Milk Jug would be pretty cool... hmmm.... 

Pancake Recipe

I don't know about you, but around our house Pancakes are just as popular for supper as they are for breakfast.  They are also great to reheat for a quick snack, to eat cold, or even as a sandwhich substitute in school lunches with peanut butter and jam on them.

Today, I am going to double the recipe and add blueberries to the last half of the batter.

This recipe is pretty easy and yummy!

Pancakes from Scratch

1 1/2 cup Flour

1 Tbsp Baking Powder

1 Tbsp Sugar

1/2 Tsp Salt

1 3/4 Cup Milk

2 Tbsp Oil

1 Egg

Vanilla

Blend dry ingredients together.  Blend Wet ingredients (I do this in my 4 cup measuring cup).  I don't measure the vanilla but just dump it in.   Add the wet to the dry and give a mix, then ladle into a hot pan or griddle.  The batter will get bubbles on it when it starts cooking.  When the bubbles pop and the batter starts to lose the shine, give it a flip!  Cook until golden brown.

Usually I find with my family, we have to double the recipe or even quadripple the recipe so that there is left overs for lunches and stuff.

If you want thinner pancakes, just add a little more milk.

New Pictures On My Kitchen Wall!

At long last I have managed to fit 4 chicken's to hang on my kitchen wall.  Ok, My kids are now hanging there too.  But FOUR chickens on one wall!

I'm so happy!

My family will think I am insane.

I finally developed some pictures large enough to hang on my wall.  I rather like them if I must say so myself!

Also finally after a year managed to find a place to hang my Rooster head I picked up in Haida Gwaii last year.  It is a good day indeed!

Here's a better look at my other pictures I blew up.

This is my eldest daughter holding a sweet little silkie hen.

And this is my youngest holding her favorite hen, Crystal.  She packed that old girl around all the time.

And this was my favorite Silkie Rooster, Little Dude.  He was a super sweet little guy who loved to be picked up.  

Blueberry Banana Muffins

Today, I shall attempt to scale Mount Blueberry Banana Muffin.  Never before have I attempted this feat.  Blueberry muffins, yes. Banana muffins... yes.  But never before have I combined the two.

Today shall be the day.  I have some very ripe banana`s and a fridge full of blue berries, and they are just calling to have something done with them.  And of course, I shall complete this mission before work today!

Here is the recipe that I am attempting.  The reviews are great for it, and it sounds really easy.

Blue Berry Banana Muffins

3 ripe Banana`s.

1 Egg, slightly beaten

3/4 Cup Sugar

1/3 Cup Butter, melted

1 Cup Blueberries

1 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp Salt

1 1/2 Cups Flour

Mash Banana's in a large mixing bowl.

Add in beaten Egg, Sugar and melted Butter.

Stir in Blueberries.

In small bowl, combine dry ingredients.  Stir in to the batter mixture, taking care with the blueberries.

Spoon into greased muffin tin and bake for 20 minutes at *375.

So, Here's how it went for me:

I put banana's into bowl.  

 Decide to use my Kitchen Aid to do the hard work of mashing them.

I beat egg, in a cup, measure out the sugar, and put it into the bowl with the egg.

Oh yes!  This works wonderfully for mashing the banana's! 

I measure out the dry ingredients.

And this is where it all goes wrong!

 I then remember, I am supposed to call the Realtor about the sale of our house at 9:00.  It is now 9:01 so I decide to make the call while baking.  Realtor tells me someone has but in a crazy low offer while I am measuring butter.  (This is where my multi-tasking goes wrong).

I add in the sugar and egg.

Oh look!  I'm about to add my beautifully melted butter!

I add it in, give it a mix, then dump in the blueberries. 

I hand stir the blueberries so I don 't squish them.

Then I hand stir in the dry ingredients and scoop it into my muffin tins, which are a large sized.   I filled 7 of them.  Then they go into my preheated oven.

I set the timer, then review the recipe to type out here...  this is where I realize my mistake.

As I re-read the recipe I ask myself,  Just how much butter DID I add?  Oh-oh.  Instead of 1/3 cups, I added 2/3 cups.  Holy!  How the heck can I fix this one?  I'm not even sure I can.  

First thought is!  OMG!  It's only been 5 minutes!  I can scrape them out and double the recipe!  But No!  This will not work.  I only have 1 1/2 banana's left!  

Goodness.... I'm torn what to do?!!!  Leave them or try and fix it?!!!

I can't just leave them!  No.  I pull them out.   I mash up the remaining banana, add in another amount of sugar, egg, and dry ingredients, and a bunch more blueberries, mix it them add the over buttered batter to that... mix well, and into greased and floured bread pans they go.

At this point I am seriously questioning my abilities in the kitchen and the wisdom of even starting this blog. 

The smells wafting from the kitchen are good.  The loaves look not to bad, but the feel moist, even though the toothpick was coming out clean. 

Ok, so I did a taste test once they cooled down enough to cut, and it does taste pretty darn good!  My children shall love me after all!

But I will not give up!  I shall attempt these muffins again one day!  

Braided Cheese Bread Recipe

Every year at Christmas (and some times through out the year), I love to make a braided Cheese Loaf or two.  They really aren't hard to make at all, and are really yummy.  You could use your own bread recipe or this one here.  This one makes about 4 regular loaves of white bread.  I usually divide the dough in half, and make 2 cheese breads and 2 regular loaves of bread.  Or sometimes I will make pepperoni bread sticks, if I have pepperoni.   

Bread Recipe

2 Cups Lukewarm Water

2 Tsp Sugar

2 Tbsp Yeast

2 Cups water

1 Cup Milk

6 Tbsp Butter ( = 1/2 cup minus 1 1/2 tbsp)

6 Tbsp Sugar

4 Tsp Salt

12 Cups Flour

Measure 2 cups warm water into bowl.  Stir in Sugar to dissolve and sprinkle yeast over.  Let stand 10 min, then stir well.  

Heat water, milk, and butter until warm.  Stir in sugar and salt until dissolved.  Add to yeast mixture and stir.  ~ (I like to put the butter in a large 4 cup measuring cup.  Boil water, add the 2 cups boiling water over butter, and stir to melt the butter, add the 1 cup cold milk, sugar and salt, and stir to dissolve.  Test with finger to make sure it's not too hot, then add to yeast mixture)~

Beat in 4 cups flour.  Stir in 4 more cups of flour and then mix in and knead the last 4 cups.  Turn onto flour surface and knead until smooth and elastic.  If dough is too soft, you can add more flour.

Place dough into a lightly greased bowl and turn it over to grease the top of the dough.  Cover and let rise until double in size about 1 1/2 hours.  

Punch down and let rise 20 minutes.  

Divide and shape into loaves.  Let rise 1 hour. 

Bake 350* for 30 - 40 minutes until golden.

To Make Cheese Bread

2 Large Onions

Butter

Oregano, Basil

Grated Cheddar Cheese

While the bread dough is rising the first time, I chop and Saute about 2 Onions in butter with a sprinkle of oregano, and basil in it, then set it aside.  I also grate a bunch of cheddar cheese.  Today I used Old and Medium and mixed them.  I also get out the poppy seeds and have them in sight so I don't forget.

The Makings of Cheese Bread. Bread dough, grated cheddar, sauteed onions with oregano, basil and poppy seeds for sprinkling.

Roll out a section of bread dough into a rectangle and cut into three strips.

 Spread sauteed onions, poppy seed, and grated cheese down the center of each strip.

Pinch dough into a seam to close it around the onion and cheese.

Turn each section of cheese filled dough over so that the seam is facing down, hidden, and begin to braid the bread. I find that you don't have to start at one end, but just down from the end, and then you can to back and finish braiding the top.

Tuck the ends under a bit when you are done braiding.

Gently transfer it onto a greased cookie sheet, and spread more sauteed onions, poppy seed, and cheese on top.

Bake at 30 - 40 ish minutes at 350*, Take out of oven, transfer to cooling racks, and brush lightly with butter while still hot.

Cheesy pockets of goodness!  Mmmmm!  So good!

This cheese bread is totally awesome reheated or toasted.  It's awesome!

I think that I probably could have added a little more flour to my bread dough today, as they were pretty soft, and seemed to spread out quite a bit.