German Style Soft Pretzels Maybe it is my German background… or maybe my love of all things salty, but I think nothing is better than a hot pretzel. Soft pretzels are great, but they are only good fresh. Luckily they are not too tough to make at home. The following recipe may look long, but it is easier than making bread. We made a batch for a Octoberfest party we threw and they were a huge hit. In order to give the pretzels a dunk in boiling water gives them their chewy skin. Ingredients:1 teaspoon instant yeast1 tablespoon malt powder or brown sugar2 to 3 cups all-purpose unbleached or bread flour1 teaspoon salt1 cup warm milk (approximately 110 degrees, which is 1 minute in my microwave)Directions:Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix together until it forms a ball.
Put your stuff up in the air! Hanging DIY ideas & tutorials Posted by ScrapHacker.com on onsdag, juni 27, 2012 · 9 Comments To heck with both feet on the ground! Now’s the time to put your ideas up in the air! I’ve gathered a bunch of supafly D.I.Y to give wings to anything you’ve got around the house (well, almost!). By showing you a bunch of different applications (from chunky sofas to delicate D.I.Y hanging planters) I hope you’ll all find a little something to get your DIY juices flowin’ in the mix – Enjoy! pics via here The hanging desk is not only cool looking but an awesome space saver! Pics via GreenWeddingShoes, CapitolRomance & Etsy Gotta love the swinging chair! Eleanor from team behind awesome venture SCRAP (a.k.a the School & Community Reuse Action Project), has made a great ”Hanging notepad” tutorial for Etsy – DIY TUTORIAL HERE Hanging Notepad #2! Pics via here Check out the awesome tutorial on how to make a hanging ”Kokedama string garden”, by talented Aura Scaringi of Mimimou for DesignSponge – DIY TUTORIAL HERE Pics via here
22 Killer Personal Development Resources You're Missing Out On You’ve got the personal development itch once again. You know the feeling. Maybe you want to be more productive, finally tackle that goal of yours, or start waking up earlier. So you go to Google or your favorite personal development blogs. Maybe if you still haven’t found what you’re looking for you try searching for a Youtube video or ask your Facebook friends if they know of any good sites. And that’s it. Sometimes you find what you need, but you still have a sense that there’s got to be more. And that’s where you get stuck. Today I hope to change that by sharing with you 22 of the killer personal development resources you’re missing out on. 1. I know, you thought Reddit was just for gamers, atheists, and students – but that’s a misconception. 2. Mindbloom.com is a nifty personal development web application. 3. Lately, it seems there have been hundreds of eLearning websites popping up across the web. 4. 6. Stumbleupon is another excellent resource for personal development. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries. What? Yes! Um... ok. Why didn't I think of this?!?!?! Of course you can hollow out a strawberry and stuff it full of cheesecake. Of course you can!!! And just in time for Valentine's Day... perfect excuse to make them! Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries Here's what you need: About 20 strawberries... this was a little over one carton for me. 8 oz pkg softened cream cheese 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla 1 sleeve of graham crackers 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional) First you will want to wash the strawberries and cut off the tops. Now core them! A thin ended apple peeler.... And a small knife.... I liked the knife better! The easiest way to core the strawberries is to hold the entire berry in your hand (wrap your fingers around it) and literally just core out the center. Um... Now to make the filling.... Beat the cream cheese. Now to fill the strawberries!!! I didn't want to hurt my zip lock baggies feelings so I used one to crush the graham crackers in. Oh man.... these are so cute. So......
Old Mens T-shirt Sewn Into Women's Dolman Tee My husband and I are runners so we have a million t-shirts. I love transforming these boxy, oversized tees into something I will actually want to wear other then for a nightgown. I love this heather grey and wanted to make it into my favorite style tee. I love the comfortable, effortless style of the dolman tee... It took me about 15 minutes or so. Supplies: DIY intructions: Full Video go here (it's old though). Begin by removing the collar of the shirt, pull to create an off the shoulder look. Mark your 1/2 your hip measurement inside the t-shirt so it's even. Pleat about 4 inches up by folding accordion folds and pinning through front and back. Mark your arm hole measurement and pin from the under arm seam to that measurement. When you sew, start at the bottom hem and sew up to the under arm seam in a gradual line. Cut all the excess interior fabric away or serge the interior.
15 DIY crafts you need to make right now It's cold, it's raining and quite frankly, it's utterly miserable outside at the moment. So stay in! But then it hits you. It's not that great inside either. You're young, so you haven't got all of that furniture and all of the little decorative trinkets that accumulate over time, and if you have, you haven't got nearly enough. Instead of spending your time sitting around moaning about the weather, why not spend your time doing something useful? Why not spend your time crafting some of these? Freshers Fields is back for 2013! 1. Source Stick your button collection around a balloon (and importantly) to each other. 2. Source Glue, buttons, cardboard and a bit of artistic ingenuity and you'll have yourself a great sign for your bedroom door (assuming you use the first letter of your first name). 3. Simply wash out a screw top spirit bottle, find a screw top soap dispenser and put it together. 4. Source Blank glass tumblers, paint, and cotton wool buds are all you need for this one. 5. 6. Source 7.
Pumpkin Monkey Bread September 23, 2011 | Print | E-mail | Filed under bread, pumpkin Monkey bread. It’s almost as much fun to say as it is to eat, and with the arrival of autumn, I couldn’t stop thinking about taking my usual recipe and kicking it up a notch with the addition of pumpkin – so, of course, I did. Making monkey bread has always brought with it feelings of nostalgia for me, which makes it one of my favorite sweets to share with family and friends. For the dough: 3 1/4 cups flour, plus extra for kneading1/2 tsp salt1/2 tsp cinnamon1/4 tsp nutmeg1/8 tsp cloves2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted1/2 cup warm milk1/4 cup warm water2/3 cup pumpkin puree1/4 cup sugar2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast For the coating: 1 cup sugar2 tsp cinnamon3/4 stick butter, melted For the glaze: 2/3 cup powdered sugar2 Tbsp pure maple syrup1-2 tsp milk In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and spices. In another large bowl, whisk together the milk, water, pumpkin, melted butter, sugar, and yeast. Leave a Reply
25 Cool Ideas To Display Family Photos On Your Walls Family portrait by Lori Andrews (via designcrushblog) We all have family photos that we love. Most of them live well in photo albums but the best of them could and should be displayed throughout the house. Displaying pictures could be challenging but we can and will make the process more easy for you. mixed and matched family photos Family photo heart display Family photo ladder Family photo tree Family photos above your sofa Family photo clocks Family photos around tv Family photos on wires Modern family photo tree Family photos on the whole wall (via pinterest) A large family photo covering the whole wall (via poppytalk) LOVE family photo display on clothspins (via bios) Historical family photo display (via skonahem) String lights family photo display (via pinterest) DIY Natural Wood Photo Display (via pinterest) Modern and creative kids photo display (via flickr) Interchangeable family photos for every wall (via pinterest)
50 Life Secrets and Tips Memorize something everyday.Not only will this leave your brain sharp and your memory functioning, you will also have a huge library of quotes to bust out at any moment. Poetry, sayings and philosophies are your best options.Constantly try to reduce your attachment to possessions.Those who are heavy-set with material desires will have a lot of trouble when their things are taken away from them or lost. Possessions do end up owning you, not the other way around. Become a person of minimal needs and you will be much more content.Develop an endless curiosity about this world.Become an explorer and view the world as your jungle. Stop and observe all of the little things as completely unique events. Try new things. Read “Zen and the Art of Happiness” by Chris Prentiss.This book will give you the knowledge and instruction to be happy at all times regardless of the circumstances.
Shovel & Fork I Will Knot! How to Make Tofu Taste Good You've seen tofu. You've eaten tofu. And you may have even purchased tofu at the grocery store — it's available just about everywhere these days. But, like most people, you probably have no idea what to do with it. But in order to turn this white brick of pure potential into dinner, it helps to know a few tricks and tips. Tofu needs to be "pressed." Slice open the package and drain out the water. Some other things to keep in mind: Tofu loves being marinated. Tofu hates marinades containing oil. Get crispy with cornstarch. Don't forget about broiling, grilling & grill pans. Tofu: not just for stir-fries anymore. 11 Unusual Household Uses For Food Items That Will Save You Money photo: charles chan * The next time you find yourself in need of a household product like stain remover, shower cleaner or ant deterrent, check the pantry before heading to the store. You might just find what you need, in the form of a common kitchen ingredient. From a green perspective, going the DIY route eliminates some of the harsh chemicals in your home, reducing your family’s exposure to them. Post your own tips below, and try these household uses for common foods: Baking soda * Jan Patterson of Cotati, Calif., uses it to remove “stubborn sticky stuff of any kind” from furniture and other household items. * Add vinegar, and the mixture works well as a drain cleaner, says Leslie Reichert, a.k.a. * “Use it as your first treatment when you spill fruit juice or wine,” says lifestyle consultant Joshua Duvauchelle. * Mix with vinegar, and the resulting paste is powerful enough to clean grout, says Maureen Smithe of “Homemade Mothering.” Bananas Beer Cayenne Pepper Cinnamon Honey Ketchup Lemons Tea