Apartment Blog

Throughout my childhood I can remember my father in the kitchen (yes, my dad did a majority of the cooking in our household) making a fantastic Thanksgiving feast. He always hated anyone being in the kitchen because they would be ‘in his way.’ So a new tradition that I have started the last few Thanksgivings is to create some type of dish at my apartment and bring it over for Thanksgiving dinner.  That way I am still contributing to the amazing meal and helping without ‘being in the way!’

I found this fantastic recipe in a Taste of Home Thanksgiving magazine last year and decided that it needs to be a reoccurring dish from now on. It’s absolutely, positively delicious! Not to mention super easy. That’s my kind of side dish!

Corn ‘n’ Bean Bake Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 package (16 ounces) of frozen cut green beans
• 1 can (15.25 ounces) of whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 can (10.75 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted (can also substitute for cream of broccoli or cream of chicken)
• 1 cup (4 ounces) of shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• ½ cup of crushed butter-flavored crackers (about 12 crackers-can also be substituted for variety crackers depending on the complement flavoring you desire)

Directions:

• 1. Preheat oven to350 degrees.
• 2. In a large bowl, combine the beans, corn, soup and ½ cup of cheese. Spoon into a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Top with remainder of cheese and crushed crackers.
• 3. Bake for 35 minutes or until heated through.

Hopefully you’ll find this dish to be as easy and delicious as I did. Who knows? Maybe you’ll start a new tradition in your family! Happy Thanksgiving!

I saw this recipe on Goneraw.com, submitted by evergreen last October and I just knew I had to share it. For me, any ‘treat’ that’s healthy is a double bonus! Plus with a name like Boo nanners, who wouldn’t like it? Here’s the recipe that was submitted with a few supplemental ingredients.

Servings:  2 per banana
Ingredients: 

peeled banana, cut in half
orange juice
dried shredded coconut
currants or raisins or chocolate sprinkles
popsicle sticks

Preparation: 

1. Sprinkle banana with orange juice

2. Roll in coconut… you may find it a little easier and neater to use a zip top bag for this step if the kiddies are making these

3. Gently press in currant eyes or two chocolate sprinkles if you think they kiddies would like that more

4. Place on popsicle sticks, you can either put it in the freezer to keep them for later or have the healthy snack now!

Happy Cinco De Mayo!! I’m not really sure what the plans are for this evening, however, I’m certain one thing is for sure….dessert! While searching for recipes online, I found this one particularly intriguing. I thought to myself, how can you have Mexican brownies??? Well, here is a very easy recipe to add to your Mexican fiesta tonight!!

Directions

Prepare your favorite boxed or homemade brownies, adding 3/4 teaspoon ground chipotle Chile pepper and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon to the batter (for a batch that fits a 9-by-13-inch pan).

Cook as stated on the box or based on your homemade recipe.

Top each Mexican brownie with a scoop of dulce de leche ice cream and sprinkle with cinnamon.

It’s just a little touch of something different to conclude your Mexican dinner. Serve warm to your family and friends!

Source: Recipe from FootNetwork.com and Photograph by Tina Rupp

We have noted in several of our previous posts how the tough economic times are proving difficult for businesses, but we really haven’t dived into the hardships affecting consumers…..you! Businesses are struggling because consumers are feeling the squeeze of the economy. You are forced to reevaluate your finances and reduce your disposable income.  In many instances that means staying home and going out less frequently.

We want to provide you with some resources to turn the negative into a positive. We’ve posted many blogs that can help you when your budget has been constricted; you just need to know where to find them!

Here’s a list to help you figure out how you want to nest during these economic times. Your home is your place of refuge against the world, and it’s time you started celebrating it!

• So you can’t go out to dinner, then stay at home and cook! We’ve found terrific recipes that our own staff has tried and LOVED! Entrees, side dishes and desserts galore! To make it appear like a night out, eat at the dinning room table with the television off and low lighting.
• Miss date night with your significant other? We’ve even come up with ideas for romantic gestures in your apartment, which include a soothing bubble bath, picnic on the floor or movie night!
• Have some creative juices flowing, but not a lot of $$ to spend? Then check out our amazing ‘How-To’ tips, decorating w/constrictions and low cost decorating ideas to make the most of your time spent at home.
• Need a gift for a friend? We’ve posted a few ideas for homemade gifts and cards! You’ll get bonus tips for being thoughtful and creative.
• You’re bound to have a few friends that are in the same predicament as you. So why not invite them over for a group party? We’ve posted tips on how to throw a party that is eco-friendly, which includes reducing money!! For entertainment you could play games and the dinner/dessert could be pot-luck so no one is forking over a lot of dough!

There are two things to remember for getting through these times: One - you are not alone. There are many others going through the same situation as you. Two -it will end. It may not seem like it, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to wait it out. Until then, take a look at these tips/ideas for staying at home and remain optimistic. When one door closes, another one opens……so decorate it!!

 Are you planning on cooking this St. Patrick’s Day? Or perhaps you’re thinking about throwing a party?! Having a pot-luck at work? If you’re a little stumped on what to bring or what to cook this year, look at a few ideas I’ve just tossed together. There are some for the serious chef or for the low-maintenance cookers.  Categorized in two ways, dishes that are Irish or dishes that are GREEN!

Irish Items:

• Irish Stew
• Corned Beef ( include sandwich fixings for a Rueben)
• Roasted Potatoes or Irish Potato Salad
• Lime Pie
• Rhubarb Pie
• Irish Soda Bread
• Sheppard Pie
• St. Patrick’s Day Punch (sherbet ice cream and Sprite)

‘Green’ Items:

• Spinach and Artichoke Dip (with tortilla chips)
• Green Tortilla Chips
• Shamrock Sugar Cookies
• Green Cupcakes
• Salad (w/green ingredients-green peppers, cucumbers, broccoli, etc.)
• Shamrock Shaped Biscuits/Toast (or use green food coloring for color)
• Green Fruit Tray (green grapes, green apples, honeydew melons, kiwi, etc.)
• Green Veggie Tray (cucumber, broccoli, celery, green peppers, zucchini, pickles)
• Green Bread Loaf (using green food coloring in the dough)
• Drinks: Sprite, 7-up, Mountain Dew, Limeade
• Coleslaw

Most sites, like FoodNetwork.com, will have recipes for these cuisines.  Or you can check out our ‘Holiday Recipes’ section which has traditional St. Patrick’s Day recipes.  Whatever you choose to do, have fun this St. Patrick’s Day!

Going along with our ‘Homemade Valentine’s Day Cards’ blog, we thought we’d give you some ideas to make your Valentine’s Day gifts this year.  Even if this isn’t your main gift, doing something creative and from the heart means everything to your loved one!

Here are a few craft ideas from About.com:

Conversation Heart Frame

Materials needed:

• Cardboard
• Paint
• Glue
• Candy Conversation Hearts
• photo
• Tape

Instructions:
Cut a rectangle shape out of the cardboard. The size you make the rectangle will depend on the size of the photo you are using. Cut a hole in the center of the rectangle where you will display the photo. Paint it red (or whatever color you desire). Set aside to dry.

Once the paint is dry, glue the candy conversation hearts all over the frame. Set it aside to dry again.

Once the glue is dry, tape the picture in the opening you cut in the center of the heart frame. Cut a small triangle out of the cardboard and attach behind the picture to make a stand, or you can even add a strip of magnet to the back!

Valentine’s Heart Jar

Materials Needed:

• Mason Jar
• Spray Paint
• Acrylic Paint
• Old Paint Brush
• Ribbon or Raffia
• Stencil Cut-Out of a Heart

Instructions:
Wash jar clean with vinegar, let it dry. Place newspaper under project to prevent making spills with paint.

Make a heart-shaped ’stencil’ and tape it onto the front of the jar. Spray jar with the spray paint and let dry. Spray a second coat and let dry. Once dry, take another type of paint and old toothbrush, and splatter paint around your heart design. Let dry.

Pull stencil off gently, tie ribbon or raffia around the top of the jar and secure with bow. Place a candle in the jar or fill it with candy, and it makes a real cute gift!!!

Another way to do this is have multiple stencil hearts for each color paints. Place that stencil around the jar and gently blot it with the old toothbrush and paint. Let dry and repeat process with another color paint-overlapping when possible.

Valentine’s Day Dinner:

And of course there is always that saying ‘the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,’ so why not find a yummy recipe to cook for dinner that night! It would be especially nice if you set the mood with music and candles. And made place setting cards out of construction paper! Finish it off with a delicious dessert too.

Change it up:

Does your significant other have a favorite cartoon? You can take whatever cartoon he/she likes and take out the verbiage from the cartoon (by putting white out over the words), then insert your words or a conversation that means something to the both of you (i.e your first kiss or the first time you said ‘I love you’).  Copy the cartoon on a copier machine (so the words you inserted look like it’s in the actual cartoon-instead of just being written over white out). Feel free to color it and/or matte it or frame it for your loved one!

Or, how about you take a poem from his/her favorite author? Or a childhood author? I’m actually doing this for my boyfriend’s Valentine’s Day gift, taking a poem from Dr. Seuss and changing the words (keeping the tempo the same) to make it applicable to him. It’s something very memorable and can showcase all the time and effort you put into it. To make it more decorative, you can use construction paper to add a punch of color or give it the ‘lovey-dovey’ feeling. I also plan on framing it for him as a one of a kind piece of art!