JUST SIMPLE SOMETHINGS: March 2018

A Pittsburgh First

1903 - First World Series - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pirate Parrot - 2014

Here's where I'll be sharing:
* Wordless Wednesday * Image-in-ing *

For the last three years, I've been following the South Beach Diet. It's not really a "diet" but a good carb way of eating. Lean meats, lots of vegetables, limited fruits, and low-fat dairy. I avoid sugar and anything white, such as white bread, potatoes, or rice. I enjoy sweet potatoes, 100% whole wheat bread and brown rice.
But...I do love chocolate!
Here's a recipe for brownies that replaces the white flour with beans!...yes, beans. I've made this recipe for friends and family and no one has any idea that there are beans in these brownies.
No bean taste... just chocolately goodness!

Black Bean Brownies
Ingredients:
1-15oz. can unseasoned black beans, drained and rinsed
4 eggs (extra large)
1 cup Splenda
3 Tab. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking powder
2 Tab. oil or butter
1 FULL Tab. vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup reduced-fat ricotta cheese or cream cheese
*** You can also use canned white beans for blondies!

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend well.
Pour into an 8x8 baking pan sprayed with cooking spray.
Bake for 25 or until toothpick pulls out clean. DO NOT OVERBAKE.

Peanut butter icing:
1 cup peanut butter (or any nut butter)
3 Tab. coconut oil
3 Tab. agave nectar
Mix well.

Notes: I cut these into 9 squares. I add nuts and some chocolate chips to my recipe. They are sweet enough for me so I've never made them with icing.

Here's where I'll be sharing:
Happiness is Homemade * Sundays at Home * Sunday's Best * Smell good Sunday * What's for Dinner * Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Family Joy * That DIY Party * Busy Creative You *
Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share * Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell * Warm Heart * Totally Terrific Tuesday *W.A.Y.D.2018 Blog Hop * Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes * Inspire my Creativity * Talk of the town* Waste Not Wednesday * Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Share Your Style * Create it Thursday * No rules Weekend * Creatively crafty * Full plate Thursday * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Friday Frenzy * Anything blue Friday * Foodie Friday * Friday Features * Best Friday Features * What To Do Weekends * Home Matters * Ultimate Pin Party * Dare to share Sat. * Saturday Shuffle * Saturday Sparks * Best of the Weekend *

Music Men

I'll be sharing at:
* Wordless Wednesday * Image-in-ing *

Slow Cooker Roast

When you've been out all day, nothing is better than opening the door and having the wonderful smell of dinner greet you! Just let your slow cooker do the work for you...thank you very much.

Ingredients:

1 beef roast, rinsed and patted dry
1 large onion, thick sliced
1 can mushroom soup
1/2 can of water
1/2 packet of dry French onion soup
1 bag mini carrots
4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into fourths

Add seasoning as desired:
parsley, garlic powder, celery seed, whatever you like.

Directions:
Place the onion slices on the bottom of the slow cooker to make a platform and keep the roast from boiling in the juices. Add the roast. Season with pepper. (I don't add salt, there's enough in the onion soup.) Surround the roast with the carrots and potatoes.

Add a half packet of dry onion soup mix. Mix the mushroom soup with 1/2 can of water and pour it over the roast. This will create a wonderful gravy!

Cover and cook 5-6 hours on high...8-10 low.
Serve with bread or a salad...Enjoy!

I'll be sharing at:
Happiness is Homemade * Sundays at Home * Sunday's Best * Smell good Sunday * What's for Dinner * Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Family Joy * That DIY Party * Busy Creative You *
Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share * Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell * Warm Heart * Totally Terrific Tuesday *W.A.Y.D.2018 Blog Hop * Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes * Inspire my Creativity * Talk of the town* Waste Not Wednesday * Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Share Your Style * Create it Thursday * No rules Weekend * Creatively crafty * Full plate Thursday * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Friday Frenzy * Anything blue Friday * Foodie Friday * Friday Features * Best Friday Features * What To Do Weekends * Home Matters * Ultimate Pin Party * Dare to share Sat. * Saturday Shuffle * Saturday Sparks * Best of the Weekend *

DIY Macro Photo Studio - $10.00

Some time ago, I came across a blog for photography that gave the directions for a DIY macro photo studio costing only $10.00. It could be used to take shots of small objects without any background. I thought this would be great for pictures of items that someone would sell on their website or E-bay. I would use it for taking photos of my handmade cards and food shots.

I was curious enough to try to make one. I had the cardboard box, tape, and some tracing paper, so it cost me ... are you ready... a whopping 48 cents ( for a sheet of white poster board ) to make it!

I don't know where the $10.00 comes in ???

Photo from http://strobist.blogspot.com/

Directions:

First, you need a 12" x 12" x 12" box. The box I had was more of a rectangle but it was what I had and it will work for me. With a craft knife, cut openings on the two sides and top of the box, leaving about an inch around each edge for support.

The example that I saw had the bottom completely cut out of the box if you wanted to use it outside and set the box over a plant. I chose to leave the bottom intact because I have no plans to use it that way and it does help support the box.

Cover the openings with tissue paper or tracing paper. I added a strip of white poster board at the inside front... up to the back of the top for a seamless white background.(See photo)

This project was super cheap and easy to make.

You will need one light source. If you have a fancy camera with a removable flash that will work but I'm just going to use a work lamp that I clamp on my craft show display. Any house lamp without the shade would do. You could even use the sun or direct window light making it come from whatever direction you need by rotating the box.