Your Aura is Blue
Spiritual and calm, you tend to live a quiet but enriching life. You are very giving of yourself. And it's hard for you to let go of relationships. The purpose of your life: showing love to other people Famous blues include: Angelina Jolie, the Dali Lama, Oprah Careers for you to try: Psychic, Peace Corps Volunteer, Counselor

About Me

My photo
This blog started out as a way for me to display and sell my handmade jewelry creations. I have set up shop on Etsy.com, where my shop name is "Dreamin of Beadin". The link to my Etsy store is located on the right hand side of this page. Please check me out!! If jewelry's not your thing, then check out the site anyway ~ there are plenty of talented artists selling lots of cool things there. For your reading pleasure, this blog will serve as a sneak peek into what's going on "behind the scenes" in my world. I love to cook, so there will be plenty of recipes, as well as product reviews and the occasional product giveaway (woo hoo!) I also love to take pictures of anything and everything, and I just bought a new camera, so there will be plenty of photos. And I like wine too, so things could get pretty interesting . . . Thank you for your support of me, Etsy and "all things handmade" :)

6.28.2008

Creamy Lemon Squares

With July 4th only a week away, picnic/potluck season is in full swing. Here's a yummy recipe for a dessert that's easy to make and highly transportable to your summer gatherings. If you're leery of cheesecake recipes, don't be afraid to try this one. As long as you follow it step by step, the end result should be refreshing bars that are sweet and tangy, with a fresh lemony bite.
Although the recipe says to garnish with lemon peel and powdered sugar, I did neither. Instead, I threw a few fresh blueberries on top and called it a day. These would be wonderful served with any fresh fruit. A few low fat ingredients are used, making this a relatively healthy dessert ~ although you'd never know it from the taste.
Enjoy!
Creamy Lemon Squares
Ingredients: 20 Reduced Fat Vanilla Wafers, finely crushed 1/2 cup flour 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) cold margarine 1 pkg. (8 oz.) Neufchatel Cheese, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 2 eggs 2 Tbsp. flour 3 Tbsp. grated lemon peel, divided 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1/4 tsp. Baking Powder 2 tsp. powdered sugar
Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 350ºF. Line 8-inch square baking pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. Combine wafer crumbs, 1/2 cup flour and the brown sugar in bowl. Cut in margarine with pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; press firmly onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 15 min.
MEANWHILE, beat Neufchatel cheese and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs and 2 Tbsp. flour; mix well. Blend in 1 Tbsp. lemon peel, the lemon juice and baking powder; pour over crust.
BAKE 25 to 28 min. or until center is set. Cool completely. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and remaining 2 Tbsp. lemon peel just before serving. Makes about 16 squares.

6.26.2008

Just checking in

I’m taking a break from this hectic day to update my blog with a few pictures from our recent trip to St. Louis. Despite the overflowing Mississippi River, we had a fabulous time ~ in fact, the weather couldn’t have been better! A few highlights of the trip were: a tour of the Anheuser Busch Brewery (complete w/ samples!); an evening baseball game between the Cardinals and Royals; riding up to the top of the Arch; shopping in the very hip Delmar Loop area; taking in the museums of Forest Park (site of the 1904 World’s Fair); and a very enjoyable trip to the beautiful Missouri Botanical Gardens. Gosh, did I leave anything out?! More pics of our adventures can be seen on my Flickr page.
On the jewelry front ~ it’s been a while since I’ve added new items in my shop. Never fear ~ new designs are on the way! I’ve been really itching to bead, but the past few weeks have been jam packed with various activities, leaving me with very little free time. My new bead buddy Janna from Jac Jewelry sent me the most lovely keshi pearls direct from NYC ~ I can’t wait to make something spectacular with them! For now, I have a bunch of new designs in my head ~ with any luck, they will see the light of day very soon! Hope everyone’s summer is off to a terrific start!

6.24.2008

Buy some jewelry, do something good

Last week we ventured to the great city of St. Louis for a few days of leisure and fun. It was our first time there but hopefully it will not be our last. While we were there, we witnessed a small section of the ever-rising Mississippi River. This photo was taken on day one of our visit ~ it’s almost as if the sign is telling the River to “STOP” before more devastation occurs. By the time we left, this sign was barely visible. The river was expected to crest in this area the day after we departed. This scene is minor compared to the flooding experienced in other towns and cities in the Midwest and Central United States. The amount of damage in some areas is staggering. Seeing this evokes feelings of sympathy, but also helplessness. The first thought in my mind was “What can I do to help?” With that in mind, I will be donating 10% of monthly sales from my Etsy shop to the American Red Cross. Their Disaster Relief fund will help aid those in need. So, get yourself some “bling” and help a worthy cause in the process ~ it’s something we can all feel good about!

6.02.2008

An Etsy Fave: Dornick Designs

Just because I make jewelry doesn’t mean I’m too proud to buy stuff that’s made by others. The reality is that the only time I acquire a new piece anymore is when I buy it. Feast your eyes on this recent purchase from Dornick Designs on Etsy. Kathy Hardy is the talented artist behind this successful shop. She has a penchant for naming most of her creations after Classic Rock songs. I love that! The name of this piece is “Stone Free” and it features lovely chunks of Labradorite, which is a gemstone that’s at the top of my list of favorites. The stones are hand knotted on silk cord. I love every detail of this piece. I’ve already worn it several times since receiving it about one week ago. I love the fact that it looks great whether dressed up or down. Check out this shop, if you haven’t already. Her designs are both whimsical and wonderful. Perhaps what I admire most about this seller is that she has carved a niche for herself and created a style that is unmistakably her own. Hats off to you, Kathy!

6.01.2008

Cool as a Cucumber

At the Polish cafes in nearby Hamtramck, they serve a side called "Mizeria" ~ which is essentially cucumbers and sour cream. I've grown to really love this dish ~ so much so that I could probably eat the entire bowl of it (pictured) as a meal. It may sound incredibly simplistic, but it goes along with my belief that simple is best. After asking the restaurant staff for the recipe (they don't use one!), I found one that yields a delicious end result. It's especially refreshing to enjoy Mizeria on a hot summer day.
Mizeria (Cucumbers and Sour Cream)
Ingredients:
1-2 large cucumbers
1/2 of a 16oz. container of sour cream
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 lemon, juiced
2 tablespoons freshly chopped dill
Directions: Peel and slice the cucumber. Place in a colander, sprinkle with salt and leave to drain for 30 minutes. Rinse and pat or squeeze dry. Arrange the cucumber in a dish. Make a dressing from the sour cream and lemon juice and pour it over the cucumber. Sprinkle with dill and serve.
**May be chilled in the refrigerator and served later (I prefer it very cold!)