Friday, July 28, 2017

How to make quick and savory Greek style green beans

Greeks style green beans


The summer bounty of fresh vegetables is in full swing!  I love going to the local farmer’s market and buying fresh tomatoes and green beans.  Being of Greek descent I know I’ve touted the delicious flavors of Greek cooking many times.  So I’m at it again.  One of my family’s favorite Greek recipes is the Greek style green beans.  In fact, it is my husband’s most asked for vegetable recipe!

You see, while I love green beans any way, shape, or form, he isn’t fond of the lightly sautéed style of beans.  The beans just don’t seem cooked to him.  Raw or cooked never bothered me.  As a child, I’d sit in the kitchen helping my mom snap raw beans gobbling up just as many as I’d snap.  Before my husband met me, the only beans he would ever eat were slow-cooked with a ham hock.  (Which I also love)

I know, I know, this entire introduction for a simple side dish.  Side dish or not a good one can make the meal.  And what is even better is that these Greek style green beans are so easy to make.

So I think I’ll be on my way to that local Farmer's Market to get some fresh beans today!  How about you?



Savory Greek style green beans

Ingredients:


   1 lb. fresh or frozen green beans (thawed if frozen)
   Garlic clove, minced
   1 tbsp. light olive oil
   ¼ cup chopped onions
   14.5 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes  (you can substitute fresh diced tomatoes if desired)
   1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
   ½ tsp. each of salt and pepper
   ½” tsp. oregano
   1 tbsp. lemon juice



Directions:

Heat the oil over medium heat in a large pot.  Add the onions and garlic and sauté about 5 minutes until the onions are translucent.  Stir in the green beans and cook a little longer.  Reduce the heat to medium low.  Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, oregano, and lemon juice.  Cook on medium low for 5 more minutes.  Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for about 45 minutes.

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Monday, July 24, 2017

How to easily make an adorable snowman ornament

snowman ornament



It's July, and July is the best time to start making your Christmas ornaments.  This snowman ornament is made from a recycled K-cup so it's green as well as adorable. The days are warm and lazy and the kids are out of school so there is plenty of time to create!  Get a head start on Christmas with this sweet recycled k-cup snowman ornament before school starts back and you are swamped with PTA meetings, soccer games and more.

Here at Make it easy crafts, it's Christmas in July with the easy k-cup snowman ornament.



Materials:

Two used K-cups, one black, and one white. (Filters removed and washed.)

Black Felt

Black and orange dimensional fabric paint

12” of 1/8” ribbon

Tacky craft glue

Compass

Ruler

Nail or something to puncture a hole in the tops of the K-cups

Round paper punch

White colored pencil to mark on dark felt

Scissors

Large eye darning needle (optional)

Pony Bead


1.     Insert the white pencil in the compass and make a 1 ½” diameter circle on the black felt.  In the same starting point make another circle inside the first one at a 1” diameter.  Cut out the first circle and then cut out the center circle. You will have a felt ring.  (See photo)



2.     Slide the felt ring on the black K-cup stopping at the rim.  Snowman’s hat made. Set aside.


3.     Turn the white K-cup upside down and make a hole in the center with the nail.  Repeat for the black K-Cup with the felt rim.  


4.     Place the top of the black K-cup down on the black felt and trace around with the white pencil.  Cut out.  Make a mark on the felt where the center hole is and make a hole with the paper punch.  Line up the felt with the hole on the top of the hat and glue down with some tacky glue.  Let dry.  Trim any excess felt with the scissors.




5.     Thread a pony bead on the ribbon, center so that it is in the middle with six inches on each end.  Insert both ends of the ribbon through the hole in the white K-Cup.  The pony bead will secure it to the inside. You may use a large eye darning needle here to get through the hole easier although I had no trouble doing it with just the ribbon.  Tie a knot in the ribbon one inch from the top of the white K-Cup, and then continue to thread it through the top of the black K-cup.  The knot separates both of the K-Cups so they hang independently. (See photos)





6.     Tie a knot in the top of the final end of the ribbon to hang the ornament.  


7.     Tilt the hat so you can use the black and orange dimensional fabric paints to make a face on the snowman.  (See photo) If you want, you may add some glitter glue on the top of the hat for extra pizzazz. Let the paint and glitter dry.  When hanging the hat will sit straight with the snowman dangling under.  




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Sunday, July 16, 2017

How to make fun wire horse silhouette earrings

wire horse silhouette earrings


Do you love horses?  Do you know someone who loves horses?  You can quickly and easily make these fun wire horse silhouette earrings in minutes with simple supplies.

I’ve used copper wire to make my horse silhouette earrings but you can use silver or gold depending upon your preferences.

These horse silhouette earrings make super gifts for any horse lover on your list!


Check out all the other quick and easy crafts on Make it easy crafts each week!

Wire horse silhouette earrings


Materials:


20 gauge copper wire

E size seed beads in desired color

Copper ear wires

Wire cutter

Needle nosed pliers

1.     Cut two 5-inch pieces of 20 gauge copper wire.  Working on one earring at a time and using the needle nosed pliers tightly curl one end of the wire.  Stop when there is 3 inches of wire left.




2.     On the straight uncurled end of wire thread on six E beads.  Push the curl right up to the straight wire under the first seed bead to contain the beads.

3.     Right after the last bead you threaded, bend the wire to the right.  Leave 1/8” of wire and bend to the left.  Bend to the right again, go up another 1/8” and bend to the left.  (Ears made)  If they are misshapen use your needle nosed pliers to squeeze them together and adjust.


4.     Measure ½” down from the second ear and curve the nose.  Lightly squeeze to make an indentation in the wire about 1/8” from the nose under the jaw. (Muzzle)  Grab the tip end with the pliers and curl up to create the jaw line. Reshape the horse with your hands.





5.     Use the pliers to open up the ear wire and hook onto the back ear.  Squeeze the wire closed. 



6.     Repeat the steps to make another earring checking occasionally to verify that the earrings are as uniform as possible.  When attaching the ear wire to the second earring be sure and turn the horse head so that they are facing in opposite directions.
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Sunday, July 9, 2017

How to make an easy luggage tag, fun kid's craft




Whenever you go anywhere and fly everyone seems to have the same color luggage.  You can make a personalized easy luggage tag that sets your luggage apart from the crowd. The tag is big enough to be noticed but is also very lightweight.

This is a perfect project for kids, girls scout groups, vacation Bible school and so much more.  You make this luggage tag from foam door hangers that are very inexpensive.  It's a great way to use up all those extra little foam shapes that the kids may have not used up yet too! 

So let’s get started!


Materials:

2 foam door hangers in contrasting colors

Disappearing marker

Hole punch or nail, scissors

Tacky craft glue

Sharpie marker 

16” of flexible plastic string (used for beading)

Small foam shapes to fit in the center hole


Easy luggage tag


1)   Choose two contrasting colors of foam door hangers.  Measure 3 inches from the bottom of one door hanger marking with a disappearing marker and cut off. Do the same with the other door hanger except you will measure from the top  (the end with the hole) and cut off. 



2)   Place them together and you will have a recessed area on one end.  You will not be putting any glue in the recessed area. 


3)   Using a large hole punch or simply poke a hole with a nail in the center of the non-door hole area.



4)   Line up both side together so that the hole you punched is in the center of the door hole.  (This is the top of your tag)
  
5)   Spread some tacky glue onto the side with the door hole. Press together and let dry.  Trim the corners at an angle.


6)   Glue foam shapes in the recessed door hole areas if desired or just leave as is.   Attach a piece of flexible plastic string through the punched hole and attach to luggage.  Use the Sharpie marker to label with name and address.