Slow cooker beef vegetable soup

What would you love to have on the table when you come home from a cold, snowy winter’s day?  Wouldn’t some hot, delicious beef vegetable soup fit the bill?

Here on the east coast we are bracing ourselves for the first big snow of the season.  Considering I had to turn on my air conditioner this Christmas day, it’s kind of a surprise that here in January (Famous for thaws) they are predicting a blizzard! 

So since I had to go to work today I loaded my slow cooker with the ingredients for a savory beef vegetable soup.  When I came home I had a savory and delicious meal all ready to enjoy. I picked up the cutest little potatoes so I didn’t even have to chop them. If you can’t find them at your local grocer you can just substitute regular potatoes cut into bite sized pieces. This is for a large sized slow cooker.

Mini potatoes

Ingredients:

1 ½ lbs. Sirloin steak cut into bite sized pieces

¾ cup flour

1 tbsp. steak seasoning

2 tbsps. Light Olive oil

2 small zucchini cut into bite sized pieces

1 medium onion, chopped

½ cup sliced carrots

1 ½ lbs. mini potatoes or three medium potatoes cut into bite sized pieces

1-quart beef stock

1 14.5 oz. can fire roasted tomatoes

½ tsp. thyme

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

½ 14 oz. bag frozen soup vegetables

½ cup white rice (optional)

Mix the steak seasoning with the flour.  Dredge the steak pieces in the flour.  Add some oil to a large non-stick skillet and cook the steak on medium heat till browned.  Add the meat to the slow cooker. 

Chop the zucchini, onion, carrots and potatoes and add to the slow cooker.  Add the fire roasted tomatoes, beef stock, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper.  If you choose to add rice add it now. Cook on low for 8 hours.  About a half an hour before serving add the half bag of frozen soup veggies. 

Serve with biscuits or corn muffins.

Be sure and visit Bowdabra blog for more dinner easy recipes, craft tutorials and more!

Valentine's Day cork heart hair bow tutorial

Are you looking for a cute heart hair bow for Valentine’s Day? This hair bow is so easy to make using the Mini Bowdabra. And the heart is lightweight because it’s made of cork. Cork is so trendy right now and cork sheets are readily available in craft stores and so cute when added to the boutique style hair bow.

These are so inexpensive that you will want to make a bunch for gifts. Wouldn’t they be a cute party favor for a tween girls party?

Just click here to visit Bowdabra for the full free tutorial.  

If you want to learn more about Valentine's Day history and more visit history.com today.  

Recycled K-Cup Leprechaun hat for St Patrick's Day

Since Christmas the top craft tutorial that everyone is asking me for is anything made with a recycled K-cup, and as always I aim to please. All it takes is an empty K-cup to make this cute little leprechaun hat to decorate your table or other small area.  They are easy enough to make a bunch and you can even use them as party favors filled with small candies.

You will need:

K-cup washed and filter removed

Green glitter

Shamrock foam sticker

Tacky glue

Small paintbrush

Heavy cardboard or mat board (I have scraps of mat board lying around and that is what I used)

Scrap of gold ribbon or cord

Compass with pencil

1.    Draw a circle 1 ½” circle with the compass on the cardboard and cut out.  

2.     Place the K-cup top side down and trace around in the center of the cut out circle.  Cut this circle out inside the line so it will be a bit smaller than the diameter of the K-cup.

3.     Place the ring around the cup and push down to the bottom edge to form a brim.

4.     Spread some tacky glue on the entire K-cup and cover with the green glitter.  Let dry.  Cover the brim with glue and sprinkle glitter on it as well.  Let dry.  Turn over and repeat the glue and glitter on the inside of the brim.  Let dry.

5.     Cut a 6-inch piece of gold cord or ribbon and glue around the hat. (see photo)

6.     When the ribbon has dried, attach a Shamrock foam sticker over the seam where the ribbon meets.  Glue a small jewel or miniature coin in the center of the shamrock.

While I am of Greek descent, I married an Irishman so my now name is Donnelly and you can't get more Irish than that.

Click here if you'd like to learn more about St. Patrick's Day  from the History channel.

Easy and creamy Mac and cheese recipe

The holidays are history.  Now we settle down for the winter.  When the wind is blowing and the flakes are falling the best thing to come home to is warm comfort foods.  When you think of comfort food the first thing that usually comes to mind is Mac and cheese.  Who doesn’t love Mac and cheese?  If you have a picky eater in your house Mac and cheese will have them cleaning their plates. 

Mac and cheese is so quick and easy, simply add an entrée and veggie for a great winter meal.  And with lent right around the corner you will have a perfect dinner solution.

I must note that this is not a diet meal, but you know what they say, anything in moderation right?  And if you want, you can lighten this up by using whole-wheat pasta and low fat cheese.

Ingredients:

6 oz. Velveeta (about ¼ block)

1 lb. elbow macaroni, penne or any shape pasta

½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

4 tbsp. butter

2 tbsp. flour

½ tsp. paprika

Dash of Worcestershire sauce

1-cup milk

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Cook the pasta according to package directions and set aside.  Make the cheese sauce.  In a large pot melt the butter over medium heat.  Add the flour and stir till smooth.  Add the milk whisking to blend in the flour/butter mixture. 

Cut the Velveeta into small squares and add to the milk mixture.  Cook on medium heat till the Velveeta has melted and the mixture is smooth.  Add the cheddar cheese, paprika Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper.  Continue to cook till all the ingredients have blended and the sauce is smooth and creamy. 

Add the sauce mixture to the cooked pasta stir till blended and serve. 

Note:  If you would like baked macaroni add the pasta and sauce to a baking pan and cover with more shredded cheese.  Bake in a 350-degree oven until the cheese has melted.

Visit Bowdabra blog for more free recipes and easy crafty tutorials!

Inspirational quote for the New Year

The New Year is in full swing.  It's a clean slate and no matter what trials and tribulations you have faced in the past this is your chance to move forward.  I've noticed many are saying that the New Year is a new 365 page book... so write a good one.

I really love quotations, especially from those in the past.  This one by Harriet Beecher Stowe spoke to me in a very positive way.  You see last year my husband fell off the roof taking Christmas decorations down.  He shattered his wrist on one hand, broke his thumb on the other, suffered a hematoma in his leg and had a concussion.  Through operations (From a great doctor) and occupational therapy he is as good as new today.  Even with all the pain he suffered he and I both know he is one lucky man!

If you would like to learn more about Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of this quote and more than 30 books visit the Harriet Beecher Stowe center.

I hope you enjoy this and other quotes I will be posting on this blog from time to time.  Feel free to use this quote with my photo on all your social media and if you like include a link back.

Happy and prosperous New Year's wishes

New Year's Black eyed peas and rice recipe

Every New Year's Day we eat black eye peas for luck in the upcoming Year.  I know this post is a tad late for New Year's Day but better late than never right?  

In the south black eyed peas are considered to be very lucky indeed.  During Sherman's march in December of 1864 the union army destroyed just about everything on the way leaving only the lowly black eye or field peas that they considered inedible. The southerners were lucky to survive and not starve to death with the help of this simple legume.  

The black eyed pea is full of protein, and does not contain fat or cholesterol.  They are also a good source of fiber.  These delicious peas fit the bill for any day even after New Years Day!

Black eyed peas, rice and tomatoes

Ingredients

Tablespoon dried onion

1 lb. bag of dried black eyed peas

2 cans fire roasted diced tomatoes

2 cups cooked white rice

One clove garlic diced well

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

Soak the peas overnight or use the quick method of putting the peas in large pot, filling with water two inches over the peas and boil for two minutes.  Let the peas sit for an hour.

Meanwhile cook 2 cups of white rice as per package directions. Drain any excess water from the peas and add the two cans of diced tomatoes, garlic, onion, salt and pepper.

Simmer on low heat till the peas are done and the flavors have all blended.  Eat with freshly made cornbread.

Make it easy crafts best of 2015

It's almost 2016 and its time to look back on last year and Make it easy crafts best posts of 2015!  Hoping 2016 is a great year for you all.  I love your comments and if you would like to see a certain type of craft or recipe please be sure to let me know.  Click on the photos for the full tutorials...

Looking for a Valentine's Day card for a horse lover?  Well then they will love this free printable Valentines Day card.

The second popular project is the painted brick book.  This step by step tutorial will take you through all the steps to create a brick book.  Use for bookends or just a cute decor piece.

If you are looking for a great and pretty much free kid's craft the egg carton shrink plastic hair clip is the perfect thing.  This is a recycled craft.

And finally you and your little girl will adore these polymer bunny peeps earrings.  Quick and easy to create.  

Happy New Year

Quick and easy sparkle garland kids craft

Christmas is sure sneaking up on everyone this year.  It seems like it was just Halloween and now there are days, no hours before the guy in the red suit shows up.  The kids are getting impatient and you have to wrap some presents.  Take a deep breath.  Sit back and enjoy some family craft time with the kiddos.  These little garlands are great for the tree on anywhere you want a little extra sparkle.

So just sit down.  The wrapping can wait and make some family memories for years to come.

Want more easy free kid’s craft tutorials?  Check out All free kids crafts

Supplies:

• Sparkle chenille stems in any color.  I used white and silver
• Scissors

Instructions:

1.     For a garland that will wrap around a 6 ft. tree you will needs several packages of 12” sparkle chenille stems.  There are usually 15 stems in a package.

2.     Cut each stem in half so you will have six-inch stems.  Form the first stem into a ring and twist the ends together to secure.

3.     Insert the second stem through the first one and close like you did before.  Continue adding rings until you have reached the length of garland you prefer.