Scrapping for a Cure to Raise Money for CF!!! Florence, Alabama!!!

 This past weekend was the annual scrapbooking retreat for Scrapping for a Cure hosted by Rachael McGuire which raise monies for Cystic Fibrosis, CF. Rachael's daughter has CF and, not to mention she hosts a great retreat, and it is a great opportunity to bring awareness to CF, raise money and scrapbook!!! Hanging with girlfriends is just a bonus!!! Chocolate, my sweet eight-year-old Yorkie-Pom, wasn't real happy about my leaving the warm comfy bed to go lol.

Getting my scrapbook things organized...

Our schedule...

Katie learning something new from Teri...

Judy working hard...

There was a great auction of many gift cards, handmade items, art supplies, 

candles and so much more...

Everyone is working so hard...

Judy is an amazing artist...

She even made these adorable Mickey Mouse headbands for

the wedding party for her son's wedding which will be at Disney World...

Jill is my newest friend and totally creative...

OMGosh....this sweet gal taught two of our classes and 

I can't wait to show you the projects...

The event was at the Holiday Inn Express, Florence.

All our monies go to CF...

Katie's adorable mini-album...

I saw this on the front of Katie's scrapbook paper 

and just had to share it...Happiness...

We are having such a great time...

Pure respite for me...

Just one of the scrapbooking pages I worked on

in my Pet Scrapbook...

My boys...Daddy was even in one of the photos...

Then I worked on a trip to Nashville...

This one will be an 8x8 scrapbook...

I also got a specially prepared handmade Gluten Free batch of Brownies!!

Rachael and James's son, made these for me...I got to take his photo too...see below...

Plus...the whole reason for doing the events Rachael puts together...

Her daughter!! 

Thank you, Rachael, for giving not only this amazing opportunity for us to help you help CF,

but for giving us a chance to be together and work on our art projects!!!

You do an amazing job as an artist, as a wife, as an employee, as a sister,

as a daughter, but most of all as a mother. 

Thank you...

I love you,

Rita

Crochet or Kitting with Sashay Yarn getting frustrating? Well, no more...

The technique of crocheting these scarves is fairly easy.

I have been pleased with the results thus far.

Both of these were made using Red Heart's Boutique

Sashay and the colors are vibrant and beautiful.

My photography...not so much lol.

The frustrating part for some crocheters and knitters that I have heard 

is that since it doesn't come flat, it can be crazy to do so while trying to stitch.

So, I came up with a creative way to manage it while stitching and it has actually

saved me time. I did this while watching the cooking shows at night lol...

You will need two large index cards or magazine subscription cards.

Put them together and fold one end about 2 inches in from the end.

Fold the other end over to meet the other side like a match book.

Taking your yarn, find the beginning end...

Place the frazzled "female" end inside the 2 inch fold and fold the flap over. 

Then fold the match book flap over on it.

This holds that end in place and then start winding the fiber open

around the cards.

At the end of the skein of yarn, you will have this.

It has worked great for me...

Recycling those crazy subscription cards have found a purpose as well lol...

You can even fold the label of your yarn inside the card so that

when you finish you know what you were using...

never losing what is important.

Punch a whole in all the layers and you have a place to hold

your stitch markers...

Options, Organization, baby...that's what this is about...

Hugs, Rita

Gluten-free Sunflower Muffins Recipe with a Rockin' Awesome Pan Story

These are fabulous!! Delicious!! Gluten-free is just the bonus!

The only problem I discovered as I planned to make these muffins,

was the toaster oven in my makeshift kitchen...

all my muffin pans were too long...

so, I went next door to my neighbor to see if they had one I could borrow 

until I could get one,,,

Of course, we looked in the bottom drawer of their stove

and we found this lovely muffin pan...

I made quite a few of these sunflower muffins...

but not one made it to my in-laws house lol...

they were all ate...

The sunflowers made them crunchy and

since I am allergic to both gluten and nuts, 

this recipe is perfect...

The recipe made about 18 muffins...

Gluten-free Sunflower Muffins

2 1/2 cups gluten-free white rice flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground allspice

2/3 cup Splenda brown sugar

1/2 cup sunflower seends

(I used oven roasted)

2 cups grated carrots

(I wash the carrots well, cut off the tops and grate the rest...)

1 orange, grated rind and juice

2 eggs, beaten well

2/3 cups fat free buttermilk

1/4 cup natural applesauce

1 teaspoon real vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Spray muffin pan with cooking spray generously.

In a large mixing bowl, blend flour, baking powder, spice together.

Stir in sugar, all but 4 tablespoons sunflower seeds, the carrots and orange rind.

Add juice, eggs, milk, applesauce, and vanilla, mixing well until the batter is creamy.

**Add more white rice flour if needed by the teaspoon slowly.

Spoon batter into the muffin pan.

Sprinkle each cup of batter with a few of the remaining sunflower seeds.

Bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Serve warm or the next day...

Yummmm...

Hugs, Rita

Eggs for Breakfast in 2 minutes? Seriously? Seriously...

Before you send me letters, message and comments about this photo...

I have a makeshift kitchen and half my house missing...

come rebuild it and I promise to not use plastic anymore lol...

The focal point of it all is the breakfast LOL...eggs, focus Rita, focus...

As promised, Martha and everyone, here is the most amazing quick way

to make fluffy delicious eggs to eat alone, in an egg and cheese sandwich or with hot oatmeal.

Using the Tupperware Egg Maker, 

spray the top and bottom with cooking spray.

Take 2 or 4 eggs (cooking time is different depending on how many you use)...

Crack 2 or 4 eggs into a mixing bowl.

Add a pinch of salt, fresh ground pepper and dill to the mixing bowl.

Add about 2 tablespoons of fat-free milk to the mixing bowl.

Beat all the ingredients together well.

Pour the egg mixture into the bottom of the Tupperware Egg Maker.

Place the lid on top and put in the microwave.

Cook for 2 minutes if you use only 2 eggs;

cook for 4 minutes if you use 4 eggs.

Who-la...sweet fluffy delicious soft eggs...

Combined with yesterday's hot oatmeal recipe...

You honestly can't beat this fabulous meal for anytime of the day or night...

It is even better the next day!!

Crazy I know...

The great part is, I like my eggs a bit soft so I only cook my eggs for 3 minutes.

Being a running, I lean toward the eggs for protein since I am not a big meat eater.

I don't know why I go for the vegetables before I do the meats, that alone is crazy.

Also, adding half this container to gluten-free slices of toasted bread,

a slice of fat-free cheese with two slices of turkey bacon prepared also in the microwave...

wow! You have a great sandwich to eat on the go or for a mid-night snack...just saying lol...

Happy cooking!

...and there is NO April's Fools about this one lol...

Hugs, Rita