Kim

Homemade Heart Dog Treat Recipe

January 31, 2015 By Kim

Pamper your pets with some homemade dog treats!

We are those crazy dog people…you know the ones. We seriously love our dogs and consider them part of the family.

We live right by a cute little doggie boutique that sells homemade treats, but they can really be quite pricey. I knew I could make my own much cheaper.

I LOVE the way these turned out and I plan on making them on a regular basis. At least I’ll know exactly what they’re eating, and they jump up and down for them so I’m pretty sure that means they’re yummy!

Here’s are newest puppy…Sherlock. We adopted him from a shelter. He’s so amazing I can’t even express it with words. So, we spoil him with lots of hugs, walks, car rides and treats.

These smell just like peanut butter cookies as you bake them. My boys always think I’m making them something…ha!

Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treat Recipe

Ingredients:

3/4 cup reduced fat milk
2 eggs
1 cup peanut butter {smooth}
2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon of baking soda

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.

Whisk the milk, one egg and peanut butter together in a large bowl.

Add the flour and baking soda to create a lovely dough. You may need to use your hands to work in all the flour.

Flour a surface to roll out your dough. Cut out shapes like dogs, bones or make mini circle peanut butter cookies for small dogs. 1/4” thickness is awesome…but a little thicker works.

Make a quick egg wash by whisking together one egg and a couple teaspoons of water. Brush a thin coat on your dog treats before putting them in the oven.

I used an Airbake Insulated Cookie Sheet and parchment paper while baking. {These are two of my favorite things!} They equal perfect baking and no mess…that works!

Bake 15 minutes on one side and flip to bake 10 more minutes on the other side. {Don’t forget to brush on egg wash before baking!}

Remove and cool.

Store them in an airtight container for a week or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Now you have no excuse for not making homemade treats for your furry friends. They’re super easy and bake fast!

Have you ever made your own dog treats?

~Kim

Looking for more DIY pet ideas? Check out these…

London Fog Tea Recipe

January 27, 2015 By Kim

When my boys were little we took a trip to London where their love of afternoon tea began. Since we homeschool I would take time out from school for tea and cookies. We mainly did this during the few cold months, but it always made everyone happy. Now I have one grown son and one almost grown…sigh.

There are some advantages to them growing up. My oldest son makes awesome coffee and my youngest one is quite the tea expert! Over the last few years we’ve ordered London Fog Tea whenever we can but it’s hard to find around here.

Well, Jacob {my youngest boy}, has learned how to make it to perfection and I thought we’d share his recipe with you. If you’ve never tried it, you must.

London Fog Tea is more of a sit down and read a book or browse through Pinterest kind of tea to me. Grabbing one in a to-go cup doesn’t seem quite right. It deserves to be savored.

You start with these ingredients…

One Earl Gey Tea Bag {we used TAZO}, milk, sugar, vanilla and don’t forget the Lavendar. Lavender takes this tea over the top…trust me.

Boil your water for the tea. While you’re doing that go ahead and put the tea bag, sugar and vanilla in your tea cup. Pour 8 0z of hot water in the cup. Then add the Lavender in a tea ball strainer or just sprinkle it on top. It’s best to use a timer {Jacob likes to make sure he gets the perfect tea every single time!} and let it steep for 2 1/2-3 minutes depending on how strong you want it.

While your waiting on the tea go ahead and froth your milk using the cappuccino attachment. What happens is awesomeness! Use it right away or it will not be as fluffy.

Remove all the Lavender from the tea {it can be hard to do without the little tea ball strainer}. Then pour a little milk froth on top and spoon the rest to make it all pretty.

This is one of our favorite kitchen gadgets…our milk frother. It makes everything extra special in minutes! You can find a newer version of this Hot Froth X-Press right here.

Here’s the recipe for you to print out and follow…

London Fog Tea Recipe

Recipe Type: Drinks

Author: Kimberly Layton & Jacob Layton

Ingredients

4 oz Milk
2 tsp Sugar
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1/4 tsp Lavender Buds
1 Earl Grey Tea Bag

Instructions

Boil your water for the tea. While you’re doing that go ahead and put the tea bag, sugar and vanilla in your tea cup. Pour 8 0z of hot water in the cup. Then add the Lavender in a tea ball strainer or just sprinkle it on top. Let it steep for 2 1/2-3 minutes depending on how strong you want it.
While your waiting on the tea go ahead and froth your milk using the cappuccino attachment. What happens is awesomeness! Use it right away or it will not be as fluffy.
Remove all the Lavender from the tea {it can be hard to do without the little tea ball strainer}. Then pour a little milk froth on top and spoon the rest to make it all pretty.

Let me know what you think!

~Kim

Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern

January 7, 2015 By Kim

I made this cozy crochet baby blanket for a baby gift, but I wish I had a giant one for myself!

Working with this chunky yarn makes it super fast, and it feels so soft and warm!

I love having small crochet projects to do while we watch a movie in the evening. There’s something so relaxing about the movement of the needle and the knowledge that you’re creating something that will last for years and years. It’s a good thing!

The pattern is really easy once you get the hang of it, and I think the sweet shell stitch gives the blanket a little extra detail that I love. This is easy enough for beginners, so don’t shy away from this pattern if your new to crochet.

I used 3 skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick…Wheat color. The hook size is J and the finished size is a 29″ square.

Crochet Baby Blanket Pattern

Start by making a chain of 81 stitches.
Row 1 – 1 single crochet in the second chain from the hook. 1 single crochet in each chain to the end.
Row 2 – Chain 1 {don’t count it as a stitch}, 1 single crochet in the first stitch, *skip 3 stitches, 5 double crochet in the next stitch to create a shell, skip 3 stitches, 1 single crochet in the next stitch…repeat from the * to the end of the row.
Row 3 – Chain 3 {counts as a double stitch}, 1 double crochet in the stitch at the base of the chain, *Chain 2, skip 2 double crochet, 1 single crochet in the next double crochet, 2 double crochet in the next single crochet…repeat from * to the end of the row.
Row 4 – Chain 1 {don’t count it as a stitch}, 1 single crochet in the space between the first 2 double crochet, *Miss next chain space, 1 single crochet in space between the next 2 double crochet…repeat from * to the end of the row.
Repeat rows 3 & 4 until it measure 29″.

This is an awesome gift for a new baby anytime of the year! If you like to make baby gifts, you’ll love this post of 101 Handmade Baby Gift Tutorials!

Do you make many baby gifts? Which ones are your favorite?

~Kim

Mini Apple Bundt Cake Recipe

November 22, 2014 By Kim

Homemade Apple Bundt cakes are great, but Mini Apple Bundt Cakes are even better! They’re perfect for entertaining or sharing a bit with your neighbors. Don’t you love how baking up something like this makes you house smell all yummy and cozy? This recipe will have neighbors knocking on your door as the smell drifts down the road…it’s true.

It’s an easy recipe that looks like a million bucks when your done. That works for me.

Gather a bunch of apples and bake up a batch or two of these today.

Mini Apple Bundt Cake Recipe

Makes 6 Mini Budt Cakes

Prep Time – 20 mins.

Cook Time – 25 mins.

Bake 350 degrees

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup All-Purpose Flour
1 1/2 cup apple or 2 apples
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup walnuts {crushed}
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 cup orange juice
1 1/4 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt

Cut up the apples into small pieces. In a small bowl combine the apples, cinnamon and half the sugar. Stir together and set it aside.

In a large bowl combine the rest of the sugar, vegetable oil, orange juice, vanilla, and eggs. Mix together until blended. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well. Add in apple mixture and crushed walnuts. Mix again…I used a hand-held mixer.

This recipe works perfectly with my mini bundt pan {that I seriously love}. This pan makes anything bake up pretty! You should be just the right amount to make 6 mini bunt cakes.

Do not grease the pan…there’s no need. Fill to about the 2/3 point in each section.

Bake for about 25 minutes or until the center is springy when you touch it. {Very professional lingo, right?}

Once they cook, let them cool in the pan for 5-7 minutes. Then just flip them over and they should pop out. Just awesome! I use these lovely cooling racks to help out. Don’t they look pretty just like this?!

Let them cool for a bit and the add some glaze…

Glaze Recipe

Ingredients:

1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Unsalted Butter {softened}
3 Tablespoons Milk
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Use a 2 quart sauce pan and bring the brown sugar, milk and butter to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 2-3 minutes. Keep whisking it so it doesn’t burn. Remove it from the heat. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and slightly thick. Pour right away over your Mini Apple Bundt Cakes. Yum! Sprinkle extra walnuts on the top if you wish.

That’s all there is to it…easy & yummy!

Do you make bundt cakes often? They always seem so homey and inviting to me.

Let me know how your Mini Apple Bunt Cakes turn out!

~Kim

Garlic Cauliflower Mash Recipe

November 12, 2014 By Kim

Once you try this Garlic Cauliflower Mash recipe you’ll never look at regular old mashed potatoes the same way. These were simply amazing, and I plan on making them for every single holiday or special day for the rest of my life. Seriously.

I grew up with mashed potatoes being one of my all-time favorite things in the world. When I decided to make Cauliflower Mash I was hoping for something that was a pretty good replacement for all the carbs that make up mashed potatoes. I can’t even explain how shocked I was when I found out just how amazing cauliflower could really be…it rocks!

I started with fresh cauliflower…it’s way better for you than potatoes.

I gathered up a few yummy ingredients. My family like some serious flavor, so I add quite a bit to them. Feel free to change them up to make them perfect for you. This is a simple recipe that seems pretty hard to mess up…so get creative.

Here’s what I did…

Garlic Cauliflower Mash Recipe

Author: Kimberly Layton

Ingredients

1 Head of Cauliflower or 2 10 oz. packages of fresh Cauliflower
1/2 cup Chicken Stock {I used Reduced Sodium Chicken Stock}
1/2 cup Colby/Cheddar Shredded Cheese
1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil
1 teaspoon of Minced Garlic
2 teaspoons of Parmesan Cheese
1 oz Cream Cheese
1/4 cup chopped Chives

Instructions

Start by preparing your cauliflower into small pieces {or florets} and adding them to a large pot of water. Bring them to a boil and cook for 30 minutes or until the cauliflower is soft.
Drain the Cauliflower. Set aside for a minute.
Add the olive oil to your pot along with the minced garlic…over medium heat let it cook for 3-4 minutes. Stir to keep it from burning.
Add the cauliflower back into the pot, stir and let it cook for 3-5 minutes.
Add in the chicken stock and continue to cook and stir for 5 minutes. The cauliflower will start to fall apart. No worries…it’s a good thing.
Remove your cauliflower from the pot and add it to a mixing bowl.
Add in the cream cheese and Parmesan Cheese. Mix with a mixer until it’s smooth. It will look just like mashed potatoes. If it’s too thick you can add in a bit more warm chicken stock, but I didn’t need to do it.
Top it off with shredded Colby/Cheddar Cheese and Chives. You could add sour cream and butter if it would make you happy. This is happy food, for sure!

It was actually easier than making homemade mashed potatoes because I didn’t have to spend all that time peeling potatoes!

Once you try this it will quickly become one of your favorites…trust me. TRY IT!

This is the kind of recipe that can be tailored to fit the needs of so many diets. Low-Carb and Keto diets fans…this is for you. But it’s hard to tell it’s good for you, it won my teenage son over in one bite! This is perfect for large crowds and I’m planning to make it this Thanksgiving.

Let me know what you think!

~Kim

DIY Lime & Coconut Body Scrub

October 31, 2014 By Kim

This DIY Lime & Coconut Body Scrub is the perfect gift! Create a batch and share some. It makes you skin feel amazing while filling the room with a fresh smell that’s sure to make you happy!

Gather up your supplies and you can make a large batch of these in less than 30 minutes…for real!

Print out these simple & sweet labels to top them off. I love the look of craft paper, but you can print them on any color…get creative and have fun.

{You can download the printable at the bottom of this post.}

Supplies…

2 1/2 cup Epsom Salt
25-30 drops doTERRA Lime Essential Oil
6 Tablespoons doTERRA Coconut Oil
3 Tablespoons Vitamin E Oil
1 Lime
1/2 cup Shredded Coconut
4 oz. Mason Jars {I love these…what a perfect size!}
Plain Printable Sheet of Label Paper

The supplies are rather simple and I’ve included links at the bottom of this post to make your shopping easy.

Feel free to add or change things up a bit. It seems like it would be hard to really mess up. This recipe will give you a fresh smelling body scrub that leaves you skin feeling amazing!

You can mix this up in just a few minutes!

Start by adding your Epsom Salt to a large bowl or measuring cup.

There are a million uses for Epsom Salt, and when you read about all the health benefits you’ll decide to add it to everything…lol!

Add the coconut oil and vitamin E to the salt. Mix it up.

Add your doTERRA Lime Essential Oil. Yes, I sell it. Why? Because it’s awesome and I’ve been using these oils for years. The quality is amazing, the health benefits are fabulous and you can use so much less than cheaper brands for a project like this. Trust me!

Mix it up again. I added the zest of a lime to the mix for a touch of color.

Mix it up again and this is what you have…Lime & Coconut Body Scrub.

Don’t you think they would make a sweet little gift? I wish you could smell these…the whole office is smells amazing!

Use a 2-3 tablespoons, or use just a tablespoon for hand washing. Your hands will thank you!

Wasn’t that easy??

You can download the printable Lime & Coconut Body Scrub labels right here.

—> PDF PRINTABLE LABELS DOWNLOAD <—

Just trim them or use a large hole punch to make them fit to your container. I’m a major fan of this size mason jar and these little wood scoops. I feel like they take it to a whole new level of homemade goodness. Add a ribbon or twine and you are finished!

If you like this kind of homemade projects you might like these posts…

Are you interested in learning more about selling doTERRA Essential Oils? Here’s a post I wrote that should give you all the information you need and answer some of those questions you might be having right now. 🙂 I’ve been selling doTERRA for a year now and have used doTERRA Essential Oils for over 5 years…so, please email me any questions you might have! Kim@EverythingEtsy.com

Have fun creating your own handmade gifts!

~Kim

Here are the key ingredients:

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Fried Shrimp Recipe {Beer Battered}

October 29, 2014 By Kim

Beer Battered Fried Shrimp has to be one of the best foods in the world!

Shrimp are amazing no matter which way they are cooked, but it’s really hard to beat fried shrimp. Living in the south you learn a bit about shrimp and which ones are the sweetest, biggest, or best for your shrimp salad or scampi recipe. There’s a huge difference and my favorite shrimp are always from Key West or Savannah. Luckily, we’re close to both areas. We’ve even caught our own shrimp in the Keys!

Now that you know just how serious shrimp are around here, you’ll trust me when I tell you this Southern Beer Battered Shrimp recipe is something you should keep on hand. This is the best batter ever!

Here’s a look at what I made the other night for dinner. It’s a rather traditional type meal around here that reminds us of Sunday Supper at Grandma’s house. That’s hard to beat, right?!

I started with about 3 pounds of beautiful Savannah shrimp that Tim’s grandma brought home with her on a trip to visit family in Savannah. Grandma Shuman usually brings back some type of food…she’s awesome like that.

Here’s what you’ll need for the batter…

1 cup beer
1 cup all-purpose flour
salt & pepper to taste

This should give you enough batter for about 1 1/2 pound of shrimp.

Slowly blend the beer into the flour. Add salt and pepper.

Now, cover it and let it sit at room temperature for a couple hours.

Prepare your shrimp. You can drink any leftover beer while you work…you can’t just waste it!

Remove the shell up to the tail. I usually remove all the legs at the bottom first to make the shell easier to peel off.

Devein your shrimp by using a sharp knife to cut along the back of your shrimp and run it under cold water to wash away and yucky looking stuff.

Repeat this step over and over again. It always seems to take forever…but it’s worth it!

For a full step-by-step recipe including lots of photos, read my post on HandmadeandCraft.com!

Once your batter is ready and your shrimp are cleaned it’s time to fry them up!

Fill up a large pot half way with oil and heat it up to 350 degrees
Pat 4-5 shrimp dry with a paper towel…this is a key step!
Dip them in your batter and let them drip a second over the bowl
Gently drop them in the oil and fry them for 3-5 minutes.
Remove them and let them dry a bit on some paper towels
Repeat until you’ve fried them all up!

You could use this batter for fish, oysters or anything else. It’s light and goes perfectly with seafood.

There you have it…the best fried shrimp recipe ever!

Are you a seafood lover? What’s your favorite? Shrimp, oysters, lobster?

For complete step-by-step instructions {with lots of photos} read my blog post on Handmade and Craft!

Enjoy!

~Kim

Handmade Crochet Bowl Pattern

October 29, 2014 By Kim

I love simple crochet projects because I have a super short attention span. This handmade crochet bowl pattern is awesome for creating little organizational bowls for your desk or living room.

They crochet up really quick, so it makes it easy to share a few. Make a big batch and wrap up sets for the holidays.

Making Pottery

October 27, 2014 By Kim

Pottery is quickly becoming one of my favorite creative outlets. There’s something about taking nothing, just some lump of clay, and turning it into something that will last for generations. That gets me.

Simple bowls can be used in decorating, cooking, entertaining…it’s endless.

Right now I’m decorating with a little touch of fall in different areas of my house, and I’m mixing in some of my pottery for fun.

This yellow bowl gets so much use around here. Wait until you see it with limes all stacked up in it…just beautiful!

What’s your favorite creative crush right now? Crochet? Painting? Photography?

I’d love to hear about it!

~Kim

How to Make Lavender Sachets

October 22, 2014 By Kim

Lavender sachets are one of my all-time favorite handmade gifts to share. They can be made to match anyone’s style from modern to vintage, and they are the perfect way to use up small fabric scraps or your favorite fat quarter. These lavender sachets were featured in the beautiful Mollie Makes Magazine!

I sold hundreds of lavender sachets through my Etsy shop one year. They were very popular for weddings and Mother’s Day. I’ve always given them as Christmas gifts, and I always enjoy the process of making them.

The whole house smells amazing and you can mix up the fabric to create pretty, pretty sachets.

Here’s how I make them…

Cut 5” fabric squares {I usually cut a bunch at once}
Stack two squares with the right side facing inside.
Start sewing about 3/4 of the way down one side and continue around until you have a couple inches left and backstitch with your machine. You want to leave a big enough opening to work with, so sew slowly.
I sew about 1/8” to 1/4” in from the edge.
Cut the corners off carefully. This helps the corners look nice when it’s finished.
Flip the sachet to show the right side of the fabric on the outside.
Flatten a bit and make sure your corners are nice by using your finger to push on the corners from the inside.
Sew around the edge again leaving the opening the same size.
I roll up some cardstock to use as a funnel and add my dried lavender using a little scoop. {You can buy dried lavender right here on Amazon.}
Be sure not to add too much or it will be hard to sew closed!!
Shake your sachet to settle the lavender and then hold it carefully while you sew up the opening.

For the complete step-by-step tutorial on making lavender sachets {with tons of photos} read my post on EverythingEtsy.com!

Embroider or stamp designs on the fabric before sewing them for a custom creation.

Once you start making these you will want to make a ton! I have them all over the house and in my closets. I’ve thrown them in the car…they make it smell wonderful!

You can make small ones to throw in the dryer. Your clothes will have a nice light scent. I’ve used them up to 10 times in my dryer.

I hope you’ll make some soon!

For the complete step-by-step tutorial on making lavender sachets {with tons of photos} read my post on EverythingEtsy.com!

Have fun!

~Kim

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Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treat Recipe

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