The return of the car track

This week will wrap up the last of our Christmas celebrations. Now that the boy cousins have opened their gifts,  I thought I would share how I packaged and wrapped the car track I made a couple months back.

I used a crystal light container, fabric, ribbon and mod podge. I measured the fabric and adhered it to the crystal light container with mod podge. Once it dried, I put the lid back on, topped it with a toy car and tied it up with a ribbon. I love the red and white ribbon against the blue and white fabric.

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A little inspiration * bear rabbit bear *Bubbly Nature Creations 
French Country Cottage * House of Hepworths * I can teach my child
It's Overflowing * Oopsey Daisy * Ruby Jean * Six Sisters Stuff * Tatertots and Jello  
The Girl Creative * The Grant Life * The Southern Institute * Whipperberry

Enchilada Remix & Winner Announced

Yesterday, I shared my homemade enchilada recipe with you.

Since I never use an actual recipe, everything is approximate and depending on how much filling is used, the quantity of enchiladas varies every time. Like I said before, I just make 'em until I run out of tortillas or the chicken mixture - whichever comes first. Normally, I try to buy at least 20+ tortillas so that I can make as much as the mixture will allow. But this time, I found myself all out of tortillas with chicken mixture remaining. I thought about freezing it for another time when I have more tortillas on hand. That would have worked great BUT I also remembered that I had some tortilla flour mix in the cabinet.

Here's what it looks like so you can pick some up at Walmart and make your own tortillas:

When I was a poor college student, I lived off this stuff! Seriously, ask my housemates. I would whip up a batch of tortillas and make some quesadillas. My cooking talent in college? Hmm... not so high so don't be intimidated - you can definitely make these! So today's recipe is sort of a combination between enchiladas and quesadillas.

Here's what I did:

1. Make the tortillas according to the package directions, let them rise and roll them out. (easy peasy)
2. Meanwhile, preheat a griddle to medium high.
3. I cooked the tortillas a couple minutes on each side.
4. Next, I returned them to the griddle adding a little leftover chicken mixture and shredded cheese.
5. Fold tortilla over and serve with chopped onion, tomato, lettuce, salsa and sour cream.

Enjoy! Oh wait, you didn't stop by to check out the recipe? Ahh yes, you want to know who won the giveaway. I used randomizer.org to come up with our lucky winner. Congrats Sharla! This is her comment that won. Isn't she sweet?! I'll be emailing you shortly for your address Sharla.

• Sharlanicky

  I also shared on Facebook. Do you think you might sell these? If I don't win I still would like a set. :)

  • Like
  • Reply

  • 3 days ago

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My Now Not So Secret Chicken Enchiladas

The hubby's favorite meal is chicken enchiladas. It is a regular staple around here. Sometimes I serve it with Mexican rice and refried beans. But not this week. I scoured Pinterest for some fresh ideas and decided to go with cilantro lime rice and a cheesy bean dip.

Let's start with the enchiladas. I try to stretch the chicken in the meal to make as many enchiladas as possible. I normally make a pan of ten and two smaller pans of five to freeze. This meal freezes well and can be heated up in the oven in less than an hour on those days that I don't feel like cooking. It also is a great frozen meal to take to someone sick or recovering from surgery and new moms returning home from the hospital. 

Since I never use a recipe for these, all measurements are estimated. I've yet to mess up these enchiladas so I think it is safe to say you can play around with the recipe until you find your family's preference.

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts

1 - 10 oz can of Las Palmas Enchilada sauce (green mild or regular)

1 medium onion chopped

1-2 t minced garlic

1 t cumin

1 c chicken broth

1/2 c chopped cilantro (optional)

10-20 soft flour tortillas (depending on size and desired fullness)

vegetable oil

2-3 c Mexican blend shredded cheese  

1. First you will need to cook and shred the chicken. I find it easiest to stick the chicken in a crock pot and cover half way with water. Sometimes I add in a chicken bouillon cube to enhance the flavor as it cooks. Let it cook on high for a couple of hours. When you return, the chicken will be so tender that it will basically shred itself = less work for me. I've used frozen chicken and this is the best way to cook it  and keep it moist.

2.Heat a large saute pan over medium high heat and add 1-2 T of vegetable oil. Saute the onions (reserving 1/3 c to sprinkle over the enchiladas before baking) until translucent. Be sure to season them with salt and pepper. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Stir in the shredded chicken and cumin. At this point  you will probably need to deglaze the pan as everything may be starting to stick. Add the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen all of the tasty bits that were stuck to the pan. Stir in 1/3 c of the enchilada sauce and half of the cilantro. Turn off the heat. 

3. Now you need to set up your assembly line. Fill each tortilla with some of the chicken mixture and shredded cheese. Roll it up and stick it in your greased baking dish. Continue until you run out of chicken mixture or tortillas - whatever happens first! 

4. Top the baking dish(es) of enchiladas with the remaining enchilada sauce, sprinkle with remaining onions and cilantro. Now you can either bake or freeze your enchiladas. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. If frozen, cover with foil and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake an addition 10-15 minutes.



You can find the Chipotle copycat cilantro lime recipe I used here. I heart Chipotle. I've never found anything that compares with their burritos and, unfortunately, the closest is five hours away :-/  This rice is reminiscent of theirs. I did use brown rice instead and cooked it according to the package.

                                                                            Source: skinnytaste.com  

I got the cheesy bean recipe from my friend. She found it here. I did make some changes to it.

I mixed 1 can of refried beans, 1 can of Rotel,  and 1 cup of mexican blend cheese. I greased two pie pans and spread half a block of cream cheese on the bottom of each pan. Then I added the bean mixture and topped it all with another cup of cheese. It was oh so cheesy which is good because we like more cheese than bean in our dip :) I froze one pan for another meal.

                                                                           Source: thecountrycook.net  

Enjoy!

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Wrapped in twine

My favorite holiday is coming up! And what says Valentine's day better than cotton candy pink bakers twine? I'm definitely smitten. I emptied my snow globes and packed the trees up for next Christmas, replacing them with paper doily hearts wrapped in twine and tied with a bow.  I love the simplicity of these jars.

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Ruby Jean  *Six Sisters Stuff * Tatertots and Jello  *The Delectable Home
 The Girl Creative *The Grant Life *The Southern Institute * Whipperberry

Vintage inspired jewelry giveaway

2012. Today, the hubby and I will set aside some quiet time together (probably nap time...when else is it quiet with kiddos?!) and set our goals for the coming year. One of mine for last year was to start a blog by 2012. I did it! I truly love it. It may sound silly but being able to share and network with so many different people is exciting! I love the whole process. I'm learning to write better, take better photographs and meeting so many interesting and talented people.

I'm not sure why you have stuck it out with me but I am so thankful! I appreciate all of the lovely comments you leave and knowing that my blogging has served a purpose beyond myself. Thank you for that. So...to start off the new year, I have a giveaway!

Have you seen all the lovely resin cabochon flower jewelry floating around Pinterest? I've seen them on Etsy and Very Jane as well. I was inspired to make my own. I love the look. I wear mine most days.

What do you think of these?

1. Vintage pink and mint rose hair pins with mint mum earrings.

2. Vintage blue ring with matching mum earrings and tangerine orange earrings.

3. Jolly green rose and mum hair pins with matching necklace charm

 4. Bold pink rose necklace charm with hint of pink mum earrings

5. Mint flower ring with bold pink rose earrings and hair pin

6. Vintage pink rose ring and hairpin with turquoise mum earrings

7. Mint flower ring with matching mum earrings and vintage pink hair pin

8. Lilac rose earrings with coordinating lilac and jolly green hair pins

9. Burgundy chrysanthemum necklace charm with yellow earrings

**This giveaway has closed. Sorry!**

So here's the giveaway part. I will be giving away one set of your choice. Today is your lucky day.

Here's how to enter.  No more than three entries per person, please. I would like all 30 fans to have a fair chance at this ;) The giveaway will close this Thursday January 5th at 10:00 pm cst.

1. Leave me a comment letting me know which set you would like if you won.
2. Follow me on Facebook or Google Friend Connect. Leave a comment letting me know.
3. Share this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter and come back and let me know!

  Here is a sample tweet you can use: Free vintage inspired jewelry from@kritiann. Comment to enter:http://titus2workinprogress.blogspot.com/2011/12/vintage-inspired-jewelry-giveaway.html Pls RT

(This giveaway will only be mailed to addresses within the U.S.)

Y'all are awesome. Thank you for participating!





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Advent Calendar {a little late}

I realize it is now New Year's Eve. Christmas is over. But I really meant to post this. You know, before the whole fam came down with the flu (ugh) and ear infections (double ugh). So for the sake of my blogging self-esteem, just go with it. Please :)

As you search out those after Christmas deals (if there are any left...), be sure to think about projects to work on for next Christmas. I bought this advent calendar five years ago from Starbucks. Can you believe it?  It was just after Christmas and only cost me a few bucks. It's durable enough to last our family a long time. We have used it every year. In the past I've filled it with candy, other times with notes and this year I did a combination of candy and trinkets for Ellie.

Did you notice that the boxes are reversible? 

By Christmas, all the images are revealed to form a picture.

I've realized using an advent calendar is a great way to practice numbers with a toddler! Each morning Ellie asked to "pick a box." I would tell her the date and help her find it. She can only count to ten but I think she recognizes some larger numbers even though she hasn't been taught them directly. Whenever she had trouble finding a number I would help her by saying, "Find the nineteen (or whatever day we were on). It is a one and a nine."

I love how all my crafty bloggy friends made amazing advent calendars. There is some major talent out there. I also love that I didn't have to because Starbucks sold this for cheaper than I could have made one.

Hope everyone has a great New Year's eve!

Year in Review 2011

This year has been a whirlwind! I'm so thankful for the many blessings we've received including our sweet addition Hannah Rose, our new home and, of course, all my new bloggy friends :) I've learned a ton about blogging in the past eight months - mainly all trial and error! I hope to improve in the coming year, but you know, we are all a work in progress. Most importantly I hope to become more like the description in Titus 2:3-5.

 Here are some snippets of my top posts for my year in review:


Homemade laundry soap. I love this stuff! This is the supply I prepared before Hannah Rose was born.

Putting together a super hero fort kit was a lot of fun:

And here is the girl version - a princess fort kit :)

DIY glass pebble necklace using letters from a magazine:

Easy to make felt Christmas tree:

These little snow globes were my absolute favorite Christmas decoration, hands down. I just love the simplicity of it. Cost me a total of $1 for the two of them! 

Ellie still wears her Rapunzel wig:

My Ikea Ektorp sofa review:

This is one of my personal favorites. Lamp makeover:

Can you tell I was really into this blue color this year?! Key art and vase:

This garland was oh-so-easy to make and looked lovely during the fall months. 

 Thank you all for your encouragement in this personal endeavor. I love all your sweet comments and I look forward to seeing what the year to come will bring.



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