# 6 Buffalo Chicken Dip

# 6 Buffalo Chicken Dip Buffalo Chicken Dip
Originally posted at My Kitchen Addiction

Some of my dearest and probably longest known friends, Julia and Elizabeth, threw a Pintrest Christmas Craft Party that you can read about on here on their blog.  Each person brought a pinterest inspired food and we did a couple crafts they had found on pinterest. It was big time fun!

My food contribution was Buffalo Chicken Dip.  I picked it because I basically love 4 out of 5 ingredients.  I love cheese, cream cheese, wing sauce, chicken, and sour cream.  The 5th ingredient is ranch or blue cheese salad dressing.  Actually I changed the recipe, it called for 1/2 cup ranch or blue cheese, and after research of other recipes, I changed it to 1/4 cup ranch and 1/4 cup sour cream, just because ranch isn't my fave. I also used canned chicken, which  usually never would, but it was a matter of time and I frankly couldn't tell the difference.  Here is the adapted recipe:

16oz of canned chicken (I bought one big can and one small can)
1/2 cup Franks Wing Sauce (not hot sauce) ( wasn't sure what the originally recipe wanted so I had to make a call, I went for the less intense and I think it was the right call.)
4 oz of shredded Cheddar Jack cheese (any type you like will do), which my measurement was "2 handfuls" (half in mix, half on top before baking)
1 block cream cheese, softened.
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 ranch dressing. 
(most of these could be substituted for low/no fat version, but I went for all the calories!)
Combine and pour into glass dish.  I used a 8X8 Pyrex.  Then sprinkle the other half of cheese on top.

before going into the oven

Stick in the oven at 350 for 20 mins or until it is bubbly.  The original directions say then to broil for 3-4 mins.  I could never get mine to broil and get that nice little brownness on top, so, this is optional. It was still good and a little crusty, all the same.

YUM YUM.  I served with tortilla chips and celery.  It was all gone, perhaps because I probably ate half on my own.

No cost on this one, you know what food costs ;)

#5 Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark

#5 Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark
pinned from www.mamasaywhat.com

mmm...mmmm...mmmm..... Do I love "bark"!  This one contained all my favorite elements: chocolate, pretzels, and caramel.  I have never attempted any type or caramel so I was a little weary, but with so few ingredients I thought I couldn't go wrong.  And I have to admit, it was yummy!
I followed the directions to a T:
-foil lined cookie sheet (mama's blog suggested a jelly roll pan... what's that?)
- preheat oven to
- a layer of pretzels

-combine brown sugar and butter over medium hear to make caramel, stir til thick and gooy (takes more than a few minutes).

yummy, bubbly caramel

-pour on top, and throw in oven for 5 mins.
-put chocolate chips on top , they will begin to melt, mama suggests putting it back in the oven for a couple minutes to melt the chips.  I'd say 30 seconds because and this point I think the caramel got a little too "cooked".  It didn't taste bad, but it was almost starting to evaporate. Smear the chocolate around.
- sprinkle sea salt on top
-put in freezer for a couple hours.

-break into pieces.
It was yummy and just like Mama's blog says it melts in room temp, which is kinda a bummer, but oh well! 

The only thing I had to buy was the chocolate chips (I picked semi sweet, because that's my favorite!) so it was a inexpensive dessert.

#4 Glittery Animal Christmas Ornaments

#4 Glittery Animal Christmas Ornaments

pinned from: www.curbly.com

My bf is obsessed with marine life.....  we have season passes the GA Aquarium, we've gotten in the water with the Belugas, and he's swam in the big tank with the whale sharks.  He LOVES them and often feels he's missed his calling to be a marine biologist.  So, when I saw this project, all I could think of was doing a tree of all aquatic creatures for his bedroom. And the search begins....

What scared me was, if you look at curbly's directions, it mentions drilling into the little animals but I was willing to give it a go.  I was happy to find a tube of aquatic animals (brand name: TOOB) that were a softer plastic than what the original post used, but also more expensive at $7.99. (They also had a jungle tube and dinosaur tube.) Then, I went to the hardware store for the eye screws.  Of course I didn't know they were called eye screws and proceeded to make the Home Depot helper laugh as I tried to explain what I wanted, which included me using my hands to show him the loop at the top......

As I sat down to get started, terrified at the idea of drilling into the tiny animals, and a miracle happened.... I found I could hand screw them into the toy animals.... YAY!  Totally worth the extra cost and blister from screwing them in by hand. 

Success, so far!  Next step, spray paint.  I got a blue and a blue glitter top coat.  This part was time consuming just because you have to wait and let the pain dry then flip it over and do the other side and I did 2 coats of the regular blue and one coat of glitter.  I honesty did this over a week because the paint was tacky, which I think was because of the soft rubbery plastic.  I won't lie that I was a little concerned.  But, if finally stopped being tacky when I put the glitter top coat on.


before paint



after first coat

The came out adorable!!!  Too cute!  I can't wait to put them on my 5ft white tree.  The bf questioned the glitter but I think the lights on the tree will set off the glitter nicely, plut it covers up mistakes and finger prints.

the finished product

It looks better than I could have expected and the white tree really makes the animals pop!  I'm happy with the outcome!




Now, I have to be honest, the first time I tried this, I wasn't paying attention to the kind of spray paint I bought, and I grabbed enamel, which never seemed to dry, so I had to start over.....

COST:

TOOB of animals- Michaels $7.99

Krylon Spray Paint (earth blue)- Michaels $4.98

Krylon Spray Paint (sapphire glitter) - Michaels $4.98

eye screws (2 packs of 8)-Home Depot $1.86 ea

Total: $21.67

#3... EPIC Fail!

#3 DIY Quote on Canvas
pinned from Southern Belle

Sorry for the extremely long absence, but I think I can still complete the challenge.  I have been doing some pinterest projects but for some reason, I can't ever seem to remember pictures... and no one wants that. :)

Anyway, on to the epic fail....
So, I've been decorating for Christmas and itching to get some Pinterest Projects started.  I saw this cute project using vinyl letters and canvas that has been covered.
I decided to make my kitchen "Grinch themed" (this screams elementary school teacher!) this Christmas and I was dying to use the quote "What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." for this project.  And I had what I thought was a genius idea.  Use wrapping paper as the bottom layer, in fact, cover the Van Gogh canvas I current have with the wrapping paper.  Yes, you are a genius.  I bought all the materials at Michael's (I even got re-positional vinyl letters and green paint!) and headed home to begin.
Here's where it became an epic fail.....  I figured I needed to do a couple test runs, just to see what I was getting into.  So I pick a letter and begin.....when i went to reposition the letter, I notice this....

Yikes!  In less than a second, it takes off part of the paper and also makes the letter no longer sticky. This project ended abruptly.  Epic Fail....  

I think the culprit is cheap wrapping paper, from Target ($5), maybe if it was glossy it would have worked out better.  Frankly, I'm not sure I'm up for trying again right now.  Maybe another time, maybe next weekend, time will tell.  I am disappointed and a little more broke.

Vinyl Letters $6.99

Paint 1.19 (x2)

Wrapping Paper $5

sponge brush $0.87

Total: $14.05 plus tax and nothing to show for it.

Seven Days of Love part 2

I gave the ole BF his pill box full of goodies today after work.  He thought it was neat and I hope he enjoys his tiny treat and note everyday. I totally recommend this to anyone with a significant other than travels, although I told my BF he could take this to his office for a pick-me-up everyday.

I ended up doing 3 days of Reece's minis (the tiny ones, 2 in each square), pistachios (his favorite nut), LifeSavers, TicTac's, IceBreakers mints.  And my notes (all the days but Reece's) went with the treat.  Like:  We're "mint" to be. You are a "Life Saver".  I'm "nuts" about you!  Then I just wrote sweet notes for the others.

Next time, I'm going to try to fold the paper so that he can't see at all what's in each square until he opens it.  Other ideas for the treats: Bubble Gum, Ice Breakers Cube Gum, M&M's, Skittles, any kind of nut or seed, you might be able to get Fun Size Candy bars in there (I got the XL box and there was a XL2 that was even bigger for $7.99.

THE COST:

 XL Pill Box (CVS Brand)- 4.99
Candy and Treats(some stuff I already had)- about $6 with plenty left over.
TOTAL: $11 (with Life Savers, TicTacs, and Reece's to spare.)

#2 Seven Days of Love
originally from http://www.thedatingdivas.com/

Well, the end of the school year really slows down the rest of your life.... so unfortunantly I haven't done much of anything but teach, test, and sleep.  But, I will say, I have all of this years files in their neat little poly folders.  It took countless folders, in fact I just grab a couple 5 packs any time I'm at Target and they have them.  I probably put a little more money into it than I wanted to.  However, I think this is a system that works for me.  I've already found that it keeps me more organized that file folder and whatnot.

NEXT PROJECT, ........Seven Days of Love.
My BF has been sick so I think he needs a little lovin'  So, I plan on getting this together for him this week, for him to have next week.  In this project, you get one of those week long pill boxes and fill it everyday with a sweet note (which I plan on writing myself, but the website provides if you are at a loss for words) and a little something.  I think I'm going to get the biggest pill box I can find, you know for the super old/sick folk.  I think this is a super cute idea and who doesn't need a little pick-me-up during the week from your special someone.  I very often try to think of something nice, like a flowers equivilent for my BF and I think this might do the trick.
What is tricking me up about this project, is that I'm not sure what kind of treat to put in each day.  My BF isn't a big sweet or candy person, so I'm going to have to think on that one.  So far I've come up with.... mini Reece's cups, Ice Breakers breath fresheners, and nuts.  Any other ideas?

Prices to come....

Emily

Like I thought,not nearly enought poly envelopes! So, I guess I'll hit up all the area Targets this weekend. But,I will admit, I love this organizational method! My label maker ran out of ink so I used masking tape and a Sharpie... Just as good!

Well, I've picked my first Pinterest inspired project.

#1  Storing Printables without a File Cabinet originally from the website www.1plus1plus1equals1.net

This would fall into the teaching category.... sorry for all you non-teachers out there.... if you are an organized person, like OCD organized, I'm sure this would work in some aspect of your home life. Basically this lady used Poly Envelopes that close with snaps and decorative fabric boxes to organize all those printables and handouts that teachers amass in their years of teaching instead of manila folders and metal cabinets.

This pin spoke to me instantly because I am without a file cabinet in my classroom this year and frankly the years I have had one, I haven't utilized them as I should.  

So, this afternoon I set off the OfficeDepot to look for the Poly Envelopes. They were just too expensive there and not sold in sets.  So, I headed off to Target, where the blog clearly states you can get the best deal and she was right.  I bought them out as she suggested because the was already the 2nd Target I'd gone to to find them.  (Nope, not available for online purchase)  I bought 4 sets of 5 and all the singles the had.  Then I headed to the home department to find the cloth boxes the blog recommended.  I figured since she had been right on cue with the envelopes, I should trust her suggestions from here on out.  Once again, I found the boxes and they were probably the best deal for that kinda item.  Lucky me, the former teacher in my classroom left a label maker.

So, tomorrow I'm taking my 26 poly envelopes and 4 fabric boxes to school to start the organizational part of this project.  I plan to take it one step farther than the blog and organize them by color and labeling them by standard.  It was a little costly at start up... we'll see how many more folders I need, hopefully I won't need anymore boxes.

THE COST
2- 2packs of ClosetMaid fabric storage boxes @ $13.79 ea
4- 5 packs of Poly Envelopes with snap closure @$3.84 ea
6 single Poly Envelopes @ $1.32

TOTAL= $55.02 including tax (A little more than I like to spend on anything work related, better be worth it, we'll see.)

Let the organization begin....pictures tomorrow!

Welcome!

Not to toot own horn, but I think I jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon a little earlier than most. In August 2011, I saw a friend post about Pinterest.com on Facebook and immediately had to know what it was all about. I applied for an invite and within days, I was hooked... Pinning away. Classroom ideas, recipes, DIY projects, organizational ideas.
But, how many of the AWESOME ideas had I put into practice? Not many. So now,months and months later, I'm going to give it a whirl. The goal?... 100 Pinterest crafts, recipes, DYI or projects, etc in one year. Yep, averaging 2 projects a week.....seems manageable, right? I'm sure I'm not the first to think of this and yes, it's kinda Julie and Julia-esque.
But, join me in my DYI/crafty/ cooking voyage. I hope to let you know the truth behind all the "so easy, so cheap, so great" Pinterest pins.

Find me on PINTEREST!