DIY Painted and Patterned Canvases

My husband made a set of 4 canvas paintings with flower prints on for our anniversary last year and to say I was surprised and super excited is an understatement.  Here are the instructions on how to make your very own.

Supplies

• Design or piece of art
• Canvas or multiple canvases
• Pencil
• Transfer paper
• Paint
• Paint brushes
• Picture hanging hardware
• Ruler

Steps

1. Find a pattern or piece of art.
2. Decide how many pieces and how large the project will be when completed.
3. Enlarge it in a graphic editing program.
4.  If multiple canvases will be used decide their spacing and set up, remember this information to put the finished art on the wall correctly.
5. Print out the design.
6. Use transfer paper and trace the design on the canvas.
7. Paint the designs.
8. Paint the edge of the canvas a color darker than the darkest color in the design.
9. Add hanging hardware the back of the canvas once the paint is dry.
10. Hang on the wall using the measurements recorded in step 4.

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The Perfect Avocado, Ham, Tomato and Cheese Grilled Panini

Grilled panini's are one of favorite lunch items to make.  I like them ten times better than plain turkey and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Want to know the secret ingredient? Believe it or not it's not the panini press, they can be made without, it is fresh bread.  I've tried to make panini's with bread from a loaf, but it does not work, it does not taste the same.  It does not get as flat either. I really like using the avocado and stone ground mustard in the panini instead of regular mayonnaise and mustard. The avocado provides a spread inside, and is much healthier than mayonnaise and the stone ground mustard  provides a depth of flavor with a hint of sweetness.

Acocado, Ham, Tomato, and Cheese Grilled Panini

Author: Jennifer Crowther

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 5 Min Cook time: 5 Min

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 fresh bread loaf
• stone ground mustard
• 1 avocado
• 2 slices ham
• 4-5 slices of cheese
• canola oil

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Slice the fresh bread into panini slices. Cut the loaf the width of the panini's. Cut four slices from the cut loaf.
2. Slice and add the avocado on one side and spread the stone ground mustard on the other.
3. Put on the cheese, turkey and tomato slices. Place the two halves together.
4. Turn the burner on a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Cover the pan with a thin film of oil.
5. This step is important, Using a pastry brush coat one side of the panini.
6. When the pan is hot, the oil starts to smoke, place the coated side of the panini on the skillet.
7. Coat the other side of the panini.
8. Cook 3-5 minutes per side or until golden brown, pressing down with a panini press or a heavy pan. Enjoy!

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Amazing Steak and Cob Salad

I made this cob salad recipe up when I was shopping in the fresh section of the grocery store.  I love cooking with seasonal ingredients and love getting inspired by seeing what is at the grocery store. It happens to be the time of year again for corn and peppers.  I chose an orange pepper to give a little color to the salad and ham instead of bacon because ham is not as crunchy, but provides the same pork flavor in the salad. The egg creates a nice softness and adds a nice flavor to the salad. 

We have really come to enjoy cooking steaks around here since we learned how to cook them. With steaks and roasts being about the same price as ground beef we have been cooking them a lot more. My local grocery store was having a sale on steaks for the 4th of July so I picked them up and saved a ton.  I have included some of the tips I have learned cooking steaks.

Amazing Steak with Cobb Salad

Author: Jennifer Crowther

Yield: 2

Prep Time: 25 Min Cook time: 10 Min

INGREDIENTS FOR COBB SALAD:

• 1 corn on the cob
• 1 boiled egg
• 2 slices of ham
• 1 orange pepper
• 1 head of lettuce

INGREDIENTS FOR SEASONED STEAK:

• 1 steak, any cut will do
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COBB SALAD:

1. Fill a pan with enough water to cover a corn on the cob, but do not put it in yet. Heat the water to boiling and put in the corn on the cob for 10 minutes.
2. Put an egg in a pan and fill with water 1 or 2 inches over the egg. Heat the water to boiling over medium heat. When the water is boiling remove from heat, cover for 12 minutes. Remove the water and fill the pan with cold water to stop the egg from cooking more.
3. Add oil to a pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot add the ham. Brown slightly on both sides. Chop up the ham.
4. Slice the orange pepper.
5. Chop up the lettuce.
6. Combine the ingredient and toss the salad.
7. I like to dress this salad with Buttermilk ranch.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SEASONED STEAK:

1. Leave the steak out 30 minutes before seasoning.
2. Combine the salt and pepper in a bowl.
3. Spread the salt and pepper mixture on the steak. Press the mixture into the steak. See above picture.
4. Turn the over to 375 degrees F.
5. Heat oil in the pan.
6. When the oil is hot place the steak in the pan with meat tongs. Do not touch the steak in the first 4 minutes. When the steak has achieved a nice brown sear turn the steak over with the tongs.
7. Sear the other side.
8. Place in the over until the desired doneness is achieved. It will be anywhere from 2-10 minutes. Do not over cook.
9. Let the steak rest for 5-10 minutes.

Seasoned Steak

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