50 Projects 2012--Join here and post your lists !

[sheepBlue]

Hah I didn't even think of that when I was making it. 

[trinalocakary]

made this recipe up from a few other baked mac and cheese recipes on line that did not fit what I had or the desired taste I wanted
This is so rich it is great for a pot luck where people will be sampling lots of stuff though you certainly could make it for dinner (next time I am making it with crumbled hamburger and tomato sauce instead of soup and bacon and some sauteed garlic and onions)

Mac and Cheesy yum casserole

2 tablespoons butter
1 can cream soup (mushroom or cheddar work but so would chicken or celery)
3 cups milk (2% or whole)
1 can evaporated milk
1.5 cups sharp or extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1.5 cups mozzarella, american or jack cheese (softer cheese) grated
1 pound elbow pasta, uncooked.
Season to taste (watch for salt cause the soup usually has lots)

**optional: Bacon bits, diced ham, hamburger crumbles and/or THAWED vegetables (frozen will slow the cooking),
you can top it with french fried onions during the last 15 mins

1. Heat oven to 350°F and position oven rack in the top half of oven.
butter a large baking pan and leave remainder butter in bottom of the pan

2. In a blender, purée soup and evaporated milk together.

3. put dry macaroni on the bottom of the pan and cover with milk then pour blended soup on top with the shredded cheese and stir together with any add ins

4. cover tightly with foil and bake 30 minutes.

5.Uncover pan, stir gently, bake another 30-40 minutes, until pasta has cooked and sauce has thickened.

Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

This can be served over slices of french bread as well 


((((I took this to the staff party of the convention I volunteer for and it and my enchilada casserole got wiped out so fast))))

Enchilada casserole (this is one of those use what you have recipes so adjust it to preference and availability)

tortilla shells
chili (canned or homemade)
refried beans
large can of enchilada sauce or very large bottle of salsa (or half and half)
shredded cheese


Turn oven on to 350*
oil pan, take a 10 piece pack of medium flour tortillas shells and tear in to small pieces, layer the bottom in one layer, then a thin layer of shredded cheese, then another layer of shell, cover the second layer of shells with either salsa or enchilada sauce
combine chili and refried beans (I used a mix of some leftover homemade chili, 2 cans of chili I had and one can of refried beans)
spoon a layer of the beans over the sauce
a layer of cheese
a layer of shells
a layer of sauce
a layer of beans
a layer of cheese
a layer of sauce

Bake for 30-40 minutes uncovered

this is a huge hit as well and you can adjust the spice or meatiness of it

[Sera unravled]

I just drooled a bit looking at those recipes.

Today is going to be hectic, I have to finish putting handles on three out of four overnight bags for my nieces, make cream cheese mints, egg nog truffles, triple chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, and bacon ranch potatoes. This all has to get done today, and if I have time I have to help my husband clean the house.

[MissingWillow]

Eggnog truffles?  Yum!

[SilverMoon]

Hee! I was going to make eggnog truffles too! lol

I'm going with Fig and Almond truffles, and Apple Cinnamon Speculaas truffles.

I finished the Skylander thing, but haven't started the embroidery yet. I really should not leave my weak points till last



ETA: I've added in links to the recipes I used above, and also, I used Speculaas instead of Golden Oreos, same weight, but I upped the applesauce to 1/2 cup compensate for the lack of Oreo cream. My fridge smells amazing! lol

[waggonswest]

Made some new decor for my living room this holiday season. 



http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=418203.0

[AlishaMisha]

Thanks guys!

Those glasses are so cute and fun!  Also, your etching is so nice and neat!

Thanks! I am happy how they turned out. It was my first time etching since the cream is hard to get here and shipping cost more than the cream itself! Finally got a hold of a bottle. I did 3, 5minute sessions of etching on each glass while re-spreading the cream every minute or so. That seemed to do the trick for getting a good, even, and strong etching. Oh, and contact paper is your best friend.

[DawnsTrees]

AlishaMisha - I still want to try etching. I will need to put it on my list for next year (again)...

WaggonsWest - super cute runner and pillows!

I am so far behind on my crafting. I am just now getting out my holiday cards 

Here are a few more that I made:

This one has a lot of shiny around the edges - I really liked how it turned out


This one was one of my favorites and took me the absolute longest  - the shiny white portions are actually a silver glitter pen (this is also the one that my daughter told me that I shouldn't be spending the time since the recipient will glance at it and throw it away - disheartening)


Another one, was a little less happy with it


Here I began to get tired of making cards and went with a much faster card...


And then, I decided I didn't have enough time. For most of the rest, I repurposed old cards by adding random things to premade cards (either drawing on them or adding googly eyes etc)

I have a couple presents that are going to be late, but wanted to share the first step for one of them - painted paper. I will be using these in a project, so you will see them again later (and I really hope that it turns out!)


I have a number of half done presents, but they will probably not be done until January. This is my annual statement: next year I will be done earlier! (I am so impressed with all of you who are done and have done such amazing things!!)

[Eclectic Dreamer]

I just finished some blocks for a swap. Here's the link... I'm counting it as 3 projects (not 4) because one set I cheated and had some perfectly sized blocks in my stash from a former craft exchange and I was out of time + they were better than I could do myself at the time. Though I think the wonky blocks should count as a dozen projects as they pained me so much!
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=415653.msg4914829#msg4914829

[J_Kieviet]

Still lots to do before Christmas

3 Adult aprons
3 gingerbread aprons
3 cupcake aprons
santa outfit
mrs. claus outfit
Elf outfit
Gingerbread village cake and cake pops

Off to get busy, the list will be updates as I plug along today and tomorrow and Thursday:)