Let there be Light

Hi there! Still on the subject of emergency kits, here's another visual list of lighting options when the power goes down:

I love a lantern that's bright enough for the dining room or family room. This one's made up of smaller lanterns that can be removed from the base; each member of the family can take one to the bathroom or bedroom. A headlamp proved very useful when we lost power at the height of Hurricane Sandy. It made cooking, washing dishes, brushing teeth and reading in bed so much easier! Also the trusty flashlight must be present in everyone's home, car or office...just in case. Of course, how would these gadgets work without batteries? Have a good amount of fresh ones at the ready. 

Candles aren't really encouraged because they can cause a fire. But if you need to, it's a good idea to put them in a jar or vase for protection. Matches, or even better, a torch lighter makes lighting a breeze. This was also a life saver during Hurricane Sandy. We have a gas stove which we were able to use for cooking and boiling water, but it didn't turn on automatically because we had no power. The torch lighter provided the flame. TADA! 

Now, if you're in a crafty mood, how about making your own candles:

via Martha Stewart

Turn old teacups from blah to TADA!

via Pottery Barn

Or those one-off vintage glasses picked up from the 

thrift store? They'll work well, too. 

Doomsday Prepper

Yesterday, I made a visual list of what I might put in an emergency bag -- hey, these days of global warming, you'll never know. 

Well, I'm not all plans and lists. I really assembled one!

Just a few things peeking out: a radio, flashlights and batteries, a 5-in-1 survival aid {includes a whistle, matches and compass}, non-perishable food, water, a can opener and utensils.

I packed these and a bunch of other emergency essentials in a carry-on suitcase. It's in the coat closet by our main door, ready to be wheeled out when necessary. To make it stand-out from our other bags and luggage, I made a bag tag, in true blah to TADA! fashion:

 

I used expired hotel keys and empty gift cards. Instead of throwing them away, I turned these blahs into:

TADA! -- instant bag tags! I covered the front and back surfaces with adhesive shelf liner {Washi tape would be a good substitute}, punched a hole and inserted a strip of elastic cord. Then I labelled accordingly {"Emergency Bag"}. Instantly, we know the contents of the bag and are ready when, knock on wood, emergency strikes.

Alternatively, these can be used as identification tags for school or travel bags.  

Emergency Kit Essentials

Happy Monday Lovelies! I live in the East Coast and until recently hurricanes have become a common occurrence. In 2011, there was Hurricane Irene. Because we live so near the water, we evacuated to higher ground. Thankfully, there was no damage to life or property. 

Last year, Hurricane Sandy came along and unleashed her wrath. Water from the Hudson River flowed into our building's parking lot. Our main road was blocked because of fallen trees. We lost power for over a week. Despite all these blahs, I still feel blessed given that many people lost their homes and are still piecing their lives back together months after Sandy hit.

It's these natural disasters that has compelled me to assemble an emergency kit. It's a smart investment for the home and it turns blah situations into TADA! because you know you're prepared. Plus it's something we can take with us and still use even if we decide to move elsewhere. Here is my visual list: 

You can read more about assembling an emergency kit here, here, here and here.

Random Friday

If you're a regular visitor to my blog {a big thanks for that!}, you know that I like themes. I have a theme every week. Last week, it was "adhesive shelf-liners", "hearts" the week before and this week, "crafty in the kitchen." 

Themes. That's how I roll. 

Themes keep me organized and focused. But themes can be quite stifling at times. That's why I'm introducing "Random Fridays".    

"Random Fridays" is simply that. Random things that make me smile, tear up, or say, "Wow!"  And maybe, just maybe, you'll have that same reaction, too.

Here goes:

In 2007, I was at the Taste of Chicago and I had the pleasure of meeting these Clydesdale horses. I've never seen anything like them! They're known for their size {about 6 feet tall} and the white "feathers" covering their hooves. They were enormous, as if they stepped out of a fairy tale. They got so much attention, everyone wanted to take a picture. 

Each year, I'm reunited with these horses in TV commercials -- the Clydesdales are associated with Budweiser beer. If you watched the Super Bowl in February, you may have seen this very touching ad:

Sniff. Makes me cry every. single. time.

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What is your opinion about monograms?

I've seen them a lot lately from bed linen, to napkins, to jewelry. They never went away, but clearly, I'm noticing them. Could it be that I want to have my own monogram? Here's a good read on how to create your own.

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Downton Abbey is one of my favorite TV dramas. I admit, I was late to the party, but it's not hard to get sucked into the aristocratic world of the Grantham family and their servants, set in early 20th-century Britain.

via PBS.org

Oh, to be a fly on the castle wall as they don their beautiful costumes and film the engrossing scenes!

And with that, here's to many more random Fridays and to a weekend that's a lot of fun!

Dainty Cake Pops

I hope you're finding this week's kitchen tips pretty helpful. 

Today, another blah to TADA! idea:

I tested a recipe for citrus cupcakes. After baking, I felt the citrus taste was lacking. On hindsight, maybe I should have used the zest and a little more of the juice. But such happens with trying out recipes, some are successful, a few are not.

I didn't want to waste the cupcakes. I toyed with the idea of making a citrus glaze, or soaking them in limoncello similar to a rum cake. But because I already had the ingredients on hand, I made a few cake balls.

I crushed the cupcakes into crumbs.

I mixed a little bit of store-bought frosting.

I shaped them into balls. 

Melted some candy melts on a double boiler, and dipped in the cake balls until each one was fully coated. Then I put them on a plate until the chocolate hardened.

TADA! Cake balls that are ready for afternoon tea. 

Next time, to cut the sweetness, maybe I'll try peanut butter, speculoos or cream cheese instead of the frosting. I'll let you know if that turns out to be TADA!.

Tabbouleh Salad

Do you like using herbs in your cooking? Fresh herbs lend a lot of TADA! to a dish. Most of the time, however, I don't get to use the entire bunch.

Take parsley for instance. A few sprigs are enough to add flavor and color. Blah, wilted parsley is what I want to avoid. So I found a recipe for Tabbouleh.

 

Tabbouleh is a salad made of bulgur wheat. It's rich in fiber and friendly for vegans and those on a gluten-free diet. In and of itself, it's healthy.

And when you add these ingredients -- Bam! Double healthy points! There's parsley, mint, cucumber, tomatoes, scallions, lemon and oil. 

Here's what Tabbouleh looks like.

It's light and refreshing.

Serve it with grilled meat like lamb chops.

Or inside a pita bread sandwich 

{with leftover chicken and hummus}.

The recipe was from this book.

Tabbouleh Salad {from the Mad Hungry Cookbook}

Ingredients:

1/2 cup bulgur wheat

2 tomatoes, diced 

3 scallions (white & green parts, trimmed and sliced thinly)

2 to 3 cups chopped parsley, stems removed

1 cucumber, peeled and diced

1/2 cup fresh mint leaved, chopped

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 teaspoon coarse salt, or more to taste

Instructions:

Rinse the bulgur wheat in cold running water and soak in a bowl of water for 20 minutes. Drain and place in a large bowl.

Add the tomatoes, scallions, parsley, cucumber, and mint. Toss together.

Whisk together the lemon zest and juice, olive oil, and salt. Stir the dressing into the salad to fully combine. Serve or cover and refrigerate for up to two days.

Tuna and White Bean Salad

My philosophy in crafting extends to the kitchen -- I don't like waste. If there's an opportunity to turn blah to TADA!, I'm on it.

Here are some of the items that seem to hang out much longer than usual in my vegetable drawer: celery, scallions, herbs and lemon. The recipes I use them for only require a few stalks or half the amount so there's always extra. I'm determined to find good use for them.  

I've been cooking from this book, and it has rewarded me with many new recipes to try, using staples that I already have. 

Today, I'm trying out a Tuna and White Bean Salad. Here's what you need to do:

Mix together one or two cans of tuna {drained} with several handfuls of beans {cooked dry beans or canned -- make sure to drain them}. Add some olive oil, a dash of vinegar or citrus juice {in my case, lemon}. Add any raw sliced veggies {like celery, scallions, bell pepper or fennel}. Add some fresh herbs or a pinch of ground dry spices {like coriander, paprika or cayenne}. And because I had an apple, I diced it up and added that, too. Serve this on greens, on toast or as a side dish.

This salad is refreshing, hearty, healthy and I'm proud to say, my fridge crisper is now clean! TADA!