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Friday, June 3, 2011

Recipe Friday: Grilled Balsamic Skirt Steak with Tomato, Onion, and Cheese Salad


Grilled Balsamic Skirt Steak


Ingredients:

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
1 garlic clove, minced
1 pound skirt steak, trimmed and cut into 4 pieces
Cooking spray
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:
  • Combine first 4 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add steak, turning to coat; seal and marinate at room temperature 25 minutes, turning once. Remove steak from bag; discard marinade.
  •  Heat a large grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle both sides of steak with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper.
  •  Add steak to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Remove steak from pan; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Tent with foil; let stand 5 minutes. Cut steak diagonally across the grain into thin slices.
Tomato, Onion, and Cheese Salad

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 ¼ teaspoon vinegar
2 ¼ cups grape tomatoes, halved
1 cup diced sweet onion (such as Vidalia)
3 tablespoons blue cheese or feta cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:
  • Combine tomatoes and onion in a large serving bowl.
  • In a small bowl combine oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Mix well and pour over tomato/onion mixture.
  • Toss salad to coat with dressing.
  • Sprinkle cheese on top.

Have a wonderful Friday!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue 

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

BESTeam Weekly Feature - Turquoise Angels

Come check out this week's BESTeam featured site the Turquoise Angels Etsy shop owned by a mother and daughter team from Purcellville, VA.

Turquoise Angels  is a family owned company specializing in infusing art and clothing. They create hand made clothing for girls, babies, and mommies which includes custom hand tied tutus, cotton dresses, screen printed garments and hair accessories.

These ladies love what they do and who they get to do it with!

Flower Girl Tutu Dress





Turquoise, light blue and yellow layered tutu dress with three flowers. Bodice is made of a soft wide elastic band for comfort. Flowers may vary by style or design due to availability but will be in a beautiful coordinating color. Straps are made with tulle or double faced satin ribbon.  This lovely dress can be made in any custom colors.

Chicken Little Petti tutu





Yellow and orange layered Powder puff ballerina tutu sprinkled with bright orange ribbon through out. Tutu is completed with a two toned oragne flower clip (clip is removable and can be worn different ways and for multiple purposes.)Clip may vary by design and color.

Easter Pink and Sherbet Orange Twirl tutu





Tutu is handmade with luscious orange,and yummy cotton candy pink soft tulle tied in two different lengths to give the tutu added fullness. 

Baby Headband Hot Pink with handmade organza flower





Hot pink handmade organza flower paired with a hot pink stretchy skinny headband.  The perfect accessory for spring and summer or a new baby girl gift.

These are only a few of the wonderful items available. Please check out the rest of this beautiful collection at the Turquiose Angels Etsy shop and also take the time to view the Turquiose Angels blog “a blog about juggling family, work, and life while maintaining only a slightly crooked halo”.

The Creativity Bugs love the opportunity to promote other artisans including the fellow Estians but especially the BESTeam group. These friendly, talented, and very hardworking individuals work together to promote their shops and help others with marketing, advertising, and tips and tricks for running an online business. If you are a seller on Etsy, have a blog, and either FB or twitter, then you might be interested in joinging the BESTeam. You can find information about the team, as well as apply for membership HERE!

Happy Shopping!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Monday, May 30, 2011

Featured Freebies for the Week of May 30th

Happy Monday! Here are this week's wonderful digital images and stamps freebies found on websites and blogs or shared with us by friends and followers:

Victoria at Paper Squirrel shares a little girl with flowers digital image

Altered Scrap is all about animals this month and shares a moose, a rooster, a lion, and a cat digital image

When the Scrap Hits the Fun (just love that blog name) shares the With Love, Have Fun, and Happy Birthday ticket digital stamps

Di's Digi Downloads shares a little girl digital stamp

That's all for this week! Happy Crafting!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Saturday, May 28, 2011

In Honor of Memorial Day


Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May.  Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates men and women who died while in military service to the United States.  First enacted to Honor Union and  Confederate soldiers following the American Civil War, it was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars.

Memorial Day often marks the start of the summer vacation season, and Labor Day its end. It began as a ritual of remembrance and reconciliation after the civil war, by the early 20th century, Memorial Day was an occasion for more general expressions of memory, as ordinary people visited the graves of their deceased relatives, whether they had served in the military or not.

Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time. Another tradition is to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. It also became a long weekend increasingly devoted to shopping, family gatherings, fireworks, trips to the beach, and national media events.

The Unknown Soldier 
by Roger J. Robicheau

You need not ever know my name
This unknown soldier seeks no fame

I'm here to bring out thought from you
May your heart see more than your view

America, we marched with pride
We gave our life, for you we died

How well we knew the time might come
When life could sound that final drum

Please think of us as life moves on
We tried so hard till that last dawn

Do let our spirit fill the land
Pass treasured freedom, hand to hand

God blessed this country with such love
Hold in your heart, abundance of

And when you stand before my grave
Think not of one, but each who gave

Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holiday!
Creativity Bugs ~ Sandy and Sue 

Friday, May 27, 2011

Recipe Friday: Greek Chicken


Lemon is widely grown all over the world and found in abundance in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mexico and West Indies. Unripe lemons are green in color and when they mature, the color chances to a deep yellow. Lemon is a must in the kitchen, whether for cooking or using as a household natural cleaning product.


Today's recipe uses lemons and oregano to make a fabulous rub on chicken. You can either grill it on an outdoor or indoor grill and serve it will a nice fresh salad to complete the meal.

Greek Chicken 


Ingredients
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
5 teaspoons grated lemon rind
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon water
2 garlic cloves, minced
Cooking spray
4 lemon wedges
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Preparation
Prepare grill.
Place each chicken breast half between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap, and pound to 1/4-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
Combine lemon rind and next 6 ingredients (through minced garlic); rub evenly over both sides of chicken. 
Place chicken on a grill rack coated with cooking spray, and grill 3-5 minutes on each side or until chicken is done.
Remove from heat. Squeeze 1 lemon wedge evenly over each chicken breast half. Sprinkle parsley evenly over chicken.

Greek farmers' salad: 
Combine 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, and 2 minced garlic cloves, stirring with a whisk. Combine 3 cups coarsely chopped English cucumber, 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes, 1 cup chopped yellow bell pepper, 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion, and 1/4 cup halved kalamata olives. Drizzle dressing over salad, toss to coat. Serve with lemon wedges.

Happy Friday!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Tuesday Tutorial: candles, business card holders, and a necklace

I don’t have any personal tutorials to show today as I have been job hunting and interviewing. However, I didn't want to disappoint anyone so I have included a few links to other blogs that I found some great tutorials.

Pebbles Inc has a tutorial on how to make a candle decoration with rolled flowers which I think would look wonderful as part of a table centerpiece.


Dee from Create! with Dee has a tutorial on how to make tea light cakes using battery operated tea lights. This are simply adorable and would make great party decorations for a special birthday celebration.


Michelle at I Stamped That has a tutorial on business card holders. Perfect to display on a reception desk or at craft fairs.


Simply Modern Mom has a tutorial on glass pendant necklaces. Who could have imaged that a little bit of Modge Podge, some glass tiles, and beautiful papers could turn out like this?!


Hope you enjoyed these tutorials and have fun making a few new projects!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Monday, May 23, 2011

Featured Freebies for the Week of May 25th

Happy Monday to Everyone!

Here are this week's digital stamps and images that we found on blogs, websites, or shared with us by friends and followers:

Fimolas Arts shares another adorable mole digi stamp called mole in a flowerpot

When the Scrap Hits the Fan shares a few sentiment digital stamps including Lov Ewe, Birthday, and Happiness

See My Crafts Digital Arts shares a gorgeous wedding cake digital image

Meljens Designs has a Hoorah sentiment digital image to share

Happy Crafting!
Creativity Bug ~ Sue