Monday, August 25, 2014

How To Repair a Broken Makeup Compact

As far as makeup is concerned, there is rarely nothing worse than dropping your favorite eyeshadow and watching it disintegrate into a powdery mess of color. You know from that moment that your makeup bag will carry a light dusting of Disco Gold and your fingers will be gilded every time to reach for the shadow. Fear not there is a way to fix it. And its actually pretty easy. 



Here's What You Gotta Have


  • Rubbing alcohol
  • The broken makeup and compact case you wanna repair ( duh)
  • A broad handled makeup brush 
  • A piece of paper








Here's What You Gotta Do:


On top of a piece of paper, use the handle of your makeup brush to crush the broken makeup into a fine powder. 


Fold the paper in half and use it to funnel the powder back into the original makeup case.



Put the filled compact back on top of the pace to keep the repair area clean. 




Add enough alcohol to the powder to create a thick paste. 
Exact measurements are not important here but remember 
the more alcohol you use the longer it will take the makeup to dry.





Use the end of the brush to smooth out the paste and let the makeup air dry.
Depending on the humidity in your home, the dry times will very. 
My powder took about 5 hours to dry completely but I live in Arizona. 






Voila!





Life Is Delicious...Go Taste It!


Monday, August 18, 2014

Honey Baked Sriracha Tofu

Just because I don't like to eat meat doesn't mean I can't appreciate a great meat based dish. After all, rarely is it the meat that makes a dish smell and look amazing. It's the spices, marinades and rubs that make the dish truly special. So I am not afraid to admit that this dish was inspired by an amazing looking meat dish I came across on Pinterest. The Pin lead me to The Recipe Diaries which featured Baked Sriracha Honey Wings. The ingredients list was full of the stuff dreams are made of. Well, it did have sriracha and lime, and that is what my dreams are made of.  I said aloud, "I'm gonna make that with tofu". And I did. And it was amazing!
For the first time in 5 years I actually purchased real butter for another recipe. I have tons of it left over so it seemed like a great time to make use of it. Veganize this dish by simply using a non-dairy butter substitute.
I also used a great product to flavor the tofu called Not Chick'n. It is a chicken-esque flavored bouillon cube that it perfect for flavoring soups, broths, and tofu. It's completely vegan and adds a great complex flavor to dishes. I found mine at the local Frye's in the natural foods section, but it can be ordered online here. 








Here's What You Need:
  
  • 15 oz Extra firm tofu
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 cube of Not Chick'n seasoning cube or a vegetable bouillon cube
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • Sesame seeds, for garnish

Glaze
  • 5 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ¼ cup Sriracha
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons of lime juice
 Here's What You Gotta Do:
 
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly coat a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. 
  1. Press the block of tofu for 15 to 20 minutes. * 
  1. In a small bowl, mix the butter, vegetable oil, garlic powder, and Chick’n bouillon cube together until the bouillon is dissolved. 
  1. Cut the pressed tofu into ¼ inch slices. Place the wings in the pan and pour the butter mixture on top. Gently move the tofu pieces around to coat them evenly with the sauce.
  1. Arrange the tofu in a single layer in the pan and bake for 25 minutes. Turn the Tofu over and cook for and additional 10 minutes. 
  1. While the tofu is baking, melt the butter in a small sauce pan over a low-medium heat. When the butter is melted, whisk in flour. 
  1. Whisk in Sriracha, honey, soy sauce and limejuice. Bring to a light boil then remove from heat.
  1. When the tofu is finished baking, take it out of the oven and immediately pour the glaze on top, gently turning the tofu pieces over to coat. 
  1. Top the tofu with the cilantro and sesame seeds.






Fresh Chopped Cilantro









This sauce is the stuff dreams are made of. 
























* The process of pressing tofu is used to get as much of the water the tofu is packaged in out. I press my tofu by taking the tofu out of the plastic container and sitting it on top of several paper towels. I put the package on top of the tofu and put a heavy can inside. I let it sit for 20 minutes to an hour, changing the paper towels out every 15 minutes or so. 








Life Is Delicious....Go Taste It!

Monday, August 11, 2014

How to Protect Your Costume Jewelry


Costume jewelry is a fun and inexpensive way to add some jazz to any outfit. However custome jeewlry is ususally made of plated metals and will fade. I got tired of watching my favorite pieces fade to an undesirable shade of blah, so I started protecting my tiny investments with a clear coat of Modge Podge. Check out the instructions below.




Here's What You Gotta Have:
  • A wire hanger
  • Tape ( Pictured here is painters tape, but I'd Imagine any tape will do)
  • Pliers
  • Clear acrylic sealer or clear spray paint 









Here's What You Gotta Do: 





Use the pliers to undo the area where the hanger wire connects. 
Then create a small hook on the end opposite the larger, already existing, hook.  







Tear the tape into various sized pieces to accommodate various sized jewelry.







Place the jewelry on the hanger in between the tape to prevent the jewelry from drying stuck together. 
Connect the two hooks of the hanger. 






Hang the jewelry hanger in a well ventilated area and spray a thin even coat of the sealer on the jewelry using a sweeping motion.

Note: I used matte clear acrylic sealer  because the jewelry I was protecting had a brushed metal finish. 
I use the regular clear sealer on shiney items. 







Let the first coat dry according to the sealant instructions
 and apply a second coat for extra protection. 
Let the jewelry dry completely according to the sealant instructions before wearing. 



Enjoy your beautiful baubles!







Life Is Delicious... Go Taste It!


Monday, August 4, 2014

Toostie Roll & Bit-O-Honey Fudge aka "Obama Fudge"

Nothing says I love you like homemade sweet treats, except maybe a diamond ring, and a new pair of shoes. So when my super amazing and supportive cousin was feeling down, I knew it was time to fire up the burners for some good old fashion love in a pot. I don't like chocolate myself, but these were not for me and I know that my sugar toothed relative would appreciate the sacrifice involved in whipping up these fudge bites ( I don't even like the smell of chocolate really). I have lovingly nicknamed these bars my Obama Bars, they remind me of Michelle and Barack side by side looking like the sweetest bits of  classic Americana.


Happy Birthday Mr. President!




Heres What You Need:


Toostie Roll Layer of Fudge:
  • 24 tootsie Roll Midgees
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoon Peanut Butter
  • 1 1/4 tablespoon Milk
  • 1 3/4 Cup Confectioners sugar (store bought or make your own*)


Bit - O- Honey Layer of Fudge:
  • 24 Bit-O-Honey Small Bites
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon butter
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoon Peanut Butter
  • 2 tablespoon Milk
  • 1 3/4 Cup Confectioners sugar 
  • Sliced Almonds ( Optional)

Here's What You Gotta Do:

  1. Cover and 8 inch x 8 inch baking dish in Aluminum Foil, lightly oil the pan and set aside.
  2. In a heavy bottom pot melt together the tootise rolls, butter, peanut butter and milk over a low heat. Stir mixture constantly to avoid burning the fudge before the ingredients melt.
  3. When the the candy mixture is melted and smooth, ( about 5 minutes) slowly add the sugar in 1/2 at a time. Stir well until all of the sugar is melted and the fudge mixture is smooth
  4. Spread the Tootsie roll fudge in the prepared dish, this is your bottom layer. Set pan aside.
  5. In the same clean pot or another heavy bottomed pot melt togehter the Bits-O-Honey, butter, peanut butter and milk over a low heat. Stir mixture constantly to avoid burning the fudge before the ingredients melt. The Bit-O- Honey will take about 5 minutes more than the tootsie rolls, be patient its so worth the added trouble.
  6. When the the candy mixture is melted and smooth, slowly add the sugar in 1/2 at a time. Stir well until all of the sugar is melted and the fudge mixture is smooth.
  7. Spread the Bit-O-Honey  fudge in the prepared dish, this is your top layer.
  8. Press the sliced almonds into the fudge and let the fudge cool.
  9. Once cool, take the foil out of the pan and cut the fudge into what ever shape you choose.
  10. If you will not be serving immediately, make sure to store the fudge in a airtight container.









Classic Candies










* After mixing in the homemade powdered sugar. 

Find out how to make powdered sugar in a pinch in the post called "Confectioner's Sugar in a Pinch- DIY Your Own"










The first layer of Tootsie Roll fudge spread out in the baking pan. 










Showing the second layer of "Bit-O-Honey" Fudge smoothed out and topped with sliced almonds.









The sweet brown layers reminded me of Mr. and Mrs. President, 
side by side, making the world a better place. 
The nuts, well you can't be a politician without dealing with a few nuts. 














Okay so I did pinch off pieces of the Bits-O-Honey layer. 
Don't judge me it looked so good!











Care packaged and ready to go!















Life is Delicious...Go Taste It!