Throwing Some scraps Around Inspiration And A Freebie

Hey there, Happy Scrappers!

Throwing Some Scraps Around is back in action and creating as wonderfully as usual.  It's so fantastic of Jody to continually let me play with her kits and give you FREEBIES, don'cha think?!  Not to mention how insanely inexpensive her kits are.  Click on this image of her new kit and go see what I'm talking about, AFTER you've check out the inspiration and grabbed your freebie!

Here, you have how I started with this kit.  These colours matched my favourite, Spanish dress perfectly!  Yay!  Hehehe...  Now, take note of the cluster on top.  Not bad, right?!

Ya better hope not, because it's your FREEBIE!  Hehehe...It's a cropped cluster.  Something totally different.  Now, you may be asking yourself, "What on earth am I supposed to do with this?!"  I've got you covered, of course!  Silly!  Look below at the next two layouts.  I used this cluster in both.  In the last one, it's ALL I used!

Go BIG and bad with your clusters!  With good quality products like you get from TSSA, you can totally do this, right?!  Switch it up by doing a horizontal or vertical swap.

This freebie is no longer available.

Feel free to breeze through older blogs for mega freebies, visit my FB Page where I post dozens of freebies daily or my Pinterest Boards where you can find even more inspiration and free stuff.  Doesn't that sound great?!  So come on!  Do it!!!!  Hehehe...  Pushy, little critter, eh?!

There is another freebie available over on Jodi's blog, too!  Head over there and get it while the get'nz good!

Thanks for hanging out with The Cherry!  Make sure ya do it, again!

Week #27 Menu Planner From TCOT

Welcome to Week #27!

I'm changing it up a bit just to try something different.  I get bored easily and that's why I make so many kinds of different foods.  Chinese, Italian, Mexican, American, Belgian, Spanish...It's all very good! OK, you won't find too much Scandinavian or English fare here because lets' face it, I'm just not THAT brave.  Hehehe...

Meatless Monday:  Leek and Potato Soup

I just whipped up some hardy, leek and potato soup. It took me 8 minutes to prep it.  OK, it's not faster than opening a can or bottle and pouring it in the pot, but EIGHT minutes?!  That's pretty darn good and I'm a terrible chopper!  Hehehe...  With soup, you can go big.  I chopped 3 leek, 4 potatoes (peeled), a small onion and 3 smaller gloves of garlic.  I sautéed the garlic, onion and leek for about five minutes in some olive oil and butter, then added the potatoes, salt, pepper, water (just until ingredients are nicely covered) and mixed, dried herbs.

There are a couple of good things about making your own soup.  Of course, you know everything thing that is going into it and all/most of it better be fresh food!  I like most of my food with hardly any salt, so that I can control by making it myself.  This soup, I like with a little more pepper than usual, too.  Everyone in my family likes their soup different.  Rrrr...  I like mine big and chunky, like a stew.  My hubby and kids prefer their soup Belgian style, which is completely processed.  With this recipe, I dished out some before zapping it with my staff mixer.  You can also add a touch of creme to it if someone prefers and if you do a taste and think it's bland, then add a couple of pinches dried bouillon.  Mmmm...

Another thing you can do is dump all of the above ingredients (except the creme) into your slow cooker and let it sit all day.  Then prepare it to your preference when you get home.

If soup just isn't enough, consider some fresh baked bread with soft herb cheese.  Yummy!

Tuesday:  salmon (fish) rice n' veg

I didn't get around to making the salmon last week, but it was on promotion today at the store and I'll be get'n that ready for tomorrow.  You can follow last weeks recipe, which was a ginger and sesame salmon or make something completely different.  Serve it with quinoa or rice and a steamed veggie of your choice.  I've got recipes for both of these side in other menu's.

Wednesday:  pork chops and a salad with mixed greens

I bought a kick @ss pork chop.   That's right!  Just one!  It's absolutely enormous and enough to feed all four of us.  Daily requirements of meat are actually a lot lower than what most people think.  (3x 3 ounce meat servings a day is all ya need.)  The only way I like my pork chops are grilled or baked in the oven.  I bought a couple kinds of lettuce that I'll chop up with tomatoes, shredded carrots, cucumbers and maybe a little bit of shredded cheese.  Add croutons if you like and your favourite dressing.  I love balsamic with olive oil and herbs.

I've got a recipe hooked up for you.  Click the image and follow the link to a fantastic way to prepare your chops before they hit the grill!

Thursday:  lamburger Greek dish

I love lamb.  If it ain't yo' thang, then use regular hamburger.  Try to get it as lean as you can and watch out for grease.  Lamb is especially greasy!  So hold off on the olive oil a bit.  I've got my own recipe somewhere on here, but I found another one that is really similar to mine.  I do NOT use cinnamon even though it's super healthy.  I only like it with sweet stuff and my husband cannot stand it.  If you don't know about all of the health benefits of cinnamon, you may want to read about it.  Especially, in the case of diabetes!  I also really like peppers in this as well as egg plant, but you don't have to put those in there.  Click on the image, below and see how easy it is to make this fabulous meal.  I also use lamburger because it's a fraction of the cost of lamb cut any other way.

Fun Food Friday:  chicken enchiladas

Another thing I bought today was ground chicken.  You could totally use it for chicken enchiladas.  It will cook up in a snap and you won't have to shred it.  There are so many fantastic recipes for enchiladas.  I was drooling over at Pinterest!  This one is so easy, it comes with directions and a video, too.  Click on the link and see how easy enchiladas are to make.  You may be surprised!  Look for other lovely sides for this like refried beans, salsa, guacamole and Mexican rice.  I've linked up these sides up to my all time favourite recipes.

I'm gonna warn ya, here.  If you make this entree and the sides using the recipes above, you and your family may never want to go to a restaurant for this, again.  It's really THAT good!

Saturday: mini turkey meat balls in a creamy sauce

More promotions at the store today.  Something new, mini turkey meat balls.  I plan on sautéing them with mushrooms (huge chunks so I can swim around them for the kids), onions, garlic, salt, pepper and then melting in some cream cheese.  That's it!  Serve it over potatoes, rice or pasta.  This meal might take 10 minutes to make, depending on the starch you choose.

Sunday:  spekske sauce

That's right!  This is something I ate growing up in a Pennsylvania German household.  In America, we call it bacon dressing.  In Belgium it's a super popular dish called spekske saus.  I was shocked to see it here and to find there was only ONE ingredient different.  Wow!

I now have a mission!  To make the recipe, take photos and supply you with that because all of the recipes I went through are not nearly as healthy and delicious as my own.  Hehehe...  This one was the closest I could find.  I do not use celery (because we just don't like it).  I would NEVER use sugar. Eeeew!  Since you are using the totally recommended apple cider vinegar, that's sweet enough!  I used to use other vinegars, but apple cider vinegar is way, way better.  I make mine with potatoes for a fuller meal and I use the water from there to make my sauce.   You can choose any type of green that you like as well. 

So, I made you a menu this week from all of the things I just purchased at the grocers which is the opposite way than how I normally do it!  LOL!

I hope you enjoy your meals this week.  See ya next Monday!

TCOT Weekly Menu Planner #26

Welcome to The Cherry On Top's Weekly Menu Planner!

I've been researching the Paleo diet and have found it very interesting for our family.  My hubby is a heart patient, both my boys have Autism and I've always had digestion issues, so I thought I might take on some of the ideas from this diet.  

It certainly hasn't been easy and a lot of peeps are not at all into this kind of eating.  So far, my two issues are, I'm ALWAYS hungry and that's because of number 2 reason.  I always feel like I'm in the kitchen preparing or cooking.  I really feel it's just a matter of making it routine and I've had few digestive issues since I started even though I haven't gone hog wild.

I actually feel a bit guilty about sharing recipes that totally goes against, what seem to be good reasons for cutting particular food out of our diet.  I'll put in a couple of notes and links to explain or replace some ingredients that ya may want to try illuminating from your cabinet/fridge.

Meatless Monday: Salad  Yip!  I really love this blog that this recipe is hooked up to.  Head over and check out how to prepare this yummy, filling salad or make a salad that your family can sink their teeth into.  Of course you can add some prosciutto, ham or chicken!  (Paleo Tip, no beans.  If you were like myself and thought that beans/legumes were good for us, read here.)

Tuesday:  Monterrey Chicken and these awesome baked fries

I would eat just these two and lay it out over a nice mix of salad greens, like rucola. One of my favourite.  (Click here to get the skin about potatoes and why you might consider cutting them out.  Especially, if you are diabetic.)

 

Wednesday:  Linguini Rosa and shrimp

I'll be whipping up this recipe with a lot less dairy and quinoa or rice pasta.

Thursday:  sesame ginger salmon 

I'll be enjoying some rice and carrots with this salmon.

Fun Food Friday:  Burgers, Baby!  Check out this amazing page full of awesome burger ideas and head to the site for more details.  It's pretty funny.

I leave out the bread and cheese and turn these into a big chopped salad that is more Paleo friendly.

Saturday:  sausage, mashed potatoes, veg

I make sausage on my grill pan with peppers and mushrooms.  No onions for me, but you can throw them in there as well.  My boys love mashed potatoes, so I'll whip some up without milk because I'll be having gravy to serve with it.  Choose a family favourite vegetable or try something new.  (If you want to go Paleo, you'll have to rethink those potatoes.  Instead of cutting them out, I'm cutting way back to once or twice a week.)

Sunday:  Rustic Italian Beef Ragu

Get that crock pot out and give yourself a break on Sunday!  Have the kids set the table and clean up. Hehehe...Serve this with bread, pasta, rice, potatoes or wrap it in some lettuce.

If you want a handy place to write out your weekly menu, then click on the below image to print this out and get some ideas.

You're set!  Enjoy your meals this week.

Free Lego Goodies and Ideas

 A super, happy day to you!

Since there is little reaction in Liam's class when it comes to outside of school, I often arrange mini parties.  We had an awesome Lego party last year, just for the fun of it and I'll be doing it again, in a couple of weeks or sooner.

I got to thinking of this great kit I just worked with from Boomer's Girl Designs.  It's perfect for this party!  I might make a few more things for those who are coming.  Maybe some book markers or cup cake toppers.  If I do, I'll be back with those as well.

These lovely items will be FREE for two weeks and then they are going in the shop.  So do not delay.  Download today!  Hehehe...

Here's the layouts I made with the kit.  There is also a girlie Lego kit, too!

Really fun, right?!  Fabulous colours and cute kids, too!  If you want to scrap your own layouts or make your own party stuff with this great kit, then just click on the image and it will take you to the store where you can purchase it.

I created these invitations on a 12x12 and measured them to fix on a 6x6 space.  Make sure your printer is all set to print properly.  You can either turn the image so that you can type your information in or write it in.

Click on this image to go to my TOTALLY AWESOME LEGO blog.  I've got tons or FREE printables there and a lot of fun ideas for your party.

Click on this image to see how I deal with the Lego Land of the Lost.

I hope you enjoyed today's blog and that you'll come back again for more of....well, just about everything!  I invite you to scroll through previous blog entries where you'll find a ton of FREE stuff and inspiration of all kinds.

Tah!

Week #25 Menu Planner From TCOT

Welcome to the Cherry On Top's weekly menu planner!

Have ya started planning your meals?!  You did?  Great!  You didn't?!  Well, get started today because there's no time like the present.  Save yourself time, money, hassle and eat better with these relatively simple and fast meals.

Meatless Monday: pasta n' pumpkin

Mmmmm...Pasta, pumpkin and sage are perfect for meatless Monday and for this time of year.  I've got two pumpkins ready for eat'n, right outside  my kitchen door.  There are so many things you can make with pumpkin and a lot of kids and peeps like pumpkin.  Although, sometimes ya have to slip it under the rug if ya know what I mean.  Click on this fabulous image and grab the recipe and start your ingredient list for shopping.  

Tip:  If you want to add meat, then try some prosciutto or bacon julienne style!.

Tuesday:  fish, chutney and veggies

This is a Paleo style meal if you minus the sugar which I always do.  Yuck!  I mean, isn't mango sweet enough?!  Anyway...Take a good look at the image.  This lovely fish and chutney is resting on a lovely salad.  Try to ditch the thought that we HAVE to have a starch with our meal.  It ain't easy!

Wednesday:  Ranch chicken tacos

This meal is border line genius with the rotisserie chicken choice.  Makes your cooking time null if you're going to pick it up on the way home.  Otherwise, use some ground chicken or grill some chicken on your grill pan and shred it up.  You may need a bit of time for getting out all of those yummy toppings, but there's no cooking.

Thursday:  smoked salmon sandwiches with spinach or argula and mascarpone

The name is the recipe here, folks.  You won't find anything more than that.  I've got a couple of tips for you.  I love using garlic and herb cream cheese with my salmon sandwiches and if possible, use fresh baked bread. 

Fun Food Friday:  Hot wings, Baby!

Well, what do ya know?!  I've even got Hooters on my blog today!  Something for everyone!  Hehehe...  I've been making my own hot wings for nearly two decades and since I'm raised a Florida girl, I love Hooters style wings.  Enjoy this awesome recipe and one of my favourites! Tips:  Just a few more for this one.  My hubby grills our wings then shakes them up in the sauce.  No fat, no flour. You can also fry in coconut oil for a much healthier choice.

Serve up your wings with some delicious fries and a raw veggie platter with the family's favourite dip'n sauce.  My hubby can't have wings without his blue cheese dressing.  I make it from scratch and it's really easy.  Click here for the recipe.

Saturday:  BLT's

For my European and non US fans, a BLT is a sandwich.  Typically, consisting of bacon,lettuce and tomatoes.  However, there are so many different ways to make them.  Some swear by toast (Yes, please!).  Some like it on fresh bread.  You can add avocado, egg salad, cheese....I've got ya hooked up to Southern Living where they have 17 different version of this American classic.  I also did a search on Pinterest and found some more mazing alternatives!

Sunday:  Grill it up!

We are serious grilling people.  If we've got a bit of extra time, my hubby is out there firing up the grill.  I love that!  The mess is outside.  There are hardly any dishes and clean up is a breeze.  For me!!!  LOL!  I thought this steak looked awesome.  When you click on the link it will take you to a simple recipe that you could also use your grill pan for.  Check all 17 recipes out until you find the one you like.  

Gee!  3 pm already?!  I've gotta go grab the kids from school.  Get your lists ready for the grocer's and enjoy your week's meals!

Happy Birthday To The Studio And Presents

Hey there, Fans and Friends of The Cherry!

I've got a little something different for you, today!

I headed over to check out The Studio's Birthday Bash celebration and jumped right into this challenge from ADB.   There are so many FREE goodies over there.  You won't believe your eyes.  I picked up two FREE mini's and went to town on my quick page.   I added a bit of CU items I purchased from The Studio, previously.  This is the result.  You may download if for nut'n over at The Studio by clicking on the image.  When ya get there, click on the hi-lighted word "Freebie".

WAIT!  The fun doesn't stop there.  Nor do the FREEBIES!  Some of these have been taken down by now.

Here's a look at the palette and an example of a FREE mini.  Fabulous, right?!

I am NO designer, but I do love to play.  I whipped up another special goody, keeping this challenge in mind, especially, for my blog fans.  Have at it!

THIS IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

If you are here for the FREEbies, then you MUST head over to my Facebook Page and grab three more, fabulous FREEBIES I have over there.  

Scroll through past Cherry blog entries and see all of the other free stuff you can add to your Digi Stash.

Thanks for hit'n up The Cherry On Top!  Do it again!!!

TCOT's Weekly Menu Planner #24

Welcome To The Cherry On Top!

Back in the saddle this week with some totally awesome recipes and helpful, FREE printables that will make your life even easier still.  I've teamed up with my girl Raquel from Boutique Cute Dolls.  She's a designer over there and a recent kit of her, Things Cooking was just what I needed for today's blog handy helper!

First!  The menu for this week.

Meatless Monday:

Ravioli in a fresh tomato sauce is at the top of my favourites list.  If you don't want to do the meatless thing, then buy some raviolis with meat in them.  Solved!  Fresh pasta cooks under 5 minutes and it exceeds dried pasta by far when it comes to flavour and health.  Buy the best canned, diced tomatoes you can buy for a recipe like this or use your fresh ones from the garden.  As if?!  (My pa-la totally sets me up with his delicious, organic veggies.   Mega score!)  Sautee some chopped garlic and onions in a couple of tables spoons olive oil, add your tomatoes and herbs of your choosing, let it heat through and BAM!  It's ready!  Of course, you can go with a jarred version, but Boo!  There's almost always sugar in there and all kinds of other ingredients that are not good for you.  Yuck!

Oh!  Don't be afraid of that olive oil either.  It is really good for you. I often drizzle a little olive oil over the top of my dish right before serving because uncooked olive oil has even more health benefits than cooked!  This recipe is perfect.  Click on the image to get it.

Tuesday:

Quesedillas are a kids favourite.  The variety is absolutely amazing!  The way you cook them also.  These are not known here in Belgium, but when I serve them, they ask for the recipe and typically make them for their own families.  My hubby and I like shrimp on ours, the kids like just cheese or some sliced sandwich chicken or ham on their.  You can pan them up for a couple of minutes on each side or throw them puppies in the over for 10 minutes if you don't wanna dirty the stove.

There are very little dishes and the cooking itself also uber short!  Garnish with some sour cream, sambal, green onions, salsa, guacamole....unbelievable, right?!

Wednesday:

Big Salad with Fresh Tuna.  This could be your flex day if your too busy to cook up something for the Fam or you have some left overs around, but we will be enjoying a big ole fresh salad from the last of summer's goodies and grilling up a tuna steak to go with it.  have you ever had FRESH TUNA?!  OMG!!  I've only had it very recently, but, Man!  That stuff is good!  That crap in the can can't compare.  It's really expensive here, but in some places like Spain, it's very affordable.  I buy it when I see it on promotion, which ain't often!

Use THIS recipe.  There are some many recipes where they marinate the tuna!  Hello?!  Fresh tuna is so gosh darn delicious, you DON'T have to marinade it?!

I've been researching the Paleo Diet for a ton of different reasons and I'm thinking about taking on the challenge.  The above meal if Paleo perfect!  Delicious fish filled with Mega Healthy Omega 3 and all the other fabulous minerals, fiber, vitamins from our salad will give us an awesome healthy kick!

Thursday:  

Slow cooker ribs, Baby!

Get out your flow cooker.  Slice up some onions, place them on the bottom, place your ribs on top of the onions, pour over your favourite BBQ sauce and head off to work.  When ya get home, you'll think you're in a restaurant.  Heat up a can of corn or even better some corn on the cobb.  It's ready in a mere 10 minutes!  That's it.  It's all ya need.

Doy ou know the Six Sisters?  Fabulous recipes, my friends and fans.  Check out their recipe for ribs. (The link wasn't working at the time.  So, I'm giving the Pinterest link. I'm sure it will be fixed soon.)

Fun Food Friday:

Pizza is back on the list!  It has been way too, long.  I'll be looking into Paleo versions of this for our family, but I'll set you up with a traditional recipe.  Buying the packaged, ready to go crust isn't such a sin if  you don't do it too, often.  I never like the taste of if though.  Use a tortilla if you have some left over.  My boys love pizza on a tortilla and they love helping to make pizza crust.  Most of the time I make it from scratch and sometimes I make it in the bread machine.  I used to think it was quite some work until I made it a couple of times.  The longest part is the rising time, but by the time the oven is ready, all of your toppings are laid out and ya finish that delicious aperitif, it should be about ready!  Ha!

I've got ya totally set up with this link from the image above.  FIVE different varieties of pizza dough making AND a VIDEO.  Thanks to the Food Network Blog.

Saturday:

A Greek Gyro Platter is on tap for today.  I can't get a gyro here, in Belgium.  They have kebab, but it's not nearly as good.  So, as usual, I have to make the darn thing myself.  Since I'm trying to eliminate grains, I won't even bother with a wrap or pita.  I'll be just diving into the meat and veggies.  I love Feta and I know I'll be eventually giving up the dairy, too, but one thing at a time, Man!

When you click on the above image, you'll swept away to my recipe box at AllRecipes.  They use beef for this recipe, but I use lamb.  Awesome!  You could also use chicken if you prefer or no meat at all!

Sunday:

Paella is up for dins tonight.  Let that sucker simmer all evening then dig in or whip up a speedy version.  There are so many varieties of paella out there.  

You are gonna wanna thank me for this recipe.  I often do a quicker version with a lot less seafood, but we do exactly this one for a very special occasions.  Take time on Sunday to be in the kitchen and around the table with your loved ones.

I promised you something special today.  Here's your menu planner that I designed with Boutique Cute Doll's fun digital scrapbooking it, "Things Cooking".

You can print it out and laminate it, magnetise it to your fridge, then use a dry erase marker.  I will be framing it and using a fry erase marker directly on the glass.  Simply right click and download to your computer.  

I've also designed a handy dandy grocery list and mini planner for you to take to the grocers!  Click on the image below and check out my my girl's Kel blog where you can find it and download it, too. Please share the links with your friends and family and not the download itself.  These were meant for your enjoyment and we sure do appreciate the traffic on our blogs.  It's a great way to say thanks.  These are also NOT for resale.  Duh, right?!  Hehehe...(No longer available.)

Thanks for hanging out at The Cherry.  Enjoy your weeks worth of fabulous food!