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BLOGS

Oftentimes? Amazing Creations Blogs

people think the best part of being a craft blogger must be being creative all day. And, we’re not going to lie, that is pretty awesome. But, do you know what we REALLY love? The messages that drop into our inbox or DM’s telling us how we inspired them to create and enabled them to try something new. Every time we get one of these notes, we jump up and dance! Making an impact is just as important to me as making a profit. Next time you create something, please don’t hesitate to show us!

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

Picture this: You’re drinking your favorite wine, enjoying your favorite Netflix show, wearing your favorite t-shirt, and then it happens. You spill that wine on your shirt and ruin it! Luckily, you’ve got all the arts and crafts necessary to turn this bad situation into a good one. All you’ll need is a tie-dye kit, Cricut, vinyl, heating press, and heating press pillow, to turn your shirt into a unique statement piece. Don’t forget to make it your own!

Next time you can’t get a stain out of a clothing item, remember this post!

Fall Painting on Canvas

by AMZ-admin November 8, 2021

written by AMZ-admin

Fall painting

‘Painting’ and ‘relief’ are two words that complement each other in the best way; In addition to that, the fall season creates a very good ambiance that will make you want to paint something to express the mesmerizing scene as a fall painting.

‘Fall’ stands for all the yellowish ending of life. However, you can see fall in another perspective too. The end of a day is yellow, so is the sun, hence yellow can be beautiful. The fall season can be beautiful too. Take some brushes and acrylic colors, portray the beautiful yellowish vibe around you in a piece of canvas and let it bring optimistic feelings inside you.

Abstract painting

What comes to your mind when you see the leaves falling from trees, all yellow and dull? Isn’t it wonderful and sometimes deadly? Painting is a very effective way to express what your mind thinks. The yellow vibe around this fall gives a very strange out worldly feeling. Abstract painting is a part of modern art and it has no rules to follow.

Whatever your mind thinks or feels, just paint it on a canvas with some strokes. Use oil color or acrylic color to depict the pictures you see in your mind as a fall painting.

Just like the picture above with different shades of colors, and an abstract painting impersonates the mental state of the artist in a very different way of representation. You can try these as fall paintings.

Painting on canvas — *Water Fall* **Painted by Fiza Maryam**

The fall season can also be expressed through natural scenes. You may dive into nature and its components to decorate your canvas.

Paint as much as you can and hang your works on the wall. How do you feel? Isn’t it amazing?

November 8, 2021 0 comment

Two Halva desserts for the upcoming Thanksgiving

BLOGS Recipe

2 Halva desserts for Thanksgiving

by AMZ-admin October 30, 2021

written by AMZ-admin

Halva is known as one of the homey dessert. It can be a very special dessert to offer in the next Thanks giving. Dive in to these two recipes of Halva dessert and enjoy your Thanksgiving ceremony.

Two Halva desserts for the upcoming Thanksgiving Featured

Carrot Halva dessert

Ingredients:

Carrots: 250 gram
Sugar: 1½ cup
Cardamom: 2 to 3 pieces
Melted butter: ¼ cup
Powdered milk: 2 table spoon

Two Halva desserts for the upcoming Thanksgiving 1

Procedure

Wash and cut fresh carrots into small pieces; then boil those in water.
Blend the boiled carrots.
Take melted butter in a hot pan and add cardamom with blended carrots in it.
Mix well and stir in low flame.
Stir from time to time and do not let the mixture to get stuck with the pan.
When the mixture becomes oily and paste-like consistency then stop stirring and add powdered milk.
Again stir until the paste is dense.
Turn off the flame.
Take a dish and brush some oil on it. Put the carrot paste into the dish and tap the mixture with a spatula to make the surface plain. Let it cool down. Now cut the carrot halva into any shape and add almond or pistachios to decorate on top of it. The dessert is ready.

Two Halva desserts for the upcoming Thanksgiving 2

Coconut Halva dessert

Ingredients:

Shredded coconut: 2 cups
Sugar: 2 cups
Cardamom: 2 to 3 pieces
Dried bay leaf: 1 piece
Powdered milk: 2 tbsp

Procedure

Take sugar, shredded coconut, bay leaf and cardamom in a hot pan and mix well. Stir until the sugar is thickened. Add powdered milk and stir again until the mixture is sticky.

Take a dish and brush with melted butter and then put the mixture before it cools. Tap on the mixture and shape its surface into plain with spatula and let it cool down. Cut into pieces and add cashew nuts on top of it to decorate. Coconut Halva is ready.

Serve these two special desserts with other dishes and have a nice ceremony!

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October 30, 2021 0 comment

BLOGS Arts and Crafts

Make crafts with unused papers

by AMZ-admin October 30, 2021

written by AMZ-admin

Paper Craft, is a craft using unused papers like old newspapers. Newspapers are one of the daily necessities of your life. Though daily news is easily found online, many prefer reading newspapers in hand. So, every day these papers pile up at home and are thrown away or sold out when creating a mess. Why not make some amazing crafts with these papers? Here is a brilliant way to reuse your daily newspapers to make something that is needed by Paper Crafts.

Flour

Flour is a very common cooking ingredient that you use to make different bread items and snacks at home. Have you ever thought to use it in making crafts?

Newspapers

Newspapers and flours are a very good combination. Here are some ways of how flour is surprisingly helpful to combine with newspapers in making crafts.

Flour and newspapers

Ingredients for Paper Crafts

Take 5 to 10 newspapers or more as needed. Then split it and tear it into small pieces. Then add some water to let it soak in it. When the papers are damp, make them as a paste with hands. Make sure not to add too much water.

The next ingredient is flour. Flour is a dry powder but when water is added, it becomes sticky. If you mix water in little portions with the flour, at one moment it will turn into a paste. It will feel like glue. So, take 3 to 4 cups of flour, mix water in small amounts to make glue-like consistency. Make sure not to add too much water to keep the paste gluey condition of the flour mixture.

Preparations for Paper Crafts

The next step is very interesting. Take the damp paper mixture and add the flour glue mixture with it. Mix with hands or spatula very well so that every portion has the glue. Now, you are ready to use this mixture to make anything that you wish.

Give shapes according to what you want to make. Suppose, to make a paintbrush holder, take some of the mixture and step by step give it a shape. Let the shape dry for two days or more. If the mixture has less water in it, it will dry in less time. Use hard paper or wooden sticks to give it a plain shape. After it dries up, use a base acrylic color, like white, and then paint it just like you want.

You may give circular, triangular, cubical, pentagonal, or hexagonal shapes. Before painting makes sure to let it dry fully. Otherwise, the dampness will affect you badly and your craft will not stay long.

Household small materials, like tools, small tables, spoon holders and many more can be made with this easy newspaper mixture.

Here is a model of a paintbrush holder made with flour and newspapers.

Two Sweet Things Recipe To Catch Your Taste Buds

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October 30, 2021 0 comment

BLOGS Recipe

Two Sweet Things Recipe to Catch Your Taste Bud

by AMZ-admin October 21, 2021

written by AMZ-admin

Holidays are coming with many occasions ahead. Friends and families will get together and crave some snacks. You may want to surprise them with some tasty uncommon food to eat. Here are two such recipes that will help you fill up your taste buds. These are Rice cake and Orange Tea.

Sweet Things: Rice cake and Orange tea Recipe

Rice is a very common item for Asians especially for the people of Bangladesh, India but it gives more energy to work. Though rice seems like something very plain as a food, it is sometimes magical when used in making desserts or snacks. Moreover, orange iced tea will add more taste to these amazing rice snacks. Dive into the recipes below, prepare the food, and let others taste your special homemade snacks. This Rice Cake is locally known as “Bhapa Pitha”. It is made mainly winter season with Sugar Cane Juice.

Rice cake

Ingredients:

Rice flour – 2 Cups
Lukewarm water – 3/4^th Cup
Grated coconut – As much as you need
Some salt to taste
Crushed jaggery

Procedure:

You need to follow three steps of the procedure to make this cake.

1. Prepare cake cloth:

Take water in a separate bowl and soak the cake cloth used to make the cake. It is a soft square shaped thin cotton cloth.
Repeat this each time you make the cake.
Squeeze the excess water before using the cloth.
This step helps the flour mix to not stick to the cake cloth.

2. Flour mixture:

Take a bowl and take rice flour with some salt in it.
Add water in little amounts at a time to dampen the flour. Make sure not to add much water so that it turns into dough. The flour only needs to damp.
Mix it well so all flour is moisture.
Keep it aside for 15 to 20 minutes.
Strain the flour with a strainer into another bowl and set it aside.

3. Steaming direction:

Fill 1/4^th of a large saucepan with water and cover it with a double layer of aluminum foil.
Make few holes at the center of the foil.
Cover the pan with lid and start boiling the water at medium heat.
Use any plastic cup to make your rice cake.
Fill the base of the cup with mixed flour then add a layer of crushed jaggery and grated coconut in between, then fill another layer of the flour.
Press the cake mix with hands to fit in the cup. It will help in setting the shape.
When the water is boiling, cover the cup with damp cake cloth,
Carefully flip over the cup and place it on top of the holes on the foil.
Close the lid of the pan and let it steam cook for 5 minutes.
When done, carefully place the cake on a plate unfolding the cake cloth. Repeat the same for next one.

Orange Tea

To prepare orange tea you may need its peel or its juice. Orange iced tea is perfect to combine with rice cakes and create a heavenly taste.

Ingredients:

Boiled water – 150 ml
Red tea leaves – 2 teaspoons
Orange peel (Dried) – 1 teaspoon
Sugar or honey as needed
Ice

Procedure:

Boil the water.
When the water is boiling, add the tea leaves and orange peels into it and keep it for 5 minutes. If you keep more than that, the tea may taste bitter.
Fill a glass with ice.
Strain the tea into the glass.
Add honey or sugar as needed and mix well.
Add ice cubes.

Do not miss testing Rice cake and Orange Tea.

Enjoy your evening snacks with rice cake and orange tea.

October 21, 2021 0 comment

BLOGS Arts and Crafts

Best Ideas for Crafting

by AMZ-admin October 14, 2021

written by AMZ-admin

2020 has been a difficult year, leaving us with little alternative to spending more time at home. As tough as the year has been, it has also provided us with unique opportunities. In addition to spending more time with our families, we have had more time to work on projects. And just as that is the forte of this blog, here is a list of DIY projects or Crafting Ideas you can start at home!

Knitting Crafting Ideas

Why it is great: It is no secret this is a craft passed down through the generations. That is because the items it creates can be worn for years after being made. Whether making scarves, gloves, or other clothing items, knitting offers a respite for the knitter. Just imagine sitting in front of the fireplace (or heater?) and knitting away.

How to begin: Under normal circumstances, joining a knitting group would be recommended. But we realize that with the current restrictions, watching instructive videos may be advisable.

Beadwork Crafting Ideas

Why it is great: Beadwork offers you a wide array of choices. The varieties of colors, textures, and objects you can create are limitless. An additional benefit is that unlike with say baking, you can undo your mistakes.

How to begin: It is very easy to begin, making this the perfect beginner craft. Just buy some beads, threads, and needles. Watch a video tutorial such as this.

Bath Bomb

Why it is great: Among the many reasons outlined in our tutorial, bathing in bomb-infused water provides the perfect relaxation after a long day. Essential oils are really beneficial here. The wide selection of ingredients leaves you with the chance to customize your bathing experience.

How to begin: Shameless plug: Our blog post includes a detailed yet concise tutorial.

Pottery

Why it is great: It demands your undivided attention, which means you can (or will have to) forget about your problems. Pottery has practically innumerable objects to create. So it really lets your creativity speak.

How to begin: Air dry clay is cost-effective and perfect for quick projects. Beginners can also make simpler objects like keychains or small containers.

Soap-Making

Why it is great: The flexibility of controlling the ingredients. Buying organic ingredients, controlling the ingredient proportions, and choosing your favorite scents are just a few examples of the freedom soap-making provides.

How to begin: There are many easy tutorials you can access online. Here is our recipe.

Jewelry-Making

Why it is great: Making your own precious jewelry allows you to customize. There are many materials, shapes, and sizes to fit your taste. Plus, this activity will save you money from buying store jewelry.

How to begin: You can find beginner’s level jewelry instructions online. Here is a guide I can recommend.

Miniatures

Why it is great: You can create your own worlds. Practically any object you imagine can have a miniature representation. From dollhouses to natural landscapes, the level of creativity this activity allows is potentially endless.

How to begin: Decide whether you will start from scratch or buy a kit. If you purchase a kit, then just follow the instructions. If not, list all the items necessary to complete the project and work on each component until it all comes together.

Embroidery

Why it is great: The design will be unique to your vision. It requires deep focus: flow, check! The outcome will be a beautiful decorative piece you can appreciate with pride.

How to begin: You can find step-by-step instructions on a website such as this. Just be sure to follow the instructions attentively and enjoy the tranquility.

Papercraft

Why it is great: You can create many two- or three-dimensional shapes. It is perfect for creating art with children, while also serving an educational function. Paper-crafting is also an inexpensive activity, so you can make mistakes along the way.

How to begin: Choose a project. Purchase the necessary material: typically paper, scissors, and glue. Create your masterpiece!

Customize T-Shirts Crafting Ideas

Why it is great: Transform your old t-shirts. You can create your own designs and cuts. This also allows you to take advantage of trends on the comeback such as tie-dye.

How to begin: Figure out what you would like to do and find an example online. If the project is more complicated, be sure to find a tutorial.

Final Words for Crafting Ideas

So hopefully we have covered at least a few crafts that piqued your interest. The most important step is to get started. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, as there is no perfection without practice. Once you get the hang of it, what awaits you is a pleasurable and rewarding experience. Furthermore, these activities can be therapy for the soul.

And in case you are an avid baker or would love to improve your ironing or heat pressing, our family is proud to offer Premium Teflon Sheets. Additionally, we offer hemp oil for pets to naturally calm your best friend.

Please visit us again for more content!

October 14, 2021 0 comment

BLOGS Recipe

Best DIY Soap Making Recipe

by AMZ-admin October 14, 2021

written by AMZ-admin

Soap Making: Today, we will be making our own bars of soap. While stores have large selections of soaps, there are benefits to undertaking DIY projects. The induction of the flow state and the feeling of accomplishment upon completion could be the most important. Plus, making our own soaps allow us to select the ingredients, scents, and colors to satisfy our preferences. This process may also benefit those with skin sensitivities because our soap recipe will be mild.

So now that we have the motivation, let us begin with the basics. Soap is made from a mixture of fat and alkali (lye). The source of the fat can be a plant (our choice!) or animal, while the alkali for our solid soap will be sodium hydroxide.

Note: Please keep in mind that while lye alone can be hazardous, we will take precautions (listed below), and the final product is not harmful. However, if you still have concerns, please reconsider. Read the disclaimer at the bottom of the page!

Supplies for Soapmaking

Slow cooker
Container (glass, steel, or plastic) for mixing oil and lye
- Must not be aluminum.
Container (glass, steel, or plastic) for measuring lye
Kitchen scale
Silicone spatula
Thermometer
Immersion Blender
Soap Molds

Supplies and Tips for Safety

Rubber or latex Gloves
Goggles
Ventilated area

Ingredients of soap making

20 ounces of coconut oil
10 ounces of olive oil
9 ounces of distilled water
4.78 ounces of 100% lye
Optional: Essential oils
Optional: Colorants

Before the preparation, it is crucial to know the amount of oil to lye ratio for safety. Excessive lye can be problematic. The proportion will vary depending on the oil you select, so I advise using the calculator here.

Directions for Soap Making

First and foremost, let us put on our safety gear. Start the slow cooker on the low setting.
Add the coconut oil to the slow cooker as it slowly melts.
In order to prepare the lye solution, add the prescribed amount into the container for measuring lye. Then pour the lye into the water as you are mixing the solution with the spatula. Note: Do not pour water into lye, as that can be hazardous. It must be the other way around.
The hot solution releasing fumes is normal. Just be sure that the room is ventilated and the solution is placed safely to the side to cool for 20 minutes.
Once the coconut oil has melted, you can add olive oil to it. Stirring here is a must!
You can now check the temperature of the oils. They will be ready for the next step at 120°F (49°C).
Slowly pour the lye solution into the slow cooker. Note: Be sure not to add the lye solution to hot oil (above 180°F (82°C)). As noted above, the temperature of the oil mixture should be around 120°F (49°C) for this step.
With the blender immersed in the slow cooker, activate slow blending. Be sure to make circular motions to also stir.
The blending and stirring should continue for 15-20 minutes, until the mixture has the appearance of pudding.
Now you can cover the slow cooker and allow it to cook for 50 minutes. Stir gently if you notice bubbles forming.
Turn off the slow cooker and wait until the temperature falls to 180°F (82°C). Now, you can add any colorants or essential oils.
Finally, pour the mixture into your soap mold. Be sure that the top is smooth by using the spatula.
Allow the soap to solidify for 24 hours. Then pop out the soap bars if you used single soap molds or cut them out if you did not.
Voila, you are done! But word to the wise: Wait 5 to 7 days before using the soap.

Safety and Miscellaneous Tips for Soap Making

When working with lye, it is important not to contact it or its container with bare hands, inhale its fumes, or add it to oil with temperatures above 180°F (82°C)).
Experiment with the amount of essential oils you use, to find the amount you prefer.
Start with a single essential oil and color rather than a multiple.
Fragrance oils can also be used, but they are more concentrated. So mind the dose!

We hope you enjoyed the most recent addition to our list of DIY projects. The ability to customize our soap is a real benefit here, as there are many colors and scents we can choose from. Continue to follow our blog for more DIY content!

Disclaimer: We do not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, or accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information on this website is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses or damages in connection with our website.

October 14, 2021 0 comment

BLOGS Arts and Crafts

DIY Fall Tea Towel Craft

by AMZ-admin October 14, 2021

written by AMZ-admin

Create decorative fall tea towels using a Cricut or Silhouette machine and heat transfer vinyl (HTV) for Towel Craft.

The change of seasons brings cooler temperatures and falling leaves. As the days get shorter and the holidays approach, now is the time to begin fall crafting. This project is the perfect blend of simplicity and creativity for the season.

For the crafty DIYers out there, Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) offers so many possibilities. You can customize everything from T-shirts and totes to pillows and potholders. Use your custom designs to decorate your home or to give as gifts.

Towel Craft

These towels truly are multipurpose. Use them to decorate your kitchen for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any occasion. Just by hanging them and adding a few miniature pumpkins you can have your kitchen all set for fall. Hang some Christmas towels and add a few berry sprigs and cinnamon sticks and your kitchen will be a jolly spot for the holidays.

If you begin crafting early enough, you can create some terrific Christmas gifts. For example, try grouping the towels with a homemade pie as a gift for a neighbor or friend. If you’re off the hook and not hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year, take a custom towel along with a dessert as a gift to the hostess. You’re certain to be invited back next year!

Tea Towel Craft

However, If you’re hosting guests for the holidays, hang some decorative towels in the guest bathroom. These tea towels can even be used as placemats.

If you typically find yourself agonizing over your child’s teacher Christmas gifts, pair these towels with some homemade baked goods and your gift will stand out among the many scented candles and #1 Teacher mugs.

Here are some additional ideas for these tea towels:

bridal shower gift
housewarming gift
custom placemats
Sew two together to make a pillow
Sew together to make a tote
Transfer a favorite recipe as a gift

The possibilities for this project are endless. Besides the fall towels, you could make some with Christmas designs to add to your Christmas decor.

In addition to customizing tea towels, you could personalize dinner napkins for Thanksgiving. Imagine setting each place with a custom napkin for each dinner guest. Have fun creating!

To make these simple towels, you will need for DIY Fall Tea

A blank tea towel (one or more, like these) cotton fabric is preferable
Heat-press or household iron
A cut file of your choice
Silhouette or Cricut machine
Heat transfer vinyl (HTV) in your color choice (there are many options such as glitter, metallic, solids and prints)
Teflon pressing pillow or protective heat-resistant surface

After gathering all of your supplies, you will need to decide on a cut file. This is the most complicated part of this craft because there are so many options. Numerous ideas and choices can be found on sites such as Etsy. Many crafting blogs offer free downloads, or if you’re skilled with Photoshop, you can create your own design.

While preparing your image in your software, be sure to size it to fit the dimensions of your tea towel. Take a quick measurement using a tape measure or ruler and edit your image to the size you want to fit on your towel.

Next, cut your vinyl using your machine.

IMPORTANT for Towel craft

Be sure to flip or mirror the image before cutting or any text in your design will be backward. Use the appropriate cutting settings based on the HTV that you have chosen. (Some thicker vinyl such as glitter vinyl requires greater cutting pressure.) Cut out the design (for Towel craft) on your chosen vinyl.

Weed your design, discarding the large pieces and using weeding tools to free the more delicate pieces. Check over your vinyl design to be sure you have removed all the pieces that should be removed (if you miss any, you will not be able to remove them once they have been ironed onto your towel.). Lay the design on your tea towels to be sure it fits the way you have envisioned.

Be aware

Before transferring the vinyl, use a Teflon Pressing Pillow and iron any wrinkles out of the tea towels to ensure a smooth surface for the vinyl transfer. Center the vinyl design on the tea towel and press firmly with iron at 325°F for 10-15 seconds. Be sure to cover the entire design while pressing so the vinyl adheres to the fabric.

Carefully peel away the clear transfer plastic while the design is still hot. ( If for any reason the vinyl doesn’t adhere to the fabric, press for an additional 10 seconds). Check to be sure the vinyl has adhered to the fabric and peel away the clear transfer plastic.

Ta-da! Now you have a completely custom fall tea towel to display in your kitchen! These simple steps can be used repeatedly to create any number of HTV projects.

October 14, 2021 0 comment

BLOGS Recipe

Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe

by AMZ-admin October 14, 2021

written by AMZ-admin

Soft, delicious, traditional cut-out Christmas cookie

Iced Christmas cookies with cinnamon sticks and jingle bells

The holidays are nearly here! Cooler temperatures make hot cocoa and a crackling fire a cozy place to be. Nothing goes better with them than delicious Christmas cookies. So, grab your mixing bowls and cookie cutters, put on some Bing Crosby, and bake up some flavorful holiday Christmas cookies!

Many childhood memories are filled with images of flour, sugar, and icing. Family time is spent in the kitchen surrounded by cutters and sprinkles while children decorate traditional Christmas cookies. Plates of soft, warm cookies passed around while watching a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. Perhaps even hosting a cookie recipe exchange party would be fun.

Some other cookies

When it comes to cookies, there are many to choose from, and each is as delicious as the next. There are as many cookies as there are holiday traditions. Some of the many holiday recipes for tasty cookies are

Gingerbread cookies, spicy and sweet
Spritz cookies, soft and buttery
Traditional shortbread, crisp and not too sweet
Gingersnaps, brittle and full of ginger and molasses
Snickerdoodles, soft and coated in cinnamon and sugar
Chocolate crinkles, crunchy and chocolaty
Peppermint meringues, light and minty

Bowl of gingerbread cookies and Christmas lights

However, when thinking of traditional Christmas cookies, nothing compares to a soft, rolled sugar cookie. These chewy cookies are a blank slate for children’s imaginations. They can be iced and covered in sprinkles or candies. However, these are just as delicious left plain, especially with a cup of coffee or cocoa.

These cookies are a great choice to bake up for friends or family. They can be packaged into festive tins and given as homemade gifts or simply enjoyed by a warm fire. Take some to your next holiday party or dinner. A big platter of them at the office Christmas party is sure to be a hit.

For the best sugar cookies, begin with a good solid recipe. This No Fail Soft Cut-Out Sugar Cookie recipe from Layers of Happiness makes a great cookie for decorating.

TIP for Christmas cookie

Before you begin, as she states on her site, a thinner dough will produce a crispy cookie while dough rolled thicker will bake into a softer cookie.

For this recipe you will need

For the cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened to room temperature
One cup sugar
An egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons. baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

For the icing:

3 3/4 cups sifted powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons meringue powder(found at Michaels and Wal-Mart)
6 Tablespoons warm water
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Additionally, you need

Cookie sheet
Non-Stick Teflon sheet or parchment paper
Assorted cookie cutters
Rolling pin
Extra flour for rolling out cookies

Step-by-step Directions for Christmas cookie

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with a Non-Stick Teflon sheet (or parchment paper.)

Step-1

Using a handheld mixer and a large bowl or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the butter for about 1 minute – until smooth and creamy. Add sugar and beat on high for about 3 to 4 minutes until it is light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Next add the egg, vanilla extract ( and almond, if desired) and beat on medium-high until fully combined.

Step-2

In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. With the mixer on low, add half the flour mixture, and beat until just combined. Add the remaining flour and mix until combined. The dough should be soft, like clay.
Rolled and cut out Christmas cookies and rolling pin

Lightly flour a Non-Stick Teflon sheet on your counter as a workspace. Set dough on top of the floured sheet. Gently roll out the dough to the ⅓-inch thickness or desired thickness. (Remember, the thicker the dough, the softer the cookies and the thinner the dough, the crispier the cookies will be.)

Step-3

Cut out desired shapes and use a spatula to gently transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate the cookie sheet full of cookie shapes for about 5 minutes, then bake for 10 minutes, or until edges start to turn a light brown. Be careful not to overbake them.

Rolled and cut-out Christmas trees and star cookies on a baking sheet

Step-4

To make the icing, add all icing ingredients and beat on high until smooth, about 4-5 minutes. For thicker icing, add more sugar. For thinner icing, add more water. Try out the consistency to get the flow you want. And Icing can be colored with liquid food coloring or gel food coloring. (Keep in mind, liquid food coloring may affect the icing consistency.)

Icing can be spread onto the cookies using a knife or spatula or it can be placed into icing bags and piped on using decorative tips. Be creative!

Don’t be intimidated by the royal icing. There are many videos online demonstrating simple techniques that produce beautifully decorated cookies, like this one. Have fun and enjoy delicious and unique cookies decorated in your own kitchen.

October 14, 2021 0 comment

BLOGS Recipe

Bake These 3 Things for Easter!

by AMZ-admin October 14, 2021

written by AMZ-admin

Something delicious for everyone as Easter Bake

Easter is such a terrific holiday for the family to come together after Christmas. With the budding Spring flowers and warmer temperatures, it’s a great celebration with Easter Bake that calls for some delicious goodies baked up in the kitchen.

So, pull up your sleeves, gather up your flour, butter, and baking sheets and make something delicious. Easter is usually dominated by hams, dyed eggs, and chocolate bunnies, but many baked goods are sure to impress your guests and their taste buds in Easter Bake.

It won’t matter if you’re hosting a family dinner, carrying a dish to a church pot-luck, or having the neighborhood children over for an egg hunt, these recipes are sure to please any crowd. Are you ready to get baking?

Hot Cross Buns as Easter Bake

More than a nursery rhyme, nothing says “Easter” like Hot Cross Buns. A quick internet search will return several recipes, like this one from Allrecipes. These yeasty rolls are somewhere between a dinner roll and a cinnamon roll. Their sweet delicious spices will have you baking them year-round, not just for Easter.

Hot cross buns are traditionally sweet and filled with spices such as:

Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Allspice

They typically contain raisins or currants and are topped with vanilla or even orange icing in the shape of a cross (hint: that’s where they get their name!)

Serve these with your Easter dinner, or serve them after dinner, with coffee as a dessert. No matter when they’re served, they’re sure to be a hit.

Hot cross buns with butter and coffee

Easter Sugar Cookies

While the adults reminisce over Easters from their childhood, the kids at your celebration will be thrilled to decorate some Easter cookies.

Begin with a basic sugar cookie and let your imagination (and appetite) run wild with the icing and colors. Be sure to use non-stick Teflon sheets so your cookies come off the pan without any trouble.

Have fun decorating the cookies with help from some smaller assistants or have them prepared before your guests arrive and greet them with some beautiful (and delicious) treats.

Have an assortment of lovely pastel icing colors, cookie cutters, with sprinkles and candies to embellish the cookies. Remember: the secret to great sugar cookies is cold dough! (Don’t skip the step of chilling the cookie dough.)

Try cookies in a variety of shapes, such as:

Chicks
Bunnies
Crosses
Eggs
Flowers
Lambs

These cookies also make a great and unique addition to Easter baskets. Try baking some oversized egg-shaped cookies and wrapping them in cellophane to replace the traditional chocolate bunny.

Easter cookies in the shape of chicks, bunnies and carrots

Bird’s Nest Cupcakes

Let them have cake! Or in this case, cupcakes. These gorgeous desserts are perfect for any occasion. Serve up some cupcakes that are almost too pretty to eat.

Easter cupcake with icing and egg candies

Begin with your favorite cake flavor, or even better, serve more than one!

Try the following flavor combinations:

Carrot cupcakes with cream cheese icing
yellow/white cupcakes with whipped icing
Chocolate cupcakes with buttercream icing
Lemon cupcakes with lemon buttercream icing

After the cupcakes have cooled completely, mix up the icing. Pastel colors just scream “EASTER!” If your icing doesn’t have much color, try tinting it with gel food coloring. Use soft colors like pinks, blues, and yellows.

For the icing, try a traditional buttercream. If you’re looking for something lighter, try whipped icing. (Just remember that a buttercream or whipped icing must be refrigerated until served, or you may have a sad, melted mess.)

To create the icing “nest”, place your icing into a pastry bag with a large star tip. Beginning in one place, swirl the icing around to form a circle or “nest” and then top with colorful sprinkles and malted egg candies. Check out this video example.

For a different look try using a multi-opening tip, with brown icing for a nest or green icing for grass, like this.

Chocolate Easter cupcake with egg candies

Have fun experimenting with different colors and icing techniques to make some cupcakes that are as pretty as they are delicious.

October 14, 2021 0 comment

BLOGS Tips and Tricks

Do These 5 Things to Spring Clean

by AMZ-admin October 14, 2021

written by AMZ-admin

Declutter and Refresh Your Home by Spring Clean

Spring cleaning with pink gloves

Say “good-bye” to the gloominess of winter and “hello” to beautiful Spring! The changing of seasons often prompts a change of wardrobe. While you’re in your closet shifting your jackets to the back, you may notice that your home needs a complete Spring Clean.

Don’t let the idea of a clean-out intimidate you. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be complicated. An organized approach with careful planning can make clearing out those dust bunnies quite simple and refreshing. These 5 things will get you on the right track to clearing and cleaning out your home.

1. Method to Madness: Clean Room by Room

Cleaning your entire house may sound overwhelming. It becomes a less daunting task if you tackle it one-room-at-a-time. Pick a room to begin in and work on that room ONLY.

Focus on cleaning sections of the room that aren’t cleaned as often, like under beds and behind furniture.

Move furniture, and vacuum under the beds…you’re guaranteed to find things that have gone missing throughout the winter. Takedown curtains or blinds and clean them before re-dressing your windows.

It may also help to only focus on one room per day or week, depending on how much needs to be done in Spring Clean.

2. Declutter and Organize

Cleaning, decluttering, and re-organizing can freshen up a space. Get rid of things that clutter up your rooms. Organizing experts agree that organizing has a contagious effect…just begin somewhere. Before you know it, you will be organizing the entire house. Simply clearing out clutter will improve the appearance of a space.

Empty the closet to give all nooks and crannies a good cleaning. While the contents of the closet are out, sort through the items and organize them before returning them to their home. Be hard on yourself about what you decide to save; letting go of clutter can be very liberating.

If you’re concerned about waste, donate gently used items to a shelter or organization that can make use of your items. Be more selective about purchases to break any bad habits of accumulating more “stuff.” Clean, organized closet

3. Go Deep

When was the last time you peered into the depths of your oven? Your oven is a workhorse; take some time to deep clean it. To protect the bottom of your oven and make cleaning a breeze for the future, consider lining it with a non-stick Teflon sheet.

Take appliances off your counters and move large items such as the refrigerator to clean behind it. While you have the fridge moved out of its place, take the time to vacuum the coils…when is the last time you’ve done that?

Empty out the pantry and give it a good clean. Go through the items carefully before replacing them. When did you last check the expiration dates? If you have canned goods that are older than your children’s, it’s time to toss them out.

Shampoo any carpet or rugs, dust can really build up in them, especially if you have pets in your home. Pantry, organized jars

4. How’s your view?

If your view isn’t as sunny as it once was, is that because your windows are grimy? Give your windows a good scrubbing: inside and out. This will really brighten up your home and improve your outlook on life.

Take special care to clean the window screens, where dirt and dust make a home. Giving them a good cleaning will allow more of that summer sun to shine in. If you’re not a fan of strong chemical cleaners, try a homemade approach like this one.
Clean window

5. Birds and Ants in Spring Clean

Remember to look high and low. Getting down to ground level will help you to notice items that may get overlooked, such as baseboards. When was the last time you cleaned your baseboards?

Those vaulted ceilings are lovely unless they are sporting spiderwebs way up high. Be sure to clean ceiling fans and hard-to-reach shelves and moldings. CAUTION: always enlist someone’s help if you must use a ladder to clean up high. Summer is no fun in a cast.

You’ve Got This for Spring Clean

Don’t try to tackle the whole house in one day. Taking a slow, organized approach will have your home clean and you will be enjoying your summer in no time.

October 14, 2021 0 comment

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