Category: BLOG

BLOG, COOKS

Mexican Bean dip

Mexican bean dip

Mexican Bean Dip

Ingredients

16-oz. can refried beans

2 cups sour cream

1-1/4 oz. pkg. taco seasoning mix

2 avocados, pitted, peeled and mashed

2 teaspoons lemon juice

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

3 onions that have been chopped and carmelized in butter.

1/4 cup black olives, sliced

1 tomato, diced

tortilla chips

Directions
  1. Spread beans in the bottom of a 9×13 clear glass dish; set aside.
  2. Combine sour cream and seasoning mix; spread over beans.
  3. Mix avocados, lemon juice and garlic; layer over sour cream mixture.
  4. Sprinkle with cheese; top with carmelized onions, olives and tomato. Serve with tortilla chips.

Try out this Big Wanda Knows recipe personalized pizza.

Listen to some of Big Wanda Knows cooking tips

 

BLOG, COOKS

English Muffin Pizza

english muffin pizza

English muffin pizzas are a fast and easy meal for a party. Gather friends together and all you need is  a movie or a football game to watch.

Ingredients

Package of English Muffins

Jar of pasta sauce

Bag of shredded mozzarella cheese

Package of Pepperoni

Assorted toppings that you enjoy on your pizza

1 stick softened butter

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F 
  2. Mix softened butter and seasonings together.
  3. Butter both sides of the English muffins and  placed on a foil lined baking sheet. Baked for 10 minutes. You want them to be crispy. 
  4. Pull them out of oven and spoon some of  pizza sauce onto each one. Top with mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices and your favorite pizza toppings.
  5. Bake for 5-7 minutes until cheese is melted.

If you like this recipe try out this mini grilled cheese.

Big Wanda Knows has great cooking tips.

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BLOG, CRAFTS

CROCHET BOOT CUFFS

red heart advertising
 Crochet boot cuffs are so easy to make for yourself or your friends. Red Heart yarn comes in so many colors and textures. The crochet bow can either be worn in the front or back. You could also crochet the bow in another color. 
 
CROCHET BOOT CUFFS
Ch – Chain
Sl st – Slip stitch
Sc – Single crochet
Dc – Double crochet
Sk – Skip
Instructions
 
Cuff
Make 2
Ch 36
Or enough to fit around your calf with a little bit of stretch, and sl st to join. Rows 1 – 7 are worked in continuous spirals. Use a stitch marker in the last stitch of each row to keep track of how many rows you work.
Row 1 – 7: Sc in each around until piece is approximately 1 1/2 inches tall, or more until piece reaches your desired height
Row 8: *2 dc in next sc, ch 1, sk 2, repeat from * around
Row 9: Ch 2, turn, dc in next ch space, *ch 1, sk 2 dc, 2 dc in next ch space, repeat from * around, sl st to join
Row 10 – 13: Repeat row 9 (or until desired height is reached)
Fasten off and weave in ends
Bow
Make 2
Ch 25, sl st to join
Row 1 – 5: Sc in each around
Fasten off and weave in ends
Bow Center
Make 2
Ch 7
Row 1: Sc into 2nd ch from hook and in each across
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, sc in each across
Fasten off and leave tail long enough to sew on bow
BLOG, COOKS

Pumpkin Mushroom Soup

Pumpkin Mushroom Soup
Ingredients

6 cups of water

1 can evaporated milk

2 tablespoons corn starch

1/2 jar Better Than Buillon Roasted Chicken Flavor

1 15oz can 100% Pure Pumpkin. NOT Pumkin Pie in a can

large container sliced mushrooms

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon each of Kosher salt,onion powder, garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 chopped onions

2 tablespoons butter

Directions
  1. Mix entire can of evapoarted milk and corn starch in blender.
  2. Saute chopped onions with butter on medium for 10 minutes.
  3. Add water,honey, spices,Better Than Buillon, Pumpkin, Blended Evaporated Milk. Cook 10 minutes on medium.
  4. Watch soup because it has a tendancy to overboil.
  5. Add Mushrooms. Cook another 5 minutes.
  6. Serve with warm bread.
crochet hat
BLOG, CROCHET

Winter Crochet Hat

 

Crochet this beanie hat in a weekend. This adult hat is nice to wear on cold winter days.

crochet hatCrochet HookH/8 or 5 mm hook

Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight

  1. Large Adult  •  Head Circumference = 23″ – 24″  •  Hat Circumference = 21.75″  •  Hat Height = 9″

    Round 1: Ch 2, make 8 hdc in the 2nd chain from hook, join in first hdc (8)
    Round 2: Ch 1, make 2 hdc in each stitch around, join (16)
    Round 3: Ch 1, *hdc in first stitch, make 2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, join (24)
    Round 4: Ch 1, *hdc in first 2 stitches, make 2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, join (32)
    Round 5: Ch 1, *hdc in first 3 stitches, make 2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, join (40)
    Round 6: Ch 1, *hdc in first 4 stitches, make 2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, join (48)
    Round 7: Ch 1, *hdc in first 5 stitches, make 2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, join (56)
    Round 8: Ch 1, *hdc in first 6 stitches, make 2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, join (64)
    Round 9: Ch 1, *hdc in first 7 stitches, make 2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, join (72)
    Round 10: Ch 1, *hdc in first 17 stitches, make 2 hdc in next stitch* repeat around, join (76)
    Round 11: Ch 1, skip first stitch, hdc in each stitch until 1 stitch remains, make 2 hdc in last stitch, join in first hdc (76)
    Round 12: Ch 1, hdc in each stitch around, join (76)
    Round 13 – 24: Repeat Rounds 11 & 12
    Round 25: Ch 1, sc in each stitch around, join (76)
    Fasten off and weave in ends.

 

crochet snowflake
BLOG, CROCHET

Snowflakes To Crochet

 

 

Snowfakes are so unique and delicate. Crochet snowflakes are so easy and fun to make. Crochet a few of these for your tree or for a friend. Attach one to a present.

Materials:
Yarn: 225 meters,100% cotton)
Crochet Hook: 1,5 mm
Stitches Used: ch-chain, st-stitch, sl st-slip stitch, sc-single crochet, dc-double crochet, tc-triple crochet, picot, dc2tog-double crochet two together.

 

crochet snowflake

 

Crochet Snowflake 1
Start with a magic circle
Round 1: ch-1, 6 sc in the circle, join with sl st to first sc.
Round 2: ch-1, sc in same space, * ch-5, sc in next st,  repeat from * around, end with ch-1, tc in last sc – 6 ch-5 spaces.
Round 3: ch-3, dc in the space, ch-7, sl st in the 6th ch from the hook, ch-1, dc2tog in same space, * ch-5, dc2tog in next ch-5 space, ch-7, sl st in the 6th ch from the hook, ch-1, dc2tog in same space, repeat from * 4 times, end with ch-2, join with dc to top of ch-3.
Round 4: * sc in ch-5 space, ch-3, (dc3tog, ch-3, dc3tog, picot (ch-3), ch-3, dc3tog) in ch-6 space, ch-3, repeat from to the end of the round.

 

Big Wanda Knows crochet snowflake

Crochet Snowflake 2
Start with a magic circle
Round 1: ch-3, dc in the circle, * ch-3, dc2tog, repeat from * 4 times,join with sl st to top of ch 3 – 6 dc2tog
Round 2: ch-1, sc in same space, * ch-5, sc in top of dc2tog, ch-4, skip ch-3, sc in top of dc2tog, repeat from * to the end of round, join with sl st to first sc.
Round 3: 3 sl sts in ch-5 space, ch-3 (counts as dc), dc in ch-5 space, *ch-2, sc in ch-4 space, ch-2, 2 dc in ch-5 space, ch-3, 2 dc in same space, repeat from * to the end of the round, end with 2 dc to ch-5 space, ch-1, join with dc to top of ch-3.
Round 4: sc in the space, picot (ch-5), sc in same space, picot (ch-3), * ch-2, skip 1 dc, sc in the 2nd dc, picot (ch-3), ch-2, sl st in sc, ch-2, sc in the first dc, picot (ch-3), ch-2, skip 1 dc, sc in ch-3 space, picot (ch-3), sc in same space, picot (ch-5), sc in same space, picot (ch-3), repeat from * around.

grilled cheese
BLOG, COOKS

Mini Grilled Cheese with Bacon and Cheddar

grilled cheese

 

Grilled cheese baguette appetizers with bacon are yummy in your tummy. These are absolutely delicous and so easy to make for any party. You can experiment with different types of cheeses and spices. This recipe is for a basic version. I sometimes add thinly sliced pears to the sandwich. If you like spicy add a few drops of hot sauce to the butter.

Ingredients

Package of any bacon cooked and chopped up. Set aside.

French Bread Baguette cut 1 inch thick

1 cup softened butter.  Mix in 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to butter.

Package of Swiss and Cheddar Cheese.

  1. Heat pan to medium
  2. Butter both sides of bread
  3. Add cheese and bacon. Cook both sides to a nice golden brown.
  4. Serve warm

Visit Big Wanda Knows cooking tips

Do you like crafts? Visit the crafts page

toffee candy
BLOG, COOKS

Christmas Toffee

Toffee candy is so easy to make. The holidays are an awesome time to start baking and making sweet treats for your family and friends. Make a big batch, then place the pieces inside a parchment lined container. Add a festive colored bow and you have a delicious gift for lots of folks.
toffee candy
Ingredients
1 cup sugar
1 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Steps

Heat sugar, butter and water to boiling in heavy 2-quart saucepan, stirring constantly; reduce heat to medium. Cook about 13 minutes, stirring constantly, to 300°F on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into cup of very cold water separates into hard, brittle threads. Watch carefully so mixture does not burn.
Immediately pour toffee onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Spread mixture to 1/4-inch thickness. Sprinkle with chocolate chips; let stand about 1 minute or until chips are completely softened. Spread softened chocolate evenly over toffee. Sprinkle with pecans.
Let stand at room temperature about 1 hour, or refrigerate if desired, until firm. Break into bite-size pieces. Store in airtight container.

clay pot crafts
BLOG, Garden Art

Clay Pot Garden Art

Broken clay pots are an opportunity for garden art.  A broken pot or two is needed to make these adorable mini fairy gardens. There’s no step-by-step tutorial for this one because it all depends on how your broken pot looks and what your vision is; just start placing a few things and see where you end up!

 

clay pot crafts

gingerbread house decorated with candy
BLOG, COOKS

Gingerbread House

gingerbread house
Ingredients

Gingerbread Dough

1 cup sugar

1 cup shortening

1 cup molasses

1 egg

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
lots of assorted candies,mints, taffy, pretzels etc
Icing

2 cans of vanilla frosting

Directions
  • Heat oven to 350°F. Line jelly roll pan, 15 1/2×10 1/2×1 inch, with heavy-duty foil, leaving 1 inch of foil overhanging at each end of pan. In large bowl, mix sugar, shortening, molasses and egg with spoon. Stir in all remaining Gingerbread Dough ingredients. Divide dough in half. Press half of dough in pan.
  • Bake gingerbread about 15 minutes or until no indentation remains when touched in center. Cool 5 minutes; carefully lift foil and gingerbread from pan.
  • Cut gingerbread lengthwise in half, then crosswise 2 times to make 6 rectangles. Cut angles from 2 corners of each rectangle to form roof of house. (The corners make good nibbles.) Cool completely, about 1 hour. Repeat with remaining dough. Decorate houses with frosting and candies.