Saturday, October 15, 2011

A Crisp Dueling Darlings Challenge

Hello all!
Fall has officially arrived and I LOVE IT! This is my favorite Season. So, when I received my kit from the Dazzlers hostess ~ Darlene....I fell in Love! She sent so many beautiful things, papers, leaves, ribbons, brads, balsa wood pieces, die cuts....I was overwhelmed BUT in a totally GOOD way!!!! :~)
This is what I made with her outstanding kit....

Darlene wanted to see how creative we would get with the pieces of wood. Well, as far as what I made with them, a pumpkin, I think that was the obvious choice. So, I wasn't creative with them in that way. But, I think the way I altered them was a little different. I colored them with a More Mustard marker then used a cotton ball and "sponged" on pumpkin pie ink. Then, over that I stamped the smallest doily from the SU! set Delicate Doilies in chocolate chip ink. I added some twine for the stem.
I colored the image with watercolor pencils, copics and a blender pen. I added some of the wonderful ribbon she sent behind my sentiment (SU! Curly Cute set) that I stamped in Old Olive ink and cut into a banner before distressing it and inking with chocolate chip ink (did that around the edges of my image too).

My Mom's birthday was the 7th. This was her card from me :~)
Darlene and Tami (the Divas hostess) also wanted us to post a favorite Fall recipe. My has to be Chicken Stew. There's nothing better on a cool day. And of course, like my crafting, my recipes are simple too!
Chicken Stew
3 Chicken Breasts 1 large can Veg-All
1 medium onion 1 can whole kernel corn
1 large can crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon Seasoned salt
1 clove garlic 1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
1 teaspoon table salt 1 teaspoon sugar

In large pot sprinkle seasoned salt over chicken then add water to cover chicken. Boil for 25 minutes or until no pink can be seen. Take chicken from pot, let rest on paper towels until cool enough to handle. While chicken is cooling chop onion and mince garlic, add to pot (leave broth that chicken cooked in, in the pot, add the other ingredients to this). Add in can of crushed tomatoes, drained can of corn, pepper, table salt and sugar (the sugar takes out the bitter bite of the tomatoes). DON'T ADD VEG-ALL YET! Cook on medium heat 10 minutes. Shred chicken and add to pot. Cook, covered, on low heat 40 minutes. Add can of drained Veg-All then cover and cook an additional 25 minutes (since everything is already cooked in the Veg-All, if you add it at the beginning, the potatoes in it will become mush). Serve. Add more salt to taste if desired.

Thank you so much for visiting me today!
Don't miss out on all the other Dueling Darlings! Their blogs can be found in my left sidebar.
Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

14 comments:

Darlene said...

Melina, you really made a great card here and I love your creative pumpkin! Who would think of using the Doily stamp for texture on it! Very clever of you!
Your coloring is great and I hope that your Mom enjoyed the card.
I will definitely try your recipe, too. We love stews.
Thanks for an amazing creation!

April said...

Melina,
This is lovely. I must admit that I wasn't too creative with the balsa wood either...lol
I love how you colored up the immie and your layout shows it off perfectly!
I will have to try out your recipe! YUM


ps. Happy Birthday Mom!

Terry Ladwig said...

Love the card Melina! Neat idea for the pumpkin too!!

Your recipe sounds yummy, with cold weather coming up I am going to trythis one out!!

Great job ☺

MiamiKel said...

Ohhh Melina, what a beauty! This is so elegant and just has such a wonderful festive feel for Fall! Lovely pumpkin - and the stew sounds yummalicious! What a fun and lovely card for this glorious season upon us :) Love ya! x0x0

Carol W said...

Oh my Melina...your card is awesome and I love the pumpkin. How fun is that?? What a great way to embellish and color it. I love your happy birthday banner and the image is colored wonderfully....the chicken stew sounds wonderful...will need to try it out for sure...well done my friend...♥

:: BlueInks :: said...

Oh, such a great job on the balsa pumpkin and the birthday sentiment. Both turned out so well! Very creative on each.

Okay, sssshhh don't tell anyone but I had to look up what Veg All was! ;)

dweatter said...

Great card Melina. Love the way you made the pumpkin from the ovals. Love the distressed banner and your coloring of the image is beautiful. Going to have to give the chicken stew a try.

Barb said...

Melina---what a stunning card--I love the pumpklin made from the wood. I am sure your mom enjoyed the card.

Great recipe you included--gotta add this to the list to make this fall.

~Paola~ said...

Awesome FALL card Melina! beautifully colored and so clever to use a stamped image on the balsa wood aka pumpkin! LOVE it!!

Ana Carolina Little said...

Very yummy recipe Melina. I'll try it!!!. Comment to you soon!!! :)

Em said...

Very cute image~~ You colored it so well!


Also, I just updated a card inspired by yours. :D

Jamie Sanchez said...

Love your pumpkin Melina! I just love your card period! :D Chicken Stew sounds yummy too. I think my boys will eat it, so I'm gonna give it a try in a few days! Thanks!

Judy McMullen said...

Beautiful card, Melina! Love how you colored and used the balsa wood to make a pumpkin embellishment! Love that d.p...the perfect fall paper!!!

Your Chicken Stew recipe sounds delish. May have to give this one a try. Thanks!!!

Jeanette (Forest Ranger) said...

Oh Melina, your card is so pretty! I love the creative inking you did on the balsa pumpkin! And the papers all make the image show up beautifully!

Your recipe sounds oh so yummy, too!