Black Friday through Cyber Monday Sale

Black Friday through Cyber Monday coupon! Use code HOLIDAZE14 for 20 percent off your purchase of $10 or more, Starting Friday, November 28!

Chele's Potato Soup

I had several potatoes I needed to use up, so I decided to try to make potato soup. After a thorough Pinterest search, I found a recipe that had all the ingredients I had in my house.  As I started collecting ingredients, it sounded rather bland.  So I searched again and found another recipe with some more flavorful ingredients.  Then I threw caution to the wind and just did my own thing, taking things from both recipes and a few additions of my own.  I must say it turned out quite yummy, so I figured I'd better write it down! So here it is:

6 slices bacon (I used the precooked kind)

1 TB olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced 

8 baby carrots, sliced

4 russet potatoes, cubed (I did not peel them, like them better that way)

3 cups chicken broth

1 cup milk

1/4 cup flour

1 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese 

1 5.3 ounce container of plain Greek yogurt

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, if you like a little kick

Salt and pepper to taste

Heat a large stockpot over medium heat, add bacon and cook until crisp. As I used precooked, this only took about a minute.  Transfer to plate, set aside.

Add olive oil to pot, then add garlic and carrots, stir to coat with the oil.  Add potatoes, add salt and pepper to taste.  Stir 1-2 minutes, then add chicken broth, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or so, until potatoes are tender.  While it is simmering, in a separate container whisk flour and milk together until smooth.  Slowly add milk mixture, stirring constantly.  Add cheese and about half of the yogurt, cayenne pepper if using, and simmer another 5 minutes or so.  If it's too thick, add milk until desired consistency.

Just before serving, sprinkle bacon on top, serve with remainder of yogurt and more cheese to add to each bowl, if desired.  I did end up putting the bacon in the microwave about 15 seconds before adding to soup to crisp it up a bit more.  Nice and thick and fairly low fat, depending on what type of milk you use.  

Fall Sale This Weekend!

Monday is the first day of Fall, so time for a sale! Use code FALL20 at checkout to save 20 percent off your purchase of $10 or more this weekend in my Etsy shop! Chelester's Creations

Homemade "Beach Glass"

One of my completed pendants

So I was playing with my glass scraps the other day, made up some fused glass pendants in my mini kiln.  I got out the etching cream to etch some designs on a couple of dichroic glass scraps. While I was waiting for the pendants to fuse, I surfed the internet for some inspiration.  I came across a site that said you could use etching cream to make glass scraps look like beach glass. What a great idea!  I had some broken up pieces of wine bottles in a container as I wanted to fuse them in my kiln as an experiment, so I grabbed a couple and dipped them in the etching cream.  I fused one of the pieces with a few other pendants to see how it turned out.

Glass on the left is untouched, glass on the right is fused and etched

After fusing, the glass lost its sharp edges, but it also lost its etched look, so I dipped it in the etching cream again.   Now I have another piece of "beach glass" to wire wrap and make into a pendant.  What a fun way to recycle my wine bottles!

And some more beachy items.....

I think I need to move near the beach!

Dreaming of the Sea......

More new beach themed items in my shop:

Papyrus Font

I have always loved the font Papyrus, something about it really appeals to me, I use it a lot when typing journaling blocks for my scrapbooks, etc.  I discovered a vendor on Etsy that sells this font in a metal stamp! I was so excited, I couldn't wait to get it!  Here are a few new pendants where I used this font:

Beach Glass Love

I love beach glass - any kind of beach glass.  Real beach glass, recycled glass, cultured beach glass.  I am currently OBSESSED with it.  I love the soft colors, and of course it reminds me of the beach and summer.  It is supposedly spring here in Michigan, but I am still waiting for the warmer weather.  A few new recycled/beach glass items in my shop:

And I just ordered some more recycled glass pieces, so be on the lookout for more new items!

Don't Forget Mom!

Mother's Day is coming up.  Use code LOVEMOM for $5 off your purchase of $20 or more in my shop!

Some new listings:

Tree of Life Necklace

 

 

Shell Pearl/Aqua Recycled Glass Bracelet

 

 

Daylight Savings Sale!

Daylight Savings Sale!  Use code SPRING20 in my Etsy shop this weekeend only for 20 percent off your purchase!

Ready for Spring!

Well, here it is, March 5, 2014, two weeks from the first day of Spring.  As I look out my window, all I see are snowdrifts.  Every day as I drive to work, I have to try to see over a 5 foot tall snowbank to back out of my driveway.  So, in order to improve my mood (and perhaps yours!) here are some pictures from my stash from a warmer time:

Sunset over Lake St. Helen, Michigan:

 



 

 

Purple Coneflowers from my backyard:

 

 

Rainbow on Lake Huron:

Hello February!

Living in the Great Lakes area, we have had our share of snow and cold this winter!  Today, another 4-6 inches of snow are expected.  I am so ready for spring!  At least January is over, hopefully February will be a little better.  In any event, I'm having a Valentine's sale in my Etsy shop!  Use code LOVE20 at checkout for 20 percent off your purchase, through February 14, 2014. 

A few new items you'll find there: