Repurposed Retractable Dining Table

Are you a Craigslist Junkie? Guilty Here! I just hate seeing furnitures go to dumpster. I want to give them a second chance. If I can just give them all a home I would, but I can't.
We do not have enough storage space even for picking items up and resurfacing them to sell....

We were taking my daughter to school one early morning when I spotted Curb Alert....
Rubbernecking as we drove past the house with furnitures sitting on the curb. I know I have to check it out.
Dining Table.....Hmmm.....
It was an alright dining room table scratched-up and needs some major resurfacing.
But because we do not have room for stuff I really have to think of what I can use it for.
Well, I don't have a make-up vanity/table yet maybe that will solve it.
I used my convincing powers so my husband would pick it up for me.
I noticed it is retractable so that would make it even useful.
Now I can use it for a vanity, an entry table or a buffet table.
You are probably scratching your head at how I will do that to a Dining table.

Here's how I did it......

 I unscrewed and removed the legs. The right frame where the two right legs attaches to, I also removed and unscrewed.

 I moved it just to where the other retractable piece is and centered it. Now I have a new narrower frame that holds the legs still.

 I had hubby help me cut it in half with the table saw.

Someone dont want exposure!!!

 Then we screwed the legs back on.

 We also fitted the leaves so we can utilize it as buffet or entry table.

 Primed it with two coats of Cover stain.

 Lightly sanded it after the primer dried.

 And spackled it. It had some deep scratches on the surface and I wanted to smoothen it a little bit so it will not be very noticeable.

Now it's ready for painting.

 (Still in progress.......but i'll keep you posted!)

Fried Mac and Cheese Bites

I hate wasting food...But my Redneck's are not very good at eating leftover meals.
We had Mac and Cheese leftovers and I had to figure out how to make it appealing to them.
Del Tacos! I suddenly remembered my favorite mac and cheese bites.
The only problem is, it wasnt formed how it should be, to coat it easier with breading.
It should atleast be stored in a flat surface so I can cut it in squares easily.
Or shape it in balls perhaps before storing it in the fridge.
I sliced it in small pieces anyways.
Note: If you plan on making the breaded Mac and cheese bits, add a lil salt when you cook the mac and cheese.

Cut refrigerated(should be overnight) macaroni and cheese into slices or bite size pieces

Flour and Egg

 Season the flour with cayenne, salt,and pepper. Dredge each piece through the flour mixture and gently tap off extra.

I ran out of breading so I had to make some. Toast bread & put them in the food processor and season it the way you want.

Dip in the egg wash and then coat with the bread crumbs. Allow them to rest for 5 minutes so the crust can set.

Very carefully drop into the oil and fry until golden brown.

Drain on paper towels for a few minutes or place on a rack with a cookie sheet underneath.

Serve & Enjoy.

You can try it with any dips too.

SUCCESS!

Everyone loved it!

Thai peanut chicken recipe

Exploring on different cuisine. I am just getting tired of American dish. I also need to find out what else out there my redneck's are willing to eat, so we are not stuck with meat. I am atleast trying to eat healthy.

I love kare-kare. It is a Philippine stew complimented with a thick savory peanut sauce with a variety of vegetables, stewed oxtail, beef, and occasionally offal or tripe. 

The peanut sauce of fresh spring roll is one of my fave too.

However my Redneck's are very picky so only me and my daughter enjoys food adventure most of the time. 

Time to find out the verdict of this new food on the table....


INGREDIENTS:

7 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
5 teaspoons white wine vinegar or 5 teaspoons rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 (cup) honey
3 tablespoons olive oil or 3 tablespoons peanut oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into thin strips
3 tablespoons minced garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger root
3/4 cup chopped green onion
4 cups broccoli florets

COOKING PROCEDURE:

In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, peanut butter, honey, vinegar, and cayenne pepper. Set aside.
 

 Heat oil in a skillet or wok over high heat. Add chicken, garlic and ginger, and cook, stirring constantly, until chicken is golden on the outside, about 5 minutes.

 Reduce heat to medium, and add green onion, broccoli and the peanut butter mixture.

Cook, stirring frequently, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until broccoli is tender, and chicken is cooked through.

 Serve over rice or rice noodles.

Sadly only I appreciated the Thai peanut chicken. It is a little bit too odd for their tastebuds.

Now on a hunt for the next dish to present to my panel of Rednecks!

Weekend special

I am not usually looking forward to weekends because it is just like my regular days.
I am a stay-@-home mommy.
But today is something different. I am invited to a friend's farewell party.
I had just met her and now she is leaving.
They are heading to Texas for a New Adventure!

We are both from Philippines and we sometimes crave for Filipino food.
So I thought of making her something that would fix her craving.

Cassava cake.

Cassava cake.

It is a popular Filipino dessert made from grated cassava also known yucca/yucca root/manioc.

A woody shrub where the starch that is used to make tapioca's are derived.

Ingredients:

For the batter:

-2 packs grated cassava (about 2lbs wt. can be purchased in Filipino stores)
-1 can coconut milk
-½ can evaporated milk
-2 raw eggs
-¼ cup butter melted
-6 tbsp grated cheese
-½ can condensed milk
-14 tbsp sugar

For the topping:

-1 can coconut milk
-2 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ can condensed milk
-2 tbsp flour
-2 tbsp grated cheese (**UPDATE:on  this post I used grated cheese but I found out that sliced cheese works better)
-egg white

Cooking Procedure:

Combine the grated cassava, butter, condensed milk, evaporated milk, cheese, sugar, and eggs in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly

 Add the coconut milk in the mixing bowl where the mixed ingredients are. Mix again.

 Grease the baking tray then pour-in the batter (ingredients that has just been mixed)

 Pre -heat oven for 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes then put-in the baking tray with batter and bake for 1 hour.Remove from the oven and set aside.

Meanwhile prepare the batter by combining the sugar and flour and put-in the heated saucepan.

Pour-in the condensed milk then mix thoroughly.

Add the cheese while stirring constantly.

Pour the coconut milk and stir constantly for 10 minutes

When it thickens (let it boil a lil) turn the heat off.

Pour the topping over the Cassava Cake (baked batter) and spread evenly.

Separate the yolk from the egg white of the remaining egg (we’ll be needing the egg white)

Glaze the topping with the egg white (you may use a basting brush for this step)

 Broil the Cassava cake until color turns light brown. 

(It will create a big bubble but that is alright check it often it browns quickly)

Its just a matter of seconds! I almost burnt the top!

 Garnish with grated cheese/Cover top with sliced cheese put back in the oven until its a little brown (not burnt) and serve. Share and enjoy!

I was skeptical at first taking the dish to the party. But Im glad its a hit!

What's your weekend plan?

Rainy!!Crazy!!Spidey!!

Oh! How hot it is!!! 100+ 

It feels like Yuma all over again! (not that I dont like Yuma AZ, but the weather! Summer is SUPER HOT!)

But how can I even complain warmth is always a blessing.
Its a good thing!
Besides that's what the umbrella, fan and ice-cold drink is for.

While we experience the hot summer here in US, the other side of the world is suffering from moonsoon.

My country, the Philippines has just been hit by hard rain and flooding.

While we are all dry here they are all getting wet. rain is pouring hard. 

No one could go anywhere. 

Roads are not passable. 

Before & After: This is one of the wet market near our area. (well now its literally WET!)

This is the general area of where hubby stayed when he visited me in Philippines. That is the underpass of Ayala, Makati.

This is Pre-school next to the Covered Basketball Court                    This is the covered basketball court and is just 4-5 houses from  where                                                                               I live in Philippines. That is a friend of mine on the pic.                                                                           

Even if it is fun walking in the rain (I have many memories of it with friends).

I remember what it is like to be trapped in your house hoping the water will not rise and sink your house.

Just like what happened to my Home Church back in Philippines.

They basically were trapped in the 2nd level of the bldg.

Their front porch is about 2 ft high from the front yard.

View from the 2nd Level (the 2nd Level is the Church)

Church members came to help and built raft so they can go home. Though soaked Pastor's wife and kids managed to still smile for a shot after evacuating their stuff.                                                                                            

The mess the flood left after the water subsided.........                                         And a SNAKE! YIKES!

I even experienced walking in  the rain with the water thigh high (it is unsafe and nasty), but you gotta do what you gotta do to get home.

 I heard the sun is out now for them to dry off......

Anyways!!!! Enough with my weather report!

Today is Crazy hair day at DVBS..

I didnt want to spray my daughter's hair with crazy colors.

I remembered seeing an interesting haircut and I used that for an inspiration.

I think that is crazy enough. dont you think?

So this is what I did to her hair.

 She got a prize for having the craziest hair!

 I hope your day went well.

I cant believe it is almost weekend!

did you do something crazy this week?

Meatloaf Muffins and Hasselback potatoes

Its funny how Pinterest can make you feel so creative, but all you did was sit infront of the computer pinning hundreds of stuff.

I myself am guilty of that.

There's enormous crafts and DIY's that I wanted to do but couldnt find time yet.

But ofcourse I dont want to forget about those tips and recipes and all that good stuff so I spent hours pinning.

Its amazing how I have more followers (not that I have hundreds) on Pinterest than blogger.

Once in a while I check my list and find something I can possibly make. Like tonight.

I always end up browsing recipes (who wouldnt!! they all look delicious). I picked two for tonights dinner.

I made MEATLOAF MUFFINS with BBQ sauce. (Recipe courtesy of Rachel Ray, food network)

Total Time:

30 min

Prep

10 min

Cook

20 min

Yield:

6 servings

Level:

Easy

Ingredients

• 1 2/3 to 1 3/4 pounds ground sirloin(1 used ground beef)
• 1 medium onion, cut into chunks
• 2 ribs celery from the heart of the stalk, cut into 2-inch pieces (I dont have it and substituted it with 3 tbsp sweet relish)
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 large egg plus a splash of milk, beaten
• 1 cup plain bread crumbs (I always use regular bread when I make meatloaf, just slice it in cubes)
• 2 tablespoons grill seasoning (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick)
• 1 cup smoky barbecue sauce
• 1/2 cup tomato salsa
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• Vegetable oil or extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Put ground beef into a big bowl.
 Put onion and celery into a food processor.
Cut the bell pepper in half, rip out the seeds and throw them into your garbage bowl.
Cut the pepper into a few pieces and add to the food processor.
Pulse the processor blades to finely chop the vegetables into very small pieces then add them to the meat bowl.

Add egg, beaten with milk, bread crumbs and grill seasoning to the bowl.
Next, mix together the smoky barbecue sauce, the salsa and the Worcestershire sauce.
Pour half the sauce mixture into the bowl with the meatloaf mix. Mix the meatloaf together with your hands. Wash up.
Brush a 12-muffin tin (1/2-cup each) with vegetable oil or extra-virgin olive oil.
Use an ice cream scoop to help you fill meat into a each tin.

Top each meat loaf with a spoonful of extra sauce. Bake about 20 minutes.

Cut open 1 muffin to test that the middle is cooked through.

She matched it with mashed potato....

I made HASSELBACK POTATOES to go with it....Recipe courtesy of Seasaltwithfood

Ingredients

6 Medium Size Potatoes
2 - 3 Cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
30 g Butter
Maldon Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Method

Preheat the oven to 220˚C (425˚F). Put the potato on a chopping board, flat side down. Start from one end of the potato, cut almost all the way through, at about 3 to 4 mm intervals.

Arrange the potatoes in a baking tray and insert the garlic in between the slits. Scatter some butter on top of each potato. Then drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Bake the potatoes for about 40 minutes or until the potatoes turn crispy and the flesh is soft.

The Gang LOVEs it! They finished it all up!

What is your latest pinterest project/creation/copy-cat?