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What Do You Think?

How do you like the new look?

Yeah. I’m pretty sure I’m the luckiest little blogger on the planet. Every time my cute little daughter gets in a creative mood–something magical happens. Many times it means that I get a new blog design for Gracious Rain. April said she was sure people would start thinking that Gracious Rain was suffering from some kind of multiple personality disorder because it completely changes every few months or so. I just love it, so I can’t worry about what the psychology majors think. It’s incredibly ok with me if Gracious Rain is the blog design guinea pig for Sassyfruit, whenever it happens. Never a dull moment here!

Speaking of Sass–last week we had a giveaway for a free custom blog design. If you’ll recall, in the end Sassyfruit gave away TWO free blog designs instead of one. Well, I just thought you might like to see the finished product for the Gracious Rain winner, Dot. Her site is called “Dots and Clovers,” and her newly madeover site is adorable! I hope you’ll check it out.

Lastly, as you can see, I have room at the top for more tabs, so I’m open for suggestions. What do you think? Is there something you wish you had easier access to? I’m sure we’ll come up with something, but if you have any great epiphanies on the subject–I’d love to hear all about them! Just leave a comment below.

Thanks my friends…

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We Have a Winner…

Congratulations to our White-White Flapper Hat Giveaway Winner—

Kate

Who said:

“The hat is just lovely! I am hoping this is the year I learn more about crochet…I love your blog! Great recipes, tutorials, and I love the Appreciating the Puddles section!”

Wahoo! I hope you love it!

Thanks for playing “Hat of Fortune” everyone.

Be sure to check back for our “Daddy’s Day Giveaway,” coming soon!

(Winner chosen by Random.org)
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Jack-in-the-Box-ish Tacos

When I was in high school, I could not get enough JITB Tacos. Any excuse would do and we’d jump in whoever could drive’s car and order a huge bag full.

If you don’t live near a Jack in the Box…and you don’t have any idea what on earth I’m talking about…I’m sorry. I can’t help you.

But if–like me, you know the addictive qualities of  the  aforementioned taco–then you’re gonna love this one. No lie—it’s the recipe! (insert giddy, maniacal laughter here) We made them this afternoon and I had to fight the urge to take the plate and hide in the basement until they were–you know–magically gone.

In fact, I almost called my similarly smitten sister Laurie to come over and help us taste test them.

I said, almost.

I’m not stupid.

Jack-in-the-Box-ish Tacos

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1/2 cup refried beans

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons chili powder

1/4 cup mild, non-chunky taco sauce (Ortega is good)

soft corn tortillas (warm them in a pan with a lid before using so they don’t crack when you fold them)

3 cups Crisco cooking oil

6 slices American cheese

1 head finely chopped lettuce

Directions

Brown the beef over low heat, use a spatula to chop and stir the meat. When the beef is brown drain the fat. Add the refried beans and use the wooden spoon to mash the whole beans into the mixture to create a smooth texture. Add the salt, chili powder and 2 Tbs of taco sauce to the mixture. Remove from the heat. In another skillet heat 1/4 inch of oil until hot. Spread aprox. 2 Tbsp of the beef mixture on the center of each corn tortilla. Fold the tortillas over and press so that the beef filling holds the sides together. Drop each taco into the pan of hot oil and fry on both sides until crispy. When cooked remove the tacos from the oil and place them on a rack or some paper towels until they cool. Slightly pry open add 1/2 slice American cheese folded into a triangle and some lettuce. Top with about 1/2 tsp of the remaining taco sauce.

Invite people over and tell them you went all the way to Jack-in-the-Box to bring dinner…or tell the truth. Be careful though, they might beat you up and steal the recipe.
Makes 12 tacos.

 

 

5.0 from 1 reviews
Jack-in-the-Box Tacos
 
Print
Ingredients
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ½ cup refried beans
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • ¼ cup mild, non-chunky taco sauce (Ortega is good)
  • soft corn tortillas (warm them in a pan with a lid before using so they don't crack when you fold them)
  • 3 cups Crisco cooking oil
  • 6 slices American cheese
  • 1 head finely chopped lettuce
Instructions
  1. Brown the beef over low heat, use a spatula to chop and stir the meat.
  2. Then the beef is brown drain the fat.
  3. Add the refried beans and use the wooden spoon to mash the whole beans into the mixture to create a smooth texture.
  4. Add the salt, chili powder and 2 Tbs of taco sauce to the mixture.
  5. Remove from the heat. In another skillet heat ¼ inch of oil until hot.
  6. Spread aprox. 2 Tbsp of the beef mixture on the center of each corn tortilla.
  7. Fold the tortillas over and press so that the beef filling holds the sides together.
  8. Drop each taco into the pan of hot oil and fry on both sides until crispy.
  9. When cooked remove the tacos from the oil and place them on a rack or some paper towels until they cool.
  10. Slightly pry open add ½ slice American cheese folded into a triangle and some lettuce.
  11. Top with about ½ tsp of the remaining taco sauce.

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The Voting Is In…

The silly little flapper hat that got the most votes was #2 by a landslide. So now that we know which hat is the winner—we need to find the person winner.

This soft little thing would most likely fit a 1 or 3 year old–depending on…well, you know, how big their head is. If you win it and it doesn’t fit the intended noggin–I’ll just make another one…while I’m in this erratic, crocheting-like-a-wild-woman-phase. For those of you who emailed and asked about different sizes—I’ll get on that ASAP. Baby sizes, grown-up sizes–I’ll give it a whirl and we’ll see what works. Stay tuned.

Oh, and if you’d like to win this giveaway—just leave a comment  on this post.  We’ll choose a winner on Friday morning at 10am.

Good luck, guys!

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Milliner?

All the stuff 001

Back in the olden days if a lady wanted a new hat–she simply went down to the milliner’s–that’s someone who makes hats—and had one made–especially for her.

These days if you need a hat, you go to Target or some other playful place and see what you can find. It’s not quite the same as having something made especially for you but where would you go to find a milliner in this century anyway?

All the stuff 006

Well, from the looks of my sewing bag and my room—I’m about ready to hang a sign on the door with that very title on it. Or to be more easily understood by the general population, it would read: “Hatmaker.”

ABC 066#1

For some odd reason, since I found this “Flapper Hat” pattern last week, I can’t seem to stop making them.

ABC 027

Recently while cleaning out the closet, I found my beloved “Peaches and Cream” 100% Cotton thread stash. Something snapped…and the madness began.

All the stuff 003

#2

It’s the perfect size project to haul around and work on any time…any where–doctor’s offices, track meets, while watching a movie or to pass the time while waiting to pick someone up from somewhere.

All the stuff 004

#3

No matter how many other things were scrawled on the “to do” list–it was just so much more fun to make another hat.

Now, every time poor Lily walks past me, I’m yanking a hat down over her head–to make sure the size is working. It is. She’s a darn good sport–so far.

However, to be brutally honest, even Beckham wasn’t safe from the “let’s just see if this will fit…” fest. He was not a fan.

ABC 062

#4

So–help me out here. Besides decking out my grandbabies–I need a new purpose for the irrational cap-making behavior.

Tell me which of the four–not yet claimed by a local baby—that you like the best.

That should do it.

Now I’m off to make more…more…more…