Two Sides of A Coin

My husband and I wanted a place to share our projects...I do crafting (e.g. cards, sewing, etc...), household projects, and parties for kids. My husband makes toy trucks, household projects (e.g. closet redesign), and helps with party decorations and games. While he's a professional contractor, we do this for fun. We both cook, but I am more likely to try new and different recipes. We'll be trying out Pinterest items and reporting back.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Our Pinterest Dinner - Taco Cupcakes - Better Topless

Last night, I attempted this Taco Cupcake recipe that I pinned on Pinterest. Of course, I never make a recipe without tweaking it to our own preferences.

So below is the recipe as I made it...

Ingredients
  • 1 tbsp Southwestern Seasoning (from Pampered Chef)
  • 1 lb 95% lean ground beef
  • 3/4 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
  • Wonton wrappers (found in the produce section)
  • 1/2 cup chunky salsa
  • 1 cup reduced fat shredded Mexican cheese
  • 1/2 green pepper
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  
 Directions
  1. First, preheat the oven to 375. Lightly mist 12 cups in a muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside. 
  2. Heat vegetable oil in a saute pan or large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef. Brown beef, breaking it with a spoon. 
  3. Add tomato sauce and taco seasoning.
  4. Cook for 5 minutes.
  5. Saute green pepper in separate pan (my husband's sensitive tummy just can't handle them).
  6. Put wonton wrapper in bottom of each cupcake opening and then add spoonful of salsa, spoonful of beans, and pinch of cheese. Add one spoonful of beef and then top with a wonton wrapper.  
  7. Repeat.
  8.  Add green peppers to the ones I am going to eat.
We served it with a little cheese on top on a bed of lettuce shreds.  You could do guacamole (we were out).  

What I would do differently - we topped ours with the wonton wrapper and it just looked silly and the tops wouldn't stay on.  Better to leave them topless!!

It was a winner.  So thank you Pinterest!

 

Monday, August 27, 2012

Hello and Welcome to our Sparkling Copper Nest

Just like sparkles and copper may seem unrelated to one another, so are my husband and I.  My husband and I are as different as night and day.  Here's a short list just to give you an idea of who is writing this blog.

Craig - Amanda

Soft Rock - Country
Mythbusters - Glee
Contractor - Crafter
Practical - Whimsical
Born and Raised in Indiana - Army Brat
 Hunter - Animal Rights Activist
Meat Lover - Vegetarian (on some days)

Our Blog

I want a place to share ideas and show how my Pinterest attempts turn out. I'm avid about Pinterest - but I always wonder how other people do actually making or trying these pins.  I do love crafting, household projects, organizing, and throwing theme parties for kids.  I'm also now heading the decorating committee for the Good Sheperd Housing annual Gala.  My husband and I are childless by choice, but we love kids and I love kid parties.  My husband Craig is on board with this blog, so you'll see him step in on projects that require precision or building.  He'll also be showcasing home improvement/remodel tips, along with showing off his toy trucks (check them out on Facebook, too).  

I am not perfect at any of these items nor I would say particularly talented, just like to try new things and embrace the fun.  Hope you do, too!

What we're not doing...we're not going to post outside of these subject areas.  For example, I  am always on a fitness/weight loss project of some kind, but at this time, we are going to limit this blog to parties, crafting, home remodel/repair/decoration, cooking, etc.... If this goes well and we feel we need to expand, maybe later we'll add another blog and link them OR change this one.  But before we do, we'll consult our audience on the path to choose.

We're aiming to post bi-weekly - with pictures and instructions as much as possible.  For our first few entries, we'll rely on projects already completed, but after some time we may start showing items in progress.

We love feedback.  If you want, feel free to leave comments, subscribe to our blog, or pin us to Pinterest. We'll try to answer all posted questions in a timely manner.   You can also offer suggestions.  We do reserve the right to remove comments, but right now, we're not moderating the comments.


We hope you'll be back. Invite your friends, invite your family.  The more, the merrier.