Make your own cupcake picks!

By using stickers that were nearly symmetrical, I stuck them together with a toothpick sandwiched between and they became cupcake toppers. If your stickers aren't very symmetrical, you could punch out some paper circles so you have a symmetrical base, and put your stickers on the circles with the toothpick between the two circles. For the top cupcake pick, I printed out the words using my computer printer and took a scallop punch to them. To keep the surface flat, and not rounding over the toothpick, I used mounting tape to put the two scallop circles together.

Potstickers

Cal and I made our own potstickers.  We used a cooked salmon, green onion, egg, garlic, soy sauce, salt and pepper mixture for the inside.  We were lazy and bought the wrappers instead of making our own, which are better but more work.  I like the assembly line method where I lay out several wrappers and put a heaping teaspoon of filling in the middle of each one (picture 1).  Then using my cup of water and a brush, moisten the outer edge and fold in half, crimping it with pressure from your fingers as you go (picture 2).  Once I have a pan full ready (picture 3), I let Cal cook then in a pan brushed with oil on medium+ for a couple minutes until browned on the bottom (picture 4).  Pour in water or chicken broth to cover the bottom of the pan, put on the lid and steam 30 seconds until the water or broth has evaporated and the potstickers have loosened from the pan (picture 5). Remove from pan and keep warm in the oven while you finish the rest.  Eat as they are or make a soy sauce concoction to go with it (picture 6).

Got Basil?

I love FRESH basil, and if I remembered to water things, I would grow it in my kitchen. But I don't remember, so we buy it sometimes when we know we can use an entire pack. Of course we use it in sauces and pizza and curries, but one of my new favorite things to do with extra fresh basil, especially with the weather getting cold, is to put it in homemade chicken and noodles. It adds lots of flavor and color! I like to chop it up and sprinkle it in right after I dish it up so it looks nice.