Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Like It Hot? Try Spicy Baked Black Bean Nachos, A Recipe From Budget Bytes



Hello Darlings,

I just received this delicious nachos recipe from Budget Bytes, another website committed making easy on your budget. Their motto: "My stomach is full. My wallet is too."   

Spicy Baked Black Bean Nachos

Prep time
15 mins 
Cook time
20 mins
Total time
35 mins

Total Cost: $6.36
Cost Per Serving: $1.59
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
SPICY BLACK BEAN MIXTURE
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil $0.13
  • 1 small onion $0.32
  • 10oz. can petite diced tomatoes with green chiles $0.99
  • 15oz. can black beans $1.00
  • ½ tsp chipotle powder $0.05
  • ½ tsp cumin $0.05
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder $0.02
  • ¼ tsp salt $0.02
NACHOS
  • 8oz. sturdy corn tortilla chips $1.50
  • 4oz. cheddar, shredded* $1.00
  • 1 Roma tomato $0.32
  • 1 jalapeño $0.12
  • ⅓ cup pickled red onions $0.24
  • Handful cilantro $0.25
  • ¼ cup sour cream $0.37
Instructions
  1. Finely dice the onion. Add the olive oil and onion to a large skillet and sauté over medium heat until the onion is soft and transparent (about 5 minutes). Drain, but do not rinse the black beans, allowing some of the starchy liquid to remain coating the beans. Add the beans and diced tomatoes with chiles (not drained) to the skillet, along with the chipotle powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt. Stir and simmer the mixture until it thickens and liquid no longer pools on the bottom of the skillet (about 10 minutes).
  2. Begin preheating the oven to 350ºF. Shred the cheddar cheese, finely dice the Roma tomato, thinly slice the jalapeño, and chop the cilantro.
  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil. Spread a layer of tortilla chips over the baking sheet in a single layer, trying not to overlap the chips. Spoon about half of the black bean mixture over the chips, then sprinkle half of the shredded cheese over top. Repeat with one more layer of chips, black beans, and cheese.
  4. Bake the chips, beans, and cheese for 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the chips are just beginning to turn golden brown on the edges. Remove the nachos from the oven and add a drizzles or dollops of sour cream over top. Sprinkle the diced tomato, sliced jalapeño, pickled red onions, and chopped cilantro over top.

For  future money saving recipes from Budget Bytes, there is a link on the left of this page.

Enjoy, Darlings,



Chow.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Evelyn's DIY: How To Save Your Countertops



Hello Darlings,



Today's DIY video is about protecting your countertops from your cutting board. After refinishing my kitchen islands last week, I asked husband, Stanley, to place these, Yueton Anti-slip Rubber Hardwood Floor Protectors on my cutting boards. The video states how they work very well.
.









My Kitchen Island Setup

That's all, Darlings.

Until next time, Chow.

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Evelyn's DIY Kitchen Islands Makeover, Part 4



Hello Darlings, 

What I Began With And Used To Transform My Kitchen Islands

First of all, let me state that this is not my first DIY project. I have been doing sanding and refinishing projects off and on for some 40 years. However, it is my most ambitious  DIY project in that it contains so many items and consumes a lot of time.  in addition, there is a lot of great DIY channels of You Tube. As promised here is the list of items I used to transform my kitchen island from their before pictures to their present beautiful state. 


  • Home Styles 4510-95 Liberty Kitchen Cart with Natural Wood Top, Black
  • Home Styles 5099-95 Napa Kitchen Center, Natural Finish
  • Home Styles 5089-95 Kitchen Center with Breakfast Bar, Natural Finish   

BEFORE

AFTER

  • Olympic Assure Black Flat Latex Interior Paint and Primer In One Paint (Actual Net
            Contents: 128-fl oz) - had satin gloss added for slight sheen
  • Minwax 2 qt. PolyShades American Chestnut Gloss Stain and Polyurethane in 1-Step (correction: I used the Pecan Gloss, and not the Chestnut Gloss which is the dark stain.)
  • Jasco Easy Liquid Sander Deglosser
  • Jasco Paint Thinner
  • Jasco  Odorless Mineral Spirits
  • Project Source Natural Bristle Flat Sash Paint Brush 2- inch
  • Blue Hawk Natural Bristle Polyester Blend Flat Sash Paint Brush 5-inch
  • Blue Hawk 9-Piece Paint Applicator Ki
  •  
BEFORE













AFTER


HOME DEPOT
  • Liberty 2-1/2 or 3 in. (64 or 76mm) Copper Kettle Dual Mount Cup Pulls
  • Amerock Colonnade 1-1/2 in. Antique Copper Cabinet Knobs


TOOL
  • Black & Decker BDEMS600 Mouse Detail Sander
  • Black & Decker BDAMX Mouse Sandpaper
·         50 Grit
·         80 Grit
·         120 Grit
·         180 Grit

  • 1medium  Philip Screw Driver
  • 1mini Phillip Screw Driver
  • Paint And Varnish Mixing Sticks
  • Cardboard Boxes - Completely Spread Out On Floor
  • Lots Of Free Time And Patience
  •  

I used the deglosser as a pre-sander to reduce the amount of finish on the islands. After following the direction on the bottle, I then waited 24-hours and then used my mouse Sander. The courser sand paper was used to remove the PolyShades on one of the islands  after I got messy on it, which means never work after you are exhausted. Quit and relax for a day or two.

Chow, Darlings.