Dragonfly shadow box

Recently I found a dead dragonfly on the window sill at work. Add a couple of twigs with seed pods from the backyard, a $7. shadow box and a piece of textured cream scrap book paper. Instant nature shadow box.

Cast iron pizza

The best pizza I have ever had. Hands down. Better than take-out pizza. The crust comes out slightly sweet and crispy.

This recipe makes 2 pizzas, serves 4-6.
Prep time: 1 hour

Cook time: 15 minutes

Dough:

1 cup warm water

2 tsp. light brown sugar

1 packet dry yeast

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. sea salt

2 tsp. olive oil

To make dough, dissolve brown sugar and yeast in 1 cup warm water. Let sit about 5 minutes until bubbly. Add whole wheat flour, half all purpose flour and salt, stir until combine. Knead dough, adding remaining half of all purpose flour. Oil separate bowl, coat dough with oil. Cover, and let rise in warm spot until it doubles in size (about 45 minutes).

Preheat oven 475°F. Oil the sides and bottoms of 2 cast iron skillets ( I used a 12" and a 10"). Stretch dough over bottom and half way up sides of skillets. Add sauce, cheese and your favorite toppings.

Bake for 15 minutes as low in your oven as possible. Let sit a few minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

Trail mix

Mix together sea salted mixed nuts, dark chocolate chips, and raisins.

How to make a bird nesting pine cones

Help wild birds to build their nests and a great way to use up your scrap yarn, thread and string. Make nest building easy on our feathered friends with these nesting pine cones. Filling them with completely reclaimed materials for the birds to use in building their nests.

Step one: Fine some pine cones.

Step 2: Tie a scrap of string or piece of yarn around the top of your pine cone to hang it.

Step 3: Wrap all you scraps of yarn, thread, and string around the pine cone.

Step 4: Hang your bird nesting pine cone in a tree, by your feeders or by the window. You can even just tuck it in the branches of a tree.

Easy to make, fun to enjoy. A great project to try with kids.

If you would like to purchase one they are available on my artfire page at:

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=1130831

Quick and easy spinach pie

Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 15-20 minutes

Ingredients:

5 cloves garlic
2 -9oz. bags baby spinach
1 -8oz. block of feta
1 -17.3oz. puff pastry sheets

Thaw puff pastry sheets. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Lightly grease 2 baking sheets.


Mince garlic and saute in pan with olive oil.

Steam spinach in a large pot with 1/4-1/2 cup water. Drain spinach. Mix together spinach, garlic and crumbled feta.

Cut pastry sheets into 18-3 inch squares. Place a spoonful of filling on each square, then fold over into a triangle and press edges with a fork. Place on baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Enjoy!