I am still here....

I just have been really busy. I still love everyone out there in the blogging world and I have a few new things to show everyone, but you must wait! I promise it will be soon!

Much love. Amanda

Naner Bread

Ah, Betsy (Tuff as Snails ) has been talking about Banana Bread for weeks now, she even posted an entry on her ­blog not to long ago. Quite frankly I think she needs a twelve step program for her addiction to Banana Bread, but thats just me!


My husband walked through the door from a interview with a fire station and asked what I was making, when I told him Banana Bread, his eyes lite up like I said I just won the lottery! We love banana bread here, but for some reason bananas rot in her house in like two minutes. Not in the good for making banana bread rot either, more like moldy bug ridden rot. So I stole some bananas from my mom and began the journey to naner bread land!


Well anyways, I was going to try her recipe but didn't have many of the ingredients on there, so I made my own! Fancy I know!


Here is my version, Banana Oatmeal Bread:


1 1/2 cup of All purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oatmeal
3 tablespoons of light brown sugar
1 teaspoon apple pie seasoning (or cinnamon)
2 1/4 teaspoon of baking POWDER (not to be confused with its cousing baking SODA)
1/2 c milk
1/2 applesauce
1 egg
2 very ripe bananas


I used a 8x4 greased loaf pan, but you can really use any square or cupcake pan. Preheat oven to 350 F.


Combine all dry ingredients and mix together very well. In another bowl mix together bananas, egg, milk and applesauce; combine all wet together til semi smooth.


Combine wet into dry. Mix until all incorporated, don't overmix!


Bake for 1 hour, or until golden brown on top, and toothpick comes out clean when in inserted in the middle! Cool on cooling rack or keep in pan, your the boss!

Now ENJOY!

This is a very unsweet bread, so if you like sweetness, it may not be for you. It is a variation on a Weight Watchers recipe. It is worth 3 points if you cut the bread in 7 slices! Its pretty good, just not very sweet. Maybe I should work on making super potent sweet bananas..... stay tuned.

Its time to be Tuff

Tuff as Snails that is! Let's talk about ­Tuff as Snails. Betsy is the sole creator behind the beautiful, funky and vintage inspired goods in her shop. I had been eyeing many of the dresses in her shop for quite awhile! I was able to scoop one up, but it will not fit my little turtle for quite awhile, but one must plan ahead! Betsy combines such unique, vibrant and beautiful fabrics together to create funky pieces of vintage inspired goods!

Looking to keep busy while out for the day, then the crosswords puzzle dress if for you, just make sure to bring a washable marker for years of enjoyment!

We all know every little kid wants to be a super hero like their mom, with this fancy dress and cape, their prayers are answered!

Just take a look at her Japanese Pop Octopus Dress, even if I had never seen the beautiful masterpiece of a dress, I would be intrigued by the name alone!

Not into dresses? Well she has you covered with that as well! Your little one could sport a sweet t-shirt with a "tuff" pirate lady on it! Just waiting to get that for my little one as well!

How about spicing up your neck? You can sport a sweet necklace of Lil Miss Muffet or how about a Anatomically correct heart brooch? With Tuff as Snails, you have one stop shopping to keep you funky and unique!

Check her out, I know you won't be diappointed!

With a name like world's best....

You just have to try it! I have been craving french onion soup for weeks0 so I started my journey on the world wide web to find a recipe, and stumbled upon it! It proudly claimed it was the best recipe, so ofcourse I had to try it! The one down fall with French Onion Soup is its made with beef broth and I do not partake in beef or pork! But if you know me, I never actually follow a recipe, I use it as a guideline and adjust accordingly!

So I started my journey and the smells so far are amazing!


I used white onions and leeks! But you can use any type of onion you like, or a mixture of all the onions you like. Its your choice!

A little background for you, I LOVE ONIONS! I love all types, I like them raw, I like them cooked, I like them in everything, so ofcourse Fench Onion Soup would be on the top of my soup list!
So you cut your onions, in moon shapes. I used two medium sized onions, and the white part of a leek. This amount of onions would serve about four people.
I used Smart Balance butter to cook them in. Low and slow, for a long time. It should take about 30 minutes to carmelize properly. Don't rush it!
If you cover them, it does help. Also add some kosher salt, a few pinches, this helps bring the water out and moves it along. Just remember taste before you salt it later, you probably won't need any more!
Most recipes will call for a bouquet garni of fresh thyme, parsley and a bay leaf tied in a cheesecloth. I don't mess with cheesecloth. I just put it right in. A palm full of each, but I skip on the parsley and use Italian Seasonings which has parsley, basil and other yummo tasting things!I used two 14 ounce cans of chicken broth. But if you do eat beef, you would want to do beef stock or broth, or you could do half in half, its really up to you! Then just add one can of water! Cover and simmer. The longer it simmers the yummier it will be! My soup will not be as dark as "traditional" french onion, but it still tastes like it, in my opinion not as salty either!

I served it in coffee mugs with garlic toast and then mozzarella cheese. You can use any cheese you like, though I wouldn't recommend any cheedar. Swiss is the traditional cheese! We had the soup with a salad and pizza made on whole wheat naan bread! It was delicous, and if you on Weight Watchers like me, it was pretty low in points for a lot of food!

I don't really have a recipe, as I guess, but I tried to give you the best guess as to what I did!

Madelyn ofcourse in her new Johnny Jumper and her fancy knee socks! She was watching us eat! Wishing she could eat it!

CLEARANCE SALE!

I am having a clearance sale at Turtle Girl Crafts! Everything in the clearance section has been lowered atleast 45%! Lots of fun clips for you or your little one!

Check it out for some great deals, the more you buy the more new things I add!

New Shop for Mama!

SO I decided to seperate my shops, to have one for Mama, and (Turtle Girl Crafts, the original) for baby and children.

So far, I will just be moving things from my Turtle Girl Shop over to my new shop, but go take a look to see whats happening over in my newest shop!

Lil Turtle Mama Crafts

I am very excited to open this new shop on Etsy!

Birthday Surprise!

What a birthday surprise! I was looking over this website, and found my tye dye mary janes featured on the Cafemom Etsy Moms section! It was a wonderful thing to see! I just had to share!


The website I am featured on!