Hello, dear one!

Do you like to cook?  I do…most days.  This time of year, I love soups, stews, Italian dishes and roasted chicken…which is Bob’s specialty.  I love to have friends over, but struggle with ideas for appetizers and dessert.  Probably because there’s never enough time.

What are your favorite easy appetizers? I’d love to know! When I’ve been in a real pinch, I’ve found that the old…drum roll, please…Lipton onion soup dip, with potato chips is still a big favorite!

This week, I made baby twice baked red potatoes.  Delish!  Trader Joe’s sells bags of about a dozen small red potatoes.  Red potatoes are probably my favorite spuds in the potato family.  You can take any twice baked potato recipe and use it with these little guys.  The only adjustment is to reduce the cooking time.

I think, next time, I’d buy even smaller potatoes, making them almost bite sized.  Either way, they’re always good!

I’m not sure if you do this, but I’m famous for saving recipes on Instagram.  Usually, I never cook the recipes, but my intentions are good!

Here’s one exception.  A recipe I actually make, on Sunday.  Really yummy! As you see, I didn’t edit the screen shot.  Keeping it real!  Anyway, it’s an Asian chicken cabbage salad.

I cheated and bought a roasted chicken at the market and Mr. Wonderful boned it, while still warm.  He’s got a great trick and used a hand held mixer to shred the cooked chicken.  He does this when he makes his amazing enchiladas, too.  But, he doesn’t cheat with the pre-roasted chicken.

Here’s the dressing:

And the salad ingredients.  It makes a lot of salad and would be good for a gathering. I just love the crunch of it all…and the dressing!

Back at the shop…

Cheryl and I found this wonderful line of silky short and long kimono’s and jammies, at market.  They’re made in the U.K. and they’re gorgeous! What a great gift, for yourself or a friend!

Iron Orchid Demo Day, Sunday, 3/26, 1 p.m.

Yes, it’s free to attend, but we ask you to register, Here!

Lexi Grenzer is a wonderful artist, from Northern California.  I don’t know all the scoop, but I think she’s helped design some of I.O.D.’s decor transfers.  Here’s one of the new Spring Release inlays, that she put onto three panels.  Quite a statement!  I’ll be showing you the new Spring release, how to apply a Paint Inlay (I think I cracked the code!), how to make a mould, stamp and apply a transfer!  So go sign up and get inspired!

Next week, it’s baby James time!

I can’t believe it’s been just two months, since I held this little one!  Bob and I head back next week for some cuddle time and I can’t wait!

Until next time…

That beautiful sunshine that joined us Tuesday, will be a thing of the past today.  Let’s just remember, it’s all for a good cause.  If you need to get out of the office or house, come see us!

Until we meet again, stay warm and dry!

XO, Barbara