A Duck In Her Pond » Crafts

Creative Woman in the Pond: Julie from Peanut Butter Fingers

Blond Duck — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:00:24 +0000

Hello, Invisible Minions. Queen Bitty here.

I’ve got a new Creative Woman of the Pond for you.

She blogs about delicious, healthy recipes that include everything from pancakes to peanut butter to granola to meatballs…

Source.

Did I mention peanut butter?

Let’s learn more about her, shall we?

1) How do you think you make healthy living creative?

My favorite way to make healthy living creative is to revamp an indulgent recipe and make it healthier. Experimenting in the kitchen and having fun with fresh ingredients has led to some of my all-time favorite recipes that are now breakfast and dinner staples in my house like banana bread protein pancakes and buffalo chicken sandwiches.

2) What’s your favorite way to be creative in the kitchen?

When it comes making delicious and nutritious dinners, I always start by thinking of what vegetable I want to include in my meal. I used to revolve all of my meals around meat, but vegetables should take up most of the room on your plate, so why not start there? For the longest time I hated vegetables. Once I discovered how delicious they can be when you season them properly and roast them in the oven, I was sold! Now I love turning vegetables into “fries” by roasting them and dipping them in ketchup. My favorite “fries” are parsnip and rutabaga fries.

3) Why do you think it’s important for women to be creative?

Without being creative in the kitchen, mealtime would get boring! I love eating and it’s so much more fun to sit down to a meal you’re really looking forward to eating, rather than one that you threw together without much thought or creativity. Additionally, being creative helps me stay on track with healthy eating. I find that when I don’t feel as motivated to be creative in the kitchen, I’m much more likely to eat “grab-and-go” foods or frozen foods that are more convenient than they are nutritious.

4) What’s the most creative way you’ve used peanut butter?

One of my more creative peanut butter recipes is probably my pumpkin peanut butter French toast. A perfect fall breakfast! I also love my peanut butter granola because it’s so darn easy to make.

5) Here in the Pond, we do Chiaerobics. What creative ways do you and Sadie work out?

Sadie is the kind of dog that can go, go, go. She is insanely energetic! She’s the best hiking buddy because she’s a hunting dog and naturally stops and points if there’s an animal nearby. This helps me and my husband spot neat animals like deer or wild turkeys in the area that we might otherwise miss on our long hikes.

6) Have you ever eaten peanut butter waffes? Would you want to?

I’ve had peanut butter topped waffles, but never peanut butter waffles. Heck yes, I’d love to eat peanut butter waffles!!

7) What’s your favorite way to be creative?

I have the most fun getting creative when it comes to baking. I’m not afraid to make a recipe that’s a total flop and have a blast adding new flavors and textures to baked goods.

What are some creative ways you make traditional non-healthy foods “healthy”?

I like to replace meat with vegetables in recipes (mushrooms and beans are great “meaty” vegetables), substitute sour cream with plain Greek yogurt, replace oil with applesauce when baking cupcakes or other baked goods.

9) Queen Bitty wants to know what your favorite pie is.

Pumpkin pie with extra whipped cream. And ice cream.

10) Where do you see Peanut butter fingers going a year from now?

In a year, I hope to still be blogging and would love to continue to expand my freelance writing assignments and recipe development projects.

For more about Julie, visit her at www.pbfingers.com!

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! We have a new Shimmer tomorrow and a delectable recipe Thursday!

Mama Kats: The dance that never was

Blond Duck — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:00:27 +0000

This Week the Mama Kat prompt is the first slow dance experience with a boy….

Louis Warren was everything a sixth grade girl could ask for. Cute, blond and blue eyes that made me forget my name.

He sat in front of me in life science, often ignoring the teacher to turn around and doodle on my notes. He flicked my hair with his pencil, walked with me in the halls and winked at me at lunch. With a grin, he would run his fingers through his hair, flecks of white dried gel fluttering onto my cheap wooden desk. “Now you have something to remember me by,” he’d tease as I’d shriek, sweeping the offending flakes onto the floor.

Although I suspected he wanted to be more than lab partners, I never knew for sure. So for the first few weeks of school, I saved all my best outfits for science days, spending at least fifteen minutes trying to tame my wavy hair. I even broke out the shimmery powder and lip gloss, all I was allowed to wear at 11.

A month later, the week of homecoming, he asked me the words I finally wanted to here.

“Want to go to the fall dance with me?”

Any normal girl would have cried yes or flung her arms around him. Instead, I did the nerdiest thing possible.

“Um, I have to check with my mom.”

“Ok.” He gave me a funny look. “When can you tell me?”

“Tomorrow?” I squeaked.

“Ok.”

I floated home on the fall breeze, twirling into the kitchen. “Mom, Louis asked me to the dance!”

“Who’s Louis?”

“This really sweet guy…”

“How old is he?”

“12.”

“You know you’re not allowed to date until you’re 16.”

“But MOM!!!!”

“Ok, ok.” Smothering a sigh, she wrapped her arms around me. “Since I’ll be working with the PTA, you can go until 9.”

I did some quick calculations in my head. The dance started at 6:30. Two and a half hours! “Can we go shopping?” I asked.

My mother burst out laughing. “Sure!”

The next Friday night, I stood in my paper-leaf covered middle school as parents and kids rushed from class room to class room, bobbing for apples, eating the French Club’s crepes and diving into fake leaf piles in the cafeteria. Music pounded from the gym. I wiped my sweaty palms across my jeans and swallowed hard.

“You look really pretty.” I turned. Louis was holding out a carnation, his gelled hair harder than the cement floors underneath us.

“Thanks.” I whispered.

“You ready?” He took my hand. Suddenly, the room began to spin as he lead me to the door. Bad 90s music pounded in my ears, the scent of cotton candy and cheap popcorn rushing over me. My slick hand slid from his.

“Louis, I think…”

The next thing I knew, I was doubled over on the cement, Louis’ blue eyes peering down at me.

“Where’s your mom?” he asked.

My cheeks redder than my new shirt, I pushed myself up. “She’s in the cafeteria. Don’t worry. Go on to the dance.”

“But…” Louis’ eyes traveled past me as a busty seventh grader swept by. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.” I managed a wobbly smile.

“Ok.” His eyes locked on the 7th grader, Louis hurried after her.

They dated for a year.

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!

Craft Hour with Queen Bitty

Blond Duck — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 09:00:51 +0000

Hello, Invisible Friends.

Queen Bitty here.

While the rest of you were grilling or swimming, I was instructing the Blond Duck in the proper art of mixed media.

Let me explain.

What we’re going to make today is a dream board.

Using glitter, photos, magazine cut outs, cards and everything from flowers to a fairy wand; you simply cover a canvas with the objects you dream and desire of. Or you could create a vision board of what you want to become or achieve.

It’s a lot of fun.

Let’s get started.

You’ll need:

A blank canvas (any size)
Paint
Glitter
pictures, cut outs, cards, stickers, 3-D objects, ribbons, etc.
Glue

First, paint the canvas any color of your choice. It doesn’t have to get perfect, and you can even get funky with it if you like. Let dry for 30 minutes to an hour. Next, start layering the cut outs and photos collage style. You can either lay everything out before hand and glue it down piece by piece or just glue as you go. Layer on stickers or 3-D items like flowers or a fairy wand or tiara. For these you’ll probably need a good secure glue or hot glue gun. Then just hang and admire!

You could always make a dream board of me. I’m inspirational.

Try it!

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! We have a new Shimmer tomorrow and a delectable re-cap of the 4th Thursday!