Another Friday!!!

Welcome to another New Friend Friday! This week, Diana from The Girl Creative wants to know about our most embarrassing moments! While I have plenty of those, the one that comes to mind takes place on Thanksgiving a couple of years back at Canyon Ferry Lake. We were spending the holiday at the lake house with my in-laws and my niece, Taylor - and I was making the gravy. There were some clear glass canisters on the counter and I asked someone to pass the flour so I could thicken the gravy. After adding tablespoon upon tablespoon of flour, my gravy was still as thin as water! With a taste, I discovered my flour was really powdered sugar! You can imagine how that tasted! Needless to say, our turkey dinner was sans gravy! 

How about you, what is your most embarrassing moment? Do tell, I would love to know!

Garlic Dijon Red Wine Vinaigrette

I love homemade salad dressings! They always taste so fresh, and they don't have all those ingredients that I can hardly pronounce -and if I can't pronounce them, surely they aren't very good for me. Homemade dressings usually pack a certain WOW factor, (everyone is always impressed when you walk in with your very own salad dressing) which is funny because making dressing is much easier than most think, and usually the ingredients are kept right on hand in the pantry. This tangy, garlic, dijon salad dressing is one of our favorites! I made it just last night, and am pretty convinced that after Mr. Crazy helped himself to TWO helpings of salad (definitely not characteristic) topped with this dressing and also drizzled his French bread with it - he would have drank the rest straight from the bottle, had he been able to get away with it. I always have to double this recipe or there isn't enough!

Just whisk these ingredients together -

There you have it - SUPER EASY!

Garlic Dijon Red Wine Vinaigrette

1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 clove of garlic, minced (click here for an easy garlic mincing trick)

Whisk all ingredients together. Serve over your favorite salad. Store in refrigerator. Couldn't be easier!

Looking for a special salad to make just for this dressing? It's coming right up! Stay tuned for one of my most favorite salads in the whole world!

A Trick for Mincing Garlic

Don't know about you, but I really don't like to mince garlic. Probably because I always end up with bigger pieces than I like and always come too close to cutting my fingers for comfort. So I don't do it - EVER! Instead, I use a little grater to simply grate the garlic cloves directly into my recipes. The pieces end up uniform and small enough that I never notice biting into any of those random chunks that I used to have, and my fingers remain safe. Give it a try and see what you think!

What are your kitchen tricks?

Tuesday Tastes (5)

It's taste'n time!!!! Welcome to my Tuesday Tastes Party! I can't wait to see what you have cook'n this week! I found a new recipe for Frosted Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Bars that you might want to check out (yuummmyyyy!) There have been some pretty tasty link-ups - I am sure we won't be disappointed this week! I wanted to give another congratulations to Santa's Gift Shoppe and Ideas, whose, Homemade Almond Joy Bars received the People's Choice Award last week! Make sure to come back Thursday after noon when the linky is closed to vote for your favorite recipe! Polls will be open until 11:59 PM Friday night! Enjoy your day everyone!

PS - Don't forget to grab the button from the sidebar! (If you aren't linked up, your recipe will be disqualified from the People's Choice contest and/or be deleted).

Frosted Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Bars

* Recipe adapted from Mommys Kitchen

Sometimes, I really want a sugar cookie (who doesn't), but just don't have the time or energy it takes to roll-out all that dough! You can imagine how excited I was to find this recipe! Soft, moist, delicious sugar cookies - without all the fuss! They are sooooo very good and perfect for times when you want the cookies, but don't need the pretty Valentine heart shaped cookies. I can't wait to take these to the lakehouse this summer! And I really don't think they look that bad. In fact, I think they are darn cute and I know they are awfully tempting!

Frosted Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Bars - EDITED FOR HIGH ALTITUDE BAKERS 5/21/10

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

*Note - If you don't want to use almond extract, substitute by using all vanilla. High Altitude - if you are baking at a high altitude add an extra 2 tablespoons of flour.

Preheat oven to 350. In a small bowl combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Mix them around so that all ingredients are well incorporated.

In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer beat the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and egg until nice and frothy. About 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and almond extract and beat for 1 minute more.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat for about 2 minutes. Press the dough into an ungreased large jelly roll pan (12 x 18 inch). Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Cool completely.

Frost and decorate cookies! Super Yummo!

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter softened
4 oz cream cheese, softened
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3-5 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
food coloring or icing paste

To make the frosting, in a medium sized bowl (or your stand mixer) combine the butter and cream cheese. Beat for about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and food coloring. Mix for 1-2 minutes or until smooth. 

I am sharing with

Tuesday Tastes People's Choice Award (4)

Happy Saturday! I hope your day is looking as sunny as mine is! There were some really yummy recipes linked up to the Tuesday Tastes Party this week -if you missed them, click here to check them out! Well,  the votes are in and since there was a tie, I used the in-linkz stats (number of views) as a breaker. Which makes this week's People's Choice Award winner...

Santa's Gift Shoppe and Ideas' Homeade Almond Joy Bars

They look super delish and I cannot wait to make some!

Congratulations Sana's Gift Shoppe and Ideas!!!

Grab your award button from the sidebar and wear it proudly! Use it as you like - you could even write a post highlighting your win! How fun is this? You are now listed in the Winner's Gallery on the Tuesday Tastes page! I can't wait to see what you all cook up for next weeks party - everyone is invited!

I'm off to get ready for the Walk MS! I have to go mark the route we will be walking. The sun is shining which is a WONDERFUL! I won't have all those walkers out in the cold snow! It is a beautiful day! If you want to know more about my big event, follow this link!

Friday! Friday! Friday!!!!!

It's FRIDAY! HOORAYYYYY! Happy Happy Day! Welcome if you are visiting from Friday Follow, New Friend Friday, or Follow Me Friday! I am soooo very glad you stopped by! There is quite a bit going on around here! I announced my first sponsor and giveaway. If you are interested in winning a personalized superhero cape for the little superhero in your life click here!  

We are in the middle of voting for the Tuesday Tastes People's Choice Award. If you would like to check out the recipes, follow this link. Polls are open until 11:59 PM this evening, what's your favorite? 

What else will you find at Crazy Dasiy?

     Recipes- some of my most favorite recipes in the Recipe Box

     Crafts and Projects- beautiful craft ideas and fun projects in the Idea Room

     Quilts- my gallery of quilts in My Little Daisy Patch (someday I hope this will be an online boutique featuring my stitched goodies)

And for the New Friend Friday-ers , I had to think awhile on my favorite TV show.... I don't know if I have just one! But, I do love Lost, Mercy, In Plain Sight, The Human Body Guard, and the Mentalist. That's quite the list, isn't it? I would love to hear what's on the tube at your house!

Tuesday Tastes People's Choice Award Polls Are Open

Cast Your Vote!!!!!

I just wanted everyone to know that the People's Choice Award Polls are open! Click here to see the amazing recipes linked this week! I would love it if you stopped by to vote! Hurry, polls close Friday, April 23, at 11:59 PM!

Greek Chicken Pasta Salad

What's better than a really good pasta salad on a summer (maybe even a spring) day? I can't think of much! So, when I saw this recipe featured on Studio 5, I had to try it! The original called for calamata olives and arugula. I haven't acquired a taste for those olives yet, and didn't want to buy a whole bag of arugula for like 3 tablespoons - so I made it my own. Which is why this recipe is really fun and rather versatile - if you don't like something, leave it out and add a little something that you do like. Personally, what's not to love? It's full of yummy fresh veggies -cucumbers, peppers, grape tomatoes, olives, and artichokes. Pair that with a little feta and some dressing and YUMMO!

Greek Chicken Pasta Salad

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, diced
1 container grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced (slivers)
1 medium green bell pepper (slivers)
1 medium thinly sliced red bell pepper (slivers)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 cups uncooked whole grain pasta
1 cup (4 oz) crumbled feta cheese
1 (2.25-oz) can sliced black olives, sliced
2-3 grilled chicken breasts, shredded or diced
3/4 cup Creamy Italian Dressing
1 jar (7 1/2 oz) marinated artichoke hearts, drained, optional
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Crusty garlic toast

*Note - Baked chicken breast can be used instead of grilled (my grill isn't quite ready for summer) and change the dressing to suite your taste. I used Zesty Italian because I wasn't able to find Creamy Italian, but I think that I Creamy Caesar would be delish!!!

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water until cooled. Set aside.

While pasta is cooking, prepare cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, green and red peppers and put into a large ziploc bag (gallon sized). Add lemon juice and dressing, gently turn bag to mix.

Add chicken, cheese, artichokes, olives, and pasta. Carefully mix so the pasta doesn't break apart.

Add freshly ground black pepper to taste. Refrigerate 1-4 hours to blend flavors. When ready place in a large bowl and serve with crusty garlic toast.

Serves 6

Do you remember these fabric flowers?

You asked and its coming - your very own how-to-tutorial! So be sure to check back!

Introducing PowerCapes and a GIVEAWAY!!!!

**Giveaway Closed**

I would love to introduce you to my friends at PowerCapes! They make custom superhero capes and accessories for kids (and adults, too)! Every little Superhero you know needs one of these! Santa's elves delivered my boys their very own personalized capes complete with masks and they ADORE them - I love that they are just as durable as the kids!!! With over 20 colors and 7 emblems to choose from, you are sure to find something that's perfect (even pink, sparkles, and flowers)! 

AND, PowerCapes is giving away a one of their custom capes! To enter you have to subscribe to the PowerCapes newsletter. Click here to subscribe! *THIS IS MANDATORY*

After you have subscribed, PowerCapes is giving Crazy Daisy readers extra entries for

1. Wandering over to PowerCapes, browsing their site and leaving a comment here that describes what kind  of cape you would choose.

2. Following Crazy Daisy (just leave a comment if you already do)

3. Becoming a fan of Crazy Daisy on Facebook (again, just leave a comment if you already are a fan)
4. Following PowerCapes on Twitter

5. Friending PowerCapes on Facebook
6. Placing this button on your sidebar


<center><a href=" http://powercapes.com/AP.aspx?ID=1310&EID=7989241 " target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="PowerCapes" src=" <a href="http://powercapes.com/AP.aspx?ID=1310&EID=7989241"><img src="http://powercapes.net/images/affiliates/affiliate-05.png" /></a> </a></center>

Please leave a separate comment for each thing that you do, or it won't count. Isn't this exciting?!?!?!

The PowerCapes Giveaway closes May 31 - make sure to get your entries in!

Thanks to PowerCapes for this great giveaway!

Tuesday Tastes (4)

Welcome to the party! I can't wait to see what yummy things you have to share with us today! If you are new to the party check out this link!!! 

If you don't have anything to link-up, stay for awhile and browse through the recipes! If you see something you like, leave a comment.

****Make sure to grab your button, if you aren't linked up, you will be disqualified from the People's Choice Award and/or deleted from the link-up.****

I am so very glad to have you all over today!

Chicken Fried Rice

Let's face it; some days we need meals that are quick and easy to prepare. This is one of those kind of recipes! It is quick, simple, and one of Mister Crazy's favorites! It starts with a rotesserie chicken - the one you pick up from the deli on your way home (although, I supppose any leftover chicken would work). Add a little rice and some veggies, maybe some scrambled eggs, and you are basically finished.

Chicken Fried Rice

1 rotesserie chicken - skin removed and meat pulled off
5 cups rice
5 cups water
24 oz frozen peas and carrots
4 tsp. chicken bouillon
3 or 4 eggs
soy sauce

*A little note - If you like, you may substitute chicken broth for the water and leave out the bouillon. Either option adds a little extra flavor, but if you skip them it's not a big deal.


Also, as written, this makes a ton. When I am not feeding extra people, I use about three cups of rice, three cups of water, 2 tsp. bouillon, and only 12 oz of frozen vegetables. It ends up a little meatier, which works great for my faimly's tastes. I suppose if you wanted to add more meat to the above, you could try, just be sure you have an extra extra large skillet.


Pour water and bouillon into skilled over high heat and bring to a boil. Add rice and frozen vegetables, bring heat to about medium and cover. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, scramble eggs.

When rice and veggies are soft, add chicken and eggs. Cook, while stirring, until chicken is warmed through. Season with soy sauce, salt, and pepper to taste.

It's a great meal that comes together quickly on busy nights!

I'm sharing with

There's a Nightmare in My Blog

It's all better and I can breathe, but I just experienced a blogger's worst  nightmare! Somehow, I wrong-clicked and ended up reverting to what has to be an ancient version of blogger, ending up with  a dreadful shadow of my sweet little Crazy Daisy! I was in serious panic mode! That little layout tab (that I will NEVER again take for granted) disappeared and with it, the reverting to back-up option. I had lost everything that I love about my blog, and had no way to use the back up I had so thoughtfully saved!!! Yeah, serious and dreadful panic!!!! With some research and a little support from Mr. Crazy (really the CRAZY belongs to me - but Mr. Daisy just doesn't seem right) all is right in my little blogging world. I apologize if you witnessed the poor sad nightmare that tried to overtake my blog... but he's back in the closet now so you don't have to be afraid!

Tuesday Tastes People's Choice Award (#3)

Just when you think you have the perfect plan, there is a wrinkle. I thought I would be able to add each new recipe as it was linked, only to find out that after someone voted, I could not change the polls. Due to this, I was not able to add the last two entries. So, I combined the stats from inlinkz with the votes from the poll to determine who won the award this week. Next week this will be all ironed out - I hope!

Anyways, we have a winner for the third Tuesday Tastes People's Choice Award.  Let's hear it for

My Sweet and Savory's Cake in a Mug

CONGRATS!!!!

Make sure to grab your award button! Display it on your post, your sidebar, really anywhere you would like. Announce it to the blogging world! 

Hope to see you back next week for another Tuesday Tastes Party!

One Little Dandelion

If you haven't heard about it, New Friend Friday is a fabulous place to meet new blogging buddies. I love NFF because it feels a little more personal than a lot of other parties of this sort. It feels like what I have to say just might matter to someone out there -and that counts for something!

Today, New Friend Friday asks

This week I'd like to know what the hightlight of your week was. If you could narrow it down, what was the best thing that happened to you this week?

This is easy... the dandelion! My Carter, he is five, and he gains a little more independence each and every day. While I try to celebrate all the wonderful ways he is finding his own little unique place in this world, there is a place in my heart that is saddened by how quickly he is growing. I cannot imagine my world when he is grown and gone. I know, I know, how does this relate to a dandelion? Well, when I picked him up from preschool the other day, he was anxiously waiting for me with a single dandelion he had picked for me at playtime. He made my day - actually my week - maybe even longer. He thought of me. Without prompt or suggestion, he thought of me. He knew I was with him even when I was away. I love him so! I would choose that dandelion over any other bouquet in the entire world!

Floral Quilted Table Runner

I know, two posts in one day! Crazy, huh! Hopefully, it's a little treat because something has been up with this computer of mine and I was spending hours just waiting in-between clicks, which doesn't lend itself well to quality blogging! However, Mr. Crazy (he would love that reference) fixed everything and I'm back in action! I do love that man!

Here's a peak at what I have been up to.

I just finished this little table runner! Isn't it pretty? I love the colors... 

and the detail in the stitching...

What do you think?

Now I just  have to figure out what to do with it. I love how it looks on my table, but I think it just might be a gift for someone I really love. That is, if I can part with it?!?!

Participating in The CSI Project