Favorite Holiday Recipe - Marinated Cheese

This has quickly become a favorite holiday appetizer. I first tried it because it looked interesting, but loved the presentation and how it tasted. I love how festive it looks. This is not an original recipe. I would love to give credit to it's creator. I found it somewhere, I just have no idea where that was.

Marinated Cheese

1/2 c. olive oil

1/2 c. white wine vinegar

2 oz. drained and chopped sun-dried tomatoes (the kind in oil)

2 T. chopped fresh parsley

3 T. minced green onions

3 cloves garlic minced

1 t. sugar

3/4 t. dried basil

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. ground black pepper

1 (8 oz.) block cheddar cheese*

1 (8oz.) package cream cheese,cold**

Combine all, except cheese. Mix vigorously to blend. Set aside.

Cut each of the cheeses in half lengthwise. Cut crosswise into 1/4 inch slices to form squares. Arrange cheddar and cream cheese squares alternately in a shallow baking dish or pie plate with slices standing on end.

Pour marinade over the cheese slices, cover and refrigerate for at least 6 ours or overnight.

To serve, remove slices (carefully) to a serving platter so the still are arranged in an alternating patter. Spoon some of the extra marinade over the top.

Serve with crackers.

*Works the best if you can find a cheddar that is close in size and shape to cream cheese.

**Don’t use lo-fat cream cheese – way too soft.

ENJOY!

Etsy Christmas Wish List

While browsing through the Etsy shops of my Etsy Bloggers teammates, I have found a few items that I wouldn't mind finding under my tree on Christmas morning.


I love this ring made from vintage silverware by silverWARES.




A friend brought me a loofah soap from her trip to Hawaii. I was so excited when I found it here on Etsy from spottedcowsoaps.





Right now I am using my kids old school spiral notebooks for things that I jot down as I am making jewelry or crocheting. While they are functional they don't inspire creativity like this handmade journal from CREATEaTHOUGHT.





How perfect is this shawl for adding some style to your wardrobe this winter. Check out FoxyGknits for more great wraps.

Etsybloggers Sale

The Etsybloggers team is having a sale from Friday, 11/25 through Monday 11/29. Click here to find a complete list of shops participating in this sale.

Both of my shops, Morning Sky Jewelry and Morning Sky Creations, are offering free shipping and 10% off if you use coupon code Etsybloggers10.

Inspiration

Hopefully it is not hard to see where the inspiration for this bracelet came from, but there is a little bit of a story behind it. I work at a card and gift shop and we have a very large container of candy canes on the counter. I guess that from looking at them day after day they made their way into my subconscious. The other night I had a dream that I made a candy cane bracelet. After work I dug through my bead stash and came across some matte red and white beads. That didn't seem quite right. So I kept digging. I then came across some clear beads with an AB finish and some translucent red beads - perfect! Sometimes dreams do come true.

November Featured Etsy Blogger

This month's featured Etsy Blogger is Cindy of Devine Designs Jewelry. Her beautiful handcrafted jewelry is made from wire that has been twisted, shaped and coiled into some truly unique pieces. Cindy uses different metal, beads and stones so that no matter what your taste you will be sure to find something to fit your style.

I am in love with the bracelet shown below. The beads she used are very unique in that they are made of glass, but look like real stone. I also love the silver and the chunkiness in general of this bangle. Click here to learn more (and possibly purchase) this great bracelet.






How great would these sterling and lapis earrings look with a pair of jeans on the weekend? Take a closer look, I bet you'll fall in love with them.

A Recipe For A Bracelet

I have a confession to make. I really don't like cooking. Don't get me wrong, I cook dinner for my family almost every night of the week and eating is one of my favorite pastimes. I also have quite the collection of recipes - most of which I have never attempted. The kind of recipes that I like to follow are for jewelry. Here are my ingredients:


The recipe I follow depends on the pattern that I am making. And here is my finished product:



Much more fulfilling for me that recipes involving food.

New Item

Here is something new that I have added to my Artfire shop. This little pouch is perfect for carrying all your reward cards, credit cards or business cards.

Stormy

July 1, 2003 – August 25, 2010

Nobody could have asked for a better cat. Thanks for all the snuggles, head butts, conversations and millions of laughs. We will miss your help with the printer, stealing our Doritos and Capn’ Crunch and getting closed in the dresser drawers. Rest in peace dear friend.

Taken after she stole my powdered donut.

Taken August 8, 2010

Beaded Eggs

Happy Easter

While unpacking some Easter decorations I came across these eggs that I forgot I had made.

They were made based on patterns from Diane Fitzgerald's Book, "Netted Beadwork".