Creating Me

Creamy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Posted on November 20, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

Are you looking for an easy weeknight dinner idea during this busy holiday season? This Creamy Chicken Enchilada Casserole comes together quickly by using a rotisserie chicken and bakes for 45 minutes – dinner can be on the table in about an hour!

Of course if you don’t want to use a rotisserie chicken, you can always cook your chicken ahead of time and freeze it to save prep time on the day you want to make this delicious casserole.

Creamy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

1 whole rotisserie chicken – deboned and shredded
16 ounces shredded cheddar cheese – divided
2 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
8 ounces sour cream
1 medium onion – diced
1 small can diced green chiles
2-6 tablespoons chopped jalapeños (optional-if you want some heat to the casserole)
8 large soft flour tortillas

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together shredded chicken, 8 ounces cheddar cheese, mushroom soups, chicken soup, sour cream, onion, green chiles, and jalapeños (if desired). In a large baking dish (mine is about 15 x 10 inches), layer 4 tortillas and top with half of the chicken mixture. Repeat layers of tortillas and meat mixture. Sprinkle remaining 8 ounces of cheddar cheese over the top.

Bake covered with foil for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 20 minutes longer until hot and bubbly and cheese is slightly browned.

Here it is ready to put in the oven…

Fresh from the oven and ready to serve…

So yummy!!

I usually leave out the jalapeños because I’m a wimp when it comes to spicy food. 😜

I really like using a rotisserie chicken for the extra flavor it adds to the casserole. You can always buy the chicken when it is on sale, debone and shred it, and put it in the freezer so it will be ready when you are to make this yummy casserole.

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

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Tiny Bottle Brush Christmas Trees on Vintage Wood Spools

Posted on November 16, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

A few months ago, I picked up a bag of vintage wood thread spools at a local vintage store. The bag was filled with all different sizes and some of them still had labels on them. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do with them – I just knew they had to come home with me. 🙂

I got the spools out recently to play and I remembered these mini bottle brush trees that I bought on clearance after Christmas last year from my local craft store. They are the perfect size to make Tiny Bottle Brush Christmas Trees on Vintage Wood Spools!

Here is how everything looked before I started my project. I love that some of the spools have labels printed right on the wood and others still have the paper labels on them.

The first thing I did was to sponge brown ink onto the spools to give them more of a distressed look – I left the paper labels on and sponged them, too. I also sponged the bases of the trees. I used Memento Rich Cocoa dye ink with a sponge dauber to apply the ink.

Then I cut strips of printed scrapbook paper to fit around each spool with the ends slightly overlapping. I also sponged the papers with the brown ink to give it a more vintage feel. After that, I simply wrapped the paper around the spool, glueing the ends securely. (I love this Crafter’s Pick – The Ultimate! glue) I glued the trees to the tops of the spools and then added a button to finish them off using the same glue.

I absolutely love the way they turned out!!! They are so cute and so tiny and look adorable all grouped together. 🌲

If you don’t have any vintage wood spools – no worries! You can find wood spools at your local craft store that will work just fine to make these. You can also find the bottle brush trees in the Christmas decor or Christmas craft area of your local store. I think this would be such a fun craft to make with the kids for a cute little teacher’s gift!

Happy Crafting!

Anita

Posted in Christmas, Decor, Gifts, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Happy Cupcake Day

Posted on November 13, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

Even in the midst of the preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas, the need for a birthday card pops up! This sweet little girl will bring big birthday wishes to that special person. 🙂

The little girl is an older stamp from My Favorite Things. It’s no longer available, but they have a great line of stamps called Pure Innocence with other sweet images. The sentiment stamp is an older one from Pink Ink Stamps, but any birthday sentiment stamp can be used. The Happy Birthday embossing folder is from Cuttlebug.

To make the card, emboss a piece of purple card stock that has a white core with the embossing folder. Lightly sand the raised portions to expose the white core. Layer to a piece of lighter purple card stock and attach to a white card.

Stamp the girl with Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink on white card stock. Color with Copic markers and fussy cut the image. Attach image to the card with foam tape. Stamp the sentiment with purple ink on white card stock, trim close, and attach to the card with foam tape.

This is a great layout to use any birthday images or sentiments you may have in your craft room. You can personalize it with the recipient’s favorite colors – and even make it a masculine card by changing the colors and the main image!

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

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Crochet Dinosaur Softie

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

I just have to show you this adorable Dinosaur Softie that I stitched up! It is the cutest thing and I know it’s going to make a little someone very happy!

I used the free pattern from 5 Little Monsters that you can find here. I stitched him up using worsted weight yarn and a G/4mm hook. I’m not sure of the brand or color name of the yarn I used – I had the yarn in my stash and the labels were gone. 😦

The pattern was easy to follow – just remember to use stitch markers to keep your place.

These little spikes are so cute!!

I just love the way he turned out! Oh, and the little rocking chair in the photo – that was mine when I was a toddler! 🙂

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

Posted in Crochet, Gifts, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Cabbage Roll Casserole – in your Slow Cooker

Posted on November 6, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

The frosty temps have me hungry for warm comfort food! I remember my Mom making baked cabbage rolls while we were growing up. I have to admit that I wasn’t a big fan of the cabbage back then, but I liked the filling. Now that I’m a bit older (actually a LOT older 😉), I enjoy eating the cabbage along with the filling. 😊

I found this great Cabbage Roll Casserole recipe at Spend with Pennies that you make in your slow cooker. You spend about 20 minutes of prep time, layer it in your slow cooker, and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.

Here it is just before I turned on my slow cooker…

And after about 5-1/2 hours cooking on low…

It’s full of flavor and the cabbage is very tender after cooking on low all afternoon!

Just a note: the recipe calls for long grain white rice – I used brown rice and it turned out wonderfully!

Add some warm crusty bread or garlic bread and you have a tasty dinner on a chilly Fall evening!

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

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Thankful Treat Bag Favor

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

Thanksgiving will be here in just a few short weeks!! Are you hosting this year? Are you looking for a little something extra to add to your table? These cute little Thankful Treat Bag Favors may be just what you need…

These treat bags come together super quickly and you can put one at each place setting on your Thanksgiving table. I found my little kraft treat bags at Hobby Lobby.

I stamped “thankful for you” (the stamp is from the Bountiful Owl set from Unity Stamp Company) with orange ink on white card stock. (Here’s a great orange ink pad if you are looking for one.) I punched it with a label punch and sponged the edges with Memento Rich Cocoa ink. This particular label punch is discontinued from Stampin’ Up, but they have a similar one you can find here. If you are looking for dies instead this set from Spellbinders or this set at Scrapbook.com would be great options!

I punched a tiny maple leaf (using a punch similar to this one) from dark yellow card stock, inked the edges with Memento Rich Cocoa ink, and attached it to the tag. Then I punched a hole in the upper left corner.

I filled the little kraft treat bags with candy and tied the tag to the handles of the bag with orange and white baker’s twine (you can find this at your local craft store).

A little something extra that is sure to make your guests smile! 🍁🍂🍁

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

Posted in Fall, Gifts, Stamping, Tags, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

you’re fa-boo-lous

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Anita

Happy Halloween!!

I wanted to share this cute card using some “fa-boo-lous” supplies from Taylored Expressions. I know it’s too late to make this card for this Halloween, but they have a really cute On a Hinge-Merry Stamp and Merry Die Set that uses the same technique – and I’ll bet there will be more fun sets to come!

To make this card, I used the On a Hinge-Wicked Stamp Set and matching On a Hinge-Wicked Die Set. You’ll also need this On a Hinge Die and these little on the right track discs. They are what you’ll need so the legs can freely swing from side to side – as you can see in the pictures below.

I followed the instructions on the Taylored Expressions blog post here. There is a video that explains step by step on how to put the card together. I colored my stamped images with Copic markers and, after assembling them following the video instructions, I attached them to patterned paper layered to black card stock. Then it is attached to a white card.

The sentiment is stamped with black ink on white card stock and punched with a scalloped oval, then it’s attached to the card. (Here’s a great set of scalloped oval dies if you’re looking for some.)

I just ordered the On a Hinge-Merry stamp and die set…I can’t wait to play with them!

You’re fa-boo-lous!

Anita

Posted in Cards, Fall, Stamping, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

White Chicken Chili

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

Looking for a warm and cozy meal on a crisp Fall evening? Try this tasty White Chicken Chili. It’s super simple to make – just add a side salad and some cornbread for a perfect Fall dinner.

A sweet friend gave me this recipe years ago and it’s one that we eat often during the Fall and Winter months.

White Chicken Chili

1 lb chicken breasts (or you can use ground turkey)
1-1/4 cups chopped onion
4 oz. can diced mild chiles
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup chicken broth
2 (15 oz.) cans Great Northern beans
10 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1/4 cup dried parsley (Sometimes I leave this out and it’s just as good!)
garlic salt to taste

Boil chicken until done and shred (or brown ground turkey). Mix together with onions, green chiles, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Place in a Dutch oven. Add chicken broth, Great Northern Beans, tomatoes, parsley, and garlic salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. Serve with your favorite cheese sprinkled on top.

You can also place the cooked chicken with the rest of the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low for 2-4 hours.

This freezes well so go ahead and make a double batch and freeze half for a quick meal on a busy night!

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

Posted in Recipes, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Treat Tag

Posted on October 26, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

I have a sweet and simple tag to share with you today! It’s perfect to attach to Fall treats for a little something extra. And so fun and easy to make. 🎃🍁🍂🍁

The pumpkin stamp is from Paper Source and the sentiment is an older one from Amuse Studio.

To make the tag, stamp the pumpkin and sentiment with brown ink on white card stock. (I used Memento Rich Cocoa) Color the pumpkin with Copic markers and punch with a circle punch (here’s a great set of circle dies!). Lightly sponge with brown ink. Punch a scalloped circle from kraft card stock and lightly sponge the edges with brown ink (and here’s a great set of scalloped circle dies!). Attach the stamped piece to the scalloped circle. And that’s it!

I attached the tag to a little bag filled with treats using a tiny clothespin. I love how fun this turned out!

You could also use a jack-o-lantern or leaf stamp. You can find all sorts of little treat bags and tiny clothespins in your local craft store.

Have a sweet day!

Anita

Posted in Fall, Gifts, Stamping, Tags, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Harvest Chicken Casserole

Posted on October 23, 2018 by Anita

Hi friends,

I hope you are enjoying this Autumn season! Cool, crisp days filled with blue skies and colorful leaves – the perfect time for this Harvest Chicken Casserole…

You can find the full recipe here on Delish.com. It is filled with sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts and other yummy Autumn flavors.

The recipe calls for wild rice, but I only had brown rice in my pantry so I used that and it was quite tasty. I probably should have baked it just a touch longer so the almonds were more toasted and the veggies were more roasted. I’m still getting used to my new oven…

This recipe is made in a 9×13 pan, but I think you could easily cut it in half if you need to make a smaller amount in an 8×8 pan. Also, a rotisserie chicken can save you prep time on a busy weeknight! Add a side salad and maybe some crusty bread for a wonderful Fall meal.

Enjoy!

Anita

Posted in Fall, Recipes, Uncategorized | Leave a comment