Pad Thai

  Lately, I've been trying to cook a bit more vegetarian. Not cutting out meat entirely, but just trying to cut down on the amount of meat our family consumes. Not only is it easier on the pocketbook, it's easier on the waistline as well. I've noticed I've already dropped a few pounds since the beginning of January. Ya-hoo! :)  

  This Pad Thai recipe is one of our family's favourites. It's packed with flavour as well as lots of healthy veggies! It's a win-win!

Pad Thai

makes 4 servings

8 oz. rice vermicelli noodles, uncooked

sauce:

1/4 cup ketchup

2 Tbsp. soy sauce

2 Tbsp. lime juice

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 Tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar

1 tsp. sesame oil

1/4 - 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (Depending on how spicy you want it. 1/2 tsp. is a bit too spicy for our kids, but my husband & I like it.)

1 tsp. canola oil

1/2 cup diced red onions

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup bean sprouts

1/2 cup grated carrots

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1/4 cup chopped, fresh cilantro

1/4 cup chopped peanuts

Cook noodles in boiling water for 3 minutes, or until tender. Drain. Set aside.

Mix sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Heat oil in a large, non-stick wok or skillet over medium heat. Add onions & garlic. Cook & stir until onions are tender, about 3 minutes. Add sauce & bring to a boil. Add cooked noodles, bean sprouts, carrots, green onions, & cilantro. Mix well. Cook until noodles are heated through, about 2 minutes. 

Sprinkle individual servings with chopped peanuts. 

Mix it up: Add some stir fried shrimp, chicken, or steak to make this dish heartier. 

Have you made any healthy changes this new year?  I'd love to know about them - please leave a comment!

Here's to getting healthier in 2012!

Enjoy your day!

Thanks so much for reading!


Join me for even more fun on the Silver Boxes Facebook page!

On A Map Quest

  Maps... they bring me a sense of excitement. Probably because my husband & I love travelling so much. So when I see old maps used in clever ways, it really brings a smile to my face. 

Here's several favourites I've spied over the last little while...

Cover some old shoe boxes in maps & use as a nifty storage solution.

Via

Cut out a bit of several maps that represent your favourite places 

and frame them together as a nice reminder of your travels.

Frame a vintage map.

Via

Use a map to brighten up a drab dresser.

Via

Cover some wooden letters spelling out the place on the map.

Cut an old globe in half & use as a bowl.

Via

Cut letters out of an old map (or sheet music) to add a nice alternative to a gift tag.

Via

Cover an old trash bin with a map.

Via

Add some fun colour to a monogram.

Via

Make some pretty pinwheels for your desk.

Via

Make light pennants from an old globe.

Via

Wrap a gift with a map. Wouldn't it be fun if the gift was a trip or some airline tickets? Or perhaps a travel book?

Via

Line a drawer with an old map. 

Via

Make a Christmas ornament.

Via

Line a table top.

Via

Make a set of coasters. Another great way to remind you of your favourite travels.

Via

Which was your favourite? Have you made any projects involving maps? Please let me know! I'm always looking for fresh inspiration. :)

I've actually been working on my own map-themed project this past week. 

I hope you come back to check it out next week!

Enjoy your day!

Industrial Style Letter Tutorial

  Last week, when I posted about my grey & yellow vignette, I gave you a peek at the wooden letter that I recently finished. Today, I'm going to show you how I did it!

Here's what I started with:

~Wooden Letter

~Aluminum Foil

~Craft Knife

~Mod Podge

~Foam Brushes

~Black Craft Paint (not shown)

1) Trace & cut out the letter shape as well as strips for the sides on the letter.

2) Mod Podge the aluminum foil edges first. Shiny side down. Be careful to smooth out any bubbles.

3) Now, Mod Podge the front & back. Again, shiny side down. Let dry.

4) Once it's dry, apply a thin coat of Mod Podge over the whole thing. Let dry.

5) Working in small sections, brush on a small amount of black craft paint. Wipe off with an old rag or paper towel. Work quickly because the paint dries fast! A bit of paint with stick in the crinkles & corners, giving it an industrial look. Let dry.

Incorporate it into your decor & enjoy!

On a completely different subject, what do you think of the new chevron background on Silver Boxes? 

I'm likin' it. I'm trying to learn some new blogging skills so I can change up the look a bit. 

You may see more changes soon. Thanks for your patience as I learn.  :)

Thanks so much for stopping by. Make it a great Monday!

Grey & Yellow Vignette

  I refashioned a little nook in our front entry way today. Grey & yellow have been calling my name lately, so I decided to see what I could come up with in those colours. 

  After "shopping" around our house, this is what I came up with. 

I love the name of that middle book! I got it for Christmas, but haven't had a chance to read it yet.

  I had some old embroidery hoops in my craft bin as well as some fabric squares in grey & yellow. The two combined = cuteness! (Is that a word? Well, it is now.) :) 

  I propped them up in the back (one leaning on a little stand & the other in front of it), stacked some grey & yellow books to the side, added a few other silver items & it all came together rather quickly. 

Some grey rocks added in the bowl bring a bit of nature to the vignette.

Vignettes can be a challenge. But when you remember a few guidelines, they can make it easier. 

• Different heights. If everything is the same or similar in height, it won't work. Bring in stacks of books or boxes & top them with another item of interest. Think of a city skyline - all the buildings are different heights & it draws the eye to different focal points. Your vignette is like a mini skyline.

• Repetition. In the vignette I've showed you here, I have repetition in the colours - grey & yellow - as well as the circles in the embroidery hoops & the silver bowl. An added bonus - my circular mirror echos the circle theme!

• Odd numbers. It's visually pleasing to have odd numbers in design elements. If you'll notice that I paired 3 yellow items & 5 grey/silver items. I didn't do that on purpose, but it works.

Click here to see the post on this table's makeover

  The silver "R" in this grouping is a project that I just finished. I'll be featuring a tutorial on how I made it next week. Be sure to come back for that! 

  I'm also on the hunt for something to put in my empty lantern for these winter months. For Christmas, I had it filled with vintage Christmas ornaments that I scored on my last thrifting trip.

  Well, I'm off to clean up my craft table so I can start my next project! Thanks for reading!

Enjoy your day!

Banana Bran Muffins with Apricot Butter

    Even though I haven't done it much, I love the idea of having company over for brunch instead of always for dinner. It definitely shakes up the menu options! These muffins would be a perfect addition to a yummy brunch menu. The Apricot Butter makes it a bit more special.

Banana Bran Muffins with Apricot Butter

makes 12 muffins

1  2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 cup butter, softened

2/3 cup natural bran

1 egg

2/3 cup mashed banana

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 Tbsp. molasses

1) Preheat oven to 375º.

2) In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, & baking soda. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Stir in bran.

3) In small bowl combine all remaining ingredients. 

4) Add all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until combined.

5) Divide batter evenly among 12 medium greased muffin cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes. 

    Serve warm with Apricot Butter. 

Apricot Butter

makes 1 cup

Cream together 1/2 cup softened butter & 1/2 cup apricot jam. 

What are some of your favourite brunch recipes? Don't be shy, let me know! :)

Enjoy your day!