Shrimp Scampi with Pasta

What is your absolute most delicious/favorite food ever???

Mine?

... 

Italian!!! 

I LOVE pasta. I love Spaghetti! I love Lasagna! And I love Baked Ziti!!!

Basically anything on top of or within pasta is awesome in my book!  =)  This dish is no different!

It's sooo EASY and DELICIOUS!  Who doesn't love pasta? Then throw on some shrimp. Heavenly!

If you love quick and easy, yet very yummy meals then you have to try this dish!

The recipe calls for linguine, but I used Thin Spaghetti. You can use any type of pasta you like.

I also doubled the recipe because I wanted left overs. =)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

You can copy/paste the recipe below or watch my tutorial video at the bottom of the post.

Shrimp Scampi with Linguine

8oz Linguine

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

4 Cloves garlic, minced

1/2 Onion, minced

2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

1Lb Shrimp, peeled & deveined

2/3C White Wine

3Tbsp Fresh Parsley, minced

1. Prepare Linguine according to directions on package. (I do this last while the sauce is simmering)

2. In large skillet heat olive oil.

3. Saute garlic, onion, & red pepper flakes until soft

4. Add shrimp and cook until firm, about 5 min

5. Remove shrimp into separate dish, cover to keep warm

6. Add wine to skillet & bring to simmer

7. Add parsley. Let simmer gently

8. Drain pasta & toss with sauce.

9. Serve with shrimp on top of pasta.

Enjoy!!! 

If you try this recipe and love it please comment below letting me know! =)

Basic Crochet Beanie

I did a Crochet Beanie Tutorial for my YouTube channel and decided to write out the pattern for those that prefer the written version to the video.  If you want to see the video tutorial you can watch it at the end of this post. There are many, many ways to crochet this beanie so i'm just going to show you how I make mine. =)  I'm not using anyone else's pattern. I just kind of go with the flow when I make my beanies.

Before I start the pattern I want to explain how you can adjust it to fit any size head from a newborn to grown man.

First, check out this AWESOME Chart to determine the estimated hat circumference you will need to make for the beanie to fit properly.  After you have that number you need to divide it by Pi (3.14) to determine how many increase rounds you will need.  I chose to make an adult male beanie so according to the chart an adult male's head circumference is about 23-24".  I used 24" divided by 3.14 and got 7.6.  I stopped my increase rounds at 7" because a dc stitch is stretchy.  It's better for the beanie to be a little snug than too big. Once I got to my desired circumference I stopped increasing as you will see in the pattern. =)

I hope you enjoy this very simple pattern. Let's get to it...

Basic Crochet Beanie

Round 1:

Start with magic circle OR ch 4, sl st to 1st ch, 6 dc in ch space, sl st to 1st dc

Round 2:

ch 3 (counts as 1st dc) place st marker in top of ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around (do NOT sl st to 1st dc)

**Move stitch marker to last dc of this round and do so at end of each round

Round 3:

1 dc in next st (top of ch3), 2dc in next st (this is the increase), continue pattern around

Round 4:

1 dc in each of next 2 st, 2 dc in next st. Cont. increase in every 3rd st around

Round 5:

1 dc in each of next 3 st, 2dc in next st. Cont increase in every 4th st around

Round 6:

1 dc in each of next 4 st, 2 dc in next st. Cont. increase in every 5th st around.

Round 7:

1 dc in each of next 5 st, 2dc in next st. Cont. increase in every 6th st around.

Round 8:

1 dc in each of next 6 st, 2dc in next st. Cont. increase in every 7th st around.

Round 9 - ?

1 dc in each st around

**Repeat this round until the hat is at your desired length.

(Optional 2 additional rounds)

1st Additional Round:

hdc in next st, sc in each st around

2nd Additional Round:

sc in each st around, sl st in next st, ch1

Cut yarn and pull through last ch to create knot

Sew in tails. 

ENJOY your new beanie!!!

=D

Pumpkin Pie Bars

Being that the holidays have just passed, I'm sure you have some extra cans of pumpkin and sweetened condensed milk in your pantry.  Bring them out for this yummy treat!!

This is everything you will need:

Now, let's get started.  =)

Pumpkin Pie Bars

1 1/2 C All Purpose Flour

1 C Finely chopped nuts

1/2 C Granulated sugar

1/2 C Firmly packed brown sugar

2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided

3/4 C butter or margarine

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin

1 (14 oz) can Sweetened condensed milk

2 Eggs, beaten

1/2 tsp Ground all spice

1/4 tsp salt

1 Tbsp All Purpose Flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 F

2. Combine flour, nuts, sugars, 1 tsp cinnamon.  Add butter, mix until crumbly.

3. Reserve 1 1/4 C crumb mixture. Pat remaining mixture on bottom of ungreased 13x9" dish.

4. Combine pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, 1 tsp cinnamon, all spice & salt, mix well.

5. Mix reserved crumbs with 1 Tbsp flour. Sprinkle of pumpkin mixture.

6. Bake 30-35 minutes or until pumpkin mixture has set.

7. Let cool 10 minutes on cooling racks.  Cut into bars & serve warm.

8. Store left over bars in closed container in refrigerator.

Enjoy!!!

Spiced Holiday Cookies

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! We did and we're not even done yet! When our older boys come home from their Christmas break we have more gifts to open. 

Back to the matter at hand.

Everything I gave as gifts was homemade with one exception: my husband's gift.  I made homemade Playdough for kids and for the adult I made these delish cookies.  Check out the video below for the tutorial.  However, if you're not into that you can just skip it and copy the recipe below that. =)

I hope you give the recipe a try and let me know how you like them. =)

Don't they look awesome?!  They were a definite hit!

McCormick Spiced Holiday Sugar Cookies

2 1/3 C flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/4 C sugar

1 C (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 egg

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. 

2. Beat sugar and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy.

3. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. 

4. Gradually beat in flour until well mixed. 

5. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight until firm.

6. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

7. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness.

8. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and place on greased baking sheets.

9. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.

10. Cool on baking sheet for 1 min then transfer cookies to wire rack to cool completely.

11. Decorate with cookie icing. (Optional)

Cookie Icing

1 C confectioners (powdered) sugar

2 tsp milk

2 tsp light corn syrup

1/4 tsp almond extract (or other extract)

food coloring

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients until smooth

2. Decorate cookies.

If you're interested in what cameras I use to record you can check them out with the below links.

Camcorder I use: http://amzn.to/VMznsw

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I would love to connect on other sites. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, and of course, here on my blog.

If you would like to share your instagram pics with me feel free to include this hashtag: #everdaycrazyvlog in your caption. =)

Have a beautiful and safe New Years Eve. 

Many blessing over you and your family over the next year!

DIY Play Dough

This year for Christmas I'm doing all homemade and VERY frugal!! I don't have the budget to do traditional gift giving this year so I'm doing what I know best, making things and saving money!  I made this Play Dough as a tester yesterday and let me tell you, it's AWESOME!!  =)  It's so soft even I wanted to play with it.

Recipe:

1 C Water
1 C Flour
1/2 C Salt
2 Tbsp Vinegar
2 Tbsp Cooking Oil
Food Coloring

Instructions:


1. Mix flour and salt in bowl
2. Mix water, vinegar, oil, and food coloring in seperate bowl or cup
3. Pour liquid mixture into dry ingredient and mix until smooth.
4. Cover bowl and microwave on high for 4 minutes
5. Let cool then knead dough until soft and smooth
6. Store in ziploc or airtight container.

If you're more of a visual person check out my video below. =)

Fresh Off The Hook Monday, Feb. 20, 2012

Here is my FOTHM (Fresh Off The Hook Monday) video showcasing my newest creations!! =) 

 I hope you like!

Patterns Used:
Four Leaf Clover: http://www.crochetspot.com/crochet-pattern-four-leaf-clover/

Berry Stitch Round Scarf: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kviC5g1AHgs&list=UU5X6IJ421mM88I1tTA9S-Jw&...

Loops & Threads Puff Stitch Hat and Scarf Set:ops-Threads%E2%84%A2-Crochet-Hat-and-Scarf-Set/e080..." rel="nofollow" style="border-image: initial; border-width: 0px; color: #1c62b9; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.michaels.com/Loops-Threads%E2%84%A2-Crochet-Hat-and-Scarf-Set/e08020,default,pd.html">http://www.michaels.com/Loops-Threads%E2%84%A2-Crochet-Hat-and-Scarf-Set/e080...

I am the maker, model, photographer, videographer, editor, and the sales rep. =)

I hope you enjoyed the video and pictures.

Fresh Off The Hook Monday, Feb. 6, 2012

Check out my newest Fresh Off The Hook Monday video. I'm sorry it's late. =( Better late than never? =)

So, I've made a few sales and I have a couple orders. If any of you are interested in purchasing or ordering any of my handmade items please visit my Facebook page, VBrownAdornments.

Fresh Off Tha Hook Monday Jan. 30, 2012

Check out my newest crochet items!! =)  

Be sure to check out my YouTube channel here and subscribe.

Fresh Off The Hook Monday, 1/23/12

This was my first Fresh Off The Hook video. I made this small project especially for this video. =)

If you're interested in being a part of the Fresh Off The Hook family send a video audition to OneVirtuousWoman.  She is the founder of the group.