Random... old blog post... wanted to repost this because it got a lot of views on my old blog and it is a really good idea to salvage some old fabric :)

So... I had a ton of scrap fabric that I couldn't really make anything with... And one day I was going through all my crafting books and found my Big-Ass Book of Crafts by Mark Montano, and inside I found the best idea ever for crappy scrap fabric pieces. In the book there are directions on how to make a "scrap-fabric leaf rug" :) And so... my scrap fabric turned into an awesome bath mat, which I might add my kitties love to play with!

Check it out! (By the way, the one in Mark Montano's book is much cuter ;)

Kitties Gif

Also found this on my old blog... This is two years ago! Yogi and Bubu were only little babies! Now they are huge!!! Well, Yogi is... Bubu is still a little guy :)

Garbanzo Salad

Found this on my old blog and figured I would repost to this blog. Its a delicious, healthy and refreshing salad!

Garbanzo Salad

 

One of my favorite salads, its filling, healthy, easy to make and delicious!
Here's the recipe I use and some pictures, pictures make recipes easier and more fun to follow :)
 
Enjoy.
 
What you will need - 
 
1 bag of garbanzo beans cooked and cooled
1 cucumber
1 tomato
1 cup chopped cilantro or more depending on how much you want
2 limes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup vinegar (clear vinegar)
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp. dry garlic
salt and pepper to taste.
 
Optional
 
1 jalapeño
 
Chopped the cucumber, tomato and cilantro. In a large bowl mix together the garbanzo beans, cucumber, tomato, and cilantro. Then squeeze the juice of both limes into bowl, add olive oil, vinegar, red wine vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper and mix it all up. Ready! If you let it sit for an hour in the fridge it will be even better!

Bushwick Sunsets

I have been taking photos of this sunset for about three years now. I never get bored of it. Here is one I took the other day through the ripped screen in my kitchen window. 

Meals Under $10 - Pork & Potatoes

Pan Fried Pork & Oven Baked Potato Wedges
Total Cost : $10 (approximately)
Servings : 4

IN AN 11X17 (APPROX)  IN BAKING PAN - PUT ALL THESE INGREDIENTS AND MIX TOGETHER - THEN BAKE IN THE OVEN AT 400 DEGREES UNTIL POTATOES ARE SOFT (around 25 minutes, depends on your oven, so check the potatoes)

- 6 potatoes (around 2.5 lbs.) - cut into wedges $1.50
- 1/2 purple onion $.25
- 10 cherry tomatoes, chopped in half $1.50
- 2 tbsp. butter, melted to pour evently
- salt and pepper to taste

FOR THE PORK -

MARINATE PORK CHOPS IN THE INGREDIENTS BELOW FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES - 
- 4 pork chops $4.50
- 2 tbsp. lemon juice and some lemon rind about 1 tsp. (1 lemon, around $.50)
- 2 tsp. olive oil
- 2 tbsp. rosemary, chopped thinly $1
- salt and pepper to taste

THEN YOU WILL NEED -
- 1 cup bread crumbs (you can buy these or you can toast 4 slices of bread mash them up and you've got delicious home made bread crumbs! Great way to use up some old break) $.50
(Your going to want to add some garlic powder to the bread crumbs and just a tiny bit of salt)
- 1 egg $.65
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup water

MIX MILK, EGG AND WATER TOGETHER UNTIL WELL BLENDED WITH THE EGG.

THEN TAKE YOUR MARINATED PORK AND DIP IN THE EGG AND MILK MIX AND THEN DIP IN THE BREAD CRUMBS AND PUT ON A COOKING PAN WITH SOME OLIVE OIL OVER MEDIUM TO HIGH HEAT. (for half inch thick pork cook approximately 2 minutes on each side, but it really depends on your stove and the thickness of your pork so make sure you cook it well depending on those two variables :) You will need about 2 tbsp. olive oil to pan fry them.

FINALLY WHEN YOUR PORK AND POTATOES ARE DONE GARNISH WITH SOME PARSLEY AND EAT!

New project...

Everywhere I go and everywhere I look, I just want to illustrate it. Which is why I have started a new project, working together with a new Photography Studio space that is opening up in Bushwick. I am working on their branding and this is where I came up with this idea... here is a sneak peak...

Illustrated Film Cameras!
I love love love film photography and the magic of the darkroom! This is a really exciting and fun project... finished project coming soon! And I will also put some more info on the Photography Studio! 

Meals Under $10 - Alfredo Sauce Pasta

ALFREDO SAUCE RECIPE!
Cheap, easy and quick!
Total Servings - 4 servings
Total Time - 20 minutes (approximately)
Total Cost -































IN A LARGE POT - HEAT WATER FOR PASTA
- 1 Pack of Rigatoni, 1lb. pack, $1.69
- 1 tsp. salt

IN A SEPARATE POT - SAUTE - FOR ONE MINUTE ON LOW HEAT IN 1 TBSP. BUTTER
1/2 yellow onion (approximately 1/2 cup) chopped thinly $.50
4 garlic cloves, chopped thinly $.25

ADD -
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. dry oregano (if you have fresh, even better!)
1 tsp. red pepper flakes (if you want it spicy)

MIX

THEN ADD -
1 cup whole milk $.50
1/2 cup water with 2 tsp. flour mixed well into it, until there are no lumps (this is to thicken your sauce)

MIX AND LET COME TO A BOIL - YOU WILL START TO SEE THE SAUCE THICKEN - ABOUT 10 MINUTES AT MEDIUM TO LOW HEAT, MIXING CONSTANTLY

TURN HEAT OFF - AND ADD -
1/2 cup parmesan cheese $.75
3 tbsp. blue cheese (had some leftover in the fridge, a similar strong cheese should work too!) $1

POUR SAUCE OVER COOKED PASTA AND SPRINKLE WITH PARMESAN CHEESE AND IF YOU BOUGHT THAT FRESH OREGANO, SPRINKLE SOME OF THAT ON TOP TOO! 

I wonder why we are broke in Brooklyn...

I woke up this morning to a lovely electric bill that made my jaw drop... almost twice the amount it has always been. So I called ConEdison because I freaked out... "sorry, rates just went up," yup thats what they said.

And then my friend posted this on facebook... and shared it with me...

Aaaa Brooklyn, "I love you, but your bringing me down." :/

New York Daily News Article - 

Manhattan and Brooklyn are the two most expensive places to live in the U.S.: report
Immutable laws of economics drive high costs on not only apartments, but milk, haircuts, movie tickets, etc. Queens finishes sixth on the nationwide survey.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan-brooklyn-expensive-article-1.1313956

Old Bananas? = Yummy Healthy Breakfast Bread

Healthy Take on Cake - 
And what to do with 2 very old bananas 
All for $5 bucks!





























SET OVEN AT 425 DEGREES
You will need a baking pan - 12in by 5in (approximately) or a cupcake baking pan if you want to make breakfast muffins.

MIX IN A LARGE BOWL
- 2 cups whole wheat flour $1
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 3/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt

IN A POT AT LOW HEAT - MELT BUTTER
- 1/2 cup butter $1

THEN ADD SUGAR UNTIL WELL MIXED AND SUGAR IS MELTED

(always at low heat, you don't want the sugar to burn)

- 3/4 cup light brown sugar $.65
- 1/2 cup raw sugar $1

LET COOL FOR 5 MINUTES AND MIX UNTIL COOLED AND ADD EGGS - MIXING CONSTANTLY, or your eggs could cook and you don't want that, yet ;) not until its baking.
- 2 eggs $.50

THEN ADD VANILLA
- 1 tbsp.

THEN ADD DRY MIX FROM ABOVE - 1/2 CUP AT A TIME TOGETHER WITH MILK
- 1/4 cup milk $.25 (add a little of this every time you add flour mixture)

BAKE AT 425 DEGREES FOR ABOUT 35 MINUTES - POKE THE MIDDLE OF THE CAKE WITH A FORK - IF FORK COMES OUT CLEAN THEN IT IS READY IF IT COMES OUT WITH CAKE MIX THAT IS STILL RAW THEN YOU NEED TO COOK IT LONGER :)

Topping - Optional but yummy - once you have poured the batter into the pan, before baking, top with, oatmeal and brown sugar mix (1/2 cup oatmeal, 1/4 cup light brown sugar and 1 tbsp. vegetable oil, mix)

Meals Under $10 - Creamy Tomato Sauce

Creamy Tomato Sauce Pasta 
Total Time - 20 minutes 
Total Cost - $8.50 (approximate cost including seasonings) 






























IN A LARGE POT - COOK 
(HEAT THE WATER FIRST SO THAT YOU CAN ADD THE PASTA AND HAVE THE PASTA READY RIGHT WHEN THE SAUCE IS)
- 1 pack of spaghetti pasta 14oz - $1.99
- 1tsp. salt (in the water) 
 
SAUTE - IN 2 TBSP. BUTTER (about 3 minutes on low heat)
1 small yellow onion, chopped $.50
3 garlic cloves chopped

ADD - AND LET SIMMER AT LOW HEAT FOR 15 MINUTES MIXING EVERY
1 Large can of tomato sauce, 29 grams $2.39
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes (if you want it spicy)
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. sugar (this is great to take some of the sour from the tomatoes away)
salt and pepper to taste

TURN HEAT OFF AND ADD -
1/2 cup heavy cream $.99
1/4 cup parmesan cheese $1.50

DRAIN YOUR COOKED PASTA ADD 1 TSP. OLIVE OIL AND POUR YOUR SAUCE IN THE PASTA POT - MIX AND SERVE! 

TOP WITH PARMESAN CHEESE IF YOU LIKE :)