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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Where Is the Pickle Salad?

I wake up with very deep thoughts in my head every morning. I totally understand what Isaac Newton and other geniuses felt like when they were formulating ideas even in their sleep.

My deep thought upon awaking this morning was this: why don't people put pickles in salad?

We have pickle like things - like olives, or capers - but I have never had a salad with dill pickles in it. Isn't that weird? I'm not talking about potato salad or tuna salad - those house pickles - I'm talking about lettuce, tomatoes, bleu cheese dressing and... and what? Why no pickles? Have they been blackballed? Did I miss a memo?

I told you - I'm deep. You can actually use this blog post as a continuing education credit in any institution of higher learning. You're welcome.

Today I felt like doing a little fingerpainting. Our Product Focus team at Splitcoast is reviewing the Spellbinders 3D MBossabilities embossing folders, and one of the crew was kind enough to loan me theirs so that I could play along.

It has been a crazy rainy spring here so I needed some bright colors and knew what I wanted to do. Here's a sneak peek.


While playing around with this, I decided to find a Big Shot Pro sandwich that worked. A few years ago, I got a crazy Black Friday steal on a Big Shot Pro - I rarely shop on Black Friday, but someone on Splitcoast posted a flash deal and I could not resist. The Big Shot Pro was $399 when I grabbed the deal for - wait for it - $149. Now the price is down considerably, but still hasn't met my awesome price. What's cool about it is you can use all your regular Big Shot dies, but also some super fun 12x12 dies that do fun things. I use it a lot for these little dress boxes  for events & weddings. 

So anyway, I wanted to come up with the sandwich for these embossing folders, and I did. 

Here's what I used:

Poof - works great!

Then, I added water LIBERALLY, and used my Brusho watercolor to create a vivid background. 

When that was dry, I rubbed on some Viva Decor Inka Gold, and burnished it with my disposable washcloths, and gold embossed a sentiment from the retired set Hand Penned Holidays on the center raised panel. 

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I love the look of the gold against that vivid background - so fun and easy.

Come check out what the team did with their projects here.

But before you do, check out the quick video I did of this card. And then go buy some pickles and try them in a salad. I'm going to.





PS - if you're coming to my June retreat - please check your emails for a teaser, some prize info and a private chat group for attendees.

Also - Salt Lake retreat hopefuls - I got some good news today about a venue - stay tuned!

And for my foodies - I tried an AWESOME pulled pork recipe yesterday. My crock for my crockpot is cracked, so lately I've been doing my crockpot recipes in the oven and it works great. Just 200 degrees equals low - I put everything in a casserole dish with a piece of parchment paper under the lid to make sure I have a tight seal - and I can't tell the difference!

Here's the recipe:


  • 2 pork tenderloins
  • 6 TBS dark brown sugar
  • 4 tsp. Pendery's Fire & Smoke, or a good hot, smoky paprika. I think the Fire & Smoke made it - scroll down on this page to see it. 
  • 2 tsp. Coleman's mustard powder
  • 1 tsp. comino (I like Bolner's Fiesta)
  • salt
  • oil
  • 1 sweet onion, cut in half
Heat oil in a skillet - I use safflower oil from Whole Foods because it comes in glass jars - I try not to buy food in plastics. Mix the seasonings and pat them all over the pork. Sear the pork in the hot oil. Put into casserole dish on top of two onion halves. Salt both sides of the meat. Deglaze the pan with 3/4 cup of water, and add this liquid to the dish. Cover dish with parchment paper and tight fitting lid. Cook for 8 hours at 200 (or in your crockpot on low). Shred with two forks and let rest in juices for 20 minutes before serving. Serve on a toasted bun with coleslaw. 

Loveyameanitbye.

6 comments:

  1. The finished card is even more beautiful than I imagined. Love the gold with the vibrant colors.

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  2. You crack me up! And now I can't stop thinking about why pickles aren't in salad.

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  3. Don't know about your salad, but thanks for the tips on the Spellbinders folder. I have the Shell Beauty one - have no idea where or when I got it, but could never get it to work. Read the reviews on SCS and tried it again. Wonderful. Now to make a card! Thanks, Lydia.

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  4. Squee! Can't wait for the SLC retreat!!!!

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  5. I throw pickles in my salad, but usually only for myself. I love Famous Daves Spicy pickles. Oh yeah. You always crack me up. I love waking up with a solution to a problem or a card idea. The other day, I had a dream I got a phone call from my wireless phone carrier, said they were calling about my data. I sat up in bed, remembered I left my mobile data on, that drains my data, turned it off and went back to bed. What a good thing. Ha. Love your beautiful piece. Those colors and embossing are WOWEE Lydia.

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  6. Beautiful card. I am extremely jealous that you have a big shot pro! That is definitely on my wish list. And my salads get dill pickles. Yum!

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