Kayc's Challenge: One of these thing is not like the other...

Confession time!  I'm currently obsessed with the HGTV show "Flea Market Flip."  You have to tell me you've seen it because it was made for me!?!  Thanks to Netflix for making it readily available, I watch in to the wee hours of the morning.

So... where am I going with this you ask?  One of the challenges on the show is to Take two completed unrelated items and make them a pair.  Can you guess where this is going?

I challenge you to make a pair out of two totally unrelated items.  You can use anything you have at home or something you see when you are out and about treasure hunting.  Because you are you, I know that you won't have any trouble completing this on time.

There are already some great existing pairs in the world, for example:

Whiskey & Ginger Ale

(Clink, clink, slurp.....* burp*)

 

 

Batman & Robin

(Only REAL men wear tights!)

 

 

Barbie & Ken

(Real hair!? Come on Ken, you look way better in plastic waves with paint highlights)

Or the curious pairing of Schmidt's Summer Sausage and donuts, seriously, our Dad is weird!

Challenge Details:

Create: A Pairing of Different Items 

Medium: Determined by You

Time: You have until Saturday, November 1st

Do you accept?

Carol's Challenge: Tis' the season to add SCARE! - RESULTS

Alas, thou dost comprehend!  I didn't abide by the timeline rules, but the last week was crazy at both home and work.  I know... what a lame excuse, but I honestly didn't have room for a creative thought in my mind!
 
Ironically, scarecrows kind of creep me out.  I find them unsettling and cryptic, so I knew the first autumnal decoration that I was going to make would have to be a happy and straight forward spin on a scarecrow.
 
Ask any child of the 90's what their favorite movie to watch during October.  I'd say that 99% of them would say Hocus Pocus (if you are asking women, I'd assume men would have a different opinion)!  However, it is a Carlson, and now Miller, tradition to watch it only on Halloween night, but I've been antsy to watch it at least once a week!

So, two days ago, I sat down to tackle this challenge with that movie still on my mind and serving as my inspiration.  I fired up Netflix and dug through my insanely unorganized supplies to find inspiration to create a Binx Scarecrow Cat!

It all started with this sketch.

 

I set out with a pile of felt, a needle and embroidery thread to create life!  No measuring or patterns needed here folks!

 

 

Binx was originally intended to be more scary, but it was hard to execute when stitching everything by hand.  I now have one cute (the yellow eyes make him look a little sinister, right?) hand crafted guard cat who will protect us all by making sure that an idiot virgin doesn't light the black flame candle on All Hallow's Eve.



FALL CHALLENGE: RESULTS!

I gladly accepted the beer challenge from Kayc. However, I wouldn't consider it a challenge... this is me we are talking about and I LOVE BEER! I do struggle with a gluten insensitivity but it's hard to turn around and walk away from shelves full of pumpkin and Oktoberfest libations (I'm working on my self control).

 

With that in mind, I headed to the liquor store last weekend to pick up some new brews! Amazingly, only one beer was a repeat, but it was for a good cause.

 

Beer 1: Alaskan Pumpkin Porter

There was no better way to honor my sister's challenge then to enjoy a beer from her current home - Alaska! This beer had the right amount of pumpkin, not overpowering in the least.  It was a delicious treat on a fall evening.

 

Beer 2: Schell's Oktoberfest
This is my repeat beer. Shell's is one of the most underrated breweries in my opinion. Oh, P.S. I am absolutely biased as I grew up in Southern Minnesota.

Beer 3: Traveler Jack-O Sandy

This was my least favorite beer that I had. It tasted like liquefied pumpkin pie, just not for me, sorry Traveler.

 

 

Beer 4: Anchor Brewing Big Leaf Maple Red Ale

THIS IS DELICIOUS! I don't typically drink red ales, but I'm glad I tried this one. I enjoyed this on the deck with my husband during dinner this week. The tinge of maple syrup is enough to take the edge off of the bitterness I experience in red ales. The only downside... we realized that we need to buy a rake.

 

Beer 5: Bell's Best Brown Ale
The only other thing that can rival my love for beer are owls. I fell hook, line and sinker for the label. It has a nice flavor, but the label is infinitely more awesome than the beer.

Beer 6: Newcastle Werewolf Blood Red Ale
This ale is a great way to wrap up this challenge. I've been sipping on the blood red while finishing up this post. It has definitely gotten me in the mood for October. It was also a beer to kick of my husband and mine's October tradition, a month long horror movie fest.

 Follow me on Instagram: @musesofasagittarius

III. Paint Chips

It's finally time for your second challenge!  Do you dare accept?  I have an inspiration in mind and it could drive you crazy with all of the endless possibilities!

Are you ready?

Your challenge for this week is...paint chips!

Challenge Details:
Inspiration: Colorful paint chips
Medium: Whichever you choose
Deadline: Sunday, November 4th @ 11:59 p.m.

Good luck!  If you google paint chips you get a plethora of great ideas, so don't make that mistake or you will be so insanely overwhelmed that you will probably be making paint chip projects for the rest of your life!

You are not limited to any color range.  GO WILD!  Also, you can use any medium that you would like.  I briefly thought about limiting you to making a piece of art, but I will let your creative juices flow into something spectacular all on their own.

II. Apple Challenge Results

I know what you are thinking, yes, I did wait until the last days to complete this challenge.  We have been so busy that we haven't even had a chance to enjoy fall this year, much less apple picking at the orchard!  Ironically, apples aren't my favorite fruit and when I think of them, I see that infamous scene of temptation from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (I might also have witches on my brain because of Halloween...).

 For whatever unknown reason, I am obsessed with Mexican food right now!  Tacos, nachos, rice and beans, etc... and  I didn't want to make a dessert, because lets be real, I  could have created thousands of apple desserts, but I wanted to go spicy, so let me introduce you to:

Spicy Apple Nachos!

Ingredients (everything is a guesstimate, because I don't measure when I cook):

• 1 Jonagold apple
• 1 Fuji apple
• 1 1/2  Granny Smith apple
• 1 sweet potato
• 1 can of black beans
• Ground turkey
• 1 red onion
• 1 white onion
• 1 roma tomato
• Brick of apple smoked cheddar cheese
• 4 corn tortillas
• 4 flour tortillas
• 1 jalapeño pepper
• Splash of cranberry juice

Steps:

1. Wash and peel the sweet potato.  Dice and place in pot of water and bring to a boil.  Cook until soft or easily pierced with a fork.
2. While the potato is boiling, preheat the oven to 450˚ quarter 4 corn tortillas and 4 flour tortillas. We had to use two kinds because I'm trying to avoid wheat and Jamin can't eat corn tortillas because, "they don't taste right."  I spritzed with water and sprinkled cinnamon between each layer of tortilla.  Place on baking sheet with an oven safe plate on top (it stops the tortillas from curling) and bake for 8-10 minutes or until chips are crispy.
3. Slice 1 jonagold, 1 granny smith and 1 fuji apple in half.  Remove core and seeds.  Place on baking sheet, we actually don't have a baking sheet so I placed them in a muffin tin which actually worked better.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake in 450˚ oven with the tortilla chips.
4. Slice the jalapeño pepper, onion and tomato.  Grate cheese, drain and rinse the beans and set all aside.
5. Brown turkey and season to taste.  I had to enlist a helper.  I have the worst time with cooking meat, I simply do not know how to tell when it's done... it's weird, I know.
6. If chips are crispy, take them out of the oven and set aside as well.  If the potatoes are soft, drain and set aside.  If the apples are baked and mushy take them out of the oven!
7. Combine apples (I used one half of each baked apple), half a can of beans, sliced jalapeño and roughly 6 chunks of sweet potato in a food processor.  Blend until all ingredients are mixed.  Because I used black beans, it is an unattractive color, but sample it, it tastes amazing!
8. Layer the chips onto a platter.  Spoon healthy heaps of your spicy apple dip, sprinkle onions, tomatoes, pork and some black beans on your chip spread.  Finally, top with cheese, the more the better ;).
9. Place into a warmed oven to melt.  While in the oven, thinly slice a granny smith apple for garnishment.
10. Remove from oven, top with apple slices, pour a glass of wine, serve and ENJOY!

 It was extremely tasty!  Adding the whole jalapeño pepper gave it the right spicy kick and the apples were sweet enough to balance that heat.

Try it... I dare you!

Here are more cooking pictures, for those of you who are visual.

II. Apple Challenge

Whether red, green or yellow – Skinned, Diced, Pureed, Juiced or Mashed your first challenge, if you choose to accept, is…. APPLES!!

One thing that I do miss is being able to have the option to go to the apple orchard in the fall. There’s just something about hayrides, picking your own bag of assorted apples, looking at scarecrows and being amongst friends or family that makes going to the Apple Orchard something that I truly miss being able to do.

Apples have always been one of my favorite fruits. Honey Crisp apples especially. You can mix them with peanut butter, caramel, or cinnamon. Or you can eat them plain. You can juice them and make fresh cider. You can dice them in salads, and as I learned last week, you can put them in pumpkin soup. But what else can you do with an Apple???

Since fall is in full swing, and the apple orchards shedding their fruits it only makes sense to make your challenge item: APPLES. You may reflect other recipes for ideas, but must create one of your very own. With over 2,500 varieties of apples grown in the United States, you’ll have a challenge inside its self of picking the fruit that will become a part of your new recipe.

Challenge Details:

Inspiration: Apples

Medium: Recipe

Deadline: Sunday, October 29^th @ 11:59 p.m.

How about them apples??

I. Pumpkin Challenge

Your first challenge, if you choose to accept, is... PUMPKINS!

I love the spicy flavor of  pumpkin in the fall.  I think that I have become a fan as I have gotten older.  I don't recall enjoying it as much as I do now, then when I was little.  I alone have spent hours browsing pumpkin recipes, but I can't wait for your twist on the fall classic. The only rule, you can't use a recipe already made!  You can use other recipes for reference only!  Luckily, you have two roommates who get to sample your tasty treat!

Challenge Details:
Inspiration: Pumpkins
Medium: Recipe
Deadline: Sunday, October 21st @ 11:59 p.m.

Happy Cooking!

Let the Games Begin...

Cheers! This is the beginning of "The Creative Distance." The purpose of this blog is for my sister and I to "challenge" each other of sorts by selecting a new inspiration each week and sharing what we come up with. This is a way for us to grow closer together, which we need to because we are 3,147 miles apart! But, I'm not going to sugar coat it, we are competitive and creative foes and this is a way express our thoughts, ideas and inspirations.

I love my sisters (yes Mel, that means you too!) and this is just the beginning of an exciting adventure that spans "The Creative Distance" between us!

Sisterly love, Christmas Eve 2011