Let's go crazy for coconut cookies! Also, how to make your own BPA free coconut milk.

Do you go crazy for coconut?

Once mistakenly believed to be unhealthy because of its high saturated fat content, it is now known that the fat in coconut oil is unique and different from most all other fats and possesses many health giving properties. It is now gaining long overdue recognition as a nutritious health food.  Modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many medical conditions. Published studies in medical journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide range of health benefits. The coconut provides a nutritious source of meat, juice, milk, and oil that has fed and nourished populations around the world for generations. 

With the above in mind, I have been trying to incorporate more coconut in my families diet.  Because of the way coconut milk is packaged by manufacturers, it is hard for one to find a pure coconut milk that may not have added BPA.
BPA is used in the lining of certain canned foods. BPA especially leaches into canned foods that are acidic, salty or fatty, such as coconut milk, tomatoes, soup, and vegetables. 

It is so easy to make your own coconut milk from fresh coconuts. By making your own coconut milk, you can be sure that your milk is free from additives and stabilizers. If you are interested, I have found a fabulous YouTube video on how one can very easily make homemade coconut milk. (My tip: Blanche the coconut flakes prior to blending. This seems to make the entire process easier.)


http://youtu.be/fpxPoizVT9c
Recently, for Valentines Day, my family and I participated in a kids cooking challenge to make something yummy with coconuts. We tried several recipes, but settled on this one to serve to a group of school children. The cookies were a big hit. The coconut cookies were definitely a kid pleaser recipe.

Easy Coconut Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup shortening (half butter for flavor)

2 cups brown sugar, packed

2 eggs 1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 cup hot water or buttermilk (I use fat free buttermilk)

1 cup shredded coconut

1 tsp. vanilla

4 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Directions:

Cream together butter and add the sugar gradually. Blend in well beaten eggs. Add the baking soda to the hot liquid and blend into the creamed mixture. Stir in coconut and vanilla, combining well. Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder and stir this into the coconut mixture. Beat 30 seconds with electric mixer. Chill thoroughly in order to make the dough easier to handle. Form into balls the size of walnuts. Flatten each into an oblong shape ¼ inch thick. Place on ungreased baking sheet and press lengthwise with the times of a fork. This dough also works well with a cookie press. Bake about 8 to 10 minutes at 400 degrees. When cool, store in an airtight container.

*Cookies are ready in about 40 minutes. Enjoy!

Thanks for visiting my blog today. :-)

Hop Into Spring with Cherrylane Boutique

For all you boutique buyers who are looking for items for your little ones for spring, just wanted to let you know that Cherrylane Boutique is having a HOP INTO SPRING boutique launch on ebay. It will last a week so click the picture and head on over to ebay to see what fabulous items the Cherrylane girls have designed. You'll be glad you did!

Here are some of the great items from ladies at Cherrylane. Ebay Search: Cherrylane

For this auction, I listed a boutique custom pair of crochet fluffy socks and a set of matching hair fluffy's or fluffy pony-o's. They can be made in many colors and all sizes. They make great gifts and great accessory items.

Click HERE to go directly to my auction.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

An Easter Bunny Purse....Ready to ship to your little chick!

Easter will be here before we know it. I am currently participating in the Easter launch with Boutique Pink and Company. I decided to make another one of these bunny boutique crochet handmade purses again this year since it was so popular last year. I may not make another one this year, so better snatch it up if you are interested. This one is crocheted and can be used as a purse or small tote. Could easily be used for an Easter basket too. It is stitched with precision and has lots of extra added touches done with hand embroidery. Bunny is accented with a flower on her head and her trusty carrot nearby. It is a great accessory item or gift and would be great for little girls and big too. Pageant girls might like this one too. You can find this one in my Ebay or Etsy listings. (You can find links to both on the right hand column of this blog.) If you are interested in this bag as a custom made to match item, contact me about a custom in colors made just for you.
Happy Easter & happy shopping!
Thanks for visiting my blog today,
Kassie

Boutique Pink & Company is having a launch: Bunnies & Bugs..Search: PinkCo

Today I have some exciting news to share...Beginning today, February 2,
Boutique Pink & Company is having a launch themed Bunnies and Bugs. The members of Boutique Pink make some absolutely exquisite items, as I am sure those of you who
are familiar with the quality of their designs know. You may search for their listings on
both Ebay and Etsy beginning today. Keep checking back for new items to be listed.
I am sure you won't be disappointed! Their work is fabulous! Remember to use the search term: PinkCo

Thanks for visiting my blog today,

Custom Crochet Baby ensemble / Coming home set for baby Myelea Rose

Soon to arrive baby Myelea Rose Thornton is set to make her debut on May 1st, 2012. Her family is thrilled to be welcoming a baby girl into the family as Myelea will be the first girl to join her eleven male cousins. The Thornton's ordered a boutique style handmade custom crochet 6 piece coming home baby set from me months ago. They also ordered digital announcements, shower and scrapbooking items from Pixie Paint Studio. ( I sell photo and digital items from my sister site, Pixie Paint Studio.

Click HERE to be taken to my Pixie Paint Studio blog.)

Myelea's nursery is done in a rose pink and mint green theme and is decorated with rubber ducks. (Daddy's Favorite) The baby shower was done in a matching theme. The Thorton's saw a past nursery set I had done and ordered one like it  (made to match) but added orders for a few additional items. Baby Myelea will be going home in style in her one of a kind set.

If you are interested in ordering custom made baby items or other custom crochet items, please contact me to discuss a custom order. I look forward to hearing from you to talk about what I can create just for you.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Crafts for Kids: How to make "Crayon Painted Rocks"

If you have children in the house, like I do, you are more than likely always looking for new and fun arts and crafts to keep those little darlings busy. Hardly a day goes by without some type of crafting going on at our house. Recently, I found directions online for a craft that turned out to be a lot of fun and was a great way to use up those little pieces of broken crayons. We didn't have to run out to buy anything, so I consider that an added plus.

We call this one "Crayon Painted Rocks"

The kids gave this craft 5 stars. They loved it and created some pretty rocks.

 

 

For this craft, you will need:

 crayons.

Those little broken pieces work well!

Glittery crayons look especially pretty.

 

Next, you will need:

 some rocks.

The kids just gathered some from outside for this craft.

Smooth rocks or rocks with a flat surface work best!

 

Aluminum foil and a baking or cookie sheet.

A couple pot holders and a warm oven.

 

Directions:

1. Wash the rocks, if needed.

2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and heat the rocks up in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.

3. While the rocks are heating, have the kids tear the paper off the little pieces of broken crayons that they plan to color/paint on the rocks with.

4. Remove the rocks from the oven...(use potholders) and place them on a protected work surface.

(We used a cool tray with aluminum foil on it)

5. "Paint" the warm rocks with crayons. The crayons melt when touching the rocks and the resulting color is very vivid.

Kids love drawing pictures and shapes.

Don't be surprised if you are asked to repeat this craft at another time.

 

The kids set the rocks proudly on a shelf for display and gave some for gifts. They make lovely paper weights and make great "teacher gifts" too.

 

The picture shared above was featured on http://blairpeter.typepad.com/ . This is also where we found directions for this fun craft. This is a great blog. We love visiting it and have found some great ideas there. 

* I offer many custom made and/or made to match accessory items available by custom order. They make great gifts and they look great! I specialize in crocheted and hand painted items, but don't stop there. I do other crafts as well...and if you are looking for something I cannot provide, I have many friends who specialize in handmade boutique quality items. Just ask! You won't be disappointed.

*I invite you to stop by my Etsy or Ebay store to peruse my listings. You just may find something you like. You can click into my store from the right hand side of this blog page or you may click this link

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Newsboy hat now available in sizes infant to adult. New styles coming soon!

For all those customers who asked: Our classic boutique crochet newsboy hat is now offered in sizes

infant to adult. What a great accessory item to just about any outfit. This hat can be worn year round as it is made of a top quality cotton fiber. The hat can be made with a flower on the side. Different flowers are available and can be made as a clip on, so as to be worn as a hair clippie or with other items, or can be permanently affixed.  I am now offering the custom made newsboy in some other variations of the design. A heavier fiber can be used for those who require strictly winter weight. I am also making a hat band across the front for those who prefer them. I have many things planned for upcoming designs, so stay tuned to see what exciting things I offer.

You can find custom auctions in my Ebay store this month. You can find the links in the right hand column of this blog. If you don't see any available and still want to order one, contact me for a custom order. I have many colors available.

Thanks for visiting today,

Happy New Year from Bella Sera Boutique

Happy New Year to all of my customers, followers and readers who helped to make 2011 a very successful year for me. I had so much fun creating for all who ordered from me and all who contracted me to make special items for them both here and on my sister sites. I had so much fun and I look forward to working with you again in the future.

Thanks to all my followers who have kept in contact with me over the years and continued to order from me. Your encouragement has been a highlight to me! Thanks to you, my friends and family, who have encouraged me. A special thank you to my husband and my daughter who encourage me, help me and believe in me. I can't begin to say what your support means to me. (Dear husband, you are my best friend and I love you so much. You help me to make all that I do possible in more ways than mere words could convey.) And...most of all, I thank God! It is He who gave me my talents and blesses me to use them. My life is HIS and I pray only that I might use my talents to bring HIM honor and glory and that I might share His great love through my work. 2011 was a great year and I look forward to all the wonderful things that 2012 will bring.


I haven't posted to my blog as often as I might have liked (because I have been so busy with orders) but I am going to try to post a bit more often this year. I started this blog because of customer requests, so, I suppose the very least I can do is post a bit more often.
Thanks to you all.

Happy New Year!

May God bless and keep you throughout this new year!