A Recipe Surprise!!!

My Taco Pie Recipe

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This easy-peasy taco pie recipe is fast becoming a favorite of mine. It's quick and easy to prepare, and is vegetarian.

Ingredients

You will need:

• 9 inch frozen pie shell
• One can refried beans
• One can corn kernels (washed and drained)
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• Shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese blend (as much as you'd like)
• Cilantro
• Other veggies (optional): add whatever you like- red onions, tomatoes, olives, etc
• Salsa

Method

Preheat oven to 425F. Pre-bake a 9 inch frozen pie shell for 5 minutes at 425 F. In a large bowl, mix the refried beans,corn kernels, about 1/4 cup sour cream, as much cheese as you'd like, cilantro. Add salt and pepper to taste; be generous with your favorite salsa! Stir until mixed completely- you can add some tomatoes, red onions, pretty much whatever veggies you want...Pour the mixture into pre-baked pie shell, top with a layer of cheese, and bake at 425F for 30 minutes.

I've been toying with the idea of adding tortilla strips to the top for some added crunch. Let me know what you think of this recipe!!!

©2012 Arti Kochhar. All rights reserved. This blog is best viewed in Internet Explorer. All images by Arti Kochhar, unless otherwise credited.
All materials on this site are available for scholarly and educational use only, via Creative Commons License Last update: May 6, 2012.

Cross Stitchery

Cross Stitching Fun

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It took me a while, but I finally completed this lovely cross stitch sampler I got as a present when I went to Valley Forge National Park. If you've never been there, you really ought to go- it's a historical treasure!!!

A Cushion Cover Re-do

If you've been following my blog, I once posted about creating a cross-stitch pillowcase. Well, after some deliberation, I decided I did not like the pattern I had started out with, so I ripped it out stitch by stitch, and am now stitching a lotus pattern onto it. I still have to decide on a border...

Knitting Projects in Progress

• Snood for my sister
• Triangle shawl
• Purse with wooden handles

©2012 Arti Kochhar. All rights reserved. This blog is best viewed in Internet Explorer. All images by Arti Kochhar, unless otherwise credited.
All materials on this site are available for scholarly and educational use only, via Creative Commons License Last update: May 11, 2012.

My Christmas Goodies

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I know it's been a loooong time since Christmas has passed, but I finally got ahold of the pictures of some of the items I made.First up is this Christmas-themed tea cosy I made for my cousin as a present.

My second Christmas project was a set of hand-embroidered handkerchiefs for my uncle.

A little bit of baking

Here are some pics of some fun cakes I've made in the past. The first one is a red-velvet cake made from a Paula Deen recipe, with a cream cheese frosting.
The second cake is all dressed up with fruits to make it appropriate for a 4th of July birthday.

Just look at that vivid red color!!!

Here's the 4th of July birthday cake, made with strawberries and blueberries.

Knitting Projects in Progress

• Snood for my sister
• Triangle shawl
• Purse with wooden handles

Check out my Library Thing book list and reviews:

This is my first blog post that I've created using html.

©2012 Arti Kochhar. All rights reserved. This blog is best viewed in Internet Explorer. All images by Arti Kochhar, unless otherwise credited.
All materials on this site are available for scholarly and educational use only, via Creative Commons License Last update: May 6, 2012.

What am I working on now???

Hey all,

It's been a hectic quarter for me. I'm taking my first ever web-designing class, and it's pretty challenging, but a lot of fun too.

I am starting work on a new knit bag. I'm using a rich, eggplant colored yarn, and I'm using wooden handles I got for free with one of my knitting magazines.(Say hello to Owlie- he's also a freebie...lol...)

Owlie is actually a row counter: If you look carefully at his eyes, you will see little numbers. For those of you not familiar with knitting, a row counter helps me keep track of all of my rows. All I have to do is click the counter once each time I'm done a row. This is especially helpful in this pattern, because it is a complex pattern, with lots of different stitches, and even some bobbles thrown in for good measure! I can't wait to see what the finished product looks like!

In terms of cross-stitch, I've been working on this project:

I got this tiny cottage project as a free kit from a magazine (are you sensing a pattern here with me and free kits lol???) It's almost done. I just have to finish the backstitching in black, and then frame it.

What are you all out there in cyberspace working on?

Baby stuff

Yuppers, you guessed it!!! One of my friends is pregnant again, so I got the chance to experiment with making a baby sweater (I also made booties). The baby sweater is done in a toddler size, so that the baby will have something to grow into. The booties are newborn/infant sized.

On vacation

Hello folks...long time since I've blogged on this thing. What have I been up to? Well, right now I'm on vacation escaping the cold winter weather...I've read some interesting books, and worked up a pair of booties and a tea cosy. I will see if I can post some pics later...

Another baby gift set!!!:-)...

A relative of mine is pregnant, so I am off to making another gift set!!! I have already made the hat and one bootie...just have to get the other bootie finished up. I am doing the set in white, because even though they know the gender of the baby, I still am never 100% sure until it is actually born...

I will be posting pics soon!!! The pattern for the booties is a free one from Vanna White off the Lion Brand website. It is a simple garter stitch bootie. I think it took me about 1 hour to do one. The hat pattern is from a local hospital that I knit for... Speaking of which, I need to post some of the hats that I have made for them!!! lol...

In other news, I taught myself how to knit in the round...I ordered the wrong size needles, and had to re-order and return the incorrect needles. Lesson learned- do not order knitting needles in the middle of the night!!! lol...

I also tried working a pair of booties in a pattern from my grandmother, but unfortunately some of the writing on my copy was not legibile, so I will have to have a look at the original, or else try again at some point.

In other news, I plan on taking my knitting on some adventures in the next couple of weeks. When I was at the art museum with my sister and cousin, I realized that the weather is so nice right now, and there are so many nice park benches, that I have decided to treat myself to a day out by taking my knitting with me, and relaxing around the art museum area. I will pack my lunch, and just enjoy the day sitting outside, soaking in the sun!!! Will let you all know how it turns out, and what I decide to knit up!!!:-)...

That's all for now folks!!!:-)...