For Valentine’s Day this year, I thought I’d remind my friends and family how much I love them with a sweet chocolate treat to warm their mugs. These truffle balls are made with two simple ingredients, chocolate and heavy cream, and take very little time to prepare. Despite their simplicity, they make the best cup of hot chocolate you’ve ever tasted. Hot Chocolate Truffle Balls • 1 Trader Joe’s Pound Plus Dark Chocolate Bar (or 17.6 oz dark chocolate), chopped • 1 1/3 cups … [Read more...]
Who can resist a warm cup of hot chocolate in the winter time? When there's a chill in the air it always has a way of making me feel warm and cozy, so with the holidays fast approaching I wanted to pass on a little warmth to friends and family with some homemade hot chocolate on a stick. I saw this idea for the first time last year and knew that I needed to bookmark it for this winter. For a basic hot chocolate on a stick I used the recipe from More Design Please. It's easy and all you need … [Read more...]
It’s great to live next to friendly neighbors. Our neighbor has a beautiful and very old row of concord grapes which grow along the fence line. For several years now she has shared them with us. I learned to make grape juice from my mother-in-law many years ago. We loaded the old stovetop juicer with freshly rinsed bunches of grapes brought into the farm kitchen directly from the vines. They steamed in the top of the old juicer until their juice was released down into the bottom of the pot. As … [Read more...]
Now that we're right smack dab in the middle of apple season, it's easy to find fresh apple cider in gallon jugs from your local farmer's market. And if you're like me, you might be interested to know you can preserve that apple cider into apple cider syrup which can be stored in your pantry and used all year long. One of the main reasons I love apple cider syrup so much is that it can be used to make hot apple cider on a cold winter's day. And although that purpose is worthy enough on its … [Read more...]
By Guest Blogger, Bobby Pathammavong
Summer is finally beginning to appear out here in the northwest and I am so excited for the fresh fruit that is ready for picking here at the My Own Labels garden. This year I plan on using the abundance of fruit to create a variety of fruit infused lemonade because as the heat begins to rise the best way to cool off is with a refreshing cold drink. I start with a basic lemonade recipe that I found on allrecipes.com Ingredients: • 1 3/4 cup sugar • 8 cups water • 1 1/2 freshed … [Read more...]
I love making homemade pickles, so I always grow plenty of pickling cucumbers in my garden every year. Of course, when cucumbers finally come in season, they grow fast, so it’s important to stay on top of the harvest and grab them while they’re a manageable size. However, some cucumbers inevitably slip past my surveillance and grow too large for pickling, so I’ve set to work on finding alternative ways to use these oversized strays so that nothing goes to waste. Since cucumbers have … [Read more...]
I was gifted a SodaStream last Christmas and have been happily making bubbly water ever since. Previously, I had been spending a lot of money buying bottles of sparkling water. I love that I can now make my own at home for much cheaper (about $0.20 per liter). About a month ago I finally started experimenting with homemade syrups for making my own flavored sodas. So far I've tried two different flavors, Ginger and Grapefruit, and just love how they turned out. They have definitely become one of … [Read more...]
Homemade tea blends are easy to make and package perfectly as favors for wedding or shower guests. The hardest part is deciding what kind of tea you want to make. Once it is all made up, you will find you have lots and lots of it, because a little bit of dried leaves go a long, long way. Make loose-leaf tea by picking your own homegrown leaves or buying tea in bulk, and blend the leaves as you like, adding herbs and spices. My first tea was mint tea, because I love it and because I have a … [Read more...]
(Used in this project: Circle Tags in Maisie style.) My husband and I are hosting a Cinco De Mayo fiesta at our house this year, so we thought it’d be fun to whip up our favorite Mexican beverage for the occasion – Horchata! One thing I love about this drink is that it can be made in so many different ways. For example, you can experiment with different types of rice, or you can add a handful of your favorite nuts to change the flavor profile. I even like to add a little rum or brandy for … [Read more...]
Homemade gifts in 30 minutes or less!
Our son Nick, whom we adopted at age five, remembers this drink from when he was a little boy in Russia. He taught us how to prepare it, and now we enjoy it every Sunday morning at breakfast. You don't need to tell anyone how easy it is! You Will Need: • One box of Lipton instant ice tea mix flavored with sugar and lemon • Small glass jars from Specialtybottle.com or Kerr canning jars available at your local grocery store • Labels • Text labels (optional) • Tags (optional) • … [Read more...]
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Jeanne Williamson |
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Rachel Beyer |
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Lindsay Jewell |
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James Luster |
 | Sarah Johnson |
 | Zoe Bevers |
 | Anna Lorton |
 | Stephanie Rose |
 | Bobby Pathammavong |
 | Chana Scop |
Since 2010, My Own Ideas has become a growing resource for home cooks, wedding and party planners, and basement brewers. We are a creative community who loves to share recipes and d.i.y. ideas paired with beautifully personalized paper goods from
My Own Labels and Evermine.
