I think this craft is pretty self explanatory but I will give you the ins and outs of this little Play Set!! Are  you ready to make a Pack-n-Go Kids Play Stove ??  This is a super easy DIY project!!

Instead of using paper for the “stove top” I used some awesome vinyl that the amazing Cricut team sent to me from Provo Craft!!! I also used Cricut Craft Room which I absolutely love love love!!  I used the “George” cartridge as all I needed was the circle.

I first found a container that I liked and that I felt would work perfect for this little Pack-n-Go Stove!  I used a 16qt Sterilite container which cost me only a few dollars!

I wasn’t sure how to measure for the cook-tops so I used some of my glass bowls to see what would work!  They measured 5″ for the large and 3.75″ for the small.

When working in Craft Room I took the 5″ and the 3.75″ and made the hot plates just kind of eyeballing it!  Here are the measurements I used for the “hot coils” going from largest to smallest 3.9″x3.9″, 2.9″x2.9″, 2.05″x2.05″,1.38″x1.38″.   If you get a different size container you may want to re size these to fit your container.

Each hot plate had 2 “hot coils” on each.  I cut out 2- 5″ black circles, 2-3.75″ black circles and I only needed 2 complete orange circles which made up the “hot coils.  The turn knobs were 2″ each and I cut 4- 2″ black circles and 4- 1.38″x1.38″ white circles.  I free hand cut out the little black piece to make the knobs look more real they were about 1/8″ x 1″ you will need 4.

Ok that is all you will need to do with the Cricut!!  Took me all of 10 mins to get these all cut out!  Easy Peasy!!  All that is left to do is adhere these to the top of the container and fill it with fun kitchen items!!  I again kind of eyeballed it to know where to put the cut outs!

 Pretty cute don’ch think??

For the utensils and pots and pans I picked them up and my favorite $$$$ stores,  the $ Spot at Target,  and my own stash for the goodies!!

The total cost of this little project was just under $10.00, and could be less if you stock your Pack-n-Go Stove from you own kitchen! Your Little Chef wont mind where the utensils came from!

Now doesn’t that steak look yummy??? LOL!!  Ok what would you put in your Pack-n-Go Stove for your favorite little Chef???

The post Pack-n-Go Kids Play Stove DIY appeared first on Pink Cake Plate.

Summer is definitely here and in Arizona the temperatures have been in the triple digits!!  That is hot hot hot!!  Now we all know how much we hate to cook when its this hot so this is when the grill can be your best friend at dinner time!!  It is Summer Grilling time for sure!  I have a super easy and yummy dinner that takes no time at all to prepare and it is easy on the waist line!!It is great to #choosesmart for easy dinner prep!

I love shopping at Smart & Final I can always find great deals and I LOVE LOVE LOVE Cattleman’s Beef!!  Today I have a delicious summer dish that I am sure you will love!!  It is great to #choosesmart for easy dinner prep!  Did I mention I Love Cattleman’s Beef?? (tee hee!) I have prepared A Super Simple Grilled Steak Salad with Cattleman’s Beef!

Grilled Top Sirloin Steak Salad with Stubbs Marinade Dressing!

This salad is perfect for those hot nights when you want something light to eat and don’t want to heat up the whole house cooking dinner.

I found the perfect little Cattleman’s Beef Top Sirloin steaks for this meal.  And I also found a new marinade Stubbs!!

I put the steaks in a zip lock bag and put them in the fridge for about 90 minutes.

I always put these bags in a bowl or plastic container in case they leak or spill, just saves on clean up!!

When the meat was done with the marinade I put the steaks on a really hot grill and turned down the heat to medium.  It only took about 7 minuets on each side for these little Cattleman’s Beef  Top Sirloin steaks to finish cooking.  You always want to let meat rest for about 5 minutes to let the juices redistribute back into the meat keeps it juicy!!

While the meat was resting I assembled the “salad” and made the dressing.  The salad is pretty simple you can use just about any veggies you like.  I started with a bed of lettuce and added tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and even some yummy bleu cheese!

After the meat has rested for about 5 minuets I sliced it very thin slicing against the grain of the meat so it would be tender.  Let me tell you it was really tender and the marinade was divine on this little Cattleman’s Beef Top Sirloin steak!

Now this is how I made the dressing…take equal parts (2T.) mayonnaise and (2T.)marinade and mix until the mayonnaise is no longer lumpy.  Add about 2 t vinegar (this gives it tang and cuts the mayo taste) mix until blended that is it that is all there is to it!!  I just made 2 servings of the salad dressing it can be easily doubled to make more!  The flavors of the Stubbs marinade were wonderful mixed into a salad dressing and complimented the steak very well due to the similar flavor properties!!

Hey did you know Smart & Final is Giving away 3 Weber Grills???

Yup they are and here is how you can win one!!

Look for an in-ad coupon for $2.00 off any Cattleman’s
Finest item in the Smart & Final circular for June 12-18.   When you
purchase any Cattleman’s Finest item, look for the code at the bottom
Enter your code to register: http://www.smartandfinal.com/CattlemansFinest2013.

Good luck!  I hope you win!!

Have you shopped at Smart & Final lately?  I love shopping there, I find great deals, fresh produce and some pretty fun things to craft with too!  You can see my latest meanderings at Smart & Final on Google+ .  The Smart & Final I shop at is 1/2 a block off the highway on my way home from work so it is very easy for me to pop in just about anytime.  I love that I can get “warehouse” deals and not have to buy huge quantities.  I purchase the clear plastic “coffee-house” cups there that I can put my smoothie in!! Makes me feel like I actually got it at a “coffee-house”!!

You can find out more about Smart & Final at these amazing “Social Hubs”

• Smart & Final on Twitter

• Smart & Final Facebook page

Summer Grilling is great for Fathers Day and since I am the Grill Master at my house Mr. Pinkcakeplate always loves it when I grill for him!!

Who is the Grill Master in your house???

The post Super Simple Grilled Steak Salad with Cattleman’s Beef appeared first on Pink Cake Plate.

SUMMER CAMP 2013

If you’re looking for some fun you can have with your kids this summer head on over!!  There are so many cute crafts and yummy recipes over there!!  Here is a sneak peek of a few!!!

Don’t these look like fun projects for summer???

I am not going to even give you a hint of what my project is you will have to head over to Design Dazzle and see it yourself!!  So much fun!  Just click on the photo below and it will take you right where you need to go!!

When you get there make sure you leave some comment love and tell them Laura from Pink Cake Plate sent you!!!  I promise you will not be disappointed at all the yumminess and fun you will find over there!!!  Hurry!!  Go!!  Go now!!

Hey still wanna know where I am today??? You better go to Design Dazzle and see what I am up to!!

The post Hey wanna know where I am today??? appeared first on Pink Cake Plate.

Stars and Stripes Oreo Bark and Mickey Mouse Oreo Bark too!

Here are your ingredients:

12 oz White candy melts or white Almond Bark

4 oz blue Candy melts

1 C Dry Roasted Peanuts

1/4 c. red M&M’s

6-8 Chopped Oreos I used the Holiday ones but regular will work fine if you can’t find these.

Sprinkles of Choice

Parchment paper

Spoons

bowls

cooking spray

metal cookie cutters

Start by putting a sheet of parchment paper on your cookie sheet and set aside.  Using a glass bowl carefully melt 12 oz. white almond bark  in 20 second intervals in the microwave making sure to stir in between each interval.  While candy is melting spread peanuts on parchment paper.  When candy is completely melted pour over peanuts and make sure they are completely covered.  Spread melted candy and peanuts evenly over the tray.  Sprinkle the M&M’s and the broken cookies over the bark.  Gently press into the melted candy set aside.  Melt the 4 oz of red and blue candy melts in separate dishes using the same method used earlier.  When the colored candy is melted take the tines of a fork and drizzle over the top of the whole tray of candy.

Let sit up until just solid.  Take your cookie cutters and spray the inside with cooking spray.  Then cut out the bark!  If you don’t want to use a cookie cutter simply wait until the bark is completely set and break apart!!

Look who showed up to the party!!!  I had to do this one, who can resist Mickey Mouse?

That is it! You now have Stars and Stripes Oreo Bark!!  Stash some away for yourself because this stuff will go fast!!

Stars and Stripes Oreo Bark {Recipe}

 

Author: Pink Cake Plate

Recipe type: Candy

Prep time:  10 mins

Cook time:  10 mins

Total time:  20 mins

Print

Ingredients

• 12 oz White candy melts or white Almond Bark
• oz blue Candy melts
• 1 C Dry Roasted Peanuts
• ¼ c. red M&M’s
• 6-8 Chopped Oreos I used the Holiday ones but regular will work fine if you can’t find these.
• Sprinkles of Choice

Instructions

1. Start by putting a sheet of parchment paper on your cookie sheet and set aside. Using a glass bowl carefully melt 12 oz. white almond bark in 20 second intervals in the microwave making sure to stir in between each interval. While candy is melting spread peanuts on parchment paper. When candy is completely melted pour over peanuts and make sure they are completely covered. Spread melted candy and peanuts evenly over the tray. Sprinkle the M&M’s and the broken cookies over the bark. Gently press into the melted candy set aside. Melt the 4 oz of red and blue candy melts in separate dishes using the same method used earlier. When the colored candy is melted take the tines of a fork and drizzle over the top of the whole tray of candy.
2. Let sit up until just solid. Take your cookie cutters and spray the inside with cooking spray. Then cut out the bark! If you don’t want to use a cookie cutter simply wait until the bark is completely set and break apart!!

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Tommorow I am over at Design Dazzle for thier Summer Camp series so stop back by for a sneak peek and then head over to see the finished product!!

The post Stars and Stripes Oreo Bark {Recipe} Mickey Mouse Oreo Bark too!! appeared first on Pink Cake Plate.

You ready for a fun Father’s Day giveaway for the FUNNEST dads in your life? 

What’s up for grabs?

A Cricut Father’s Day Bundle + a year of Cricut Craft Room access to more than 37,000 images!

-An Ubooly—a plush interactive toy that works with your smart phone to make your kids smarter+ $100 in Ubooly Lab credit

-A camcorder from FamilyShare.com with 16GB of internal memory, 70x zoom and 3.0” touch-screen

Father’s Day Bundle additional details: Complete with a sleek, black Cricut Expression and multiple manly materials to create with, the Cricut Father’s Day Bundle will get the dad in your life creating with cereal boxes, Duck Tape and vinyl for crafts and customizing everything from tech to water bottles. You’ll also find a deep-cut blade & a Cricut toolkit, which makes creating manly crafts easy! Your Dad & family will get all-access for one full year to the entire Cricut Craft Room digital library, which includes access to more than 37,000 images and fonts!

About the sponsors:

FamilyShare.com is a site designed to provide tools to strengthen families worldwide. Filled with practical solutions from real people, FamilyShare.com can be your go-to guide for a stronger, more loving family. Whether you want to ask a question or help others find a solution, you can find and share tips on parenting, home, health, vacations, love, and all things family.

What is Ubooly?  Here is a little video to introduce you to Ubooly!

When we first created Ubooly we wanted to provide children with an interactive & engaging toy that would be both entertaining & educational. As children everywhere are falling in love with their new pet, now it’s time for the parents to play. With Ubooly Lab the parent now has full control of customizing their child’s playtime! We’d love for you to dive into the Ubooly Lab experience and write personal posts on how you & your child engage with the new features.

• Ubooly will know your child’s name, like the same: colors, interests, food, hobbies etc.
• By purchasing credits parents are able to unlock Educational, Interest, and Helper packs.

o Educational Packs: Ubooly Lesson packs are created on a 5 day schedule, and keep parents in the loop with progress reports

o Interest Packs: The interest packs are full of fun facts of trivia to get your child excited about specific topics.

o Fitness & Helper Packs: Ubooly will also help with personal growth & create healthy habits through the Fitness and Helper packs.

• Content packs are all designed to be age appropriate for different age ranges (3-9)
• Content packs are written by a large team of elementary teachers & comedians

Ubooly has an app too!

In their new app they will are releasing a hilarious feature where two Uboolies will talk to each other when they recognize they’re in the same room. {this is too cute!}

Ok Leave me a comment on one of the following things I want to hear about these !!!  Your  funnest Dad memory, what fun things your Dad taught you to make, what fun games your  husband plays with your kids!!

Enter via the Rafflecopter below and GOOD LUCK!!  Runs from June 3- June 13^th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post World’s Funnest Dad Giveaway!! Yes its Giveaway time again!!! appeared first on Pink Cake Plate.

Thank’s to  Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market for sponsoring this post. Visit Fresh & Easy’s website or Facebook page to find a store near you.

Summer is really here in Arizona with our temperatures reaching over 100 degrees this weekend the last thing I want to do is slave over a hot stove cooking dinner!!  Since marrying my sweetheart almost 6 years ago I have taken over the grill and  I have to say I grill a little better than Mr. Pinkcakeplate!!  SHHHHHH!! Don’t tell him!!  So with it being June first I thought I would kick off summer with some yummy grilling fun and a delicious  Garlic Green Beans recipe!!

I first went to my local Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market and picked out some yummy grilling goodies!!  I took the Mr. with me because sometimes it is fun to take him grocery shopping with me!!  He finds some interesting things that is for sure!!  We walked through the fruits and vegetable section and I love that they have these .98 cent produce packs!!

Then I hit up the meat section!!  I love the selection and even got lucky and found a Mixed Grill Pack on sale for half price!!  I love that!!  There is enough meat in this package for 3 meals for the two of us so I decided I wanted to cook the chicken!!  So now to assemble the rest of the meal.  I already had the salad from the produce section.

I love the clearance section too and found some delicious fresh green beans.

Did you know you can get fresh pizza dough there too??  AND I love the Rosemary Fococcia dough that you bake fresh at home!!YUMMM!

Now the Mr. found a little Tiramisu that he wanted for dessert in the refrigerated section of the baked goods!! Score I don’t have to make dessert!!

So I grilled the chicken (froze the other meats), cooked the green beans, baked the focaccia, tossed the salad and dinner was done!!

When we finished dinner I simply served the Tiramisu,  it was just that easy!!  Here is the yummy green bean recipe it is sooooo easy you will love it!!

Garlic Green Beans

 

Author: Pink Cake Plate

Recipe type: side dish

Prep time:  5 mins

Cook time:  12 mins

Total time:  17 mins

Print

Ingredients

• 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed and
• snapped in half
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Shredded Parmesan cheese for garnish
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Blanch green beans in a large stock pot of well salted boiling water until bright green in color and tender crisp, roughly 2 minutes. Drain and shock in a bowl of ice water to stop from cooking.
2. Heat a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and the butter. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the beans and continue to saute until coated in the butter and heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. If desired sprinkle with about a teaspoon of shredded Parmesan cheese!

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I love Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market I feel like it is a “boutique” market with some really  unique and yummy treats!!  The selection is really fun and different from your local grocery store.  If you haven’t been to a Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market you really should stop in some time I promise it wont disappoint!  Oh and by the way you can print a $5.00 off of a $20.00 purchase coupon HERE it is good until June 9th!!!  Happy Shopping!!

What is your favorite way to beat the heat??

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective ,  the content and opinions expressed here are as always  my own.

The post Summer Grilling Fun and Garlic Green Beans {Recipe} appeared first on Pink Cake Plate.