August 30, 2011

The Private Life of Paint Chips

Like last month, we showed you tons of ways to work and re-work simple ole' mason jars.  Now this month we will show you the "Many Faces" of Paint Chips, you know those colorful things you can get for free at any Home Improvement store.  When I was a little girl and got to go to the Home store with my parents I would snag tons of them and dream about painting my walls a bright purple.  Now that I am all grown up, I can use them to make art, as gifts, place settings, tons of uses that never crossed my mind as a young klepto. 



Make-over your Stairway with Paint Chips


Paint Chips as Place Cards


Gift Boxes from Paint Swatches


Paint Chip Art


Paint Chip Punch Garland



Paint Sample Coasters


Paint Chip Lampshade


Balsamic Roasted Green Beans, Mushrooms and Parmesan


I often forget how much I love green beans. This is an easy and very tasty recipe for green beans and mushrooms, with my favorite, balsamic vinegar!

Ingredients
8 oz mushrooms, sliced in 1/2 inch slices
1 lb. fresh green beans with the ends snipped off
1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 c Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Trim ends of green beans and slice mushrooms into 1/2 inch slices (We bought the already sliced ones).

Put the green beans and the mushrooms in a large bowl. Add the olive oil and balsamic vinegar and toss with your hands until all of the veggies are lightly coated.

Arrange on a large baking sheet and roast for 20-30 minutes, until beans are tender and mushrooms are cooked.

Season with salt and pepper to taste, then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!