For the last several years, I’ve created this little Christmas village in a jar using a delicious gingerbread recipe. I made this year’s village yesterday (see photo above). It’s a fun project from Better Homes and Gardens, and if you’d like to give it a go yourself, directions are included at this link: Gingerbread in a Jar | crapsmanship
For years now, Dan the Man has complained griped commented on our Christmas mantel decor. The fullness of the garland blocked our remote’s access to the TV, and a man can’t be happy without immediate access to his favorite show. So last year, I promised I would re-do the mantel since my sole goal in life is to make him happy. (Eye-roll.)
I got a new garland from Etsy and repurposed the candlesticks and lantern. I covered some books with white butcher paper and stamped Christmas-themed titles on to the spines.
CRAP ALERT: I did a crappy job with the stamps, doing so poorly as to get a couple letters turned sideways. The titles are:
-Santa: A Memoir
-Maps of the Top of the World (I meant it to say “Maps of the North Pole” but I stamped a T instead of an N — Crapsters are nothing if not flexible!)
-Santibodies — Fighting Covid
I may re-cover the books and re-stamp the titles, but my garland hides much of the crapsmanship. Plus, who’s gonna see it this season? Nobody but Dan, and he’ll be looking at the TV!
About a year ago, I bought a Speedball linoleum cutter and accessories, and I finally started playing with it as I’m prepping cards for Christmas sales. I decided to start easy since I am a newbie, and this straight-lined Christmas tree seemed to be a good pattern to try. Read the rest of this entry
Ok, yes, there’s a slight degree of hyperbole in the title of this post. This meal isn’t as easy as a peanut butter sandwich or a bowl of cereal, but it’s damn easy for a homecooked dinner.
This is a version of SOS (shit on a shingle) that my mom used to make. You need:
Store-bought biscuits — any kind will do. I like these.
3 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. flour
2 cups whole milk
salt and pepper
1 jar dried beef
Get your biscuits in the oven and then start the dried-beef gravy. Remove the meat from the jar and cut into small strips. Set aside. Melt butter in a medium saucepan and add the flour. Mix and stir for about five minutes, long enough for the flour to cook some. You don’t need to darken to roux. Then add two cups of whole milk and stir, stir, stir, until the mixture thickens. Add a good amount of pepper but just a little salt. (The beef will salt the mixture.) Add the dried beef, stir, and taste. Add more salt and pepper, if needed.
Once the biscuits are baked, slice them open onto a plate and cover with gravy. Serve with a bagged side salad or frozen veggies. Fast, easy, and a family pleaser!
crapsmanship 