The Apple Street Cottage

We've been on a healthy eating journey for several years now and our recent discovery is the benefits of grinding your own beef.  Why ground your own you ask?  It all started when we learned about pink slime. Pink slime (aka Lean Finely Textured Beef) is a term for a meat by-product (lean meat trimmings and connective tissue) that is added to ground beef and beef-based processed meats.  It is processed by adding ammonium hydroxide, (an antimicrobial agent) to it.  You can do a search and read all about it, but, personally, I say, "No, Thank You." and leads me to grinding your own.  Let me show you the quick and easy process. 5 steps that take less than an hour.  I promise! This post may contain affiliate links. 1.  Start by cutting a chuck roast (we always buy one when there's a sale) into small pieces and popping them in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes. We used a 2 and 1/2 pound roast and spread it out on an old baking sheet. 2.  Set up your ...

I seem to be 'on a roll' with Valentine's Day projects this year, so here I am with one more you can easily complete before the big day! Isn't this the sweetest little Valentine Envelope Greeting?  I take no credit for the pattern but you can find it here .  I turned it into a  Valentine project even though i t's advertised as a Christmas Greeting.  Let's get started on the details. What you'll need: the pattern felt fabric chipboard embroidery floss wooden skewers fiberfill ribbon brad or button This post may contain affiliate links. First, get the pattern ! Use the pattern to cut your pieces. Please ignore the fact that there are two pink felt pieces.  I originally thought I'd like it a little thicker, but it was too bulky.  Learn from my mistakes, friends! Fold under a 1/4" hem on the patterned lining fabric and then center it on the felt. Pin it in place. Blanket stitch around it leaving the bottom open. Slide the chipboard piece in. NOTE:  I ma...

  I'm so glad you're back since I have the cutest Valentine's Day craft to share with you!  How are things in your neck of the woods?  It's been bitterly cold here this week so I've been staying inside and crafting my days away.    W elcome to the 'Do It Over' Designers blog hop.  We are a group of bloggers who love to recycle/upcycle/DIY.  I'm happy to host this hop and I hope you'll visit everyone to see what they have to share with you. The links will be listed at the end of this post. Do you have some old tea towels stashed in the bottom of a kitchen drawer?  You know the ones...they're at the point where they make good rags but you can still use them in a pinch?  Kind of like this: I've always used this towel when making jam.  The jars sat on it while they cooled, but, let's face it, it's seen better days.  Look at those edges! Let me show you what I did with this sad little towel.   This post may contain affiliate li...