Sunday, March 28, 2010

Allspice Cookies

Ingredients
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ginger
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter
• 3/4 cup molasses

Directions
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In large bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt. With a pastry blender, cut in butter. Add molasses. Mix well by hand.
• Form a large ball and cut in half. Roll each half in wax paper and refrigerate until firm enough to slice, about 2 hours.
• Slice 1/4 inch thick. Bake 10 minutes. Cool cookies slightly on sheets before removing to a rack to cool completely.

Beef Shoulder Roast in Crockpot

I made this recipe up after getting a beef shoulder roast and not knowing what to do with it. My crockpot is my best friend in that it cooks the meat the best, easiest way I know how.

Ingredients
• Beef Shoulder Roast (1 or 2 pounds or more depending on how much you need for your family)
• 2 (15 oz.) cans beef stock
• 1-2 teaspoons rosemary
• Sea Salt
• 1 bay leaf
• Stew veggies- potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, etc.

Directions
• Ball up some foil & put in the bottom of the crockpot. (You'll put the meat on top of this & this little trick prevents the bottom from burning.)
• Pour in the beef stock, put your meat on top of the foil, add in the spices/seasonings, and put in your stew veggies. If you're going to be away for a long time then put the heat on low (to cook for longer than 6 hours), but if you don't then it on hot to cook in 4-6 hours.
• Before serving remove the bay leaf & foil. You can take it all out & display it nicely or just leave it in the crockpot for everyone to grab what they want & go.

Chili

I make this up in the morning and put it in the crockpot on the low or 'keep warm' setting. This recipe is one I've come up with that my family likes. There's not a lot of hot spices in this but you can always change it if you want!

Ingredients
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 (15 oz.) can chili beans
• 1 (15 oz.) can red kidney beans
• 2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
• 1 (4 oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon dried basil

Directions
• Cook the ground beef and garlic until the meat is done. Drain.
• Place the beans, tomato sauce, tomato paste, spices & beef mixture in the crockpot.
Heat until warm & enjoy!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

20 Minute Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients
• 1 lb chicken breast halves, boneless & skinless
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 1 3/4 cups spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh OR 1 Tbsp dried parsley- chopped

Directions
• Slightly beat the egg. Dip the chicken in the egg and then in the bread crumbs to coat.
• In skillet over medium heat, in hot margarine, brown chicken on both sides.
• Add spaghetti sauce.
• Reduce heat. Cover & simmer for 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle with cheeses & parsley.
• Cover, simmer for 5 minutes or until cheeses melt.

Rice Crispy Treats

Ingredients
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 (10 oz) package small marshmallows
• 6 cups rice crispies cereal

Directions
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat.
• Add the marshmallows, stirring until completely melted. Remove from heat.
• Stir in cereal until well coated.
• Turn out into a pan.
• Let cool, cut in to squares & enjoy!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Sangria

Prep: 10 minutes
Chill: 3 to 24 hours
Makes: 10 (about 4 oz.) servings

Ingredients:
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1 (750 milliliter) bottle dry red wine
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup sugar
• Ice cubes
• Orange slices (optional)
• Lime slices (optional)

Directions:
• In a large pitcher stir together orange and lime juices. Add wine and sugar, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cover and chill for 3 to 24 hours.
• Serve over ice. If desired, garnish each serving with orange and lime slices.

Farmer's Casserole

From my Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book

Prep: 25 minutes
Bake: 40 minutes
Oven 350 degrees F
Stand: 5 minutes
Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients:
• Nonstick cooking spray
• 3 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
• 3/4 cup shredded monterey jack cheese with jalapeno peppers or shredded cheddar cheese (3 oz.)
• 1 cup diced cooked ham or bacon
• 1/4 cup sliced green onions (2)
• 4 beaten eggs or 1 cup refrigerated or frozen egg product, thawed
• 1 1/2 cups milk or 1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk or evaporated fat-free milk
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
• Coat a 2-quart square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange potatoes evenly in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle with cheese, ham, and green onions.
• In a bowl combine eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour egg mixture over potato mixture.
• Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Farmer's Casserole for 12
• Prepare as above, except double all ingredients and use a 3 quart baking dish. Bake casserole, uncovered, for 45-55 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Make-ahead directions
• Prepare as above through step 2. Cover; chill up to 24 hours. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 50 to 55 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Baked Tuna Fold-Overs

Baked Tuna Fold-Overs

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:
• 1 (10 oz.) tube refrigerated biscuits
• 1 (6.5 or 7 oz.) can tuna in water, drained
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 3 tablespoons mayo
• 1/4 teaspoon yellow mustard

Directions
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove biscuits from tube. Pat each biscuits unto a thin 3.5 inch oval. (I like to flour my countertop surface and roll them out with my rolling pin to a larger oval, about hand size. I find the 3.5 inch is too small.) Arrange half of the biscuits on a greased cookie sheet.
• Mix tuna, cheese, mayo & mustard together. Spread mixture on biscuits. Wet the edges of the biscuits with water & you finger tip (it acts like glue, holding the two biscuits together). Top with the remaining biscuits, pressing edges together with a fork.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until done.

Foil Packet Chicken

Prep: 10 Minutes
Total: 50 Minutes

Ingredients:
• 1 pkg (6oz.) Stuffing mix- chicken flavored
• 1 3/4 cups water, divided
• 6 small boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, about 1/2 inch thick (using thicker chicken will require longer cooking time)
*Edited to add- I was out of chicken & used pork chops instead & the recipe came out just as good!*
• 4 slices thinly sliced ham, chopped (I buy a package of pre-cooked cubed ham)
• 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms (you can also use canned mushrooms- I make my foil pack without mushrooms since I don't like them)
• 1 cup frozen peas (I use less because I'm the only one who likes peas so I leave them out of everyone else's foil packs)
• 1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed cream of mushroom soap

Directions:
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Mix stuffing mix with 1 1/2 cups of water. Divide evenly, place stuffing in center of 6 separate sheets of aluminum foil.
• Layer chicken, ham, mushrooms, and peas on top of the stuffing, dividing evenly between each of the 6 foil packs. Mix soup with the remaining 1/4 cup water; pour equal amounts over each pack.
• Bring up foil sides. Double fold top and ends to seal pack, leaving room for heat to circulate inside. (I then mark each foil pack with a permanent marker so I don't get the one with mushrooms and my boys don't get mine with the peas.)
• Complete all 6 foil packs and place on baking pans. Bake 30-35 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Remove from oven. Let stand 5 minutes.
• Place packs directly on dinner plate. As packs are hot, cut slits into foil using a knife to release steam before opening.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

The Old Fashioned Flatfold


It has been a long time coming and they're finally here! Now introducing the Old Fashioned Flatfold. Like our grandmothers used to use! These are great, versatile cloth diapers that can be your primary diaper choice or used as a filler. They are great for bedtime or naptime use! With the experience I've gained from cloth diapering my little guy I've added several of these to my stash. You can fold them and put them in a cover. I've been told they fold up nicely and fit in a Bummis or a Thirsties cover. You can also learn to fold them (see below) and pin them on & put a cover over. This is my preferred method of putting the diaper on my little guy. Don't let folding daunt you! It's easier than it seems!

I've searched the internet for different ways to fold a flatfold and found several different sites and I wanted to share them with you! I hope you've found these as helpful as I have!
~Heather

http://www.diaperware.com/picturepages/flatfolding.htm

http://www.borntolove.com/folding.html

http://www.angelfire.com/id/megnkatesplace/folds.html


Do you have another link with diaper folding instructions? Pass it along so we can all check it out! Thanks!


Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Honey Oatmeal Bread

From my Kitchenaid Stand Mixer Recipe Booklet

Ingredients:
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/3 cup butter or margarine
• 5 1/2- 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup quick cooking oats
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 packages active dry yeast
• 2 eggs
• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon water
• Oatmeal

Directions:
• Place water, honey, and butter in small saucepan. Heat over low heat until mixture is very warm (120-130 degrees F).
• First place oats, then 5 cups flour, salt, and yeast in mixer bowl. Attach bowl and Spiral Dough Hook to mixer. Turn to speed 2 and mix about 15 seconds. Continuing on Speed 2, gradually add warm water mixture to flour mixture and mix about 1 minute. Add eggs and mix about 1 minute longer.
• Continuing on Speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, and mix about 2 minutes, or until dough starts to clean sides of bowl. Knead on speed 2 about 2 minutes longer.
• Place dough in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover. Let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.
• Punch dough down and divide in half. Shape. Place in greased 8 1/2 X 4 1/2 X 2 1/2 baking pans. Cover. Let rise in warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour, or until doubled in bulk.
• Beat egg white and water together with a fork. Brush tops of loaves with mixture. Sprinkle with oatmeal. Bake at 375 degrees F for 30-40 minutes. Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks.

Peanut Butter Cookies

From my Kitchenaid Stand Mixer Recipe Booklet

Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:
• Place peanut butter and butter in mixer bowl. Attach bowl and flat beater to mixer. Turn to speed 6 and beat about 1 minute, or until mixture is smooth. Stop and scrape bowl. Add sugar, egg, and vanilla. Turn to speed 4 and beat about 1 minute. Stop and scrape bowl.
• Turn to STIR speed. Gradually add all remaining ingredients to sugar mixture and mix about 30 seconds. Turn to speed 2 and mix about 30 seconds.
• Roll dough into 1" balls. Place about 2" apart on ungreased baking sheets. Press flat with fork in a criss-cross pattern to a 1/4" thickness.
• Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheets immediately and cool on wire racks.
• Yield: 36 cookies

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Garden Bouquet Quilt: Month 16- The Rose


Loud acclaim greeted the fifteenth flower in the Nancy Page garden bouquet quilt. “I am so glad you have put in a rose, Nancy. I was wondering when we would have the sweetest of all flowers.”

“I gave you a wild rose earlier.” “We know that, but we wanted to make a double rose, one with lots and lots of petals.”

“Well here you are, three sets of petals, all curved and scalloped. I hope you have fun making this flower.”

There was no question but that the members expected to have fun. If the zest with which they attacked the new pattern was any indication.

The zinnia had had numberless petals to be sure, but they had not minded making that design. In the zinnia the petals had grown darker towards the edges. In the rose the process was reversed and the inner-most circle was the darkest.

Some members chose three shades of rose. Others made a yellow rose and still others had a rose shading from near white to blush pink. It is all a matter of choice and of the scraps of material which one has on hand.

This flower, like the zinnia, is best made of plain material. The figured designs fit in better with flower patterns which are not complicated as the rose.

This pattern differs from any of the rest in that it shows a tip of green leaf above the rose and has three perfectly good leaves growing from the stem. It is a tricky block to make, but a beautiful one when finished. After the color scheme has been decided then the method followed is the usual one.

Cut the patterns, with its accompanying directions, from the paper. Make a light tracing on the white triangle of the flower and leaves. This white triangle is 12 ½ by 12 ½ by 17 ½ and is seamed along the 17 ½ inch length to the same length of the pieced urn block. The birds and flowers are appliquéd onto the upper triangle.

If desired, plan to raise the flower by lengthening the stem slightly. This does not crowd the birds too closely to leaves. In the paper pattern it is necessary to shorten the stem because of lack of space. This is not true in the actual quilt.

Trace the pattern onto light weight cardboard. Put the original in the Nancy Page scrap book for safe keeping.

Cut the cardboard pattern into its pieces. In making the rose it is wise to follow the same procedure as suggested for the zinnia- let the bottom petals of the rose be cut in one piece and overlap the second and third series on that. This keeps the shape better than if the pieces are cut as discs.

In cutting the material be sure to allow one-quarter inch on all sides for turning under. After the raw edges are under, baste, press and pin in place on the white triangle following the faint tracery.

Appliqué with hemming stitch.

Crayon may be used and pressed in with a hot iron. Outline stitch is suggested, but not advised. Buttonhole appliqué may be used, in which case cut pieces the exact size as given in pattern. The buttonhole covers the raw edges.

I haven’t been able to work on my Poppy block so I don’t have anything to show off. I will update this when I do get the chance!

Do you have any Garden Bouquet Quilt blocks to show off? Leave a link to your blog post about it in the comment section or email me a photo at heathers_custom_sewing{at}yahoo.com so I can share with everyone!

I hope you are enjoying this series!
~Heather

Quick Links to:

Month 1: Beginning Instructions, Urn, and Basket Instructions
Month 2, Part 1: The Tulip
Month 2, Part 2: The Saucy Bird
Month 2, Part 3: The Meek Bird
Month 3: The Cactus
Month 4: Lily of the Valley
Month 5: The Wild Rose
Month 6: The Trillium
Month 7: Canterbury Bells
Month 8: Nasturtium
Month 9: The Pansy
Month 10: The Tiger Lily
Month 11: The Primrose
Month 12: The Zinnia
Month 13: The Daffodil
Month 14: The Phlox
Month 15: The Poppy

Hand Appliqué
Machine Appliqué
Alternate Method of Appliqué Tutorial
Biased Binding Tutorial

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