Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts

Thursday, September 01, 2016

back in the saddle

Well, hello, hello! Happy September! I'm glad to be back from my blogging break! My kids started school this week and we are slowly getting back into a routine. Although I miss them during the day, man, the quiet is awfully nice!

I've been working on cleaning the slate...trying to finish some quilts. I have a hundred new ideas (at the very least) that I want to try, so I have to get some of my WIPs cleared out. It's easy to get bogged down!
I basted my scattered showers quilt this week and I started quilting it yesterday. I committed to a very ambitious quilting pattern and I spent all of my quilting time questioning my sanity. I had many problems with thread breakage and skipped stitches, which made me question this quilting pattern even more. A friend suggested going up a need size, which I tried, and things got better after that. What a relief! Now, I'm quite certain that I'm going to run out of thread, but one problem at a time....
The back of the quilt is a funky green (Kona cotton in peapod) that shows every single stitch of the quilting. No pressure there! Ha! I have a long way to go on this one, but it feels good to be one step closer to finishing!

I don't share a lot of recipes here on the blog, but this one is such a good one! I made a batch of ginger molasses cookies yesterday....they are perfect for the fall weather that is just around the corner. This makes a big batch-plenty for your family and plenty to share with others. It's a keeper!

Ginger Molasses Cookies

4 1/2 cups flour
4 t. baking soda
2 t. cinnamon
4 t. ginger
1 t. cloves
1/2 t. salt
2 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups butter
2 eggs
1/2 cup molasses
granulated sugar for rolling

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Sift together dry ingredients and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs, one at a time. Beat well. Add the molasses and beat on medium-low speed until combined. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture and beat until combined. Cover the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes or more.

Roll the dough into small balls, about 1" in diameter. Fill a small bowl with granulated sugar and roll each ball in the sugar until is is completely coated.  Bake on a parchment lined baking sheet for about
12-13 minutes. Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for about 1-2 minutes, then transfer to wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Store for up to one week in a sealed container.

If you try this recipe, I'd love to hear what you think!

See you tomorrow for finish it up Friday!

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

it's not too late!

There is still over a week until Christmas...so if you are a last minute person like me, here are a few gift ideas to make. It's not too late! Hahaha! I met up with a good friend of mine for lunch yesterday, so I made up this little gift package for her.
I used some good neighbors fabric (and a few other prints) to make a pair of Christmas dishtowels and a pot holder. I love how the rounded edges of the pot holder make the simple patchwork more interesting. Simple is good! I used bias binding to finish off the edges, which I hand stitched down while waiting for my son's choir concert on Monday night. (Every minute counts! Ha!)
There is a tutorial for making a simple patchwork dishtowel here, if you care to make some of your own. I love how the set turned out! These are scrap project # 120!
I also made a few decadent sauces. I used this recipe for the salted caramel sauce. (It's soooo good!) It's very salty, so you may want to reduce the amount of salt to start with and adjust to your personal taste. I did add the full amount and only 1 out of 5 in my family thought it was too salty.
 
The hot fudge sauce is a recipe I've had for years. It's easy, and it only takes about 10-15 minutes to make.
 
Hot Fudge Sauce
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups (12 oz) evaporated milk
2/3 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp. vanilla
 
Mix all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 8 minutes, stirring constantly. Cool slightly and pour into a jar. Keep refrigerated for up to two weeks. (It probably won't last that long!) Warm for several seconds in the microwave before using.
 
There you go! If you have any great last minute gift ideas, I'd love to hear them! I can always use a few more.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

happenings

I had the chance to meet up with Anita of bloomin' workshop and her husband yesterday. I've been admiring her work and blogging with her for years. I met her briefly at quilt market in 2010, and it was nice to have a longer visit this time around. It was great to meet her husband, too. We had a picnic lunch at the beach, played with my kids, and had a lovely visit. It was so fun and relaxing, to boot! The weather was absolutely perfect.
I made this little mini quilt for her at the last minute. I've been wanting to make her something for her wall of quilts for over a year now. Nothing like an in person visit to get me movin'.
I did a straight set version of my up, up and away quilt. It's about 18" square.
Someday I want to make a huge version of this quilt. (No wonder my list never shrinks. Make on, add one to the list...)
This year in my garden I planted kale as an experiment. Turns out it's really easy to grow and apparently it likes the spot that I planted it in. Hurray for that! I've made kale chips a few times. They are really good, as long as they aren't too salty. I also found that parkay spray works in place of the oil, so there are fewer calories. My kids will even eat them! Today I froze some kale (using this method) to use in soup in the winter. I've also used kale in stir fry just a bit. Another great use for it. I'm so glad I tried growing it!

Thursday, August 02, 2012

gardening

The kids and I have been gardening again this summer. We have two small beds of veggies at home and we have a bigger garden at our friends' place out in the country, just like last year. It is oh-so-satisfying to grow your own veggies and then eat them for dinner the very same day. YUM! My kids are becoming good little gardeners/workers, too, which is an added bonus! They have been helping every step of the way: from planting, weeding, and harvesting, to eating.
This was one days' harvest: 25 cucumbers!, a few onions, beets, zucchini (only 2, hurray!) and several peppers.

So, what do you do with 25 cucumbers? Make pickles, of course. My sister passed this recipe on to me last year, which I've tweaked to my liking. They are so quick and easy to make. And so good, too!

Dill Refrigerator Pickles

In a 5 quart container (an ice cream bucket works well), place 4 heads of dill and 1 onion, sliced, in the bottom.
Slice (or cut into spears) enough cucumbers to fill the container. Set aside.

For the brine:
1/2 teaspoon alum
1 quart water
1 3/4 cups white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2  head garlic, slice each piece in half
1/3 cup canning salt
1 teaspoon mustard seed
1/3 cup sugar

Mix brine ingredients in a medium saucepan and heat through. Pour over cucumbers and refrigerate.
Let pickles set for 24 hours before eating.

I've heard that they will keep in the refrigerator until Christmas, but we've never had them last that long. I've got a few too many pickle fans in the house for that to happen. :)
I grew beets again this year, even though I've never been a big fan. My husband likes them, (pickled) and I've always wanted to like them (mainly because they are such a great color!) but I never acquired a taste. Just last week my other sister offered me some 'non-pickled' beets (boiled and then served with a touch of butter and salt and pepper)...and you know what? They are soooo good! My kids love them, too! As crazy as it sounds, they taste kind of like sweet corn. Now, I'm trying to figure out how I've gone 37 years without trying boiled beets?! It seems pretty crazy to me! Oh well. I guess now I know. :)

Monday, March 26, 2012

Monday making

Today Cheryl and I are making an appearance on Pat Sloan's Radio show. Tune in here to listen to what we have to say about our new book Sunday Morning Quilts. (I was extrememly nervous when we recorded it. I'll be over here listening and cringing the whole time, I'm sure. I'm so shy about things like this!)
Another thing I'm making today is home made laundry soap. Have you ever tried it? It's super duper easy. Take one bar fels naptha soap, finely shred it. Add one cup borax and one cup Arm and Hammer super washing soda. Mix well and use. My hubby found this recipe on a blog somewhere, which I think is hilarious, because he is NOT a blog reader. He wanted to try it. I was very skeptical. I'll admit, he was right! I LOVE it! I only use a scant quarter cup per load for my washer size, so it goes a long way. It's "h e" friendly, too. I haven't calculated the exact cost per load, but it's very reasonable. We buy all the ingredients at our local Mills Fleet Farm store, which seems so "farm wife-ish". I love it. :)
Also, I'm making Anadama bread. Tara turned me on to this type of bread. I had never heard of it before, but it's mighty tasty! I'm hoping my bread turns out half as good as hers. I thought it would be good to serve with my sausage corn chowder I'm making tonight. The weather has turned chilly again, so I'm ready for some baking and comfort food.

What are YOU making today?

Happy Monday to you!

Thursday, September 08, 2011

bartering

You probably all know, but I love a good barter. This may be the best one ever.
I traded this quilt....
for all of this! :)

You see, this spring I made a new friend at church, and she lives out in the country. She a large garden space, but since her kids are grown and gone, she doesn't need all the space. I have a small garden in my backyard, and I was looking for additional space. My children are all still at home and are always very hungry. :) Anyway, she and her husband graciously hosted my garden this summer. That whole counter full was what I picked just in one day! It's not surprising that I'm making salsa again (the third batch this year so far). I'm so thankful for a bountiful harvest!!! Gardening sure satisfies the farm girl in me and it was fun to work with my kids and my friend, too.

The quilt was something that I was just finishing up this spring about the time we were planning our gardens. When I saw her super cute house for the first time (blue with red shutters) I knew I was going to give the quilt to her as a thank you. It was a perfect match for her and she was delighted. So was I. :)

You know the best part? We both think we got the better end of the deal. Just the way a good barter should be!

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Ben bread

I've been baking a lot of bread lately. This. stuff. is. awesome. I'd love to have you all over for a slice of bread with butter and jam, but that isn't possible. So, I figured that sharing the recipe would be the next best thing. :) (I love how this loaf slightly resembles the shape of Wisconsin. Ha!)

I got the recipe from a friend, so we've affectionately dubbed it "Ben bread". I did a little tweaking to the recipe, because that's what I do. I've baked this bread up to five times in a week! It's that good. 
 
To make Ben bread you will need:
 
1 1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
3 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup rolled oats
2 tablespoons ground flax seed
2 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Place all the ingredients in a bread machine and use a basic bread setting.

I don't care for how my bread tastes when it's baked in the bread machine itself, so I set mine on the dough setting. After the dough is done, I place it in a greased bread pan, let it rise in the pan until the dough is about an inch over the sides of the pan. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
It's great fresh out of the oven. It's great toasted. It's awesome with a slathering of butter and jam. Or butter and honey. Or just butter. It's worth your jeans getting a little bit snug. Maybe. :P

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Progressive Dinner


Welcome to Moda Bake Shop and Stash Book's Progressive Dinner! We are celebrating the upcoming release of a new book called Fresh Fabric Treats. It's a book filled with 16 great patterns for using pre-cuts. The patterns are designed by Moda Bake Shop chefs. (hey, that includes me!)

If you are new here, let me introduce myself....I am Amanda Jean aka Crazy Mom. I have 3 young children and a wonderful, supportive husband. I quilt rather obsessively. I've been at it for 10 years (can it be?) and I love it more every year. I have recently started teaching quilting classes and I love to design my own quilts. A few of my favorite MBS quilts are here, here and here.

Since this is a progressive dinner, here's a little recipe for Stromboli for you. I know it's early in the dinner, so I should be serving up an appetizer, but I'm skipping right to the main course. This is one of my family's favorite meals. Serve it with a green salad and cottage cheese. Oh, and don't forget some marinara sauce for dipping! Yummy for all! We actually had this for dinner last night.

To make Stromboli you will need:
1 loaf frozen bread dough
1/2 lb. sliced ham
1/2 lb. pepperoni
8 oz. shredded Swiss cheese
Parmesan cheese
dried oregano
garlic powder

Let the dough rise according to package directions. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface until it is about 14'' x 18''. Layer the ham and pepperoni on the dough, top with Swiss cheese, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, oregano and garlic powder. Roll up like a jelly roll and pinch the ends and edges to seal. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes. Let cool slightly. Slice and eat!

Ok, now let's talk a little more about this book and the prizes!

Here's a sneak peek at a few of the projects that are included....see that quilt on the lower right? That was designed by me! I'm so thrilled to be a part of this book. (It's still hard to believe.) It's fun to finally be able to talk about it!


If you would like a chance to win a copy of the book AND a layer cake (specific fabric line to be determined), please leave a comment here on this post. The book is scheduled to release in late April or early May, so you would receive both prizes at that time.

If you would like a chance to win a fat quarter bundle, a fat eight bundle, jelly roll, layer cake AND a charm pack (over $200 value!), be sure to visit and leave a comment at every author's stop of the progressive dinner.

Here's the schedule:

January 20
Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts
Roslyn Mirrington of Bloom
Vanessa Christenson of V and Co.
January 21
John Adams of Quilt Dad
Monica Solorio-Snow of The Happy Zombie

January 22
Kimberly Walus of Bitty Bits and Pieces
Melissa Mortenson of The Polkadot Chair

January 23
Natalia Bonner of Piece N Quilt
Vickie Eapen of Spun Sugar Quilts

January 24
Rachel Griffith of P.S. I Quilt
Lissa Alexander of Moda Lissa

January 25
Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts
Sweetwater

January 26
I'll pick the winner of the layer cake and a copy of Fresh Fabric Treats on January 27th. Good luck!

Monday, November 02, 2009

three!


Today my little blog turns 3 years old!!! It's hard to believe it's been that long already. Then again, I can barely remember my pre-blog days, as it has become such a part of my life. As I was thinking of what I could do to celebrate, I decided to do a giveaway, as is a common blog custom. But, I'm going to switch it up a bit. Instead of picking a random winner, I decided that I would be giving away three quilts to Margaret's Hope Chest in honor of my 3rd blog birthday. (I also have 3 children, so it seems fitting to send 3.) I know I have written about this before, but Margaret's Hope Chest is collecting quilts for homeless children in Michigan at this time. Their goal is to raise 400 quilts and they are now at 137. The deadline is November 15, so there is still time to contribute. (Psst, they even take quilt tops, so you can reduce your UFO's at the same time.)

Speaking of UFO's...Jacquie is hosting another finish it up challenge that she is calling Joy in the New Year. You can read all about it if you follow the link. I entered the challenge with my whopping 19 (!!!) quilts in progress. It seems crazy, as that number doesn't count the one that I finished over the weekend. Yikes! I am curious to see just how large of a dent I can make in my unfinished quilts in the next two months.

In an unrelated note, you should bake these cookies today. Delicious!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe, Amy. My neighbors and family thank you, too. :)

Happy Monday to you!

Thursday, January 08, 2009

odds 'n ends

have you seen this blog??? i feel like i hit the jackpot when i found this site.
today i am trying out the taco soup recipe.
more crock pot use=more quilting time!!!
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several of you had asked if i could pick a favorite quilt from 2008. no, i can't. my least favorite was the green quilt. it turned out ok, but i don't LOVE it.
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in my new year's post i said i was going to make fewer lap quilts, since i have 20. did you know that all 20 of them are in use throughtout my home at this time? none are sitting in my quilt cupboard. not one. granted, my boys have 5 or 6 quilts each on their bed right now. they love quilts, just like their mama. (insert large cheesy grin here.) i just might toss out that goal...
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my daughter (2) has been calling me "sir" the last few days. she cracks me up. it makes me think that she's been watching too much Charlie Brown lately.
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and did you know...I LOVE TO STIPPLE????


i really, REALLY do.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

yellow

For Tracy's color week...
...the first produce of the year from my garden. Hurray! I cannot tell you how much I love going out to the garden and picking fresh veggies to add to my dinner.

It was sooooo good. We eat stir fry over plain spaghetti noodles, add a little soy sauce to it (so it ends up like a little like lo mein). For the adults, we add a little HOT chili sauce for some extra kick. Easy and delicious!
The cucumbers are coming next. And green beans! Oh, I love my garden.
Now, for some yellow on the quilting front...
my vintage sheet quilt stippled....
the start of another plain spoken quilt....(of course I had to sneak some pink in there, too.)
and just a random shot from my sewing room.
This is my first time participating in a color week...it's fun to notice little details that otherwise would be overlooked. Thanks, Tracy.