Saturday, January 28, 2012

Introducing Bailey Grace Lovelies


This is the year I have decided to stop dreaming and start doing. So I opened a little store of my handmade items, I love fun things jewelry, hats, clothes and for years I have always had little designs in my head, so I am bringing them to pass. I have opened my little businesss on Facebook first, and am working on the website. Thinking of putting my items on Etsy. Would love for you to come check out my page and honestly would love the "love"  Here's my page link http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2857288364821.133336.1637989698&type=1#!/pages/Bailey-Grace-Lovelies/336109413074170 I have so many ideas just trying to work on time to be able to work on it all. I love it though so fun and relaxing to knit and sew. Here are some sneak peaks, but please come by.




Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Rambling Wednesday

Yesterday I took my mom to some of her Dr appt's. Then we stopped at Joann's fabric to check out the fabric I want for my kitchen. I am working on changing it for the 100th time as my husband would say. I change like the wind but I finally have it down on the color scheme I want. I want black, white, and splashes of yellow. I love the Damask design so I want that to be the curtains. Well here these are some ideas of the color scheme I want..note they are not my pictures..good ole Pintrest hooked me up.



I love how the colors just look happy together. So I am on a mission...sorry hubby. Yesterday I was blessed with the fabric now have to make the template and start sewing. Here's a picture of the fabric I got.


I'll make curtains out of that fabric and paint the wall that it hangs on yellow. So excited I can see it in my head now to make it in my kitchen. Dear HGTV you might have to rescue me.

Did end the night with a sweet treat. While at the market I saw this little beauty


The color stopped me since I love color. I am not crazy over ice cream (gasp I know) but actually like sorbet. Well this little one asked to come home with me and boy oh boy am I happy it did. It's sweet but not overly sweet because the tartness really comes through. Tastes just like real raspberries in a bowl. Very refreshing and a great way to finish a meal. Baby and me give it 4 thumbs up...oh wait what baby well here you go


Baby # 5 gives it the thumbs up .....Have a beautiful day, remember to see the beauty in all things today, you'll be suprised over God's goodness.





Yummy meatloaf....I am sure everyone has their recipe, this is mine


I love meatloaf and mashed potatoes, never had it growing up, so it's not childhood memories, but just something that says good ole comfort food. Not to mention with this pregnancy I crave meat...crazy I know. I'm sure everyone has there own recipe, but if you don't here's my favorite. I originally got the recipe from years ago in a men's bodybuilding magazine of course they used egg whites, and low carb bbq sauce but I'm not giving up my sauce ;0)

For it to be my favorite meatloaf it starts with this

This silly sauce is finger licking good, I love it on every thing. Steak, chicken, salmon, and yes even meatloaf. Crazy I know.

Recipe for meatloaf

2 pounds of ground meat
3-4 tbsp of parmesan cheese
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 bread crumbs
2 eggs
1 cup of my yummy bbq sauce (or what ever strikes your fancy, sauce, ketchup, salsa)
salt
pepper

Mix all together in a bowl till ingredients are well blended, I make two loafs, bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, I sweep the top with sauce add back for 1 minute.



Encouragement to chew on:

Great confession for today! “God is my strong fortress; He has made my way safe. He makes me as surefooted as a deer, leading me safely along the mountain heights” 2 Sam 22:33-34.  Say that over yourself daily and repeatedly and you will see results.



Monday, January 23, 2012

Amazing blueberry cupcakes with buttercream frosting


My daughter Beanie baby loves to look over recipes with me either books, magazines, tv, or Internet. While we were browsing she saw this recipe and begged me to make it, so this morning we made them for a special treat....as you can tell by the pictures below, Beanie loved them

Ingredients

2 cups + 2 tablespoons sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup of unsalted butter (2 sticks)
1 1/2 cups of Sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 cup of whole milk
1/2 cup of blueberry puree
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F and line cupcake pan with paper liners

Blueberry Puree:
Bring one pound of blueberries (fresh or frozen) to a boil in a sauce pan. I used organic frozen blueberries. Reduce heat to low and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated (about 1/2 hour) and the mixture is thick, making sure to stir often. Cool the blueberries slightly and place in a food processor. Mix until smooth. For an
extra smooth puree pass mixture through a fine sieve before using, but I didn’t do this and it was fine. Makes about 1 1/4 cups.

Cupcake:Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add one egg at a time, beating until incorporated after each one.
Sift dry ingredients into a separate bowl. Mix milk with 1/2 cup of blueberry puree and vanilla. Add wet and dry ingredients alternately to butter/sugar mixture starting and ending with the dry ingredients in three additions. Mix until just incorporated after each addition. Do not over beat batter. The batter will puff up when baking, but then settle again once it cools, so you want to make sure that you fill each liner at least 3/4 full of batter. If you want an extra punch of flavor you can mix in a little of the blueberry puree into each cupcake and swirl slightly with a wooden skewer or small spoon. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until cake springs back to the touch. Cool for 10-15 minutes in the pan then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely before frosting.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients:
20 tbsp. (2 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1/8 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tbsp. heavy cream

Directions:In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat butter at medium-high speed until smooth, about 20 seconds. Add confectioners’ sugar and salt; beat at medium-low speed until most of the sugar is moistened, about 45 seconds. Scrape down the bowl and beat at medium speed until mixture is fully combined, about 15 seconds. Scrape bowl, add vanilla and heavy cream, and beat at medium speed until incorporated, about 10 seconds. Then increase the speed to medium-high and beat until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes, scraping down bowl once or twice.







These are amazing...but not my recipe so I have to give credit where credit is due...please visit http://www.pureandyummy.com/?p=330....she had amazing recipes...can't wait to try more.


                                             Encouragement to chew on:

                  Have you encouraged someone today? “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today...” Hebrews 13:3

Saturday, January 21, 2012

A snow storm calls for Pasta Fagioli



It's snowing today so hubby said lets make Pasta Fagioli for lunch. There's the hint "lets" not me, not you...but "lets" so into the kitchen we went together. Always a learning experience to give up control in my kitchen.


Pasta Fagioli

Ingredients
1tsp of dried thyme or 4 sprigs of fresh
1tsp of dried rosemary or 1 large sprig
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbs butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup of carrots diced
2 cups of canned diced tomatoes (I pureed them per hubby request)
2 garlic cloves
4 cups of beef broth
1 can of kidney beans (rinsed and drained)
1 can of cannellini beans (drained and rinsed)
1 pound of ground meat
1 cup of small pasta
salt and pepper to taste
2tsp of garlic salt


Directions

In pot place saute onions, garlic in olive oil and butter, cook 1-2 minutes, then add carrots and spices. Now add meat and chop up with spatula. When meat starts to brown about 5 minutes then add tomato, beans and cook for another 5 minutes. Now add broth salt, pepper, garlic salt and cover bring to boil then lower heat to simmer for 1 hour. Now add pasta and cook for suggested time on box, ladle into bowls top with Parmesan cheese.








Encouragement to chew on:

Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives.  CS Lewis
                                                                                             Recipe adapted from Giada but made better by me ;0)

Friday, January 20, 2012

Happy Pink Saturday....here's my pink that I am proud to show off

I have been meaning to post this and yet kept forgetting, well since it's Pink Saturday I thought well what a great way to show you. A few years ago my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in which she was treated and is now a survivor (praise God), but watching her go through it, taking her to every appointment, watching her skin become burned from the radiation hurt my heart. I thought what more can I do show my love, support and prayers for all victims who have gone through this stupid, nasty disease. When I saw the commercial for the Avon Breast Cancer Walk my heart leaped and I knew I wanted to be part of this. So I signed up in March of 2010 with the leap of faith that I would raise the $1800.00 dollars needed to participate and in 2 1/2 months I was well over my mark (again praise God). So here is my pink from the walk, one of the pink's that I am most proud of, between walking 39.3 miles in 2 days and the grossest blisters I have ever seen in my life, and some injuries that I am still dealing with I am so thankful for the experience of the Cancer Walk.
The Beginning of my walk Day 1..26.2 miles

When I arrived for the start, met up with some new friends



The last mile before the end of the 1st day
Tending to some crazy blisters and feet injuries

Day 2...funny guard to make us laugh and not think of the 12.2 ahead of us.


The finish line of the 39.3 miles in two days...I swear I think God carried me through that line.

So happy I made it. Thank you to all that supported my walk.


I hope you all enjoyed a little glimpse into my adventure.








Be sure to check out other great Pink Saturday's here.


http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Thursday, January 19, 2012

A burst of freshness and yumminess


So with this pregnancy I crave fruit over all things, so I don't mind giving into my cravings so bad


Mango Berry Salad

Ingredients

1/2 cup strawberries halved
1/2 cup bluberries, blackberries, and or raspberries
1 cup of peeled diced mango
1/4 cup of walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup dried unsweetened cranberries
1tbsp fresh oj juice squeezed
1tbsp fresh lemon juice squeezed

In a large bowl, toss all ingredients together and mix well. Enjoy..so yummy.



Encouragement to chew on:

Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live, as well as strong to think.