cherbert11 on Momaroo

Wednesday, 15 September 2010

Sew Crafty

Hey, y'all!!! Missed me?? I've been super busy lately.

The boys started school a few weeks ago and around the same time they started baseball. Between them, we have practice 3 nights a week and starting this week we'll have 2-4 games per week. Dave still plays on 2 different softball teams with some nights overlapping Taylor's practices/games. It's ridiculously busy!

Around the same time, I decided to start up some beginner sewing projects. A few of you know that I made all of Leah's bedding just before she was born. It took me a few weeks to complete it all, but I was really proud of my efforts. My friends couldn't tell I made it. So, I'd say it was a success.

I didn't get the sewing machine back out of the closet until a week ago. Why? I think I "sew"-ed myself out. Plus, making Leah's bedding was my first attempt at sewing. (I think I made a pillow in Home-Ec class in the 7th grade, but that doesn't count cause I barely remember doing it. And it was the ugliest pillow I had ever seen. Not kidding.) I really don't know HOW to sew. I can't tell you what all the settings on my machine mean. I don't know when to use a 2 vs. a 4 stitch setting except that the stitch is tighter on a 2. Whatever. I am basically learning as I go.

Lat week I found a CUTE pattern for a top that I made:

(Sorry it's sideways --- You get the point. And I'm being lazy)

And I also made a few Halloween skirts:

My next project is a dress, I think.

I'm going to take a couple days off before I start that one. I guess because I was looking down so long pinning the pleats on the last skirt, my neck got really sore. Who works out their neck?? Ouch.

Monday, 09 August 2010

Peach Cobbler

Peach cobbler is one of my all time favorite desserts. Not the biscuit dough kind - the batter one. Earlier this week I picked up some peaches from Aldi and they were perfect for cobbler - perfectly ripe and sweet.

Here's a super simple recipe:

1/4 c butter (melted)
2 cups sugar (divided)
3/4 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
dash salt
3/4 c milk
2 cups peaches, sliced

Melt the butter in a pie pan or baking dish of your choice.

In a bowl combine all the ingredients EXCEPT the peaches and 1 cup of sugar. Pour the batter into the baking dish with melted butter, do not stir. (I found this batter to be very loose, so you could reduce the milk to 1/2 cup for a thicker consistency.)

Add the peach/sugar mixture right over top of batter. Again, do not stir. (I made an adjustment here and only added 1/2 cup of sugar since my peaches were sweet already.)

Bake for 45 minutes at 350.

Here's what it looks like before it goes in the oven:

(Be careful because mine overflowed. I just stuck a sheet pan underneath it to catch the drips.)

Here's an after shot:

And this is it - in my bowl.

The only thing that could make it better would be vanilla ice cream. But I don't have any. Boo..... NEXT time!!

Wednesday, 04 August 2010

Lemon-y Goodness

Mmmmmm! Look at those!

Lemon sugar cookies with lemon glaze. Heaven in a bite.

Cookie recipe:

zest of 1 lemon
1 stick butter
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg, mix. Add vanilla and mix again.
In another bowl combine remaining ingredients. Add to butter mixture until just combined. Chill 2 hours.

Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar (you will probably need more to get the right consistency)
2 tbsp milk
2 tbsp karo syrup
the juice of one lemon

Bake cookies at 350 for 10-12 mins. Once cooled, dip tops into icing and set out on a plate. The icing should dry hard. I couldn't wait, so I took a picture (and ate one) before they were ready. Heh....

Enjoy!

Monday, 02 August 2010

What's Cookin'??

I like to rotate the same recipes pretty much every couple weeks. For instance I'll make spaghetti one night, breaded pork chops with various sides another, chicken the next night, etc, etc. It's the same old thing just rotated out.

Last night, D decided to get dinner going while I was at my mom's using her BIG washing machine to wash a comforter. He made chicken parm. and it was DELICIOUS! He is such an inventive cook. Throwing together random things and making a meal w/o recipes. I do the same thing, except mine are usually quite boring.

Except for today! Today I decided to get crazy and do something different.

QUICHE!!!!

I have never made a quiche for dinner and I've only ever tried quiche Lorraine. Which is fantastic, as well.

For the crust I made my own dough:

3/4 cup flour
6 tbsp cold butter cubed
5 tbsp cold water
1/4 cup shredded cheese

Combine flour and cold butter using a pastry cutter or a fork. Once it turns crumbly, add cheese. Add water 1 tbsp at a time until combined. Chill in refrigerator for at least 30 mins. or several hours if you have time.

For the filling:

I sauteed about 1/2 cup broccoli (chopped small) in a little bit of canola oil and some salt. Remove from heat and cool. In the meantime, I cubed 2 small red potatoes (1/2 inch dice) and sauteed in some butter (just because I felt like it). Cook a few minutes. Season with salt and pepper while cooking. (or whatever you like)
In the oven, I browned several bacon strips. 375 for about 30 minutes. Remove and cool. Once cooled, chop up with a knife.
Combine the bacon, broccoli, potatoes and add some shredded cheese (1/2 cup), 1 cup of eggbeaters (or approx. 4 eggs), and 1 cup milk. Add a little more salt (to your taste) to season the egg.

The crust needs to be pre-baked so you can do that while you are preparing the filling. Just press the chilled dough into a pie pan. Poke holes into it with a fork and bake 375 for about 10-15 mins until light brown.

When it's ready, I add the filling and top with a little extra shredded cheese. Bake for about 20-30 mins. Depending on your oven. Mine baked at 350 since I made the crust ahead of time. It took about 35 mins.

You can add whatever you like in your filling. I may try mushrooms sometime, and a little onion and ham would be fantastic as well.

Enjoy!

Friday, 23 July 2010

The Nile is More Than Just a River...

Dave may not notice, but everyone else in this house seems to realize and understand that he adores his baby girl more than anything else in this world. It's just the way it is - no one questions it. The boys, Taylor especially, have commented on how much attention their baby sister gets. They aren't bothered by it. In fact, they completely understand. To them, she is the cutest, sweetest baby in the WORLD. And God just knew she was meant for us. That we would take care of her so well and she would be loved forever. (TEAR!)

While Dave knows there's a special little place in his heart for his baby, he doesn't see that the connection he has with her is stronger than for the boys. His boys are "little men." He teaches them football and self defense and how to tie a knot on the fishing line to keep from losing your worm. They learned to respect their mom and protect her while he's gone. With Leah, it's more about cuddles and kisses. Brushing hair and playing with dolls. He even takes her to the store with him so they can have father-daughter time. He'd never tell her no or punish her, and he's never too busy for her.

Last night, the family went swimming. I decided not to because I was not in the mood. I, still, sat on the patio and watched. Here's a brief dialogue between D and L.

L: Daddy, daddy!?
D: Yes, baby?
L: 2, 3, 3, 2....(Leah is holding her fingers up counting and D yells "JUMP!" L jumps to him in the pool)
L: Daddy! Daaaaa-deeeeeeeee!
D: Yes, Leah?
L: Boa! Boa! (Boat)
(Daddy puts Leah in her boat float)
L: Daddy! Bubble!
(Daddy swims underneath her float and blows air bubbles underneath her. Leah giggles)
L: Daddy! Up dare, up dare!
(Daddy throws Leah up in the air several time)

Then, Leah asks to get out of the pool. She turns with her back to him and points to her bottom. Apparently, this means squirt my bottom with the water gun! LOL She's a funny little thing. The cycle repeats itself with her asking for boat, bubbles, "up there", and water gun.

You'd have to be BLIND not to see it. And I don't know if it's something all dad's experience with their girls. If it only happens when you have one little girl? I don't know. But I do know that our little girl will never feel unloved in this house.

In her brothers, she has bodyguards for life.

And - in her dad - a man who would move mountains to make his baby happy.

I wouldn't have it any other way.