Sew God's Grace

Growing up, I never had anything but the Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa packets.  I always wanted to get the ones with the mini marshmallows in it even though by the time I got my cocoa mixed up they had almost melted away.  So, when I tasted my mother-in-law's deliciously-creamy cocoa, I had to have the recipe for the mix! My kids often request this after they come in from playing outdoors.  Put it in a cute container or bag, and it makes a great Christmas gift!  I packaged mine up with some homemade peppermint marshmallows this year! I have recently updated this recipe with homemade versions of the powdered Nesquik and creamer.  My kids and I like it even better than the original--it's cheaper, too! World's Best Hot Cocoa Mix (adapted from Gloria Woodmancy's recipe in Sharon Springs United Methodist Cookbook) 1 (2.54 pound) canister Nesquik chocolate powder  (Use this recipe for homemade.  I think it took about a quadruple batch to equal 2 1/2 po...

I found this project on Pinterest and thought it would be a fun way to connect with Maddie.  She is the type of girl that loves gifts and secrets.  I hid it on top of her pillow the other day.  I wrote that we could leave little messages to one another and then hide it somewhere for the other to find.  I'm still waiting for it to turn up somewhere.  I asked her to use her cursive when she writes, so it will be handwriting practice for her as well! You can download the cute labels (they have one for boys, too) here.   I decorated it by covering the outside entirely with scrapbook paper.  There's a great tutorial for doing this here.   I hadn't thought to use washi tape on the binding--I may have to see if I have any that matches. There are many possibilities for making this cute little journal, but the important thing is just to have something special between you and your daughter. Here's another fun journal-decorating id...

I found this recipe online the other day and decided to give it a try.  It got rave reviews from my kids.  I would say that if you are one of those people that can sometimes find desserts to be "too rich," this may not be the recipe for you.  For everyone else, please read on! Better-Than-Anything Pumpkin Cake (Adapted from Betty Crocker) 1 box yellow cake mix 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix) 1/3 cup water 1/3 cup vegetable oil 4 eggs 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice Topping 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk 1 jar (12 oz.) hot fudge topping 1 container (8 oz.) Cool Whip Heath English Toffee Bits Heat oven to 350 degrees (325 for dark or nonstick pan).  Spray bottom only of 9 by 13 inch pan.  In large bowl, beat cake mix, pumpkin, water, oil, eggs and pumpkin pie spice with electric mixer on low speed until moistened, then on medium speed 2 minutes. Pour into pan. Bake 26 to 33 minutes or until cake springs ba...

This post is not going to provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to make donuts.  Rather, it's a celebration that the kids and I made them, and it was a big success.  I'll try to provide a few helpful hints, though. I had told the kids that if they did really well during school, we would take a Friday morning and make donuts together.  The kids were fascinated at the idea.  Well, a couple of weeks ago, I decided that we were going to do it. I found the recipe here on Pinterest,  During the week, I read through the recipe several times.  I was a little nervous because I had never made donuts before,  I wanted it to be a fun project with the kids instead of getting too long and tedious.  Also, I don't own a deep fat fryer. I was able to get up early to mix the dough.  I added about a cup extra of flour because the dough seemed so sticky.  We were able to get breakfast eaten while the dough rose the first time.  ...

We typically do our school work on Monday through Thursday.  Often, my Friday is spent trying to catch up on the mess from the week instead of spending time with my kids.  Also, we took a couple of weeks off at the beginning of September for a much-needed vacation to Lake City, CO.  As a result, we have been doing some school on Friday to make of for lost time.  Talk about "all work and no play"!  I decided that I wanted to some enjoyable things with my kids instead of always slogging away on schoolwork or telling them to go play while I got something done.  Thus, "Fun-Day Fridays" were born.  We take some time on the occasional Friday to do neat activities together.  On our first Fun Day Friday, we made these tasty treats. I found the recipe from Something Swanky  on Pinterest.  I thought that the kids would really like them.  We made them in the microwave instead of the oven. Sim...

I had seen these cute covers for car seats, so I decided that I wanted to make one for Grant.  Sure, I could have just Googled the promo code and paid for the shipping on one, but I wanted to make it.  After finding a tutorial and reading the instructions several times, I thought, "How hard can it be?" So, I went to my local quilt shop and picked out some fabric.  The car seat is gray with lime green accents, so I wanted something that would go with it without being too matchy-matchy.  I used a flannel fabric on the outside and a cotton fabric for the lining fabric on the inside. Turns out, it was fairly easy to make, but it was not what I would call a "quick" project.  It took me quite a while to get the fabric cut and smoothed out before beginning to sew.  Also, I like the extra pop of color that the binding fabric added, but binding the edges did mean spending more time on it.  If I ever make another one, I will simply to...

With the many pumpkin recipes being featured on Pinterest lately, I have been in quite the mood for all things pumpkin.  So, when my friend Lisa posted on Facebook that her family was having pumpkin waffles, I had to have the recipe!  I modified it slightly to make it somewhat healthier--I substituted some whole wheat flour for some of the white, and I cut the amount of brown sugar called for in half. I thought it would be fun to cut them into pumpkin shapes to have on Halloween morning.  Here is the recipe: Pumpkin Waffles 4 eggs 3 1/2 cups milk 1 15 ounce can pumpkin (1 3/4 cups) 3/4 cup oil 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 2 cups whole wheat flour 1/2 cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon salt mini chocolate chips, optional  Mix wet ingredients.  Add dry ingredients and mix well.  Cook on your waffle iron.  If desired, cut int...

I love it when something that looks easy and fun on Pinterest turns out just as I expected!  I found this idea here on Pinterest.  What did I ever do before Pinterest?  I never would have thought to make these on my own!   I bought some canned cinnamon rolls on sale at the local grocery store and determined to surprise the kids with this one morning. Just bake your rolls on your waffle iron. Mine were done when the light went off. The recipe that I referenced has tips for thinning the icing to make a syrup--I just used the frosting it as it was. The kids were so excited.  I was happy that it worked--the cinnamon rolls did not stick as I feared they might.  As I have mentioned before, I'm not that much of a morning person, so I love quick ideas for breakfast.  We just had to wait for the waffle iron to heat up.  (My son, Evan, was sad not to be mixing up waffles, though.  He loves to run the hand mixer!) ...

Today, my kids (and several cousins) were invited over to Aunt Rita's to paint pumpkins.  I'll admit, there are not many days when we get paint out at our house, so my kids were giddy with delight just thinking about it.  I was excited that someone else wanted to take the responsibility for providing paint, pumpkins, etc.  So, I volunteered to make snacks (definitely more up my alley)! I wanted something fun, easy, and kid-yummy.  I have been seeing lots of s'mores recipes on pinterest, so I decided to pull out one of my favorite s'mores variations.  We made these for a camp-themed Vacation Bible School one year, and the recipe has been happily ensconsed in my recipe box since then.  Luckily my kids love to run my mini food processor, so coming up with the graham cracker crumbs is easy for me! S'mores Bars 3 cups graham cracker crumbs 1/4 cup sugar 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted 4 cups mini marshmallows 2 cups chocolate chips Preheat oven to...

We have our fair share of sandwiches for lunch.  And, while my kids are big fans of PB & J, I like to change it up sometimes with something a little different.  This recipe definitely fits the bill.  It's also quick and easy to prepare, which makes me happy, too! Ham & Cheese Pockets 1 can refrigerated crescent rolls 4 slices American cheese (or any cheese you would like to use.  I have used provolone sometimes and also shredded) Sliced deli ham Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease an 8 by 8 inch pan with cooking spray. Press half of the crescent roll dough into the bottom of the pan, pinching seams to seal.  Place ham on top of the rolls--I like to rip mine up a bit with my fingers so the kids have an easier time biting into the pockets.  Top with cheese slices and remaining dough.  Bake for 17 - 19 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool slightly before serving.  For extra cheesy pockets, place a layer of cheese over th...

Ever have one of those days where you discover that it's 5:00 PM, and you still have no idea what you will put on the table for supper?  Well, yesterday was one of those days.  I was tired.  I had just brought the kids home from piano lessons, and I did not feel like going online for inspiration.  I mean, I needed to get something in the oven pronto.  I had previously made a similar recipe to this one in the crockpot.  I thought, "Why can't I adapt it to an oven dish?"  So, here is what I did: Speedy Italian Chicken 6 - 8 four ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 jar spaghetti sauce 6 - 8 slices provolone cheese Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place chicken breasts in a greased 9 by 13 in pan.  Pour spaghetti sauce over the top.  Place a slice of cheese over each chicken breast. Bake, uncovered, for about 40 - 45 minutes or until the chicken is done.  I recommend using a meat thermometer to prevent overbaking....

I love desserts that you can throw together quickly but that still taste yummy.  These blondies do the trick.  My daughter, Anna, loves to help me make them.  I suppose it's because she gets to have some of the leftover chocolate chips when we are done mixing them up. I found the original recipe here on Betty Crocker's website and modified it slightly. Cake Mix Blondies 1 box yellow cake mix 2 eggs 2 Tablespoons water 1/3 Cup butter, melted 1 1/4 cup chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 for dark pan.)  Grease a 9 by 13 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Stir together cake mix, eggs, water, and butter.  Add chocolate chips and stir to combine; spread into prepared pan.  Bake 21 to 26 minutes or until golden brown.

Well, I have lost some weight and have been exercising more regularly.  As a result, I have more energy.  I have been enjoying finding new recipes to try out on my kids for breakfast.  I found this recipe for Greek Yogurt Pancakes from Everyday Belle on Pinterest.  I was surprised at how light and fluffy they were.  They were so pretty that I had to take a picture.  What's more, the kids loved them.  Also, they made a small batch.  It was just enough to feed the kids so I was not tempted to indulge.  If you are planning to feed a large family, you will probably need to at least triple the recipe.  I used strawberry banana yogurt this time, but I am going to try blueberry the next time around.  Note: when you first put the batter on the griddle, it does not spread out much, and it looks like you are going to have a really puffy pancake.  However, as it cooks, it spreads out. Here's a link to the recipe.   Hope...

With this beautiful fall weather, I am loving all things pumpkin right now.  My kids enjoy oatmeal, and I'm always looking for variations on our old standby's.  So, when I found a recipe for Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal, I knew I had to give it a go. I found the original recipe here .  Since I have no desire or need to follow vegan recipes, I made some modifications to suit our tastes and the ingredients I have on hand.  My recipe fed my four kids with some left over for Mommy, so I would say it makes about three servings. Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal 1 1/4 cups quick oats 2 cups milk (I used skim, and it worked great) 1 cup pumpkin puree 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 cup brown sugar Whisk ingredients together in a large microwave-safe bowl.  Microwave two minutes.  Stir and microwave 2 minutes more or until desired consistency. Enjoy the flavors of fall!

Since the weather has turned cooler, I decided it was time to get out my plates with the snowflakes on them!  I just love the colors.  I also felt like being a little creative at today's snack time.  I don't know about you, but there's something about bananas and peanut butter.  Mmm. . . makes me feel happy just thinking about it.  I thought, "What about adding a little crunch to it?"  Here's what I made: Banana Snacks Sliced Bananas Peanut Butter or other nut butter if you prefer Cheerios, Rice Krispies, or other crunchy cereal Place about a half cup of each cereal you are going to use in a small bowl.  Spread a small amount of peanut butter on a banana slice and dip into the cereal. Judging by the fact that my kiddos were gobbling these up as fast as I can assemble them, I think we will have these again soon!  Next time, we might try with Cocoa Krispies. . .

Fall, to me, is the beginning of "slow cooker" season.  With all the fun pins I am seeing on Pinterest, I'm itching to get my crockpot out several times a week.  This recipe is one that my whole family enjoys!  I have adapted it from a Taste of Home recipe.  I like to make a big batch--we use half and then freeze the leftovers for another time.  The taste is slightly different than barbequed beef, and it turns out very moist and delicious.  My kids love them on homemade buns with cheese and pickles.  See here  for the recipe I use for the buns.  Instead of making 12 rolls, I make about 10 buns and adjust the baking time a bit longer.  Super quick and easy, too! Since I have been trying to cut down on my carbs (it's been taking a while to get the baby weight off!), I just ate the beef plain, and it was very satisfying.  Here's the recipe: Shredded Beef Sandwiches 1 12 ounce can cola 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce 4 ga...

  If you are looking for a little bit of a twist on the traditional pasta salad, well, this is it!  I love how simple this is because you are starting with a kit, and the dressing that is supplied with it is scrumptious--it reminds me of Olive Garden's salad dressing.  This is the sort of thing that I don't measure for; I just throw things in.  You can adjust the amounts according to your own taste preferences.  Don't have access to Schwan's?  No problem, just use frozen or fresh tortellini.  Prepare and rinse in cold water.  Then use your favorite Italian or Greek Salad dressing. Quick and Easy Tortellini Pasta Salad 1 24 ounce package Schwan's Six Cheese Tri Color Tortellini Salad Kit 1/2 - 1 cup of each or any of the following:      Grape tomatoes, halved      Cucumber, peeled and diced      Green bell pepper, diced (Red bell pepper is great, too!)  ...

Here's another bread that I like to make often.  Since I use the bread machine to make the dough, it is a no-fuss recipe.   Right now I am trying to avoid dairy products to attempt to help with Grant's fussiness.  This bread contains no milk ingredients.  You can substitue sugar for the honey as well if you would prefer! Soft Oatmeal Bread 1 1/ 4 cups plus 2 tablespoons warm water 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon lemon juice 3 cups flour 1 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats 2 1/2 teaspoons yeast Place ingredients in bread pan in order suggested by the manufacturer.  Select "dough" setting.  When the cycle is complete, punch dough down.  On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 9 inch by 18 inch rectangle.  Starting with a short end, roll up the dough.  Pinch ends together to seal.  Place in a greased 9 by 5 inch bread pan.  Cover and let rise in a...

Recently, I was visiting with a friend and her daughter about what they had been doing the day before.  With a sigh, her daughter told me that they had been working outside.  She seemed to think that whenever her dad was home on a Saturday, all they did was "work."  I told her that it may seem tough now, but those times will be good memories for her later. This led me to start thinking about some of my own memories of childhood--when the "work" we did as a family seemed never-ending.  Things like painting the house, shingling the garage roof, and canning jam came to mind.  However, I think one of my favorite family work traditions would be "walking the beans." I grew up on a small farm in south-central Kansas.  (Read:  more rain than what we get here in western Kansas!)  I prided myself on knowing a little bit about farming when I was dating and later married to my husband.  However, I learned that what ...

Since we welcomed a new little one into the family just one week before Maddie's eighth birthday, we didn't celebrate her birthday right on time.  We had a party with just family, but I told her that we would invite some friends over for a get together sometime.  Well, this Thursday was it.  With a two week old, I tried to do fun activities that the girls would enjoy, but I did not want to go over the top with time-sucking preparations.  Here's what we did. We started with the girls making personalized bead bracelets.  I bought a little kit in the kids' craft section of Walmart for $10.  The girls had a great time.  I set out paper plates for the girls to put their beads on and taped their elastic cords to the plates so the beads would not come off of the ends.  Very little prep, and the girls had a great time with it. Next we painted toe nails--very girly and easy to set up for.  I have lots of fast dry nail polish which I highly re...

Okay, it's not the prettiest picture--I had to lay it out on the floor in my basement--but here is the finished quilt top for Grant's quilt.  In a frenzy of nesting energy, I got most of it done the week before he was born.  I just had to add the borders and sew the back for the quilt, a feat I accomplished one night when Matt had a meeting and I got all the kids into bed!  I'm going to take it to my friend Kristy to get it machine quilted.  She owns a quilt shop and has great taste.  I can't wait to see how it turns out.  I will post an update when it is finished. Our little Grant came two and a half weeks early on June 29th, 2012.  It wasn't that big of a surprise because our last two kiddos were two weeks early as well.  However, for some reason I had decided that he was going to be a while.  He was born on a Friday, and I had made plans to have Maddie's eighth birthday party the following Sunday.  Needless to say,...

I usually don't make cinnamon rolls, but I found a recipe on pinterest for Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls that I wanted to try.  Since we had a bake sale coming up last Saturday, so I decided to give it a go. I found the recipe on Six Sisters Stuff.  I love their blog.  I've made several of their recipes, and my family has raved about them.  I love the idea of using canned frosting on the cinnamon rolls.  By the time I have made rolls, I don't feel like making frosting.  I will be keeping some cream cheese frosting on hand from now on!  I also added some sprinkles to these rolls because I thought it looked fun.  Our bake sale was a great success.  We raised almost $4000 for our friends' adoption costs.  As a side note, we had 7 dozen cinnamon rolls sell within fifteen minutes after we began the sale.  I would say we could have sold at least 5 dozen more.  Something to keep in mind!

I made this dress for my niece Abby's first birthday.  The instructions are found in my Ruffle-trimmed Shirred Dress post.  I had to post this one as well because I thought the material was so cute.  My cousin, Kendall, posted a pillowcase dress using these same materials on Facebook.  When I asked her where she got the material, she was kind enough to get some for me from Hobby Lobby and mail it to me.  This was great since my nearest Hobby Lobby is two hours away, and I did not have to pay as much for shipping! 

I saw a similar dress to this on pinterest, and I just had to make one for my niece, Abby, who turned one this month.  I love the pink and green together! For instructions on fabricating a pillowcase dress, see here.   With this dress, I did a few things differently.  I usually put a contrasting border at the bottom of my dress.  Instead, I made the casing at the top using the pink material.  Add 1/2 inch what you want the finished size of the casing to be and sew with 1/4 inch seam to your main fabric.  After finishing the sleeve holes, I folded the top down 1/4 inch farther than the finished seam on the front.  Then I topstitched on the front of the dress right along the seam joining the pink and green fabrics together.  For the owl applique, I used cardstock to draw the pattern I wanted.  See here for my details on my applique technique. The tie is made of fabric.  I cut two 2 1/2 inch strips of pink fabric fr...

We are continuing to make items for the bake sale this Saturday.  Of course, I had to make one of my favorites:  Snickers Brownies.  The name says it all.  My husband teases me because I think that brownies are the perfect dessert.  If we are having people over, I almost always make a pan.  Often, we have brownie hot fudge sundaes--perfection in dessert if I ever tasted it!  My sister-in-law, Steph, teases me because I almost never make a "plain brownie."  To me, if a little chocolate is good, more is better!  Snickers Brownies 1 box German chocolate cake mix (or any chocolate cake mix) 3/4 cup butter 2/3 cup evaporated milk, divided 1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup chopped nuts 50 caramels, a 14 oz. bag (or buy the bag of caramel bits that you don't have to unwrap.  You can find these by the chocolate chips) Combine cake mix, butter, and 1/3 cup evaporated milk.  Spread 1/2 of cake mixture in greased 9 by 13 inch pan....

I adapted this recipe from the Rival instruction book recipe to work for my Kitchenaid mixer ice cream maker attachment.  It worked great.  I like the fact that it doesn't contain any eggs, so you don't have to worry about getting it cooked enough.  My kids liked it--my husband thought it was a little too sweet.  While I think that "too sweet" is a bit of an oxymoron, I may try to dial back the sugar slightly the next time I make it.  Here's the recipe: Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream 1 cup milk 1 3/8 cups sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup half and half 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups whipping cream Scald milk until bubbles form around edge of pan.  Remove from heat.  Add sugar and salt.  Stir until dissolved.  Stir in half and half, vanilla extract, and whipping cream.  Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Freeze as directed.  Yield:  2 quarts.

So, we continue to bake and freeze to get ready for our bake sale fundraiser next week.  Yesterday, it was Pecan Coffee Cake.  This is an easy and tasty recipe to enjoy for a weekend breakfast.  The recipe calls for a 9 by 13 inch pan, but I made two 8 by 8 inch cakes to sell.  I baked them for a little less time than the recipe calls for. I got the recipe from the Sharon Springs Wesleyan Cookbook.  This has been another great recipe book for me--I have made lots of the recipes with positive reviews from my family. Pecan Coffee Cake 1 yellow cake mix 1 small package vanilla pudding mix 4 eggs 1 cup sour cream (I used plain greek yogurt) 1/3 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons vanilla 2/3 cup chopped pecans 1/3 cup sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/2 cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoons orange juice In a mixing bowl, combine the first six ingredients and beat on medium speed for two minutes.  Pour into a greased 9 by 13 inch bakin gpan....

We celebrated Maddie's eighth birthday with family on July 15th.  Her birthday is actually on the 6th, but we were a little late due to Grant's arrival.  Instead of trying to make the cake myself, I had my friend Erin, who runs a commercial baking business, make the cake for me.  I love how the fondant looks--I'm going to have to try it sometime.  Maybe next year!  Check out Erin's facebook page here .  She makes great stuff and will ship to you!  Maddie wanted a cake with a Sharon Springs Wildcat pawprint on it.  I thought it turned out perfectly.   I usually like to make the cake myself, but it took a lot of stress out of the occasion for me!  Happy Birthday, sweet girl!

The preparation for the bake sale next week continues at my house--yesterday we made one of our favorites:  Lemon Poppy Seed Bread.  My son, Evan, can't get enough of this stuff. I got the recipe from Simply Colorado, Too , a cookbook that we received as a wedding gift.  It boasts healthier recipes.  This one uses applesauce and still is moist and delicious, so I feel good about making it. Here's the recipe: Lemon Poppy Seed Bread 3 cups flour 2 1/4 cups sugar 1 1/2  tablespoons poppy seeds 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 cups skim milk 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/4 cup canola oil 1/4 cup water 3 eggs 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon extract Glaze: 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 3 tablespoons lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract.  For the bread, combine the dry ingredients in a mixer bowl and mix well.  Add the remaining ingredients.  Beat at low speed until blended,...

So, the bake sale preparation continues at our house.  Today, Evan and I mixed up some Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies to bake tomorrow.  I also put together a couple of Double Fudge Brownie Mixes.  The original recipe says to put it in a quart jar, but I like to use a bag.  I think they will make a nice addition to the bake sale--something people can buy and make later.  Find the recipe here.

My good friend, Tanna, and her husband are adopting a little girl from Russia.  The way they have opened their hearts to this precious child has been quite an inspiration for me.  What does this have to do wtih pie, you ask?  Well, international adoption costs a lot of money, and my friends are in the midst of raising funds.  Naturally our Mom's group wanted to help.  So, we will be hosting a bake sale fundraiser in a week.  Since it's during the Wallace County Fair, I thought it was only appropriate to make County Fair Pie to sell.  I am not a person who likes fruit pie, so this pie is right up my alley--it basically tastes like a chocolate chip cookie inside a pie crust!  It is also a fairly easy recipe that comes together quickly.  With a new baby in the house, I need that kind of simplicity! I found the recipe in my Best of Taste of Home's First 10 years cookbook.  I have found many favorite recipes in this book. Here's the re...