Sew God's Grace

Okay, I'll admit it.  I do not sew to save money.  I sew because I enjoy it, and I don't mind spending some money on my hobby.  However, I actually ended up with a thrifty project, so I had to share it. I found some material on sale at Walmart for $1.00 a yard.  I love brown with the blue, so I had to have it.  I decided to make skirts for my girls using this Simple Skirt Tutorial.   Before finding this tutorial on a friend's blog, I had not made skirts before, but now I have become almost addicted to it.  (Thanks for the link, Kathy!) I discovered some matching blue t-shirts at Walmart, and I decided to spruce them up a little bit.  First, I folded the t-shirt and ironed it to find the middle.  I did not intend on centering my pattern, but I wanted to have an idea of where it was on the shirt.  I aimed for somewhere in the lower left quadrant of the shirt. I applied Wonder Under to the back side of the fabric and cut out three flowers.  I cut a little past th

I adapted this recipe from Taste of Home's Best of 10 Years Cookbook .   This is one of my most-used cookbooks; I have used many of the recipes.  This dish has been one of our family's favorites.  It's fancy enough for company, and you can make it ahead and freeze it.  Less time in the kitchen, more time with guests!  I will admit that it is a little more prep time in this one than most of the recipes I post, but it is not hard .  Give it a try--I know you will think it's worth it! Chicken Cordon Bleu Calzones Four 4 oz. boneless skinless chicken breasts 2 Tablespoons butter or margarine 3 Tablespoons cornstarch 1 1/4 cups milk 1 Tablespoon minced fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from 17 1/4 ounce package) 4 thin slices deli ham 4 slices porvolone cheese Heat oven to 350.  Place chicken breasts in 9 by 13 inch pan.  Cover with water.  Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes or until juices run clear.   Re

We celebrated Lyla's birthday with one of her favorite animals--cows!  She likes to call them "moo-moo's." Of course, we had a cow cake.  See here for instructions on how to assemble this fun cake.  I definitely recommend freezing your cakes before working with them. Happy Birthday to you! Good thing big brother was there to help blow out the candle! We enjoyed the cake with chocolate chip ice cream and homemade magic shell.   It was big hit! When opening presents, Lyla had to have Papa open a toy car right away. She does like "woo-woo's"! By the end of present time, she became quite adept at tackling the present. The cake was not as pretty at the end!

I got this recipe for Whole Wheat Waffles from my mother-in-law.  It's pretty fast to mix up, and my kids love them!  Like their Daddy, they like their waffles with peanut butter on top!  I almost always make a double batch so that we have plenty of leftovers.  I pop some into the freezer, and some into the fridge in plastic bags.  To reheat, just put them in the toaster.  Talk about a fast and easy weekday breakfast!  Here's the recipe: Whole Wheat Waffles 2 eggs 1 3/4 cup milk (I use a little more) 1/2 cup canola oil 2 cups whole wheat flour 4 teaspoons baking powder 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt (I omit) Heat waffle iron.  Beat eggs with mixer until fluffy; beat in remaining ingredients just until smooth.  Pour batter from cup or pitcher onto center of hot waffle iron.  Bake as directed in your waffle iron's instructions--usually takes about five minutes.  Serve with peanut butter if desired and hot syrup! Enjoy!

The recipe for these delicious bars came from a dear neighbor lady named Barb.  Growing up, Barb attended almost all of our sports games and activities.  She always had a kind word for everyone.  Whenever I make this recipe, I think of her.  So, here it is: Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars 1 16.5 ounce package chocolate chip cookie dough 1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened (full fat or reduced fat work equally well) 1 egg 3/8 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla Grease an 8 by 8 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Pat a little over half of the cookie dough into the bottom of the pan.  Mix remaining ingredients until smooth.  Pour over the top of the dough.  Break remaining dough into small pieces and sprinkle over the top.  Bake at 350 degrees 35 - 40 minutes or until browned and center is set.  (I had to bake mine about 5 minutes longer) Dough in the pan. When I mix the cheesecake ingredients, I like to use my immersion blender.  It gets the cream cheese mixed up re

Okay, let's face it:  peanut butter and chocolate are a great combination!  I think both these ingredients are contained in most of the desserts I make.  So I wanted to share another family favorite of ours--Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cheerio Bars.  I adapted this recipe from Matt's Aunt Emily's recipe for Rice Krispy Bars.  This was out of the Methodist Church cookbook.  It's rare that I try a church cookbook recipe that isn't a hit.  I mean, who's going to put a bad recipe in there?  Anyway, these yummy goodies would be great for school lunches, picnics, or upcoming track meets.  (Peanut butter contains protein, right?)  They are quick to make and use mostly pantry staples (for me, at least!)  Here's the recipe: Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cheerio Bars 1 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter, divided 1 cup light corn syrup 1 cup sugar 6 cups Cheerios 1 cup chocolate chips Spray a 9 by 13 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Place Cheerios in lar

My friend Michelle served us her Enchilada Casserole the last time we were over at her house.  Of course, I had to get the recipe.  This comes together quickly--great for a weeknight meal.  It also makes a large casserole, so it would be perfect for entertaining as well!  Just let your casserole bake while you visit with your company!  Here's the recipe: Enchilada Casserole: 2 pounds hamburger 1  10 oz. can and 1  19 oz. can enchilada sauce 1/2 cup onion, optional 1 1/2 - 2 cups shredded Colby and Monterey Jack blend cheese Flour tortillas  (amount depends on the size of your tortillas; probably about 8 - 10 medium sized) 1/2 cup sliced black olives, optional Sour cream and salsa, optional Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Brown hamburger with onion if desired.  Add 1 cup enchilada sauce and 1 1/4 cups cheese to hamburger and mix well.  Place a small amount of sauce in the bottom of a greased 9 by 13 inch pan.  Dip tortillas in sauce and place in bottom of pan.  Layer half

Lyla had a cow-themed birthday party this year.  I decided to make her a cow print fleece blanket to go along with the theme.  I made her blanket with two yards of fleece fabric.  This is a nice size for hiding under, fort-making, etc.  It also will tuck under the mattress on a toddler bed.  To make a similar blanket for an infant, I recommend 1 1/4 yards of fleece. Fold the fleece, lining up the selvage edges.  Place the fold on a line on your rotary mat, and use the fold to square up the edge.  (You will be cutting on the edge without the selvage here.)  Repeat for the opposite side. Keeping the fabric folded, turn the fabric and cut off your selvage edges. With the fabric still folded, cut a 3 inch by 3 inch square from each corner. For cutting strips, I highly recommed a Quarter Cut cutting guide.  You can slip your rotary cutter into the groove that you want to cut and cover 12 inches of material at a time.  This is so much better than using your ruler to cut one s

I found some material with shirring at the top and decided to buy some to make dresses for Anna and Lyla.  All you need to do is sew one seam and then add straps. I purchase 3/4 yard of fabric for each dress for my 4 and 2 year olds. I just placed the fabric around Anna and marked where the seam should be.  I pinned the seam and cut off the extra material.  Then I sewed a 1/4 inch seam and finished the edge using an overlock stitch.  (Serging or zig-zagging would work as well.) Here we are--almost a dress already! I squared off my extra fabric and cut to 10 inches, about the length I needed for the straps. Then I cut the fabric in half. I overlock-stitched around the edges.  Then I pressed the sides in 1/4 inch and topstitched.  I ended up with 1 3/4 inch straps. Then I pinned the straps on the dress.  You will want to be at least two inches from the edge, even though this looks like it's too far in.  Sew them on and try the dress on your little girl to make su