Crafts: Crochet!

Working on a couple different projects now :) Feels good!

Project #1 - Black and White Blanket - I'm working on this for my nephew, he has patiently waited. I think he asked two years, maybe three years, ago. I'll be posting some instructions and pictures as it comes together.

Project #2 - Bag - For my dad :) I'm winging this one as well, so we'll see, I'm excited to join some interesting fabric with the yarn. Pattern to come :)

Project #3 - Hair Pins - I'm working on flowers right now. I've been trying to do this...for a year? Yes, it's slow going because I have the idea in my head, but it never looks right.

Project #4 - Dinosaurs - I'll keep you up to date on the way I make these, hoping to mass produce a couple different kinds.

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I just started an entry...and deleted it. It sounded like word vomit. Ew.

So, here we are starting something else.

For those of you that are friends and have asked for recipes, please put a comment here so I can get to putting them up. I have pictures of a good portion of the foods I cook, so I can go from that as well, but I would like to know what you want :)

Also, starting to post pictures of craft projects. I'll put up patterns and information on different types of crafts to get you going. You'll be getting some DIY stuff as I make it. I have a list of projects that are in need of completion. ;) Lucky you!

Taking requests for bread variations. I'll try just about anything, we'll be learning together! Give me an idea, and I'll let you know how it goes!

Daily Dose will be replaced with a daily reading. I'm going to start with one verse a day from Psalm 119. I want to get closer to the Word. I want to write it on my heart and have it be so much a part of me that it permeates everything I do and say.

Also trying to do a Wordless Wednesday photo, look for a lot of water in the coming weeks :) Hot weather!

Are you ready for the summer? I am!!!

Cookbook: Pasta Bake!

This is one of the good old comfort food recipes I make. It's flexible, I've made it without meat and substituted a few things, but this is the original iteration of my family favorite :)

Ingredients:

1/2 lb ground meat (beef, sausage...whatever you like :) )
2 cups pasta sauce (your favorite, I'll be posting a couple different red sauces I make.)
1 tbs olive oil
2 garlic gloves, pressed
2 stalks of green onions, finely chopped
3 cups cooked rotelle pasta
2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, hold over 1/2 cup for top
4 tbs cottage cheese
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
2 eggs
2 tbs dried basil
1 tbs dried oregano

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.Warm olive oil over medium-hi heat.
3. Saute garlic and onion, 2 - 3 minutes
4. Add meat and brown
5. Add pasta sauce, simmer 5 minutes
6. In large mixing bowl combine mozzarella, cottage cheese, parmesan, eggs and spices, mix thoroughly
7. Combine pasta, meat and cheese mixtures in bowl.
8. Pour in to oiled cooking dish, sprinkle with held over mozzarella.
9. Place in oven for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly brown.

Serve! I'll put this in to Spark People and grab the nutrition for you. I'll also put up the alternative Veggie Pasta Bake :)

Sometimes, you just have to let it be...

In group on Tuesday night, we're reading through the Multiply "curriculum". I use quotes because, well, it's not really a curriculum. It's a disciple training, training stuff. Yeah, helpful right? (go ahead and pop over to MultiplyMovement.com to find out more, I will warn you, it is a life changing and completely shattering experience. We're on week like 4 and I've been rocked to crying a few times, up pacing at others. It's a good change ;) )

I open with that nutty paragraph to get to the pictures I'm putting up! We've talked about how I'm a complete control freak, and when things don't go the way I think they should, I get really down on myself. I hold myself to these rules that no one really should, it's not the way we're supposed to be. I've been really kind of depressed about a few of my plants (yes, it's minor, shut it.) Usually I can make anything grow, I can get things to flower and fruit like crazy. However, some of my plants have their own little idea of how they are going to grow. I have two hibiscus plants, one purple and one pink. I love them. They're a great source of joy for me...most of the time. This year, my pink hibiscus (the one that NEVER has issues) won't open a full blossom. I have ideas as to what I did that caused this and that just makes me MAD.

Anyway, explaining that leads me to the beautiful pictures I just took of these stunted flowers. They're amazing flowers, just they way they are. Sure, it's not a full bloom...but who cares? The mind of a perfectionist-control freak. I can not explain to you how liberating the scripture I re-read today was. Psalm 119. It was in the context of the Word, however, when I look at a lot of the verses, I'm reminded that if I'm trusting everything to God, those little things that stress me out don't even hit my radar because I'm already trusting that they're taken care of. It's hard to explain. There it is though :)

Without further ado: a few pieces of my garden :) If you're my friend on FaceBook, you can see the photo album containing the first seedlings too :)

Feel free to scroll a little slower to enjoy ;)

  So there you have it :) Some things are just better all on their own. Monster tomato plants, weird bloom hibiscus plants and all :)

Starting the Process of Change :)

So, we're moving forward.

Today I had a GREAT meeting with Jennifer and Josh about the Crazy Squirrel Street Team (ok, the name is under debate, we're trying ;) )

Of course as the control freak-type A-list making person I am...my head is swimming with ideas ;) It'll be amazing to help Jennifer and Scott in their hopes to reach out to the community and provide some services that aren't currently being offered. :)

I'm also trying to get better about actually posting the recipes I talk about here :) You may have seen some already!

This blog is going to change more and more as I do other things. I'll be putting up some crochet patterns as I start to finish projects. I've got a cute baby afghan coming up. :)

Today is an amazing day!

M :)

Cookbook: Home Baked Bread

Before we get in to what I made with this recipe, let's talk basic measurements and mixing:

3 Cups Flour (any kind - wheat, rice, spelt, etc.)
4 Tsp Baking powder
1 Tsp Salt
1 1/2 Cups Liquid (I use this term because it can literally be any liquid you want - milk, juice, tomato juice, rice milk, twc.)
1/4 Cup Liquid Fat (Ok, this one sounds icky, but again, it's preference - melted butter, olive oil, vegetable oil, etc.)

1. Preheat oven to 400 Degrees
2. Combine dry ingredients (do not sift flower)
3. In separate container, combine wet ingredients
4. Mix in half of the liquid mixture, allowing flower mixture to absorb. It can look too dry or wet at first, give it time.
5. Add more liquid as needed. Depends on time of year and moisture in the air. Dough should be moist but definitely not sticky.
6. With oiled hands, form dough in to a round or divide in to two and place in oil loaf pans. (Be careful not to over work the dough)
7. Cook in oven 40 minutes. (If you have divided the dough, your cook time will need to be adjusted)

This recipe will make one 2 lb round loaf. This bread is a little more dense than loaf from the store, but hearty and delicious.

There are SO many different options though. So, let's get to what I've done so far.

Tomato Basil - I used tomato juice, and fresh basil from my plant. I chopped the basil and combined in with the dry ingredients. It's a savory loaf and goes well with soup.

Breakfast rolls - I used orange/mango juice as the liquid and added 2 tsp of sugar. I rolled small pieces of dough and placed in an oiled muffin sheet.

I will be trying a couple different options, and as always, if you try your own variations, please comment and let me know how it went! I will be experimenting with some sparkling water and juices as the liquid and also baking soda and vinegar to create a lighter loaf or bread. I'll keep you posted! 

Edit: Almost forgot to put the nutrition information! I'll do one for each recipe I try ;) I do think that it seems like a calorie dense bread and a little salty, working on all that as well ;)

Plain Recipe with Soy Milk

Nutrition Facts Home Made Bread
8 Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories		250.3
Total Fat		7.9 g
	Saturated Fat	1.1 g
	Polyunsaturated Fat	1.1 g
	Monounsaturated Fat	5.2 g
Cholesterol		0.0 mg
Sodium		553.2 mg
Potassium		103.2 mg
Total Carbohydrate		38.1 g
	Dietary Fiber	1.5 g
	Sugars	1.4 g
Protein		6.2 g

Vitamin A	1.9 %
Vitamin B-12	9.4 %
Vitamin B-6	1.0 %
Vitamin C	0.0 %
Vitamin D	5.6 %
Vitamin E	4.3 %
Calcium	18.9 %
Copper	3.4 %
Folate	21.4 %
Iron	15.1 %
Magnesium	2.7 %
Manganese	16.0 %
Niacin	13.8 %
Pantothenic Acid	2.1 %
Phosphorus	10.1 %
Riboflavin	19.2 %
Selenium	22.7 %
Thiamin	24.5 %
Zinc	2.2 %

Tomato Basil

Nutrition Facts Tomato Basil Bread
8 Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories		287.2
Total Fat		7.6 g
	Saturated Fat	1.1 g
	Polyunsaturated Fat	0.8 g
	Monounsaturated Fat	5.2 g
Cholesterol		0.0 mg
Sodium		662.0 mg
Potassium		127.6 mg
Total Carbohydrate		50.0 g
	Dietary Fiber	1.8 g
	Sugars	1.4 g
Protein		3.9 g

Vitamin A	2.2 %
Vitamin B-12	0.0 %
Vitamin B-6	12.9 %
Vitamin C	18.8 %
Vitamin D	0.0 %
Vitamin E	4.6 %
Calcium	14.5 %
Copper	3.9 %
Folate	0.6 %
Iron	3.1 %
Magnesium	5.4 %
Manganese	35.8 %
Niacin	7.7 %
Pantothenic Acid	4.9 %
Phosphorus	10.9 %
Riboflavin	0.7 %
Selenium	12.8 %
Thiamin	5.5 %
Zinc	3.2 %