My daughter Shelby's first quilt 2012

 

Cheater Apple Turnovers

 

This is a quick idea I just tried to make a hot apple turnover without all the time of making the dough and let's not forget messing up the kitchen. It is simple and the kids can help with this simple idea.

 

 

 

Ingredients

2 Tubes of refrigerator crescent rolls

1 Can of Apple pie filling

1 Teaspoon cinnamon

1 Tablespoon packed brown sugar

1 Tablespoon melted butter

1 Tablespoon Sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon to sprinkle on the top of turnovers

 

Directions

Place apple pie filling in a bowl and cut the apple pieces into smaller chunks.Stir in the brown sugar and cinnamon. Lay out one triangle of dough and place a second triangle on top of it and seal edges by pinching the edges together as seen below.

 

 

Now set over and bake as directed. I would leave them in just a few minutes longer than the instructions but just wait until they are golden brown. This will make sure that they are flaky.

When they come out of the oven immediately brush with melted butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon and sugar mix.

This could be done with cherry or fill with raspberries. Just remember that if whatever you put in the turnovers has a lot of liquid your turnovers could end up soggy.

So experiment and have fun.

               Julie

 

Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes

 

Ingredients

1 Chocolate cake mix

1 Pint of Raspberries

1/2 cup Tablespoons Raspberry Jam

1 Pint Whipping Cream

1-2 Tablespoons Sugar

Chocolate frosting

 

Make the chocolate cake mix per the instructions on the package.
In a small bowl mix the jam until smooth and fold in raspberries (reserve some for the tops)
Fill the cupcake papers 1/3 with cake mix put one of the raspberries that you folded in the jam. Then take a small amount of cake mix and put it on top of the raspberry. See the picture above.
Bake per the instructions on the cake mix.
While baking prepare whipping cream. Add sugar as needed to taste.
When cupcakes are cool top with chocolate frosting and then whip cream and a raspberry.

These were so easy to make and the raspberry inside really surprises people. Just and easy dessert for you to try.
Happy baking!

Some of the quilts I have made

Quilts....by me (most hand quilted)

 

 

My Daughter Shelby made her first quilt and then

I hand quilted it for her and her sweet husband for

Christmas 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Quilt (hand quilted)

 

 

 

Quilt for my Grandson Carter(Machine quilted)

Simple baby quilt (Hand quilted)

 

 

A quilt for my dog CODY with a working maze on the back..(hand quilted).

 

Baby quilt (hand quilted)

 

 

 

 

 

My son Austin's quilt...he calls me "Ma" (Machine quilted)

 

Lap quilt for me (in progress)

 

 

Valentines Quilt (hand quilted)

 

 

Fall Quilt (hand quilted)

 

 

Candy Quilt to watch movies with Grandma

 

 

My Grandson Dylan's quilt (Machine quilted)

 

 

This is my 2013 hand quilting project

 

 

 

This quilt was donated to the Linus Project in 2011

Hnad quilted

The quilt was donated to the Linus Project in 2012

(Hand quilted and tied)  

Wedding Announcement Frames

 

Here is a cute idea for a wedding gift. I make a shadow box frame using the couple's wedding announcement. I use the colors and feeling of the announcement to incorporate color and texture for wedding keepsake. The nice thing is that I have never made the same one twice. Each one is made unlike any other so it is even more special because it was not mass produced.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chili on steroids

 

Chili On Steroids

 

 

 

Ingredients

• 1 (4 lb.) Roast (the better the roast...the better the chili)
• 1 Cup water
• 1 package Lipton Onion Soup Mix (dry)
• 1 (15 oz.) Garbanzo Beans-drained
• 1( 15 oz.) Kidney Beans-drained 
• 1 (15 oz.) Pinto Beans-drained
• 1 (30oz) Chili with beans
• 1 (30 oz) Tamales- cut into chunks
• 1(10 oz.) Green Enchilada sauce
• 1 (10oz.) Salsa (I used medium for a little more kick...with kids use mild)
• Shredded Cheddar and Jack cheeses

 

How to make this family favorite

Place roast in a pot with a lid. Add water and Lipton soup mix cover with lid. Cook for 12 hours at 200 degrees. I have tried crock pots and have not been impressed with the outcome so...stay with tried and true and you will be happy.

You will know the roast is done when you can stick a fork in the middle and twist and out come a shredded piece of beef. The roast needs to be at the stage where you can shred it using two forks. If it  needs more time...just be patient.

Once the roast is done KEEP THE JUICES....remove the roast-shred and get rid of any fat. you want just the good meat. Place the meat back into the pot you baked in with the retained juices. Now add all drained beans, chunked tamales, salsa, and enchilada sauce. Mix well. When cool place in refrigerator over night for best flavor.

When you are ready to serve put pot into over and bake at 350 degrees for approx 45 minutes until hot remembering to stir to allow even cooking. Right before you serve this pour cheeses on top of chili and return to oven...turn oven off. remove when cheese is melted and serve hot.

 

We serve this with hot flour tortillas or tortilla chips. For those traditionalist have Ritz crackers or Soda crackers.

 This is great source of protein!

Hope you enjoy it.

 

When life hands you scraps...make a quilt

This is one of the squares from a scrap quilt that I made. The method to make these squares will blow your mind. You start using four half square triangles and them applique the yellow pieces on and wala...a complicated block and your points show up-yeah!
If you have no idea what I am talking about or would like to know exactly how to do this let me know and I will post some instructions.
Happy sewing!

Syrup to die for...

Okay so I wish I had some amazing picture to share with you but I don't.I made this and it was so good and before I thought about getting a picture breakfast was over.
The funny thing is that all I had was "lite" syrup and it was nasty, so I had to do something.

So next time you make french toast or pancakes try this one. Even with the "lite" syrup is was great.

Cinnamon Syrup
2 cups Maple syrup (I used Mrs. Butterworth LITE)
1 teaspoon Vanilla
3 Tablespoons BUTTER
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Heat in a pan on the stove and serve hot...oh my!

Hope you like it,
Julie

Cute baby shower gift wraping

Going to a baby shower?

If you want your girlt to be a little extra special think outside the basket. I got a big Tomka truck and silled it with mamy items and clothers wrapped it up in cello wrap and tied it with a big bow. The package looed really cute but seriously needed something to make it have the ahhhh factor. I used a pair of the baseball PJs that I was going to put in the truck and use them to creat the little boy. I silled him with batting and I used old wire hangers to make him bendable, It sure made a hit at teh shower...Just an idea to make doing a shower girl a little bit mmore fun.  

Hand Quilting 2013

Hand Quilting 2013
Here is the the center of this new quilt. I am doing this one in different colors. I will post as I go to show progress. I use a few safety pins to hold the three layers together while I quilt. I start in the center and work out in a circle to keep all puckers out. I have made four queen size quilts and a few baby quilts using this method.

Peanut butter ball

 Peanut Butter Cheese Ball



Ingredients

8 oz. Cream Cheese softened

3/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter (don't use "natural" type)

1 cup Powdered Sugar

3 Tablespoons Packed Brown Sugar

3 Broken Hershey Chocolate Bars

 

Beat cream cheese, peanut butter and sugars until mixed well. Scoop out onto plastic wrap and pull up four corners and twist to help form a ball. Refrigerate or freeze if needed sooner.

Once ball is firm roll over broken pieces of chocolate bar. Get a new piece of plastic wrap and put in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Serve with Graham Crackers, Graham cracker sticks, or Teddy Grahams

 

This is a yummy change from a "regular" cheese ball at any party. If you love Nutter Butters you will be crazy about this recipe.

 

 

 

 

Cooking Time Savers

There are a few things that can save you time in meal preparation. I use these a lot and many of these are family favorites. Fast food will have a whole new meaning when you use some of these ideas.

Always have cooked shredded chicken in the freezer.
       You can boil several pounds at one time and then shred it and put it into freezer Zip Lock bags.

Cook hamburger and chopped onion together-drain fat and freeze in pint containers.

Just remember when you cook meats it takes a lot of time so make the most of it. If you cook a roast make sure it is big enough for leftovers that can be used in other recipes.

When you make mashed potatoes...make extra so you can use it to make something easy like a Shepards pie with the leftovers.

Another little trick I love to use is when I make cookies I always double or triple the recipe and freeze most of it in my trusty Zip Lock Freezer bags. When I have my cute grandsons over it is always good to be able to make warm cookies-it helps with the whole grandma thing. :)

Happy Fast Food