Projects

'tis the season: http://www.cluckclucksew.com/2009/10/easy-treattote-bag-tutorial.html
This bag's dimensions were off for me. I ended up cutting like an inch from the top of these bags. I also felt the handles were too big and not long enough, if you want them to put them on their shoulders. So I cut mine 6 in by 16 or 17 inches. Then, I used interfacing to make them stiffer, than cut the piece in half so they ended up 3x16. Fun and easy to make, and a lot easier to store than plastic pumpkins. ;)


My sister-in-law asked me if I had a project for baby boy. No, unfortunetly I had to tell her no, what do I make for a boy, so she hooked me up to this site, super cute. This is going to be one of my projects now.
http://www.cluckclucksew.com/2010/04/car-seat-cover-aka-greeter-deterrent.html

Oatmeal

I have made Shar's Kitchen Bread forever. It's the best I'd found, just not my favorite taste. (found at sharskitchen.com/recipes wheat bread) I've tried all kinds of versions and I finally made one that is a big keeper!
I was looking online on different breads and found that you can subtract some of the water and add cooked oatmeal. Something to that effect. So I added around 2 cups of cooked oatmeal to my bread, subtracted 2 cups of water, and I also add flaxseed and wheat germ around 3 tablespoons of each. I use all wheat flour in it and it was delicious and light and yummy!

By the way, rasberry, cherry, pomegrante jelly from Costco is delicious.

Finger Painting

My friend did this with her kids, and it looks like so much fun, on my list.

From milkandcuddles.com

1/2 cup cornstarch
3 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups of cold water
food dye

Heat in saucepan(low heat), constantly stirrring until thick around 10-15 min. Works for up to 3 days, then gets hard.
She also has homeade play dough and watercolors! Cool.

Whoppen Cake

It's really called Chocolate Cake with Malt Topping, the best cake EVER.

From Better Homes and Garden

Cake ( I actually made frosting first, needs refrigeration)

Put in bowl:

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

(use 3 8x8x2 inch pans, grease and put one teaspoon of cocoa in pans, put the rest in bowl)

2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

In another bowl:

2/3 cup butter, softened

1 3/4 cup sugar

Beat and add one at a time;

3 eggs

4 oz unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled

2 teaspoons vanilla

Alternate beating in flour mixture and 1 1/2 cups milk into butter mixture. Pour into pans bake 350 for 17 to 20 min.

Malt topping Frosting- seriously yummy

Heat 2 cups heavy whipping cream just until boiling, remove from heat add 1/3 cup malted milk powder, stir. Add 2 11.5 oz milk chocolate pieces do not stir, cover and let sit for 10 min. Then stir and refrigerate 3 hrs. Beat with electric mixer for 3 min, becomes light brown and fluffy.

Layer frosting and cakes. Mine was a little crumbly, but it was a day or two old, but ummm..

2 cups of malted milk balls for decor

Strawberry Jam

from Brooke Jenkins

2 lbs. strawberries

4 cups sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

Blend all in blender. Bring to a boil till it reaches 220 degrees. Put in clean jars (I boiled mine). To seal, turn jars over for 10 min. (allows the tops to get hot) Turn back over and wait for the pop! I didn't think it would work, but that first pop made me smile. ;)

This jam is runnier than the freezer jam. But, just as delicious! (almost same recipe) Fun to can. If you like your jam chunkier than use a potato masher, don't blend. Yummy on blender pancakes!

Coconut and Almond Syrup

Ronna Goodmansen

Mix together 1 c. sugar and 1 Tab. cornstarch. Mix together and add to:

1/3 c. butter

1/8 t. salt

1/2 t. almond extract

1 cup milk

1/2 t. vanilla

1/2 t. coconut extract

Bring to boil and stir until thickness. Serve over German Pancakes, or waffles, or reg pancakes..

Blender Pancakes

Adapted from Shar's Kitchen

Combine in blender the following and mix on high speed for 2 full minutes:

1 cup whole grains (wheat or buckwheat)

1 cup milk

Add:

1 cup milk and blend 2 more minutes

Add:

2 eggs

1/3 cup canola oil (I used coconut oil)

1/2 tsp. salt

1 Tab. honey or 1 Tab. apple juice cocentrate

Blend well. Can or store in refrigerator over night.

Just before cooking, add:

1 Tab. Baking powder (blend in gently with moment speed until mixed.