Sock Dog

Sock Dog
from Martha Stewart

Sit!

Stand!

Ok so maybe I have lost it a little bit but I got a book from the library with sewing projects and this was in it....and I could not resist.  So I made a sock dog. He sits around, sheds and is cute....just like a real dog (which I cannot have until MARCH!) For step by step directions go here:

http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/sock-dogs#slide_1

PS You need two socks!

1st Sewing Project- Pillows

Throw Pillows

Ok so honestly I attempted to make some coffee mug cosies and that was a HUGE flop because I don't know how to sew in curves yet.  So today I took out my material again and decided to practice sewing in lines. I made two throw pillows and I am quite happy with how they came out.  Here is what I did:

Must have materials:
A cutting mat
Ruler
Rotary cutter

Then obvious things like material, thread and stuffing for the pillows.

For the pink and green pillow I used eight 4 in x 4 in squares of pink fabric and eight 4 in x 4 in squares of green fabric. One 14 in x14 in piece of black fabric for the back (if you make this I would double check that measurement.)

To sew the patches together put a pink and green square together with the "right sides" of the fabric together and sew one side. Do this with one more set of pink and green squares. Now match the two pieces together by matching the right sides together again and sew on one side.  This will give you a square of squares.  Make four squares of squares to create the front.  Cut the black fabric out and place the patches and black fabric with right sides together.  Sew all the way around and leave a 3 to 4 in opening. Turn right side out and then stuff.  I did a horrible job of sewing up the stuffing opening but you know this was my first project.

For the black and white pillow I have two 7 in x 7in print squares, two 7 in x7 in black squares and one 13.5 in x 13.5 in of black.  Sew together like the first pillow!

Ok these were not the best directions but since I made this up and don't know all of the terminology it is the best I can do!

Pioneer Woman's Beer Braised Beef

Beer Braised Beef
From the Pioneer Woman

■1 whole Chuck Roast, 2 1/2 To 5 Pounds


■Salt And Pepper To Taste (Be Generous!)

■3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

■4 whole Onions, Peeled And Sliced Thick

■5 cloves Garlic Chopped

■2 cans Beer

■1 teaspoon Ground Thyme

■½ teaspoons Rosemary Leaves



Preheat oven to 275 degrees.

Heat oil in a large dutch oven over high heat.

Season meat generously with salt and pepper. Sear meat on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Remove meat from pan. Lower heat to medium.

Throw in onions and garlic. Stir for 30 seconds. Pour in beer, and add thyme, rosemary, and salt to taste—about 1 teaspoon. (Do not undersalt!) Add meat to pot, put to submerge, and place lid on pot.

Cook in oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until meat is fork tender and falling apart.

Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookies

From America's Test Kitchen Cookbook

The first time I made sugar cookies it was an epic fail...the boys would not even eat them.  The dough was too try and thick and just gross. I made these yesterday and they came out great! The dough was a little too wet but overall they came out great.



2 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
14 tbsp unsalted butter softened
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set aside 1/2 cup sugar in a bowl to use for coating. Mix together flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl beat together butter and remaining sugar for 3-6 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and eggs for a minute. Mix in flour mixture slowly until it is all combined.

Wet your hands and roll 2 tablespoons of dough into a bowl. Roll in sugar and place on a pan with parchment paper.  Press with a fork or a glass bottom. Cook 10-12 minutes or until done.

Some websites for my fellow teachers...

So I have decided to finally expand my blog to other activities than just cooking.  While I was subbing for Kindergarten last week I noticed this list of websites in the computer lab. I have not been to them all but I know that here in OK they use Starfall a lot for reading.  These are more elementary based but hopefully some of you will find them helpful...

http://www.starfall.com/
http://www.missmaggie.org/
http://www.magicschoolbus.com/
http://www.radioaquarium.com/
http://www.gameaquarium.com/
http://www.coolmath4kids.com/
http://www.aaamath.com/
http://www.funschoolkaboose.com/
http://www.aplusmath.com/
http://www.ezschool.com/
http://www.spellingcity.com/
http://www.fun4thebrain.com/
http://www.multiplication.com/
http://www.professorgarfield.org/
http://www.iknowthat.com/
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/

Hope these links work and you find some of them helpful!

Mom's Chicken and Dumplings

Mom's Chicken and Dumplings

Do you want puffy dumplings (Mom's) or flat dumplings (Granny's)?

Nate said puffy so here it is.

When I was little I didn't like Granny's flat dumplings (shocker, I know!) but now I love both....I need to get Granny's recipe!

bettycrocker.com

1lb chicken
Salt
Pepper
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cups Bisquick
2/3 cup milk
frozen veggies

Boil the chicken for 12-15 minutes or until done with some salt and pepper in the water.  Remove chicken from water and add 1 can of mushroom soup to the water.  Mix milk and Bisquick together. Scoop Bisquick mixture out and into the water/soup mixture.  Boil/simmer the mixture for 15 minutes or so. Cut up the chicken.  Cook frozen veggies. When dumplings are done you can mix chicken and veggies in the pot or keep it all separate.  Eat and enjoy!!  PS my Mom does not use mushroom soup but my chicken isn't greasy enough to make a good broth so I add the soup for flavor.

Chunk Chili

Chunk Chili
From my sister Jamie...super easy

milwaukeefood.com



1lb ground beef
onion
1 can red kidney beans
Chili seasoning to taste (I used half a packet with 1lb ground beef)
small jar of marinara sauce

Toppings such as cheese, sour cream etc.


Brown ground beef with some chopped onion.  Drain kidney beans and mix in with beef.  Add marinara sauce and chili seasoning to taste. Simmer for 15 minutes.  EAT!

This goes well with the corn bread I posted a few weeks ago!

Easy Apple Cake

Easy Apple Cake
from bakerella.com

3 cups flour


1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups oil

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups diced apples

1 cup chopped dates rolled in flour

1 cup chopped walnuts



Topping

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup milk



Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and cinnamon with a wire whisk and set aside.

Combine sugar and oil using a mixer until blended.

Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until combined.

Add flour mixture and mix well.

Stir in nuts, dates and apples. The batter will be very thick.

Pour into a greased and floured 9 X 13 pan and bake for 40-45 minutes or until done.

Cool cake and using a skewer, poke holes in cake.

Cook topping ingredients on stove until mixture bubbles.

Pour topping over cake letting some (ha… more if you like) seep into the cake.

YOU DO NOT NEED ALL OF THE TOPPING!!!!

Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Cake
from Jackson Hole Cooks and Nate's Mom

1 8-oz pkg Hershey's semi-sweet baking chocolate, broken into pieces, or 1 cup good quality semisweet chocolate chips

3 c. all-purpose flour

1 1/2 c. sugar

2 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

2 c. water

2/3 c. canola oil

2 T. white vinegar or lemon juice

2 t. pure vanilla extract


Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour two 9 in. round cake pans.

Melt chocolate on top on a double boiler, watching carefully so it doesn't scorch (I just melted it in the microwave on low and watched it)

Cool slightly.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Mix together well. Add the melted chocolate, water, oil, vinegar or lemon juice and vanilla. Beat with mixer on medium speed until thoroughly blended, about 3 min.

Pur batter into pans and bake approx. 35 min. or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10-15 min. Remove from pans and let cool completely on wire racks.





CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

3 c. powdered sugar

1/2 c. cocoa

1/2 c. butter, softened

5-6 T. milk, divided

1 t. vanilla


In a medium bowl, beat together 1 c. of the powdered sugar, cocoa, butter, 2 T. of milk and vanilla until smooth and well blended.

Add remaining sugar alternately with the milk, beating after each addition until smooth.

Make Ahead Muffin Melts

Make Ahead Muffin Melts
from the Pioneer Woman

■12 whole Hard-boiled Eggs, Peeled And Chopped


■2 cups Grated Cheddar Cheese

■1 cup (real) Mayonnaise

■12 slices Bacon, Fried And Crumbled

■1 Tablespoon (heaping) Dijon Mustard

■½ teaspoons Garlic Powder

■3 dashes Worcestershire Sauce

■6 whole English Muffins Split

Preparation Instructions

Combine eggs with all other ingredients. Fold together gently. Cover and store in the fridge overnight.
Spread on English muffin halves, then broil for 3 to 5 minutes or until hot and bubbly. (Don’t set them too close to the heating element.)