A few more X's and O's

I needed to re-do my kitchen window again.  I change out the side pics depending on the holiday.  Usually I print out vintage images from The Graphic's Fairy, but this time I decided to raid my stash and copy a little of what Mandy did Here at Little Birdie Secrets.

First I gathered some paper.

This image came from Graphics Fairy here.    I resized it in Photoshop and made it fit an 8.5x11 inch paper then printed it out.  You're welcome to click on this image and save as then print your own.

These are some more pages I created in Photoshop using brushes from Brusheezy.  I needed both a portrait and landscape version.

Next I cut a bunch of hearts and X's and O's with my Cricut using the George basic shapes cartridge. The I Love You was also on the George cartridge.

 Now start gluing the letters and hearts onto the paper.

Lastly I followed Mandy's tutorial loosely.  I added stitching crosswise too.  I also stitched some hearts and X's and O's to use go across the window.  So simple and sweet.

The Left Side.

 The Right Side.

 And done.  I did add some berries to the mason jars I made here.  
I love it.

Sneaky Maple Apple Oatmeal Bread

I've discovered a new favorite bread.  The best part it that it's super sneaky.  I promise you'll be amazed at all the nutritional yummy-ness packed in to these gorgeous loaves.  Let's get started.

Maple Apple Oatmeal Bread

Since we will be adding in shredded apples, I found a super easy way to do it.  Fill your blender with water and add cored apples. 

I have a Vita-Mix.  

Best purchase ever!

Pulse apples until they are the size you want.

 Then  pour into a strainer and let sit while you assemble the other ingredients.  If I had thought of it, I would have used the apple water as the water for the bread.  I didn't this time, but I will next time.

 Next grind your wheat.  I used equal parts Hard Red and Hard White wheat.  I also threw in about a cup of 10 grain, and 1/2 cup of Quinoa.  Grind it all together to get a fine flour.  Again I used my Vita-Mix.  Can I just say it's extremely versatile!
Here's the 3 Grains.

This one is Hard White Wheat.

This one is Hard Red Wheat or 

also called Turkey Red.

 The Hard Red has a higher protein content and makes for a denser bread.  But for some reason, when you mix the two wheats together it makes an amazing light loaf of bread.

Lastly is Quinoa.  Pronounced KEEN-WA.  It is the only complete protein grain.  It also adds a wonderful nutty flavor to the bread.

Grind the following:

2 cups Hard White Wheat

2 cups Hard Red Wheat

1 cup 10 Grain cereal

1/2 cup Quinoa

Place in bowl and set aside.

In a large mixer combine in order: 

If you're using a Kitchen-Aid, you'll have to 1/2 the recipe.

4 cups warm water

1/2 cup Canola Oil (applesauce is an option)

1/2 cup maple syrup (Honey is an option)

1 Tbsp Maple Extract

2 beaten eggs

2 Tbsp sea salt

3 Tbsp Dough Enhancer

3 cups High Gluten bread flour or All purpose White flour

2 cups rolled oats (quick or regular)

2 cups of the freshly ground wheat flour

3 Tbsp instant Yeast

Mix for about a minute.  Let rest for about 1 minute.  Then turn mixer back on adding flour 1 cup at a time until dough cleans sides of bowl.  I alternated between white and wheat flour, although you could do all whole wheat.

Once dough cleans sides of bowl, cover and mix for 5 minutes.

Now add in  the 4 cups coarsely chopped apples.  You will have to add more flour to get the dough to clean the sides again.  Then mix for another 5 minutes.

Prepare bread pans by spraying with cooking spray.

Since it's mostly whole wheat, you only need to let it rise once.

Turn dough out onto counter and divide into 4 pieces.

In another pan pour about 1-2 cups quick oats.

Knead dough into loaves and roll in oats pressing to coat.

 Place dough in pans and slash the tops. I made 3 X's on mine.

Cover with plastic and let rise until bread is about 1-2 inches above the top of the pan.

 Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
When oven is preheated, remove plastic wrap and place in oven.
Drop temperature to 325 degrees.
Bake for about 40-45 minutes.  It's a longer baking time due to the water content of the apples.

 Let cool on racks.

 Slice and enjoy.  This was some of the softest bread I've made.  I love it when whole wheat comes out like that.  

Gone are the days of wheat bread door stops.  You're smiling because you know what I mean.

Silverware Hardware part 2

Here's another window, also in my bathroom where I used spoons as the drapery hardware.  

Remember I used knives here?

This time I wanted spoons.  

The process was the same.  

Drill a hole in the handle, 

bend the spoon up to make a hook, 

and screw it into the wall.

Simple.

Easy.

Unique. 

Another window done.   A whole lot more to go.

X's and O's Tutorial

 How about a little X's and O's?  This was a simple but elegant project.  I love the results.  Here's how I did it:




Supplies:
Cardboard box
Knife or scissors to cut cardboard
Paper pattern
Red Fabric
Red Ribbon (Mine came from Costco.  Best deal on Ribbon EVER!)
Glue gun and glue
White sheer ribbon
Stapler
Red berries
Wire

First I got some cardboard and cut out 2 of each shape.

 Now get some Red fabric and cut 2 pieces of each shape.  These will wrap around the cardboard.

Hot glue the red fabric to the cardboard.  First one side then the other.  You may need to clip the fabric to get it to lay flat at the curves and corners.

 Next, I sewed the ribbon into pleats, but just one side. You could do this with just a glue gun, but it might be kinda hard. You could also buy pre-pleated trim for this project.

Next glue the ribbon down to the letters.

Here's some close ups of the letters. For the O, I did two rows facing inward and one facing out.

 The X got two rows, 2 full going one direction, then 2 half rows the other direction.

I used the sheer ribbon to connect the letters.
Tie a knot, then staple the ribbon to the
back.  It's easy since it's cardboard.

 Then I made a large bow and wired it together along with the sheer loop that attaches the letters.  I made a large wire loop for hanging.

 I tucked some berry sprigs into the ribbon to finish it off.

Hang it in place and you're done.






Happy Valentines and lots of Hugs and Kisses to you!