I've been up to somethin'...

I've decided that I have Crafting ADD.

Nothing negative or against those who really have the disease.

I have relatives that do.

But I am constantly thinking of new projects. Usually before the one I'm currently working on is finished. And I usually have more than one project in production phase.

And I almost never ever make the exact same thing twice. I should. Some stuff turns out pretty good if I do say so myself.

I've also gotten lazy and haven't got the camera out while I'm working so here is a smattering of recent projects. Trust me, it's a real SMATTERING!

The doll bed came from Grandpa last Christmas.

I made the doll blanket for her bunny doll.

I made this ballerina for my little girl for her birthday.Shoes too.

I made this purse kind of out of my head. No pattern. I love the birdie fabric I found. Perfect spring combination.

This purse idea came from all the super cute ruffled bags out there. I thought I'd try my hand. I think I still may add a flower where the ruffles converge.

I made this "Chain's of Love" wall hanging as a gift for my parents. I saw the hand design in the Airport in Phoenix, AZ. I love how the hands make hearts. I hand stitched the names of all my sisters on each pair of hands.

I made this wreath for the Makia craft contest. Just like the other one I made.

Since I had some flowers left over, I decided to make this pillow.

Next are some beaded hair pins. I found them on the Martha Stewart craft site and made mine a little different.

These are flowers I made similar to the wreath ones only on a smaller scale. I glued a large clip on the back with felt to hold it together.

During a crafty Skype date with my sisters, I made this headband with ribbon flowers, felt and hand stitched beads.

Lastly are a couple of shirts I did. Just get two shirts, cut up one into strips, make the ruffle and sew it on.

Thanks for letting me share. I've already got a head full of new projects. I can't wait to show-and-tell.

Pressure Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

I'm on a mission.

My Husband and I recently watched a YouTube video talking about the differences between the American and Japanese diets.

I'm paraphrasing, but the US diet has about 47 different things in it. The Japanese has about 113 different things. Big difference.

So I'm trying to try new things.

My sister also challenged me to provide her with some Pressure Cooker Recipes that she can use. I love my pressure cooker. SO quick and easy.

You can find them here.

I have a Kuhn Rikon which is a great pressure cooker too, but there is something to be said about an electric one. I can set it and walk away.

No babysitting.

Anyway here's a recipe I tried the other night. The goal was 2 fold.

Use the pressure cooker and incorporate more variety of foods.

It was very yummy, even my most picky-est eaters loved it.

Chicken Cacciatore

Dice up the following:

2 cups onions or leeks

1 medium green bell pepper

5 button mushrooms, or another favorite variety

I turned the Pressure Cooker on to Saute. If using a regular one, place on stovetop and turn to medium-high heat.

Add 1 Tbsp olive oil

Put the onions and peppers in and stir frequently to saute about 2 minutes.

Stir in mushrooms.

Next you can do this two ways:

One:

place 3 lbs bone-in skinned chicken breast, or thighs or a combination on top of the onion mixture.

Pour 2 cans tomato sauce over the top of the chicken.

Lock lid in place. Bring to pressure and cook for 8 minutes. Remove from heat and let pressure come down naturally.

Cook 12 oz spriral pasta according to package directions.

Or Two:

After adding mushrooms, add 1 1/2 cups chicken broth. and 12 oz spiral pasta. Cut up boneless chicken breast or thigh or a combination. Place on top of pasta and onion mixture. Then top with 2 cans tomato sauce.

Lock lid in place. Cook under high pressure for 5 minutes, then quick release.

Next add:

1 can black olives sliced

2 Tbsp fresh or dried parsley

1 1/2 hands-full mozarella cheese (about 1 1/2 cups)

1/4 cup parmesean cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

Stir well to melt cheese.

Spoon onto plates, and top each serving with additional parmesean cheese.

So quick and yummy!

Easter Breakfast Casserole

My family loves this breakfast casserole. It would be perfect for Easter Brunch, or a Tuesday morning during Spring Break. Either works.

Breakfast Casserole

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cube up about 1/3 to 1/2 a loaf of bread.

(any kind works, homemade, store bought, my personal favorite it the Apple Streusel bread from Costco but I don't buy it very often. A cinnamon raisin bread would be yummy too. Whatever you have on hand.)

Spray a 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray.

Spread the cubes evenly in the pan.

In a separate bowl combine the following:

1 cup sugar

2 cups milk

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Whisk together like this:

Pour milk/egg mixture over the bread trying to cover most of the bread cubes.

Sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped nuts over the bread.

Bake for 45-50 minutes.

Remove and let cool slightly before serving.

We like it with a little maple syrup drizzled over the top and some fruit on the side. Maybe a little hot chocolate too.

Sooooo Yummy!

Grammie's White Bread

This is my hands down, absolute, favorite bread ever. I promise.

Here's the back story. When I got married, well... I couldn't cook very well. Shocking I know, but it's true.

My dear husband grew up with his mom making bread every morning. I'm serious. She had fresh bread coming out of the oven every morning in time for all 12 of the kids to eat breakfast before school. Needless to say, she is really good at it.

When I joined the family, I had to go to bread making lessons from my mother-in-law. Since then I've done some tweaking and improved my abilities.

Now, my husband says mine is better than hers. Really.

The recipe is mostly hers, but the method is mine. I hope you love it as much as we do.

Grammie's White Bread

I use a Bosch Mixer. If you have a Kitchen-Aid, you'll have to half the recipe. It won't fit.

5 cups warm-hot water (it's ok if it's hot, the yeast will be OK)

2/3 cup oil or apple sauce (if you are trying to cut calories, use applesauce. Also measure the oil/applesauce first in your measuring cup, then the honey. It will be easier to get out)

1 cup sugar or honey (I've used either one and personally I like the honey flavor better)

2 Tbsp salt

2/3 cup powdered milk (regular or instant)

It will look like this:

Next sprinkle about 3 cups of flour on top of the liquid. Then add 3 Tbsp yeast on top of the flour like this:

Mix for about a minute, cover and let stand for another 2-3 minutes until it gets bubbly like this:

Now turn on mixer and add, one cup of flour at a time while the mixer is going.

Note: I use regular old flour. I have used bread flour with similar results. It will take about 10-12 cups flour, depending on the ambient humidity.

Continue to add flour until the dough cleans the sides of the bowl.
Then add about 1/3 to 1/2 cup more flour.

Put the lid on and mix for 10 minutes. The dough should be smooth and elastic-y.

Put the cover back on, but loosely. Let rise until it loks like this.

Good for bread, not for your jeans.

When it has risen, spray your bread pans with cooking spray. Mine came from IKEA years ago. I love the long narrow loaf it makes. Perfect for sandwiches and sandwich bags.Turn the dough out on to a well floured surface. Divide it into 4 equal balls. Some people weigh their dough to get the perfect amount. I just eye-ball it and it turns out fine.

(one less step)

Knead each ball a little to get the air bubbles out and form into a loaf shape. Then place loaf into pan. Cover them with plastic wrap. This helps keep the crust soft.

Let rise until it's about 1 inch about the lip of the pan like this.

Then turn on your oven to 400 degrees and let it pre-heat. When it's done pre-heating, place your pans in the oven and turn down the temperature to 325 degrees. Remember to turn it down or your bread will be too brown. Bake for 35 minutes.

Remove and place on racks to cool. Brush tops with shortening and let cool. (the shortening helps keep a soft crust, if you like a crispy crust, omit this step)

Slice, slather with butter, and taste a little bit of HEAVEN!

(notice there are no pictures of the sliced bread with butter. It couldn't hold still long enough for me to get the camera)

Sneaky Cookies

Some days I am all about sneaky nutrition. If I can sneak some good stuff into some... well not as good stuff... I will.

I found this recipe and had to try it.

I modified it just a little to suit my tastes, and my kids.

Monster Marshmallow Oatmeal Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees. I bake on a pizza stone and parchment paper. Make sure the stone is in the oven to preheat.

Cream together:

2 sticks butter melted

2 cups granulated sugar

2 Tbsp molasses

Mix on medium until fluffy.

Beat in:

2 eggs

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

In separate bowl mix together:

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

Add to butter/sugar mixture and mix well.

Add in 1 cup at a time:

2 cups quick cooking oats

1 1/4 cups crispy rice cereal

2 cups chocolate chips

1 1/2 cup mini marshmallows

Using teaspoon, drop dough on parchment paper.

Bake for 11 minutes, let cool slightly and Enjoy!

(PS. The kids didn't even know there were oats in them, and they loved the Marshmallows!)

A few of my Favorite Things

Just a quick post of a few of my favorites.

First: Oven Roasted Chicken

(plus it's a sneaky way to get some flax into your diet)

In a bag, place the following:

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp garlic salt

1 Tbsp chicken and meat seasoning (your favorite kind)

1/3 cup milled flax seed

Mix well and then put your favorite cuts of chicken in and shake to coat. I've used Drumsticks and Thighs. Any cut will work.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray baking dish with cooking spray and place chicken in pan. Bake for 40 minutes. Turn chicken and bake for another 20 minutes.

Remove from oven and enjoy some Amazing Chicken!

Next a favorite bread:

Rosemary Bread makes 2 loaves

In a mixing bowl, place

1 Tbsp yeast

1 Tbsp sugar

1 cup warm water

Mix and let yeast become bubbly.

Mix in:

1 Tbsp melted butter

1 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups flour

2 Tbsp rosemary (fresh or dried) one suggestion is Tone's Rosemary Garlic Seasoning

Knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Oil a bowl and put dough in and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until double, about 1 hour. Punch down and let rest for 5 minutes. Divide dough in halfand shape into 2 small rounded loaves. Prepare baking sheet by either covering withcooking spray or parchment paper. Place loaves on sheet and let rise until double. Sprinkle remaining 1 Tbsp of rosemary on loaves and lightly press into dough.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Carefully remove from oven and brush with remaining 1 Tbsp melted butter and salt if desired.

Trust me, It's Amazing!

Lastly, I am a cookie snob.

There I said it. I only like my chocolate chip cookies. I've tried others and they just don't measure up. I only know of 2 others that rival mine and they are snickerdoodles my neighbor makes and some oatmeal raisin cookies I had once but could never track down.

So here goes:

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Melt 1 lb butter (4 sticks) completely

In mixing bowl place:

3 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 cup molasses

2 Tbsp vanilla

Add butter and cream butter and sugar.

Add 3 eggs and mix.

Next add:

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking soda and mix

Next add 6 cups of flour, one cup at a time. Mix well. Dough should be soft but not stiff. Add in 2 cups chocolate chips. (I've added lots of different kinds but Nestle and Ghiradelli are my favorites)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. If you have a baking stone, use it with parchment paper. I get perfect results every time this way. Cookie sheets can be unreliable sometimes.

Use teaspoon to scoop and shape balls of dough. Place on parchment and bake for 11 minutes. Don't over cook. It ruins them. Let cool on baking rack a little and enjoy!