Sporting Sign

The first of many signs we plan to make to support our favorite players.  This was inspired by the "Leave it to Beaver" show.  Found an old poster to copy it from.  Matt (Besler) saw the sign from the field and gave us a big wave and thumbs up!  So Awesome!!

photos i'm submitting to win a contest on pintrest

Sporting KC t-shirt skirt

DARE blanket

This is my first major attempt at making a quilt.  I assited my Aunt about 15 years ago, when she made me a T-shirt blanket from all my high school shirts.  And about 6 years ago I made a couple baby blankets for friends.

I used excel to draw up a basic pattern, and adjusted the measurment to make a full size blanket.  This is a DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) blanket for my husbands co-worker , John, who is retiring from the Lenexa Police Department and served as an School Resourse Officer for about 15 years.

First I washed and dried all the fabric then cut to size (I usually leave 1/2 inch for seams, because I'm a novice seamstress.)

I arranged the T-shirts in a color pattern, that I could live with.  :)

I sewed the blue stripes to the bottomes of the shirt squares and then sewed them all together.

Not pictured, but I sewed the blue rectangles and yellow squares to make long stripes and pinned and sewed on the outsides and between each T-shirt row.

 Once the front panel was together I simply placed the batting and underside fabric together and sewed the edging and sewed invisible (?) stitches thru the entire blanket to bind everything together well.

Chicken & Broccoli Pasta

Last nights dinner was a healthy and tasteful Chicken pasta dish.  I've recently started shopping at a the Kansas City Market (downtown) for my regular grocery shopping items.  I've gone for years and often take friends and family when they come to visit.  The two "major" ingredients I got at the market was Pappardelle's Spanish Saffron Pasta (cost is $4.50 for 8 oz), and Steak Seasoning (a special blend from the local gardening/spice store Planters Seed Company).

Boil pasta for 10 mins in well salted water
Meanwhile lightly coat the chicken in flour that has been seasoned with salt/pepper and Steak Seasoning.
Heat EVOO in skillet (I use a cast iron) when hot add chicken. 
Cook for 5-6 min. on each side at med/high heat.

Steam broccoli till tender.

I was planning to use garlic infused EVOO as the "sauce", but my husband noticed we had left over (homemade) Alfredo sauce, so we used the rest of that.  YUM!

My Debut

Let me begin by admitting that I used to think the only people who had blogs are somewhat self absorbed or arrogant.  The idea that your life is soooo interesting others would want to read about it, seems just slightly arrogant to me.  Hence, I'm starting my own blog.  Truthfully, I'm not expecting anyone to read this, but myself.  My life is not terribly interesting (except of course to me), and I'm probably no more self-absorbed or arrogant than the average person. What motivated me to do this is my desire to have a cronical of my crafts, recipes, and general adventures in life. 

If you stumble upon this blog and are so inclined to read it, please note 1) I can't spell and I have poor grammar.  I've already had to ask my husband how to spell 3 words, and I've only written one paragraph.  I can only imagine that he will grow tired of being my spell check and will begin avoiding me during a blog session.  2)  I'm self diagnosed as ADD, so my thoughts may ramble or have no real direction.  I may skip words as my brain thinks faster than my fingers type, and I hate proof reading.  Also, I may lose interested in this (my latest antic). 3)  This blog has the potential of being the most boring read ever.  So, if you continue to read this, consider yourself warned.

Christmas festivities

Biscotti by Julie Sanchez (Made this year by Erica Chavez)

Ingredients:

Dry: 3 1/2 cup all purpose flour (non-bleached)

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

Optional: 3/4 cup chopped craisins

1/2 sliced almonds

Wet: 1/4 cup oil

1 1/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

2 large egg whites

1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest

1 tsp. finely grated orange zest

1 tsp. almond extract

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Mix dry ingredients and set aside

2. Add wet ingredients and mix - Dough will be dryer and stiffer than cookie dough

3. Mix wet into the dry

4. Divide equally into 2 logs 

4. Flatten out to about 3-4 inch width

5. Bake (on parchment paper) at 375 degrees for 25 mins.  Cool (only enough to be able to handle)

6. Cut into 3/8 inch slices

7. Bake again - 5 mins. on each side to crisp

Enjoy!!!