whatchabuildin

keepin' it together

Hey, happy November! Well, at least a week into it! I've spent the past few days getting the studio organized and cleaned for my holiday making. It feels so good to have a semi-clean, semi-organized studio! I actually need about another week to say I have a really clean and really organized studio, but I'll take this for now.

It's that gifting time of year, and this little tip I am sharing today has really helped me out a lot for the past few years.  I like to use 3x5 cards for notes, reminders, shopping lists etc... I thought these would work for Christmas lists too. I took a stack of 3x5 cards, and used a rubber stamp to stamp the year on each card. Then I put each persons name and gift ideas on the card. The gift ideas I used a pencil, that way if I thought of a different idea, I could erase it and write in the new.

I also made a little pouch for the cards so I can easily carry them in my purse or tote bag. This really works well, and I have actually been carry this around with me for about 6 months now, writing notes as I think of them. That way, when it comes time to make or buy gifts, it will be easier.

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We've been reading about "Hiawatha" lately, and Colin has been studying and studying the Native American clothing, especially the young Hiawatha. He finally said, "Mama, I need a Hi-yup-wafa (Hiawatha) dress up, can you make me one, please?" So of course I couldn't say no to my sweet baby child, and made this little get up. Quick. He wanted it, NOW. (You know those patient 4 year olds) It literally took about 45 minutes, with one fitting. He was so happy! Love it.

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Sew, Mama, Sew! Is having their third annual "Handmade Holidays"! Yeah! This is so inspiring! Great tutorials, recipes and give aways! Check it out!

Have a great start to the holiday season!

 

spooky treats

Today we spent the day preparing for Halloween. As usual, my little helper spearheaded each project we did.

:: Ginger cats, bats and owls. I used a regular gingerbread cookie recipe, and we cut them into scary Halloween shapes.

...Oh yeah, made a loaf of Banana Bread too! That recipe later.

:: Silly pumpkin head. This was a free download over at Angry Chicken, so much fun!

:: Yummy "gourmet" pumpkin seeds. At least I think they're gourmet, nobody else in the house likes them. But I'm OK with that, more for me! 

-wash seeds and place in bowl. Drizzle olive oil over them, about 2 TBS. 

-spread onto a baking sheet.

-sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

-Bake 350 degrees for 15 minutes, then change temp. to 300 degrees for another 15 minutes or until golden, and crunchy. So very addictive!

:: And finally at the end of the day, the pumpkin!

If you look close, you can see that Colin signs our "names" to the pumpkin. You'll notice my name is "Mom", he said that's my "other" name. Cracks me up! 

Hope your having a spooky start to your week! 

lately...

Yesterday morning we started the day by making these incredibly yummy muffins. I got the recipe over at Angry Chicken. We have been making these for quite some time now - and I believe my little guy and I have decided this is our favorite muffin recipe. There is something about the pumpkin and chocolate together that makes me want to, literally, eat the whole batch-seriously! Oh, such goodness!  But, there is one more person in this household, and they decided that the recipe is better without the chocolate, go figure! So, because it was still early, and I am still trying to stay off coffee, which means I'm a little groggier than usual, I took the picture of the non-chocolate ones instead of the incredible chocolate ones - duh.

Anyway, don't take my word for it, try these yourself! I changed it slightly by using 3 eggs instead of 2 eggs and 2 egg whites, and they turn out just fine.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2/3 cups apple sauce
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 can (15oz) pumpkin
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flours, spices, and all the other dry stuff together. In a different bowl mix the eggs, oil, applesauce and pumpkin. Add the dry stuff- to the wet,then stir in the chocolate chips. Bake 20 min. 

+ + + + +

On the crafting front, we are loving Amanda's new book! Over the weekend we made these paper mache bowls. We still have to paint and decorate them, but what a fun project! 

 

These bowls are the beginnings of a Christmas project we are working on for family and friends. I'll post later showing how we are finishing up these cute gifts!

Lastly, there is a really great giveaway over at GardenMama's blog! You can win five beautiful handcrafted toys from Down In the Meadow  and a beautiful autumn garland. Oh, I just love the mushroom, and the sweet Hedgie... and the adorable owl...Oh, I just love them all! Hop over there and check them out! 

weekending

A couple weekends ago we made a quick trip to visit my 83 year old aunt at her cottage in Maine before she left to be a "snowbird" in the southern states. Looking back at these photos this weekend, brought to mind this beautiful poem by Jacqueline Bouvier. From the book, "A Family of Poems". by Caroline Kennedy.

Thoughts

I love the Autumn,

And yet I cannot say

All the thoughts and things

That make me feel this way.

I love walking on the angry shore,

To watch the angry sea;

Where summer people were before,

But now there's only me.

 

I love wood fires at night

That have a ruddy glow.

I stare at the flames

And think of long ago.

I love the feeling down inside me

That says to run away

To come and be a gypsy

And laugh the gypsy away.

 

The tangy taste of apples,

The snowy mist at morn,

The wanderlust inside you

When you hear the huntsman's horn.

Nostalgia - that's the Autumn,

Dreaming through September

Just a million lovely things

I always will remember.

-Jacqueline Bouvier

for the weekend

Autumn is definitely here around these parts. This is that time of year I love to make soups, stews and chili. I think this is going on the stovetop this weekend. It's a really easy recipe even though there are a lot of ingredients in it. It's well worth the time it takes to make it. It makes a huge amount (thus the name) so par for the course, I freeze leftovers for another day. 

 

This comes from the "Silver Palate Cook Book". A book that has been in this household for a long, long time, and the recipes are well loved by all.

So, shall we start? The weekend is here and we all need some "soul food"!

FIrst, you need a little helper...

 

Oh, "hi" little helper!Is that a yummy and nutritious snack you are eating? Of course it is, your mommy only gives you healthy snacks. Nothing like chocolate, or...chocolate, or cake with buttercream frosting, or...nevermind. No, nothing like that, right little helper? Yeah, I though so.

 

Anyway. Here's the recipe the way I do it (with a little help!) It is different than the book, but that's the way I do things around here!I follow recipes, sorta.

Here we go.

Chili for a Crowd

1/2 c. best-quality olive oil

1 1/2 lbs. onions, coarsely chopped

2 lbs. ground pork

4 lbs. ground chuck

2 cans, 12 ounces each, tomato paste

3 TBS minced fresh garlic 

2 tsp. cumin seeds, or powder

3-4 TBS Chili powder

1/2 c. dijon-style mustard

4 TBS salt

4 TBS dried basil

4 TBS dried oregano

6 lbs canned Italian Plum tomatoes,drained

1/2 c. Burgundy, or any other red wine works

1/4 c. lemon juice

1/2 c. chopped fresh dill

1/2 cup chopped Italian parsley

3 can, or 6 cups black beans ( I actually use 1/2 black beans, and 1/2 pinto beans)

4 cans, 5 1/2 oz. each pitted olives, drained and chopped.

1) Heat olive oil in a very large soup kettle. Add onions and cook over low heat, covered until tender, about ten minutes.

2) Put meats into the kettle an cook over medium-high heat, stirring often until meats are well browned. Spoon out as much fat as possible.

3) Over low heat stir in tomato paste, garlic, cumin, chili powder, mustard, salt, basil and oregano.

4) Add drained tomatoes, wine,lemon juice, dill, parsley, and drained beans. Stir well and simmer, uncovered for about 15 minutes.

5) Taste to adjust seasoning, add salt and pepper if needed. Add the olives. Serves 35 to 40 people.

-I also add cheddar cheese and sour cream, and that my friends is totally yum!

happy autumn!

Happy autumn! Even though I am a true summer gal, I do love early autumn. Beautiful colors, crisp morning air, apple pie, soups, harvesting... food for my soul.

Take a peek over at GardenMama today and put your name in for a great giveaway! A subscription to "Mothering Magazine". This is an amazing magazine, full of wonderful thoughts, ideas and resources. While you're visiting GardenMama don't forget to check out her amazing photos... they will be food for your soul.

happy birthday daddy-o!

Today is my dad's birthday!

My little helper and I are making these yummy cookies for him today.

Giant Ginger Cookies

Whisk Together:

2 1/2 c. flour

2 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground clove

1/2 tsp. baking soda

Cream Together:

1 1/2 sticks butter, softened

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 egg

1/4 c. molasses

Whisk flour, spices, soda in bowl and set aside. Cream butter and both sugars together in mixer bowl until smooth. Add egg, beat until incorporated, then beat in molasses. Gradually add flour misture, mixing just to combine. Chill dough for an hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scoop dough into 2 1/2" balls (1/4 c. measure cup works perfect) Smooth into balls and coat with "sugar in the raw" and place on cookie sheet, 3" apart. Flatten balls with bottom of measuring cup or jar. Bake 15-18 minutes. Let cool on pan for 5 minutes then transfer to cooling rack.

Have a great day!

superhero cousins

Colin's little cousin had his third birthday last week and I made him a super cute theme gift. I started with a superhero doll. I created the pattern (trial and error) myself, and decided I will never use stretchy bathing suit fabric again for a dolls cape and hood. After a couple hours of swearing (under breath, and away from little ears) I finally came up with this little cutie. He is stuffed with real wool and I used some fun "superhero" fabric that I got from Joann's a while back.

So popular was this little fellow, Colin immediately started playing with him. And he immediately said, "Mom, now you have to make mmeee one!"  Of course how could I resist that sweet child of mine, so here is the "cousin superhero". They're handsome little fellows are they not?

Needless to say, everything I made for our sweet three year old cousin, was very much "Colin tested" before we wrapped them up and mailed the whole package! Also, in keeping with the "superhero" theme, I made a cap and cape for the "big superhero", and a handy bag to keep it all together!

Here is my little ham modeling for me. I think I need to send him back to the cute factory, he's too cute. *sign* I just love that boy.

Have a good night! 

a good morning

Ah, the weekend. It was been so busy around here lately. It's the end of summer season rush to eek out the last beautiful days of summer before the autumn season begins. Last weekend we went to the woods for camping. Oh, so much fun, relaxing and gorgeous weather made it an epic weekend!

::  ::

Now. This weekend is here, and we are back to our regular routine. On the weekends, I like to make pancakes or french toast then relax over the meal, talking about our busy week we had. This pancake recipe I've been using for a while now and is very well received around here. This morning we cut up some fresh picked peaches and put them on the pancakes, then of course poured that wonderful Vermont maple syrup on top. Heaven. That's all I can say about that. Oh, and...yum.

Four-Grain Flapjacks

Prepare and preheat your griddle

Whisk together into large bowl:

1 c. whole-wheat flour

3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1/3 c. cornmeal, preferably stone ground

1/4 c. old-fashioned oats (or quick-cooking rolled oats is fine)

2 TBS. sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Whisk together into another bowl:

1 3/4 c. milk

4 TBS. (1/2 stick) butter, melted

1/4 c. honey

3 large eggs

:: Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and gently whisk them together, mixing just until combined. Spoon 1/4 c. batter onto the griddle for each.

This makes a huge batch of pancakes. They freeze very well, and I do that a lot. Place wax paper between the pancakes and store in an air tight freezer container. It is so nice on a busy morning to be able to take some pancakes out of the freezer, heat them up and have a great breakfast before I start the day. These are great for snacking too. They are quite tasty alone or I also top with applesauce, or yogurt. Enjoy!

Unrelated: 

I will be posting later today, showing some more dolls that I have been making lately - they are so cute!

Happy Saturday! 

snacking: part 2

Well, last night didn't happen with this post ...crazy computer problems. I swear, it's a love hate relationship with these computers!

So, oatmeal cookies. I've used so many different recipes for these cookies, and I always go back to this dear recipe. It brings back so many memories for me. When I was young, Grandma and Grandpa used to come over to the house and help us do things around our small farm. Grandpa usually headed for the garden to see how things were growing, and Grandma went to the kitchen to help mom. Each week they would make 5-6 dozen cookies for our family to snack on, school lunches, and desserts. One of my favorite desserts was homemade peach ice cream with these oatmeal cookies, oh yum! The best "smell memory" (am I the only one who has these?) I have is coming home from school, and walking into the house and smelling either cookies or homemade bread baking, so comforting, so "home".

This recipe is one of many cookie recipes I remember really loving a lot. I think what makes them so special is the coconut and pecans. That combination is so good! When I make them now, unfortunately there is a person in this household who doesn't like pecans OR coconut (we won't mention who, ahem... Mister) Any way, I replaced those ingredients with 2 1/2 cups of bittersweet chocolate chips, and they are so very good. Then again, I also LOVE them when I keep in the pecans and coconut and add the chocolate chips. Now, goodness, that is heavenly! Anyway you decide to try them, this recipe is a definite keeper.

Oatmeal Cookies

1 c. butter

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. white sugar

2 eggs

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 c. oatmeal

1 c. coconut

1 c. pecans - chopped

* 2 1/2 c. chocolate chips (optional)

Cream butter, sugar and eggs in mixer. Measure flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a sifter. Sift all ingredients at once into the creamed mixture.

Stir in the oatmeal, coconut, and pecans into the dough. *Or 2 1/2 c.  chocolate chips. Chill for about a 1/2 hour. Form into balls (about walnut size) and place onto ungreased cookie sheet. Press down to flatten a little.

** (at this point you can freeze these for about 2 hours, and store in airtight, freezer-proof container for later eating. Just take out how many you need and put on a cookie sheet, bake 350 degrees for about 15 minutes)

Bake 350 degrees until lightly browned. From 10-20 minutes. I usually start with 15 minutes, and sometimes I need a minute more. It depends on how hot your oven is.

At the bottom of the recipe my mom wrote, "Very old recipe from Mrs. Runge - when I was a little girl - Grandma and I would visit her down the road." 

Enjoy!