The taste of Summer

I just finished sewing O. the cutest little summer top. I see many more of these in her future. It's McCall 5568. It's pretty easy, although I didn't like how they have you close up the collar. Too much hand sewing for my taste. Alternatively, I've altered it to be buttoned at the shoulders on the next version I have cut out. I'll see how that works out. The pants are from last summer (although they fit much better this summer), it's Burda 9708
My girl will probably never make it big as a model as she was too concerned with seeing what the pictures actually looked like than posing for them. Nonetheless, I thought she looked pretty cute

Monday's Meal, time management and a milestone!

Well...it's Monday again and it's also my 100th blog post. I don't know how the week goes by so swiftly or that I'd have so much to say! I have to say that I've enjoyed the process of blogging and I love the comments I've gotten. Here's to another 100 post.
Well, I have a long to do list this week, plus I'd like to get some sewing and cooking done. I only worked on the AB bag once last week (I have a post about it,but still need to upload the photos before I post it) and Mother's day will be here before I know it so the pressure is really on. Ah well, such is life.

Now...the meal...well, it's actually more like a side dish to go with the meal, but it one of my favorites. Delicious, decidedly Southern and oh so easy.

Hash Brown Casserole

1 26 oz bag of frozen country-style hash browns
2 cups of shredded Colby cheese (of course you can sub. any cheese you like)
1/4 cup minced onions
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup of beef stock or canned beef broth
2 tbsp melted butter (yeah butter baby!)
dash of garlic salt
1 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees
Combine the frozen hash browns, cheese and onions in a large bowl.
Combine the milk, beef stock, half the melted butter, garlic salt, salt and pepper in another bowl. Mix until well blended and then add it to your hash brown mixture. Mix well.
Now get an oven proof skillet and heat the remaining butter in it. When the skillet is hot add your hash brown and cook for 7-10 minutes stirring occasionally and until all the cheese has melted. Then put the skillet in to the hot oven to bake for about 45 mins until the surface of the hash browns are a golden brown.

If your skillet is not oven proof just transfer your hash browns to a casserole dish and bake as directed.

Enjoy and happy cooking.

Monday's Meal

Another freezer friendly offering. This is Arroz con pollo, you can tweak it a bit to suit your taste...try it, you'll like it.

Arroz con Pollo

2 cups rice
2 tsp salt
1tsp pepper
2 tsp chopped garlic
1 tbsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
2 cup black beans
1 cup corn
6 chicken breast
1 cup chopped red peppers
1 cup green onions
2 cup water ( or subsitute beer)
1 cup salsa
2 tbsp tomato paste

Layer all ingredients in casserole (13 X 9 or bigger)with the rice on the bottom, followed by chicken and the rest of the ingredients, cover tightly with foil. Bake at 375 for 90 mins. Remove cover and add 2 cups cheese and bake for 10 minutes more or until cheese melted
If you decide to freeze this to cook up later, thaw completely and then cook as directed.

Waste not...Trace Yes!

Or alternatively, how a frugal girl gets the most from her dollar, literally.

I buy a lot of patterns and I don't limit myself to only the big 3 companies. I buy Euro, Japanese and Boutique lines too and it could get a tad pricey for a girl on a budget who might need patterns in various sizes. So...I have found that I can get a lot more usage from multisized patterns if I purchase them in the largest size I might need and trace the smaller ones out. This philosophy works particularly well since I sew tons for my children and they are still very much growing. And yes, I even trace those patterns printed on tissue paper, lol. I'm a equal opportunity tracer!
What do I use to trace onto you ask? Well my favorite product to use thus far is patternease, but is also the most expensive at $2/yd. I also like using the plastic sheeting for things that are really difficult to see through and that I want the tracing to be used multiple times. I have also used freezer paper. An easy product to come by, but not particularly on the cheap side. For bargain basement tracing medium there's cariff septic liner (they also make a tracing product that has a bit more body). The septic liner can be found at Home Improvement Stores and it sales for about $.27/yd. It's a bit gauzy and thin and when I use it for tracing I trace using a sharpened crayon. It works well on Ottobre. I have some Swedish Tracing Paper on order, but it hasn't arrived, but I'll be sure to add a post about how it stacks up later. You can also use nonfusible interfacing to trace onto...when Joann's or Hancock's has it on sale it's a great time to grab a bolt for tracing. I love using a fine tip sharpie for tracing, colored pencils or sharpened crayons (purchased for a dime a pack at back to school sales). Then really all you need is a large flat surface to lay out your pattern and good lighting and you're off.
For the American patterns you don't have to worry about adding seam allowance or anything. For the European and Japanese patterns you can either trace a size up and that usually works well, or as I do trace the proper size and then eyeball the seam allowance when my pattern is on my fabric and cut it out that way. I don't try to make it hard or scientific. They do also sale guides you can add to your rotary cutter that will add the seam allowance for you. You could use a tracing wheel or a compass too...there's lots of ways to go.
Anyways, here's a micromini tutorial of me tracing out a burda pattern for my oldest son.

a few products you can trace on to.


Can you see the pattern underneath. Just trace over it with your sharpie. I used plastic sheeting this time.
Don't forget to trace all your pattern markings for future reference

Amy Butler Weekender bag...day five

Geez, this bag is taking me forever. Well in all fairness, I guess if I actually got time to sit down and sew, it would go a bit faster, lol. I didn't do any sewing for the last day or so and tonight I have JLR, where I won't sew myself, but will work with the girls I teach sewing to on their projects. I have purchased a machine for one of the girls. I hope she likes it. It's a singer touch and sew and it seems to be in great condition. See, here it is!





Ok, back to the bag. Attached the exterior side pockets and top and bottom panel pieces together. I had to do a bit of handsewing to the bottom where I just couldn't quite catch the piping and panel piece smooth and flatly on my machine. I have to say the Viking is performing splendidly! I will make my bias stripes wider next time to have a bit more fabric to sandwich and worry about trimming it down later. It's coming along wouldn't you say? Starting to look like actual luggage. I think my mom will like it.

The next generation sewer and a dotty dream

My little boy E. is very interested in learning to sew. It had been a dilemma to find a machine that was suitable to teach him on so that he could operate the machine independently. I finally solved the dilemma by setting him up on a vintage kenmore 47 (a thrift store find that cost all of $8, woohoo got to love those thrift stores) that operates with a knee pedal so that even though his feet don't reach the floor he can still operate the machine. He's so excited and has decided that he will make an Anakin Skywalker cape. Ambitious indeed, but I guess when you're young your only limitation is your imagination, lol!




Oh and here's a bag I made, it's called the Dotty Dream Bag and it's a free pattern from Ottobre. The fabric and trim came from my stash. The dot fabric is Chez Ami from the licorice line and the floral is a fabric one of my fellow sewing mamas, Eva picked up for me probably a year ago. I've been saving it for just the right project, I think this bag is it.

Monday's Meal

At the suggestion by my youngest son, M. I'm sharing my recipe for waffles, actually his suggestion was that we have breakfast for dinner everyday, lol!

Here you go,belgian waffles. Super easy recipes and is easily doubled or tripled. Oh and they freeze well too. I sometimes make a bunch to freeze and they make a nice quick breakfast on those busy school mornings. The perfect combo of crispy yet fluffy goodness.

2 cups of cake flour (I just usually use all purpose, but cake would be lighter)
1 tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup of buttermilk
1 cup of milk
2 eggs
1/4 cup melted butter (yep! butter baby!)

Nonstick cooking spray for your waffle iron. Preheat waffle iron.
Mix all the dry ingredients together, make a well in the center and add the liquid ingredients in order, mix just until combined but don't overmix. The batter will be slightly lumpy.
Pour approx 1/2 cup of batter or the amount needed to almost feel the waffle iron slot. Cook till done, should be light golden brown. Enjoy!

Oh and to kick it up a notch you could top w/fresh fruits and homemade whipped cream or confectioners' sugar.

Whipped cream

1 cup of heavy whipping cream
1 tbsp of confectioners' sugar
1 tsp of vanilla extract