Tuesday, August 02, 2022
Milkmaid/Dream Top Pattern from Lydia Naomi
Toddler Dress and Bloomers
Travel Watercolors
We went camping last week at Bull Shoals-White River State Park. When it was time to pack up, I told Colin I just needed 10 minutes to do something for myself. The trip was full of family time, which is why we went, but I’m trying to carve out time to also do some things I enjoy (by myself ;) ). I decided to start this practice on our last trip to Woolly Hollow State Park.
Open Back Tank Top
I’ve been wanting to make a top with this hand-me-down fabric for awhile but couldn’t make up my mind on what to do. So I made my own pattern.
Summer Craft: Shrinky Dinks
Learning to Crochet
I was itching to learn something new. I needed to challenge myself but also have an outlet to relax and unwind. I hoped crocheting would tick those boxes.
Core T-Shirt (Free Pattern)
Here’s a free sewing pattern! This is the Core T-Shirt from Closet Core Patterns.
Sunday, May 15, 2022
How to Clean and Shine Stainless Steel Cookware
- Put enough water in your stainless steel pan or pot to cover the bottom.
- Bring the water to boil.
- Allow the water to boil until you see food lifting off the bottom of the pan. If you have put just a shallow amount of water in the pan, it shouldn’t boil over the sides of the pan. Let the water boil for several minutes, but do not let it boil to the point that the water evaporates. If the water evaporates, it will take you back to square one of food being stuck on.
- Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to cool.
- Pour the water and released food out of the cooled pan into the garbage disposal or trash.
- Use dish soap and a cloth or sponge to wash the pan. A small pan scraper is handy in helping to remove food.
- If you still have food stuck, sprinkle Bar Keeper’s Friend into the pan. Use a wet sponge or cloth to move the Bar Keeper’s Friend around the pan, lightly scrubbing. This will remove the rest of the food and shine your cookware. You can also use Bar Keeper’s Friend on the outside of the pan to bring shine back and make it look like new.
- Give your cookware a final rinse and then dry.
Thursday, May 05, 2022
Recipe: One Pan Bacon Cheddar Tots
Serve this as an indulgent meal or a side dish at a party! It's quick and easy, and you will only have to clean one pan!
Ingredients:
- One package of bacon (around 16 oz.)
- One package of tater tots (around 30 oz.)
- 1 to 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
- Sour Cream, Ranch Dressing, Hot Sauce, or Buffalo Sauce for dipping
- Green Onion or Parsley for serving
- Salt and seasonings to taste
- Put the bacon on an oven safe pan. You can use a nonstick pan or put foil on a baking sheet or in a glass baking dish.
- Use kitchen scissors to cut the bacon into smaller pieces to keep it from curling as it cooks.
- Cook the bacon in the oven at 450 degrees for about 20 minutes or until your bacon is almost as crispy as you like. It will go back into the oven to crisp up more later.
- When the bacon is cooked, remove it from the pan and let it drain on a paper towel.
- Place the tater tots on the pan. They will cook in the bacon grease, but you can drain any excess grease.
- Bake the tots according to their package's directions.
- Once the tots have baked, remove them from the oven. Top them with shredded cheddar cheese. Use anywhere from 1 to 2 cups of cheese depending on how cheesy you want the tots.
- Then place the cooked bacon on top of the tots. You can tear the bacon into smaller pieces to make sure there's some in each bite.
- Stick the bacon cheddar tots back into the oven until the cheese has melted and the bacon has crisped a bit more. You can broil them, but be sure to stand by and watch so the food doesn't burn.
- Remove the tots from the oven and top with chopped green onion, dried chives, or parsley. Salt and season to taste.
- Serve with sour cream, ranch, hot sauce, or even buffalo sauce!
Tuesday, May 03, 2022
Recipe: Garlic Dill Chicken Salad
It’s my goal in life to share as many chicken salad combinations as possible. 😋
Monday, January 31, 2022
90s Pop Culture Valentine Sketches
Who else was obsessed with the 1996 Romeo + Juliet movie? I was 11 when it came out but didn’t see it until I was around 12 and it was on VHS. My friends and I would watch the movie over and over at sleepovers. I had a small poster of Leo in my room and wanted to be Claire Danes. I picked the name Claire for my name in seventh grade French class. I picked a lyric from the song I’m Kissing You from the movie for this drawing. Shop the design
Inside Out Ding Dong Cake
If you've never had a Ding Dong, they are a round chocolate cake, covered in a chocolate frosting shell, filled with cream. This cake is what would happen if you turned a Ding Dong inside out-- chocolate in the middle, cream on the outside.
Inside Out Ding Dong Cake
There are three parts to this cake: the chocolate cake, the chocolate frosting for the filling/inside, the white frosting for the outside.
Chocolate Cake:
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 3/4 cups flour (I used gluten-free one-for-one flour)
- 3/4 cup dutch processed cocoa
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9 inch round pans.
- Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl.
- Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
- Stir in boiling water. Pour batter into pans.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes then remove from the pans to cool on wire racks. Cool completely before frosting.
Cream Frosting for the Outside of the Cake:
Milk Chocolate Frosting for the Filling:
- 1/3 cup of dutch processed cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter
- 3 cups of powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup of milk
- Using a hand mixer, combine the cocoa powder and softened butter.
- Alternate adding the powdered sugar and milk.
Tuesday, January 04, 2022
What I Read in 2021 + Not Meeting My Goal
- Steal Away Home
- Bound Together 📚
- Lost and Found
- Does God Care How We Worship?
- Ten Words to Live By
- Praying with Paul 📚
- The Road Back to You
- Christmas in the Movies
- The Daily Bible 📚
- The Bible Recap
- The Bible Handbook