Yarn Wax Sticks (Homemade Wikki Stix)

I got a sample of wikki stix with my renewal of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. My children loved them but with 8 dc the price was a bit daunting. Then I remembered I had the instructions saved to make them. These aren't hard to make but very very messy and time consuming. But you get huge results for your effort. We got about 1,000 sticks out of it. We covered the table plus 3 craft tables. And mine were longer than real ones.
Homemade Yarn Wax Sticks
I got this recipe from Bethany at Happy to Be Called Mommy



Bundled and Ready for Gift Giving!

Peppermint Bark

I have never had Peppermint bark in my last 39 years. Beth from I Should be Folding Laundry posted a recipe so I thought I would give it a try. This will be made yearly now!

Yummy Homemade Thin Mints

My son made these to give as gifts to his siblings for Christmas. Recipe is from Beth at I Should be Folding Laundry.

Guacamole

Fresh Guacamole

1 tomato chopped
1 avocado chopped
1 garlic minced
1/2 lemon squeezed

Mix all together and eat with your favorite Tortilla Chips.
Serves 2 or 1 who is very hungry.

SHE is Here!

Prairie Princess
9 lbs 9 oz
20 1/4" long

First Practice with New Off camera flash

No Baby Yet

Trying to be patient. But am about stretched to my limit...

Baby Wash Clothes

Soft and pretty!  This was a extremely fast crochet...


This is a free pattern but you have to be a member of Ravelry. www.ravelry.com
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/oh-so-soft-baby-washcloths
And I did the pattern slightly different. It said to skip a sc and I did not.

5th Attempt another failure...

1st I started this hat for my 15 yr ds and another son said it was too girly. ;(  (It's now going to be for me)
Then I actually made this hat...
And the son I was making it for thought it was ugly...
Then I started this hat...
 And the band size fits my 2 yr old...
Then I started this hat...

And it was horribly lumpy on top and a bad pattern...
Finally I Knitted this hat...

And as you can see it would fit a GIANT!
So now I am NOT MAKING A HAT!!!!
Thinking about a checkers game now...

The Best Brownies EVER!

3/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups sugar (we use raw)
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 eggs
3/4 cup flour ( we prefer fresh ground whole wheat)
1/2 cup baking cocoa
1/2 tsp.  baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Blend melted butter, sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Add eggs. Beat well with spoon.  Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to egg mixture until well blended. Spread in greased 8 to 9 in square pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from edges. Cool. Cut into squares.

Note: For extra chocolate brownies, add chocolate chips before baking.

Quinoa and Beef Burgers

1 lb. of ground beef, raw
2 to 2 1/2 cups quinoa cooked
3 egg
1 to 2 tsp. greek seasoning

Mix all ingredients. Cook like hamburgers. If you like you can add a bit more seasoning to the outside.
My children said these were the best burgers ever. And the quinoa packs them with nutrition.

Whole Wheat Bread and Rolls

This Makes 3 loaves of bread.
Recipe by Me.
3 Tbsp. SAF yeast or 3 packages
1 1/8 cups warm water
3 cups lukewarm milk, scalded then cooled OR
3 cups powdered milk  made with warm water (this is what I do, I'm lazy)
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 Tbsp. sea salt
7 1/2 cups fresh ground wheat flour
3 Tbsp Gluten
2/3 c. wheat germ

Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl. Stir in milk, honey, butter, salt, 4 cups of flour, gluten and wheat germ. Beat until smooth. Mix in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.

Turn dough onto floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic. About 10 minutes.  The time it takes to say the Lords Prayer 3 times, kneading every syllable. Place in a greased bowl. Turn greased side up. Cover. Let rise in a warm place, until double. About 1/2 to 1 hour. (on top of gas stove works well)  Dough is ready if indention remains when touched.

Punch down dough. Divide into halves. Roll each half into rectangles. 18 X 9 inches. Roll up tightly, begining at narrow ends. Pinch edge of dough inot roll to seal well. Press in the ends of roll. Press each end with side of hand to seal. Fold ends under.

Place loaves seam sides down in  greased loaf pans. Brush lightly with butter. Let rise until double. (about 1/2  to 1 hour.)

Heat in oven at 425 degrees. Place loaves on lower rack so that the tops of pans are in the center of the oven. Pans should not touch each other or side of the oven. Bake until loaves are deep golden brown and sound hollow when tapped, top and bottom.  15 to 25 minutes. Immediately remove from pans. Brush tops of loaves with butter, if desired. Cool on wire or wood racks.

Note: when I make the rolls I roll it the long side. And then cut them into pieces and form the ring.

Watercress (Spinach) and Mushroom Soup

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp. Butter
8 oz fresh mushrooms, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 bunches of watercress (Or 1/2 to 1 bag fresh spinach leaves) chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 (14.5 oz) cans chicken broth, Or same amount boullion (If you want it purely vegetarian check your local health food store for vegetable broth, it's powdered)
salt and pepper to taste
5 Tbsp. heavy cream

Heat a large saute pan on medium heat. Add the butter. When butter is melted, add the mushrooms and onion. Saute about 5 minutes. Add the chopped watercress/spinach and garlic and saute another 10 minutes. Stir in 1 can (2 cups) chicken broth.
Puree the mixture using a hand mixer or transfer to a blender or food processor.
Return the mixture to a saucepan and add rest of the broth, salt and pepper. Stir in the cream just before serving.

Baby hats with matching mittens

Super Easy Baby Mitts
So what do you think will it be a BOY or a GIRL? Please leave a comment and vote now...
Here's my bump at 39 weeks. I have 2 dds and 5 ds.

The Blanket is Finished....

I love the results and it will be nice and warm too.

Vegetable Somosa

Recipe from  "What's Cooking Vegetarian" by Jenny Stacey
These Indian snacks are perfect for a quick or light meal, served with a salad. They can be made in advance and frozen for ease.

Makes 12
Ingredients
Filling:
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
pinch of turmeric
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. garam masala (I found this at the health food store)
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 1/2 cups potatoes, diced
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped

Pastry:
12 sheets of philo (filo) pastry
oil for deep fry

1. To make the filling, heat the oil in a skillet and saute the onion for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until softened. Stir in all of the spices and garlic and cook for 1 minute.
2. Add the potatoes and cook, over gentle heat for 5 minutes, stirring,  until they begin to soften.
3. Stir in the peas and spinach and cook for a further 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Lay the filo pastry sheets out on a clean counter and fold each sheet in half lengthwise.
5. Place 2 Tbsp. of the vegetable filling at one end of each folded pastry sheet. Fold over one corner to make a triangle. Continue folding the pastry in this way to make a triangle packet and then seal the edges by brushing with a little water.
6. Repeat with remaining filling.
7. Heat the oil for deep-frying to 350 degrees F or until a cube of bread browns in 30 seconds. Fry the samosas, in batches, for 1 to 2 minutes, until golden. Drain on absorbent paper towels and keep warm while cooking the remainder. Serve at once.

Yogurt Sauce
2/3 cup unsweetend yogurt
2 Tbsp. chopped mint  or 2 tsp. dry
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1 garlic clove, crushed
fresh mint, to garnish.

Mix all ingredients and put into serving bowl.


If you double the pastries don't double the sauce.