Jan. 31: Taco Soup

Well, it is winter (despite the 60 degree temps on the last day of January) and for dinner tonight I made one of our favorite soups, taco soup. With a base of tomato juice, this soup is delicious and easy and can be made with meat or without.

Taco Soup
1 lb. ground meat (or 1/2 lb.)
1 small onion
Brown in soup pot

6 cups tomato juice
1 can black beans or kidney beans (or I recommend a can of each)
1 small can corn
taco seasoning (packet or homemade)
Add to soup pan, simmer for 10 minutes

When serving can be topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, scallions, tortilla chips or corn bread (lots of options here, all wonderful)

I usually use half a pound of ground turkey and a can each of black beans and kidney beans. I have made it vegetarian by excluding the meat and adding some cooked rice, or you could just leave out the meat. I usually use a double recipe of a homemade taco seasoning (see below) but have used a packet of taco seasoning before too.

Taco Seasoning
1/2 to 1 Tbs. chili powder (or more)
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion power
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. oregano
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. black pepper

Jan. 30: Crocheted Valentines

I have a couple of ideas for making Valentines this year. Today, I decided I better start trying out some of those plans since February will be here in a couple of days. Crocheting an edge on printed Valentines was the first idea I wanted to try.

This was my first attempt; I decided I didn't like this bird or the bright pink paper.

On the second attempt I crocheted too tightly and the edging did not lay flat.

I finally finished one on my third try. I used a size larger crochet hook and did 6 stitches between each hole, 2 single crochet, 2 double crochet, 2 single crochet.

I also finished one with just the casting stitches, I think I like it just as much with this little border.

Here are the links I used for the instructions, saying, and clip art.

I learned how to do the crochet edge at http://onesheepishgirl.blogspot.com/2012/01/adding-crochet-edge-to-paper-valentines.html.

The cute little saying came from http://thelongthread.com/?p=2373.

The bird clip art came from http://www.birdclipart.com/bird_clipart_images/all_clipart_images.html.

Jan. 29: Beach Treasures

Today was a sunny, mild, winter day; it made me miss winter walks on the beach looking for sea glass. So, we headed to Sandy Point State Park to take a walk. While it was no Good Harbor Beach experience, it was a nice walk on a sandy beach along the bay and turned up some nice sea glass and other beach treasures.

I started a new "Maryland beach treasure" jar and added it to the book shelf with the jars from Massachusetts, Washington, and Jordan.

 
While I am still a little homesick for my favorite North Shore beaches, it is fun to find new local places to explore, slow down, and enjoy a peaceful afternoon.  

Jan. 28: Baking Bread

Today I was invited to learn to bake fresh homemade bread from a co-worker of J. I few months ago we dog sat for his coworker, and she paid us with a loaf of her fresh bread. Needless to say, it was delicious. Today she was teaching her tricks of bread making to another friend; I gladly joined the party. This was our finished product, minus the few half loaves we taste tested.

Her recipes came from the book, Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day: The Discovery that Revolutionizes Home Baking by Jeff Hertzberg, M.D. and Zoe Francois. Ironic note: we spent 6 hours from start to finish, but in that time we also enjoyed lunch, several games of Bananagrams, and a short walk. Hey, the breads got to rise and bake.

We made three types of bread, white bread, rye bread, and a corn bread. Here is a sample of the tricks I learned about bread baking.

• Use sharp knife to cut slashes in bread dough to make designs and release moisture as it bakes.
• Pre-heat oven with baking stone and broiler pan in it.
• After bread is put in oven, add a cup of water to the broiler pan and close oven door immediately, the bread sort of steam bakes.
• When taking bread out of the oven, give the bottom a thump, if it makes a sort of hollow noise, it is done.

All three types turned out wonderful. Bread making was much easier than I imagined, and while the rising time takes several hours and the baking about a half hour, the actual hands on time was minimal. I can't wait to try it again at home.

Jan. 27: Braided Loop Scarf

In order to accessorize while having to wear a t-shirt to work, I have been looking for some scarf ideas that fit close to the neck. I found the link below through Pintrest.

I followed the presented directions, but in the end the braided loops were shorter than the sewn loop. I cut and re-sewed that loop to be the same length as the braided loops before attaching them all together. The tutorial says to use a jersey knit; I used a similar feeling material I had. I think it would turn out better, meaning more flexible, using the jersey. Also the patterned fabric makes it a little busy; if I do it again I will use a solid color.

http://cozihome.blogspot.com/2011/07/diy-loops-and-braids-scarf.html

Jan. 26: Zig Zag Crochet and Frittata

For some reason this week has seemed busier than usual; I am not sure why some weeks seem that way even if they don't have more planned into them than others. Maybe I am just crazy.

I have been looking for a new easy crochet project; I still consider myself a beginner. I decided to try learning a zig zag, or ripple, or chevron pattern. I am working on a short piece to get the hang of it. So far I am not too impressed with my work, but I think I figured out where I am making the mistake. I may end up starting over again. I have been following these instructions, http://www.handcraftingwithlove.net/yarn/pat-ripple.html.

And for dinner, a go to favorite, frittata. Tonight, like often, the frittata stared potato and kale. Frittatas are easy to make and pretty quick. I will try to explain how I make mine. Once upon a time I followed a recipe, but now I just make it up as I go.

Ingredients
- 1 potato diced
-  a few cups of kale chopped (or whatever veggies you want to use, broccoli is also nice)
-  garlic - about a 1/2 teaspoon minced
-  spices (cumin, rosemary, basil, oregano - a little of each - use whatever you like)
-  salt and pepper
-  eggs (4-8) scrambled
-  cheese (about 1/3 cup of whatever you like, I had cheddar and parm. tonight)

Heat a little olive oil in skillet. Saute potatoes for about a minute, until they start to stick. Add garlic and spices and stir. Add a little water to skillet and put a lid on it. Let simmer until potatoes are soft and water has evaporated (or if potatoes get soft first, drain excess water). Remove lid, stir potatoes, add kale, and stir until it wilts a bit. Add some salt and pepper. Pour eggs over the top of veggies and let sit in skillet until it sets up a little. Sprinkle cheese over top. Bake for about 10 minutes in a 350 degree oven, or until eggs are cooked through. We like to enjoy it with fresh bread from the bread machine, but not today, I was not that industrious.

Jan. 24: Yarn Wrapped Cans

Simple, quick, useful, and cost me nothing; that is my kind of project.

In an effort to bring a little organization to the mess called our guest bedroom (which is a fairly inaccurate name for the room considering I have mostly taken it over as a craft room) I have been looking for some easy, small storage ideas for my crafting materials. I am running out of jars to put things in but had a bunch of cans. They were run through the dishwasher and the labels came off nicely but were still not very nice to look at. However, with some yarn and jute and a little hot glue they went from ugly used cans to colorful storage containers.
        

Like I said, this was a simple project. To start wrapping, attach the end of yarn towards bottom of can with a little hot glue. Start wrapping yarn around can, keeping layers close together but not overlapping. Here and there secure with a little hot glue. To switch yarn colors just hot glue end of one color and then start with next color by hot gluing where other color ended. Wrap until you get to the top of the can and secure the end with hot glue.

The cans fit right in with the jars and mugs holding craft supplies lined up on the window sill. I am debating a shelf but this is working for now; I am sure there will be more projects for organizing this room soon.

Jan. 23: Magnetic Bookmark

I love to read and therefore, I read a lot. Okay, quick background story. I decided I needed to limit myself to buying just one book a month on my Kindle (oh budgets), and I am still in the process of figuring out how to get library books downloaded on my older version Kindle. So, a few weeks ago I went to the library and got myself a good old library card (not to say I didn't have a library card, I just had not taken the time to get one since we moved). I usually just use a piece of scrap paper or a receipt as a bookmark, but when I saw these cute fabric, magnetic bookmarks, I could not resist.

All you need to whip them up are some fabric scraps and magnets. I followed the very clear tutorial from this site, http://www.thesoutherninstitute.com/2011/08/magnetic-bookmarks-with-louise-from-im.html.

My plan was to use the thin sheet like magnet because I could sew right through it (someone gave them to me a while ago, the package said business card magnets, they are the size of a business card and purposed to turn a business card into a magnet). This magnet worked for the regular quilting fabric I used for two of the bookmarks but was not strong enough for the bookmark made out of the home decor fabric. For the thicker fabric I used the small circular magnets.


with circular magnet sewed above magnet to keep in place

with sheet magnet sewed through it when top stitching

The bookmarks turned out a little shorter than I thought from the pictures on the tutorial but still work well. Because the circular magnets were thicker, the book does not lay as flat as I would like with the bookmark in (see below). However, I think the bookmarks will work great for when J and I are reading the same book at the same time. This does not happen often, but when we do, I hate how one persons' bookmark inevitably falls out while the other person is reading and just like that your spot is lost. The magnetic bookmarks seem to hold in place well and will hopefully solve this problem.

Jan. 21: Gluten Free Peanut Butter M&M Cookies

With plans for family tea time family this afternoon, my sister-in-law (aka wonderful friend), C, and I whipped up some gluten free peanut butter M&M cookies.

We followed the recipe from this site, http://keepitsimplekeepitfresh.blogspot.com/search/label/cookies. Well actually, C did most of the work, but I helped her by reading the recipe and putting the dough on the cookie sheets.

They look delicious; I am excited to enjoy them, a hot cup of tea, and good conversation while we stay cozy and warm inside on this snowy, gray day.

*Photographs complements of Dr. C also know as brother-in-law.

Jan. 20: Bird Garland and Hanging Plants

Today I continued with my project of organizing/decorating our bedroom (see Jan. 17). J comes home tomorrow, my unofficial deadline, and I had two more ideas to create and hang in order finish the bedroom spruce up (at least for now). 

First, a garland of felt birds to hang over the closet. By now you are probably sick of these cute little felt birds, but I just love them.

The birds are cut out of brown felt, their wings out of yellow felt. The wings and button eyes were stitched on with blue embroidery floss. Lastly the birds were stitched onto a length of jute and hung. A few of the litte guys didn't want to hang quite right, so I used a little hot glue to hold them properly in place.

Back view

Ready to be hung



Second, hanging plants for the window. When we moved in there were three hooks hanging from the rafters in front of the bedroom window; I often wondered what hung there before. My best guess was plants, so why not add a little greenery to the room now.

I followed the instructions from this website to make the hanging strings, http://www.refinery29.com/3-easy-holiday-gift-diys-under-15/slideshow?page=38#slide-20. However, instead of replanting the plant in a bowl, I simply popped the little potted plant in a small glass. Now it will have some room to drain when watered. I used jute for the rope.

This turned out to be one of my favorite creations so far. It was easier than I expected; I even made one while talking on the phone with my parents. There are a few more random hooks hanging from the rafters of our apartment; I think I see plants in their future.

Jan 19: Learning to Knit

Hopefully this evening a wish of mine will come true: learning to knit. I have tried once or twice with no real success. However, this time I am truly interested in learning. I was telling a co-worker at Coffee Shop #1 last week about my hope to one day knit; she offered to teach me during the slow times of our next shift together. I warned her about my past failures, but she still agreed to give teaching me a try.

So, I dug through my stash of yarn for, well, yarn and long forgotten knitting needles and packed them along my mug and apron for my shift this evening.

I'll post the outcome (hopefully there will be something to show).

Update: Failure! My "teacher" switched shifts with someone who sadly did not know how to knit (I did ask her just to make sure). So my quest to learn to knit continues. I guess all those lattes and mochas will have to count as my creativity for today.

Jan. 18: Jelly Jar Soap Dispenser

A few weeks ago I was visiting a friend and noticed at her sink a soap dispenser made out of a repurposed glass jar. I asked her if she made it, she said she had and told me a little about how. Well a few days later, a search on pintrest brought me to this tutorial on making a soap dispenser out of a canning jar, http://theblissfullycontentlife.blogspot.com/2010/08/homemade-christmas-canning-jar-soap.html. While the canning jar seemed like too large of a soap dispenser for my bathroom sink, an empty jelly jar with a pretty lid seemed like just the right size.

I used the jelly jar and a pump (I had to cut it down a little) from a bottle of soap I got at the Dollar Store. I followed the nail and pliers method described in the tutorial and hot glue to hold the pump in place.

This project only took me about 20 minutes, much less time than I thought and turned out nicely. I see more of these in my future.