Thursday, December 23, 2010

Cinnamon Rolls-Rhodes Style-Freezer to Oven


One of my favorite things to eat on a cold morning are fresh warm cinnamon rolls. I'm especially fond of the kind you can buy at the store that come frozen and all you have to do is plop them onto a pan the night before and throw them in the oven the next morning. Scrumptious! I've also made these up as gifts for family and friends while visiting, and there is the added bonus that they may just want to make them while you stay:)



For those of you that are scared of making breads due to having to worry about yeast and all the time it takes to make-fear not-bread is very forgiving. The bread won't turn against you if you forget it for awhile. It won't mind if you take our your aggressions on it while kneading. Have no fear of bread.

Directions:
1. Find a cinnamon roll recipe and follow the recipe except once you have them formed and cut into rolls, put them on a greased pan and put them in the freezer instead of the oven.

2. Once rolls are frozen remove from pan and put in ziploc bag or container you plan on baking them in covered with plastic wrap.

3. The night before you want to bake them put them in a greased pan, cover with plastic wrap, and let sit out over night. In the morning place in the oven and enjoy once they are golden brown.

Variation on the rolls:
  • Chewy Caramel Rolls: Sprinkle the bottom of the pan with brown sugar and pats of butter-the more the tastier.
  • Gooey Caramel Rolls: Blend 1/2 Cup of vanilla ice cream, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, and 1/2 cup of white sugar and place in the bottom of the pan.
  • Frosted Rolls: Mix up some cream cheese frosting (3 oz cream cheese, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla)
  • Glazed Rolls: Mix 1 Cup of powdered sugar with a few tablespoons of milk or cream to reach a smooth consistency and drizzle over the rolls.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Marching Elephants Nursery Decor


Recently my mom and I were going through my old baby clothes looking for some gems for my future little one. We found some great overalls, diapers, and little t-shirts, but we also came across this little nursery decoration that my Great Aunt hand stitched for my crib. I just thought it was so adorable that I needed to replicate it.

Here's a picture of the original hanging on my bassinet:



These little elephants didn't take too long to stitch together and anyone with basic sewing skills can complete this little craft.

Supplies you will need: Needle, different colors of felt, matching thread, scissors, stuffing, a few small scraps of fabric, and velcro or snaps.

1. First cut out the pattern.



2. Next trace the elephant pattern onto the felt using a sharpie marker. If you trace it correctly you should be able to put the pattern on the fold and cut two elephants.



3. Cut out the felt and stitch the ear onto each side of the elephant.



4. Now that the ears are sewn on the two sides of the elephant can be sewn together. I start sewing on the back and work my way around. Once the elephant is mostly sewn together I stuff the legs and trunk with stuffing then finish sewing all around. Note: Hand stitching takes a little bit of time and could be done much faster by machine stitching using a zig-zag if desired but I like the imperfections that only stitching by hand can give.



5. The next step is to stitch all of the elephants together. Simply stitch the trunk to the butt of the one in front of it. After the elephants are sewn together Stitch eyeballs by simply stitching back and forth with black or brown thread to make the appearance of the eyeball.

6. Lastly you will need to sew and attach a band of fabric to each end with velcro or snaps so the elephants can be hung on the crib, wall, or curtain rod. The bands should be made from approximately 3 inches by 10 inches of scrap fabric. Simply sew the fabric right sides together, turn right side out, and then sew velcro or snaps on the ends. Once the bands are completed sew onto the elephants.


7. Now sit back and enjoy your creation. If you are like me, sit and wait for your babe to be born so he or she can marvel at your awesome sewing skills as well. As a warning-make sure that this isn't placed in the crib as it may pose a choking/strangulation risk.



Price: Under 5 Dollars

Friday, December 17, 2010

Cranberry Salsa

One of the best super foods ever are cranberries. I haven't found very many tasty ways to fit these tart fruits-if that is what they are-into my diet. I tried a cranberry bread but without using a gallon of sugar, the bread was just to tart and bitter. This salsa recipe comes from my mom and makes a great addition to Thanksgiving Turkey and Christmas dinner. It can be used as a substitute for the gross gelled cranberry sauce or as a tasty salsa for tortilla chips.
Ingredients:
12 oz package of fresh cranberries
3/4 cup of sugar
1 medium jalopeno
1 green onion or regular onion
1 teaspoon dried cilantro
1/4 teaspoon cumin

Directions: Throw everything into the food processor and coarsely chop. Enjoy!

Frugal Friday-Baby Closet Organization

The quest for an organized closet has been jump started this week by the realization that my baby will be here very soon, and all of the clothes are in piles and stacks in the closet. I've been trying to find a low long dresser to put underneath the window on Craigslist, but to no avail. This summer I put in three shelves made of scrap laminate from Menards. Each 4 foot board was approximately 92 cents each. I used 3 elbow brackets on each so the total price for shelving was about 12 dollars-you can't beat that.



I've been looking for baskets or fabric cubes to use on the shelves, but they were all so pricey so I made some myself. I had several diaper boxes, wipe boxes, and other miscellaneous boxes around from purchases, so I put them to use. I wrapped each box with wrapping paper, made a label out of a contrasting color, and "laminated" them with packing tape. I labeled the boxes with permanent marker which can be removed with nail polish remover. Using supplies around the house I at least can go to sleep content that I can find everything in the closet that I will need should the baby come early. In the meantime I will still be perusing Craigslist each morning in hopes of finding the perfect dresser.


Friday, December 10, 2010

"Healthy" Holiday Treats



We're celebrating my family Christmas this weekend so I made some scrumptious easy treats. One of my favorites are chocolate covered pretzels but recently in an attempt to become healthier I added chocolate to dried apricots, yum, and full of fiber. Pardon the picture, apricots aren't very photogenic.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Pregnant, Dependent on GPS, and Rambling

I've lived in the Twin Cities for six months now, but the first three months I spent on the couch trying not to rehash my last meal, so unfortunately for me, I have not grasped just how this highway system works yet. We live in a small suburb somewhere between Minneapolis and St. Paul-I'm not really good with maps but people would say South East of St. Paul. My husband-an engineer whose mind is very linear-will blame our handy GPS we kindly refer to as Carmen the Garmin, but I just blame my necessity to get lost several times before learning to not make the same mistakes again.

I managed to finally meet up with my friend who lives and works in Southern Minneapolis for lunch and shopping. On the way there I had to run to the post office before driving across town so my foot was exceptionally leaded. Luckily for me, there was a attentive officer a block away that managed to clock me going ten miles over the speed limit. I unzipped my coat and rubbed the baby for good luck and sympathy saying a silent prayer while I handed over my license to the uniformed man. I'm not sure if it was because I looked uncomfortably pregnant, put on makeup that morning, or the fact I didn't try to talk my way out of a ticket, but I managed to get off with a warning. One catastrophe averted.

Driving down the interstate, carefully watching my speed, I argued with Carmen the GPS and was frequently greeted with her favorite phrase "recalculating". I always question her choice of routes and tend to think that I know best, which is usually wrong. I managed to take a twenty minute detour after missing a turn but ended up skirting along a quiet frozen lake with walkers and joggers braving the snow and ice. If I could find the lake again I would consider visiting it in the summer when I can see my feet and even my belly button again. I ultimately made it to my friend's work to pick her up, thankful to have found a parking space that didn't require parallel maneuvering.

I'm afraid the way home was way worse for my luck. I dropped my friend off in Minneapolis at the very height of rush hour-people in suits driving their shiny Dotsons and Neons-oh wait that is an Alanis Morrisette song. Regardless, I was a small town Iowa girl whose idea of traffic is getting stuck behind a tractor for a few minutes on the highway thrown into the buzzing cars darting in and out of lanes.

Carmen seemed to be full of spite for me on the way home. I followed her directions, but after a while I started to realize that I had no idea where I was driving. I passed through the sky scrapers of Minneapolis, a few suburbs, and then I was starting to see signs for the state capital. Somehow I had managed to drive through the heart of St. Paul-past two car accidents-and endless minutes of creeping traffic. I nearly had a breakdown in my emotional pregnant state, swearing to learn the roads and not rely on Carmen to find my way home but then ninety minutes later I thankfully pulled into my garage-still painfully unaware of which roads led home.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

My Contact Lenses - or - Remembering Amsterdam

My contacts need to be changed.  Or at least removed from my eyeballs.  That has been the ever-present thought of my day.  Things are not, shall we say, clear.  Are they ever?  You may be thinking.  And the answer to that would be, I am not entirely sure.  However, I do know they are usually at least a little clearer than they are at present.  Which leads me to a memory I have of the trip that Lily and I took to Europe back in 2006. 

Towards the end of our journey, which lasted a little over three weeks, we found ourselves in Amsterdam with very little money, as usual, but a lot of (perhaps foolish) adventurousness, as usual.  After deciding we would take a ferry from Amsterdam to England the next day, and then discovering that a ferry left pretty early in the morning, we came to the conclusion that we did not need to waste 20 Euros on a hostel.  We were in Amsterdam after all, the city that never sleeps of all cities that never sleep.  And so we would never sleep as well. 

It began well enough, as many strange ideas often do.  I remember being excited by the prospect of an entire night of wakefulness, of the myriad adventures it could entail.  Now, however, the memories of that day come and go like strange snapshots taken by an exhausted brain.  I can clearly see a bald, limber street performer in a striped shirt juggling in a cobblestone square.  I remember the lighter I bought that had “Amsterdam” written on it, since I thought it was fitting.  I remember the Rembrandt Museum, and the pretty grounds that surrounded it.  A café comes to mind, a little place close to the main square, and I think we had a nice dinner there while we surreptitiously watched with astonishment as a group of middle aged men smoked their “herbal” cigarettes at the next table.  And the canals, the endless stretch of concentric loops radiating out before us.  They were beautiful, but utterly confusing.  I remember dodging many bicyclists as they zipped by us, often when we were least expecting it.  I can see Lily’s face as she demanded to know if I realized none of the little children, hanging precariously from their parents’ handlebars, were wearing helmets.  I can also remember the red light district, which was supposed to be shocking, but which at that point in the night was just another destination where we had to pry our eyes open and keep moving to keep our sleepiness at bay.  I remember being unsettled by the sight of children with their parents, their faces bathed in the glow of the crimson light emanating from behind the prone bodies of the nude women in the display windows.  And I remember feeling sad about the apparent commercialization of the sinful arts for the benefit of gawking tourists, like ourselves.

But eventually, we began to grow tired.  We wound up in a bar, stacking coins and counting the hours.  We got into a political discussion with two Dutch men, who each knew at least six languages, or something astonishing like that, and bemoaned the ignorance of Americans.  But anyway, the clearest memory I have of that ordeal is climbing on the ferry the next day and discovering the air was heavy with smoke.  We looked around, blinking, as we realized we had just boarded a giant casino on water, which was a bit garish in the early morning light.  My already over-worn contacts dried out instantly, and the world became a fog.  I remember stumbling around the strange seating formations until I found a place I could stretch out and sleep.  And so we slept there, next to the slot machines and the full service bar, in a smoky ship headed across the English Channel.
 
Anyway, that’s sort of what my eyes feel like today, to a lesser extent.  All in all, though, I would rather be on a boat in the English Channel right now, having an adventure. 

Easy Casserole-husband approved


This is one of my favorite dishes for a cold snowy night. It is easy to whip up and only takes one pan which leaves more time for relaxing after dinner.


Ingredients:
1 pound of ground beef
1/2 onion chopped
3-4 cloves of garlic chopped
1 can of cream of celery soup
1/4 cup of milk
2 cups of tots
1 cup of green beans fresh or frozen

1. Brown meat, onion, and garlic in cast iron skillet if available or frying pan.
2. Once meat is browned spread beans over meat in skillet or place meat and beans in casserole dish.
3. Mix milk and soup then spread over beans.
4. Arrange tater tots in single layer over soup mixture in pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes until tots are golden brown.
6. Eat

Many different variations can be done with this recipe. Any number of vegetables can be added or substituted for the beans, different soups can be used such as cream of mushroom or broccoli, also cheese is always a welcome addition to a casserole.

Enjoy.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Divine Sweet Saltines


I'm eating one of these delicious snacks as I'm typing. I got this recipe from my mom a few years ago and I haven't found an easier or tastier treat to share with family over the holidays and with only 4 ingredients it is hard to mess up. They may not be the prettiest, but all who try one will be pleasantly surprised.


Ingredients:
40 Saltine Crackers (one tube of crackers + 10 or so)
2 Sticks of butter
1 Cup of Brown Sugar
1 1/3 Cups of Chocolate Chips (I mix in white chocolate chips too)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Butter up heavily or line a large cookie sheet with foil. I've had problems with the foil sticking before so I usually opt for lots of butter on the pan. Spread crackers out in single layer on cookie sheet.
3. In saucepan melt butter and sugar then boil for 5 minutes. Pour mixture over crackers and place in oven for 5 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Top with Chocolate chips and wait a few minutes for them to warm up then spread them with a spoon. Place in freezer or outside if you live in the Midwest in the winter time. Break into pieces and store in a cool spot.
5. Try not to eat the whole batch before you deliver them.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Quote of the Day

"She wasn't where she had been. She wasn't where she was going…but she was on her way."
- Jodi Hill

Friday, November 12, 2010

Christmas Present Idea* Little Comfy Pants


I think JoAnns will be the downfall of our checking account. Last time I was there I found this camouflage flannel for $2.99 a yard. Two of my nephews ages 4 and 1 have their dad serving over in the Middle East for a second tour with the army so I thought they would enjoy having Army-esque pants. Last time I was visiting them I simply traced a pair of their pants onto newspaper for a pattern. The little pants seemed out of proportion with a really long waist band, so I dropped the waist, only to realize later that he would need a longer waist to accommodate his bulky diaper. They may end up being low risers for him-so trendy:)

Price: $7.00 for fabric and elastic
Time: 30 minutes

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Baby Swing Renovation




I got an older baby swing from my sister and washed the cover, unfortunately, the cover shrank so I decided to give a hand at making a more colorful cushion. Hopefully the baby will love it just as much as I do. It is much more colorful and fluffy than the original. I'm still working on perfecting the restraint system (buckles).

Friday, November 5, 2010

Newest Purse

Here is my newest project! I have been meaning to sew for quite some time now. It just so happened that I got up the other morning at 6 and couldn't sleep so I decided to start this project. For my first attempt I'm pretty excited, but there are still some kinks I need to work out. My favorite part of the purse is the giraffe lining. I ended up jazzing up the purse a bit with some accessories!



Homemade Dog Bones


When the time comes for Christmas gift giving, I have a hard time. One of my favorite gifts to give are these dog bones. The first time I gave the bones I put the bones in personalized containers. I used old oatmeal and hot chocolate cardboard tube containers. I made labels and included the cutest picture of my dog ever. My dog generally turns her nose up at store bought biscuits, but she gobbles these right up.

Cheesy Peanut Butter Dog Bones
1 cup of Oatmeal
1/4 cup of Margarine/butter
1.5 cups of hot water
1 cup of shredded cheese
1 beaten egg
1 cup of cornmeal
1 cup of wheat germ
3 cups of flour (white or wheat)
1 cup of peanut butter (creamy or chunky)

Directions:
1. In a large bowl pour hot water over oatmeal and margarine. Let stand 5 minutes.
2. Stir in peanut butter, cheese, egg, cornmeal, and wheat germ.
3. Add flour.
4. Knead by hand for 3-4 minutes.
5. Roll dough to 1/2 inch thick and cut into dog bone shapes, sticks, or use cookie cutter.
6. Place on greased cookie sheet and place in oven at 300 degrees for 30-45 minutes until golden brown.
7. Turn off oven, but leave bones in oven to continue baking. Cool and place in container.
8. Store bones in cool place or refrigerator.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Homemade Granola Bars

Homemade Granola Bars


This is a recipe for chewy granola bars. They are a big hit when I bring them to share. Also they are high in fiber with oatmeal, flaxseed, and wheat germ.

Ingredients:

2 Cups of oatmeal

½ Cup of Ground Flaxseed

½ Wheat Germ

1 ½ Cups of Shredded Coconut

1 Tbsp Ground Cinnamon

¼ tsp Salt

¼ tsp Ground Nutmeg

½ Honey

3/4 Cup of Corn syrup

½ cup of Brown sugar

1 Cup of Raisins or dried cranberries


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. On a cookie sheet mix oatmeal, flaxseed, wheat germ, shredded coconut, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg.

3. Place oatmeal mixture in oven to toast for 10 minutes. Make sure to stir mixture every few minutes or else the coconut will burn.

4. In a microwave safe glass bowl or on the stove top combine sugar, syrup, and honey. Microwave until bubbly.

5. Mix oatmeal mixture and raisins with liquid bubbly mixture.

6. Place in well greased bar pan. I usually just put a tablespoon of butter in the bottom of the pan and melt it in the oven then spread it around the edges and bottom of pan. Press mixture down.

7. Place in 200 degree oven for 20 minutes.

8. Let cool for about 10 minutes and flip onto cutting board.

9. Cut into bars or break apart into chunks for snacking. Enjoy!

Note: This recipe is very flexible and I rarely measure things. I often use cranberries, white chocolate chips, or nuts.

Projects!!!


Yesterday I ventured out to JoAnn fabrics. The store is gigantic and always busy. Regardless of when I go, I have to wait in line to have my fabric cut for at least 20 minutes, even if I pick a number up for the cut table right when I get to the store. Those ladies need some lessons in efficiency. To save myself some heartache in the future I stocked up on fabric for my sewing closet; I'm planning on working on a few purses, pillows, and a maternity blouse. Better get sewing!

Sweet Pumpkin Seeds



In the spirit of Halloween today I made Roasted Pumpkin seeds. Delicious, easy to make, and high in Magnesium.
1. Extract Pumpkin seeds.
2. Rinse them in water.
3. Place pumpkin seeds on greased cookie sheet.
4. Place in oven at about 350 degrees for 25 minutes-stirring periodically.
5. Take seeds out, mix seeds with 1-2 Tbsps of butter, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, and a sprinkling of cinnamon.
6. Place back in oven on cookie sheet for about 6 minutes.
7. Cool and Eat! Yum.

The World Outside My Front Door


The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land. ~G.K. Chesterton

Our neighbors in our new town have been very welcoming, or at least the ones we have met. On one side of us lives a character straight out of King of the Hill. He stands outside with a few of our other neighbors, beer in hand, and shoots the breeze-swearing loudly across the street. The neighbors on our other side we rarely see, we were informed that they were Hmong. I had never heard of Hmongs before, but I found out from my history teaching and loving father that Hmongs were originally from around Laos and Vietnam. They helped the US with the war in Vietnam and were persecuted after the communists took over and many fled from their homelands.

Yesterday cars were lined up all the way down our street. My husband was doing some yard work in the front lawn and our neighbor invited him to come over to help celebrate the birth of their daughter. We knew that we had to go over since we were invited, but we were both very nervous to barge in, seeing as we honestly didn’t think we could spot them in the crowd if our lives depended on it.

We walked the long 20 feet across the yard to their garage. A group of Hmong men were outside the garage in a circle chatting. They graciously welcomed us and introduced themselves, shaking hands with each of them. We learned that during the party the baby and parents are given strings wrapped around their wrists by the elders of their family. Each elder wishes them wellness and happiness for their family. In the garage little Hmong women were cooking in massive pots, dicing and washing pots and pans in the front lawn. We found out later that they had a pig and a cow slaughtered for the party and they had been cooking since the early hours of the morning. To my uneducated nose the food smelled of Mongolian beef.

Our neighbor “Chow” came graciously thanked us for coming over. Inside the house all the furniture was put away and the carpets were covered with vinyl. Big banquet tables sprawled across the living room and there were at least 35 people inside and another 20 outside. The gal that brought us inside made a joke that she thought we’d probably never think so many people could fit in one house-she was right. We met our neighbor “Wing” and the young child. She introduced us to her mother who with waves and gestures asked us if we lived next door, pointing at our house through the kitchen window. The conversation then turned to my very pregnant belly and the old woman had the biggest grin on her faced and gave my belly an excited rub.

It must have been obvious that we were outsiders, being that we were the only white people in the group, but everyone was very friendly and seemingly excited to have us in their presence. Upon our departure “Chow” returned and promised to bring some food over later once it was done. After dinner most of the cars were gone from down the street and I assumed that the offer was just a kind gesture and we weren’t so special after all. Then the doorbell rang with a short, curly haired Hmong woman standing outside my door with tupperwares. Little did I know of the world that lived just outside my door.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Customized Bulletin Board

After we moved to our new house, I had a plain bulletin board downstairs in a pile that was falling apart. I decided to dress it up with some fabric, trim, and spray paint I had already. I simply spray painted the frame white, covered the cork with fabric and stapled it down, then stapled the trim at the intersections and to the back. Pictures can be slid behind the trim pieces so they don't get damaged, or push pins can be used.
Price: Free

Colorful Curtains

Here are the curtains I made for the baby's room. I painted the walls a light green called "Pickling Spice" (I have no idea what pickling spice is, but it is a nice neutral relaxing color to make the baby sleep well, fingers crossed.) The curtains, however, will probably give our child endless hours of sleepless nights.

I chose a pattern and color which was bright but also contemporary. I experimented with a balloon valance and made the curtains with a plain khaki on the reverse side if I ever get tired of the color, but they will still have the fun zebra stripes on top and on the pull backs.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Classy Inexpensive Lamp


For those of you that don't know us very well yet, we like bargains. Sea and I spent one Saturday afternoon cruising down the highway looking for thrift stores-I was looking for a lighting solution. At the time my husband had moved up to the Twin Cities and I stayed behind until our house sold and the school year finished up, it sounds like a bad divorce, but he got all the furniture but a table, desk, and air mattress. I realized while trying to read before going to bed one night in my deflating air mattress, that it was a large inconvenience to get up and shut off the light.

To Sea's chagrin I bought one ugly brass lamp for five dollars. Once I moved up with my husband and started decorating the baby's room I realized that the room needed another pop of color.

I spray painted it with a bright glossy grape spray paint. One can of paint, a textured shade, and a five dollar lamp makes the room shine, pardon the pun.

Lily Literature

Thoughts and ideas written by Lily...

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Travel - First Post

"If adventures will not befal a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad" - Jane Austen, Persuasion

We have been fortunate enough to travel a bit, through the US and abroad.  We have learned a lot about how to make travel goals possible, and also have some stories we will share.  We also hope to continue with our travel adventures in the future...

-Sea

Monday, October 25, 2010

Crafts and Sewing - first post

The day Lily and I first created our blog, we were actually about to embark on yet another craft project - sewing our own purses.  Our first attempt was successful, and I will talk a little bit more about it/share some pictures in the future.  We both love to learn new skills and spend a lot of time working on our "projects".  We hope some of our ideas will be useful to others!

-Sea

Writing

Both of us studied literature and writing in college and one of our goals for this year was to "get published".  Since our time is running out, it seems we will have to publish ourselves via a blog in order to meet our goal for the year.  So we will post here to share some of our writing and ideas.

Cooking and Baking

Who doesn't love food?  While I mostly enjoy eating it, Lily is a wonderful cook and she will share some of her ideas with you here.  My intention is to learn more about the art of cooking, so maybe in the future I will have more to share.  Maybe.

-Sea

Art and Design

We love to spend hours working on art projects and work with home design, including refinishing or repurposing old items, painting, and some carpentry (that's debatable).  We hope some of our ideas will be useful for others. -Sea