A little project over load

I am in a project over load.

That nice new, fancy machine I got awhile back... didn't work for more than 10 minutes. It was a mess, I was a mess and as my husband puts it, "It was a sad day in the Powell household." It truly was. But we are over it, I have a new one and it is working great. (Let's hope it stays that way.)

So, now you get to benifet from my business and finally getting things done. While I was waiting for a new machine, I didn't just sit around and wait, (well, maybe a little). No, I was cutting out projects and getting ready for when my new machine would show up.

So get ready, set, PROJECTS!!!

A couple projects and some bread

First thing I want to show you is a dress I finished yesterday for my oldest daughter. I found this Simplicity pattern when they were for a dollar and I just couldn't pass it up. I decided to let my daughter pick the fabric for her "butterfly" dress. When I finished the top I was very un-impressed with it. I didn't like how the materials went together or how it looked at all. I even had her put it on and still didn't like it. I would have gone with some totally different fabric but it was her birthday dress so I went with it. But when I finished the pants and she put it on... Much better. It is very much her and I can't wait to make another one. ;0)

Next on the list is this.It is a grocery bag holder that I first saw on my friend Bonnies blog. Here is her's. I really liked it and to think of getting rid of all those bags under my cabinet was amazing. I made a few for my house a few months ago but I had a neighbor having a birthday right by mine and I wanted to give her something. I didn't have a lot of money to go buy her anything and I happen to have a TON of scrap material so I made her one. I hope that she likes it.

And since I promise my husband some garlic bread to go with our dinner tonight I thought I would make french bread to make it with. It didn't turn out so hot.
Here is the recipe. It is the yummiest bread that I have ever made. We love it and I can't wait for dinner now.

French bread (This makes one but you can easily double it to make 2)

1 1/2 cups warm water
1/2 T olive oil
1/2 T yeast

Mix and set aside while you mix;

4 cups flour (I do half wheat, half white)
1/2 T salt
1/2 T sugar

Add yeast mixture. Knead for 5 min or until soft. (Love my Kitchenaid for this!) Let this raise 1 hour. Roll out onto a floured surface. Roll into a loaf and let raise another hour. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. *IT WILL NOT BE BROWN* If you want a brown loaf you can put an egg wash on it before baking which is 1 egg, a pinch of salt and a t. water mixed.

Thanks for joining me in my project over load. And this is just what I've worked on for the last 2 days. Wait til you see what else I have in the works. :0)

Happy Birthday!

It is my birthday and I just wanted to share a picture of my birthday cake my mother made me.

It really is "Better than Anything" cake, with the chocolate whip frosting, the moist chocolate cake and the toffee pieces... ahhh! Don't you wish you could have some. ;0)

Barbie cake

Now I didn't make this, but my mother did and I just had to share.

Beautiful isn't it! I love it. I was 4 when I got my Barbie cake. Here is a picture of me with my cake.I loved my Barbie cake. :0)

HaPpY St.PaDdY's DaY!!!

and what would it be without green pancakes?The masses approve. :0)

Whoopie Pies

I have wanted to make these cookies since before Valentine's day when I saw them in the Family Fun magazine. I Love that magazine. There are always so many cute ideas and recipes. I haven't made these because I knew that I would eat them all myself. I have a good friend that comes over sometimes when my husband is working nights and we make Home-made Oreo's. This will be what we make next time.

Whoopie Pies

2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt

1 cup butter milk
1 t. vanilla
1/2 margarine or butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg

Heat oven to 350. Grease cookie sheets. Mix the first 4 ingredients in medium bowl. Mix vanilla with the buttermilk. *Side-note. I don't ever use real buttermilk in any of my recipes. I add a Tbsp of lemon juice to whole milk or evaporated milk and let it sit for 5 minutes.* Beat butter and sugar together. Add the egg. Pour half of the flour mix in. Combine well. Add all of buttermilk. Mix til just blended. Add the rest of the flour mix. Spoon onto sheets and flatten with spoon. I used my medium cookie scoop from Pampered Chef but to get more I think I'll use the small one next time. I didn't flatten them either but with the smaller ones I will for sure. Bake them for 10 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes and move to cooling racks.

Filling

1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup marshmallow creme *I used the whole container.* ;0)
1 t. vanilla
food coloring

This made a lot and I had some extra that I put on graham crackers for an added treat. Use any color you want and make a double batch because you will eat them all. :0)

My new machine

I got my new machine! I think I am in love and my husband said that I am spoiled when I was showing him some of the features on it. My favorite...I can see how much bobbin I have left. Now I know when I'll be running out. So can't wait to get crafting with this thing! :0)

Mmmm...

Great-Grandma Norma Powell's Strawberry jam. So good! Makes me want fresh rolls. And since I made 20 jars I just might have to make some. :0)

Chicken pasta bake

The picture looks as good as it tasted! So yummy! I thought I would share this recipe. We tweaked it just enough and let me tell you, it made enough to feed 8-10. We are totally doing this next time we have the in-laws over. ;0)

Chicken pasta bake
1 onion chopped
4 garlic cloves crushed
8 oz. mushrooms sliced
2 small zucchini diced
3 cans (14.5 oz.) crushed tomatoes
1 1/2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. sugar
3-4 cups cubed chicken cooked
2 cups mozzarella cheese
2 pkg borsetti fresh pasta uncooked

Preheat oven to 400*. Saute onion and garlic 1 minute. Add mushrooms and zucchini and saute for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and seasonings. Stir to combine. Remove from heat, add chicken and 1 1/2 cups cheese. Spread uncooked pasta evenly in the bottom of baking dish. Top with chicken mixture. Cover with remaining cheese. Bake uncovered 35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

So totally worth it! Had all but the pasta on hand and that was on sale. :0)