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Showing posts with label easy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label easy. Show all posts

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Taggie Blankets for Baby


I mean it when I say that I am not the best at sewing. Short story – I took Home Ec when I was in high school (1 semester) and we had to make pajama pants. I sewed by pant legs together and they were several inches too short. My mother can sew. I think in her heart she was deeply saddened by the fact that I was terrible at sewing. I don’t like the quit though. I keep at it and she gives me tips here and there. I had someone make my kids burp clothes when they were babies. They were really cute. My kids also have strange obsession for tags on toys. I really think that whoever designs stuffed toys should rethink the location of where the tags are usually placed. Go ahead – go look at a stuffed animal. Chances are the tag is located at the back end of the toy (depending on what it is of course). Both of my kids have stuffed bears that are their favorites. My son was a terrible thumb sucker. He HAD to have the tag in the same hand of the thumb he was sucking. His favorite “baby bear’s” tag was located on the bears butt. Picture this – your kid sucking his thumb with a bear’s bottom on his nose. I hated it. My daughter also likes tags but doesn’t suck her thumb so it isn’t as much of a problem. Regardless, I decided to give them a blankie they could have WITH tags to keep them happy also. Trust me when I say that these are EASY to make. They also make perfect gifts with that special homemade touch.



  • 2 fabric squares, any size (I usually find two patterns that match of the 18” squares – just make sure your squares are the same size
  • 2-3 colors of 1” ribbon (I’ve used different textures with great results)
  • Thread color of choice                                                          
  • Sewing Machine – or needle if you have a lot of time on your hands!
Cut your ribbon into 4 inch long strips. You should have 12 strips total (I typically use 3 different colors and have 4 strips of each color). Place your fabric squares so that the front sides are together. The back sides should be what you look at if you flip the fabric over. You are going to turn the fabric right-side out when you are done so don’t worry! Fold each ribbon “tag” in half and place inside the fabric square bundle. Make sure the loop is on the inside – remember we are turning them out. Secure your ribbons and squares together with a pin. Carefully sew along every side of the square. On the last side, leave about 4 inches open. Using the open gap, turn the fabric square inside out. Carefully sew the remaining 4” of gap. Iron to remove any wrinkles.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Pumpkin Cranberry Dump Cake


If you’ve never had a “dump” cake, you are missing out. This simple and quick technique delivers a unique tasting dessert that you can customize to your desires. All you have to do is figure out your base and “dump” a box of dry cake mix on top (hence the name, dump). I traditionally see it made with cherry pie type filling or pineapple. I wanted a winter version of the dish so I decided to add in pumpkin and cranberry with a cinnamon walnut topping. It’s a little more work than a typical dump cake but it’s so good and so easy to make!

1 can pumpkin puree
1 cup fresh cranberries
¼ cup coconut sugar
¼ cup apple juice
1 banana
½ cup almond milk
1 pkg of GF vanilla cake mix (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
¼ cup butter, coconut oil or shortening, cut into very small chunks
½ cup chopped walnuts
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
  • In a small saucepan, combine cranberries, coconut sugar and apple juice. Cook for about 10 minutes over medium heat until berries start to pop and soften.
  • In a small blender (I used my Magic Bullet), puree banana with almond milk. In a large bowl, stir together banana mixture with pumpkin.
  • Fold in cranberry mixture and carefully swirl together.
  • Pour pumpkin mixture into the bottom of a greased 9x13 baking pan.
  • Pour dry cake mix evenly over the pumpkin until covered. Place the small chunks of butter or shortening over the cake mixture.
  • Sprinkle over cinnamon and walnuts.
  • Bake at 375°F for about 40 minutes or until the topping starts to brown. Let cool about 15 minutes before serving.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Meal Plan Week of 11/25/13-12/1/13


Good Monday Morning All!

I know I usually post my menus on Saturday’s but I found a really great website that hosts a “Menu Planning Monday”. Find this week's menu plans here!  It has so many great bloggers posting their menus for the week. The best part is they are all located in one place so you have plenty of choices when looking for some menu planning ideas. Anyway – this is my first post that will be found with the other Menu Planning Monday posts so check it out! The host site, orgjunkie.com has tons of good organizing ideas for your busy lives. I really like the menus and tips I’ve found here and hope you will too!

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25
26
27
28
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SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
egg white
oatmeal
egg
scrambled
banana
scrm egg
french
sandwich
almond milk
toast
eggs
mocha
apple/milk
toast
fruit
banana
berries
banana
smoothie
smoothie
banana
tea
tea
tea
tea
tea
tea
tea
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
veggie
avocado
cucumber
beet salad
turkey!
turkey
veggie
chili
orange
radish
celery/carrots
sides!
noodle
mac & 
cornbread
chicken wrap
salad
hummus
dessert!
soup
cheese
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
stuffed
eggplant
chicken
leftovers
more turkey!
veggie
turkey
acorn squash
lasagna
asparagus
squash
more sides!
spring rolls
pot pie
salad
salad
sw potato
salad
more dessert!
rice
salad
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
Snack
Snack
Snack
Snack
Snack
Snack
Snack
yogurt
trailmix
cheese
trailmix
no
PB celery
veggies
almonds
carrots
grapes
peaches
more
trailmix
trailmix
pears
ice cream
popcorn
PB celery
food! :)
pie
GF granola

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Molasses Almond Butter Cookies


I have been struggling to create a flat, crispy cookie that has that outside crunch but also a soft chewy middle. My husband likes his cookies soft, barely cooked! I prefer mine a little crunchier that you can dip in milk. This cookie turned out the best possible combination that I could imagine. The molasses gives the cookies a little extra kick but it complements the almond butter nicely. Peanut butter would be a fine substitution if you didn’t want to use almond butter. No molasses – substitute a little honey or maple syrup. You could also adjust your brown sugar amounts to make the recipe work without molasses.

½ cup almond butter
½ cup coconut oil
1/3 cup stevia
1/3 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp xanthan gum
1 ½ cup GF all purpose flour
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine almond butter and oil. Blend on low speed until combined. Add in egg, stevia, sugar, molasses and vanilla.
  • Blend on low speed and slowly add in flour, soda, salt, xanthan gum. Continue mixing until dough is well combined.
  • Form dough into 1” cookie balls and place on a greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Press cookies down with a fork in crisscross pattern if desired.
  • Bake at 375°F for 10-13 minutes or until edges start to brown.
  • Let cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Store in a sealed container.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Meal Plan Week of 11/10/13-11/16/13

Hello all! I love getting ready for the holidays - I'm so excited to share some new holiday recipes I've been trying. For now though, you will have to wait! Here's this week's meal plan. I'm also thinking of including shopping lists to go along with the meal plan post so you all can have "Shopping Saturday" to get your needed items before the week starts. I'll work on that soon!

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SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
Breakfast
cereal
scrambled egg
egg
scrambled egg
oatmeal
pumpkin
bake
berries
toast
cin. toast
w/ veggies
berries
french toast
fruit
egg
banana
apple
banana sandwich
almond milk
banana
tea
tea
tea
tea
tea
tea
tea
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
"lunchables"
chicken salad
salad
salad
turkey
salad
veggie
to go
lettuce wrap
hummus/carrots
w/ veggies
lettuce wraps
hummus
pizza
trailmix
fruit
crackers
fruit
fruit
celery
wraps
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
Dinner
tomato soup
beef
turkey
leftover
beef
KIDS 
bean soup
hot rolls
broccoli
stroganoff
turkey or
stew
CHOICE
salad
salad
salad
salad
stirfry
rolls
(quesadillas)
biscuits
water
water
water
water
water
water
water
Snack
Snack
Snack
Snack
Snack
Snack
Snack
smoothie
pear
smoothie
trailmix
celery
smoothie
orange
cheese stick
trailmix
fruit/nuts
cheese
apple
carrots
smoothie
cookies
pudding
apple nachos
ice cream
banana parfait
frozen yogurt
cupcake