Saturday, February 26, 2011

A successful pancake venture

So. These past couple weeks, my husband and I have both been very sick alternatively. I'm running a fever today, and he's still got a cough. But, I was feeling hungry, and a little better than I had been, so I decided to make pancakes! But, since we were both feeling not so up to par, I had to find a recipe that was from scratch, since I didn't have any pancake mix, and that didn't use eggs, since I was also out of those, and I didn't feel like going out.

Here is how they turned out, don't they look scrumptious?


Here is the recipe I found:

EGG LESS PANCAKES

1 cup flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup full cream milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 tablespoon butter

Combine dry ingredients and mix, add milk, oil, water, and vanilla. Beat together. Set aside to rest for a ten minutes.
Heat a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Melt butter and add to batter.

1/4 cup of batter into the pan for each pancake.

Cook until bubbles form on the surface. Flip pancakes and cook until golden brown.

Because I am a sucker for editing and revising recipes I've found, I added a nice amount of honey, and butterscotch chips. They turned out soooo yummy! They do have a slightly denser texture to them, as they don't have the eggs. But they were still really good. And since we were missing syrup as well, I just topped them with more honey. I was delighted with this recipe and the yield too, since it's just me and my husband, and it made about 5 or 6. And that's all we needed.

Hope this brings someone else's tummy a happy feeling!

As always,

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Polka Dot Pink Dress

So today was my little cousin's birthday party. I had made her present this year. It was the first time I'd ever given her a present because she is a relation on my husband's side. I made a little polka dot pink dress that matched my apron pretty nicely. I was really proud of myself, because I learned how to pleat and gather with this project, and I thought it turned out really nice. Here's my finished product.




Soon I promise to have a picture of my little cousin in the dress. It actually ended up fitting her pretty well, though it does leave a little room to grow into it. So I was quite pleased with the results, because I didn't have much of a size/measurements to go on.






Well, getting late. Start my newest project, the tunic shirt, tomorrow hopefully. I already have the patterns cut out, just not in the fabric quite yet. And I forgot to pick up some interfacing. Which, I have to find out just what that is. Wish me luck!

As always,

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Quilted Lazy Days Tote

Hi again y'all. So far I've got some good feedback from my online community that I'm apart of, which really encourages me to keep going. So, this project I put together was my very first quilting project I've ever done. I thought it seemed fun, and I got it by googling "projects to use scrap fabrics". Since I had a few built up. though not nearly enough, since I ended up going out and buying fabric anyway. Oh well.

The instructions I followed were on the Better Homes and Gardens website, which, you should go visit since they are having a really good deal on a one year or two year subscription with a free cookbook, which I happily scooped right up.

To view the instructions, simply go here!

So, like I mentioned before, we were having trouble with our camera, so I didn't get pictures of the process, but here is my finished copy. I was quite quite proud of it, and intend to give it to my mother, since I don't really carry handbags.


It wasn't too terribly difficult of a project, though it did take some time to cut and sew all the little square and triangle pieces that made up the quilting pattern. But I enjoyed it, and it kept me busy. I hope it inspires someone, and someone else has a good time with it like I did.

Next project!

I just had fun with a killer sale at Joann's Fabrics, and bought ten simplicity patterns for ten dollars. Quite a savings. So I will have my hands full for a while, intermittently, since occasionally I do need to return my mother's sewing machine. So, my next project is a tunic style shirt with a wine colored stretch jersey knit material. I'm really looking forward to doing this one, since it's the first piece of clothing I've actually made for myself. So, we'll see how it turns out, and I promise to take lots of pictures!

Until next time.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Valentine's Day Pie

So. My whole inspiration for my blog was a friend of mine upon an online community showing me hers. So, this pie is directly taken from hers. I don't have pictures of my creating process, and she has excellent ones, so feel free to go visit hers!

 www.domestic-designs.blogspot.com

The original recipe is from Martha Stewart, and it is a pear and raspberry pie. Cute and pink for valentine's day. Unfortunately, raspberries aren't in season right now, and I didn't buy pears ahead of time to let them ripen. So, for my pie, I used canned pears and frozen raspberries. My pies turned out really yummy, I ended up making one for my mom and dad too since I went over and used their awesome big kitchen to bake at, something I do often. The crust also reminded me of those little fruit pies you can get at grocery stores and gas stations, little pocket pies. I found them incredibly yummy.


My hearts were hand crafted, since I didn't have cookie cutters, and this is the other version opposite of the one featured in sweetdreamer's blog, but I enjoyed it, and my husband found it really cute. Which, is the most important, yes?

For the original recipe, visit here!

My first project: Purple polka dot apron

So this was my first project. A little ruffled apron that I was inspired to make from a friend's blog. I wanted to buy one with my tax return, but seeing her blog, I decided to make my own! It turned out to be a wonderful fun project. So. Here's how it went.


This was my mother's sewing machine that I've borrowed so far for all my projects. My goal is to buy my own. But I already got a new laptop with my return, so it'll have to wait a few more paychecks. And that is my siamese kitten becoming cat, Freezie. She makes frequent appearances.


This was my fabric for my project. I'm a sucker for purple, and well, this was a little bit retro, and I fell in love with it!


This is my husband and my brother in law. Playing xbox was what they did the whole time I was working on my apron. Helpful bunch.


My pattern for the project I am making. The second from the right is the actual one I decided on.


This was my "cutting table". I live in a one bedroom apartment, so I don't have a whole lot of space. So I used my entry hallway. It was all perfectly set out... until...


Yes... Freezie strikes again. For some reason, whenever I'm working on something, she has to be involved. She's a momma's girl. SO. Later on, my husband and I had to relay this out after she'd spent the whole time I was cutting patterns pouncing and tearing at it.


Tada! Patterns laid out. And yes, I had about an extra half yard of material I bought, just in case, since I'm always messing up something 


My "sewing area". Yes, it was a patch of floor in the middle of all the foot traffic. Very very convenient. I'm resourceful. Pride myself on that fact.


There I was talking with my online bestie, jennamae. As well as that little art briefcase, was my cutting table. My hard flat surface to cut the patterns out once I had them snipped from the bigger piece.


This was my first layer of my ruffled skirt for the apron. I just finished putting the double fold tape on the lining. I've never done it before, and it was a little time consuming, but I was so proud how it looked so professional afterwards.


And the second layer...


And finally the third! There's my skirt!


By this point, my kitty was invading so much I was about ready to strangle her. So. Brother in law away to try and stop her from messing with me.


So. I made many mistakes during my project. This was the only one I got on camera. Sewing together the three ruffly layers together, a little oopsy with one of the ruffles being caught up in the seam above it. I didn't have a seam ripper...


So! This was my seam ripper. A little narrow knife my husband got for Christmas. Surprisingly, it worked rather well. I've used it on a couple of projects.


Here is the ruffled layers connected to the bib of the apron. It turned out to be a bit narrow for my tastes, but this was my first working from a pattern in a long time, so I wasn't too comfortable deviating from the pattern. 


This was the end of night one. Unfortunately, after this night, I didn't take any more photos. Until the end. SO. After an addition of some shoulder straps, which I added a bit of length to, but you can't really tell, and waist ties, here is the finished product! I am super proud of it!


Ta da! 


Not sure why this is sideways, but it is mostly to show that the straps criss cross.


So. First project and first blog! Hopefully I can bring a little inspiration to someone somewhere. Coming soon, a little pink sundress, possibly banana bread, and a quilted bag!