Quick, Fresh , New Napkins

I really mean quick!



We have used cloth dinner napkins for years. Early on, I used terry cloth utility towels I bought from the store. Later, when we started using cloth diapers, the complaint was made that the napkins looked too much like the rags I used for wipes. So, a couple years ago I decided to make some flannel ones. I found some flannel on sale and made some. They were very simple and effective, but small. We have used them regularly for the last 2 years, and they are showing some slight wear, but they have held up well.



I came across some navy flannel on sale and thought that it would be just right for napkins for my messy family. I ordered 2yds and washed and dried it as soon as it came. This afternoon I got my chance. I measured the washed fabric and calculated that I could get 48 napkins measuring just over 11" square. Once I got them all cut out I started surging the edges. (I really whipped them out so don't look to close to the corners; if I were to make some to give someone else I promise I would take a little more time to make them look nicer.) I kinda like the contrast of the white thread on the blue. Done in around 2 hours.




Now, these are for normal everyday, practical use. They may not be "formal dinner" nice, but we rarely have formal dinners so informal absorbent and bigger works for me! Another plus is if I don't get to the laundry for a couple days, we are still covered. Yay!

Jars for presents

As we were working on these my oldest lights up and says, "Mom! You must take pictures to post on Pintrest!"

Well, I'll post them here and share there. They were fun.



I mixed some white glue with water and we "painted" the mason jar with the mixture. We then laid tissue paper on the wet surface and "painted" over the paper to insure it was stuck.



The colors did bleed some but it made a neat effect.



I set the jars in the oven not to bake, but because it was a safe spot away from curious little hands.



We placed cousin's Christmas presents inside to ship - I think they made it safely.
I used a circle of construction paper under the ring to brighten up the lid and write the recipients name. Festive looking, huh?



I also had the kids repeat this on tin cans to make some pencil/tool holders for their daddy. I suggested they try doing fewer layers and they did which allowed some of the metallic shimmer come through. Now, I might have them do more for the school room.

Update on Chair pockets

We are loving the convenience of these chair pockets, but we discovered that turning the pillowcase on itself one more time gave us another two pockets (one on the side you sit, perfect if you only put a thin flat item in it) and made the pockets a more useful depth - the notebooks don't disappear inside.



(So, we started with the pillowcase right side out, turned 2/3 way inside out then back on itself so it is 1/3 the normal depth. Clear as mud?)

School notebook pockets

I just started having my big girls use spiral notebooks for their school work (their 3 ring notebooks are already too full and I'm not ready to thin them out). I needed someplace quick to store them as they just didn't stand nicely on the shelves and there wasn't enough room to lay them down. I had recently read a school teacher turned pillowcases into chair back pockets; I have extra pillow cases we don't use...so voila we have our solution!


First, I turned the case inside out.



Then turned it halfway right side out so the opening and the open end and the bottom seam met. At this point I just safety pinned the corners, but I will go back later and stitch the sides so they will hold better.



Finally, I opened one side to slip it over the chair back, so the notebooks sit on the bottom seam of the case.



The Girls picked out their own pillowcases and I can tell the side stitching will be necessary soon but the pins should be sufficient till the weekend. Quick, easy, and colorful. Who could ask for more?

These were a HOOT to make

Armed with my new camera, I'm back with my newest project. Inspired by an owl bag on Pintrest, I decided to make some for some special young girls. I wanted to make them youthful but not babyish as the age of these girls range from 4 to almost 11.



It took some time cut all the pieces out.



It took a little longer to stitch the faces on. I've never done applique before so I had to play with the stitching some.



Made a simple pouch with a lining.



Then I added grommets and a cord. I have to admit, putting grommets into a project is kinda fun. I think I need more projects with grommets...



Done, and ready to wrap.

Breakfast casserole

Sorry no pics since camera went AWOL.

I have been making casseroles for breakfast lately and they have been a big hit. The first one was throw together on a morning with not much time and probably could have been left in the oven just a little longer but it was done enough and enjoyed.

Biscuit and Egg cass.

1 batch of biscuits - Bisquick directions for 9 biscuits
Spread on the bottom of a greased pan.
1 dz eggs and 1/2 cup milk beaten
Stir in +/- 1 cup browned sausage (left over from breakfast burritos the night before)
Pour egg and sausage mixture over biscuit dough
sprinkle shredded cheese over top

Bake at 450 for 10 minutes or until egg is set.

I'd like to try this with bacon crumbles sometime.

Non-French Toast

We love 'over night french toast' but I rarely have time to prepare it ahead of time. I had half a loaf of homemade bread from last night, so I crumpled the slices with the food processor. Then I beat a doz eggs, some milk, about 1/2 cup sugar, some cinnamon and a dash of vanilla. I first spread the crumbs on the bottom of a pan, then pour egg mixture over the top. Bake at 450 for 20 min or till egg is set. This is very filling!

I wish I could share pictures, these were a great hit and my kiddos are now excited anytime I mention breakfast casserole!

Sandwich buns

After many attempts, I have finally found a bun recipe I can use - and my family loves! I found, thanks to Pintrest, a traditional recipe that has you activate the yeast, add ingredients slowly, kneed let rise...all those good bread making steps. I, with 4 kids homeschooling all day, don't have the energy to keep that up as often as we would eat buns. So I cheated and adapted the same recipe to be bread machine friendly. So, here is what I came up with:

Ingredients:
3 tbsp. warm milk
1 cup warm water
2 tsp. instant yeast
2½ tbsp. sugar
1½ tsp. salt
1 large egg
3 cups bread flour
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2½ tbsp. unsalted butter, softened

In a small bowl mix the water, milk, and egg with a wisk. Pour mixture into bottom of pan. Add the rest of the dry ingredients as directed by your machine manual. Set on dough setting and start. Near the end of the dough setting, grease a baking sheet (one with raised edges is preferred). Once the dough is ready, divide it into 12 even balls (I use a scale to get get them as close to the same size as possible).


I roll each ball on the sheet to give it a thin coat of grease so they don't stick as they rise. Lay them evenly spaced on the sheet and cover with an oiled (sprayed with non-stick spray) piece of plastic wrap. If you wrap it tight the buns will flatten some as they rise and make more reasonable shaped buns instead of spheres to big to take a bite of.



Let rise for about an hour or until doubled. (I find my oven, turned off, with the light turned on is about the right temperature for this step)


When done rising, remove pan from oven and remove plastic wrap. Place a shallow pan of water in the bottom of the oven, and pre-heat oven to 400 F. While the oven is heating, whisk an egg and a little water and brush over the tops of the buns. You can add sesame seeds at this point if you wish but I never have those on hand so I opt out.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Remove and cool on a wire rack.





These will also freeze and re-heat well. Maybe not quite as good as fresh, but close.