My Little Performer

My daughter put on a show for us last night...

 

It was so cute, she sang two of her own, made up songs.  

The first one was for her sister, and I can't remember all the lyrics, but some were something like

"When it's raining outside what do I do?

I look out my window and listen to it fall

I can't go on my trampoline, I can't play in the back yard

and I can't remember it all..

but it was quite cute.

Love her!!!

Watching her sisters show! (:

Jo's Rosemary bread

My new favorite bread recipe.

I was looking for something similar to focacia bread to make, and I found this recipe.
even while mixing the dough it smelled SO good, I could almost eat it raw....but I didn't...
Now, the recipe's instructions are to just throw it in a bread machine.....well....not only do I not have one...but I don't care for them either....I do, however, have a mixer :)...

so, I first mixed the yeast in warm water and sugar...let it sit for 5 min or so.....and then added it in with te rest of the ingredients....kneeded the dough until smooth, rolled it into a ball...greased a bowl (in olive oil) and let it sit for about half hour covered.

Pushed it down, split it into 3 'worms' and braided it....sprinkled it with olive oil and italian seasoning (if I had parmessan I would have also added that) and after it rose for about 45 min, I baked it for about 45 min at 350....

and...here's the recipe from ALL RECIPES

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
• 2 1/2 cups bread flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions

1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select white bread cycle; press Start. 

 
 If you are like me, and don't have italian seasoning....then you can do what I did

little bit of oregano.....little bit parsley, Thyme, garlic powder....the more garlic the better (if you love garlic, like I do)

enjoy.....you might want to make two loaves, as I had to make one first thing again the next morning
 
 
 
 
 

Delish Sandwhich

I seriously made the tastiest sammich EVER today!!!

Ingredients are as follows:

2 pieces of bread
Cream cheese
Fresh spinach leaves
Onion
Basil
Pickled beats
Tomato slices

slice the onions and tomatos thin for yummiest results

I think if I had cucumbers I would have also added them....next time, for sure!!!


seriously...make this, it's worth it!!

Painted rocks

I was given a ton of acrylic paints....so, I decided to let the kids go crazy.

I set them up outside, and found some rocks to paint to decorate our garden.

The kids scrubbed up the rocks, and then got to work.

Yes, it was a bit messy...and yes, I am BRAVE, lol!!!!

It really wasn't as messy as I thought it would be! 

Rock Painting

Delish Veggie Dip

what's for breakfast in my house?? why not veggies and dip...
being short on groceies isn't always so bad, I guess...no eggs, no milk, no bread....so...
pull out the mayo (or miracle whip) and make some yummy dip

Ingredients:

1/2 cup mayo
1/2 small shallot chopped fine
3 tbsp chopped green onion
1 tsp garlic, chopped fine
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp parsley

Directions:

Step 1: place all ingredients in a bowl
Step 2: mix all ingredients together
Step 3: dip veggies in dip
Step 4: chomp chomp chomp
Step 5: feel satisfied


Now that was easy..and tasty and would taste really good on potato chips...if only I had some!!



mmmm...potato chips

Vegan(I think) chocolate chip cookies

Well as far as I know, there's no animal products in these cookies...
Though I wouldn't normaly  make them like this....lacking groceries, but wanting cookies......I figured I'd give it a go 

---------------------------------------------------------
My egg subsitute 

1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp water
1.5 tsp baking powder
mix them all together....it will foam...that's normal....let it sit for a min or two
-------------------------------------------------------

Chocolate Chip Cookies My way
makes about..15 cookies or so

• 1-1/4 cups  flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 egg subsitute mixture
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips (I guess....use vegan chips....I didn't...but.....)
• 1/4 cup shaved almonds
• 1 squirt of molasses (I just like molasses)

so, the usual...

Step 1: mix oil and sugars
Step 2: add vanilla extract and 'egg subsitute'
Step 3: add flour, baking soda, baking powder salt.....
Step 4: add almonds and chocolate chips
Step 5: bake at 350 degrees for about 9 minutes

yummy....now you can have cookies, when you forget to put eggs and butter on your grocery list :)

picture....soon to come!!!!

My Sheety Hammock + Tutorial

I have been searching everywhere for a hammock, one that doesnt cost and arm and a leg, one that doesn't have TOO big mesh holes...one that isn't a waste of money etc....
I was going to crochet one...I was going to try my hand at macrame....but both times, I gave up before I was even 1/3 done....

.so..this morning it was actually sunny outside, and all I wanted was to lay in a hammock and read or knit.

so, I grabbed two Queen sized top sheets from my closet (I never use top sheets) and made a hammock that worked!!!!

 

Our Hammock :)

Step 1:  Find 2 top sheets (I used queen sized) that you will never want to use as a sheet again!!

Step 2: Fold both in half lengthwise (make sure to get all the wrinkles out)  lay one on top of the other

Step 3: Sew edges together...it might be easiest to baste the edges together by hand first....I didn't do it, and it worked fine for me...but keeping four layers of long fabric together can sometimes be tricky..so, do as you chose

Step 4: Flip right side out! give it a few shakes...lay it out flat and make sur eyou get the wrinkles out

Step 5: Sew along both sides (top stitch) I went in about 1.5" on each side

Step 6: Fold over the top edge about 6 inches and sew 4-6 rows of straight stitch, *optional zig zag along the edge of the fabric for a more finished look*

Step 7: Do the same as step 6 for the bottom edge

Step 8: Feed a strong rope through the top and bottom edges, make sure you have lots depending on the distance of your trees, tie them securely to your trees and voilla...hammock!!

I haven't tested the weight or anything on this hammock, but, me and my kids fit comfortably in ours
if you're worried about it, add some more rows of stitching in steps 6 and 7 and/or chose a stronger thread.