tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65838519628741476622024-02-07T20:43:39.447-05:00My Delights!Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-17688235781756453642015-06-26T22:20:00.002-04:002015-06-26T22:49:21.712-04:00CSA Week Two<br />
<br />
Chicken and barley soup with rainbow chard, garlic scapes, parsley, and kholrabi leaves<br />
<br />
Grilled chicken with sorrel sauce, zucchini chips, steamed cabbage plus grapes and tomatoes<br />
<br />
http://www.tablefortwoblog.com/zucchini-chips/real-food/sorrel-sauce-recipe-zmrz1301zmat.aspx<br />
<br />
Roast beef wraps with Spring lettuce and tomatoes, spring and dandelion salad<br />
<br />
Steak salad with baked zucchini<br />
<br />
http://www.loveandoliveoil.com/2012/08/baked-pattypan-squash-parmesan.html <br />
<br />
Shrimp basil pesto pasta with salad<br />
<br />
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/pesto-recipe2.htm<br />
<br />
In the bag:<br />
<br />
Mint<br />
<br />
Parsley<br />
<br />
Basil<br />
<br />
Kholrabi leaves<br />
<br />
6 zucchini squash<br />
<br />
Rainbow chard<br />
<br />
Kholrabi<br />
<br />
Spring lettuce mix<br />
<br />
Sorrel<br />
<br />
Butter lettuce<br />
<br />
Dandelion leaves<br />
<br />
Cabbage Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-44488658257862530482015-06-16T16:32:00.002-04:002015-06-16T16:33:19.027-04:00CSA Week One<br />
<br />
After one week, all we have left are some garlic scapes, green onions, and mint, which will all be easy to use. Looking forward to receiving today's share.<br />
<br />
In the bag:<br />
<br />
Garlic scapes<br />
1 bunch rainbow chard<br />
1 bunch kale<br />
1 kohlrabi<br />
2 heads butter lettuce<br />
Spring salad mix<br />
4 small beets<br />
6 white radishes<br />
bunch green onions<br />
1/2 head of Napa cabbage<br />
1 bunch mint<br />
<br />
What we made:<br />
Mint sparkling water<br />
<br />
Chicken and barley soup with chard and cabbage<br />
<br />
Chard, kale, cabbage, garlic scape stir fry with marinated chicken and brown rice<br />
<br />
Pasta with last year's CSA tomato sauce from the freezer, and salad with lettuce, beet greens, and radishes<br />
<br />
Nachos salad - big plate of lettuce topped with broiled tortilla chips with bbq pork, tomatoes, and cheese, plus guacamole<br />
<br />
Spring salad with strawberries, green onions, avocado, homemade vinegrette; flounder, roasted kohlrabi, and beets<br />
<br />
Homemade vinegrette:<br />
1/4 red wine vinegar<br />
1/4 balsamic vinegar<br />
1/2 olive oil<br />
a lot of Italian seasoningsJessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-79283258066766823872012-03-28T22:07:00.005-04:002012-03-28T22:19:35.752-04:00Slow Cooker Chicken and Chicken Stock<p>We've been making a lot of whole chickens recently. I've cooked them in the oven but particularly enjoy them out of the slow cooker. They're great as a first meal with veggies, then in other meals like fried rice, pastas, quesadillas as leftovers. I like to have a whole chicken ready at the start of a weekend so we don't have to do much cooking after a long week.</p>
<p>Every chicken I make is a little different, but they all follow the same general process. First, I grab whatever herbs catch my attention. This last time I mixed together some oregano, basil, paprika, rosemary, pepper, and a good amount of kosher salt. Then I added olive oil and stirred it all together. After pulling the gizzards out of the chicken cavity, I used my hands to pull the skin away from the meat. Then I rubbed my herb blend all around the meat underneath the skin to make sure the chicken got good flavor. I rubbed the last bits of the blend on the outside of the skin so it's also well flavored (making it ready for making stock after the chicken's done). Then I put the chicken in my slow cooker and cooked it on low for about 5 hours. I do check the temperature with an instant read thermometer as I get to the end to make sure it doesn't cook too long.</p>
<p>After pulling off all the meat from the bones, I put all the bones and skin back in the slow cooker and fill it a little past 3/4 full with water. Then I let this cook on low overnight. In the morning, I strain it and have my chicken stock ready to make soup or freeze for recipes later on.</p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-27129441607463873382012-01-25T20:55:00.007-05:002012-01-25T21:11:18.162-05:00My Road to a VBAC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUsaFAKE3CNPA1nxs4-i7A2YYiAUvNpNC4EAMmbyQVGfnZGGI5iKODheIsBkQkLb6LBeqrZVl9kGNuBlVD11Dh9mMxF1Lh0DeXmB30V5CZjmK7TvmiaVpp7cSpcfRdpOcJe_h6Hzauco/s1600/2012_01_22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUsaFAKE3CNPA1nxs4-i7A2YYiAUvNpNC4EAMmbyQVGfnZGGI5iKODheIsBkQkLb6LBeqrZVl9kGNuBlVD11Dh9mMxF1Lh0DeXmB30V5CZjmK7TvmiaVpp7cSpcfRdpOcJe_h6Hzauco/s400/2012_01_22.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701756125605095506" /></a>
<p>This post is about my pregnancy and birth of my second son, so a bit off topic from my normal posts. But it is truly one of my delights.</p><p>I’ve had several people ask me about some of the things I did to prepare for the birth of our second child. I had an unplanned c-section after 37 hours of labor with my first and wanted to do everything possible to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) this time around. One of the best things that helped me achieve this was finding the <a href="http://www.wisdommidwifery.org/">WISDOM Midwifery Practice</a> at George Washington University hospital, with Whitney Pinger, Laura Emmons, Nora Fisher, and Marsha Stalcup. They supported me throughout my pregnancy both mentally and physically and told me the whole time that I should trust my body since it knows what to do. Some specific recommendations they gave me to maintain optimal health throughout my pregnancy and prepare for labor and delivery include the following:<ol>
<li>I was on a very strict diet to achieve optimal nutrition and as Whitney says, “to grow an appropriately sized baby.” My first son was 8 lbs 4 oz when he was born, and usually second children are bigger than the first. Though not everything was in my control, the goal was to have a baby in the 7-7.5 lb range. My second son was 7 lbs 1 oz. Here are the <a href="http://www.wisdommidwifery.blogspot.com/p/nutrition-in-pregnancy-wisdom.html">WISDOM dietary guidelines</a>. The hardest part for me was converting to all whole grains (no white bread, white flour, or white rice) and eliminating all refined sugars. I loved being able to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. I felt great during this pregnancy compared to my first (essentially no heartburn, no cravings, and wasn’t feeling ravenous all the time), and I give a lot of credit to the diet.<br/>
Whitney also kept emphasizing to drink lots and lots of water, and eat red grapes, the pith of oranges, and the membrane from the inside of hard boiled eggs (I didn’t eat eggs because of my oldest son’s allergies). If I remember correctly, these last recommendations help build a strong umbilical cord which should help decrease chances of heart rate decelerations during labor and contractions (I experienced decelerations a lot with my first labor).</li>
<li>I was told to exercise in fresh air for 30-60 minutes every day. This meant getting my heart rate up and breathing hard, not just strolling around the neighborhood. In addition to keeping me healthy, exercising was preparing me for labor.</li>
<li>I was told to rest when I was tired. This was sometimes hard to achieve, especially in the first trimester when I was tired all the time and was chasing after my then 18 month old. I made napping a priority and started tried to sleep most days when my son went down. Luckily, he’s a good napper and would usually sleep 3 hours a day, giving me a chance to also rest.</li>
<li>I was told to drink two glasses a day of red raspberry leaf tea from the beginning of my pregnancy to help tone my uterus and make the contractions more effective when they began and I think they mentioned it helps the uterus return to its original size more quickly postpartum (and prevent hemorrhaging). This is also something that’s recommended by other practices later in pregnancy as a natural induction method, so it could be contributing in that respect, as well. I bought organic red raspberry leaves off Amazon in bulk and had plenty for my entire pregnancy (and more still to go!). I was told to boil water and let the tea steep for 6 hours.</li>
<li>From my 36th week on, I was told to take 2 evening primrose oil pills 3 times each day to help soften the cervix. This is another frequently recommended method for helping induce labor naturally.</li>
<li>It was recommended that I take a childbirth class and have a doula for the birth. I had taken a <a href="http://www.bradleybirth.com/">Bradley Childbirth</a> class with my first pregnancy, so I used that knowledge again for this pregnancy and birth. And we loved our doula, Mary Beth Harris, from the first birth, and luckily she was available for us to use again.</li></ol><p>Beyond those things, I was told to trust that labor would begin, expect it to begin after my due date (meaning not to get anxious when I saw my due date pass), and trust that my body would do what it was intended to do. My first son was born at 41 weeks and 1 day. My second son was born at 38 weeks and 4 days. After being induced the first time, I had such a hard time believing that my body would go into labor, so much so that as we were driving to the hospital, I told my husband I couldn’t believe I was actually in labor (and my son was born less than 3 hours later).</p><p>I am thankful that Whitney Pinger began her practice at GWU hospital when she did and that she was accepting VBACs by the time I was pregnant. Without her, I believe it would have been an uphill battle to have a VBAC, but instead it was an amazing experience where I felt supported the entire 9 months of pregnancy, through and after the moment when Nora placed my son on my chest. After my delivery, when I saw or spoke to each of the midwives, they all congratulated me on the VBAC, and I could tell from their faces and voices that they were genuinely thrilled that I was able to achieve it.</p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-2057684926680685132012-01-15T17:00:00.003-05:002012-01-15T17:10:19.921-05:00Baby Doll Sling<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH1plR02Z3aXK7AOuux5GJqwU9uzhVx3VLwln5nw-QqiIXE7ibJNFveKMmnskW7ZK4MwbIgOLEYKBic_rljy8qvcbwcOVMJBNpWUmCcfhGklBvuyoofMgV3P-8kQQ2hLRmnWT-5ygEzs/s1600/IMG_8704.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH1plR02Z3aXK7AOuux5GJqwU9uzhVx3VLwln5nw-QqiIXE7ibJNFveKMmnskW7ZK4MwbIgOLEYKBic_rljy8qvcbwcOVMJBNpWUmCcfhGklBvuyoofMgV3P-8kQQ2hLRmnWT-5ygEzs/s400/IMG_8704.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697984419963012370" /></a>
<p>I've been thinking about making the little boy a sling of his own. Last week when he put his buddy in his shirt the whole way to the library and kept calling it his "shirt sack," I thought it was about time to follow through with my intentions. Here's a picture of the doll sling I made and the doll that will be a gift when the baby arrives. I used the pattern for a baby sling from <a href="http://soulemama.com/">Amanda Soule's</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Home-Repurpose-Materials-Treasures/dp/1590305957">Handmade Home</a>, with the modified directions for making it kid sized. I didn't worry about reinforcing the seems the way the original directions stated since the doll's life won't be relying on them. With my serger, this came together in just about 30 minutes.</p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-81140785910609833832012-01-10T16:52:00.004-05:002012-01-10T16:58:35.238-05:00Homemade Baby Wrap<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3R-J7uDXPlWKaY7W0_Y7csVCHkmDiI-84o798_7liAPD9kfaX2l4TX9uvGoSQRt1_OA-GmDiPiS0QtYPVWqJABvA6BrrV0nJrrq9pJ9zPnvRgAzOpFjeD7HyaqqkNcYPP3XoSJUvzPk/s1600/IMG_8691.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3R-J7uDXPlWKaY7W0_Y7csVCHkmDiI-84o798_7liAPD9kfaX2l4TX9uvGoSQRt1_OA-GmDiPiS0QtYPVWqJABvA6BrrV0nJrrq9pJ9zPnvRgAzOpFjeD7HyaqqkNcYPP3XoSJUvzPk/s400/IMG_8691.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696125680124258210" /></a>
<p>I used my new serger and followed <a href="http://www.aloadofcraft.com/2010/06/tutorial-how-to-make-baby-wrap-part-3.html">this tutorial</a> to make a baby wrap. I serged together old t-shirts to make the long length of jersey fabric, which is why there are multiple colors. Now I just need to see if I'm doing the wrap part correctly. Here's the best picture I got on my own.</p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-90267625276900631322011-12-30T16:59:00.004-05:002011-12-30T17:12:40.152-05:00Cacio e Pepe Spaghetti<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilr9V-Qd6iBDfoAvo3X9eCungf4Ba247yZ7-Iy3Zu9IvF47PvoR2_XtHVZpUxxZAeVscH4fPwSJO1dIwdXdloQ2mbOQOYAgblxCFFcIOjLhNBY4w1tiGOdGY6moEMDlj83Imd30aMjKhQ/s1600/IMG_8502.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilr9V-Qd6iBDfoAvo3X9eCungf4Ba247yZ7-Iy3Zu9IvF47PvoR2_XtHVZpUxxZAeVscH4fPwSJO1dIwdXdloQ2mbOQOYAgblxCFFcIOjLhNBY4w1tiGOdGY6moEMDlj83Imd30aMjKhQ/s400/IMG_8502.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692046347749951026" /></a>
<p>This <a href="http://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/detail.php?docid=21347&_auth_token=8EbW0LIeOlhT9ZKWR6%2fEAZcZtuCdQVdupiOxmy71wOpL%2bSY1wG0wFjehQMS3UCNcryIYm0dFDwj9wlgmA%2bVDIqYft5te60UYiRY%2bYsncVZkGGiuX4JSn4dGI6g1VXBLgK7uLi7Fpfps65ifjAsnvig%3d%3d">pasta dish</a> from <a href="http://www.americastestkitchen.com/">America's Test Kitchen</a> was quick, easy, and tasted wonderful! You should definitely try it. It doesn't look like much in the picture, but it was fantastic. We followed the directions to get the nice creamy sauce that's intended, so make sure to get the right ingredients. Oh, we did use our regular H.T. Traders (Harris Teeter) brand whole wheat pasta since it is safe for egg allergies, and that didn't affect the recipe from what we could tell. Enjoy!</p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-9305605368456325652011-12-22T14:17:00.004-05:002011-12-22T14:27:20.293-05:00Vegetable Barley Soup<p>We had <a href="http://www.womansday.com/recipefinder/slow-cooker-vegetable-barley-soup-recipe-124100?redirect=no">Vegetable Barley Soup</a> this week. This looks like the type of recipe I'd love and others in my house would tolerate. For some reason it is nearly the opposite. This is my second time making it, and I get remarks that it's flavorful and done well, but when I sit down to eat it, I'm dreading it. I can't even say what I don't like other than that maybe it isn't exciting? I even tried using chicken broth this time instead of just water, but I'm still not interested in it. I do wish as I were putting all the ingredients in the slow cooker that it would have more colors. It's a lot of white and beige with the particular veggies that go into it. So sadly I can't say this is great but I also can't say why. It does have decent flavor and the veggies are tender yet with a little crunch. If you end up trying it, let me know what you think.</p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-22584459108685458342011-12-18T21:33:00.002-05:002011-12-18T21:38:51.058-05:00Sausage and Tomato Baked Pasta<p>I'm surprised I've never posted this <a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/baked-pasta-with-sausage-tomatoes-cheese-10000000549971/">baked pasta</a> recipe considering how many times we've made it. It's a great meal for when it's time to go shopping and you're just left with pantry items (we almost always use dried basil for this reason). Also, it's great for adding in extra leftover veggies (chopped mushrooms, shredded carrots, etc.). Finally, this meal can easily be frozen, which I do after assembling and before baking. Normally I'll double the recipe and freeze half for another night when we have less time.</p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-82677817919868298402011-12-16T17:49:00.004-05:002011-12-16T17:56:33.874-05:00Cornbread and Jim's Famous Chili<p>Last night we had a recipe that's been in the family for years. We made a <a href="http://wegottaeat.com/brewerja/recipes/jims-chili">chili recipe</a> that was originally found on the back of a Premium Saltine Crackers box. I made it in the morning and stuck it in the slow cooker on low all day, but that isn't necessary. I served the chili with an egg free and delicious <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/cornbread-101926">cornbread</a> (I used regular skim milk instead of soy milk). Thanks to a friend for finding the cornbread recipe, trying it out, and passing it along to me.</p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-26302030091349441262011-12-15T11:52:00.003-05:002011-12-15T12:02:33.855-05:00Chicken Tortilla Soup<p>Another dinner from this week was <a href="http://www.womansday.com/recipefinder/chicken-tortilla-soup-recipe-122310?redirect=no">Chicken Tortilla Soup</a>. I used leftover rotisserie chicken this time though I have made it the way the directions say. Also, I used my frozen homemade chicken broth, frozen corn, and cooked fresh beans. At the end, we each added tortilla chips as we ate since we like them to be crunchy. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.</p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-77354302018503673662011-12-14T09:28:00.003-05:002011-12-14T09:33:34.789-05:00Cheesy Shells and Greens<p>Last night's dinner was <a href="http://www.womansday.com/recipefinder/cheesy-shells-greens-recipe-124093?redirect=no">Cheesy Shells and Greens</a> which was enjoyed by the whole family. It's a pretty quick meal other than taking stems off the spinach, but overall it's simple and well received. I've made it before but this time added in chopped leftover chicken since I had it. Also, I left out the mustard because of allergies. Enjoy!</p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-47729245462666046072011-11-15T20:27:00.009-05:002011-11-15T20:47:25.821-05:00Sausage, Spinach, and Feta Hand Pies<p>I love this recipe for <a href="http://desertculinary.blogspot.com/2005/05/sausage-and-feta-hand-pies.html">Sausage and Feta Hand Pies</a>. We haven't made it in a awhile, and today's cooking extravaganza explained why. It took me a long time to do this by myself, and I mean a long time, really. Also, I made double (which meant double the chopping) and froze one set for when we don't have time to cook and want a good meal. As I kept on cooking, the little boy came to help, played with play dough, had lunch, played trains, read books, and then probably repeated each at least once. Here's what the bookshelf looked like when I finally finished.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZLGbLxWKzGvXPVfen8WUSZwEBPRhet0laeYfzmHblIO7bBmiBVEMcIMdc-1OfOyZNtFQ639_E39i3ufnD0TqtXhu_0nDlEvxMsj_ddb6X9CAF3qQ3b5UfxbvlPAj15v6HrplC9hhQUI/s1600/IMG_8234.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZLGbLxWKzGvXPVfen8WUSZwEBPRhet0laeYfzmHblIO7bBmiBVEMcIMdc-1OfOyZNtFQ639_E39i3ufnD0TqtXhu_0nDlEvxMsj_ddb6X9CAF3qQ3b5UfxbvlPAj15v6HrplC9hhQUI/s400/IMG_8234.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675403067686378002" /></a>
<p>My modifications on the recipe:<ul>
<li>The pie crust was made with <a href="http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/king-arthur-white-whole-wheat-flour-5-lb?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Flours&utm_content=white%20whole%20wheat%20flour&utm_term=king%20arthur%20white%20whole%20wheat%20flour&gclid=CJ6G2MSBuqwCFUKo4AodbgIGqQ">white whole wheat flour</a>. I'm still waiting for someone to burst our bubble from finding this type of flour. We enjoy the flavor more than standard whole wheat but are supposedly getting the same nutrition. Anyone know something we don't?</li>
<li>A bunch of spinach was added to the filling just before adding the tomatoes to get even more good stuff into the pies.</li>
<li>The assembled pies were brushed with olive oil instead of egg for allergy reasons. The fennel seeds were left off for the same reason.</li></ul></p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kRnoTZxEgVpeYzkuKQkZavCTqLac9x4gkRIXdOgmASZ2yKVdx2LAunLWyI-Jn6IVT5MdFxRs2tvRWO36Ebuw0gODlQgVkKOktGG0Di_zR7rUraA0H5kD9Hyyzj0SX_EfTplu-L9uB80/s1600/IMG_8231.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3kRnoTZxEgVpeYzkuKQkZavCTqLac9x4gkRIXdOgmASZ2yKVdx2LAunLWyI-Jn6IVT5MdFxRs2tvRWO36Ebuw0gODlQgVkKOktGG0Di_zR7rUraA0H5kD9Hyyzj0SX_EfTplu-L9uB80/s400/IMG_8231.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675402759910506626" /></a>
<p>This isn't the healthiest recipe considering the quantity of butter in the pie crust and the Italian sausage, but the whole wheat and spinach additions at least try to get it a little bit back on track.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CLMcHelvehoS7ybVExoCgRH7tPpF40tRySaYJJgjuoaguUHT6-cSpJmuGDiT7Zxd_UPOgBNt31H-AepqJu5tcamPFp6DCvPTdrZetJhb8_Pifh5wcVNkFh2xY25s-F8Z2lQ_ISkHzcc/s1600/IMG_8239.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CLMcHelvehoS7ybVExoCgRH7tPpF40tRySaYJJgjuoaguUHT6-cSpJmuGDiT7Zxd_UPOgBNt31H-AepqJu5tcamPFp6DCvPTdrZetJhb8_Pifh5wcVNkFh2xY25s-F8Z2lQ_ISkHzcc/s400/IMG_8239.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675402889718329474" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-30952807339624800172011-11-11T14:00:00.001-05:002011-11-11T14:13:16.509-05:00Slow Cooker Lasagna<p>I've been battling with my slow cooker lately. It doesn't really like to cook...slowly... In one instance, I tried making a soup and put in a pork shoulder and black beans to cook on low for 8 hours. When I checked the meat after 3 hours, it was already tough. There has been repeated disappointment, and I keep hearing from so many people how much they love their slow cookers. I want to know this love. It is so much easier to prep dinner in the morning and set it out to cook when the little boy is still happy and chipper, instead of waiting until evening and hoping he'll be in a good enough mood to either help me or play on his own.</p>
<p>I kept thinking that I just didn't know how to work the slow cooker (and maybe that is part of the problem). But my mom loaned me hers for a short time, and it's amazing how many great meals I've gotten out of it already. Not a single failure yet, and I even cooked a pasta dish, which I previously thought would be impossible. Day 1 of testing out the slow cooker, I threw together this <a href="http://www.womansday.com/Recipes/Slow-Cooker-Lasagna-Recipe.html">Lasagna</a> and added chopped mushrooms and carrots to give it some more veggies. I also used a homemade marinara sauce I had in the freezer, and it was delicious.</p>
<p>I wish I had taken a picture of it, but here's a picture of toddler cooking when you turn your back for a moment (do not fear, the stove is not on).</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoze-ZFewOoV6-JA34eL4-rVOwbnW9p4dmpGN68-BfJZmD15V2-VkZp8uX2nahG41_FXw22I1Vj5xsFUbGFMMAc9OMmIyDeMXKj1uslniW4i2ICxyBY-UMVSJfPFKLNK5I8ewvXGSgSI/s1600/IMG_7672.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoze-ZFewOoV6-JA34eL4-rVOwbnW9p4dmpGN68-BfJZmD15V2-VkZp8uX2nahG41_FXw22I1Vj5xsFUbGFMMAc9OMmIyDeMXKj1uslniW4i2ICxyBY-UMVSJfPFKLNK5I8ewvXGSgSI/s400/IMG_7672.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672075852685496546" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-75176576715398051832011-11-08T10:38:00.001-05:002011-11-08T10:38:56.411-05:00Sun Ray Toy<p>I celebrated a friend's soon-to-be daughter on Saturday and had been struggling on what to make her for her shower gift. I was looking for another fun item to add to what I already had, including some decorated burp clothes. I'm glad I kept waiting for inspiration, since on the Wednesday before, I saw a blog post on <a href="http://madebyjoel.com/">Made by Joel</a> for a baby <a href="http://madebyjoel.com/2011/11/diy-baby-sun-ray-toy.html">sun ray toy</a> and was ready to dig through my fabric to make it. I couldn't help but make another for our next baby. Here's the silly little toy that I hope our babies will enjoy exploring and chewing on very soon.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgwgbgdoOZKsqR4iG0tP_eNjpl3fU4Md6ia-ASikULOQ5HHS8IjrmzpwUoqxF82ewrjiOni9pJnfkgb15tu7O0JKx9CGHJ33jYg9o59GhJU7ffvEyDYzfJfXmcXr-EE4IHK-Wv1cg_jc/s1600/IMG_8224.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgwgbgdoOZKsqR4iG0tP_eNjpl3fU4Md6ia-ASikULOQ5HHS8IjrmzpwUoqxF82ewrjiOni9pJnfkgb15tu7O0JKx9CGHJ33jYg9o59GhJU7ffvEyDYzfJfXmcXr-EE4IHK-Wv1cg_jc/s400/IMG_8224.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672079693687224962" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-35363745438903769432011-11-06T20:53:00.001-05:002011-11-06T21:06:20.807-05:00Birthday Bag<p>As we were waiting for the hurricane to hit in August, I sat down at the sewing machine and made two bags from one of my grandmother's old table clothes. The first was a birthday present for my mom, and the second was for me. Most of my sewing projects end up leaving the house, but I am happy I took the time before losing power to make a second bag. I've been using it for everything and love that it reminds me of my mom and grandmother each time. The pattern came from Amanda Soule's "<a href="http://www.soulemama.bigcartel.com/product/handmade-home-by-amanda-blake-soule">Handmade Home</a>." So far every idea or pattern that I've gotten from that book has brought joy to me or a family member.
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdZi3wOPNxaoxvHwsRZ2YHQ0-AFVfYLIoAOQ9_gmKegJAfdDZMKOsJihuvvWqAkiimDKL_hgeNxW_JW5rYY9FrBAiD0Ht5fQkl_7p8VSCL4svznXabKPlAO65qTpS24I2rlKjhvUIN6M/s1600/IMG_8225.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdZi3wOPNxaoxvHwsRZ2YHQ0-AFVfYLIoAOQ9_gmKegJAfdDZMKOsJihuvvWqAkiimDKL_hgeNxW_JW5rYY9FrBAiD0Ht5fQkl_7p8VSCL4svznXabKPlAO65qTpS24I2rlKjhvUIN6M/s400/IMG_8225.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5671722264078622706" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-53529199623026454702011-10-19T22:40:00.000-04:002011-10-19T22:41:02.368-04:00In Flight Entertainment<p>In August our family took a flight to Florida. Since the little boy is on the go all the time, I knew I should plan ahead with some in flight entertainment, toddler style, for the multiple hour flight. I've had a couple friends ask me for tips on keeping little ones entertained, so here are my ideas, but I'm sure there are plenty more things I haven't thought of.</p>
<p>Before flying, I try to let him walk around the terminal as much as possible to get some energy out. Also, depending on how you feel, you could board later on in the process to minimize sitting time. There's plenty to look at with all the planes, people, and luggage carts outside the window, so in-airport entertainment is easy.</p>
<p>When you get on the plane, make sure everything you need is within arm's reach. Keep your entertainment, food, and diapers under the seat in front of you so you can grab them easily. (Of course, make sure diapers are clean and dry to help keep a happy kid.) First off, I try to find entertaining things around us before pulling from my bag of tricks. There's a lot to look at just watching passengers board the plane and flight attendants get ready for departure. I've also found that the magazines they leave in your seat have quite a few dogs, airplanes, and other interesting things to search for throughout their pages. But a lot of our early entertainment is just talking about what's happening around us or out the window and answering the many questions that the little boy has about the unfamiliar environment.</p>
<p>I try to take advantage of walking the aisle when given the chance, since you aren't able to do that all the time. Also, a good game of peek-a-boo with an extra jacket or the magazine from your seat is great for getting a happy kid and wasting some time. As for the things I pack, here are some of the things I took along this time around.<br>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNR1KjkTakPNjH5K_aT1lE5kmhJsYjZ482oksOj9c6uuzp9QX2iKQsQxqJpaqDjbLVoQcVBhX3r5yRuv9Ymer3g5wsm4ThAmGRYrG0WvyHWdgNiZk4gq3VMM4SavMYe_KFDaQAN__MT70/s1600/IMG_7375.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNR1KjkTakPNjH5K_aT1lE5kmhJsYjZ482oksOj9c6uuzp9QX2iKQsQxqJpaqDjbLVoQcVBhX3r5yRuv9Ymer3g5wsm4ThAmGRYrG0WvyHWdgNiZk4gq3VMM4SavMYe_KFDaQAN__MT70/s400/IMG_7375.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663397995575123506" /></a>
<ul><li>I printed off some of these <a href="http://madebyjoel.com/free-coloring-sheets">coloring pages</a> from <a href="http://madebyjoel.com/">Made by Joel</a> and some of these <a href="http://www.grandparents.com/gp/content/activitiesandevents/coloring-activity-pages/index.html">coloring pages</a> from <a href="http://www.grandparents.com/gp/home/index.html">grandparents.com</a> based on what I thought would be most entertaining. I stapled them together into a book and punched a hole in the upper left corner. Then I used yarn to tie on a red, a yellow, and a blue crayon to prevent little hands from tossing them all over the plane when he lost interest.</li>
<li>Since balls are a favorite toy, I made a pair of these <a href="http://madebyjoel.com/2010/03/yo-yo-ball.html">yo-yo balls</a> since they'd be better for keeping under control. I kept building up this pile of scrap fabric when working on projects and finally found a use for it when I made the yo-yo balls. It was a great stuffing for filling them up.<br>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93XecS3EHKCjpihiM37UKdW-xwwdBBy14GW9fY2I0v8GOVussCuZrd8DPsYjtszJUcLxhmsKkODluCn6GljYc4Zsxuz6jmIqlum0Y-KuQVfo6-6ASYU-o7h9Em-q7KUhp23b1dxJUcN8/s1600/IMG_7371.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93XecS3EHKCjpihiM37UKdW-xwwdBBy14GW9fY2I0v8GOVussCuZrd8DPsYjtszJUcLxhmsKkODluCn6GljYc4Zsxuz6jmIqlum0Y-KuQVfo6-6ASYU-o7h9Em-q7KUhp23b1dxJUcN8/s400/IMG_7371.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663398075890483762" /></a></li>
<li>These <a href="http://madebyjoel.com/2010/11/craft-for-etsy-blog-fabric-nesting-dolls.html">fabric nesting dolls</a> caught my attention as something that could be entertaining in flight. I made the largest one a rocket ship since that's been a recent interest. The little boy found additional uses for this toy such as placing the rocket ship on the arm rest of the seat and making it blast off with sound effects.</li>
<li>I made several sewing cards. I quickly sketched out items of interest and then had the little boy color them so he could participate. There was a rocket, Curious George, and an apple tree. After he finished coloring, I glued the picture onto cardboard. I trimmed it and punched holes around the edges. Then I tied yarn to one hole (with the other end secured with tape so it wouldn't fray) so it would be ready for sewing around the card. You could also use an old shoelace.</li>
<li>I made a little older version of these <a href="http://madebyjoel.com/2011/04/fleece-play-squares-for-babies.html">fleece play squares</a>. I cut various shapes and sizes from different colored fleece and a larger white piece to be used as a canvas.</li>
<li>Last but not least, there's the food entertainment. I try to have a variety of easy to eat snacks ready to go - raisins, other dried fruit, fruit chips, crackers, chopped veggies, a banana, cheese cubes. Sometimes I use juice as a treat since we don't drink it normally. You can also ask for a cup and straw on the plane if you didn't bring your own.</li></ul>
<p>My goal was to keep everything small and light weight. Even though I had several toys to grab when needed, they all fit into a small bag or could have been stuffed into the diaper bag. These toys have also become ones that I grab as I'm running out the door for a car trip or weekend away when I want quick toys to take with me.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTQzzAFXl9TfHyAHpo7hmjoPyND5SSR_HqL4xxyouth7s3-vWJBveSFVO9BajtNUELoty7U9zT6iYktzSUTCCWUtnFRw1l_E4wAje-R1ju6vt9b1Po58R1VaWP9s3mgVpCmuYabZvvz4/s1600/IMG_7376.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTQzzAFXl9TfHyAHpo7hmjoPyND5SSR_HqL4xxyouth7s3-vWJBveSFVO9BajtNUELoty7U9zT6iYktzSUTCCWUtnFRw1l_E4wAje-R1ju6vt9b1Po58R1VaWP9s3mgVpCmuYabZvvz4/s400/IMG_7376.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663397912477047794" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-44670184814800303682011-10-15T20:59:00.002-04:002011-10-15T21:01:02.509-04:00Cooking Fun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qMm84YJL7YIChhiIo1IZWcavVzw7nl3jbCH1cAkI4E0FwOh1HIbOF1QR2MKuY9F4pfKnN8XkxIcrktNag8JeCby9DgeTKc_6h9sZqjEwtvBHlVVMfkz0DndEjQDJQfYk3cKdHiDnc3Y/s1600/IMG_7702.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qMm84YJL7YIChhiIo1IZWcavVzw7nl3jbCH1cAkI4E0FwOh1HIbOF1QR2MKuY9F4pfKnN8XkxIcrktNag8JeCby9DgeTKc_6h9sZqjEwtvBHlVVMfkz0DndEjQDJQfYk3cKdHiDnc3Y/s400/IMG_7702.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663888561910288354" /></a>
<p>We have a new piece of furniture in our kitchen. Luckily there's enough room to move around it, but I was a little nervous at first to commit to adding such a big thing to an area of the house that gets a lot of use and traffic. The little boy received a <a href="http://www.littlepartners.com/">Learning Tower</a> for his birthday, and he was excited about it from the moment he laid his eyes on it. Now he likes to hang out in his tower as I cook, helping sometimes, or just snacking or hiding next to me. He can see so well, participate safely, and generally seems to love it so far. Even washing hands has become a lot easier! Here he is enjoying his new tower.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GFmJmsEcbZ-WNriWgo7QQIpuoFklLfa5_uT8zZvrt-JHhC-jHodHzqrJ887vbuXG8-7mUlGbceWB8gOLwmwMFgkJTwaOw86DdPxyI8GjvYHTGvWg2CAhseeFeioxNtzJ91ATpAKOKJ8/s1600/IMG_7808.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GFmJmsEcbZ-WNriWgo7QQIpuoFklLfa5_uT8zZvrt-JHhC-jHodHzqrJ887vbuXG8-7mUlGbceWB8gOLwmwMFgkJTwaOw86DdPxyI8GjvYHTGvWg2CAhseeFeioxNtzJ91ATpAKOKJ8/s400/IMG_7808.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663888653858258162" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-33319703017797825782011-10-14T13:01:00.004-04:002011-10-14T13:12:29.062-04:00Train Bean Bag Toss<p>The little boy had a small birthday party last weekend, and it was a train theme since he either wants to play baseball or play trains nearly every waking moment. I've been meaning to make him a bean bag game for some time since he enjoyed it at a Halloween party last year. We had a rainy day the week before the party, so we set out to work. Here's the toddler friendly train game (no scoring involved!). We even saw the little guys working together, as one would stand in the back and hand the bean bags back through the holes as they were tossed in.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOagwDR7rZ-ZooN43mpV_jIutDCNjhbfoATiNfLWTEBlrlc1ojbdIA6FHkI94-BwPvUswDCatZQjBPoRs7xHVOkuiC2d9dIBy7ZRFOZFA3VLic9TH3bP5S14q8iJTBT6GJx-aCePhSug/s1600/DSC_0352.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOagwDR7rZ-ZooN43mpV_jIutDCNjhbfoATiNfLWTEBlrlc1ojbdIA6FHkI94-BwPvUswDCatZQjBPoRs7xHVOkuiC2d9dIBy7ZRFOZFA3VLic9TH3bP5S14q8iJTBT6GJx-aCePhSug/s400/DSC_0352.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663394896608957378" /></a>
<p>I sketched the train onto the back of an old car seat box using Crews' <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Freight-Train-Donald-Crews/dp/0688117015/ref=tmm_pap_title_0">"Freight Train"</a> as a reference. Then the little boy helped me fill it in with construction paper. After tracing the edges and cutting a couple holes, it was ready to go. To complete the fun, I made several bean bags (some scrap fabric and dried beans for the inside) with stripes like a train engineer's hat.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWjHvL_83EVJKqbk-wmQbdiLEu6uVb-YjAPQxurMss1A5iwlmUL1WbNW1oqnBE84FYVFJTtCwSvoildVakH929eVWBTIwUYJZ_DI16Buy0KQDjUGR_tVbL_Vf9BPeVHi9licisgwRhLQ/s1600/IMG_7847.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWjHvL_83EVJKqbk-wmQbdiLEu6uVb-YjAPQxurMss1A5iwlmUL1WbNW1oqnBE84FYVFJTtCwSvoildVakH929eVWBTIwUYJZ_DI16Buy0KQDjUGR_tVbL_Vf9BPeVHi9licisgwRhLQ/s400/IMG_7847.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663396037700099218" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-72829350893076039902011-10-06T10:12:00.000-04:002011-10-06T10:14:36.935-04:00Wedding Placemats<p>I finally finished a much belated wedding gift for my friends in Boston (and that's an understatement - they've been married nearly a year and a half). Here are their recently delivered wedding placemats. Though I've been working on them since about the time my friends got married, this project should probably have taken only a couple weeks to complete, maybe a month, for the embroidery and assembly of all four. Nonetheless, better late than never! The delay just gave me more time to think about my friends as I designed and stitched them together.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWzJ3nxpmVWnceFf5SoFqHwDYf9EwwzXzeHTl4-EHRSeLi_QCWqhxjg0Ck7wkteh28PXb2V5yHqw7wspjPZA-Fj1yhbFF9uh91reGNsbFnTvAzmWKLkQsOzJ8FjlOegZT8J4Tuf5Ezg4/s1600/IMG_7567.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWzJ3nxpmVWnceFf5SoFqHwDYf9EwwzXzeHTl4-EHRSeLi_QCWqhxjg0Ck7wkteh28PXb2V5yHqw7wspjPZA-Fj1yhbFF9uh91reGNsbFnTvAzmWKLkQsOzJ8FjlOegZT8J4Tuf5Ezg4/s400/IMG_7567.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658342761206422258" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMI_5kaaxamR_cxd9KeIdDTLvMtB6rCSlzrK8Pm7cLj-Ink132TbAcfrFRdZ0KHTAzvcRul72ZhDZWIBXL5EtcH74QjeFfbZd7jTLXsOmVvwXzgG-4Lcnu6DhXRuoUDSAyl_STf6hi9A/s1600/IMG_7564.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMI_5kaaxamR_cxd9KeIdDTLvMtB6rCSlzrK8Pm7cLj-Ink132TbAcfrFRdZ0KHTAzvcRul72ZhDZWIBXL5EtcH74QjeFfbZd7jTLXsOmVvwXzgG-4Lcnu6DhXRuoUDSAyl_STf6hi9A/s400/IMG_7564.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658342629918862946" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFntSRnZGqBJ6XrbYAabyjAg-S68ve37hCssQDnsnKrgRNKDzI2XDFGw6oBT8Sozy6fpWVVchyFLf1HeTZHxmEP1nPpzyCy9I8ZosGkY42HnnQW78CD-tpZ4dFyO3zZdcLAYPbDhPvxEc/s1600/IMG_7569.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFntSRnZGqBJ6XrbYAabyjAg-S68ve37hCssQDnsnKrgRNKDzI2XDFGw6oBT8Sozy6fpWVVchyFLf1HeTZHxmEP1nPpzyCy9I8ZosGkY42HnnQW78CD-tpZ4dFyO3zZdcLAYPbDhPvxEc/s400/IMG_7569.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658342898283242690" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0J9CdJGXanNI39aSZMq-q4Kq8hMvgVjFYdlxmuPaKnqVahsTosDpTPbsWnMvCotxhou-UbXHUL0P6HIon-eqMKd8o-C3uy9x2AFF7dT9XdSM5-0YVOwuat0R94N5qVEGN1UF7bXGOKk/s1600/IMG_7568.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0J9CdJGXanNI39aSZMq-q4Kq8hMvgVjFYdlxmuPaKnqVahsTosDpTPbsWnMvCotxhou-UbXHUL0P6HIon-eqMKd8o-C3uy9x2AFF7dT9XdSM5-0YVOwuat0R94N5qVEGN1UF7bXGOKk/s400/IMG_7568.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658343008384059954" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNcLsYBw2vTTslYyNEjAe9uNRR2iGEUbh-kfdq8h3ToDPzYfyLGzs0ybuoFNhyphenhyphenJgG-RDT1f02u3qNz78FotnyZVZVfPRzufvZY74VFnQZVQh6d2Xr9telJE2ZjakSvrhl_M05Ca8mQT0/s1600/IMG_7574.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNcLsYBw2vTTslYyNEjAe9uNRR2iGEUbh-kfdq8h3ToDPzYfyLGzs0ybuoFNhyphenhyphenJgG-RDT1f02u3qNz78FotnyZVZVfPRzufvZY74VFnQZVQh6d2Xr9telJE2ZjakSvrhl_M05Ca8mQT0/s400/IMG_7574.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658343089716260690" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-39443156736695374332011-10-01T22:27:00.000-04:002011-10-01T22:37:55.100-04:00Another Baby, Another Bunny<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0pEkfQIukp5S9tpvzQIvOAJR1S2PhP2PAgJvAmnJqR2fxUOxgq1JLFUacgJwSjSrKgRHaoOldkbT3l7zq4wWJZTukacusjV-LulpvcexjQVtWZd8_mfWldGpkEsz9ZL7MIo6wLdhp5s/s1600/IMG_7549.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0pEkfQIukp5S9tpvzQIvOAJR1S2PhP2PAgJvAmnJqR2fxUOxgq1JLFUacgJwSjSrKgRHaoOldkbT3l7zq4wWJZTukacusjV-LulpvcexjQVtWZd8_mfWldGpkEsz9ZL7MIo6wLdhp5s/s400/IMG_7549.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658346482147387890" /></a>
<p>My cousin's baby girl was born earlier this month which called for a new bunny. Here's take two of a project I <a href="http://mydelite.blogspot.com/2011/06/bunny-friend.html">posted about earlier</a> in the summer. I'm happy that my supply of worn in jeans continues so that these friends are soft and ready for snuggling. Also, I had help from some little hands this time around which made it more special.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNhe8AKg4n3uAAVjD6VyaqfAQZBrLXQVvsVI7ZDqc-HEht213G9GWBgGvLLExRZ7OxvQbym2cxruyfpkRWty2HNyuJQxhYXwIP2gnEKJbot6-XTIygEYxrYYA9G41bDe0E6oHIDNU8f0/s1600/IMG_7552.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNhe8AKg4n3uAAVjD6VyaqfAQZBrLXQVvsVI7ZDqc-HEht213G9GWBgGvLLExRZ7OxvQbym2cxruyfpkRWty2HNyuJQxhYXwIP2gnEKJbot6-XTIygEYxrYYA9G41bDe0E6oHIDNU8f0/s400/IMG_7552.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658346568847753602" /></a>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtj7ggT_iWff5GMmQknLnzT16TZ4oTHgT4UiRer7mT-zOgEmnjX6Lstz9aZHorWqjsWNVoVrd89n0EjsqNehArUue2Lllj9kW36d6QzLuxoUP3_daNh7NeF4jl2xZUJiGGZyRyi8yTX4E/s1600/IMG_7557.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtj7ggT_iWff5GMmQknLnzT16TZ4oTHgT4UiRer7mT-zOgEmnjX6Lstz9aZHorWqjsWNVoVrd89n0EjsqNehArUue2Lllj9kW36d6QzLuxoUP3_daNh7NeF4jl2xZUJiGGZyRyi8yTX4E/s400/IMG_7557.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658346667566849282" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-14481893211957749932011-09-30T21:50:00.004-04:002011-09-30T22:08:56.692-04:00Children's Apron<p>My little boy turns two next week, which calls for a special gift. He's been a big help in the kitchen lately, so I know he'll get excited to have his own apron. Usually I wait until after giving a gift to post it, but since he's not yet reading blogs, I decided it would be safe to share pictures of the apron fresh from the sewing table. After searching the internet, I found a <a href="http://sewliberated.typepad.com/Montessori%20Childs%20Apron.pdf">children's apron pattern</a> at <a href="http://sewliberated.typepad.com/sew_liberated/">Sew Liberated</a> that comes with high reviews. Hopefully everyone else's trial and error will result in a great apron the first time around.</p>
<p>This apron only took a little over an evening to complete. I was excited to pull out some fabric I bought years ago for...something...and now I have a something to use it for. I'm looking forward to watching the little boy throw the apron over his head and set out to work next week (maybe in time to help make the cake for his party), but for now it's still pretty cute hanging on its own.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9b6M9PGveB_iQx4FH7cWSDtt3IM59rBhIfzu8CusoF-AlOVICoNJtdY6Mj6MnFlegaY5CahxdAQD2T_mP615SMXdK18-vR4J2z6w_1U4f8Jlo0nGtCY_D_9m2CUWDXrS5Njys9-qcDg/s1600/IMG_7668.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9b6M9PGveB_iQx4FH7cWSDtt3IM59rBhIfzu8CusoF-AlOVICoNJtdY6Mj6MnFlegaY5CahxdAQD2T_mP615SMXdK18-vR4J2z6w_1U4f8Jlo0nGtCY_D_9m2CUWDXrS5Njys9-qcDg/s400/IMG_7668.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658339024367606546" /></a>
<p>Here's a picture of the little boy's current cooking attire. He's standing proudly by a tester cake we made to see if I knew how to use the train pan before the main event. The picture was snapped just before his little hands reached up and grabbed the smoke stack to see if it tasted any good. Luckily he approved and now likes to request "happy birthday cake" at various times throughout the day.</p>
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIlp041VohyTx4xPixnxVQyxl4Am_Mrh6VtjFAcmG05MhcSv1bwbE1wSAwdwhGl-Fpw6Eh6EO5tFl0PO6j07L8isfGkE1KvN51jB2wlanfXv7OnyWY6y1MfHdJSVusp9VjJg4tcr2ygg/s1600/IMG_7546.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIlp041VohyTx4xPixnxVQyxl4Am_Mrh6VtjFAcmG05MhcSv1bwbE1wSAwdwhGl-Fpw6Eh6EO5tFl0PO6j07L8isfGkE1KvN51jB2wlanfXv7OnyWY6y1MfHdJSVusp9VjJg4tcr2ygg/s400/IMG_7546.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658339246715856546" /></a>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-80763468511215386372011-08-10T15:16:00.006-04:002012-03-28T22:06:37.084-04:00Italian Pasta and Bean Soup<p>I'm not sure what happened, but I've been picking winners lately. The recipes we've been trying have been really good. Maybe we were just extra hungry the past month. Even John's been telling me they're some of the best things I've made. Some are impromptu, some are from a recipe. Last night we had <a href="http://www.womansday.com/recipefinder/italian-pasta-bean-soup-recipe-122748">Italian Pasta and Bean Soup</a>. It was delicious. Too bad the little boy wasn't as up for it. The only change I'd make to how we did the recipe this time is to use homemade chicken broth, but this time I did cook the beans fresh rather than use them from a can. Also, I chopped the spinach before throwing it in the soup to make it a little more appealing for the baby (didn't work, I guess), and I used a no egg pasta which limits my selection more than most people (threw it in cooked at the end so it wouldn't get soggy).</p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-75176434439716042442011-06-29T22:36:00.003-04:002011-06-29T22:42:23.230-04:00Homemade Popcorn<p>I've been meaning to try this for awhile. Tonight I was in the mood for a slightly salty snack, but I was trying to keep it on the healthy side. I grabbed a brown lunch bag, put 1/4 C of popcorn kernels in it, folded it up, and put it in the microwave. Less than 2 minutes later, I had a nice warm bag of fresh popcorn (listen for the pops to be a couple seconds apart just like with the commercial bags). The best part is, you can add whatever toppings you like - plain, salty, sweet, spicy. Spray the popcorn lightly with cooking spray or a mist of cooking oil, then sprinkle with your favorite herbs, salt, sugar, whatever you like. Tonight I had a little bit of salt and cinnamon. I look forward to sharing this trick with the little boy.</p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583851962874147662.post-33904852925126794812011-06-25T05:23:00.001-04:002011-06-25T05:25:55.960-04:00Oreo Cheesecake Cookies<p>These <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2011/03/22/oreo-cheesecake-cookies/">Oreo Cheesecake Cookies</a> from <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/">Brown Eyed Baker</a> are delicious! They melt in your mouth, and the original recipe is egg-free. A delicious recipe is even better when I don't have to make modifications on my own. I did double the recipe since it says it makes 1 dozen, only to end up with 3 dozen cookies, so I'd say the recipe makes about 18 cookies. The little boy enjoyed pretending to roll the dough in the cookie crumbs but mostly just ate the crumbs. We had fun making them and had a huge mess at the end. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.</p>Jessicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13270139617978927808noreply@blogger.com0