Crochet Pooh Bear

 

He turned out pretty cute! Not exactly like Pooh, but pretty close for a crochet version.

He was kind of time consuming to crochet, but not really too difficult. If you’d like to make your own, I used this pattern on Ravelry for Pooh himself and his red sweater.  I used 2 strands of dark brown yarn to embroider the face.  A picture of Pooh from a book was my guide for placement of his features.

Pooh is ready to take up residence in my newest grandbaby’s nursery :)

Happy crocheting!!

the Rockies

We still love them…

even when they lose – like, A LOT…

even when so many players are injured…

even when we vote approximately 17,386 times for Todd Helton to be on the All Star team..

and he doesn’t win.

even when we get the rare chance to attend a game. . . and.they.LOSE :)

My boys are so silly… never a quiet dull moment with those two! 

Two of my girls… don’t my daughter-in-law and daughter look a lot alike?!?

All together now:

A {{cold}} day at the park. . .

If we waited for warm weather, we’d never go outside.  Well, okay.  Not, you know, never, but at least not until June. :)

On a blustery, cold day in March we went to the park. 

And played QUICK.  Before we froze solid.

Nolan Ryan playing catch: 

with Uncle Jared:

Say “cheese” Skyleigh!
 

How does thing work, anyway?

This just in: Nolan climbs the rock wall all. by. himself.

And is VERY pleased about the situation:

And he’s a bit of a ham. . .

The end.

Indian Tacos

This is more of a construction method than a recipe :)  It will feed just a few or a crowd. 

(You’ll just need more chili and bread dough for the crowd).

INDIAN TACOS:  You will need: Bread dough – frozen or homemade
Chili (canned or homemade – I grab a bag of BIG BATCH chili from the freezer).  Prepare and keep warm while making the bread.

Toppings of choice: sour cream, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, onion, avocado, olives, and/or whatever else sounds yummy.

Prepare and/or thaw bread dough.  Allow to rise once.  Divide each dough “loaf” into 7-8 portions.  Use your hands to gently pull and shape into a flat round.  Poke 2-3 small holes in the center.  This allows the bread to stay flat. 

Make only a few at a time and don’t let them rise again.  Deep fry at approximately 390 degrees. 

See the holes?

Turn when golden brown, to cook the other side -

Drain on paper towels. 

Slap one on a plate and layer it up with chili and your accoutrements of choice. 

 eNjOy!

Linking to:

Delicious Dishes

Bavarian Torte

I might have mentioned approximately 22 a few times that we aren’t big fans of the cake family in general. Especially, the frosting that comes slathered all over the cake. Poor cake.

Chocolate Bavarian Torte is one of the lucky few to make the cut. The frosting. It’s all whip creamy and just a little sweet. Perfect.

So simple to make, it’s not even much of a recipe. Just instructions on how to fancy up an ordinary cake mix and make it purdy-like.

I feel like a baking genius every time I make it. Which is only reinforced by all the oohs, ahs, and wows. Just don’t tell them how easy it is!

Chocolate Bavarian Torte

1 package (18-1/4 ounces) German chocolate cake mix

1 package (8 ounces) Cream Cheese softened

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped

2 tablespoons grated or shaved semisweet chocolate

Directions

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using two 9-in. round baking pans. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.
• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth. Fold in cream.
• Using a long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally into two layers. (You need four layers total). Place bottom layer on a serving plate; top with a fourth of the cream mixture. Sprinkle with a fourth of the chocolate. Repeat layers three times.
• Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Makes 12 servings.

Oohs and ahs. Never fails.

Visit Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday for more great recipes!

Birthday Eggnog

My sons’ birthdays are on consecutive days, 8 days before Christmas.  They are 6 hours from being exactly 10 years apart and have always celebrated their birthdays together, usually on the youngest son’s birthday, as his comes first :)   So far, they have celebrated 14 birthdays together and treasure each one.  Because their birthdays are so close to Christmas, they have a special menu for their dinner.  Every item on the menu is only made once a year, for their birthday.  And always this must include birthday eggnog. 

Here are the imps at their last birthday: 

 

This recipe originally came from Parents magazine.  A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, as evidenced by the fact that it contains raw eggs.  The recipe simply advised to use very fresh eggs and we’ve been making it this way for more than 20 years with absolutely no ill effects.  But use your discretion, if this is a concern for you. 

Fair warning.  Once you try this light and delicious beverage, you’ll never be able to drink the icky thick stuff from the supermarket again.  Ever.

Birthday Eggnog

6 large eggs, separated
3/4 cup sugar
2 quarts (8 cups) milk
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream, softened & cut into 1 inch cubes
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.  Transfer to another bowl.  Beat egg yolks and sugar until thick and pale yellow, about 3-5 minutes.  Gradually stir in milk, add ice cream and stir until completely blended.  Fold in egg whites and sprinkle with nutmeg.  Keep refrigerated and serve cold. 

Mmm.  Creamy and delightful. 

Visit JessieLeigh at Parenting the Tiniest of Miracles for more delicious progressive dinner beverages.

What I've been making...

Not your granny's "granny." A new, more modern twist on the traditional granny square. I made it for a gift and the recipient picked out the bright colors. They look great together! It's really big, though! Each square is almost 12 inches and it kept me busy for the first half of summer.

Next up, Miss Skyleigh's mom requested a crochet blanket for baby girl's 1st birthday. In chocolate and lavender, no less. That girl has taste.

The search was on for a new and different pattern to use for her blankie. When I saw this daisy square I was in love. Well, as much as you can love a pattern. Because people. It has daisies! You know how I love my flowers... I just had to try it.

Then I got the pattern. Forty years of crocheting did nothing to prepare me and I almost. gave. up. Three (!) strands of yarn that must be kept in front, working in front of work and back, stitch markers everywhere. Profusions of yarn strands, markers, loops and near catastrophe loomed. There ensued much weeping and gnashing of teeth.

But.

The persistence. It pays off in the end. And I LOVE it again!

Another variation of a granny square. What do you think?

The birthday girl liked it too. It was totally worth it:)

This pattern for Daisy Charity Square is available from KrochetKrystal. To get the pattern, you need to join her yahoo group. The pattern will then be accessible and is free, but you must crochet a daisy square and send it to her to be added to one of her charity blankets.

Come on. Be brave and give it a try!

Boots to Fill

Three pairs of boots. Waiting for six feet...

I snapped this photo as the boys were getting dressed for my oldest son's wedding a few weeks ago. The biggest boots were, of course, Jared's. The groom. The middle boots were Matthew's. My youngest. He was so thrilled to be the best man. And the wee blue boots were Nolan's. He was ring security. And yes. Those are the same boots he wore to help Nan in the garden. :)

...and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Mark 10:8

Brothers.... A Slightly Wordless Wednesday

God gave me a little brother to teach me about life.
He loves and aggravates me
And gives me strength and strife.
Little brothers are special as can be.
So don't mess with my little brother
Or you'll have to deal with me.

Please visit here and here for more Wordless Wednesday.

J.W. Potatoes...

I began my freezer cooking adventure by planning a monthly menu and then assembling those meals in one day and freezing them. No more cooking for a whole month! It was heavenly, but as a busy single mom of 4, there was seldom a full day to devote to preparing the meals and I eventually gave up.

Then I learned that freezer cooking is more than making and freezing 30 meals at once. Freezer cooks eventually develop a method that works for them and their family.

Session freezer cooking is what works best for us. For instance, when hamburger is on sale I purchase as much as I can afford. First, I make several meatloaves using my favorite recipe, then divide among zipper bags and freeze flat. Then on to meatballs, baking them off in the oven before freezing.

The rest is fried in a huge pot, rinsed and drained. Of the fried portion, I will make a portion into taco meat and another into sloppy joe meat and freeze flat in zipper bags. The rest is frozen in zipper bags as plain cooked ground beef, ready for any sauce or casserole that calls for hamburger.

You will not believe how quickly a meal goes together when the prep work is already done! The same session method works for bacon (bake in the oven and the strips remain flat!), bulk sausage, potatoes, muffins... even cookie dough.

I will share more details of my freezer sessions later, but for now here's a favorite from my potato session: J.W. Potatoes. Our freezer is rarely without them. They are quickly heated from frozen in the toaster oven, microwave or oven. Add a salad and bread to make a delicious and quick meal.

J.W. POTATOES

Begin by baking the potatoes in the oven and then slicing them in half. This must be done while they're still pretty hot (note the ginger hold on the potato!). They don't mash well when cooled. Not that I'd know that for sure or anything....

We baked an entire 10 pound bag of potatoes. So there was a lot of cutting to do. Hold them with a hot pad if they're still really hot.

Then start scooping. Leave a small rim of potato inside the shell, but if you get too close in some places, it really won't matter. So don't stress.

Mix the potatoes with the remaining ingredients and add more milk if necessary. But don't make them too thin. They need to be thicker than mashed potatoes. Mound the potato mixture back into the potatoes.

If baking now, put them back into a 300 degree oven for a few minutes to warm them up and melt the cheese. If freezing for later, place the entire tray in the freezer until the potatoes are frozen solid. Then put them in zipper bags, label and return to freezer. Reheat as many as you need in the oven at 300.

J.W. Potatoes

4 large baking potatoes

4 strips crisply fried, crumbled bacon

1/2 pound bulk sausage, fried and drained

2 tablespoons parsley

1 cup sour cream

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 to 2 cups grated cheese

Bake the potatoes and halve lengthwise while still hot. Holding the potatoes with a hot pad, scoop out the insides, leaving a small rim of potato in the shells. Mash and mix in the remaining ingredients. Refill the shells with potato mixture. Reheat in @300.

Double or triple for freezer cooking. They are fabulous as a side dish, too...just leave out the meats and add a little more cheese.

This post is linked to Tasty Tuesday and Works-For-Me Wednesday.