Sunday, April 25, 2010

Grandma

My oldest and I just finished reading Fancy Nancy Poet Extraordinaire.  A great book to teach about poetry.  After we finished I told her that I had written a poem about her.  So we found it and read it.  She decided that she wanted to write a poem.  So with me writing she told me what she wanted to write about:  GRANDMA.  I love my mom and I am so glad that she does too.  So here is her poem.

Grandma

Grandma is nice to me.
Me and her have lots of fun.
She is a good Grandma and a good babysitter.
She likes to play games
Grandma has lots of flowers and green grass, that is greener than ours.
      Grandma is sweet like sweet lollipop.

Isn't this just so sweet.  I love her words.  Maybe she will someday be a great poet.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Chicken and Dumplings

Today the weather turned cooler again.  We went from 90 degrees to 68 degrees.  Big jump for us.  My oldest daughter thought she was freezing today.  So whenever I get a chance and the weather is cooler I have to make Chicken and Dumplings.  A year or two ago I found the best recipe in Cookie Magazine.  It is simply the best, Heavenly.  So here is the recipe straight from their website and so delicious.  I often use already cooked chicken in this recipe.  Also the heavy cream is what makes these so good.






for the soup
2 tablespoons olive oil

1 3-pound chicken, cut into pieces
1/4 cup flour, seasoned with salt and pepper to taste
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and cut into large chunks
2 carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks
2 stalks celery, cut into large chunks
1 bay leaf
1 sprig thyme
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Fresh parsley


for the dumplings

1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup coarsely ground cornmeal
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 3/4 cups heavy cream
1.In a wide, heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid, heat the olive oil.
2.Dredge the chicken pieces in the seasoned flour, then brown them in the oil over medium heat, about 2 minutes a side. Remove and set aside.
3.Add the onion to the pot and cook for 2 minutes.
4.Add the carrots, celery, bay leaf, thyme, turmeric, salt, and pepper and cook for 1 minute more.
5.Stir in the broth.
6.Return the chicken to the pot, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
7.Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the first five dumpling ingredients.
8.Add the cream and mix until just combined.
9.Drop about 12 heaping tablespoons of the dumpling mixture into the pot.
10.Cover and simmer for 12 minutes more.
11.To serve, scoop the dumplings and chicken into bowls, then cover with broth.

12.Garnish with the parsley.

Tip For quicker dumplings, mix 1 egg with 1/2 cup milk, then add the mixture to 1 1/2 cups Bisquick and stir to combine.

Recipe by Victoria Granof

Monday, April 19, 2010

Caroline Dress

I found this pattern on last week at Frog Legs and Ponytails.  As soon as I saw it I new that I wanted to make it for both of my daughter.  I loved that the pattern would work for both of them.
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So I went right to work.  I loved that this pattern was easy to read and easy to do.  If I didn’t have so many distractions I could have finished it much faster.  I think it turned out so great on my little one. 
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I just had to make her a flower to match her dress.  A tutorial will be coming shortly for that.  Isn’t she a doll.  Now to work on one for my old daughter.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Upside Down Tomato Plants

I was just at Walmart earlier today and saw the things you can buy to grow tomatoes upside down.  I am so interested in this concept and have been four a few years.  I have yet to venture into trying it.  Living in AZ I wonder if it is to hot here.  My sister grows tomatoes in her garden but I don't have room for a garden.  So I think I may have to give this a try. 
Go to Crafty Crow and check out her guest blogger Amida.  This is such a great idea and I love that I have everything already at my house, well minus the plant :)  I think I might give this a try.  One good thing about AZ is we can grow things all year long.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Plantable Paper

I think that I may have to try this with my preschool kids.  Would make a fun Mother's Day gift and Earth Day activity all in one.  This come from http://www.thelongthread.com/ you can read the instructions Here.  She did an article Alpha Mom.  This just looks like it would be Messy and Fun!

Pizza, Pizza, Pizza

We love making Pizza at our house.  The kids love making their own.  This is how I got them to eat mushrooms :)  So we are going to share our favorite pizza dough recipe with you.
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Pizza Dough Recipe
2 1/2 cups flour, whole wheat or white
1 tablespoon Sugar
1 Tablespoon dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup hot water (120 degree to 130 degrees)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Mix 2 cups flour, sugar, dry yeast, and salt.  Add water and oil; mix well.  Add remaining flour as needed to make soft dough.  Knead 5 minutes; let rest 5 minutes.  Roll or pat dough to fit a lightly greased pan.
Bake at 475 degrees.  10-12 minutes for one large pizza
5-7 minutes for medium pizzas.
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I love letting the kids cut their own olives and mushrooms.  We use the Pamper Chief egg cutter.  They love it.  I love that I don’t have to worry about them cutting their fingers off. 

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Not So Idle Hands, Crafts from the Crafty

Not So Idle Hands, Crafts from the Crafty

I think this is one of the cutest washer necklaces I have seen so far. I think that I would like to try this and make bookmarks for all my Book Club members. Don't you think it would be cute.