Stepping out of the box.

I have been having so much fun lately trying new things.

 

I have always wanted to learn how to make Mozzarella Cheese, I have seen it done on the cooking channel and they make it look so easy. My first thought was I am sure I can find a class somewhere in the valley, so I searched Google. I was really surprised to find nothing listed. So my second thought was  You-tube, I am always amazed at what it on You-tube. Sure enough I found several step by step tutorials.

I found that I needed Whole Milk, or best Unpasteurized, vegetable rennet and citric acid tablets. I figured if any place would have all three it would be Whole Foods. To my surprise Whole Foods did not carry Unpasteurized Milk, now they have every variety of Milk and Milk type products but not Unpasteurized. They recommend I go to one of the local dairy farms. Because the recipes said Whole Milk will work just as well I went with it. I found my vegetable rennet and citric acid at Whole Foods as well.

I  was surprised how easy it was to do!

So of course I had to make my favorite dish with my very own home made cheese.

 

 

Yes, it was as good as it looks, I have tons of basil in my garden right now so I made a pesto and drizzled it on the tomatoes and cheese. Now I just wish I can grow decent tomatoes in Arizona!

 

This summer I turned 50, yes, 50!!!!

Boy, that was tough, however, my good friend Anna bought me a wonderful gift.

She enrolled us in a 12 week Floral arrangement class. Last night was our first class and let me tell you, I LOVE IT!!!

Here is a picture of my first arrangement.

I can't wait to see what we do next week!

I will be sure and post each week.
 

Sneak Peek

 

So as I said in my last blog I decided to pull out a UFO that I started back in 2007.  I really have enjoyed getting back into it and I have a small peek at my progress.

 

I really do have to get better at my photography,  the colors in this picture are a bit dull. Anyway you get an idea of what it is going to look like.  I did buy the  the fabric for the stopper boarder and outside border but now I think I need something different for the stopper boarder. Quilts really do talk to you once you start putting them together.

 

I don't know about any of you but every year when the kids head back to school I get motivated to get things done.

I started back on my UFO's, my husband and I have started work in our backyard and I have gotten back into my Wellness business.

I never do just one thing at a time, have you noticed?

Tonight I am thrilled to be attending an open house with a Homeopathic Doctor in our area. Of course she shares the same passion as I do about removing all the dangerous toxins in our lives, our homes, and the environment.  She knows the importance of good vitamins and supplements and why it is so important to be helping our bodies fight the effect of our environment. It's not enough anymore to just buy foods that are organic and free of additives and preservatives. Yes, it is a start but not enough! There are chemicals in your dish washing detergent, laundry soap, toothpaste, skin care, shampoo, household cleaners. You are exposing yourselves, your children, your families and the environment every time you use these products.  Do you wonder why you walk down the hallways at school and see every door has a food allergy sign hanging on it or why more and more people are getting Autoimmune diseases and worse Cancer.

As you can see I am very passionate about this, it's easy for me to get off track and start sharing why this is so important. I would love to share more and I can't wait to tell you all about the open house.

Until then back to sewing.

 

 



Wow, have I been gone that long???

I started to post this on my Facebook page but decided it really should be something to post on my blog. Oh yeah, I have a blog. Sorry I have been away too long. No excuses, just had my attention on other things, but I am back!

 

An average day in Mesa, AZ is bright, hot and sunny,  but today it is over cast and raining. Oh how I love a raining day! A perfect day to sew!

I spend most of my time sewing for other people, but today I  am sewing for my own pleasure. I took out a UFO I started back in 2007. ( oh stop with the gasps, 2007 wasn't that long ago!!!) For those of you who never heard the term UFO it means Unfinished Objects. To my delight I still love the fabric for this quilt as much today as I did back in 2007 when I purchased it.
As I took the blocks out of the box I had them stored in, I noticed how funky my seams and pressing were. My first thought was to rip them out and start over, but I heard my Mom's voice say "Frances don't you dear!!" So I put the seam ripper down and continued forward.
I am not sure when I became so anal about my seams and how I press but for those of you I have lectured over the years about slowing down, taking your time, accurate 1/4 inch seams and pressing, I will let you look at the first half of my quilt and yes I will even let you rib me about it.
I am excited to get this quilt complete, it is no longer going to be the quilt for my bed as originally planned but I am sure I will find a nice place for it in my home.
I did list this on my blog as one of my UFO's, it is called Remember When.
I will post my progress and pictures.
So I am going to turn the music back on and get back to my sewing!

Helping out a future star!

Next week my son will be graduating from ASU and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Broadcasting.

He has had so many great opportunities and is really living his dream.

Through out the past 4 years he had to complete many projects in the broadcasting field, including editing, scripting, filming, and in front of the camera as well.

One of his friends, Alex, asked me if she could interview me for one of her projects and of course I said yes.

I never saw the finished project until today, I was a bit nervous because I didn't know what to expect. I was thrilled when I watch the piece, I was amazed at how professional it turned out.

Here is the link to her project.

http://youtu.be/sujmwibOBlI

Thanks Alex, I am looking forward to watching your bright future.

About time!

A while back I promised to share pictures of the Roman Shades I was working on for my kitchen windows.

I saw this great tutorial on Pintrest on how you can take a cheap plastic blind and make a fast and easy Roman Shade. Of course the girl made it look so easy, and it really was....if you start out with the right type of fabric!

She had used a cute tablecloth she found at Target and cut it to make two shades. Easy right???

So I went to Target and found a curtain on clearance, only 9.99 and in my color, score, so I thought. I couldn't wait to get started, I cut the curtain in half and only had to sew one seam on each piece. Next I layed out the shades and remove that plastic blinds that I didn't need. I took fabric glue just like the tutorial and glue my fabric to my 8 blind slats. Easy right. I let it dry for several hours and turn it over to find the glue had bleed through. My fabric choice was too thin.

Back to square one!

I went to every fabric store, home store, Target, looking for a heavy fabric, tablecloth, or curtain that would work. I was getting very discouraged.

In the mean time my husband sent me to Lowes to pick up something he needed for a project and I was passing the window treatment isle I thought, what the heck I'll check it out. Can you believe I found what I was looking for!

I purchased one panel and one valance and hurried home to start my Roman Shades once again.

Love the look!

Not the best picture, but you get the idea.

I had enough fabric left over to cover my two counter stools.

I am thrilled with the outcome, and can't get over how they changed the feel of my kitchen.



Get it almost done!

Well, today is the second installment of the "Get Em Done!" linkys party.

I was so sure I would have my daughter Amanda's quilt completed. So close!

Long story, short, I had it loaded on my longarm, started quilting and had to remove it from the machine.  (That's another story for another post.)

 However, it is back on the machine and I am excited to get it completed.

Take a minute and read some of my older post and you will see just a few of my distractions this past month. Never a dull moment, that's for sure.





Happy Cinnamon Rolls.

I have had several request for my cinnamon rolls recipe so I decided it would just be easier to post it here.

Now I have to say, I have tried many  different recipes and I have found this one to be the easiest.

I am not sure where I got this particular recipe, it is either from Foodtv.com or Tastykitchen.com, both favorites of mine.



1 quart whole milk (4 cups)

1 cup Vegetable oil

1 cup sugar

2 packages active dry yeast

8 cups (plus 1 cup extra separated) All-purpose Flour

1 teaspoon (heaping) Baking Powder

1 teaspoon (scant) Baking Soda

1 Tablespoon Salt

Plenty of Melted Butter

2 cups Sugar ( I mix white and brown)

Lots of Cinnamon

For the dough, heat the milk, vegetable oil and sugar over medium heat to just below a boil. Set aside to cool to warm. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let sit on the milk for about a minute. ( make sure you let it cool to warm)

Add 8 cups of flour, stir until combined and cover with towel and set aside in a warm place for 1 hour.

After 1 hour add baking powder, baking soda and salt and the remaining 1 cup of flour. Stir to combine.

Preheat the oven to 375

Remove half the dough from bowl, place on floured baking surface and roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 30x10.  Very thin.

Now pour about 1 stick of melted butter over the surface of the dough and spread evenly with your fingers. Next I pour 2 cups of the mixed sugars and sprinkle with lots of cinnamon. Spread evenly around dough. ( I like lots of cinnamon but you can add more or less depending on your taste.  If you like it real gooey add more butter and sugar.)

Now roll dough working slowly and keeping it tight. Once you have it in a log cut in half.  I then take a sharp knife and cut 6- 1/2 inch slices and place them in a buttered baking dish. Do not over crowd the sliced rolls.

Once you have finished doing this with all of the dough, cover sliced rolls and let rest for 20 minutes.

Bake for 15 to 18 minutes till golden brown.

Now you can either serve them with soften butter or make a glaze.



I make a glaze with a stick of soften butter and several cups of powdered sugar, I just keep adding it until I have the consistency I like and than I add a Tablespoon of Vanilla.

We have a long history of cinnamon rolls in our family, my Mom made the best!

I have tried her recipe and mine never taste as good as hers did, so I decided to find my own recipe and I really like this one. 

 I think she would approve!