Handmade Christmas 2011

I'm trying some new things this year.  Last year I had grand plans for all the things I was going to make.  I'm not sure what I was thinking, having a newborn and all that.  This year I've been able to get a few more things done. PJs are done for everyone, and I made these little dolls today.  Ashley's look amazing, mine are a bit simpler, but I think they will be loved.

I've got what I need to make the boy version as well...we'll see if they get done by Christmas!

Chicken and Black Bean Soup

This is the first recipe that I feel is really mine.  I'm sure I've seen several versions of this in cookbooks, but this one recipe I never look at a cookbook to make.  So, here it is (for me as much as anyone)

2 c. dried black beans
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can diced tomatoes
1 large can tomato sauce
1/2 onion, diced
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced (or more, to taste)
1 Tablespoon cumin
4 c. chicken stock
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 bag frozen corn

Rinse and sort beans.
Saute onions and garlic is a bit of oil in a large pot.
Add broth, tomatoes, beans and cumin to the garlic and onion.
Bring to a boil.
 Turn the heat down, add chicken, and simmer for about two hours.
Take out chicken breasts and shred them.
  Add the chicken back to the pan, along with the frozen corn.
Turn off heat, cover, and let sit for a few minutes.
Serve with sour cream and cheese.

This easily makes enough for six.  Leftovers are just as good, and it freezes well.

Making veggie muffins the Anna Maschke way

Step One:  Find the interesting recipe you want to try (mine was this one)

Step Two:  Look at the recipe and decide it makes too many dirty dishes and think of a way to simplify it.

Step Three:  Grab the veggies from your fridge (leftover broccoli and carrots).  Dump them both in the food processor.  Throw in the bananas too.  Puree with the juice (I used apple) yogurt, vanilla and eggs  Decide to melt the butter and mix it in too.

Step Four:  Melt butter.

Step Five:  Mix sugar with other dry ingredients.

Step Six:  Dump the wet and dry together.  Mix.

Step Seven:  Have a almost three year old want to help.  Give him the job of putting the muffin liners into the pan.

Step Eight:  Pour the batter into the pans.  Take a mini loaf pan and let a very anxious help pour the last of the batter in it.

Step Nine: Put in oven and then realize the butter in still in the microwave.

Step Ten:  Watch veggie phobic son devour the leftover batter and smile.

Step Eleven:  Eat muffins.  Enjoy.

And Josiah ate the ENTIRE mini loaf the next day for breakfast.  He wouldn't share it at all.  A success in my book!

Curried Chicken Salad

This is as much for me to remember as it is to share...it was a hit among the curry lovers in this house.  Three hours later Jed walked up to me and said "Wow, I'm still thinking about how good that was"  So here we go:

Excuse the less than precise measurements...it's just how I roll.  All of them fall into the "ish" category

3 T. mayo
1 T. curry powder
cilantro, to taste
about 1/4 cup sliced almonds
a handful of golden raisins
1/2 small apple, cubed
about 12 oz. shredded chicken

Mix..Enjoy!

Genius!

These two blogs are genius.  Why?  They came up with this idea!


Because this guy gets ignored too often in my sewing and crafting.

So, for the next month, I will celebrate my boy and hopefully craft for him a bit too!

What I've been busy with...

This beautiful little girl!  

So, my crafting was momentarily suspended so that I could take care of Abigail Charis.  Who know having three kids four and under would be so much work!

Before Abi was born I was able to finish this Christmas present for Ali.  She currently loves all things Hello Kitty, so when I found this fabric, I knew she would love it.  The pink and yellow are all fabric scraps that I had.  I used some of the fabric to make a Hello Kitty face on the shirt, but Ali's hiding it!

I have a bunch of stuff cut out...I had the best of intentions for Christmas presents...hopefully in the next few months they will get done!

Muffin Mix!

For our latest MOPS creative activity, each mom was able to customize some muffin mix for a quick and easy breakfast for the family.  The basic mix was:

1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup brown sugar

You can add:
1/2 to 1 cup dried fruit and/or chocolate chips
1/4 to 2/3 cup of chopped nuts

To make the muffins:
Mix together 1/4 cup oil or melted butter
1 cup milk or vanilla yogurt
1 egg

Add one package of mix.  Combine.  Batter will be lumpy.  Spoon into greased or lined muffin tins. Bake at 400 for 20 to 25 minutes.

My family enjoy cranberry almond muffins yesterday and today.  I keep thinking of other great combinations:  apple walnut, cherry chocolate...the list could go on and on!