In the Thick of Winter

"Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value."~ Albert Einstein


     These little cuties were make and takes from the Quilts, Etc. Shop in Sandy, Utah.  I finally got them finished and ready to hang.

 

 

I got a little bored yesterday and decided to pick out a couple of fat quarters from my stash and use this pattern to make a little zippered pouch.  I think this little guy will be quite useful for a lot of things.  The pattern is by Karen West from For the Love of Fabric.  I'll for sure be making more of these.

 

 

 

I'm trying to make meal preparing a little simpler and a little healthier.  I made this rice this week and it was pretty tasty.

 

 

 

Cilantro Lime Rice

3 cups chicken or vegetable broth

1 ½ cups long grain rice

2 Tbsp. minced dried onions

2 cloves garlic, minced

Grated rind from 1 lime

Juice from 2 limes

Handful of coarsely chopped cilantro

Salt and pepper to taste

Combine first five ingredients in a large saucepan.  Add the juice from 1 lime.  Bring to a boil.  Turn heat down and cover pan with lid and let simmer for 15-20 minutes or until rice is cooked.  Take off heat and remove lid.  Add cilantro and juice from the other lime.  Add salt and pepper.  Stir to combine and mix everything.  Fluff with a fork and serve.  Makes about 6 servings.

    

     I was able to finish this book late last night and I really enjoyed it.  There was so much going on and it was never boring.  I do enjoy books about strong women and this was definitely one of them.

Threads

"God has a purpose for me.  He also has a purpose for you.  Let God speak to your life.  The key is--not believing the lies: fixing our eyes on Jesus and walking in the truth." ~ Joanna Gaines




     I spent the weekend with my husband and he was nice enough to take me to a quilt shop.  This time we went to Thimbles and Threads in Draper, Utah.  It's such a beautiful store in a beautiful building.  I loved the stained glass windows that followed quilt blocks through time.

     There is nothing else like a slice of homemade bread.  My good friend, Jayme, gave me this recipe for whole wheat bread and it is amazing!

 

 

Wonderful Whole Wheat Bread

(Makes two loaves)

(This recipe came from Education Week at BYU)

3 c. Whole wheat flour (5 – 6 cups total)

1/3 c. gluten flour

1 ¼ tablespoon instant yeast (I like SAF Instant)

2 ½ c. steaming hot tap water

1 tablespoon salt

1/3 c. oil

1/3 c. honey or ½ c. sugar

1 ¼ tablespoons lemon juice (can use lime juice if you don't have lemon)

2 – 2 ½ c. whole wheat flour

(Note: ¼ tablespoon = ¾ teaspoon)

Mix together first three ingredients in mixer with a dough hook (this recipe

can easily be done by hand, and can also be done with a regular beater

attachment, and then switched to a dough hook when adding the additional

flour at the end). Add water all at once and mix for 1 minute; cover and let

rest for 10 minutes. Add salt, oil, honey or sugar and lemon juice and beat

for one minute. Change to a dough hook at this point. Add the last of the

flour ½ cup at a time, mixing well each time. Each batch can be different;

only add flour until you have a soft dough consistency. Over adding will

make it dry. Mix for about 5 minutes until dough pulls away from sides of

bowl. Turn dough onto oiled (or non-stick spray) counter top, and shape

into 2 loaves. Place in greased pans. Place pans in oven and preheat oven

on 350 degrees for 1 minute. Let rise until desired height. This can take

anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes depending on how warm it is. With bread in

oven, turn on at 350 degrees and bake for 25 to 30 minutes (in my oven it is

20 minutes, so check). Remove and cool on racks or parchment paper,

turning from side to side periodically until fully cooled. This bread freezes

well by double bagging.
  

     This past month I read the story of Chip and Joanna Gaines from The Fixer Upper Show.  They have such a complimentary relationship.  I was surprised at how brave they were in moving forward with their dreams.  Very inspiring!

Happy New Year!

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." ~ Dale Carnegie

     Happy New Year!  Have you made all of your resolutions yet?  Me neither.  I'll work on that later.  Meanwhile here is the quilt that I made for our Quilt Guild block of the month.  We had a snow storm last week just in time for Christmas so I thought it would be fun to shoot a few pictures in the snow.  This pattern is by Amy McClellan from Under the Garden Moon.

 

       I love stuffed mushrooms!  I made them twice in the last week.  There are many recipes out there and some are healthier than others.  You can use breadcrumbs, sausage, shrimp or crabmeat, cream cheese, brown or wild rice, onions and the list goes on and on.  Use whatever you like.  This recipe is one that I adapted from The Pioneer Woman.

 

Stuffed Mushrooms

(adapted from recipe from The Pioneer Woman)

§  24 ounces, Button Mushrooms

§  1/3 pound Hot Pork Sausage

§  1/2 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced

§  4 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced

§  8 ounces, Cream Cheese

§  3/4 cups Parmesan Cheese, Grated

§  Salt And Pepper, to taste

 

INSTRUCTIONS

 

Wipe off or wash mushrooms in cold water. Pop out stems, reserving both parts.

Chop mushroom stems finely and set aside.

Brown and crumble sausage. Set aside on a plate to cool.

Add onions and garlic to the same skillet; cook for 2 minutes over medium low heat.

Add in chopped mushroom stems, stir to cook for 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set mixture aside on a plate to cool.

In a bowl, combine cream cheese and Parmesan cheese.

Add cooled sausage and cooled mushroom stems. Stir mixture together.

Smear mixture into the cavity of each mushroom, creating a sizable mound over the top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Allow to cool at least ten minutes before serving; the stuffed mushrooms taste better when not piping hot.

 

     Each January I try to read one self-help book.  This is the one that I decided to read now.  I am a woman so therefore I worry.  I would like to learn how to worry less.  I don't know if I am learning anything about how to worry less but I have enjoyed the stories that Dale Carnegie collected to write this book.