Spring Has Almost Sprung!

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade." ~Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

     I think this Easter quilt is adorable.  My friend, MaryAnn made it.  I love the bright, cheerful colors.  It almost makes you feel like Spring will eventually get here. The pattern comes from Pie Plate Patterns-Seasons Gone Pie- the Spring edition.

     Are you ready for Easter?  Here are a few recipes that I think are perfect for the holiday.

Asparagus Ham Roll-Ups

24 fresh asparagus spears                             ½ tsp. onion powder

8 thin slices fully cooked ham                                    ¼ tsp. basil

3 Tbsp. butter                                                  ¾ tsp. dry mustard                             

¼ cup flour                                                      1 ½ cups milk

½ tsp. salt                                                       ½ cup shredded cheese

¼ tsp. pepper

Roll up three asparagus spears in each slice of ham.  Place in a 9x13 inch baking dish. 

Melt butter in a medium saucepan.  Stir in flour until smooth.  Add salt, pepper, onion powder, basil and dry mustard.  Gradually whisk in milk and stir until mixture comes to a boil.  Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Pour sauce over ham and asparagus in baking dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.

Funeral Potatoes

2 cups sour cream                                        2 cups cheese, shredded

1-10 oz. can cream of chicken soup          1-28 oz. package frozen hash brown potatoes

2 Tbsp. green onions, sliced                        1 cup cornflakes, crushed

¾ tsp. salt                                                        2 Tbsp. butter, melted

¼ tsp. pepper

In a large bowl, mix sour cream and cream of chicken soup.  Add green onions, salt, pepper and cheese.  Gently fold in frozen potatoes.  Put in a 9x13 inch baking dish.  Combine melted butter and corn flake crumbs.  Sprinkle on potato mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, covered.  Uncover and bake 15 minutes more.  (Sometimes I add an extra can of cream of chicken soup and less sour cream.) (To make this a main dish instead of a side dish, I sometimes add cubed ham.)

 

                                              This recipe comes from The Lion House Cookbook.

Sarah’s Salad

1 head iceberg lettuce                                       ½ cup shredded Swiss cheese, or
 3 strips bacon                                                         2 ½ oz. cut in strips

½ 10-ounce pkg. frozen peas                            2/3 cup chopped green onion

¼ tsp. sugar                                                      ¼ cup mayonnaise

½ tsp. salt                                                         ¼ cup salad dressing

¼ tsp. pepper                                                  

            Wash and drain lettuce.  Dry thoroughly.  Dice bacon and saute until crisp; drain on paper towels.  Run hot water over frozen peas and drain.  Tear lettuce into bite-size pieces into salad bowl.  Sprinkle with sugar, salt and pepper.  Add peas, cheese, onion, mayonnaise and salad dressing.  (These ingredients may be layered, if desired, with the mayonnaise spread on last.  Cover tightly and refrigerate over night.)  Chill.  Toss when ready to serve and garnish with bacon.  Makes 8 servings.

 

     Last in this list of recipes is a recipe from my neighbor, Pam.  I fondly remember eating these with her as a teenager.  Her mom made the best Hello Dollys.

Hello Dolly Cookie Bars

½ cup butter                                                      1 cup coconut

1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs                  1 cup chopped nuts

1 cup chocolate chips                                      1 (15 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter and mix with graham cracker crumbs.  Place in a 9x13 baking pan and pat down.  Sprinkle chocolate chips on followed by coconut and chopped nuts.  Drizzle sweetened condensed milk over the top.  Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until slightly browned.  Cool and cut into bars.

 

 

     Last weekend, My husband and I went to Logan for our nephew's wedding and our son's birthday.  I love Logan.  We took a little jaunt over to Gossner Foods while we were there.  Had to get some cheese curds--my son likes the smokey flavor,  I like the jerky flavor and my husband likes the regular the best.  We also picked up a case of boxed milk.  These are wonderful to put in 72 hour emergency kits or to take on trips in the car.  They come in lots of different flavors-chocolate, root beer, strawberry, mango, orange cream and vanilla.  They let you mix and match when you buy a case.

 

 

    While I was in Logan, My husband was good enough to take me to My Girlfriend's Quilt Shoppe.  Here are a couple of cheerful, springy quilts they had hanging in their shop.

     There was also a quilt display upstairs showing some beautiful traditonal quilts.  There is a story behind each quilt.  I loved seeing the quilts and hearing the stories.

 I am reading The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare again after many years.  I forgot how good it was.  I find the reoccuring theme of love being more powerful than hate very moving. Love has a greater capacity for change in people than hate does.

    

Lucky Me!

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
~Irish Blessing

"What do you get when you cross poison ivy with a four leaf clover?  A rash of good luck!" -unknown
 

     Here's another month block from Art to Heart.  The cute wire quilt holders come from Ackfeld Wire. 

 

     Check out this quilt.  It was made from a panel from a line called Garden Song from Benartex.  The pattern has a border made from tulip blocks.

     I thought it would be fun to post some green recipes to help celebrate this month.  Not a lot of people care for split pea soup but I really like it so it gets included.

Split Pea Soup With Ham

 

2 ¼  cups (1 lb.) dry green split peas              ¼ tsp. pepper

8 cups cold water                                            ¼ tsp. dried marjoram, crushed

3 tsp. chicken bouillon granules                      ½ tsp. smoked paprika

2 cups diced ham                                            2 stalks celery, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped                              2 medium carrots, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced                                    1 bay leaf

½ tsp. Italian seasoning                                   seasoned croutons

pinch of thyme                                               

            Rinse dry green split peas.  In a large heavy pan, combine peas, water, bouillon, ham, onion, Italian seasoning, thyme, pepper, dried marjoram, paprika and bay leaf.  Bring to boiling; reduce heat.  Cover; simmer for 1 hour.  Stir occasionally.   Stir in carrots and celery.  Cover; simmer 30 minutes more.  Season to taste with salt if desired.   Top with seasoned croutons when serving.  Serves  8-10.  You can also put all ingredients (except croutons) in crockpot and cook on high for 6-8 hours or until soup has thickened to desired consistency and peas are cooked.

     This salad was served at a Women's function in our area.  It was so good I had to ask for the recipe.

 

Spinach Bow Tie Pasta Salad

1 (12 oz.) pkg. bow tie pasta

3 chicken breasts, cooked and seasoned, diced

1 bag fresh spinach

1 can mandarin oranges, drained

Craisins

Almonds

Dressing:

1/3 cup oil

1/3 cup vinegar

1/3 cup teriyaki sauce

3 Tbspn. sugar

¼ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Drain and rinse with cold water.  Gently toss salad ingredients together and pour dressing on before serving.  Use as many almonds, craisins and dressing as desired.

     Last of all, here is a delicious green cake recipe.  It comes from Taste of Home.

 

 

Wearing O' Green Cake Recipe

 

One bite of this moist, colorful cake and you'll think you've found the pot o' gold at the end of the rainbow. It's the perfect dessert to round out your St. Patrick's Day feast. —Marge Nicol, Shannon, Illinois

 

Wearing O' Green Cake Recipe

• Prep: 25 min. Bake: 30 min. + cooling
• Yield: 12-15 Servings

 

Ingredients

• 1 package white cake mix (regular size)
• 2 packages (3 ounces each) lime gelatin
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup cold water
• TOPPING:
• 1 cup cold milk
• 1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
• Green sprinkles

Directions

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. In a small bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water; stir in cold water and set aside.
• With a meat fork or wooden skewer, poke holes about 2 in. apart into cooled cake. Slowly pour gelatin over cake. Cover and refrigerate.
• In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes (mixture will be thick). Fold in whipped topping. Spread over cake. Decorate with sprinkles. Cover and refrigerate until serving. Yield: 12-15 servings.

Originally published as Wearing O' Green Cake in Taste of Home February/March 2005, p21
 

 

 

 

     Since everyone is so interested in finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow this month, I thought I would post a little bit about the book called Mama's Bank Account.  This is a fun little book about a family whose parents came from Norway and settled in San Francisco.  It tells of all their little secrets of how they saved and earned money.  The "Mama" in the book is a delightful character who you just can't help but admire. 

We had a fun family outing to the bowling alley.  And I tried something new-- the boys talked me into playing laser tag.  It was really fun.  I'd do it again in a minute.

 

 

 

 

Being Loved is a Picnic!

“Love is a choice you make everyday.”
― Gary Chapman

“Love doesn't erase the past, but it makes the future different.”
― Gary Chapman, The Five Love Languages

 

    

     This quilt was made a couple of years ago.  I got creative and made up my own pattern.  I needed a smallish quilt to hang on my wall for February.  It was my first experience with scalloped edges. 

 

 

This is one of the books that is on the docket for our book club to read this year.  I was over anxious and read it already.  It is an amazing self-help book for those who want to enrich their relationship with their spouse or anyone for that matter.  I learned a lot about myself and my spouse at the same time. It helped me count my blessings that I have a wonderful, amazing husband that has my best interests at heart.   I do recommend this book for everyone.

 

 

The following recipes would work out well for a nice Valentine's dinner or any nice meal that you might feel inclined to prepare for your family.

 

 

 

   

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

1 quart (4 cups) tomato juice                         2 T. butter

¼ cup sliced or diced onion                            2 T. flour

1 tsp. salt                                                        1 ½ cup milk

½ tsp. garlic powder

¼ tsp. pepper

1 tsp. basil

1 bay leaf

            Combine first seven ingredients in a 2 quart sauce pan.  Simmer for 10 minutes.  Make a white sauce with butter, flour and milk.  Slowly add to hot tomato mixture stirring constantly.  Serve at once.  Serves 6.  Excellent with grilled cheese sandwiches.  Fun served with popped popcorn or cheesy fish crackers.

     This recipe comes from my friend and neighbor, Tammy.

Tossed Craisin Salad

1 package romaine lettuce                                 Craisins to taste

1 package coleslaw mix                                    Breanna’s poppy seed dressing

salted peanuts to taste

            Combine first four ingredients in large bowl.  Toss with dressing when ready to serve.

 

     The following two recipes come from recipes adapted from www.ourbestbites.com.

 

 

Garlic-Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

1 ½ lbs. small potatoes, or potatoes cut to bite-size

2 ½ Tbspn. olive oil

2 ½ Tbspn. coarse-grain or Dijon mustard

2 ½ Tbspn. chopped fresh rosemary (or 2 ½ tsp. dried rosemary)

About 5 cloves garlic, minced

Ground black pepper

Salt

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Combine olive oil, garlic, rosemary, mustard and black pepper in a small bowl and set aside.

Add potatoes to the boiling water and cook for about 10 minutes or until tender.  Drain potatoes and return to the pan.  Toss with the mustard mixture.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with foil and spread potatoes out evenly on it.  Sprinkle with salt and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the skins are browning and sizzling.  Place potatoes on a platter and scrape seasoned bits off the foil onto the potatoes and serve.

Garlic-Rosemary Pork Tenderloin

1 large or 2 small pork tenderloins

2 ½ Tbspn. olive oil

2 ½ Tbspn. chopped rosemary leaves ( I used 2 ½ tsp. dried rosemary)

2 ½ Tbspn. coarse mustard

5 cloves garlic

½ tsp. salt

A few turns of freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.  Set aside.  Rinse pork tenderloin and trim away excess fat.  Pat dry and place on prepared baking sheet.

In a small bowl, combine olive oil, rosemary, mustard, garlic, salt and black pepper.  Rub this mixture all over the tenderloin, especially on top.  Place in heated oven and roast until meat reaches 160 degrees, about 25 to 30 minutes.  Remove from oven and wrap in foil and allow to sit for 5- 10 minutes before slicing.  Serve with Garlic-Rosemary Roasted Potatoes.

 

Cheesecake Dessert

Make crust using:

2 cups flour                             ½ cup brown sugar

1 ½ cups butter                       1 cup chopped nuts

Press into 9x13 “pan and bake for 15 minutes in 350 degree oven.

Let cool and break up into small pieces and spread evenly over bottom of pan.  Reserve about ½ cup crumbs to garnish top of dessert. 

Make filling by mixing:

Two 8 oz. packages of whipped topping

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

Spread the filling evenly on the crust.

 

Make topping by using:

1 pkg. Danish dessert mix                              2 cups frozen strawberries or raspberries

Follow directions on Danish Dessert mix.  Remove from heat and add berries.  Let cool and then spread on top of the filling.  Sprinkle reserved crumbs on top.  Refrigerate for a few hours until served.

 

     The day the family took an outing to Hardware Ranch, we also made our way over to Honeyville in Box Elder County.  We braved the 22 degree temps and went swimming outdoors at Crystal Hot Springs.  I don't know if we're crazy or adventurous, but it was fun.  I only managed one trip down the water slide.  That was cold!   This place has been around for a long time.   I have fond memories of going there with a large group when my husband and I were dating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Piece of My Heart

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” ― Mother Teresa

 

 

     I found the pattern for this cute table runner in the Jan./ Feb. 2013 issue of McCalls Quilting Magazine.

It's called "Heart of the Home".  The heart blocks remind me of the hearts we made in 3rd grade with red and pink construction paper.

 

 

     These little pillows found a place to rest this month on the bench in my entry way.  The pattern comes from "The Pillow Lady" Muriel Andersen.  It's called #219 Love X 2.  So cute with a little embroidery and a little patchwork.

     This is the first year in many that my kids have not made valentines for the kids in their classes.  My youngest is 12 and no longer in grade school.  To ease my sadness a little we had a friend party for my daughter.  I was delighted when 12 beautiful, giggly girls showed up.  The highlight of the afternoon, to my surprise, was when each girl wrote something nice about each of the other girls on a small piece of paper then rolled it up and gave it to that girl to insert in the opening of a balloon.  The balloon was then blown up and tied off and later sent home with her.  I told the girls they can pop their balloon and read the notes when they are having a bad day.  It should cheer them right up.  They also painted their nails.  The girls helped me make mini cheesecakes and they all enjoyed pizza with lots of fruits and veggies.  They got to choose out of three different kinds of toppings for the cheesecakes; cherry, blueberry or raspberry.  Each girl received a treat bag and some cute, warm gloves.

Mini Cheese Cakes

2-8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened              1 Tbspn. lemon juice

2 eggs                                                              1 tsp. vanilla

¼ cup sugar

            Beat all ingredients until smooth.  Put vanilla wafer in each cupcake liner in muffin tin to form a crust.  Fill half full with cream cheese mixture.  Bake at 350° for 20 to 30 minutes.  Let cool and top with cherry pie filling just before serving.
 

 

  This recipe came from one of my college roommates. It's so easy.   I have used it quite a bit for parties or showers.

 

 

 

     If any one knows anything about love it would probably be Mother Teresa.  I am not Catholic but I do admire this woman and all the work she has done among the poor. Reading this book opened my eyes to see what a truly beautiful person she is.

     I bought this countdown board for Valentine's Day last year at a little store on Main Street and Vine in Tooele called Homebodies.  My kids had fun eating the kisses each day until Valentine's Day.