Basket Cover: January

I admit it.  I have an addiction.  To books.  Children's books in particular. I have hundreds of them, and I'm not even exaggerating. Luckily, my son's addiction is even more addictive than mine.  To the tune of reading 30+ books a day. 

I need a way to organize these books.  There's too many to have out all the time. Especially since my little guy could read the same book 30 times in one day. I had all of our Christmas books organized in a basket that I took out just for Christmas.  After Christmas I picked up that basket cover (that I did not make) with the books in it to store for next year.  And now there's a handy basket just wishing for a new set of books.
 
One of my crafty "to dos" is to improve my embroidery skills.  Remember this book I got?  It has oodles of embroidery stitches I'm itching to stitch. I decided to use the same basket, use the store bought basket cover to make a pattern, whip up extra covers and stitch away.  Here's our winter books and our new basket cover, mama made:


It folds over the basket and ties on the side.  Perfect, right?  I only have 10 more months that I am aiming to make.

I do sign myself up for some pretty intense projects, don't I?

My Birthday: Success! And Oreo Cake. Mmm!

I have told my husband again and again that I could care less about gifts and what I really want is cake.  A birthday girl needs cake, right?  After I get my husband to remember my birthday, after a few (hundred) reminders, he does follow through on cake.  Only it has taken me 7 years to teach him that the birthday girl gets the cake of her choice...not his favorite.  I dropped some pretty obvious cues (in the form of an Email with recipes that include Oreos).  Thankfully one struck him as one he'd enjoy too...which is what he made.  And it turned out delicious!  Keep reading for the recipe.  

Anyway, here's my baby waiting for me after work with the balloon he chose for me. That he wouldn't share with me.

And here's the Oreos he would share with me.  I have been wanting Oreos this whole pregnancy.  Naughty, but they're sooo good.

And someone making sure the dog stays away from the Oreos. 

I love this messy face kid!

And here's the delicious cake my husband made me.  Mmm!

Oreo Cream Cake

from: http://realmomkitchen.com/6917/chocolate-oreo-cream-cake/ 

• 1 pkg chocolate cake mix (I used triple chocolate)
• ingredients need to make the cake on the back of the box

Filling:

• 8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cups Cool whip (I used the extra creamy kind)
• 12 oreo cookies, coarsely crushed

Frosting:

• 1/3 cup plus 1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
• 6 Tbsp. butter, softened
• 4 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 5 to 6 Tbsp milk or more if needed

1. Prepare cake mix according to package directions for 2 9-inch round cakes.  For easy removal from the pan, grease the bottom of the pan, then line it with a piece of parchment that has been cut to fit the bottom of the pan.  Place the parchment in the pan and then grease the parchment and sides of the pan.  Cook Cake according to the package.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes and remove from the pan.  then allow cake to cool completely.
2. Once cakes are completely cooled, prepare the filling by beating the cream cheese and sugar together with a hand mixer until well blended.  Fold in the cool whip until almost blended then fold in the crushed oreos.
3. In another bowl, make the frosting by whisking together the cocoa powder and powdered sugar.  Then add the butter, vanilla, and milk.  Blend with a mixture until smooth.  Add additional milk if needed to make the frosting spreadable.
4. Now it’s time to assemble the cake.  With a serrated knife,  cut off the domed top of each of the rounds to make the cake even and level. Save the parts you cut off for another use.  Place one round on your serving platter or cake plate.  Top with half of the filling mixture and spread evenly.  Top with the other cake round.
5. Now use the reaming filling to fill in the center filling section of the cake so that the filling layer is completely even with the cake layers.  You may not need all of the filling.  Then cover the top and sides of the cake with the chocolate frosting.  You may have some leftover frosting.

Quilt 39

Quilt 39-Twin Size-2000

Thrifted Dollhouse

For the past 10 years, I've been keeping my eyes open for toy deals, especially after Christmas.  Christmas is when everyone purges to make room for their new toys.  Look in thrift stores and on Craiglist.  Stock up for next year for little to nothing.  You wouldn't believe the toys I have found!

I always wanted a dollhouse.  I had a cardboard one as a kid that was temporary until my dad made me a dollhouse.  He made my brother this barn, and promised my dollhouse would come.  Long story short, life happened, and although he's made me oodles of things, a dollhouse never triumphed the to do list.  And I never let him forget it...as I asked for it for every.single.holiday throughout high school and college.  

Well, for my 30th birthday, I finally got my dollhouse.  It's a Plantoys dollhouse and rooms of furniture that looked brand new. I love it!  A craigslist steal-$60 for almost $300 worth of stuff!  My little guy is just starting to play with it.  Did I mention I love it?! 

Cheddar Baking Powder Biscuits

There's a story behind these.  My late Great Aunt Harriett (very special lady to me) wanted to know how Red Lobster made their biscuits.  My bold (very special) grandfather (who is so much like my husband) marched right up and asked them the recipe.  Well, they gave it to him and my Aunt Harriett gave  the recipe to me.  I love the recipes she gave me because she included so many little side notes, tips and stories.  You can hardly read her recipes because there's a story behind everything squeezed in with fine print.  Lovely memories!

I guess Red Lobster used Bisquick...which I do not.  Bisquick isn't made like it used to be...now there's High Fructose Corn Syrup (which we avoid) and many other words that I can't pronounce.  I use the basic Better Homes and Gardens "Biscuits Supreme" and add the necessary components to make them the Cheddar Baking Powder Biscuits.  This recipe goes perfectly with Creamy Chicken Stew.

Cheddar Baking Powder Biscuits 

3 cups flour

4 tsp. baking powder

1 T. sugar

1 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp cream of tarter

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup milk

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 T melted butter

1/4 tsp garlic powder

Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cream of tarter.  Mix in softened butter and milk until combined. Add cheese.  Bake by rounded spoonfuls on greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 450 for 10ish minutes.  Combine 2T melted butter and garlic.  With pastry brush, brush biscuits while still warm.

Creamy Chicken Stew

I've had numerous flops before I got this right.  I wanted to record it so I don't forget!  My husband is a very happy man when this is his dinner.

Creamy Chicken Stew 

5 C Chicken Broth

2 chopped onions

4 peeled and chopped carrots

 4 chopped celery sticks

4 potatoes, diced

1/2 package chopped mushrooms

1 pkg. diced chicken breast

1 bag frozen peas

 1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup light cream

2 T. Fresh Basil

1/2 cup chopped parsley

Salt Pepper

Combine broth, onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, mushrooms and chicken.  Cook in crockpot for 8ish hours on low.

Remove 2 cups of broth.  Wisk in 1 1/2 cups flour.  Add to soup. Add 3/4 cups light cream. Add peas, flour, basil, parsley, salt and pepper to taste.    Heat until warm.  Serve with Cheddar Baking Powder Biscuits.

Our Snow Day