Delicious Oatmeal Cookies

I found this recipe on all recipes last night, and it's a keeper!  They turned out soft and chewy.  I left the raisins out, and they were great. I'm sure they're good with raisins, or even better with chocolate chips!

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening

• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup raisins

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, butter flavored shortening, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Stir in the oats and raisins. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until light and golden. Do not overbake. Let them cool for 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheets to cool completely. Store in airtight container.

more on my favorite subject (food)

Check out this recipe for Bajio's Green Chile Chicken Casdilla. (click that, it's a link)
Ok this one isn't quite as healthy and takes a little time, but is SO worth it. Seriously, they're good. Be sure to use good tortillas though..like the ones from Costco that you cook yourself.

Get Yo Frittata On

Sometimes I get sick of having meat in every meal so I try to find yummy vegetarian meals. We had this Asparagus, Ricotta, and Herb Frittata last night and really liked it.

You will need:
1 lb fresh asparagus
12 medium eggs
2 small cloves garlic, crushed
4 tbsp chopped fresh mixed herbs, including: basil, chives, and parsley (I just used dried herbs, but I'm sure fresh is better)
salt and pepper
4 tbsp butter
1/2 cup ricotta
squeeze of lemon juice
olive oil or truffle oil
Parmesan


1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Place asparagus in a grill pan (I just used a frying pan) and grill for ten minutes or until charred and tender, turning once. Keep warm.

3. Meanwhile whisk together the eggs, garlic, herbs, and seasoning. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a frying pan until it starts to foam, then immediately pour in a quarter of the egg mixture and cook for 1-2 minutes, until almost set.

4. Transfer frittata to a baking sheet and put it in the oven to finish cooking (3-4 minutes). Keep warm while you make the 3 remaining frittatas, adding more butter to the pan when neccessary.

5. Arrange a quarter of the asparagus and a quarter of the ricotta over each frittata, squeeze lemon juice over top, season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with oil. Top with shavings of Parmesan.

Mission Momento

I have another craft-like thing to contribute! Like a lot of people, my husband James spent his first few years out of high school seeking life-changing experiences...mostly through his LDS Church mission in Mississippi and Louisiana. Whether it is a sport, a hobby, an out-of-country experience, a competition they competed in, or simply being an amazing dad, it is likely someone you love has done something pretty cool... and nothing is better than someone they love (you) recognizing and honoring the achievements that mean so much to them. Conveniently, we are both very sentimental people and at the moment very poor college students. SO this was the perfect birthday (15 days after Christmas!) gift for him that meant tons without breaking the piggy bank.

James had a box crudely stuffed with mission memorabilia so I chose a few letters, a daily planner he kept, and his name tag. With some hot glue I simply mounted an old suit coat, shirt, and tie that he was about to get rid of (since he was wearing them for the past 4 years) onto the back of a $12 shadow box from Hobby Lobby (on sale of course).

Then I hot glued those few items which obviously held mission memories for him (he had kept them all these years, after all!) to the suit.

 Best of all, you are not only getting rid of the stack of dusty boxes growing in the closet, you are also getting free presents that you know your husband will love!

Pretty cool, huh? Well, okay, ya it's actually really cheesey, but if it is something you know he will love, do it!

Sisters Quilt

For Christmas, all 5 sisters made this quilt for my mom.  We each pieced our own squares with the rules that they had to be 12x12in. and be made with yellow fabric.  Amy and I sewed them all together, then all the sisters tied it once everyone was in town.

It was a hit on Christmas morning, and our Mom loved it!  It was fun to see what each sister came up with for her squares.  It would be fun to make one where everyone uses the same pattern, but different material. 

Good job, sistas!

more gift ideas

I made these headbands as gifts for a few of my friends who always compliment me on my headbands. It is a really easy and cheap gift idea, and the possibilities are endless.


Materials:
- Plain, plastic headbands. I got these from Walmart: $4 for 6
- Scrap material. If you sew, you have plenty. If not, you can buy remnants and quilt squares from fabric stores, or use old clothes with cute patterns, etc. Get creative.
- Hot glue gun (aks your mom first)
- Buttons. Places like SAS have giant tubs of beautiful vintage buttons you can dig through and fill a bag for very cheap. Other fabric stores have them, but they can get pretty expensive.


Bow Headband:
I Just covered the headband in corduroy, folded the raw edges underneath and hot glued them there. Then I took another long skinny piece, folded it into a loopish thing and gathered the middle with a little hot glue. Glue a button right in the middle or wrap more fabric around it!



2 Flowers Headband:
Pretty much just cut out 2-4 flower shapes, each getting smaller and stack them. I cut a 5-petal flower for the bottom layer and 4-petal flower for the top layers. I also glued down a little lace to go underneath the flowers.



Rosettes Headband:
Just cut long strips of fabric and twist them. Then wrap them into a circle, gluing as you go.


Big Felt Flower:

I know there is probably a way better way of doing this one, but I pretty much just made three felt circles and snipped around the edges a million times.


Burnt Edges Flower:

Just cut circles big to small. Then hold each circle pretty close to the flame of a candle, without letting it catch fire, until the edges start to curl up. Stack them, and glue them on!

They were all so simple, I feel dumb for even trying to explain. EmmaLee, I know you have more cute headband ideas to share!

Also, Bethany made me this cute jewelry holder for Christmas last year. Tutorial??

Advent Calendar

This advent calendar is an attempt to help my family focus on Christ during the Christmas season.  Each day, we turn over a number (starting at 24), and read the scripture that goes along with the picture on the back.

By Christmas Eve, the whole tree is covered with pictures from the life of Christ.

To make this, print the pictures you want to use. I made them wallet size, then cut them out. Print each scripture reference as well. Go here to get the pictures with corresponding scriptures.   

Here is the list of the scriptures and pictures I used, with the day listed first:

24 Luke 1:26–38 annunciation

23 Luke 2:1–5 Joseph and Mary travel

22 Luke 2:1–16 Jesus’ birth

21 Luke 2:8–20 shepherds

20 Luke 2:22–39 Simeon

19 Luke 2:40, 51–52; Jesus with Mary

18 Luke 2:41–52 boy Jesus in temple

17 2 Ne. 31:4–13 baptism

16 John 4:3–30, 39–42 Samaritan woman

15 Matt. 4:18–22 calling apostles

14 Matt. 5–7 sermon on the mount

13 Matt. 8:23–27 calming the storm

12 Mark 5:22–24, 35–43 Jairus’ daughter

11 John 5:1–9 healing the sick

10 Matt. 14:22–33 walking on water

9 Mark 10:13–16 children

8 Mark 11:1–11 triumphal entry

7 Matt. 26:17–30 last supper

6 John 13:4–15 washing feet

5 Matt. 26:36–45; Luke 22:39–46; Alma 7:11–13 gethsemane

4 Luke 23:33–46; crucifixion

3 John 19:38–42 burial

2 John 20:10–18, Luke 24:33–43 resurrection

1 Rev. 3:20 Jesus at the door

Buy some wooden rectangles like these I found at Hobby Lobby (4/99cents).

Paint with colors of your choosing (I did half red and half gold).

Sand the edges so they are smooth and a little distressed.

Paint numbers 1-24, using a stencil.

Be sure you look at the picture that will go on the back so you paint the number the right direction (horizontal or vertical, depending on the picture).

My wooden rectangles had pre-drilled holes, so I just threaded string through for a hanger.

You can also hot glue a hanger on if you don't have holes.

Spread mod podge on the back of each ornament.

Position the picture on the wood and smooth out air bubbles.  Spread mod podge over entire picture. 

 Add scripture reference, and mod podge over that as well.  It will dry clear.

Hang number side up on a small Christmas tree (mine is 3 feet).

Turn one over each night and study the Savior's life through the month of December.