Quarantine UFO Series #12, Sailors Quilt

Many, many years ago an amazing friend and her equally amazing mom (my “second” mom) gifted me a beautiful quilt kit. It was a nautical theme using fabrics from a Moda line and it had gorgeous colors and patterns. Now, this is right when we were starting our family and I admit, I was a little distracted. I put it aside temporarily until I could concentrate on the pattern properly.

 

Once I got my kiddos into a nice napping routine, I was able to pull it out again and get to work on it. As I read through the pattern instructions, I realized this pattern includes applique. Now, I know I shouldn’t be afraid of applique and frankly, it would be nice to have a portable quilting project. However, it was more than I was willing to concentrate on and I tabled the project again.

 

 

Since then I have pulled this project out a few times. Once I even set out the fabric with full determination to complete it, and inevitably I put it away again. I felt defeated and embarrassed that my hang up was the applique. There are so many different ways to complete applique now; with a sewing machine and iron-on or the old fashioned needle-and-thread method. But no matter what, I couldn’t get past the applique.

 

 

Throughout the year I have made it my mission to complete projects that have been sitting around for way too long. I have focused on fabric bundles bought with specific intent and then never completed. And still, I avoided this project.

 

I have learned a lot about quilting this year and more specifically, my style of quilting. After finishing the Mischievous Cats Quilt last month, I was sifting through my fabrics and found this nautical quilt kit. I decided there was no more hiding from it, but I also decided there’s no hard-set rule telling me I had to follow the pattern. I can do whatever I want with the kit, and it gave me a wonderful collection of fat quarters to work with, not to mention a fun red panel and wonderful yards of border and filler fabrics. It even gave me a binding fabric.  

 

 

My first step was to cut up the panel and determine what size block I needed to make based off that measurement. Next, I pulled a couple more reds from my stash to create more balance between blue and red and got to work on a hidden nine patch pattern. I used every inch of the fat quarters and cut as many squares as I could out of each. I assembled the nine-patches and then cut them up for the pattern.

 

 

As I laid out the small blocks, I realized I didn’t have quite enough. Enter the border fabric. There was enough of that to complete the nine-patch blocks and also have cornerstones. When it was all assembled, the quilt top was a square. Now the original pattern from the kit was also a square, but it felt like it was an awkward size. I have a cream floral fabric in my stash that matched the floral patterns of the blues perfectly. I put a strip of that on the top and bottom and finished up with the border fabric on top and bottom.

 

Voila!

 

 

I created my own pattern from a kit! I used almost every fabric it came with, and as an added bonus I pulled some fabrics from my stash. Man, this one felt like a tremendous win! I found a great backing fabric that had a nautical feel to it and added some of the blue binding fabric to make it work.

 

 

I kept the quilting simple with a basic meander across the whole quilt in navy blue. It was time to complete the binding and I knew it was going to be close, but I calculated I had enough even though I used some of the fabric for the backing. 

 

 

Uh-oh…

 

 

Well, I almost had enough. Honestly, adding the small little piece of blue anchor fabric to that small section of the binding gave it the authentic patchwork feel that the front of the quilt has while high-lighting the tag . It looks like it was truly a patchwork project made with love.

 

 

Now, as I was working on this project my son, the baby at the time I was gifted this kit and is now 11, asked what my plan was for it. I didn’t really have a plan; I was just trying to complete all of the projects I’ve been meaning to do. He immediately claimed it as his! He would ask every day how it was coming and when it would be done. And now that it’s completed, it dresses his bed. He claims it’s the warmest of his blankets. I’m so glad he loves it so much, and I’m so proud of myself for finally completing this project. 

 

Chipotle Mexican Corn Soup

This one is so good! I couldn’t wait to get it in my recipe book. Especially since it’s a soup, and since I’m not a huge fan of soup, it’s extra exciting to find one I love!

 

 

I really think one of the reasons I’m not a huge fan of soup is because I don’t live in a region that gets very cold. It is a desert and does get cold at night sometimes, but the days are usually sunny and comfortable. Not commanding of the warmth and comfort that comes from soup.

 

That said, sometimes there are days you really just need a little comfort. And sometimes there are days that you really need a light meal with a little spunk. Holidays bring lots of treats and it’s easy to feel like overindulgence occurred.

 

 

Okay, back on topic. This soup is also very versatile, and it’s extra awesome when I can do lots of things to a recipe. Originally, it called for fresh-off-the-cob corn, but it’s not really the season for that. Instead, I used canned fresh corn and it worked great! I’m pretty sure it would have worked with frozen fresh corn as well.

 

 

Also, it called for spices I didn’t have… but I had this amazing chipotle chili powder that adds an amazing smokey, spicy flavor to the soup that I’ve never tasted before and absolutely fell head over heels for.

 

Finally, I added some shredded chicken to add more protein to the meal. Worked great! This recipe is definitely worth a try. And feel free to mix it up and make it your own.

 

Chipotle Mexican Corn Soup

 

1 cup onion, chopped

2 Tbs EVOO

4 cups corn kernels (cans drained, thawed out frozen, or fresh of the cob)

¼ tsp chipotle chili powder (more at the end if desired)

½ tsp salt (more at the end if desired)

½ tsp black pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups Chicken Broth

½ cup sour cream

½ cup Queso Cheese

2 cups shredded chicken

4 Tbs cilantro, chopped

 

 

Heat the oil to medium-high in a large stock pot (I use my enameled cast iron pot). Brown the onion for a couple minutes. Make sure the corn is drained if necessary, and add it to the onion. Allow it to brown and soften for a few minutes. Add the spices and the garlic and allow it to savor for another minute. Remove about 1 ½ cups of the corn mix from the pot and set aside. Pour the chicken broth into the pot and bring it to a simmer for about 20 minutes.

 

Using your immersion blender, blend the soup to a smooth consistency. When you are happy with the creaminess of the soup, Add the sour cream and blend it another minute or until it’s mixed in. Remove the immersion blender and add the reserved corn, the cilantro, and the chicken. Allow everything to warm up and the chicken to take on some flavors. Finally, add the queso cheese and stir to mix it in consistently. Serve with toppings and sides like sour cream, more queso cheese, corn chips, or corn bread.

My Favorite Lasagna

I suppose everyone has their favorite, best version of a classic like lasagna. It’s been around since forever, and has every variation you can imagine. And while all of those are fun, I am partial to the classic, straight up version of lasagna. Mostly…

 

 

Honestly, when it comes to lasagna, I’m always a bit torn between the creamy, cheesy, gooiness of stuffed shells and the meaty, bold flavor of lasagna. After struggling for years with this, I finally realized…

 

Put your hands together!!

 

 

This recipe is a combination of the cheeses of the shells added to the layers of the meaty, saucy lasagna. It’s totally worth the extra steps to make this taste so amazing you won’t want to put your fork down.

 

 

The recipe is a full size family recipe. For my family of 4, I actually make 2 smaller ones and freeze one for another night (basically, when I’m in a pinch and don’t know what to do for dinner).

 

 

My Favorite Lasagna

 

1 box lasagna noodles (about 16)

1 lb ground beef

¼ lb ground pork

1 small onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 egg

1 container (15oz) ricotta cheese

2 c mozzarella cheese, divided

½ c parmesan cheese

1 tsp italian seasoning

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

1 jar (24oz) pasta sauce

 

 

 

In a large stockpot, boil water and cook the noodles according to the package. Drain and set aside for assembly. Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add a little EVOO and brown the onion. Once browned, add the minced garlic and give it another minute. Push the onion to the side of the skillet and brown the meat. Once the meat is browned, incorporate the onions with the meat mixture and then drain any excess fat. Add the sauce (reserving about ½ cup for assembly) and heat through, then set that aside. Last prep step; mix together the egg, the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella, the parmesan, and the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.

 

Now it’s time for construction. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. In a 9x13 inch dish (or 2-7x10 inch dishes), spray cooking oil on the bottom and sides and then spread the reserved sauce on the bottom. Place a layer of noodles down to cover the sauce. Place about 1/3 of the cheese mixture on top of the noodles and spread it out as best you can. Scoop about 1/3 of the meat sauce over the cheese layer evenly. Add another layer of noodles, cheese, and meat sauce. Repeat the steps one more time. Sprinkle the remaining Mozzarella on top of the lasagna. Loosely cover the dish with foil and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the cheese begins to bubble. Remove the foil and switch the oven to broiler on high and let the cheese brown a bit, just a few minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

 

*If you’re making 2 so you can save one for later, I usually bake it and pull it out before the broiler step. Once it’s completely cooled, keep the foil on it and store it in the freezer. When you are ready to re-heat it, simply put the frozen dish in a cold oven and turn it on to 375. Let it cook for about 60, or until the cheese bubbles. Again, remove the foil and finish it with the broiler for a few minutes before removing from the oven.

You can also pull out the lasagna in the morning and thaw it on the counter, but if the dish is cold, it’s best to put it in a cold oven and warm it gradually. 

 

 

Mischievous Cats Christmas Quilt

 

I was working on one of my quarantine UFO’s and my daughter came to me and asked when was going to make a kitty quilt. It just so happened that last year before everything shut down, I went to a quilting expo and fell in love with this amazing Cat-I-Tude panel and the coordinating prints. Now, I had promised myself I wasn’t going to buy fabric that didn’t have a project already, but I couldn’t resist. This had to come home with me.

 

 

She went into my bin to get the panel and prints out and came to me with this lovely Cat-I-Tude Christmas version! I had totally forgotten that I’d gotten that one too.  Man, I was really weak that day! Ha!

 

I had been working on another Christmas project but knew I wasn’t going to use all of the fabrics. There were fabrics in red, green, and a white/ivory color with diamonds. It was perfect for this quilt, and I was so proud of myself for pulling from my stash (I’ve had those fabrics for about 10 years now).

 

 

I began with simple frames around each panel square, and then to add interest I used the white to frame a corner. Once all of the blocks were done and spread out, it felt like it needed something more between them. I added a very thin black sashing between the blocks to help pull everything together while still allowing for separation of the colors.

 

 

The border is another coordinating fabric as well. Once the front was complete, we looked at the other fabrics and ordered this amazing paisley fabric that was in the same Christmas line. This fabric is so much fun, it’s almost its own quilt on the back.

 

 

 

I decided it would be best to use a black binding as the quilt and the back were both already so busy. I added my label and she immediately cuddled up in it. 

 

 

She uses it every night on her bed, and even our cats like to snuggle up with it.

 

 

I’m so glad my daughter pulled this out and put me to work on it. 

 

 

Quarantine UFO Series #11, Minty Christmas Table Runner

When I first acquired this fabric, I thought I had a pattern I was interested in that included dangling Christmas bulbs. When I finally pulled the fabric out to work on it, I couldn’t find the pattern I thought I had. So… I came up with something else. I am super happy with how it turned out and glad I found this alternative.

But, what to do with the leftovers? I decided to fashion my own hanging bulbs pattern for a table runner. I looked into pinterest a bit but was disappointed there wasn’t really any good ideas in there. I decided I was on my own and got to work.

 

I started with adding some interest to the bulb by putting stripes across them in coordinating fabric. Then, I used the snowball pattern to make them into bulbs. Finally, I added a brown square at the top to help them look like they had a glass top for hanging. 

 

 

Now that the blocks were done, I laid them out on the table to see how I’d like to have them hang. I settled on the staggered pattern and filled the background in with the matching white fabric. The final step was to add a border and get the backing pieced together. I used the last of the fabric leftovers and now it was ready to quilt.

 

 

I did a basic meander on the white and the staggered straight stitch around the border. I added the label and binding and looked back at my finished product. But it was missing something…

 

 

The ribbon holding them up to create the dangling look!!

 

 

I found some simple dark brown ribbon and used a zigzag stitch to attach it to the quilt. I’ve never added “embellishments” to a quilt before, but this one just called for it. And I’m so glad I did!! I love the final product and how it came together.

 

 

On a side note, after finishing this project, I was cleaning my sewing cabinet and found the original pattern I’d intended on doing. I still really like it so I’m keeping it for another project in the future. Until then, I’m just glad I’ve completed another project with my stash.

Quarantine Series #10, Minty Christmas Quilt

 

Minty Christmas Quilt

 

Back in 2010, I had just had my first baby and was confident that I could return to work, care for a newborn and continue my quilting interests. Ha Ha! I was introduced to a Connecting Threads catalog and while thumbing through to get pattern ideas, I discovered this amazing fabric line for Christmas that was not traditional colors. 

 

 

I was in love! I ordered a yard cut in 7 different fabrics. I had a pattern picked out and was ready to go. Once the fabric arrived, I was in the thick of teaching and balancing work with a newborn. The fabric was placed in a bin and lost in the back of the closet for so many years. 

 

 

Every time I saw the fabric in the bin, I remembered what I wanted to do with it and wished I could get back to it. But time passed, and I lost the original plan I had and I wasn’t sure what to do with it.

 

 

As we now get closer to Christmas, I decided I wanted to try and catch up on some of the holiday projects I have wanted to do. This was definitely on the list. I found another pattern in an old Connecting Threads catalog that I’d liked, and discovered the fabrics I had would work perfectly for the balance and style of the pattern.

 

 

I came up with a few measurements and got to work. The piece work actually came together pretty quickly, and the colors help it look weaved together and wintery.

 

 

I needed a backing to complete the project, and while at a local quilt shop, I browsed the clearance fabric and discovered this great teal fabric that compliments the front wonderfully. Best part, it was only $5/yard and cost $15 total! Love that!

 

 

 

I used some of the leftover candy fabric for the binding, and added my label. I still had a bit of leftover fabric and used it to create a table runner. I love table runners. I still need to add some final touches to that and hope to get that posted soon. Until then, I am going to enjoy my first Christmas quilt in forever!

Quarantine Series UFO #9, Thangles Sunset Quilt

 

So, so long ago…

 

Back when I was a new mom and looking at quilt projects that “might be fun”…

 

 

Actually, this story goes back even more than that. Many years ago, there was a block of the month class I attended that used thangles to make the blocks. It was a lot of fun and I made 2 of my most favorite quilts ever; the 30’s Thangles Quilts.

 

The next year, I did the block of the month thangles again and created this awesome batik quilt for my sister and a civil war quilt (that, unfortunately, is still unfinished because I made it king size and I haven’t been able to pony up the money to have it quilted).

 

I really enjoyed the thangles approach to triangles and decided to try one on my own. I found this neat fabric line on Connecting Threads called Cheap Talk and I really liked the colors and the color-on-color pattern.

 

 

I got work with the fabric and a white to offset and started making thangles. So many thangles; more thangles, and more thangles, and then a few more thangles. I was getting exhausted! It was time to lay some things out and see what I was working towards. It looked good, but the number of thangles I still needed to make was overwhelming. This project got tabled while I attended to a newborn.

 

 

I pulled this out again when baby #2 arrived in hopes of finding some new perspective. I started adding some larger triangles with the smaller ones to add some interest and movement through the quilt. Unfortunately, baby #2 was more demanding and everything got tabled again.

 

It took a quarantine to make me finish this project, but I am so glad I did!! I finally finished the largest triangles and a few of the medium triangles and got everything assembled. I thought for sure I’d finish this with disdain and a solid desire to never look at it again… and then It was done and I was in love!

 

 

 I was afraid I was going to have to table it again until I found some backing, but I made an appointment at my local quilt shop, Cactus Quilts, and they had this a-m-a-z-i-n-g honeycomb-pattern fabric in the clearance room in the colors that matched the quilt perfectly! I bought it ALL and I added a strip of a green fabric I had to make it big enough (I have a sister quilt to this one that has the rest of the honeycomb fabric ; details to come). 

 

 

I finished the quilt with a simple meander and reached the binding step. I did not have a fabric plan for this, so I started looking through my stash. I found this cute brown fabric that looked like sticks from a birds nest. It seemed fitting for the birds in “cheap talk” to need a little nesting material so I went for it. I really like how it framed the quilt. 

 

 

This was an amazing finish! I am so glad I finally got this done, and I admit, I don’t think I will be working with thangles for a while. They are awesome tools to make triangles from strips, and I’m really glad I discovered them. I just think I need a break. Maybe a nice strip quilt to change course a bit.

The Most Versatile Chow Mein Ever!

 

Growing up, I was never a huge fan of chow mein. I didn’t care for the noodles, and preferred fried rice with its egg and veggies and bolder flavor. I didn’t realize chow mein was one of those dishes that can be made into whatever you want it to be. 

 

 

Over time, I have become more and more adventurous with my foods. While I realize chow mein is not typically an “adventurous” food, it was for me. I discovered how many different things you can do with it! You can use chicken, pork, beef, or scrambled eggs. You can use ground meat, chunked meat or shredded meat (although I prefer shredded if I have it).

 

One of the big hang-ups for me was some of the ingredients that are not my typical pantry items. When I looked more into it, I discovered some alternatives that didn’t cause my family to turn their noses up as quickly and at least give it a try. And then… they liked it! They started requesting it! Music to this mom’s ears.

 

 

Even better, this meal is quick to make, minimal dishes are messed up, and it’s a bit lighter so it won’t sit in your stomach all night. In these Covid lockdown days, we need some lighter meals in our meal plan for the week.

 

This is definitely a recipe to try… and experiment with. Try chicken one day and pork another. Use different noodles, like spaghetti, linguini, chow mein (I’ve tried all these and they are all fabulous!). Try making extra for some lunch meals to enjoy later. It’s so fast and easy, it will make it totally worth it.

 

Chow Mein Made Your Way

 

8 oz chow mein noodles (or spaghetti, linguini, etc)

2 Tbs canola oil, divided

1 lb cooked chicken, shredded or chunks (or pork, beef, etc)

Pinch of salt

½ c yellow onion, thinly sliced

1 c broccoli florets

1 c baby carrots, or thinly sliced carrots

½ c red pepper, thinly sliced

1 garlic clove, minced

 

Sauce:

1 ½ Tbs hoisin sauce

1 Tbs lite soy sauce

1 tsp canola oil

¼ tsp white pepper

 

 

Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Set aside. Also, mix together the ingredients for the sauce and set aside. Meanwhile, in a wok or skillet, heat the oil to medium-high and brown the onion. Add the carrots and broccoli to soften, a few minutes. Once softened, add the peppers and cook for a couple minutes. Finally, add the garlic and allow to cook for just a minute more. Add the meat and noodles and mix together. Finally, add the sauce and mix thoroughly. Adjust any seasoning as needed, and serve.

 

Side note; add or omit any vegetables you like or don’t like. For examples, a traditional chow mein will have shredded cabbage but my family is not a huge fan so I don’t use it often. When it’s in season though, I will. Also, I have used the broccoli slaw mix in place of the onions, cabbage, and carrots and that has been well-received. It’s what I love about this recipe! It is sooooo very flexible and versatile! Have fun with it!

 

This recipe was adapted from healthy nibbles

UFO Quarentine Series #8, Babies Taggie Blanket and Books

 

Baby Taggie Blanket

 

After finishing the Rainbow Fruit Trivet, I was inspired to use more of the leftover blocks I have from various projects. Several of the blocks I have are from baby quilts. I admit, I’ve entered a new era in my life where I just don’t have many friends having babies, so I haven’t made any baby quilts or accessories for babies in a while. I have the fabrics though, and these particular blocks called to me. They were left overs from one of my first projects and needed to be completed in something new. I was ready to answer the call.

 

 

I had to put together a few triangles to make it work, but I like how each side has 2 blocks and 2 minky patches. Of course, I then added a bunch of different ribbons all around for interest to baby. I mixed up colors; blues, pinks, greens, yellows, it’s all there.

 

 

Once the ribbon tags were attached, I sewed the pieces together and then turned it right side out and finished it with a border stitch. It gave it a little flattened structure and made it more blanket like to stitch it that way.

 

This was a fun little project to get done. And it inspired me to keep going. My sister was having her second baby and I thought fabric books from my fabric panel collection would work perfectly. The books would be good for both the baby and the older sibling to enjoy. Neither would be left out.

 

 

Baby Fabric Books 

 

I pulled out my Jemima Puddle Duck panel first. This was one my children’s favorite stories when they were little. It’s why I bought the panel in the first place. Unfortunately, it was never assembled and my kids have gotten too old for it now. It was a perfect pick!

 

 

Very basic assembly for this; simply followed the instructions that came with the panel (something I NEVER do and am not particularly good at) and it’s ready to go!

 

 

The second book was a bit more challenging. While It came as a panel with the letters of the alphabet, it didn’t include specific instructions. I debated if I should make it a quilt instead, which is what I've done in the past here and here and here, too. I really liked the idea of the girls having a book they could flip through. 

 

 

 I sifted through my stash and found a couple of fabrics that go great with the colors and patterns in the letters panel. I cut all my squares and laid it all out to begin assembly.

 

 

For the front and back, I did borders instead of blocks. For the assembly, I did an inside-out sandwich approach and after sewing almost all the way, I flipped it right-side-out and finished the gaps by hand. I completed each page with a border stitch for stability.

 

 

 

 

Finally, to hold all of the pages of the book together, I attached a rivet to each page and got a large ring that is detachable. That way, they can take it apart to play or keep them together when stored. It also makes flipping easier for little fingers that are learning.

 

 

These were all fun projects to complete, and I’m so glad my sister and her two littles will get to enjoy them. Now, on to more UFO’s.