THE WAVES ARE CALLING MY NAME.....

We are heading to the beach for some R & R. When I get back I will post the cathedral block tutorial and several other projects I am finishing up.

My goal this summer with the blog is to post more quilting and decorating stuff. Hopefully this R & R will have me rested up to share some fun projects with you all.

Have a safe Memorial weekend.

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MASON JARS , PART 3

The remaining recipes I said I would share with you.

Since they take quite a while to type up I thought I would scan them to share with you. They also have beautiful pictures to go with them that show you what they look like when done. The recipes are from Best Recipes published by Publications Int'l Ltd. They are those small 5 X 7 recipe books you see at the checkout at the grocery store. If you cick on the pics it will open up a new screen for you to view the recipe and the picture up close.


Once you click on the Mystical Bars pic to the left you will be able to see the recipe, but more importantly, you will be able to see how pretty it looks layered up in the mason jar.


Next up is pancake mix. This is best recipe I have ever used. It is from a Gooseberry Patch Publication. Get Togethers with Gooseberry Patch

This isn't a mix that you have to put together, but just your basic buttermilk baking mix you can purchase at the store. How easy is that?

Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Ingredients:

2 C. buttermilk baking mix
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 C. mini semisweet chocolate chips

In a large bowl, measure out the above ingredients and use a whisk to stir up. Use a funnel to put this mixture in the mason jar. In a separate bag, place 1/2 C. of the semi sweet chocolate chips. Put the lid on and you are done. You could also do this without the chocolate chips and have a nice bottle of maple syrup to complement it. What makes this the best pancake mix ever is the rest of the ingredients.

On your recipe card that you attach to the jar you will have the directions.
Ingredients:
2 eggs, beaten
1 C. buttermilk

Combine buttermik, eggs, pancake mix from mason jar and stir until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips being sure to not overblend. Drop by 1/4 cupfuls onto a hot greased griddle; flip when you see bubbles appear around the edges.

Makes 12-16 pancakes.

They are truly delish. There is nothing like buttermilk pancakes. They house smells so good. This would be a nice gift if you are visiting family or friends for a weekend.

Lastly, my sweet tea recipe isn't for a mason jar, but tastes great just the same. So, if you are from the south you will know that a good cup of sweet tea with any meal is a must.

Here ya go!

Sweet Tea
8 C. cold water
1 family size teabag
1//2 to 3/4 C. sugar
Optional: for garnish lemon slices, fresh mint sprigs

Bring 3 C. cold water to a boil in a saucepan. Turn off heat; add teabag and steep 5 minutes. Discard teabag. Pour warm tea over sugar in a large pitcher and stir until dissolved. Add remaining water and stir until well mixed. Let cool. Serve over ice, garnished with lemon slices and mint.

Makes 2 quarts.

If you use any of these recipes let me know.

Have a great weekend!Pin It Now!

MASON JARS, PART 2

Gift in a jar recipe #1

Wow, when I went looking for my resources to share these recipes with you there were so many to choose from I didn't know what to pick. Today, I will share a cookie gift in a jar mix with you. If you would like me to share more, I can. There are trail/snack mixes; bread mixes, muffin mixes and lots more cookies, etc.

Mystical Bars Mix

Makes 1 (1-quart jar)

1 C. graham cracker crumbs
1 C. coarsley chopped pecans
3/4 C. flaked coconut
3/4 C. semi sweet chocolate chips
1/2 C. quick oats
1/2 C. raisins

Layer ingredients attractively in any order into the 1 quart mason jar with tight fitting lid. Pack ingredients down firmly before adding each layer. (NOTE: I have shared how they layered the ingredients from the picture in the book below)

Below is a link where you can type out the recipe how to card to attach to your mason jar with pretty ribbon or raffia.
http://alenkasprintables.com/cgi-bin/461.cgi

Here are the directions to put on your recipe card:

Mystical Bars

Makes 2 1/2 dozen

1/3 C. butter

1 jar Mystical Bar Mix

1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in 13 X 9 inch pan. Remove from oven.

Place bar cookie mix in a large bowl. Add sweetened condensed milk; stir with a spoon until well blended.

Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake 22-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes and cut into bars. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

NOTE: The picture in the book shows how they have layered the mix. They have the graham cracker crumbs on the bottom and then chocolate chips. Next, pecans, raisins, oats and lastly the coconut. It looks really pretty in the mason jar. It would be a nice gift to give around Christmas time.

This took quite some time to type up, so I will be posting the rest of them tomorrow. I have some errands to run and housework to do.

Have a wonderful day!

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MASON JARS....

Do you have any? I have several. I actually collect them. The ones I like the most are the blue/green depression glass ones with the latched lid. I started collecting them a while back when our kids were little. It was something simple and inexpensive to purchase. Secretly, I dreamed of one day learning how to can or "put up" as my hubby's grandmother used to say.

Here is a little history on the Mason jar. They were first invented by John Mason with a screw top lid in 1858. The ones with the screw top zinc type lid are among my second favorite. There is just something about them that draws me to them.

In 1909, the first Ball Blue Book, a primer on home canning was published. You can still buy an updated version of this book today. I actually saw a beautifully illustrated one recently alongside the canning equipment.

In 1933, during the Great Depression, the Ball company does not lay off a single employee. That is amazing to hear. Even in tough economic times, they still produced their jars.

Today, in 2009, the Ball mason jar celebrates its 125th anniversary. There is an actuall exhibit you can see in Indiana at the Minnetrista Cultural Center in Muncie. So, if you live nearby and want to view the exhibit, they will be on display until August 23rd.

Here are a few of my collection:

Love those blue /green with the zinc lids. I was very lucky to find those two for a very good price at an antique store in PA. The other two with the latched lids I found at another antique store in the Poconos in PA.

These are some newer ones that I have used in the past for a myriad of things. One thing I have done was to fill them up with potpourri and place a glass votive holder in the top. Smells good and you can have the ability to have the candle too. Another thing I use the newer ones for is gifts. I have lots of gifts in a jar recipes. Everything from cookies to soup that you can layer up beautifully in these jars and give as gifts. Another thing they are great for is sipping some cool sweet tea from.

So, until I learn how to can or "put up", I will share some gift in a jar recipes. Tomorrow, I will share a pancake mix gift in a jar, soup, cookies and of course, sweet tea!

Have a blessed day!

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Book Review...

Sewing in no time by Emma Hardy is another one of those wonderful books to have in your home sewing library. It's chock full of a variety of projects. Something for every room in the house as well as outside too.

The directions are well written and the step-by-step pictures to go with them are done in the same style as the Romantic Home Sewing book I did a review on a while back.

This gal shows a new way...well, a new way to me on how to put a zipper in a throw pillow. It looks so stinking easy, that I am going to attempt to make them for my family room sofa. I just need to find some nice fabric first. I already have my Joann's coupon. There is also a very cool picnic quilt/blanket to make as well. I was very excited to see this as it very much resembles the ones that SouleMama made last summer. There is even a project in there on how to make those cute fabric liners for the baskets we all love that Pottery Barn and so many other stores sell. There are 59 projects in this book and I have only talked about a few I would like to do. If you are a beginner sewer and you can do a straight stitch then I think you would enjoy this book. After doing a few of the easier ones, you will feel confident to do more.

Happy Sewing!

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IF MONEY WERE NO OBJECT...

I love to decorate my home and make it so that it's comfy and inviting. I want people to be able to see that when they come in, there is nothing that is untouchable, that they can sit on the sofa and by ole means, take off your shoes and put your feet up.

So,since I can't throw money around and change my decor on a whim, I like to dream a little. I am inviting you into this dream. I will be redecorating my living room with this sofa from Pottery Barn. Oh and yes, I will take those lovely pillows as well. I love a pop of red. I happen to like that floor lamp too...ha, I will take two of those. I will hang drop cloth drapes. (I know, I need to share a pic with you all of how mine came out)

photo: Pottery Barn

We'll throw in this chunky textured handknit throw from Pottery Barn as well. Only because I believe in one stop shopping. (haha) Hmm, and I will take it in that taupe color.

Photo: Pottery Barn

Now for some accessories. A few of these lanterns for some ambience. Of course, I would have to get at least three in graduated sizes.

I already have a coffee table and end tables I love. But I would love to hang my drop cloth drapes on these cool rods from Country Curtains. They look like bamboo. I love the dark colored ones .

Photo: Country Curtains

I would have some family pictures in some black frames on the wall and the walls would be painted Tobacco Road. What else, let me see...oh, almost forgot a rug.

I like this rug from JCPenney. It's an indoor outdoor rug. I like the pattern on the rug.

Photo: JCPenney

What's that....a knock at the door...oh, the phone is ringing...."Mom, when will dinner be ready?" Okay, I have just been snapped back into reality. It's time to put dinner on the table. Thanks for tagging along with me dreaming about redecorating my living room.

Have a great evening.

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SPRING DECORATING INSIDE AND OUT

I have the spring decorating bug. Unfortunatley I don't have all the cash to get these yummy fabrics right now.Did you know that Tommy Bahama has a fabric line? I didn't until I was surfing around for some indoor/outdoor fabric. Check out these two swatches. I just love them.

Joann Fabrics has more that are just lovely and great for pillows, curtains, making place mats for outdoor use with. What is great about this line is that it is good for indoor outdoor use.

In other news. I purchased the drop cloth for my drapes, but realized I needed to purchase the clip rings. So, my idea of a $10 deal turned into $24 plus. I also didn't want to use the rod I had in the family room either. It's one of those country kind. Pine wood with a shelf on top. Even if I took the shelf off, it would still look weird. Plus, it's not black like I would like it to be. I know, you are saying whip out the spray paint, but I don't think it will look good. So, that is why I haven't posted a picture of it yet. I hope to soon though.

Enjoy your weekend!

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