Argyle Baby Quilt

My friend Amy is having a baby boy so I decided to try something different than the other quilts I made and went argyle. Here is a finished picture.

The diamonds are definitely more challenging than squares but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  I like how easy this pattern is to change it up by choosing different colors for the diamonds and any patterned fabric for the strips. 

For the back I used minkee.  It is so soft, I loved how it looks.

On the strips, I did a raw edge so it has a frayed edge.  It was fun doing something that was a little harder.  She seemed to be happy with it, hopefully it gets a lot of use.

Finished Quilts

I thought I would post an update on the finished quilts I did.  Here's my very first quilt.  I chose to do a dark purple background and for the binding I sewed together scrapes of the fabric from the squares.  I really like how it turned out and I like the white thread against the dark fabric on the backing.

Here is the second quilt.  For the back I just used some of the brown fabric that was in the corners of the quilt.  This is a very busy looking quilt but I'm still very happy with how it turned out.  For the binding I used a solid green color. 

I'm still learning as I go but it's been fun figuring it all out.  So now to figuring out what the next one will be.

Baby Boy Quilt

While I was in Utah, I found a kit for a boy's baby blanket. So today during conference I decided to put it together.

Took me a little bit to figure out the uneven block look but once I got the hang of it this was really easy to make.


Now I need to figure out who to give it to. I think I'm slowly getting better at quilting.

Polka Dot Quilt

My attempt at my second quilt I feel turned out better than my first. I had to make some adjustments to get it all lined up and in that process got frustrated so had to take a week off then finish it. Here is how it turned out.

I got the pattern from http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/. I loved the polka dots. She used a lot more types of fabrics than I did but I think it works just as well with a few different patterns. I will use the brown fabric as the backing. I'm hoping to get it all quilted next weekend.
















Here is a close up of the smaller squares.

White Chocolate Raspberry Bundt Cake

This is the moistest cake! I found it on the website www.allthingsthrifty.com. It didn't turn out pretty because when I tried taking it out of the pan some of the bottom stuck. Here is the result.


Ingredients:
1 white cake mix (make as directed)
1/2 cup applesauce (no cinnamon)
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1 cup frozen raspberries
1 Tbsp flour
1 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Once you prepare cake mix as directed, add in applesauce and pudding, mixing well. Put about 1/3 of batter into a separate bowl.

Thaw the raspberries and mash up with a fork. When all mashed, add the flour and stir together. Then add to the 1/3 of batter you put in seperated.

Melt your white chocolate chips gradually in the microwave being careful not to burn. I put them into my microwave in a bowl for 30 seconds the first time, and then I stir the chocolate. Then I put it back into the microwave for 10 second increments while stirring in between until the chocolate is melted completely. Now, add to the 2/3 portion of batter.

Grease bundt can very thoroughly and put half of the white chocolate batter in bottom of pan. Then add the raspberry mixture on top in dallops. Finally, add the remaining white chocolate mixture on top.

To get the marbled look, use a knife and make S shapes throughout and make sure not to touch bottom of pan.

Bake for 42-45 mins. Let the cake cool for a little bit and then turn it onto a cooling rack. While it's still warm, triple wrap in saran wrap and stick in the freezer. (on the website it says for 5-7 days. I only did it over night and let it thaw in the morning) It comes out so moist it's barely staying together.



She used a frosting on her's. I think it's great without and actually don't think it would be as good with the frosting but if you want her recipe, here's what she used.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING RECIPE:
1 stick softened (NOT melted) butter (1/2 cup)
1 brick softened cream cheese (8 oz)
Mix butter and and cream cheese until soft, add 2 tsp vanilla, beat until light and fluffy.
Add 4 1/2 cups powder sugar, one cup at a time. Beat frosting until smooth.

Orange Creamsicle Cookies

I saw this on pinterest and kind of scared to try it because fruit in cookies usually isn't tempting for me. I'm glad I did, it is a light and refreshing cookie. Also, it really does taste like a creamsicle. The recipe is from The Girl Who Ate Everything.

Orange Creamsicle Cookies
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons orange zest (for me that was the zest of 2 oranges)
2 cups Guitard Choc-Au-Lait Vanilla Chips (I used Ghirardelli white chips)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture until combined. Stir in orange zest and chips.

Drop rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Do not flatten cookies; it will make them dry. Bake 8 - 10 minutes or until golden brown around edges. Do not overcook! Cookies will be plump. Cool for several minutes on cookie sheets before transferring to rack to cool completely. Store in airtight container.















I would definitely makes these again. They are very easy!

My First Quilt

Last summer I had decided I wanted to learn how to quilt. I found a pattern on the website, http://yardsandyards.blogspot.com/search?q=all+squared+up. I loved the fabric that she used also so I bought the fabric and pattern but still didn't own a sewing machine. For Christmas my parents were very nice and gave one to me for Christmas.

So here is my first quilt I've made:

You can definitely tell it's my first one but I'm pretty happy with the outcome. I now need to decide what I want to use for the back and get it quilted.

Pizza Bread

This is a recipe I grew up on from my Grandma Helen. I'm not very good at bread making but I try and this always hits the spot. I think the yeast I used was too old so it didn't rise like it was suppose to.


Pizza Bread
4 c. hot water
1 1/2 c. dry nonfat milk
1/2 c. margarine
1/2 c. sugar
4 t. salt
2 T. yeast
1 t. paprika
1 c. Parmesan cheese
1 t. garlic powder
2 t. oregano
2 t. basil
1/2-1 c.green stuffed green olives, sliced (i do half green and half black olives)
12-14 c. flour


In large mixing bowl or bread maker, combine hot water, dry milk, margarine, sugar and salt. Cool to lukewarm; then add yeast. Add 1/2 flour and remaining ingredients. Stir to mix thoroughly. Add remaining flour. Cover and let raise until doubled. Knead well and divide into 6 parts. Let raise till double. Bake 350 degrees for 30 mins. Immediately after taking from oven, butter top of loaves and sprinkle with salt.


You can put them in regular bread pans or put two on a large cookie sheet. I'm not a pretty bread cutter but still tastes really good. It is great warmed with some butter, or some cheese melted on it, or dipped in spaghetti sauce.