Reunion Quilt

The Reunion Quilts

 Shh!  Don't tell anyone, but I've been working on Christmas presents the last few weeks and am very pleased with these two quilts.


I used the Moda Charm Pack Reunion to piece together a basic 9 square.

Then I made the mistake of buying the wrong color white!... But it all worked out because the off-white that I purchased looked way better than the crisp white I had planned.









Since I'm still new to quilting, I decided to do a basic stitch-in-the-ditch for the first one.  I was very pleased with how it turned out.  I did the seams further apart than normal making each square very puffy.  It looks and feels so very comfy!







Then I decided that I really wanted to try my hand at free motion machine quilting.  I purchased the darning foot for my machine brand and it didn't fit!  Oh what a hassle!!!  After much Googleing and reading about darning foots - I was able to jerry-rig my darning foot to fit the machine.

I practiced on a small sample to get my tension right and then went to town on my big project with a very simple stipple like stitch.  I was doing an OK job too - until the very end... And I do mean the very end!  With only about 2 square inches to go, I sewed right through my left index finger.  OUCH!
The needle was nice enough not to break my bone, but this put me behind a few days until I could use both hands again.

Like any good accident, it's all about getting back on the horse - or in this case sewing machine.  I finished the quilt rather quickly once I was able to get back at it.  The finished product is what it is.  I love the quilting, but am rather disappointed in a few details.  I learned from this quilt that you HAVE to start in the middle and work your way out.  Also, it is best to keep your fingers away from the needle!

Overall, I'm very pleased with both quilts and hope that the recipients love them as Christmas Presents.  The Reunion Charm Pack was a perfect choice and I think the colors all complement each other.  These pictures do not do justice to the beautiful colors in the quilt!  Now it's time to start thinking of my next project!

Peanut Butter & Banana Wrap

Some days lunch has to be creative.  Since I hadn't been to the grocery in awhile, we were out of almost everything.  But thankfully, I did have bananas, peanut butter, and tortilla wraps!  This was perfect for my little kids.  They love the taste, I know they are getting a well balanced food, and it's FAST and EASY!

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter & Banana Wrap

Yelow Squash Casserole

Thanksgiving is right around the corner!  This year we are staying home for Thanksgiving which gives me a perfect opportunity to change up our typical dishes with some new/old recipes.  I decided to test the waters with this recipe from the past.  It used to be a staple at the table, but has been missing for some time now.

Thankfully, it was a HIT!  The kids loved this dish and I will be putting it at our table on Thanksgiving. 

Enjoy!

Yellow Squash Casserole

Ingredients: 

2 quarts steamed Yellow Squash
1 diced Onion
1 cup Sour Cream
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
½ pound Grated Cheese
1 Cup Bread Crumbs

Directions:

Steam the yellow squash and onions. 
Mix sour cream and Worcestershire sauce in the drained squash and onions.
Mix ½ of the cheese in and the bread crumbs.  Add salt and pepper to taste. 
Place in casserole dish and top with remaining cheese. 
Bake at 350^o for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Pumpkin Snowballs

It's bake sale time!  I've signed up to make 2 dozen "baked goods" at the Holiday craft show this week and am in need of a different kind of baked good.  I like to see variety when I go to a bake sale and I'd like to think that the people put some real "effort" into all those yummy treats.  Not just store bought chocolate chip cookies in a Ziploc baggie!  That being said.... I also don't like to spend too much effort on the baked goods I donate.  I know, I know.... I'm being a hypocrite!  Well - this recipe makes me feel like I put a lot of effort in, and it taste like I put in a lot of effort, but I really didn't!  I hope you enjoy!

Pumpkin Snowballs

Makes 48.  Serving 144 Calories, 4.8 g Fat, Total Carbs 15.3 g, Dietary Fiber 0.3 g, Sugars 8.7 g, Protein 1.1 g

 

Ingredients:

• 1 roll refrigerated sugar cookies
• 1 cup ground pecans
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.  In large bowl, break up cookie dough. Stir in pecans, flour, pumpkin, cinnamon and vanilla until well blended.
2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets 1 inch apart.
3. Bake 13 minutes or until set but not brown.  Remove from cookie sheets and cool slightly on cooling rack.
4. Coat warm cookies in powdered sugar (I usually place the powdered sugar in a large baggie)
5. Let cool completely on cooling rack.

 Recipe via Pillsbury.

Turkey Fruit Platter

I needed an easy snack for my kids after school today and decided to try a variation to this fabulous turkey fruit platter from Clean and Scentsible.  The kids devoured the fruit and I would call it a hit!

Turkey Fruit Platter

What you will need:

• Pear cut in half for the Turkey body
• Various fruit for the feathers - Grapes, Pineapple, Mandarin Oranges, Apples, and Cantaloupe  (You could use any colorful fruit.  I used what was in my house.)
• Mandarin Orange cut up for the beak and feet.

  

Chicken Crescent Rolls

Today is a Chicken Crescent Rolls kind of a night.  With the Presidential elections happening today, we'll be having our own "party" at home.  I've made appetizers and other finger foods for dinner and I'm going to share one of them with you.  

This recipe is called Chicken Crescent Rolls and has so many variations!  You can add hot sauce, you can make it out of turkey (leftover Thanksgiving meal?), you can add various Mrs. Dash combos to create a great taste - making this a great "Go To" option for a savory appetizer.

 Enjoy!

Chicken Crescent Roll

 Makes 16 Servings 

177.4 Calories, Fat 11.0 g, Total Carbs 12.4 g, Dietary Fiber 0.0 g, Sugars 3.7 g, Protein 11.2 g

Ingredients:

• 2 cups diced cooked chicken
• 2 ounces cream cheese
• 3 Tablespoons melted butter
• 1 Tablespoon chopped onions
• 2 cans crescent roll dough
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 Tablespoon milk

 Directions:
Mix Chicken and cream cheese.  Add butter, onion, milk, salt, pepper, and milk.  Separate Crescent rolls.  Fill with chicken and fold 3 corners.  Bake 20-25 minutes @ 350 degrees.

Pumpkin Pie Dip

Pumpkin Pie Dip

Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes

Makes 12 Servings:

Serving Calories 101, Fat 0.1 g, Protein 1.8 g, Dietary Fiber 1.0 g, Sugars 16 g

Ingredients:

•  15 oz can pumpkin
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or more to taste)
• 6 oz fat free Greek yogurt
• 8 oz cool whip free
• Cut up apples to dip

Directions:

Mix pumpkin with brown sugar, vanilla and spices, blend well. Mix in yogurt. Fold in cool whip and chill in refrigerator until ready to eat.  Makes about 6 cups

Chicken Broccoli Pasta

It’s Book Club Night!  This is one of the few evenings that I get out of the house and have a bit of quality time discussing our “Book of the Month”.  Consequently, I was in need of a fast, easy recipe for my family!  I immediately thought of this quick recipe that my Mom used to make us during the busy school year.  It is super easy and very quick.  I hope that you enjoy eating it as much as my family!!!

Chicken Broccoli Pasta

Makes 8 servings

1 serving is  300 calories, 6.5 g Fat, 5.4 g Dietary Fiber, 2.5 g Sugars, 25.5 g Protein

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lb diced chicken breast
• 1 box (12 oz) pasta (we like to use the mini shells, but any pasta will work)
• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen chopped broccoli
• 2 garlic cloves (Minced)
• 4 Tablespoons Butter
• 2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning

Directions:

1. Prepare 1.5 lb diced chicken breast (If in a hurry, frozen works too).
2. Microwave broccoli according to package directions, and drain well.
3. Boil pasta according to package directions. Drain well.
4. Combine butter, seasonings, and garlic.  Once the garlic has had time to sweat, add pasta, broccoli, and chicken and Mix well.
5. Serve and enjoy!