Homemade Onion Rings

I don't know what onion rings have to do with April Fool's Day, but what a wonderful dinner it made! I love the gooey batter that covers onion rings, but I wasn't about to pour in a can of beer. I played around with this recipe until I got the right consistency. I used half of a large onion, sliced it and pulled apart the rings. The batter made 20 onion rings, so double or half as needed. Husband suggested we put them on hamburgers, yum!

Husband Rating: 5 stars

1/2 of an onion, about 20 rings

1/2 cup flour + 2 Tbsp.

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1/3 cup cornmeal

1/4 tsp. garlic salt

1/4 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. baking powder

Dash of black pepper

Dash of chili powder

Oil for frying

Slice onion and separate rings. Place in a bowl of ice water for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, stir together 1/2 cup flour, cornmeal, garlic salt, baking powder, pepper and chili powder. Crack in one egg and 1/2 cup milk. Stir together until smooth. Remove onions from water, pat dry. In a shallow bowl put 2 Tbsp. of flour. Place each onion ring in the flour to cover, then dredge through the batter. (I used a fork to plop in the batter and smear it around, then put it right in the oil.) Fry in oil until golden brown. Remove to a paper towel to cool. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce or on a burger.

I was just thinking too, these would be so easy to freeze and reheat when we're making burgers and craving onion rings! Mmmm . . . .

Strawberry Shortcake

It's that wonderful time of year again, when strawberries are under $4 and actually look red and delicious! I was so delighted when at the grocery store last night I noticed a carton of strawberries for a glorious $1.50. They are fat, red and mmmm so sweet! This isn't a traditional shortcake, but it ends up being spongy and soaks in the delicious strawberry juice. It only makes an 8x8 pan, so double if you have a crowd.

Husband Rating: 4 stars

Cake:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

2 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 3/4 tsp. baking powder

3/4 cups milk

Preheat oven to 350 and grease your 8x8 baking pan. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating about 4 minutes each time. Stir in vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder and add to creamed mixture, beating well. Stir in milk until batter is smooth, pour into pan. Bake 35-40 minutes or until top is golden brown and springs back. Cool and serve.

Strawberry Topping:

1 carton strawberries

2 Tbsp. (or to taste) of sugar

Wash and slice strawberries. In a bowl, mash until strawberries are a juicy liquid. Add sugar. I like my strawberries a little more tart, but add sugar until it tastes good to you. Pour over cooled cake and serve with whipped cream.

Gift for Mom Apron

Just finished this apron for a friend's mom and had to show it off. I love the whimsical sage and flowers combined with the hot pink cheetah print. Sassy and sweet!

While cleaning out my craft tote I found a bag of beans. A few years ago we had a church appreciation activity where the theme was "feed my sheep." I made a bunch of sheep bean bags for each teacher to use in their classroom. I wish I would have saved the pattern, because they were cuties.

Anyway, I found the bag of leftover beans and decided I needed to make my son some cute bean bags to play with. Homemade by Jill had some basic patterns for an elephant and an alligator, although she used them as stuffed animals. They were a snap to sew and my little man loves chewing on them and throwing them around the room.

Tune in for more, because I found an awesome craft book at the library with ideas for an octopus and a frog.

There is nothing cooler than making your kid stuff . . .

Mandy's Apron Reveal

Mandy's custom apron is complete! Her cute daughter picked my classic design apron in pink and lime. Mom Mandy wanted something to match, but in a more grown up style. I worked with Mandy to create a fun, custom fit. The neckline is a halter with gathers and rick rack in the center. The 2 inch sash is long enough to tie in the front or the back. The higher waisted skirt gives the whole apron a baby doll feel. The ruffle across the bottom completes the look.

I love it!

Making cookies just got a whole lot more fun at Mandy's house!

Apple Crisp

This is so delicious I made it twice in the last month! The topping is crunchy and the apples are perfectly soft. Scoop some ice cream over the warm apple crisp and you're in heaven! This tastes as good as an apple pie, but half the effort. This only made an 8x8 pan full, so double if you are feeding a crowd. I used apples that had been sitting in my fruit basket for too long and needed to be used, so they were a variety of types. Granny smith will give you that sour flavor, but any kind is good here.

Husband Rating: 5 stars

3 apples
3/4 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats
1/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Peel and slice apples. Preheat oven to 375 and grease your 8x8 pan. Spread apples in the bottom of the pan. In a bowl stir together brown sugar, flour, oats, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Sprinkle over apples. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whip cream.

Notebook Cozy Tutorial

I caught my sister-in-law complaining that she needed something quiet and simple for her children to color and draw with at church.

I had to whip up these 2 adorably Notebook Cozies with scrap fabric. Crayon slots and a mini notebook, velcro strap and their initials on the front = perfect!!

You will need:
2 matching fabrics
Diaper flannel
5 crayons, 1 pencil
1 4x6 notebook (46 cents at the grocery store)
Velcro

Fat quarters are easy for this project. Buy 2 of a matching fabric, then buy 1 for the coordinating color you want for the pockets and front initial. Fat quarters are always $1 at Walmart, and yes they have surprisingly cute colors. They are also 30% off this week at Joann's, making them 90 cents. You can whip up this whole baby for under $4!


Procedures:

1. Cut 2 16x10 pieces of fabric and 1 of diaper flannel. Out of the contrasting fabric cut your pockets at 5x3.5 and 5x7. Cut a strip of about 2x4 to fold and sew for your strap. Cut out your initial for the front in contrasting fabric. I free-handed mine (obviously) but you could trace for a sharper look.

2. Center and stitch your initial on to the front. I folded mine in half and created a crease so I knew where the center would be. Center and stitch down your pockets on the inside.
(ignore my ugly ironing board:)

3. Place your inside and outside layers together, with the diaper flannel between. Make sure nothing is upside down! Carefully turn under the edges and top stitch all the way around. Attach your strap, stick on velcro.

4. Fill with crayons and pencil and slide in the back cardboard page of your notebook. You're done!

Linking up with Made By You Mondays!




Linking up with Tot Tuesdays!