Sneaky Mother's Day

Mother's Day was kind of sneaky this year. I mean, Mother's Day, aprons, it all makes sense right? I was blown away with orders that made for some late nights and a cranky toddler. Next year, I will sew several aprons in advance. This year, I ended up taking custom order after custom order. I'm delighted with how they turned out, so enjoy the photos!

First, I sold a lot of this apron, my most popular design and fabric. It's fun and bright, love it! I sold a few in the baby doll size and matching for little girls.

These aprons were fun to make for my friend Kealie. Her daughter chose a fun apron (I totally forgot to take a picture, grr) made out of this brown butterfly fabric. It's a craft apron with little pockets for crayons and pencils with the pink princess tulle on the bottom. She wanted a matching one for her favorite doll and for her mom. The doll apron was fun to make with ribbon and tulle. For Kealie, I added a lovely ruffle at the top in pink.

This last apron is by far my favorite. The fabric is so bright and fun I can't stop looking at it. The retro lemons make it the perfect hostess apron. I added an extra long yellow sash that can tie in the front or the back. And don't forget the sweet detail on the neckline. Soooo loving this! Husband told me it's his favorite (he doesn't hand out sincere sewing compliments often) and that I need to make more to sell.

I also had a booth at the Cinco de Mayo celebration on Saturday. I sold lots of little girl aprons, magnets, hot pads and towel toppers. And of course, ate some delicious tamales:)

Calzones

Amazing, just plain amazing. You can go classic with pepperoni and olives, delicious with sausage and peppers, or adventurous with Alfredo, chicken, spinach and tomato. Yum!!! This is really one of my favorite things to make, especially when guests are coming. Perfect for a night in, think about it, pizza calzones, friends, eating in front of the tv, and the San Antonio Spurs winning the game. Yeah?

Use my Best Ever Bread Dough for the calzone. And a warning, this makes a lot of dough. It will make 4 gigantic calzones, or 8 perfect serving size calzones. They are awesome reheated for the next meal, so make away! (I usually half the dough and make 4 medium calzones and 1 pan full of breadsticks or cinnamon sticks.)

Husband Rating: 5 stars
(and this is a recipe he's not afraid to brag about!)

Follow along and adapt to fit your favorite pizza toppings!

Preheat oven to 400. Roll out the dough into a large oval. On half of the oval layer sauce and cheese. Yes, lots of cheese. Top with your favorite toppings. (Calzones are a perfect place to sneak in extra veggies, since you can't see it like on a regular pizza. My husband always picks off a pizza, but just devours a calzone without looking.)

Carefully fold the top part of your calzone over your toppings. Carefully pinch around the outside and fold up the edges. Cut two 1 inch slits in the top (I hadn't done that yet, but you get the idea.)

Melt 3 Tbsp. (or more, if you're making lots) of butter in the microwave. Sprinkle in Parmesan cheese, garlic salt and Italian herbs. With a spoon or pastry brush smear over the top of the calzone. Bake at 400 for 12-15 or until golden brown. (The larger ones can take up to 17, just watch closely the last few minutes).

Serve, pig out, and go back for seconds!!

Linking up with the Harrigan Howdy Recipe Party!

Best Ever Bread Dough

This is one of my favorite recipes to make and to share. I love it for 2 main reasons: you can't mess it up, and it still works if you're lazy. (Can it get any better?)

Let me explain: While teaching high school home ec. I had my students use this dough recipe for pizza, cinnamon rolls, calzones, orange rolls and homemade pretzels. Picture high school sophomore boys, who still haven't mastered personal hygiene, pulling out a piping hot calzone and having it look and taste perfect. Ta da! If they can make it without messing up, you can!

Next, this dough lets you be lazy or last minute. It's great when I have time to knead it properly and let it rise, but sometimes I just don't have the time. I skip those steps, yep, it still turns out fabulously. If you're in a hurry, just toss it right to the pan and you'll still be proud of the results. Are you convinced yet?

Follow along with me and learn how to make some amazing bread dough your husband won't be able to resist!

Husband Rating: 5 stars

1/2 cup warm water
1 Tbsp. yeast
2 Tbsp. sugar (divided)
1 1/4 cups milk
4 Tbsp. butter
2 lightly beaten eggs
1 tsp. salt
4 cups flour

Follow along with the photos. It is important that you add the ingredients in the correct order.



1. In a bowl combine 1 Tbsp. sugar with 1 Tbsp. yeast. Add 1/2 cup warm water. (Too hot will kill the yeast, too cold won't activate it. Think of warm water you'd wash dishes with.) Let sit for 5 minutes, it will become foamy and doubled in size.


2. In the microwave scald 1 1/4 cups milk. This takes about a minute and fifteen seconds. (Note: scalding is not burning. Scalded milk has a distinct smell, can't describe, just smell it!) Add in 4 Tbsp. of butter (or margarine) and stir until melted. Chopping your butter into smaller pieces and stirring helps it melt faster.


3. In a mixing bowl add in your milk and melted better. Stir in 2 lightly beaten eggs, 1 Tbsp. sugar and 1 tsp. salt. If I'm making pizza dough, I like to add a tsp. of Italian Seasoning or some yummy herbs right here. If you're making cinnamon rolls or something dessert, consider adding some vanilla. It's fine to leave it plain though too:


4. Stir in 2 cups of flour. You can use white, wheat, bread, any kind of flour. Use a wooden spoon and stir it until it's mixed completely, no dry flour left.


5. Add in remaining 2 cups of flour one at a time. Stir after each addition. Now it's time to knead, put flour on your hands and work the dough. Sometimes your dough will be extra wet and you'll have to add extra flour. Sometimes it takes an extra 1/2 cup, sometimes an extra 1 1/2 cups just depending. You don't want it to be sticky, smooth and soft is your goal. If you have the time lay some flour out and knead it really well on your counter. (If you're in a hurry, just move on:)


6. When your dough forms a nice ball, and isn't sticky, you're ready to go. If you have time to let it rise, spray the top with cooking spray and let it rise for 15 minutes. If not, go right in to rolling it out for whatever you're making.

7. Baking times vary depending on what you're making, but I always cook it at 400 degrees. It's done when it's golden on top and smells amazing. Here are some ideas and my favorite things to make with the dough, I'll be linking recipes soon




1. Orange Rolls
2. Bacon, Spinach, Tomato Pizza Cups
3. Homemade Pizza
4. Calzones
5. Breadsticks
6. Pizza Bites (freezer recipe)
7. Deep dish pizza
8. Mini Pigs in a Blanket (with lil smokies)


Alright, go forth and bake. This is the recipe my friends request a copy of the most (and now that it's on my blog I don't have to repeat it on the phone anymore!) Leave comments if you have any questions.

Dental Wrath

It's just so funny, I have to share. Who knew dentists had such wrath?

I got a letter in the mail today from my dentist. Not a cheesy postcard, a real envelope and letter. The letter is so ominous and threatening, should I be feeling guilty? Just wanted to share some excerpts, since they were so hilarious:

Dear Camille,

Our office has attempted to contact you the last 3, 6, 9 and 12 months about follow-up examinations. We believe there are very real health risks in hesitating to schedule because so much can happen so quickly.

Although we recognize that life is busy, it's important to respond to our reminders -- for your own sake. Periodontal problems spread like wildfire. A small crack in a filling invites secondary caries: decay beneath the restoration. An ill-fitting partial will discourage you from eating.

You're due. Please, call us at the soonest opportunity and plan to come in for an appointment with our hygienist.

Very truly yours,

Dr. Z

Umm, ok? Yes, dental health is important, but I was there last spring. Aren't yearly cleanings are just fine? Why am I getting that bill collector impression? lol

My favorite part is where he says an ill-fitting partial will discourage me from eating, lol.

Oh Dr. Z, thanks for the awkward letter. Next time, just send me a cheesy postcard with a picture of a happy tooth.

Written in the Sand

I'm excited to share this idea with you in honor of Earth Day! It's simple, you can't mess up (really) and it will look so adorable in any room.

Make personalized messages - in the sand!

I took these pictures on the sandy part of a nearby lake. If you have a beach, lucky you, or be desperate and use the kids' sandbox! Think of a cute message you'd like to use for home decor.

Here's what I did - our initials in a heart

Use a stick or your finger, don't be a perfectionist, the quirkiness is what makes it cute!

I uploaded my photo and cropped it so it was centered and then added an antique sepia special effect. Nice eh?

Print in any size, frame and there is your custom art! I have mine in a simple white matte frame hanging on the wall with an aqua ribbon. It's right next to the mirror in the guest bathroom (yes, in aqua) and it always gets compliments. I'd show you a picture of it finished, but my camera cord is hidden in a moving box:)

What would you have your message say? I'm going to go back to lake and make one that says "Families are Forever" and I also thought one that says Live . Laugh . Love with rocks between the words would be sweet.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Oh beautiful for pulled pork sandwiches! Especially drenched in BBQ sauce right? It seems like summer no matter what month you make these.

For my easy directions on slow-cooked pulled pork click here.

First, let me say that the delicious-ness of your pulled pork sandwich relates directly to the quality of the bread you serve it on. Don't go lame and whip out wonder bread or even hamburger buns. Buy the fanciest rolls your favorite bakery has. I bought some delicious rolls from Albertsons bakery, not the cheapest, but sooo worth it! Walmart even has some yummy looking varieties, so don't be shy. Split the rolls, butter them lightly, then toast them on a skillet.

Husband Rating: 5 stars (and yes, we had them for dinner once and lunch twice this week!)

2 cups shredded pork

1/2 cup your favorite BBQ sauce

4 bakery rolls

Stir together BBQ sauce and pork in a skillet until warmed. Place a heaping spoonful on toasted buns. Serve with lots of napkins:)

Egg Rolls

Mm, crunchy egg rolls. My husband generally hates egg rolls because of all the slimy vegetables. I promised him I would only use "familiar" vegetables and some tasty pork. You can slice your own veggies for the filling, but I recommend buying a bag of coleslaw from the store near the lettuce and salad bags. I grabbed a brand called "Eat Smart, Sunrise Slaw" in 10 oz. size. They had lots of varieties of cabbage and other veggies, but I grabbed the bag with shredded carrots, broccoli and red cabbage. (Secret bonus, the broccoli is sliced thin, doesn't look like broccoli, I hid the bag in the bottom of the garbage so he wouldn't read it!) My husband is not a picky eater normally, he just has issues with vegetables, lol. It takes some undercover work to feed my family veggies, especially green ones! If you don't have a fryer, you could easily do this in a skillet. Enjoy!

Husband Rating: 3 1/2 stars

1 bag 10 oz. slaw
2 cups shredded pork (Click here for my directions on easy shredded pork)
1/2 of an onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
14 egg roll wrappers
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. sesame seeds
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. of the Secret Ingredient *see below

*I'm embarrassed to admit the secret ingredient, since it doesn't really fit with chinese cuisine. I mixed everything together and I just knew it needed something else, a little oomph of flavor. I browsed in the fridge and pulled out a bottle of Zesty Italian Dressing. I know, right? It was the perfect flavor, loved it! So yeah, use it!

In a saute pan combine secret ingredient dressing, garlic, onion and slaw. Cook and stir over medium heat. Add shredded pork, ginger, sesame seeds and soy sauce. Stir for 4-5 minutes until heated through. Place a spoonful of filling in egg roll wrappers and fold. Use cold water to seal the ends. Fry until golden brown, about 1 minute on each side.

Here is what the filling look likes, yummy!

Here is how I folded the egg rolls. Look to the back of your wrapper package for hints.