Baby Bee Counting Book

 Last time I was at my local sewing store,  I found the cutest little cloth book project!  So for my first attempt, I decided to use the preprinted panels and just do the sewing and assembly to learn the process.

~ Connie

Cut out the page panels.

Fuse on to quilt batting.

Stitch together the pages and assemble.  So cute and so QUICK!

Now Grandma's house has a baby friendly cloth book.💖

Tomato and Zucchini Frittata

 

With the garden produce filling my kitchen, I thought I would add another summer produce recipe.

Garden tomatoes, summer zucchini and asiago cheese make a scrumptious frittata.  Enjoy!

Tomato and Zucchini Frittata

2 tsp olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

1 and 1/2 c zucchini, diced into matchsticks

4 large eggs

1/4 c asiago cheese, grated

salt and pepper

1/4 c milk

2 medium ripe tomatoes, thinly sliced

1 tsp oregano

Preheat oven to 400

In a medium skillet saute onion and zucchini with olive oil and salt and pepper.

In a mixing bowl whisk eggs, 1/4 c milk and oregano.

Arrange cooked veggies in an oven safe baking dish or cast iron skillet.  Pour egg mixture over veggies and arrange tomato slices on top.  Sprinkle with salt pepper and asiago cheese.  Bake 16-18 minutes.

Enjoy the YUM!

~Connie

Summer spaces

One of the best things about summer for me, is the chance to sit out and enjoy this house's summer outdoor living spaces.  Our front porch has a beautiful view to the west of rolling open farm land, so the sunsets are beautiful.  And our back porch is a shady peaceful retreat on even the hottest of summer days.  Hope you have a chance to enjoy this beautiful summer weather in your own peaceful place.

~Connie

  

Chocolate zucchini bread

 

I picked my first zucchini today and so I thought I would post my favorite zucchini recipe.

This bread is more dessert than bread, so enjoy the YUM!

~Connie

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

2 c sugar

1 c canola oil

3 eggs

3 tsp vanilla

2- 1/2 c flour

1/2 c baking cocoa

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp baking powder

2 c shredded zucchini

1 c chocolate chips

In a large mixer bowl beat sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla until well combined.  Add dry ingredients and mix.  Stir in zucchini and chocolate chips.  Divide into 2 well greased loaf pans.  Bake at 350 for 55 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in pans 10 minutes then remove from pans to finish cooling.

Sweet Corn Time!

 

Yes, it's that time.  Once the sweet corn is ready around here, I make my plans to fill up my deep freeze.  I love to have that Iowa sweet corn taste all year long.  So much better than store bought frozen corn!

Typically I process about 12-14 dozen ears of corn.  After prepping, blanching and cutting it off the cobs, I end up packaging 1.5 to 2 cups per quart freezer bag.  That has lasted us pretty well for the year.  Maybe this year I will remember to tally up how many bags I actually put into the deep freeze.

Here is my process.

1. Buy fresh corn ... I go to a local stand, where they pick in the morning and bring it to their stand daily.  😊 I buy about 4 dozen at a time or whatever I think I can process that day.  Then I go back often until I have my supply in the deep freeze.

2. Shuck your corn. In your largest stock pot or kettle, fill 2/3 full of water and bring to a full rolling boil.  While waiting for water to boil, half fill your coolers with cold water and ice.  Boil corn for 3 minutes, then remove to ice bath.  Chill corn for at least 10 minutes.

3.  Cut corn off cob with an electric knife if you have one and are doing a lot of corn.  Corn is sweet so this gets sticky and messy so I typically work outside or in my garage where I can hose things down when I am done.  Put your cutting board in a tray of some sort to help contain the juice.

4. Label quart freezer bags - I label mine "Corn, 2 cups 2024"

5.  Measure corn into bags and freeze flat, so they stack up better in the deep freeze.

Hope you get a chance to enjoy some sweet corn this summer.  It's a much anticipated summer favorite around here.

~Connie

BBQ Bowtie Dinner

 

Here is a family favorite.  

BBQ Bowtie Dinner

1 pound ground beef

1 red bell pepper ,chopped

1 and 1/2 c mini bowtie pasta

2 and 1/2 c beef broth

1/2 c bbq sauce

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 cup corn

1 and 1/2 c shredded cheddar

brown ground beef and drain. Add bell pepper and cook 1-2 minutes.  Stir in dry pasta, broth, bbq sauce, salt and pepper.  Heat to boiling, reduce heat to medium low.  Cover and cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until pasta is tender.  Stir in corn and 1 c cheese. Cover and cook 3 - 4 minutes until heated thru.  Top with remaining cheese..  Enjoy!

Quick and easy dinner.

~Connie

Next sewing project?!

 

I've been searching the internet for ideas for sewing cloth baby books.  These looks so cute! Kind of like sewing and scrapbooks all in one.  I'm still pondering the ideas for ones I want to try and create for our two new babies in the family.  I will keep you posted on my progress.

~Connie

Brownie Berry Trifle

Chocolate and berries??! Yes, please!  This is a simple and easy summer dessert recipe, that looks fancy enough for company. 😋

Brownie Berry Trifle

2 c milk

1 (3.4 oz) package vanilla pudding mix

3 c one-inch brownie pieces

3 c sliced strawberries

1 c blueberries

Prepare pudding mix according to package using 2 c milk.  

For each serving place 1/4 c brownie pieces in bottom of dessert dish.

Top with 1/4 c pudding, 1/4 c strawberries and 2-3 Tbsp blueberries.

Repeat with remaining ingredients.  Serve immediately or cover and chill.

Enjoy the Yum!

~Connie

Joining a knitting group!

 

I recently joined a knitting group.  This is something I have wanted to do for a while but just never found one.  We recently switched parishes, when mass times at our local church were reduced. (Troubles of small rural parishes that have to consolidate.)😒  The positive side of the switch was getting to know some new ladies and joining their knitting group!  Fellowship and service knitting for others all in one.  Yay!!  Everyone works on their own projects that the group then donates.  Baby hats for newborns that are donated to local hospitals, lap blankets for senior citizen centers, prayer shawls for cancer patients, hats and mittens for homeless shelters, etc.  It is a lovely hour and a half once a week for making new friends and doing good for others.  I am so happy I found this new group.

Is there something similar in your community??  I hope there is and you can find some new knitting friends too.  If not... then start one up!

~Connie