Wordless Wednesday--The New Wreath I Made

12 Days of Christmas--Day 10--Christmas Homemade Gifts

On the 10th day of Christmas...my true love gave to me...10 Lords A-Leaping, 9 Ladies Dancing, 8 Maids A-Milking, 7 Swans A-Swimming, 6 Geese A-Laying, 5 Golden Rings(!), 4 Calling Birds, 3 French Hens, 2 Turtle Doves, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree!!! OH! And 5 homemade Christmas gifts!

Here are a few of my favs...

1. Homemade Soaps (14 different recipes!)

2. Cookie Jars (Directions included!)

3. Candy Cane Playdough (Great for kids to help make!)

4. Gifts From Your Kitchen (8 different ideas!)

5. Bath Salts (Several recipes!)

Do you have any homemade Christmas gifts to share today? Be sure to link back to this post and leave a comment letting me know that you did! I'd love to check out the homemade gifts you posted!


<center><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v402/angelsingin4JC/12DaysofChristmasAFT.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v402/angelsingin4JC/12DaysofChristmasAFT.jpg"/></a></center>

Please click HERE to see the daily topic list of the 12 Days of Christmas at Angela's Favorite Things!

If you could take 2 seconds and give this a click, it would mean so much to me! Thank you!!

Mommy's Sausage Bread

Sorry it's been so long. Life has been handing me lemons, and I've been busy making lemonade. (Figuratively and literally!)

Last night, my mom taunted all of her Facebook friends via her status. She mentioned her sausage bread. Some people had never heard of sausage bread. Others started drooling in their screens. Still others begged for pictures and the recipe! In my family, sausage bread, is a staple. I've eaten it since before I can remember. However, I don't like sausage. That being said, I call mine pizza bread. Mom always made sure to make one sausage bread, one pizza bread (pepperoni) and one stromboli when she made it for our family. My dad almost always consumed a whole loaf on his own. (My daddy is a beast.) Anyway, I hadn't really thought about the recipe until last night when people asked about it. I've always just made it without thinking about it. However, it is one of the easiest recipes to follow! It can be completely homemade or semi-homemade. Until I get a bread maker, I make the semi-homemade version. My mom always makes the semi-homemade version because seriously...who has time to make homemade bread all the time? This recipe is word for word (minus a few grammar corrections I made) from my mom. Her personality sure does shine through! ;-) Love you, Mommy!

Mommy's Sausage Bread


Ingredients:

• Frozen bread dough* (or make your own if you like)
• Any pizza toppings you enjoy (Italian sausage (browned w/casings removed), Salami, Ham, Pepperoni, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Olives, Spinach, etc.)
• Cheese...lots of cheese**
• Garlic powder or Granulated Garlc
• Egg wash
• Pizza sauce
  
  
  >Ok here's where it gets tricky. I have no set of instructions. I never seem to do it the same twice. I'll do my best.<

Directions:

1. Let dough thaw per package directions.

2. Take one loaf at a time and place on lightly floured surface. 

3. Take your stress out by punching out air bubbles. (I pretty much keep the shape it is and just roll a bit longer and much wider, gradually flipping as needed. It takes some practice, but it's not difficult to do.)

Credit: My Mom

4. Using a pastry brush (or spoon)  brush dough with egg wash. 

5. Liberally sprinkle with garlic. 

6. Add whatever ingredients you want. 

7. Top with cheese. 

8. Roll longways and pinch seams together. 

9. Place on greased cookie sheet seam side down. 

10. Either coat bread with more egg wash or rub with oil (I use oil). 

11. Sprinkle with parm. cheese if desired.

Bake about 15-20 minutes at 350.

*I use Rhodes. It comes in three loaves and is found in the frozen bread aisle. I have resorted to using Pillsbury pizza dough when I can't find the loaves but it doesn't taste as good. I have found Rhodes at Wal-Mart!

**I use mozzarella, provolone, parmesean and sometimes cheddar

Some recipes just make you think of home. This is one of those for me.

Calling All Crafty People

As most of you are probably aware of, tornadoes have been dropping down on unsuspecting southern cities and destroying a lot of people's homes, cars, land, etc. Tuscaloosa, AL looks like a bomb went off and blew up the city. Many people are without most of their personal belongings. Some people lost nothing. Some people lost somethings. Some people lost everything. Just like after Huricane Katrina, Americans are responding to the urge to help. One of these said people is my friend, Jenn Clark. God has placed a special idea on her heart. She feels like he told her to make blankets for the people who were victimized by the tornado destruction. 

"One of the first things to touch us when we are born is a blanket.  As children, we often find solace in our security blankets.  On family movie nights, we often snuggle together under a big, warm blanket.  There is something about a blanket that helps many people find peace, security and even hope."

In order to raise awareness for this project she created a blog called Wrapped With Hope. It is still in its beginning stages, (I'm still working on the layout/banner and she's working on getting all of the information together) but if you read the first entry, she covers the basic premise of the idea.

Here are the basic guidelines that she's established thus far!

Blanket Guidelines

* Blankets must be handmade.

* Please avoid using fabrics with logos (sports teams, companies, etc.)  We hope to take blankets to all areas affected by storms, so we'd like to keep them neutral.

* We welcome any type of blanket as long as it is handmade.  It can be crocheted, knitted, sewn, etc. If you do not know how to do any of these techniques, please refer to our Ideas page where there are some simple sewing and no sew instructions.

* We are not looking for bed size blankets (though we will gladly accept them!).  Our goal is for lap sized blankets - somewhere around 36" x 48"  They do not have to be those exact dimensions, but that is a general guideline.  they also do not have to be rectangles, squares work as well!  Just as long as they are large enough to comfortably cover a lap.

* You may donate gently used blankets.  Please do not donate blankets with worn spots, lumpy batting or holes.  Most of the items these survivors now own have plenty of battle wounds.  We are looking for clean and fresh, signifying a new beginning.

I also would like to mention that Jenn is accepting monetary donations to help cover material costs and possible other costs to make this happen. If you live here in NC and know me personally, but are not able to make a blanket, for whatever reason, please feel free to make donations to me and I will sew a blanket in your honor. :-) 

Please let me know if you are able to help out! I plan on working on a couple blankets to send to Jenn in GA. If you create blankets to contribute, let me know and we can combine them to save on shipping costs!

For more information, please visit http://wrappedwithhope.blogspot.com/.

When Life Hands You Lemons...

(This post is part 1 of 2 postings! Be sure to check back tomorrow for the other half of this post!)

Today was a bright, sunny, WARM day here in good ole NC! The high was around 89 and the sun felt HEAVENLY! Today, also, was a lemonade day! All day I craved it. I read blog entries from others about lemons. Then I remembered...WE HAVE LEMONS! So...I made lemonade. :-)

Yesterday, the hubs and I discussed tonight's dinner. We decided on chicken burgers with black bean-corn salsa. We have never made this before. We have never eaten this before. We really have never heard of it before. This recipe is a compilation between some online recipes and our own brain child. See tomorrow's posting for this recipe!

 Please comment below if you're planning on trying either recipe and especially if you do try it! I KNOW lots of you read my blog, so show some lovin'!!! (And remember that if you post this recipe elsewhere, to link back to this blog!)

(Really. I am an attention whore, like my pug. We just NEED attention!!!)
Photo Credit: Me

Ahem. Anyway...for your drinking pleasure, I give you...

Homemade/Freshly Squeezed Strawberry Lemonade

Photo Credit: Me

By: Angela Bailey
Makes 1/2-3/4 Gallon

Ingredients:

• 8 Lemons
• 1- 1 1/2 c Sliced Strawberries
• 1 c Sugar

Instructions:

1. Slice strawberries. (I suggest doing this the day before and let them sit in their own juices in a ziplock bag in the fridge, but if you have to do it at the time of creation, no big deal!) Add them to the pitcher you plan on using.
2. Cut 1 lemon into thin slices. Add slices on top of sliced strawberries in the pitcher.
3. Roll the remaining lemons between your hand and counter several times each, to loosen the pulp and juices of the lemon. 
4. Cut each lemon in half.
5. Using a juicer, juice each lemon. (If you do not have a juicer, just squeeze each lemon into a bowl making sure to loosen as much pulp as possible.)
6. Add the juice and pulp to the pitcher. (Before pouring the lemon juice and pulp into the pitcher, be sure to remove the seeds!)
7. Add sugar on top of the ingredients already in the pitcher. (I usually clean up before doing this step so the strawberry and lemon juices have time to mix a bit.)
8. Using a large wooden or plastic spoon, mix the ingredients in the pitcher.
9. While continuing to mix, put pitcher under running water and fill to about 3/4 of the way full. 
10. Stop water flow and stir thoroughly. 
11. Remove spoon and fill the pitcher the remainder of the way.



Photo Credit: Me

12. Add ice cubes and place in the fridge until time to serve. (I also freeze glasses in the freezer for a more chilled beverage!)

Tune in tomorrow for the second part of this post...chicken burgers with black bean-corn salsa! YUM! :-)


Cheers!
~A

Photo Credit: Me

Brunch at Saks: DIY: Paper Flowers

These lovely DIY flowers had me at hello!

My best friend's wedding is coming up in May. Guess what will be decorating the aisle as we walk down? Yup. You guessed it. We're makin' flowers baby! She is working on doing straight cut 4x4 flowers. I am doing scalloped cut 6x6 flowers. The variety is gorgeous! Each flower only takes a couple of minutes to make. I plan on making some, adding some floral wire, possibly some floral tape, some leaves, and some ribbon and putting them in a vase. Has anyone else made these? I highly recommend them! They're super easy and very fun!

Here are a couple I made!

Here's one Sabrina made!

Here are some after we got the hang of it yesterday! 

Notice the detail the scalloped edge scissors add?

Brunch at Saks: DIY: Paper Flowers

Happy Crafting!

~A

Homemade Spicy Chicken Pasta

Last night, my husband, Vance, and I made dinner without following a recipe. We both have our fortes in the kitchen. While I usually stick to the baking side of creativity, tonight I decided to make some "homemade" sauce for our pasta dish, while Vance handled the chicken. Did I mention my husband went to culinary school? Yeah, I know! I'm sucha lucky gal! :-)


I posted a couple pics on Facebook last night as we were cooking and people commented on how yummy it looked, so I told them I would figure out the recipe and post it. So...bon appetite!


Homemade Spicy Chicken Pasta
Recipe by Vance and Angela Bailey


Ingredients Needed:
Spaghetti Noodles (we used whole wheat)
1 (14.5 oz) Can of Italian Tomatoes
1 (8 oz) Can of Tomato Sauce
Mushrooms (as few or as many as you'd like)
Minced Garlic
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Salt
Pepper
Herbed Poultry Spice

Parsley
Extra Virgin Olive Oil


Suggested Ingredients:
Oregano
Italian Seasoning
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Basil
Cayenne Pepper


Noodles:
1. Boil water in a pot.
2. Add some salt when boiling.
3. Add spaghetti noodles.
4. Cook spaghetti until al dente.
5. Drain noodles.
6. Mix a dash of olive oil with the noodles in the colander to keep them from drying out, clumping, and sticking.


Sauce:
1. In a medium sauce pan, pour a thin layer of olive oil just enough to cover the bottom. Allow to heat for a minute or two.
2. Add mushrooms and minced garlic.
3. Stir mushrooms and garlic until mushrooms are darkened and soft.
4. Add tomatoes.
5. Heat and simmer on medium heat for 10-15 minutes.
6. Add tomato sauce.
7. Allow to warm thoroughly.
8. Add garlic powder, oregano, basil, italian seasoning, and onion powder to taste.


Chicken:
1. Cube chicken. (We're not exactly sure how much we used. Just estimate.)
2. Season with herbed poultry spice (or any other chicken flavoring you'd like), parsley, and salt and pepper. (Don't go too overboard, especially with the salt.)
3. Cover the bottom of a large pan with olive oil.
4. Allow to heat for a minute or two.
5. Add chicken.
6. Stir/flip chicken as it cooks to prevent sticking and thorough cooking.
7. Add cayenne pepper as you turn the chicken. (A little bit at a time is the best way to go about it.)
8. Cook chicken until completely cooked and tasting the way you want it to.


Presentation:
1. Put pasta into an individual bowl.
2. Add desired amount of sauce.
3. Add chicken on top.
4. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired.
5. Enjoy!

This recipe took us about a total of 30 minutes to prepare from start to finish. I cut up the mushrooms as Vance cubed the chicken. As the mushrooms browned, I opened the cans I needed, got all the spices I needed, and put water on to boil for the pasta. By the time the mushrooms were ready, everything was in order to finish the recipe. While my sauce simmered, I added the spaghetti noodles and allowed them to boil. Vance then cooked the chicken as the spaghetti noodles cooked and my sauce simmered. After adding tomato sauce to my sauce, we then drained the noodles, added cayenne pepper to the chicken and waited for everything to heat thoroughly.


Overall, this recipe is one that you can kind of play around with and change according to your taste. If you follow it "to recipe" then I guarantee that it is de-lish! I know we enjoyed it last night!


Let me know if you try it out and any adaptations you make!


Enjoy!


~A