Serving Others

is so much easier when you have a plan.

i have two meals that i make when i get the opportunity to bring a dinner to a family.

(i'd like to add that i take the easiest route when putting these together and often times that means ready made crust and frozen veggies...)

the first is a chicken pot pie, salad and banana bread.


chicken pot pie


1 pkg. of pillsbury pie crust
2-3 cups chicken breast (cooked and diced)
16 oz. cooked mixed veggies
1/3 cup butter
1 1/3 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup chopped onion
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper


melt butter & add onions until they are tender. add flour, salt, pepper, broth and milk and cook over med heat until thick. remove from heat and add chicken and veggies. spread crust in pie plate and add mixture. cover with top crust and flute edges (cut away excess dough) with excess dough roll and cut out a cute shape with cookie cutter. cover edges of pie crust with foil and bake at 425 for 35 min.


my notes: i always double this and make two. i only use pillsbury pie crusts, the others are yuck! i only use the bags of frozen skinless, boneless chicken breast tenders. (don't ask) i haven't always been too thrilled with my fluting and you might feel the same way. don't worry no one notices!


the banana bread recipe is so yummy!!!
i actually got it from here!

i'm SuPeR excited because presentation is ReAllY impotant to me and i found a great way to dress up the bread! penny from sew take a hike has an amazing blog full of great ideas and tutorials like this one. so nice!


and if it's a new baby your visiting, she has a great tutorial to make a changing pad.

ok, so that's the first...

the second meal is just as easy. it's an enchilada casserole, spanish rice and a 'sante fe' salad.

enchilada casserole

16 oz. sour cream
16 oz. jar of salsa
1 can (10.75) cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup diced onion
6 (12") flour tortillas, cut into strips
6 boneless, skinless chicken breats cooked and shredded
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese

mix sour cream, salsa, cream of chicken soup and onion. layer the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish with 1/3 of the tortilla strips, 1/3 of the chicken, 1/3 of the mixture and 1/3 of the cheese. repeat layering with remaining ingredients. bake at 350 for 20-30 min. or until bubbly. enjoy!!!

i make spanish rice to serve with it. i got a great recipe here!
the salad is a pack called 'sante fe' salad.
it's pretty darn good.

and for a yummy treat make this canned corn casserole.

corn casserole

15 oz can drained whole kernel corn
15 oz. can creamed corn
1 box jiffy corn bread mix
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
1 stick of margarine, melted
8 oz sour cream

mix all ingredients together in a bowl. pour into a well greased 9 x 13 baking dish. bake at 350 for 45 min. or until center is firm.

well that's it. i hope you weren't disappointed.

Together Time

i was reading this post and this post earlier and it made me think.

i thought i'd share with you ways that i connect with my kids as i work.

as you probably know, i have a 19 year old, 13 year old, 5 (going on 15) year old and an 11 month old. the teen's are (for the most part) pretty self sufficient, but the happiest baby and the little princess requires aLoT of my time and in order for me to get anything done i must find a way to include them or else what'cha doin' wednesday (and every other day) wouldn't exist.

for the most part, i involve the kids in everything from cooking to laundry. the older kids have laundry days and the 5 year old helps sort and fold. cooking is primarily a task that i tackle with the help of the little princess most of the time. she now lOvEs to cook and bake.

but the other stuff, that's what i wanted to share with you.

in my sewing room, i have a basket of toys to entertain the happiest baby. he LoVeS my ribbon and scraps. he makes a HuGe mess and that's totally oK with me because we are together. speaking of together, that's the key.

the other night, i was working on getting a project finished and the little princess was working on her stitching. the baby was playing and making his mess. it was quiet and we were talking. i don't even remember what we were talking about (she talks AlOt!) out of the blue, she says 'this is nice, mommy. you and me stitching'. it was nice. it was time to connect just me and her. there are many days that we spend in the sewing room connecting and creating.

kids LoVe to create and i get a lot done.

so the next time you want to quilt or scrap or whatever, set up a tv tray, give the kids some paper, crayons and turn the tv and music off (unless it's the music with 'no words'...classical) and enjoy the time with them.

a little tip: i cut up 5 inch squares of muslin and let her draw and color on them. later we can make them into a quilt.

i hope you have a great day! i've gotta go clean the trailer, we're going camping tomorrow.

i promise i'll get those recipes tonight. (for some of you, that might mean tomorrow...)

Why

am i just now finding this!!!

they have a ton of tutorials like this braided rug.

that is made using my all time favorite fabric!!!

and this super easy but way too cute table runner

(mom you need this!)


and this quilt

and oh so much more!!!



(ps. the pictures are from moda's site...get over there!)

What 'cha Doin' Wednesday

hi everyone! what'cha doin???

(before i get started i want to let you know that i started this post at almost 3pm today

and it is now almost 10pm as i am finishing it up)

today, i've been working on something that i'll show you on moday.

can't tell, it's a secret!!!

i'm also cooking pot pies and baking banana bread today.

a gal from church just brought home a baby girl and tonights my night to bring dinner.

do you pass on those opportunities to bring dinner to someone or have others for dinner because your not a "cook" or because you just don't have a recipe your comfortable making?

i have a couple great ones that i'll share that will make you jump at the chance.

stay tuned...

well...i'm STILL working on organizing my sewing room. here's what i've got so far. i will say that as far as my fabric goes, i'm pretty darn organized, it's all the other stuff that i have a problem with.

here's the before picture...

and here's the after...look mom, it's clean!!!

(now if i can just keep it this way!!! and NO i didn't just throw it behind me...

that was the home tour!!!)

remember the picture i showed you of neta's sewing basket...

here's my attempt. i need to make the cute cover for the spray bottle, then i think it will look cute. for now i'm just happy to everything in one place and functional.

i also covered this dingy, well used ironing/cutting mat. how cute is the darn iron!!! it's real. lois ann gave it to the little princess (thus, no cord)

and while i was in the organizing mode. neta had yet another great idea for the 12 x12 plastic bins from michaels. they are on sale right now for 40% off. i bought a couple to organize my current class project and my blocks of the month.

and i also found this basket in one of my closets and i put it to good use. my long arm supplies are now in one easy to find place.

well that's all folks...

i've got to go get some laundry done!!!

SERIOUSLY, i hear it beeping at me...

Hear Me Face Bookers

jodi, from simply this, that and the other has come up with a remarkable solution!

go on over to her blog and read this post!

please, you need to read it...we miss you all terribly.

(you know who you are, so go read it!)

Love you!

I'm Feeling the Love...

ashley from domestic divas fancy

gave me this award.

i think ashley and i would be great friends. we love the same things. on second thought, it's problably a good idea that we don't get together...we'd probably get into a lot of trouble!!!

thank you so much ashley!

i'm thrilled that you thought of me! last week i passed this out to everyone so i will keep this one to myself for now.

i love blogging and meeting new people. my daughter thinks i'm silly (so does 'bob') but i am very grateful for all my blogging friends!

My Sister Caught the Bug...

the organizing bug, that is!

(did anyone say ribbon???)

she is to ribbon and paper, what i am to fabric.
she had so much that is became a BIG problem so she decided to put them on a ribbon holder.
did i mention that with some help, she made it...
yep, impressive.
and lucky me, because she made one for me, too! thanks, suz!!!
we haven't decided what color to paint them so for now they are white.
how cute is this little stand that she just whipped up!
(ummm, i think i need one of these, too)

oh & p.s. here's a sneak peek of something fun to come...

happy organizing!!!

I've Been Inspired...

by so many of you organized bloggers!
my family thanks you!!!

i've decided to tackle my sewing room first.
in it are piles of quilting magazines.
they date back to 1998. yikes!!!

i started by going through each one and pulling the projects that i like out.
(it's taken days!!!)

from all the magazines came all these patterns that i put in sheet protectors.

once i had them in sheet protectors, i organized them into binders.
Whew!!! that took WAY too long...but i'm thrilled to have it done.
one project down, how many to go???
don't ask, i'll keep you posted. (get it!)
take care!

Moo Cards

aren't they cute!!!

these are mini business cards. they have many, many designer packs to choose from. here are a couple of my favorites in the snugglemuffin pack.

there are 100 in a pack for only $19.99. for more information, go here.

Ode to Leanna

"bob" has been helping some friends get their new house ready to move in
and tonight leanna brought us dinner as a thank you.
she out did herself.

we were thrilled when she unveiled the amazing stuffed chicken and pasta

and her salad with the homemade dressing is one of my favorite dishes.

and if all this wasn't enough, she baked oatmeal, coconut cookies. yummm!!!

i must say that it was very difficult to accept her token of thanks. bob and i didn't want her to spend so much time making us dinner when she has 3 young kids and a very busy life. she has been so grateful for the help she has recieved, that we both felt that her gratitude was "thanks" enough. with that said, i remember a dear friend once said that as we give, we recieve blessings and it's not fair to keep the blessings to ourselves. we must allow others to give to us as we give to them. it's something that i try to remember. i LOVE to serve and i am doing my best to let others serve me.

i am so grateful for the friends in my life.
i am grateful for the graciousness of others and the opportunity to serve.
with every day comes the chance to make a difference in someone's life.
it could be something as simple as a smile or as elaborate as a beautiful meal.
however, the opportunity presents itself, don't let it pass by...
thanks leanna, we think your awesome!
(so is your cooking!!!)

A New Blog...

that is oh so lovely!!!

kerri from lovely little handmades is new to the blogging world and is having a giveaway.

i must say; however, even if she weren't having a giveaway i'd go check it out! LOVE it!

Katherine, you'll love it!!!