I SPY BAGS

What Could Be More Fun Than an

I Spy Bag?

I used the free pattern from http://ajpadilla.com/patterns/reduce-reuse-recycle/i-spy-bag but you can do an Internet search & find several patterns & even In the Hoop embroidery machine patterns. I started out to make 2 for the grandboys for Christmas. Now, I have made at least 1 1/2 dozen for gifts.......great for young & old alike.

I am back!

I feel like this flamingo with my head down......it has been way too long since I posted....forgive me for that, but I just had to take a break.....I am back now.....Jana

Look What $52.00 Will Buy These Days!

I got all of these groceries for $$52.00.....a whole blueberry pie in the white box......can you see the carton of eggs by the pie.....a whole pineapple, sweet potatoes, lemons, pears, apples, lettuce, cabbage, 4 steaks, a big bag of chicken breasts, a big bag of chicken strips, French fries, rice, pancake mix, tortillas, ground meat, carrots, peppers, onions, a pizza, a bag of potatoes, a carton of milk, cheese, a canteloupe, BBQ Beef, weiners, a can of peaches & more....amazing!

One of the area churches sponsors a program called, Angel Food, a food co-op for any community members who would like to pool their money & buy food at wholesale prices. The food is delivered once a month.....it is on a sign up & pay for ahead of time basis. You can buy as many shares as you want......believe me.....I am signed up & paid for next month......I am hooked!

Please, look around in your community for food co-ops sponsored by local churches. You will welcome you to participate, & you can stretch those $$$ this way.

We Know Cookbook Author!

When Barb Proctor writes a new book, it makes me hungry!

I just received her latest collection of recipes,

Favorite Foods From Finney's and Friends II
A collection of 600 plus recipes gathered by Barbara Proctor.

These are Barb's recipes as well as her Mom, Grandma & friends.
I cannot wait to try Grandma's Lemon Pie on pg 207...it's a country beauty!

Barb has graciously given us a complimentary Soup & Salad recipe from the book. It sounds yummy & springy fresh to me......what a great pot luck dish or a a picnic pleaser.

Alumni Pasta Salad
16 oz. Pkg. Spiral pasta, cooked
3/4 cup green onion, chopped
1/2 cup radishes, sliced
1 small cucumber, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup grated carrot
2 cups broccoli, broken in small pieces
2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes
1 cup sliced black olives, optional
1/2 bottle Ranch dressing
1 tsp. Dill weed.
Cook pasta & let cool slightly. Add veggies, dressing & dill weed. Mix all together & refrigerate.
You can add any fresh vegetables that you like....& you can add ham. If salad is dry, add more dressing.
Barb says that this is the best pasta salad she has ever eaten.

To receive an autographed copy of Favorite Foods from Finney's & Friends, send $12.50 + $3.50 shipping...
Barb Proctor
952 SW 60th Lane
Jasper, MO 64755

or contact the author personally proctorosa@hughes.net 417-394-3195

Archives are worth reading!

Don't miss even one of my accumulated opinions, observations, ideas, patterns & country recipes.....visit the archives....it could change your life.......just kidding!

4 Dozen & Stopping

Don't forget to stock up on Easter eggs. This free pattern & tutorial is offered at http://retro-mama.blogspot.com/2009/03/easter-is-in-air.html Be warned, though, I could not stop at 1! They are habit-forming.....

Save $$...eat cereal for patterns!

One of my daughters lived in Kansas City while going to school...I was amazed on one of my visits by the colorful statues of cows, downtown. Really, I could not take my eyes off the painted creatures, & I wanted desperately to touch each one. I could not pick a favorite. I just had to recreate my own gaudy, little herd. Since 3-dimensional art is not my forte', 2-dimensional was my only hope. I thought of turning to paper & paints but settled on fabric & scissors instead.

In no time I had my very own parade of cows....oh, how I plowed through my stash! I selected 9 bright & cheery prints that reminded me of the KC bovine. I drew an outline & used a cereal box to cut a template (I cannot draw cows, but that did not slow me down....lol....!). I varied the position of the tails here & there for artistic-variety. The little appliqued quilt top satisfied my appetite for beef.......sorry, I cannot share the patten, because I threw the template in the trash.....one parade was enough for me, but you are welcome to copy the idea....could be cows, horses, chickens, paper dolls....imagination is your only limit. Do you have an empty cereal box....that is the real question....feed your dh cereal tonight.....tell him that you're saving money on quilting patterns...it will help him swallow it!

Hear the Rooster Crow

March Cupcake Applique

http://www.scribd.com/share/upload/9874936/1pplco44wa9qcx9fwcyz
The free March-themed cupcake applique is ready to share.....click on the link to find it...enjoy!

Country Cooking Recipe

Crust is the key to a good pie. It must be flaky.

After 38 years of pie-baking, this is my crust recipe. If I have used it to bake 1 pie....I have used to bake a thousand.

2 2/3 cups all-purpose white flour (any brand)

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. of sugar (optional)

1 cup white Crisco shortening

Just enough cold water to make a rollable dough

Mix flour, sugar & salt. Add 1 cup Crisco, taking a knife & cutting into the flour until there are several chunks of shortening instead of a big lump.

Mix at low speed until the chunks are even more broken up.

Do not mix much as mixing makes a tough crust.

Starting with 1/2 cup cold water, mix, adding more water a little bit at a time until the desired consistency is reached. Do not mix much as mixing makes a tough crust.
Roll out on floured surface.

This makes a 2-crust cobbler, a large 2-crust pie or 2 single crusts.