Sunday, April 28, 2013

Frozen Waffles

Did you know you could freeze waffles? I guess it just took me a while to figure that one out; that I could have quick waffles like the kind you get in the freezer section, but you make at home. (Okay that was an awful run-on sentence.) We had some this morning, and I forgot to take pictures. I got too excited about the yummy goodness.  To make them I start with  1 1/2 cups of my homemade-biscuit-mix . To this I add 1 egg, 1 tbsp of sugar, and enough milk to make it into a batter.

I heat my waffle iron up and I pour the batter in the iron. If I was making waffles to eat right then I would cook them till they are golden brown. But for this post we are putting them all in the freezer. If you want to put them in the freezer for a future use only cook them till they are just cooked through. Let them cool off then put them in the freezer bag. Lay them flat in the freezer. When you are ready to use them pull them out of the freezer and pop them in your toaster. They will heat up and get their golden goodness in the toaster. Serve with your favorite syrup.

Usually when I am making waffles to go in my freezer it is because I have made to much batter for pancakes or waffles that morning. This is a chore I do only when I have leftover batter so sometimes I only end up making 1 or 2 at a time. I will just throw them in the bag that is already in the freezer. When the bag gets full the family can get a yummy breakfast without a lot of fuss, or my husband will grab one out for something fast to eat.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Homemade Biscuit Mix


I have a lot of moms in my life, Godly women who have come beside me and guided me into the person I am today. Each one has blessed me, and taught me many things that are important to who I am. This is a recipe from one of those moms, Claudia Nussbaum.

 In college I decided in needed to learn how to make biscuits. Every Wednesday the cafeteria made homemade biscuits and gravy (the joys of going to a small college). When it was time to leave I did not want to miss out on those Wednesday breakfasts.  I asked my mom if she would teach me how to make biscuits. She said that she never mastered them, so she would not be a good teacher. So I was left with finding someone else. On one of the days I was visiting with Claudia I was telling her about my woes in not being able to make biscuits.  She said I can show you and I have a great recipe. She made me some mix to take home with me, and I still use the original Bryers ice cream one gallon container she gave it to me in. (that was eight years ago,  maybe its time to find something new)

Today I use this mix a lot. I use it for biscuits, pancakes, waffles, pinwheels, casserole crusts, and more. I make a batch, and it goes in my gallon ice cream container. It replaces my need to by Bisquick, and it saves time from making it all from scratch, because I make a big batch at one time.

 


 8 Cups all purpose flour
2 tsp salt
1/3 cup baking powder
1 cup solid shortening
8 tsp. sugar (optional)

Combine everything except the solid shortening and mix well. Using a pastry blender or two table knives  to cut the shortening in until the mixture resembles course meal (I usually just use my hand). Store it in a container with an air tight lid. It can be kept in the pantry or the fridge.



I will post some of my recipes using the mix at a later date, I will label them Biscuit mix.


More Recipes You Will Love


Frozen Pizza Crust

 Mini Pound Cake Loaves

Monday, April 8, 2013

Colors of Sunshine Scrapghan



A Free Crochet Pattern



I often get annoyed with patterns claiming to be scrap patterns. You know those patterns that tell you that you will be able to use up some of your scrap stash but then it will tell you you need two skeins of every color.

 I need projects that ask for even less. I have those scraps that when you get to the end of a project you roll it up into a ball and hope it will be enough to make a baby hat or some booties. Maybe you will even make a hat and booties out of that ball and there is still a little left.

You know those scrap balls that your husband hates because he always seems to vacuum them up, or the ones that your three year old gets a hold of when you are not looking and one end ends up at a different side of the house as the other end of the yarn ball. (true stories). Where are the patterns that use those scraps up?

I have come up with one. I will tell you first off though that you will need at least 2 skeins of one solid color, sorry. All the rest will just be scraps; isn't that fantastic!




Colors of Sunshine Scrapghan 

Yarn: any worsted weight 4 yarn scraps, and 2 skeins of a solid color
Hook: J

 Instructions 

First motif:
Round 1: Ch 4, 11 dc in 4th ch from hook, sl st in to 3rd starting ch. 12 dc

Round 2: Ch 6,( tr in next dc, ch 2) repeat around sl st in starting st. 12 tr, 12 ch 2 spaces.

Round 3: Ch 1, {sc in tr, ch 3, sk ch 2 sp, dc3tog in next tr, sk ch 2 space, ch 3} repeat around, sl st in beginning st. 6 sc, and 6 dc3tog.

Round 4: Sl st into ch 3 sp, ch 1, 3 sc in same 3 ch sp, ch 3, sk next st,{ 3 sc in next 3 ch space, sk next st, ch 3} repeat around, sl st in firtst sc. Finish off. 12( 3 sc ), and 12 ch 3 sp.

Motif with one joining side:
Repeat rounds 1-3 as in first motif

Round 4: Sl st into ch 3 sp, ch 1, {3 sc in 3 ch sp, ch 1, sk 1 st,  sl st into matching ch 3 sp of motif 1, ch 1, } repeat 2 more times, ,{ 3 sc in next 3 ch space, sk next st, ch 3} repeat around, sl st in beginning sc. 3 joining spots.

Motif with 2 joining sides:
Repeat rounds 1-3 as in first motif

Round 4: Sl st into ch 3 sp, ch 1, {3 sc in 3 ch sp, ch 1, sk 1 st,  sl st into matching ch 3 sp of motif 1, ch 1, } repeat 4 more times, ,{ 3 sc in next 3 ch space, sk next st, ch 3} repeat around, sl st in beginning sc. 5 joining spots.

Motif with 3 joining sides:
Repeat rounds 1-3 as in first motif

Round 4: Sl st into ch 3 sp, ch 1, {3 sc in 3 ch sp, ch 1, sk 1 st,  sl st into matching ch 3 sp of motif 1, ch 1, } repeat 6  more times, ,{ 3 sc in next 3 ch space, sk next st, ch 3} repeat around, sl st in beginning sc. 7 joining spots.

Edging

Round 1: sc in every sc, sc2tog for every joining spot, and (sc, ch 1, sc) in every ch sp, sl st in first st.

 For all additional rounds sc in every st. Finish Off, weave in all ends.