Thursday, February 19, 2015

Easy Crochet Slippers and Keeping Warm in February



Do you think I have fallen off of the Earth?  Well, I promise that I haven't.  Just cold days here in Missouri (misery) with little desire to do much other get home from work and stay in my rut.  I haven't been trying many new recipes as winter just makes me want to operate on auto pilot ..... be cozy, comfortable, WARM, and eat things I know I can make.


I've done a little cooking - making things like:



(which was DELICIOUS - I should make this more often)

(One can never go wrong making this pie!)

(for my freezer - for fast lunches - a favorite)

I tried a new pattern for crochet slippers.  I absolutely LOVE making these slippers (I've made three pairs so far).  I made some for my mom.  Hers are the orange pair; made some for my sister-in-law, who requested a bright color so her's are aqua, and some for me - which are gray- my favorite color these days - probably because it's winter, it's gray (I want to be in Florida where it's not gray), and, well...  I feel gray LOL.   


Anyway, the pattern can be found HERE at MAMMY MADE.  It's a free pattern so go try it out!  (Remember to check out her rules for use of the pattern.)


They are easy and unbelievably were the first slipper crochet pattern I've been able to make where both slippers turned out the same size.   I will be making lots more of them for gifts for my friends and family.  Hoping they like slippers LOL. 


Here's how I made them AT HOME MY WAY:






Easy Crochet Slippers

  • Crochet Pattern found HERE by MAMMY MADE
  • Red Heart Super Saver Yarn (white and another color)
  • I just searched Pinterest for a flower pattern and attached with a small button.
  • I crocheted these using two strands of yarn.  I like the stability that provides to the slippers.
Notes:  I made the first pair exactly like the pattern.  I then figured out how to decrease rows, etc. to make the pattern smaller for my foot and because I like my slippers tight like a sock.  It will be easy to reduce the size of this slipper by decreasing the amount of stitches at the beginning and making less rows for small adult or youth sizes.  What a versatile and easy pattern!  My choice place for making these is on the ride to work  (my husband and I carpool so I get to have a driver).

This is a great first slipper pattern, or it was for ME! My mom and sister-in-law both loved theirs.  We have washed them in the washing machine with other clothes and dried them in the drier.  They wash up GREAT!  

What a fun project!  Perfect for yourself or for gift giving!  

Special THANKS to MAMMY MADE 
for this great and free crochet pattern!


Enjoy!


Gina

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

The BEST Homemade Waffles!



Trying to get myself a little more organized these days with my cooking and so as not to eat out - hopefully increasing the variety of foods I get to eat from home (avoiding donut shops, etc....), I made these Homemade Waffles on Friday to put in my freezer.  They are FANTASTIC!

I've made homemade waffles in the past.  Remember my Pumpkin Waffles?  Other than the pumpkin waffles which are amazing, I haven't been super blown over by plain waffles after they've been frozen.  Of course, if you drown them in syrup, it doesn't really matter, but I was looking for some really good waffles.  I grew up eating Toaster Waffles (Leggo my Eggo!)  These are just that good!!  YUM!

I made a small batch (half of this recipe) but will be making the whole recipe next time.  They are fantastic and I want to be filling up my freezer with these babies.

Of course, to me waffles should be crisp so I made mine in a waffle iron and then proceeded to toast them in my toaster.  Perfection!  They were just like I wanted.

Here's how I made the BEST Homemade Waffles (for your freezer & toaster or just to eat hot off the presses), AT HOME MY WAY:

The BEST Homemade Waffles 
(Freezer & Toaster Friendly!)

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup milk (I used 2%)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk (I used plain yogurt)
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
Instructions:  

Combine dry ingredients.  In separate container, mix liquid ingredients and eggs until well blended.  Combine all ingredients and stir just until blended.

Heat waffle iron and spray well with cooking spray.  
They should cook about 3 minutes.

Let cool before bagging for the freezer.  To reheat, just pop them in the toaster!

Makes approximately 12 single waffles (My waffle iron is just a cheapy from a Black Friday Sale at Walmart.)



Ready for the freezer!






Enjoy!



Gina