Not so Vegan Cupcakes

By Stephanie

I am REALLY late to get on the cupcake wagon.  I know, I know.  But March is the month when most of our birthdays happen.  And the school district here lets us bring in homemade stuff…for now anyway.  So for my son’s birthday I asked him what he wanted me to bring in.  We threw around a few ideas, but settled on good ol’ cupcakes.  Then I went to a friends party for her daughter where she had made cupcakes.  They were really great!  And from a vegan cookbook.  I am not vegan.  There is nothing wrong with being vegan.   But I’m not.  So I used her cookbook and we baked four different kinds.  All really yummy.  So here is my non-vegan cupcakes.  Based on the recipes from this book.  I LOVE that they only make 12.  This way I got to try several different flavors without being stuck with 3 dozen of each.  Not that that is a BAD thing…I just like to try a few different ones without a 36 cake commitment.  I think my favs are the coconut lime…so far.  But they are the only ones I have really tried yet. 

Coconut Lime Cupcakes

Makes 12

1/3 cup coconut oil

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

Melt coconut oil over low heat or on low setting in microwave.  Don’t get too hot.  Let cool until warm and add in other ingredients.  Set aside.

In separate bowl combine:

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 Tbsp. lime zest (about 2 limes)

1/4 tsp salt

Mix with a whisk to get out any lumps.  Add in wet ingredience and just mix to get out lumps add in 1 cup coconut (it calls for unsweetened but I had sweetened, so that is what I used).  Put into 12 cupcake liners and cook at 350 degrees for 23-25 minutes.  Cool COMPLETELY before frosting. 

Lime Buttercream Frosting

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup butter (room temp)

1 tsp vanilla

juice from one lime (about 3 T)

1 tsp lime zest

1 3/4 cups powdered sugar

Cream butter and oil.  And in all other ingredients.  Mix till fluffy and combined.  Just enough for 12 cupcakes.  Top with more sweetened coconut. 

Oatmeal Rolls

By Stephanie

I made these for a friend of mine.  Okay, I made them for dinner and instead of eating the last three myself, I shared.  So I wouldn’t eat them all…myself.  She like them.  Actually what she said was “ridiculously good”.  I wish I could take credit for such ridiculously good rolls, but alas, the recipe was from my friend Dawn.  Thanks Dawn.  So I will share too….

Oatmeal Rolls

Makes about 20-24 rolls

2 cups water

1 cup oats (I have used about every kind…they all work)

3 Tablespoons butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

Boil water in saucepan.  Add in oats, butter and sugar.  Cook 5 minutes.  Set aside and let cook till just warm. 

In mixing bowl add in 1 Tbsp yeast, 1/3 cup warm water and 1 tsp sugar.  Let sit 7 minutes.  Add in oatmeal mixture and let sit another 3 minutes.  Then turn mixture on low and add 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 Tbsp salt and 1 –2 cups AP flour until dough pulls away from sides.  Form into rolls and put into greased cookie sheet.  Let rise 45 minutes to 1 hour.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until they just start to get golden on top. 

TIP: my mom adds in 2 eggs.  It makes them a bit softer, but I like without. 

Wallpaper Update...

By Jen
So I wanted to update all of you on how my wallpaper party was coming, and let me tell you, it has been one big party! NOT! It has been a nightmare to take off. The problem is when I started to take off the paper I discovered that there were two other layers underneath! Apparently when they would wallpaper their houses back in the day they would just go over what was there. But the good news is there are products that work out there and will make it easier for you so here is my run down:
Hot water= OK but you still need to scrape a bit and you need to really soak it
Water and vinegar= NOTHING, this did nothing
Water and liquid fabric softener=Not so much more than the water alone
DIF= This was my favorite but you really have to let it sit for about 20-30 mi. and it really makes a big difference.
If you are going to be taking down wallpaper make sure to do out and get yourself a bottle of DIF and a good scrapper from your local hardware store and you will be a lot better off! The next step will be painting and I will post pictures of the room when that part is done.

We were featured!!

It always makes us feel special when we are recognized by another blogger..

How to sew a zipper

by Stephanie

I don’t know if this is the “right” way or not, but every time I try what it says in the pattern I end up unpicking it and doing this instead.  This way always ends up flat and no puckering. 

First zigzag or overlock stick the edges of where the zipper will go.  This way all the threads are out of the way.

Second, pin together the fabric where the zipper will go matching up seams and notches.  Mark where the bottom of the zipper will be.  I usually lay the zipper along the seams and use two pins to mark the spot (right above the metal end).  Most times I will back stitch and switch to a regular stitch to finish sewing down the rest of the seam to sew pieces together.  Even if the pattern has you do this separately, it lays flatter if you sew it all as one seam. 

Third baste together the fabric pieces.  Baste stitch is your longest length stitch.  You just want to hold it for a while, but you are going to take this out so you don’t want a regular stitch here.  I make the seam 5/8th inch in from the side so you have enough room on each side to sew the zipper in, but make sure your pattern allows for that before you sew.

Then press open the seam. and lay your zipper so the middle of the zipper matches your seam.  Pin zipper on both sides.

Then using that same basting stitch (largest regular stitch) and using your zipper foot,  sew along each side of the zipper attaching it to the fabric edge.  Do this on each side with zipper closed.

Then on right side of fabric, using zipper foot and a regular length stitch start on right upper side of zipper and sew down right side keeping stitch about 1/2 inch from middle seam and zipper middle.  You will not be able to see the zipper since you are sewing on the outside or right side of the fabric, but the seam in the middle should be the same as the middle of your zipper.  Don’t sew too close to the seam or you will be too close for your zipper to go up and down.  Also keep fabric straight and don’t pull as you go.  This will keep it flat and even.  At the bottom (right before metal end of zipper) pivot and sew across zipper to left side.  You can pivot by making sure needle is down, lift up foot and turn fabric 90 degrees.  Sew over end of zipper and do again.  Make sure you don’t hit the metal end of zipper with your needle or it will break.  Yes, I have done this too.  Now sew up left side of zipper keeping same distance from seam to where you are sewing as right side.  

Now with a seam ripper CAREFULLY remove basting stick down the middle.  If you slip you will end up with a hole in your fabric and threads that catch into the zipper.  Yes, I have done this before and it sucks, so don’t slip.  Do it carefully.

 

 

Then remove all the threads that are along the edges.

You are done!!  Well make sure zipper does go up and down all the way.  I usually iron it after this step.

My little BIG project!

by Jenny

 

 

So just like many of you out there my husband and I have fallen on hard times, aka we have no money, and we have just moved into this house that his grandparents own while he is finishing school. This really is great because the rent is nice, by which I mean we have no rent, so I really cant complain, or shouldn’t, its just one thing, the entire house is pink and blue! No I am not exaggerating, the entire house has either blue or pink in one way or another all over, from ceiling to floor. So I have decided to remodel the house, with of course the grandparents consent. So I am going to take you along for the ride and we will together take the ups and downs of this little home! We will be starting in the living room because it’s the first room you see when you walk in my home and first on the list is the wallpaper which has got to go. So this week I will be ripping it off and trying different ways allowing me to be able to tell you which method works the best! so stay tuned and we will take this cute little home and make it a great and fabulous little home!

New Dress

By Stephanie

I love dressing up.  But I have a hard time finding dresses that are long enough.  I am 5’9”.  I like knee length but that usually means above knee.  I like just below.   Jo-Ann's had a great sale on fabric (60% off) and Simplicity patterns were $1.00.  So for under $20.00 including zipper, button and interfacing I had stuff to make me a new dress. 

TIP: Pattern sizes are NOT the same as regular dress patterns.  Do not be alarmed if you pattern is in the teens and you normally don’t wear that size.  Go by measurements.

But I was nervous.  I make stuff for my kids all the time.  But they don’t have curves (okay, I don’t have top curves either, just bottom ones).  And I didn’t want to waste time or money.  But I set out in uncharted territory, determined.

Sewing is great.  In one or two afternoons you can take a few yards of fabric and create something totally different.  I love how patterns are like puzzle pieces you fit together.  I love how you see it all come together. 

And if you are going to sew clothes, you NEED a serger.  It doesn’t have to be expensive.  Mine was a birthday present from my mom.  It came from Wal-Mart.   It is a bugger to thread, but it is awesome and I couldn’t sew clothing without it.  Thanks mom.

Here it is…my new dress.  Yes I am sucking in.  Yes, I need spanks under this.  And PLEASE ignore that background stuff.  My sewing space, blah…

Here is a better pic of the cool collar..the reason I chose this pattern.

It does have belt loops I can add in and do a belt…not sure…what do you think??