Simply Rurban

The Baby Quilt Complete, Part 2

Posted on January 4, 2013 by simply0637

I started the baby quilt back in November (Part 1), putting together all the blocks and then waited for the baby to be born. I waited and waited and a week passed by from the due date and then… I received the phone call the baby had been born and it was a girl! A few days later I was at the fabric store picking out the fabric for the sashing and backing. I decided on pink, which I usually do not do for a girl, but for some reason, this time I was drawn to the color.

So the weekend before we were going away I was at the ironing board, sewing machine and on the floor pinning and piecing together. I couldn’t wait to see the final quilt! I cut the sashings – about 1 1/2″ between blocks and 2 1/2 ” between rows.

The front of the quilt was done. Now I needed to add the back and the batting. I laid it all out on the floor, pinned it together and had Stella help hold it while I sewed it together. After doing two sides, I realized that is was not sewing together correctly!!! At this point I was pretty frustrated – but it was time to leave the house to take Stella to her first open mic – it would have to wait!

As we were driving to the open mic – I was really beating myself up, but by the time we got there I was laughing. It would not be a quilt made by me if I did not have to tear out seams while sewing it together! I can’t tell you how many times that I have pieced the quilt, back and batting together the wrong way and have not realized it until I was turning it right side out.

The compulsive part of me wanted to finish the quilt when we got back from the open mic, but the rational part of me decided to wait until the next day. I had figured that I was going to have to cut the fabric and sew together to make the back big enough for the quilt size – and I was OK with that. I ripped out the seams and then laid it all back out on the floor – there was no cutting or sewing to be done – the backing was the perfect size!! I re-pinned and went back to the sewing machine – it worked!!! Turned it right side out, sewed the opening and then using pink embroidery thread tacked the quilt – it was ready.

It has been a long time since I have personally delivered a quilt and I couldn’t wait to deliver this one!!

Posted in Crafts, Quilting | Tagged baby, baby quilt, crafts, quilting | 4 Comments

Knitting With Wire, Making A Bracelet

Posted on January 3, 2013 by simply0637

I think I have found a new love – knitting with wire!! We have a very large family and for Christmas we pick names. Since there are two people in our family we choose two names. This past Christmas I chose my cousin’s wife. Searching for things to make I had come across knitting with wire to create napkin rings – thought that would be fun. When I went back to look for the pattern I could not find it and then I thought maybe I would try doing a bracelet. After making the bracelet I am hooked!! I want to create so many other things with wire and have started working on some of those ideas.

After making this bracelet I would change up the start and end, tapering both.

Wire Knitted Bracelet

Items Needed

Beading Wire (gauge 26 – 32)
Beads
Metal Knitting needles (the smaller the tighter the knitting – I used Size 7)
Clasp

The smaller the gauge of wire the stiffer the wire. For the bracelet I used 32 gauge.

1. String you beads onto the wire.

2. Cast on 8 stitches. Make a slip knot and place on your knitting needle. Then cast on using the Thumb method.

Row 1 & 2: Knit

Row 3: is where I started using my beads and making a pattern. K4, bring a bead up, K4. The bead, depending on the size with either lay above the knitting or in the loop between the two stitches.

Row 4: knit

Row 5: K2, bring bead up, K4, bring bead up, K2

Row 6: Knit

Repeat Rows 3 – 6 to create this pattern or create your own pattern.

When bracelet measure 7 inches, end with tw0 knit row and then bind off.

Weave in the wire on the cast on side. On the bind off side, weave the wire to the 4th stitch, attach clasp securely, and then weave the rest of the wire into the bracelet.

This bracelet feels really good on, barely even know it is there!

Posted in Crafts, Jewelry | Tagged bracelet, knitted bracelet, knitting, wire | 2 Comments

Another Knitted Girls Poncho

Posted on January 2, 2013 by simply0637

Just like last year, I was frantically trying to finish Stella’s Christmas present! I finished with 3 days to spare!!! She had requested a poncho for her birthday, but time was not on my side – so the request was pushed to Christmas. I searched and searched for a pattern, but I never did find one that felt “right” for Stella – so I came up with my own pattern (yikes! and would it come out right?!). Wasn’t sure how to end it, but I think the 1 view worked out nicely and she can always tell what side is the front!

Young Woman’s Knitted Poncho

Items Needed

Size 11 double pointed and circular (size 24 or 32″)
2 skeins chunky – solid color
3 skeins chunky – accent scheme (I used a yarn that went from small to fuller texture)
Darning needle
3 markers

1. With 2 strands of the solid color, on double pointed needles CO (cast on) 62 stitches. Divide stitches evenly on 4 needles and join in a round being careful not to twist. Place marker at beginning of round.

Round 1: knit

Round 2: Purl

Round 3: Switch to 1 strand solid and one strand accent. K15, place marker, K31, place marker, K16

Round 4: Knit to first marker, M1 (make 1), slip marker, K1, M1, knit to next marker, M1, slip marker, K1, M1, knit to end of round

Round 5: Knit

Rounds 6 -9: Repeat rounds 4 & 5, twice

Round 10: *K1, YO (yarn over)*, repeat to end of round

Round 11: *K1, drop all YO*, repeat to end of round

Round 12: Knit to first marker, M1 (make 1), slip marker, K1, M1, knit to next marker, M1, slip marker, K1, M1, knit to end of round

Round 13: Knit

Round 14: Knit to first marker, M1 (make 1), slip marker, K1, M1, knit to next marker, M1, slip marker, K1, M1, knit to end of round

Round 15: Knit

Repeat Round 10 – 15 until piece measures approximately 14 inches from neck to bottom. I made a pattern with the yarn – using 1 strand solid and 1 strand accent, for several rows, then switching to 2 strand solid – and did that pattern twice.

When piece measures 14″, BO (bind off) all stitches EXCEPT 20 stitches before and 20 stitches after 1 increase marker.

Row 1: start with 2 strand of solid yarn. K1, K2tog (knit 2 together), K10, K2tog, K5, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K3, K2tog, K10, K2tog, K1

Row 2 and all even rows, P2tog, Purl to last 2 stitches, P2tog

Row 3: K1, K2tog (knit 2 together), K9, K2tog, K4, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K3, K2tog, K9, K2tog, K1.

Row 5: K1, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K3, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K2, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K1.

Row 7: K1, K2tog, K7, K2tog, K2, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K1, K2tog, K7, K2tog, K1.

Row 9: K1, K2tog, K5, K2tog, K2, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K1, K2tog, K5, K2tog, K1.

Row 11: K1, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K2, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K1, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K1.

Row 13: K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K2, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1.

Row 15: K1, K2tog (twice),K1, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K1, K2tog (twice), K1.

Row 17: K1, K2tog, K1, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K2tog, K1.

Row 19: K2tog, K1, M1, move marker, K1, M1, K2tog.

Row 21: K2tog (twice).

Row 22: P2tog

Cut your yarn and pull through last stitch, weave in ends. Weave in all ends and block.

I had thought that I would do fringe all around the edge of the poncho, but lucky me – I was at my aunt’s and she offered to do a crochet border!! It came out wonderfully.

I finished a few days before Christmas and on Christmas morning Stella opened her gift and loved it!! It has been worn often since.

Posted in Crafts, Knitting | Tagged child, crafts, knitting, pattern, poncho | 6 Comments

Happy New Year – Gratitude & Memory Jar

Posted on January 1, 2013 by simply0637

Today, the first day of 2013 – wow!!! At the start of each year, most of us make a New Year’s resolution – the top one’s being: quit smoking, loose weight, exercise more, find a partner – and not to start the day off on a negative note, but most of us do not keep our New Year’s resolutions – no matter how good our intentions! So instead of making a resolution that you may not keep – why not make a resolution that lasts all years and focuses on the positives in your life? Sounds good to me!! This is a new tradition we are going to start in our house!

Gratitude & Memory Jar

Items Needed

Glass jar
Pretty jar
Paper slips
Decorations
Glue or decoupage glue
Paint Brush

1. If you want to decorate your jar – great – make it reflective of your uniqueness!! Or you can use a beautiful jar you already have. We decided to cut out the flowers from some wrapping paper and decoupage them onto our glass jars. I found the jars at Goodwill for a $1 each.

1A. Cut out the flowers and other items from magazines, etc.

1B. Glue the cut out items onto your glass jar and/or decorate with other items.

2. Throughout the year fill the jar with notes of your good memories, great things that have happened to you and things that make you happy.

3. New Year’s Eve 2013/2014 open the jar and read your notes, reflect back and remember your good memories of 2013.

Place our jar in a place that you will remember to write your notes and I think when I pass the memory jar a smile will slowly cross my face – just thinking about the notes that are already in there and about the kids making them and the fun they had!

Posted in Kids Crafts, Life | Tagged memory jar, new years, traditions | 5 Comments

Gluten Free Breakfast or Anytime Energy Bars

Posted on December 31, 2012 by simply0637

Do you some mornings where you get up at your normal time and then all of a sudden you are running late? We have those on occasion and even though we are running late we do not skip breakfast. These are easy to make, store well and since they are kept in the refrigerator their shelf life is about a week – two weeks. They also freeze well – so you can make a batch and have it as your backup breakfast when needed. These are also a great snack to back in your child’s school lunch.

This is the last of the gluten free recipe marathon – I hope you enjoyed them and hopefully made some of them or plan to in the near future!

Energy Bars

Ingredients

1/2 cup rolled oats, uncooked
1/2 cup millet, uncooked
1/2 cup quinoa, uncooked
2 tsp butter
2 bananas, peeled and sliced into thin discs
1/2 cup raw honey
2 tbsp cacao powder
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cinnamon stick
2 Tbl Assured Organics Grape seed flour
1 tsp sea salt
4 cups water
2 tbsp Nature’s Approved Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

1. Rinse the quinoa and place in a large pot. Add the rolled oats to the pot.

2. In a small pan, melt 2 tsp of butter and add the millet. Stirring constantly, lightly brown the millet. When done add to the quinoa and oats.

3. Add all the other ingredients except the coconut oil to the pot. Bring to a boil and then turn down and simmer, covered, for about 20 – 25 minutes. Stir occasionally. You want the mixture to become the consistency of a thick batter.

4. Turn heat off and remove the cinnamon stick.

5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

6. Melt the coconut oil. Use half of the oil to coat the bottom of a 9×6 pan. Set the other half aside.

7. Pour the batter into the pan, smooth the top with a spatula.

8. Coat the top of the mixture with the other half of the coconut oil.

9. Bake for 1 hour.

10. Place on a wire rack and cool completely. Once cooled cut into 12 bars and store in and airtight container in the refrigerator. Best eaten when chilled.

Posted in Breakfast, Recipes, Snacks | Tagged energy bars, millet, oats, recipe quinoa | 1 Comment

Gluten Free Pizza

Posted on December 28, 2012 by simply0637

Most Friday nights are pizza and movie night in our house. This started back when Stella was very young and has continued. There are weeks that go by that our schedule is as such that our Friday night tradition goes by the wayside, but that is not often.

This crust is gluten free and we liked it just as much as our normal pizza crust. I have to say that the dough did not go as far as my normal dough and it was a little harder to roll out and form on the pans – but other than that – it was really good – which when I was making and preparing I was not so sure that would be the case!

If you do not have a tradition night in your house – I highly recommend it! Sometimes instead of a movie – we Wii bowl, do karaoke or play games – but it is a time that we spend together and we look forward to it!

Gluten Free Pizza

Ingredients

1 Tbl yeast
1 tsp sugar, honey or agave
1 Cup warm water
1 tsp Sea Salt
¼ cup Flax Seed meal
2 Tbl Assured Organics Grape Seed flour
2 Tbl Sorghum flour
½ cup Buckwheat flour
1 ¼ cup Gluten Free flour

Note: Instead of using Sorghum, Buckwheat and Gluten Free Flour – you could use just one flour in the amount of 1 7/8 cup. I combine for flavor and nutrients.

1. Place the yeast and sugar in a 2 cup glass measuring cup, pour in 1 cup of warm water. Stir to dissolve. Set aside and let ‘grow’ for about 10 minutes or it is almost double in size.

2. In a glass bowl mix together the salt, flax seed meal and all flours.

3. Add the yeast mixture to the flour and mix with a wooden spoon. If it is too wet add more gluten free flour, ½ cup at a time.

4. Sprinkle flour over a large cutting board or work space, turn the dough out onto the board. If needed, sprinkle some flour on the dough and then knead a few minutes, but do not over knead. (Note: this dough is not the same consistency of regular pizza dough; it is a little more “thick”). Set the dough aside and let stand for 5 – 10 minutes – the dough will increase in size.

5. Grease two 12” pizza pans and then sprinkle with cornmeal. You want to make sure that the pans are greased very well.

6. Divide the dough in half. On floured board roll out dough and then place on greased pan. I use a rolling pin to help roll out the dough. Repeat with the other half of the dough.

7. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

8. Spread tomato sauce on each pizzas and then cover with cheese and your choice of toppings. The favorite in our house is sauteed kale and garlic for one pizza and pineapple for the other.

9. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes – checking half way through and rotating in oven (top to bottom).

Take out, slide off pizza tray to cutting board, allow to cool for a few minutes and then slice and enjoy!

Posted in Dinner, Recipes | Tagged gluten free, pizza, recipe | 1 Comment

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars

Posted on December 27, 2012 by simply0637

I love pumpkin and if I had my choice over pumpkin this or something that – most likely I am choosing the pumpkin! Ok – if it was choice between pumpkin this or key lime pie – the key lime pie would win!!!!

What I like about this recipe is that the sweetener used is raw honey and not granulated sugar – so you don’t get that spike as is common with other sweets. These are moist and very yummy – a big hit in our house and with the kids who visit often! These freeze well.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars

Ingredients

⅓ cup coconut flour
2 Tbl Nature’s Approved™ organic Grape Seed flour
¼ tsp sea salt
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
4 eggs
1 cup organic pumpkin puree (can or homemade)
⅓ cup raw honey
¼ cup Nature’s Approved™ coconut oil
½ cup dark chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a food processor, combine coconut flour, grape seed flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon.

3. Add the eggs, pumpkin, honey and coconut oil – pulse to combine.

4. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand.

5. Pour batter into an 8×8 inch baking dish.

6. Bake for 20 – 30 minutes, done when a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool and then cut into 20 bars. Enjoy!

Posted in Dessert, Recipes, Snacks | Tagged gluten free, pumpkin bars, recipe | 2 Comments

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted on December 26, 2012 by simply0637

In our house and I am sure in may houses – there are times when you just need that chocolate chip cookie!! Yes, you have been good with eating healthy, watching your sugar intake, not snacking in between meals – but then it just sneaks up on you and the craving gets bigger and bigger until you just can’t ignore it anymore!! Make a batch of these and hide them in the freezer and when you get that craving you just can’t ignore – take one or two out, defrost and enjoy!

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

1 2/3 cups Gluten Free Flour
2 Tbl Nature’s Approved™ Organic Grape Seed Flour
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Xanthan Gum
1/4 cup room temperature organic butter
3/4 cup packed organic Brown Sugar
1/3 cup organic Sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 large egg
1 cup dark Chocolate Chips

1. In a small bowl, mix together flours, baking soda, salt, xanthan gum.

2. In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and egg.

3. Beat in flour. The batter will get very thick and difficult to mix with the mixer towards the end.

4. Add the chocolate chips and combine with your hands, almost like kneading dough.

5. Shape dough into a flat disk and place into a plastic bag or wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

7. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

8. Drop dough by tablespoonful’s or roll into balls and place 2” apart.

9. Bake 10 – 12 minutes on the center rack or until lightly browned.

10. Cool 2 – 3 minutes before removing from the cookie sheet and placing on wire rack.

Makes 24 cookies.

Posted in Dessert, Recipes | Tagged chocolate chip cookies, gluten free, recipe | 2 Comments

Gluten Free Coconut Crusted Flounder

Posted on December 25, 2012 by simply0637

During this holiday week – we are off visiting family and friends and will be back in 2013. I leave you for the last of year with a marathon of gluten free recipes. Recently, I was hired by a company and asked to come up with some gluten free recipes using their organic grape seed flour. These recipes were put into a book of recipes to share at the food shows they participate in and to also share on their website. It was an interesting assignment and very educational. In our house none of us have a gluten intolerance – so cooking that way was very new. All the recipes turned out great (ok – I am biased) and some of them will definitely be part of our normal recipe rotation. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season – thank you for following along on my journey of simplifying my life and getting back to basics.

Gluten Free Coconut Crusted Flounder

I love this recipe, first because it is so easy and secondly because is it so delicious!!!

Ingredients

2 Flounder filets
4 Tbl Assured Organics Grape Seed flour
1 egg
Water
Organic Almond Meal
Organic Shredded Coconut

1. In a shallow bowl scramble the egg, adding a little cold water.

2. In another shallow bowl combine the almond meal and the shredded coconut – in a ratio of 1:2.

3. Spray a baking dish with olive oil.

4. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

5. Place 1 flounder filet in a shallow bowl, sprinkle with 1 Tbl of Grape Seed Flour – rub to cover. Flip over and do the same to the other side.

6. Dredge the filet through the egg wash – coating both sides.

7. Dredge the filet through the almond/coconut mix. You want to make sure that the whole filet is coated – you may have to flip a couple of times – sprinkling the mixture over areas and patting on.

8. Place the filet in the baking dish and follow the same process for the other filet.

9. Bake in the oven for 10 – 15 minutes. If you want to brown it up – put it under the broiler for the last 2 – 3 minutes of cooking – but watch closely.

Serve with your favorite side dish or salad.

Posted in Dinner, Recipes | Tagged dinner, flounder, gluten free, recipe | 1 Comment

Kids Can Do It – Reindeer Food

Posted on December 24, 2012 by simply0637

Today is Christmas Eve and for most kids this is the longest day and night of the year – because tomorrow is CHRISTMAS!!! Growing up we always left cookies and milk for Santa and that tradition has continued with Stella. Every once in awhile we would leave a carrot or two for the reindeer. Now if we all think about it – we know this is a crazy night for Santa – getting gifts to children all over the world, but what about the reindeer. The endurance and athleticism of the reindeer is beyond imagination – and they definitely need a little more than a few carrots here and there to keep going – so this year we decided to leave some reindeer food.

This was all left up to Stella. I wrote the recipe out for her and she headed to the kitchen to mix and create the magical reindeer food! If you want to make some and give away as gifts to your friends all the better and here is a label to attach to the bag or jar of magical reindeer food.

Sprinkle on the lawn at night
The moon will make it sparkle bright
As Santa’s reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home.

Click here for the PDF of the labels: Magic Reindeer

Magical Reindeer Food

Ingredients

2 cups oats
2 cups birdseed
1 Tbl cinnamon
4 Tbl sugar crystals (Stella used purple since that is her favorite color)
Vitamin L (love)

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.

2. While you are mixing think loving thoughts and wish the reindeer safe travels.

3. Pour your magical reindeer food into a small glass jar or some baggies.

4. Attach your poem tag.

On Christmas Eve sprinkle in the yard outside of your house to guide the reindeer. As you sprinkle it on the yard think loving and positive thoughts for the reindeer, Santa and others in the world! Have fun! Leave some cookies and milk for Santa, go to bed, dream wonderful dreams and before you know it it will be Christmas Morning!!!!

Posted in Kids Crafts | Tagged Christams, kids, reindeer food | 1 Comment

The Baby Quilt Complete, Part 2

Knitting With Wire, Making A Bracelet

Another Knitted Girls Poncho

Happy New Year – Gratitude & Memory Jar

Gluten Free Breakfast or Anytime Energy Bars

Gluten Free Pizza

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bars

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Gluten Free Coconut Crusted Flounder

Kids Can Do It – Reindeer Food

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