HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

Wishing you all a NEW YEAR filled with NEW HOPE,  NEW JOY and NEW BEGINNING!  May this NEW YEAR brings you all more blessings, good luck, good health, happiness, and joy!

FLEECE PANTS AND SWEATER

Set of pants and sweater made of fleece fabric, comfy, cozy and warm.

MORE BABY IDEAS

Set of pajamas with matching cloth diapers.

Babies tend to sleep any time and any where, a "neck support" for the baby.  This will help babies to support their head and neck whenever they fall asleep in their stroller while strolling.

MORE BABY IDEAS

These were the environmentally cloth diapers I had completed and finished before Christmas.  From newly born up to 14 lbs. baby.

 

 

MORE BABY IDEAS

I had been busy with "baby ideas" lately, as you all know that I am going to be a "grandma" to a baby girl.  I am really elated and excited as I have many ideas what to create for the baby.  Furthermore when I was pregnant with my daughter all I can think of at that time were to make baby cloth diapers, bibs, baby pillows, crib sets (bumpers and crib spread), little girls dresses and bonnets.  Due to technology, there are more baby ideas to create and sew...the internet has many things available for us to see and to create.  They're very helpful as most of them were environmentally friendly such as "baby cloth diapers", cheaper to make, and these were all hand sewn and handmade for babies, such as "stuffed toys" rather than buying at the children's store (not plastic or resin). 

These were some of the items I had completed and finished for my granddaughter:
A reversible "baby wrap" or "carrier" made of flannelette fabric/material that can be adjusted according to the mother's height.

My new SEWING TABLE gift from Bob

Bob gave me a "new sewing table" for my serging and sewing machine.   He also gave me a new cutting table this is how my "craft room" looks.  I re-arranged all the fabrics and the jewelry table was placed on the left hand side of the room against the wall.

CHRISTMAS FABRICS made into PILLOW CASES

CHRISTMAS FABRICS - PILLOW CUSHIONS and PILLOW CASES

These pillow cushions were made before Christmas...I adorned couple of them with different kind of fabric as binding.  Made couple of buttons at the back on each cushion to be able to change the cushion case when it's time to wash and put away.

ZIPPERED POUCH GIFT

Machine embroidered zippered pouch

Enclosed a 7 1/2 inch bracelet made of amethyst semi precious gem in the zippered pouch as a gift.

PERSONALIZED EMBROIDERED ZIPPERED POUCH

A zippered pouch with name embroidered on the outer material.

MORE ZIPPERED POUCHES

This is another zippered I made which I enclosed a rosary and a bracelet in it,  given to family as Christmas gift.



A 7 inch elasticized bracelet made of mother-of-pearl beads with antiqued silver findings.

This rosary is made of autumn jasper beads with silver plated medallion and silver plated crucifix.

MORE ZIPPERED POUCHES

I made five (5) zippered pouches to be given as CHRISTMAS GIFTS to family and friends, plus I enclosed each pouches with handmade jewelries I made. 



I enclosed a set of rosary bracelet and elasticized bracelet in this pouch, the bracelet was made of red agate nugget beads with bronze findings.  Meanwhile the rosary bracelet was made of brown oval aventurine.

SCRAP CHRISTMAS FABRICS made as ZIPPERED POUCHES

I made several zippered pouches to be given to family and friends.  Some of them were machine decorated, embroidered, and quilted.  This is how I made them

TOP OUTER MATERIAL: cut  2  fabric 10" X 51/2"
*you can also cut 2 of the same size of different fabric as lining*


 BOTTOM OUTER MATERIAL: cut 1 fabric 10" X 6"
*you can also cut 1 fabric of the same size of different fabric as lining*

Use batting in between 2 fabrics and set some embroidered decorations to the outer fabric.

Add caption

Use a 12 inch zipper.  Sew them together with the lining and make a small space in one of the zipper sides to open up, so you can open up from inside out.

CHRISTMAS FABRICS - Made into a TABLE RUNNER , PLACE MATS and SERVIETTES

A gift to our neighbor across the street for Christmas, a set of Christmas table runner and 2 place mats with matching serviettes. The place mats were machine quilted. 

 

 

 

 

MINI-EGG PIES

Here is my version of mini-egg pies.  My sister Julie, who introduced to us a version of "leche flan cheesecake" also made these type of egg pies.

MINI-EGG PIES

Ingredients:

*6 egg yolks
* 1 (14 oz.) can condensed milk
*1 (14 oz.) can evaporated milk
*1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
*cheesecloth or strainer

1.  Combine egg yolks, condensed milk, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl.  Gently mix them in a circular motion until well blended.  Using a cheesecloth or a strainer, strain the egg-milk mixture or if you are using a strainer, strain it twice for consistency. 

2.  Using a ladle pour the egg-milk mixture into a prepared dough-lined muffin pan 3/4 full and bake in a 350 degrees oven for about 25-30 minutes until crust is golden brown.

FOR FLAKY CRUST:

Ingredients

*2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
*2 sticks unsalted butter
*1/2 tsp. kosher salt
*1/4 cup ice water
*2 tbsp. stevia sugar

Preparation of flaky crust:

1.  Cut unsalted butter into cubes and freeze them for about an hour in the freezer. 

2.  Combine flour, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl, mix or whisk them together and chill the mixture in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

3.  Add butter into the mixture, cut the butter into the flour mixture by using a pastry cutter or blender or fork.  Work them together (butter and flour mixture) until it comes out a coarse pea-like butter speckled pieces.

4.  Drizzle ice water one tablespoon at a time, until dough can be formed into a ball.  If dough is crumbly and does not hold together, add few more ice water a tablespoon at a time.  DO NOT ADD TOO MUCH LIQUID and DO NOT OVERWORK dough. 

5.  Wrap dough in a plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at about 2 hours.

6.  Divide dough into 12 balls, place ball between 2 sheets of parchment paper. 

7.  Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough into 4 inch wide and 1/8 thickness. 

8.  Place dough into a muffin holes using hands, press the dough bottom and sides.  Trim off excess dough on edges.

** YOU CAN PREPARE DOUGH AHEAD OF TIME, A DAY OR TWO BEFORE YOUR EGG-MILK MIXTURE IS PREPARED.  ENSURE YOUR DOUGH IS KEPT IN THE REFRIGERATOR.  **

LECHE FLAN or CARAMEL CUSTARD - A popular Filipino dessert

There were many desserts that we Filipinos loved to eat during festivities like Christmas and birthdays, the very popular one was the "leche flan".  I think this was the easiest and simplest dessert that anyone can make to serve to your and friends.  But it depends how you make them, as everyone tried to make these dessert, you have to be consistent in preparing leche flan. 

LECHE FLAN or CARAMEL CUSTARD

Ingredients:

*10 egg yolks
*1 (14 oz.) can condensed milk
*1 (14 oz.) can evaporated milk
*1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
*1/4 cup refined sugar
* 1-3 molds or pans
*cheesecloth or strainer

***If you are using one pan, melt refined sugar over low heat on stove top until melted and golden brown.  Remove from heat and allow caramel to cool and harden.

Preparation:

1.  Using a medium bowl, combine egg yolks, condensed milk, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract.  Gently stir in circular motion until blended.  DO NOT USE BLENDER or MIXER. 

2.  Strain the egg-milk mixture with a cheesecloth or a strainer.  If you are using a strainer, you can strain the mixture twice for consistency.

3.  Pour strained egg-milk mixture into prepared pan***.

4.  Cover pan with foil in a wide oven safe dish with about an inch of water (waterbath).  Bake 375 degrees in the oven for about 45 minutes to an hour or use a toothpick to insert in the centre of the flan, if it comes out clean. 

5.  Turn flan over on a serving dish, caramel on top.

6.  Serve with ice cream if desired.

BABY IDEAS

Some of us are really focusing on "baby ideas", I for one will be a grandma soon, I thought that this would be an inspiration to all who will become mothers or grandmas....what I have done was to make baby blankets, toques and baby crib spread.  This time I thought of making some outfits.  I have too many ideas in mind...and some of them was to make a "snowsuit jacket and pants".  My daughter said that I had made too many blankets and crib spread.  She also said that it would be beneficial for her just to have a basinnette to be able to just get up and have this in her room, rather than the baby's room.  What a perfect idea, indeed!  So that means, that I will be making bassinette cover and mattress for my next project. 

Fleece Blowout Sale at Hancock Fabrics

Snowsuit made of fleece fabrics (jacket, pants, and mittens)

The sleeves can be rolled and same with the pants.  I also made fleece linings on both of them.  The snowsuit is reversible. 

HOMEMADE CHICKEN FAJITA Recipe included

 

 Here is my take on "chicken fajita", easy to make and you can also have it on flour tortilla with sour cream, avocado, and thinly sliced iceberg lettuce lightly dressed with salt and cider vinegar.  Or you can just add rice mix with the chicken fajita.

 

CHICKEN FAJITA:

Ingredients:
1 lb chicken breast, cubed or sliced
3 various colors of bell peppers, sliced in strips
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 medium onion, chopped and diced
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1 or 2 jalapeno pepper, chopped and seeded
1/4 cup cilantro
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper

In a skillet sautee garlic and onions with olive oil.  Add cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper , sliced chicken breast.  Cook for 5 minutes, then add jalapeno peppers, cilantro and bell peppers.  Let it cook for 3 minutes.  Serve it hot either on flour tortilla or rice

 Chicken Fajita with jasmine rice.