Glazed Chicken with Quinoa

The recipe I am about to share is so delicious!  I was visiting with my aunt's one day for lunch and she made this delicious meal.  I had never had quinoa before and I totally fell in love!  It is a really healthy grain packed with protein.  It is a little on the pricier side but a little bit makes a lot!  I bought a 30oz bag for $6.99 but I think this bag is going to last me a while.  The chicken is a great mix of sweet and savory.  The glaze is made with olive oil, apricot preserves and grainy dijon mustard.  So delicious.....

Here it is!!!

Glazed Chicken with Quinoa

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup apricot preserves

1 Tablespoon grainy dijon mustard

12 drumsticks (I just 5 drumsticks and 5 thighs)

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 medium size onion, chopped

2 large ribs celery, chopped

1 cup quinoa

1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped

1/4 cup toasted pine nuts (I didn't use these)

1) Heath oven to 400 degrees

2)In a small bowl, stir together olive oil, preserves, and mustard.  Set aside 3 Tablespoons for the quinoa (I didn't do this)



3)Place the chicken on a roasting pan (I used a jelly roll pan and lined it with foil).  Season chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.  Brush on remaining mustard mizture and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes or until internal temperature registers 170 degrees on an instant read thermometer.  Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

4)While chicken is cooking, make quinoa dressing.  Place chicken broth, onion, celery, quinoa and 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a medium size saucepan.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium low and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.  Stir in apricots during last few minutes of cook time.  Take off heat and stir in mustard mixture (again....I didn't do this.  It's great without it!)

5) To serve, spoon quinoa onto a serving platter and sprinkle with pine nuts (I didn't do this!)  Place chicken on top of quinoa (I just served it on a plate).

6) ENJOY!!!!

Gone Fishin'

Here is my latest project. It is a gift for one of my friends kids. I made seven magnetic fish using different fabrics I had left over from other projects. My husband helped me drill and round the top of the poles. Overall it was a joint effort that turned out really well. I can't wait to make more. My daughter already loves to play with it so I just might have to make another one for her right away. This would be great for anyone from 2 to 92!!  Just think....you can now fish anytime.....rain or shine! 

Homemade Fruit Leather

So I decided it was finally time to undertake making my own fruit leather....how hard could it be!  Not to bad....It finally just got done.  My project started at 10:30 this morning and just got done at 6:30 this evening. I should have taken them out a little bit earlier....like an hour or so.  My first attempt at them they are a little bit crunchy....bummer!  They still taste delicious, but I'm not quite sure that I could call them fruit leather....more like fruit crunchers!  I always forget that my oven heats much warmer than most.  Next time I will remember to put them in for less time!  Probably minus an hour or 2. 

Here is the recipe:

Homemade Fruit Leather

2 cans peaches (you can use fresh fruit...I would guess it is about 1 1/2 - 2 cups of fruit per can)
A little bit of sugar to sweeten

I opened the two cans and drained them.  I put them in a saucepan to get them juicy (this is where you would add the sugar if you want to add a little bit of sweetness), about 15 or 20 minutes.  I pureed them and then poured them on a parchment lined jellyroll pan and placed them in a 170 degree oven for 8-10 hours.  Put your oven on the lowest temperature it goes.  But you know your oven so just keep an eye on them. My oven heats warmer so I would probably go with 6 or so hours. You will know they are done with they are not sticky to the touch and they are still plyable.    Take them out and let them cool.  Cut and roll.  You could roll them with some cling wrap or parchment paper so they don't stick together.  Store in the fridge.    Good luck and I hope you enjoy them!

Chicken with Bacon Mushroom Sauce

So I decided to make something in the crock pot today since my oven was being used to make fruit leather (post to come later about that).  I found a great new recipe which I doctored up a bit.  It turned out really good except my chicken was a little dry.  the flavor of the sauce was great and would great just with pasta by itself!  Here is the recipe:

Chicken with Bacon Mushroom Sauce:

4-5 chicken breast (boneless, skinless)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
2 small cans of mushrooms (optional: we love mushrooms so this was my addition)
2-6 strips of bacon (depending on your taste. I added two while it was cooking and then added 4
                                more to the sauce afterwards)
Noodles or Rice

Place chicken in crockpot (frozen or thawed....I would do frozen next time, I think that is why mine was dry).  Mix together cream of mushroom soup and sour cream (this is where I added the mushrooms and 2 strips of bacon).  Pour over the top of chicken and cook on low for 4-5 hours until chicken is done.

Then I took all of the sauce out and placed it in a pan on the stove to thicken it up.  It becomes quite runny from cooking.  I started with 2 teaspoons of cornstarch and 2 teaspoons of water to thicken the sauce.  You can add more or less depending on how thick you want your sauce.  Serve with noodles or rice.  Next time I want to try it with egg noodles but I was out of them!  ENJOY!!

Latest Bags

So i have always been a purse girl. My husband used to get so mad at me for buying purses all of the time. Now he doesn't yell so much because fabric costs far less than a purse from the store! Now I am obsessed with finding patterns and tutorials to make great bags! Here are some of my latest projects!

A purse for me!

A purse for my sister-in-law

Matching coin purse

Overnight bag

another overnight bag

Pouch for Diapers and Wipes

A purse for me

A purse for my Aunt

A purse for me!!!

A purse for my other Aunt

Long Hard Summer.....Excited about Fall!

So I haven't posted in about 6  months.....Needless to say it was a rough hard summer.  My daughter turned one in April and then after that my nephew was born in the beginning of May.  Things were looking really great for the summer.  Until the middle of May.  My grandmother who had Alzheimer's disease for 7 years began to decline rapidly.  She and I have always been close.  When my daughter was born in 2010 they became really close...I know that is hard thing for some to comprehend but my little girl and my wonderful grandma had a bond that I have never seen with someone so small.  We would visit at least once a month if not more and they would play and my grandma would sing to her.  Although her beautiful music never made much sense my daughter always found it wonderful to dance and move to!  Sadly this disease made her stop eating and drinking and she lost her battle and went home to be with Jesus on May 20, 2011 at the age of 87.   She also got to go home to be with my grandpa, whom she hadn't been with since he passed away 25 years ago.  I was rocked to my core.  You see, there hadn't been anyone that passed away in about 20 years in our family.  She held a lot of us together.  I really found the lord again after she passed.  I began attending church with my husband and daughter on a regular basis, I pray so much during the day, and I really praise God for all of the good things in my life.  He is the reason for everything and everyone! 

After my grandmother's passing my great uncle (my mom's godfather) passed away, then a close family member on my dad's side, and then my husband's great aunt passed away of cancer at 58.  That was four people in less than 8 weeks.  So by July it was rough going....but things were beginning to look up.  The weather was beautiful and it was time to enjoy summer.  Then came August......another rough month.  We had just spent the weekend up north and I wasn't feeling the best.  I ended up in the emergency room getting a spinal tap to find out if I had meningitis.  Which I did....not the deadly kind...thank the good lord!!!  I was sick for 2 weeks and used up all of my favors!  Now that my illness was gone it was back to enjoying what was left of our very short summer.

In the midst of all of these bad things going on.....one great thing was on the horizon for me.  I had stopped talking a one of my very best friends and 2 1/2 years ago.  I don't want to get into the whole story but both of us did things we weren't proud of.  She reached out to me shortly before my grandmother passed away.  We were finally reconnecting like we both were secretly hoping to do for a long time.  We each secretly "stalked" eachother on facebook.  When we go together for the first time after 2 1/2 years....it was like we never missed a beat.  Just like nothing had ever come between us.  The lord brought us back together at the perfect time.  We are both going through a lot of the same things and now we have someone to talk to and lean on.  Thank you lord for brining her back into my life when I least expected it and when I needed her the most! 

I was sewing a lot and creating a lot of different bags and dresses for my daughter.  I hope to begin posting on a regular basis again.  I think with winter coming I will probably stuck inside a lot with a lot of time on my hands!!  Keep your eyes peeled for new projects and I want to start posting recipes that I try and love!  God Bless and Be Safe!

Lots of Projects

Well, I haven't blogged in a long time.....just about a month.  It's been a crazy month.  I've been working on a lot of different things.  I've made several new purses, a nursing pillow with 2 covers, and a quilted duffle bag,   I also have curtains to make for my new niece or nephews bedroom and a shopping cart cover for him or her also.  My daughter's first birthday is coming up.  I can't believe how fast she is growing.  What a challenging but wonderful year it has been.  I also can't believe that I haven't worked at my job for almost a year either.  Granted what I do everyday is the hardest job I have ever done or will ever do.  What a joy to watch my daughter learn and grow each day.

Here are some pics of the projects that I have been working on.

Baby Blanket

So this baby blanket I made in about 1 hour.  I was "sew" easy!!!  I cut out some flowers to applique on out of a really pretty fabric.  I used a heat set adhesive on the back of the flowers and the center of the flowers and then ironed them on.  I then sewed the top appliqued piece to a plain back side.  I turned it right side out and sewed a border around the outside.  It is going to be a shower gift for my cousin. 

Just a note to anyone who sees any project on here....they all can be custom made for you! 

Crochet Hook Case

Good Morning Everyone!!!

Yesterday I worked on two crochet hook cases.  It was a super easy project that could actually be transformed for your needs.  It could be made to hold Knitting Needles, Paintbrushes, Art supplies or just as a simple pencil and pen holder.  The option are limitless for this little case.  It can be made larger or smaller and in any color with any kinds of embellishments.  I chose to put Yo-Yo's on it.  I just learned how to make those yesterday as well.  They are super easy.  I went and bought a Yo-Yo maker from Hobby Lobby yesterday.  I can make one in about 5 minutes tops!  They add such a feminine touch!  Let me know what you think!!

Library Bags

Today I worked on and finished both of the library bags for my niece and nephew.  It was a simple tote bag to do.  I added my own twists to the pattern like I usually do.  I added their names on the outside and a pocket on the inside.  Overall, they were a fun and easy project to do on a snowy day.  I am so excited to give them to my niece and nephew.  They love going to the library and reading books.  So now hopefully they will want to drag my sister to the library more and more.  Check out the pictures below.  I hope everyone is having a safe snow day and that the cleanup doesn't take forever.

Jumper

I finished sewing on the buttons for Sophia's jumper this morning.  It turned out really cute.  I wanted to make it so that she could wear it to a get together at my grandma's today.  I gathered all of her clothes to get her dressed today and put the jumper over a cute onsie and leggings only to find out that the jumper is too big.  Oh, well....I guess she can wear it in the summer.  I could probably give it to my niece and it would fit her for a little while.  Nevertheless....It was a cute and challenging project!

A ton of different ideas.....

Today my mom and I went to Royce Quilting in West Bend.  It was the first time that we had gone to that quilt shop and we were so excited to see all of the crazy fabric and ideas they had.  I left the store wanting to get a jelly roll pack and make a quilt of strips.  They had a beautiful quilt there that was so my colors.....brown, pink and cream.  It was beautiful and so easy to do!  I have finish some of the other projects that I already have the materials to make.  On the agenda for the rest of the day is to finish the jumper that I am making for Sophia and than 2 library bags for my niece and nephew!  I can't wait to do those.  They are going to turn out so cute!  I will post pics once I finish each project.  My mind is going about a million miles a minute!!!

My Introduction

Hi Everyone....

My name is Maria and I am a stay at home mom.  I recentely started learning how to sew.  My mom is a great teacher and taught me all the basics.  After that my abilities have just taken off.  I usually use my 10 month old daughter as the guinea pig for my projects, so you will see a lot of girly stuff on here. Anything that I post on my blog can be purchased and I do take custom orders.  I hope you all enjoy my blog and feel free to ask me questions or give any comments!  I look forward to the future that this blog will bring!!

Thanks for Reading!!!

Maria