Marshmarrow Sling Pack

My friend Colin brought this bag back from Japan for me a few years ago. It was a good pool bag but I wanted it to have longer straps. It was also wearing thin. So I went to pick out something to line it with and as the fabric lady was cutting my first choice, I looked up and saw the ticking stripe across the store - which I love. Everything in my house might be ticking stripe before it's all said and done with. I had to have it. Oh well, I'll use first choice fabric for some pj's or something. After I lined it and made the strap, I made these little yo-yo rosebud thingies to add to it. (Does anyone know what they are actually called? I"ve heard both...) There's a rosebud with lace leaves on the strap too, which you can't see too clearly in the picture because of my poor photography skills.
Jenn: I'll make you a vest one day so all your dreams can come true.

My Mom Calls 'em Bloomies

In keeping with my "old made new" motif, I turned some old boxers into these adorable bloomers! (for pj purposes only, of course) I just added a thin strip of elastic to the bottom of the green ones, and ruffled the edge with a basting stitch (doubled) for the plaid ones. I prefer the elastic ones...stretch = comfort.



*my mom doesn't actually call these bloomies...I had to get my F•R•I•E•N•D•S quote in there somewhere!

Bibbers

More bibs?!? It's okay, they're not for Judah. The dotted one and burp cloth, (backed with pale yellow terry cloth) are for my mom-in-law to give at a baby shower in a few weeks. The other one is for my best friend Jenn to give to her brother and sister-in-law (Johnathan and Anna). They were calling their baby (girl) "Starbuck" until they picked a name. So I tapped into my resources and made this from an old Christmas Starbucks shirt. The striped fabric came from one of John Jay's old collared shirts. We really have him to thank for this one.



*I'm taking a chance that neither of the gift recipients read this blog...don't want to be a spoiler!

She Told Me So

I have teased my mother-in-law several times in the past for ironing her sheets. What a waste of time! Especially to someone like me who doesn't even iron their clothes. Well, today I was putting my fresh clean sheets on the bed and the top edge was driving me crazy! It looked like an accordion laying up there by my pillow. I tried to straighten it by hand and mash it down. Didn't work. Then I remembered that I still had the iron set up from sewing. Oh! I'll just iron it real quick! As I smelled my fabric softener wafting up with the steam from the iron, I remembered what a hard time I gave her. I've been eating a steady diet of my own words lately.
Mrs. Gina: you were right. They are nice and crisp and lovely.

"Laundry Day" Red Beans and Rice

Red beans and rice has been a staple in my family since we first moved to New Orleans. It took a few tries to convince John Jay that beans were not the devil, and now it's one of our favorites as well. John Jay is reading Why New Orleans Matters right now, and learned that the women used to always make this dish on Mondays, which was laundry day. They would just put a big pot of beans on the stove to simmer all day while they scrubbed away. This recipe is my mom's from our family cookbook. (I altered it a tiny bit)

As Ol' Louis would say: "Red Beans and Ricely Yours!" (click here for Louis Armstrong's recipe)

1 lb. bag dried Camellia brand red beans (or kidney beans) soaked overnight
2 lbs. smoked sausage, cut into 1/2-inch slices (we use turkey sausage)
3 T butter/margarine
1 chopped onion (don't forget the goggles!)
1/2 t ground celery seed
1 T minced garlic
3 whole bay leaves
1/2 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
2 pinched cayenne pepper

•Place all ingredients in crock pot (in order) and cover with water and cook for 8 hours on high or 12 hours on low.
•Remove bay leaves
•Take about 3/4 cup of beans and 1/2 cup broth and puree in blender or mash with fork. Add back to rest of beans.

We've also found that we like to cook our rice at least a few hours before and chill it in the fridge before serving. It's not as sticky this way.
Enjoy!

Update!

I thought my hoodie makeover was complete, until I imagined it with a ruffle, and had to go for it. I mean, come on. What doesn't look good with a ruffle? Now I feel like a thug in a bonnet. Love it.

Anti-Valentine Meat Pies

If we celebrated Valentine's Day, these would have made for a festive dinner. As it is, these will make a regular ol' boring dinner a bit more charming.
My friend Candice gave me this idea with her spinach meat pies, only hers were folded over and "forked" like a little peach pie. I meant to do that, but realized half way through that I only had one frozen pie crust, not two. So I improvised with my cutie little heart tins that I have for such a time as this. They were sooooo good (and simple). A healthier spin would be to spread on wheat melba toast and toasted for about 10-12 minutes. We did both.
...now I'm hungry.
1 package frozen pie crust
1 lb. ground beef or turkey, cooked
2ish cups fresh chopped spinach
1/2? jar marinara
about 1 cup mozzarella



Follow baking instructions on pie crust box. Mix all together, fill pie crusts, and top with more mozzarella. Put back in for about 20 minutes.