DIY Ironing Board Cover

I have been meaning to get a new cover for my iron for years but every time I see one at the store I'm not sure the measurements of my iron and I'm disgusted at the price.

So the other day I decided to make my own.  It was super easy.  Took me 30 minutes.  I should have done it years ago.

You need sturdy fabric that won't wear out.  I looked in the aisle of household fabrics for curtains and pillows.

Measure your iron and add about 4 inches around the circumference.  I needed about 2 yards but my iron is a small one.

  

Then I got this pad at the store that is for an iron.  I used my old pad to cut out the new one.

I always zigzag my edges to make sure they don't fray.  Then I folded over the edge 1/2 inch and sewed that.

Then I did it again leaving an opening at the end.

Now just feed some elastic through the edge.

Then just put the pad on the iron and then the cover.

Beautiful!

Roasted Vegetables

Roasting vegetables is our new favorite way to eat vegetables.  It brings out their sweetness and its easy.

  I love the mixed bags you can get with cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots.  We love asparagus and I even enjoy roasted brussel sprouts now.

Wash the vegetables.

                                                    Cut them so they are all the same size.

Lay them out so they are in an even layer.  Less than this would be better.  They need to be able to breath.  Drizzle on a little bit of olive oil.  I used about 1/4 cup on this batch, but less is better than more otherwise they get soggy.  Sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper.

Roast most vegetables at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Asparagus needs less, about 15 minutes.

I love when they are just a little bit burnt and crispy.

Sloppy Joes

This is one of the recipes from my childhood.

Barbecue Sloppy Joes

1 lb ground hamburger thawed if frozen

1/8 tsp. Black pepper

1 c. onion chopped

1 8-ounce can tomato sauce

½ c. barbecue sauce

¼ c. water

4 hamburger buns

            Crumble hamburger into a medium skillet.  Sprinkle with pepper.  Add onion.  Over medium-high heat, cook and stir for five minutes or until meat is no longer pink and onion is almost tender.  Reduce heat to low.

            Stir in tomato sauce, barbecue sauce and water.  Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring occasionally.

Angel Hair Pasta w/Chicken

2 T. olive oil

2 chicken breast halves cut into 1-inch cubes

1 carrots, sliced diagonally into ¼ inch pieces

1 (10 ounce) package frozen broccoli florets, thawed

2 cloves garlic, minced

12 ounces angel hair pasta

2/3 c. chicken broth

1 tsp. Dried basil

¼ c. grated Parmesan cheese

        Heat 1 T. oil in a medium skillet over medium heat; add chicken.  Cook, stirring, until chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes.  Remove from skillet and drain on paper towels.  

        Heat remaining oil in the same skillet.  Begin heating water for pasta.  Add carrot to skillet; cook, stirring for 4 minutes.  Add broccoli and garlic to skillet; cook, stirring for 2 minutes longer.

        Cook pasta according to package directions.  While pasta is cooking, add chicken broth, basil and Parmesan to skillet.  Stir to combine.  Return chicken to skillet.  Reduce heat and simmer for 4 minutes.

        Drain pasta.  Place in a large serving bowl.  Top with chicken and vegetable mixture.  Serve immediately. 

Play Dough

This is my mom's play dough recipe.  I've never found another one that compares.  

Play Dough

2-1/2 cups flour

½ cup salt

1 Tbl. Alum (found with the spices)

3 Tbl. Oil

2 cups water

            Place in a heavy bottom pan and cook at medium or medium/high heat.  Stir until hard to stir.  Knead by hand.  You can add food coloring when you knead it. Store in an airtight container.

 I doubled it this time so it looks like a lot.  It is easier to stir when you don't double it.

Chicken Pot Pie

Another recipe from my childhood.  My love for Chicken Pot Pies stemmed from the fact that my mom made them individual sized.  I loved that.  I was also in charge of cutting the tops in any way I wanted.  This time we played with cookie cutters.

Chicken Pot Pie

Pastry for single-crust pie

½ c. chopped onion (one medium)

1 12 oz. Can evaporated milk

¼ c. all-purpose flour

¼ c. water

1 tsp. Instant chicken bouillon granules

½ tsp. Dried sage, marjoram, or thyme, crushed

1/8 tsp. Pepper

1 10-ounce package frozen peas and carrots or peas

1 ½ c. chopped cooked chicken or turkey

        On a lightly floured surface, flatten dough with hands.  Roll pastry to a 13x 9-inch rectangle.  Cover pastry and set aside.

        Spray a cold medium saucepan with nonstick coating.  Add the onion.  Cook and stir over medium heat about four minutes or until the onion is tender but not brown.

        Meanwhile, reserve 1 T. of the milk.  Set aside.  In a small mixing bowl gradually stir the remaining milk into the flour until smooth.  Stir into vegetable mixture in the saucepan.  Stir in the water; bouillon granules; sage, marjoram, or thyme; and pepper.  Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.  Stir in the frozen peas and carrots or peas and chicken or turkey. 

        Transfer mixture to a 12x 8x 2-inch baking dish or 8 ramekins. Place pastry over chicken mixture.  Fold under edges.  Crimp edges of pastry with a fork.  Brush pastry with reserved milk. 

        Bake in a 375 oven for 30 minutes or until the chicken mixture is heated thoroughly and the pastry is golden brown.  Makes five servings.  

Laundry Soap

A while ago a friend told me she makes her own laundry soap so I decided to try it.  My kids have really sensitive skin so it helps them and it is a lot cheaper than store bought stuff. 

Ingredients:
1 Bar of Soap (I have used just generic stuff with no scents or colors and I have used Fels-Naptha.)
1 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax

 (You should be able to find all of this in the laundry soap section of most stores or on Amazon.

I chop the bar of soap up and throw it and all of the rest of the ingredients in my blender.  Then I dump in an old ice cream bucket.  Don't breath in the dust and make sure the container is airtight.  It only takes 1 Tbsp. per load.

If you prefer you can also just cook it on low heat with some water to make it liquid laundry soap.  You are done when the soap is dissolved into the mixture.