January 6, 2011

Home Happenings Thursday: beef stew and aprons

Old Man Winter paid us another visit yesterday... 2 inches in 2 hours!





From the kitchen:

I have beef stew simmering in the dutch oven along with sweet cornbread muffins for supper tonight.
I really love "one-dish" meals... not only does it make for easy clean-up after the meal, but it's really two meals in one because we always have plenty of leftovers for another night. I found the most wonderful recipe for sweet cornbread muffins- it is so quick and easy you'll never need to buy another box of corn muffin mix again.

Basic corn muffins
1 cup self-rising cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup oil
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, grease muffin pan or line with paper liners.
Mix all ingredients together, then spoon batter into muffin cups. (Should be enough batter for 12 muffins)
Bake at 400 for 15-18 minutes. For variety, you can omit the sugar and add shredded cheese, jalapeno peppers, etc.




 
From the sewing room:

I've been working on a couple of "apron/bonnets" this week for my ETSY shop... these are from a great old vintage pattern that belonged to my Hubby's grandmother.
Here is the first one in it's "apron form":
(you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them)

Isn't this fabric the cutest ever? *squeal*




And by buttoning two buttons on the side and cinching the tie in the back...





It becomes a bonnet!
(Modeled by the very demure Ms. Head.)






This is the fabric I'm using for the other one; I just love this retro look and I think it will look very cute as an apron.





This is a shirt I embroidered for my Dad for Christmas. He loves his motorcycle and I thought he would enjoy wearing a Goldwing when it's too cold to ride one.
I forgot to take a picture of it before I gave it to him, but he wanted me to launder it for him so I snapped a quick pic this morning before I give it back to him.





Lily Mae photo of the day:


Any dream that makes your eyes roll back in your head and your tongue stick out must be a pretty doggone good one....




Farm Happenings on Monday for all you sheepie and chickie lovers!
Have a great weekend, Bloggy friends!

40 comments:

  1. Awesome creations Paula!!! Old man winter is lurking in these parts as well, I wish he'd just LEAVE, LOL, and let spring come extra early:D Hope you have a wonderful day!!!!

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  2. Good Morning Paula! The snow sure is pretty. I can just smell your stew simmering and I will definitely try this corn muffin recipe. I absolutely love the bonnet and oh, your fabric choices are adorable. What a grand job you did on your dad's shirt. That Lily is cute with the tip of her tongue sticking out - dreaming of a favorite treat no doubt! Wishes for you to enjoy your day.

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  3. LOVE the picture of Lily!! And....what time should I be there for supper! LOL, sure looks good.
    Karen

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  4. Adorable aprons and(bonnet)! Love to see my bloggy friends enjoying the slow pace of winter. Looking forward to farm happenings next week. It always makes me smile. :) Happy New Year!

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  5. I love my bonnet! It hangs where I can see it every day!
    Dad's emblem is awesome. That is some machine! You could go into business with that!
    I love second day cornbread. Mom would always make plenty so she could fry the leftovers in butter and serve with homemade maple syrup the next morning. Yum!
    Did you know that stick their tongue out like that to regulate their body temperature? She must have been warm!
    ★Linda★

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  6. Beautiful apron! Of course, I love the chicken fabric.
    Yummy looking dinner too.
    Makes me want to trade my breakfast yogurt in for some beef stew :)

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  7. I LOVE those apron/bonnets ~ and the material is beautiful!!

    And now I have this mysterious craving for stew and biscuits...

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  8. Wow there is so much going on in your world, so many talents you have. Thanks for that easy recipe!!

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  9. The stew and cornbread sound delish! The apron/bonnet is really nice---love the fabric. You sure are talented. And I just bet that Lily SNORES! ha!!
    Stay warm.

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  10. Happy snow. It looks beautiful. We will be getting ours Fri night and Sat. I live in a house divided. I'm southern and like my cornbread unsweet, Ted is a Yankee and likes his sweet. Sometimes you just have to work together and have both. Love the pup pic and the bonnets. Stay warm and cozy and enjoy your comfort food. Mmmmmm.

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  11. Beef stew sounds SO GOOD right now! I'll definitely give that corn muffin recipe a try...I always use Jiffy corn muffin mix. Love everything you've created Of course, Lily Mae takes the cake!

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  12. Love those creations and I really like the material you used.
    I am planning on stew this weekend when it is to be extremely cold.
    I love cornbread so I will try that recipe.
    Our dog sleeps with his tongue out also.
    Lilly is so cute.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Wow! I really like the apron/bonnet. I'll have to visit your shop if you're going to have them there.
    Lilly is a cutie pie!

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  14. I love that you got snow. They keep telling us we are going to get some. I have yet to see it. Maybe tomorrow? I don't wear aprons but I love that the apron turns into a bonnet. When I was a little girl I saw some very old ladies wearing those tending their garden at the end of my grandmother's block. I have never forgotten those two old sisters with their bonnets in the blazing Texas sun hoeing their garden. Your bonnet brought back a very nice memory! Lili Mae is just the cutest smoothie faced thing. Love the tongue and I bet she was chasing chickens in her dreams. Just too cute.

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  15. NO WAY!! I have never seen an apron do that, is that not the most ingenious pattern!!! Will have to take a look at your shop. You are truly gifted with the needle. Amazing pattern and the print of fabric is so fitting the pattern.

    The stew is awesome smelling and perfect with cornbread.

    You have an embroidery machine? What format do you use, pes, hus, etc....

    I bet your father got a kick out of that shirt.

    Lily! Has she moved from that chair yet? SHE is one pampered pooch.

    THE SNOW! More pictures please.. That is alot of snow in a short time. How much are you to get?

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  16. Love the fabrics--they are great. The bonnet is too cute and I think the other one will be a great apron. The snow looks beautiful and what better with snow than beef stew. I agree, I love meals in a pot or casserole dish--my kinda dish.
    Great photo of Lily Mae :)

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  17. You ar4e having a very creative day my friend..wow, everything looks just wonderful. I love days like this too! We are still waiting for some snow! :D

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  18. Hello Dearie~
    Just love the apron/bonnet! That is way cool! I'm excited to see your work on your beautiful blog, and always-the on-going adventures of Smokey, the bees, chickens and sheep...
    Love, Debra

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  19. Hey Paula,
    I still love that apron/bonnet! I just have to have one soon.

    The snow picture is so pretty. They are saying the s word for (maybe) Monday down here.

    Thank-you so much for your visits and kind words lately. I needed them.
    Have a great weekend.
    Pam

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  20. Hey Paula! That Lillie is still an adorable little girl. PLEASE share your apron/bonnet pattern with us!!!! It's really a cute creation.

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  21. Happy New Year! Your stew looks soooo yummy...now you made me hungry. I will need to make cornbread tonight!
    Love the apron/bonnet...I too need to start sewing some aprons.
    Lily is soooo adorable!

    Irma :)

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  22. Oh, I'll bet that beef stew is delicious.
    Kay

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  23. Only one state away and you're getting all that snow! We haven't seen a flake, yet. Very pretty pictures of it!

    Love the apron bonnets and the sweet pics of Lily Mae!

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  24. Lot of good stuff going on at your house, Paula! Love that snow I see....stew simmering on the stove...creations in the sewing room! It sounds so cozy there! Love what you embroidered for your dad! And I agree...Lily Mae's dream must be pretty awesome! Adorable pic!

    Have a great evening and hope you have a wonderful 2011!
    Tammy

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  25. Hello Paula, I am back in to blog land. I love those aprons/bonnets. They are so doggone cute. It is funny you should say that about your dog. As I was reading it, our Buddy was having a very interesting dream. He was moaning, etc. LOL I haven't read blogs much lately. Do you have a new dog? It may take me a while to catch up. Snow sure looks pretty at your place. Have a good night. Winona

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  26. Chili tomorrow will go great with that Cornbread recipe...thanks for the perfect timing.
    Your Apron/Bonnet is cute as a button. Aren't you the crafty one.
    Love the Dreamer Lily.
    BlessYourHearts

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  27. Hello there dear Paula... That dog is so cute.... I always laugh at every pic of her...
    I love the pattern for the bonnet-apron:)
    It looks like a wonderful busy home and I too wish I could come for supper...
    Blessings...

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  28. You sure know how to have wonderful snowy night at home........yum!! Just love your bonnet material! Lilly is just precious. blessings,Kathleen

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  29. Hi Paula! My dad rides a Goldwing too, his is an orange color. I couldn't find a good pic. that I thought would work to embroider or use a Cricut to cut it out. Did you find it online? You did a great job on the apron/bonnet! So cute!

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  30. Your snow sure is pretty. Ours is almost all gone. It was fun while it lasted :-)
    I'm a one pot meal kind of gal too. I just love stews and casseroles.
    Your little apron bonnet is so sweet.
    Have a wonderful weekend Paula!
    Blessings,
    Marcia

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  31. We're getting ready for our round of snow here, too! Not looking forward to it! Love the apron! And Lily is such a cutie!

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  32. That's a pretty cleaver pattern ~ the apron/bonnet. Thanks for sharing!

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  33. The snow is beautiful! We have snow, more on the way. Lila Mae is so cute!! Kinda makes me wish we had a dog.
    Stay safe.
    Blessings
    Patty H.

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  34. Oh, Paula, I'm trying not to be jealous of your snow. I'm hoping that maybe we'll get some here tomorrow. It's a small possibility. :-)

    The stew looks good, and the same is on my menu for tomorrow. I've been on a hunt for a good cornbread recipe, but drat if I didn't forget to buy cornmeal at the store! I'll bookmark your recipe for future use. I guess I'll just have to bake a fresh loaf of bread to go wtih our stew.

    That apron~aka~bonnet is darling! That is such a cool pattern, made all the more so since it belonged to Hubby's grandma. :-)

    I think I'm in love with Lily Mae...sigh. ;-Þ

    I'm glad you're blogging. I get my 'farm fix' from your pictures and goings-on. :-)

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  35. PS-The embroidery is awesome. I have an embroidery machine that was given to me, but haven't gotten up the nerve to try and figure out how to use the confounded thing. ;-Þ

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  36. HI Paula,

    Your sewing skills are awesome... Love, the print for the aprons.

    My sewing machine does the embroidery thing also, I just haven't learned how to use that function yet. ( don't worry, I've only had my machine for 2 yrs... LOL)

    Mmmm, stew and cornbread, sounds great.


    Stay warm my friend,
    Mel

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  37. Lily Mae is adorable. I LOVE that chicken apron/bonnet. I remember my mom making one similar, but I don't have her pattern. I've been hankering for one since I fell head over heels in love with aprons.
    Blessings,
    Lorilee

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  38. I had to go lookin cause I didn't remember you having a Lily.....oh my goodness...she is ADORABLE!!!!!
    :) Tracey

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  39. That bonnet is adorable! Love the photos of Lily, she looks a love.

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  40. What is the name of your ETSY shop?

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