Ribbon Blanket

I have been seeing these ribbon blankets/taggies/lovies in stores and boutiques everywhere since before getting pregnant and decided it would be a fun adventure to make it myself. It ended up being a very simple procedure.

First, I took a piece of fabric and divided it evenly in 2. I used the patchwork Penguin blanket material that matches B's throw.

Second, I chose a number of ribbon spools (various colors, sizes and textures) and cut them into 6" strands. I ended up doing 26 pieces so as to make 1 per each side of the blanket patch squares.

Next, I hand pressed and creased the ribbons.

Then, I pinned the blanket together so everything was evenly lined up and good side-good side. Afterwards, I went through and pinned the ribbon loops backwards (loop in the middle of the good sides), leaving the ribbon ends sticking out a 1/2".

Finally, Husby sewed around the blanket, leaving a small section open for turning. Then he turned it inside out and sewed the open edge closed (you could do this by hand to hide the stichwork, but given that the blanket is patchwork by nature, we figured it was safe to just sew on the machine closed).

Final Product:

Worker Bee....

After the house was quiet (aka B was down for bed), Husby and I got to work on some more sewing projects. I have been wanting to make B a ribbon blanket for him to play with/cuddle, so that was first thing up. Then Husby sewed up another soft book and then I decided to experiment with the PUL we bought this weekend and make 2 larger wet bags. I have to run to the store later today to get drawstring elastic to finish them, but at least their shape has been completed.

Wet Bag # 1 Blue PUL & Blue "Laundry" fabric 

Wet Bag #2- Blue PUL & Blue Terrycloth

Jungle Babies soft book

Penguin Ribbon Blanket

Now that I am off from work until January, this week is our prep. week before our hectic holiday season of travel. My birthday is Wednesday and other than a Dr. appt. tomorrow, we have nothing major planned. A few errands to run and if the weather is nice at some point this week (because it is pouring today), we are planning to go to the zoo. I also have a batch of rainbow cookies to make and pistachio fruit salad for our Bowling dinner on Sunday.

Christmas Projects

Since Husby's been home, he has been helping me finish some projects around here. He was able to fix the 2 curtains for our bed, hem my yoga pants (and make me 2 sweat headbands from the excess fabric), finish sewing 2 more burpcloths and sew 2 of B's fabric Christmas books.... Here are the pics of some of the stuff.

2 Burpcloths 

(Fabric design 1 side, Blue Terrycloth/Towel material otherside)

 Christmas Soft Fabric Books

The Night Before Christmas

12 Days of Christmas for Children

Penguin Blanket

Polar Bear & Penguin felt stuffed figures

Publix Savings

Today was a successful shopping trip at Publix. I had a number of their Baby Club coupons to use, plus a $5 off a $30 purchase coupon.

• Publix Disinfecting Wipes Container (2x $3.99) 
• Publix Baby Club (BOGO) $3. 99 (Savings: -$3.99)
• Sweet Onion (0.95lb @ $0.99/lb) $0.94 (Store Savings: -$0.47)
• Green Bell Pepper (0.44 lb @ 1.49/lb) $0.66 (Store Savings: -$0.22) 
• Publix Baby Club Coupon for $1.00 off Produce- Spent $0.60 after coupon (Savings: -$1.00)
• Ziploc Storage Bags (2x $2.00) 
• Vendor Coupon $2.50 (Savings: -$1.50)
• Hormel Pork Tenderloin $7.99 
• Publix Baby Club Coupon for $1.00 off Fresh Meat- Spent $6.99 after coupon (Savings: -$1.00)
• Arizona Tea (2 for $5.00) $5.00 (Store Savings: -$0.98)
• Ziploc Holiday Containers (2x $2.99) $5.98 
• Publix Baby Club Coupon (Savings: -$1.00)
• Huggies Slip-on Super Pack $19.99 (Savings: -$6.00)
• Huggies Slip-on Publix Baby Club Coupon ($3.00)
• Huggies Slip-on Vendor Coupon ($3.00)
• Stonyfield Organic YoBaby Yogurt (2 for $5.00) (Savings: -$2.98)
• Store Savings (2x $0.49)
• Publix Baby Club Coupon ($1.00)
• Publix Baby Club  for $1.00 off Dairy
• Publix Holiday Mailer Coupon- $5.00 off a $30.00 Purchase (Savings: -$5.00)

Total Savings: $23.16
*Spent 38.80* (which goes on my UPromise account)-DOUBLE POINTS


I spent more than I wanted to, but then again I got meat and Arizona tea I was not planning on, so I guess it was good afterall.

Another Baby Blanket

 Light & Dark Blue Minky fabric hooded wrap blanket

 Interior is blue Terrycloth

So GQ stylin'

Pignoli Amaretti Cookies

Pignoli Amaretti Cookies (Pine Nut Cookies)

Adapted from Sweet Maria’s Italian Cookie Tray
Recipe from: http://angelninascottage.com

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs almond paste (broken into pebble sized pieces)

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

4 egg whites

2 cups pine nuts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine almond paste with sugars in food processor and pulse till size of pebbles.

Add mixture to mixer and add egg whites, mix on low till blended, then medium speed for a few minutes.  This will make a sticky dough.

Roll dough into 1″ balls.  Roll in pine nuts, or roll tops and sides in pine nuts.  Place on lined (parchment or silicon) cookie sheet 2″ apart.  Using your fingers, slightly flatten tops of cookies.

Bake for 15-20  minutes or till golden brown.  Remove cookie sheets from oven.  Allow cookies to cool on parchment for easier removal.  When cookies are cool use a metal spatula to loosen from parchment.

Store in an airtight container.

Approx 50 cookies

I highly suggest using the silicon mats or parchment–these are sticky little buggers!

Wet your hands with water while forming the cookies–it really helps!

Kitchen Adventure...

...Rainbow Cookies!

I have been craving rainbow cookies, cannolis and other NY treats lately, so I decided it was time to whip out the stand mixer and experiment in the kitchen with a recipe.

Rainbow Cookies recipe from BonAppetit

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. plus 2 cups unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature
• 6 large eggs, separated
• 1 1/3 cups sugar, divided
• 12 oz. almond paste (not marzipan), chopped
• 2 3/4 cups plus 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. red food coloring
• 1 tsp. green food coloring
• 3/4 cup orange marmalade, heated, strained
• 4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped, melted

Special Equipment

• 3 13x9x2" metal baking pans

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line three 13x9x2" metal baking pans with foil, leaving overhang; grease with 2 Tbsp. butter; set aside. 
2. Put egg whites in bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk; beat until soft peaks form. Slowly add 1/3 cup sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Transfer to a large bowl; cover; chill.
3. Using the paddle attachment, beat almond paste and remaining sugar on medium-low until incorporated, 4-5 minutes. Increase speed to medium-high; gradually add remaining butter. Beat until fluffy. Beat in yolks, then flour and salt. Fold in whites in 2 additions.
4. Divide batter evenly among 3 bowls. Mix red coloring into 1 bowl and green coloring into second bowl; leave third bowl plain. 
5. Spread 1 bowl of batter into each prepared pan; smooth tops. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until just set, 12 minutes. Let cool in pans.
6. With a pastry brush, spread half of marmalade over green cake. Using foil overhang, lift plain layer out of pan. Invert onto green layer; discard foil. Brush remaining marmalade over plain layer. Lift red layer out of pan; invert onto plain layer and cover cake with foil.
7. Top with a 13x9x2" pan. Weigh down pan with several heavy canned goods to compress cake layers. Refrigerate at least 4 hours and up to 1 day (we chose to do 24 hour wait time).
8. Remove cans, top pan, and foil. Transfer cake to a waxed paper-lined baking sheet.
9. Spread half of chocolate over cake in a thin layer. Freeze for 10 minutes. Cover with waxed paper, invert the baking sheet on top, and flip cake. 
10. Uncover and glaze with remaining chocolate. Freeze 10 additional minutes.
11. Trim cake to 12x8". Cut crosswise into six 2"-wide strips. Cut each strip crosswise into 96 1/2"-wide cookies. 
12. Store in an airtight container.

So far this recipe has been simple and straightforward..just time-consuming. We will see how tomorrow goes with the chocolate.


12/3/11


The cake before chocolate was added...