Start the New Year off Sew Organized!

 Hey y'all....hope you're doing well and the weather is being kind. If you're like me I'm always trying to be a bit more organized every year. I will admit...some years are better than others. But as my dear dad alway's said "it's not a mistake if you learned by it." Hmmm...I guess I'm never too old to learn :-) Well I wanted to share a super fun pattern with y'all and a new adventure that I'm excited about as well. I love Sallie Tomato Patterns & Notions. Her story of how she started is very inspirational and her designs are creaive and easy to follow. Sew I'm excited to share my new adventure with y'all that I'm now an "affiliate" with this awesome company. Which means I'll be sharing products with y'all that I reccomend and patterns as well. I have an affiliate link (upper right on home page) that will take you directly to her site and I will receive a percentage of items when purchased. This helps me also be able to create more "scrap-a-longs" for y'all too. I'm very excited about this adventure. As y'all know by my site that I love to make bags that are 100% Re-Gift-able so this will allow me to get more creative...adventure to the next level too. Who knows y'all...I might even throw in a zipper or two! Joking aside Sallie Tomato has the most fashionable handbags I've ever seen! Plus her tutorials are wonderful. I admit that I have the 'designer bags" but my goal in 2025 is to be more "You-nique" and what a great way to teach a beginner sewist too. Be creative...choose a style and incorporate the fabric that will be "you-niquely" yours! Maybe I am getting sentimental as I get older but their is too much pressure trying to keep up with the "Jones's" :-) Well the pattern "Martha Sewing Mat" by Sallie Tomato will definately help you get organized for the New Year. It's very verstatile and you can download the pattern or purchase a paper pattern. This would be a great project to get the kiddos involved and would make a great gift for any seamstress. I've already started making mine and what I love about this pattern is you can adjust the pockets to your needs. I hope y'all pop on the link and check out the pattern and view all the sewing supplies Sallie Tomato has to offer. We have a lot happening this year on blog so we'll be bopping between my quilt blog and here throughout the year. I have designs coming soon from sharing "Quilt-Mas Cheer all Year" to home decor..tips and recipes to share with y'all. I thank y'all so much for following and here's to another creative year together!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

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"Martha Sewing Machine Mat & Organizer"

designed by Jennifer Reinke for Sallie Tomato...

Cats Christmas Left-over Lovin'..."Ham & Potato Soup!"

 Hey y'all...hope your having a great start to your weekend. Some of us might still be celebrating the Holiday's and wondering what to do with the left-overs. Seems no matter how we plan a meal we always have some form of left-overs or left-over lovin' that I say. We are the classic "spiral honey bake ham" family & we always have more ham than you can eat. Well depending your weather you will love a classic homemade soup. This recipe is super easy and convenient especially if your going out and enjoying those holiday sales. You can totally substitute turkey if desired...but will admit I'm a ham fav. Soup is a great way to use left-overs anytime, so feel free to enjoy all year :-) We have a lot of fun plans for 2025 and some new adventurers that I'll be sharing soon. I'll be sharing fun & easy recipes plus home decor as well. Plus my "quilting blog" will be kicking off a new series soon for the New Year. All my links are upper right on home page for your convenience. I hope you enjoy this left-over lovin' recipe and keep checking back for more fun & d'lish recipes. I thank y'all so much for following & hope your enjoying and making memories with your loved ones. Enjoy!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)

Left-Over Lovin'..."Ham & Potato Soup!"

Here's all you need...

* 1 cup diced pre-cooked ham

* 1/2 cup corn

* 2 medium potatoes...peeled and diced

* 1 10oz. Campbells Cream of Chicken Soup

* 2 cups water

* 2 pkts. Herb ox Sodium free Granulated Chicken Bouillon

* Pinch of Humor (must in my kitchen)

Here's all you do...

* In a large pot combine the water and herb ox packets.

* Whisk in the chicken soup. Stir until combined.

* Add in the diced ham & potatoes.

* Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes then reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender. 

Note...I do not add seasoning due to the pre-cooked ham is already seasoned. But taste as it cooks and season to your family's desires.

Enjoy!

This recipe can easily be doubled to feed a large crowd that might still be visiting :-)

Talk soon,

Cat

Christmas Classic!..."Spiced Pecans 4 Santa"

 Hey y'all...Merry Christmas Eve! It's hard to believe that tomorrow is Christmas. I love Christmas traditions...planning a fun meal with my daughter...making sure we "keep it simple" for my sweet Grandson & cooking my son-in-law's favs. It can get a little hectic but it's the best time in the world for sure! These are the "moments" that you'll remember forever. My grandson Davin reminds me to "keep it simple Gege" I love the fact that he has an "old soul" and loves the old family traditions. Sometimes I tend to forget that the "simple things" are the most memorable. It's not what you cook...or bake it's the memories you are making together in your kitchen. So don't stress...take my grandsons advice & keep it simple. You'll be thankful...I promise you! I know we're alway's baking cookies for Santa which can be time consuming if you decorate them as well. So, I wanted to share a super easy but d'lish classic recipe of "Spiced Pecans." If you're not a pecan fan you can subsitute any nut you prefer. These will disappear fast and honestly they are great for any celebration. Stagger them throughout your charcuterie board and watch everyone enjoy. I will reccomend a non-stick pan due to the sugar. Also adjust the spices to your family's likes. I hope this classic recipe helps you for that last minute baking. I thank y'all so much for following & wishing you a very Merry Christmas. Check back soon for some great recipes using those Holiday leftovers. Enjoy!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)

Here's all you need...

* one cup sugar

* 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon (adjust to your taste)

* 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

* 1/4 tsp. ground cloves

* 1 tsp. salt

* 1/4 cup water

* 3 cups pecan halves or your desired nuts

* Pinch of Humor (a must in my kitchen)

Here's all you do...

* Combine all ingredients except pecans in a non-stick pan. Cook over medium heat,,,stirring constantly until all sugar is dissolves.

* Continue cooking to soft boil stage about 232 degrees.

* Remove from heat...add pecans & stir until all combined.

* Place on wax paper & separate w/a fork if needed.

* Let cool completely.

* Place in a container or ziplock bag to keep fresh if waiting to gobble them up!

These also make a great gift too. :-)

Talk soon,

Cat

"Christmas Classic Breakfast Wreath"

 Hey y'all...hope your weekend is off to a great start. It' beginning to look or should I say "smell" like Christmas. I've been reminded lately by my sweet Grandson Davin to keep things simple. It really brought me to reality. I for one always try to make a handmade gift...bake from scratch then I wonder why I'm so stressed. As I've aged a bit I've realized I just can't do it all anymore. Maybe that's why he's been telling me to keep things simple :-) Actually I'm blessed to have a grandson that loves the simple traditions. Well in honor of his wishes I recently remembered the old Classic Christmas wreath made from Pillsbury Cinnamon rolls. Seriously besides the awesome smell while baking...you can't get any more easier for a festive Christmas Breakfast morning. I wanted to post this because I for one forgot about this fun recipe. It's definately a simple classic but you can alway's fancy it up to your family's traditions. I did decorate mine with the "red hots" which can be hard to find so any candy would work or pipe some decor with frosting. I used the frosting that came with the rolls but placed in a plastic bag and added a 1/4 tsp. of milk to thin for piping. I'm enjoying the classic christmas memories and I hope this will help y'all with some last minute fun & easy baking. It' also a great gift to make and give on a decoratie plate. Tell them to keep the plate too. A win in my book! So koodos to my grandson for telling me to keep it simple. I just might keep things more simple in the New year! Check back soon for some more fun & easy Holiday recipes. Enjoy!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)

Here's all you need...

* Pillsbury cinnamon rolls (8 count)

* 1/2 tsp. milk

* Red hots (opt. but festive)

* Bundt pan

* Pinch of humor :-) always a must in my kitchen!

Here's all you do...

* Preheat oven as directed on rolls. Spray bundt pan w/baking spray. I used Pam w/flour.

* Place cinnamon rolls in pan with cinnamon side up & edges touching.

* Bake as directed on can but ovens vary so check to make sure complety cooked. The good old "toothpick check" :-)

* Let cool slighlty then carefully invert rolls on one pan then invert again on your serving plate. This technique helps to prevent rolls breaking when flipped.

Tip...if your rolls separate just glue back with a little frosting on edges. Nobody will notice :-)

Decorating...

Great time to get the kiddos involved too.

* Remove frosting that came in can and place in a ziplock bag.

* Add about a 1/2 tsp. of milk...use fingers to blend while in bag.

* Squeeze the frosting to one end...twist and make a small snip at corner.

* Drizzle over wreath as pictured or get creative and have fun!

* Decorate as desired and enjoy. 

Your family will love waking up to the smell of cinnamon rolls too.

Talk soon,

Cat

Tis the Season 2B Scrappy! "Gingerbread Man Gift Tag or Ornament"

 Hey y'all...hope all is going well. It's hard to believe we are already counting down the days until Christmas. I personally need 3 more months of sewing. Ugh! Time sure does fly when you're Stitchin' Up Christmas. I guess that's why I've decided to Quilt-Mas all year in 2025. I'll have Christmas quilt designs along with home decor and some real exciting "Scrap-a-longs" as well. If you're like me sewing Christmas presents brings me joy so I decided why not do it all year. Funny note...maybe I will be less grumpy sewing Christmas all year...hmmm. Well...:-) I've also decided that I'm keeping my Christmas decor in sewing room to keep me in the festive mood too! If you follow me on Instagram you can see the sweet Quilter's poem that came in Jenny's Countdown to Christmas box this year. I love the sentiment and it's displayed on a shelf along with some other "MSQC items." I'm excited about sharing home decor and tips with y'all along with fun & easy recipes. If you pop on over to my Quilting blog you can view some of the ornaments I've been making along with gift bags that are 100% Re-Gift-able. My projects take a bit longer due to sewing in moderation but I truly feel a gift from the heart will be cherished forever. The cute Gingerbread Man gift tag can aslo be used as an ornament to hang on the tree. It's a sweet gesture tied to a present and you can share the sentiment of them being able to use next year on the tree. We laugh in our family 'cause I'm always thinking of ways for them to "remember me." :-) Well...I hope your month of gift giving is going great. If you have time pop on over to quilt blog and make some of these adorable scrappy Gingerbread Men. All the supplies needed are listed as well. Thanks so much for following and check back soon for some festive Holiday recipes. Talk soon!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links upper right on home page)

Scrappy Gingerbread Man...

Cuisinart Mat...My New Kitchen BFF!

 Hey y'all...hope all is well & prayers for Hurricane recovery. This was horrible but we dodged it with our part of Florida. I watch the news every morning and the devistation that Helene brought to this world is horrible. I for one tend to freak just knowing it could come my way but then knowing it's not that far away is a very freaky feeling. Unfortunately with my anxiety I tend to "snack" when I'm anxious. Our power did not go out even though we had winds and heavy rain. When I'm anxious I like to be in the kitchen. I guess cooking and baking is a stress relief for me. I was able to focus on my new series that I'll be sharing with y'all soon. But I do want to share my new "kitchen BFF." I'm sure y'all know that I have back issues. My standing is limited but as I've previously mentioned "I'm not giving up." I do things a lot differently and in moderation. Recently, I was in the kitchen area of one of my favorite stores and came across this mat. I've never used a mat before mostly due to be afraid of tripping over one. This mat by "Cuisinart" has been a game changer for me. It brought relief to my back while standing. It doesn't slide like I thought it would plus it's super cute too. I love it when you get function that matches your decor. If you have any type of back issues and standing while cooking/baking, etc. is difficult then I fully recommend a padded mat. They are easy to find in most kitchen areas of your local stores. I'm also sharing this info with y'all to "prep" you with my new series that I'll be sharing with you soon. The Holidays are approaching and if your like me you want something delish but time-saving. The Holidays are hectic without spending all day in the kitchen prepping. Plus my recipes need to be fast & dlish due to my limitations in the kitchen. I'll be sharing "tools" that I love to make baking a breeze or gift ideas....recipes that will make your Holiday cooking fun & fun-ctional decor. I will state we've already started making "gift bags that are 100% Re-gift-able" on my quilt blog. My recipes and designs are super easy & I hope you follow along so we can all have a fun-tastic Holiday Season 2gether! I thank you so much for following. Talk soon!

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links on right of home page)

My New Kitchen BFF...

Jelly Roll Gift Bags....100% Re-gift-able! (medium size)

 Hey y'all...hope all is going well. Been a bit crazy on my end so trying to play "catch up." I know it's only September and most of us are working on fall decor but I wanted to share this fun & easy gift idea with y'all. On my "quilt blog" link on right of home page...I started a series using one Jelly Roll "Joyful Holidays" by Robert Kaufman. I recieved this from Missouri Star Quilt Company & the collection is stunning. I love Batiks. It's amazing of how Batiks are made. So much time & thought goes into every fabric design. The concept of making a gift bag that is 100% re-gift-able inspiration came from my Grandson Davin last year at Christmas. He loves to recycle. Me...I'm working on it :-) Well last Christmas I made small bags to hold gift cards, etc. It was a challenge to see how many gift items I could make from one charm pack. It is still on my quilt blog & pinterest if you need more inspiration. Well, I am also challenging myself to see how many gift bags I can make from one jelly roll. I'm also incorporating the fun Holiday templates from MSQC too. You can see how stunning this fabric is in the pic below. The bags are super easy and fun to make. Who wouldn't love a "handmade gift bag" that is re-gift-able...right? :-) The "Olga" 45mm Rotary cutter fits perfectly inside. Great gift size for giving crafting supplies :-) The concept is the same..I just add the techniques used in each bag a long the way. You will mostly be reverting back to the medium "Holiday Tree" bag for instructions. If you need supplies my link to MSQC will take you to all the daily deals...tutorials & Birthday Bash Celebrations. Check out all the fun pics on Instagram...Facebook etc. MSQC is celebrating 16 years! Plus follow me on Instagram (link on right) because I am giving away one Jelly roll that MSQC graciously gave me to give to one lucky winner. View my post on Instagram for all the details. But Hurry...the contest end tonight at midnight :-) We have a lot going on the next several weeks so I thank y'all for following along. So grab your Jelly Rolls and Lets re-cycle "One Bag @ a Time 2gether!"

Blessed Cooking from My Home to Yours,

Cat

MSQC Affiliate

Paid Partnership w/MSQC

Follow me on Instagram...Facebook & Pinterest (links on right of home page)

Medium Jelly Roll Gift Bag (6.5 x 10)