Makin' Saltine Crackers!

Homemade saltine crackers are super easy to make and VERY delicious (because they're mostly butter).   

You seriously can't screw these up, because even the weird thick ones are excellent.  I made these the other night when I really craved homemade bread, but didn't have the time to raise a yeasty dough.  Seriously, this is as easy as making cookies.  Cookie that taste like crackers.

I got my recipe off the internet, there are a hundred out there to choose from.  

Saltine Crackers

4 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

3/4 c. shortening (I use butter)

1-1/2 c. milk

First, mix the flour, baking powder and butter as if you were making a pie crust.   I probably should use one of those pastry blender things, but I don't have one, so I just use a sturdy fork and smash up the butter into the flour.   I keep it up until I can't really see the butter chunks anymore. 

I make a little well in the center of the dry mixture and slowly stir in the milk.  Then I keep stirring it until I can form a little ball of dough.  Knead it just a little bit to make sure it's mixed well, but there's no need to go crazy like you're kneading bread.

Cut your ball of dough into 4 pieces.  Roll one of the balls very thin--1/4" to as ridiculously thin as you can get it--and cut with a cookie cutter, knife, or a pizza cutter.  Place the pieces on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Prick with a fork (I like to make cute patterns on the crackers) and sprinkle with sea salt or poppy seeds or whatnot.  

While you are baking the crackers, put the remaining dough in the fridge to keep it cool.  It will make rolling it out easier when you're ready.

I have a heart-shaped multi-cutter that I bought online specifically for making these crackers.

Bake at 375 degrees until golden brown.  

Depending on the thickness of your crackers, that's anywhere between 10-20 minutes.  

You can turn them if you want, but it's not necessary.  They're so small, it's kind of a pain to try to turn them all over.  They will still get brown on the tops whether you turn them or not.

golden brown!

As with the dog biscuits, I like to shake the pan to help determine done-ness.  

When they rattle around on the pan and the tops and bottoms are golden brown, they are done.  I let them cool on the pan.

No matter the size or shape, they're AMAZING!

Shown above are 3 of the infinite possible outcomes:  the ones on the left utilized the heart-shaped cutter, in the center are the results of the pizza cutter (those turned out thick!) and the ones my husband cut out on the right which are super thin--he is so much more patient than I am.  The point being that none of these are superior (except his) and they all taste spectacular.  His technique depends on adding flour to the dough as he rolls it, resulting in a really thin crunchy/crispy cracker which is great (if you like that sort of thing).   

Fabulous.   Makes a pretty big batch, too.

I would rather eat twelve or so of these than any cracker made by elves, that's for sure.

Alfalfa Sprouts

I started making my own sprouts back when we lived in Boone.  I had asked the grocer once when they would be getting sprouts in since they'd been out of stock for what seemed like forever.  The guy was really rude and told me that if I wanted to buy a whole case, then he'd order some.

I happen to LOVE sprouts, and will eat them on most anything, but I have a really hard time eating a whole container of them before they spoil.  So, what I do is make small batches on a regular basis.  They take about a week and are VERY easy.

You can go to the health foods store and purchase special jars to use for sprouting if you'd like.  They have special mesh lids that screw on to allow for rinsing.  I just use a regular Wide Mouth jar and some mesh that I actually purchased at the fabric store on clearance.  All you really need is something that water can pass through.

A few spoonfuls of spouting seed will make a LOT of sprouts!

Get sprouting seed from your local health food store.  Alfalfa sprouts are shown, but there are other varieties to choose from.  One of my faves is the "sandwich mix" that contains broccoli, alfalfa, and radish or something like that.  The mixed ones end up looking very pretty and the radish is spicy and delicious!

Measure a spoonful or two into the jar.

You don't want to use too many of the seeds, no more than can cover the bottom of the jar.  

Mesh--several layers, and lid.

Half-fill with water.

One the FIRST day, go ahead and let them sit overnight in about a 1/2 jar of water.  The next morning, pour out the water.  You don't need to do anything to the mesh or the lid, just leave it in place throughout the whole process.

Rinse the seeds well, and pour out the water.  Roll the jar around until most of the seed have stuck to the sides of the jar.  Rinse and repeat the process at the end of the day, and every morning and evening until you've got sprouts.

You should start seeing some growth in a day or two!

When you see green, give it some light!

After 4 or 5 days, you will start seeing some green growth.  Hopefully you have kept up the rinsing.  Up to this point, sunshine hadn't really been necessary, but get it into the sun as soon as you see green and you'll soon have a lush crop!  Yum.  

After a final rinsing, I like to put them out on paper towels to make sure they are nice and dry before I put them into a container in the fridge.  

You can also leave them in the jar, but I don't like to have to stick my hand down in there to get them.  I guess I could use a fork, but whatever. 

Projects of the Evening.

Here are a couple of little things I finished up tonight, and a bit of randomness.  

A blue chicken.

 This is something I've been trying lately--knitting chickens.  I just finished this one up and put it in the washer to try to felt it.  It didn't work, because I neglected to put anything in with it to give it some friction--like a towel.  I will figure it out.  I left basically the back end open for stuffing later (haha--just like the real ones).  I just want it to shrink up and condense by about a third.   

It was made in 3 parts:  2 side panels and a gusset.  

Again,  I don't use a pattern, I just wing it.  

(Pun intended of course, I am after all a total nerd.)

Chickie's head.  Eyes will be added later.

Orange Chicken. 

Wooden beads for eyes.  I had sewn on some X's but they made it look dead.

All chickens look hilarious from straight on.

Trust me.

Back detail with the little tailfeathers.

I am not satisfied with these tailfeathers.  No biggie, my first try after all.  

I'll get it, or get tired of trying and give up. 

Knitting Needle Cozy

This is random, but I made this holder for all of my needles a couple of years ago.  It is indispensable. 

To need this is definitely a "knitter thing".  Yes, you do need lots of different kinds and sizes until pretty soon you accumulate them all and need a place to put them so they're not just rattling around. 

The batik on the interior is not my work.  It was purchased that way.  The exterior is needle felted and I did do that.  That is really fun to do--if you like stabbing or poking.

Opens up.  Tri-fold. 

Goofy embroidered needle sizes and decorative stitching really give it the Bridget touch.

So random.

A felted bag, needle cases, and a felted radish.  Yep.  I have no idea why I made that, but I think I should do a whole salad someday.

Knit bra top with sequin detail on the hearts. 

Really long scarf that I finished tonight.

The bra top was also completed some time ago, I just thought it would look nice here.  And look at that awesome wall color!  Is that green or what?  It's the color of one of my old cars!

Finished this evening, but started a long time ago is this ridiculously long scarf.  I currently have it wrapped 4 times around my neck and it still hangs past my waist.  

It's nice and cozy though!

close up of the pattern.

Just 4 seed stitches on the sides and a simple yarn over/knit 2 tog. pattern with a few rows of stockinette at the beginning and end.  This was one of those things that I started a long time ago from 'scrap' yarn left over from another project.  I pick it up whenever I feel the need to knit, but don't really have anything going.

 

So, that was my evening.  Is it too late to make some cookies??? 

Is that an ipod in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?

2 WAYS TO CREATE AN IPOD POCKET IN A GARMENT

I have been told I should start out by mentioning that tonight is my anniversary.   

And I'm blogging.  

Yep.  We have been married for 9 years, but together for 16 total!  

I know!  

Here's the thing-- about a year ago (July 9th, 2009) I started running because my brother made a comment that I looked "good with a few extra pounds on" me.  A couple of minutes later my dad asked me if I was going to do the 5K with them.  The what?  

And so it began.  

I did turn 40 this year, by the way-- if, in any way it makes me seem more awesome (and not less awesome).

I googled a running program called 'couch to 5K' and got on my treadmill.  

I ran the race with my dad, brother, and sister in September, then followed with several more 5K races over the next several months.  

In June of this year I ran the 20K Dam to Dam race which will most likely top the list of my most amazing accomplishments in my lifetime.  

I say "most likely" since one of the most amazing things is that I'm STILL running after more than a year.  To celebrate that fact,  I decided to finally buy an ipod.  Woo Hoo!  

(The actual setting-up of the ipod is a whole saga unto itself that involves an afternoon and a box of kleenex.  i would have to know that you were truly "there" for me for a few hours at least.  It's best just not to ask about that.)

Moving on to after the horror...I obviously wanted to go running with my ipod so I got the special ear thingys that go around your ear and hold securely unlike ear buds that constantly fall out.  

I noticed that some of the exercise clothes I had bought recently had actually come with pockets for ipods sewn in.  That is awesome!  The more I ran, though, the more I realized that I didn't always have the ideal top or shorts for running with my ipod because I didn't have anywhere to put it.  Why not just mimic the pocket on my other garments?  Easy!

This is a my model for the chest pocket style.

Here you see a top that I love.  It came with the ipod pocket at the chest.  I decided this type of ipod pocket is SUPER-EASY to imitate on any top that has a built in 'shelf' bra.  

Look to see that there are 2 layers of fabric in that area.  

That is all you need.  

(Bear in mind that you can apply any of these tips to pants as well.)

This is an outline of my ipod with the disappearing fabric marker.

I traced the outline of my ipod on the area of the top just below the collarbone with the disappearing ink marker.  You can see in this photo the cut line.  Its placement is just "eyeballed".  No measuring here, just what feels right.

You make sure (with pins) that you stabilize the fabric.  I sewed (with my machine) just on the outside of my marker lines.  Really though, if you don't have a sewing machine, just use safety pins or hand stitch--even really large stitches would do--they don't need to be pretty.  Basically, what needs to be done is you need to mark out an outline of the ipod  to hold it in position.  

 

When you cut a knit fabric (like a T-shirt) you'll notice that it really wants to roll up.  In this situation, it's to your advantage.  You will basically roll up a tiny bit and stitch it down to make the top of the pocket your ipod goes in to.  

This is the straight-across slice, rolled up, and stitched down.  Makes a cute oval.

Super cute!

There is a second style that I noticed and that is to have the pocket down at the waist.  

This is a top that already has an ipod pocket.  Love it.

I have a couple of tops like this one and they are great.  I bought a really cute top recently and want to put a pocket in that one too:

What you see in this picture (in preparation for the lower ipod pocket) is 2 lines of stitching, and a pre-existing bottom seam (the side seam of an old t-shirt).

Placing it where I want it.  Again...eyeballing.  No biggie.

I slipped the "pocket" through the slice I made.

Finished pocket.

I folded over the part that showed on the front.

Is that cute or what?  Any clothing item can be made to "conceal' your ipod.   This is too awesome and easy not to share!  Enjoy-- and happy manipulating.

Makin' Dog Biscuits

We keep a jar of dog biscuits for our 2 dogs.  They get a "treat" when they "crate up" in the morning and also at bedtime.  

They have become so accustomed to getting their treat that they will trip over each other running up the stairs to see who can get there first.

Our lab mix (Betty) weighs 68 lbs. and our Basenji, Jenny is 22 lbs.  I want to point out that they are both around 5 years old and have maintained the same healthy weight.

Typically, we give Betty one of these homemade biscuits at morning and night, and break one in half for Jenny.  This suits them just fine.  I hate seeing the dog treats in the store, especially the ones for "large dogs".  What I see is a lot of garbage and filler in a huge snack.  Once at the dog park, I saw an overweight guy with his 2 overweight dogs.  He had a bag of "snausages" that he was feeding them.  Those things, although fun to say, are full of junk.  Fattening junk.  It would be like us eating circus peanuts and Cheetos every day.  Gross.  

I don't know, maybe that sounds good to you.  

Maybe your dog is fat.

So, here is another one of those things I prefer to make myself than buy in the store:

 

Dog biscuits.  

The ones I'm making tonight come from my dog biscuit bible:  The (Small Dogs) Doggy Bone Cookbook by Michele Bledsoe.  This cookbook comes with a small cookie cutter.  As the title suggests, it is intended for small dogs.  Doesn't matter, as I mentioned earlier.  A small treat is just as good as a large one.  

I have made and tasted every biscuit in this cookbook, and they're delicious!  Every recipe contains things that you normally have in your kitchen, and with the exception of beef and chicken bouillon (I use veggie), everything is vegetarian.   The only real difference between dog biscuits and people biscuits (cookies) is the absence of sugar, fat and salt which although delicious, are not good for dogs.

The biscuits I'm making right now are the Trick & Treat biscuits which are pumpkiny and very fitting for this fall weather.  They smell FANTASTIC.  I'm not sure whether I can do this or not, but here is the recipe.  If I credit the source, it's okay, right?

Trick & Treat

1/2 c. canned pumpkin

1/2 c. water

2 tbsp. vegetable oil

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 c. oatmeal

2 c. whole wheat flour

Preheat overn to 375.  Combine pumpkin, water, oil, cinnamon and nutmeg in a bowl.  Stir well.  Gradually add oatmeal and flour.  Form a dough. 

pumpkiny.

Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutter.  

the directions say 1/4 inch, but i like to go a little thicker.

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 375 for 40 minutes.  Makes 4 dozen.

It's okay to put them really close together on the baking sheet, they won't spread out or puff up.

After 40 minutes, I take them out of the oven.  I decide they're done when I can shake the pan and they move around.

Eat one!

I almost always just allow them to cool along with the pan.  I believe that is part of what makes them really crunchy.  After they are completely cool, I put them in a decorative jar that my dogs must think is really pretty.  They always gaze at the jar admiringly, anyway.

OH, the other awesome thing about pumpkin treats is that the pumpkin is really good for firming up stools.  Yep.  If your dog has loose poops, add a spoonful of pumpkin to its food.  You needed to hear that... and, you're welcome.

Hem Your Own Damn Jeans

Here's a fun fact about me that you may not know.  When I was in college, I worked as a seamstress at "The Buckle".  I did so many hems, tapers (it was the 90s), darts, zippers, buttons, shorts, etc. that I can probably do it in my sleep.  

While the idea of hemming a pair of pants--let alone jeans--may intimidate you, don't let it.  It's as simple as folding paper.  I made my share of mistakes too.  In my first week on the job I broke so many needles just because I was trying to treat the factory-style sewing machine like it was my little home machine.   It had so much power that it would just take off like a rocket and I'd break the needle instantly!  Oh, crap.

The store didn't have a supply of these industrial machine needles, but luckily there was a store in town that did have them.  Just as the store manager was starting to get frustrated with my incompetence, I finally figured out how to manage the powerful machine as well as a couple of simple tricks to make the thick seams easier to sew through.

Try on the jeans.  Roll them up to the length you want.

Step one.  Put on the jeans or pants and roll up just one side to where you want the new hem to be.   Then take them off and lay them out smoothly on an ironing board.  The next thing I do is iron the cuff.  I do it because I love ironing things.  No, really I want to have a visible crease line to follow.  Again, just leave the other pant leg alone.  It gets shored up later.  If you try to do both separately you have a greater risk of them not being the same length when you're done.  I've tried it both ways, and trust me this works just fine.

Press the crease.

After you've used the iron (nice & hot & steamy is great), turn the pants inside out. Unfold the creased side and lay it flat.  I like to use a fabric marker (the ink you see disappears with water and/or time) to mark my folding and cutting lines.  See below:

Fabric markers are awesome!

What you see is that I used a ruler to darken in my crease that I made earlier with the iron.  This line marks the bottom of the pants after we hem them.  Now, since I intend to mimic the look of the existing hem, I measured its width.  I doubled that width and drew the cut line.  You can see then in the photo that the cutting line is just above the existing hem.   

What if your cut line falls within the existing hem?  I would then use a seam ripper and take the hem out, press it, then mark the cut line.  It does take more time and energy, but trying to cut through the thick hem would nearly be impossible.  If that seems like too much effort, you might be asking yourself if that tiny of a hem will make enough of a difference in your garment.

Stack the pant legs.

Stack up both of the pant legs now.  Concentrate on smoothing them out and making sure they are even with one another.  You don't need to worry too much about the upper half of the pants, just make sure the bottoms are lined up and you're good.  Oh, and make sure your marked one is on top.

Cut BOTH at the same time along your cut mark.

You want to make sure your layers stay stacked securely while you cut.  You don't want them to get skewed in any way.  As long as your scissors are nice and sharp you will be fine.  If you're not entirely confident, you can always pin them together to secure them.

Ta-Da!

At the side seams, fold the edge just up to the line and pin.

So, each pant leg now has 2 pins--one on each side seam.  Use your fingers to press a fold all the way around.  The pinned parts should help keep everything even.  Use the hot iron to make a more intentional crease when you have it folded all around. 

Once you've pressed, repeat the process.  Start at the side seams and pin, then continue around until you've folded all the way around.  Press again.  I can't stress enough how important it is to press as you go.  I also believe in pinning.  Just a few--they do serve a purpose, especially when hemming.  It's so easy for any kind of fabric to twist or stretch during the sewing process, resulting in a wonky hem.  You don't want that.

Okay, here comes the fun part where you can release all of your frustrations.  Get a hammer.  Take your jeans to the floor, and whack those super thick seams 7 or 8 times with the hammer.  It will crush the fibers and really help you sew through with much more ease.  The industrial machine at the store was designed to tear through denim like it was butter, but even that machine did not care for those thick side seams.  

A very dark picture of a hammer.

Sew the hem.

Sew the hem.  I use guide marks on my machine to mimic the placement of the stitching on the original hem.  I always slow way down and ease my needle through the thick parts even though they've been crushed.

Finished product

And they're done.  You can buy the same thread used in popular jeans at any fabric store.  You know, the yellow, the orange, etc.  It's there.  

So, there you go.  It's not difficult and usually takes me around 10 minutes or so to hem a pair of jeans.  

What does a person do with all the leftover parts?  At the time I worked at The Buckle I was taking a class called Fiber Manipulation.  Yes, you're jealous.  I loved college.  

For one of my art projects in the manipulation class, I convinced the store manager to let me keep the "garbage" that was left over from my work.  They were extremely tight with the security at that place, so I actually had to have the garbage bag checked before I could leave with it.  It consisted of all of the cuttings from the hems, little wedges of fabric, holey pieces of jeans, etc.

I took it all home and below is what I came up with:

Big Blue

This monster mountain of denim stood 3-4 feet tall and was quite heavy.  It won a $50 Honorable Mention prize at a show at the Design College.  You can see that I was way into smocking at the moment.  I remember making this with pliers and huge curved upholstery needles just to work it through the material.  What a beast that was!

Smocking Detail :)

Happy Hemming Everybody!