Delicious Easy and Affordable Chicken Tortilla Soup

A classic.

A delicious meal that is a classic to see on a restaurant menu, especially at any chain.  I really love chicken tortilla soup.  But guess what,  I have never made chicken tortilla soup before this week.

I know, I know, I know.  Wait, what?  But it is so simple.  Well now I know.

I am back in the kitchen with a new lease on cullinary life.  I have been in a cooking and baking rut for such a long time.  I feel like when you are trying to eat healthy it is so easy to just cook chicken rice and vegetables and repeat over and over with some sandwiches in between as a guilty filler because I don't know about you but we like sammiches at my house.  Nay nay, we love them.  Simple ones and fancy ones.  It almost doesn't get better than that or pizza. And pizza is a no NO when trying to eat healthy. [Don't even get me started on cauliflower pizza (freaking disgusting)].

Well, I smashed my right thumb while camping a few weeks ago and that left me with a lot of time on my hands.  I will save that story for another day.  It is a truly riveting tale, I assure you.  But, I am oddly really greatful it happened because it pulled me out of the rut I had found  myself in.  

With so much time on my hands when Fiona and I went on our weekly trip to the library and I got some baking books and made angel food cake, foccaccia bread, krautburgers, and some other stuff that I have always wanted to try but just never did.  Then a few days ago I told Jason I felt like making Chicken Tortilla soup and he was ready for me to go to the store and get everything for it pretty much the minute later.

But I waited and made it yesterday. OmG. So good.

Also, LOOK at my new kitchen toy.  My very own enameled 6.5qt dutch oven. I love it.  And the color is beautiful.  We got it at Sam's Club and I love it love it LOVE it.  This also inspired the meal.  My first meal cooked in it.  Pretty much my newest baby.

When I go and search a recipe and it has over a thousand good reviews from people on allrecipes.com I pretty much stop and say ok this is the one.  It never fails.  Trust the allrecipes.com gods for they are good.  They really do love us.

If you love the classic chicken tortilla soup. Stop. Click this link for the recipe and try it yourself.  It is almost fool proof, easy on the pocket, and has a lot of good stuff in it for you.  The other great things is that even if it is hot as hell outside, you can still eat chicken tortilla soup.  It's not like a chowder where you look sideways at it and think, it should be colder outside. I find it refreshing.

I will say this disclaimer though.  The recipe has corn and hominy in it.  I bought and opened a can of hominy and decided against using it.  So I followed the recipe exactly besides these changes:

I omitted the corn and hominy.  I added three fresh roma tomatoes diced large and added to the onions and garlic  before continuing onto the next step.  I also used PepperJack Cheese instead of Monterey Jack Cheese because that is what we had and Jason grilled flour tortillas.

I would say this recipe made me and Jason about 8 servings.  I had a bowl and Jason had two bowls and that left us with 2 32oz Ball Jars of soup.  I am not even going to freeze one.  I am pretty sure this will be gone in the next 2 days!

Cheers!

Pokemon Inspired Pikachu and Pokeball Set

"Gotta Catch 'em ALL!"

About 2 months ago I made Fiona a Pikachu and Pokeball.  Since then, Pokemon's place in the spotlight has been moved back to front and center.  It is incredibly popular.  So, I figured, I would list the items available to be made in my Etsy Shop.  I have about a 10 business day turn around time for the entire set for only $40.00.

I don't know about you, but I have already started Christmas shopping.  If you know of anyone who might be interested in a gift like this, or maybe for even yourself, NOW is the time to shop before my made to order list is closed for Christmas.

Head on over to my Etsy shop and place your order now!

Also, I am always open to custom orders so never hesitate to message me or email me with your ideas and see whar we can work out.

Cheers!

Made the Flowers Podcast: Episode 1 Show Notes

Made the Flowers Podcast: Episode 1 SHOW NOTES

Thank you for watching my very first podcast!  I wasn’t quite sure if I was going to upload it, but I did and now we are here!  I love it when I can follow a podcast I watch to their Shownotes with quicklinks to some of the information they shared on their podcast.  Sometimes I am too busy crocheting or knitting to stop and write down some of the things I see and hear!

Here are a few of the things I mentioned during Episode 1. 

If there is something that I mentioned that I have not noted here, or, have any questions for me, please, feel more than welcome to message on Ravelry or Instagram or email me at madetheflowers@gmail.com.

Knit Beanie in Maroon Yarn

Heartland by Lion Brand

189 Isle Royale

Knit Beanie in Dark Green

Heartland by Lion Brand

180 Kings Canyon

The Quick Stocking Hat by Hill Vintage and Knits

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quick-stocking-hat

in combination with

Bankhead by Susie Gourlay

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bankhead

The shop I mentioned I visited in Fort Collins, CO is The Loopy Ewe

www.theloopyewe.com

Crochet Blanket Pattern

http://daisycottagedesigns.net/crochet/free-crochet-pattern-ripple-baby-blanket/

Here is a link to purchase my Fisherman's Wool Beanie through my etsy shop
www.madetheflowers.etsy.com

Lastly,
here are some pictures of the presents I made during December:

Cheers!

I AM ON YOUTUBE!

Hello, hello, hello!

As you can probably tell from the title of this post...

I have a YouTube Channel:

MADE THE FLOWERS

This is so exciting!

I am stepping into the knitting, crochet, crafty, discussion podcasting world.  And it is fun!  I haven't a real clue as to what I am doing...but I have an iPhone and it uploads to YouTube...and after about 10 hours I got my first video uploaded!  So, that is a start!

If you have never heard of crafting video podcasts, don't worry.  I hadn't either until the end of December 2015 either!!!  But, I am so glad I found them!  I wanted to include myself in there too because it is fun to talk about some of the things I enjoy doing most outloud, if even to my little iPhone.

Cheers!

A Very Yarn Related Christmas...

Merry Christmas to you :)

I wanted to quickly hop on to my blog and just post some of the yarn related things I got for Christmass because it was very clear where  my wish list was directed.

I have fisnished all  of my projects for the year and haven't wanted to start a new project that would carry into 2016.  I also didn't want to start a new crochet project becacuse I had completed so many in such a short amount of time I needed a small break from it.  So, I have been practicing knitting.

2016 one of my main goals is to become as skilled with knitting as I am in crochet.  And I am doing  pretty well.

One of the things that I have been wanting for about 2 years has been a yarn swift, but I knew I wouldn't use it, I just wanted it.  But now, in 2016 that baby is going to be used quite a lot!  So I picked it out (and ordered it) but it is a gift from Jason and Fiona.  I am so excited!  I did a good amount of research and chose the yarn swift from KnitPicks.  It is beautiful and I love that the keys have bumpers on the ends of them to protect the surface the swift becomes mounted to.  It is beautiful and I am very pleased with it and cannot wait to use it.  I also ordered a Try Me set from KnitPicks to see what type of interchangeable needle set I would like to get in the future.

To go with my yarn swift I ordered some yarn off of eBay.  It is beautiful and squishy!  I am in love with this yarn.

I also received a great present from my inlaws.  A perfect gift.  Vintage crochet hook set that I have never seen before in person or on the internet.  I am very happy to have it in my collection.  Knitted by tags and a needle holder.  They also had no clue I was commiting myself to knitting this year. They are good to me.

Lastly, is my stocking :)
I received a planner and some fun materials for my Etsy Shop.  Target had the cutest things this year!

That concludes the yarn related things I received for Christmas this year.  I have one more post before the new year beause I want to close out 2015 with a look at the projects I completed this year and my goals for 2016 and that is it!

I hope you are all having a fantastic Christmas and Holiday season.  I am very blessed.  Fiona is snuggled up right next to me as I type this.  Life is good.

Cheers!

Shop MadeTheFlowers on Etsy

Happy Small Business Saturday!

Did you know I have a stocked Etsy Shop?

MadeTheFlowers Etsy Shop

It has items for kids and adults that are both crocheted and sewn.

I hand make everything listed in the shop myself.

I am a one woman show.

I make it,

I model it.

I photograph it,

I list it.

I love it.  

I hope you decide to help support the small business community this giving season.

Cheers!

Fisherman's Wool Simple Fingerless Gloves

Hello there!  How is your day?  Does it feel like Thanksgiving is next week?  I did a lot of my grocery shopping this morning, trying to beat as much of the traffic as possible.  The weather has been all kinds of cray cray today.  It dropped 10 degrees in an hour this morning. had snow flurries, and a lot of wind.  Now we are most likely going to have snow tonight!  It definitely does feel like it will be Thanksgiving next week and I am excited because I love a good cooking marathon!

Anyways, I just wanted to pop in with an update on my Crohet Star Blanket progress.  Originally, I had said I wanted to finish the blanket by tomorrow.  That will definitely not happen!  I have made some headway on it but I got sidetracked by different projects.  Doesn't that always happen?  I have become quite the completionist this last year, but when your husband asks if you can make something you haven't made before, you jump on the opportunity right?

Last weekend we went to the mountains and on the way there he asked me if I could make him some Fingerless Gloves.  I said yea, of course.  I had been wanting to make mittens but hadnt jumped on the idea.  Last week we got our first snow where I am in Colorado.  So, now it is inevitable, you must carry gloves or mittens with you whenever you travel because Colorado this time of year is freaking unpredictable.

I looked for about half an hour on Ravelry but I didnt like how fancy they were until finally I found this awesomely delightful Simple Fingerless Glove pattern by ChassityOquendo .

I loved making Jason a pair so much that I was like, ok, Fiona needs some.

 And then I thought, ok, I need some too!

  And so now we all three have a matching pair of Fingerless Gloves,

Materials Used
Yarn: Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool in the color Oatmeal
Hook: Pattern calls for H/5.0mm -- I used a G/4.0mm Hook to achieve gauge
Time: 2 hours per pair on average.

Great and simple pattern!  I highly recommend it!  Cheers!

Work In Progress Crochet Star Blanket

Last Saturday I started a new crochet project.  Fiona was feeling sickly and didn't want to engage in any activity that didn't involve a show and snuggles on the couch.  Which, who can blame her?  I am the same way when I am sick.  So after a few hours of what started to feel like being trapped on the couch, I decided to dive into a large crochet project.

I bought this yarn from Joann's close to two months ago.  It was on triple clearance during the same time as a 20% off total purchase coupon.  After all discounts, each ball of yarn cost me about $1.40-$1.50, which is insane!  This yarn is Patons Classic Wool in the colors Plum Heather, Seafoam, and Moss Heather.  At first I didnt know what to make with it, I just thought Oh My Gosh I must by this...ITS ON SALE!

After putting it all together when I got home in a bin I knew I wanted to make Fiona a wool blanket for this Winter season.  Over the next two months I had severe commitment issues to what pattern I wanted to use.  I knew that because I had bought it on clearance I would need to be careful what I chose to do.  I really want to make a sharp Chevron blanket with eyelets but I was afraid I would run out of yarn and then have to resort to buying more yarn that I bought because it was on sale for more that original price on Ebay.  So two months went by.

Then last Saturday, I decided that was the day to start this project.  I opened up my book 100 Colorful Ripple Stitches to Crochet by Leonie Morgan.  I saw the Star Blanket and I knew this was would be the inspiration for this project.  It was a fun and youthful shape to balance our the darker colorway of the blanket. Lastly, I could make it as big as the amount of yarn I have will allow, so no stress.  I have never done a project like this before so it was indeed the perfect one.

Fiona saw it on Sunday and was really happy that it would be hers so it has gotten me working on it as much as my shoulders will let me.  My goal is to finish this blanket by Saturday, November 21st.

Fingers Crossed.  Cheers!

Half Double Crochet Slouch Beanie With Pom Pom Pattern

Brianna’s Half Double Crochet Slouch Beanie With Pom Pom Pattern

Finished Size: Fits Average Woman’s Head

Materials:

*Worsted Weight or 4ply yarn.

In this photo I used 1 skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn

*5mm or size “H” Crochet Hook

*Stitch Marker

*Yarn needle

*Pom Pom Maker (optional)

Gauge: 3.5HDC = 1”

Instructions:

Make a magic ring.  This beanie is worked from top of crown down.  Please see notes at end of pattern if you do not know how to make a magic ring.

Round 1

Ch1. Place 9 HDC into ring. (9HDC)

[Ch1 does NOT count as HDC throughout the pattern.]

Round 2

Ch1. 2 HDC in each HDC around, slip stitch into top of 1^st HDC (18HDC).

Round 3

Ch1. HDC in 1^st HDC, 2 HDC in next HDC, * HDC in next HDC, 2HDC in next HDC, repeat from * around, slip stitch into top of 1^st HDC (27HDC).

Round 4

Ch1. HDC in 1^st HDC, HDC in next HDC, 2 HDC in next HDC, * HDC in next 2 HDC, 2HDC in next HDC, repeat from * around, slip stitch into top of 1^st HDC (36HDC).

Round 5

Ch1. HDC in 1^st 3 HDC, 2HDC in next HDC, * HDC in next 3 HDC, 2HDC in next HDC, repeat from * around, slip stitch into top of 1^st HDC (45 HDC).

Round 6

Ch1. HDC in 1^st 4 HDC, 2 HDC in next HDC, *HDC in next 4 HDC, 2HDC in next HDC, repeat from * around, slip stitch into top of 1^st HDC (54HDC).

Round 7

Ch1. HDC in 1^st 5 HDC, 2HDC in next HDC, *HDC in next 5 HDC, 2HDC in next HDC, repeat from * around, slip stitch into top of 1^st HDC (63HDC).

Round 8

Ch1. *HDC in 1^st 8 HDC, 2HDC in next HDC, repeat from * around.  Slip stitch into top of 1^st stitch (70HDC).

Rows 9-28

Ch1. HDC in each stitch around.  Slip stitch into top of 1^st stitch (70HDC).

Finish Off and weave in ends.

Creating and attaching a Pom Pom to your beanie is your choice.

*Notes*

-I prefer the magic ring method, YouTube is a great source in teaching yourself this method if you do not know how to do this.  (YouTube is how I learned.) But if you do not want to do this, you can also chain 3 and slip stitch into the 1^st chain.  Just keep in mind you may have a visible hole in the top of your beanie when finished.

-Please also note this pattern can easily be lengthened or shortened by increasing or decreasing your number of rows.
-If you sell products using this pattern online please post that my pattern was used to make it with your listing information.

Cheers!

Pinterest Has Brought Me Back

     It has been over a year and half since my last post.  Yikes.  I have developed 2 other blogs since abandoning this one and have abandoned those as well.  But due to curiosity and the realization of traffic from Pinterest on this blog I have decided to place the keys back into this blog's ignition and take this for a new spin.
     I always wanted to attach Pinterest Buttons to my posts but for some reason I could never figure it out.  As it turns out someone on the internet was able to figure out how to pin my blog and my Fiona's Peachy Double Crochet Car Blanket has been repinned over 80 times.  Considering it is not a major post and develops more traffic than all my other posts combined I thought, well hot damn.  Maybe I need to revisit my old blog idea and do it right.
     You see, before, I never really thought I was good enough.  Blogs, when I was blogging, were so freaking perfect, and I just am not that perfect and never will be (Thank God).  However, there has been a major shift in society and the internet in the last one and half years.  And you know what, I am good enough.
     A lot of blogs have been abandoned.  I abandoned mine.  My whole vision for blogging has changed.  Before I didnt really know what content to provide, so I provide a little of this and a lot of that, but I was never really passionate about it.  Also, being a new mother and moving states was a bit overwhelming not to mention this relentless nag of which blogging became.
     But today, I have a clear idea.  I know that what I do is good enough and my Instagram pictures can totally double up for my blog.  Let's be honest with each other, that is totally acceptable today, where as two years ago if your pictures weren't perfect, your blog wasn't worth READING.  Which I always thought was funny.
     Recently I have had this realization with Pinterest and my pinning habits: I am mostly pinning patterns and recipes.  These link me to a blog post.  The majority of these linked blog posts are over two years old.  I read somewhere that most of what is on pinterest is 80% repins.  Meaning there is not a whole lot of new content being developed, people are just pinning the same things over and over.  I also think people abandoning their blogs and no longer posting as many patterns and new content is contributing to this.  Which, is awesome for me.  This is a great opportunity for me to bring new content to Pinterest and the crafting community.
     I have been working hard on sharpening my skills.  I have fallen further and further in love with the fiber arts and sewing.  Oh yea, now I can say that I do know how to sew, I don't just like to think I can sew. No, really.  I have completed two dresses in the last month.
     I have also been creating my own crochet patterns.  I haven't been writing my own patterns on purpose.  It is more out of necessity because I have an idea of what I want to make and I can't find it.  So I find a base of what I like and then pretty much revamp it until it becomes something new and my own.  Which I think is awesome and am very proud of myself for doing.
     So what to look for on this blog to come?  Good question.  Crochet patterns and projects, sewing projects and finishes, as well as Etsy store updates. Oh, and anything Fiber Arts and Sewing Related and maybe some recent reads too.  Maybe.
     I have been creating a lot of things and want to have an active Etsy store.  Thanks to the selfie stick I can take more photos of my products by myself which is awesome since my husband works over 70 hours a week and my other helper is 2.  Also, I want to start finding stockists in The Rocky Mountains and I think the blog coupled with my Etsy store will provide a great portfolio and help develop trust in me.
     I am not sure how often I will post.  Maybe once a week.  Maybe more.  Maybe less.  But, I can gaurantee it is worth your while to check in to see what I am up to.
     Now, I have something important to ask of you.  Part of what I have learned this past year and half is how crucial it is to network and lend a helping hand.  When I find something or someone I like or admire I try my best to share them over my social media sites and by word of mouth.  I encourage you to do the same with me, my blog, as well as other artisans you come across.

Until next time, CHEERS!

Crock Pot Homemade Applesauce Recipe

Fiona loves this delicious homemade applesauce.  She cannot get enough of it.  Which makes me really happy because I ended up winging this recipe on President's Day and it tastes EXACTLY like my Grandma's.  I must have been channeling her as I had been thinking about her all weekend for it would have been her birthday weekend.  (She passed in 2006.)  So, with a nod to Fiona and my Grandma, I figured I should share this recipe.

I also want to say that this is something I give to Fiona as a treat and feel guilt-free about in conjunction with it being a great way to get a good source for her daily fruit intake.

CROCK POT HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE

Ingredients:
1 Crock Pot
4 Cups Gala Apples
   (Any apples will be fine.  I prefer Gala for they are so sweet)
4 Tbs Unsalted Butter
    (1/2 Stick)
Cinnamon - Amount to your discretion.
    (We like a lot of Cinnamon)
2 Tbs Turbinado Suar
1 Tbs Lemon Juice

Directions:
1. Peel and core all of your apples.
2. Chop them evenly.
3. Place apples in Crock Pot.
4. Sprinkle Cinnamon and Turbinado Sugar over apples and mix together until the apples are evenly coated.
5. Drizzle Lemon Juice on top of apples and mix together again.
6. Place 1/2 stick of butter on top of apples.
7. Place the lid on the Crock Pot and turn it on LOW heat.
8.  In one hour check on the apples and stir the butter into the apples to distribute evenly through the rest of the cooking time.
9.  Let the apples break down for about 3 hours from original start point and then check on them.  If they are smash-able with a fork then they are ready to be smashed like you would if you were making mashed potatoes.  If they are not quite ready, give them more time.
      [Note* Please remember crock pot times will vary depending on what size crock pot you are using.]
10. When the apples have been mashed make any adjustments needed for taste.
11. Serve hot and/or cold - as a snack and/or as dessert.
      (We ate ours with homemade bread and it was delicious.)

I hope you enjoy this recipe and feel free to comment below!

Cheers!

The Classic Granny Square

This past week I have been a crocheting fiend.

I find that I go through weekly trends.  Each week I work on a project, and skills to master within that project, all week long.  The particular trend of the week bleeds into pretty much any and all down time that I have to research and scour my books, Pinterest, Ravelry, Instagram, YouTube, and Blogs to find tips and tricks to better understand the project and skills I am working on that week as well as how do them easier, faster, and neater.

I am teaching myself these trades all by myself with the help of my personal book/magazine collection and the internet.  So I really invest a lot of personal time into these skills to hopefully make what I love doing something I can do as a trade that is profitable for me no matter where life may lead me and my family.  Well, I am also doing it of course because I have always wished I knew how to sew and crochet and knit and quilt and embroider.  I had a crafty mother and grandmother.  But, unfortunately because of things, I am teaching myself.

So.  This past week was a crochet week.  I did a few projects and new stitches, but my main focus ended up being the Classic Granny Square.

I love the Classic Granny Square.  I think it is so kitschy and cute and homey and nostalgic.  As part of my Christmas present I was allotted an allowance of "getwhateveryourheartdesires" money.  With it, I bought some new rotary cutters and a few other things, but specifically, I bought The Granny Square Book by Margaret Hubert.

I like this book.  It has over 75 different Granny Squares with directions, diagrams and pictures of each Granny Square as well as a section with projects to apply towards the reinvention of the Classic Granny Square.  I really enjoy it.  It isn't overwhelming and offers different tips and tricks.

Attempt 1.

Attempt 2. 

Attempt 3.

But when I was trying to learn the Classic Granny Square, Margaret Hubert's tutorial just wasn't clicking with me.  Sure, I was accomplishing the Classic Granny Square, but it came out so messy.  I knew I was missing something to this Granny Square puzzle.  So, this past Thursday night I began to scour the internet again for tips and tricks.  I was understanding the fundamentals.  But for me, attaching the square together and finishing off the ends was a disaster.  I found some really great ways to connect in the round/square and how to bind off invisibly.  I also ended up mastering the magic circle too, which has helped immensely.  So I have decided as I master these new skills, I will share tutorials of my own with lessons of what I found to be the best ways to explain the basics of this Classic Granny Square easier.  Unbeknownst to me, this simple square has unlocked a whole world of tips and tricks to make crocheting in its entirety easier and more explained.

I am sure there are others out there like me, who just think a little bit differently than most, and because of it sometimes just are fed up with watching video tutorials that just aren't clicking either.  For me, personally, reading step-by-step tutorials is what I found to be the best learning tool for this particular subject - the Classic Granny Square.  This, as I said before, is, what has finally made some other basics a lot easier for me too.  My tutorials are really going to include everything and be completely unassuming.

Also, I will hopefully provide some great tutorials for anyone looking for one in American terms and not UK terms.  I found that a lot of tutorials and patterns I would finally find to be what I needed were in UK terms, not American.  So this is something else I would like to achieve in my tutorials as I master more and more crochet projects.

Cheers!

Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Garden of the Gods

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you who choose to celebrate it!  We do minorly.  I am a huge romantic and will take any reason to be warm and fuzzy.  Jason on the other hand goes with it.  And he humors me but thinks its a gimmee Holiday.  Which it is!  But.  Like I say, I just think its fun.  We traded cards last night!  It was cute, they were perfect.  And instead of flowers this year, I said I would like a French Curve Ruler.  Can you tell where my priorities are lately?!

Garden of the Gods! 

Last week Jason had a conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado for his job field.  Fiona and I drove down with him Sunday to tour Colorado Springs because we had never been there before.  The drive from North Eastern Colorado South to Colorado Springs Sunday morning was gorgeous and slightly dangerous as well, being the back roads were extremely icy! 

 In my research of the town I found that besides the railroad history and Goodwill mecca, there is also a National Natural Landmark - Garden of the Gods.

Sunday morning we toured the 1300 acre Red Rock Garden.  It is magnificent.

It was a real treasure to be able to tour this after it being laden with a blanket of snow.  Jason and I fell in love with Moab, Utah, when we stayed a couple days there on our treck from California to Colorado.  Garden of the Gods is a small bite of Moab, in my opinion.  Such a beautiful place to visit.

We cannot wait to come back and visit in the Spring and Summer to witness the fresh greenery and go on the trails available with Fiona.

I decided to include a mushy pic we took there as well, in the spirit of Valentine's Day!

Cheers!