Scout's Sweet Sundays Features and Linky #2

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Hope you all had a great day!

Well the first link party was a big success. I picked out some of my favorites to feature and I don't know how those of you with link parties pick out the features every week! There were so many great projects!

Here are a few of my favorites:

**Remember if you want to pin any of these images please go to the original source to pin them!**

Lined Long Sleeve Kimono Style Dress from Counting Crickets

Oh so pretty and I love that waistline!

 P.S. I Love You Bag from Craft Couture by T.C.

I love the reverse applique and crazy quilting on this one- so cute!

Refinished Coffee Table from Lavender and Lemon Drops

This is exactly what I want in my living room- she found hers for $30- maybe I will get so lucky!

I also featured 3 other projects on my Facebook Page- go see if you were one of them!

If you were Featured- Grab a Button!

<a href="http://www.xstitchandcrafts.blogspot.com" title="Scout's Stitches Featured Button by Scout's Stitches, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7039/6810664332_75a71ce46e_m.jpg" width="140" height="140" alt="Scout's Stitches Featured Button"></a>

Now it is time for the 2nd edition of Scout's Sweet Sundays- let's see what you have been up to!

Just a reminder- I would love if you added my button to your sidebar or to your linky page so you can remember to come back and spread the word!!

Also, by linking up you are agreeing I can use your images for features on my blog and Facebook!

<a href="http://www.xstitchandcrafts.blogspot.com" title="Scout's Stitches Link Party Button by Scout's Stitches, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7202/6810657492_eb1cb1524a_m.jpg" width="140" height="140" alt="Scout's Stitches Link Party Button"></a>

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!

Tortilla Soup- New Food Friday

During my search for gluten free main dishes I happened upon a yummy gluten, dairy and soy free recipe that is so delicious that you won't feel you are missing out on anything. I used this recipe from Simply Recipes as my inspiration. 

There are a few things I love about this recipe:

It uses shredded chicken so it is super easy to bake a whole chicken in a crockpot, serve it for dinner and then use the leftovers for this soup the next day!

Most of the ingredients I grow in my garden (cilantro, tomatoes, peppers) so I will definitely be making it this spring and summer!

The flavors of the soup just get better and better as they sit- so leftovers are even better than the day before!

Tortilla Soup

6 corn tortillas (best if they are dried out)

olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

2 Tbsp minced garlic

2 jalapeno peppers, diced (if you don't like spice you can add anaheim or sweet bell peppers)

4 slices roasted red peppers (I use the Marzetto's kind) diced

1 small can diced green chilies

1- 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes

4 cups chicken broth or stock

3 cups cooked shredded chicken

salt and pepper to taste

For garnish:

limes

cilantro

avocadoes

sour cream

cheese

Directions:

If your tortillas aren't dried out you can put them in the oven for about 10 minutes at 200 degrees to get them dried. Once they are dried warm them on an ungreased skillet for about 30-45 seconds each. Use pizza cutter to cut into strips. Set aside.

Add olive oil to large stockpot and heat to medium. Add diced onions and diced peppers. Cook until soft and then add garlic. Saute for a minute or two.

Add crushed tomatoes, diced green chilies, roasted red peppers, chicken broth and shredded chicken. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Simmer for about 20 minutes to let flavors combine.

Sample and add salt and pepper to taste.

Add tortilla strips to soup just before serving.

Serve with garnish of cilantro, freshly squeezed lime juice, and fresh avocado.

Enjoy!!

 

I will be linking up with some of these parties!

Have a great day!!

Good Luck Bear Cake and Dairy Free, Soy Free Frosting Recipe

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!! I know it isn't until Saturday but I have seen so many projects floating around I felt I should do something for the holiday. Then last week my awesome coworker gave me a vintage Wilton Care Bear cake pan.  I knew I had to make a Good Luck Bear.  I also have been wanting to try out some gluten free cake mixes and dairy free frosting.

I used Pamela's vanilla cake mix- it was really really good. I was surprised at how much I liked it considering it was gluten free. My family really liked it as well- I didn't even have any left over to take to work.

For the frosting there was a little more guess work involved.  I originally started looking for a dairy free, gluten free frosting recipe. I happened upon this frosting recipe on a online forum. I was all set to go with it until I realized Criso is all soybean oil (and I don't really like the way it tastes). But when I was at the store I saw the coconut oil and realized that was what I should use.  The frosting turned out great- very yummy!

Gluten, Dairy and Soy Free Frosting 

1 cup coconut oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
1/2 teaspoon clear butter flavoring
6 cups confectioner's sugar

pinch of salt
Enough almond milk to get to desired consistency 

I am not a cake decorator (as you can probably tell). I feel like I could do a lot better if I had thinner tips to go on my decorating tube. But I think he turned out kinda cute.

My husband kept referring to this though......

Source

He's not that bad.... really?

I will be linking up with some of these parties!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!

Princess Play Mat

Today I am sharing a project my sister made for my sweet niece Marley's 3rd birthday.  She has made play mats for each of her older three boys- a city, a zoo, and a farm.

Marley's is a Princess Play Mat.

My sister draws the outlines on muslin with pencil and then colors it in with Sharpies.  I love this project because it is so interactive and it can be packed up in a bag with a few select toys and taken to ballgames and parks really easily. 

 

Here are some of the fun activities Marley can have her princesses do:

1. Jump off the dock or go down the slide to swim in the moat.

2. Have a fancy dinner in the banquet hall.

3. Dance in the grand ballroom of the castle.

4. Take a nap or have a slumber party.

5. Paddle the rowboat around the moat.

6. Read a book or have a Bible study.

7. Arts and crafts time- painting and coloring!

8. Workout- lift some weights or do yoga.

9. Swing on a tree swing.

10. Swim and play in the pool.

11. Jump on the trampoline.

12. Ride a wild dragon.

13. Play hopscotch with their friends.

Doesn't she do such a good job! So fun!

Some details:

Rapunzel jumping on the trampoline.

Snow White is hungry!

The topstitch around the edge.

  The Backing.

I will be linking up with some of these parties!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Have a great day!

Cabbage Hash with Turkey Sausage- From Zoe's Kitchen

This is a recipe that I have been making for a long time. When I was in high school my mother got this recipe book called the New Dieter's Cook Book. Looking on Amazon, apparently there are many editions of this book- I think this one might be the right one!

Anyway, over the years I have altered the recipe- but it is very delicious and easy to make.

Cabbage Hash with Turkey Sausage

16 oz. Turkey Sausage- sliced and quartered

1/2 head cabbage- shredded

15 baby carrots- sliced

4 medium potatoes- cubed

1 onion- diced

2 Tbsp olive oil

1/4-1/2 cup Worcestershire Sauce

1/2 cup water

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine carrots and onions in large stockpot with olive oil. Saute over medium high heat until tender. Add remaining ingredients and 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce and cover with lid. Once liquids are boiling reduce to a simmer.

Simmer for about 25 minutes, until potatoes are tender. Taste. Add additional worcestershire, salt and pepper to taste.

I will be linking up with some of these parties!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope your week is wonderful!