The Church Pew

The church pew.

The place of  Biblical meditation, of joyous praise, of quiet reflection... unless of course you have a toddler... or two.  Then the pew becomes the magnifying glass, revealing all our parental blind spots, our short- comings, in a most unpleasant and public way.  Somehow the pew itself seems to suck every last drop of confidence out of our bodies leaving us helpless and at the mercy of our naughty children.  I mean, do you really want the WHOLE church watching you discipline your little stinker who has decided that the moment the congregation is silent for personal confession would be the perfect time to yell  "NO MOMMY!"... not that that's ever happened to me or anything...

Seriously though, it can be a very disturbing place for young mothers.  I have spoken to many moms who, through tears, confess that they often wish they could just stay home. And many have decided to do just that, because of the embarrassment they have felt after a particularly challenging Sunday.  Truly, my heart goes out to you.  Other parents opt for the nursery/children's church answer.  I hold a strong opinion that children should be in worship with their parents.. but that might be a rant for another day.

Let me say some encouraging things if you find yourself dreading the church pew.  First, you're not alone.  We've all made the long walk of shame out of the sanctuary.  Know that 90% of the congregation is sympathizing with you not judging you.  And the remaining 10% that might be annoyed or judgmental aren't about to offer you any assistance anyway, so just shut them out of your head.

Now, how to get those sweet little darlings to do what they ought.

Again I say this, the church pew is a magnifier.  It amplifies our less than perfectness... So use that.  Don't shy away from the revealing truth.  Surprise! You aren't perfect.  In fact... I bet you even SIN!  Repent. Ask for your faith to be strengthened and let's get to work.  Be courageous, parenting isn't for cowards.

How your children behave in the pew often reveals the very problems we parents should be working on.  So, identify the root of the issue.  What hasn't been taught?  Don't be fooled into thinking that your children should just know how to behave in church... or anywhere for that matter.  The goal is to work on certain skills BEFORE you sit in the pew, so that the instruction has already taken place and the correction has something to "hang on" and "stick to".  Make your expectations clear to your children even before you reach the pew.

Some ugly things the pew reveals:


Disobedience:
Do your children obey you even when their desire is for something other than your wishes?  It's no great accomplishment to have children obey your command when it goes along with their desires.  But what happens when you say "sit down" when what they really want is to stand on the pew... or even jump?  If your child isn't obedient, I guarantee you, it will show up in the pew.  Teach your children to do what you say, when you say, how you say.  This is obedience.  Teach them to respond to short commands or corrections.  "Momma says no." It should be clear what the consequences are should the child ignore your correction. The type of reaction you get after correction will tell you if more work is needed.  I often tell my teens, that I can see how they are maturing by how they respond when given a "No" answer.  Pouting, whining, tantrums, these are all sure signs that mature obedience is not happening.  Know the difference between defiance and childishness.  Sometimes it takes a tuned in parent to really see when a behavior is defiant.  My niece is a doll, but she has a defiant streak in her that my sister is quick to recognize.  Sometimes I don't even know what's happened, until I see my sister swoop her up and remove her from the room for an attitude adjustment.  She knows her daughter.  She sees the signs of disobedience at its very root.  She acts swiftly and confidently to eradicate the behavior.  Then there are those moments when a child is curious, trying to figure out how something works.  There are times of forgetfulness, distraction, and confusion.  These are not signs of disobedience.  This is childishness.  It needs direction, not so much correction. Learn to spot the difference in your child.


Ignorance:
Does your child know how to be bored?  Seriously.  This needs to be taught.  To be practiced.  Do you tend to hand them a game boy or ipod to play with when you grocery shop, or visit the doctor's office?  Try something else next time.  Teach them how to observe their surroundings.  Talk to them before you get to church about all the different things they will see.  If they are older, spend time at the dinner table talking about what happens in church. "Why does pastor wear those special clothes in church?"  "Do you remember how many stained glass windows there are in the sanctuary?  You could count them on Sunday for me."  Make them aware of what is around them.  Church is not boring.  People are boring.  Don't allow your children to be boring people.  Teach them to notice things.  As they mature, keep revealing to them the reasons we do what we do in church.  "The Lord's Prayer is in the Bible.  Jesus taught us to pray it."  "See how everyone bows when they kneel at the altar?  That is because they are showing respect to God. It is good to show respect."  The "kicker" with this is, that in order for you to accurately teach your children, you yourself must be aware of what is happening in church.  If you're not educated about your faith, this should cause you to run to the nearest Sunday school class or week day Bible study.  Do not expect to raise faithful children when you don't know the faith yourself.

Dangers:
Do your children come when you call them?  So you have more than one child in the pew, and little Johnny decides to take advantage of the fact that you are outnumbered (especially those of us who have spouses in ministry or attend church without a spouse) and takes a stroll up the center aisle while you're frantically whispering in a raspy, not-so-whispery voice, "Johnny, GET. BACK. HERE."  ... Yeah.  Teach your child to come when you call them.  Seems silly, I know, but every three year old should come immediately when called.  This is for their own safety.  Practice this at home. When they come to you, praise them liberally and tell them that obedience keeps them safe.  A disobedient child is an unsafe child. Have you ever seen those dog owners whose canines just walk willingly along at their side?  Now, have you ever seen those dog owners who are pulled, jerked, and yanked down the street by an animal who decides he's in charge? So what happens to those two dogs when the leashes break?  The first dog hears and obeys the voice of his owner commanding him to sit.  The second dog charges across the street, ignoring his owners cries for obedience, darts into oncoming traffic and gets hit by a car.  I hope you get my point.  Though it might not be a car... there many more equally dangerous things in this life that can steal our children from us.  The greatest ones are the voices of others.  When we neglect to teach our young children to come to the sound of our voice, we have little hope of them coming to us as teenagers or young adults.  Beyond this, teach your children to look for your guidance.  "Momma knows" is a phrase I use a lot.  If you train your children that you are their safety, you are their shelter, you are their wisdom... they will begin to come to you of their own free will, seeking your direction.  It is a beautiful thing.  This training prepares them to trust in their Heavenly Father and know His voice.  For truly, what we have done as parents is speak His Words from our own mouths.

Lack of Empathy:
Do you have varied aged children?  Teach the olders to care for the youngers.  This should be a blessing to you.  Siblings are connected in a way that no other people are.  Teach your children to cherish, care for, and serve their siblings.  Praise liberally for random acts of kindness.  Be watchful for helpfulness and use specific language.  "Cindy, you are momma's helper.  You were kind to Bobby when you picked up his blanket for him. He is so blessed to have you for a big sister."   Do this outside of the pew, and I guarantee you will have willing assistants when the time comes.  An extra pair of hands in the pew is blessing to a momma.  Empathy is something that is lacking with today's children.  Being aware of another's need and then doing something to help fill that need is a character trait we want to cultivate in our children.  Make your older children aware of the needs of others.  They might not recognize them on their own yet, so help them think through empathy. Sometimes suggesting an action is better than giving a direct command.  "Oh, I forgot the diaper bag in the other room.  Hmmm, how can I get it over here where I'll need it."... "Oh, Momma, I'll go get it for you!"  "Oh thank you, that would be so helpful.  What a helpful boy you are."  An empathetic child produces mature children.  Just because our children inevitably get older, doesn't necessarily mean they become mature.  It is our responsibility to mature them.


Selfcenteredness:
Can your children focus on something that isn't about them?  Or do they act out when they aren't the center of attention? Sit closer.  Yes, that's what I said.  Sit closer.  "But then everyone will SEE us."  Yes.  But your children won't see everyone.  This is the point.  The farther back families sit, the more distracted the children will be.  I've seen it over and over and over again.  If you want your children to focus, put them up where the action is.  Give them something to watch, to participate in.  Plus the fewer number of people they can see in front of them, the fewer distractions for them.  I will tell you that the first Sundays will be difficult, but stick with it and you will be amazed by how well they will do.  When they see the action in front of them, it will show them that they aren't the reason all these people came to church.  While the world says we need to hype them up on self esteem, I am saying we need to humble them with the realization of their own insignificance.  There is a reason we are in church, and the reason isn't me.  The reason, the focus, is Christ and His Word.  Teach them about God's design and His order to creation. Teach your children their proper place in the home. If everything in the home is made to accommodate your child, this will become an expectation of theirs in other places.  If the only restaurants you take your children to, cater to their noisiness, their tastes, and their comforts, you are reinforcing a sense of entitlement and self-centeredness.  Of course our children hold a high priority in our lives. We would do nothing short of sacrifice ourselves for them. We want them to know they are loved.  But this love, this commitment to them, should not be confused with worship.  We don't worship our children.  That distorts God's good order.  That puts our children in an inappropriate place.  The church pew reveals this sin when our children expect to be the one worshiped,  focused on, and attended to instead of seeing that we come to the pew to worship God.

Disrespect:
How do you allow your children to treat the church and specifically the things in the pew?  Yes, there are sometimes envelopes and pencils available to members... are you allowing your children to use them for their own purposes?  Wasting them? What about the hymnals?  Are you teaching your child how to use one?  How to turn the pages appropriately?  Borrow one from church and teach them at home the different parts of the hymnal and how to be gentle with the pages.  When your children make a mess in the pew with their goldfish crackers, do you let them see you clean up after them or do you just leave that for someone else?  Teach them about appropriateness.  Why we don't run in church.  Why we don't jump on the pews.  Why we walk slowly around the elderly and disabled.  Why we don't talk loudly during the service.  Show them the proper way to respect the altar.  Teach them that some parts of the church are off limits.   If you're teaching these things at home, they will be easier to reinforce in church.  There should be places in your home that are off limits.  If for no other reason than to teach respect of boundaries.  Have items in your house that your children know are special; a knick-knack maybe.  Talk to them about its significance and why it is important.  I don't mean to foster idolatry here.  Obviously, respect and worship are related, but we can teach our children that there are important things in our home that need special attention or care without crossing the line into idolatry.  That way when we get to church and see the beautiful statue of Jesus, our children aren't tempted to give him a "high five" on the way out of church.  They will be familiar with respect because they were taught it at home.

Lack of planning:
Set your children up for success.  Don't dash into church 5 minutes late and try to jockey up to the second pew.  You'll be setting yourself up for failure.  Plan to succeed.  Get to church early enough to settle all your wee ones in properly.  I know this is easier said than done.  But if you can get there at 10... you can get there at 9:30, you just have to make it a priority.  Start the night before.  Think through the morning and be prepared.  If you have more than a few children, talk to someone about being your pew buddy.  Your mother's helper.  Teenage girls are great for this so long as you find one that will do what you ask.  Older ladies are great too, but they tend to have their own opinions about how to raise children, and if you aren't on the same page, it might be more trouble than help.  Choose wisely.  With the exception of potty training children, most kids should be expected to last through the entire service without a potty break.  Ban drinks before service, and make sure children have used the facilities before sitting down. If you, a mother who has had her bladder sat on for nine months, can make it through a service without a potty break, then your children can too.  Make pre-service potty time a part of your planning. (alliteration unintentional) ;)  Make note of other areas that you might do better at planning ahead.  Do you find yourself late for many functions? Unprepared for the situation?  Spend time thinking through your day before you start.  I remember when my kids were little and I physically walked myself through the day's events.  I must have looked like a madwoman, murmuring to myself and pretending to do tasks.  I was trying to think of all the scenarios I would encounter and what I might need in order to come out alive at the end of the day.  Extra clothes, diapers, lunch sacks if we couldn't get home in time from errands, etc.  You can't always be perfectly prepared.  Sometimes we were late to a function because of my poor time management skills.  So confess.  Say to the person who waited for you, "I'm so sorry that my lack of planning caused you to have to wait.  Please forgive me."  Don't make a bunch of excuses about traffic, or naughty kids... just confess.  Just repent.  Then plan better next time.


Inconsistency:
When we say one thing and do another, we teach our children not to trust our words.  We teach them that we don't really mean what we say.  But this can go even deeper when we aren't faithful in our attendance at church.  If you really want your children to know how to behave in the pew... be there... consistently.  The "Once-in-a-while-when-the-guilt-strikes" way of church attendance isn't the best method for rearing faithful children.  Mean what you say.  If you tell your children that going to church is important, then you MUST follow through and make it a priority.  No one is better at spotting a fake than a child.  They will expose it. You've seen this:  the child who waits until they are in a public place to act up and put their parent on the spot. He knows that his parent behaves differently in public than at home.  Check yourself to see if this is you.  Either your methods at home are something you're ashamed of, or you're afraid to do what you know is necessary in public for fear of judgment.  But the truth is, you'll be judged no matter what.  People have opinions, that's never going to change.  So know what you expect from your child and expect it, consistently.  And when you fail at being consistent...because you will.  Repent and know you are forgiven.  Don't let this be confined to the pew.  Bring church home with you.  Church attendance is great, but bringing God's Word into your home is awesome!  Be the family that prays before meals, prays after meals, discusses sermons at dinner, reads Scripture together, learns the faith together.  The more "church pew" you bring into your home, the more comfortable and familiar the pew at church will be for your children.  In the end, this is the key.


I hope this gives some helpful ideas and serves to encourage moms (and dads) who struggle in the pew.  I say this often in my Mothers Classes:  Put in the hard work now, and you will reap wonderful benefits later.

God be with you,
Sallie

Tulip Hat and Cocoon

 THANK YOU!!  To everyone who has asked questions or made comments about this little cocoon creation of mine.  I get such a kick out of talking to people who are using my pattern.  :)  I first published this little baby sac nearly 3 years ago and I never get tired of seeing it pinned all over pinterest.  

If you would like to order a custom made cocoon or tulip hat from me ($30 plus $4 shipping), please visit my facebook page at: Loops A Daisies.  I sell the cocoon and many more items at very reasonable prices. Message me with your order.  I use paypal. :)  Thanks for all the Pinterest activity!!

I use Simply Soft Caron Yarn.  These are Newborn sizes.  I just "tested" them out on a friends 8lb one month old and there is plenty of room for wiggling and growing.  :)

If you are a crocheter, here is the pattern for the TULIP HAT.  I did not come up with this, but the person who created it, Suzette Williams, was very gracious to make it a free pattern with no restrictions.  I felt the least I could do was to post her pattern credited to her. The curly-cue stem is not part of her pattern, but can be made very easily.  After closing the top according to the pattern, use the G hook and chain 15-17. Work three hdc in each chain.  Fasten off, leaving a long enough tail to pull through the inside of the hat, tie off and weave ends in.

Here is the pattern I came up with for the cocoon.  I am not asking any money for it, but would very much appreciate the credit if anyone chooses to sell their item or repost the pattern somewhere else.  Thank you.


Sallie's Tulip Cocoon:
Use an H hook.

Start with 6 hdc in a magic loop.

Do not chain up and do not connect with a slip stitch.

This pattern is done in rounds.

Use a Marker to know when one round has been completed. I insert the marker into the first stitch of each new round right after I have crocheted it. This shows where the first stitch of the next round will go.

Rnd 2: 2 hdc in each stitch (12)

Rnd 3: *2 hdc , hdc* repeat around (18)

Rnd 4: *2 hdc, hdc, hdc,* (24)

Rnd 5: *2hdc, hdc in next 3 sts* (30)

Rnd 6: *2hdc, hdc in next 4 sts* (36)

Rnd 7:  *2hdc, hdc in next 5 sts* (42)

Rnd 8: hdc in each stitch around (42)

Rnd 9: *2hdc, hdc in next 6 sts*  (48)
Rnd 10-13:   hdc in each stitch around (48)
Rnd 14: *2hdc, hdc in next 7 sts* (54)
Rnd 15-18:  hdc in each stitch around (54)

Rnd 19: *2hdc, hdc in next 8 sts* (60)

Rnd 20-23: hdc in each stitch around (60)

Rnd 24 *2hdc, hdc in next 9 sts* (66)

Rnd 25-33: hdc in each stitch
(If you desire a longer cocoon, add rows of hdc here.)

Rnd 34: dc in each stitch around

Rnd 35 *fpdc, bpdc* around    

Rnd 36 and 37: repeat round 35

Rnd 38-41: Crocodile stitch - The crocodile stitch is comprised of two rounds of stitching. The first round will serve as the foundation for the actual crocodile stitch. Here is a blog with videos to teach the CROCODILE STITCH

Rnd: 38: ch 2, dc in same stitch as ch 2, ch2, skip two stitches, *2dc in next stitch, ch2, skip 2 stitches* repeat the part that is in asterisks all the way around. Slip stitch to the top of the first ch 2.

Rnd: 39: Working on the initial ch 2 from Rnd 38, work 5 dc AROUND THE POST of the ch2. You will work from top to bottom. The fifth dc will be at the base of the post. Turn your work so that you can now work around the post of the next dc. Work 5 dc AROUND THE POST of the dc. You will work from bottom to top. This is the crocodile stitch. Skip the next set of double crochets and work the crocodile stitch (5dc down, 5dc up) in the next set of double crochets from the previous round. Continue working crocodile stitch in EVERY OTHER set of double crochets. Slip stitch into the first dc worked around the ch 2 of the previous round.

Rnd 40: You will be doing the same stitches as round 38, but you will do them in between the "V"s made by the dc in round 38 and between the crocodile stitch made in round 39.

Rnd: 41: repeat round 39 working in dc that are offset from the previous round.

Rnd: 42 sc around

Fasten off.

If you would like, you can thread a 3/8" width ribbon through the dc ribbing for added interest.

If you find anything amiss or incorrect, please let me know.  Thank you!

*** Special thanks to Paula at FurBabiesMomma for helping me to make this pattern easier to read.  I love learning knew things and appreciate others who are willing to teach.  :)

You can find me on Ravelry.com at: Loopsadaisies

Added: 12/31/15
This cocoon was stitched exactly like the pattern with the exception of a color change when doing the dc's.










Added 1/15:  this is the sock monkey version of this cocoon. I used caron in Heather grey, Autumn Red, and white. I added extra hdc rounds and omitted the crocodile stitch. The hat was from a pattern by Lagatha Been on ravelry.com

Olivia's Hello Kitty Hat and Scarf

 Miss O is my niece and also my Goddaughter.  This little hat was conjured up with her sweet face in my mind.

I'm kicking myself for not writing the pattern down.  Yes, you heard it.  I didn't write the pattern down, I just "winged-it"...

***UPDATE****
Apparently I DID write this pattern down! What a ninny. :)  I wrote it on my ravelry project page.  Whoohoo.  Here it is:


"I" Hook
Cotton Bernat yarn for hat
Caron simply soft for bow

Magic circle 8hdc then increase* by 8 each round (no chain one, no sl st, just use a marker to know when a new round is being made)
*Increase
After initial 8 hdc in magic circle follow the pattern as follows:
Rnd 1:[ 2 hdc in first stitch, hdc in next] Repeat around. (16 hdc)
Rnd 2: [2hdc, hdc, hdc] Repeat (24 hdc)
Rnd 3: [2hdc, hdc, hdc, hdc] Repeat (32 hdc)
Etc...
Increase to 63 stitches , then decrease* by 8hdc.

*Decrease Round:
 Rnd 9: [hdc, hdc, hdc, hdc, hdc, hdc, hdc2tog] Repeat around (56hdc)

Rnd 10: One row of 1hdc in each stitch. (56 hdc)

Rnd 11: Repeat Rnd 9 (decrease round) 48 hdc

 Repeat Rnd 10 until the size you want.  

I then did three rows of sc with the rose colored yarn.  


EARS
Lay hat flat. 
Right ear: (stitches are worked around the post of hdc’s) 

• Refer to my less than stellar artwork for more clarification. ;)

Working on the right edge of the hat:
First:  join yarn to the post of hdc  (on picture this is labeled as "1"), ch 1
Second: work 10 dc (double crochets) around the post of hdc of the st directly above that same st that you joined. (Labeled "2")

Third:  sl st around post of st directly above that st for step 2, ch 1 turn. (Labeled "3")

Now work this row across the 10 dc:  sc, sc, sc, dc, dc, dc, dc, sc, sc, sc. 

 Join with sl st to 1st ch 1. FO. Pull ends through to the inside of the hat. Tie off and weave in all ends.

Left ear: (Refer to drawing)
The left ear is worked the same as the right ear WITH THE EXCEPTION that you work in the opposite direction.  Take note of this on the drawing.

I made the bow by stitching a rectangle using hdc.  I sl st around it; Then using a needle, I weaved the yarn down the middle and cinched it.  I wrapped yarn around the middle then attached it to the hat near one of the ears. 

Giving a little smolder for the camera.

There's my sweet girl

The ever popular "duckface"

I believe I used an H hook** I used an I hook**and did hdc in a round, using a stitch marker so there wouldn't be any seam.  I know I decreased a row or two toward the end to give more of a rounded look.  The band at the end is single crochets with a slip stitched border.   Hopefully that makes sense to anyone who wants to know.

The scarf is made with hdc and tassels in red and pink.  Very basic.

I can almost feel Olivia's sweet snuggle and hear her praise, "Oh Auntie, I'm so proud of you."
She's so stinkin' cute. :)

Mexican? Goulash?

My "go to" Meal

Everyone has to have a "go to" meal.  It is the meal for which you know you always have the ingredients in the cupboard and can whip up anytime.  My go to meal is Mexican goulash.

Just how it became Mexican goulash is slightly confusing.  It's based on a dish my Nana used to make at every family gathering.  She called it Tamale pie... only as far as I ever remember, it was never a pie... Somewhere along the line, we weren't able to get the same brand of canned tamales that my Nana used, so my mom kind of switched up the recipe and started calling it Mexican goulash.   I'm not even sure what the technical definition of a "goulash" is, and I'm sure my friends in Mexico would deny that it's truly "Mexican".  Alas, this dish by any other name is still tasty :)

Forgot to put the can of tomatoes in the picture!!

Dump the following ingredients into a crockpot or 2qt. casserole dish:

3 cans of beans
             (kidney, pinto, black)
1 can corn
1 can diced tomatoes (chunky salsa also works in a pinch)
1 can small whole olives





Now here's where you make it your own.
I like to add some kind of meat, but I have family members who prefer it vegetarian, so sometimes we leave the meat out.
 I have added:

• canned tamales-cut up
• browned hamburger 
• browned ground chicken 
• browned ground turkey
• canned shredded chicken 
• cooked chicken breasts-cut up 
• leftover taco meat...

I would have to say my favorite is ground turkey.

I make my own taco seasoning.

 Add the seasoning to whatever meat you choose...or if going veggie, add the seasoning directly into the crockpot or dish.


1 pkt taco seasoning 
              I make my own, but I've never written down a recipe. Here are my ingredients:
             (minced onion, chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and salt)
1 package shredded cheddar cheese

My homemade taco seasoning
in an old parmesan
cheese container.

If you're preparing this in the crockpot, don't add the cheese until ready to serve. Set crockpot to low for all day, or to high for a few hours.

If using the oven and a casserole dish then mix in the cheddar cheese and leave a little to sprinkle on the top. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.

Condiments for Mexican Goulash

• sour cream
• hot sauce
• jalapenos

We also like to have some sort of bread with our Mexican Goulash... here are our choices:

• cornbread
• tortillas
• Fritos
• Tortilla chips

Mexican Goulash.
Enjoy.

PF Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps

My version of PF Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps


I had never been to a PF Chang's restaurant until this past summer on our trip out to Colorado.  I have no idea if a PF Chang even exists in Iowa...Someone should get on that.

Anyway, my mother in law ordered the chicken lettuce wraps and let me have a taste.  She's real sweet like that. :)  I loved it.  I don't even remember what I ordered.  Seriously, I couldn't tell you.  But I do remember those lettuce wraps.  So I googled copycat recipes and I found this one HERE.  As with any recipe, I'm never content to just do as I'm told, so I have tweaked this one into my own version, but many of the ingredients are still the same.

Go ahead and start your rice first... I absolutely love Basamati rice.  It is the only rice I ever use.  So. yummy.

Start off with about a pound of chopped chicken.  You can do this a couple of different ways.  I prefer to just buy ground chicken.  No fuss, no messy chopping... it's great.  I have also done it with partially thawed chicken breasts.  I say "partially thawed" because this makes for the easiest way to chop the chicken into pretty little cubes.

Cook the minced chicken over medium heat in a large skillet.  Mince half of a small onion.  The recipe calls for much more, but I have found it to be too much for my family.

chopped chicken breasts and half of a small onion, minced.

A plethora of ingredients including finely
chopped water chestnuts 

 The most difficult part of this recipe is just the uniqueness of the ingredients.  I mean... what the heck is Hoisin sauce?  I've never had that in my pantry, but now, it's a staple.  It's like China in a bottle.  Tasty.

Add to the skillet:
2 TBS minced garlic (I buy the squeezable kind)
1 TBS soy sauce
1/4 c. hoisin sauce
2 tsp. minced ginger (again, squeezable rocks)
1 TBS Rice wine vinegar
(you can also use red wine vinegar)



When the rice is just about finished and needing to be drained... add the last two ingredients to the chicken:

1 can water chestnuts finely chopped 
2 tsp. sesame seed oil

 Now, many recipes will call for Bib lettuce, and if we had a grocery store that actually carried it, I might use it.  But I have found that Romaine lettuce leaves do nicely.  Cut off the core and the worn tips, separate the leaves and give them a good hosing down.  The smaller leaves in the center, I find, to be the best ones.

Chicken, Basamati Rice, and Romaine Lettuce leaves.

So that's it.  Fresh and tasty. Enjoy.

Seth's Hat

A very quick little crochet project 

that I think most beginners will have no trouble with.

Oh my.  Isn't he a cutie?
This is Seth.  Seth is almost 2 and he has been coming to my house to play and nap a few days a week for the last year and a half.  He calls me Lah-lah, and I adore him.

So this little hat was made for Seth.  I think he wears it well, don't you?

Some beanie basics: 

Look closely to see the seam.

Beanie hats are crocheted in rounds as opposed to being crocheted in rows like you would for a blanket.  The hat is made from the crown down, working in a spiral-like fashion.  It starts as a circle with stitches made into the circle and with each round the stitch count is increased.  For example, if I were to do 8 stitches in my circle, then in general, I would increase each round by 8 stitches.  If I started with 6 stitches in my circle, I'd increase each round by 6... get the idea?  The number of increase rounds you'll do for your beanie will depend on how large or small you want the hat.  To get the size hat you want... whether for infant, teen, or adult, depends not just on the number of increase rounds or initial stitches, but it also depends on the size hook you use and the weight of your chosen yarn.  It may take a few tries, and a few frogs, before you get comfortable with sizing a beanie.  Worst thing that can happen is you'll know how to make a size for someone else ;)

Another thing to keep in mind is whether you want to begin each round with a chain up (1 chain for single crochet, 2 chains for half double crochet or double crochet, 3 chains for double crochet...etc.) and then end with a slip stitch into the initial chain to finish the round... OR forgo the chaining up and just use a stitch marker to remind you where each completed row ends and just crochet in rounds.  The benefit of this second method is that there will be no annoying little seam that wanders through your work.  I used the first method and if you look closely on the picture down at the bottom left of the hat, you will see a slight seam.  I made a second hat (for my husband) which I used the second method and there was no seam.

Okay, so for Seth's hat I used a "G" hook  (4.25mm) and Caron Simply Soft yarn in Gray. **

** I love Simply Soft for hats... because, well, it's soft.  It takes some practice using this yarn though, if I'm being honest.  It has a tendency to split and can be frustrating for the beginner.  Red Heart yarn isn't quite as nice, in fact I find it a bit scratchy, but it is VERY easy for beginners to work with.  Plus it is about the cheapest yarn out there and you can get it conveniently at Walmart.  Caron Simply Soft is also stocked at Walmart. Also, the beginner will want to use a light colored yarn for the first attempt. Using dark yarn makes it difficult to see the stitches.

Abbreviations:

ML           Magic Loop

Rnd           Round

dc             Double Crochet

ss              Slip Stitch

st              Stitch

ch             Chain

fpdc          Front Post Double Crochet

bpdc         Back Post Double Crochet

To start my circle, I use a Magic Loop.  This is a technique that I am so glad I learned, even though it was quite awkward at the beginning.  There are other methods, but I think the ML is worth learning.  Here is a tutorial for learning it.  Magic Loop Tutorial

Rnd 1: 10 dc into ML

Rnd 2:  ch 2, dc into next st, 2dc into each st around, ss into top of ch2 (20dc)

Rnd 3:  Repeat round 2
Rnd 4:  ch 2 (will counts as the final stitch in the round), dc in next st, 2dc, [dc, 2dc]* Repeat around, ending with a final dc next to ch2 counting as the final 2dc in the pattern.
Rnd 5:  ch 2 (final stitch), dc, dc, 2dc, [dc, dc, 2dc]* repeat around, ending with final dc next to ch2 as the final 2dc in the pattern.

The alternating fpdc/bpdc makes a
"ribbed" effect that I really liked.

This would be the end of the increasing rounds if you were making the size hat that Seth is wearing for a toddler.  If a larger hat is desired, continue adding increasing rounds.  For ex. [dc, dc, dc, 2dc] then [dc, dc, dc, dc, 2dc] and so on until you reach the right size.  For adults (we have large heads in my family) I will usually go up to 6 or 7 dc's then the 2dc.  Don't worry if it's too big, slouchy is "in" ;)

Pattern Continued:

Rnd 6-13:  dc in each stitch, ss to top of ch2.
Rnd 14:  ch 2,[ fpdc, bpdc] around, ss into top of ch 2.
 Here is a tutorial on how to do the front post double crochet and the back post double crochet.    
Rnd 15-17: repeat Rnd 14, fasten off and weave in ends.



Okay, here's my disclaimer.  I am not a great pattern writer.  I'm sure there are mistakes and unclear parts to this pattern.  If you have any questions or would like to have something made clearer, I beg you to ask.  I am not sensitive about having my mistakes pointed out. :) Thanks.  If anyone actually makes this beanie.. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see your finished work. Send me a link or find me on ravelry @ Iowaycrochet.  Thanks!!

The video Tutorials that I have recommended are from Teresa Richardson.  Subscribe to her youtube here:
Crochet Geek

Cast Iron Cookie

Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie.

The original recipe can be found here.  I have doubled it in order to work with my 10in skillet.

It should also work well with a 12 inch skillet.  

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Melt 2 sticks of butter in a 10 inch cast iron skillet over medium heat.

Add 1 cup each of granulated sugar and brown sugar. Add 2 tsp. vanilla.  Mix until smooth.

Take off heat and cool for at least 5 minutes.  

Adding eggs to hot sugars will cause the eggs to begin to cook, and we don't want that!

Add two eggs and whisk until completely combined with the sugar mixture.

In a separate bowl combine 3 c. flour, 1 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp. kosher salt.

CAREFULLY stir flour mixture into egg mixture.  I did this in three small steps.

Stir in 2 cups of your favorite chips.

I did bittersweet chocolate and white chocolate.

Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

Edges should be golden and center should be soft.

Enjoy!