Party Bottle Labels "Valentines"

I love party bottles and I think they add just the right spark and color to any party or celebration.

If you want to spend a little bit more time, add a little glitter to the labels for that extra glitz.  

Print this downloadable party bottle label packet and get started on your Valentine celebration.  

Enjoy!

Homemade Party Favors "Valentine Cookie Container"

This homemade party favor container makes a very "SWEET" center piece.  Make Valentine cookies on a stick or attach pieces of candy to heart cut-outs (heart cut-outs are included in this packet).  I put this decoration out on my table and the cookies and treats do not last long.  I have included a sugar cookie recipe below that I absolutely love.  You can download the patterns and instructions for this homemade party favor Valentine's container
HERE at Parties and Patterns.

Enjoy!

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

4 - 4 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

2/3 cup shortening

2/3 cup butter

1-1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

In a small bowl, whisk together: flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together shortening, butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until fluffy. Add flour mixture and mix just until blended. Add it a little at a time and don't let the dough get too dry and stiff. The dough will be soft.  If the dough is too soft place in refrigerator for a couple of hours before rolling out.  Very gently roll your dough out to 1/2" thickness and cut into heart shapes.  I like to use a pastry cloth when rolling out my dough.   Place cut-out cookies  on a cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Do not overbake. (I always prefer to underbake my cookies and then let them cool...it makes them so soft and yummy.  Immediately when the cookies come out of the oven stick a skewer stick up though the center of the cookie up to the top of the cookie.  Let the cookies completely cool.  Frost and decorate.

Icing

4 cups powdered sugar
4-6 tbsps milk or water
food coloring

In a mixing bowl combine powdered sugar and enough milk or water to make a frosting consistency.  You don't want the frosting to be too thin or it will run all over your cookie.  Divide the icing into separate bowls and add food coloring.  Frost your cookies, add decorations and let the icing set.

Printable Games "Don't Kiss The Frog"

This printable game is a must for your kids and a great game to play at a birthday party.  When my kids were growing up they would play "Don't Eat Pete" for hours.  "Don't Kiss The Frog" is a take off of "Don't Eat Pete".  It is a simple game that requires the game board and candy.  I have put this free printable game on my website to make it easier for you to download the instructions and game board.  This is a fun game to play at a Princess Themed party.  You can download this printable game "Don't Kiss The Frog" HERE at Parties and Patterns!  Download, print and party!  Enjoy!

Printable Games "Bridal Shower Match"

This printable game is a take off of the traditional match game that everyone has played as a kid.  It's a great party starter.  When your guests make a match they receive a treat associated with the match they made.  For example: a guest matches groom so they win a "Big Hunk" candy bar.  We have given suggestions for prizes to go with the game, but you can come up with your own creative ideas.  You can download this printable game HERE at Parties and Patterns.

I put all of my ideas in packets and then on my website to make it easier for you to download all instructions and patterns.  Enjoy!

Printable games "Baby Shower Bingo"

For your next baby shower include this simple printable "Baby Shower Bingo Game."  Everyone loves bingo. It is easy to play and everyone can participate.  This "Baby Bingo Game" packet  can be downloaded  HERE at Parties and Patterns. There are twenty different bingo cards.   I put all of my ideas in a packet and then on my website to make it easier  for you to download all the instructions and patterns. What are you waiting for? 

Download this printable game.

Quillow Pattern "Lady Bug Dots"

For Christmas this year I decided to make everyone in the family a quillow.  Crazy, yes!  They are simple and work up quick, but making 17 of them definitely was very crazy. Of course, I'm the type of person that thinks I can whip up a dozen quilts in a day,  so 17 in a week seemed like a cinch.  I was so wrong, but I did get them done.

One of the quillows I made was an adult sized lady bug for my daughter.  Everyday, my little grand daughter crawls into the folded quillow and takes a little nap.  Cutest thing ever!  Made making the quillows all worth it!

I made all of the quillows out of super soft and cuddley fabric and flannel. 

All the better to snuggle and is perfect for watching TV. 

You can download this quillow pattern "Lady Bug Dots" 

HERE at Parties and Patterns. 

Download, print and snuggle!

Blueberry German Pancakes

From Megan's Kitchen

I apologize for the lighting in my kitchen. On a dark Alaskan day, it's just not going to get much better than this. Especially since I was in a hurry because all my guests had arrived and I was still baking and I wasn't about to tell them to keep their grubby little hands off the food till it could be photographed. Really....who do I think I am? Martha Stewart or something? Definitely not...just a humble house wife. But then again not entirely humble so I guess we are left with just a house wife.

Man that kind of sounds depressing, but to be quite honest it is completely fulfilling.

Spending my days following a very ambitious 9 month old...putting the toys back in their baskets, returning books to book shelves, and clothes back into their drawers, wiping the snot off my sleeve, the mashed banana off my face and sweeping up the cereal I just stepped on...it's just that great. Ok so I'm not making the job sound flattering, but I bet if you tried it you would LOVE it. I just love those little hands playing with my hair and the little arms hugging my legs while I'm cooking.

What does this have to do with blueberry german pancakes? Absolutely nothing, apparently I just felt like going on a tirade. But todays brunch was a meeting of housewives and together we enjoyed these little pancakes. So here's what you'll need:

Ingredients:

six eggs

 l cup flour

1 cup milk

dash of salt

1/2 cup blueberries

1 cube butter

Cut butter into chunks and put some in each of the 12 sections of a cupcake pan. You can also make this in a 13"x9" cake pan. Let the butter melt in the oven while you are preheating the oven to 425 degrees.  Watch carefully because it will burn.  Take out of the oven when melted.  

In a blender place the eggs, flour, milk and salt and blend until well mixed.

Pour the egg mixture in the  cupcake or cake pan with the butter. Sprinkle the blueberries on top.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. 

Raspberry Scones

From Megan's Kitchen

So it turns out that you can use any delicious fruit to make THESE scones from our blog.  I made these for a brunch I hosted this morning and I used raspberry's since Costco fell through in the strawberry department and everybody loved them. (Recipe also found under the following categories:  breakfast, Valentine's Day and bread).

I still used half a cup of berries and I cut my raspberry's in half. But it turns out you don't have to because they completely crumble when you mix them in anyways. Some things that I find work best  - add the berries to the dry mixture BEFORE you add the cream. They don't mix in very easily if you do it after. Also, I always have my butter at room temperature and it works fine. You either pat this into a square and get 16 scones, but I usually pat it into a rectangle and cut 12. Bigger is better, right :). If you want to double the recipe, just make the recipe twice...it doesn't seem to work out very well when you double the ingredients. Enjoy!

Homemade Pop-tarts

From Megan's Kitchen

So to continue on my anti-processed food kick...I made these pop tarts. Now don't get all huffy puffy on me...I never said I was getting rid of junk food. I just feel better about making it with these two little hands. And I will say it was well worth it. My 10-month old refused to eat dinner tonight but once he got his pudgy little hands on one of these he chomped the whole thing down. And I just stood by all shocked and amazed and allowed him to get away with this nonsense of only feasting on treats. When I saw that these pop tarts were pie crust and jam....just like the roly poly's we ate growing up, I was excited to try them. And they were really quick and easy to make. That may be due to the fact that the dough only was enough to make 5 pop tarts. I have never liked working with pie crust and this adventure was no different. I couldn't get it thin enough and it wasn't easy to work with so next time I make these I'm just going to go ahead and use store bought dough...oh wait...is that considered processed? Oh well...here's what you do:

To make pie crust, combine 1-1/2 cups flour and 1/2 tsp salt.

 With a pastry cutter, cut in 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup shortening.

 Then add 3 tablespoons of cold water one at a time unto the dough forms a ball.

 Roll out your dough on a floured surface and then cut out rectangles that are about 3"x4".

 Put 1-1/2 tsp of jam on each rectangle. I used raspberry but I think I will try strawberry next time.

 Place another rectangle on top and pinch around the edges .  Bake in a 450 degree oven for 7-8 minutes or until light brown.

 Remove to a cooling rack and cool.

 Once they are cool thin a cup of powdered sugar with  milk until you get a thick frosting. Spread it over the top of the cooled pop tarts and then decorate with sprinkles.

 They were so yummy but I think I preferred them better after they had been in the fridge for awhile. Store in fridge in an air tight container....if they last long enough to store.

Churros

Christopher's recipe, Megan's kitchen 

 So remember how I said that I probably wouldn't make those granola bars again because they were just so dang yummy....well I made them again...and it hasn't even been a week. And they're gone. At least this time I gave a bunch away...otherwise between the two batches I would have had to fess up to eating 64 granola bars...and that's just sick. I'm not saying that I wouldn't do it...I just don't want you all judging me now. :) Well on to the next best thing....churros. These are special churros...we'll just call them "snake" churros. I have yet to learn the trick to a straight churro, but then again this is the first time I have tried making churros so I was unaware that I would even need a trick. I made these for some company we had for dinner and they were a HUGE hit. So make these...make them right now...and enjoy.

Ingredients:

1 cup water
2 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 quarts oil for frying
3-4 eggs

1/2 cup white sugar, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water, 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, salt and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in flour until mixture forms a ball. Then stir in eggs one at a time. 4 eggs makes a little lighter churro while three makes a it a little denser.

This is with 3 eggs:

 This is with 4:

 Heat oil for frying in deep-fryer or deep skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Pipe strips of dough into hot oil using a pastry bag and a star tip. 

 Like I said....I made snakes...

 Fry until golden; drain on paper towels. 

Combine cinnamon and sugar in a baking dish and roll churro in mixture. My snakes didn't roll very nicely so I had to spoon the cinnamon sugar over them and then shake them off.

We served ours with homemade vanilla ice cream and strawberries and chocolate sauce. It was amazing.

Parties and Patterns is Featured at Thimbles and Threads

Parties and Patterns is Featured at Thimbles and Threads

 Hi Parties and Patterns Friends!

I am excited to let you know that Thimbles and Threads Quilt shop is featuring my quilts! Below is the information. If you would like to see my quilts, card table play houses and assortment of other items head on out there. Have a great day!

12215 South 900 East, Draper UT 84020

(801) 576-0390

Monday/Tuesday/Thursday   10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Wednesday   10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Friday/Saturday   10 a.m. -5 p.m.

OPEN HOUSE

Thursday, January 12th through Saturday January 14th

Homemade Granola Bars

From Megan's Kitchen

I've decided lately that I want to be more healthy...a common threat among dieters, but this commitment has made it to the next level with me. It now involves slowly extinguishing processed food from my kitchen. This is partly because I've watched way too many food documentaries, but mainly because the idea of making all the yummy processed food I love in my own kitchen absolutely thrills me. Turns out it's actually not so healthy to make a pan of ooey gooey delectable granola bars and then proceed to polish them all off in two days. I'm not going to lie....I feel slightly sick and may never make this recipe again because it isn't good for the calorie count, but it is an amazing recipe. So I will share it with you....oh, and in the ingredient list, sometimes I give you two choices. This first ingredient of every option is the one that I used.

Ingredients
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup agave or honey
1/2 cup melted coconut oil or butter
2/3 cup peanut butter
2 tsp vanilla

3 cups oats
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1/3 cup flax seed or wheat germ
1/2 cup coconut
2 tsp sesame seeds

In a bowl combine oats, sunflower seeds, chocolate chips, flax seed, coconut and sesame seeds. Set aside.

 In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar, agave, coconut oil, peanut butter and vanilla.

 Mix well.

 Add the dry ingredients and mix well again.

 Heat the oven to 350 degrees and then press the mixture into a greased cookie sheet.

 Bake for 20 minutes.

 Let cool COMPLETELY and then cut into bars.

 I got all gung ho about it and decided I would even wrap my granola bars individually in wax paper. And  these were the only two the actually ended up getting wrapped...I completely misjudged how time consuming THAT venture would be. :)

Macaroon Wreath Cake "Kransekake"

Years ago our little family of six (little because we had four children under the age of five)  lived in Norway.  We fell in love with this Macaroon Wreath Cake.  The Norwegians call it "Kransekake".  My husband established a tradition of making this cake every Christmas, but you can make it for any celebration or any time of year.  It is often decorated with little toys, flags or fun decorations.  The cake pictured was made for my daughters birthday who happens to share her birthday with New Year's Eve.  Our family loves this cake.  It is made out of almond flour and should be moist and chewy.

Putting the Wreath Cake Together:

1 lb almonds (Or already ground almonds.  You can find the ground almonds in the flour isle in most
               grocery stores.  We recommend buying the flour!)
1 lb  powdered sugar
3 tbsp. flour
3 egg whites

If you don't buy the almonds already ground then grind them in a nut grinder until very fine.  Mix them with the powdered sugar and flour, add the half-beaten egg whites.  Knead dough well, using a mixer if desired.  The dough should be firm but soft and easy to handle.

Grease ring molds thoroughly and dust with farina or cream of wheat cereal.  This is a very important step.  The dough will stick if you don't do this step well.   Roll dough into ropes and place them in the molds and smooth ends so there is no seam.  If you don't have the ring molds then make ropes of dough in graduating sizes and place on a greased, dusted with farina cookie sheet.

Bake in the middle of the oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutes or until golden brown.  Place in a cool place to cool quickly.

This cake keeps well, but never lasts more then a couple of hours at our house.

You may decorate the cake by drizzling icing over the top, adding flags, candies or small toys.

To serve the cake lift the top part of the tower carefully  and remove the bottom ring, keeping the shape of the wreath cake.   (This also never happens at our house).  Everyone just wants to dig in and start tearing the cake apart.  Enjoy!

Checkerboard Cookies

From Megan's Kitchen

Checkerboard cookies make a fun everyday treat,

A yummy one that's simply hard to beat.

They're easy and quick you can make them fast,

Or have your kids do it, they'll have a blast.

Drop Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

3-1/2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

2/3 cup shortening

2/3 cup butter

1-1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

In a small bowl, whisk together: flour, baking powder and salt. I a separate bowl, cream together shortening, butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until fluffy. Add flour mixture and mix just until blended. Add it a little at a time and don't let the dough get too dry and stiff.  Roll the dough into balls and then roll them in sugar. Place them on a cookie sheet and smash them down to about 3/4 inch with your hand. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Do not overbake. (I always prefer to underbake my cookies and then let the cool...it makes them so soft and yummy.

Frosting

Ingredients

3 cups powdered sugar

1 cup butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1-2 tsp. whipping cream (you can use milk instead)

In a standing mixer whisk together sugar and butter. Mix on low until well blended and then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes. Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.