Finished Recent Blankets

I haven't even realized how FAR behind I have been lagging on the blogging! Oops! Oh well, what do you do.

So over the month of January, I received some blanket orders. Almost all of them were rag blankets. I completed 2 peace sign rag throw blankets (didn't get pictures), 1 twin size John Deere Girl rag blanket, 1 twin size reversible shark/baseball rag blanket, 1 "Monkey Business" baby rag blanket, and 1 John Deere girl baby rag blanket. It has been a lot of fun.



I was also able to complete my very first ever Chenille baby blanket. This one was ALOT of work but it was really fun to watch it come together. I really like the style, colors, and the finished "quilted" look.

I am currently getting ready to sew 2 twin size blankets (one girl, one boy) for my friend Niki's kiddos. I also have an order in process for a twin size reversible Batman/Spiderman blanket for a friend in Oklahoma.

So that is the update on the Ryan's Ragz "business." I have LOVED every minute of making these blankets for others and I appreciate all the support and kind words from everyone.

Heath Blondie Brownie

Over the weekend, I got to thinking that I really wanted to bake something. I wanted to try a new random recipe that I would just "happen" upon, and that recipe needed to use random "odds and ends" that I have left in my pantry. So, this one fit the bill...

Here is what you need:
1/3 Cup butter, soft
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 1/3 Cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1-6 oz pkg Heath bits 'o brickle toffee bits

1) Preheat oven 350. Cream Butter and sugars. Add eggs, vanilla, and almond extract. Mix together well.
2) Mix in flour, baking powder, and Heath bits.
3) Spray/grease 8" square pan. Pour batter into pan. It may be really thick like cookies, but spread and even it out.
4) Bake for 30 minutes or until done (mine was closer to 40 minutes).

Side note: I think that this would be super yummy (and super rich and unhealthy) served warmed with vanilla ice cream and/or caramel sauce. After I made them, I also thought that adding a few white chocolate chips would be absolutely yummy too.

Additional edit and side note: This brownie tastes much better warm and fresh out of the oven. I tried one today and ended up having to microwave it to warm it up.

Tangy Pork Chops...

...or beef or chicken...your choice!

If you like tomatoes, green peppers, and onion with a "tangy" homemade BBQ sauce, then this simple recipe is for you! If you don't, well then, you better skip past this and keep browsing. We LOVED it!!! I cooked ours with pork chops, but use your choice of meat that you want to eat :)

Here's is what you need:
4 pork chops
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 medium onions, chopped (I used 1/2 of one large)
1 large green pepper, sliced
2 celery ribs, chopped
1-14.5 oz can Italian stewed tomatoes
1/2 Cup Ketchup
2 Tbsp cider vinegar (I didn't have, so I used regular)
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 beef bouillon cube
2 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp water

1) Line or spray crockpot. Place pork chops in the bottom. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper.
2) Add onions, celery, pepper, and stewed tomatoes.
3) Combine ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and bouillon. Mix well and pour into crockpot.
4) Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours. (Mine were in for 5 hours on low. Next time I am only going to cook them about 4 hours on low, or I will switch it to warm. 5 hours was just a bit too long...Just know your crockpot.)
5) Combine cornstarch and water. Stir into the crockpot mixture. Cover and cook another 15-30 minutes , or until sauce thickens.
7) Serve over rice or noodles.

**Warning!! This one makes your house smell delicious forever!

Sausage Tortellini Soup-Crockpot

We LOVE soup at our house, so what's better then soup on a cold Sunday afternoon? Coming home on that cold Sunday afternoon from church to a soup that is all but finished. Now that being said, in order for my hubby to eat soup willingly and like it, the soup has to be interesting, different, and not bland. So, I am always on the look-out for "unusual" soup recipes. This was one. It is SO simple and straight forward, yet it is not one that I would have ever thought to "create" on my own. I am so happy that I stumbled upon this recipe!

Here is what you need:
2-14 oz cans of Italian style stewed tomatoes, undrained (I used Italian diced because it is what I had)
3 Cups water
2 Cups frozen green beans
1-10.5 oz can French onion soup
8 oz sausage of choice (I just used regular pork because it is what I had, but next time I want to use chorizo or Italian)
2 Cups shredded carrots and cabbage mix (coleslaw mix...I used the Broccoli slaw package mix in the produce section)
1-9 oz package frozen cheese-filled tortellini (I think mine was 12 or 16 oz package)
shredded cheese

1) In the crockpot, combine tomatoes, water, frozen green beans, water, soup, and cooked sausage.
2) Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours. (Again, know your slow cooker...I cooked mine on low for 4-6 hours-ish, and it was perfectly fine.)
3) 20-30 minutes before serving, add in the cabbage mix and tortellini. Stir to combine. Cover and cook the remaining 15-20 minutes.
4) Serve with shredded cheese, if desired.

Note: I did not have frozen green beans. I only had canned green beans. I drained them and added them in with the cabbage and tortellini at step 3. This tasted perfectly fine.

My hubby and 3-year old both LOVED this one and both devoured it! There were no leftovers or time for pictures.

Serving size: appx 6 servings

Pieced Square Rag Blanket

For this blanket, I started with 5" squares and arranged them with 9 per big block. Each big block measured roughly 12 inches, and I kept the pattern of the small blocks flowing throughout. Once I had all the little squares pieced into the big squares, I sewed them all together and made a rag blanket. The back material is a solid dark purple.
This blanket went to my wonderful friend Annie and her soon to come baby girl. I finally remembered to give the gift to her today, so I can finally "unveil" it to the public. I had a TON of fun making this blanket. It was time-consuming, and I loved every minute of it.
I LOVE the finished product, which was coupled with 3 really adorable matching bows made by my amazing friend Holly at Bowgiggles.