Newborn Crochet Vest- FREE!!

Materials: 4 ply yarn. Hooks: Sz J/6.00mm and G/4.25. Yarn Needle

Stitches to know: Chain (C), Double Crochet (DC), Slip Stitch (SS), Half Double Crochet two together (HDC2TOG), Ribbed Stitch. (Fpdc, Bpdc, repeat to end. Links are provided)

Ribbed Stitch helpful websites:

Explains ribbed stitching: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-crochet-poststitch-ribbing.html

Explains how to do front post: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-work-frontpost-doublecrochet-  stitches.html

Explains how to do back post: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-work-backpost-doublecrochet-stitches.html

The chain up will count as a stitch. Total stitch number will be in parenthesis at the end of each step.

WITH G HOOK:

1. CHAIN 40
2. Dc in the 4^th chain. Dc to end. Ch 2. Turn. (38)
3. Ribbed stitch into the Dc from previous step. Links posted above on how to do this. In last Dc in last stitch. Ch 2. Turn. (38)
4. Ribbed stitch again into the previous step. (Once you are done with your first row of ribbed stitching and turn, you will look at the stitches the way they appear. If it is now a Fpdc, you will do another Fpdc into that stitch. If it looks like a Bpdc you will put a Bpdc into that stitch.) Dc in last stitch. Ch 2. Turn (38)

* You should have 1 row of Dc. Then two rows of Fpdc/Bpdc.

5. SWITCH TO J HOOK: Hdc to end. Ch 2. Turn. (38)

6-10. Repeat step 5. (38)

11. Hdc 16. Ch 2. Turn (17)

12. Hdc2tog. Hdc 14. Ch 2. Turn. (16)

13. Hdc 13. Hdc2tog. Ch 2. Turn. (15)

14. Hdc2tog. Hdc 7. Ch 2. Turn. (9)

15. Hdc 6. Hdc2tog. Ch 2. Turn. (8)

16-22. Hdc to end. Ch 2. Turn. (8)

23. Hdc 7. Finish off with a slip knot. (8)

*Now work on the other side of the sleeve part.

24. Insert hook. Ch 2. Hdc 16. Ch 2. Turn (17)

25. REPEAT STEPS 12-23

*Back side of vest.

26. REPEAT STEPS 1-10. (38)

27- 29. Hdc to end. In step 29 ch 1 instead of 2. Turn. (38)

30. Sl 6. Ch 2. Hdc 25. Leave the rest undone. Ch 2. Turn (26)

31-39. Hdc to end. Ch 2. Turn. (26)

40. Hdc 7. Sl 10. Hdc 8. Finish off with a slip knot but leave a long tail to be weaved in. Attach needle. (26)

*Match up the front and the back.

*Photo below shows what areas need to be weaved closed.

*Helpful tip: Instead of cutting the long tail, weave it in and out of just one side of the vest until you get to the area that is need to be weaved closed.

41. SWITCH BACK TO G HOOK. Add ribbed stitch to each sleeve area. There will not be specific stitches that you are able to crochet in. You will need to use your judgment as to where to add a stitch. You will do one row of double crochet, then one row of ribbed stitching. Fasten off and do other sleeve. (I had approx. 40-45 Dc around sleeves.)

42. Single crochet around neck area. (Approx 60-65 sc)

*Buttons can be added.

*Please fill free to sell your item made from my pattern. I would love it if you would mention my site for others to view my love of crafting. However please to not share or claim this pattern as your own. Give credit where credit is due. Enjoy!

Easiest Cookie Recipe....EVER!

So are you ready for the easiest and softest cookie recipe EVER? Well here it goes. I got this recipe from Mr. Craig's mama and I absolutely love it. This will cook about 2 dozen.

 There are so many different varieties of flavors you can do. Here's what I've done.
* White cake mix tastes like sugar cookies. I've added food coloring to coordinate with different holidays and also added sprinkles.Easy Peasy.
* Chocolate cake with reeses pieces in them.
* Strawberry cake with dried cranberries. It reminds me of a fruit loop taste.
* Pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese frosting.

All you need:
2 eggs
1 box of cake mix (ANY flavor)
1/3 cup of oil
any add ins- nuts, chocolate chips, reeses pieces, dried fruit.... SO MANY MORE to choose from.

Pre Heat oven to 375

Dump all ingredients into a bowl. Its going to look like there is not enough liquid to mix it. TRUST ME there is!

See I told you so. :) Its going to be thick like store bought cookie dough.

Roll pieces into about a 1inch ball. Your hands will get oily.

Put cooking spray on a cookie sheet. So they don't stick. I press down a little bit on each ball. Just a little so they still have a round shape.

I usually cook them using the ball method but for today I made them into hearts for Valentines Day.

Put them in the oven. For my oven- they cook for 8 minutes. I suggest checking them at 8 minutes and see if yours are finished. The bottoms will be a golden brown.

Like I said there is SOOO many flavors you could make. Hope you enjoy this recipe. I would love to hear the variations that you have done!!

"When in doubt put bacon around it" Recipe Redo- Bacon Wrapped Chicken.

Wondering where the quote from the title came from? YUP that would be from Mr. Craig as he was eating dinner tonight. Which was obviously the bacon wrapped chicken.

If you've followed me for a while now you've notices I 'redo' recipes. I don't know if Im just a rule breaker and being rebellious or if its just my creative side, but I can never follow a recipe 100% of the way. Im always switching something, I hardly ever measure (especially if its seasonings. Eye ball that shiznet) and I sometimes don't even use things that they suggest. I make the recipe MY way.

So tonight I made bacon wrapped chicken. SOOO GOOD. The original recipe will be shown below and what is HIGHLIGHTED is how I did it. This photo is not mine. I forgot to take a picture, because we ate it too fast. OOPS
Original recipe can be found HERE

Not my photo. Mine disappeared. :(

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - 2 Chicken breast (since theres only 2 of us)                       
• 1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, sliced - Appox 1/4. It's really however much you want to add. So you choose!                      
• 4 slices bacon - I did use 4. 2 around each chicken breast. The more the better it will be. OBVIOUSLY.                       
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives- Did not use.                        
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup    - Used cream of celery instead. I have used cream of chicken in the past and it's just as good.    
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise  - DID NOT USE. This actually would gross me out.
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice - DID NOT USE  
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper          
• pinch of salt       

• I ADDED GARLIC SALT AND  ONION POWDER FOR FLAVOR.
  
  Tip: pre-cook the bacon in a skillet until its brown but still flexible. After reading the reviews on the original website many people suggest this because the bacon was not getting cooked all the way.
                               

Directions

              

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

1. Pound the chicken breasts until flat. Put a slice of cream cheese and 1 teaspoon chopped chives (no chives) in the middle of each breast and roll up. Wrap each rolled breast with 1 (2) slice of bacon and secure with toothpicks. Place in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. In a medium bowl, combine condensed soup, mayonnaise (Omit), milk, lemon juice (Omit), pepper and salt (add garlic salt and onion powder). Mix until smooth, then pour over chicken.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or until no longer pink and juices run clear.

Since there is just two of us, we have a lot of the topping mixture left. So I usually pour about half of the mixture onto the chicken breast and leave the rest in the bowl that I mixed it in. Throw the chicken into the oven and get it started on cooking. When it's about done I cook up some egg noodles. I use the leftover mixture that I saved from earlier and pour that onto the noodles.

Don't forget to pull the toothpicks out before eating. Im pretty sure they wouldn't be very appetizing jabbing you right in the mouth. 

Enjoy!