Just a Simple Square

Remember the awesome blue kitchen fabric I found? I finally did something with it!

It's just a simple square for our table. Sort of a table runner, but you can't really run much down our square table. Eventually I'd like to put a vase of flower's on top of it, or a bowl of something or other...(I'm really not much of an interior designer :D) but for now it's just a square. Its only real purpose is to make me happy whenever I see it!

Square! Maybe something in this bowl?

Unfortunately, a "simple square" isn't really that simple for me. This project really made me wish I had some more sewing lessons. My mother taught me so much growing up- we sewed skirts, pajama pants, dresses, even part of a quilt. But I always skipped instructions and took shortcuts. I figured sewing a straight line was super easy, so I could zoom through it and not take the time to learn the right way. That's why all my little kid projects were mediocre at best, and my sewing these days is unfortunately suffering because of my lack of discipline.

Case in point. This was just a square. I did take the time to cut it well (thank goodness I finally see the point of cutting things straight!) and I pinned it all around. But while I was sewing, two things happened: first, it kept bunching and shifting and so the edges didn't line up, and second, my sewing lines are definitely not straight. The edges have curves and wavy parts- why is a straight line hard for me?

Ripple-y

Wavy

So new goals: learn the basics. With the rest of this fabric, I plan to make some coasters (again- just the thought of using this fabric again makes me so happy!). So it will be my goal to cut straight, pin well, and most importantly- sew straight. I will be slow and deliberate. I will re-do my mistakes. I will take the time to iron everything. I will start from scratch, and do. it. right. for once. I can't wait to get started!

Cafe Rio for Dinner

Aren't crockpot meals supposed to be easier? Lately I feel all the crockpot meals I try involve quite a bit of work after the fact. They're definitely still delicious, but I'm not sure I agree that crockpots save that much time for a lot of things.

However...my problem might be that I unnecessarily complicate things for myself. Hamburgers? Let's make homemade buns! Pizza? Definitely homemade crust and pizza sauce. So when it came to Cafe Rio, homemade tortillas were the plan! I used this recipe from the Pioneer Woman, and it was pure happiness.

It really did make so many tortillas. Yum yum yum!

Okay, not sure that tortillas can be considered pure happiness. But I can tell you that most doughs I've ever made are difficult to roll out, they tear or stick to the counter, or need tons of flour, etc. etc. This dough was amazing. After I rolled it into ping pong size balls, I did as the recipe said and rolled it out so thin I could see my counter through it. And when I pulled it up, it was still perfect! It didn't rip at all, and it was so elastic. I love homemade tortillas. And it made so many that I froze them and I can have hot lovely tortillas anytime I want. The only change was that I didn't use as much water as the recipe called for. I looked at other recipes online and they didn't call for that much, so when my dough was the perfect texture, I just stopped. 

As for the meat, this recipe from Barbara Bakes was probably the best Cafe Rio crockpot pork I've had. I guess technically I cheated and didn't marinate the meat before- I just threw the marinade in with the meat, then drained it after 6 hours on low, and put in the enchilada sauce for about an hour afterward. It was still mighty yummy!

I had every intention of making this delicious rice from Skinny Taste, but we decided we weren't hungry enough for a huge meal. Next time for sure though, because it would truly complete it!

Cilantro Lime Rice from Skinny Taste

So we just stuck to our awesome homemade tortillas, Cafe Rio pork, with homemade pico de gallo and cheese to top it off! This recipe's a keeper. I think I'd even love it in salad form- I've never actually had the Cafe Rio salad!

My camera died before I got the full meal picture. So here's just some pico de gallo! 

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes: A Girly Dessert

I don't often get to make girly desserts. I have so many saved recipes for lemon desserts, raspberry or strawberry, white chocolate, cheesecakes, everything! But we tend to stick to chocolate or chocolate-chip-cookie goodness around here. Not that I mind too much, but I just love all desserts so it's great to try new things.

We had a baby shower in our ward for a baby girl. I love baby showers because I always ask if I can bring something! I made pink lemonade cupcakes- partially because the mother said she didn't like too many sweet things, and partially because these sounded downright delicious! It was actually super simple: just a regular cake mix plus all the fixings, and then you add pink lemonade concentrate. The frosting was a cream cheese frosting, which I usually don't like, but the pink lemonade in the frosting balanced it well. I used this recipe from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen and loved it.

Naked cupcakes! But so cute.

These probably weren't the best cupcakes I've ever had (they actually turned out being rather sweet despite the lemonade). But they were so much fun to make and I loved trying a new flavor! I love mini cupcakes because they are the perfect little bite.

I really only have one thing I'd like to do better- I feel like whenever I make cupcakes, the frosting overpowers the cupcake. The cupcakes I make are usually very light and often crumbly, and I think I'd prefer them dense. I have a hard time making pretty designs with the frosting because if I pipe it, too much frosting goes on and then it's overpowering! Maybe it's time I give up the boxed cupcakes and try out some good real homemade recipes!