Homemade Baby Blanket

Creative:

I came across an adorable pattern for a Cotton Print and Minky Baby Blanket on Pinterest a couple weeks ago and decided to try my hand...with a few minor adjustments. I decided to put a binding around mine.

I chose to make a 40" x 40" baby blanket as described in the blog I linked to above. I cut out 41-inches of cotton fabric and 41-inches of minky fabric and then put WRONG sides together and sewed all around the quilt, 1/4-inch seam, just to keep the front and back in place for the binding installation. 

I used the minky excess for the binding. The tutorial I used is found here and it is very easy to understand and follow. Plus, she uses the same Minky fabrics for her blankets. 

  

Compassionate:

My sister-in-law Nee is pregnant with her first baby. The gender is unknown at this point so I specifically chose to make a gender-neutral blanket. I'm quite pleased with its appearance. It's modern, yet classy. And I think any baby would look adorable snuggled up with this blankie!!! (Any baby would look adorable snuggled up with ANY blankie though, if you ask me).

Happy:

The fabric for the back of the quilt isn't exactly "minky", as far as I'm aware. But this adorable sky blue and the soft soft feel is the perfect backing for a baby blanket. My two babies have already taken it for a test drive and they love it! If you make it as a gift, all you have to do is tie a ribbon around it and put it in a gift bag. And that's where my little creation lies until it reaches the recipient. 

Homemade baby gifts are the best. And there are so many fun things to make and create! Go ahead and give this adorable blanket a try. You (and the mom-to-be) won't be disappointed!

S'mores Cookies

Creative:

S'more cookies. Yes please! What better way to say "summer" than these little gems!? And they look complex...but they're totally not. I just used my basic Jenica's Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe and added a few new cast members to the mix. Let's just say, these got rave reviews.

I have posted the recipe below. This makes about 4 dozen cookies. Click here for a printable version.

S’mores Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 c. butter
• 1 ½ c. sugar
• 1 ½ c. brown sugar
• 2/3 – 3/4 c. vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 c. oats
• 4 – 5 c. flour, divided
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1 c. milk chocolate chips
• 5 squares graham crackers, broken into large chunks (optional)
• About 24 large marshmallows, cut in half
• 1 c. semisweet chocolate chunks (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream together the butter and sugars. Add oil (I like to fill a measuring cup to the 2/3 c. line and then drop in a splash more) and mix together. Add eggs and vanilla; mix. Mix in oats. Add 2 ½ c. of the flour, along with the baking soda and salt and mix to combine. Add in enough remaining flour (about 1 ½ - 2 ½ c.) to make a nice dough. It should be thick and doughy enough that it won’t stick to your hands as your roll them into balls. Fold in the milk chocolate chips and crushed graham crackers (if using; the crackers aren’t all that necessary in these cookies).
3. Roll dough into 2-inch balls and flatten into a disc. Place a marshmallow half inside each disc and roll into a ball so that the marshmallow is completely covered. Place on cookie sheet, about 3 inches apart. For looks, I dip each ball of dough into a pile of semisweet chunks right before baking.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes, until the outside is golden. Cool on pan for about 2 minutes. When removing pan from cookie sheet, use a forceful motion with the spatula to make sure the cookie, and any marshmallow seepage, doesn’t stick. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Compassionate:

We were invited to a couple different barbecues this past weekend. I asked V-man what dessert we should bring and he simply stated, "Marshmallows". I decided to elaborate on his thought and so, the s'more cookies were born. 

Happy:

It's not everyday you bite into a chocolate chip cookie and there's ooey-gooey marshmallow greeting you. The happiness that comes when you tell someone there's a fun surprise in these cookies is absolutely priceless. Enjoy!