Mar 2013 Chicken Wild Rice Salad, Mint Brownies

We met at Robyn's this month, a week earlier than usual because of spring break next week. Our numbers were a little smaller than usual this month, but still plenty of show and tell, good conversation and wonderful food. Robyn took the "green" donation squares home to make a quilt for charity.

Here are the show and tells:

 Nancy made this Montesorri child's apron. It's easy for a child to put on using the elastic neck and the velcro strap around the waist.

 The other great thing about the apron is that it's reversible!

 Cindy made a scrap quilt out of leftovers given to her by her mother.

 Sherry showed us a scarf that was given to her as a gift from her 93 yr old friend, Edythe. Sherry asked her friend how she learned how to make this particular scarf and Edythe told her she just looked it up online!

Cindy made this 3-dimensional quilt. The bees all have 3-dimensional wings

Lenette made another peek-a-boo bag using the Boise State fabric. She added a jean pocket on the back.

 Lenette also made this purse and was able to use these handles she had purchased a while back.

 Lenette also learned how to knit just recently from her daughter. The first thing she made was the square washcloth, then she made the burp cloth. She affectionately calls it the "20-hour burp cloth".

Rachel was able to make this wool penny rug while on a recent vacation. Most of the wool came from her own hand-dyed wool collection.

 Susan showed us her finished lampshade quilt complete with fun embellishments.

 Susan also showed her schnibbles flannel quilt.

Once we finished show and tell, Cindy and Nancy showed us a shortcut for making scrappy trip around the world quilts.

 First you cut 2 1/2" by 16" strips

Then sew six strips together and iron the seam allowances as shown. Then sew the strip-set into a tube by joining the end strips to each other.

Once it is a tube, cut 2 1/2" strips from the tube.  Then unpick one stitching line from each cut strip. However, you must unpick a different stitching line from each strip so that when opened as shown below, the squares will be in a different order. (If that sounds as clear as mud to you, give Nancy or Cindy a call. :)

 Lay out your strips in whatever order you desire.

 Sew the strips together to form a 6x6 square

Above are 6 blocks  6x6 inches laid out next to each other. Once you have your 6x6 squares all made, lay them out and form any pattern you desire for your finished quilt. Sew the 6x6 units together for a great "Scrappy Trip Along" quilt.

Corrie then explained our next quilt block exchange, which will be a Polaroid quilt. Anyone that wants to participate can. Here's what we are doing:

1. Corrie will purchase the white fabric for us to use around the little squares. Look for more info about how much that will be, then bring a check to our next meeting. The white fabric is used to make a        1 1/2" border around each 4" square.

2. Start looking for fabric that is juvenile, colorful and has objects that can be fussy-cut into 4" squares (as seen below) You must use at least two separate lines of fabric.

3. Cut 32-four inch squares and bring them to our May meeting to exchange.

Here are some examples of Polaroid quilts. Once you get all your exchanged Polaroid quilt squares, you can make it into any style quilt you wish. It's very much like an "I Spy" quilt and will be fun for a child. Here and here and here are also some links to Polaroid Quilts.

California Grilled Chicken Wild Rice Salad

1 box (6 oz) Uncle Ben’s Long Grain Wild Rice, cooked according to package directions

2-3 grilled chicken Breasts, cubed

4 green onions, chopped

1 red bell pepper, diced

3 oz. snow peas, ends removed, cut in half

1 c. chopped almonds, toasted

2 medium avocados, diced

Combine rice, chicken, green onions, peppers, snow peas and almonds.  Stir in dressing.  Serve with avocados.  Can be served warm or cold.

Dressing:

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp. Dijon mustard

¼ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

¼ tsp. sugar

1/3 c. rice wine vinegar

1/3 c. canola oil

Mix all together.

Chocolate Mint Brownies

1 c. margarine, melted                        

4 eggs

2 c. sugar                                                        

½ tsp. salt

½ c. cocoa                                                      

1 ½ c. flour

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix melted margarine, sugar and cocoa.  Add eggs, then dry ingredients and vanilla.  Bake in greased 13x9 inch pan at 350 degrees for 23-25 minutes. 

Mint Cream

½ c. margarine                                                            

3 c. powdered sugar                                      

1 Tbs. water (if needed)

1 tsp. peppermint extract

Green food coloring

Cool brownies completely.  Frost with Mint Cream. Chill in freezer  then brush 1 square melted baking chocolate (or 1 Tbs. melted margarine with 3 Tbs. cocoa blended well) over top.