Cookin' and Sewin'

There are two things I LOVE to do that are so fulfilling to me. One is to cook for my family and the other is to sew. They are both creative outlets that make me feel like I am doing a good job being a wife and mother. I even feel sometimes that I can know just a little bit how God must have felt after he finished his "burst of creativity" when he created the world and sat back and said "It is good!".
Last night I got to spend time doing both of the things I love. First, it was 24 Night. That is every Monday night, my kids all come over and we have dinner together and then we pile on upstairs, all eight of us and all 6 of our dogs, and watch 24! We have such a good time! Last night I made homemade chicken noodle soup and it was so YUMMY! It is so cold outside and nothing warms you up like a bowl of soup! Here is the recipe for anyone interested:

HOMEMADE CHICKEN AND NOODLE SOUP

Fill a pot that will hold the amount of soup you want with water and boil a chicken until it is done. Remove the chicken and let cool. While it is cooling prepare the noodles:

In a stainless steel bowl mix:

2 cups flour

3 egg yolks

1 egg

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup water

I kneed the dough and then roll it out flat. After it is rolled out I then use my secret ingredient: nutmeg!

Sprinkle the nutmeg lightly over the surface of the dough and roll over it a time or two with the roller to press it in. Then I cut the noodles into 1/2 inch strips and throw them in the cooking broth. I also add about 2 tbsps. of chicken bouillion to the broth. Then I debone the chicken and add the meat to the broth and let it all simmer for about 30 minutes. It is absolutely delicious and the left overs are even better!

Last night I also had the time to finish a gift I am making for my neice who is expecting her first baby, a little girl, next month. I made her a baby sling to carry the baby in and I just love how it turned out. Here is my daughter Andrea modeling the sling with a baby doll inside:

I am so happy with how it turned out! Someday I will have little grandbabies to make these for!

One of the "positive" things about when your children leave the nest is that it gives you more room. I converted my daughter Andrea's room into my sewing room and I just love spending time in here:

I have a whole pile of patterns and fabric that I can't wait to get started on! Now that the wedding is over I can start doing some of these projects. I plan to make some baby quilts for gifts for new babies arriving in our church, some really neat "stack and whack" quilted placemats, and a special wallhanging that I received as a gift for Christmas. I can tell my creative cravings are about to be fulfilled and "IT IS GOOD"!