Sunday, March 29, 2015

Sunday Funday: Upcycling a Comforter

Before

Nick and I have been wanting to get the puppies some doggie beds. Unfortunately for us, we're trying to save money and can't/won't shell out at least $50 per large dog bed per dog. Then Nick, the true genius behind Hart Homecoming, came up with the idea of making our own.

We recently got ourselves a new bed set for Christmas and we've been lugging our old one around. I no longer like it, seeing as how my pre-married self had a much different sense of style. However, Nick thought it would make a great doggie bed! So we went to work.

First, we measured the kennels. This way, if we ever want to put the beds in there for the pups, we have that option. Next, we measured it out on the comforter and Nick got to cutting.

He also had to go through with a seam ripper and undo all the stitching decoration. We were adding old pillows into their beds, so we had to have the cloth free from the pad. Otherwise, we could have skipped this step.

I also made sure that each bed came from a corner, so that way I would only have to sew two sides instead of three or four. Hooray for time saving!

Next, we laid it on the floor and the puppies happily lounged on it. We also put the old pillows down to show them just how comfy their beds would be.

Finally, I stuffed the pillow and an extra square of comforter that Nick cut to size, into the outer piece. I then sewed the two open edges together for a finished bed. We repeated everything to make the second bed.

The end product was two comfy, upcycled, doggie beds that the puppies are in love with. They aren't the prettiest, but they hardly show the hair, and the puppies no longer lay on my clothes or pillows. And they were completed for a total cost of $0. It's a win-win!

Have you upcycled anything into something you love?

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Saturday Flavors: Cauliflower Curry

Today I decided to try something new for dinner. I was tired of the whole pasta and more pasta routine. I've also been hearing a lot about cauliflower being made into a dish, rather than just a snack. I remember seeing an idea for cauliflower curry and decided to whip some up. Here's my recipe:

1/2 tablespoon cumin
1/2 tablespoon red cayenne pepper
1/2 tablespoon lemon pepper
1/2 tablespoon garlic salt
Salt to taste (I put in about 1/2 tablespoon)
1 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1 large yellow onion, diced
2 small tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup diced green onion
1/3 head of cauliflower, broken into small florets
1 16 oz can stewed tomatoes with garlic and celery
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1) Puree can of tomatoes in a blender or food processor. Set aside.
2) Heat oil in a large skillet.
3) Add onions and cook over medium heat until golden and soft.
4) Add cumin, red cayenne pepper, lemon pepper, garlic salt, and salt. Cook for 2 more minutes. 
5) Add pureed tomatoes and let summer for 2 minutes.
6) Add water, milk, diced tomatoes and cauliflower. Let simmer for 25 minutes.
7) Pour over white rice, garnish with green onion and enjoy!

This makes about 4 generous servings.

The true test of how delicious something is, is asking my husband if I should make it again. This was a resounding yes and even my mother (who has never been a fan of Indian food) said she would love it if I made it again.

Not too bad for just guessing and throwing something together!
What go-to recipes are your family favorites?