Mini Cakes (aka Donuts)

I found a donut pan at a store this week with the recipe for donuts on the back. I was so excited because my little boy has a severe peanut allergy and since most bakeries have cross contamination issues with peanuts, we haven't had them in about 2.5 years since we found out. Making my own at home, however, takes away the risk, and I was excited for my boy to try a donut! When I told him what they were, he was also excited but confused if they were safe because the name has "nut" in it....so we have renamed them mini cakes at our house. ;-)

Mini Cakes

2 c. flour

3/4 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 Tb. butter, melted
2 eggs
3/4 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325*. Lightly spray pan with cooking oil. In bowl mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt. Add butter, eggs, milk, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon. Beat until well blended. Fill each "mini cake" hole 2/3 full. Bake 8 min. or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool. Remove from pan and dip into glaze. Decorate with sprinkles, etc. Mini cakes can also be dipped into cinnamon and sugar or powder sugar instead of glaze. Makes approx. 36 mini cakes.

Easter Dolls

For Easter this year, I'm doing more homemade things. These were inspired by the Black Apple Dolls. My little boy has been into Nursery Rhymes lately so I think he will appreciate his own Humpty Dumpty, and I just thought the rabbit was cute.

Charming Log Cabin Quilt

I realized last fall that with all the quilts I'd made this last year, I still hadn't made any for my own babies! I found this great pattern called "Charming Log Cabin Baby Quilt" and finally finished them this weekend. The tops were really easy to sew together. The edges were a little more difficult just because I hadn't done pecos or scallops before, but overall an easy quilt to do. I quilted them on my machine using my walking foot. I like that they are similar, but the edges are different for boy/girl.

For my boy--quilted with diagonal lines
For my girl-- quilted with vertical lines

Baby Rattles

I have a few friends who are expecting babies in the next little while, not to mention myself, so I love finding cute little things to make for the little cuties coming our way. I found the idea for these here. I didn't add eyes or a nose because I couldn't get them to look as cute as hers, plus I made the ribbons more of a "mane" than ears. To make it a rattle you add a small bell as you stuff the crook at the top. It doesn't make a lot of noise because of the stuffing, but I kinda like that.

Embroidery Towels

I love it when I can get my little boy involved in doing whatever craft I'm working on. I've tried my hand at embroidery lately and have made a few towels. On previous towels however, I've used a pattern bought from a store. This time, I let my little boy draw a simple picture and write the words. He drew it on a regular piece of paper, and I traced it on to the towel with fabric chalk pencils. I had to reconfigure the spacing a little so that it was centered, but really he was the one to "design." He felt really special. I think it turned out cuter and much less expensive than the store options.