what's a stuffie?

I randomly found (like always) this amazing website swap-bot. Swap-bot is a website for swapping crafts, crafts supplies, coffee/tea, mixed cds, emails, anything really. I'm obsessed!
The website has many strange names for things. It took me a little while, and lots of googling, to find out what some of these terms meant. Stuffie was one of those terms. A stuffie (aka softie) is basically a handmade stuffed animal. The swap-bot wiki describes it as
stuffie- a soft toy made from fabric or yarn. These can take on any shape or size, be based on real animals or fantasy “monsters” and creatures. Fabrics often used are cotton, felt, yarn. Stuffies can be sewn, knitted or crocheted.
Here's how to make a stuffie/softie.
I like the idea of making monster stuffies. I think I'll stick to that for a while. Here's my first try at one.

list of current favorites

Every once in a while I like to post these lists of just random favorites of mine, at the moment.

pasta
sleep
movies
Tom Selleck
Hagan Dazs mango sorbet, nice ice cream alternative
flowers and plants
fresh produce
this video
Pandora
cooking
house plans
On the Border/Moe's
cardigans
green olives
1950s music

Stem Cell Research Reversal

Obama is expected to reverse restrictions of stem cell research funding.

"Opponents of the research argue that embryonic stem cell technologies are a slippery slope to reproductive cloning and can fundamentally devalue human life. Those in the pro-life movement argue that a human embryo is a human life and is therefore entitled to protection.
Contrarily, supporters of embryonic stem cell research argue that such research should be pursued because the resultant treatments could have significant medical potential. It is also noted that excess embryos created for in vitro fertilization could be donated with consent and used for the research.
The ensuing debate has prompted authorities around the world to seek regulatory frameworks and highlighted the fact that stem cell research represents a social and ethical challenge." -wikipedia

Banana Nut Muffins

.....except for when you forget the nuts.

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat muffin pans with non-stick spray, or use paper liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2. Combine bananas, sugar, egg, and melted butter in a large bowl. Fold in flour mixture, and mix until smooth. Scoop into muffin pans.
3. Bake in preheated oven. Bake mini muffins for 10 to 15 minutes, and large muffins for 25 to 30 minutes. Muffins will spring back when lightly tapped.

*I add vanilla extract and cinnamon to my recipe.

Peanut Butter CUPCAKES

I christened my Kitchenaid stand mixer with this recipe. It makes an amazing, beautiful dough.

2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup peanut butter (natural pb has a stronger flavor)
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 pinch salt

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a cupcake pan with paper liners, or grease and flour cups.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the brown sugar, shortening and peanut butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt; stir into the batter alternately with the milk. Spoon into the prepared muffin cups.  (I always spray paper liners with a non-stick cooking spray.  It helps peel the paper off.)
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top of the cupcakes spring back when lightly pressed. Cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

I served my cupcakes with store bought chocolate icing. (I didn't make my own because I had too much else going on.)

Random Things About SEA

In my college public speaking class, I did an informative speech on Waffle House. For two weeks other students complimented me on my speech. I also did a persuasive speech on skipping class. (see college dream reference below)

Dawson's Creek is my favorite tv show of all time. I always thought Joey should be with Pacey. Dawson is such a girl!

If I could travel back in time I would redo my wedding reception...totally plan the whole thing over again. It just didn't turn out the way I had imagined in my head.

I was the first person in North Augusta (my hometown) to own Titanic on video. I pre-ordered it from Blockbuster, and I drove down at midnight the night it came out to pick it up. I was first in line!

I don't like cottage cheese, meat, beets, cooked spinach, sun dried tomatoes, or blue cheese.

I would love to be a personal assistant...run errands and help people organize their lives while setting my own hours.

For some reason, I get very angry and annoyed when my husband plays XBOX. Am I secretly jealous of his video games?

Hospitals freak me out. When I have to visit someone my heart starts beating fast and I breathe faster, too.

I admit, in the past, I have been unappreciative, juvenile, and ridiculous. Sorry.

I would be willing to pick up and move back to Charleston next year. Maybe we could just move Wilmington closer to Augusta...along with the coast.

I've only ever loved one man. We met on eHarmony.

I suck at keeping in touch. I'm bad about returning voicemails. I just don't like talking on the phone. Talking on the phone comes with pressure. What if I catch someone at a bad time? I hate it when I'm in the middle of something (even just watching tv) and someone randomly calls me. Can't we just send impersonal texts and emails back and forth?!

I get scared at night when Jon works nights. I'm a big chicken. I'm scared of the dark. When he's not home, I sometimes sleep with the lamp on.

After a trip to Memphis, and reading his biography, I love Elvis. He was an amazing man and changed the music industry forever.

I wish I could choose when I have pets and when I don't. 2 dogs and 2 cats can sometimes be too much. Other times they can be lots of fun and really worth it.

About every other month I have a dream about college. In my dream I usually oversleep and miss a class, can't find a class on campus, or at the end of the semester find out I registered for a class but mistakenly never attended.

Sometimes I get homesick for Augusta. I miss my family.

I have a blog (greenismyfavorite.blogspot.com) but I write like I talk, not like a writer so I just post things I find witty, interesting, or sometimes movie reviews.

I was raised to be conservative. Therefore I am old fashioned in a lot of ways. I think men and women have their places in the world (and in the church). But I also understand this is 2009 and not 1950.

I wish my house were cleaner. It's never clean enough for me (refer to above statement about pets) but I try and not let it bother me. I have OCD tendencies.

I sometimes want to wear more professional, more mature clothes but at the same time really all I want to wear are hippie-y clothes. They're so much cooler and more comfortable.

If I could wiggle my nose and learn to do anything I would want to learn to paint, repair cars, and learn everything there is to know about computers.

I love to cook and be in the kitchen but my least favorite chore is laundry. It's never ending!

Jon and I both were in the play The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in high school (he in Raleigh and me in North Augusta). Jon played the dad and I played the mom. It's meant to be.

I've been known to have a pretty good intuition. Sometimes I get "bad feelings" about something or a situation. Several times my "bad feelings" were right. (scary stories about that, maybe I'll post sometime)

I was raised by and married law enforcement. Daddy was a deputy sheriff with the Richmond County Sheriff's Department in Augusta. Jon is a deputy sheriff with the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office. I am so proud of both of them.

I love cruises. I have been on two, both with Royal Caribbean, both on the Mariner of the Seas. It's amazing! I do prefer Eastern Caribbean to Western Caribbean.

I studied Christian Studies in college. Basically that means I studied the Bible, world religions, and learned to write theological papers. I am passionate about the Bible, my Savior, NASB (the best translation), and my religious views.

I am way into music. I mostly like classic rock, 1970s. I love the wa-wa pedal and great guitar sounds of the 70s. But I also really like love songs from the same decade.

I LOVE discussing politics and religion, although both are thought to be poor subjects for public conversation. I like to hear what people believe and why they believe it.

Greek Antipasto Pita

Here's another yummy recipe from my Simple Suppers cookbook. I like this one because it's made with all fresh stuff. And wow is it good!

2 T olive oil
1 T red wine vinegar or cider vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 T chopped fresh dill (or 1 t dried dill or oregano)
1 celery stalk
1 large tomato
1/2 red bell pepper
1 cucumber
1/4 red onion
8 pitted kalamata olives
salt and pepper
4 pita breads

In a bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, garlic and dill. As you prepare the vegetables add them to the bowl: dice the celery, tomato, bell pepper, and cucumber, mince the red onion, chop the olives. Toss well. Add salt and pepper to taste. The filling tastes best if it sits at room temperature for at least 10 minutes. It will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
Cut the pitas in half and toast them lightly. To serve, stuff each pita half with filling.

*I usually leave out the celery, and sometimes I substitute roasted red pepper for the bell pepper. I also sprinkle feta cheese on top right before serving (remember feta can be salty so if you serve it with feta, watch the salt in the recipe).