Julia Janzen

Italian Gravy

I’ve been asked for my recipe for Italian Gravy ie. Spaghetti Sauce so many times I decided to go ahead and publish it. I got this recipe from my good friend Kerri a true Italian Momma.

Italian Gravy Recipe

5 sweet Italian Sausage links
5 hot Italian Sausage links
1 lb Beef Stew meat
1 chunk of Pancetta
1/2 cup olive oil
3 sliced cloves of garlic
1/2 chopped onion
1 can of tomato paste
2- 28 oz cans of tomato puree *
2- 28 oz cans of crushed tomatoes
28 oz of water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 large bunch of fresh chopped basil
1/4 cup fresh chopped oregano

In a large pot brown meats in olive oil until deep brown. Add garlic and onion cook until onion is softened. Stir in tomato paste and cook until paste darkens. Add canned tomato puree, crushed tomatoes and water scraping the bottom of the pot getting all the browned bits. Bring to a boil.  Add salt, red pepper flakes, fresh chopped basil & oregano. Simmer for 4 hours stirring occasionally.

*I only use store bought pureed and crushed tomatoes when I don’t have any left over from my canning.  I usually buy Organic Muir Glen brand but I also love the Cento brand.  Unfortunately I’ve never seen Cento have Organic.

Italian Gravy

Betsy

I’m learning so much by making these little dolls!  I tried to make Betsy have this extremely long body but it totally didn’t work out!  She was a flopsy Betsy.  So I stitched her waist a little smaller and put an apron around her. Perhaps I might of been more successful if I would of taken maybe something like a wooden spoon and wrapped the wool around it as a spine of sorts. I think she’s still kind of cute but I’m not crazy about the hair.  It looks a little too much like a wedding veil.  LoL  It was either this white though or a bright blue yarn that I had, so I gave this a try.

The next doll is going to be a lot smaller.   I’ve also been debating back and forth with myself about whether or not to put faces on them.  I’m afraid I might totally ruin them so I’m holding off until I’m sure.  Thoughts?

I have to say I’m getting a LOT faster at threading my sewing machine though.   If I didn’t have a bunch of housework to do and a child to entertain I would be doing this all day!  It is so much fun and such a great learning experience.

Feel free to offer me as much advice as you have.  I’m really doing this all by trial and error.  It would be nice if somebody who actually is a doll maker could give me some pointers.

Happy day to all of you!  Now go do some handwork!

Little Olivia

I’ve been wanting to try to make a waldorf doll for a very long time.  But being extremely limited in both craftiness and sewing I would look at patterns and totally psyche myself out that it would be too hard.  But last night I just decided to try to make one without the hoopla of following a pattern.  This is what I ended up with.

I hand sewed the whole thing which took a little longer but it was good practice I think. Which of course I need a lot of! The bottom of the doll is filled with rice.  I don’t know if that was such a smart idea but it just felt nicer than putting beans in it and I wanted it to be weighted.  The arms and head I used some beautiful Eco Wool from http://www.weircrafts.com that I bought a very long time ago.  I also have all the fixings to do a real Waldorf doll from there too.  I just have been too afraid to start.  However having gotten my feet wet by creating Olivia I think maybe I might just give it a try!   The best part of the whole experience was Kate coming home from Kindergarten this afternoon and saying,  ”Ohhh Mommy she’s sooo cute!  I’m going to name her Olivia.”  I was so thrilled I started doll #2 this afternoon.  Who knew it would be this much fun!  I’m learning so much too.  I just might have a new little hobby.