DIY Paper Pockets

Post By: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle

Today's post is going to be an instructional post, giving step by step instructions for how to make paper pockets! Simple to make, these pockets can be used for many different purposes. At the bottom there are pictures of what we did with our pockets and extra suggestions for how to use these little cuties! Without further ado, let's get started!

Step 1: Gather supplies!
You will need:

• Paper
• Scissors
• Something Round 
• A sewing machine (or a needle and thread)
• Candy 
• Markers or Stickers for decorating! 

Step 2: Take your round object and trace a circle onto your paper.

We used the bottom of a candle stick.

Step 3: Once you have one circle, cut it out and use it as a stencil. We took out first paper circle and traced as many circles as we could on our scrap piece of craft paper. You can use any paper you like, but remember, in an effort to be eco-friendly always try and maximize the space on one sheet of paper.

This was our piece of paper, we started tracing...

...and ended up with this. There are enough circles
here to make thirteen paper pockets.

Step 4: Cut all your circles out!

Step 5: Grab your sewing machine and get ready to sew paper. To do this, take two of your circles and lay them on top of each other. Place them how you would normally place a piece of fabric. (Pictured below)

This is how your paper circles should look before you sew.

Hold your paper circles and begin to sew.

Sew halfway around the circle and then stop. 

Grab some candy; this is what we stuffed into our paper pockets.

Use your finger to push in each piece of candy. Don't put too
much inside or you will have a difficult time trying to close it up.

Your candy should be inside and pushed back as far as possible.

This is what the stuffed pocket will look like. Now it is time
to finish sewing the pocket closed. To do this, pinch the paper
together and continue to sew the perimeter.

Once you have sewn around the entire circle cut the strings.
You need to pull all the loose strings to the back of your pocket
and tie a knot. This keeps the stitching from unraveling.
 Cut off the extra string and...

...TADAHH! The completely sewn circle will look like this! 

Step 6: Time to decorate! This is where you can get as creative as you want. You can use markers, stamps, pens, stickers, buttons, tissue paper, or paint! It is up to you!
Below are some of the designs we made using just a few pens.

These would make really cute party favors.
We put a bunch of them in a basket by the door so our guests
could take one as they left, to add excitement we wrote the following little poem:
"Even thought it is time to go,
We just wanted you to know:
Having you was such a treat!
Please take a little something sweet!"

We also thought these little pockets would be a really cute something
to receive in the mail. You could use them as a thank-you card,
a thinking-of-you card, a get well soon card, or just to say hello!

Back to the mail idea, you could reinvent your traditional Christmas
card. Try replacing it with a paper pocket filled with candy canes!
If you want to stick with a plain Christmas card, that doesn't
mean you couldn't break these babies out at another holiday! ;)

These pockets could be used to make someone's day..stash a few in
your desk or purse and when you see someone in need
of a pick-me-up, casually pass them a pocket with an uplifting message!

We really like the idea of making someone's day so really, get
creative! You can say any number of things; say something
sweet or just order someone to "HAVE A GREAT DAY!!"

If ordering someone to have a nice day doesn't float your boat,
try a gentler method- crack a few jokes!

On an entirely different note, try switching out the candy for
a few flower seeds and some soil. If you use biodegradable paper
(most paper is) then you can make a package that can be buried!
That is right, with seeds and soil, this paper pocket is ready to be planted!
Dig a hole and toss it in, later on you can enjoy a few pretty flowers.

 You can use scrap fabric as well as paper, and the decoration possibilities are just about endless. You can put just about anything inside as well.With these pockets, the sky is the limit! 

Independence Day Drink Ideas

Post By: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle

   
  Independence Day is tomorrow! In preparation for the holiday, we thought we could share some of our favorite party drinks! These refreshing beverages will not only treat your taste buds but also help you to beat this intense summer heat. 
      All of these drinks are alcohol free because we believe alcohol doesn't have to be a part of the equation for fun. Now, onto the recipes!  




First off, Fun Party Drinks:


 Fizzy Mint Lemonade
Serves 6

Ingredients:
Mint Leaves
Spring Water
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
Zest of two lemons
Juice of two lemons
1 (1-liter) Bottle of Plain Seltzer, well chilled

Directions:
To make the Mint Ice, place a mint leaf in each compartment of an ice cube tray and fill it with spring water. Freeze until solid.
To make the Lemon Syrup, combine the sugar, water, and lemon zest in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring often. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, until somewhat thickened. Cool the syrup to room temperature, then stir in the lemon juice, and strain into an airtight container. Chill before using.
To serve, place two mint ice cubes in each of 6 large wineglasses, divide the syrup evenly among them, and stir about 3/4 cup seltzer into each.

Mango Rita
Serves 2

Ingredients:
Lime Wedge, for rimming
Colored Coarse Salt, for rimming
1 mango, peeled, seeded, and diced
1 cup crushed ice
1 cup prepared margarita mix
1/4 cup orange juice
2 mango slices, for garnish

Directions:
Rub the lime wedge around the rims of 2 margarita glasses, then dip the rims of the glasses into the salt.
Combine the diced mango, ice, margarita mix,and orange juice in an electric blender and puree until smooth. Divide the mixture between the two rimmed glasses and serve garnished with the mango slices.

Tweety Bird
Serves 4

Ingredients:
1/2 cup orange juice, well chilled
1/2 cup white grapefruit juice, well chilled
1/2 cup pineapple juice, well chilled
1 cup lemon-lime soda
1/2 cup bitter lemon soda, well chilled
4 pineapple wedges, for garnish

Directions:
Pour the fruit juices into a small pitcher and stir to combine. Just before serving, stir in the lemon-lime and bitter lemon sodas, divide among 4 highball glasses, and serve garnished with the pineapple wedges.


*All of the above recipes are from the book, "Zero-Proof Cocktails, Alcohol Free Beverages for Every Occasion" by Liz Scott. 

         Perhaps you are one that enjoys an alcoholic beverage every now and again, if you do consume one such drink then these juice recipes may be helpful for the day after. 
Here are some delicious cleansers:

Berrylicious
Serves 1

Ingredients:
1 handful strawberries hulled
2 handfuls raspberries
4 ice cubes

Directions:
Juice the strawberries and raspberries together. Transfer to blender and blend with ice.

Waterfall 
Serves 1

Ingredients:
1/4 of a Watermelon, flesh and seeds scooped out
1 lime, peeled

Directions:
Juice the watermelon and the lime together. Enjoy.

Clean
Serves 1

Ingredients:
1/4 large cucumber chopped
1 apple. cored and chopped
4 mint leaves

Directions:
Juice all ingredients together and stir.

*The last three recipes are from "Juice!-Delicious Juices to Enjoy Throughout the Day", by Pippa Cuthbert & Lindsay Cameron Wilson.

Christmas in July!

Post by: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle

At CloverFields we know there is a time and a place for everything, but sometimes it is fun to mix it up a bit! Here's to Christmas in July! Enjoy and remember, there is never an inappropriate time to be merry.

Wrap on Father's Day

 Post By: Guest Blogger, Kiersten Washle
 Menu By: Janine Washle    


      Here's to fathers everywhere! As another Father's Day has come and gone it is nice to reflect back on all the beautiful memories we all have with our fathers. Dads have been around through it all, always there to give a bear hug or cross their arms wearing a crooked smile only a dad could properly deliver. At CloverFields Farm and Kitchen we decided what better way to celebrate dad than to make food from his era. The idea is to create a burger bar based on "Dad's Decade"; take the year dad was born in and make food that was popular in this decade.
        Here is a recap of how our Dad's Decade Burger Bar went...

We made a menu for the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's. 

50’s

WWII soldiers returned home to the suburbs and the backyard BBQ was born. The soldiers brought back the tastes of foreign lands including the Pacific. “Island-style” was popular not only in clothing, and décor, but in the kitchen too. These foreign flavors were “Americanized” for the citizen’s palates.

Hamburgers popularity grew, as well as, many variations such as stuffed burgers, pizza burgers, silver dollar burgers (the original slider) and strange combinations like penny burgers; hamburger mixed with wiener slices.

Convenience food introductions were at an all time high as the memories of war rations dimmed. These canned, packaged, frozen products made their way into a myriad of ‘50’s casseroles and dinner dishes.

Menu

*Pork Burgers, Island-Style

*Blue cheese stuffed celery

*Polynesian Casserole

Watermelon Boat

 Mini Milkshakes

60’s

Foreign lands were still influencing menus and the outdoor barbeque continued in popularity but menus were more complex. Foreign and ethnic influences were explored more widely as cooks stepped away from what they saw as conformist boring dishes of the 50’s. Soul food came out of the South and into the kitchens of other areas of the U.S. The tastes of the black South were as unique and interesting as any foreign flavors., but all of these influences were still being “Americanized”.

MENU

*Italian Burgers

*Lettuce wedge with Creamy Italian Dressing

*Italian Soda

OR

*BBQ Chicken Burger

*Roasted Kale Chips

Sweet Potato Fries

70’s

New Southwest cuisine entered the scene, as well as, the Eat Local, Eat Seasonally movement via Alice Waters; however, the economic challenges of this decade influenced what people actually could afford to eat. “Eat what’s in the house” was the mantra of many.

MENU

*Southwest Burger

*Black Bean and Corn Salad

*Fresh Fries

80’s

Paul Prudhomme had a broiler problem one night at his popular New Orleans restaurant and everything was coming out blackened. The patrons loved it! He seized the opportunity and created a line of blackened seasonings. Cajun cuisine was the rage in this decade. Another culinary spectacle was the indulgent Turducken also invented in Louisiana. Every adventurous 80’s home cook, attempted this panoply of poultry. Even my mother tried it with success, except, the one time she forgot to remove the chickens’ and ducks’ legs which caused it to look like a 6-legged space creature.

MENU

*Turducken Burger

*Antipasti Pasta Salad

Curly Fries

OR

*Blackened Fish Burger

Baked Potato Salad

Summer Slaw

Our Father's Day went great and we hope yours did too! If you want the recipes to give your father a feast appropriate for his decade just email cloverfields.farm.ky@gmail.com!

Mother's Day

Easter

St. Patrick's Day

Valentines Day Sweets and Sweet Treats For You Sweetie

Thanksgiving Ideas