Kitchen Prep for Another Weekend of Sewing

I was expecting a package from Fabric Cafe yesterday with fabric to make another top. So, in anticipation of a piecing marathon, I did some kitchen preparation. This would allow me the most sewing time with the least kitchen activity to interrupt me.

We had a rotisserie chicken from Sam’s Club, so on Friday I took the bones & made almost 8 cups of Homemade Chicken Broth in my Pressure Pot. Using the broth and mostly the deboned thighs & legs, carrots, onion, celery and spices, I made 8 cups of Homemade 5 Minute Chicken Noodle Soup in my Pressure Pot using this recipe. It’s definitely a keeper. Cup of soup, half a sandwich and apple or pear should take care of lunches for a few days.

Pretty Chicken Broth makes yummy Chicken Noodle Soup

Then yesterday morning I filled the Slow Pot with potatoes, carrots, onion, celery & chuck roast along with dry french onion soup mix and a can of cream of onion soup. I was going to throw in a few frozen green beans the last hour of cooking but forgot.

This will provide the bulk of dinner for several days. Add in some bake ‘n serve garlic knots from Sam’s Club or frozen onion rings or quick to fix Blueberry Muffins and no one minds leftovers. Dinner made quick with little interruption to my sewing time.

Yummy muffins make any dinner special

Later in the week I’ll add some more vegetables to the rest of the leftovers in my Slow Pot making Vegetable Beef Soup & make some cornbread.

I love my cast iron skillet for making cornbread.

Finally, to make a quick meal, on Sunday, we will have frozen pizza. So with a little planning, some items from the freezer or pantry, and minimum of kitchen time, I have easy meals for almost a week. This gives me maximum time to dedicate to making these tops.

Another time I may use a Turkey Breast, a Family Pack of Chicken Breasts or a Pork Roast instead of the Chuck Roast. The Slow Pot & Pressure Pot are very helpful in minimizing kitchen time which frees up more time for sewing.

Best laid plans…you can guess what happened. My morning email from the Post Office said it would be delivered. Lately our mail, which usually comes between 10 AM & 2 PM, has been arriving late. Yesterday was no different. It came after 5 PM, and there was no package from Fabric Cafe.

So, what was I to do with a full day free to sew? Yes, you guessed it! I pulled out several projects that were just screaming to be finished. Yesterday I made four Envelope Pillowcases-two for our daughter & two for her friend.

16″ x 16″ Envelope Pillowcases-For our Daughter

For her friend

They really work up fairly fast, but (1) I did a little quilting on the horses before making the Pillowcases, and (2) I decided it might make a nice Tutorial. Writing notes & taking pictures took longer than making them. After some editing I’ll post it.

As I don’t expect the P.O. to deliver on Sunday and if it comes on Monday, it may arrive late, I won’t waste 2 days with meals mostly made. Can you say sewing marathon?

Do you have anything you do to help find sewing time. Hope you are getting some stitching done.

Happy Stitching

Quilt Mouse