We really love our flannel sheets during the cold winter months.  We had flannel sheets on every bed in the house except our toddler bed.  I searched online and in several stores for toddler bed flannel sheets with no luck.  Finally, I decided to try making them myself and it was much easier than I thought it would be.  I am by no means an expert seamstress and I managed to put together a pretty good set of sheets.  If you have access to a sewing machine and can sew a straight line, you can handle this do-it-yourself project.  

To make this sewing project even easier, I purchased a flannel crib sheet on Amazon for the bottom sheet.  All I had to do was make a simple top sheet and a pillow case.  I already had some flannel I had purchased for baby gifts on sale a couple of years ago and never used, so I put it to good use.  I didn't take any notes as I was making the sheets, but I think 3 yards of fabric should be plenty for a top sheet and a pillow case.  

I used a toddler bed sheet as a pattern and left room at each end to turn the fabric under and make a nice hem.  I used the entire width of the fabric b/c I needed all of it to make the sheet wide enough.  This was nice because I only had to cut one end of the fabric.  

Next I turned under each side and pinned them in place.  My hem is very small here so that I could get as much width as possible.  

Then I sewed the hem in place removing the pins as I went.  

I sewed the sides first and then the ends, leaving a larger hem on the ends.  Top sheet complete. 

I used a standard pillowcase as a pattern to cut the fabric for the pillowcase.  Fold the fabric before cutting and you only have to cut and sew three sides of the pillowcase.  

When you cut the fabric for the pillowcase, cut it slightly larger than the pattern pillowcase on three sides and a lot larger on one end so that you can make a nice hemmed edge on the open end.  

Turn under and sew a nice wide hem on the end of the fabric where the pillowcase opening will be.  

After you have made the hem for the opening of the pillowcase, pin the side and end that still need to be sewn.  Make sure to put right sides together.  Sew the end and side.  Turn pillowcase right side out and then you are done.  

Cozy Toddler Bed Flannel Sheets

My three year old has only eight students in his class so I thought it would be really easy to make play-dough Valentines for his Valentine party tomorrow.  I picked up a set of eight small Glad containers on clearance for $1 and they were the perfect size.  I made some really simple labels so my son's name would be on his Valentines.  And it only took one batch of homemade play-dough.  This was so easy to do and I think the kids will love them.  

Steak Ingredients:
1 lb. cube steak (4 pieces)
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
1/2 tsp. creole (cajun) seasoning
salt
pepper
oil 


Gravy Ingredients:
3 Tbsp. pan grease (add butter if you don't have enough grease left in the pan)
3 Tbsp. flour
1 to 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 to 1 1/2 cups milk

Directions:

1.  Mix the egg with 3/4 cup milk.

2.  Mix 1 1/2 cups flour with the creole seasoning and seasoned salt.

3.  Salt and pepper each side of the cube steaks.  Then dredge each steak in the milk mixture, then the flour mixture.  Dredge in the milk then flour again.

4.  Heat skillet at medium heat and coat with about 1/4 inch oil.  When oil is hot, place the steaks in the skillet and cook until browned on each side.  (4-5 minutes a side)

Feel free to add more creole seasoning while the steaks are cooking.

5.  When the steaks are done, place them on a cooling rack over a pan.  This will prevent then from sitting in grease and keep them a little crispier while you make the gravy.  If you are concerned about them getting too cool, feel free to place them in a warm oven.  

6.  Leave about 3 Tbsp. grease in your skillet.  If you don't have enough grease, add a couple Tbsp. butter.  Stir 3 Tbsp. flour into the fat to make a roux.  Cook and stir until golden brown.  

7.  Add chicken broth to deglaze the pan, then add milk.  Use more liquid to make a thinner gravy and less to make a thicker gravy.  Add more salt and pepper as needed.  Cook at a low heat until desired thickness is reached.  

Serve over country fried steak.

Simple and delicious.  These crispy, savory potatoes pair perfectly with sweet applesauce.  

Make 10-12 potato cakes

Ingredients:
2 cups cold mashed potatoes
1 egg
salt 
pepper 
garlic powder
olive oil
butter

Directions:
1.  Mix mashed potatoes with the egg, a little salt, freshly ground pepper, and garlic powder.  

2.  Heat your skillet to a medium heat.  Drizzle some olive oil in the skillet and add about 1/2 Tbsp. butter. 

3.  Shape the potato mixture into patties and flatten in the skillet.  Salt and pepper the potato cakes.  Then cover the skillet and cook for 5 to 7 minutes.

4.  Make sure the potato cakes have had a chance to brown and form a crispy crust before trying to flip them.  If they are not crispy, they can crumble.  If they crumble, just smash them back down and cook some more.  Flip the potato cakes.  Add a little more oilve oil and butter to the skillet.  Salt and pepper again.  Recover and cook again for 5 to 7 minutes.  

Once they are crispy on both sides, they are done.  Serve with applesauce.