Say-Very Sweet Things

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My sister and I were talking about this one cookies that my family used to make for any and all occasions back when we were kids. They’re an Italian, anise, dropped cookie topped with a thick butter-cream frosting.

After talking to my sister the other day, I got a craving for those cookies and got busy baking.

Along the years, I modified the family recipe just a bit to make them softer and sponge-like. The ones I remember from my childhood were a crunchy cookie similar to a biscotti before the second baking/toasting. Rather than a thick butter-cream frosting, I make a butter-cream glaze. I think the glaze looks prettier.

Whether it was pizzella, biscotti or these dropped cookies the recipe was always the same flavored with anise.

Heavenly!

If you crochet or knit, you know that there is always a stash of left-over yarn from other projects. I happened upon the Blooming Flower Cushion over at Attic 24 and thought it a good project using up left-over yarn. I remember my grandmother making similar pillows, but not as colorful. I don’t think there were as many brilliant colors of yarn in the past (30-40 years ago) as today. I could be wrong. I just don’t remember.

Not having a round pillow form, I sewed one using some muslin and fiber-fill. I made the form before I started crocheting so that I could measure how many rounds I needed to end.

In a previous post, I made a pair of finger-less gloves for my husband using some sports yarn that I had on hand. I had more than enough yarn left to make a pair for me. On mine, I crocheted-for one round-a dc cluster stitch around the cuffs and the tops. The color would not have been my first choice. I don’t know why I purchased such a color in numerous skeins.

I must have had an off-the-wall idea at one time.

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Keeping Warm

November 23, 2013

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By Liz

I love those vintage type pot holders. I remember, as a child, my mother had some that she hung as a decoration. They were just too pretty to use.

In addition to the two that I previously crocheted, I crocheted two more.

I used size 3 cotton and found the chart-pattern online. I like these two colors together.

Last year-using Red Heart® Heart & Sole with Aloe sock yarn and a size B crochet hook-I started a pair of fingerless gloves, for me, and quickly got bored and never finished them. I tucked them away in a draw out-of-sight/out-of-mind. The other day I happened upon them. I decided that I would finally finish them. After looking at the one that was almost finished, I finally remembered the pattern, (I really should keep a log of my patterns) then added rounds of half-fingers to finish.

I started the other one and, again, put them aside.

This picture really doesn’t do it justice. It looks ugly, but it fits-shall I say it- like a glove ! It’s snug without being tight and it’s not bulky or awkward.

While I was working on my gloves, I got an idea to crochet a pair, for my husband, using some sports yarn that I had on hand and an E crochet hook. This time, I would eliminate the half-fingers and just do a couple of rounds for the thumbs. I am not loving the color, but they will keep hubby’s hands warm when he works around the yard.

And…

…the other day I bottled my, homemade, cranberry liqueur. The cranberries had to soak in vodka for four weeks before I could finished and bottle the liqueur. I only made one batch this year. We made just enough for a one liter bottle and almost 2 jars. It will be ready to drink on Christmas Eve. The last time I made it was in 2009.

Cheers!

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Thank God For Dirty Dishes

November 12, 2013

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By Liz

Having some cotton yarn on hand, I crocheted three dish clothes.

I didn’t have any particular pattern in mind.

It is not that these patterns are unique, it is that I didn’t have a plan before starting each one.

If I say so myself, I do like the bright colors.

Thank God for dirty dishes,
They have a tale to tell.
While others may go hungry,
We’re eating very well.

When I was a child, my mother hung a little plate with that very poem. Today, I have that plate hanging on my wall near my kitchen sink. This plate, that I cherish, has to be over 50 years old. I found that these vintage plates are quite popular.

My cat, Luna was sitting in the front window inside of the house while I was taking pictures outside. I snapped a picture of her through the window.

I like how her colors are the same colors as the outside.

Look how well she blends in with the outdoors reflecting from the window.

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More WIPS Finished

November 4, 2013

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By Liz

I finished some of the things that I have been putting on hold.

I had this bright idea to make pins using sheets of felt then adding embroidery stitches and beads. I quickly got bored with that idea. I did manage to finish three.

I added some pin backs,

called it a day, and discovered that I just don’t like how they turned out.

Then I had another bright idea to crochet some snowflakes. I crocheted six and, again, I quickly got bored with that project. So, I set them aside, and finally finished them yesterday. I stiffened them with liquid fabric stiffener and sprinkled them with glitter. After about 24 hours, when they were dried and stiffened, I turned them over and sprayed the other side with some fabric stiffener (this time the spray kind) and sprinkled the other side with glitter.

It is hard to see the glitter in this picture, but they do glisten in the light.

Saturday night, failing to find something entertaining on TV, I crocheted this little turkey.

I found the pattern at: Craft Passion. The pattern calls for baby yarn and since I didn’t have any, I used worsted weight yarn and a larger hook. I glued a couple of magnets to the back and hung it on my front door. The beak and the snood, in the pattern, were made from felt, but I crocheted a beak and a snood. I wanted to crochet another one for the refrigerator, but quickly got bored with trying to finish this one.

I don’t know why I am having a hard time trying to find something that holds my interest lately. I know that I have been stressed for 3 solid years and everything I do, as far as crafting, seems useless and unnoticed. It is hard for someone to comprehend how someone can be so stressed for so long. I am quite astonished that I haven’t had a complete breakdown by now.

I will hold on and keep convincing myself that things will get better. Whether they do or not, I will keep hoping-I hope.

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Crazy Grannyghan And Stoop

October 29, 2013

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By Liz

A while back, I said I was going to finish some projects that I started then put aside. I, finally, finished this afghan a couple of weeks ago.

It’s a circle inside of a granny square, then framed with a granny square stitch. There isn’t a pattern for this because I made it up as I went along. It’s really easy, but monotonous. Or maybe, I just can’t relax and enjoy the task at hand.

We didn’t do much in the way of decorating for Halloween this year. We just put out a few lights inside our front porch or what I call the stoop.

Halloween just isn’t the same since commercialization took over every aspect of our imagination. I wanted to forgo decorating or giving out candy this year, but I was over-ruled.

So, we compromised where less is more-then-we-would-have-if-I-had-gotten-my-way.

Oh, well!

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Crocheted Pot Holders or Hot Mats

October 18, 2013

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By Liz

I am at a loss for words. What can I possibly say about the vintage-type pot holders/hot mats I crocheted, except to say, “I crocheted two vintage-type pot holders.”

I didn’t follow any pattern. These are just basic shapes, that most crocheters know, using cotton crochet thread, size 3, and a size 2 hook.

One I started with a round of dc, then the next round in cluster crochet to make it look like a flower.

The other one, I add a floral motif after it was finished.

For each pot holder, I crocheted 2 side. Then, I crocheted them together. One was crocheted together using a sc continuing with the main color then with the white, I did a long sc with a chain in between.

The square one, I sc them together with the main color, then I slip stitched around using white.

No excitement, no fanfare, just two crocheted vintage-type pot holder/hot mats crocheted by me.

The end.

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Black Bean Veggie Burgers

October 7, 2013

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By Liz

Again, I am on another quest to try to eat healthier. It has been a week and, so far, I am still succeeding. It is not the food, it is the cost of the healthier food and food in general. Especially, especially, if your family won’t even try any of the healthy dishes. It’s like having 2 separate grocery bills in one house.

I happened upon a recipe at No Meat Athlete for Veggie Burgers. We purchased a package of MorningStar Farms® Grillers Prime® Veggie Burgers. I do like them, but not the price. For four MorningStar patties the cost was $4.00.

From the Veggie Burger formula from No Meat Athlete, I was able to put together a black bean burger. I used Guiona and 2 tablespoons of sliced almonds for the texture. For the dry base I used oatmeal . For the liquid, I used liquid smoke and low-sodium soy sauce. For the spices I used Montreal steak seasoning (even thought the sodium content was a little to high for me), curry powder, chili powder, all spice, and black pepper. For the veggies, I used shredded carrots, onions, minced garlic-I sautéed the slice almonds with the veggies.

What helped with the cost is that I already had the majority of ingredients on hand save the black beans and liquid smoke. I was happy that when I was forming the burgers they kept the shape and didn’t fall apart.

Instead of the 18, golf ball sized, flattened burgers that No Meat Athlete suggested, I made 8 regular sized burgers.

I broke it all down and I got a calorie count of 210 per pattie before cooking. The MorningStar Farms® Grillers Prime® Veggie Burgers are 170 calorie each and are much smaller than the ones I made.

When I cooked them, I cooked them in a teaspoon of olive oil so they wouldn’t stick to the pan. I could have used olive oil cooking spray, but I forgot that I had some.

These were good, but I am still in pursuit to find the best homemade veggie burger out there. I still have 7 more of these black bean burgers in the freezer. I will have to eat the majority of these before I try another type.

Thus far, the best meatless main course I have eaten is my Lentil and Rice Meatloaf.

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Caramel and Apple Spells Autumn

September 27, 2013

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By Liz

I am, slowly, working on those projects that I have wanted to finish. I seem to have lost interest. But, most crafters will agree that ambitions run hot and cold.

Today I made Caramel Apple Cookies found at The Runaway Spoon.

The recipe said to bake 8-10 minutes. For me that wasn’t long enough. They didn’t cook in the middle and even after leaving them on the tray to cool completely, they fell apart. I left the next two trays of dough in the oven for 11-12 minutes. They came out perfect.

These cookies taste best when they are warm. Once the caramel hardens they become a little hard to chew. But, a few seconds in the microwave to soften the caramel and you have one delicious Autumn treat.

A nice cup of hot tea, a warm cookie, curled-up with a good book, and you have the perfect Autumn day.

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Handmade Overload

September 19, 2013

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By Liz

Having an overabundance of handmade articles that I made over the years, I have decided to take a break from producing any more yarn, paper, fabric, etc. items. Now, I am focusing on finishing up a couple of items that I am working on before I take a rest from crafting. There just isn’t enough interest for me to consider putting them all up for sale. How many family and friends can you gift all of your whims and impulses.

Crafting can get quite expensive. Especially, if money just isn’t there to indulge in supplies. I love to craft whether it be crocheting, sewing, paper crafts, woodworking, drawing, etc. but I feel that I am wasting resources-at this time-on meaningless notions. I have always had this drive to create and I don’t think it will ever go away. My skills with art, whether it be a good or bad outcome, is a lonely art for me. My family and friends don’t share my desire for crafting. While I was focusing on becoming an artisan, they were focusing on getting a life and making a living. In the end, I lost.

Besides, it doesn’t help one’s social standings when one is an introvert-now, does it!

However, I know that I will be back to doing what I love to do in time. It is just a part of who I am.

For now, I will catch-up on my reading, unclutter my crafting room, put some order to my supplies and finish up the projects I have been working on. On my Kindle and on my coffee table, I have stored many books that I want to read. I really want to get to them.

A couple of weeks ago I did read “A Fine Romance“ by Susan Branch. It was a light read but a good book.

Susan Branch is a self-taught artist and her books are “homemade” as in, watercolored and completely hand-written. I must say that I loved all the illustrations and reading about her ocean voyage to England and all the her discoveries ‘through the historical homes and gardens of art and literary heroes, along ancient footpaths, through wildflower meadows and fields of lambs, into tea rooms, pubs and antique stores.’ I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book sitting on my front porch, in my white rocker, while relaxing with a cup of tea.

Right now I am reading, “As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto“. It is a collection of letters written between Julia and her pen pal Avis DeVoto during the time Julia was living in France while trying to get her book ”Mastering the Art of French Cooking” off the ground.

“An important piece of culinary history through the never-before-seen letters between these two witty women.”
—New York Post

“A reminder of the power of persistence, of a dream or a friendship, and of the lost art of writing a letter.”
—Oregonian

“This book feels like chick lit … of an exalted order … Two housewives, each in her 40s … let rip about all kinds of things, from shallots, beurre blanc and the misery of dried herbs to politics, aging and sex … Funny and forthright opinions about food and life.”
—New York Times

If you loved Julia, or if you are a foodie and want to do a little light reading, I recommend this book.

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Autumn Banner

August 27, 2013

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By Liz

Looking forward to cooler weather, while getting a little ahead of myself, I made a banner to celebrate my favorite season-Autumn.

I made the design template using my psp7 program.

I printed the template using light-weight card stock, cut them out then I laminated each and cut around the pattern. I could have laminated the whole sheet after I printed, but I didn’t want to waste laminate-it is so expensive. Of course, lamination is optional.

If you like this idea, I have the templates for download. It is in a .pdf format. You can download it here or click on the instructions below. You will need Adobe Reader to view and to download these templates.