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Quilt Group Friday...

I had such high hopes of having a quilt (or two) to show at my quilt group meeting this past week, but alas, my brand-new-fancy-sewing-machine that I USED to love, has been giving me fits. I can sew for about 30 seconds before the thread breaks  - and it doesn't matter WHAT kind of thread is in the machine - so projects that were meant to be finished in time for Christmas are still piled up, oy vey!  I've had my new machine serviced, have hauled it into the sewing machine store to ask for help many, many times, last Saturday being the last time I was there, only to be told, in not so many words, that it was "user error."  Then the sewing machine sales lady tried to talk me into trading my machine in on an even better, bigger, more expensive model.  Well guess what, I threw a fit.  Yep.  I had myself a big royal kanniption fit right in the middle of the sewing machine store.  So big, in fact, that I can never go there again!!!  I can count on one hand how many fits I've thrown in my life...and still have my middle finger left...but I hit the breaking point when the sewing machine lady went into her sales pitch, disregarding everything I had said, and told me for only $5,499 I could take home a new machine that would purr like a kitten!  I might have foamed a bit at the mouth as I was heaving my machine out the door, screaming at the top of my lungs, "I hate kittens!!!  Do you think I'm some kind of Idiot?!?!?  I bring my machine in for help and you tell me my thread is bad and then you want to sell me a new machine?!?!?!"   I'm sure they're still laughing.  But it doesn't end there...no, I went home and told the mister about my fit and there is nothing he loves more than fits...so he said we would get some satisfaction!!!  I told him we had to go to another store, though, because I was afraid they would call the cops on me if we went back to the same place!  We got to the 2nd store and the mister milled about while I stated, as calmly as I could, my concerns and issues.  I could have sworn the sales lady was listening when I told her my machine just didn't work right, and I was very unhappy with it and could she help me figure things out so I could get back to quilting??   She was very attentive and nodded her head and said she got it, but would I just please sit down and try this other machine, it has all the bells and whistles my machine has but is super easy to sew on and she said breaking thread would never be an issue!!  So, wanting to be normal and nice, I sat down and began to sew...It purrrrred along nicely and the sales lady began to blather on about how lucky I was to be there that day, they were having an unadvertised SALE!  I could trade my machine for the one I was sewing on and would be given a 20% discount for their special one day sale, and 20% off because it was a floor model, and $500 off for being last years model, and she would give me $1,500 for trading in my machine...Godfrey, they would end up paying ME!!!  I sewed away on the newer, fancier machine, and it was great and easy to use and the sales lady had me under her spell, telling me I could take home this new machine that day, wouldn't ever have thread trouble again!  The mister was all pumped up, "If this is what you want, get it!" he said!  Everyone was all smiles.  And then, the sales lady said, "So with all the discounts and trade-in deductions, you would ONLY have to pay $3,499.00, what do you think, great deal, right?"  Coincidently, $3,499 is exactly what my fancy-schmancy machine that doesn't sew cost me!  Well, it happened so fast I didn't have time to stop myself and neither did the mister...I stood up, and right there, in front of everyone, and had myself another fit!  The mister grabbed the sleeve of my jacket and slowly pulled me out the door as I was frothing at the mouth.  So much for getting some satisfaction!  It was not a pretty sight, I'll admit, but really, she didn't listen to a word I said and just wanted to sell me a new machine!!!  Now there are two sewing machine shops in Seattle that I can never go in again.  

 

 

Our meeting was at Helen's beautiful home and she still had her Christmas quilts out so, of course, I had to take pictures of them for you to see!  Helen has such a great way of using fabrics and piecing blocks together - she never uses patterns, these are all her own creations.  Sorry this one is blurry...Helen used a great Christmas border fabric as one of the rows in this quilt, I've used it in one of mine and still have some left - wonder where it's buried?!

This quilt of Helen's has her three signature blocks, houses, trees and stars - she's a whiz-bang with those blocks!

Trees again - and flying geese - Helen is definitely not afraid of triangles! 

Yes, I know it's sideways, but I have tried a half-dozen times to get the pictures going the right direction and I have gave up...you'll just have to turn your head!  This quilt was a group project - as in we all made and received blocks to make a quilt for ourselves just like Helen's - except none of our quilts are the same.  I love the one I have, it's my very favorite Christmas quilt because when I put it out each year I think about the women who made those blocks for me - especially the ones who have moved away.  I miss you girls!!!  Come BACK!!

This orange peel quilt made by Stephanie was all hand-appliqued and Terry did the quilting - love the circles!  And I really love the colors in this quilt!

This blurry picture is also Stephanie's quilt - although we all said it looked like a Marsha quilt!  Wait, this might not be Stephanie's - I'm not sure - maybe it is Marsha's!!!  This is my kind of quilt - quick and easy to piece, or as some say, down and dirty!

Denise paper-pieced this quilt...so you know right there it's above my pay-grade!  I've done my LAST paper-pieced quilt but I SO love seeing what Denise makes - all of those intricate little pieces, sewn in a way that makes my brain hurt!  Love this!

Think of this post as an I.Q. test...in how many pictures is the little Christmas plate on the table going the right direction?!?  Godfrey!  You know those Apple commercials where they show cool pictures and there are no words and then at the end they say, "Shot with my iPhone 6" - maybe they would be interested in my iPhone pics?!?  This is another of Denise's creations, all finished and ready to be snuggled!

Neva was the lucky girl who spied this quilt at the Block Party Quilt Show in November...it was all pieced and the backing came with it!  You have to get there early to find stuff like this - way to go Neva!  And way to go Denise for making her go early!

Sweet baby quilt made by Helen - now if only someone would have a baby!! 

Another beautiful quilt made by Helen - and I think both of these little pink quilts are hand-quilted...hard to tell in a picture, especially one that is sideways!  If only I was normal or had a brain or a teenager living at home to help me!

It does seem to be The Helen Show today...this is Helen's orange peel quilt - hand-quilted, too, it's a beauty!

As we would be talking, Helen would wander off and reappear with another Christmas quilt.  This Christmas present quilt was also a group project - we all made gift blocks...mine are still in the "aging process" but hope springs eternal...IF I can ever sew for more than 30 seconds at a time and IF I can ever find time to sew, I will dig out my gift blocks and maybe by next Christmas I'll have a new quilt!!  Stranger things have happened!

This quilt was made by Barbara...just turn your head, give your neck a stretch!  Notice the big Santa panel in the quilt? So cute!  And then notice the background "tree" fabric between the row with the houses - very clever, no?  Barbara made a quilt just like this for our gift exchange a year ago and she decided she wanted one for herself so she made another!

Wow!  A picture going the right direction!  Okay, so you're probably on to me...I wanted to provide you with an opportunity to stretch/exercise while you're sitting at the computer!  This sweet heart quilt is...Barbara's...I think!  It looks like her to me!  I can't remember - sheesh, I've got pictures going this way and that, Rosie pestering me to throw the pig and the mister is down the hall banging on the wall - which can only mean a giant mess is in my future...so let's just say it's Barbara's quilt and call it good!  No great!  Let's call it great!

This is Diane's Valentine quilt and if you click on the picture and make it larger you'll be able to see the beautiful blanket stitching around each heart - way to go Diane!!

This beautiful quilt belongs to Barbara - it's her Valentine bulls-eye quilt.  I have one just like it - this was another group project and one I actually finished, too!  It was a buggar to make though...sew, cut, pull-out hair, sew, cut, pull-out hair...but eventually it was finished and my hair grew back and I love my quilt!  I love group projects - it's a great way to get a great quilt!

It seems only fitting that we end our show today with another of Helen's quilts - and it's going the right direction!  Every time I see this sweet heart quilt I tell myself I'm going to make one - little hand-appliqued hearts, it's just wonderful...maybe this is the year I make one?!?  Hahahaha, I crack myself up!

Okay kids, that's it - wasn't it fun?  After our show and tell we had a fabulous lunch and quite by accident I brought up the subject of politics.  I ran out to my car to get some meds and on my way back in I noticed someone had a bumper sticker that said #not normal.  I thought it was funny and I also thought I needed one of those!  So I mentioned it when I got back to the table...and was informed that under the words #notnormal was the word resist...in my head I was laughing because I'm thinking, yeah, it's good to resist being not normal!!!  THEN I was informed that it referred to Trump and HIM being not normal. Annnnnnd the light came on,  I'm a little slow up on the uptake.  So that started us on the political talk...and now I fear we will have to ban any talk of Trump at our meetings so our heads don't explode or put thimbles in our ears! 

Really though, I love the idea of a bumper sticker that says "not normal" because that could warn everyone and maybe even get me some sympathy!  #notnormalnan...even better!

 

 

 

 

Burned Toast Soup...

Anyone who is trying to lose weight need not read any further.  Anyone who is diabetic needs to click away.  Anyone who has heart issues or who is gluten-intolerant, hit delete.  Now, if there is anyone left...anyone who loves comfort food that is truly comforting, anyone who isn't afraid of a bowl full of carbs, anyone who is willing to risk clogging an artery or two, anyone who has a hankering for the yummiest of yummy soups on a cold, wintry day, well then, this one's for you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let me assure you, I'm not being overly dramatic...this soup is amazing.  And yes, it's made with burned toast - the more burned the better - so you don't even need to be a good cook to make this!  I know it sounds improbable but when you combine bacon (hello! now I've got you hooked it's time I reel you in!) with bread and Dijon and butter...and you add stock and milk, you've got a mouthful of savory, soupy, deliciousness.  Deliciousness as a noun, good clean grammar fun right there! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was in the middle of preparing for a baby shower (see previous post) at my home - so much to do, so little time - baking, cleaning, cobweb detection, removing Rosie's buried bones in the sofa, washing little fingerprints off windows, all the usual stuff, when I checked my email and found this recipe in my inbox.  Like a gift from God, it was.  Burned Toast Soup.  The name was just too intriguing - and that was all it took for me to abandon my duties, yes, drop everything on my to-do list, and make this soup. 

 

 

It was the best decision I made that entire day.  Deciding to eat two desserts at 10 pm that night was definitely not the best decision, asking the mister about the book he was reading before going to sleep was not the best decision, he talked about it for 20 minutes before coming up for air.  Earlier in the day I had decided to take Rosie for a walk in my slippers and that was not the best decision, I slipped on the hill in the park and slid for a fair piece before being stopped by a tree.  Nothing bruised but my ego.  So making this soup, and then sitting for a full 15 minutes to enjoy spoonful to the fullest, well, as you can clearly see, it was the best decision I could have made!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the pictures above you'll see my toast isn't as burned as it could have been...my mistake...it's much better soup when the toast is really blackened!!!  So go ahead and set off your smoke alarms, your taste buds will thank you!  This recipe said it makes 4 servings, but they aren't big servings, about 3/4's of a cup each, and really, that's all you will need as it is very thick and filling, like a chowder.  But if you're feeding people with big appetites, you know, loggers and fishermen and those of that ilk, then by all means, double the batch and fill those bowls!

Burned Toast Soup - Adapted from Tejal Rao, via The New York Times

12 pieces of bacon (I used the precooked bacon you can buy at Costco, in the big package, or you can find it at Safeway in smaller and more expensive packages, and if you haven't purchased it, DO!!!  It's life-changing!  You can have bacon almost immediately without any greasy mess or having your house/hair/clothes smelling like bacon.  Of course, you can use regular bacon, too.)

2 cups chicken stock

3 thick slices of sourdough bread, about 5 1/2 ounces

1 cup milk

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon Madiera or Sherry or sherry vinegar

4 tablespoons butter

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

In a small stockpot or Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until cooked through but not crisp.  Reserve a few pieces of bacon for garnish.  Pour the chicken stock over the bacon, bring to a simmer and remove from heat.  Toast the bread slices under a broiler or in a toaster, allowing them to blacken on the edges and turn deep brown all over.  Add toast to the stock, ripping it up if it does not fit the pot.  Let stand for 10 minutes so the toast can soak up the stock. 

Meanwhile, heat the milk in the microwave until it is hot, then add it to the pot.  Add the mustard, madiera or sherry, season with salt and pepper.  Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth or transfer to a blender to puree, then return to the pot.  Heat gently.  When hot, whisk in the butter until it disappears into the soup.  Add salt and pepper to taste, garnish with reserved bacon.  Check the batteries in your defibrillator and enjoy!  Serves 4. 

Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse...

In the middle of a very busy day filled with bad news, I needed something fun...so I dropped everything and made Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse.  It was either that or take drugs or drink or buy a one-way ticket...none of those ideas really seemed like good options but mousse is always a good choice.  I made mousse.  Not only did I make mousse, but I made and served it to my friends, without tasting the final product...oh, I tasted the mousse, amazing.  I tasted the whipped cream, divine.  But I didn't taste the pretzel topping because I know what pretzels taste like and I wanted to save that "bite" for when I could sit and savor it all.  My friends arrived, I served them the mousse, explained how it was made with Cookie Butter/Speculoos and told them how wonderful it was and as we all grabbed a spoon, my friend Julie said, "What is that I'm tasting, garlic?"  GARLIC?!?!?!  What the #&#!  There is NO garlic in the recipe...and then I realized what I had done...I grabbed the bag of Everything Pretzels...the ones covered with sesame seeds, onion, black pepper and GARLIC!!!  Godfrey!!!  It was, in a word, disgusting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The minute my friends left I threw out the mousse, which no one ate. Then I set about making Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse with Butter Pretzels.  I tasted every step along the way...salivating at the sweet/salty combination that I so dearly love and I'm quite certain has curative properties.  Because I felt cured.  After I had finished making my 2nd batch, I sat down, put my feet up and slowly ate and enjoyed every bite...practically licked the glass...and then I wrapped up those babies and delivered them to my friends so they would know what Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse was supposed to taste like!!!

 

Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse is unique and rather addictive...as in, make a double batch, you'll want seconds.   It's unique because it's made with Cookie Butter, also called Speculoos, which looks just like peanut butter, but instead of being made from peanuts, it's made from thin, very crunchy, caramelized Dutch/Belgian cookies.   Trader Joe's carries a really great tasting one and you can find Speculoos at most upscale grocery stores, or Amazon.  This dessert is quick and easy to make, takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, which, when you think about it is pretty amazing - 30 minutes to have a dessert that people will rave about...as long as you don't put garlic in it!  I made my 3rd batch of this mousse for a baby shower I hosted for a friend's daughter.  Smooth, sweet, crunchy, salty, buttery, creamy...seriously, it's got it all goin' on!  I'll give it a solid 5 on the Ol' Dang Meter, this one is dang, dang, dang, dang, dang good!

Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse - Adapted From Kate Wood of The Wood and Spoon

For the Pretzel Crumb topping:

 

4 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cup pretzels (You can use regular pretzels, sticks, or twists, but I really like Snyders Butter Snap Pretzels)

 

For the Mousse:

 

8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature

1/2 cup cookie butter/Speculoos

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped, divided

 

For the Whipped Cream:

 

 

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

 

Prepare the Pretzel Crumb Topping:  Put pretzels in a Zip-Lock style bag and roughly crush.  To the bag of pretzels, add the melted butter, brown sugar and salt and mix well by manipulating bag with your hands.  Set aside.

 

Prepare the Mousse:  In the bowl of an electric mixer, with the whisk attachment, mix the cream cheese and cookie butter/Speculoos, scraping down the sides as necessary, until smooth.  Add in the sugar and vanilla and beat until well combined.

 

Prepare the Whipped Cream:  In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.  (This whipped cream is for the mousse, do not add the sugar or vanilla to this - yet.) Fold 1/3 of the whipped cream into the cookie butter, making sure no streaks are visible.  Once combined, fold in another 1/3 of the whipped cream, blending until no streaks are visible.  To the remaining whipped cream, add 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla and beat until incorporated.  Set aside.

 

Assemble the Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse Cups:  Using a Zip-Lock style bag, fill the bag with the mousse mixture, snip off a little bit of the corner (about 1/2-inch) and pipe the mousse into your serving dishes (little glass jars or glass ramekins are great to use to you can see all the different components).  Sprinkle a heaping tablespoon of the pretzel crumb topping over top of the mousse.  Top with a dollop of the sweetened whipped cream and if you have any pretzel topping left, sprinkle on top and serve. 

 

These can be stored, covered, in the fridge for up to 3 days but are best eaten right away as the pretzel crumbs will lose their crunch over time.  Do not use low fat or unsalted pretzels, you want the salt!  Also, avoid using large pretzel rods or nuggets, just stick with your basic salted pretzel or find Snyders Butter Snap Pretzels!

 

Thought I'd better show you some pics of the shower...it turned out really nice, at least, that's my humble opinion!  Along with the Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse I served Bimini Key Lime Pie Shots and Meringues with Chocolate Ganache and raspberries.  We also had a cheese and crackers and fruit, for those people who have sworn off sugar...really, what is the point of living if you can't have sugar?!?!  I just don't get it and I'm diabetic!!! 

 

See my sweet little Rosie?  She is such a good little helper, anything that drops on the ground she happily cleans up for me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We didn't play any games, they are so passe', no?  Instead, I made everyone decorate a onesie for the new mom-to-be.  They all turned out so cute!  The mister came home while the shower was going on, he looked into the dining room and saw the onesies across the window and said, "That better not be permanent."  Always quick with a clever comment...whatta guy!  I rather liked it! 

Does this wreath look creepy to you?  I was told by some neighborhood kids it was creepy...naked dolls tied to a wreath by the neck is creepy???  Oh whatever!  I was very proud when a friend said to me, "It looks like you!"  Yes, I suppose that sums me up nicely...naked dolls and binkies, with a bow. 

 

It does make me smile though... 

 

Wishing Brooke and Paul and very healthy and happy baby girl, that arrives on time!

 

Beet Rosti...

Rosti is a common Swiss dish, usually served at breakfast and it is very much like our American hash browns.  Beet Rosti and has same texture as hash browns, same fried goodness, just made with grated beets and not potatoes.  Yes, it's January and I said Fried.  I'm not on the Diet Train yet...I'm still making and enjoying all the recipes I didn't get a chance to make during the holidays!  I should be through with my holiday baking sometime in March so I'll start my annual New Year's diet then, or April or May.  We'll just have to see how it goes!   

 

 

 

 

 

After eating a slice of Beet Rosti, and enjoying every forkful, I went about my business, cleaning up, waiting on the mister, you know, my usual nightly routine.  Later that evening as I was getting ready for bed, donning my peignoir (are you old enough to even know what that is?!  Allow me...a peignoir, pronounced pen-wah, is like a robe, it's usually made of sheer fabric, like chiffon...my peignoir is made of flannel...sigh...) I went into the bathroom to finish my nightly ritual and without going into too many details...I walked out of the bathroom and told the mister something serious was wrong with me.  He pointed to the TV, looked exasperated that I would talk DURING his show but replied, "And you couldn't have had this happen last week before the end of the year?!?!"  You know, it's all about deductibles!  I told him I had blood in my urine - a lot of blood.  He asked me what that meant - well duh, obviously I was dying of kidney cancer!  How could it mean anything else?!?!?  Everyone knows red urine is cause for alarm!!!  The mister, so supportive and concerned said, "Great, right outta the gate you're running up the operating ratio!"  I ignored his tender words and said kiss my arse you freak.  I picked up the iPad and typed what does blood in the urine mean?  Blood in the urine is always a symptom of something serious...get to the doctor...update the will, plan the funeral, buy the plot or the vase, yes go with cremation because who visits graves any more, especially in winter...UNLESS ONE HAS EATEN BEETS!!  And just like that I went from dying of kidney cancer to perfect health! 

 

 

When beets are boiled in water, as they usually are when they are cooked, the water turns dark red as the beets lose some color.  When beets are grated and fried, not cooked in water, they retain all of their color which is why after eating them, you might think you're dying of kidney cancer...think of this as a Public Service Announcement - I just wanted you to be aware it's a possibility!  But please don't let this stop you from making this dish!!!  It's perfect for breakfast - shred some potatoes in with the beets - then call it Beet Hash Browns!  It's perfect for lunch with a mix of fresh greens on top - Beet Rosti Salad!  It's perfect with dinner served with a dollop of sour cream and a bowl of soup or salad...it's versatile, so easy to make, looks impressive and it is a very pretty color! 

 

 

 

 

 

It looks like a big pancake, no?  And really, that's what it is, a beet pancake - crunchy and caramelized on the outside, tender and sweet on the inside - just dang delicious.  IF there is any left the next day, it is mighty good eaten cold, straight from the fridge!  With just a hint of rosemary, salt, pepper and a little flour, plain ol' sugar beets become a really wonderful treat.  You can also use different colored beets...orange or yellow beets, heck, mix them altogether!  Think of all the different colors you can make your urine!

Beet Rosti - Adapted from The New York Times Recipe of the Day by Mark Bittman

 2 lbs. beets (3 very large or 4 to 6 medium)

2 teaspoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1/2 cup flour

3 tablespoons butter

fresh rosemary for garnish (optional)

Sour cream for serving, (optional)

Trim beets, and peel them as you would potatoes; grate them in a food processor or by hand.  Begin preheating a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium heat.  

Toss grated beets in bowl with rosemary, salt and pepper.  Add about half the flour; toss well, add rest of flour, and toss again. 

Put 2 tablespoons of the butter in skillet, heat until it begins to turn nut-brown.  Scrape beet mixture into skillet and press with a spatula to form a round.  Over medium to medium-high heat, the pancake should sizzle.  Keep heat moderate so it doesn't cook too quickly and burn the sugary outside, leaving the inside raw.  Shake the pan occasionally and continue to cook until the bottom of pancake is nicely crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes.  Slide pancake onto a plate, top with another plate and invert the two plates.  Add remaining tablespoon of butter to skillet, then return pancake to skillet.  Keep cooking, adjusting heat if necessary, until other side is browned and crisp, another 10 minutes or so.  Remove from skillet, garnish with fresh sprigs of rosemary.  Cut into wedges, serve hot or at room temperature.  Serve with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.  Serves 4 to 6.

 

 For Valentine's Day, how about making heart shaped Beet Rosti?  Either one big heart or use a cookie cutter to make smaller hearts - IF Cupid hits you with an arrow and you feel so compelled!

Welsh Rarebit...

No rabbits were used/harmed in the making of this delicious, toasty-cheese snack.   Rarebit is pronounced like a Northern Southerner would say rabbit and the word rarebit is often substituted for rabbit.  It's all a bit confusing when you consider this is not a meat dish, it's nothing more than a cheese sauce but a very delectable one at that!  Speaking of confusing...the mister asked me to be sure to let him know how much I earned this past year.  Beginning January 1st the mister is consumed with the state of our taxes.  He likes to think about them, talk about them but until April 15th he doesn't actually do anything about them - other than stew.  He's mastered Tax stewing, if only that were edible and deductible!  So when he asked me about my earnings, I wasn't sure how to respond, because while I do work for the mister, he doesn't pay me...well that's not entirely true, as I have confessed before, I have the same deal Donald Trump made with Ivana years ago; I get paid $1 a year and all the dresses I want.  You might think that's a pretty sweet deal but a buck just doesn't go as far as it used to and I don't wear dresses!  I asked the mister what JOB he thought I was working to provide earnings and he said, "You know, you're always off doing crap, taking dinner places, don't you get paid for that?"  Once again, I had to explain to the mister what a VOLUNTEER is...not a Tennessee Volunteer, a team with a losing streak, but a person who offers to help out and in return is paid with a smile.   How could he not know that??  I tell you, he is bucking for a Marital Section 8!  He mumbled something about having all kinds of deductions that he would now not be able to use because I was a volunteer - thankfully his knuckles didn't scratch the hardwood as he scurried off.  And people think I'm the dumb one.  Sheesh!

Okay, let's get to the making of this very simple yet sophisticated cheese toast.  (I was certain I had posted this recipe before, because I make this several times during the winter months, but I couldn't find hide nor hare of it!)  

 

Welsh Rarebit is a thick cheese sauce, like a Bechamel Sauce, and it's made with cheese, of course, and beer and spices.  It's spread quite thickly over crusty,  toasted bread and then placed under the broiler until it's bubbly hot...I'm telling you straight, it's dang good!  If you put an egg on top (which of course I wouldn't because I don't eat eggs) then it's called a Buck Rabbit or a Golden Buck and if you serve it with tomato soup it's called a Blushing Bunny!  You can read all about Welsh Rarebit on Wikipedia  - this traditional British dish has a very long and complicated history!

I've made just a few teensy-weensy changes to Mark Bittman's recipe - I use non-alcoholic beer because the beer flavor is not as intense (think beer-cheese soup like they serve in MinneSNOWta and Wisconsin, and you'll have an idea of why this is so loved!)  The darker the beer the stronger the flavor, so if you use a dark ale, like Bittman suggests, it will blow your taste bud's minds!

 

Welsh Rarebit also makes a great appetizer - just cut each toast into small pieces and serve.  Your guests will not be able to stop eating them so make a double batch.  You can see in the picture that I didn't stir the rarebit until it was completely smooth - I made an executive decision, one I don't regret, and decided to leave some larger pieces of cheese.  I recommend you do the same.

 

 

 

Welsh Rarebit -  Adapted From Mark Bittman, The New York Times

1 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

1 tablespoon mustard powder

1/2 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste

3/4 cup beer, or ale (or use near beer, like I do, it provides the beer flavor without the alcohol, an ale or dark beer will have a more pronounced flavor)

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, or to taste

1 pound Cheddar cheese (or other good semi-hard cheese, like Comte or Gruyere or a mixture of cheeses), grated

salt and pepper to taste

4 to 8 lightly toasted pieces of bread (use a good bread, French bread sliced thick works great)

Put butter in a saucepan over medium heat and, as it melts, stir in flour.  Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and very fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes.  Stir in mustard and cayenne, then whisk in beer and Worcestershire sauce.  When mixture is uniform, turn heat to low and stir in cheese, again stirring until smooth.  Remove from heat and pour into a board contain (like a rimmed plate) to set.  At this point you can refrigerate for up to two days.  After mixture has set and cooled to room temperature, spread thickly on toast and put under broiler until bubbly and edges of toast are crisp.  Serve immediately.  Serves 4 to 8, as a side/snack, depending on how many pieces and how big the bread is sliced.  Served with a nice green salad or soup and this makes a great dinner!

 

 

 

The 11th Day of Christmas...

It's almost over - just need the Fat Lady to sing and I'm warming up my vocals!  Every day from Thanksgiving to New Year's to the 11th day of Christmas has been filled with fun...even those two weeks of the flu - I kid you not, it was the best holiday season we've ever had...well, except that we didn't have the grandkids (but they were here on Thanksgiving and helped me pick our Christmas tree) or my parents - that was very sad for me - and for the first time EVER we didn't have anyone here on Christmas morning (and I might still be crying about that!)  No ONE but me, the mister and Rosie...it was kind of hard to be alone, I missed all the chaos and merry-making but we did our best to make the best of it and it somehow worked!  The boy and his bride showed up in the afternoon and that's when Christmas really began!

I just wanted to show you a bit of the fun before Christmas becomes too distant a memory - from the Seattle Wheel all lit up in red and green (I promise it was, just can't see the true colors here) to the giant Gingerbread Houses at the Sheraton - an annual favorite tradition for everyone and a first for little Sophie, my new best friend!  This year's theme was Harry Potter and they were spectacular!  I loved them so much I went home and made myself another gingerbread house...curiously, it didn't turn out anywhere nearly as spectacular - and I even spelled the word Christmas wrong!!  Thanks to the new app, Catchy, I was able to take pictures of Santa in every room of our house!  With the help of our neighbors, the Tantillo's, we decided to throw a last minute party for our neighbors so I've included pics of our Christmas Eve feast.  The mister, who was in his usual Grinch-mode, was thrilled when the last of our guests left at 7:15 pm to go home to do their own Christmas Eve traditions!  He claimed it the best party ever since it lasted all of two hours!  I got to see a real live reindeer and I would swear that he winked at me...yes, the reindeer and I had a moment... and it was the 20th year (I think) of the live Nativity at our church, where our youth performed outside in the bitter cold!!  It's our tradition to have Homemade spaghetti and meat-a-balls on Christmas day and this year I made the boy MAKE the pasta - and now I think that will have to be an annual tradition, too!  We had left-over desserts from our Christmas Eve feast but even so, I had to make a new one on Christmas day...SO many desserts it was embarrassing...I might just have some kind of dessert syndrome!  I got to sit on the REAL Santa's lap, and over the course of three days I made 650 caramels (re-read the line about the dessert syndrome) and somehow found the time to host a wee gathering for some old friends.  Then there was the decorating...which continued right up until Christmas Day!  I kept finding things in the Christmas boxes in the garage that screamed at me to be put out for all to see - and to think I was trying to go "minimal" this year!  Ha!  Along with you, there was the shopping and the wrapping and the mailing of gifts - all I can tell you about that is the Mailpost made a tidy little profit off of our pile of packages!  Sheesh!!!  Gifts cards for everyone next year and I mean that!! 

     

             

2016 was not the best year for our family - we had a lot of ups and downs - several hospitalizations, three surgeries and we maxed out our insurance deductible and out of pocket expenses! I'm hoping not to see one doctor in 2017! And that is my New Year wish for you, too! Stay healthy and warm and get going on NEXT year's Christmas list now! You've only got 354 days left!

Quilt Group Friday...

Our Christmas quilt group meeting is the most anticipated meeting of the year for me...always great food, great gifts and great entertainment!  This year I was not disappointed, each gift that was unwrapped and subsequently fought over and I would have loved to come home with all of them!  We have simple rules for our gift exchange:  a gift can be "touched" 3 times before it's frozen.  The person opening the gift has the 1st touch. If it's stolen that's touch #2, if it's stolen again, that would be touch #3 and then it's frozen - winner-winner-chicken-dinner.  During our exchange we had to recount and go over who did what several times - especially on those hotly contested gifts!  This year there was a tiny bit of drama, but no hair was pulled, all teeth remained intact and hugs and kisses soon followed!  Like I said, great entertainment!  Now, let me show you some of the gifts that were given...I didn't get pictures of all of them, too busy feeding my face I suppose!

Haha...I should have cropped this picture but I liked seeing Terry's arms folded over Helen's quilt...she was guarding it with her life to make sure no one else could steal it!  I think Terry went home with it - lucky girl!  But I was equally as lucky because I came home with this framed paper-pieced work of art.  Denise made it - just look at how tiny those pieces are!!!  When it was my turn, there were several gifts available for me to steal or open but I went straight for this - it's something I would never make on my own and I am just fascinated with all of those little bits - sewn so perfectly!!!  (This is under glass so that's why there is a glare on the picture.) Thank you Denise, I will love seeing this at Christmas every year from now on!

This Seahawks table runner also came with Seahawks kitchen towels and an apron (I think!) and was very much in demand!  Kareena made it and she was still working on the binding as we were trading gifts.  In case you weren't watching yesterday, the Seahawks WON so now they are definitely in the play-offs...and everyone in the Northwest is praying for a Super Bowl nod!

Janet had everyone's jaws hitting the floor when her gift was unwrapped.  I can't remember who was lucky enough to take this beauty home - just look at the shape of this!!!  It's perfect in every way!

You know, one day I'm going to have a post that says nothing because my mind will have slipped completely!  I think Stephanie made this very sweet picture - but I can't remember...it looks like something she would make!  I have years of "quilt group gifts" that I pull out each Christmas and display in my home - I love seeing them and love thinking about the person who made them.

Marsha made this box-full-of-fun...2 cute towels and two hot pads plus a bag of her infamous toffee.  Marsha always says she stresses over the gift exchange but I don't know why, not with a gift like this! 

Stephanie made this - I think it went with the one above - again, no memory so every day is an adventure!  Very sweet - Stephanie is known for her pictures - I think by now most of us have one of her pieces and I know they are treasured.

I'm guessing  Neva made this??  Or maybe it was Lori?  Whoever, it's great and we all said it was something that could be used from November through January because it's wintery! 

Terry made this felted-wool picture - just look at how perfect her stitching is!!!  Never, in all of my years, did I ever made anything so perfect!

We did have a few quilts to show before we tore into the gifts - so the following pics were not gifts.  This quilt  was made by Stephanie for her newest grandson, Emerson.  It's a wee bit big for a baby quilt but he will surely grow into it!

Terry usually comes to our meetings with bags of quilts that she has machine-quilted for people.  This meeting was no different and even though some people don't like to show their quilts until they are completely finished, when we see one of Terry's bags we whine until we get to see what's inside!  So this quilt is not yet bound but we just had to see it!  It's a  whole-cloth quilt - no piecing, some people call these cheaters while others call them French quilts, because the French make a lot of whole-cloth quilts.  Whatever you call them, this one is great!  It was made by Lori, from fabric called The Ghastleys Christmas - and it's huge!

This is another quilt by Stephanie - made for her son.  For me, sewing with triangles has always been of the devil...all those stretchy sides waiting to cause ripples...but as you can see, Stephanie doesn't have one ripple in her quilt! 

This last quilt is the THIRD Seahawks quilt Kareena has made - and this is her own design.  She's become a master at this!  Lori is moving to Cleveland and Kareena made this quilt for her and surprised her with it at our meeting.  Lori and Kareena are best friends, they will surely miss each other when Lori leaves, so this was a very touching gift for Kareena to give and Lori to receive. 

I don't think I've ever put a picture of our quilt group on my blog before - probably because we never take them!  This picture shows our entire group, except for Lori who took the picture!  But you can see her peeking around the side of the Seahawks quilt above!  We met in the apartment clubhouse where Kareena hosted us - she went to a lot of trouble to make it feel Christmasy!  Kareena, being from Australia, cooked us a lamb feast for lunch!  And as you can see, it was a beautiful sunny day in December in Seattle...such a rare gift that was!

Our quilt group has been going strong for 20 years!!!  We held our first meeting in December of 1996...there were three of us in attendance!  For me, it's been 20 years of fun, laughter and friendships that cannot ever be replaced. 

Happy New Year to All my Quilting Friends!