Pots and Pins

Corona Quilt #11...Ben and Roxy's Wedding Quilt...

My nephew and his bride, Ben and Roxy, sent out save the date cards a year ago, announcing they would be married on July 4th in Seattle.  At the time they were still living in Utah while Roxy finished up her residency at medical school and had planned to move to Seattle right before their wedding.  Well you know what happened, Covid arrived and threw their plans into a blender.  Seattle was forced into a lockdown and Ben and Roxy decided to delay their wedding by a month, hoping things would ease up a bit so they could at least have family attend their wedding.

When their new wedding day arrived, there was still a limit of 25 people who could attend weddings, so yours truly was UNinvited...and I watched them get married on Zoom with the rest of the extended family.  It was fine, but I so wanted to be there in person!  Ben is now the only member of my extended family who lives in Washington, and I'm so happy about that - now I might be able to see my brother and sister-in-law more often, too, when they come to see their son!

I wanted to make Ben and Roxy a quilt, and decided on neutral tones.  At first I was going for a total monochromatic look, just cream on cream, but decided it needed more of the darker tones.  This one measures 54 x 60-inches, a nice lap size I think.  This is the 11th Corona quilt I've made in the last 9  months, in case you're counting and believe me, I am!!  This was a joy to work on though and I suppose I should thank 'rona for giving me the time to get it done...  

This one isn't backed with flannel, my usual choice (because it's cold in the NW year round!) and I used Pellon brand Natural Cotton Batting, which is 97% cotton so when it is washed and dried it shrinks up beautifully.  Ben and Roxy have a dog, and as cute as he is, I really do hope this doesn't become his quilt!  But I know what happens to dog lovers when their dog wants the quilt, Rosie owns all of my quilts!  And who could say no to General Huxadoodle, or Hux as he is known??  Just look at his face!  

The picture on the left was taken at the wedding, Hux is wearing a blue bow tie for the occasion.  That's Roxy and her baby boy in the picture on the right, Hux is wearing his new Seahawks jersey...he's definitely a NW dog now!  My nephew Ben is an awesome photographer, give him a follow on Instagram @streetphotoben, then check out his website to see his amazing work, click here.  

I hope this quilt gets lots of love and I'll pretend it's Roxy who will be wrapped up in it and not Hux...but I know better...oy vey.  Congrats to Ben and Roxy, getting married during a pandemic is not for sissies!  Wishing you all the best forever and a day.

 

DIY Tufted Headboard...

Before Christmas I was thinking about the old days when the mister and I would run around shopping for the kids, buying toys that needed to be assembled at the 11th hour so Santa could take all the credit.  Back then we didn't think about how many pieces the toys contained or how long it would take to put together - we were caught up in the frenzy of Christmas.  The mister would stay up until the wee hours, reading and rereading directions, swearing, throwing things, one tantrum after another until finally the doll house was finished or the raceway was working.  Then Christmas morning the girl and boy would wake  up at the crack of dawn and the mister would grumble as he was dragged from bed, having had only a few hours of sleep.  Ah yes, the good ol' days. 

This year when I told the mister I would need his help making a king-size tufted headboard for the boy I gave him plenty of notice, I didn't wait until Christmas Eve.  Even so, the mister grumbled and said he was done assembling Christmas presents.  I told him I just needed his strong arms and his amazing man-power, and it would be so easy he wouldn't even have time for the teensiest of tantrums.  He was finally convinced and so I set about getting everything we needed, beginning with a sheet of compressed plywood from Home Depot which they cut for me, 76-inches x 36-inches, for free.  Oh, I was wrong about the tantrums.

 I also purchased two pieces of foam from Home Depot, which was much cheaper than buying from a fabric store like Joann's.  We cut the foam with a sharp knife to fit the plywood and used a spray glue to secure it in place.

A piece of batting, staple gun, drill, wood screws and washers were also needed.  Once the foam was glued into the place, a piece of batting was pulled tightly over the foam and stapled onto the back of the board.  The 2 1/2-yards of decorator-weight fabric was then pulled tightly around the board and stapled on the back - two people are really needed for this so the fabric stays tight. 

It's super important that the screws are placed evenly, they create the tufts.  One of the videos I watched had 45 screws!!!  I didn't have the patience for that so I opted for 14...that was a much more manageable number.  I measured and measured and measured, over and over again, making sure everything was marked correctly and spaced evenly.

The power drill helped so much!  First the washer is put on, then the screw...the washer keeps the screw from poking through the fabric - we tried to find larger washers to use, but the larger the washer the larger the whole in the center of the washer and then the larger the screw...anyway, we did the best we could with the brain power we were given and it seemed to work...until we hit a snag...

Twice the drill/screw caught the batting and the batting/fabric/foam was all snagged on the screw and it ripped the fabric!!!  Tantrums ensued.  I ended up stitching the holes together with carpet thread and then I applied some super glue...we held our breaths and tried again.   It ripped again - once there is a hole it just continues to grow...so I sewed them up again, worrying it would show beyond the buttons...and after sewing/gluing twice, it worked.  Crisis averted!!

I purchased a button covering kit from Joann Fabrics, it came with exactly 14 buttons.  It was really easy to cover the buttons and then they were glued on top of the screws with E-6000 craft glue.

Here it is all finished!!  We were high-fivin' ourselves all over the place!  Can't believe we actually did it...and it should be noted that even though the mister had himself a few tantrums, not one tool was thrown and we didn't have to make a trip to urgent care either!!  He might be mellowing in his old age!  We carried the thing upstairs and hid it in our closet.  One entire roll of wrapping paper and a big bow and it was ready for Christmas morning!

The grandkids were shocked when they walked in and saw the giant wrapped present and immediately asked who it was for...when we told them it was for the boy they quickly forgot about it and moved onto their gifts.  After everything was opened we sat around for a bit and let everyone guess what the giant package could be...and no one was even close!  Finally the boy unwrapped it...he loved it, we loved it, the kids loved it!!  It was SO fun to be able to surprise the boy!

We purchased a picture-hanging kit where one strip is mounted to the wall and another to the headboard - it was super easy for the boy to put them on and to hang the headboard.  The hard part, because there is always a hard part, was making sure it was level.  We decided the headboard needed to be about 10-inches below the top of the mattress, so it would look like it was part of the bed and not just stuck on the wall - measuring and using a level was the key!  The picture-hanging kit held up to 500 lbs., and I think the headboard weighed about 50 lbs., maybe less, actually I have no idea but I could lift it so it wasn't that much!  Anyway, the boy made sure the screws were put into the studs so he wouldn't have to worry about the thing falling and hitting him in the head.

 

It looks SO great!   We are so happy with how it turned out and so is the boy.  As we were making this the mister kept asking why we didn't just buy him a headboard...and really, we could have for about the same amount of money we spent making it...I found a similar king-size tufted headboard on Wayfair.com for $176.00 that included free shipping...it was tempting.

 

We definitely would have saved ourselves some trouble but it was SO FUN to make something for the boy - we haven't done that for years!  And we did have a good time working together...well almost...and that's saying a lot!  Here's our cost breakdown:

 

compressed wood:     8

2 pieces of foam:      46

spray glue:               15 (an unnecessary expense but the people on You Tube said we should use it)

washers & screws:    12

2 1/2 yds fabric:       30

button cover kit:      10

2 1/2 yds batting:     8

E-6000 craft glue:     5

staples:                    5

wrapping paper:       5

picture hanging kit:  15

 

Total cost:            $159.00

 

 

But really, how can you put a cost on the joy of making something special for someone you love?!?!  I think I was most excited about giving this to the boy than any of the other gifts we gave this year, including the things we gave to Max and Elsa.  

 

Merry Christmas to the boy!  

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice...

 Years ago, just as I was about to start a recipe that called for pumpkin pie spice, I realized I was fresh out.  Off to the local Safeway I went where I picked up a tiny little container of pumpkin pie spice and saw it was $5.99...for like TWO tablespoons of spice!  Right there in the spice aisle I almost had a full-blown-come-apart.  The nerve of McCormick Spices!  The nerve of Safeway!  Where did they get off charging that kind of moolah for something that is a necessity to my well-being!???  I wanted to start a spice revolution right then and there but alas, I needed to make pumpkin pie and I needed the pumpkin pie spice and I was the only one in the spice aisle and you can't start a revolution with just yourself, as that's called a meltdown. 

 

So I calmed myself, bought the tiny jar of spice and went home to make my pie.  But the very next day I did what I should have done to begin with and what you should do right now...I made my OWN pumpkin pie spice and I've never looked back!  It's not only easy, it's much, much more economical.  You can make a vat of pumpkin pie spice and still feel like you can retire at a decent age. 

Why would one want to make a large amount of pumpkin pie spice, you ask?  Because it makes for great party favors/gifts this time of year.  And if you're a baker then you know it won't go to waste...pumpkin spice season lasts for three full months so you'll use it!  We are lucky enough to live by an Indian grocery store (Apna Bazaar) where I bought ground nutmeg, ground ginger, cinnamon and ground cloves - super cheap!  (Asian markets also carry these spices for much less money than my local Safeway.)  The only thing I can't purchase at the Indian market is allspice, so I buy that at Fred Meyers.  (By the way, if you ask at the Indian market for allspice they will hand you garam masala - it's their all-spice!)

The little jars I used came from World Market - $.99 each.  This takes about 5 minutes to put together...add the spices to a zip-lock style bag, give it a couple of good shakes to combine, and then fill your jar(s). I usually make 9 times the recipe - which gives me about 2 1/4 cups of pumpkin pie spice...enough to take care of whatever pumpkin spice cravings I have and enough to share...if I'm so inclined...some years I don't share; hoarding pumpkin pie spice might just save my life when the zombie apocalypse begins, I'm told it will put a zombie in a trance...  

I ordered these cute chalkboard label stickers from Amazon.  They were under $8 and they came with two liquid chalk markers...arrived the day after I ordered them...so my love/hate relationship with Amazon continues, right now I'm loving them more than hating...I have mail order issues.  

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice - Pots and Pins

This recipes makes 1/4 cup of spice, enough to fill a small spice jar (2.5 oz.)  Double/quadruple as you see fit!

3 tablespoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons ground ginger

2 teaspoons ground nutmeg

1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves

Mix altogether in a zip-lock style bag or a small bowl.  Keep in an airtight container/jar.  Enjoy!

Did you know you can sprinkle pumpkin pie spice over an unscented or vanilla candle for a delicious scent in your home?  You can also just add it to water in a small pan and put it on your stove top to simmer...just don't let the water simmer out of the pan!  You can even make sachets with it to put in your car or sock drawer so your dog will follow you around even more than normal.  But definitely bake with it...make something wonderful to serve at all of your fall parties...

 

We had a family painting party - sure to be an annual event!  Elsa and Catherine assembled haunted gingerbread houses - another annual event - Trader Joe's still has some houses left, so does Costco, but hurry, they won't last long!  I'll leave you with a throwback picture as I count down the days until I can don my cape once again...

 

Finger-Knitting...

It's only right that today I show you the blanket I knitted with my fingers since it's a balmy 52 degrees outside!  It is supposed to warm up this afternoon but in the meantime, I'll be on the sofa, with Rosie, all cozied up with my new blanket...

I went with a group of friends to this darling shop in Millcreek to learn how to make this chunky-knit blanket.  The class was $90, it included instruction and all of the yarn, which was 5 skeins of very soft yarn and we got to pick the color.  Of course I picked red...it's a neutral for me!  We had about 2 1/2 hours of time to make the blanket - after an hour I was done so I bought more yarn ($12 each) and just continued knitting away...my blanket ended up much larger than the others and for that I'm super happy!!

AR Workshop is owned by Rhonda Lone, pictured above, and she and her team were so helpful and sweet!  If you click on this link, you can see all of the other fun stuff she teaches at her shop.  They teach woodworking, painting signs, canvas bags, picture frames - all kinds of cool things!  Rosie thinks the blanket is hers - she loves it - doesn't she look so cute?  

Rosie is always protecting her blanket...but she will share, which is nice.  AR Workshops will do private classes, which is what our group did.  But...if you really wanted to make a chunky-knit blanket and you have no friends, can't get to Millcreek, don't have $90, then guess what, you can truly DIY by watching a YouTube video and ordering your yarn online.  These blankets are super easy and fast to make and would make fabulous gifts...for Christmas...which is only 214 days away!!!

Yep, this is how I'm going to spend my Memorial Day weekend...lounging on the sofa.  I might be persuaded to go out to eat but then it's right back to the sofa...I've earned it!  Happy Memorial Day to all of you...remember those who served and died...eat a burger or a hot dog or two...plant flowers, go to a movie, be with people you love...that's how to have a great day!

 

Crocheted Bunny...

Go ahead and laugh...everyone who has seen my little crocheted creation already has!  This was my first attempt at crocheting where I actually followed a pattern.  Sort of.  I tried.  I did my best but watching TV while eating popcorn and trying to count stitches didn't produce the best results - maybe I need turn off the TV?  Sure as heck can't give up popcorn!

Squint your eyes and my bunny will look so much better!  Thanks to Emily Sparks who taught me to read the pattern - and then turned me loose!  I can't blame her for how it turned out though! 

This is what I was going for...these adorable little critters are made by BlaBla Kids, check them out, amazing things for kids!  BlaBla knit animals are all hand made in Peru and super soft and squishy.  All of them were given to me by my dear friend Joyce, 9 years ago when our grandson Max was born and Max and Elsa love playing with them when they come to Gramma's house. I was hoping to make a soft and squishy bunny for Max and Elsa for Easter, alas, I'm not Peruvian...I'm sure that's the reason why my bunny doesn't look the same, no?

When I finished all the parts, I stuffed them...and they grew and grew and grew!  My bunny was crocheted with very soft yarn and it stretched and stretched and stretched!  So it's a bit out of proportion!

This is what I learned...I realized I'm a "one and done" kind of gal...so no more bunnies for me!  I don't like making multiples of anything...b o r i n g.  And I also realized that crocheting, while fun, is not mind-less...and if I'm going to be sitting watching TV, which is mind-less, I need something equally as mind-less to do...so I guess I'll just stick with eating popcorn.

 

Thanks anyway Emily and Happy Easter!

Figgy Pudding Balls...

My dear friend Karon at Larder Love posted about these scrumptious little Christmas goodies and I had to make them.  And now I want you to make them, too!  They are the perfect little hostess or neighbor gift and on a cold and rainy afternoon, after a day spent hustling and bustling around the mall, there is nothing better than sitting in front of the telly with a plate of cheese, crackers and a figgy pudding ball, neatly sliced for the perfect bite!

 

Before I give you the figgy pudding details, let me just say how happy I am that Mrs. Santa Claus did not succeed in her attempt to kill me.  She is rather old and I'm sure she didn't mean to but when I plugged her in, apparently she didn't like it and I was sent reeling with an electric shock that shot up my arm, blew the plug apart and scorched the tile.  The mister was a witness to it all and guess what he did??  C'mon, surely you know his first words were, "That better come off the tile!!!"  I was flailing about the kitchen and he was worried about the tile, oy vey.  Once he had ascertained the tile was going to survive, he turned his attentions to me but I was worried about Mrs. Santa Claus!!!  I quickly regained my wits, at least half of them, straightened my halo and scampered to the garage to find another plug/bulb so I could get Mrs. Claus glowing again.  All's well that ends well!

Toasted nuts, dried fruit and of course, figs!  That's the basis of these delicious little treats and once everything is whirled about in the food processor, making almost a paste, honey and ground Christmas cloves are added.  If you're adventurous you can add Brandy or use brandy flavoring - depending on if you're serving to adults or kids.  I used a bag of nuts I had in my pantry that had pecans and pepitas and walnuts, the recipe called for pecans but you can use whatever you want, it's a very adaptable and forgiving recipe!  Same goes for the dried fruit...I happened to have dried cherries and Craisins on hand and some dried dates so I used them with the dried Mission Figs and they worked beautifully!

 

 

The scent of Christmas will be in the air as you roll these into little balls...about the size of a tennis ball or maybe a bit smaller.  Roll the balls into sesame seeds and that's it!  They are ready to be wrapped (in parchment paper so the balls can dry out/firm up a bit) and gifted to your worthy friends!  Add a Christmas ribbon, a sprig of holly and a cute tag so they'll know to slice into the ball and not bite into it...although I suppose they could, but it would be ever so much nicer and civilized if they didn't!

 

 

Since I was giving this batch of Figgy Pudding Balls to friends the day I made them, I needed to attach a little tag telling them to let the ball sit on their counter to firm up a bit before they cut into it.  Although it's not really necessary...if you cut into it the day it's made or the next day, it's a bit sticky, but still very delicious. 

 

 

Figgy Pudding Balls - Adapted From Karon Grieve at Larder Love

3 cups pecans or mixed nuts, chopped into small pieces

3 packages (7 oz. each) dried figs, cut off hard end and discard

1 package (8 oz.) pitted dates, chopped

1 package (6 oz.) dried cherries, chopped

1 package (6 oz.) pomegranate flavored Craisins

1/2 cup honey

1 Tablespoon brandy or brandy flavoring

2 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves

1/2 cup sesame seeds

Toast nuts in a dry skillet over medium-high heat, just until aromatic and beginning to brown slightly.  Remove and set aside to cool, then chop in small pieces.  Working in batches, put figs, dates, cherries and Craisins into food processor and process until part paste, part small bits.  (My food processor would only work when I did this in small batches, the figs and dates are pretty sticky so go slowly so you don't burn up your motor!)  When all fruits are processed, stir in nuts, honey, brandy, cloves, and mix well.  Form into balls, think small tennis ball/large golf ball.  Spread sesame seeds onto plate, roll balls into sesame seeds to coat, then flatten slightly. 

At this point Karon advised to set balls on baking sheet and cover with clean tea towel and to set aside and let dry out for a week.  You can do that or you can wrap balls in parchment paper, tie with string and attach a tag letting your friends know to allow to dry for a few days.  These will keep for up to 2 months in the fridge.  Serve sliced with cheese and crackers.  Makes 21 balls.

 

 

Quilt Group Christmas Gift Exchange...

I think everyone in our quilt group looks forward to our annual Christmas meeting - some with a bit of trepidation maybe, over what to give as a gift...and I know I stress a bit over it but only because the gifts are so outrageously great!   This year was probably one for the record books as there were FOUR quilts given away as gifts!!!  Crazy!  We started with a delicious brunch at Stephanie's Christmas-home-in-the-woods...it's just what you would expect a Christmas-home-in-the-woods to be and more!  There was so much food and so many goodies, I know I waddled out the door!  After eating, we drew numbers, went over the rules and off we went!  I'm going to show you my gift, the one I came home with, first, because it IS amazing!!

Could you have guessed what it was if I only showed you the picture on the left?  It's a giant ironing board and it fits right on top of a regular ironing board...genius, no?  I LOVE it!  Now when I iron a quilt top (because that's the ONLY time I do iron) or maybe a tablecloth, I can get almost the entire top across across the board, making it so much easier!  Marsha brought this and she had it made and I just can't sing her praises enough - or this new gift - it really is great!  IF you have room for one in your laundry room/work room, then you're going to want this!  Marsha said Home Depot will cut the wood for you to size, so now you've got no excuses!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the first quilt that was "won"...I think it went to Neva and I'm sorry but I can't remember who made it and gave it away!  That's probably a good thing that they remain anonymous because if you find out there's someone crazy enough to give away quilts you'll be after her for sure!

This got a lot of ooohs and aaahs...and it's much prettier in person!

Terry made this felted wool pillow - so adorable and it was fought over...but after three trades it's dead.  You can barely see her stitches they are so small!  So cute!

Jenny brought in this quilt as her gift to give and it went home with Denise...don't you just love that flying geese border?  This is definitely a Northwest quilt...and I didn't even get a chance to steal it!  No one wanted my ironing board...and I was happy about that but I might have given it up to steal a quilt! 

Stephanie made this felted wool framed picture...and it was finished BEFORE our meeting!  It is merry and happy, just like Stephanie...can't remember who went home with this but I hope they leave it up year round!

This is the 3rd quilt that was given as a gift!  Amazing, no?  It was pieced from several other projects...like those sock blocks on the bottom, those were from our Lost Socks group project - it was fun seeing those again!  And that row of trees was from another quilt project - all made by Barbara.  The Santa in the sleigh is a panel and it just sets off everything so nicely!  How fun to take a Christmas quilt home at Christmas! 

Denise made these framed pictures, one with paper quilling, and they are beautiful.  I would have loved to have opened those!  I have a small collection of framed art projects that I've been lucky enough to "win" at our exchanges over the years and I love seeing them altogether!  Alas, I didn't get those...but I do have my ironing board!!!

Another adorable gift - hand-stitched and framed and a perfect Christmas message.  The person who brought this gift said she bought it, so hand-stitched by someone in China maybe, but who cares?!?  It's wonderful!  Our rules for gifts are they have to be hand-made OR store bought!  So as you can see there are no rules...oh, they do have to be quilt/sewing related...no problem there!

This is hard to see but look closely, it's a scissor keeper and a pin cushion...or a button bag?  Oh dear, I can't remember, but whatever it is IT'S dang cute!

This is the last quilt that was given as a gift - it's small but sweet.  This picture does not do it justice, the lighting was not the best and I should have taken the quilt to the other side of the room!  But it is wonderful!  Kareena made this and I don't know who took it home but leaving with a quilt of any size is a good thing!

Well that's it...oh, my gift?  I should have taken a picture of it...I found a vintage, red-knitted Christmas stocking that I filled with goodies, including 3 spools of Aurafil Thread and a vintage Christmas hotpad and a box of "snow"...and something else but I can't remember!  It was cute...nothing to write home about but I was desperate, out of time and that was the best I could come up with!

Happy 11th Day of Christmas! 

Zipper Pouch...

Happy 4th Day of Christmas Everyone!  We're still celebrating - or trying to - I did a finger wave this morning when I got up, does that count?  Christmas just isn't the same without little kids - no chaos or mess or noise or pure joy.  I missed it all so very much!!  Still, we did manage to have a very nice Christmas, it was just noise-less and mess-less and very different.  The mister thought it was perfect, no surprise there.  On Christmas Eve, the mister was so pleased there wasn't a creature stirring he even offered to help me wrap a few gifts!  Never, ever has he done that before!  He passed the tape and scissors and put on the tags - a right jolly ol' elf was he!  Then he watched as I filled the stockings for the boy and his bride...and I made him turn his head as I filled his.  We grabbed the gifts and the stockings and as we were loading up I asked the mister to make sure to grab my stocking, which was still on my work table - empty - so very empty.  I didn't have to point out the obvious but I did, because that's the kind of elf I am...not once in all of our Christmases has there ever been anything in my stocking because I do the stockings and what's the point in filling my own?  Cut to Christmas day - the boy and his bride come over - we light the fire, pass around the gifts, hand out the stockings and the mister pipes up, tells the boy to hand me my stocking - which looks every bit as empty and sad as ever.  I feel the stocking, very funny I say, but the mister assures me there is something inside - so I reach my hand in and pull out one $20 bill.  One.  The mister was proud as punch - started laughing - then coughing - then hacking - he about killed himself with glee.  Who knew $20 could provide so much joy?!  Now, as the mister pointed out, because that's the kind of elf he is, I cannot say I've never had anything in my stocking ever again...after this post.

Making something hand-made is part of the fun of Christmas for me and every year I drive myself crazy trying to make something last minute.  This year was no exception.  Five days before Christmas I decided my sisters needed zipper pouches so I headed into the nerve center, my work room, and got busy.  I made these five zipper pouches in ONE HOUR.  Not kidding.  They are SO easy to make - sew up super fast - and, if I do say so myself, look pretty darn cute! 

Mixing up the outside fabrics with the lining was the fun part - and if I'd had more time I might have added a few more embellishments to the outside of the pouch - but they really didn't need it.

Lipsticks were wrapped up with a pouch and sent off that day...so easy and fast and I thought they made such a cute gift that I made several for myself!

If you want to sew some up for yourself or your sisters, Dana over at  Dana Made It has a great tutorial.  Dana has a lot of great sewing tutorials - I love everything she comes up with and so will you. 

I'll leave you this morning with the parting words the mister had for me as he left for Global Headquarters today, "Geeze Nan, can you get any more crap on that cabinet?"  The crap on the cabinet has been there since the day before Thanksgiving...and he said that now?!?  He just noticed?  Should I be worried about his mental health...or mine?  Of course, the answer to his question is yes...yes I can get more crap on and in that cabinet...do you think that was a dare?  I said in reply, as sweetly as I could, "Happy 4th Day of Christmas ya filthy animal - now go to work!" 

Be the first one to name the movie that line (paraphrased) is from and I'll send you a zipper pouch!

Chocolate, Fruit and Nut Bites...

There is no other explanation for this post than this:  These are dangerously delicious.  Aaaand addictive.  Aaaand fun to make.  Aaaand they are the most wonderful surprise to find in the bottom of your purse or the glove box of your car or your nightstand or wherever you think to stash them.  Aaaand...IF you are dieting, or pretending to diet or you just need a little fix...these will fit the bill without truly side-lining everything because hello?!?  they have fruit and nuts!!  You can use semi-sweet chocolate if you choose, but if you use a dark chocolate, well then, that's a game changer!  These go from a really good snack to a healthy good-for-you power treat!  Just think of all those antioxidants that will be coursing through your veins lending superhuman strength so you can leap tall building in a single bound!

 

 Dried apricots are a favorite, so I make sure I always put those on first - but you can use whatever dried fruit you like.  In this batch I used dried blueberries, cherries, dates and apricots.  Don't over do the fruit because you need to leave room for nuts!  I used pecans but almonds work great and really, any nuts will do.

Once the chocolate is melted in the microwave, the fruit and nuts are added - these could not be easier!  And you can use whatever fruit and nuts you like - so really, this is a personalized treat!  (When chocolate is melted without being tempered it takes a really long time to firm back up so you don't have to work quickly, you'll have plenty of time to add whatever fruit and nuts you want.)

One batch makes about 20 to 22,  depending on how big you make them.  Unlike most things where bigger is better, in this case, think smaller - they will be prettier and really, 3 or 4 bites is just the right amount for an emergency dose of chocolate.  And these make lovely gifts for your chocolate loving friends - who also happen to like fruit and nuts!

Chocolate, Fruit and Nut Bites - Pots and Pins

12 oz. really good semi-sweet or dark chocolate

1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped

1/2 cup dried blueberries

1/2 cup dried dates, chopped

1/2 cup dried apricots

1/2 cup pecan pieces (or you can use whatever nuts you like)

Put chocolate in a microwaveable bowl in microwave and heat on high for 30 seconds.  Remove and stir.  Return to microwave for an additional 30 seconds, remove and stir until melted completely and smooth.  On a sheet of parchment, spoon out a heaping tablespoon of chocolate and swirl into a circle, about 2 inches across.  Add dried fruit pieces and nuts, pushing into chocolate gently.  (I make 4 circles at a time, add the fruit and nuts to them, then make 4 more, etc., until chocolate is gone.  Don't ask me why, it's just what I do!)  Allow to set until chocolate is firm and completely cool, about 1 hour.  Keep in plastic bags/container to keep fresh, or wrap individually.  Makes about 20 to 22. 

 

Double Crocheted Baby Blankets...

I have a good supply of crochet hooks and knitting needles - probably over 100.  I've tried knitting many times, and the results are always the same...10 fingers and 2 knitting needles is just one too many.  I end up tossing the knitting aside for crochet - one is much easier than two, no?  In fact, this is the only scenario I can think of where more is too much.  Crochet-ing and I have tried to be friends in the past and it's never really worked - of course I blame Crochet.  But recently I was told that it IS possible to do a simple crochet stitch and make something remarkable...let me show you Gretchen's double-Crocheted baby blankets...

Ummmm, I don't think this is a double crochet but I'm starting with it because I love it so much - how sweet it is!  Can't you just picture a roly-poly baby wrapped up in this?!?

Can you see the hearts?  Another of Gretchen's sweet blankets...she said this was easy, too!  She almost has me convinced!  I'm going to let Crochet back into my life, I think it's time for a reunion...

Gretchen did not say this one was easy or if she did I immediately discounted her because just look at that detail!  I think this is the blanket she made for her niece who is expecting her first baby.  It's just so pretty.  Both of my grands love crocheted blankets - my Max dragged a giant queen size crocheted blanket around with him every where he went for years!   His other grandma made it...I made him quilts but he liked the crocheted blanket...go figure!

Gretchen said I just have to count...and I can do that!  At least I know I can count to 10, after that I'm not so sure!  It's lacy and so soft - Gretchen uses super soft yarn - I'm really thinking I can do this!

Gretchen also said it takes her a couple of evenings to make one of these - about 10 hours or so.  That's 10 hours of sitting in front of the TV counting...right up my alley!!  Especially since we have a summer of TV catch-up to do...Breaking Bad, 24, House of Cards...all the shows that everyone tells us we should watch but don't have time for - now we do!

Gretchen and I are new BFF's...I met her just recently and instantly fell in love with her sweet spirit, kind heart and her amazing voice - she talks in a lilt...her words just rolled off her tongue and were rather infectious - I couldn't help but smile while I listened to her.  To Gretchen:  Thanks for the inspiration!!  I'm going to give this a go...at best I'll end up with a sweet little blanket and at worst, I'll have myself a kanniption fit while I de-tangle yarn from my body and throw yet another crochet hook into the trash!

Can you see the deer?  They were daily visitors at the luxury resort I was lucky enough to stay in on Lake Pend Orielle in Sandpoint, Idaho!  Just a little slice of Heaven...a long weekend cooking retreat with great food, great friends and a fabulous view.  Thank you Becky for your generosity and the great memories!