Wednesday Work in Progress

Cool Moda fabric ("Happy Thoughts" -- Odds and Ends by Julie Comstock of Cosmo Cricket) purchase from Sewtropolis,(Yes, they do phone orders - I saw and fell in love with this on Facebook), ginko leaves applique designs from Mark Lipinski's Quilter's Home magazine, red polka-dotted parchment sheets from World Market for upcoming holiday baking gifting, Sandra Betzina's Power Sewing Kimono Wrap directions, smaller sized watercolor paper, Burda's awaiting shelving for next year's projects.  Oh and bells (!) from Paper Bear in San Marcos. Lots of ideas, little workspace!

Happy Halloween!

Boo! Chantal 2012 Warehouse Sale Dates

No tricks, just treats!
It's the 2012 Chantal 2012 Warehouse Sale this and the next two weekends in November.
Plus if you "Like" Chantal Cookware Corp on Facebook, there is a $5 off coupon for any $15 or more purchase!

Upcoming Jo-Ann's Pattern Sales

October 28/November 3
$1.29 McCall's ($1.29?!)

November 8/12 - Veterans' Day Sale
5 for $5 Simplicity

Sometimes you just buy fruit because it looks pretty...

Red pear and Seckel pears from Central Market. Very pretty and autumnal!

Happy Little Clouds

Happy 70th Birthday to Bob Ross!
Click here for a cute video.
We miss you and your happy little clouds, Bob!

(Photo from Willowfolk on Etsy)

Love without expectation

Get the Seam Ripper!!! OK, OK - Keep Calm

Raspberry Almond Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

I made two loaves - one with the alternating flaps, the top is just the sides folded together lengthwise

Much easier to alternate folds than to cut in long strips and braid

Raspberry Breakfast Braid From the August/September 2012 issue of Taste of Home on page 61

I modified this to make it healthier and easier.  And basically because I view recipe directions as suggestions, or figure I can do better (or I goofed.)

To start, I used the Heart Smart Low Fat Bisquick and Neufchatel cream cheese and skim milk instead of 2%.  And reduced the amount of butter to 2 tablespoons  I also divided and made two loaves. not only to test different methods to enclose those yummy raspberries and cream cheese, but to make them more manageable to bake and store.  You could also take the opportunity to try two different fruits - for instance, make the other blueberry.  Or with peaches.   I cut back the sugar and oomped up the flavor with a sprinkling of Penzeys Vanilla Sugar over the fruit and cream cheese center before enclosing.   Instead of frosting, I mixed and drizzled confectioner's sugar and milk and topped with a handful of toasted sliced almonds.

I liked the idea you could use Bisquick and have it done much faster than traditional yeast coffee cakes, making this a great go-to recipe for quick weekend breakfasts.  Click on the earlier link for the original recipe, here is my modified recipe. . .


Ingredients
2 cups biscuit/baking mix - Heart Smart Low Fat Bisquick
1 package Neufchatel reduced fat cream cheese, cubed
2 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
1/3 cup skim milk
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1-1/4 cups fresh raspberries
Sprinkling of sugar - try Penzeys Vanilla Sugar
1/4 cup confectioners sugar, with approximately 1 tablespoon milk to make a drizzle.

Directions
Place biscuit mix in a large bowl. Cut in  half the package cream cheese and butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in enough milk just until moistened. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently 8-10 times.
On a greased baking sheet, divide and roll dough into 9-in. x 12-in. rectangles. Spoon raspberries down center third of dough; drop/add remaining cream cheese sprinkle with sugar.
Cut 1-in.-wide strips about 2-1/2 in. into center. Starting at one end, fold alternating strips at an angle across raspberries; seal ends.  Or fold ends in or cut alternating strips and fold over.
Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack to cool slightly. In a small bowl, combine confectioner's sugar and milk to desired consistency; drizzle over pastry. Yield: 12 servings, depending upon appetite.

Thursday Tea Time

Pumpkin-a-polooza continues this week with Twinings Pumpkin Spice Chai


Cost:  $3.29 at Cost Plus World Market.
Number of teabags:  20
Caffeine:  Yes
Type of tea:   Black
Steeping time:  5 minutes
Add ins:  Just a splash of Coffee Mate's Natural Bliss Sweet Cream turns it into a mug of pumpkin pie.  No fork necessary!
Teabag fragrance:  Cinnamon, allspice and pumpkin!
Ingredients:  Black tea, natural chai, cinnamon & ginger flavors with other natural flavors, natural and artificial pumpkin spice flavor, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove
Opinion:  Right after my first mug I went back to the Houston World Market store the next day and bought two more boxes (bonus I had a 20% off coupon, too!).  In the Houston Galleria-area store, the boxes are not on display as they are in Austin.  In fact, they are in the back of the store, tucked into the upper shelves, so look up!  And stock up!  This is the best I've had so far!  And a black tea chai, too?!  So bonus!
Rating:  5+

Happy Food Day!

Today is the second annual Food Day!  A celebration of healthy, affordable and sustainable food.  Check the website to find events in your area, along with ideas for changing the way America eats for the better.

You can also follow along Twitter @foodday2012  #FoodDay2012 and Facebook - FoodDayEatReal

Salted Caramel Chocolate Pecan Bars

They taste as good as they look!

Seriously, the recipes in Southern Living magazine alone are well worth above and beyond the subscription price to this magazine, even if you don't live in the South! And their November and December issues are jam-packed with holiday decorating ideas and even more recipes!   Here's another one that knocked it out of the park.

I used the Kroger brand of graham crackers.  Would you believe not only were they a $1 cheaper than the Honey Maid Low Fat version, but also had less calories, carbs and fat?!  It pays to compare and read the labels.    While still yummy, I found these a little bit gooey.  My pan was a few inches short of the size specified and I think that made it a little bit thicker.  I will try it again in my larger jelly roll pan, bonus it will make more to share!

Salted Caramel Pecan Bars, with the chocolate twist option!
Southern Living, December 2010

1 cup chopped pecans
12 whole graham crackers
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 10 to 12 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.
2. Line a 15- x 10-inch jelly-roll pan with aluminum foil; lightly grease foil.
(Use the Reynold's Release aluminum foil and skip this step.)
Arrange graham crackers in a single layer in prepared pan, slightly overlapping edges.
3. Combine sugar, butter, and cream in a medium-size heavy saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and pecans. Pour butter mixture over crackers, spreading to coat.
4. Bake at 350° for 10 to 11 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.
5. Immediately sprinkle with salt, and slide foil from pan onto a wire rack. Cool completely (about 30 minutes). Break into bars.

Try This Twist!
Chocolate-Pecan-Caramel Bars: Prepare recipe as directed through Step 4. Top warm bars with 1 cup dark chocolate morsels. Let stand 3 minutes, and spread chocolate over bars. Proceed with recipe as directed in Step 5.

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

PSY - "Gangnam Style" - 3:39
Haven't a clue what they are saying, but it's a good beat!

Watercoloring Class - Week 4 - Right Said Fred

This is "Fred"  I snapped his picture last year  at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  It was a cold, crisp November day.

Our class project and lesson this week was to work on landscapes.  Fred would be perfect!

Here's what I completed the first night.  The white/cream shiny stuff is called "Frisket"   It acts as a barrier to the other colors and helps to protect color already painted underneath.  This will keep Fred's feathers white!

Cute as a Button...Ornament!

I found this at Cost Plus World Market in Austin.  $5.49 and I had a coupon!  I left the tag on it for the photo so you can find the section, "Alpine Workshop".  The "buttons" are inlaid shell/mother of pearl.  I will display it year-round in my sewing room, before and after Christmas.

I Can, Actually!

Love Is All Around Us

Another semi-regular new feature!

I love hearts, and it is pretty neat to be reminded that love is all around us if you look.  I like how they are even "holding hands".   This is an orange trumpet vine I snapped on a walk in a park the other day.  They always remind me of my father-in-law whenever I see them.  He was a very nice man.

To Sew...

Thursday Tea Time

This week - Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Rooibos


Cost:  $3.99
Number of teabags:  20
Caffeine:  No
Type of tea:   Herbal, Rooibos
Steeping time:  7 minutes
Add ins:  Just a  splash of Coffee Mate's Natural Bliss Sweet Cream
Teabag fragrance:  Cinnamon
Ingredients:  Rooibos, natural pumpkin flavor, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg

Pretty!

Who needs a fork?  And crust?

Opinion:   This seems to be the year of pumpkin tea!  (Head's up and a head start for next week's review -- if you see Twinings Pumpkin Chai, grab it.  If not more than one box.  Check Cost Plus World Market)  First, you can't beat the price for this tea, and it is in those usually more expensive silky "sachets".  Very nice.  Then the tin.  Oh so cute!  I will be repurposing this in the sewing room and my Fall decorating.  It brews to a pretty reddish orange color and looks just like pumpkin pie when you add the cream.  Yum!  The added benefit it is rooibos tea, full of good-for-you antioxidants and caffeine-free.  And that is also the kicker.  It has a more cinnamon flavor and the rooibos does make its presence known, though not quite as astringent-y as some others.  This particular rooibos tea is quite mellow.  The pumpkin flavor is a little harder to detect.  It's there, but if you are looking for a nice/spice rooibos, this would be perfect for you.
Rating:  3.5