sticky

so I wanted to make a breakfast food for DD and her friends that were staying over.
There is a local philly pretzel company that has this cinnamon butter. (YUM x 3000) and i was thinking it would be great in a cinnamon bun......

So I had thought on going to buy some of the dip but didn't get to it before the store closed. I forgot about it... DD didn't

This morning I asked what they wanted for breakfast and she said those buns you were going to make...I hadn't made the dough.... ugh

What to do??? (cue light bulb going off)


1. Preheat oven to 350° F

2. Make cinnamon butter... found a recipe on the web... doubled it... next time I tweak it it will be a little less butter...like this maybe

3/8 pound of room temp butter
1/2 c brown sugar packed
2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Cream all ingredients together whipping until light and fluffy

3. Mix topping
3/4 c brown sugar
4 T melted butter
1 Tbsp maple syrup
3 Tbsp honey (I used buckwheat)

Mix together until well blended and pour into a 9" square baking pan.

4. With two packages of refrigerated crescent rolls. (you can buy it without the perforations...I didn't have this on hand tho) I split the dough in half (if you buy the crescent roll for the rolls it comes out in 2 pieces kind of)

push all the perforations together to make a larger piece (i did half the package at a time)

spread cinnamon butter on the dough and roll the dough short end to short end. CUt the 'log' into four equal pieces. Lay pieces on side in the pan containing the topping mix. Repeat with other half of dough and other package.

5. Bake in 350 oven for about 28 minutes.

6. Let cool some before turning out of pan!


7. Eat and enjoy......

snow

It snowed last night that cancelled my chorus concert. Well I should say postponed... until Jan 13, which means I'll have the entire holiday to obsess about it. Two hour delay this morning and a very hectic day at school for me.

We had a sitter lined up, so DH and I went shopping... you know for the kids and one of our secret santas. Some Thomas the tank purchases, Ben10 and Prince Caspian for Blu-Ray. I hate to admit it but we shopped at Walmart and got some really fantastic prices.

I also purchased DD's AG doll. That in itself is a long story that I just don't want to blog about... but hopefully it will be here in time to put under the tree. The guitar arrived today and I surreptitiously snuck it upstairs and put it under our bed. I'll open it tonight after everyone is asleep (hopefully DH will be awake!) I'm wondering if we'll need to get strings for it. Picks are a definite stocking stuffer.

Tomorrow DD has her brownie Christmas party and we all take goodies. A colleague at school told me a super easy thing to make. I feel like a cheater, but in the sake of time (or lack thereof) it's a go.
Ingredients:
Slice and bake peanut butter cookies
Mini Reese's peanut butter cups, unwrapped
Preheat oven to 350° F

Take a spoonful of cookie dough
Roll dough into a ball
Place balls in nut tasse pan
Bake for about 9 minutes
Remove from oven and push unwrapped mini reese's cup into cookie.
Let cool
Remove cookies from pan

Enjoy!

chocolate, peppermint and nuts

So DD and I took some time out tonight to make the special area teacher gifts that they'll need to deliver on Wednesday. My school chorus concert is tonight and there's no way I'll feel like making them after the concert.

So this is what it is a mug (I know lame teacher gift, but it's just the container) with a package of hot chocolate mix and a half dozen homemade chocolate covered pretzel rods.

We dipped the rods halfway up the stick in chocolate and then added on top a complimentary flavor. The white chocolate has crushed peppermints and the milk chocolate has crushed peanuts. I haven't tried them so I hope it's good. It works in theory and they look good enough to eat as well!

We'll wrap them in clear cello and tie them with red and green raffia to be a bit fesitve. I need to make cards yet as well. I know that stamp is around this house someplace... hope I can find it tmrw night after the concert (if I don't collapse)

Although, NOAA isn't predicting great stuff for Tuesday into Wednesday, so maybe no one will be going to school on Wednesday. I could use a day off to catch up on baking and sewing. I'm wondering what the deal with be for the evening. If I will indeed get the winter concert in before winter actually begins (calendar speaking) or will it truly be a winter concert and have to wait until January.

The rehearsal today went pretty well. They are really a great group of kids. Some goofballs, but I love them. DH played for me he plays a little over half of the songs. 2 have accompanimental CDs that came with the music series, 1 is an accompanimental tape (I know can you believe it) and I'm playing for my 6th grade snow angels.... 7 girls that are singing solo/small group for 2 numbers There are 12 selections in all and about 2 dozen or more poems that will be read between numbers. I've made a power point presentation of pictures to go along with the poem and songs. And there's so much that I can't do until the very last minute it will be a miracle if it all gets accomplished. I hate that I have to do it in the gym and not be able to set up ahead of time.... the tribulations of a small school... mine is the only one in the district without a proper stage or facility... makes everything a challenge but I've been doing it for so long that way I know no differently.







Well, I have knitting to show but will save it for another day. On a sad note DH and I decided that the fabric that US5 was producing for his vest was so thick and stiff, so I ripped out down to the ribbing and I'll start over with 6's . (That was my choice to begin with but he preferred the swatch of the 5s)


My package from my Love@Knit Dishcloths exchange partner arrived today... now to not open it until the 25th. Thanks Amanda... can't wait to get at it and I absolutely adore the box... way too cute!!!!!!!!


Ummm. my ten on tuesday list will have to wait... I don't have time this morning.

silvia has returned :-)

with a new optical drive and double the RAM. Thanks Greg.... love havin' a geek in the family.

So much to share and where to start?

Last Monday we had a day out with Thomas the Tank Engine We went with another family that are wonderful friends with 2 boys. Everyone had a blast. We took picnic lunches and ate under the shade of the trees by the train museum in Strasburg. There was so much to do that we were all exhausted by day's end.

We stayed over at the Holiday Inn Express next to the Rockvale Outlets. The idea was to go shopping. Aba and I went that night while the men took the kids to the pool, but the next day we didn't hit any stores because DD convinced DH that we HAD to go to Dutch Wonderland which was down the street from the hotel. We had been there 2 years ago and I guess she had a great time. This time DS1 could go on every ride in the park. We stayed until a bit after 3 because DS1 had gymnastics class at 5:30. I went to the school board meeting in the district where I work for some evening entertainment. Honestly, I can't believe the poor ethics of the directors there. But I guess having all my previous knowledge I shouldn't have been too surprised.

Wednesday was a quiet day (we needed to recuperate) DD had gymnastics in the evening.


Thursday was DS1's birthday and we had a kid party at Bounce U. I'm telling you they take care of everything. It's a parent's dream party. The cake was even tasty... we had dominoes pizza, beverages and cake from Weis Markets. He opted for a power ranger cake.


We had workmen at the house all day Thursday and Friday installing AC in the kids rooms. I have to say the 2nd floor is so comfortable now. And the units on the wall are very small and unobtrusive. I'm very happy :-) But that meant that we were out chopping down the rose bushes so they wouldn't eat the poor guys doing all the installation. It's a condensor unit outside that has some copper tubing and wiring that goes into the unit which hangs on the wall. There is a small hole through the side of the house in which all the pipes etc travel. Gives me even more resolve to stay here for quite some time.

Yesterday we had the family party for DS1. It was cookout style. Hamburgers and hotdogs for those meat eaters and veg stuff for us. This was the first year that I didn't make his cake. We got it our our local grocery Wegmans I did, however, make yummy potato salad and a kind of Waldorf salad. I didn't really measure anything but this is somewhat how it goes

Carole's Blue Cheese Waldorf Salad:

• 8 celery cut into 1/2" chunks
  
• 4 granny smith apples cut into 1" chunks
  
• 1 c chopped walnuts
  
• 1 c crumbled blue cheese
  
• 6 T mayonnaise (more or less)
  

Mix together and refrigerate until serving.

Sorry I forgot to take a picture. If I make it again I'll post the picture here with the recipe.

I finished DH's socks. Here's one... I'm hoping he'll model them. A funny story to go along with them. We were singing at a union ceremony on the 14th. We were invited to a rehearsal dinner at which the accompanist would be there as well as some other performers (there wasn't a rehearsal per se) so of course I took along my knitting. And thinking I'd be knitting up a storm, took along the finished sock to have something to measure the 2nd one against. While we were rehearsing with the accompanist (and waiting our turn) I pulled out the sock to knit... unknowingly dropping the completed sock on the floor) We left later that evening and went to our hotel (yes the first night ever away from the kids together) and I noticed I was missing sock #1. So I called the folks and asked them to bring it to the wedding. They did but we all had our thoughts turned elsewhere, so when it came time to leave the reception, they told us that the sock was around somewhere but they didn't exactly know where at that moment because it had been carried around all day. Well I knew DH would see them the next week so I wasn't too worried, but the thought that maybe it decided to walk away by itself did cross my mind. I finished the 2nd sock without it's mate and DH brought it home today to reunite the two. I'll post more details about the pattern with a picture of the couple together.

I started a pair of socks for myself as well. They're going faster than DH's. It's with yarn I bought on ebay. I believe it's a company called ColorMe.


I had a misfortunate occurence today. I broke one of my Lantern Moon needles. It snapped in two... along with it snapped my heart! I only use these to knit on the Lizard Ridge... I guess I'll be making a short needle and a DPN ... I wrote to Lantern Moon to see if by any chance they have a replacement policy... keeping my fingers crossed.

I need to start a Squatty Sidekick for MIL and I need to find something to knit for me for the knitting olympics on ravelry. I had wanted to do the wild stripes for a friend who is due at the end of Sept. Thought it would give me a push... but that doesn't qualify since it's not for me! Oh what to do. Also signed up for the tour de fleece in which I hope to finish spinning the yarn for DH's vest. Maybe I can get that made for him for Christmas!

well nuff said for now... I'm so glad silvia is back. How I missed you!

Winging it!

It's the last day of the Thanksgiving holiday vacation and what a rainy one it is!

Yesterday, on the way home from church I stopped to call Marilyn from Rocky Top Farm in Ottsville and we met for me to pick up Shasta's fleece. 7 pounds of white Romney/BFL/BL mix; 7 inch staple and micron count of 31, pretty nice :-) it's washing up nicely, but will take me a while to complete.

I also felted the squatty sidekick. It's really cute. Now to get the lining finished. I'm afraid the button I inteneded for it's use isn't large enough. I'll use one of the plastic funky ones instead.

I made yummo Squash soup for lunch. I devised the recipe as I went.


Peel and dice longneck (butternut) squash meat. Boil until soft. Mash until smooth.
Combine:

• 3 cups of mashed squash
  
• 1 cup vegetarian vegetable broth
  
• 1/2 cup of heavy cream
  
• 1 can creamed corn
  
• 1/2 cup thinly diced carrots (I cut baby ones)
  
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
  
• 1 tsp sea salt
  
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  
• dash of cinnamon
  

Stir everything and place over medium heat until carrots are tender and everything is heated through. Serve with crusty bread or pita chips.

You can vary it by adding other veggies or (potatoes would be great) and/or shredded cheese (yum) Have fun making it your own!

I also finally chose a stitch pattern for my neice's keyhole scarf. Appropriately it's Dec 25 from the 365 stitches a year perpetual calendar.... I'll be winging this as well. Could be my motto for the day!

just a bit

before bed.

I had to take pictures of the muffins from yesterday before they were all gone. DS2 first complained about the 'rocks' on top, but now it seems he can't eat enough! Kids are so funny. They are really tasty though, I have to say. Here's the recipe:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

• 5 bananas, mashed
• 3/4 cup organic sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup oil (I used vegetable, but you could use safflower or corn)

• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon butter

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 10 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers or use those nifty silicone trays.
2. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes (depending on your oven), until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.


The wool I dyed yesterday is dry. So I took the opportunity of being awake and feeling a bit better to wind it into cakes. I'm calling this colorway "berries in the snow" I think it will make a beautiful shawl for mom. I'm between the clapotis and spunky eclectic's show your colors... guess I better decide since it's on the to do list for a Christmas gift.

I'll take pics of the other goodies I got later (maybe tmrw) since I should try to get *some* sleep tonight.

Happy crafting