Making stuff.......

When you cannot go out the day seems very long so the best thing to do is to keep busy.

I made a pair of very tiny yellow running shoes from Kona cotton. The pattern is called "Michele Designs Pixie Sweet Slip-ons". Now I've made one pair I know what I would do different next time. They are a bit skew-if so that it's hard to tell the right from the left. Ideally I would have had the doll here to use her foot as a last. Much easier to measure the sides for gluing with the foot in the shoe.

Coincidentally I come from a long line of Irish shoe and boot makers. Even my dad used to re-heel his leather brogues. He had the wooden lasts belonging to his dad. Sadly the lasts have disappeared.

And, I made some Irish soda bread. I haven't made this recipe in ages but it looks like it should.

Take care :)

This and that......

Hello...yes I'm still alive:)

I bought some foam to make something and I had the leftover piece standing in a roll in my  sewing room. It didn't take long for someone to move in....

She gave me the look when I suggested that she get out:) 

I actually baked something today. This is a big thing as I never bake unless forced to for family gatherings etc.

I was looking in my kitchen cupboard for something and rediscovered an unopened 540ml can of Canadian Maple Syrup that was given to my son on a photo shoot he was doing for a course on food photography. I'm embarrassed to say how many years ago that was....maybe 2004....eeeek.

I also discovered I had 2 packages of Tenderflake mini tartets...36 tart shells in total... in my freezer. I think I bought them last Christmas.......as I said I don't bake much...sigh.  I also had a half a package of walnuts. 

I surfed around and found a few simple recipes for tarts using maple syrup. I chose this one because I had all the ingredients in house...Canadian Maple Butter Tarts....

http://www.food.com/recipe/canadian-maple-butter-tarts-271529

This recipe is for 12 regular size tarts but I used the 36 mini tarts and it worked out perfect. 

OMG!!!!! They are delicious.......yummy!!!!! I thought they'd be super sweet but they weren't...a nice creamy. texture too. Sometimes butter tarts can be too dry.

It's a beautiful sunny day here today so I'm taking my book and a cup of tea outside to enjoy it. There won't be too many left before you know what.

Take care:)

A Bacon Snack for the Super Bowl....

Fox News had some recipes for the Super Bowl and here is one that I think my guys might vote for.....

FEASTY BREADED BACON
Ever get tired of the same ol' hum-drum, brittle, pan-fried bacon?? Well folks, try this recipe out!! Chances are you won't catch this recipe in any A.M.A. publications; however, it's super simple, oh so good and would make any pig proud!!
1 lb. Sliced Bacon
1 cup Flour
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Black Pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees... Remove bacon from the package and separate into individual pieces. Place flour, brown sugar and pepper in a large plastic bag and mix thoroughly. Now, drop each individual bacon slice into the bag and shake...That's it!! Now, simply place each dredged piece of bacon on a cookie sheet, making sure they're flat. A pound of bacon should fit snuggly on your average cookie sheet... Slip the tray into the oven and wait approximately 10-15 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your swine!! Remove from oven, let cool and start a munchin'!!!


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/fox-friends/transcript/feasty-boys-super-bowl-tailgating-recipes#ixzz1lWaOlWTS

 Take care:)

Vintage Five Minute Chocolate Fudge Recipe......

I don't usually cook sweet stuff as I'm fonder of savoury and spicy but, I have made this fudge twice now and my family seem to really really like it.

It is a Carnation Milk classic recipe that was developed in the early 60's.....I found this recipe on a can of evaporated milk. I never buy evaporated milk but due to certain hearing/memory issues of a certain member of my family I ended up with six cans of the stuff. All I wanted was one can of condensed milk.....sigh. I'll say no more .....

It is really super simple and fast BUT...there is always a BUT.....you must make sure to boil the mixture for the full 5 minutes that the recipe requires or your fudge will not set properly.

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups (400ml) granulated sugar
2/3 cup (150ml) Carnation Regular Evaporated Milk
2 tbsp (30ml) butter
1/2 tsp (2ml) salt
2 cups (500ml) miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 cups (375ml) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp (5ml) vanilla extract
1/2 cup (125ml) chopped walnuts (optional)

Preparation:

Line an 8-inch (2L) square baking pan with waxed paper; set aside.
Combine sugar, milk, butter and salt in a medium saucepan; bring to a rolling boil over a medium heat stirring constantly.
Boil 5 minutes until the mixture starts to thicken.
Remove from heat.
Stir in marshmallows, chocolate chips, vanilla and nuts until marshmallows and chocolate melt and blend.
Pour into the prepared pan and smooth with a spatula.
Chill until set....but not too long as it won't come out of the pan if it becomes too hard....trust me.
Cut into 1-inch (2.5cm) squares.
Store Hide in the refrigerator in a sealed container;)

Take care.

A very dangerous cake recipe.....

I received this recipe from a friend. I haven't tried this, but it sounds easy and she assures me that it was very good. 

Why is it a dangerous cake recipe you ask? Think about it.....you are now only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!.....eeeeek!

5 Minute Chocolate Cake In A Mug

4  TBSP flour
4  TBSP sugar
2  TBSP cocoa
1  egg
3  TBSP milk
3  TBSP oil  (I used melted butter)
3  TBSP chocolate chips (optional..I used less)
small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (MICRO wave safe!)

Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well.  Add the egg and mix thoroughly.  Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.  Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.  The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!  Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. Makes 1-2 servings.

OPTION::  I smeared a bit of butter in two ramekins (they do tip out easier if you want to serve them on a plate... perhaps with a spoonful of ice cream?) and divided the mixture between the two of them.  I also substituted butter for the oil.  Bake in the oven at 350F (180C).. for about 20 to 25 minutes.  Watch them carefully... don't want to burn chocolate!  The tops will begin to crack when nearly done...and I just checked with a toothpick at about 18 minutes..... when it comes out clean...they are done.   Unless you happen to put the pick into a chocolate chip or morsel...then just check in another spot... and enjoy!

Take care:) 

100 Happy Days Challenge......day 7

Happiness is a quick and easy meal......flat bread pizza.

Once in awhile I go to my favourite Italian bakery and if I'm lucky I can buy one of these........

I say if I'm lucky because they don't stay on the shelf long. They are baked fresh. Sometimes they are still hot from the oven. This one has some herbs and dry tomatoes on it which is very tasty but I'm going to make a pizza with it. I've put this one on a cookie sheet that is about 12 inches by 18 so  you can see the size of the bread.

I spread a thin layer of tomato sauce (not ketchup) over the top. I use canned or bottled spaghetti sauce from the supermarket or leftover home made spaghetti sauce if I have some.

I then gather any pizza type ingredients that I have. This week I had pepperoni, tomato, mushrooms, green pepper, onion and mozzarella cheese. I can't give you exact measurements because it's basically go with what you have on hand.

I cut the green pepper, onion, tomato and mushrooms into thin slices. I grate the mozzarella and I cook the pepperoni.

Yes.... you heard me........I fry the pepperoni very slightly to get rid of some of the oil in the pepperoni.  I only cook it about a minute on each side. I then layer the slices between paper towel to adsorb any further oil.

I layer the ingredients....pepperoni first then the rest in any order. I put lots  of grated mozzarella on top. I then put the flat bread pizza in to a 350F/180C oven for about 10-15 minutes. I'm not cooking the pizza. I'm basically heating it up and melting the cheese.

Voila.......flat bread pizza...easy peasy:)

Yummy.......

Have a good day:)