tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57677649155837583102024-03-13T18:28:30.437-06:00They See Me Rollin'Sharing for the love of sharing! Crafts, recipes and ideas for fellow curious internet adventurers!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-28623449699582581172018-02-10T14:49:00.001-07:002018-02-10T14:49:17.081-07:00Pussy Gato Mew-Mew Hat (#MeToo)I can remember when I started crocheting and I found consistent stitches to be a very difficult. More so because I am pretty OCD. Now that I've been doing it for awhile, I've tried teaching people, and can see their frustration and remember that feeling when I was just starting. It takes some resilience to keep going! Making a huge single crochet blanket for my husband was what did it for me. A lot of "frogging" (I just learned this term! Rip it, rip it, rip it out to start over... ribbit ~ get it?) and just practice, practice, practice!<br />
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I'm now trying to crochet using diagrams. Wholly Guacamole!! Some of those patterns are tough. Check out <a href="http://mypicot.com/" target="_blank">MyPicot</a> for lots of different free patterns with accompanying written instructions. I find that I have to use both as sometimes the written instructions are somewhat confusing and sometimes the diagram is confusing! They do have a pay version as well that offers more detail. After some frogging, I figured out their free Textured Wave Stitch and am making a lapghan to donate to the <a href="http://www.pioneersvolunteer.org/" target="_blank">Telephone Pioneers of America</a> to give to a military veteran.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQkyVuxNk4zlj1zIMZ8eqx6X6FTy-vsDMLMApSiq0zTztFA1S7trwvOJzUR55PT6zM3CLr8UCZyaGLEJZ-lJkqpJ1vIGT-eRpSdLeLdML3Wq6NCMtofPMbadCadnpFnJMKWvIK6kWZTlb/s1600/53999085919__2C27F53C-A662-43C0-AA00-EEB875D13BB6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQkyVuxNk4zlj1zIMZ8eqx6X6FTy-vsDMLMApSiq0zTztFA1S7trwvOJzUR55PT6zM3CLr8UCZyaGLEJZ-lJkqpJ1vIGT-eRpSdLeLdML3Wq6NCMtofPMbadCadnpFnJMKWvIK6kWZTlb/s640/53999085919__2C27F53C-A662-43C0-AA00-EEB875D13BB6.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://youtube.com/" target="_blank">Youtube</a> has been an awesome source of great tutorials for new stitches and projects as well. There are some really talented vloggers out there that are so generous with their knowledge. Some cater to the new Hooker (hey now...) by being very slow and methodical in their stitches. Some are super fast, but that pause button works wonders. I've learned so much!<br />
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I recently went to <a href="https://www.fancytigercrafts.com/" target="_blank">Fancy Tiger Crafts</a> and got some chunky t-shirt yarn. $15 a skein is pricey, but well worth it if you can't be bothered making your own. Yup, I found this wonderful <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq7JX-s0Peo" target="_blank">tutorial</a> by UpcycledStuff and a whole bunch of t-shirts my hubs doesn't wear anymore. I will say this. Heed her warning to avoid print because it doesn't curl as well. Invest in a rotary cutter. I freehanded mine and got uneven "yarn" and t-shirt fiber E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPC3cv2QA-QWRbalYBzZjbec-cL3nMdNUs7uDdzOboG6zS7fDEvL8O4qe55LWT9inQGkkGac0PQTWhspgnVSu7nyykcavQPzl1a4CmBqE3U2-5yd_HKGGZlKDbsdXrk3R0uynhFIXHneG/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-02-10+at+2.19.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="948" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPC3cv2QA-QWRbalYBzZjbec-cL3nMdNUs7uDdzOboG6zS7fDEvL8O4qe55LWT9inQGkkGac0PQTWhspgnVSu7nyykcavQPzl1a4CmBqE3U2-5yd_HKGGZlKDbsdXrk3R0uynhFIXHneG/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-02-10+at+2.19.03+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's an easy #MeToo hat that works up super quick! I made 2 in about 20 minutes with the skein I bought and a 15.75mm hook. I think Fancy Tiger told me it was a Q hook. It's big.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T8BLmIWw20OdDPIoENq26FYATvlKI9mnOzoZ9-f7I5z4kALDfkCa8IrvGoy7vB3r2DnE3wzPwMynQs8jzoYkZkk0dVdvNq3PRE9zShGirCm8BIk7qb2epxX-i4jbMqlukyKaBy-MPbSX/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-02-10+at+1.25.41+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="548" height="505" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T8BLmIWw20OdDPIoENq26FYATvlKI9mnOzoZ9-f7I5z4kALDfkCa8IrvGoy7vB3r2DnE3wzPwMynQs8jzoYkZkk0dVdvNq3PRE9zShGirCm8BIk7qb2epxX-i4jbMqlukyKaBy-MPbSX/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-02-10+at+1.25.41+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Foundation Row: </u></b><br />
CH 24; SL into first CH.<br />
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<b><u>Row 2-6: </u></b> <br />
CH 1; SC around (24 STs); SL into beginning ST<br />
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<b><u>Row 7:</u></b> <br />
CH 2; DC into next 2 STs; SC into next 7 STs; DC into next 5 STs; SC into next 7 STs; DC into next 2 ST; SL into top of beginning CH2.<br />
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Using a long tail from where you ended, sew top of hat with mattress stitch. Keep in mind that one DC stitch on either side of the hat is not paired and stands alone on the sides.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ99a4TffEt_NbIkIr90ycFtf-GPdq5sytUn632yIL4nlweaSMeFO-m_574Yo33e0Ght0ibhtt03TmSPGxuaTmY-M4SywSLm_0AX0rjhZuQIAaWlEfc4T77iiKX6S0coz-u6ZsQb3OoiDv/s1600/53999080594__E3757DE7-6A7C-45DE-ABD0-CBD50498BF4F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="1600" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ99a4TffEt_NbIkIr90ycFtf-GPdq5sytUn632yIL4nlweaSMeFO-m_574Yo33e0Ght0ibhtt03TmSPGxuaTmY-M4SywSLm_0AX0rjhZuQIAaWlEfc4T77iiKX6S0coz-u6ZsQb3OoiDv/s640/53999080594__E3757DE7-6A7C-45DE-ABD0-CBD50498BF4F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Super chunky and warm! My sister was trying to make a #MeToo hat with a smaller yet still chunky yarn, took one look at mine and gave me her yarn and hook in exchange for my Pussy Gato Mew-Mew. Give her a try! She'll look great in any color and adorning your lovely crowns.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>xo ~</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Rolly</i> <3</b></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-71948000730206941512016-07-05T15:01:00.003-06:002016-07-05T15:01:54.327-06:00Hiyashi Chukka Soba<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">This is a classic summer dish in Japan. It's come to be a summer gathering must-have, and I've made it for several potlucks as a side salad, though it is meant to be a meal. It is always a hit as it is super tasty, and because it is a cold-noodle salad, it is refreshing to boot. I recall having this at a beach resort as a meal in my youth, and it always reminds me those lazy summer days spent at the beach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This recipe increases the servings quite a bit, and is enough to feed a large group as a side salad, so make it for your next summer gathering! It has a tangy-sweet flavor that pairs well with a variety of meats.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAX9Nb6N3bQkVTL5mP3y6zRhRvcWCPcb2dh9UrbhsTns08LCEk7ci8gBPjq0Q3JYFF5eGPHjxb-ZW8NH6sEJ-xbaVS1LgcLKsmLw5HseVgjQzC3AaPm2mkbmjuvpaTsCYX51L-jH0McZcB/s1600/10369906_10203089150927239_3459850991363180988_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAX9Nb6N3bQkVTL5mP3y6zRhRvcWCPcb2dh9UrbhsTns08LCEk7ci8gBPjq0Q3JYFF5eGPHjxb-ZW8NH6sEJ-xbaVS1LgcLKsmLw5HseVgjQzC3AaPm2mkbmjuvpaTsCYX51L-jH0McZcB/s640/10369906_10203089150927239_3459850991363180988_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First, you'll have to get some Japanese fish bullion. It is used in Miso Soup too and can be stored in a dry, dark space like a pantry. Find it at your local Asian market. Mix your sauce before prepping your other ingredients. If you don't like it too spicy, cut the dry yellow mustard portion in half, but don't eliminate it completely as it adds a flavor profile that is important to the dish. This recipe makes more than enough sauce for this dish. If you prefer a less saucy dish, cut the recipe in half, or use the original recipe and save some in a dressing dish for people to add if they'd like.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyN9VKDiNq1u53poZ5XJWewO5rsWGSyeVARE-1ymjZNu4EuP8zE0wJg-NmBhzLRN8d4kj_u6FH0tECw-eqdHxFhc3oeqTlzdXRGEujllw-k6Gz6CtCNyVEBP3ASbvh4iZVythCLne3ndf/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-07-05+at+1.44.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyN9VKDiNq1u53poZ5XJWewO5rsWGSyeVARE-1ymjZNu4EuP8zE0wJg-NmBhzLRN8d4kj_u6FH0tECw-eqdHxFhc3oeqTlzdXRGEujllw-k6Gz6CtCNyVEBP3ASbvh4iZVythCLne3ndf/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-07-05+at+1.44.03+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOL22SrcDMMz6-VB1v8SlBmSzl3yoDsbt7lhCJc-KpL9QvIvDSWKD6HlS0Rx1pFyJcjIUwmn47x2pz-jwZsuwGomV4OxaNqlwU-5feCADVbIk6j517ywqpl-uS4Rvl7vB0v_uX-yJeBsBi/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-07-05+at+1.53.51+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOL22SrcDMMz6-VB1v8SlBmSzl3yoDsbt7lhCJc-KpL9QvIvDSWKD6HlS0Rx1pFyJcjIUwmn47x2pz-jwZsuwGomV4OxaNqlwU-5feCADVbIk6j517ywqpl-uS4Rvl7vB0v_uX-yJeBsBi/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-07-05+at+1.53.51+PM.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can use a bean noodle (cellophane noodle), which has a chewier texture to it. This is traditionally what I use so I tend to pick it up whenever I'm at the Asian market just to have on hand. I use eight bunches! Cook according to package instructions. Drain the noodles immediately, then run under cold water until they are cooled completely. Drizzle with some sesame oil to prevent sticking. I get my hands in it and toss it to ensure an even coating. As Rachel Ray says, your hands are two of your most important cooking tools!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_ex5dsQOnPsfNK14Ec6plZu1c8OVaxdx3XJyoxw91ZqT5QhlWq_NOM-ym5Bl6dKZITxdytbKaeEelVLEKJbLtxKkjFFkURjMCGwa2585ZWoel0axbtntJHk3D3cgXJCM3huxmpmo_Q5Q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-07-05+at+1.55.02+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_ex5dsQOnPsfNK14Ec6plZu1c8OVaxdx3XJyoxw91ZqT5QhlWq_NOM-ym5Bl6dKZITxdytbKaeEelVLEKJbLtxKkjFFkURjMCGwa2585ZWoel0axbtntJHk3D3cgXJCM3huxmpmo_Q5Q/s200/Screen+Shot+2016-07-05+at+1.55.02+PM.png" width="143" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a pinch, you can use a rice noodle instead. Because I can pick this up at my local grocery store instead of an Asian market, it tends to be more convenient. My husband prefers this noodle to the bean noodle as it has a more traditional noodle texture, but I think it tends to be more filling and this dish is meant to be a lighter fair. Try it both ways and decide for yourself! I think both are delicious in this recipe. Again, cook according to package instructions, drain, give it a cold water rinse, and drizzle with sesame oil. Nobody wants clumpy noodles. Nobody. Ever. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope you will try my recipe. It is quite delicious! The meat can be leftover or cold rotisserie chicken or crab meat as well. Or make it a meatless salad! Here is my Sis-In-Law's take on my recipe. You can see, she added sliced pickled ginger to hers, though if you do, use it sparingly as it has an intensity that shouldn't take away from the other flavors in your dish. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5GuqfXmGOd3kngcDj5JSjQjSIHt5-Q31npuI9BKs53gEuZSnmxYNT2bMK-rr5Th2RBIyn1H3AQR8HV9SJ2xiizE2AT87VNiXHbOryGsSnm0s6FK3RJbA3yjVeMHjBiIS90ay0HlQmrlX/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-07-05+at+2.44.52+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd5GuqfXmGOd3kngcDj5JSjQjSIHt5-Q31npuI9BKs53gEuZSnmxYNT2bMK-rr5Th2RBIyn1H3AQR8HV9SJ2xiizE2AT87VNiXHbOryGsSnm0s6FK3RJbA3yjVeMHjBiIS90ay0HlQmrlX/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-07-05+at+2.44.52+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Enjoy!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>xo ~</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Rolly</i> <3</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Sauce</u>: </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Mix dry ingredients in a dish, then add wet ingredients. Whisk until combined.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">1/4 tsp Hondashi Fish Bullion</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">4 T Granulated Sugar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">2 T Dry Yellow Mustard</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">6 T Soy Sauce</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">6 T Seasoned Rice Vinegar (Sushi Vinegar)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">2 tsp Sesame Oil</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Noodles</u>:</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">6-8 bunches of bean thread vermilion noodles (it's healthier than rice noodles) or 2 packages of rice noodles cooked according to package instructions</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Drain in colander (these are small noodles so use a tighter colander) and rinse under cold water until cooled completely</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Drizzle with sesame oil and toss to coat </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Take handfuls and cut on cutting board 2-3 times then transfer to serving dish</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Drizzle with sauce reserving some for toppings. I tend to toss this with my hands too, to ensure a good even coating. These noodles will absorb the sauce, so if you are being sparing, definitely serve a side dish of the sauce. These noodles are bland without it!</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Toppings</u>:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Arrange toppings according to the picture in groups of topping. </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;">4 Eggs. I scramble mine one at a time with a couple pinches of salt, maybe 1/4 tsp with 3/4 - 1 tsp sugar per egg. Sugar breaks down the egg, so add salt first, then sugar, stir to combine and quickly fry up in a hot pan in omelet square shape. It should taste like the Tamago Sushi. Slighlty salty-sweet. Cool completely then julienne into 2 inch strips.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">1 English Cucumber (has less and smaller seeds), washed and cut into about 2 inch sections then julienned. You can substitute bean sprouts here too, washed and very well drained. I always add sauce to my vegetable in this dish. Every other topping is seasoned enough on its own.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">I use sandwich ham, cut into 2 inch sections and julienned. Cold crab meat (imitation or real) or rotisserie chicken is also delicious!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Sparingly, pickled ginger can be used as well, or served on the side.</span></li>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-2542838541659468082015-11-18T09:24:00.000-07:002015-11-18T09:24:08.717-07:00Mile High (Altitude) Snickerdoodles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When my daughter and her friend were in middle school, they decided one day to make Snickerdoodles. They had a serious discussion about the lack of Snickers in Snickerdoodles. So they decided to cut some up and add them to their cookies. I suppose you could too if you want to, but mine are the old fashioned variety and after I make a batch, they rarely last more than two days in the cookie jar. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7OFvGzkhZcvC3Y83tXkYzeKVIakYwkKWPoU7GQD0lUUrO51IIYOA07WJePeuh14SlyipRUWnXS7TldgsYY_H_19KXcouw7DnOjv02H8Evh4v4Qeu3LRLK9VdQa9GpleZw5YP57eRr0Yz/s1600/DSC_5282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7OFvGzkhZcvC3Y83tXkYzeKVIakYwkKWPoU7GQD0lUUrO51IIYOA07WJePeuh14SlyipRUWnXS7TldgsYY_H_19KXcouw7DnOjv02H8Evh4v4Qeu3LRLK9VdQa9GpleZw5YP57eRr0Yz/s640/DSC_5282.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dough is ready as soon as you make it, but I refrigerated mine so I could take my son to hockey practice. </td></tr>
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As with any of my cookies, you start with butter. Mom told me when she makes cookies, if the recipe calls for two sticks, she uses one butter and one margarine. Then she told me that our grandson doesn't like her cookies. Hmmmm. Could butter be the magic ingredient that makes cookies so delicious? I would like to think so. That and my heavy whipping cream. Yup. Heavy whipping cream.</div>
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I used to keep an old margarine tub of cinnamon sugar. Now I just keep it in a sprinkle jar so my family can indulge in cinnamon toast whenever they want. Trouble is, they keep forgetting it's there. Still, it comes in handy for Snickerdoodles, Sautéed Apples, and French Toast. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUodF1crVnW6jW8hxCLofi8apql9qM6eDuEljVa4c7ZOBmNKrPUjFHe0B_89EvgCGTW8j0g9AWTv18SmxTH_ScmtUkz_4IRFHK7PgbVX0sDpz-8pIxZ3vXbpJx9vaSFgkeu9aFYtDXUff/s1600/DSC_5281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUodF1crVnW6jW8hxCLofi8apql9qM6eDuEljVa4c7ZOBmNKrPUjFHe0B_89EvgCGTW8j0g9AWTv18SmxTH_ScmtUkz_4IRFHK7PgbVX0sDpz-8pIxZ3vXbpJx9vaSFgkeu9aFYtDXUff/s640/DSC_5281.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinnamon Sugar has many uses! And doesn't go bad!</td></tr>
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After I make my 1-1/2" balls of cookie dough, I just pour some cinnamon sugar into a little glass bowl and drop a ball in, swirl it around and coat it nicely. I tend to make all my balls first in hopes of getting even balls but I never quite succeed with this effort, yielding different sized cookies in all my batches. None-the-less, I like to ball all, then coat all. Then baking is a breeze.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVb_zMc7E0n1ZrZizDKnj2Fa6hZxsIFpbwD3T7oMbCRxa7L2TKIA7bvCbQg3OjMNTLxO2MVYEOyMbWbaJzE5UAtEZD8of7NpSi35FOpyB3djl4zYxvVv6YFMpn33gEzU4ncMMls8DKQv3A/s1600/DSC_5283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVb_zMc7E0n1ZrZizDKnj2Fa6hZxsIFpbwD3T7oMbCRxa7L2TKIA7bvCbQg3OjMNTLxO2MVYEOyMbWbaJzE5UAtEZD8of7NpSi35FOpyB3djl4zYxvVv6YFMpn33gEzU4ncMMls8DKQv3A/s640/DSC_5283.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patience is a virtue I am still learning. Here are the first few balls for the sake of this picture :)</td></tr>
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I had leftover cinnamon sugar, so I took the fresh-out-of-the-oven cookie and flipped it over in the sugar for an extra coating. The family did not complain.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwhy8_05lP7hO5lW5IEfav-qLYo0d0N-aZgmqF2LcGv2SHfSFbcIODLXtMbI51MmCfDXjwPd1P6h59PbuJ-hnAF13bahQkEI_maNUbdN3sgyPBMmx2PZhyyiOPFBJ3N9YcsEDCxzcInW8/s1600/DSC_5288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwhy8_05lP7hO5lW5IEfav-qLYo0d0N-aZgmqF2LcGv2SHfSFbcIODLXtMbI51MmCfDXjwPd1P6h59PbuJ-hnAF13bahQkEI_maNUbdN3sgyPBMmx2PZhyyiOPFBJ3N9YcsEDCxzcInW8/s640/DSC_5288.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Careful! Hot cookies break easily!</td></tr>
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My family loves homemade cookies. I can hardly keep up with them eating them all up. I hope you find that your family gobbles them up too. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">xo ~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Rolly</i> <3</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tKHGAkC5VaE9n9e8LpfuF11ZC12jt4XQ1lnxdiI1adnhRUPC6W8hbHDU3mbhaHBs8S1fiAHZDXti3eAHrX4lY43wt0pbz8QLAqhVg21zmm0Ru2BP2v-ZheGoPIE5YQe8C7QYdQQggT66/s1600/DSC_5286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tKHGAkC5VaE9n9e8LpfuF11ZC12jt4XQ1lnxdiI1adnhRUPC6W8hbHDU3mbhaHBs8S1fiAHZDXti3eAHrX4lY43wt0pbz8QLAqhVg21zmm0Ru2BP2v-ZheGoPIE5YQe8C7QYdQQggT66/s640/DSC_5286.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snickerdoodles! YUM!<br />
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<b><u>Ingredients:</u></b><br />
<ul>
<li>2 cups of all purpose flour</li>
<li>1 tsp baking powder</li>
<li>1/4 tsp baking soda</li>
<li>1/8 tsp cream of tartar</li>
<li>2 stick salted butter, room temperature</li>
<li>1 cup of granulated sugar</li>
<li>1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract</li>
<li>1 eggs</li>
<li>2 T heavy whipping cream</li>
</ul>
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<b><u><br /></u></b><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u>Directions:</u></b></div>
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<li>Preheat oven to 350 degrees.</li>
<li>Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and cream of tartar; stir to combine. Set aside.</li>
<li>Blend butter and sugar until creamy. </li>
<li>Add vanilla extract, egg and heaving whipping cream.</li>
<li>Slowly sift dry ingredients into batter, about 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition</li>
<li>Roll dough into 1 1/2" balls.</li>
<li>Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 2T ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Drop dough ball into bowl and swirl to coat.</li>
<li>Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place dough ball at least 2" apart.</li>
<li>Bake 9-12 minutes.</li>
<li>Cool at least one minute before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. </li>
</ul>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-42151416661216582332015-10-15T08:59:00.001-06:002015-10-15T08:59:28.541-06:00Strawberry White Chocolate and Chocolate Mint Cake Mix Cookies<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsdrOfG1HWwfgfehPMbW28L7BzydwIoPEULBT_RPqWky2WzFIqArOQWebN9DsmUbNg8a63DnmMYoFtEmhJBhdw9VN6iYtOXBuBwvH3MN5z0lbBR9GmbrNe9wUo0C9i-Rln-A6uYvShyIp/s1600/DSC_4242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsdrOfG1HWwfgfehPMbW28L7BzydwIoPEULBT_RPqWky2WzFIqArOQWebN9DsmUbNg8a63DnmMYoFtEmhJBhdw9VN6iYtOXBuBwvH3MN5z0lbBR9GmbrNe9wUo0C9i-Rln-A6uYvShyIp/s640/DSC_4242.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sometimes, you just want something a little different. Today's cookie adventure was a <i><b>Strawberry with White Chocolate Chip</b></i> and a <b>Chocolate with Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies </b>made from cake mixes. Although the cake mixes I purchased were from different companies, both were the same weight and neither had a high altitude adjustment. I stopped by my local market, only to find nary a mint chocolate chip in the baking aisle. But from my previous experiment with a sheet cake mix cookie, I knew Walmart (bless their hearts) sells Andes crushed mints in their baking aisle. This turned out to be fortuitous because Walmart sold all the items I needed for a better price. </div>
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The end result was a crunchy, almost shell-like exterior with a soft interior bursting with flavor that got rave reviews from all of my kids and even my grandson. Each batch yielded about 3 1/2 dozen cookies. I'm not for sure because I don't know how many disappeared between batches. I initially set my oven to 350 degrees but I found that my usual 9 minutes left the white chocolate slightly charred and the inside still a little raw. I adjusted to 325 degrees and a longer bake time with good results. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymZqTXLirKq8sdx9ckck0mRWTS_PggpQGRKBiY9zl0kto0fnwkx9LaaMSO_caD1ErICrKzp6UY9dJ-seqs1W67lPx4GLym5qbgFJZg98wwKPTSb46akKW6X11A_sS2YOrg_ccSWVbJFwl/s1600/DSC_4237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymZqTXLirKq8sdx9ckck0mRWTS_PggpQGRKBiY9zl0kto0fnwkx9LaaMSO_caD1ErICrKzp6UY9dJ-seqs1W67lPx4GLym5qbgFJZg98wwKPTSb46akKW6X11A_sS2YOrg_ccSWVbJFwl/s640/DSC_4237.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The strawberry batch was extremely gooey so I added a 1/4 cup of flour to the dough. Even with the additional flour, this cookie is a very sweet cookie. My sweet little grandson's nose caught a whiff of them cooking and he inquired if I was making cake. When I told him I was making cookies he said, "It smells like cake." Smart little boy. He helped himself to two cookies and a glass of milk saying, "These are <i>too</i> sweet!" I think he mean that as a compliment because he added, "I'm going to ask Mommy to make these too!" and then asked if he could take some home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcRbzrIP5wPnh4trEk7x1F1FtvS0RtN2xONi9TFsKDATn2VR50_62RoZspTACJc3mw6gOE6IvC7MtjEXxzhLS1c4EQqisJ1NkzolRKwVBFbd1f4cGSkgjdam2x3B2HGZLSEUNUn_UX7yi/s1600/DSC_4241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcRbzrIP5wPnh4trEk7x1F1FtvS0RtN2xONi9TFsKDATn2VR50_62RoZspTACJc3mw6gOE6IvC7MtjEXxzhLS1c4EQqisJ1NkzolRKwVBFbd1f4cGSkgjdam2x3B2HGZLSEUNUn_UX7yi/s640/DSC_4241.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Oddly enough, the chocolate batch didn't require any additional flour, which I attribute to the cocoa powder in the cake mix. Having made a couple of chocolate cookies, I do think that cocoa powder tends to make your baked goods dryer than flour alone does. My oldest son told me the chocolate cookies tasted like Thin Mints and suggested I individually dip each cookie in melted chocolate. To which I replied, "NO" and he was pretty okay with that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hj49p6bhUcQlsNT5qij-VRYp3BXVt5KYAnA-LaeUq40tu2LPaa5jPS5oq_XGvhjiPqAWh-9pZ6RUA61ztFtQ74am5ko6zuybjYomAmMzmDWHPd6N9anqvgEXVnYG0OkmAd0nRshP1jIM/s1600/DSC_4240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hj49p6bhUcQlsNT5qij-VRYp3BXVt5KYAnA-LaeUq40tu2LPaa5jPS5oq_XGvhjiPqAWh-9pZ6RUA61ztFtQ74am5ko6zuybjYomAmMzmDWHPd6N9anqvgEXVnYG0OkmAd0nRshP1jIM/s640/DSC_4240.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Any number of combinations can be made with these cake mixes, and they are incredibly cheap. Just check out your cake aisle at your local grocery market and see what kind of yummy combinations you can come up with. Red Velvet cookies would be quite lovely with a white chocolate chip. Or how about a German Chocolate cookie with coconut and a chocolate drizzle? Hope you'll let your tastebuds go on a culinary cake mix cookie adventure!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">xo ~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Rolly</i> <3</span></div>
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<b><u>Ingredients:</u></b><br />
<ul>
<li>1 cake box mix (based on batter, you may need to add 1/4 cup flour)</li>
<li>1 stick salted butter, room temperature</li>
<li>1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract</li>
<li>2 eggs</li>
<li>2 T heavy whipping cream</li>
<li>1 cup of some kind of chocolate chips</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>Directions:</u></b><br />
<ul>
<li>Preheat oven to 325 degrees</li>
<li>Mix butter, heavy whipping cream, vanilla, and eggs together in a mixing bowl until blended </li>
<li>Slowly add the cake mix in about 1/4-1/2 cup batches until mixed well</li>
<li>Fold in chocolate chips</li>
<li>Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and heap dough in roughly 1" mounds, at least 2" apart</li>
<li>Bake 9-12 minutes</li>
<li>Cool at least one minute before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. </li>
</ul>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-955553637668426092015-09-11T16:11:00.001-06:002015-09-24T17:08:26.311-06:00Mile-High Pound Cake and Cupcakes ***AMENDED***<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: start;"><b><i><u>Amendment</u>: </i></b><i>Funny how when you make something once then make it again it can be two completely different outcomes. King Arthur Flour posted a video the other day about the proper way to measure flour. Check it out here https://www.facebook.com/kingarthurflour/videos/10153541608809174/. My second go at this yielded much less batter. You would think that would make the outcome that much more buttery-delicious. Not so. The cheaper butter I bought at the store to pinch some pennies left everyone in my household feeling somewhat cheated out of what should have been a buttery slice of heaven. The first time, I baked it for 1 hour. Because the second one yielded so much less batter, it needed much less baking time. So be wary! Spend the money on good butter! My original post follows below :) </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhva3K6e02J766Fig0Hr5DILoiLyrWdxmqyzgCVrrhe03Xw6YT0zzsx6TOM6RJsUfoXXt60W8bcvg93VMqGvNJX8UbNbOok4Ztv4240p5xRnh1ruIl_8o_8KLKtpiLs-i_U08uV108ww6DK/s1600/DSC_2822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhva3K6e02J766Fig0Hr5DILoiLyrWdxmqyzgCVrrhe03Xw6YT0zzsx6TOM6RJsUfoXXt60W8bcvg93VMqGvNJX8UbNbOok4Ztv4240p5xRnh1ruIl_8o_8KLKtpiLs-i_U08uV108ww6DK/s640/DSC_2822.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So the other day I made some delicious Mile-High Pound Cake because my oldest son loves Sara Lee variety. Wanting to save some pennies, I halved a recipe I found and tweaked it for Mile-Highness and for my own love of vanilla extract. I was skeptical about the recipe because of all the added liquids yielding such a thick batter and it didn't give a temperature. Most recipes are 350 degrees, so I increased accordingly to 375 degrees for the 5K+ Mile-High adjustment.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r_lSyEid1sR6GH-AwvxU_SvFjdwM3z35G5zKRymgyMWRr3159OQGBwwJwT0AO7kd7Q-8DjYOCDo4aRq5HvJ0t_kRX4p5EIBsxj2t7m1_NuGu7sRWnJdb5GT59i7JT89X2NoNMFJeYqs9/s1600/DSC_2818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9r_lSyEid1sR6GH-AwvxU_SvFjdwM3z35G5zKRymgyMWRr3159OQGBwwJwT0AO7kd7Q-8DjYOCDo4aRq5HvJ0t_kRX4p5EIBsxj2t7m1_NuGu7sRWnJdb5GT59i7JT89X2NoNMFJeYqs9/s640/DSC_2818.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Still worried, I consulted with my friend and fellow baker. She assured me that cakes in the Mile High always have a thicker than normal batter, and urged me to lower my temperature to 350 degrees. I did momentarily, but reading about the faster evaporation at higher altitudes, I thought better of it and returned it to the original 375 degrees. The end result, quite lovely. In retrospect, I think I would have used a regular loaf pan instead of the casserole dish, but this cake was gone <i>the next day!</i> </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fBKMODuLRRhcoHX-APzfIEqH8fMzQjbRJBOj4jb5uClheWIotfJKDMQslTqy_WLyFHiaqBP_86UpcWV9lAR0Qh68INNjbFAjE9_fjjFBLkZB0gCfBglU_fS48KLiq5SFiqbhnczl9D8L/s1600/DSC_2820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fBKMODuLRRhcoHX-APzfIEqH8fMzQjbRJBOj4jb5uClheWIotfJKDMQslTqy_WLyFHiaqBP_86UpcWV9lAR0Qh68INNjbFAjE9_fjjFBLkZB0gCfBglU_fS48KLiq5SFiqbhnczl9D8L/s640/DSC_2820.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I baked mine for 1 hour then gave it a toothpick test. </td></tr>
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So for Labor Day, I searched for a cupcake recipe and found that lo and behold, the cupcake recipe from another source, was indeed the same recipe as the pound cake with additional milk added to it. I increased that even more, but I think it muted the buttery taste of the original recipe. And who wants muted buttery taste? Not this girl, so I'm sticking to my original recipe.</div>
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So as with any baked recipe, I start by mixing my dry ingredients in one bowl and my butter and sugar in a separate bowl. Continue to add wet ingredients to the batter, one at a time, mixing well between each addition before sifting in dry ingredients. Cupcake recipes always tell you to pour your batter in 3/4 of the way full. I think this is too full and creates a large muffin top. And I always have one or more that are excessively muffin-toppy for some reason. I opted for a 1/2 full instead to avoid the muffin top all together. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnr7bqUNxxtq6P3txluGS_ALbkeGOEBwjBMUSwqwidDfVkwZuAj5NhJO_OGCoChe7Cvj_m2tR_iSFCV7XUsPpOk-MW40oSECgGCyElFBmN37smscq-FAFNBqOb_h_xF8AdPd7DpijjWB1X/s1600/DSC_2932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnr7bqUNxxtq6P3txluGS_ALbkeGOEBwjBMUSwqwidDfVkwZuAj5NhJO_OGCoChe7Cvj_m2tR_iSFCV7XUsPpOk-MW40oSECgGCyElFBmN37smscq-FAFNBqOb_h_xF8AdPd7DpijjWB1X/s640/DSC_2932.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Being a new recipe, I'm sure I opened my oven too many times to check on the progress. In the end I overcooked my cupcakes to a golden brown because I was thinking of the delicious crust of the pound cake. They ended up with a crunchy shell, but very moist and airy on the inside. Next time, I will decrease my time so they are not golden brown, and just do the good ol' toothpick test. I'm thinking closer to 18 minutes versus the 24 minutes I did these for. Add a homemade buttercream frosting and voila! C'est Magnifique! Gobbled up and not a one was left after the Labor Day BBQ. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6k22LElCds2mnV9UMAVgTMoRxJ0gjisL6OutizBLFeitYeaxFKM-NowtHC7csZC1AJxnq5ewGq5eRgPlpwOXidtokoE92WhSUYnliyWj69UCgNIuO1nqGJenSoDjjYXekTbxRPfS9fE9/s1600/DSC_2935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6k22LElCds2mnV9UMAVgTMoRxJ0gjisL6OutizBLFeitYeaxFKM-NowtHC7csZC1AJxnq5ewGq5eRgPlpwOXidtokoE92WhSUYnliyWj69UCgNIuO1nqGJenSoDjjYXekTbxRPfS9fE9/s640/DSC_2935.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet little cupcake, made from scratch<br />
Why oh why do you wear such a crunchy shell?<br />
Opened up soft, sweet little treat, this batch.<br />
High altitude liquids, your secrets, do tell! </td></tr>
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Hope you'll try them. Yum! </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">xo ~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Rolly</i> <3</span></div>
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<b><u>Ingredients:</u></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>1 1/2 cups all purpose flour</li>
<li>1/2 tsp baking soda</li>
<li>1/8 tsp salt</li>
<li>1/2 cup salted butter at room temperature </li>
<li>3/4 cup granulated sugar</li>
<li>1 T vanilla extract</li>
<li>2 T heavy whipping cream</li>
<li>2 eggs</li>
<li>1/4 cup milk</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>Directions:</u></b></div>
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<ol>
<li>Preheat oven to 375 degrees.</li>
<li>Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.</li>
<li>In a separate larger bowl, mix sugar and butter until creamy.</li>
<li>Add eggs and mix to combine</li>
<li>Add vanilla and whipping cream. Mix to combine.</li>
<li>Sift dry ingredients into batter, about a 1/4-1/2 cup at a time, mixing between each addition.</li>
<li>For pound cake, pour batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour - 45 minutes to an hour and 10 minutes.</li>
<li>For cupcakes, use cupcake liners. Pour batter 1/2 full into each cup. Yields about 15 cupcakes. Bake 18-22 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.</li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-79235795385490403362015-09-11T11:58:00.002-06:002015-11-18T06:58:50.363-07:00Mile-High Chocolate Sugar Cookies<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWB9TY_grhpHpm_22hqoLu7HBQS4Q6RwRN09OJ-pXkwGK6H7fQN2nvkZJc0xfItMkIXUn3e6cf6LszU2gfnYy5nTV_P007Lp1JJOVf9DBfqGR584mA56D32zN0vl9gxCtx7RPvnHLJsHMO/s1600/DSC_2911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWB9TY_grhpHpm_22hqoLu7HBQS4Q6RwRN09OJ-pXkwGK6H7fQN2nvkZJc0xfItMkIXUn3e6cf6LszU2gfnYy5nTV_P007Lp1JJOVf9DBfqGR584mA56D32zN0vl9gxCtx7RPvnHLJsHMO/s640/DSC_2911.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
High altitude baking is terribly confusing to me. Various websites will tell you that baking at high altitudes causes evaporation and leavening to occur more quickly. This apparently messes with the cellular structure of your baked goods, particularly cakes, causing them to "fall". To coin this generation's favorite retort to anything, "Wait, what?" You could text to my kids, "We're having steak for dinner tonight." and they would each respond, "Wait, what?" Oh how many times I've asked, "How is this a 'Wait, what' moment?" to which I get no response whatsoever. </div>
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But to get back on track... I love Colorado. I can't imagine living anywhere else. I love the lack of humidity. I love autumn with all the glorious and beautiful colors and I love the cooler weather that accompanies it. I love snow. While all my transplanted friends complain after two snow storms (<i>That's not a snow storm! That's just a light dusting!)</i>, I love the gently falling snow with the huge snowflakes or even the fast pace of a good blizzard. Hot chocolate, anyone? I love Colorado. I hate high altitude baking adjustments. </div>
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My irrational fear of high altitude adjustments were justified in a failed attempt at homemade Oreo cookies. Never blogged it because they were terrible. Something akin to a very dry, flat brownie that was badly in need of more sugar. Flavor-wise, not bad. Rich. But did I mention they were dry? I ended up throwing over half of them out. Yes, I ate the other half out of guilt. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibx06ppVAY4tpVMdJTMbGbd84_P5NJL9dtdmFeUQF8Jb-GCj330rXKiCQt6l3rntcL6SJVuR4ALl7ecvIqfoHGLbB9AGRg4fHIUD-gpWrMfRwBm0aELBgB-uUjBsZHyo6M4V-wZ8q42ihZ/s1600/DSC_2894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibx06ppVAY4tpVMdJTMbGbd84_P5NJL9dtdmFeUQF8Jb-GCj330rXKiCQt6l3rntcL6SJVuR4ALl7ecvIqfoHGLbB9AGRg4fHIUD-gpWrMfRwBm0aELBgB-uUjBsZHyo6M4V-wZ8q42ihZ/s640/DSC_2894.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">A quarter cup of molasses should do just fine, right? Yes. It did just fine.</td></tr>
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Tired of baking the same four recipes for cookies, I came across a recipe for chocolate sugar cookies. If you ask me, it looked as if it had already been high altitude adjusted (1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour <i>plus</i> 2T). Am I supposed to know the altitude of geographic locations I don't live in???? She didn't give her city (which I can't say I blame her), just her location-ish. I adjusted. And adjusted more because I don't understand the decreasing of butter if it is indeed a liquid in baking which I am supposed to increase for high altitude. And adjusted more because I didn't have one of her key ingredients. And adjusted again because, <i>dang</i> that is a lot of sugar. And again because, <i>dang</i> that is a lot of vanilla (yes, I said that and I love vanilla). And I adjusted again because I just add heavy whipping cream to everything I bake. And again because I didn't want to waste two sticks of butter on a dry cookie no one but me will eat. The end result? A gooey dough. Refrigeration followed.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UKviR_c2yb4jnMmK4-UW4eAtmEegee247QjPxd4yF-DLuSRGWUccV-3euzPly4Ewg-05Q6sbCiD7HWOz7RgIleSnKgbLUydUXt39kldFit44jCiuGefipeHd3dAfwHMDnYUZfsD8x353/s1600/DSC_2904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UKviR_c2yb4jnMmK4-UW4eAtmEegee247QjPxd4yF-DLuSRGWUccV-3euzPly4Ewg-05Q6sbCiD7HWOz7RgIleSnKgbLUydUXt39kldFit44jCiuGefipeHd3dAfwHMDnYUZfsD8x353/s640/DSC_2904.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Okay, it wasn't <i>that</i> gooey. Tapped off excess confectioners sugar into my dough!</td></tr>
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After attempting to roll them into balls, and finding that the refrigeration quickly came back to room temperature (yes, I didn't wait long enough because I'm me), I finally just spooned it. Two spoons in a sword fight over the shape of the dough. Hers had a lovely coating of what looked like confectioners sugar even though her recipe called for granulated sugar. I tried both. Neither turned out like hers so in the end I just ix-nayed the sugar because ultimately, sweet enough without the added calories.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAh_SS40_dx5jAlFZpxV6rEkwOJL7ZZahkIv2Wd90Rsdlx1HiCOmGj-BlLob_J37UGsiNnuWEPsIkvIPKWbGpzCNCGZNl727MtE55KYROwlMxkz8aHkCT_idZuk6iXxmkvz7kOuYQu_pb/s1600/DSC_2905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAh_SS40_dx5jAlFZpxV6rEkwOJL7ZZahkIv2Wd90Rsdlx1HiCOmGj-BlLob_J37UGsiNnuWEPsIkvIPKWbGpzCNCGZNl727MtE55KYROwlMxkz8aHkCT_idZuk6iXxmkvz7kOuYQu_pb/s640/DSC_2905.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Excess confectioners sugar... meh. Just bake it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uj44NCBury88QAqGmojeDoq4MQ3AObjsUwsBC4X2g6lYBjqGbF9no57F6sS0VixgIEihDFr6tvICtB2bIW9QTbPh1QMuVNbXleXhirRaRLyNfpCP-4oqZfRDb0jSUbEW3bw09RTiZYsl/s1600/DSC_2906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uj44NCBury88QAqGmojeDoq4MQ3AObjsUwsBC4X2g6lYBjqGbF9no57F6sS0VixgIEihDFr6tvICtB2bIW9QTbPh1QMuVNbXleXhirRaRLyNfpCP-4oqZfRDb0jSUbEW3bw09RTiZYsl/s640/DSC_2906.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Wait, what just happened. See what I just did there. My version of "Wait, what?" IX-NAY the UGAR-SHAY.</td></tr>
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The taste? YUM. A fine meld of chocolate, sugar and butter with a soft center and crunchy exterior. I'm telling you, add 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream to everything you bake. Oh. Em. Gee.</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiap3M-9NOBgKyVskPtC_bL8zXeXbFCAQb9YpldlFT8nk91wzQV7JSWdkBjnopKNomq8QRNWfyWFMoE-B-0J6mUHHYz8yN-dzy8RHZfUiH4IJXQiIjpxaK6pEn8DlEohuH41dkpc8HoQZfb/s1600/DSC_2910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiap3M-9NOBgKyVskPtC_bL8zXeXbFCAQb9YpldlFT8nk91wzQV7JSWdkBjnopKNomq8QRNWfyWFMoE-B-0J6mUHHYz8yN-dzy8RHZfUiH4IJXQiIjpxaK6pEn8DlEohuH41dkpc8HoQZfb/s640/DSC_2910.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Mmmmm. Moist, chocolatey and buttery too. Yum.</td></tr>
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Hope you'll give it a try! </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">xo ~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Rolly</i> <3</span></div>
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<b><u>Ingredients:</u></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>1 3/4 cups all purpose flour</li>
<li>3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder</li>
<li>1/2 tsp baking soda</li>
<li>1/4 tsp baking powder</li>
<li>1/4 tsp salt</li>
<li>2 sticks salted butter, room temperature</li>
<li>1 1/2 cup unpacked light brown sugar</li>
<li>1/4 cup molasses</li>
<li>2 tsp vanilla extract</li>
<li>1 egg + 1 egg yolk</li>
<li>2 T heavy whipping cream</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>Directions:</u></b></div>
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<ol>
<li>Combine dry ingredients except cocoa powder in a bowl.</li>
<li>In a separate larger bowl, mix sugar and butter until creamy.</li>
<li>Add 1/4 cup molasses, mixing again until combined.</li>
<li>Add vanilla, eggs, and whipping cream. Mix to combine.</li>
<li>Add cocoa powder - very messy - be gentle.</li>
<li>Add dry ingredients about a 1/4-1/2 cup at a time, mixing between each addition.</li>
<li>Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. </li>
<li>Preheat oven to 350 degrees.</li>
<li>Drop by heaping teaspoon onto parchment lined cookie sheet with at least 2" space between each</li>
<li>Bake 10-12 minutes. </li>
<li>Cool on sheet 1 minute before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.</li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-72691893850921541772015-09-06T08:58:00.002-06:002015-09-06T08:59:03.327-06:00Mermaid Tail Cocoon Blanket<span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; text-align: justify;">It's been a while since I shared a crochet project. Boy was this a labor of love! This one is a Christmas present for my niece. I hope she likes it! I can see her now, sitting on the couch, reading her favorite book in her mermaid tail blanket!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Back view with tail flipped over. Seam is visible, but barely.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';">I’ve seen a slew of these online. Some made entirely of the crocodile stitch and some made this way. I started out with a crocodile stitch cocoon but found it was very bulky and I couldn’t imagine my grandbaby swaddled in it comfortably. Besides, she’s a hot one, and the crocodile stitch makes your project pretty</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';">…</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"> well</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';">…</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"> insulated. I think I started this project over about six</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';">…</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"> maybe seven times. I have Obsessive Crochet Disorder. Even looking at this finished product, I think I would like to redo the tail, but NO! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';">I started out with a single crochet that I did in four rows in the round, using back loop only. I love the way it ridges when you do that. I will say, I ended up closing it so her feet won’t stick out, so I think a SC row of 18, back loop only is fine also. After your fourth row, just back loop DC around one side and front loop DC until the other side until you close your circle. It works. I actually did it on one of my prior attempts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';">Double crochet each subsequent row, increasing every fourth row until it is the appropriate width. Each increase adds six stitches to the row. I marked the row where I stopped at 72 DCs with a different color yarn so I could count how many rows to add from there for the pattern, but truly, this depends on the height of the wearer, so I don’t think it matters. For the record, I added 40 more rows of 72 DCs. </span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3NaUO_x8co1DWnDXz1zxv4gQMzjQ7bIOmJImnqPozmV6Rf-AQXbFFTmDvkCVfnx-uxXq3944bevbSdCXdIRUPUMHBWDeQpjRFkmbzdzb6gB_BMY202tPsVLIuICHy74NtHJ7alTcxhJf/s1600/Yarn+Marker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3NaUO_x8co1DWnDXz1zxv4gQMzjQ7bIOmJImnqPozmV6Rf-AQXbFFTmDvkCVfnx-uxXq3944bevbSdCXdIRUPUMHBWDeQpjRFkmbzdzb6gB_BMY202tPsVLIuICHy74NtHJ7alTcxhJf/s640/Yarn+Marker.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Yarn to show end of increases is at the seam. Barely visible from this vantage point. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Century Schoolbook;">My first few attempts had a very visible seam that moved around the tail at a diagonal. I didn’t like it at all. Some people say your starting DC is a CH 3. Some say it is a CH 2. So I played around with that, but it really didn’t make much of a difference. The trick, I found, was to turn the work over at the end of each row. So when you finish off one row, turn the work around, so you are working back over what you just finished. SL into the first gap, which is the last stitch you made in the previous row. CH 2, then DC into each gap around. The seam is almost invisible. And she’ll be sitting on it anyway.</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Schoolbook;">The tail is also ridged with a HDC, back loop only. Love it. Gives it a nice texture. When it was completely assembled, I added some bells - because who doesn’t like a jingle? And a few white beads to embellish. This tail is two pieces. I think in the future, I would make it one piece so that the center where you combine the two pieces isn’t such a huge gap.</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIayJx-RbO-OpuZLYrK_wkb3ES9hWMg2wJ-tWWlb0vUz5jOHhD20JgiVGA7zyjxmlGomWhB2JyN2ryD_F4iydxVMu3a1NinCGjsQlcVmmWL3lm7o-2TEa6nURSwgQUi0vTK4m7MBV2mCE/s1600/Tail+Ridges+Bling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIayJx-RbO-OpuZLYrK_wkb3ES9hWMg2wJ-tWWlb0vUz5jOHhD20JgiVGA7zyjxmlGomWhB2JyN2ryD_F4iydxVMu3a1NinCGjsQlcVmmWL3lm7o-2TEa6nURSwgQUi0vTK4m7MBV2mCE/s640/Tail+Ridges+Bling.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';">At the top, I finished the row with a crocodile stitch around then added shell buttons on either side of each crocodile, alternating back (white) and front (shell). I did sew down the centers of my crocodile stitch with a yarn needle because they don’t lay very flat). Unfortunately, it's very hard to see in this picture.<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJU5wd_u-zwCoUIpbr2PzcErAOCNLODwiHX9E-4XPZyn3xWO1mpxOFb7CFuBHc-A_lbROpHmIwLUWlbWVs1vIwTdSfr4nqgVzm2YIoc_sXpJ0Gv9AlWVKc_6vGxke0AoRBmiAn2DIE01UO/s1600/Crocodile+Buttons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJU5wd_u-zwCoUIpbr2PzcErAOCNLODwiHX9E-4XPZyn3xWO1mpxOFb7CFuBHc-A_lbROpHmIwLUWlbWVs1vIwTdSfr4nqgVzm2YIoc_sXpJ0Gv9AlWVKc_6vGxke0AoRBmiAn2DIE01UO/s640/Crocodile+Buttons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';">So, while this pattern is, eh</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';">…</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"> discretionary depending on your wearer, I hope you find it easy to follow and that you'll try to make one for someone you love!</span><span style="font-family: 'CK True Type Thin';"> <span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="height: 38px; margin-left: 54px; margin-top: 7px; mso-ignore: vglayout; position: absolute; width: 50px; z-index: -1;"></span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">XO~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rolly </span><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting'; font-size: 24pt; letter-spacing: -2.7pt;"><3</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">CH = Chain </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">STs = Stitches </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">SL = Slip Stitch</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">DC = Double Crochet </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">HDC = Half Double Crochet </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">CRST = Crocodile Stitch </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">FPDC = Front Post Double Crochet </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I used a one pound skein of Red Heart yarn and a size K hook.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Foundation Row</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: CH 36; join with SL into 1<sup>st</sup> ST<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Row 1</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: CH 1; SC into top loop only around, joining in last ST with SL; <i>36 STs around</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Row 2 – 4</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: Repeat row 1<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Row 5</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: SL into first gap. CH 2; DC into each gap around; SL into the top of first DC; <i>36 STs around</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Row 6-7</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: Turn work around; SL into first gap (the one you just finished). CH 2; DC into each gap around; SL into the top of first DC; <i>36 STs around</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Row 8</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: Turn work around; SL into first gap. CH 2; DC into the next 4 STs; DC 2x into the next ST (increase made); *DC into the next 5 STs; DC 2x into the next ST (increase made); repeat around from *; SL into the top of first DC; <i>42 STs around<u><o:p></o:p></u></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Row 9-10</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: Turn work around; SL into the first gap; CH 2; DC around; SL into the top of first DC; <i>42 STs around</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Row 11</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: Turn work around; SL into first gap; CH 2; DC into next 5 STs; DC 2x into the next ST (increase made); *DC into the next 6 STs; DC 2x into the next ST (increase made); repeat from *; SL into the top of first DC; <i>48 STs around<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Row 12-13</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: Turn work around; SL into first gap; CH 2; DC around. SL into top of first DC; <i>48 STs around<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Row 14</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: Turn work around; SL into first gap; CH 2; DC into next 6 STs; DC 2x into the next ST (increase made); *DC into the next 7 STs; DC 2x into the next ST (increase made); repeat from *; SL into top of first DC; <i>54 STs around</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Row 15-16</span></u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: Turn work around; SL into first gap; DC around; SL into top of first DC; <i>54 STs around</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Continue increasing every 4<sup>th</sup> row until you have the width you want.</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> increase </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">every 8<sup>th</sup> ST = 60 STs around<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> increase </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">every 9<sup>th</sup> ST = 66 STs around<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> increase </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">every 10<sup>th</sup> ST = 72 STs around<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> increase </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">every 11<sup>th</sup> ST = 78 STs around etc., etc.,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Once you get to the width you want, continue turning your work, and working into each gap until you get the length you want. </span><i>I stopped mine at 72 STs around, and then worked another 40 rows of DC. My niece is about 4’ 10” tall. </i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><i>Crocodile stitch row! </i></u><span style="font-weight: normal;">A CRST is basically a FPDC around a one post going down, and then a FPDC going up the next post. There is a CH 1 between the two posts. If you’ve never done a crocodile stitch, please watch this fabulous <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUNtrp_Vj4o" target="_blank">tutorial</a> by Mikey with the Crochet Crowd. He is awesome. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> <u>Row 40</u></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">: Once you have finished row 40 of DCs, finish off the row, by SL into the top of the first DC. Then, CH 2; FPDC <i>down</i> the post directly beneath your CH 2 four times (as the first CH 2 counts as your first DC); CH 1; g</span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">rab the next post and FPDC </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-weight: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;">up</i><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> that post 5x; *SKIP 5 POSTS; grab the 6th post and FPDC down that post 5x; CH 1; FPDC up the next post 5x; repeat from * to end of row and SL into the top of the first DC in the first CRST. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <u> TAIL</u>: I used Michelle's <a href="http://www.daperfectmix.blogspot.com/2014/07/crochet-mermaid-tail-fin-pattern.html" target="_blank">pattern</a> though I changed it up a bit with the number of decreases in each row and ended up adding an additional row at each end to make it larger. Thanks Michelle!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s easier than it sounds. Watch Mikey’s video!! I hope you have great success with your project!</span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-15056993248804631732015-09-06T08:57:00.003-06:002015-09-06T08:59:03.312-06:00Mom's Potato Salad Tweaked (Now it's My Potato Salad)<span style="text-align: justify;">Growing up, Mom always made a potato salad with slivered onions and cucumbers that she would sprinkle with salt to bring the water out. She would then wring them out as much as possible before adding it to her potato salad. I always thought it was an odd thing to add to her salad. People loved my mother's potato salad. Me, not so much. Well, I loved the flavor of her salad, just not the slivered onion and cucumbers. To me, they were just soggy and icky. But others enjoyed it so who was I to complain? </span><br />
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I use Mom's basics for potato salad. Mayonnaise, mustard, sweet relish. But potato salad is already soft, so I like the added texture of finely diced celery and onions to add a crunch. And if I do cucumbers, they are sliced on the side, crunchy, not wrung out. </div>
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While not an staple in our household, I find that potato salad goes very nicely with just about any meat. I especially love it with a teriyaki or BBQ'd meat that has a sweetness to it, but I find it goes nicely with just about any kind of meat as well. Mom even put leftover potato salad in my sandwich for lunch. I always found that odd too, but my husband said, "That sounds good!" so he may get some in his sandwich tomorrow. </div>
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I started with <i>four small potatoes</i> that I cleaned with Fit and a scrub brush. I then quartered them and covered them with cold water. Mom would make a bunch of potatoes, but I found that these four small potatoes yielded enough to serve 5-6 people. Boil them until they are toothpick tender. I also hard boiled two eggs. I always bring my eggs to a boil then simmer for 20 minutes even though I've been told it should only be 15 minutes. They never get that grey color that indicates overcooking, so it works for me because I want my yolk cooked through. Perhaps it's the high altitude.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFUcVVriAVlz5SG2uX5hfX6mdUdDP4SPjugiZtCvfw4GJ05X-9ycRXRYtoQInJ8t7v8eJdZKzl0XWzLCEWUQ6XNBk2l4EA2UA5yEc5q1qK3n0c8LKX1S4X9TxRsmsCUmcT1an7wmD5aSy/s1600/DSC_2054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFUcVVriAVlz5SG2uX5hfX6mdUdDP4SPjugiZtCvfw4GJ05X-9ycRXRYtoQInJ8t7v8eJdZKzl0XWzLCEWUQ6XNBk2l4EA2UA5yEc5q1qK3n0c8LKX1S4X9TxRsmsCUmcT1an7wmD5aSy/s640/DSC_2054.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The key to a nice peeled egg (not that it matters here) is to dump out the hot water immediately and run your eggs under cold water. This serves two purposes. The first, of course is to stop the eggs from continuing to cook. The second is that your egg will actually condense a little inside its shell. Crack around the egg while it's still warm, let some cold water run into the cracks, and give it a swipe. The shell will peel right off. Wait too long and the egg cools down too much. The shell will stick to the egg white making it a painful peeling experience. </div>
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While you wait for your boiling pots to do their thing, in a large bowl combine 1/4 cup of mayonnaise plus 2T, a tablespoon of yellow mustard and 3 tablespoons of sweet relish. Mix well. Add to that, a 1/4 cup of finely diced white or yellow onion and 2-3 stalks of diced celery. </div>
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Once your potatoes are done, drain and add a tablespoon or two of vinegar to the hot potatoes. Doing this while they're hot allows them to soak up that flavor. I used seasoned rice vinegar (the kind you use for sushi), since I always have some on hand in the fridge. Let them cool down, and then peel and dice them into bite sizes. I've never known why you leave the skin on, then peel. It's one of those things I've been meaning to ask about... Surely Alton Brown could give me a very meaningful answer, but let's just say it's they way I was taught so it's the way I do it! A rough chop on your boiled eggs will do the trick. Toss all of that together with your mayo-mixture then season with salt and pepper to taste. Your potato salad should have a nice salt to sweet relish ratio that compliments, not competes with one another. I always finish with a dusting of paprika because it looks so pretty on a potato salad. Wouldn't this salad look nice with some crunchy sliced cucumbers around the edge?</div>
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Remember, a potato is porous. The longer it sits in all those flavors, the better it tastes. Hope you enjoy!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">xo ~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Rolly</i> <3</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-2231731034474978342015-09-06T08:54:00.002-06:002015-09-06T08:59:03.319-06:00Mile High Chocolate Chip Cookies<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Mile High Chocolate Chip Cookies</span></h2>
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Chocolate chip cookies are <i>the</i> quintescential cookie, aren't they? I've been making my hub-bubs and kiddos different cookies and after each, I ask which is their favorite: the chocolate chip cookie. I've tweaked this recipe about three times now and I think I've finally nailed it down.</div>
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When I know I'm going to bake cookies, I always take two sticks of butter out in the morning so they have time to come to room temperature. My friend told me that microwaving butter for recipes changes the molecular structure of the butter. As soon as she said it, I knew she was quoting <a href="http://altonbrown.com/" target="_blank">Alton Brown</a>. He is so scientific and as far as I'm concerned, a Genius Chef. If you haven't tried his low-temp, slow, <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/who-loves-ya-baby-back-recipe.html" target="_blank">oven-roasted ribs</a>, you are truly missing out on some fall off the bone, delicious ribs. But I digress. This recipe is inspired by an <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/the-chewy-recipe.html" target="_blank">Alton Brown Chocolate Chip Cookie</a> recipe. I tip my figurative hat to you, Mr. Brown.<br />
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Take your butter out in the morning. Don't use margarine. Use butter. Most recipes call for unsalted butter but then ask you to add a teaspoon of salt. I'm sorry, but unsalted butter is just too creamy and I can't use it in my other dishes. So I prefer salted butter and I add 1/8 teaspoon of salt. Balances out nicely. And, if you decide you don't want to make it, butter can remain at room temperature for... ever. I've done this recipe with two sticks of butter and this way, which removes two tablespoons. Either way, the cookie is bomb but leaving those 2T in yields a flatter cookie. My eldest son told me, "I love cookies that are flat." I took that to mean he likes a buttery cookie. </div>
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In an odd contradiction, especially for someone like me who tends to have some kooky OCD tendencies, I add two tablespoons of heavy whipping cream to ALL of my cookie recipes. It started with my <a href="http://sharing4thelove.blogspot.com/2014/02/o-b-r-o-n-c-o-s-i-am-local-team-kinda.html" target="_blank">Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins</a>. Not a cookie, I know. Try it, you won't be disappointed!<br />
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With high altitude, you are supposed to increase your liquids, but heavy whipping cream is basically liquid unsalted butter. So taking out 2T of butter but adding 2T of heavy whipping cream seems just stupid. However, the result is a crunchy on the outside cookie with a chewy insides. It may all be in my imagination but in the end, my family loves these cookies so I'm done tweaking it.<br />
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I got these milk chocolate chips from King Soopers (or Kroger to some of you... or even City Market to some others). I prefer a milk chocolate because I can use it to coat strawberries or PB Cookies (recipe coming). The recipe calls for 1 3/4 cups of chips. I was left with a 1/4 cup of chips so I just dumped it all in. Who doesn't love the chocolate chip in a chocolate chip cookie???<br />
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So, I hope you'll try it. You may even tweak it and write your own blog about your own Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. Or you might just like mine enough to put it in your repertoire of baking.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Chocolate Chip Cookies (High Altitude)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Ingredients</u>:<b></b></span><br />
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<li>2 1/2 cups AP flour </li>
<li>1 tsp. baking soda</li>
<li>1/8 tsp. salt </li>
<li>1 stick + 6T salted butter</li>
<li>1/3 cup granulated sugar</li>
<li>1 cup brown sugar</li>
<li>1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract</li>
<li>1 large egg + 1 egg yolk</li>
<li>2T heavy whipping cream</li>
<li>milk chocolate chips (11.5 oz bag) or 1-3/4 to 2 cups</li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Directions</u>:</span><br />
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<li>Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.</li>
<li>In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix to combine. Set aside.</li>
<li>In a larger bowl, combine butter, sugars, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until creamy.</li>
<li>Add eggs and whipping cream. Beat to combine.</li>
<li>Sift in dry ingredients about a 1/2 cup at a time, beating until all the dry ingredients have been combined.</li>
<li>Using a baking spatula, fold in chocolate chips.</li>
<li>Roll into about a 1 - 1-1/2 inch ball. I found that this maintains the shape of the cookie. If you prefer, you can just spoon it out, but you may get a flatter cookie. I roll out all of my balls onto a sheet of wax paper. If your dough is too soft, refrigerate for at least a 1/2 hour.</li>
<li>Bake 9-12 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for a minute, then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely. </li>
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Hope you enjoy!!!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">xo ~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Rolly</i> <3</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-18307865286920976302015-09-06T08:53:00.002-06:002015-09-06T08:59:03.316-06:00Porcupine MeatballsThis blog is not just about sharing information of tried and true things. It's a way to give my kids access to these things their way, digitally, via the world wide web. Though I do hope to one day compile these things for them into their own books, particularly their favorite meals. That way they have it, say if the power went out... or something. This one, is my oldest son's favorite. I think the whole family enjoys it, so here is to preserving Betty Crocker's Porcupine Meatballs. My hubs told a friend that I was making this tonight and thinks she may have thought it was actual porcupine! Rice adds the "quills" to make these spiky porcupines, but no porcupines were injured in the process!<br />
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This easy meal uses items most people keep as a staple. Hamburger meat, spices, Worcestershire sauce and tomato soup. I always double the recipe because I am feeding two teenage boys and the hubs, but I always have a little left over for lunch tomorrow. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">I love this old pan. It came with a glass lid for simmering. It is so large, it's larger than my largest burner.</td></tr>
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So, I take two eggs, beaten and combine with 1/2 cup of tomato soup and 1/2 cup of uncooked rice. The recipe calls for long grain rice, but I have used uncooked Japanese sticky rice and it works just as well. To that, I add 1/2 teaspoon onion powder and a 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper. Next, add 2 lb. of lean ground beef, mixing well. Oddly enough, the recipe does not call for salt, but I find it rather bland without it. So I add kosher sea salt. I never really measure my spices, I just apply as much as I think it needs. Sometimes I get it spot on. Sometimes, not so much. Let's say 1/2 - 3/4 teaspoon of salt. I also add garlic powder or fresh garlic because I think garlic is the perfect compliment to any meat. Mix this well, so your ingredients combine nicely. You can cover and fridge it for a while or just go for it right out of the bowl and make your meatballs. These are roughly 1"...ish. Maybe a bit larger. I found that the key to success on these meatballs is to make sure you don't prematurely flip them or they tend to fall apart. We're not talking just browning them here. You are almost cooking them completely, flipping all sides before adding the sauce. </div>
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The sauce is whipped up in a separate bowl. Put the rest of the tomato soup in a bowl and add 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce and some dried oregano (my favorite spice). Again, I never measure this. I pour it into my palm and then rub my hands together over the dish. I figure that's about a 1/2 teaspoon. For this recipe, I used two palms or 1 teaspoon. </div>
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Once your meatballs have cooked on all sides, add the sauce over the meatballs, cover and simmer! Let it render down and thicken, about 20 minutes. Stir it frequently and baste your balls!</div>
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Then serve over a bed of hot rice with a side of greens or corn. Mmmmmmm. It would even be good with pasta or a nice potato salad. This will be comfort food for my kiddos for sure. Hope you'll give it a try. Easy to make and enjoyed by even the pickiest of kiddos! Mine are basically grown and they still love it. </div>
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<b><u>Ingredients (not doubled)</u></b></div>
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1 beaten egg</div>
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1 can condensed tomato soup</div>
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1/4 cup uncooked rice</div>
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1/4 tsp onion powder</div>
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1/4 tsp pepper</div>
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1/4 tsp salt</div>
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1/4 tsp garlic powder or fresh crushed garlic</div>
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1 lb lean ground beef</div>
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1 tsp Worcestershire sauce</div>
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1/2 tsp crushed oregano</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">xo ~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Rolly</i> <3</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-56195433610793738912015-09-06T08:49:00.000-06:002015-09-06T08:59:03.323-06:00High Altitude Baking - Soft Ginger "Snaps"<h2>
High Altitude Baking</h2>
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For years, I have avoided baking like the plague. It all stems from a childhood memory of my first baking experience. Being the youngest of five children, I would return home from school to an empty nest, while the rest of my siblings and my parents work. Mom would call me from work and tell me how to cook dinner. I remember the first thing I ever made was a pot roast and I as scared to death that I would over-season it. I don't remember how my pot roast tasted, but I imagine it was bland. Nobody complained. </div>
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So one day after school, I decided to bake chocolate chip cookies. The fear of cooking is heightened by high altitude adjustments when you are just a novice cook, but I managed to follow the instructions. I remember having to hand mix the batter and as I recall, the more flour you added, the harder it became to mix. I remember my arm getting tired from mixing. But in the end, I was proud of my accomplishment. It had taken me hours to make and I eagerly waited for my family to return home. They did. They devoured my cookies in a matter of minutes. While I should have been tickled pink that my family ate all my cookies, I was in fact, saddened that all that work was gone in minutes. It made me hate baking. </div>
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Looking back on that, I can now appreciate that my cookies were good! So good, they were gone in minutes! So back on a cookie making journey, today I tested a recipe by <a href="http://shemakesandbakes.com/" target="_blank">shemakesandbakes.com</a>, a high altitude friendly baker. I love ginger snap cookies so I tried out her recipe.</div>
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Once you add the molasses, the fragrance is striking, but then you add the ground ginger, cinnamon and cloves you can already taste the loveliness that is a ginger snap. I prefer mine chewy, not snappy, but alas, these came out more like a traditional snap.</div>
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I keep an old margarine tub of cinnamon sugar so the kids can make cinnamon toast whenever they want. Rolled into about 1 inch balls and swirled in a little dish of the cinnamon sugar, they look like sparkling, blinged out yumminess! My hands were covered in molasses after rolling, and I had to wash them several times to pull out the cookie sheet, but mmmmmmmmm. While 11 minutes was too long for my oven, the outer edges are quite crunchy but the middle is still chewy. Like the middle, middle. Next time I think I'll go for 9 minutes to ensure the chewier texture that I prefer. </div>
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Success! Family loves 'em! Even my oldest who said, "They're good for a ginger snap." Not his favorite cookie, but he said he would eat them for sure. Later, he admitted these cookies were bomb.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pwz884jd5ZCc-hkR5GdLR5j_yNH_kkX2ufWVyUiZsyi21k3812ptaISz19seKZfOyUlJZy6Cql5xwgw5E4L_iv2ui5pMuaWGyqItt22kfWAMEP3-JCMuxBjm6mdg2puI8cT8q0Yh9M7w/s1600/DSC_2029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pwz884jd5ZCc-hkR5GdLR5j_yNH_kkX2ufWVyUiZsyi21k3812ptaISz19seKZfOyUlJZy6Cql5xwgw5E4L_iv2ui5pMuaWGyqItt22kfWAMEP3-JCMuxBjm6mdg2puI8cT8q0Yh9M7w/s640/DSC_2029.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Store in a covered container so they don't get hard. Mmmmmm. Can't wait until the next cookie adventure!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">xo ~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Rolly</i> <3</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-56090663403621358342015-06-05T19:44:00.000-06:002015-09-06T08:49:33.445-06:00Spaghetti-Bows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Spaghetti-Os anyone?</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9J1h8SbHIUCj971JjsNWbjiK4WWAELPSib24qM0vh1AeSnhEXLxTx9agdgSSoZ3_eVJd3HSuECzpquKmq59d7YHqxtcpUClk9jUUsByE2xmXyPQNcaWCIxqeYJdt7exBxuGmN5KQd37Tu/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-06-05+at+6.51.41+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9J1h8SbHIUCj971JjsNWbjiK4WWAELPSib24qM0vh1AeSnhEXLxTx9agdgSSoZ3_eVJd3HSuECzpquKmq59d7YHqxtcpUClk9jUUsByE2xmXyPQNcaWCIxqeYJdt7exBxuGmN5KQd37Tu/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-06-05+at+6.51.41+PM.png" /></a></div>
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A kid-friendly meal that is fast and easy? Spaghetti-Bows! Or maybe I should call them "This Ain't Ya Daddy's Spaghetti-Os!"<br />
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My husband recently started going grocery shopping with me. He really hates to go, so I've never ask, but recently I started to suffer from dizzy spells so he now accompanies me. I always found it odd when I would see couples grocery shopping. But now that we do it, I must say, co-grocery shopping isn't so bad. Dare I say, I actually enjoy it.</div>
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As my husband and I go aisle by aisle, we happened upon the Spaghetti-Os and it was like he was a little boy all over again. So we picked up a couple of cans. He wanted to share the Spaghetti-Os experience with our youngest son. As good as he remembered it. </div>
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Now, being a Pinterest Fanatic, I thought, "I bet I can find a recipe for homemade Spaghetti-Os!" and sure enough, I found two. I must have mushed the two recipes together because shopping by memory, I picked up tomato soup from the first recipe but the recipe I ultimately saved called for tomato sauce. I only had an 8 oz. can of tomato sauce. Hmmmm. Quandary.</div>
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My solution? Use both! I do wonder however, where the heck these women (both recipes) found pasta O's? I settled for Mini Farfalle because I liked the play on words. Get some sharp cheddar and give it a good fine shred. I may have used more because I had a chunk left over and wanted to use the whole chunk. But who doesn't like cheese? In fact my oldest son, topped his with more shredded cheese. YUM.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJeiif348rmaUiNn9_aS-OLeLW_IBbO2MDoIL8dbvKeyeFriTQ07upcYWvxODX2UB3CeAETnteTxGS7sJGeyLZip0HUcmbUR9lYrlrfM75V-xXvHCIsrKdAneIPpYnrqClneT9e4LkdVm/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-06-05+at+7.29.08+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJeiif348rmaUiNn9_aS-OLeLW_IBbO2MDoIL8dbvKeyeFriTQ07upcYWvxODX2UB3CeAETnteTxGS7sJGeyLZip0HUcmbUR9lYrlrfM75V-xXvHCIsrKdAneIPpYnrqClneT9e4LkdVm/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-06-05+at+7.29.08+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is my take on Spaghetti-Bows!</div>
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Ingredients: 1 lb. Mini Farfalle Pasta</div>
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2 cans Campbell's Tomato Soup</div>
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1 - 8 oz. can of Hunts Tomato Sauce</div>
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3-4 dashes of Worcestershire Sauce</div>
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1 tsp. garlic powder</div>
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Water</div>
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4 hotdogs, sliced 1/4" thick</div>
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1 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese</div>
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2-4 Tbs. milk</div>
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Dash of salt (maybe a 1/4 tsp.)</div>
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1. Make your pasta according to package directions. Drain (or reserve for the water you add in the <br />
next step). The original recipe called for dry pasta to be cooked in the sauce. I found that this<br />
technique, albeit faster, absorbed too much of the sauce and it became too thick. My Spaghetti-O's<br />
were more saucy.</div>
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2. In a large pan, combine soup, tomato sauce, Worcestershire, and garlic powder. Use the empty 8<br />
oz. can of tomato sauce to add water - three times. If you want it a bit thicker, use the water from<br />
the pasta. Combine well and bring to a simmer.</div>
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3. Add hotdogs and let that simmer enough to heat them up. Then add the pasta, coating well. Add<br />
2T milk and the cheese, while stirring to coat. If your sauce is too thick add more milk. </div>
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<i>VOILA! Spaghetti-Bows! Enjoy!</i></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0ECcC66-IDS8n2nDLTuBijaInAwAs_L7YQMyKrC5DY9_gQb-P11K6QyCiYMAIs6YSqjKfEP6Nt1BDYN-zwsszIiJXbXAuBwJM2rDlagemOOqeWLSx2LoeiF8bJ3-aW0oTdovwPMnPMyo/s1600/20150605_181148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0ECcC66-IDS8n2nDLTuBijaInAwAs_L7YQMyKrC5DY9_gQb-P11K6QyCiYMAIs6YSqjKfEP6Nt1BDYN-zwsszIiJXbXAuBwJM2rDlagemOOqeWLSx2LoeiF8bJ3-aW0oTdovwPMnPMyo/s640/20150605_181148.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">xo ~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Rolly</i> <3</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-36580949537888309142015-05-22T15:14:00.000-06:002015-09-06T08:51:23.092-06:00Crochet Square Pattern<div style="text-align: justify;">
After a year+ hiatus, here is a new project. I think this is a lovely gift for someone going through chemotherapy. I hope to make more in different sizes and colors for Project Valentine. Thanks to <a href="http://www.gleefulthings.com/blog/?p=5569" target="_blank">Julie</a> for sharing this great pattern for her Sugar Cone Skully Hat. Easy and quick, this lovely hat is soft and loose fitting and cool enough for summer. Give it a try! Here is mine!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTQ1B4puYmNDX0bEVfg49BGRGbOktb898AkItNMJgh-iKkW0muVpXCRa6uNE6ucIU-rYkoujM_jHyk0fFTBDBKEV0E5GDb9cNiG8nFxXdCOLJzdYnQ9HqvTTtyfp-G1s_Pm44I3DGj47b/s1600/20150519_105708-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTQ1B4puYmNDX0bEVfg49BGRGbOktb898AkItNMJgh-iKkW0muVpXCRa6uNE6ucIU-rYkoujM_jHyk0fFTBDBKEV0E5GDb9cNiG8nFxXdCOLJzdYnQ9HqvTTtyfp-G1s_Pm44I3DGj47b/s640/20150519_105708-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So my search for online projects continued. I saw this picture online, and had to see if there was a free pattern for it. I thought, "That would make a lovely blanket!" Don't you agree? </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEKH99KQKV7AoSbX7BEFr0k9qbWodwCic_ZGSTeBVROGVk7bzPgPZQ2obqVbpFDxE2RkkZq1qqx-_ATK3OzKby7zdh-BgFX_vmZDkNYGR1jEFhtgxjnAh0pbOe4aBsc831eBJNf6zR9Yn/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-17+at+9.26.55+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEKH99KQKV7AoSbX7BEFr0k9qbWodwCic_ZGSTeBVROGVk7bzPgPZQ2obqVbpFDxE2RkkZq1qqx-_ATK3OzKby7zdh-BgFX_vmZDkNYGR1jEFhtgxjnAh0pbOe4aBsc831eBJNf6zR9Yn/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-05-17+at+9.26.55+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<i>Isn't it beautiful?</i></h3>
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So naturally, I was intrigued and <span style="text-align: justify;">went to the website to be greeted with this diagram. Diagrams look so daunting, but if you know what each symbol means, they aren't as hard as they look. Don't get me wrong, they aren't easy either, just not as hard as one would think. I must have done this, unraveled it and restarted it about five times before I was satisfied. Knowing how to read a diagram opens up so many more free patterns to use online from all the wonderful crocheters out there who love to share. Try as I might, I can't find the original diagram website. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RXa9h4tHwbbfLWtP9Ocq9gwipgBCNjNZRO7roiE92n9sfiqM6BhPW_D2cs8FZwyDu_5eOP0irvFscIn6wsbJAICLBOisNbqGDgQgZZjMdD4Z2ekSCdmQU6KzW-gJIwS2S0A3TXnG6-Ge/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-17+at+9.27.01+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RXa9h4tHwbbfLWtP9Ocq9gwipgBCNjNZRO7roiE92n9sfiqM6BhPW_D2cs8FZwyDu_5eOP0irvFscIn6wsbJAICLBOisNbqGDgQgZZjMdD4Z2ekSCdmQU6KzW-gJIwS2S0A3TXnG6-Ge/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-05-17+at+9.27.01+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Lucky for me, I found this diagram legend. It breaks down each symbol for your ease of diagraming! Check it out and see if it opens up a world of diagrams for you too!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_Nc0hdyAu_WcTM5T_toqB0Vb8Fv3MI2ucvnbPeuXgBrjQucADg9e5X_XmkivTiOi61gZb5g_MDbe3nM-m1ba14XqMSgW88u3s6qNCOAbk9QLBzf1Ig8wmrl4uDeVZRnNeXNFFK_TGNPU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-05-18+at+12.09.18+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_Nc0hdyAu_WcTM5T_toqB0Vb8Fv3MI2ucvnbPeuXgBrjQucADg9e5X_XmkivTiOi61gZb5g_MDbe3nM-m1ba14XqMSgW88u3s6qNCOAbk9QLBzf1Ig8wmrl4uDeVZRnNeXNFFK_TGNPU/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-05-18+at+12.09.18+PM.png" width="283" /></a></div>
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Mine doesn't quite look the same. It bunches up on the outer middle sections. I even modified it on about my third try, by taking all the CH 1 stitches down to 0, the CH 3 stitches down to 2, and the CH 5 stitches down to 3 (except for the corners where I left them at CH5). While it looked much less squished and bunched, I still see the bunching in the middle sections along the outer edge. I suppose once you get a bunch of blocks made and stitch them all together in a blanket, it won't matter.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ofJMoJ3B8C6F0oa_ktnyI-9Ad0okDzYfxrX3A7MYzgO3biK14nnP0Osko30wOnq5SCtnCSMrAOIezupSmwxm5jn2YULgBRSxWcG6NTt17Orw-KchiDdwRLaC45359IrGoaSArTcJuCPe/s1600/20150519_111619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ofJMoJ3B8C6F0oa_ktnyI-9Ad0okDzYfxrX3A7MYzgO3biK14nnP0Osko30wOnq5SCtnCSMrAOIezupSmwxm5jn2YULgBRSxWcG6NTt17Orw-KchiDdwRLaC45359IrGoaSArTcJuCPe/s640/20150519_111619.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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My dear friend told me that my finished project doesn't look like the original author's finished project because they probably used the <a href="http://www.mooglyblog.com/how-to-wet-block-afghan-squares/" target="_blank">wet blocking technique</a>, which looks like a lot of work to me! She even gave me this cool link to a <a href="http://www.lookatwhatimade.net/crafts/diy-blocking-station-crochet-squares/" target="_blank">DIY Blocking Station for Crochet Squares</a> which still looks like a lot of work, but in the end, would be way easier than the first method. This one, I might have to try. Some other time. In the future. Not now. Not for this project. But in the future. Later. Much later.</div>
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Being somewhat OCD, I was curious how it would look if I reduced the starting circle from 16 DCs to 8 DCs thereby eliminating the middle loops. While my modified recipe is significantly smaller, it is still very pretty, and I think would make a lovely blanket. And looking at them side-by-side, I think even the larger bunchy square would also look lovely in a blanket. So I think I may have to try both. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3jeNYEzW0RXiDnJkUa8BPWCesjdGVRaex1AZo_AfM-HdhP_fEqZrjhbZaWzIBT5lrd4-bv8A0ON_Sjr9O1BC6DEDIbRrFMZ1T_sZNBZVOwb0tO60yxd_HMhvxepAr-WWITwI1Ee3Wzoq/s1600/20150522_131510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3jeNYEzW0RXiDnJkUa8BPWCesjdGVRaex1AZo_AfM-HdhP_fEqZrjhbZaWzIBT5lrd4-bv8A0ON_Sjr9O1BC6DEDIbRrFMZ1T_sZNBZVOwb0tO60yxd_HMhvxepAr-WWITwI1Ee3Wzoq/s640/20150522_131510.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In the meantime, here is my pattern for the smaller square. I hope you will try it and make something beautiful with it. Let me know if you have any questions!<br />
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DC 8 Magic Circle **or** CH 9, SL into the first ST<br />
<u>Row 1</u>: SL into circle center.<br />
DC 8x into the center of the circle.<br />
Join into top of DC-1 with SL.<br />
<u>Row 2</u>: SL into 1st gap.<br />
CH 3; DC 2x into same gap; CH 1.<br />
*DC 3x into next gap; CH 1; Repeat around from *. <br />
Join into top of DC-1 with SL.<br />
<u>Row 3</u>: SL into the next ST; SC into next gap.<br />
CH 3 (counts as 1st DC); DC 4x in same gap; CH 3; DC 5x in same gap (corner made)<br />
Skip 3 ST; SC into next gap.<br />
**Skip 3 ST; DC 5x in next gap; CH 3; DC 5x in same gap<br />
Skip 3 ST; SC into next gap. Repeat 3x from **. <br />
SL into the top of the first DC at the beginning of this row, fasten off.<br />
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Stay tuned!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">xo ~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Rolly</i> <3</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-64425450402426092592014-02-09T11:02:00.000-07:002015-09-06T08:51:58.335-06:00Journals for Project Valentine<h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">OOPS! I did it AGAIN!</span></h2>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">This marks the second year in a row that I've missed the donation deadline for...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Check them out at <a href="http://www.projectvalentine.org/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">www.projectvalentine.org</span>/</a></span></b></span></div>
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Project Valentine is a great organization that also believes in sharing for the love of sharing. Ever year on Valentine's Day, they deliver care packages to people of all ages who are undergoing chemotherapy in hospitals across the Denver Metro area. Just a token to let them know that they have supporters from all across the world that are thinking of them and praying that God will lay his healing hands on them. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I started working, I would try to make at least one item a month for Project Valentine. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last year I also missed the deadline. Perhaps because I am fearful that my little offering isn't good enough to gift. Crocheting is very therapeutic for me. It forces me to let go of my OCD tendencies because in crochet you have to let the stitch come naturally instead of forcefully. It has been a growing experience for me and based on requests I am getting from friends and co-workers, I know I've improved. But am I good enough to gift it? I hope the recipient loves it. I really do.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year I vowed to get it together and to the Assembly Team on time. I was so happy to find that I hadn't missed the deadline Friday night. Late Saturday morning I went about getting my tags ready. I made these tags last year to put on my donations. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0XldR7OkpVm8sH-RUNnsvUkm6d4mbMVHoSbN_FcrSSTa1ovbpNzaWwd1a4RcRlmhxgnTjEIjBAxqQakL8DMPcJKEtRyKk10AwEopBvIRlh_qOxBdHAVAh1YBMdZ8qY-vGn0WdTzfltDx/s1600/ProjV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0XldR7OkpVm8sH-RUNnsvUkm6d4mbMVHoSbN_FcrSSTa1ovbpNzaWwd1a4RcRlmhxgnTjEIjBAxqQakL8DMPcJKEtRyKk10AwEopBvIRlh_qOxBdHAVAh1YBMdZ8qY-vGn0WdTzfltDx/s1600/ProjV.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided to change it a bit by spelling out LOVE and replacing ALL of my letter "O"s with hearts. I thought I saved it, but when I went to pull it from my flash drive, it wasn't there. First sad face. I knew I didn't have time to fix it again, so I went about printing out the old tag and handwriting a little note to each recipient. And oh, what a good idea it would be to date it with 2014 and write an inspirational quote to help them through their battle against cancer. Then hole punch it and string it through the gifts with yarn. Unfortunately, when I was done, I had a half hour - enough time to drive down to Assembly just in time to see them packing it all up and leaving. Second sad face. I guess I need to add to the collection for next year. Again.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>My favorite stuffed crochet animal to make is one in the round. So cute. And fun too. </b></span></div>
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I also had a really fun time making these journals. I found spiral notebooks for like a quarter each and decided have fun with them using scrapbook paper and ribbons. Simply unwind the spiral, cover using your favorite scrapbook paper with Mod Podge, hole punch it (that is the worst part of it), rewind the spiral and voila!<br />
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I remember making "Slam Books" when I was in elementary school. I suppose they were supposed to be like the "Burn Book" from Mean Girls, but what we made in elementary school was not mean at all.<br />
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Come to think of it, I think that may have been my first attempt at scrapbooking (sans pictures) because my Slam Books were more like the following, albeit handwritten. You would ask one question on each page and pass it around for people to answer (mostly anonymously because EVERY Slam Book had a page that asked "The person I love is...") For these journals, I tried to think of fun things a pre-to-teen could do in front of their journals to make it special. I took my time changing the fonts with all the wonderful free fonts out there from more people who share for the love of sharing. I tried my hardest, but truthfully I started this project way too late, and ended up making only three of them. In my defense, there was a lot of hole punching that had to be done, and my hand hurt. In fact, I think this was the reason I missed the deadline last year... Yes. I procrastinate. But not at work. Just for pleasure. LOL.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Sorry for the crooked scan... Used the "auto-feed" feature... </span></b></div>
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I had hoped to give the chemo recipient something to take their minds off of the side effects of chemo, give them something to smile about, and give them a reason to continue to be brave and hopeful. Anyone can make a journal and have a great time with it. If I had better handwriting, I would have used the existing lined pages and handwritten these things in a variety of colors. That would have saved some my hands from some hole-punchin'. Next, I will make pens wrapped in pretty scrapbook paper and micro-bead them to go with the journals. In the meantime, if you have other ideas of pages to add to these journals, I would love to hear them! Share with me! For the love. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">xo ~</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Rolly</i> <3</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-2676953526266602902014-02-02T10:05:00.002-07:002015-08-08T14:55:10.971-06:00Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins</span></span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with a Pecan Streusel Crumble</span></h4>
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I am a local team kinda gal and I stand by our Broncos, but I really am not much of a football fan. I prefer the smooth gliding, fast-paced, sexiness that is HOCKEY (<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">G</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">o</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">v</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">!</span></b>). But like I say, I stand by our Broncos and hope that they come away victorious today (so sorry to my Seahawk friends).<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">G</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">O</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> B</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">R</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">O</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">N</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">C</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">O</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">S</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">!</span></span></h2>
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<div>
As we are hosting the Superbowl Party this year, I started prepping for it last night to get ahead of the game. Lot's of yummy food to be had. I posted my Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins with Pecan Crumb topping on my Facebook page and since I was asked to post the recipe, I decided "Hey! BLOG Opportunity!" And yes, I realize that I'm having a bit of a blog identity crisis. Papercrafting? Crocheting? Cooking? Baking? Still all for the love of sharing so let's go with that. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Can't forget the ORANGE CRUSH!</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<div>
So here it is... This is a combination of two recipes that I found. I am Mile High Altitude, and I'm not sure how adjustments are made for you sea-level folks. These are Nom-Nom-Nom to die for. I do not believe in making margerine-for-butter substitutes, and I always have heavy whipping cream in the house for my coffee. Please, no substituting milk here either.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDGRMAQKYJx6AWrtd53rqoeCRKLxZzrP5R-a8H-CVovt7Yr-X4vDgHBg7xVTD0PTM4jS1_VuscBYRHQ0F4ZnxqwfXYYsLAD_xqeCn5dEO02-F6rVS-aIi0HYTTQjB4-gER1NJyf3qZeqN/s1600/IMAG0273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDGRMAQKYJx6AWrtd53rqoeCRKLxZzrP5R-a8H-CVovt7Yr-X4vDgHBg7xVTD0PTM4jS1_VuscBYRHQ0F4ZnxqwfXYYsLAD_xqeCn5dEO02-F6rVS-aIi0HYTTQjB4-gER1NJyf3qZeqN/s1600/IMAG0273.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins (with Pecan Crumble)</span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Ingredients:</u><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><u>Pecan
Crumble<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2-3 ripe bananas<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> 3</span> T flour</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 T butter, softened<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> 3 </span>T brown sugar</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 eggs<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>pinch
of salt<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> 3/4 - 1 C brown sugar (Not packed) <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>½
tsp cinnamon</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4T heavy whipping cream<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>2
T butter, room temp, cut</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1-1/3 C flour<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> 1-2 oz. pkg</span> chopped pecans</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
¾ tsp salt</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ tsp baking soda</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
¼ tsp baking powder</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
½ tsp cinnamon</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 C semi-sweet chocolate chips</div>
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<br /></div>
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<u>Directions:<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Preheat oven to 350. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Put liners in muffin pan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. In large bowl, mash bananas. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Add softened butter, eggs, sugar (I found that 1 Cup made them </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
pretty sweet but the consensus of eaters was "it is just right"), and</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4T of heavy
whipping cream, and mix well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. Combine all the dry ingredients into another bowl. Gradually
sift </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
the dry ingredients <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">in</span>to
the wet ingredients, mixing well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. Mix in chocolate chips.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. Fill muffin liners about ¾ full.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8. Prepare the crumble by combining all the ingredients
until it </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
looks crumbly!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. Top each muffin with a generous amount of crumble.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. Bake 22 minutes. Toothpick test it but mine were perfect at 22 </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
minutes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
11. Cool completely and Nom-Nom-Nom.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_w_UIqWbU1a8nt864dlGDp8IfLWBVDKjYnxg7ceCz9i2JeZo3WOV5P1kEnj-hhd4EXJQTywj3hPY1aafv3uE3x62bXNdvcV5RuAYezNwc8npRCCJs3NY4MfyWWi1VFTyc_af2EWurAvAC/s1600/IMAG0274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_w_UIqWbU1a8nt864dlGDp8IfLWBVDKjYnxg7ceCz9i2JeZo3WOV5P1kEnj-hhd4EXJQTywj3hPY1aafv3uE3x62bXNdvcV5RuAYezNwc8npRCCJs3NY4MfyWWi1VFTyc_af2EWurAvAC/s1600/IMAG0274.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Crumb topping adds a nice texture.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lbaIDpYAcCUfCDio-p1z_Rg26pTXJh-dB4Tlc4hPGcuYHseCA4UQ8Bkm4KA6ATg_RV0-pigPWr2tOvdwAGp_bA2m14bZxmk6LLwiQwe54OGneJfx2ug0LuANbhHPJMZnEO-o2drrjeKR/s1600/IMAG0278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lbaIDpYAcCUfCDio-p1z_Rg26pTXJh-dB4Tlc4hPGcuYHseCA4UQ8Bkm4KA6ATg_RV0-pigPWr2tOvdwAGp_bA2m14bZxmk6LLwiQwe54OGneJfx2ug0LuANbhHPJMZnEO-o2drrjeKR/s1600/IMAG0278.jpg" width="380" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Who doesn't love the melty gooeyness that is the chocolate chip?</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>So I realize I'm having a blog identity crisis, but my blog is <i><b>for the love of sharing</b></i>, so there you have it. Enjoy!</o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">XO~</span></i></b></div>
<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Rolly</i></b></span></o:p><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-20879201997435662162014-01-11T11:30:00.001-07:002014-02-09T10:57:56.355-07:00Puff Stitch Scarf<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Puff Stitch Scarf</span></h2>
<br />
Not long ago, my lovely sister posted a picture of a knitting needle carrier she made. I let her know how much I liked it, and lo and behold, she sent me one for Christmas for my crochet hooks and she included two new tiny hooks. So talented!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmsH-WPKNC5Uew0EulaEoWJLwPeHR7Q8Eqqbph-1CBsGAXnYgKN9D_tUPMBKheVtzJ5JJBCjpnSNUnHy7VJKCrqyq7o4TUQ7mrbVmpey_WT7nKxkNGlNGamqKzqziE3xJhNABg0O_CrT6/s1600/IMAG0122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmsH-WPKNC5Uew0EulaEoWJLwPeHR7Q8Eqqbph-1CBsGAXnYgKN9D_tUPMBKheVtzJ5JJBCjpnSNUnHy7VJKCrqyq7o4TUQ7mrbVmpey_WT7nKxkNGlNGamqKzqziE3xJhNABg0O_CrT6/s1600/IMAG0122.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My Lovely Sister sewed me a Crochet Hook Carrier</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Here it is again, closed, next to the original packaging that I used to carry my needles in. My original store packaging made me sad because I had two extra needles that it wouldn't hold that just rolled around loose in my crochet container. Yes, I have a crochet container. Now I have room for two more hooks! Yea me! Yea Sis ~ and <b><i>THANK YOU</i></b>! I am loved! I'll have to see if she will send me a pattern to post for you all to make your own! I don't sew, so I would never figure this out.<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrITx2xngyJx_ViF9VsWHIOcuxh39maWRtfOsqTk3fEuhci3k5FGlPEa6pyChuR338eTP1qqAoYS78VB8WUbYikzvK9-MewjADolukMVTK4HPErO-5dSqSCN04Zaecdnjm4KodqPHYc7hF/s1600/IMAG0126-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrITx2xngyJx_ViF9VsWHIOcuxh39maWRtfOsqTk3fEuhci3k5FGlPEa6pyChuR338eTP1qqAoYS78VB8WUbYikzvK9-MewjADolukMVTK4HPErO-5dSqSCN04Zaecdnjm4KodqPHYc7hF/s1600/IMAG0126-1.jpg" height="398" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
As promised, here is the scarf I made my Lovely Daughter to complete the trifecta of Puff Stitch Slouch Hat and Gloves. It took a couple of attempts, starting with how wide to make it, then making a complete puff stitch scarf and then changing my mind and combining the puff stitch with a DC. I am happy with how it turned out. So was she. :) <3<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEPPjIpurVDH5HvqeaMroUGZP0MMGYJd5rl76qiFU3UWDFdSCT3xjjJ6kc3Afc4ytPLVyVz2YTsosW565cIa4rIx_kthn2r3FOhPI73Sif-ZU7NxyYAhiMeP7oE-Vi0SFQCSYjSi7CFW6/s1600/scarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEPPjIpurVDH5HvqeaMroUGZP0MMGYJd5rl76qiFU3UWDFdSCT3xjjJ6kc3Afc4ytPLVyVz2YTsosW565cIa4rIx_kthn2r3FOhPI73Sif-ZU7NxyYAhiMeP7oE-Vi0SFQCSYjSi7CFW6/s1600/scarf.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
After it was finished, I knew I wanted to put a nice fringe on it to add to the length. Here is what I came up with. The puff at the top of the fringe compliments the puff stitch in the scarf very nicely.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY03LjRMiNtXFiRnGUPQoRR94sdo87kgC0orPfSNf9aAqcWmGCO5cGRcDvhCX3LEjn_5N2q49zlBESJYFc6xLl5zck7oYwq1EpQZooJSPUu1Bh5xuD6QgfdKN_CvTfpXzQjxMoV2EEH4-i/s1600/IMAG0147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY03LjRMiNtXFiRnGUPQoRR94sdo87kgC0orPfSNf9aAqcWmGCO5cGRcDvhCX3LEjn_5N2q49zlBESJYFc6xLl5zck7oYwq1EpQZooJSPUu1Bh5xuD6QgfdKN_CvTfpXzQjxMoV2EEH4-i/s1600/IMAG0147.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is what I came up with. Hope you like it!<br />
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<b>Row Scarf</b><br />
R1 CH 18. Puff 7 into the 16th ST (top loop only), CH 1, Skip (SK) 1,<br />
Puff 7 across until you have 7 puffs. You should be left with two ST<br />
left. SK 1 and DC in last ST. CH 2. Turn.<br />
R2-6 DC into each ST across, ending with a DC into the top of the first<br />
DC in row 1 for 15 DCs across. CH 2. Turn.<br />
R7 SK 1; Puff 7; CH 1; across for 7 puffs. SK 1, DC into last ST. CH 2.<br />
Turn.<br />
R8-end Repeat, alternating DC row and Puff row, ending on a Puff row<br />
until you reach your desired length. Finish off and weave in ends.<br />
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<br />
<b> Steps Fringe</b><br />
1 Cut 11 lengths of yarn, approximately 10" - 12" long for each fringe<br />
you want to make. I made five on each side of the scarf, but you<br />
can make more if you'd like.<br />
2 Take 10 lengths of yarn, even out and fold over your hook. Pull<br />
through the first space between the DC and Puff stitch. Even out.<br />
3 Take remaining length of yarn and place strands on top in middle.<br />
Tie right over left then flip up so you are looking at the back of the<br />
strands, tie right over left, then left over right.<br />
4 Repeat at the opposite end, between the last DC and Puff stitch.<br />
5 Find the center and repeat.<br />
6 Find the center between the beginning and middle fringe. Repeat.<br />
7 Find the center between the end and middle fringe. Repeat.<br />
8 Repeat on the other end of the scarf.<br />
9 Fold scarf in half so fringe is lying atop each side. Trim.<br />
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I hope you enjoy it enough to make your own Puff Stitch Trio or at least find inspiration to make your own lovely creation! Happy Crocheting!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>XO ~</b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Rolly <3</b></i></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-85783350251656863052014-01-05T12:49:00.001-07:002014-02-09T10:58:15.525-07:00Puff Stitch Fingerless Gloves<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Happy New Year!</span></h2>
<br />
In our family, New Year's Day means good food <i>all day</i>. Traditional Japanese cuisine is the reason this holiday might be my family's favorite. Mom is a rock star. I hope to learn some recipes from her, but alas, she is busily making dishes while we labor at work. Plus, she has no written recipes. A handful of this. A pinch of that. This is the reason my kids don't have most of my recipes. I am an apple that didn't fall far from my Mother's tree.<br />
<br />
Still, she brought over everything but her kitchen sink and we were able to help with some of the prep. She made the Nishime before she came over. Nishime is a lovely vegetable dish, and a New Year's staple. I love this dish. It is one of the reasons that I look forward to New Year's. The only thing I don't love is yama-imo which translated verbatim means "mountain potato". <i>IMHO</i> it is mushy and slimy and icky. Speaking of <i>IMHO</i>, please check out <i><b>blogger and author Jen</b></i>. Here is a link to her year in review: <a href="http://www.peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.com/2013/12/2013-year-in-review.html#more"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://www.peopleiwanttopunchinthethroat.com/2013/12/2013-year-in-review.html#more</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">.</span> One of my favorites was her <i>8 Ways to Say FU</i> - I laughed my butt off because I've used quite a few of them. Those that I don't use (<i>IMHO</i> is one I don't use until I read her blog), many of my friends have. I will warn you that she has a potty mouth, but I'm okay with that because so do I. And she makes me laugh. And let's face it, everyone can use a little more laughter in their lives. Let us all make that one of our New Year's Resolutions - to laugh more. It cleanses your soul. But I digress... again. Inari Sushi is a great starter for the sushi-squimish. It has no <i>rawness</i> in it. It is sushi rice stuffed in a deep fried tofu shell, which has been seasoned with a sweet sauce. Even kids like this one. I stuffed these with my lovely sister from another mister. Although we were careful not to overstuff, so not to burst the pouch at the seams, we still did, laughing and hiding them from Mom. My lovely sister rolled the assorted sushi and did a magnificent job. More food was had, not pictured. The best of which (<i>IMHO</i>) is Omochi, another <i>ONLY-ON-NEW-YEAR'S-DAY-DISH </i>that makes you look forward to the day. Omochi is rice that has been pounded down into a patty - looking somewhat akin to a flat river rock. Grilled on a fish fryer then served a multitude of ways. Good food. Family. Food. Love. We are blessed. Thank you God. <3 <3 <3<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVv6gX6GqrGvRSgkOeRQ6T6K_wVp3APQtU6VTE4FNDDe3ZMxXgQL3eGOO0WM62JAHi9P3S9K7gYgCUBfsfDb5noKLkQeAcnCH51lMCnIrRPSy0lj0cPnhHtagipeG1xYdo08Z2U6lrJE3/s1600/nishime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVv6gX6GqrGvRSgkOeRQ6T6K_wVp3APQtU6VTE4FNDDe3ZMxXgQL3eGOO0WM62JAHi9P3S9K7gYgCUBfsfDb5noKLkQeAcnCH51lMCnIrRPSy0lj0cPnhHtagipeG1xYdo08Z2U6lrJE3/s1600/nishime.jpg" height="118" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Nishime</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqBn5m2F_AVCID6wMOeSfFYkHoQsX4CgTYy1E4sxhMHUPrAAKR8GzycRLEX75i49bASM4MI3btZ94G8Q1L90zM8lccjAsuWUKxVU0-aXTtXlphbB8dyLPJZu5ZeB-WYS66bNXKUf7Vr-d/s1600/assort+sushi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqBn5m2F_AVCID6wMOeSfFYkHoQsX4CgTYy1E4sxhMHUPrAAKR8GzycRLEX75i49bASM4MI3btZ94G8Q1L90zM8lccjAsuWUKxVU0-aXTtXlphbB8dyLPJZu5ZeB-WYS66bNXKUf7Vr-d/s1600/assort+sushi.jpg" height="200" width="118" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Assorted Sushi</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYf7TW_1GlXWuacnpRK6kAd-hNdWZtenWwgoYIcUjjgF-aF5ep3j623v0xFyGTOjS8N9I-jfewIwierIHBsEzQ4TMD35sUckW7flyBYcyTyYWC8nskBGFQmFfd6FE6TJKRtaBmBT2_pB-U/s1600/inarisushi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYf7TW_1GlXWuacnpRK6kAd-hNdWZtenWwgoYIcUjjgF-aF5ep3j623v0xFyGTOjS8N9I-jfewIwierIHBsEzQ4TMD35sUckW7flyBYcyTyYWC8nskBGFQmFfd6FE6TJKRtaBmBT2_pB-U/s1600/inarisushi.jpg" height="200" width="119" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Inari Sushi</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And I finally managed to get my daughter's <b>gloves</b> and scarf done! Too late for Christmas, but she didn't mind, even though she's been waiting since her birthday. That's when she got her puff slouch beanie. She didn't want to be in the picture, but I think this is a great one, so pffffft. Anyway, <i>YEEHA</i> I'm done! So here goes with the gloves. <b><i>Scarf to follow</i>.</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjbKMF0bzSY62T-Albto0yddJ-3DXS8sw6x-LQoG6fWhOrej0uBDUzI49VFQrO653lKPtowE8e9fdfc1hW5EiZEUZAjWzg060AAAiWvGvu42D0CvZ5U_cj1lF8WMq4dDQomcWWfPn_XZK/s1600/IMAG0145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjbKMF0bzSY62T-Albto0yddJ-3DXS8sw6x-LQoG6fWhOrej0uBDUzI49VFQrO653lKPtowE8e9fdfc1hW5EiZEUZAjWzg060AAAiWvGvu42D0CvZ5U_cj1lF8WMq4dDQomcWWfPn_XZK/s1600/IMAG0145.jpg" height="320" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My beautiful daughter</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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The gloves are inspired by the <b><i>Lovely Olivia at Hopeful Honey</i></b>. Please visit her blog at <a href="http://www.hopefulhoney.com/2012/04/perfect-solutions.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://www.hopefulhoney.com/2012/04/perfect-solutions.html</span></a>. Her gloves included a pretty button embellishment. Alas, I didn't have enough cute buttons, and in an effort to only use what I have in stock (with the exception of yarn) I skipped that part. So again, a modification was in order. Here is the pattern.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhOMo4-cfgA-ptjtAqf85V4xYLyozGj74MgcIAGoMtMxTXbzFBKUFoFGZqBUMaH4k9vrgFzWsy43IodXLWO5B8LCrPGHOXYEpBaER5l9FLplsow0XXHICM24EdlIVlo7ScEcfceLh7ZcN/s1600/puff+gloves.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhOMo4-cfgA-ptjtAqf85V4xYLyozGj74MgcIAGoMtMxTXbzFBKUFoFGZqBUMaH4k9vrgFzWsy43IodXLWO5B8LCrPGHOXYEpBaER5l9FLplsow0XXHICM24EdlIVlo7ScEcfceLh7ZcN/s1600/puff+gloves.png" height="175" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Puff Stitch Fingerless Gloves<br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;">
<!--StartFragment-->
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 1834; mso-width-source: userset;" width="43"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 19626; mso-width-source: userset;" width="460"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl26" height="15" width="43"><b>Rows</b></td>
<td class="xl27" width="460"><b>Double Crochet Rows</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl28" height="15" width="43" x:num="1.0">1</td>
<td class="xl29" width="460">CH 25, slip stitch (SL) into first CH to form a
ring. 26 SC</td>
</tr>
<tr height="30">
<td class="xl34" height="30" width="43">2-3</td>
<td class="xl29" width="460">CH 2, DC into next ST around, SL join into top of
1st CH; 26 DC; finish off leaving tail to weave in ends.</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl33" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl24" width="460"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl24" width="460"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl30" height="15" width="43"><b>Rows</b></td>
<td class="xl31" width="460"><b>Puff Stitch Rows</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl28" height="15" width="43" x:num="1.0">1</td>
<td class="xl29" width="460">Puff 7 into same ST, CH 1, SKIP ST (SK ST) around.
Join w/SL to top of 1st Puff; 13 Puffs</td>
</tr>
<tr height="30">
<td class="xl32" height="30" width="43">2-4</td>
<td class="xl29" width="460">SL into 1st SKIPPED HOLE (SH). Puff 7 into same, CH1
repeat around. SL join into 1st puff. 13 Puffs in alternating spaces</td>
</tr>
<tr height="30">
<td class="xl32" height="30" width="43" x:num="6.0">6</td>
<td class="xl29" width="460">SL into 1st SH, Puff 7, CH 4, SK ST, Puff 7 pull
through then in last 2 SC - this is your thumb. SK ST, Puff 7, CH 1 around.
Join w/SL to top of 1st Puff; 13 Puffs.</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl28" height="15" width="43">7-10</td>
<td class="xl29" width="460">SL into thumb hole. Puff 7, CH1, SK around; 13 Puffs</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl28" height="15" width="43">11-12</td>
<td class="xl29" width="460">CH 1, SC around; finish off leaving tail to weave in
ends.</td>
</tr>
<!--EndFragment-->
</tbody></table>
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<br />
I love that Olivia is a free-sharer. I love that she came up with such a beautiful creation. I hope you will visit her page and bookmark her like I have. My daughter gets complimented all the time, and not just from people she knows. These beautiful gloves are incredibly warm. Takes a lot of yarn to make those Puffies, but so worth it. The end result is quite stunning.<br />
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Hope you are able to follow the instructions. If not, write me a comment and I will try to help you work it out! Happy crocheting! And HAPPY NEW YEAR! Blessing to you all!<br />
<br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><3 XO <3</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~Rolly</span></i></b><br />
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<br />
So... I'm pretty late getting my Christmas cards out this year. Since I stopped selling rubber stamps a few years ago, I haven't made a whole lot of cards. For the past few years, we've sent store bought cards to most of my friends and family (<i>The horror</i>, I know). I get a Christmas card annually from the mother of my high school best friend. She always makes sure to tell me how much she loves my handmade cards in her card to me, so naturally, she continues to get a handmade card from me. She might be the only one to get a handmade card, and for now, I'm okay with that.<br />
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My inspiration for this year's card came from Pinterest (I <i>love</i> Pinterest) from Megan who's card is linked to her blog at http://www.iteachstamping.com/2012/11/stampin-ups-pennant-parade-to-make-a-christmas-card.html. I thought it was quite lovely. It also helps that I just so happen to own this stamp set, although truthfully, I didn't know it at the time I posted it on my board. I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to cut and paste her card here so if you want to see the original, please visit her page.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here's my version using what I already had in stock.</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB52JIOXKR4rrZdBPXuHGcbuoc9Hk0y9Dv1uoKX9Ykxxd3ZlKiZRLuG09rxAPwPjEJ8vXjSsTCGlX3qWvYGKBVYtFv0b83Eb-uLQd8uIoVvEBXAHty2VfUDBHUtXpAcfnYIiwMgVNOZmg/s1600/IMAG0120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB52JIOXKR4rrZdBPXuHGcbuoc9Hk0y9Dv1uoKX9Ykxxd3ZlKiZRLuG09rxAPwPjEJ8vXjSsTCGlX3qWvYGKBVYtFv0b83Eb-uLQd8uIoVvEBXAHty2VfUDBHUtXpAcfnYIiwMgVNOZmg/s1600/IMAG0120.jpg" height="400" width="270" /></a></span></h2>
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The great thing about Stampers is that they <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>CASE</b></span> (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>C</b></span>opy <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>A</b></span>nd <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>S</b></span>teal <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><b>E</b></span>verything). It really isn't considered stealing because Stampers love to share their great ideas to help out other Stampers who might be having a creative block. To have your card CASEd is indeed a very sincere form of flattery. So <b>THANK YOU</b> Megan for the inspiration. I enjoyed your card very much and hope that some people enjoy mine too. I love something shiny in all of my cards. I use glitter regularly to make cards sparkley-shiney-blinged-out awesome but this card wouldn't look right with glitter. I chose to let the cardstock shine on its own and just added some shiny gold cord. I wish I could tell you all the vendors I used and they would pay me in free merchandise to continue making cards showcasing their wares, but honestly don't remember who they are. All I do know is I used Pennant Parade and Christmas Punch from Stampin' Up! but the rest is but a sad forgotten memory in the recesses of my brain somewhere.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulhEfLpD7TQ6Xbq0kUadf30qEMm4IU_y23e4Ihqe6l_mr9iP2ZUgYk5076vSUmuyylc1uKsfI-RGdgcUPe5_4hOXeRc_bRsGYbb6XXTbeG0JL1HhZB1qZCuVVveE6OyssVyyytbAkLmso/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-12-21+at+9.48.55+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>For you crocheters out there, I got this free pattern at Olivia's blog (another free sharer) at http://www.hopefulhoney.com/2012/02/beginners-luck.html. I made this lovely slouch hat for my son. <b>THANK YOU</b> Olivia! He has gotten many compliments on it, as have I. My first time using the the puffy stitch, so I went to youtube and looked it up. I can't remember which tutorial I used, but there are many! Puffy Stitch uses a lot of yarn, but it looks pretty awesome if you ask me and my daughter agreed so she asked me to make her one too. Hers is a little more slouchy. I put 3 cans of soup in both their hats, grabbed them above the band and swung them around to stretch out. I must have swung hers longer.</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Puffy Stitch Slouch Hat</span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPBamDg2w677fcScN6q91FXeS9btMn4P3dm2FOif-kjGc-Seeom7mUEHtJvfe3ZSjsu2mQ3tjkVDjbVakg30s9SCHorHUzj9nDKpRtnLMHIQ3rICrkNQqbFs9-XGb8GK4jK_tWh_dqsL-/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-12-21+at+10.01.15+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPBamDg2w677fcScN6q91FXeS9btMn4P3dm2FOif-kjGc-Seeom7mUEHtJvfe3ZSjsu2mQ3tjkVDjbVakg30s9SCHorHUzj9nDKpRtnLMHIQ3rICrkNQqbFs9-XGb8GK4jK_tWh_dqsL-/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-12-21+at+10.01.15+PM.png" height="272" width="640" /></a></div>
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I modified Olivia's pattern just a wee bit and added the Puffy Stitch instructions as well. Hope you can follow and enjoy this pattern! I used a size H hook.</div>
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<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 1834; mso-width-source: userset;" width="43"></col>
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<td class="xl24" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl27" width="460"> ***In SC into TOP loop only***</td></tr>
<tr height="15"><td class="xl25" height="15" width="43">R1</td>
<td class="xl26" width="460"><br />
Chain 11; turn and SC into ST 9 to end of row (8
more across for 10 total); CH 2</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43">R65</td>
<td class="xl26" width="460">Repeat to 22" (loosely stitched 65 rows).</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460">Fold over and stitch 2 sides together at short seam
to create a band</td>
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<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43">R1</td>
<td class="xl26" width="460"><br />
Slip a stitch into a chain on the seam. SC around
the band joining last ST; CH 1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460">PUFFY STITCH</td>
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<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43">R2</td>
<td class="xl26" width="460">Y/O (2 on hook), insert into next ST, pull through
(3 on hook)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460">Y/O (4 on hook), insert into SAME ST, pull through
(5 on hook)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460">Y/O (6 on hook), insert into SAME ST, pull through
(7 on hook)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460">Y/O (8 on hook), pull through all 7 loops; CH 1 to
finish</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460">SKIP A STITCH and repeat around joining last ST to
TOP of first PUFF; CH 1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460"></td>
</tr>
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<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43">R3</td>
<td class="xl26" width="460"><br />
Slip stitch into the first HOLE. Insert your hook back into the hole and<br />
Y/O (2 on hook), insert into SAME ST, pull through
(3 on hook)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460">Y/O (4 on hook), insert into SAME ST, pull through
(5 on hook)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460">Y/O (6 on hook), insert into SAME ST, pull through
(7 on hook)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460">Y/O (8 on hook), pull through all 7 loops; CH 1 to
finish</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460">Y/O (2 on hook), insert into NEXT HOLE and repeat
around joining last ST; CH 1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15">
<td class="xl25" height="15" width="43"></td>
<td class="xl26" width="460">Repeat for 20 rows total (your puff stitches are staggered)<br />
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To close the hat, turn inside out. Leave a very long tail, pulling through inside of hat. Insert needle to the hole directly across from the hole you are in, pulling tight. Repeat all the way around until you've synched the hat closed. Tie off and weave in ends.<br />
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Don't forget to stretch out the hat with soup cans but mind the band!<br />
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Happy Creating! And Have a Merry Christmas or Happy whatever you celebrate!<br />
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<b>XO -</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Rolly</b></i></span></td>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-60418899958164305592013-12-03T21:26:00.002-07:002014-02-09T10:59:01.604-07:00Repurposed Magnet Ads<div style="text-align: left;">
My apologies for the very long delay between posts! I went from working zero hours a week to becoming gainfully employed (Thank God!) and working full time with a crazy commute. I've managed to crochet a lovely slouch hat and a pair of fingerless gloves by free pattern and decided to create a scarf to go with them. Not quite finished so that will be a future post.</div>
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Then Thanksgiving came! I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday and their families and friends. I for one boycott Thanksgiving day shopping. Of course, I boycott Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and generally avoid shopping as long as I can. I've heard "People who work retail need the hours.", but I know people who work retail, and not a single one of them would rather work than stay home with their families during a holiday. And having worked retail myself not so long ago, to those people who attempt to advocate for retail associates while never having done it themselves, I say walk a mile in their shoes - try working retail for minimum wage on a holiday with crazy, often rude and demanding customers and tell me what you think about needing hours then. NOT. But I digress. Oops. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>One of our Thanksgiving Family Celebration Contributions</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCUNKPrtzqpImaXhXKW2Y9chxKX91zAjLReKTUWo2aaVqBj40sYGsrK4OEyeYHwNJM3B2254ZOFWT96Xv-2YsmfIDtaFVeQ9HZ-lKuCIkF63opnwBWYjxc312ZHwNmqNgjT8kSPD9Qn87/s1600/IMAG0100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCUNKPrtzqpImaXhXKW2Y9chxKX91zAjLReKTUWo2aaVqBj40sYGsrK4OEyeYHwNJM3B2254ZOFWT96Xv-2YsmfIDtaFVeQ9HZ-lKuCIkF63opnwBWYjxc312ZHwNmqNgjT8kSPD9Qn87/s1600/IMAG0100.jpg" height="237" width="400" /></a></div>
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Everything tastes better dipped in chocolate! I got a Baby Cakes Chocolatier while I worked retail, using my minimum wage salary and 15% employee discount. A Baby Cakes Chocolatier is basically a miniature crock pot. Add your chocolate chips to the ceramic bowl, microwave for one minute at 60-70% and stir. Repeat as needed. Then plop your ceramic bowl into your BCC, plug it in and it keeps your chocolate melted without it getting clumpy. Dip to your heart's content! Dipping has never been easier, with my exception of cake balls. I tried once and never, ever, ever want to try again (please sing that like Taylor Swift). I purchased two large containers of strawberries, washed and dried them but after dipping them I still had leftover chocolate. What to dip? First, my boys dipped one piece of bacon - as the rest was used in another recipe... and they <b><i>LOVED</i></b> it. The rest went to cookies. Clean the pot and start over with white chocolate. Repeat, down to dipping cookies in what was leftover. YUM.<br />
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Then, we had friends over to watch the hockey game #LoseSomeTeeth. Their daughter surprised us with a lovely painting of Blitzen, Rudolph, and Dancer. I <b><i>love</i></b> this. I told her I would bring it out every Christmas to decorate. She said, "That's what Mommy said you would do!" Then gave her a big ol' Rolly Hug. Er, er er (SQUEEZE)!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>My newest Christmas decoration!</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjte8pWk57cRilOov5PmlhWrmXb5-iymnZfyax8xR-PwjzlxegCcMiOnLIW_DYSWoowydrNefJ-V1JOWRm3tuO84mY56obdz0xIZzm-7oEjonXUxDAYIdZAj-DPO8BpIMfeB0ovMkgXzq1z/s1600/IMAG0106-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjte8pWk57cRilOov5PmlhWrmXb5-iymnZfyax8xR-PwjzlxegCcMiOnLIW_DYSWoowydrNefJ-V1JOWRm3tuO84mY56obdz0xIZzm-7oEjonXUxDAYIdZAj-DPO8BpIMfeB0ovMkgXzq1z/s1600/IMAG0106-1.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></div>
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All the while I have been thinking I must get back to the blog! Moving in at work is a daunting task. I've been tasked with getting rid of clutter and reorganizing, and learning my new job while documenting everything. If only I could blog while I commute. What I can do while I commute is think about what crafty thing to make. Here is what I came up with. Every year, we are bombarded with a fresh batch of yellow phone books. Though I miss the days of one book (these days I get about four), I do like that each comes with a magnetic ad conveniently attached to the front. I save them all, but to my knowledge, I've never used them to call a vendor.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Tom Lewis does care. I like his magnet. Thank you Tom.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Pdm-d6JxZPCVsWjYVmCdcF9swYZjolJpK00Us0-pEwYIhcG-J6jaRhUPl4eStUbG0GgEX56Y0mmg2evNM_R3d554-D-cVSOP_DXYyePEjMJhXvomPgGLas01Pb9NjDgvyO1t_2L7BMCB/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-12-03+at+8.50.22+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Pdm-d6JxZPCVsWjYVmCdcF9swYZjolJpK00Us0-pEwYIhcG-J6jaRhUPl4eStUbG0GgEX56Y0mmg2evNM_R3d554-D-cVSOP_DXYyePEjMJhXvomPgGLas01Pb9NjDgvyO1t_2L7BMCB/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-12-03+at+8.50.22+PM.png" height="270" width="320" /></a></div>
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I printed photos and generously applied adhesive to the magnet, making sure to get the corners and edges nice and sticky. I just used a glue stick and they are holding up quiet nicely. Mod Podge would work nicely here too, both as adhesive and sealant. Just don't over do it, as you can warp the magnet, rendering it useless as a magnet. Next, line up the photo and rub hard to ensure a good seal. Then use a handy-dandy photo trimmer to trim away the excess. My handy-dandy photo trimmer nicely sliced through the magnet as well, so your picture doesn't have to be the same size as the magnet. Finish by sealing it with a clear acrylic spray or a coat of Mod Podge. Ta-da! Thanks Yellow Phone Book Companies and business that paid for the magnet ad!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>After the Warrior Dash picture, magnetized.</b></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsTZ-bQQN8HyS4yWzq885yW816qqpflGjvnHNC7aTiVq695ysN9yQJUCMCLBtMsin3xcwqTqvRRQI_pkQbXgqo6axb0UEHbQdcpKIHrpReKpVtd-PNHqJgljn6sXyIMI9xhymwgDHW8mY/s1600/IMAG0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsTZ-bQQN8HyS4yWzq885yW816qqpflGjvnHNC7aTiVq695ysN9yQJUCMCLBtMsin3xcwqTqvRRQI_pkQbXgqo6axb0UEHbQdcpKIHrpReKpVtd-PNHqJgljn6sXyIMI9xhymwgDHW8mY/s1600/IMAG0108.jpg" height="193" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The finished project clinging to a metal door.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1Q3wF-yniP1CxPfGLEMI2Bx1f3M_u1DCiaFhgs8X3rWKCo6ZNzv-kOj1UER5yD5T3265qmCPZYNsE-YzVDeWR1xojmaBDYzVmLgIQY9VwI1MIXd4C7fZhpOwZTkw8KrJbKefbBtSz-GZ/s1600/IMAG0109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1Q3wF-yniP1CxPfGLEMI2Bx1f3M_u1DCiaFhgs8X3rWKCo6ZNzv-kOj1UER5yD5T3265qmCPZYNsE-YzVDeWR1xojmaBDYzVmLgIQY9VwI1MIXd4C7fZhpOwZTkw8KrJbKefbBtSz-GZ/s1600/IMAG0109.jpg" height="190" width="320" /></a></div>
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What creative ways do you repurpose your magnet ads? If you haven't thought about it, I hope you try this quick and easy craft.</div>
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XO <3,</div>
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Rolly</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767764915583758310.post-26119583101472575602013-11-19T10:59:00.000-07:002014-02-09T10:59:35.094-07:00Sharing For the LoveI've enjoyed crafting and creating fun things for many years. I started after a friend suggested that I look into scrapbooking (oddly enough, she is not a scrapbooker), and I became a CM Consultant. I really enjoy making pages, but the perfectionist in me makes the creative process both rewarding and painful at the same time. I love that scrapbookers love to share their pages to help inspire others or just outright encourage people to copy their work.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCvAvCm8sgz15k68HcmyNcyTLrzrqK8Rsa8YrB4pBlI4uZ50OCW7DKeri3uN5SyVTIwdn9WnhsriR_GGGYGgaGlb3pwInctLhvPrT9f3IHEVT_nFC7VszFR-a8DxKSLW56v0MSxJQzzrH/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-11-19+at+10.39.36+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCvAvCm8sgz15k68HcmyNcyTLrzrqK8Rsa8YrB4pBlI4uZ50OCW7DKeri3uN5SyVTIwdn9WnhsriR_GGGYGgaGlb3pwInctLhvPrT9f3IHEVT_nFC7VszFR-a8DxKSLW56v0MSxJQzzrH/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-11-19+at+10.39.36+AM.png" height="168" width="320" /></a></div>
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From there I progressed to rubber stamping and tried my hand at being an SU! Demonstrator making hand stamped greeting cards and other paper crafts. Ladies who stamp love to share and copy too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRXrXO6DuJCoscdAi4tC1Uoyi8C6-YNYvBf22x6OO2pE_xshzjE8Ur_t6PmSktfFJX4jsKG2ZoS_TImU4IslreojoaOJJ1EyALQMJeXctwyCTl8yzbPex83z5hezNGEpT9WwXz54DYPYX/s1600/cards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRXrXO6DuJCoscdAi4tC1Uoyi8C6-YNYvBf22x6OO2pE_xshzjE8Ur_t6PmSktfFJX4jsKG2ZoS_TImU4IslreojoaOJJ1EyALQMJeXctwyCTl8yzbPex83z5hezNGEpT9WwXz54DYPYX/s1600/cards.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></div>
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I found that paper punches filled my OCD need to have perfect cuts and I absolutely LOVE them. This little guy is a candy holder. I made a whole line of Halloween candy holders but Batty is my favorite.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7ljIgsDzwDf5aNlLC2C2Aou6wMg2-ak9KFZevocapSweiauRIsicXSFPV8WbvRk_KhdPWwAg3L0epJeG26YcAs2fY1UrcDv4tY85bnDfRjZGz0XWyBTt5FH-4lAjz0pG4uI1rEkvoOXr/s1600/batty.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7ljIgsDzwDf5aNlLC2C2Aou6wMg2-ak9KFZevocapSweiauRIsicXSFPV8WbvRk_KhdPWwAg3L0epJeG26YcAs2fY1UrcDv4tY85bnDfRjZGz0XWyBTt5FH-4lAjz0pG4uI1rEkvoOXr/s1600/batty.png" height="197" width="320" /></a></div>
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I started making altered chipboard magnetic names and had quite a few orders, but found that my creativity was blocked - partially again because of my OCD need to have perfect lines. Here is my last and my favorite.<br />
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Still another friend taught me to crochet. While I enjoy crocheting very much, it does NOT meet my OCD needs, which I think is a good thing, to teach me that perfection is my own prison. My first project was a blanket. It took me about 5 restarts, if not more, and it's a patchwork of odd black and yellow squares and rectangles that don't quite meet up correctly. Still I persevered and kept at it and now, I'm not half bad. I found many free patterns online, including YouTube tutorials from Clare <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/bobwilson123" target="_blank">http://www.bobwilson123.or</a> and Kris Hopper <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/hopperkris?feature=watch" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/user/hopperkris?feature=watch</a>. I am ever so grateful to these ladies for sharing their love of crochet without asking for a penny. I am actually quite annoyed with people who charge for patterns instead of charging non-crocheters for the finished product. Then, a friend started a wonderful blog <a href="http://momzillajen.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-first-blog-post-seems-so-incredibly.html" target="_blank">http://momzillajen.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-first-blog-post-seems-so-incredibly.html</a>. She is amazingly creative and loves to share! And I think she's hung out with me in my OCD prison too. Finally, while surfing for ideas online, I found a cute turtle. I was disappointed that it was a pay pattern, but decided I would try to find a way to make it myself. Happily, I found a free pattern for a granny stitch pattern that could be used as a turtle shell. I made it (wrong I might add, but that made it perfect - now if I could only figure out how I did it wrong so I can incorporate it into my pattern) and was thrilled. Took a picture of it and uploaded it to Pinterest.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjvLgt0GTp8X0dW65FvYlBM2p_nLpfDSLIdT_LsD9dIrPCalFkEOW0TIm1ckvPdqhkAk7iaIzeK9cnIk7Dwv4TohJCzafoWO0-eoA_sjKrlcMPqHLJPH31rOYm51rcqfnFqyvR2OLDPn1/s1600/turtle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjvLgt0GTp8X0dW65FvYlBM2p_nLpfDSLIdT_LsD9dIrPCalFkEOW0TIm1ckvPdqhkAk7iaIzeK9cnIk7Dwv4TohJCzafoWO0-eoA_sjKrlcMPqHLJPH31rOYm51rcqfnFqyvR2OLDPn1/s1600/turtle.png" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then someone liked it and asked me if I had a pattern she could buy! WHAT? BUY? No way. If I can figure out the shell, she's getting it for free. Sorry $4PatternCrocheters. I choose to PAY IT FORWARD as thanks to all the lovely ladies out there who shared their wonderful creations for free. Stay tuned!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165112614006513348noreply@blogger.com2