Thursday's Life Moments

OH!!!

LOOK! who turned

 My Baby Boy

He says, "he's not my baby boy anymore"

I have to remind him that "Ill love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be"

From the book "Love you Forever" By Robert Munsch

this is a sweet video I found of the storyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXcIjqyUYk0

Stitch was 9 lbs. 1oz. when he was born

Ox always reminds everyone, "he was the biggest baby in the nursery that day, that was not a c-section"

I still don't find it to this day amusing or an accomplishment of any kind :)

 My Baby Moment of Stitch

Little Stitches's first word

little guy was slow to talk (we always thought he didn't talk because his older brother had enough to say) but he loved this book

every night he would pick this book for Mommy to read

one night he looked out the window well I was reading to him and pointed to that big bright ball in the sky and said, "Moon"

"Moon" was little Stitches first Word

not "dada" not "mama"

I knew then that Stitch was going to do everything a little different from the rest of us which is perfectly fine by me

THE DING DONG CAKE

The birthday cake this year pictured above was oh my goodness time consuming

but for the love of chocolate that runs through Stitches vein this cake was, as Willy Wonka would say "scrumdiliumcious"  

recipe from

 http://www.thegalleygourmet.net/2012/10/salted-caramel-ding-dong-cake.html

Hump Day Hookerry "Crochet Projects"

It's Catchy isn't it... My new name for... Wednesday Crochet (which was um boring)"Wednesday" mid-week ...yup that's... Hump Day,"Hookerry" That's a new word add it to your dictionary mmhmm yes that's what I said, "its a new word add it under hooker :)", meaning the process of crocheting It works for me I like it so with the love of my new post name comes what is on my hook these days....

Oh! oh!, and I have to make some kind of list of 2013 hopeful projects

Hook One:
Of Course My Crochet Cable Blanket is coming along I am on week 4 so square 4 first design next week I get to start a new pattern that is always fun I like change

Hook Two:
Is my surprise...I am using the old cable squares yarn from the first cable crochet blanket, that I had to restart with new yarn... it will be revealed at an undetermined time (so that's I have no clue if it will get done or when )

Hook Three:
This actually might be the start of one of my goals this year, if I can pull this off and write a pattern for it I will have completed my first pattern a huge hump mountain that I've been wanting to climb

doesn't look like much so we will have to see

Hook Four:
Fuchsia Belt is on my hook

pattern come from

http://www.bellakarma.typepad.com/

One Hooky I had fun with last week was a bobble glasses case I got the idea from Tangled Happy http://www.tangledhappy.com/2013/01/crochet-sunglasses-case.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TangledHappy+%28tangled+happy%29

I changed the pattern by creating it in one piece instead of two, 10 bobbles long, and slip stitching it together on two sides I used Lily Sugar n Cream cotton yarn

I have never done a bobble stitch before and I have to say it's delightful to look at, lots of ideas are running through my mind with this stitch in it

2013 Too--Doos 

1:  finish one crochet cable square a week

2: cook a beautiful crepe

3: create my first crochet pattern

(these were already quoted by me on the blog)

CROCHET 2013

1: finish PROJECTS that I start no unfinished

(well there goes my goals out the window :)

Stitches I want to learn

2: Bavarian Crochet Pattern

3:Basket Weave Pattern

4: Special Flower Pattern

5: Stripey Bobble Popcorn Stitch
6: Waffle Stitch 

KNIT 2013

1: not sure what but don't want to forget how so have to knit a project

SEWING 2013

1: Crochet hook case

2013 FOR OX

Sexy Hot Crochet Wearable

??Why??Because I have promised Ox for years that I would attempt it

Outstanding Crochet has some awesome examples of what he is wanting

Her sight name fits her crochet work also... outstanding is the only word for her work

http://outstandingcrochet.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-12-26T16:10:00-08:00&max-results=7&start=6&by-date=false

Tuesday Thinker

“Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”

Abraham Lincoln

 An intriguing man his eyes pull you in, his slight grin keeps you captivated

Recipe Monday

Has it really been a whole week since my last recipe post the weeks of January definitely seem to be flying by, so this past week I've had some successes well cooking and some total disasters you remember me telling you about Sunday's being pancake day well I thought lets try something new Swedish Pancakes that sounds neat, well not so neat, it was a complete FLOP ...the pancakes were sort of supposed to be like a crepe ( I think that's enough said) "ME" I have never made a crepe before, GOAL TWO on my list this year will be trying to master a crepe, but for now we will just leave it at, it was a FLOP. Onto my good foodies...

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I have made a gazillion banana breads, banana cakes, banana muffins and NOTHING has compared to this it was pure decadence. This recipe came from all recipes http://allrecipes.com/recipe/banana-cake-vi/

Banana Cake 

                                                                                                                                       

3/4 cup butter                                                   

2 1/8 cups white sugar

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 1/2 cups mashed bananas

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1.        Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. In a small bowl, mix mashed bananas with lemon juice, set aside. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

2.        In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Stir in banana mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3.        Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place directly into freezer for 45 minutes. This will make the cake very moist.

4.        For the frosting: In a large bowl, cream 1/2 cup butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add confectioners’ sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high until frosting is smooth. Spread on cooled cake.

Why? oh Why? did I have to try this you know how somethings stick in your brain after you hear about it ...well that is what happened ... I had lived in Mississippi for 4 years and had heard people talk about Chocolate Gravy numerous times and had resisted the urge to make it ..don't get me wrong I adore chocolate but despise chocolate covered doughnut (I like chocolate cake doughnuts though) so needless to say after all the hype of how awesome this gravy was ...I did not like chocolate gravy covered biscuits the gravy was good the biscuits were good but it was a nix on the combination for me ...but for the rest of the family the only type of doughnut they order is chocolate covered doughnuts so surprise, surprise it was a winner I got the  "Why have you never made this before?", how could you be so mean?"

Mississippi Chocolate Gravy

This recipes also came from all recipeshttp://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chocolate-Gravy-II/Detail.aspx

Chocolate Gravy

1/2 cup butter

4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup white sugar

2 cups milk

Directions

1.        Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add cocoa and flour; stir until a thick paste is formed. Stir in sugar and milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until thick.

If y'all try the Chocolate Gravy I just want you to know its a long process of stirring constantly and thinking "this is not working,this is not working, its chocolate soup I give up..." Don't!!! don't do it, don't give up!! Keep stirring and wait the magic of solidification will come over time it will become gravy I promise

Darn Good Brunswick Stew

 Its been down right cold here and when its cold,... stews, soups , and chowders are in my thoughts of things to cook it warms me up thinking about them now...Friday I threw a pork loin roast in the crop pot that night it was served with scalloped potatoes and salad than came the left overs Ox said, "pork sandwiches" so Saturday we cooked up some pork sandwiches for lunch, Now what?? there is still left overs, and you can't waste the pork, first thing that came to my mind was Brunswick Stew the pork was all ready flavored with a homemade mustard based BBQ sauce for the sandwiches it was a no brainer to me its cold I need stew..and Brunswick Stew is one of my favorite Stews..here's my recipe for the Stew

Brunswick Stew

1 1/2 pounds BBQ meat (you can use any leftover cooked,shredded BBQ chicken, pork, beef, or game or a combination there of )

1 can Lima beans

1 can butter beans

1 can corn

1 can green beans

1 big can stewed tomatoes

2 beef bullion cubes

1/2 cup of BBQ sauce

1 tbsp of mustard ( I did not add this,this time because the meat all ready had a mustard sauce) 

2 tbsp of bell pepper (I used jar red bell pepper )

1 tsp dried onion

dash of granulated garlic

add a little water as needed

salt and pepper to taste

you can always add a little heat with  Tabasco sauce

if you want a little different flavor liquid smoke is a nice addition and so is Worcestershire sauce

as you can see you can play with the recipe and make it you own change out veggies if you want I added lots of Lima beans and butter beans cause I love them

Directions:  I throw everything into a pot (draining the liquid from the cans and rinsing beans first) and let it simmer for 1 hr on low medium heat this is an easy recipe for the crock pot too

This Stew Is Truely a Satisfying, Hearty, Soul Warming FOOD 

 

Friday Foto

Purple

Butterfly Bush Photo

taken from my perennial garden at house

I was looking up a poem to put with this, I was intrigued with the history of this poem

(it has nothing to do with the picture)

Gelett wrote this poem and became famous for it

Purple Cow

I never saw a Purple Cow,
I never hope to see one;
But I can tell you, anyhow,
I'd rather see than be one.

Gelett Burgess

 two years later he wrote this

Ah, yes, I wrote the "Purple Cow"—
I'm Sorry, now, I wrote it;
But I can tell you Anyhow
I'll Kill you if you Quote it

Makes you think do people regret their success or maybe just how they got there??

Thursday Life Moment's DMV

I will have to say my biggest life moment this week is about ME!!! Surprised, me too. Let me start from November last year, my husband officially got the permanent job here starting in December we agreed then, that I would stay at the house till it sold or till April we weren't sure...me and my husband had already been apart for 4 months by then so I was not happy about this decision so December rolls around, he had been up to the house for Thanksgiving, over the next two weeks which seemed like the longest period of our separation he said that's it you are moving(house not sold house still not sold),on our Anniversary so the 16th of Dec. --We were so ready to be together again I was at wit ends we were not going to apart for any longer I had, had it and he had too! He threw in on an ending conversation by the way to switch your license here to this state you have to take a TEST "CLICK"....So for the last 2 months I have been mulling over the word TEST... this week I had to accrue enough courage to walk into the DMV and switch my drivers license from one state to another. I was running out of legal time and was being forced to get my license changed if I wanted to continue driving....I know I know in all sanity I'm being ridiculous you read this and think ""What is wrong with this girl??? What is so hard about getting your driver's license??""...It is not the drivers license, people, it is not the driving, IT is what goes through my head during the procrastination period. I will go ahead with my DMV outing starting with what I'm thinking when walking through the door , I am required to walk through the door and talk to someone actually talk to someone and tell them what I am there for?? (freaking out at this moment) YES I actually have to walk up to someone and open my lips and tell them what I need and find three different forms of identification and proof of residency (so even though this is only a few pieces of paper I had this 100 item list conjuring up in my head)... and even though my husband was sweet and put everything in a nice envelope for me I still stumbled and papers flew and I turned red and almost cried from anxiety well people were waiting for me to move along can I scream now...so this went on. to take a number, and please sit out in the lobby, and wait for your number to be called (my mind is saying, oh my gosh I have to go out there where everyone just saw me stumble over my words and my paperwork and sit with them) can I scream OK I'm sitting, my husband is talking to me, he's right next to me, and I am so nervous by this point I didn't comprehend anything he was saying. My EYES were playing tricks they were blurring in and out I knew I was in trouble, this was pure undeniable torment, Ox was looking at me like he had said something and I was supposed to be responding back. He had all ready gone through this he's done with what I call AGONY (he would call life) his version is he walks in and has no sitting, no waiting, just one station to the other and of course flies right through and walks out gallantly saying your turn .....you could tell he was grinning at me while I was about to scream cause he knows what I'm like...I am feeling I have to go pee yes bathroom have to pee well I was waiting the bathroom is 5 feet away I tell my husband, "I'm going to the bathroom!" he looks at me and says, "no your not your number is next" "I have to pee!!" don't ask if I said that out loud I really couldn't tell you ...but of course he's being unrelenting , "your not going your number is next" can I scream (of course looking back in all actuality he would of probably had to drag me out of the bathroom kicking and screaming if I would of gone) My number blinks in red and is announced over the loud speaker my butt is glued to the seat I can't move at this point in time honey if you could just push this seat with me in it across the room I'll go My husband looks at me and says, "That's your number go!" so I reluctantly put one foot in front of the other and walk to station 6..I sit down in front of the nice lady across the desk and she asks me AGAIN "what I am there for??" Really I have to be put through this misery again can I scream  I'm thinking you have MY out of state drivers license in front of you with all my paperwork you couldn't come to the conclusion that I want a drivers licence from your state 
(granted I failed to mention that I did not have anything officially showing my residency everything was turned on in my husband's name cable, electric, water all I had was a piece of junk mail that had my name with our new address on it I didn't even open it we had checked the mail on the way to get our drivers licenses he pulled the letter from the stack of mail and said this should work the first time through the officer informed me that, that does not show residency but I could pay 2.00 and sign a paper saying that's my new address) I was thinking Ill pay 200.00 dollars as long as I don't have to do this again So needless to say I held my composure with the nice lady and went through my spill again and she made me open up my junk mail (she was trying to help me out) but my face was red as a lobster my hands shaking and the piece of junk mail ,was just that, not anything that showed my residency but she accepted it and said don't worry about the 2 bucks she must of noticed my dismay ...now on to the most convoluted part of all the dreaded eye test this state has the sign and eye test in one (the last time I switched licenses I did not pass the eye test I had to go and pay for a new eye exam and go all the way back through the process to show them I could SEE as I noted earlier my eyes were all ready having issues I have a lazy eye and an astigmatism in both eyes and one is near sided and one is far sided and when I get nervous my eyes just like to shut down there is no other word for it I have to blink continually to keep my gall darn contacts from floating out of focus I wore my contacts for LOOKS why I don't know my glasses would of looked better that day than watching me blink a thousand times a minute I think my eyes were blinking in rhythm with my heart beat that was beating outside my chest) the eye test went well, some of the signs did look like they were floating around like bubbles some looked ten feet away and some looked a centimeter from my face but yes I could read them I could see them relief fell over me there was only one line of letters to read  ...one line how neato... yes one...a set for the left and a set for the right eye... (the last time I stuck my head in the eye test binoculars I read all the letters without a hitch and pulled my head out of those stinking binoculars and the lady said what about the left side I said there are no letters on the left side and she informed me to go see a doctor)...so poking my head out and hearing that nice lady say your good was a woo hoo moment....then she opened her mouth why, why couldn't she just let me live in that moment forever but no the torture reappeared and showed its ugly head and the knife went in my back it punctured my lung and I could not breath  the words "your 25 question TEST is next you will have to WAIT, there are no testing cubicles available right now" I wanted to scream it was excruciating ...The word Test just the sound sends my brain through a whirlwind of daunting thoughts that permeate through my body (my brain goes through the controversy of how a test can measure my proficiency or aptitude of anything its a very unilateral controversy) can I scream yes my feelings just intensified the situation all I wanted to do was EVACUATE, I got up from station six (ready to sprint out the building) I turned around my eyes met my husband's my advocate in the lobby all was good at that instant.. I went and sat in my little school like desk and waited for my turn to TEST, one of the computers became free and another officer said ,"is your name on the screen", and there it was blinking in the left hand side of the screen my full name, the computer was waiting for me I just kept saying you cant get 5 wrong you'll be fine but don't get more than 5 wrong I really cannot recollect anything about the test but It must of been satisfactory .. upon getting out of my taped off testing area one of the officers says, "did you pass?" and I said, "Are you testing me again ?" but  I must not of said that I must of said ,"Yes"  so of course he said, "okay take a seat over there and WAIT" a couple of minutes later my picture was taking and a signature was signed after that I had to WAIT again, all the while thinking please let this be over ...for the next available station...I was summoned to the open station paid my 32.00 dollars so I could legally get behind the wheel and explore this lovely state, and got up as fast as I could to leave while hearing the intimidating words protrude from the fuzzy blur behind the desk that I was trying to escape "Your license is good for EIGHT years!!!!" Guess what atrocious thoughts I'll have for the next 8 years....Well getting into the car in the parking lot of the DMV my husband says "I bet your hungry" I said nope, "But I could use a bathroom" So Ox's chosen place to eat was this hole in the wall bar that has really good priced lunch specials..I dart into the bathroom the minute we arrive the toilet seat had been broke off and you could tell it was a pretty rough joint the only thing I could think well squatting was "this bathroom is so much better than the DMV"

Crochet Scarves

Scarves, Scarves, Scarves,
I've been busy making time for hookie.. well as from previous post y'all know I am on a scarf kick I shared with you last week a lacy scarf which is now complete

Scarf One

Lacy Goodness

It is perfect I'll be able to wear it with jeans or a dress

Scarf Two

Gorgeous Chain

I saw this scarf or cowl a few years back and said I need to make one of those I put it on the back burner forever... why I don't know.. so easy just one long *** crochet chain till desired link and roll yarn around those loosey goosey ends and bind off I threw it over a plain t shirt and wall-la suddenly a little classier

pattern for a similar scarf can be found here I will be trying out this pattern http://hiddendaisyy.blogspot.com/2012/02/chain-loop-scarf.html

Scarf Three

Crochet Ruffle Full of Color

This was actually made for St. Patty's Day you know something green this yarn had a hint of green but the other colors had my heart a tickin

The Pattern for this scarf can be found here http://www.tipjunkie.com/all-crafts/how-to-crochet-basic/

I am working on something special that I can not wait to share ...I will hopefully be sitting down to go over my CROCHET GOALS for the year and post that before January is over it will be interesting for me to see if I can finish my projects that I set for the year right now goal one is to complete one crochet cable block per week that means 20 weeks which would be the month of MAY I am hoping to have a Tah-Dah so there is goal one 

Tuesday Thinkers

Smiles is the longest word in the world. There is a mile between the first and last letters.

Recipe Monday

Oh My!! It's been a crazy weekend I've got so many projects to show you but yes today is recipe day I completely forgot to take pictures...hint things were all eaten before I thought of it... but I did get one of the grand finale. Ive had my whole family sick with in the last week including Ox who of course wants to be babied and I am not a nurturer I would not be a good nurse. So to keep my sanity I cooked instead Friday I made brownies http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Best-Brownies/Detail.aspx (you'll get used to allrecipes I use them a lot they're a good all around recipe site) These brownies were the best I've ever made and they stayed soft the next day and did not turn into rocks an awesome yummy brownie.

Best Brownies

1/2 cup butter

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Brownie Frosting

3 tablespoons butter, softened

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan.

In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook.

To Make Frosting: Combine 3 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons cocoa, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 cup confectioners' sugar, frost brownies while they are warm.

Cabbage

I made a freezer slaw too I had some cabbage left over from when Ox wanted sauteed cabbage but me and Ox are the only ones who eat it so I thought I'd try a new recipe with the other half of the head I really liked that it was vinegar based no mayo it will work perfect for picnics or potlucks, places you pould't be able to refrigerate a mayo based slaw I just winged it and made mine to sweet for my preference I will be trying other spices and messing with this recipe till I get it right

Freezer Slaw

1/2 head of cabbage
1/2 onion
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
salt and pepper to taste


Sunday Morning Pancakes were a huge success. Ox has never got on board with the pancake idea sometimes he'll eat them sometimes he just stays in bed till breakfast is over, but yesterday he surprised me and said, "these are really good". Also I was out of buttermilk so they didn't have buttermilk which is a big no no in his eyes so they must of been good

Oatmeal Pecan Pancakes

I put everything in the food processor 1/2 cup of oats first and turned it on till I got oat flour than I added the rest of the ingredients except pecans

1/2 cup of oats
1/2 cup of flour
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
1 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
3 tablespoons of melted butter
mix in food processor till smooth than throw in 1/2 cup of pecans and process for like 5 secs
than you cook them up on a griddle this recipe made 10 small pancakes


GRAND FINALE


Sunday I also made these

Cinnamon Swirl Rounds - Kitchenaid Cookbook

BASIC SWEET DOUGH

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

1/2 cup butter

3 teaspoons dry yeast

1/3 cup warm water

3 eggs, at room temp

5 1/2-6 1/2 cups flour

FILLING MIXTURE

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon

1/2 cup nuts, chopped (optional)

CARAMEL GLAZE

1/3 cup evaporated milk

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

MAKE DOUGH:

Combine milk, sugar, salt, and butter in small saucepan. heat over low heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves.

Cool to lukewarm.

Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed bowl.

Add lukewarm milk mixture, eggs, and 5 cups flour.

With dough hook mix 2 minutes at speed 2.

Continuing on speed 2, add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough clings to hook and cleans sides of bowl, about 2 minutes.

Knead on speed 2 for 2 more minutes.

Place in a greased bowl, turning to grease top.

Cover; let rise in warm place, free from draft, until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

Punch dough down and shape as desired for rolls or coffee cakes.

FILLING MIXTURE:.

Place filling ingredients in bowl. Mix with flat beater at speed 2 for 1 minute.

Roll dough to a 10 x 30 x 1/4 inch rectangle.

Spread mixture evenly on dough. Roll dough tightly from long side to form 30-inch roll, pinching seam together. Cut into twenty one 1 1/2-inch slices.

Place 7 rolls each in 3 greased 8 x 1 1/2-inch cake pans. Cover; let rise in warm place, free from draft, until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

Bake at 350 F for about 20 minutes. Remove from pans immediately. Spread caramel glaze over warm rolls.

CARAMEL GLAZE:

Combine milk and brown sugar in small saucepan. Over medium heat, cook, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to boil.

Place milk mixture, powdered sugar, and vanilla in bowl. Beat with flat beater at speed 4 until creamy, about 2 minutes.

I did not put the caramel glaze on them Ox dislikes toppings on his cinnamon rolls just a little melted butter and he's in heaven
 I prefer cream cheese frosting on mine but I didn't have any cream cheese on hand