New Endeavors

I have the crafting bug right now. I want to craft all the things. As you know, I love to knit. 

I also like to crochet and tat. 

My 'cousin' in Canada is an avid and experienced quilter and she has now given me the quilting bug. I have bought some of her bags for my knitting projects and they are so wonderful! It got me to thinking maybe I could make my own. 

Sure enough I can but she makes it look easy. I sewed my very first zipper and now I'm doing it like there's no tomorrow! 

I also made some pincushions filled with crushed walnuts. 

Anyway, I have found the first 2 patterns for quilts that I want to try:

1) Fancy Fox by Elizabeth Hartman (this particular one made by my 'cousin')

2) Feather Bed Quilt by Anna Maria Horner

Or perhaps I will do a combination of the two? Let's just say I need a holiday to craft!! (Also, any quilting tips appreciated!)

Dirty Diet Coke

Yeah. It's Monday. Time for some dirty diet coke.
I was searching for a new drink to order and found this on the Our Best Bites site.
Sounds pretty delicious to me.  You could even add a splash of half n half and have dessert.
You're welcome. 

Dirty Diet Coke
Recipe adapted by Our Best Bites

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons coconut syrup
crushed ice
1/2 lime (cut the lime into quarters and use 2 quarters)
12 ounces Diet Coke
1-2 tablespoons half and half (optional)
Instructions:
Pour the coconut syrup into the bottom of a 24-ounce glass. Fill it about halfway full with crushed ice. Squeeze the lime quarters over the ice and drop them into the glass so the rind is touching the ice. Pour the Diet Coke over the spent limes. If desired, add a splash of half and half. Add a straw to stir and serve. Makes 1 serving.

 

recipe and photo courtesy of Our Best Bites.

The great shawl escapade

I love knitting shawls, especially mystery shawls. It is so satisfying to get a new clue each week to work on and see the pattern emerge. These are my latest 2 shawls. The first is a MKAL called Rock the Kasbah from Wild Prairie Knits. The second is called Pendulum by Amy Miller.

Oatmeal Banana Cookies

I walked/jogged a 5K with my best friend and husband at the first of April (2013- I know, I have been working on posting this for too long) and at the finish line they had some oatmeal banana cookies and they were stunning (they were already out of bananas so I went for the next best thing- banana cookies)!
I decided then and there I needed to find or create a recipe. I don't care for nuts, and I didn't want raisins to detract from the delicious banana flavor, so I came up with my own recipe.
The ones I had after the 5K were a little bit crispier, but most of my friends and family prefer softer cookies, and these deliver. I hope you enjoy!

Oatmeal Banana Cookies
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp soda
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup mashed bananas
1 3/4 cup old fashioned oats

Beat butter and sugar together.
Add vanilla and beat well.
Add flour, salt, nutmeg, soda, cinnamon.
Mix well.
Stir in oats, bananas. Mix well.
Drop by spoonful on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 12-15 minutes in 350 degree Fahrenheit oven.
Cool 1 minute on sheet.
Remove to wire rack to cool.
Enjoy!

Nutritional Information:
Serving Size = 24 cookies
Calories = 154

Note: Later I tried this recipe again and have added raisins. They are SO good! Of course with the addition of raisins the calories would be a little more, depending on how much you add.
 

Turkey Burgers

I was given an easy, delicious turkey burger recipe by a co-worker and love it so much I thought I would share it with you.

Turkey Burgers
1 lb ground (organic, grass-fed preferred) turkey
1 cup panko bread crumbs, toasted
1 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp Grey Poupon mustard
1 Tbsp ground Parmesan cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Melt butter in a non-stick pan on medium heat and add Panko. Stir and cook until toasted.
2. Add toasted Panko to ground turkey, mustard and Parmesan.
3. Mix with your hands until combined and form into patties.
4. Grill on medium-high for 4 minutes on each side.
5. You can add a slice of provolone or Irish cheese and allow to melt once burgers are done (as I have in the photo below).
6. Add your toppings and bun and enjoy!

*Note: I have started adding more mustard and a little more Parmesan cheese and find it tastes that much better, but if you want to stay on the calories indicated in the Nutrition information, please stick with the recipe allocations or be sure to adjust the per serving calories. 

Nutrition: 
Serving Size = 1 burger
Calories = 262 (without cheese topping or any fixings or buns)

Mango Banana Bread

I have been making the same banana bread recipe of my Grandmothers for some time. I have tried a few alterations since and still love the recipe. This time I opted to use mango and banana and coconut rum...I know, right? Just be sure that your fruit is VERY ripe, where you are thinking of throwing it out because no one would eat that...that kind of ripe. (And no, this is not really one of the lower calorie recipes, but a treat we have once in a while and the remainder goes with me to work for everyone else to eat.)

Mango Banana Bread
 2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup soft shortening
2 eggs
3 Tbsp buttermilk
1 cup mashed fruit (banana and mango)
2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1. Mix together thoroughly the sugar, shortening and eggs.
2. Stir in the buttermilk and fruit.
3. Sift together the dry ingredients- flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt- and add to wet ingredients.
4. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Nutritional Information:
Makes 1 loaf = 10 servings
Calories = 243

What's-on-the-Needles Wednesday

Normally on Wednesday nights after work I go down to my LYS (local yarn shop) and knit till 8pm. I didn't make it tonight- I am very tired. Instead I came home and made dinner and started searching through my yarn stash for the perfect yarn for a project for my mom and dad. 

I want to make mom a scarf and dad some felted slippers. 

I found the perfect yarn for my mom, in fact I was thinking of her when I bought it, but I still need the perfect pattern.  

I have lots of yarn I can felt for my dad, but not sure I have enough to make a good looking pair of slippers so I might have to get yarn for that. If he wanted periwinkle or aqua slippers I'd be covered but I don't think that will work. I already have the perfect pattern for him. 

Before I begin these projects I am making sure I finish my fingerless gloves 

and my hat to go with them 

I have not finished either, but I just started the gloves last week and the hat over last weekend so I don't think I'm doing so bad. 

Once I have finished these I can begin the scarf and slippers! I always enjoy starting a new project. Especially for a new pattern I haven't made before. That's why I am looking for a good scarf pattern that I haven't already made. I have worsted weight yarn but I don't want it to be too bulky. I will be searching Ravelry for the perfect pattern. If you have any suggestions please let me know. 

Tata for now and happy knitting!