Variation on Smitten Kitchen's Apple Cheddar Scones

"I saw old Autumn in the misty morn Stand shadowless like silence, listening To Silence." - Thomas Hood

I tried out this addictive recipe for Apple and Cheddar scones from Smitten Kitchen, but implemented a couple of variations.

Instead of using a baking sheet in the oven, I made these on my baking stone, and they came out beautifully. Also, instead of cutting them into large wedge shapes as instructed in the original recipe, which only gives you about 6 scones, I used a round cookie cutter and got 18 instead.

Enjoy!

Peat Moss and Rain Drops beaded stole

"...For the rain it raineth everyday." - Shakespeare

"A violet by a mossy stone, half-hidden from the eye!" - Wordsworth

This project came together as if by magic. I fell in love with the stole featured on the cover of the Vogue Knitting Shawls and Wraps book, but the pre-beaded, 100% silk yarn they recommended was just too pricey. So, mom gave me permission to go rummaging in her yarn stash and I found a gorgeous, black-green, silk blend, tweed yarn by Rowan, which was a close approximation to the weight and material of the pricey recommended yarn. I also found a stash of abandoned silver-lined beads. All I had to do then was learn how to bead.

For a simple, easy way to learn beading, follow the directions and pictures on this website.

Beautiful Holiday Poached Pears

"For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies; for the love which from our birth, over and around us lies; Lord of all to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise." - "For the Beauty of the Earth"

The holidays are upon us, and there's no better way to make your house smell like it than to make these poached pears.

Recipe:

• 4 Bosc or Bartlett pears
• 1 bottle of hearty red wine
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• Peel of 1/2 large orange
• Peel of 1/2 lemon
• 2 bay leaves
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cloves

Peel, core and slice the pears, then place them in a saucepan. Add the wine and all the rest of the ingredients, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until pears are tender, about 30 minutes.to an hour. Remove pears from liquid, then bring remaining liquid to a boil and cook until thickened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Serve pears with sauce. 

Felted Around About Bag

"Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approaches, and neither moth corrupts." - Luke 12:33

This bag may look challenging, but it is rather simple, as far as large, felted bags go. I made this using a variegated bulky weight yarn in red and green, as well as a skein or two of bulky weight Lamb's Pride 100% Wool yarn in a corresponding red shade. Also, for the handles, double the width it says to make in the pattern - their recommendation comes out too thin.

my version of the bag, pre-felting

my bag, post-felting

The link for the pattern is here.

After felting and the bag has dried, sew a lining in a complimentary color to attach to the inside. Also, to make the bag sit up straight, cut a circle out of cardboard to sit in the bottom of the bag, underneath the lining.

Good luck!

Halloween Graveyard Pudding

"Round about the cauldron go; in the poison'd entrails throw...double, double toil and trouble, fire burn, and cauldron bubble." - Macbeth, Act IV, Scene I

This dessert is a fun and tasty addition to any Halloween festivity. And even if you don't celebrate Halloween, the combination of chocolate pudding, Oreo and Milano cookies is just too delicious to miss.

Recipe:

•  2 packs of chocolate pudding mix
• Milk (for pudding)
• Cool Whip
• Oreo cookies
• Milano Cookies
• Gel Writing Icing
• Candy Corn
• Optional; whipped cream and Red Hots candy

In a large mixing bowl, mix the pudding using milk and half of a container of Cool Whip to create a creamier texture. Once the pudding has set, transfer it to a dish you'd like to use for serving.
Crush the entire package of Oreos and mix in half of it with the pudding. Use the remaining half to dust the top of the pudding, completely covering the surface.
Using the writing gel, write "RIP" on one end of as many Milano cookies as you wish, and stick into the pudding using the other end, so that it stands like a gravestone. Arrange the cookies in the pudding accordingly. Make a ring around the edge of the pudding using the Candy Corn.
For an optional Ghost in the Graveyard, shake the whipped cream can well, invert it and spray a little mound in a spot where you'd like the ghost to be. Place two Red Hots in front for eyes.

Enjoy!

Knitted Fair-Isle Beanie

"Never run after your own hat - others will be delighted to do it. Why spoil their fun?" - Mark Twain

I love knitted hats at this time of year. This beanie can be used by men or women, and is a great way for beginners to practice the Fair Isle knitting technique. I made the one below for my brother last year - it is knitted in his college fraternity's colors, and has his initials and his frat letters in a ring above the hat band.

For a typical beanie knitting pattern, go here and follow the basic knitting directions, ignoring the part that instructs you to knit the colored band.

You can find a variety of resources on the web from which to learn about Fair Isle knitting. The key to doing it well is to keep the yarn "steeks" very loose along the wrong side of the knitting, so that the hat can stretch easily. Also, try not to get the yarn twisted as you knit.

To figure out how to knit the pattern you want, use graph paper to sketch the pattern over 9 rows. After knitting the hat band, start the Fair Isle rows. When you have finished the last row, cut and tie off the yarn used to make the design, and continue knitting in the hat's primary color, as per the pattern's instructions.

Good luck!

Caramelized ham spirals

"When blood is nipped, and ways be foul, then nightly sings the staring owl; tu-who, tu-whit, tu-who, a merry note, while greasy Joan doth keel the pot." - Shakespeare

Now that cold weather has officially arrived in most areas of the country, the time has come to post my favorite go-to, cold-weather appetizer: caramelized ham spirals. They are hearty and delicious, and go well for any event during cold months.

Recipe:

•  1 box Puff Pastry sheets
• 1 jar of your favorite brand of honey mustard
• 1 1/2 lb. thin-sliced ham
• 1 lb. sliced swiss cheese
• 1 egg

Thaw puff pastry completely. Preheat the oven according to instructions on the box.
Unfold and roll out one sheet on a lightly floured surface. Spread honey mustard over surface of pastry, cover completely with swiss cheese. Fold the ham slices in half once and cover the swiss cheese with them so that they overlap.
Beat the egg with water in a small dish, set aside with a brush. Gently roll the puff pastry, jelly-roll style, and seal the other side and the ends with egg wash. Repeat entire process with second puff pastry sheet.
Using a sharp knife, cut the rolls into slices at least 1 in. thick, and carefully lay them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, about 1/2 to 1 inch apart. Bake in oven for about 20 minutes, spirals will be done when they are golden brown and the honey mustard has caramelized. Cool before serving.

Enjoy!