Kitchen Curtains

I knew I wanted to make kitchen curtains but just wasn't sure what fabric to use. I found a remnant of dress fabric and fell in love. These three panel curtains were the product.
I'd give this project a C. I think the bottom hem is convex and hangs poorly (and might be either too long or too short). I also think the rod pocket is too narrow. Also three curtains is insufficient for this series of windows. Live and learn!

Cushion

The fabric I got for my kitchen curtains was a remnant so I got the whole remnant. After making three curtains I had a piece of scrap left over, so decided to make a pillow. I already had a pillow form, the foldover ribbon trim, and some vintage buttons.

If I had to do it again I'd use interfacing as stretch fabric is a nightmare (for a beginner) and not wholly appropriate to a couch throw pillow. I'd do a lot of things differently to be honest. I'd give this pillow a C. However I recommend everyone try to make a pillow (easiest without trim or buttonholes) because it's a fun way to spruce up your living room.

Fan

I have a ceiling fan in my kitchen that's ugly with dingy white paint. I decided to repaint it and give it some pizzazz. The end result somewhat matches the curtains I made, which is a nice bonus. I got the design from here and modified it to be just the one ginko leaf.

Ginko is a pretty awesome tree in autumn. The graceful, fan-shaped leaves turn yellow.

Fan Stencil

1. Uninstall fan blades
2. Paint fan blades white
3. Trace printed design onto fan blades
4. Paint design in black
5. Reinstall fan blades

My First Garment

I've dabbled in sewing before, but I feel pretty good about completing my first garment made from a pattern. May I present: pyjama pants.

Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats

This is just a variation on the same recipe and marks the last recipe/picture I will be posting for some time. Enjoy!! :)


Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats


Yield: 9-12 squares




Ingredients




6 C Rice bubble cereal

2 TB unsalted butter or regular margarine

40 regular marshmallows (10 oz, or 4 cups mini mallows)
6 oz milk chocolate for mixing
more chocolate for top




Instructions

1. Stove directions: Over low heat, melt butter and 6 oz chocolate in large pot stirring often. Add marshmallows and melt down, stirring until completely melted. Take off heat.
2. Microwave directions: In microwave-safe bowl melt butter and 6 oz chocolate stirring often. Stir in marshmallows microwaving for another minute at a time until marshmallows are melted, stirring after each minute.
3. Add rice bubbles, fold in until fully incorporated.
4. Grease 13x9 or 9x9 pan (with Pam or butter). Using greased spatula, press mixture into pan.
5. Melt more chocolate and pour over top as a finishing touch.
6. Cool (preferably at room temperature).
7. Cut into squares or bars.

Tips:
If you beat the melted marshmallows down, your treats will be dense. If you only stir the fluff lightly your treats will be looser.
Wrap leftovers tightly in plastic, individually, and leave at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Use a glass or casserole pan as you will be cutting the squares while still in pan. Or, use a regular pan but line with foil: lift the whole panful out by the foil before cutting.
Can freeze but I always eat them too fast to have to bother.

Carrot Cake

This cake is so fruity you might call it a muffin (if it wasn't for the frosting!). This time I made cupcakes rather than a sheet cake, as cupcakes keep well as individual servings either in the fridge or freezer.


Carrot Cake

Yield: 1 sheet cake.
Baking Temperature: 350°F
Baking Time: 45 minutes


Ingredients


4 eggs
3/4 C canola oil
1/2 C applesauce
2 C sugar
3 tsp vanilla
2 C AP flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3 C grated carrots
8 oz can crushed pineapple
1 C nuts


Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Grease and flour pan.
3. Drain juice from can of pineapple, discard juice.
4. Beat together eggs, oil, applesauce, sugar, and vanilla.
5. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon.
6. Stir dry mixture into wet mixture.
7. Stir in carrots and pineapple.
8. Fold in nuts.
9. Pour in pan and bake 40-50 min.
10. Cool in pan 10 min then turn out onto rack and cool completely before frosting.
11. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.
12. If you wish, top with 1-2C sweetened shredded coconut.

Tips: For cupcakes, spoon mixture into cupcake pan lined with paper cups. Bake 20 min or until toothpick comes out clean, still at 350°F. Makes 24.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Yield:  a double layer cake or full batch of cupcakes

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
½ stick butter (room temperature)
1 tsp vanilla essence
4 C powdered sugar


Instructions

1. Sift or at least whisk lumps from sugar.
2. Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until blended.
3. Add sugar gradually, beating until well blended after each addition.
4. Use right away or refrigerate and bring back to room temp before using.

Anzac Biscuits (Coconut Cookies)

 I am excited to bring you this recipe because most Americans haven't tried this southern hemisphere classic. Try it as-is if you like (tastes old fashioned), but I recommend adding vanilla. If you have coconut essence you could try adding a touch of that, or perhaps rum. I can't wait to try this with coconut oil in place of butter! Or maybe agave rather than sugar? The possibilities abound :)


Anzac Biscuits

Yield: 18 cookies of 1 Tbsp each
Source: The PWMU Centenary Cookbook
Baking time:  15 min
Baking temp: 325°F (160°C)

Ingredients

1 C rolled oats
1 C white flour
3/4 C desiccated coconut
3/4 C sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp boiling water
1/2 C butter, melted
2 Tbsp golden syrup

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Combine oats, flour, coconut and sugar in large bowl.
3. In Pyrex cup, melt butter in microwave then stir in golden syrup.
4. Microwave water (in small cup) then stir in baking soda.
5. Add water solution to butter and stir.
6. Add butter mixture to dry ingredients and mix well.
7. Place small rolled balls on prepared baking ray.
8. Bake 15 min or until golden brown. 
9. Let cool on tray 2-5 minutes before removing to rack.

Tip: Prepare your baking trays with a silicone mat, with parchment paper, or grease with butter.
Tip: For a flavor a little less oaty, add 1 tsp of vanilla extract to wet mixture.
Tip: Golden syrup is a sugar cane syrup. Substitute agave syrup, light colored honey, etc.

Note: This traditional recipe is from Australia and New Zealand. These biscuits were sent to soldiers fighting overseas hence the name Anzac (Australia New Zealand Army Corps). Including no eggs, which were rationed during war, they have a long shelf life.

Apple Streusel Muffins

Apple Streusel Muffins


Yield:  18 regular muffins
Source: allrecipes.com
Baking Temperature: 400°F
Baking Time:  20 min


Ingredients: Muffins


1 1/2 C apples: peeled, cored, and diced small
2 C white flour
1 C sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
 1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 eggs, room temp
1 C sour cream (8 oz), room temp
1/4 C butter, room temp


Ingredients: Crumb Topping


1/4 C brown sugar
3 TBsp flour
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 TBsp cold butter
1/2 C oats (optional)


Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400°F.
2. Peel, core and dice apples, set aside.
3. Whisk together dry muffin inngredients
4. In large bowl, beat butter and sour cream.
5. Beat eggs into butter/sour cream.
6. Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients until barely combined.
7. Fold in apples.
8. Fill muffin/cupcake cups 2/3 full.
9. For topping, combine sugar, flour and cinnamon, then cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; stir in oats if using.
10. Sprinkle topping over each cup of batter.
11. Bake at 400°F for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
12. Cool on rack in pan for five minutes then remove each muffin to rack to continue cooling. 

Tip: Use tart apples like granny smiths. Use 2 small or medium apples, maximum of two large apples, anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 C once diced is fine.

Lamington-style White Cake

White Cake

Yield: 8-12 slices
Baking time:  25 min
Baking temp: 350°F

Ingredients

2 C AP flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 C white sugar
6 egg whites (3/4 C)
2 tsp vanilla
12 TB unsalted butter (softened)
3/4 C whole milk or cream

Instructions

1. For two 9" round pans or one 13x9x2 pan, grease and line with parchment paper.
2. Sift or whisk together flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.
3. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar for five minutes until light and fluffy.
4. In small bowl combine egg whites, milk and vanilla.
5. Beat in 1/3 of drys to butter mixture, then 1/2 of the wet mixture, and continue. Scrape bowl often.
6. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth top with metal spatula.
7. Bake 25-30 min or until toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool in pan 5 min then turn onto rack, remove paper, and let cool completely.
9. Frost once cool.

Tip: For a Yellow Cake variation, use three whole eggs plus one egg yolk in place of the six egg whites.
Tip: Parchment paper will really save you hassle with any cake or sheet cookie recipe. Cut a round, and it will release the bottom of the cake beautifully. For square or rectangular pans you can drape a rectangle of paper over opposite edges to lift the whole cake clear in one stroke. Don't forget to grease the pan first (true for EVERY CAKE!).

Lamingtons


Traditional Australian lamingtons use sponge cake, are completely coated with icing (top and sides), and topped with coconut. Some lamingtons have a layer of jam (fruit spread) in the middle. I am using a white cake because I can't get the hang of sponge. Here are the ingredients and instructions for turning your delicious white cake into a lamington cake. Try this recipe if you find cakes frosted american-style to be too sugary.

Ingredients

2 1/2 TBsp boiling water (50 mL)
3 TBsp melted butter (60 g)
2 C confectioner's sugar
3 tsp cocoa
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
3/4 to 1 1/2 C dessicated coconut
2-4 TBsp red jam

Instructions

1. Bake white cake as usual, in two 9" square or round pans, or a 13x9" pan if you want no jam layer
2. Chilled cake cuts much more cleanly so if you're making squares, chill first.
3. If you are using the jam layer, spread jam onto bottom layer using flat spatula, install top layer over that.
4. Cut into squares if desired.
5. Make frosting (steps 6-9)
6. Combine water, melted butter, and vanilla.
7. Sift, together, sugar and cocoa over that.
8. Beat well.
9. Spread over cake or squares.
10. Coat with coconut.

Apple Pie

Well friends, winter is still with us, so lets do something about all those apples available. I have tried this recipe a few times and my suggestion is to make sure you cook your crust through; the pyrex pie pan is crucial for this (so you can see when it's done). This pie is ostensibly "easy," because the filling and crust are cooked together and there is no top crust. I won't call it easy because I think it's a little tricky to make your first pie... but give it a try!

Apple Pie


Yield: 8 slices
Baking Temperature: starts at 400°F
Baking Time:  40 min
Source: How to Bake by Nick Malgieri

Ingredients : Flaky Pie Dough

1 1/4 C AP flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp baking powder
1 stick unsalted butter, cold
2-3 TB water, cold

Instructions : Dough

1. To mix the dough by hand, combine the flour salt and baking powder in a medium mixing bowl and stir well to mix. Cut the butter into 1 TB pieces and add to the dry ingredients, tossing to coat the butter chunks. Then using your hands or a pastry blender break the butter into tiny pieces and pinch and squeeze it into the dry ingredients. Keep the mixture uniform by occasionally reaching down to the bottom of the bowl and mixing all the ingredients evenly together. Continue rubbing the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles a coarse-grown cornmeal and no large pieces of butter remain visible. Sprinkle the minimum amount of water over the mixture and stir gently with a fork, the dough should begin holding together. If the mixture still appears dry and crumbly, add the remaining water 1 teaspoon at a time until the dough holds together easily.
—or—
2. To mix the dough in the food processor, combine the dry ingredients in the work bowl fitted with a metal blade. Pulse 3 times at 1-second intervals to mix. Cut the butter into 1 TB pieces and add to the work bowl. Process, pulsing repeatedly at 1 second intervals until the mixture is fine and powdery, resembles a coarse-ground cornmeal, and no large pieces of butter remain visible, about 15 pulses in all. Scatter the minimum amount of water on the mixture and pulse 5 or 6 times , the dough should begin to hold together. If the mixture still appears dry and crumbly, add the remaining water 1 teaspoon at a time until the dough holds together easily.
3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and form it into a disk. Sandwich the disk between to pieces of plastic wrap and press it into a 6 inch circle. Refrigerate the dough until firm or until you are ready to use it, at least one hour.

Ingredients : Crumb Topping

1/2 C brown sugar
1 C AP flour
6 TB unsalted butter, melted

Ingredients : Filling

2 1/2 pounds firm, tart apples
2/3 C sugar (brown, white, or blend)
2 TB AP flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
3 TB unsalted butter, cold

Instructions : Pie

4. Roll the prepared dough out and line a 9" pyrex pie dish. Chill the crust while preparing the topping and filling.
5. For topping: combine the sugar and flour in a mixing bowl, add the butter, and stir in evenly. Set mixture aside 5 min, then use your fingertips to break into 1/4" to 1/2" crumbs. Set aside.
6. Set a rack at the lowest level of the oven and preheat to 400°F.
7. For filling: Peel, halve, and core apples. Cut the apples into a 1/2" dice. Place the diced apples in a bowl and add the remaining filling ingredients, except butter, tossing well to combine. Place the filling in the dough-lined pan, mounding it slightly in the center. Dot the filling with butter and sprinkle to cover with the prepared crumb topping.
8. Place the pie in the oven and immediately lower the temperature to 375°F; bake the pie for 40 min or until crust and topping are baked through and a deep golden brown, and the filling is gently bubbling.
9. Cool on rack. Serve alone or with sharp cheddar cheese, or ice cream.

Tips

• Try one of these apple varieties: Northern Spy, Granny Smith, Pippin, Golden Delicious.
• You can keep the dough in the fridge for up to 2 days or freeze it double-wrapped in plastic.
• I have made this same pie using the crumb topping from the Apple Crumble recipe and it's good :)