Coffee, Crochet, and Food

Its been back to work for me these past few months...pattern writing which I absolutely dread...back to work part time at preschool which leaves me exhausted and sick for the past 2 months and as well getting back into teaching Yoga a few days a week as well. Getting back into the game I am...but below is a bunch of good happenings take a look...

 I am going to be featured on the UK craft blog Cut Out & Keep as one of there Super Stars featuring my crochet patterns. I'm really excited about it and will let you know when it is scheduled to post. Thar is my daughter in the Spring Meadow cowl and finger less gloves. Don't they just scream of Spring!!! Everyday a new pattern will be released. This week I am featured...so make sure you go and have a look!

The food...Well I wasn't cooking and blogging as much as I used to to and one day the itch just came back...My Mom and I love Raisin Tea biscuits. We used to get them from an Italian Bakery when I was young and NO!... they are not an Italian specialty but however they were the best and that bakery is now long gone. So I went a searching  and found this recipe. Very good and close. I swear though the ones I remember had cornmeal or semolina flour in them. The massive Chocolate looking thing in the cast iron pan. That is me trying to recreate a Chocolate Coffee scone form my favorite Cafe in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia La Colombe. I got really close too!! But my texture is slightly off but not much. I also made a Chocolate Moose for a dinner party we attended. I must say not only was it pretty simple but really delicious!Its definitely a must try!

I painted my window seat in my bedroom with Annie Sloan Chalk paint. Years of sun damage just ruined the original finish. I used Old Ochre and then used the dark wax over it. I love the fact that you don't have to do any prep work or stripping you just go and paint.

Its a rainy Spring day here and I am eager to get cozy on the couch with some tea and finish my next design. 

Be well,

Ming

I wish....

I wish it would just slow down a bit...that it didn't go by so fast and such a blur...I wish it would literally last a "Season". I wish you could bake a little longer ans slower...visit a little longer with family and friends who come form far and near. I wish to stay in the relaxed state that you experience for a moment or two during the whirlwind of preparation...and I wish now to share with you some of the still moments below

It was a great holiday once again...I made endless finger less gloves for many many little girls...the delight when they squeal, smile and put them on and keep them on all day! I love little ones who appreciate handmades! I have older daughters who help me with the baking and pasta prep now..whew thank god!! I have young adults...school age...and toddlers all at once on Christmas morning to watch open presents and let me tell you the young adults are just as excited as the young ones!
I had a Birthday 44 now yikes!!! I got a new computer YAY!! more blogging as it doesn't take me 4 hours to edit pictures!!! I got new fabric from French General Petite Prints Deux, Luxurious yarn from Bijou Basin Ranch...some Aurifil thread sets from Fat Quarter shop.
Our big night is Christmas Eve so Christmas day is Jammies and movies...Love Actually..the Holiday...and endless Hallmark movies<3<3<3
Then a fast trip to Upstate NY to visit my in laws the snowy photos are the views from the house..it was actually there first snowfall of the season..very rare.
The last picture is of my IG account with the #bestnine2015...my most popular photos! It was a very pretty 2015 in pictures.

So back to wishing...I wish more slow days for all...I wish for more stillness...I wish for safety for all who are in need...I will just keep wishing...

Peace and Love to you all in the New Year,,,
XOXO

Be well,
Ming

Autumn food and blooms

Hello Friends,

Can someone tell me where September went??? What happened?? Was I in a deep sleep and miss it?!

It was one of the busiest "Back to School" seasons I can remember... every night there was something...Soccer..school meetings...Karate. I was also involved in a bunch of "Swaps" which I will get to on my next post. In the meantime there was this going on as well...as usual recipes below.

Lots of food a blooms...first up my Zucchini Chocolate Chip cake. If you follow me on Instagram I posted the recipe there as well but here it is.
Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cake

• 2 1/2 cups shredded zuchinni 
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup sugar 
• 3/4 cup safflower oil ....Mix these together in a bowl 

Next bowl

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg 

Sift together and add to the Zucchini mix then stir in

• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup semi sweet chips

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes in a 9x13 baking pan.
This is not a super sweet or spice version just something light to go with tea or coffee. You could up the sugar and the spices. The crumb was very nice and moisture was good.

Next up... Baked Acorn Squash with Sage and Maple Syrup

•  2 Acorn squash sliced
• handful of sage
• Irish butter...I used Kerrygold  
• Good quality Maple syrup ...mine is form my in- laws property in Upstate NY <3
• S&P

Bake at 450 till tender about 35 min.

The Blooms ...Echinacea,Chamomile and Straw Flower have become fast favorites...YES...we got a new puppy named Oakley and Australian Shepard...I adore him,sweetest thing ever...the crocheted shawl is for a swap...I'm going to be very sad to part with it but the pattern is made up by me and I will be sharing it with all of you as soon as it gets to its owner... who I might add is completely adorable and I cant wait to see her wear it!
Ohh...the biscuits...I used this recipe here..cut the cooking time a bit...they were great!

And how is your Autumn coming along?
Be Well,
Ming

Good food and good fun!

My friends say I have spoiled my family in many ways and may have ruined their future mates for life when it comes to my cooking...yes, I am bragging about myself just this once...well maybe twice! When my family sees old bananas on the counter I know whats coming..."Mom you should make Banana cake" like at 7:00 pm as I am cleaning up the dinner dishes. They are all filtering home from college and such these days so I do not want to disappoint ...however I got a bit lazy this winter with cooking so I felt I  needed to fulfill the request ( I really wanted to say are you flipping nuts its 7pm)! So I thought how can i make this as easy a possible for myself...one bowl...not much measuring (it's an Italian thing...sorry)...and delicious. Here's what happened...Banana cake with Mascarpone cheese frosting. 

 

My Dear Friends,

Do you know that happens when you take a container Mascarpone cheese add  a cup and half of              confectioners sugar, some vanilla and lemon juice and whip it at high speed? It turns into an tangy marshmallowy deliciousness that stops all time and space and Angles start to sing!! I will now call this my go to frosting forever more!

Yours Truly,

Ming

So here's what I want you to do ...

For the Banana cake:

In a mixing bowl mash...

• 3 old bananas
• 1 cup raw sugar 

Now add to mixture

• 1/4 cup safflower oil
• 2 eggs
• tsp vanilla

 mix again until  incorporated and then add

• A scant 2 cups flour...I use King Arthur
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt...I am now using mineral salt in my cooking and baking
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

Now mix this and lastly add

• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt

Mix again and and pour into a 8x8 baking pan sprayed with cooking or baking spray and bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean.

For the Mascarpone Frosting:

• 4 oz. container of Mascarpone cheese
• 1 1/2 or 2 cups confectioners sugar 
• 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
• juice of a half a lemon may be more to your liking

mix together and just whip it at high speed till incorporate well and watch the Magic happen!

The possibilities are endless with this frosting and what you can add in and alter. I also added some Spanish chocolate shavings too!

Now onto other happenings...

 Gardening has started literally overnight...we went from freezing temps to everything starting to flower and sprout. Finally!! We added two new gardening beds and are going to add more. That was the heaviest dirt I ever had to shovel and move! My daughter is home now and first thing was to get my Great nephew Gavin introduced to the dirt and he loved it and took it very very seriously!

...and it was another Crazy Knitting Night and as usual the craziness and laughs were in abundance.

Our Sandra (who we swear has a small army in her basement knitting for her ... this woman busts the projects out like nobody's business!") showed off her latest finish a West Knits design and not without striking her best Stephen West pose! In February we went to the West Knits workshop at our local yarn store and it was a hoot! She is now on her second West knits design ...I have even started my first ;-(!!

I have lots of projects getting ready top show off  and now that the temps are rising I can sit at my computer and not freeze any more! 

Of course the knitting gals and I love us some Downton Abbey so this meme is just so fitting from @hey_lady_hey on instagram....How true is this!!

Have a wonderful weekend and if you have those old bananas around give the cake a go you wont be disappoint!

Be Well,

Ming

Pumpkin + Cheese = Happy

A little happy was needed  here...

I have been battling some inner ear issues since August and hasn't allowed much computer or creative time since my head feels like it has been in a vice! But, I think I am rounding a corner now ...hopefully! It has been ridiculously busy here with the little guy, soccer, karate, scouts... I don't now how we did it with the four others way back! Joel Jr. graduated to his yellow belt in karate and is having fun during is first go at soccer. He seems to have this tactic on the field of what I call his "Brave Heart battle cry" which he lets out as he charges down the field  like in the movie (and I cringe) and scares everyone away from the ball. I'm pretty sure the other parents are not appreciating it...we are working on better skills on the field. We did get a little chuckle out of it..that's what happens when your on the 5th kid. The older kids think I should paint his face blue like the Scottish warriors!
However, it has been a lovely fall here in New Jersey. My heirloom dahlias are still blooming and kitty is enjoying the deck and the sunshine. One thing I  could manage was comfort food during my malaise. Hey... I figured it would make me feel better...I'm convincing myself it worked! Note...I doubled the cake mixture...if you choose not too adjust pan size accordingly, you can also you a loaf pan.


Pumpkin Cheese Streusel Cake.
For the cake:

• 1 15 oz.can pumpkin pie filling
• 1/2 cup oil 
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 brown sugar
• 1 3/4 cup flour 
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 tsp. salt 

For the cream cheese filling

• 1 8 oz pkg. cream cheese softened
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 cup flour

For the Streusal topping 

• 1 stick melted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup flour
• pinch of salt

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl set aside. Mix wet ingredients together in a large bowl and then add the dry ingredients. Spread into a  greased 9 by 13 baking pan. Mix the cream cheese filling ingredients together. Add to cake in dollops and them swirl it in.
Bake at 350 for about for about 50 min. While it is baking make your streusal topping again just mixing it all together. After 50 minutes remove cake from the oven and sprinkle the topping and cook for another 10 minutes. Keep checking as everyone's oven is different. So cook till a toothpick comes out clean when poked into the cake.

I also made some pillows for a bench at the foot of  our drive. I got some outdoor fabric from Jo Ann's on sale. I love them!

I hope you are having a beautiful fall as well. Are you baking? What is your favorite fall baking treat ? Next post I have some projects to share. I am also working on a new crochet pattern to share for the holidays! I am loving it so far!

Be well,
Ming