Orange Creamsicle Cookies January 28, 2012

After a long hiatus I am going to start blogging again. Or at least that is the plan.

I came across a recipe for Orange Creamsicle Cookies that I couldn’t resist. They had to be made. I’m not usually a fan of white chocolate but the combination was a nice change.

Orange Creamsicle Cookies

From The Girl Who Ate Everything Blog (her picture is MUCH better!)

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons orange zest (for me that was the zest of 2 oranges)
2 cups Guitard Choc-Au-Lait Vanilla Chips (I used Ghirardelli white chips)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture until combined. Stir in orange zest and chips.

Drop rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Do not flatten cookies; it will make them dry. Bake 8 – 10 minutes or until golden brown around edges. Do not overcook! Cookies will be plump. Cool for several minutes on cookie sheets before transferring to rack to cool completely. Store in airtight container.

Citrus June 28, 2011

My daughter’s first birthday was this past weekend and I went all out. And I mean ALL out! Most people wouldn’t spend the effort for a first birthday, but I have been itching to try some fun creations I have seen online so I went for it. She may not remember it, but we have pictures. The event not only commemorated our first year as parents (we made it through!!) but her first year.

 

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Not just Crochet June 5, 2011

… But Tunisian Crochet.

Yesterday I picked up another hobby. Tunisian crochet. Tunisian crochet is a bit of a mix between crochet and knitting. It once was referred to as cro-knitting but that title didn’t stick.

I learned to crochet a while back and had heard about Tunisian crochet but hadn’t had the opportunity to take a class, until yesterday.

I like it. I think it is fun to learn a variation of crochet and add another hobby to my list.

This is going to be a project bag. Might even finish it today.

Lemon Thumbprint Cookies May 7, 2011

I love lemon.

I’d rather have lemon over chocolate any day. Don’t get me wrong, Chocolate is still fabulous. But lemon has my heart. Or should I say my sweet tooth?

A month ago I made a white cake with lemon curd filling and lemon buttercream frosting. Delish!

I made a triple batch of curd which ended up being way to much for the cake but great little gifts for friends and some leftovers for the freezer.

Today I used the lemon curd stash in the freezer for the thumbprints. A friend of mine saw the recipe in the newspaper and passed it along.

Enjoy!

Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup(s) (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup(s) granulated sugar
2 large egg yolks
1 tablespoon(s) grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon(s) fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon(s) kosher salt
2 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1 cup(s) Lemon Curd, or store-bought

Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or nonstick liners. Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with mixer until well blended. Beat in yolks, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt. With mixer on low, beat in flour just until moist clumps form. Gather dough together in bowl to bind.
Shape scant tablespoons of dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls on prepared sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart. Using a floured finger, make a deep indentation in center of each ball. Bake cookies until firm and lightly golden on bottom, about 18 to 20 minutes.
Remove cookies from oven and immediately fill indentations with curd. Return to oven and bake 2 minutes longer to set curd.
Bake remaining cookies. Lightly dust edges with confectioners’ sugar before serving.

Janey, Take Two April 16, 2011

I made another Janey dress. This one is for a friend’s baby shower. Would be cute with a diaper cover/bloomer. *Does a quick search on Etsy* Hmmm. Think I’ll make a matching hair bow instead.

Tomorrow, a little crochet and start on a different pattern for another dress. I’m addicted I tell you.

Janey Dress April 14, 2011

So I figured out what my next project would be. Another dress. They are coming out so stinkin cute I can hardly believe it.

This one is called Janey. I think I’m going to have to make it in a few different color ways. I was very unoriginal in my fabric choices for this one – same as the pattern. But I loved it too much to think outside the box.

Oh and I finally got a picture of my first dress. Flower and all.

I know, I know, not much of a difference, but it covers up an oops. I made another flower just the same for her hair.

Something Cute April 9, 2011

I made another dress!

All this time I thought garment sewing was more difficult. Who knew?!

Getting ready to add the lining.

Who needs boring lining when you can make it reversible! I even did the “A” word – Applique! It wasn’t so bad either. Dare I say, another hobby?

Dress 1

Dress 2

It is a bit large fore Cupcake to wear just yet. I’m hoping it will fit in the next few months.

Now, what should I make next?

Strolling Along April 6, 2011

So my “tomorrow” isn’t the same as your “tomorrow”. I clearly didn’t come back and post a picture of the dress 100% complete the next day. And well, I’m not going to do it now either. I would, but the dress is in Cupcake’s room and she is sleeping. We don’t disturb sleep around here. It is too precious.

I do however have another project complete!

I bought a jogging stroller on Craigslist a month ago and LOVE it. The stroller practically pushes itself. I have been doing a lot more walking recently and my other fabulous stroller just wasn’t cutting it. This one came with all the attachments for a second seat (no I’m not announcing I’m pregnant!), rain cover and all.

Just your typical stroller, right? B-O-R-I-N-G.

It needed some pizazz.

I found the pattern online as well as the fabric. I’m so happy with the outcome, I can’t wait to go walking.

Until next time… happy sewing!

All dressed up March 10, 2011

I did it. I finished making a dress for Cupcake, LATE last night. Here are some pics…

I’m so excited about it, I can’t stand it. It was easier than I thought AND it fits her. Double bonus! I am going to add a flower and make a matching one for Cupcake’s hair… tomorrow. Tonight I made a cake. I will post on that soon.

I already know what I will do differently for the next one. And have already started looking for more fabric and other patterns.

Hiatus March 7, 2011

Hiatus – no more.

Cupcake is 8 1/2 months old and it is time for me to get back to some of what I love doing – sewing. So today I dusted off the sewing machine, set it up and used it. A quilt you ask? Nope. I am making a dress for Cupcake.

My friend Robyn, in California, showed me the super cute dress she made for her daughter and I thought I should give it a go myself.

I got this fabric:

I also got a purple fabric for the accent but I’m not loving it. Going to see what else I can find before I settle.

So far I have completed steps I and II. I would have gone onto step III but Cupcake is asleep and I need to take a measurement. I’ll take a pic of the progress tomorrow.

Sewing and blogging. Much better use of my time than Facebook!