A Handmade Christmas

Somewhere there is a box with 5 stockings, ornaments & Christmas lights….

But I have not idea where. My little guy, who really isn't so little anymore, asked if he could have a stocking this Christmas.

Umm. Yes. 

And I happen to have a tub full of shrunken wool sweaters that would perform beautifully as a stocking.

 

B/c I can be technically challenged, the easiest way for me to get a stocking pattern for the right shape was to buy an ugly velour stocking for .99 cents from a thrift shop. It felt easier than trying to print a pattern that was sure to be larger than 8x10.

I pinned the ugly stocking to my wool and cut out the wool stocking. I pinned that piece to another piece of wool and cut out the back side of the stocking. At this point I cut out a cuff for the stocking hanger (top right) and a few pieces of coordinating wool for my embellishments (tree, snowman, wreath, star, candy cane, whatever you want) and sewed them in place.

I pinned the two pieces together, and the hanger at the top and sewed along the side, giving myself about a 1/4" along the edge.

It actually looks darling, so don't worry about the stitches showing.

Waa Laa. Step 1 of your handmade Christmas is done.

Or, Just slide on over to Etsy and order / buy one from M & I.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheKnottedApron?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Gift Giving: Dipped & Dripped Chocolate Carmel Apples

This week I am catering a dinner party. The menu item I am most excited about is the party favor. 

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory makes sublime Covered Apples. And I started to visualize these beautifully dipped apples at each plate, wrapped in cellophane & ribbon, and I was sold.

The grocery store I was at did not have enough good looking apples in any variety I thought would work, with the exception of Jazz. 

I would have liked Granny Smith...but sometimes you just work with what you've got.

I began with a simple Carmel Mixture that worked for roughly 9 mid-sized apples:

1 C. packed Brown Sugar

1/2 Light Corn Syrup

1/4 C. Butter (1/2 stick)

1/2 can Sweetened Cond. Milk (~1/2 cup)

1 tsp. Vanilla

1. Melt the butter in a sauce pan

2. Add Brown Sugar & Corn Syrup

3. Stir Constantly (wooden spoon) over med. heat

4. Add Sweetened Cond. Milk

5. Bring mixture to 245 degrees (candy thermometer)

6. Remove from heat, add Vanilla & let cool to 210 degrees

7. Twist stem off washed & dried apples

8. Insert wooden or paper sticks

9. Dip in carmel 

10. Let dry on parchment paper & then dip in melted Chocolate

(I heated 2 cups of Bittersweet Ghirardelli in a double boiler & dipped the apples right there on my stove)

11. While the chocolate is wet dip in Toasted Coconut or Salted Pecans

(I did both - 4 of each & used 1 c. coconut & 1-1/4 c. pecans & returned them to the parchment to dry)

12. Melt 3/4 cup White Chocolate & place in a small ziploc

13. Cut the very corner off & drizzle over the apples 

Best of all these beauties can be made ahead & stored in a refrigerator. They will last for 2-3 weeks.

May your days be merry & Chocolatey!

Gift Giving: Chocolate Drizzled Kettle Corn

Tis the time of year when we all look for creative gift ideas. I will give a few foodie gifts, so I have been browsing ideas. But last week I had a bit of inspiration show up unexpectedly.

I brought home a bag of Indiana Dark Chocolate Drizzled Popcorn. It needed a cup of coffee. I literally turned my back for a second to pour a cup of said coffee & returned to the table to find my children emptying the popcorn crumbs into their mouths. This Cannot Be. 

First popcorn & no coffee - now coffee & no popcorn.

Okay so this popcorn is essentially Kettle Corn with some Dark Choc. No problem.

1. I grabbed a large pot with a lid & heated a few kernels & 3 Tbsp of oil. (I think coconut is prob. the best)

2. When the kernels popped & let me know the oil was up to temp I added 1/2 cup of kernels. & 1/4    cup of sugar.

3. Put the lid back on & listen for the kernels to start popping.

4. Then remove the pot from the stove & shake to keep the kernels from burning.

5. Repeat until all kernels have popped.

6. Add sea salt & spread on a piece of parchment paper to cool.

7. Heat 1/4 cup of Dark Chocolate Chips in a double broiler.

8. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the popcorn. I found it easiest to use a spoon.

9. Let cool until chocolate has hardened on the popcorn.

okay 4 quick notes about this:
1. It was so easy.
2. It will make the perfect gift when I place it in a cellophane bag & tie it with a festive bow.
3. I used really good Chocolate so it tasted even better.
4. This is totally adaptable so you could add whatever you like best. I think I'll try Dark Choc. & Salted Pecans or White Choc. & Dried Cranberries







3.

So Long Reese's - There's a New Cup In Town.

I remember being told we were going to have a
"moment of silence" to commemorate the beginning of The Gulf War.
I went to Public High and this was how somber moments were marked.

I was taught to pray when innocent lives were at risk, so I put my nonchalant face on and asked
what a "moment of silence" meant.
"Of course this is a time for somber contemplation & meditation."
So I just think about something with a serious face
& that accomplishes???
Help me out here I'm not as smart as I look.

But today I had my own moment of silence. And I had
this moment because my favorite gas station candy,
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, are now a thing of my past.

Let me tell you why...actually I'll show you too.

                                                                                    
It all began with Ghiradelli Chocolate.

1. Melt 1c. of chocolate chips in a double boiler
2. Mix 1c. of organic (your choice) creamy
peanut butter with 1c. of powdered
sugar.
3. Use a small paint brush to paint chocolate
onto paper muffin cups. (i also placed them
into a muffin tin - for stability)
4. Fill a plastic ziplock or icing bag with the PB mixture, trim a whole in the corner (if using a ziplock), and squeeze a goodsize glob into the set-up chocolate.
5. Paint more choc. on top of the peanut butter.
6. Resist the urge to lick every cooking utensil in                    
sight & slip them into the fridge/freezer
your choice depending on how quick you need one.

My hands were a bit shaky at this point. Shaky with excitement that is. And you know what? They were amazing. I made half the batch with Milk Choc. & the other half with 60% Cacao - Bittersweet.
M suggested using white choc. so I think I'll probably try that too. I ran out of peanut butter filling on the last cup, so I filled it with homemade carmel, pecans & a little sea salt.  I think it's going to be a winner.

Bows, Flowers & Rushing Spring

I have been trying to pack up winter                            clothes for a month now.
A few weeks back we had a warm spell.
I sent the kids to the basement,
snow pants & boots in hand.
I pulled out shorts & longingly
patted our bathing suits.

I am ready to trade up my drab black & grey
wardrobe for pinks, greens & sky blue.

1 Thing I like about Tx is that texans don't
hesitate to accessorize. I saw more flowers & bows
adorning hair than I had in all my previous
years combined...including elementary school.

It is distinctly feminine.

M & I set out with hot glue gun in hand,
using fake flowers, ribbon, elastic bands and
hair clips which we purchased at Hobby Lobby.