Who Wants a Starter?

Amish Friendship Bread is one of my favorites, and I'm really glad I got a starter a few weeks ago. It's not everyone's cup of tea though, so I'm not about to lose friends by forcing starters on them. The steps involved in making the bread are minimal, and after a painless process you have some to-die-for sweet bread wafting through your kitchen.

I created a bit of a monster though when - upon my husband's request - I kept two starters after baking the previous batch. Instead of 3 to give away, I now have 7 bags for some lucky ladies (or gentlemen) living in the Chicagoland area. If anyone in Chicago is looking for some decadent Amish Friendship bread, I've got it and would love to give a bag to you...just let me know! As an added incentive, the starter is already on Day 4!

An important note on Amish Friendship Bread for those hesitant of the experience. If you’re sick of mashing the bag, making bread, and possibly losing friends by passing them starters every 10 days, do yourself a favor and dispose of it all! Contrary to popular belief, the Amish (and you) can find the starter recipe online (allrecipes.com) if you decide to start it up again.

Any takers?

I'm So Crafty, I Make People

This phrase that I saw from a friend struck me the other day because it was apropos. I've never been one for making announcements, but I'm guessing I can't just suddenly pop out a baby this March and move on in the blog arena like nothing monumental happened. TK and I are expecting a boy March 2 and are looking forward to this new stage of life with great excitement! I've always wanted to be a mama, and by our estimation there's no time like the present.
Due to the baby's male nature, I'm afraid my new found love of pink, girly fabrics will quickly meet its demise...or at least be diminished. C'est la vie... there are still plenty of things I can make and create for junior. His dad, a carpenter/contractor and all-around wonderful man, is thrilled to have a boy coming to whom he can impart his creative passions as well.

Wish us luck over the next 4 remaining months!

Reconnect with Your Bundt Pan

I'll admit it. I think I've hated Halloween for quite some time. It's just not my thing. To be honest, any other holiday excites me more. In rebellion against it, my friend Celina and I opted out and stayed in to bake pumpkin goodies. Call me a prude, but it was such a better alternative in my mind.

Inspired by The Food Librarian's "I Like Big Bundts" month of recipes, we made a Pumpkin Spiced Bundt Cake with Buttermilk Icing (recipe here). Bundt cakes are delicious and just plain pretty on so many levels. I think baking batter in a bundt pan makes any fall day brighter. How many times do you think I can say "bundt" in one paragraph?

We brought our cake into the office and it's since been referred to as "perfection." Not our words, theirs! Thanks to the buttermilk and the pumpkin purée (have you stocked up despite the shortage?), this cake is moist and delish. For the icing, we used a little more buttermilk than the recipe called for so that it wasn't too stiff. Try it. You'll like it.

If you're not the homemade-pumpkin-baking-type but have a Trader Joe's nearby, their Bread & Pumpkin Muffin Mix is also to die for and is only a whopping $2.99.

Now go. Reconnect with your bundt pan!

Bring on the Bliss

You know what yesterday was in my book...time to break out the Christmas music! I've got some Mariah Carey playing and am sipping on a peppermint mocha. Now that wretched Halloween is done it's time to bring on the holidays!

Contract

Just as buying a "real couch" makes me feel a little more grown up, so does signing a contract to be a contributor to a published book...a quilting book no less! My virtual quilting bee, Block Party, is being turned into a book that will be written by our fearless leaders Kristen and Alissa and published by C&T Publishing, a quilting and fiber arts company. As members of the bee, each of us have been given one of the twelve chapters in which our quilt will be featured.

More than a "how-to" manual, the book will also speak to the emergence of virtual quilting bees and the sense of community crafters have found online. Modern quilters unite!

All Grown Up

It is my experience that the modern world is majorly lacking in official rites of passage. As a twenty-something, I find myself constantly questioning whether I'm really an adult or when it was - if yet - that I "grew up." Am I "legit" when I am done with college? When I have a job? If I get married? When I buy a car? If I have my own apartment? When I contribute to society? When I find out what I want to "be?" Maybe people have always felt this way throughout the centuries, but I think it's safe to assume most modern-day young adults don't quite know where they fit into the landscape of "adulthood" and where it started.

At long last, I might be one step closer to feeling a little more grown up. We bought a new couch that screams sophistication. Nothing says, "I'm responsible and have a job and can pay my bills," like a grown up couch ordered from a store and delivered to your house. Just look at this beauty. Modern design. Tweed upholstery. Clean lines. Perfect.

Until a few weeks ago, I had an old set of couches for almost 6 years that had an imaginary sign on them that read "bachelor pad." Now rid of them, I can face the coming challenges and responsibilities that are sure to come in life knowing that at least we have the couch of our dreams.

Just Try It

Are there any lunatics out there who don't like pizza? I didn't think so.

I imagine that if I were forced to only eat pizza for the rest of my life, I'd be as happy as a clam. Sure, I'd tire of it eventually, but not if I could change it up and put a new spin on a classic. Here's a doozy for you: Asparagus, Tomato, and Goat-Cheese Pizza. You read that right, and it's to die for.

When my friend first made this recipe years ago, I initially scoffed at the idea. Little did I know how well these flavors mesh atop some Pillsbury dough. I plan on cuddling up this weekend while this gem bakes in the oven!

Asparagus, Tomato, and Goat Cheese Pizza

Ingredients
10 spears thin asparagus, trimmed, and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
1.5 TBSP extra-virgin olive oil
1 10 oz tube refrigerated pizza crust dough (such as Pillsbury)
1 14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes with Italian seasonings, drained
1 5.5 oz log soft goat cheese (or more if you want)
Marjoram, chopped (optional)
Ground (cayenne) red pepper (not optional)

Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss asparagus with oil in medium bowl to coat. Unroll pizza dough on baking sheet, forming 9x12-inch rectangle. Spoon tomatoes over dough, leaving 3/4-inch plain border. Scatter oiled asparagus over tomatoes. Bake pizza 7 minutes. Remove from oven. Crumble goat cheese over pizza. Sprinkle lightly with marjoram and crushed pepper. Bake until crust is golden around edges, about 9 minutes longer.

The Swap

Over the weekend, I led a little sewing session at my church for a monthly event we have called "The Swap." Each month, someone leads those who show up in a session/workshop on something they are interested in or have a passion for. I obviously wanted to spread my love of sewing to any willing participants.

Besides teaching my new proteges and sewing together, one of my favorite parts of this weekend was buying loads of fat quarters I could have never justified just buying for myself! Look at how luscious it all is! I felt like Scrooge McDuck swimming around in his vault of gold coins, basking in the glow of all this yummy fabric before my eyes.

We made custom pillow covers and it was grand old time! Here are some pictures from Saturday. I wasn't able to get everyone's, but below are a few. In a world where many of our jobs require sitting at desks all day with results and work that is often un-quantifiable, it just feels good to make something with your own two hands and actually see and feel the fruits of your labor.

Giraffe Rattle

Time to resurrect the old blog. My writer's block from late June carried through August, so... my apologies. I'm committing to get back in the habit!

A few weeks ago I bought Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby... a great find for some quick, cute projects for any little ones in your life. It's full of patterns for toys, clothes, and housewares that are easy and fun.

Take this fine friend below for example. A few bells, some ribbon, a handful of poly-fill, and not even a 1/4 yard of fabric and you've got yourself a giraffe rattle. I've made a few of these for friends recently and I don't think they could be cuter!

"That's a Lot of Look"

"Designers, gather 'round!" Project Runway and our favorite fashion consultant, Tim Gunn, are back! Turn your channels from Bravo to Lifetime and tune in this Thursday for Season 6 of one of the greatest reality shows of all time.

I don't know about you, but I can't get enough of Heidi Klum's class, Michael Kors' one-liners, and Tim Gunn's sass. Due to its late-in-the-season airing and previous lawsuits (with the channel switch), I think we've waited long enough for this season to start! Let the games begin!