Thursday, April 28, 2011

Goodbye Mrs. A, we'll miss you

Well I know I said I wouldn't be the type to post non-stop, but today is a bit of a special case.  Yesterday I found out that my daughters teacher is leaving tommorow.  (She was only filling in for another teacher who is now coming back from Mat. leave).  I'm not sure how I missed out on knowing this and I feel bad.  She is a great teacher and I know how hard it will be for my daughter to adjust to this change, this far into the year.

So anyways  yesterday after school my daughter makes this announcement and then says she wants to give her teacher something special to say goodbye.  2 days notice!!!!  Ack!!!!

Luckily I have recently come to grips with my yarn addiction and in an effort to reclaim my closets i have started to do some serious stash-busting.  (hey 8 large rubbermaid totes and 3 garbage bags of yarn take up ALOT of space you know).  So I have a couple of afghans on the go.  Just finnished one of them tonight with time to spare. (ha!)  Its a good size for a couch throw, as my daughter says, its a good cuddle blanket for her teacher to share with her husband.  I hope she likes it.




The pattern is one that I just ended up liking after about half a dozen false starts.  The finished size ended up being approx. 4 ft x 5 ft  and I used 2 - 400gram balls of Stylecraft Aran Knitting yarn (80% Acrylic 20% Wool)  I bought the wool probably about 15 years ago or so (I told you my yarn stash was bad...)

Chain length desired
Row 1 - DC in each chain stitch
Row 2 -chain 4,  skip 1st st then TRC through both loops (whole row is done through both loops) in next 2 sts, * skip one st, TRC in next 2 sts, TRC into skipped st. * ( * forms cluster)  Continue clusters along row until last 4 sts.  Skip one stitch, TRC last 3 sts. Turn
Row 3 & 4 -DC straight across crocheting into front loops only.

Repeat rows 2-4 until desired length is achieved ending with Row 3.

Take time to stop and smell (or eat) the flowers

For Christmas last year my BF bought me the Wilton decorating classes.  For the most part we just took it as a fun night out and goofed around abit more then we should have but I did come away with some neat tricks.  Flowers being one of them...which makes my daughter very happy.  Case in point...her last birthday cake.


The only reason more flowers didn't end up on the cake was that we ran out of time and had to get ready to leave for the party location.  If she had had her way the whole cake would have been covered.


Least you think however that I can't be more restrained,



and my favorite flower to make...roses

Let them eat (cup)cakes

Here is just a few random items I have made in the last year.....I really need to remember to take pictures of everything I do
Marshmallow flowers colored with jello powder

Chocolate Frog Prince Toppers with free-hand crowns added

Chocolate Princess toppers with free-hand hearts added
(I used my wedding topper mold and just "ahem" cut away the groom)

Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing "mud", Oreo crumb "dirt" and gummy worms

Rose cupcakes for Valentine's Day

Welcome

Hello and welcome to Snickerdoodles.   For those of you who are wondering why snickerdoodles, well that is the first cookie which my mom allowed me to make completly on my own back when I was a kid.  It was the name that got my attention and today it is my most requested cookie for get-togethers and orders.  As I branch into more of a at-home baking business I thought it was more then fitting to name it Snickerdoodles.

This won't be the kind of blog with minute to minute updates and stories...I'm just not that kind of gal....this will be more for me to showcase my baking for family, friends and clients.  As I am also a yarn-a-holic who loves my crochet hook as much as my mixing bowl, there might be the occasional post about my current project.

So I hope you enjoy your visit.... Bri


Snickerdoodles

2 3/4 cups flour                              1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cream of tartar                       1 tsp baking soda
1 cup butter                                   1 1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar mixed with 2 tbsp cinnamon for topping (more or less cinnamon can be used as per taste)




Cream butter, sugar and eggs



Sift dry ingredients (except topping mix) together



blend dry ingredients into creamed mixture.  You want a nice soft dough that you can roll into balls.


I make the balls about the size of timbits (Approx 1 1/2 inches) roll balls into cinnamon/sugar mixture. 



Flatten slightly on tray before cooking, this will give you a nice cookie with a bit of crunch on the outside and still soft on the inside.  Bake at 350 F (180 C) for 8 - 10 min.  *Just until bottoms start to turn golden...keep a close eye as they can over brown very quickly.



I remove the cookies to a cooling rack as soon as I pull them out of the oven to prevent them from further cooking on the hot tray.  Makes about 3 dozen cookies.