Calorie-free Cupcake

Isn't this little cupcake adorable.
What a clever way to use those pesky little shirt sleeve cuffs!!
I could see this little fun item used as a nifty pin cushion.
You ladies always surprise me at all the innovative ideas that you come up.
Just wonderful !!!
This little item was copied from Nifty Thrifty.

Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

(Adapted from Bake or Break)

Makes 1 dozen brownies

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 tablespoon water

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips, plus about 1/3 cup more for garnishing

1 large egg*

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup milk chocolate chips, plus about 1/3 cup more for garnishing

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter*

*Healthy Swaps: I used egg whites instead of an egg (2 egg whites per egg called for) and reduced fat creamy peanut butter.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or grease 12 muffin cups.

In a medium sized microwave-safe bowl combine sugar, softened butter, and water. Microwave on high for about 45 seconds or until butter is melted. Stir in 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips until melted. Stir in egg and vanilla extract, mix well. Add flour and baking soda, stir until combined. Allow the batter to cool to room temperature (doesn’t take very long). Then, stir in 3/4 cup milk chocolate chips and remaining 1/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups.

Bake for 13-15 minutes or until top is set and a toothpick inserted into center comes out slightly wet. After brownies are out of the oven, wait for centers to fall. This will happen upon cooling. If not (they did not for me) then tap the centers with the back of a teaspoon to make a hole for the peanut butter.

Place peanut butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 45 seconds then stir. While brownies are still war spoon about a tablespoon full of peanut butter into the center of each brownie. Top with remaining 1/3 cup of milk chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Cool completely in pan.

Store at room temperature or in the refrigerator. To reheat the brownies just pop ‘em in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Liz, the official taste tester, and I found that we liked the brownies when they were warm and when they were cooled in the fridge for a little bit. So try both, it’s an excuse to eat two, enjoy!

Bon Eating,

Whitney from: Nosh and Tell

Bon Bon Garland

Isn't this an awesome idea from DIY craft projects ??? Yes its another way to use up some of those scraps that are just laying around the sewing room :) I have several Christmas trees that could use wonderful fun garlands like these. Just think you could have different colored garlands each year. These garlands look like they are so fast, fun and easy to make... the possibilities are endless with this idea ;) So get those fingers in gear and get out there and create create create :)

Awesome Idea Candle Cozy!!

~~~~Sweet~~~~
I don't know about you??? But I love candles.. Putting Candles out at Christmas makes the house smell so yummy with all those wonderful fragrances.. Sugar Cookie, Gingerbread, Apple cider, Carmel, Cinnamon spice.. and so on... But I don't like the ugly boring wrappers on the outside of the jars.. well here is a fantastic tutorial on how to dress them up for Christmas. You could even use your favorite materials to make these candle cozies for year round use ;) I love this idea.. so very smart and pretty.. This tutorial is from Not-So-Plain-Jane. Click on photo to go to her tutorial :)

Here's another cool idea ;) Simple Sewing Companion...

Click photo for tutorial :)
I just fell in love with this little sewing kit and it looks very easy to do.. and makes up into a very charming gift ;) I could see using all of your wonderful left over scraps to make several of these for all of your friends and family :) What a nice item to take along... when you need to do some of that wonderful hand sewing on your projects. There's a place for all those needed sewing items in on handy little pouch.. look really close and you will see a small needle case.. in the bottom pocket :)
This quick and easy sewing case is pretty and practical and would be a perfect gift. Designed, made, photographed and kindly shared by Brenda Dean.© Quilters Pty. Ltd. 2006 on
Poplar Patchwork.

Another Christmas Gift Idea

I don't know about you but I just love those little tea wallets. Not to mention they are so darn easy to make ;) They are so handy and they look really cool too :) I know its a must in my purse/back pack to carry one. Everyone that sees it wants one ;) Well I have found another awesome tutorial at A Prairie Home Quilts. Just click on the name to go to the tutorial to make these wonderful one of a kind tea wallets ;)
Happy Sewing ;)

LOL here I go again..
You all know that I am famous for changing things,
that are already made or designed...
I make them just a tad bit better or more user friendly..
Well here is what I have came up with....
I have been looking at the finished items in the photos...
If it were me...
I would adjust the pattern/material to enclose the entire tea bag package..
so it doesn't distract from all of your lovely hard work :)
I know I will be changing mine .. when I get a round to making this pattern :)

Never too early to think about Christmas ;)

Fabric Covered CD Coasters
Click Photo to go to tutorial at
Mojo and Co's blog

Oh my goodness isn't this a fabulous idea??? I wish my brain had thought of this very clever item!!! But alas I found it on Mojoandco :) I was thinking this was be such a fun and quick project... You could make them as gifts for the ladies at the office. Now don't forget those men!! They would like one on their desk too.. make it with manly man camo material :) You could use any color of fabric. Yes ladies another way to use up some of that scrap fabric stash. Also you would be going green by using up those worn out Cd's. No to mention it would cost next to nothing for a wonderful gift item. Heck go wild make a set of four for your friends ;) You could put them in a handcrafted fabric box or lacy fabric envelope. I even thought of another thing that you could do... where the black fabric is.. well you could glue down a small round piece of cork to catch all of the moisture ;)
Now to find a tutorial for something fun to put them into :)
I am still amazed!! Awesome fun!!!

Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade

Recipe From Life's Ambrosia click photo to visit blog ;)

• 6 lemons
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups simple syrup (recipe follows)
• 1 (16 ounce) container strawberries, hulled and halved
• 1 quart sparkling water
• ice cubes
• mint for garnish

1. Roll the lemons back and forth a couple of times on the counter to release the juices. Cut the lemons in half juice into a bowl. Remove any seeds that may have fallen into the juice. You should get about 1 cup of lemon juice.
2. Using an immersion blender or regular blender, blend the strawberries with the 1/2 cup of the simple syrup, until smooth.
3. Pour lemon juice, strawberry puree, 1/2 cup simple syrup and sparkling water into a pitcher. Add more simple syrup if you want a little more sweetness. Add ice cubes. Chill until ready to drink.
4. Place more ice cubes in a glass, pour in chilled lemonade, garnish with mint sprig. Enjoy!

Simple Syrup

• 1 part sugar
• 1 part water

1. Combine sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Bring to a boil. Stir until sugar has dissolved.
3. Cool completely.

Simple syrup is also used in many different cocktails. Keep it in the refrigerator and it will last for a few weeks.

To Wash or Not to Wash that is the Question :)

I had a question about the quilt blocks... Yes I have pre=washed my fabrics so the Reds and Greens don't run ;) I hope this has helped all of you with trying to figure out what to do ;) Plus it stops on the puckering of the block when it is washed after construction. Please ladies Correct me if I am wrong on this point ;)

OH my HO HO HO ;)

I have been standing for the last almost 4 hours working on four of my Christmas Applique Blocks. My tootsies are so tired. Not to mention it is really bothering my back and neck .. how do you ladies do this. Do you sit??? .. Do you stand???? And if you stand, is your table tall enough??? I thought about bringing everything down stairs set up the big ironing board.. lowering it as low as it will go and sit next to it in a chair. I don't know if I will be able to stand that long to do all twenty four blocks. If I don't find a better way of doing this. I just might have to do the ole cut and raw stitch way. What I mean by that is stitch real close to the edge and let the fabric fray. I sort of like that way too. Turned applique looks so much better and more finished :) I would welcome any suggestions to make this process easier on my old body :) I can say.... I am liking how my themed items are turning out. Not too bad for my first freezer paper turned applique block project :) Caroll D. "Thank you" for giving us a wonderful tutorial on your blog... on how to do freezer paper turned applique. You will find her blog HERE.

HERE IS A TASTE OF WHAT MY BLOCKS LOOK LIKE :)
Not too bad for a first time ;)
Sorry about the poor photos..
I snapped them fast to share with Nadine on chat ;)

Another way to make Eggs for Breakfast ;)

Baked Eggs

Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with PAM spray.

Lightly cook 12 strips of bacon (or how ever many baskets you are making).
Do NOT cook the bacon till crisp, but just enough to get rid of some of the grease. A few seconds on each side. Drain on paper towels.

Coil your bacon slices around the wells of the muffin tin.

Crack an egg and pour into the well.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

You can also whisk your eggs together and add some cheese, like a quiche, and pour this mixture into the bacon baskets.

Baked them 375 for 10 minutes for a runny center (to soak up with toast), or 12 minutes for the scrambled & cheese version.

Use a spoon to remove the baskets and serve! They are so pretty and better than the usual bacon and eggs.
Recipe from Stacy's Snacks on line

Just a few spots left to fill ;)

Hello my sweet quilting friends.... If your sitting on that fence trying to decided if you want to join in on my Christmas Block swap.. jump down and run to the computer and sign up today!! There are very few spots left to fill on the Christmas block exchange. I would like to ask your help in getting your quilting buddies to join in. That is if they are not joined in already :) That way we can get all of our slots filled up right away. Maybe you have a friend in a quilt guild that doesn't have a blog, and would like to join. Ask her.. no blog no problem ;) I have people join all the time without blogs. Maybe you have taken classes at your local quilt shop and know someone that might like to play along. Please ask.. I always like to make new friends here in blog land.. Especially ones that have the same interests ;) I have had a half a dozen women fall out of the swap already. I was hoping by adding a couple of extra weeks on to the swap would spark more interest ;) So lets get those spaces filled... and maybe have a couple of women on stand by in case we need to have a space filled from someone that has to drop at the last minute ;) I am working on my blocks today.. I hope you are picking out your fabrics and choosing your designs.. I am very excited about this swap with all the possibilities!!! So get on out there and help recruit this fun exciting Christmas block swap :)
HUGS APP

Ziploc Omelette

Instructions provided by Men In Aprons :)

I don't know about you ladies but this is my kind of breakfast...fast and easy :)

And now, it's time for an entry into .. TALES OF THE WEIRD! Did you know you can make an omelette in ziploc bag? It's true, my friends. No omlette pan, no flipping, no breaking. Just pure and simple egg goodness. There's not even a need to get out a bowl to beat the eggs in. Of course, if you're like me, you enjoy breaking out the omelette pan and trying to master the flip.

Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- Your choice of add-ins (ham, bacon, onions, peppers, cheese, hash browns, etc.)

Set a large pot of water to boil. Meanwhile, crack the eggs into the bag, and shake to combine them. Put in your ingredients and shake gently to combine.

Before placing the bage in the boiling water, make sure to get the air out of the bag and zip it up. Place the bags into rolling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes. You can usually cook 6-8 omelets in a large pot.

Open the bags and the omelet will roll out easily. Be prepared to be amazed.

Chocolate Malt Cupcakes withVanilla Malt Butter Cream

If you enjoy this wonderful cupcake recipe then run over to Sugar Cooking and check out some of her other awesome recipes ;) Just click on the photo to go to her web site ;)
Don't these look yummy???

Chocolate Malt Cupcakes

Recipe (Adapted from America's Test Kitchen)
Makes: 24 cupcakes (You can make about 20 cupcakes and 12 mini cupcakes)
Ingredients:

• 16 TBSP unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
• 4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup dutch process cocoa
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 2/3 cup of malted milk powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 4 large eggs (room temp)
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp table salt
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup milk
  

Directions:

1. Adjust oven to lower-middle position; heat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard size muffin pan (cups have 1/2 cup capacity) with baking-cup liners.
2. Combine butter, chocolate, and cocoa in a medium heatproof bowl. Set bowl over saucepan containing barely simmering water; heat mixture until butter and chocolate are melted and whisk until smooth and fully combined. Set aside to cool until just warm to touch.
3. Whisk flour, malt powder, baking soda, and baking powder in small bowl to combine.
4. Whisk eggs in second medium bowl to combine; add sugar, vanilla, and salt and whisk until fully incorporated. Add cooled chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Sift about one-third of the flour mixture over chocolate mixture and whisk until combined; whisk in sour cream until combined, then sift remaining flour mixture over and whisk until batter is homogeneous and thick.
5. Divide batter evenly among muffin pan cups. Bake until skewer inserted into center of cupcakes comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. (12 minutes for minis)
   
6. Cool cupcakes in muffin pan on wire rack until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Carefully lift each cupcake from muffin pan and set on wire rack. Cool to room temperature before icing, about 30 minutes.

Vanilla Malt Butter cream
Recipe
Ingredients:

• 2 sticks butter (room temperature)
• 6 tablespoons malt powder
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup milk
• 6 - 8 cups confectioners sugar

Directions:

1. Beat butter on low speed
2. Add in malt powder, vanilla extract, milk, and 4 cups of sugar. Beat on low speed for 1 minute.
3. Add in remaining sugar 1 cup at a time and beat on medium speed for a few minutes.

Yes I did it!!

I had a wonderful day at work yesterday... I did something that I very rarely get to do! That is to make someones day so special that they will never forget!!
I had a young man come into my patrol station and ask me if I could help him find someone. He had came here all the way from IL looking for his grandmother, that he had not seen since he was six. This young man appeared to be about 23 yrs old. He said he had call directory assistance they had no phone listings. Then he said he went to every place he could remember as a child and still no luck in finding her. He looked so lost and discouraged. Like it was a hopeless situation. He said to me.... your my only hope in finding her .. it might be possible you might have her somewhere in your system. I asked his name and what the persons name was he was looking for. I just happened to find a name in my computer matching that name. I told the boy I was leaving the front counter and was going to make a phone call. Well this call could have turned out two ways.
#1 The lady if she answered would not know the boy.
#2 She would know the boy and may or may not have wanted to see him.
So I placed the call... I stated my name and business and asked her if she knew such and so .. her answer was no. Then I told her thank you and started to hang up and she screamed!! She screamed right in my ear!!! I was taken a back.. I kept saying are you ok are you ok??? She came on the line and said is that person from IL???? I stated yes.. she screamed again and started hollering for another person in the house... such and so they have found him they have found him our grandson is looking for us.... At that moment I knew a good thing had happened... As she calmed down to talk to me I asked her is it ok if I give him your phone number to call you... Yes Yes Yes!!! She asked where the boy was... I told her with me at the Police station... she then asked if it was here in Kansas.. and I told her yes here in the city... she started crying again... and I told her I was going to hang up now and to expect a call very soon from her grandson.... I got a huge sobby Thank you. I went back out to my desk and I asked the young man to come to the counter.. I told him it was his lucky day as I was able to contact his grandmother and she was over joyed that he had found her. I thought the young man was going to pass out.. he started crying and all he could say was thank you thank you!!! I handed him the number that I had called. I told him were the nearest payphone was.. but he said no worries he had a cell phone... he was crying and dialing as he walked out of my patrol.....
I was very happy to help this young man in his quest to find his grandmother and I was very thrilled to have went the extra steps for him... This is one of the things in life that makes my job worth while ;) I hope you enjoyed this story of love ;)

There is so much to blog about :)

As all of you know I was busy getting my Halloween aprons finished up for the Spooks, Rattles, Pots, and Pans swap ;) I got them completed and they are now at the new owners homes.. so without further a do here they are ;)

I really like how fast and easy this full apron pattern goes together. It is fully lined and looks so classy when its completed :)

LOL I had to show all three matching aprons that I made.. I know this isn't a very good photo. But I don't own a clothes line to hang them on ......so I did the best I could at taking all three together :) If you look really hard you can see three orange buttons. Each button is attached to one pocket on each apron.

Here is one potholder made from the scraps ;)

Here is another potholder made from scraps. Now let me tell you these were a tad difficult for me. The instructions called for two layers of that heat resistant stuff and one layer of batting. It made the layers so d a r n (LOL not spaced it looked like a curse word) thick the walking foot didn't even want to walk around it. So they are not my best item I have every made.. but from now on I am going to use two layers of the heat stuff and no layers of batting. ;)
There is other fun stuff to blog about... but I'll wait until tomorrow.

We Won ... We Won!!!

OH my goodness.. I can't believe it the Pitty won 2nd place in the Halloween Costume contest. I just wanted to thank everyone that went by and voted for their favorite Pet :) Yeah!!! being a 2nd place winner we were able to pick something out of Honey Bee Crochet on Etsy. So the Pitty told me its getting to be cold and its near the Holiday season. Being the nice sweet little girl that she is she has asked to have one of the wonderful handcrafted Caps donated in Honey Bee's local area for the Homeless or the less fortunate. Pitty is always doing nice sweet things for others during the Holiday season. Last year we loaded up the Truck and took a bed full of food to the food bank. She of course had to drive us there ;) Then she made sure we run by her favorite place and leave food and drinks...... the Er Vet Clinic. Pitty is always trying to go by and see her friends down there. So you see its never too early for us to think about ways to help others during the Holiday Season.. I know Pitty and I feel so much better when we help others.

In case of emergency! H1N1

In case we run out of masks during the H1N1 flu season Here is a ‘homemade’ mask you can make yourself It is even compatible with the wearing of glasses One thing though --- MAKE SURE YOUR MASK IS CLEAN!!!!!!!!

I have a Number :o)

Hello Ladies... I am late!!!!
But I finally have the drawing completed I used a random genorator.
It chose the #6.
So I took the person that had posted as Number six in the blog post.
That lucky person was Janet W.

Generator Min: 1
Max: 22
Result: 6
Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congratulations!!!
Janet..
here is the what
ever I could find around the house to throw in.... was ;)

Janet Please email me... so I can make sure
I have the correct address to send your winnings :)

Sorry!!!

Hello all my little swappers.. I am so sorry I am running behind on the blog stuff.. I will draw names tomorrow for my swap give away. I am so sorry I am late. But I have a great excuse. I just finished up my third Halloween apron tonite. I had two wonderful partners in my Rattles Pots and Pans apron swap. LOL..... I decided to make all three of us matching aprons. We have all agreed to wear them Saturday night... I am shipping them out tomorrow priority mail. So they will get there by Freaky Friday :) When I know they have received their aprons I will post photos ;)
So please hang in there one more day :)
Hugs
M

Lightning flashing... A Halloween Story

They were together in the House.
Just the two of them.

It was a cold, dark, stormy night. The storm had come quickly
and each time the thunder boomed he watched her jump.
She looked across the room and admired his strong appearance... and wished that he would take her in his arms, comfort her and protect her from the storm.

Suddenly, with a pop, the power went out... she screamed... He raced to the sofa where she was cowering... He didn't hesitate to pull her into his arms.
He knew this was a forbidden union and he expected her to pull back.
He was surprised when she didn't resist but instead clung to him.

The storm raged on....
They knew it was wrong....
Their families would never understand... So consumed were they in their fear that they heard no opening of the doors.... just the faint click of a camera.......

This cracked me up.. I received it as an email :)
I hope you get a kick out of it too :)

So true so true!!!

Click photo to enlarge ;)

Ok I have to say it!!! I am a carding carry-ing... gun toting redneck gal... when I received this photo as an email I just had to share it with all of you. I got a great laugh from it.. but dang its true!! I could just see me doing that to one of those liberal sort of people :)
Makes me proud to be an American, where you can voice your opinions!
Now don't get me wrong some of my best friend's and family are very liberal.
But when is it time for us Americans to say when????