Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Snow Day


Snow Day
Originally uploaded by whirledpeas00

It seems today is a Snow Day. Most schools are closed in our area. J diddn't have work today due to the snow. So I am making a angel food cake in honor of spring. (wishful thinking!)

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Making Kombucha


Making Kombucha
Originally uploaded by whirledpeas00

Once the sweet tea mixture is cool I am going to add 1/2 of the bottle of raw Kombucha. I found a bottle with a scoby in the bottom. So I plan to add that too. I will let you know what happens.
I will check in on it from time to time in the next 7 to 30 days to see what it looks like.

Making Kombucha


I began with making a tea with 3 quarts of water, 4 bags of black tea and 1 cup of sugar. It is cooling now awaiting the next step. Here is where I found the recipe.

Making Kombucha



Today is the day to start making my own Kombucha. I like to drink it but have never made my own. Last week I went to Bed Bath and Beyond with my 20% coupon and picked up this glass jar to start making my own Kombucha. I ran it thru the dishwasher before I began this process. I stopped by a local health food store to get some organtic sugar and black tea.

Cupcake Dotee Swap


My cupcake dotee came in the mail yesterday. She is so cute. Evelyn from Washington DC made her for me. Evelyn also has a knitting blog located here. I love her sweet face and the cupcake on her belly.

Cupcake Dotee Swap


Cupcake Dotee Swap
Originally uploaded by whirledpeas00

The cupcake dotee swap deadline was yesterday on swap-bot.
I made this calorie free cupcake for my partner. She went out in the mail yesterday along with a matching bag to put her in.

Modified Ditty Bags


Modified Ditty Bags
Originally uploaded by whirledpeas00

Here are the ditty bags I modified and put two handles on. I believe I added about 20 to 25 stitches on each side to make the handles. I spaced them evenly. They are lined as well. These are a bit bigger than the little ditty bags. I made the base of the bag bigger by two rounds and then came up the sides.

Ditty Bag Line Up


On Sunday I lined all the ditty bags I had around in my craft room.
It took a few hours to get them all lined. You can find the ditty bag pattern here.

The original photo of the pattern is no longer there but it is an easy to follow pattern. I think it takes about an hour and a half to make each bag. That is not counting embellishing or lining.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Bunny Dotee Swap



Today, this cute bunny dotee doll came in the mail from Delaware.
Jessica the girl who made the bunny dotee has her flicker pictures here if you would like to see more crafty things she makes.

I went and took a test today to work for the 2010 Census. I thought it was interesting that they said if you want a higher score you may go back and take the test as many times as you like. I got a 93% I may go back and try again if I have time next week. It was timed and I did not finish the last 5 questions. (those were the ones I missed)
I thought it was interesting that most people that were at the test were middle aged men. I will let you know if I hear anything back from them.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Irish Soda Bread


Irish Soda Bread
Originally uploaded by whirledpeas00

The recipe is on the following post. But, I believe I will make this one again it turned out well.

Irish Soda Bread


Irish Soda Bread
Originally uploaded by whirledpeas00

I went to a tea party last week and had an Irish Soda Bread. I have been unable to get the recipe from the lady who made it. I used to be a baker, so I thought I would try to make up my own version of it.
It came out really tasty.

3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup cake flour
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 Tablespoons butter + 1 Tablespoon melted brushed on top of finished bread
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cup of buttermilk
( I used closer to 1 1/4 cups of buttermilk so the dough just comes together)
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup cut up dried apricots
1/2 cup water boiling (I just used to soak the dried fruit in then I drained the fruit before adding to the recipe)

I put all of the dry ingredients together and mixed them with the 3 T of butter until course mixture. Then I added the dried fruit, soaked and drained along with enough of the buttermilk so it came together. I was careful not to overmix. Bake at 400 for 40 to 50 minutes. My oven runs hot so I baked it 40 minutes. I brushed on the 1 T of melted butter and then let it cool.
Yum!!!!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Little Ditty Bags


Little Ditty Bags
Originally uploaded by whirledpeas00

You could say this is my latest project. I have been making the ditty bags and working on lining them. It is just a perfect size to carry around an ipod and headphones with any cords you may need.
I gave a few away that I did not get photos of. I know I have made a lot of them recently. I have mostly been working on them at night while watching TV with my husband.

Bunny Dotee Swap


I joined a bunny dotee doll swap on Swap-bot.
Here is the bunny I sent out today, to Bonita in Texas. I will let you know when I get a bunny from the swap in the mail.