Trying to Catch Up

I was able to get in some stitching this week but not as much as I would have liked because of doctor appointments and other errands. Virtuous Woman is coming along though no matter how slow.

My infusions are in full swing. I am at a new infusion center so it will take me a while to learn the layout of the place. I thought about a special start for this but I already have several things going so I decided to just take Virtuous Woman in and work on her during the infusion hours afterall, she is the same inspirational theme stitch that I like to work on during infusions.

I even made a start on Quaker Bluebirds. I think I will re-name it Quaker Redbirds hence the color change. I am using 18 count Aida Irish Cream by My Vintage Needlearts over at Etsy. The threads are Gentle Art Sampler in Mulberry. It's a small start but it gives you an idea of how the thread color will look on the fabric.

I also pulled out Pomegranate Santa by Plum Street Samplers over the weekend and started on it. I am using the called for threads and I am using Evergreen by Fiberlicious fabrics. Maybe I should get the nasties more often! After I feel better, I seem to get a good bit done! LOL

I fought the urge but I just could not contain myself! I ordered another BBD design with threads. Oh Joyous Day is just too drool worthy to pass up! Like Little Birds by BBD, it is out of stock at the moment but they will send it as soon as more arrive. I am fine with that!

Who doesn't love a pan of steaming hot cornbread? While it is still good and hot, I like to slice a piece, slather it with butter and drizzle some honey over it. After it cools off, I have my beloved glass of cornbread with cold milk! Something I have enjoyed since I was a child. It makes a great side or an even better snack!

Ingredients

• 2 cups self rising cornmeal mix not just plain cornmeal
• 2 eggs or 1 extra large egg
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil for the skillet if using cast iron
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk or regular milk Start with 1 cup of liquid if you are using regular milk and add the rest as necessary

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• If you are using cast iron, place the 1/4 cup oil in the bottom of a 9″ skillet and place over high heat on your stovetop while you make the batter.
• Pour the cornmeal into a bowl and add the oil, egg, and buttermilk.
• Mix until combined and drop a small amount into your skillet.
• If it sizzles immediately, go ahead and pour in your batter to within 1 inch of the top. If you want a thinner cornbread, just don’t pour in as much.
• Transfer the skillet from the stove top to the hot oven.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden and set.

Notes

If you are not using cast iron, grease your pan with nonstick cooking spray and do not preheat the pan. Bake as directed.

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

It's A Cobbler Kind of Day!

No stitching this week. All this up and down, back and forth weather has made a lot of people (including me) just feel cruddy!

 

I put aside a few hours and straightened up my little stitching corner. The Grumpy Ol Gazer helped by putting up a new wall lamp over my stitching chair! I even bought a new Hardwicke Manor Hoop. Not as big as the other but I still love it. Anytime I can find them at a good price, I am game!

 

Most of the family will leave my cast iron cookware alone. One day I noticed my beloved cast iron skillet was GONE! I searched the kitchen up and down. I even made the rounds asking each person if they knew anything about its disappearance. After a year had passed, I was cleaning out some lower seldom used cabinets and (low and behold) hidden way in the dark back corner was my skillet! I pulled it out to discover it had rusted over the unused time but no problem! I cleaned it up and re-seasoned it. It is now in full use again with strict rules that NO ONE (but me or the Grumpy Ol Gazer)  touches my cast iron for any reason!

 

When I went to the grocery store and saw berries out, I knew it was time to start making cobblers! It seemed only fitting that the recipe of the week should be a Cast Iron Blueberry Cobbler. No, you don't have to use Cast Iron to make this but I don't need a big excuse to use it! Talk about some good eating! Just remember that with any cobbler to have vanilla ice cream on hand!

 

Ingredients

 

1 cup flour 1/2 cup butter 1 1/2 cups oats 1 1/2 cups milk 1 cup sugar 2-3 cups blueberries (fresh) 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp vanilla extract & 1 tsp lemon extract

 

Preheat oven to 350. Place your stick of butter in the cast iron skillet or pan and allow to melt in oven while combining the rest of your ingredients.

 

(Optional) Place blueberries in a bowl and toss with sugar.

 

In another large bowl, combine the flour and baking powder. Then add the oats, sugar and milk.

 

Add vanilla and lemon extract. Stir all until combined.

 

Once the butter in skillet has melted, pour in the mixture and level out. Add your blueberries on top of mixture. I like to use 2 or more cups. If you did not sweeten your fruit, you can sprinkle a teaspoon of sugar over the berries.

 

Place skillet back in 350 oven and bake 40-50 minutes. I usually bake 45 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

 

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Shame on Me

I had another post written and ready to put up but things change. I am still working on Virtuous Woman. Just not as fast as I would like. It has been a busy week with doctors, errands and just feeling icky so I did not get as much stitching done as I had hoped.

I am still waiting on Little Birds by BBD to arrive with the thread pack. Oh, and the fabric. But I have everything set up to store it all in when it arrives.

Another new stitch will be Quaker Bluebirds by Willow House Samplings. I am not a big fan of Quaker designs but the birds on this piece won me over. Also, I have been wanting to do a solid red sampler for a while but was waiting to find the right one. This is it.

I seldom work on more than one piece at a time but for some reason, I changed it around this year. Several (or more) projects on rotation but in no particular order. Just whatever strikes my fancy to work on. I am playing around with the idea of making weekends, Christmas stitching. Nothing is written in stone so no pressure. It should be interesting to see what happens!

The recipe of the week is Shepard Pie. This is a quick fix but very filling! No need to make any sides other than some bread because all the veggies are in the pie! I use instant mashed potatoes because peeling the potatoes causes hand cramps!

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 medium onion chopped (roughly 1/2 cup)
• 1 garlic clove crushed or minced
• 3/4 cup tomato paste one 6-ounce can
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 cups beef broth
• 4 cups frozen mixed vegetables or about two 10 oz. packages frozen vegetable medley, thawed (carrots, peas, corn, and green beans)
• 1 pound white or russet potatoes peeled and cut into about 1 inch chunks
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese divided

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350°F and coat a 1.5 quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Peel and cut the potatoes into about 1 inch cubes, and place the potatoes and a pinch of salt into a pot of cold water.
• Cover, and bring to boil. Remove cover and boil for 10-12 minutes, until fork tender.
• While the potatoes are cooking, heat a skillet over medium heat.
• Add the ground beef, onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper to the skillet and cook, breaking up the meat, until it is browned. Drain any excess grease.
• Stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Add vegetables, bring to a simmer, and cook for 10-15 minutes or until thickened slightly. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• While the meat mixture is simmering, drain the potatoes and return to the pot.
• Add ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, Greek yogurt or sour cream, milk, and 1 teaspoon salt to the potatoes. With a potato masher or hand mixer, mash to desired consistency.
• Add the meat mixture to the prepared casserole dish, then top with the mashed potatoes and remaining cheese.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until heated through, and cheese and potatoes are slightly browned.

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Time for Birds

Hi. My name is Sherry and I am a stitchaholic! I love everything stitching related (patterns, fabrics, floss, stitching aids, hoops....) and I can't control the urge to get more and more! LOL. Whenever I say I am only going to stitch from stash, that is like adding adding fuel to the fire and I go on another binge! I am not complaining though because I enjoy it all so much!

Our yard is like a swamp because of all the rain we have had over the past several weeks! I am ready for the weather to clear up!

Here we are in a New Year. It usually takes me about a month to get used to writing a new year date when required.

I was going to post an update on Virtuous Woman this week but I am still behind where I would like to be on this but the holidays just kept me busier than I had anticipated plus I had to do some frogging, allergies and hand cramps always figure in several times a month or more. I was going to leave it be but upon examination, it made the whole piece look out of balance! So I frogged.

I hate to admit it but 2019 was a terrible year for my stitching! I did not have enough finishes to even mention a number! I plan to do a lot better this year! One thing that will help will be to clean up my little space!

For several years I have thought of doing a BAP that would take the entire year (or less) to stitch. Just something I could take my time with. I finally found what I have been looking for! Little Birds by Blackbird Designs. It is exclusive to The Attic Needleworks. The charts are on back order but I hope to get mine ASAP!

As for our cleaning binge, it is not going quite as fast as we had hopped but I feel if we can do at least 1 room done a week, I am happy.

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

2020