love.

Happy Valentine's Day.

So I married the guy who doesn't know the first thing about romance. But he loves me up, and I'm grateful for that.

I'm covered in sugar-coated toddler hugs and kisses, so I can't really complain.

Whoop-eee

My latest baking obsession: filled cookies. Why have a plain cookie when you can have TWO cookies filled with creamy deliciousness? The options are endless! These are Pumpkin Whoopie Pies. I hardly ever use a recipe as written, and after reading others' commentary I modified the recipe according to my tastes and they came out smashingly.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Ingredients
1 cup shortening
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tsp. maple syrup
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 cups canned cooked pumpkin
FILLING:
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 cup shortening
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon pumpkin
Directions
1.In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and brown sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and maple syrup. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices; add to creamed mixture alternately with pumpkin.

2.Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets; flatten slightly with the back of a spoon. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-11 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.

3.In a mixing bowl, cream shortening, confectioners' sugar, pumpkin and maple syrup with a dash of vanilla. Add evaporated milk 1/4 cup at a time and beat for 7 minutes or until fluffy. Spread on the bottom of half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies. Store in the refrigerator.

This is a modified recipe. The original recipe can be found here: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

 

Noelle helped of course, and was rewarded richly for her efforts:

whoopee, indeed.

Crispy Potatoes

Who doesn't love fried potatoes? This is how I make mine.

I made these last night and unfortunately they were gobbled up before I could take a picture of them...

Crispy Potato Pancakes

2 large baking potatoes
1 small onion or 1/2 large onion
1 tbl. cornstarch
2 eggs
salt and pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 stalk green onions (optional)
canola oil

Wash and peel potatoes. Place in a pot and cover with SALTED cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until fork tender. Remove immediately and place on paper towels or on a board to drain.

In a medium size bowl, grate the onion (large shreds) and when potatoes have cooled slightly, grate and add to the bowl. Add one egg and 1 egg white, cornstarch, and garlic powder and season to taste with salt  and pepper. Stir with a fork until well combined.

Heat 2 tbl. of oil in frying pan over medium heat (or at temperature for panfrying). Scoop potato mixture out using a tablespoon and flatten and spread slightly with back of spoon. Fry about 1 minute on each side or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on a rack or paper towels.

Garnish with chopped green onions. Enjoy!

Hats and Mitts

I figured I should get at least one post in before the month ends!

Newest resolution, try to write at least 3 posts a week. I know if I commit to "every day" it will become really old really fast. That's just me.

Just because I haven't been writing doesn't mean I haven't been knitting! the Warm Up to Winter KAL hosted by luvinthemommyhood and nook has given me a great excuse to dig into my yarn stash and go hat and mitt crazy:

 Camp Out Mitts

 Habitat

 Capucine

 Sucky thumb mitts

Bella's Mittens (inspired by Twilight...eek!)

Shannon from luvinthemommyhood also wrote a great cowl pattern, the Mallory Cowl, and I just had to whip one up. I ended up giving it away to a good friend, but here's a pic of its squishy goodness...

Mallory cowl

The KAL is for hats and mitts, but I've finished other scarves and cowls as well. Here are two of my favorites:

Noelle in the mini Stockholm Scarf

Rae

reboot

The holidays went by in a flash, and we had too much fun. The New Year has arrived, and I've made my resolutions.

love, trust, gratitude.

keywords to keep my head and heart out of the clouds where they so often drift to.

Still looking for a Key Verse to further anchor myself in Him for the New Year.

best pals.

Happy New Year everyone!

Yay!

I got second place in the Celebrate Color contest's Yarn category!

Super excited!

I've added a couple new women's hats to the shop, simple and wearable, with just enough interest:

The Hannah and the Sarah...hee hee.

Hannah Beret

Sarah Hat

Also, Shannon of Luvinthemommyhood's new pattern, Mallory, is sweet and simple, and I just had to make one as soon as I saw it! 

Noelle loves her squishy new cowl:

Celebrate Color - Granny Stripe Sweater

Granny squares had quite a presence in my childhood. Our house was positively covered in them; throw rugs on the floor, couch coverings and bed coverings. 

My grandma was the one who churned out these things in her sleep, it seemed, and she is the reason I learned and love to knit and crochet. She was like my second mother. Especially around the holidays and when I look at my children I wish she was here to share it all together with us. When we go home to my parents' house the rugs are still there on the floor and throws are still on some of the couches. It's a small but very warm reminder of her love and care for me and my family.

I wanted to create a colorful, granny inspired sweater for Noelle but it turned out to fit Ellie much better. It's top down, seamless, with a granny stripe bottom and buttons in the back. I used Wool-ease and I love the vintagey feel of the colors.

This is also my entry for Celebrate Color.