This Little Guy Needs a Name

I made this nameless guy after spying something similar here. The beauty of this little guy is that you don't have to be a seamstress to do this. It's just a few straight lines.

Materials:

1/4 Yard+ Soft material (I used a blue gray flannel)

Two buttons, preferably not exactly alike

Coordinating fabric scrap

Black yarn

Embroidery thread

Polyester fill

Sewing Needle

thread or sewing machine

Step 1: Double over the fabric and cut out a rough monster shape.

Step 2: Using black yarn, sew on a mouth on the right side of one piece of fabric.

Step 3: Cut out a circle larger than the button. Sew button and circle onto monster. Sew on other eye. Use yarn for both.

Step 3: Turn fabric so right sides are facing each other (you want the "good" sides facing each other. (Optional - pin fabric together around edges. I did not.)

Step 4: Using either a sewing machine or do so by hand, sew around the outside of the monster, making sure to leave a space large enough for you hand to fit through. I left the space at the top.

Step 5: Trim corners, making sure not to clip sewn thread. The clipped corners will allow you to turn the corners rightside out easier.

Step 6: Turn your monster right side out. Use a capped pen or corner turner to help push the corners out,.

Step 7: Stuff him, making sure to use small amounts of fill to stuff the arms and the legs.

Step 8: Using embroidery thread, stitch the hole up. I chose to stitch all teh way across the top (making sure to not make it too good looking). This made the hand-stitched area look kind of like hair. I also didn't have to worry about making the seam perfect.

Step 9: Using a needle and embroidery thread, thread 3"ish long pieces of thread through the top of the monster (half of the thread on each side). Double knot the thread. Continue at random intervals across the top of the monster. Now you have hair!

Step 10: Name him (I still have to complete this step)

Moose Tracks:

I'll be making another one of these very shortly. I intend to make it a girl by adding a bow and using a heart shape for the backing of the eye. As long as the fabric is soft, it'll be perfect. Don't worry.

Oh - sorry about the sideways pictures. I'm pretty sure blogger hates me.

Fall Argyle Wreath

This bad boy I made for my front door. It's inspired by about seventeen million different wreaths pinned on Pinterest. Go search for "wreath" and you'll see what I mean. It's why I can't source just one. There isn't just one.

Materials:

3 sheets green felt

1/2 sheet purple and yellow

Gray yarn

Foam wreath

Fall decorations

Gel glue

Pretend the picture above has all green felt (I used the brown in a pinch - I only had two sheets of green)

Step 1: Cute each sheet of green felt in half (the long way). The cut each half into 1.5"ish strips (the short way)

Step 2: Glue the strips to the wreath, overlapping slightly.

Step 3: Cut the purple and yellow felt in half (long ways). Then cut each half into quarters. You should end up with 8 small rectangles for each color.

Step 4: Cut diamonds from each rectangle (fold in half twice over. Cut off the corner. Ta-da - a diamond.)

Step 5: Glue diamonds to wreath, alternating colors and overlapping tips slightly.

Step 6: Wrap the yarn at an angle in one direction (clockwise) until you get back to where you started. Tie off yarn underneath. Repeat in the opposite direction (counter-clockwise).

Step 7: Glue fall decoration over the area you like the least (like if you had to use brown felt when you ran out of green felt.)

Step 8: Hang!

Moose Tracks:

I kind of liked the color blocking I unintentionally created with the brown felt Perhaps I'll make one for Christmas that's color blocked Christmas colors. Seems fun.

If you're hanging this outside, I'd suggest backing the wreath with a donut of cardboard or some coordinating/matching felt.

I haven't done so yet, but I fully intend to line the edge of the wreath (where the felt end and the back of the wreath begins) with a length of brown ribbon. All the way around. It might be cute.

High Altitude Candy-making Conversion

I live about a mile up (not the Mile High City), which means everything boils sooner, the air is thinner, and ski resorts are only a few miles away. So, in order to create delectable candies, you have to do a little converting of the recipe. The table gives you both the stage name and the temperature range. However you choose to do it, keep an keep on your boiling sugar.

Happy candy making!

		Candy Thermometer Readings for:
Type	Stage	2000ft	5000ft	7500ft
Creams, Fudges, Fondants	Soft Ball	230°-236°	224°-230°	219°-225°
Caramels	Firm Ball	238°-244°	232°-238.5°	227°-233°
Divinities, Taffies, Caramel Popcorn	Hard Ball	246°-264°	240°-258°	235°-253°
Butterscotch, English Toffies	Soft Crack	266°-286°	260°-286°	255°-275°
Brittles	Hard Crack	296°-306°	290°-300°	285°-295°

Healthy Turkey Meatball Stoup

When the weather starts to turn, I always make up a pot of Meatball Stoup. The word stoup (stolen from Rachel Ray) is a cross between and soup and a stew. The basic recipe is from Seinfeld's wife. The beauty of this sucker is the veggies snuck in. And, instead of bothering to cook and then puree my own veggies, I simply use baby food. yeah, you heard me. Baby food. Get the good stuff (like Gerber) that's literally just pureed veggies. The Stage 1 tubs come in 1/4 C. increments already. No measuring. Easy peasy.

Healthy Meatball Stoup

1Tbsp Olive Oil

1 sm onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 sm zucchini, chopped

1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes

1/4 C (1 tub) pureed carrots

1 1/2 tsp. salt

3 C reduced sodium beef or chicken broth

3-4 oz whole wheat pasta shapes (bowtie, wagon wheels, small shells, etc)

3 slices whole wheat bread, cubed

1 lg egg

1/4 C (1 tub) sweet potato puree

1/4 C nonfat milk

2 Tbsp grated parmesean

1/4 tsp pepper and paprika, each

1/2 lb ground turkey

In medium bowl, mix together egg, sweet potato puree, milk, Parmesean, pepper and paprika together. Stir in cubed bread. Let set for 5-10 minutes (while you chop vegetables or start the first step in the cooking process.)

Stir mixture into paste. By hand, mix in turkey.

Form into mall meatballs. I use a 1tsp cookie dough scoop at first. When I actually put teh meatballs into the soup I break each mound in half to form tiny meatballs. Meatball size is totally up to you.
In large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium. Add in onion and garlic. Cook until onion is softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add in zucchini.

In blender, puree the tomatoes (with juice) and carrot puree. Add to pot, along with salt and broth.

Let simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Add meatballs to the pot, one at a time. Make sure to put the meatballs in different places along the bottom of the pot.

Let simmer for two or three minutes before stirring (to set the meatballs).

Add in pasta. let simmer until pasta is soft (follow package directions).

(Optional) Sprinkle more Parmesean on the top.

Moose Tracks:

Seriously - baby food rocks for things like this.

Add in other vegetable as you see fit.

I serve this with bread and butter. It kind of takes away from the healthy aspects of the soup, but who cares.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Molasses Cookies

I developed this recipe from a bunch of different molasses cookie recipes. It's not nearly as pumpkin-y as I'd like, but it's yummy nonetheless.

Pumpkin Molasses Cookies

Ingredients:

2 1/3 C. flour

2 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg, ground

½ tsp cloves, ground

½ tsp ginger, ground

½ tsp rum extract

¼ tsp black pepper

1 tsp orange peel

½ C. butter, room temperature

1 C. brown sugar, packed

¼ C. molasses

2/3 C. pumpkin puree

1 large egg

½ C. sugar, for rolling

Directions

1. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and pepper. Set aside.

2. Cream butter until smooth and creamy. Add the brown sugar, molasses, and pumpkin puree. Mix thoroughly. Add egg. Slowly add in the dry ingredients. You will have a very soft dough.

3. Cover dough with plastic wrap (or Tupperware-type lid.) Freeze for at least 30 minutes, or refrigerate for at least 1 hour. The dough is sticky, so the longer time it can chill the easier it is to work with.

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

5. Put the sugar in a small bowl. Roll dough into walnut-sized balles. Roll the balls in the sugar and use a the bottom of a glass to press down on the cookies until they are between ¼ to ½ inch thick. Transfer to cookie sheets. Do not over crowd.

6. Bake the cookies one sheet at a time for 12-14 minutes, or until the top feels set to the touch. Remove baking sheets from the oven. Let cookies cool 5 minutes on the sheets before transferring them to a cooling rack.

Moose Tracks:

-It seems like I only take pics when I'm using aluminium foil. It's my backup for when my silpats are otherwise occupied. Weird.

-For a festive touch, I mixed in orange-colored sugar with the rolling sugar. It's the same kind I'd use to sprinkle on cupcakes or whatever.

-Next time I'm going to add some orange zest to the sugar mixture, I think.

Spiderweb Wreath

Every year I make at least three of these - One for my front door, and two to give away. They take all of 90 minutes (max) and are pretty easy on the concentration (I typically make them while watching TV).

Materials:

Embroidery Hoop (I usually purchase wood, but used a blue on for contrast in the pics)

Black Yarn (The pic above has "fuzzy" yarn for the swirl)

Fabric in fun Halloween colors - tulle, quilting fabrics, etc

Small decorative spider (totally optional)

Step 1: Take the outer ring off the embroidery hoop. You'll use it later.

Step 2: Tie black yarn across the inside hoop to create "pie slices." This is the web.

Step 3: Take a long length of yarn and cut it off the skein. You'll need a smaller yarn ball to do the swirl.

Step 4: Starting at the middle, tie the yarn around the web intersection.

Step 5: In a swirl pattern, start looping the yarn around the existing web.

My looping technique.

Step 6: Continue looping yarn around until you reach the embroidery hoop.

Step 7: Tie the yarn off on the hoop.

Step 8: Reattach the outer hoop. Tighten the thumb screw.

Step 9: Cut off the ends of the yarn. The embroidery hoop will help hold the knot and a bit of extra yarn in place.

Step 10: Rip, snip, pink or shred the fabric into ~1" strips (1" by at least 6")

Step 11: Using any pattern of color you wish, start tying the fabric strips around the hoop, making sure to keep the fabric ties close together.

Step 12: Continue until the whole wreath has fabric around the outside.

Step 13: Fluff fabric so it uniformly sticks out from the wreath. Trim fabric in any manner that appeals to you.

Step 14 (optional): Trim fabric ends into any shape that appeals to you (I never do this). Glue on cute spider decoration. Add hanging ribbon (the htumbscrew area of the outer hoop is a great place to hang the ribbon)

Moose Tracks:

- If I'm shipping the wreath I've been known to glue the outer ring to the inner one - just for warm fuzzies.

- I've used every manner of fabric available. I've cut it super short, I've left it super long. I've even used ribbon instead of fabric strips. I've used printed fabric )think pumpkins and witches hats), I've used plain. I've used tulle and even brocade (not my recommendation on that last one.) They've all turned out cute. Go with what works for you!

- The more homespun and crafty the fabric strips are (read - not even and definitely hairing), the more charm these wreaths seem to have. So don't fuss too much.

- I usually end up buying fat quarters for this if I'm doing the quilting fabrics.

- I never put the spider on my own wreaths. I always add the spider when I'm giving it as a gift.

Apple Cider Caramels

Sometimes things just don't work out the first time. Or the second. Or the third. But, after you try a 4th time (after many modifications and scientific study) they work out just like you expected. This might be my experience with apple cider caramels. Maybe.

The recipe I started with is here. It's likely a good base recipe at sea level. But, as is always the case, things are different when you live a mile or so above the sea. Humidity matters more, sugar content matters more, and temperatures are critical. So, through much trial and error, I modified the recipe to make it work. What I have listed below is how I made it. Down in the Moose Tracks section I have info on the proper temperatures if you're not sitting pretty at 7k ft in elevation.

Apple Cider Caramels

2 cup high-quality apple cider
1 cup heavy cream or whipping cream, divided
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup real butter, cubed, divided

- Boil cider in a medium saucepan for about 20 minutes or until the cider is reduced to 1/3 c.

- Line an 8" square pan with aluminum foil (or parchment paper), making sure to leave about 1" hanging over the edges for easy removal. Coat with a spritz of oil spray (I like olive oil or canola oil)
- In a small bowl, combine 2/3 c. cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and reduced apple cider. Set aside.

- In a large, heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, 1/3 c. whipping cream + enough water to reach the 1/2 c. line on the measuring cup, and corn syrup. Cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Insert the candy thermometer and simmer until the syrup reaches 219 degrees.
- Remove from heat and slowly whisk in the cream mixture. Add the three-quarters of the cubed butter and stir until the cream and butter are fully incorporated. Return the pan to heat and re-insert the candy thermometer. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until the temperature reaches 227 degrees.

- Remove from heat and whisk in remaining butter until the butter melts and in incorporated.

- Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Let set at least two hours or until cool.

- Remove caramels from pan and cut into 1" squares (or smaller). Wrap each caramel in wax paper.

Moose Tracks:
- Sea Level temperatures: 1st boil - 234 degrees, 2nd boil - 248
- In the fall some grocery stores or specialty stores often carry reduced apple cider. It's easier to use that, if you can find it and you're lazy. Otherwise just reduce some good apple cider. It's easy, but time consuming. I made a point of reducing a whole bottle by simmering it for about 15 minutes.
- Do not boil this stuff too long. For me, up in the mountains, it's a matter of a half a degree before I have something too hard to eat.
- Again, I over-spice these bad boys. Some recipes can't handle extra cinnamon or allspice or cloves or nutmeg or whatever. This isn't one of them So don't feel like you need to be precise on those measurements.
- The original recipe required the butter to all be added in before the 2nd boil. I had better luck by saving a bit of butter until the end. By doing so, I essentially quenched the molten sugar mixture so it didn't continue to cook longer than I wished it to. It resulted in caramels that had a slightly oily feel to them, but they get that just from the aluminum foil or parchment paper sprayed with oil anyhow. And it was the only way to save my caramels from getting too hard.

Pirate Party!

You're invited to a pirate-themed 4th Birthday party.

Captain Moosie hopes you enjoy the party as much as he did!

The Food:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip (recipe here), served with graham crackers and animal crackers.

Cupcakes (boxed mix, canned frosting, decorations from etsy)

Octopus Crack Dip served with tortilla chips.

Just after this pic was taken I added a few goldfish to the dish. Made it seem much more sea-like.

Treasure chest full of juice boxes and water bottles. Water bottles were pirated-up by wrapping Skull-themed Duct Tape around the label. Duct tape is water proof. It works well in the ice chest.

The Swag:

Favor boxes, pirate gear and pinata contents courtesy of Oriental Trading. Each child received a pirate hat, an eye patch, and a treasure chest box full of booty.

Decorations:

Pirate Code of Conduct printed on burlap. (Burlap instructions here)

Table centerpiece: $5 wood model kit of ship from Micheals Crafts (took a few days for Mr Moose to put together. Might want to start the week before)

Pinata: Purchased from local party store. Stuffed with goodies from Oriental Trading Company.

Balloons: Helium doesn't do so well at high altitudes. Stringing balloons on fishing wire was the perfect solution. Originally learned of the idea here. I used five different colors of balloons. A 15 pack of single-color balloons can be purchased at some place like Walmart for less than a buck.

Outside decorations: A Jolly Roger (Pirate Flag) from Oriental Trading.

Not shown/easily seen:

I love to cover my eating/serving areas with some sort of table covering. The dining table was covered with two different paper tablecloths. The brighter color tablecloth I placed on the table as is. The darker of the two I tore the edges off and hand tore holes throughout the table cloth. Then I place it at an angle over the first. It gave the appearance of old cloth without actually being so.

On the kitchen island, where I served all the food, I placed a yard of burlap draped across the countertop. I didn't worry too much about wrinkles and folds. To fill in the rest of the space I purchased cheap Halloween decorations. I used black "scary" fabric (open-weave fabric with pre-made holes and tears - typically used to cover doors) on either side of the burlap. The effect was pirate-like cloth across the whole serving area.

In each cardboard treasure chest (party favor boxes), I rolled up a do it yourself pirate ship project sheet and a watercolor pirate-themed page for the child to paint (the kind where the paint's already on the page and the child just dips a paintbrush or q-tip in water to paint.

The party went off without a hitch, and the kids had a blast. I was even able to skimp out on the cleaning and claim the dust was part of the decorations. Score!

Moose Dropping

Tomorrow is Toddler Moose's 4th birthday. And the day after is his pirate party. In preparation of that, I haven't done a darn thing craft or baking-wise. But rest assured - I'll be back to it soon. Life just gets in the way sometimes.

Things you can look forward to (and hold me to):

A Halloween Spider Web Wreath

Pirate Party Pictures

A Monster

A Lego Minifigures Display Shelf (for my work office!)

More food (candies, cookies, the whole nine yards)

Super Hero costume accessories (or, as I like to call it "The Lazy-girl's superhero costume")

and possibly even another dinosaur costume. Perhaps one that does require sewing.

Random update on my snail mail: The recipient has named him Escargot and given him an appropriately French mustache. He resides at her work desk and brightens her day whenever possible.

Grown Up Grilled Cheese

I love a good Caprese Salad. The flavors are perfect to me. So, when I'm looking for new sorts of lunch-ish foods to make, I often consider what I can do with those same three ingredients. Well, this one turned out perfectly.

Caprese Grilled Cheese

2 slices sandwich bread

2 slices mozzarella cheese

1 tomato, sliced thin

basil (or pesto, if you have it)

butter

Place 1 piece of mozz on each slice of bread. Layer tomato slices in an even layer on one piece of mozz. Then sprinkle with basil strips (basil cut into thin strips.) Place sandwich halves together, sandwiching the cheese. Spread butter on the top of the bread.

Place bread butter-side down in a pre-heated skillet over medium heat. Let cook. Don't cheat and flip early. While the bottom is cooking, spread butter on the other slice of bread. Once browned, flip the sandwich over and brown the remaining side.

Enjoy.

Moose Tracks:

Grilled cheese sandwiches aren't fast food. Grilled cheese should take 15-20 minuets to cook. You want the bread to toast (fry in butter - whatever), and the cheese in between to melt evenly. High heat won't get you there.

Dips. I've always dipped my grilled cheese sandwiches. Good ol' Velveeta and bread always got the ketchup treatment. But my grown-up grilled cheese is a little too fancy for that. So, I used some balsamic vinaigrette reduction to dip into. Or, you could use some balsamic dressing. Heck - get a little crazy and paint some balsamic dressing on the bread before adding the cheese.

If you prefer pesto to basil, just use it like a sandwich spread. Basil, cheese, tomato, cheese, basil. Easy-peasy.