♥ Wishing you... ♥

♥ Hump Day Humor ♥

♥ Oh how cute...Apple jackets for National Apple Day! ♥

I found this online and HAD to share it with my readers!! I'm going to go looking for Mollie Makes magazine right now!!

photo from MOLLIE MAKES

FROM THE MOLLIE MAKES WEBSITE:

Go on, you know you want one – they might not be practical, but they're so irresistible! This is a very simple pattern from Mollie Makes using the most basic of crochet stitches. You don't even have to know how to decrease – just miss a stitch out where the pattern says so.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Cotton DK yarn
3.5mm crochet hook
Embroidery needle
Button

ABBREVIATIONS:

ch – chain
dc – double crochet
rep – repeat
sl st – slip stitch
st – stitch

WHAT TO DO:

Start with a slip knot. Work 4 chain, join to form a loop with a slip stitch into first chain.

Round 1: ch1, 9dc into central loop, sl st into 1st chain to close up the circle.

Round 2: Working in the round, 2dc into each subsequent stitch (approximately 18 sts).
Insert a contrast colour yarn marker (3cm length of yarn positioned horizontally between the last stitch and the first one of the next round) at this point, this will allow you to see when you have completed a 'round' and stops you from worrying about counting stitches.

Round 3: 1dc into each st

Round 4: *2dc into next st, 1dc into following st*, rep from * to * until you reach yarn marker.

Round 5: rep Round 3

Round 6: rep Round 4

Rounds 7-13: rep Round 3

When you reach the end of round 13, you need to begin working backwards and forwards rather than around and around. This will create the opening at the top of the cosy.

Round 14: ch1, turn the cosy and work in the opposite direction. 1dc into each st. Stop at the last stitch before the 1st chain.

Round 15: ch1, turn *1dc in to each of the following 10 stitches, skip one stitch (i.e., miss a stitch between your previous dc and next dc)*, rep * to * until you reach the end of the row – don't worry if there aren't 10 stitches in the final group.

Round 16: ch1, turn crochet, rep round 14

Round 17: ch1, turn *1dc in to each of the following 8 stitches, skip one stitch (i.e., miss a stitch between your previous dc and next dc)*, rep * to * until you reach the end of the row. When you arrive at the end of the row, ch12 and using a sl st join the last chain back to the main body of crochet to form a loop for the button. Cut the yarn and using an embroidery needle, work it into the back of the cosy. Sew the button to the cosy opposite the loop.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
About the designer

Sara Sinaguglia is a 30-something mother of two who runs a cookery school, has a Folksy shop, an Etsy shop and writes a blog. We're not sure how she has time to crochet apple cosies but we fell for them. Read her blog at: onechurchillsgreen.typepad.com

About Mollie Makes

Mollie Makes is a brand new craft magazine that focuses on contemporary fabric crafts, providing readers with inspiring projects from around the world. At Mollie Makes we enjoy making, collecting, crafting and thrifting. We love to hunt for bargains, spend way too much time on crafty blogs and are happiest meeting up with friends and working on the latest project we've got on the go. molliemakes.com

Special subscription offer for Guardian readers (offer ends 31st January 2012): Subscribe to Mollie Makes and save up 40%

Project first appeared in Mollie Makes magazine issue 1.

♥ From The Kitchen: Butternut Squash Soup ♥

For a lovely decorative autumnal touch, serve soup from a hollowed-out pumpkin tureen.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter
1 cup(s) chopped onion
2 1/2 pound(s) butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed (about 6 cups)
1/2 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and diced
3 cup(s) low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cup(s) apple cider
1/4 cup(s) apple brandy
1 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
1/2 teaspoon(s) chopped fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon(s) fresh-ground pepper

Directions:
1.Melt the butter in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the squash and apple and sauté for 5 more minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and bring the mixture to a boil.

2.Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until the squash is tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat.

3.In small batches, carefully puree the soup in a blender or food processor until very smooth. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Serves 8.


~~yummy recipe and photo from: Country Living Recipe~~

♥ Hump Day Humor ♥

♥ I'm back! ♥

I was temporarily out of service here. Not my computer, but just me in general. I think I was getting a bit burnt out on working, and blogging, and everything. :( But we just came back from a beautiful week in Tennessee and I feel much better now. I have lots to catch up on with my blogging and I feel inspired again to get busy with jewelry making!

♥ Tea on Tuesday: Chocolate Pumpkin Bread ♥

Ingredients:
3-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3 cups sugar
4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 eggs
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
2/3 cup water
2/3 cup canola oil
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients.

In another bowl, combine the eggs, pumpkin, water and oil; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Stir in chocolate chips and almonds.

Pour into two greased 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350° for 70-75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Wrap in foil and freeze for up to 3 months.

To use frozen bread: Thaw at room temperature.

Yield: 2 loaves (16 slices each).

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 slice) equals 242 calories, 10 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 27 mg cholesterol, 169 mg sodium, 37 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein.

~~Quick Cooking November/December 2005~~