Comments and a Flick

GR&DF I do thank you all for the kind words about my Alpha Piece and all the stuff in yesterdays post. I really did enjoy the stitching of "Alpha." It was very different than many of the things I have stitched in the past, but it is basically a sampler form with various little animals and designs. I had a great email asking what caused the break from my usual stitching subjects. Up until that email I hadn't really thought about it - I would guess that what it was is that I saw a finished piece and immediately became one obsessed with having to stitch the piece. I remember seeing the charts long before they where OOP and thinking that it was something I wouldn't be interested in doing, but after seeing the snap of the finished piece it all fell into place - but my biggest hurdle was the acquisition of the charts - they are of course OOP - and it was only with the help of other stitchers - loan of one, a gift of one and just dumb luck I found the third and final chart that I was able to stitch it up at all. It is too bad it is OOP as are all the Sheepish charts - as they are all really nice - and her samplers are just lovely. I am thinking about doing the Sarah E Pope sampler next - another OOP Sheepish chart that I had the good fortune to be given a copy by a dear stitching friend.

Oh well - enough of that - There where quite a few comments and emails for the Coffee Cake recipe - The basic recipe came from AllRecipes a great site for finding some tasty things. I took a basic recipe and made some changes - like I always do on everything... looks like a pattern in my life!!

Coffee Cake - Overnight

3/4 c Butter - soft
1 c Sugar
2 Eggs
2 c all-purpose Flour
1 teas Baking Soda
2 teas Nutmeg
1 teas Vanilla
1 teas Cinnamon
1 teas Ground Ginger
1/2 teas salt
1 c Sour Cream
-
1 c packed Brown Sugar
1 c chopped Pecans
1 teas cinnamon
-
1 1/2 c xxx Sugar
3 tlbs Milk

1 - In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift together flour, soda, spices and salt - add to the creamed mixture alternately with sour cream. This is a stiff batter. Pour into a well greased 9x13x2 in baking dish.

2- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, pecans and cinnamon, sprinkle over cake. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

3 - Remove from refrigerator about 30 mins before baking. Bake uncovered, at 350 degrees F for about 35-40 minuets or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack fro 10 mins. Combine xxx sugar and milk drizzle over warm coffee cake.

That is the recipe with my little additions. The original cake recipe only had a little nutmeg in the batter, but I love nutmeg and so I added lots more - and I really didn't measure since I grate my own from a nutmeg, but it was quite a bit more that the 1 teas called for. I also jazzed up the batter with other spices, but that's what I like. The other major addition was the topping - this is almost double what was called for in the original recipe. I also read in the comments in the original recipe that by drizzling the icing over the very warm cake that it will melt into the cake itself. I let the cake get very cool before I iced it -I also cut it up prior to icing since I wanted the icing to run down the sides of the pieces. I would watch the cake at about 30 mins as I found it getting done a bit quicker, but that could be my oven. A really nice recipe and it can be made the day ahead.

Jennifer asked about the Weller vase I found at an Estate sale. It is about 8 inches tall and pretty organic - I just liked the shape and it was very inexpensive.

Kelly mentioned about my name and this Blog being in print. Dear Coni over at Spinster Stitcher mentioned me in her column that she writes for Needlepoint Now - I did know of this honor and was completely flabbergasted that I was worthy. If you get a chance you should pop on over to Spinsters Blog - she has the best posts - she writes about her needlework and the adventures of her darling Stewey.

Last night I was working on Deb's RR piece and that is just bee-bopping along. The flicker for the evening was a "A Good Woman" - 2004 - starring Helen Hunt and Scarlett Johansson. A great little film adapted from the play by Oscar Wilde - "Lady Windermere's Fan." The film is beautifully shot in Italy and set in 1930. A fun flick with a twist. I enjoyed it immensely!!

There you go sports fans - another day another post! Thank you for stopping by and for the continued kind comments - I do appreciate them!! Do stop in tomorrow.

Take care,
edgar