just helen

Blueberries For Breakfast

Just a couple weeks ago, I discover Pinterest...yes, I know.  That's me, slow but sure!   I have a sneaking suspicion that this could become a serious addiction...but what a great way to go!  It seems that some brilliant person/team figured out the perfect way for me to identify and store all those great ideas that I come across on the Internet, and better still, make it easy for me to share with friends!

One of the first things I came across on Pinterest was a pinned recipe for Buttermilk-Blueberry Breakfast Cake.  The pictures looked quite delicious and I had just purchased 4 pints of fresh blueberries - perfect!  My problem is that, unlike Alexandra , I rarely buy or use buttermilk in my cooking.  If I do, I use it for one recipe and then the rest goes to waste.  But here's another great thing about Pinterest...someone commented right after I "repinned" the photo that they had made the recipe and used yogurt and milk instead of buttermilk.  I just so happened to have plain yogurt!

With all the ingredients gathered, including some fresh lemons for zest from my friend's tree (thanks, Jenn!) I whipped some of this blueberry yumminess.

Here is where I changed the recipe.  When I started paying attention to the original recipe's ingredients, I noticed that it called for 1/2 cup of buttermilk.  I was doubling the recipe, so I would need to double that as well.  However, my friend had said something about using milk and yogurt with lemon juice.  I wasn't sure about proportions, so I went online to see about substitutions for buttermilk.  About.com said that you could use yogurt, volume for volume (equal amounts) for buttermilk.  So that's what I did.

Here's the recipe, originally from Alexandra's Kitchen.

Buttermilk-Blueberry Breakfast Cake

Serves 6 to 8

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

2 tsp. lemon zest or more - zest from 1 large lemon

7/8 cup sugar* + 1 tablespoon sugar** 

1 egg, room temperature

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. kosher salt

2 cups fresh blueberries

1/2 cup buttermilk (I used 1/2 cup plain yogurt)

*7/8 cup = 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons

**This tablespoon is for sprinkling on top (I used Tahitian Vanilla Sugar on top)

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Cream butter with lemon zest and 7/8 cup of the sugar until light and fluffy.

2.  Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined.  Meanqhile, toss the blueberries with 1/4 cup of flour, then whisk together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt.

3.  Add the flour mixture to the batter a little at a time, alternating with the buttermilk (or plain yogurt.  The batter was very thick...almost too thick.  I thought it might have to do with using the yogurt instead of the buttermilk.  It work out okay in the end...just be aware that it might seem a little like mortar.)  Fold in the blueberries.

4.  Grease a 9-inch square baking pan (or something similar) with butter or coat with non-stick spray.  Spread batter into pan.  Sprinkle batter with remaining tablespoon of sugar.  Bake for 35 minutes.  Check with a toothpick to see if done.  Alexandra said it might take as long as 10 minutes longer...mine took almost 15 more.  Let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Since I needed to go out running errands and was just waiting for the breakfast cake to get out of the oven to leave, when I finally got to taste it, it was barely warm.  But it was delicious even at room temperature and just as good when it was cold later in the day!

This is a keeper.  Who knows...one day I might even try it with buttermilk to see the difference!

Valentine Inchies

Oh...what a fun project this has turned out to be!  I can't believe that it's been so long since I last did inchies!  How quickly we get distracted by every new, fun endeavor!  I'm so glad that I found my way back.  Inchies are small in size, but they really pack a lot of punch into that small space.

I was working on cards using the 6"X6" Doodlebug Design Sweet Cakes pad recently and there were plenty of scraps to use and the colors are delicious, so I pulled these out. 

The key to making inchies easy is to start thinking small...everything must be small: small patterns, small stamps, small ribbon and small trim.  So I gathered my smallest Paper Shapers, especially hearts and flowers; square punches 1" and smaller; trim, baker's twine, mini brads and tiny buttons; and don't forget the regular adhesives, inks and some iridescent Stickles.

With my little pile pulled together, I was ready to do the tiny deed.

Four alphabet letters are plenty of design for this card!  But then I couldn't stop, so I just kept making the little inchies, but this time I made some some gift tags and enclosures.

and some cards...

...yes, it's one of those spiral wrapped flowers, starting with a 1 1/2" circle.

And one more tag...

Anyway, these were certainly fun!  I will have to revisit these sooner this time.  Try making some inchies...I think you will find them addicting!

Inch By Inch

Last week I got a box of artwork that I had done ages ago, and I found this cute Inchies Alphabet. I remember doing them, but it was so long ago that I had forgotten about the whole process of making individual square inch pieces of art. It was so fun that I did three sets at the same time...one for me and two for someone else. My friend was working on three sets at the same time as well, but...she didn't get hers done, so I'm holding hers hostage...for several years now! So here it is, almost Valentine's Day and I think Valentine Inchies are a good project...for tomorrow!  So for now, I'm sharing the "old" project!

The tiniest "twine" is Perle Coton from DMC...have I ever mentioned how much I love that floss?  Inking the edges adds a little extra definition.  I also used some Paper Frills from Doodlebug Design.  Punching the edges of the paper is an easy way to embellish it even better.

See?  They really are just an inch in size!  It's so great because there isn't a lot of commitment.  The reason that I did three was because it really didn't take much more time.  The time consuming part is the design.

There really isn't a definitive process - it's just a matter of starting with the 1" base square and make layers.  It helps to use a 6" X 6" Mini-Pad - this one is from Basic Grey (forever ago) called Urban Prairie.  I still just adore that line!  My small Paper Shapers are the perfect size to add small shapes, like hearts and flowers .

Oh...and before I forget, I need to announce the winner of the twine giveaway - Congratulations to Lyndsay B!  Leave me a comment with your address (I won't post the comment), and I will get that out to you tomorrow!

So until tomorrow, here's to sweet dreams of Valentine Inchies!

My Heart's Not In It

Once again, I have been missing...but I am definitely still in action!  I never think after a post, "Perhaps I won't post again for a week or two".  I get up in the morning and have the best intentions, but alas - before I know it, its time to start dinner and the daylight is gone!
It is not for lack of material for the blog.  There are times when I have so many ideas rolling around in my head that I start a number of different projects at the same time, just so I don't forget what I want to do!  You should see my work table...maybe that's not a good idea!  The hope is that I will eventually remember the direction I wanted to go when I get back to work.  Yes...its another one of those "life getting in the way" times in my life.  It's not good or bad, just the way it is.  The bad news is that I haven't posted for a while.  The good news?  Now there are lots of things to post about and for.  With that said, on with one of my ideas.

Last week, I stopped by Walmart and came across some Campfire Strawberry and Vanilla flavored heart marshmallows.  I wasn't quite sure what I would do with them, but hey...Valentine's Day is coming.  I just couldn't pass up heart marshmallows!  At least they would look cute in hot chocolate!  But once home, I figured out what to do for a yummy, easy Valentine treat.

Besides the marshmallows, you will need these, or similar supplies:

Candy melts (my choice...Guittard Apeels), candy sprinkles, 6" lollipop sticks, treat bags and baker's twine or ribbon.  I lined my cookie sheets with parchment paper to work on. 

First, take a stick and gently push it into the bottom of the heart marshmallow.  Prepare as many of the hearts as you want to dip. 

Next, you will melt the coating.  Do one color/flavor at a time.  I must say that I have really come to love working with Guittard's Apeels.  They taste yummy, melt smoothly and they dry (set-up) quickly. 

Put about 1/2 pound of the candy melt in bowl or wide-mouth jar.  Make sure the bowl is dry and clean.  Put in the microwave and melt for 30 seconds; stir the candy and repeat for 20 seconds, repeating again if neccessary, 10 seconds at a time.  You don't want to overheat the candy melts, but it needs to be fairly runny to coat the marshmallow and have a smooth finish.

Dip the marshmallow into the melted Apeels.  You might need a spoon to drizzle it all over the heart, especially when you get closer to the bottom of the bowl.  Place on the parchment paper to let set.  If the candy starts to set up in the bowl, put it back into the microwave for about 10 seconds, stirring until smooth; keep dipping.  The nice thing is that if you need to walk away from your project, you can remelt the candy later.  Just keep the candy covered.

If you want to add little candies to the top of your dipped heart, sprinkle them right after you dip, otherwise the sprinkles will fall right off. 

You will be able to tell when the candy has set.  If you gently lift the pop up and it comes right off the parchment, it is probably ready to bag.  The bags I had were a little long, so I used my scalloped Fiskars scissors to trim away a bit of the bottom.  Tie up with ribbon or bakers twine.

I thought I would prefer the marshmallow dipped in the dark chocolate Apeels, but the red is vanilla flavored and really delicious.  Make a bunch and they are ready for a party or a bouquet.

Don't these look good enough to eat?  Well, they are!  One bag of marshmallows has 36 plus pieces (Walmart,$1.25).  One pound of the Apeels ($5.00 at my cake decorating shop, but it's cheaper in bulk) will cover at least that many hearts.  I used coupons at Michaels for the lollipop sticks and treat bags, so both were about $5.00 for 100 count; baker's twine isn't too expensive and I have it by the spool...love it! 

I have to admit - these are super easy to make, delicious to the taste and definitely eye candy!  Rush to Walmart asap and get yourself a bag of these marshmallows before they disappear!  But before you go, I have a quick little giveaway.  I have been using a lot of baker's twine, and I have five different colors of reds and pinks. 

I think I should share.  Leave a comment and I will pick a winner Monday night and announce it Tuesday morning.  Good luck and have fun with your "loverly" preparations!

 

Love, Love Me Deux

That's right...part deux... or, er, two!  I'm back to my desktop to finish posting more of the cards from the My Mind's Eye "Love Me" 6"X6" paper pad.  There is still more than half the pad left, so there might be a part three on the horizon!

Pinks, reds and grey, with accents of turquoise compliment the touches of lace and traditional hearts.  The line is not overly feminine, but romantic all the same and I found it was very easy to work with.  I didn't need to do a lot of "mixing" with products from other companies, but when I did, the colors were easy to transition with other palates.

 I love twine.  I have a hard time restraining myself from using it.  Frequently it involves tying it around the card; other times, it's in a bow.  I even got ambitious and crocheted with it.  I think it has taken the place of ribbon on all my cards...next thing you know, I will chopping buttons from the supply list - wait...never!  Anyway, I try to interject different applications simply for the sake of making it different. 

Before you think I cut out all those little pieces, let me just say that I kind of took a shortcut...

I cut right along the top of one of the rows, and then let the cutting begin.  It took a few minutes, but wasn't too bad.  The twine across the top was easy and the message simple.  If you haven't noticed, I've been trying to use up some of my old Making Memories "Tiny Alphas", but alas - or good luck, depending on how you look at it - I still have a ton of letters!

"Love" is a simple saying, but can be directed either to a romantic theme or something more general.  Ranger's Glossy Accents were added to the letters and let dry ( on a sheet of plastic) prior to adhering them to the card.  The hearts were cut out and mounted with foam mounting tape.

The letters curled a little while drying, and when I went to straighten them, they cracked.  It's all good!  I like the distressed look!

I think that the last card today is my favorite, mostly because I added a strong accent color to the palate...and I got to use a "Stickies" from the K&Co. Smash Collection.

I do love the fabric tape - this one by Liantuo.  I keep thinking that  I need to make my own!

Love that Doodlebug Design red flower button and the Mollettine Creative Peg (clothes pin with a heart) from The Container Store.  Don't forget the inside!

I know, it's a corny message...but isn't that a good thing at Valentine's Day?  On to tomorrow's  project.  A little recycling of an old item will make it like new...and fun, too!