Sponge Toffee

Here is a different candy idea that is fun and easy to make and tastes great! It is like the inside of a Crunchie bar. The pieces could also be dipped in chocolate which would taste really good. There are lots of recipes on the web for this candy. Some include vinegar and others don't. I got my recipes here which doesn't use vinegar. Make sure you line your pan when making this with parchment otherwise you will have a difficult time removing it when it's done. Have fun!

Peppermint Bark

Nothing says the holidays like peppermint bark! All you need is white chocolate and candy canes. Unwrap and put candy canes into a Ziploc bag. Now take out all those mall-shopping frustrations and hit them with a wooden mallet, heavy pan, or a hammer until they are in small pieces. Try not to turn them into powder. Over a double boiler, melt white chocolate (the amount is up to you, it all depends on how much you want). Mix in peppermint pieces. I also add peppermint flavouring for a bit of extra flavour. Put a piece of parchment paper or a Silpat over a cookie sheet and pour chocolate onto it. Spread out using a spatula. You can top your bark with more peppermint pieces or use green melting chocolate and drizzle that on top. Put it in the freezer until it hardens (~15 minutes) then break into chunks. This is a simple recipe and can be adapted depending on the amount you want to make. This is a fun recipe to do with kids too because they can have fun breaking up the peppermints. Happy Holidays!

Mint Patties

This is a yummy peppermint recipe for the holidays. It comes from my Auntie Rita who makes them every year and I just had to have it because they are so good! You could probably cover them in chocolate too and it would taste really good or even try out some different flavours. These are really easy to make and just as easy to eat!

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups icing sugar
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp cream (or milk)
• 1-2 tsp peppermint extract to taste (I used a few drops of candy flavouring in mine)
• Red and Green food colouring

1. Mix all ingredients except food colouring until smooth and creamy. (Using your hands here works well)
2. Divide mixture in half and colour.
3. Roll into small balls and place on waxed paper. Flatten slightly with a fork. They should be about the size of a quarter.
   
4. Let dry for several hours. Store in an air tight container.

This makes about 50 patties. Enjoy!

Witches Fingers

Halloween just wouldn't be Halloween without edible oddities! And what is more spooky than eating creepy green witch fingers? Jagged sliced almonds for nails and red decorators gel for gooey nails makes these fingers extra appetizing. It is a simple and delicious recipe!

• 175mL Butter
• 160mL Sugar
• 2 Eggs
• 30mL Milk
• 5mL Almond Extract
• 625mL Flour
• 5mL Baking Powder
• 2mL Salt
  
• Green Food colouring (the gel kind gives a brighter colour)
• Almond slices
• Red decorating Gel

Dough:

1. Cream together butter and sugar in large mixing bowl.
2. Add eggs, milk, almond extract, and food colouring. Beat well until combined.
3. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Gradually add flour mixture into creamed mixture. Mix until well blended. (Note: The dough will be a bit sticky)
   
5. Divide dough into two balls, wrap, and chill for 2 hours or overnight.
   

Baking:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Roll about a tablespoon (15mL) of dough to form a 'finger'
3. Give finger two squeezes to form knuckles.
4. Using a knife, make small cuts into knuckles to make wrinkles.
5. Place sliced almonds on top of the end to form nails.
   
6. Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
7. Remove from cookie sheet and cool for 2-3 minutes. Remove almond nail and squeeze small amount of red decorator gel then replace almond.

[ squeeze to form knuckles, cut in wrinkles, and place almond as the nail]

A great way to serve these cookies is in a martini glass or bowl where the fingers can stick up out of. Enjoy!



*I made these in highschool in my cooking class so I don't have a source to cite them*

Crochet Monkey

In the spirit of amigurumi I decided to try and make a monkey. I couldn't find any good patterns (free ones) that I liked so I tested my pattern making skills! The head is made from a basic amigurumi ball which I started with the light yarn then moved into the dark yarn to create the face (In the future I would probably make a smaller half ball as the nose/face for more depth). The main body is made in the same way as the head but rather than 3 rounds of 30 stitches, I increased the number of rounds with 30 stitches to make the body longer. I then made a flat circle from the lighter yarn and stitched it ontop of the body to make the stomach. The arms and legs started with 5 sc in a ring then 2 sc in each of those around for 10 stitches. I repeated 10 st around until I got the length desired. The tail is only 5 sc in a ring then 1 sc in each stitch repeated. The face and belly button are made from embroidery thread and the ears (which are hard to see in the photo) are flat half circles that I stitched on later. Hopefully this makes some sense! If I ever make another one with some alterations I will be sure to post a pattern. For now anyway, enjoy!

Materials:
Brown Red Heart Yarn
Grey Vanna's Choice Yarn
Fibrefill
Black Embroidery Thread

Hot (or Cold) Artichoke Dip

This is such a yummy recipe from Best of Bridge you will want to make it all the time! You can get the recipe here. I've enjoyed it cold and hot and tastes great either way. This recipe is easy to multiply or half so its great for parties or just for a snack. It also keeps well in the fridge if you haven't baked it yet.

Mouse Cat Toy

This is a cute crochet mouse toy filled with catnip. It is a quick project and great for beginners. The stitch is tight so it is hard for cats to rip apart (at least mine hasn't so far!). I used Vanna's Choice yarn and a size G/6 hook. The pattern can be found here (you might have to register to get the pattern but its free and there are lots of other great patterns there too). This is a good pattern to start with if you are just starting with crochet amigurumi. Give it a try!

Tropical Salsa

Tropical salsa is a great summer recipe that captures the sweet and fresh flavours of summer. This salsa is quick and super delicious on tortilla chips, chicken, and white fish. The cilantro gives it a fresh taste, while the mango and pineapple provide sweetness. I grew yellow tomatoes this year and used them in this salsa along with red ones and it tastes great. You can eat this salsa warm or cool. Once cooled, it keeps well in the fridge for about two weeks. It can also be canned so you can enjoy it all year.

• 6 Medium Tomatoes
  
• 2-3 Cloves Garlic
• 1/2 Onion
• 3/4 Mango (frozen or fresh)
  
• 185 mL Pineapple
• 15-20 mL Fresh Cilantro (5 mL dried, only if you can't use fresh)
• 1 1/2 mL Salt
• 2-3 mL Chili Flakes
• 3/4 mL Cumin
• 15 mL Lime Juice
• 30 mL Cider Vinegar

Chop and seed the tomatoes. Chop onion, pineapple, mango, and cilantro; mince garlic. Put all ingredients into a pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Simmer for about 5 minutes. The salsa can then be canned (makes about 3 jars), served warm or cool.

This recipe is easily doubled and can be made as spicy or not spicy as you want by adjusting the amount of chili flakes. This is sure to become a favourite!

Fondant Covered Cake

For my boyfriend's 21st birthday I attempted doing a cake covered in fondant and am happy to report that it was a success! The cake is a simple chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream frosting between the two layers and as the crumb coat. I froze the two layers of cake as it helps to keep the crumbs on the cake instead of in your frosting. Thaw the cake then cover with a crumb coat (I used buttercream icing but you can also use jelly or jam). I used a pre-made fondant from a local cake decorating store which I coloured using gel food colouring from Wilton. I would not recommend the Wilton fondant because it doesn't taste very good. The tool box and tools are made from molded chocolate.

If you have not worked with fondant before, baking911.com is a good resource for steps on working with fondant. A good place to start working with fondant is to make smaller embellishments for your cake so that you can get used to rolling, cutting, and colouring. Good luck and have fun!

Grape Juice Jelly

There is nothing yummier than jelly on a scone. I found a simple recipe for grape juice jelly that only has three ingredients. If you are a beginner at jam/jelly making you should try this recipe it is very simple. Get the recipe and follow these instructions and process your jelly if you plan on storing it for a while. I also made this jelly with cranberry juice. It is a nice sweet and light jelly that goes great on toast, in a sandwich, and even over ice cream!

Yarn/Magazine Tote

Lately I have been doing a lot of crocheting and thought I need a spot to put all my yarn. So after searching I found a good template on Martha Stewart's website. The instructions were a little confusing so I would highly recommend watching the video because it clarifies a few things. My fabric is from Ikea and I love the retro/modern pattern. The yard sticks I got at michaels (but office depot has them cheaper) and the dowels are from Home Depot. Depending on how much your fabric costs, the project is only about $20 and takes a couple of hours to complete. The great thing about this project is that you can use it for yarn, magazines, towels or anything else you want to put in it. You could even make a big version with four yard sticks and turn it into a laundry hamper. Happy crafting!

Crochet Tam

I love those slouchy, peasant style hats and thought why not crochet one? So I found a pattern for a tam at crochetme.com and thought I would give it a try. I haven't crocheted for very long so as a beginner I think this pattern is pretty easy. It took me about two hours to make from start to finish. I used a 9.00mm (N) hook instead of the 8.00mm and got some chunky yarn from michaels. It is super soft and super comfy. Can't wait for the fall so I can wear it! It takes a while to get the hang of it but once you do crocheting is easy, don't get discouraged!

Here are some links if you are a beginner and want to try crocheting for yourself:
Basic Stitch
Double Crochet
Double Crochet Together
Crochet a Circle

Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried green tomatoes may be one of my favourite summer treats. I have to wait for them each year. In case you have not yet tried them, here is a simple recipe that you can make.

• Green Tomatoes (sliced)
• Vegetable Oil
  
• Flour
• 1 Egg beaten and mixed with a bit of water
• Bread Crumbs
• Coarse Salt

Bread your sliced green tomatoes (coat in flour, then egg and water, and finally bread crumbs). In a pan, heat enough oil to fully coat the bottom of the pan. Place eat slice of tomato into the hot oil and on a low heat allow them to fry. Make sure that your heat is low otherwise the tomato will burn. Let the tomatoes fry for a few minutes until they are golden, then using tongs, flip the tomatoes and fry until the other side is golden. This will only take a few minutes on each side. Once both sides are golden, place on a paper towel to soak up some of the excess oil and sprinkle coarse salt on the top. You can enjoy them like this or turn it into a super yummy fried green tomato sandwich. Put between two pieces of toast with mayo, fried onions, and lettuce (and if you like bacon you can put some of that in too) - hey, nobody said this was a healthy treat! This will surely make your taste buds smile!

Welcome!

Well I thought I would try out this blogging thing. I have come across so many cute craft ideas and yummy recipes along my internet travels that I thought I would share some with you. I'll find it, try it out and let you know how it goes! Hopefully I'll be able to get some stuff on here soon. Stay tuned for red pepper jelly, crochet tam hat (or slouchy type hat), and some other paper crafting goodies. Hope you like what you see!