Apples, Apples, and more Apples

No doubt, its time to either get your Orchard time in or figure out what to do with all the apples you picked over the weekend, right? I was thinking about more than just crisps and pies this year and wanted to share what came up with.

The first one is a bit off beat,but its a wonderful school-hood memory for me. I was lucky enough to have my favorite teacher twice, as she switched grades. Ms. Abraham was this quirky lady who wore too much mascara, and was tough on us, but I loved her just the same. She had our class do this "creative writing project" that centered around...check this - Apple Head Dolls. Not heard of them? They are an old Americana craft, believed to go back to early Indian tribes.

I was going to try my hand at a tutorial, but I found a great resource and instruction site:
Apple Dolls. Org. This should at least give you ideas, should you want to try it.

Next, I found the new recipe that I am most interested in trying, its simple so it wins:

Baked Apples with Mexican Chocolate - and its Martha, of course. ( It's Halloween, so I am pretty much devouring her site right now. There is this soo cool Jelly Fish costume....I digress...)

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 2 medium apples
• 5 large marshmallows, 1 quartered, 4 halved crosswise
• 1 ounce Mexican chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Halve each apple lengthwise. Using a melon baller or grapefruit spoon, scoop out seeds, forming a small crater in center of each half.
2. Fill each crater with 1 marshmallow quarter and 1/4 of the chocolate. Cut 2 tablespoons butter into small pieces, and divide among apples, placing over chocolate.
3. Place water and remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a baking dish. Place filled apples in dish. Bake until a paring knife inserted into apples meets no resistance, 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Set oven to broil. Top each apple half with 2 marshmallow halves. Broil until golden brown. Drizzle with juices.

Helpful Hint

Cooking times for different types of apples vary; begin checking for doneness after 20 minutes.

PS. Mexican chocolate is that round, individually wrapped package that says drink mix or hot chocolate on it. It smells amazing!( I know Whole Foods has it.)

**Please email let me know if you have any really awesome apple recipes or crafts to share, as my son has the day off from school tomorrow - and guess where we are going?

Happy Monday, Jennifer :)

A Moment in Time

I used to go to parties, I used to be more social. I used to think myself clever and try to eek more interesting conversation out of people by asking them funny or probing questions. Now, it seems that I spend a lot of time alone and just have myself to ask all these things of.

My questions now are more visceral, and evoke emotions that I have to find ways to explain.
I am guessing this is good for an artist,but I am a crafter, I make with the cute,not the deep! This has come to pass where, when I meet new people, I am looking at them to see if they are on my wave length or not.....when did this happen? When did I start caring about wave lengths?

I am too young to go on one of those self discovery journeys! I believe we can create ourselves as we go along, shape and reshape as needed. Right? I hope so. I hope that I can truly learn to appreciate the very small moments in life, take them into my current shape and let them relax me when I need it most. This universe is filled with moments, blink and they are gone.

So, to try and get out of my own head so much and feel more a part of the big picture, I vowed to connect with one sweet "moment in time" each day. My version of a take five, a mental break form chores and stress. Lets hope it works.

I wanted to share this one, because its just as nice and simple as it gets. When I was little, around three, we lived in Tennessee, and one of my first memories was of the Morning Glories we had outside the house. I loved those flowers so much.
This year, in my first new house, I wanted to plant some, as the people before me left their trellis.
I do NOT have a green thumb, let me say. I bought pre started morning glories and they all kinda died before Spring had sprung. I had one funny little straggler left, I popped him in there anyway. I never expected anything of him, so perhaps that was why he chose to give me this gift, and just in time for my birthday....my one little friend, who peeked into my bathroom window to say hello.
Expect nothing and sometimes you get everything.

I need to hold on tho this thought.

stART on the Street - Fabulous!

A beautiful sunny day and such fun festival! Excellent check in procedures for such a large show, lots of art happening everywhere, a ton of fabulous vendors and the crowds were there - and buying! I was pleased to sell a bit of everything from my traveling boutique, as it now seems to be. Surprisingly, my orange Halloween Domino bracelets were a big hit, I just didn't take any good pictures of them.

Fun Time Waster # 367

Manga Your Face! Yup, your own cartoon avatar. You have have or downlaod the latest Adobe Flash Player first. Hop to it : www.faceyourmanga.com

Blogging Homework for you

Okay, two more thoughts for today, since I won't be back until next week.

First off, I will be in Worcester Sunday at START ON THE STREET Festival, so come and see me!!!
Second, If you don't venture out into the Major hitters of Blog Land, you will miss out on the fun opportunity to have your Blog read by Martha Stewart! On her September 16th Post, she has asked us to leave a comment, and then she will pick some to post on her Blog. So, get to it, and go Martha theyself for the weekend: http://www.themarthablog.com/

Also pick up the latest Magazine - it's my FAVE season for the mags - Halloween! Cause, none of you know I love Halloween, or anything,right?

Ciao my Bella's.
xoxo

Necklace Mania

I have vintage plastic flower parts fever, and the only cure is....( no I will not say more cowbell, even though it's pretty obvious I want to) ...to make lots of fun new Necklaces! I made one of these months ago and kept it. The only thing is, when I was done, they reminded me of colorful vintage Christmas Wreaths. Ha! Now I said it - you can see it too, and can't unsee it. le sigh. Oh well, they are still pretty adorable, and if you want to wear for the holidays, who am I to stop you?

I will be putting a few in the Etsy Shop next week.

Happy Birthday Dear Fruitcake!

Well, almost. I am totally cheating, as its not really until Saturday,but what's a few days..really.
I decided that no one knows what I like better than me. And, I like Jewelry. A lot. Especially super unique stuff. So, instead of sneaking down to the fridge for the last piece of ricotta pizza, I am treating my self to a very low fat treat. I wanted to share my new necklace I just bought, cause I was in need of a present. ......as if one neeeeeds a present. LOL.

Isn't she COOL? I think so, its by Maid of Clay on Etsy.

I used to buy myself a pair of shoes every year on my Birthday, a small tradition. I sorta let it go a year or two ago...Does anyone else have any Birthday Traditions they do or used to? Does anyone else get themselves a little gifty? hmmmmmm? Fess up!
I think its fun to have a little secret thing to engage in.

Anyway, Peace and Love and Fruity Goodness to all you fellow VIRGOS!!!!

Pawtucket Arts Fest

This show was in a lovely park, and had great vendors, I am still undecided if it was a good show for me - but it was a fab day to hang with some wonderful crafters I know. And I got to have a corn dog! ( It doesn't take much these days to excite me, does it?)



Pam of Black Sheep Designs and Natalie of Lake Quinsigamond Pottery. I was a lucky ducky and got very cool new pieces to adorn myself with from both of these fine fine ladies. Check out thier sites!

It is SOOOOO Pumpkin time!

This was one of my first posts, but truly worth sharing. I got it from a M.E> Home Companion eons ago and I make so many I keep bags of the dry ingredients in baggies all ready to go. srsly.

Want to make the best Pumpkin Bread EVER?
This recipie makes 2 loaves at a time and only uses on can of pumpkin! It's very much like cake!
...and even if you have never thought of adding the chocolate chips - DO IT!!!! Its sooo Fabulous, you'll make it for Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and just beacuse. I promise. Fruitcake's honor.

Hints: also add 1tsp Cinnamon and use Dark Chocolate chips - they taste better with the pumpkin! ( no really, and if your chicken, you have 2 breads, so give one some and the other none, geeesh!)

Emmy's Pumpkin Bread
2/3 cup shortening or 1 cup vegetable oil

2 2/3 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 cups (or one can) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
2/3 cup water
3 1/3 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

In a large bowl, cream together the shortening or oil and the sugar. Beat in the eggs, pumpkin and water. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and vanilla, stirring to blend, then mix in the chips and nuts.

Spoon the batter into two lightly greased 9 x 5-inch loaf pans. Bake the bread in a preheated 350°F oven for 1 hour, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Remove the bread from the oven, and cool it on a wire rack. When it's completely cool, wrap it well in plastic wrap, and store it overnight before serving.

If desired, just before serving, drizzle with an icing made of 1 cup confectioners' or glazing sugar, 2 tablespoons melted butter, and 1 tablespoon milk. ( I have not done this, i don't think it needs more sugar!)

6 Six things I Love

Etsy Love, pretend shopping spree, cannot sleep, internet fever, crafter crushes, etc.... Here are tonights 6 fave creations:
From : porkshopshow,my imaginary boyfriend,wendylee, fantastic toys, and emilie friday.

Fab Flea Rehab - What have you redone lately?

Okay, I just really like saying that. It’s adorable. Fabulous Flea Market Finds that get Rehabilitated – just doesn’t sound as fun.

I am, as are many, a thrift store,yard sale, flea market junkie. I have decided to add my junk- to -funk section to enjoy the treasure hunting process even more by making use of years worth of collections – trims, button, fabrics, etc…This is where you get to score something totally sweet, without having to drive around for hours!

Trash to treasure seems more like an extra side hobby that just takes your life over before you knew what decopaged you.

Here is my list of " You might be a Trash Junkie If..."
1) You know when OTHER neighborhoods trash day
2) They know you by name at your local thrift store
3) You have stuffed int0 the closet, garage,and under the bed, your "secret collections"
4) Abandoned chairs are more alluring than stray cats
5) One of your key phrases is " I don't know what I will do with it, but I HAVE to have it.
6) also "I will think of something to do with it" ( even if its 3 years later)
7) Your cure all mantra is "Paint it!!!" ( who doesn't love the smell of spray paint in the backyard?)
8) Hiding your newest hall is second nature
9) Fridays are for getting Yard Sale ones and change ready
10) You actually have an "I break for yard sales" bumper sticker

So, if you fit at least three of these things, I am afraid your outlook is trashy. But.. the good news is the treasure is only one neighbors white chair with a ripped seat away....oh wait, that's my newest project...anyone seen my staple gun?????