Thursday, January 13, 2011

Mushy gushy post for my hubby


Rob with beanie and banjo
 I have asked my hubby many times if there was anything he would like me to crochet for him... scarf, sweater, hat, anything!  This sweetly easygoing man does not want much.  "Just a beanie would be fine... fitting close to my head.  Can you make that?"

So, I made him one.  I used the Simple Skateboarder Beanie by Chie O'Briant with Noro Kureyon.  He wore it!  He wore it often.  And then what happened?  It wasn't accidentally washed and felted... at least that would still have been in the house... I lost it at Disneyland.  Me, my fault.  :-(  Sad face.

So, when I realized this, I went to my yarn stash to find another hubby worthy yarn.  I wanted a color uniquely him and also warm and soft.  (Noro may be pretty but soft it ain't!)  Enter the gorgeous Madelinetosh Tosh DK yarn in Charcoal.  It's washable for one and hand dyed in small batches for the pretty semi solid look I was wanting.

Since the pattern by Chie was written for a thicker yarn, I had to modify the pattern just slightly (notes in my projects on Ravelry) to compensate.  The end result you see above.  I love it and I think Rob does too.  Now, we just need our winters to be 30 degrees cooler so that I can make him a sweater!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Mmm Marshmallows

At long last, here is the recipe for marshmallows!!!  Finally!

I took the pictures of the steps for making marshmallows quite a bit ago and could not find them!  This past week, I was determined to figure out where my OCD sorting brain thought they should go. 
Here we go!
Ingredients:
3 packages gelatin, unflavored
1/2 cup cold water
2/3 cup light corn syrup
2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1 tablespoon vanilla (I used Penzey's Double Strength Vanilla Extract)

Additionally you will need:
PAM cooking spray
Saran Wrap
9x9 inch square pan
KitchenAid stand mixer with whisk
2 quart saucepan
Plastic spatula
Sharp sharp sharp knife
Cutting board
1 cup confectioners sugar -OR- Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Chocolate and Cocoa for coating marshmallows

Honestly, these are super simple to make but messy.  But messy in a fun way.  Make sure you understand the prep work before beginning to avoid frustration mid way through your candy-making.

Directions:
1-  Coat square pan with PAM cooking spray and line pan on bottom and all four sides leaving plastic overhanging.  Spray plastic again with PAM.  Set aside.
2-  In your stand mixing bowl, add 1/2 cup cold water.  Add gelatin and set aside.
3-  In saucepan, add corn syrup, sugar and 1/4 cup water.  Stir to combine.  Heat sugar mixture on medium until it comes to a boil.  Do not stir!  Turn heat to high and let boil for an additional minute.  Turn off heat and add sea salt.  Do not stir.
4-  Turn stand mixer with whisk on medium.  Being careful not to burn yourself, slowly add hot sugar mixture along the side of the bowl.  Once combined, set mixer on high and mix 10 minutes.
5-  Add vanilla along the side of the bowl and mix additional 3 minutes.
6- (OPTIONAL)  If you want to color your marshmallows, add colorings now.  Marshmallows will turn out pastel colored unless you add a ton of coloring, but this can also effect the texture of the marshmallow so I wouldn't recommend it.  Additionally, you can substitute Vanilla for other flavorings such as lemon, orange, peppermint or chocolate extract.  Use same 1 tablespoon measurement for peppermint or chocolate.  Use 2 tsp. of lemon or orange extracts.
7-  Spread marshmallows into prepared pan.  Use spatula coated with PAM to scrape bowl.
8-  Use plastic overhanging covered with PAM to cover marshmallows.  If not completely covered, spray another sheet of Saran Wrap and cover (face down).
9-  Let marshmallows set up for 2-3 hours or overnight.
10-  When marshmallows have set, prepare to cut and coat them.  Pour confectioners sugar or cocoa in a shallow bowl.  Sprinkle more confectioners sugar or cocoa onto cutting board so marshmallows won't stick.
11-  Take Saran Wrap off the top of marshmallows and sides.  Invert as you would a cake and the marshmallow brick should pop right out.  Take off the rest of the plastic wrapping.  Sprinkle confectioners sugar or cocoa on top of marshmallow brick.
12-  With a sharp knife, cut long strips of marshmallow.  I usually do 3/4 to 1 inch strips.  Cut these into squares, coat lightly with sugar or cocoa and set on a plate.
13-  Continue until you are done!  3/4 inch squares will yield about 144 marshmallows give or take.  1 inch squares will yield about 81... that is, if they all make it to the plate!

Happy Candy making!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Welcome 2011

Warm New Year's Greetings to Everyone!
We've been doing quite a bit of hibernating and pondering and practicing and cuddling and whatnot here in the CelticMommy family and have been mostly quiet online.

But preparations for good things are underway!

The 11's in 11 are coming for me and soon!  Not "resolutions" per se, but goals for the year.

For now, quick pics of how we've been spending our time in Southern California.





We hope your January is off to a wonderful start! 
Wow, January already!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

A few weeks ago, I stopped at Panera for the first time and I tried one of their Mint Crinkle cookies.  Mmmm, chocolate with a hint of mint!  This seemed like it would be a great addition to my cookie recipes so I decided to try to make one of my own.  This recipe is my attempt at a smaller version of the cookie.

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Ingredients:
  • 8 ounces of semisweet chocolate, chopped (I used Ghiradelli's semi-sweet baking bar)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature (I use Trader Joe's Organic)
  • 2 1/2 tsp. Peppermint extract
  • 2 cups all purpose flour (I use King Arthur)
  • 1 cup Cocoa powder - now I have to go off on a tangent and say, that, in my own unpaid opinion, Penzey's Natural High Fat Cocoa is the best I have ever found.  Dagoba's Organic Baking Cacao isn't bad either, but really... Penzey's rocks!  Okay, tangent over.
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 4 eggs
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 8 ounces chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
You will also need a double boiler (or a bowl to put over simmering water in a pot) and all the other usual baking supplies.

Directions:
Do not turn oven on yet.
Combine chopped chocolate and butter in double boiler and stir until melted.  Add peppermint extract and stir to combine.  Set aside.
In another bowl, combine flour, cocoa, salt and baking soda.  Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs and sugar.  Mix on medium-low until thoroughly combined. 

Add in chocolate/butter/peppermint and mix until just combined.

Add half of flour/cocoa mixture until just combined.  Scrape down sides of bowl and add remaining flour/cocoa.
Add in chocolate chips and combine.  Let sit for a few minutes while oven heats.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Prepare baking sheets with either parchment paper or Silpats.
The dough should be a bit firm.  Make 1 inch round balls and place about 2-3 inches apart on cookie sheet.
For slightly chewy cookies, bake for 14 minutes, turning cookie sheets at halfway.
For crunchier cookies, bake for 16 minutes, turning cookie sheets at halfway.
Let cool on cookie sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.  This also gives the cookie sheet a chance to cool before the next batch.

Makes about 5 dozen cookies.
Happy Baking!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving and being thankful

These past weeks have all been centered around what we are thankful for...


Foam leaves and trunk cut out by the boys and I and then glued to a simply painted poster.



Thinking of things to be thankful for brings up more things and still more.  It is a wonderful cycle!  :-)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Is it ready yet Mommy?

My sweet wee one patiently watching and waiting for the Coffee Cake to be ready... his first big attempt in the kitchen, helping Mommy from sifting flour to setting the timer!

Lots of changes coming soon for CelticMommy! 
Happy Weekend Everyone!