Cracker Bread

Today my husband started early and made Cracker Bread.    Making Cracker Bread takes extra time.  Making Cracker Bread is allot of work.  But believe me it is so worth it!  I'll be munching away on these sheets of Cracker Bread that we don't give away, and everybody wants them when we make them.  Good with just a little butter or served plain.  Goes with soups and salads equally well.  Spread them with peanut butter, tuna, chicken or egg salad spread. 

Onions

This is our onion crop for this year.  Last year we only had 3 large onions total!   So this is not our worst year, only next to our worst year.  Just too much rain and cold in spring and no real warm weather until August.  We put the onions in the loft of the barn on drying racks.  They have in the past lasted into November.  I order Ailsa Craig sweet onions from Dixondale Farms.

Stash Report - Week 35

We went down to the Pacific West Quilt Show in Tacoma.  Wonderful quilts.  Great Show, classes and vendors.  I got this fabric while I was there.   I'd seen the pumpkin and spider made up during the trip home from Texas.  Very cute, but the fabric wasn't what I wanted.  I still need to get the small Yo-Yo maker to make these.   I've worked a few sewing projects, but thing completed yet, so nothing to count out.






Stash Busting - Week 35

Added this week:     4 yards
Added Year to Date:   171.769 yards
Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 6.291 yards
Net used for 2011:    165.478 yards

Warm Summer Days - Summer Pictures

It's August and we finally have nice warm weather. It's been in the 80's, not too hot like Texas, but oh so nice.   I’ve been spending time outside rather than in the house.   The garden and fruit trees are not doing as well as they should be since our spring weather was cold and rainy.  Derin had to replant the basil and sunflowers.   I think it probably too late in the growing season to expect much.

Back yard from poach

Front yard view from deck

Today I found out about Windows Live Writer to use for blogging. I just knew there had to be an easier way to post, trying to get pictures lined up right. I can’t begin to count the hours spent trying to get things looking right. It works with Blogger, WordPress and other platforms. You can download it here for free.

Decorated loaves of Bread

It's my fault.  I said something about liking rustic french bread better than our regular homemade bread.  What was I thinking?    I ended up with these fantastic loaves of bread.  I think Derin had way too much fun baking bread today.   And Oh Boy, did it ever smell good!    Aren't they good lookin' loaves?

Chloe Quilt - Show and Tell

These are pictures from the Bernina Software Club that I teach at Bernina Northwest in Seattle.   We are working on the Chloe Quilt with the Chloe Design Collection.   These are some of the designs that have been embroidered for the quilt.   You can see some of the different colorways that have been used.


Virginia S. finished her Chloe quilt.  She used Western Washington Shop Hop fabrics she had left over from a few years ago,  Beautiful!

Maxine E.  did these Chloe Quilt blocks.   

Aren't these blocks pretty?

Show and Tell - August

These are pictures from the Bernina Software Club that I teach at Bernina Northwest in Seattle.

 Pat H. made this quilt from Western Washington Shop Hop.












Ildiko D. made these beautiful quilts.  She is a snowbird and spends the winter in AZ with her long-arm machine doing Custom Quilting there.  Click on the picture to zoom in see her beautiful quilting.

Kathy H. made these stockings for our American Hero's.  She has even more that she didn't bring.  WOW!  I'm impressed.

 

Good Foods

  
Oh My!  The fresh farm market had wonderful sweet red peppers at a good price.  We love roasted red peppers.  We freeze most of the roasted peppers.   But they are generally used in a short time.








Derin made a Sacher Torte.  People fuss about this special Viennese cake, but don't.    It is easy to make.    The real Sacher Torte is little dry and you might like to substitute your favorite rich chocolate cake instead and that would be OK.   This cake is soaked with rum syrup which we paint on and glazed with apricot preserves.   Although not traditional you can use your favorite preserves.   Then the cake is frosted with a chocolate ganache.  One of the best things about this chocolate cake is it stores in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, bring it to room temperature before serving.   We served it with some fresh raspberries from the garden and whipped cream.   Yummy!

Bowl Berry Pie

Today Derin made as Bowl Berry Pie of cherries, blueberries, apples and peaches with St-Germain liqueur made of Elderflowers from France.   We were introduced to Bowl Berry Pie at a small resort in Canada when we went there for our 25th anniversary trip.   Bowl Berry Pie was offered for desert and we asked what it was made of.   The server then explained that the filling for Bowl Berry Pie was made from what ever was in the bowl that day.  We really enjoy this pie because of the unique combination of flavors.  The acidic taste of an all berry pie is mellowed by the addition of other fruits. For each pie the addition of two tablespoons of a decent cognac, such as Remy Martin VSOP, will add a subtle sophisticated flavor that is hard to identify but greatly enjoyed.  The restrained use of spices will allow the wonderful flavors of the berries and fruits to enhance one another.  Four tablespoons of butter add a richness to the over all taste of the pie that can not be beaten.  This is truly a pie for everyone and it will soon become a favorite.

Stash Report - Week 31

 

We are in Billing, MT headed home and I found these lively fabrics at two of the quilt stores there.  Aren't these fun, bright fabrics?






Stash Busting  - Week 31

Added this week:     7.75 yards
Added Year to Date: 167.769 yards
Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 6.291 yards
Net used for 2011:    161.478 yards