Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Look what I baked for Halloween!!!




Here is a terrific idea for Halloween - Witches Fingers!!




These are really easy to make and look so creepy!!

Mine are a little big - I could have halved the amount of dough I used for each one then the fingers would have looked skinny and bony!!

Here's the recipe:

1 cup plain flour (NOT self raising)
3/4 cup cornflour (cornstarch)
1/3 cup Soft Icing Mixture (confectioner's sugar)
200g cold unsalted butter, chopped
24 whole blanched almonds
Red and black cake decroating gel. (or jam and dark melted chocolate)

Sift flours and icing sugar together into large mixing bowl. Add chopped butter and rub in with fingertips (hey, I did it in my processor, very briefly) Press together to form dough, wrap in plastic film and refrigerate 15 minutes. Working with 1/4 of the dough at a time (keep remainder refrigerated) roll tablespoons of mixture into finger shapes (use less for smaller fingers) Press half an almond firmly into one end for a fingernail. Press centre to create knuckle shape. Make little slashes with knife to form knuckle creases. Bake on a lightly greased baking tray in a moderate oven (350 F or 180 C) for 20 - 25 minutes or until pale golden. Cool on tray for 3 minutes. Lift off almond; squeeze red gel or jam into nail bed; press almond back in allowing gel to ooze. Use black gel or chocolate to make wrinkles on knuckle. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Delight the grandkids!!!!!!!!!

Monday, October 30, 2006

And another two tiny ones!


I have absolutely no idea why I could not post these two pics with the previous post!!! Try as I might it would not let me have another two pictures - so I had to re-name the previous entry 5 tiny BSJ's instead of 7 !!! if anyone has the remotest idea why this happens I would appreciate your input!!

5 more tiny BSJs


I love these little sweaters! I can make one of these in three hours now - and they are so cute - very addictive too!! I made these seven in just a few days. I like to make them in very soft acrylic - yes, I said acrylic - young mums just don't want the bother of having to do all that time consuming careful hand washing nowadays. Can't say I blame them.

These little jackets take less than 50 grams of yarn each - which means I can use up oddments of yarn and make up colour combinations to my heart's content. I have been using Panda Angoretta - I ADORE this yarn - such a pity it is discontinued now!! I buy as much as I can get my hands on when it appears on ebay - but I do have to fight for it!

The little yellow one is in Wiggles yarn - a friend kindly sent me some from USA earlier this year. I love it so much - I had two 50 gram balls each in red, yellow and blue. Now another friend wants to send me some yarn as part of a Christmas Exchange - so I think I will ask for some more - there is a gorgeous white, pale lavender and a pale yellow.

The pale blue and white, the apricot pink and white, the deep pink and white, the mint green, and the white yellow and navy are all in Angoretta. The pale turquoise is in ordinary soft acrylic DK.

The buttons are all from daverun on ebay - the best button seller in the whole wide world!


#3 afghan on the way!


I am now in the process of making a third afghan in plums and heather tones for the centre, it will have a lilac border and a plum edging.
I think the lilac border, being so wide will lift the plum and heather colours and make them look less dark.

I must say I am enjoying these - the centres are all some variation of feather and fan - this one I am breaking up with bands of garter stitch.

Another of my Afghans


Finished yet another of my afghans - I really like these - they don't take too long to make and have no boring sewing up to do as the borders are all knitted on or applied.

This one is very special - my very first friend on the internet - from way back in 2001 - has just been diagnosed with lung cancer. Dear Marguerite has never smoked in her life!! Her favourite colour is yellow - so I designed this one in two different yellows and married it to white to match her name . I do so hope she likes it - I made it in the softest fluffy acrylic - so that she doesn't have to worry about special washing needs or anything. She has enough to cope with - she had her second lot of chemo last Thursday 26th October, and she is OK - very determined to beat this! A lot of loving thoughts went into this, as well as lots of prayers - I hope this will be a comfort to her later on when she has her surgery.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

How to Make anYvette Cocktail



How to make an Yvette
Ingredients:

5 parts competetiveness

5 parts humour

1 part leadership
Method:
Combine in a tall glass half filled with crushed ice. Add a little cocktail umbrella and a dash of curiosity