FABRIC ORNAMENT

In between finishing quilts for clients,

I found online the directions to make this fabric ornament.

I decided to make it and you can use a lot of

leftover scrap material in making this.

It took me less than 30 minutes,

from beginning to end, to do the ornament.

Here's the link:

Katrina's Tutorials

PERFECT LATIN FLAN

My family and I love flan!

It is a very delicious dessert and my husband

 has told me I make it the best.

Well, last night we were watching PBS

and the program was America's Test Kitchen.

I love this show.

They showed step by step a flan recipe

that I knew I had to try.

It was different than from the way that I make mine.

All I can say is that it's delicious!

Here's the recipe from America's Test Kitchen

Serves 8 to 10


This recipe should be made at least one day before serving. We recommend an 8 1/2 by 4 1/2-inch loaf pan for this recipe. If your pan is 9 by 5 inches, begin checking for doneness at 1 hour. You may substitute 2 percent milk for the whole milk, but do not use skim milk. Serve the flan on a platter with a raised rim to contain the liquid caramel.
INGREDIENTS
2/3cup (4 2/3 ounces) sugar
2large eggs plus 5 yolks
1(14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1(12-ounce) can evaporated milk
1/2cup whole milk
1 1/2tablespoons vanilla extract
1/2teaspoon salt
INSTRUCTIONS



1. Stir together sugar and 1/4 cup water in medium heavy saucepan until sugar is completely moistened. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, 3 to 5 minutes, and cook, without stirring, until mixture begins to turn golden, another 1 to 2 minutes. Gently swirling pan, continue to cook until sugar is color of peanut butter, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and swirl pan until sugar is reddish-amber and fragrant, 15 to 20 seconds. Carefully swirl in 2 tablespoons warm tap water until incorporated; mixture will bubble and steam. Pour caramel into 8 1/2 by 4 1/2-inch loaf pan; do not scrape out saucepan. Set loaf pan aside.


2. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees. Line bottom of 13 by 9-inch baking pan with dish towel, folding towel to fit smoothly, and set aside. Bring 2 quarts water to boil.


3. Whisk eggs and yolks in large bowl until combined. Add sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, whole milk, vanilla, and salt and whisk until incorporated. Strain mixture through fine-mesh strainer into prepared loaf pan.


4. Cover loaf pan tightly with aluminum foil and place in prepared baking pan. Place baking pan in oven and carefully pour all of boiling water into pan. Bake until center of custard jiggles slightly when shaken and custard registers 180 degrees, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours. Remove foil and leave custard in water bath until loaf pan has cooled completely. Remove loaf pan from water bath, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and chill overnight or up to 4 days.


5. To unmold, slide paring knife around edges of pan. Invert serving platter on top of pan and turn pan and platter over. When flan is released, remove loaf pan. Using rubber spatula, scrape residual caramel onto flan. Slice and serve. (Leftover flan may be covered loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 4 days.)

MODA CHARM PACK

When I came to Florida in late July, I was looking at houses

for my husband and I to move to.

I had gotten to a point that I was so tired of looking at houses.

As I was traveling back to the apartment,

I saw a beautiful and wonderful sign:

Quilt Shop

The name of the store is The Calico Station.

I fell in love with the shop.

I bought five charm packs from Moda called Lilies of the Field.

My husband has been after me for such a long time 

to make a quilt for our bedroom.

When I saw the fabric, I knew in that moment that is what I wanted.

So today I started working on the quilt.

This quilt will be my husband's birthday present.

His birthday falls on December 26th.

I got the squares all sewn and now

I have to go back to the shop

and buy more fabric to make the

sashing and the borders.

 

The charm packs all sorted out and ready to be put together.

They are now sewn by two's and now the fun

is to decide how to put them together.

Fifty-two squares are done and now they wait till

tomorrow when I but the fabric for sashing and borders.

I'll be putting more pictures of the progress.

I'm safe about posting this because he doesn't read my blog

RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET

Today I took the opportunity to do some exploring while Jorge was in Chicago.

I had heard about the Riverside Arts Market from some locals.

So before the weather got really hot, I headed out.

It is conveniently located of I-95 and I-10

under the Fuller Warren Bridge.

The market has many artists from handmade pottery,

paintings and jewelry, to silk-screened shirts and unique accessories.

It has a large Farmer's Market as well as artisan

breads, gourmet spreads, fresh cheeses, and delicious food.

The market has three stages that have live performances.

There was also lots of choices of what to eat for lunch.

 The dog's name is Sparky and I was at a booth

checking out their sauces and he decided

that I needed to pet him and he let me know it.

He took his paw to make his point clear.

 I decided to have my lunch here.

I was so delicious.

 One of the performers juggling bowling pins.

 

 

 These were middle school students from the Ronan School of Music.

They did very well.  I enjoyed their performance.

 These are all made out of wine works.

 

 He was preparing to perform a trick with the help of two people from the audience.

 I found Colts fans!

My finds at the Market.

I enjoyed my time there and I plan on going back.

CALICO STATION QUILT SHOP

Yesterday I was out and about learning more

about Jacksonville and the place where we plan to live.

One of the places that I stopped

is a quilt shop called Calico Station.

The shop is a beautiful place with a wonderful staff.

Calico Station

1857 Wells Road

Orange Park, Florida 32073

904-269-6911

 They are a Bernina dealer.

 Their classroom is nice, large, and roomy.

The shop has a very nice selection of fabric and patterns.

I'm most definitely coming back to this shop.

HOMEMADE RED LOBSTER CHEDDAR BISCUITS

When my husband I have gone to Red Lobster,

we both love eating their cheddar biscuits.

So for tonight's dinner I decided to make them.

I looked for the recipe online and found one.

The biscuits turned out delicious!

They taste just like the ones at Red Lobster.

It is a copyrighted recipe so I'll give you the link.

Enjoy!

CHEDDAR BISCUITS

THE ANTIQUE MARKET OF SAN JOSE

There is only so much I can in the apartment

before my mind goes bonkers.

The weather today was very hot and humid.

But I ventured out anyway.

I intended on going to a quilt shop

but I wrote the wrong name on my GPS and it took me some place else.

As I was heading to what I thought was the quilt shop,

I passed this antique store and so I decided to stop.

The Antique Market of San Jose

5107 San Jose Blvd

Jacksonville, FL 32207

904-733-1968

http://www.theantiquemarketofsanjose.com

 Beautiful display of silver.

 This quilt is from the late 1880's.

On the lower left corner are the initials of someone.

I'm assuming it's the person who made the quilt.

 This is a beautiful wood checker/chess board.

I was so amazed at the detailed handiwork.

 Sunbonnet Sue from a 1930's quilt.

There were many items that I fell in love with

but I exercised extreme self-control.

AVONLEA ANTIQUE STORE

Today I had the opportunity to have coffee

with one of my CRU girls at Starbucks.

It was wonderful getting together with her.

After we said our goodbyes, I started on the road

and I found this beautiful antique store.

At first, I thought it was a small one.

Boy, was I ever wrong!

I was in there for two hours!

They even have a restaurant 

and the food smelled absolutely delicious.

The antique store has a wide variety of antiques.

I could have spent more hours looking

at all of the items that are there.

There was clothing, jewelry, furniture,

old tools, toys, and other fine things.

There were pieces of furniture that I really

fell in love and would love to have it.

I just wasn't willing to pay the price.

Avonlea Antique and Design Gallery

8101 Philips Highway

Jacksonville, FL 32257

904-636-8585

 Coffee time at Starbucks.

 One of the many sterling silver displays at the store.

 

 These are toys.

The work in these items was outstanding.

 The ladies bathroom.

 My finds at the store.

These are things that I wanted to get

that go along with my dishes.

I also found these cookie cutters.

I'll be making cookies to send out to Afghanistan.