LEMON BLUEBERRY BREAD

 

Ingredients
For the bread
1-1/2 cups + 1 tbsp all purpose flour, divided
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
2 tsp lemon zest (from 2 lemons)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1-1/2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
For the lemon syrup
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar
For the lemon glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
3-4 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9×5″ loaf pan, dust with flour, and tap out excess.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, vanilla, and oil.
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet. In a separate bowl mix the blueberries with the 1 tbsp of flour and then gently fold them into the mixed batter.
5. Pour the batter into the pan and bake 50-55 minutes, or until cake tester comes out clean.
6. Let bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. While the loaf is cooling, combine the lemon juice and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously until sugar is dissolved, and then continue cooking for another 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
8. Use a toothpick to poke holes in the tops and sides of the warm loaf and brush with the lemon syrup. Continue to brush the loaf until all of the syrup is added.
9. To make the lemon glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar and lemon juice and pour over the top of the loaf. Let the lemon glaze harden before serving.

MINI FLYING GEESE QUILT

Several months back I participated in a fat quarter exchange.

The challenge is to make something out of that fat quarter

and bring it back to the December meeting of my guild.

I thought and thought as to what I could do with the fat quarter.

The fabric that I got is a beautiful batik.

So I look into my stash and found other fabrics that could work along with it.

I chose two other coordinating fabrics and began my project

I cut two strips from the fat quarter that measured 3 1/2 x 20.

For which I forgot to take a picture.

 From each fabric I cut four 4 1/4" squares.

 Cut each square diagonally in both directions to make 

thirteen quarter squares of each fabric.

 You will end up with this.

 Here are the three fabrics.  The brown batik is what I was

given for the exchange and the other two are from my stash.

 From a cream batik, I cut six strips that measured 2 3/8".

From these strips I cut 39 squares which I cut 

diagonally to make 78 half square triangles.

 

 I sewed each cream batik triangle following the pattern

 

 From each of the three fabrics, I will make thirteen Flying Geese.

I sewed all of the Flying Geese to make a thirteen strip.

I laid out the thirteen Flying Geese units and 

joined them with the batik strips.

I took one of my quilting stencils with 

nice curves for the strips and will

quilt in the ditch in the Flying Geese rows.

MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURES (LAST ONE FOR THE YEAR?)

This weekend Jorge and I took advantage of the wonderful weather.

We rode our motorcycle and enjoyed both Saturday and Sunday riding it.

On Saturday we rode it with several other bikers.

We went to different churches in four different counties

and prayed for each church, its pastors, and congregations.

It was funny in one church we all are out in the parking lot

of one church and two little old ladies came out and saw us.

I think they thought we were Hell's Angels and they quickly went back in the church.

We ended the evening at the last church enjoying a delicious meal

of corn chowder soup, potato soup, and chili with delicious desserts.

Today Jorge and I rode the motorcycle one last time for the year - possibly.

We headed down south to Bloomington, Indiana.

We were going to attend a church there that is geared toward bikers.

Jorge had met several of the members at a motorcycle expo in Indy.

We get to the church and find the parking lot is full.

Little did we realize there was a parking are for the bikes.

The service was amazing and unique.

Afterwards, we met friends for lunch.

Great and wonderful time with them.

After our lunch, we rode the scenic route.

It was beautiful and wonderful.

We arrive home and find our neighbor's 

children playing basketball on our driveway!

 Starting the day looking at the beautiful sunrise.

 Motorcycles at the House of Prayer in Elletsville, Indiana.

 The sanctuary.

 Lunch with great friends.

 The county court in Bloomington, Indiana.

 The roads reminded me of New Hampshire roads.

 We weren't the only ones enjoying the day.

We came to Morgantown and found several antique shops open.

 This one particular shop had one of its windows honoring

the veterans.  This window displayed WWI items.

 The courthouse in Franklin, Indiana.

 I looked up and saw tic tac toe made the airplanes.

 Our neighbor's kids with our dog Dotty enjoying our yard.

What a great way to end the day, kids playing!

QUILT FIND

I always love going to antique stores because

 I never know what treasures I will find.

Well, yesterday was one of those days.  

I was in Pendleton to take pictures of a homeschool event.  

I naturally had to stop at my favorite coffee shop - The Gathering Grounds.

There is an antique store two doors down that was beckoning me.

This store has lots of beautiful and wonderful things.

As I am walking around the store, I find a quilt. 

I really liked it and when I saw the price tag, 

I knew I had to buy it. The quilt cost $10.00.

The surprise that I got was that this

particular quilt was made by a friend of mine.

She had sewn a label on the back of the quilt.

I love this dear lady and now I have 

something of hers that will remind me of her.

CARROT PINEAPPLE CAKE

 

Carrot Pineapple Cake
Makes one 3-layer cake

2 c. AP flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. cloves
1 c. whole, toasted almonds
1 c. toasted pine nuts
1 c. olive oil
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, melted
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
4 eggs
3 Tbsp. dark molasses
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
2 c. chopped fresh pineapple, or 1 (16 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
3 heaping cups shredded carrots

Frosting:
4 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese (room temp.)
2 sticks (1 c.) butter, room temperature
2 c. powdered sugar
Half-and-half (as needed)

For the cake:

1. Preheat the oven to 350-f degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, almonds, and pine nuts and mix very well.

2. In another large bowl, combine the olive oil, sugar, butter, brown sugar, eggs, molasses, maple syrup, pineapple, and carrots and mix well. Add them to the dry mixture. Mix very well.

3. Generously butter three 9-inch cake pans and dust with flour. Divide the cake batter evenly into the cake pans. Use a measuring cup for accuracy.

4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

5. Insert a toothpick into the cakes to make sure the are done. The toothpick should come out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove and cool completely.

To make the frosting:

1. With an electric mixer, mix the cream cheese, butter, sugar, and powdered sugar until fluffy, but stiff. Add half-and-half to thin.

2. Use the frosting to fill and frost the cooked layers.

Recipe from Beautiful Breads and Fabulous Fillings: The Best Sandwiches in America
 

REDBUD QUILT GUILD SHOW AND TELL

The quilt guild that I'm a member of meets the first Thursday of every month.

One of the highlights of the meeting is the program.

Sew Biz is a quilt shop located in Marion, Indiana.

She came and gave us a treat about the new things

she saw at market in Houston, Texas.

After her program, we had Show and Tell.

The ladies have been busily working on their projects.

Many of them are getting them ready to give away for Christmas.

 A personalized seam ripper.

 I love the van from Sew Biz.

 Donnelle sharing her stories about market in Houston.

 Some of her products she brought.

My good friend, Ellen Murphy, presented in the pictures below

her creations.  She shared the good news that a

book deal has been confirmed for her designs.

We couldn't be happier for her.