May 15, 2009

Baking & Sewing

Greetings Friends~ ~ ~
I'm getting a few odds and ends done around here today and intending to get some man power to help me to move the newly painted table to the screen porch for weekend festivities!

Baked some coconut cupcakes for the weekend using Martha's recipe. It's my favorite coconut cake recipe. She calls them cupcakes but I have also used the recipe for cakes. My eggs were unusually large this week, I get them from a local farmer and they are wonderful, so it seemed that the recipe made more batter than usual. The recipe asks for 8 egg whites beaten till stiff and glossy. I got 27 cupcakes and 1 8" cake layer which I will freeze till I make the recipe again. Then I'll have 2 layers for a cake. Apricot Candy and Eternal Flame roses from my garden.

OK, it's time to make frosting. Where is all the confectioners sugar? Yikes! I've got 1 3/4 cup, that's it. Now what? Looking, looking through the cupboard no more sugar but what's this. . .Marshmallow Fluff, huh? This could work. So I whipped the butter till light colored and fluffy then added the whole 7 ounce jar of fluff. Whipped it up really good till light and fluffy again then added my sugar and beat it till fluffy again. Give this a try the frosting is Great! It's a lovely cream color for all us Shabby Chic Gals and it shines. Don't try it on a layer cake unless you smooth it over the top and let big globs of it drip down the sides, which would really look nice, it's very soft.

Sat down with a pile of recipes to sort and file and enjoyed the sweetness of my labors with a cup of coffee. Oh and that's very, very toasted coconut on top for a garnish. Put it in the oven and sort of forgot about it. Does this sound familiar?

Again you will see some bottles of Essential Oils. I keep them all over the house and apply topically or just smell throughout the day as an emotional up lifter. Essential Oils are so beneficial for the immune system and with all the talk about the swine flu we are committed to keeping our immune system in tip top shape.

Someone asked for a close up picture of the apron quilt I am working on so here it is. This is just one square of 16 to be completed. I appliqued the apron to the chicken wire square and sewed around the edges with a fancy bow like stitch. Only 15 more to go!


I have to tease you all just a bit with this next picture. You may know Diane Knotts who is a fabric designer for a company called Clothworks. I hope that info is correct Diane I did it from memory? Her designs are so much fun. While I was at the fabric store last week I happened to see a few bolts of her designs and I couldn't resist. This one is called "Just Desserts". It is the beginning of an apron. More to come later. If you love to sew be sure to visit Diane's blog.

Look more cupcakes! Have a wonderful weekend everyone~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

5 comments:

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment! I think I have the same red transferware dishes that you have. Johnson Bros Britain Castles? I love any red transferware.
Penny

Jules from "The Roost" said...

I so wish I could drop by and have one of those cupcakes! ;) They are beautiful!

Charmingdesigns said...

Thanks for coming by, your apron is sooo cute. I love Dianes designs, I still haven't seen them in the stores around here. Laurie

Kathleen Ellis said...

Oooohh! those cupcakes look yummie...and the frosting sounds like a hit!

be inspired to add some flowers to your sink area..they do love water!
;-D

Melissa Marie said...

Thank you for the sweet comment on my blog! :) Your cupcakes look delicious!! I am a sucker for anything with coconut. ;)