Calendar Poodle SAL

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Stitching and Yummies

Hi friends! Thank you for your sweet compliments. You cheer me on. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes. You lift me up.

I can finally share my last finish of 2014 with you. It was a birthday gift for sweet Anne.  If you follow Anne, you will know that her and Lee are expecting their first child this spring. What a true blessing from God! I wanted to make up something special to commemorate this.I chose Family Pyn Pillow by Jeannette Douglas Designs. This pattern can be found in the JCS 2013 Christmas Ornaments Issue.

So frustrating! I must have deleted the closeups I took of this lovely ornament. I have "borrowed" Anne's picture from her blog. I used 4 of the recommended DMC flosses. I used Nancy's Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Hand Dyed Floss for the 3 remaining colors. I stitched this 2over2 on32ct lambswool linen. I finished this as a flat ornament.
I have had a request for the Challah recipe. Challah is a special Jewish braided bread eaten on Sabbath and holidays. I have been using this Jewish recipe for years, as it is adapted for the bread machine to make the dough.

Challah

warm water   1 cup
salt                2 3/4 teaspoons
sugar             1/3 cup
eggs, beaten  2
vegetable oil 1/2 cup
bread flour   4 1/4 to 4 3/4 cups
yeast             1 tablespoon

egg wash: 1 large egg & 1 yolk

Place ingredients in bread machine pan in order. Set machine for dough cycle and start.  When cycle is complete, remove dough to a floured surface and divide into 3 sections and then braid into a loaf. Grease or line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place bread onto prepared baking sheet. Generously brush bread with egg wash (reserve remaining egg wash for later).  Place whole baking sheet into a large plastic bag.  Allow bread to rise 30 to 40 minutes or until almost doubled in size.  Brush again with reserved egg wash.  Preheat oven to 375º. Place bread in oven, and immediately reduce heat to 350º. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
Last week I baked more of the Grinch Cookies. I know Christmas is over and done, but the kids gobble these up! You roll these in powdered sugar before baking. I cannot seem to get them covered enough that more than only a bit lasts til after baking though.
Do you make chili? I make it fall through winter. I always bake garlic cheddar biscuits to go with it every time. I came up with my own chili recipe at least a dozen years ago. This is what my chili looks like.
Do you add noodles? What do you sprinkle on top? I sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese. =)

Finally, I must tell you I have one page of the six pages that make up the Theotokos pattern, completed!! That sounds weird after you have seen all my progress on that piece. The pattern pages lay out like this:
1  2
3  4
5  6
Well, I did not stitch them in numerical order. If you recall, I worked the outside border first. I have been slowly working my way around and in. So page six is finished! No updated picture today. Next time.

I hope you have a wonderful day my friends! I plan to. My pain is decreasing. I have a book on hold for me at the library. Yep! These are things to be thankful for. :)

Stitching and praying,
Vickie


22 comments:

Carol said...

I know how much Anne loved your gift, Vickie--it is darling! And thank you so much for posting the Challah bread recipe. I definitely will try it (doubt if my braid will turn out as pretty as yours, though!!)...

Great news about the pain decreasing (and the book waiting at the library--always a good thing!). Have a lovely day!

Brigitte said...

Oh Vicki, so good to read that the pain is getting better. What a relief this must be.

Your little gift for Anne is so lovely and thoughtfully chosen. A wonderful gift to celebrate family.

I have used this braided bread recipe rather often when my chidren were still at home. It's delicious and everyone in my family loves to eat it for breakfast or for coffee with honey or jam. Now it has become a bit rare that I make it. Your chili also lookks really good.

Maggee said...

I don't have a bread maker but this bread always looks tempting! I returned Black yesterday,,, nope, not for me! But I have many other options! Love the library! Glad the pain is lessened...

Dani - tkdchick said...

Your ornament is sweet!

Cindy's Stitching said...

so pretty, all of the food looks yummy.

Caitlin D said...

Such a sweet ornament and a wonderful gift.
Thank you for the challah recipe!!!! And so glad to hear the pain is lessened for you. :-)

Trace4J said...

Beautiful Friend..
SO glad your pain is decreasing.
Your in my prayers.
And the bread is beautiful too.
Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Warm Woolie Hugs

Margaret said...

Thanks for sharing your Challah recipe with us. I will have to see if DH can try his hand at it. I love Challah! Great gift for Anne -- so appropriate for her at this time. I'm so glad your pain is going down. I hope that continues.

Von said...

I'm so thankful the pain is decreasing, Vickie!!

Love all the baking you're doing - you have some lucky kids. :)
These days I'm eating low-carb so no macaroni in my chili. The batch I made last week I added riced cauliflower to thicken it up a bit and everyone really liked it!

butterfly said...

What a sweet gift for Anne , you are so thoughtful.
All your food looks so yummy.

Clare-Aimetu said...

Lovely gift :-) just last night I said to DH that I should use our bread maker more - I'm going to make your bread today !!

Carolien said...

Hello Vickie,

Your ornament is so sweet and meaningful. Love the Grinch cookies too!
Have anice day!

Jacqueline Morris said...

Your family ornament you stitched is lovely and I am sure will be treasured.
Mmmmm your baking looks yummy!!
Hope you feel better today
Smiles :)

The Knitting Cross Stitcher said...

Such a pretty gift for Anne and her growing family.
Your cookies are tempting,with the grinch green peeking through and I will try your Challah recipe in my bread maker for sure.
Pleased to hear your pain is decreasing Vickie:-)

Julie said...

Anne's gift was wonderful, a very special thought.
Yummy food ......
So pleased your pain is easing.
xxx

Mii Stitch said...

The little ornament you've made for Anne & her family is just a lovely keepsake :)
Thanks for the bread recipe, I will have to try it, it just look so delicious!

Melissa said...

I love what you stitched for Anne, so very pretty!

That braid looks yummy. I haven't had breakfast yet so my tummy is grumbling looking at those photos!

Glad to hear you are feeling better!

Daniela Bencúrová said...

yummy !!!

cucki said...

so pretty..
all of the food looking so yummy too.
hugs x

Andrea said...

A beautiful gift for Anne. Your cookies look delicious. Good to hear about the pain decrease, that is always good news.

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Lovely ornie for Anne, I saw how much she liked it when she posted on her blog. I am so excited for her new baby!

You are making wonderful progress on Theotokos too. I do love the colours on this project.

rosey175 said...

I have to play catch up! I did see the ornament on Anne's blog, both of them! How wonderful for them. :D

I love all your delicious baking. I'll figure out our oven one day, or start paying more attention when I bake... ;) I will have to try your challah recipe.

I do not add noodles! Lots of beans and ground venison is my favorite. My husband's favorite is the "next day" chili from the leftovers; I cut up hot dogs in the chili and serve it all over white rice. We always put cheddar on, no matter the day!