Crazy Amazing Banana Chocolate Waffles

A little Christmas Eve fun. Crispy outside, soft inside, crazy good. I think they're yummy plain, but butter and maple syrup are good, too. I started from this recipe. Below is my version.

John is spending the day in the garage finishing the girls' Christmas gift, so I'm making christmas-y crafts and waffles inside with L. Who knew being a mom at Christmas would be as much fun as being a kid?

Banana Chocolate Waffles
1 cup wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking cocoa
2 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs, separated
1 cup milk
1 cup banana, mashed
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 - 1 cup chocolate chips

Blend flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa and sugar together; set aside. Beat egg yolks and milk together; add flour mixture, stirring until just blended. Fold in banana and melted butter; mix well.

In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff and peaks form; gently fold into batter. Add chocolate chips to taste (I made these a second time, and realized I originally told you to put in way too much chocolate - wishful thinking, I guess!). Bake on a waffle iron until the steam stops (or almost stops if you're a little impatient).

Sweater Stockings

I realized this year we only had three stockings. I thought for sure I had four, but it turns out not. I had lofty visions of patchwork stockings using this really pretty fabric that was my grandmother's. But, that's really not the kind of project you take on a week before Christmas.

Sweater stockings, on the other hand, are a great last minute project! These were so easy, and I thought I was brilliant for thinking of it - until I saw it on Martha Stewart. Ah well.

I had hoped to find some Bridget Jones style sweaters with intarsia reindeer, but Goodwill was lacking in last minute Christmas sweaters. I did find an XL cabled sweater, and a fair isle snowflake sweater. I was able to get 2 stockings from each one. It took longer to cut them out than it did to sew them. I just scissor-traced (yeah, I just made that up) around an old stocking. I used the ribbing at the bottom of the sweater for the cuff so, there was no hemming or anything, just sewed around the edges and added a yarn loop for hanging.

Christmas Bread

I am making a second batch of this incredible bread today. I was making some as gifts, and then John and I ended up eating too much - so now I have to make more. I chose this recipe because it's Christmas-y, and new, and I had all the ingredients... who knew it was going to be the most wonderful bread I've ever made. That's probably because of the buckets of butter and eggs in it, but that's what makes it Christmas bread, I suppose.

Traditionally, it's made with a cross on top, which I didn't do because I've been wanting to make gift bread this way for as long as I've had this bread cookbook. You tie the loaf with a brown paper ribbon before the second rise, and then replace it with a real ribbon after it's baked.


After looking online at other Christmas Bread recipes, I realized this version is maybe a little simpler than most. Here it is, with my changes in the loaf style:

Christopsomo (or Greek Christmas Bread)

blend:
2 packages active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water

Combine:
1/2 cup scalded and cooled milk
1 cup butter
4 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons crushed anise
1 tsp salt

Add yeast mixture and gradually add 6-7 cups unsifted flour.
Knead for 10 minutes on floured board
Let rise 2 hours or until double.

Punch down and divide into 6 small balls. Brush butter around outside, and tie each ball with a strip of brown paper (the same width as your ribbon - for small loaves like mine use a skinny ribbon) and place on greased baking sheets. Let rise 1 hour or until doubled. Bake 30-45 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Serve warm, or toasted with honey.

Pulled Candy

John and I have a little saying that helps us keep our life simple: "What would Pa Ingalls do?"

Okay, since neither of us have read the Little House on the Prairie books (although we totally plan to), I must confess that when we ask this, we picture Michael Landon and his big friendly smile.

But still. It's a good way to remind us that just a few generations ago, people lived much simpler lives. They grew and canned their own food, they made their own soap, they lived in very cute small houses with a loft. And they made their own candy.

So, my sweet tooth and I decided to get in touch with the simple life and make some pulled maple syrup candy from this really cool book my sister gave me. It's full of interesting history about America and food and the Ingalls' experiences. My candy turned out pretty good, even though I didn't do it quite right. But I'm sure Karen Grassle messed up a time or two as well. I plan to try again in the near future.

Here's the fonz, letting me know the candy is ready to be pulled. Now that's something Pa Ingalls didn't have.

Easy Baby Toy

I made this for J because she didn't really have many gifts. I saw a tutorial for this some time last year, and I can't find it now. I'm pretty sure the original was a heart, and I think I saw it on WhipUp - anyone know where it is?

It looks complicated, but it's so easy to make, it really only took about an hour. I made mine in the shape of a kitty, although in retrospect, a simple shape would have been better. I filled two parts with wool, and the other two with dried peas because I thought she would enjoy the different textures.

I'll keep looking for the tutorial, and add it if I find it...

Lap Quilt Project

I'm starting a lap quilt project with some friends from my church. We're planning to make two quilts for two ladies at our local nursing home. I'm hoping they'll be finished by Valentine's Day, so we're giving ourselves plenty of time to get it all together. Our quilts will each have 20 - 10" blocks, and a general theme of hearts and love.

The women participating have varying levels of sewing experience so I put together some simple instructions for making four types of blocks: Iron-on applique, Sewn Applique, Embroidery, and Pieced Blocks. I found a surprising number of pieced heart blocks out there - surprising because I don't think I've ever seen one before. Although, with all those angles, I found them pretty tricky to make.

I'm sharing our pdf in case anyone else wants to start a project. If you print it front and back, each page will have instructions for one type of block on the front and some patterns, shapes and ideas on the back. The pieced block instructions are very basic, because each block is different. I think you'll need to already know what you're doing to do one of those.

Click here to download (1.2 MB).

Pattern Roundup and some other little bits...

I love Christmas. I mean, who doesn't. But I love the season, I love getting a tree, and cooking, and traveling, the parade, the parties, and making little gifts for the girls. I'm feeling especially domestic today - cleaning house, and making turkey stock and turkey tortilla soup from our Thanksgiving leftovers.

I just want to enjoy this season, so I think I'm done with all my big crafting for the rest of the year - not because of any rules this time. I just feel like it. I will be at Holiday House on Tuesday, December 8. Come out if you're in town - it's always fun, and there will be lots of door prizes.

If you're making Christmas gift this year, I thought I'd round up a list of my tutorials for you. Making a list of all the stuff I've made reminds me that I actually get a lot done, and that makes me feel pretty good. Don't forget you can still add pictures to the wewilsons flickr pool of any of the projects below to get the Smile Crocodile pattern free.

Free Patterns:
Kangaroo Apron
Swatch Frog
Bear Bag (these would make great gift bags for kids!)
Reusable Snack Bag
Knitted Market Bag
Airplane Bag
Spring Cleaning Dust Mitt
Terrariums (fun gifts!)

In the Shop:
Turtle who comes out his shell!
Giraffe
Smile Crocodile
Bunny and Fox Flip Doll an advanced sewing pattern
When Pigs Fly
Secret Messages
Fat Quarter Sling Purse
Fat Quarter Hand Bag
Printable Coloring Book (great stocking stuffer)

Thanksgiving Cards to color

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm feeling very thankful these days for my girls and my husband, and for adobe illustrator! I'm learning to use this software now, and it's just making me all kinds of happy. My pdfs will be much prettier from now on, and smaller files, too. That should make you happy, too!

And here's another something to be happy about. Thanksgiving cards to make and color with the kids. This pretty little pdf has four cards: a roasted turkey, a dish of sweet potatoes, a can of cranberry sauce (which some people seem to prefer over homemade - go figure), and a cherry pie.
Update: Cards have been updated and can now be found in my shop. 

I thought it would be fun to talk about being thankful while we color, and give them to our Thanksgiving hosts this year. Color and fold the pages in half, and write a note of Thanks! on the inside.

Smile Crocodile

There was initially some debate about whether he was a crocodile or alligator. I learned that crocodiles have skinny snouts, so there you have it. I've been eager to make a plush with a zipper mouth for a while, and a crocodile with teeth was just too attractive. I'm thinking I may need to make a shark version as well.

I put this guy off for a while honestly, because the zipper made me nervous. But once you start putting it together its really pretty easy - maybe even my easiest pattern yet. And perhaps my favorite, too. I don't know - I really like the turtles. But so far, these have been my girls' favorite.

The first one I made was a hit with the girls, even though I thought he needed a little shaping up. I cleaned up his body all over, but especially made his mouth bigger, and gave him a bit of a nose, so there's something to hold onto when you unzip him. The dark green one in this picture is the prototype.

Update:  The giveaway is now over, but the pattern is available in the shop.  

I know many of you have been wild about the reusable snack bags and the fat quarter purse, but I'm really hoping to see some turtles and flying pigs. This opportunity is open through December - so if you haven't gotten around to making something yet - get to it! Once you've added a photo of your brilliant sewing to the flickr pool, send me an email or flickr message, and I'll reply with the pattern. (see here for a list of all my patterns.)

As a side note, this pattern is for personal use only -but, because it has a metal zipper, its the kind of thing that the new CPSIA regulations prevents small businesses from selling. I guess that is a good thing, since I have no idea what my zipper's are made of. Anyway, I won't be making any to sell, so you'll have to make your own!

heads up

new pattern coming, tonight or tomorrow maybe - we'll have to see how naptime goes. This pdf was made all snazzy with adobe illustrator so it will be pretty and the file size will be reasonable. :)

Also, I'll be doing a little different giveaway this time. No scrambling this time, more sharing. Hmmm... seems like I've been saying that to L lately.

Well, anyway, here's a hint: you'll need a flickr account.