An Irish Lark

Just returned from a trip to Ireland with two "bestest" friends -- fabric business on temporary hold -- actually left in the hands of a very capable husband, more on that shortly. This is a castle we stayed in the first night, Ashford Castle, I think I should now officially become a "Princess", or perhaps "Queen" would be more appropriate.

Picture above is Dingle Bay, and of course, the all important "PUB" shot. . . with Debbie in Cobh (pronounced Cove) where a memorial to the Titanic is located because it docked there to load the poor unfortunate Irish immigrants heading to America, before it's destiny with an iceberg.

In order to have the energy to handle the fabric business while I was away, above-mentioned husband made a trip to the grocery store, and upon my return these are some of the things I have discovered he purchased -- enough ham to feed 20 people, a box of macaroni and cheese, and a 26 oz. can of Spaghetti"O"s with meatballs! Not the type of food we would ordinarily have on hand. And, this is what I've discovered so far, haven't really gone all the way through the pantry.

Well, you mostly know I don't sew much from having read my previous blogs, and now I must confess I don't bake either! EXCEPT today, I made an apple caramel cake from scratch (even more amazing) and here is a picture of what it might have looked like if I had my camera, which I left in North Carolina, even though I am embarking on a trip to Ireland this coming week. Must find a camera somewhere. But, that's neither here nor there, I did make the cake and it is amazingly beautiful (though not like this picture) and here is the recipe which I borrowed from Paula Deen. I think that's only fair that I give her the credit, even though I baked it! Not that anyone's ever mistaken me for Paula Deen, although we were born within a few months of each other, and also within a few miles of each other. Do you think she cares??? I don't look anything like her, happy to say she's a little heavier, but also am not nearly as rich as she has become. okay, okay, here's the recipe, and if I can do it -- believe me you can do it too!

Caramel Apple Cake with Caramel Topping

2 1/2 cups sugar, 3 eggs

1 1/2 cuts vegetable oil, 3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsps. vanilla, 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans),

2 1/2 cups diced apple

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together sugar, eggs, and oil. Add flour, mix together until well blended. Add vanilla, nuts and apples. Spread into a lightly greased and floured 13 x 9 inch baking dish, and bake for 45 to 60 minutes. Cake is done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. When cake is done, punch holes in it with a knife and pour topping over.

Caramel Topping

3/4 pound (3 sticks) butter

1/4 cup milk

2 cups brown sugar

Heat all ingredients together over medium heat. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Let boil for about 2 minutes, pour over warm cake.

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Recipe for the most fantastic Salsa ever!

September brings football (all southern women know we have to love football) and I want to share one of the best recipes ever for a quick and easy treat.

Titled Doritos Pepper Dip, but it's just a wonderful Salsa

2 large tomatoe (chopped)
3 small green onions (chopped)
1 small can of chopped green chilies
1 small can of ripe olives (chopped)

Mix well, and pour this over the top:

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 rounded teaspoon of garlic salt

Chill and serve with fritos, doritos, your favorite chips. Everyone will rave about it.

Here's another really good one:

RASPBERRY CHEESE MOLD

1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cut chopped onions
1 cup mayonnaise
1 12 oz. jar raspberry jam or preserves
butter or your favorite cracker

Combine cheese, pecans and onions. Add mayonnaise and mix well. Place in a 4-cup mold or pretty bowl, and refrigerate until ready to serve (at least 2 hours). Unmold onto platter and pour jam/preserves over mold, or press an indentation in center of bowl and fill to overflowing with the jam. Serve with crackers.

Even die-hard country boys will love this one.

Pincushion and Purchase Knob hike

My friend, Joan, and I took a 6 (okay maybe 5.5) mile hike today to Purchase Knob which is inside the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We left home about 10, drove to a friend's house nearby and started from there. And, you ask what do pincushions have to do with this??? Absolutely nothing, except that once again I put a fabric project on hold to do something else. I am trying to make a pincushion and for all you fabric people, designers, etc., you will have no sympathy for the fact that I find a pincushion a challenge. BUT, please remember my last sewing lesson was 1964 home economics class at Glynn Academy. Cut me a little slack here, please.





Okay, back to the hike. Here are pictures I took on the hike today,

This is a view of the Smoky Mountains from "The Swag" a country Inn we hike by.



This is a view from near Purchase Knob, it is unbelievable we have this not far from our home in North Carolina.



Butterflies and Bumblebees on Thistle.

We saw so many beautiful things, such inspiration -- if only I had the ability to paint it.

OKAY, back to making the pincushions now.

http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/grsmpkcam/grsmpkcam.cfm this is the address for a webcam on Purchase Knob.

the cutest pincushion and grandchildren ever!

Please go to http://www.sweetfunkyvintage.blogspot.com/ and read about the vehicular mastitis. This young lady missed her calling -- instead of designing clothes, she should be writing comedy. These are the three children referenced, middle child is the dark headed one. Biggest child would be turning the cartwheels, and smallest child sitting on chair would be dragging bunny down the driveway. Three of my beautiful grandchildren.

Yes, we know the pink socks are a bit much, she insisted on them.

Then go look at this cool pincushion.

http://www.heatherbaileydesign.com/HBSquareDeal.pdf

I'm making these today!!

All these designers are so unbelievably talented.

here are a couple more to look at:

http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=514

http://www.thelongthread.com/?p=725

Blackberry walk

Yesterday I had the wonderful intention of creating fat quarter packages from the new fabulous Tina Givens Azur Tea Line inspired by her childhood garden in Africa to sell.

INSTEAD, I decided to take a walk, as I have not been as diligent about walking our aging wonderful chocolate lab, named Chocolate Sunrise, called Sunny, since I FINALLY FOUND my new Wii Fit. More about that later. I knew the blackberries were in full ripeness, as well as the wild blueberries here in the North Carolina mountains, so I grabbed a bag and off we went. To my great surprise, Sunny ate more blackberries than I could pick, even though I managed a few . . . here are pictures of her admiring her next snack, and the ones I salvaged.

And, now I must go make those fat quarters. . .