Work Christmas Party

It's always great during the holidays. Work seems a little easier and parties make the days go by smoothly. For the holiday office party this year we had a snowman contest (pic above), but this is not what the post is about so I will get on with it.

For this event I created a pumpkin cheesecake with eggnog cream. It was extremely fantastic. Below is the recipe. Enjoy!!

Eggnog whip cream.

Use 1 pt. whipping cream and whip on high until it forms soft peaks. Add 1/4 cup powdered sugar (or more to taste) and 4 drops of eggnog flavoring (can be found at specialty cooking stores). Continue beating until stiff peaks are formed. Spread over top of cheese cake at end.

Pumpkin Cheese Cake

1 ¾ cups graham cracker crumbs

¼ cup finely ground pecans

¼ cup brown sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Three 8-oz packages cream cheese, at room temperature

1 ½ cups sugar

2 Tbs cornstarch

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/8 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

2 large eggs

2 large egg yolks

One 15-oz can solid-pack pumpkin puree

½ cup heavy cream

Preheat the oven to 350 F

Combine the cracker crumbs, pecan, brown sugar, and ½ tsp of the cinnamon in a medium bowl. Mix in the melted butter. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom and about 1 inch up the sides of an un-greased 9-inch spring form pan.

Beat the cream cheese, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, the remaining ½ tsp cinnamon, and the nutmeg in the bowl of an electric mixer on low speed until smooth an fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs and yolks and beat just until blended. Mix in the pumpkin and cream. Spread the batter in the pan, and place it on a baking sheet.

Bake until the center is nearly set, 60 to 70 min. Cool on a wire rack for 15 min.

Carefully run a sharp knife between the cake and the sides of the pan. Remove the sides of the pan. Cool completely on the rack before covering tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Refrigerate until well chilled before serving, at least 4 hours or up to 2 days.

Yield: 10 to 12 servings.

Homemade Marshmallows

Raspberry Marshmallows

Hello all, it's that time again when we break out the cooking gear and get to making presents and baskets for all. This year instead of the cookies or cakes or candies I thought what would be a better way to celebrate the cold weather than to create homemade hot chocolate and marshmallows. Recipe as follows.

Ingredients

• 3 packages unflavored gelatin
• 1 cup ice cold water, divided
• 12 ounces granulated sugar approximately 1 1/2 cups
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• Nonstick spray

Directions

Place the gelatin into the bowl of a stand mixer along with 1/2 cup of the water. Have the whisk attachment standing by.

In a small saucepan combine the remaining 1/2 cup water, granulated sugar, corn syrup and salt. Place over medium high heat, cover and allow to cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Uncover, clip a candy thermometer onto the side of the pan and continue to cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Once the mixture reaches this temperature, immediately remove from the heat.

Turn the mixer on low speed and, while running, slowly pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the gelatin mixture. Once you have added all of the syrup, increase the speed to high. Continue to whip until the mixture becomes very thick and is lukewarm, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Add the vanilla during the last minute of whipping. While the mixture is whipping prepare the pans as follows.

For regular marshmallows:

Combine the confectioners' sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl. Lightly spray a 13 by 9-inch metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Add the sugar and cornstarch mixture and move around to completely coat the bottom and sides of the pan. Return the remaining mixture to the bowl for later use.

When ready, pour the mixture into the prepared pan, using a lightly oiled spatula for spreading evenly into the pan. Dust the top with enough of the remaining sugar and cornstarch mixture to lightly cover. Reserve the rest for later. Allow the marshmallows to sit uncovered for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

Turn the marshmallows out onto a cutting board and cut into 1-inch squares using a pizza wheel dusted with the confectioners' sugar mixture. Once cut, lightly dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining mixture, using additional if necessary. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

For miniature marshmallows:

Combine the confectioners' sugar and cornstarch in a small bowl. Line 4 half sheet pans with parchment paper, spray the paper with nonstick cooking spray and dust with the confectioners' sugar mixture.

Scoop the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round piping tip. Pipe the mixture onto the prepared sheet pans lengthwise, leaving about 1-inch between each strip. Sprinkle the tops with enough of the remaining cornstarch and sugar mixture to lightly cover. Let the strips set for 4 hours or up to overnight.

Cut into 1/2 inch pieces using a pizza wheel or scissors dusted with the confectioners' sugar mixture. Once cut, lightly dust all sides of each marshmallow with the remaining sugar mixture and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Hope everyone gets lots of Turkey and sides. I am making pecan pie and apple pie for Thanksgiving at my sisters house and thought maybe people might like the recipes.

Basic pie crust:

SWEET DOUGH FOR PIES

One-crust pie, about 10 ounces dough:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose bleached flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter
1 large egg
Two-crust pie, about 1 1/4 pounds dough:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose bleached flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) cold unsalted butter
2 large eggs

To mix the dough by hand, combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in a medium mixing bowl and stir well to mix. Cut butter into 1-tablespoon pieces and add to dry ingredients. Toss once or twice to coat pieces of butter. Then using your hands or a pastry blender, break the butter into tiny pieces and pinch and squeeze it into the dry ingredients. Occasionally reach down to the bottom of the bowl and mix all the ingredients evenly together. Continue rubbing the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles a coarse-ground cornmeal and no large pieces of butter remain visible. Beat the egg(s) in a small bowl and pour over the flour and butter mixture. Stir in with a fork until the dough begins to hold together, but still appears somewhat dry. Scatter a teaspoon of flour on the work surface and scrape the dough out onto it. Press and knead the dough quickly 3 or 4 times, until it is smooth and uniform.
To mix the dough in the food processor, combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in work bowl fitted with metal blade. Pulse 3 times at 1-second intervals to mix. Cut butter into 1 tablespoon pieces and add to work bowl. Process, pulsing repeatedly at 1-second intervals, until the mixture is fine and powdery, resembles a coarse-ground cornmeal and no large pieces of butter remain visible, about 15 pulses in all. Add the egg(s) to the work bowl and pulse ten times or so, until the dough forms a ball. Scatter a teaspoon of flour on the work surface and scrape the dough out onto it. Press and knead the dough quickly 3 or 4 times, until it is smooth and uniform. Press the dough into a disk (two equal disks for the larger amount of dough). Sandwich the disk(s) of dough between two pieces of plastic wrap and press it into a 6-inch circle. Refrigerate the dough until firm, or until you are ready to use it, at least 1 hour.
Storage: Keep the dough in the refrigerator up to two days, or freeze it double-wrapped in plastic. Because the dough is thin, it will defrost quickly at room temperature when you intend to use it.
Variations:

SPICE CRUST: Add 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon each freshly grated nutmeg and ground cloves to the dry ingredients before mixing in the butter. Double the quantities for the 2-crust recipe.

Pecan pie:

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Yield: One 9-inch pie

Sweet Dough Spice variation, for a 1 crust pie, above
Filling:
1 cup dark corn syrup
3/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons butter
3 large eggs
Pinch salt
2 tablespoons Bourbon
2 cups pecan halves or pieces, or a combination, about 8 ounces
One 9 inch Pyrex pie pan

To make the filling, combine corn syrup and sugar in saucepan and stir to mix. Place over low heat and bring to a boil, without stirring. Remove from heat, add butter and allow butter to melt. In a mixing bowl, whisk eggs until liquid and whisk in salt and Bourbon. Whisk in syrup and butter mixture, being careful not to over mix. Allow to cool while rolling and forming the bottom crust.
Set a rack at the lowest level of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.
Arrange pecans in crust. Skim foam from top of filling (or the top will have an unattractively mottled surface) and pour over pecans. With the back of a fork, press the pecans down into the filling so that they are covered.
Bake the pie for about 45 minutes, until the crust is baked through and the filling is set and well puffed in the center. Cool the pie on a rack and serve warm or at room temperature.
Variations:

CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE: Use the Cocoa flavored Sweet Dough, above, instead of the Spice Crust. Add 4 ounces coarsely chopped semisweet or bittersweet chocolate to the hot syrup mixture along with the butter. Allow chocolate to melt and whisk filling smooth. Stir the pecans into the filling, rather than pouring it over them.
WALNUT RUM PIE: Replace Bourbon in filling with dark rum; replace pecans with walnut halves and pieces. Use the plain Sweet Dough, rather than the Spice Crust.
Substitute other nuts, such as hazelnuts or almonds, or a combination of several kinds of nuts.

Coasters Galore

Christmas is coming soon and I decided as gifts I would make Cocoa kits. These coasters along with a mug, small bag of homemade cocoa mix, and homemade marshmallows should be great. These can be made in many wonderful colors or just one.

Coasters:
Round 1: chain 4 and connect with sl st.
Round 2: 8 triple crochet sl st into top of first st.
Round 3. 3 triple crochet into each single triple crochet.
Round 4: 3 triple crochet. Skip 3 then 3 triple crochet. Continue to end. sl st into top of first.
Round 5: 2 hdc into each triple crochet. sl st. into top of first.
finishing: weave in ends and use!!1!

Fraggle Hat

I consider this the Fraggle hat. For anyone who knew 80's cartoons Fraggle Rock will definitely come to mind when looking at this hat. I created this for a small child so if you want it to be larger for an adult or smaller for a toddler or infant just follow directions in my before post to add or subtract rows as needed.

To make this hat follow previous beanie pattern posted reducing the original number of 90 in the first row to 70. instead of decreasing at row 13 create to row 21 with out decrease. slip stitch top of hat together. Create pom poms for both sides.

To create pom poms:

wrap 1 or 2 colors of yarn around an item that is the size of the pom pom you want and wrap until you get the size you would like. Pull off slowly and wrap a small piece of yarn tightly around middle. Tie tightly!! cut loops at apex. Trim to look like pom pom.

This is the hat that goes with the boa scarf that I previously posted. I am in a hat making mood so I will post more as they are completed. I will try and post the directions along with them as well. This one is a variation of the beanie hat.

77 ch.
Row 1-5: 1 hdc per ch for first 26 sts. Create 14 chain and connect at st 40. 1 hdc per st till 77 sl st into top of row.
Row 6: 1 hdc per st for first 26 sts. create 7 chain. loop around previous chains connecting them all to st 33 in row 6. create 7 chain and connect to st 40 in row five. 1 hdc per st until st 77. sl st into top of row.
Row 7: 1 hdc per st. sl st into top of round.
Row 8-11: 1 dc per st. sl st into top of round.
Round 12: 6dc, dec 1st (yoh, insert hoop into top of next st, pull yarn through, insert hoot into top of next st, pull yarn through, yoh, pull through first 2sts, yoh, pull throug last 2 sts) *7 dc, dec 1st*. Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first 3ch.
Round 13: 5 dc, dec 1st. *6dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 14: 4 dc, dec 1st. *5dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 15: 3 dc, dec 1st. *4dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 16: 2 dc, dec 1st. *3dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 17: 1 dc, dec 1st. *2dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 18: 1 dc, dec 1st. *1dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 19: 2 dc into each dc to end sl st into top of first ch.

Finishing: With wool sewing needle and 8in (20cm) yarn. Weave in and top of the last row of double crochet around top of hat.
Hold beginning of yarn and pulll together until the hole is closed. Fasten off by making a knot and sew yarn ends in neatly.

to create fringe on bottom.

Row 1: 1 sl st around until you get to butterfly pattern. create 14 ch and attach at other side.
Row 2: *3 ch from 1st st connecting to 2nd st.* repeat from * to * until end.

I have been creating a lot of hat/scarf sets lately and it just came to mind that most of the beginners probably do not know what sizes to make hats for people other than themselves. Listed below is a size chart in case you need it. The beanie hat directions I posted before can be transformed to these sizes. Just remember if you change the number of stitches in the first row you must change the number in the subsequent rows to match otherwise you will have a hat that grows bigger as you got up.


Newborn
Head Circumference 13" - 14 "
Hat Circumference = 11.5" - 13"
Hat height = 5.5 to 6"
.................................................................
Baby - 3 to 6 months
Head Circumference: 14" - 17 "
Hat height= 6.5 - 7"
.................................................................
Baby - 6 to 12 months
Head Circumference: 16" - 19 "
Hat height = 7.5"
.................................................................
Toddler -12 months - 3 years
Hat height = 8"
Head Circumference: 18" to 20 "
.................................................................
Child - 3 - 10 years
Hat height =8.5"
Head Circumference: 19" - 20 1/2"
.................................................................
Teens
Hat height 9-10"
Head Circumference: 20 1/2" - 22"
.................................................................
Adult Woman
Head Circumference: 21.5" - 22.5"
.................................................................
Adult Man
Head Circumference: 23" - 24"

Kitty Ear Hat

New scarf and hat. YAY. I worked on these for about two days. Not all day they are a very easy set. I have posted the directions for the beanie hat before. This one is for a kid so I shrank down the size starting with a round of 70 instead of 90 then followed the same directions from there. The scarf was created from a chain that was built up with 3 triple crochet in every third stitch. with 5 rows then ended with pom poms. to make a pom pom all you need to do is wrap the yarn over and over around your fingers or around something it will be easy to remove from. Once you have a number of rounds then you slip off the bunch and tie in the middle. Cut the loops and shape the pom pom into a ball by cutting will sissors until round. tie to the end of the scarf as an embellishment. :) happy crocheting.

Tonight I will be working on the hat for the boa scarf. I'm not sure if the embellishments will be a bill with a belt or a bow.....I think this one seems more feminine, but I don't want it to go overboard because I also want it to look like a Christmas item. (it's designed to look Christmas-ie) I will post the hat when its finished with directions. Well directions for the embellishments anyway cause I already posted the instructions for the beanie hat. After this set I will probably do some kids stuff then most likely back to washcloths....I enjoy washcloths as a mind cleanser because they only take like 20 mins each. I can post directions for those as well I guess. I usually just do a granny square till it's big enough to be a washcloth. I think place mats would be a great change too. I don't see them taking much time either.

Directions for beany hat

Abbreviations:

ch - Chain sc - single crochet
dec - decrease hdc - half double crochet
sl st - slip stitch dc - double crochet

Method:
all sts are worked into back loop of sc, hdc, dc.

Round 1: make 90ch, sl st into first ch. (bigger if you have larger head)
Round 2: 1ch (counts as first sc) 1sc into each ch to end. Sl st into top of first sc.
Round 3: 2ch (counts as 1st hdc) 1 hdc into each sc until end of round. Sl st into top of first hdc.
Rounds 4-8: repeat round 3, 4 more times.
***this would be the time to chance to second color if you want a stripe, also you can add rows in 4-8 to make hat longer or minus to make shorter.*********
Round 9: 3 ch 1 dc into each hdc, sl st into top of first dc.
Round 10-12: Repeat round 9 three more times.
Round 13: 6dc, dec 1st (yoh, insert hoop into top of next st, pull yarn through, insert hoot into top of next st, pull yarn through, yoh, pull through first 2sts, yoh, pull throug last 2 sts) *7 dc, dec 1st*. Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first 3ch.
Round 14: 5 dc, dec 1st. *6dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 15: 4 dc, dec 1st. *5dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 16: 3 dc, dec 1st. *4dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 17: 2 dc, dec 1st. *3dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 18: 1 dc, dec 1st. *2dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 19: 1 dc, dec 1st. *1dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 20: 2 dc into each dc to end sl st into top of first ch.

Finishing: With wool sewing needle and 8in (20cm) yarn. Weave in and top of the last row of double crochet around top of hat.
Hold beginning of yarn and pulll together until the hole is closed. Fasten off by making a knot and sew yarn ends in neatly.

Red Boa Scarf

So I was surfing the wed and found these really cool scarfs....but here's the kicker, no pattern. So I decided to try and create my own, and so began the red boa scarf. I love it and it looks a little "lean" in the picture but really is quite thick. I'm not sure how warm it will be but I guess if you wanted extra warm you could just add another row at the end. So remember I'm not good at patterns but here are some half way written directions.

chain 220.
1st row: into each stitch do two double crochet turning each stitch so that you are spiraling around the first chain.
2nd row: per 2 double crochet do one 5 chain (meaning you will start at end and do a chain of 5 skip over two double and link beside third.) It will be kind of like you are making a flower.
3rd row: per each 5 chain bunch a string of 4 quadruple crochets on top. until end.

I know it sounds silly but I have also provided a chart in hopes it will help.

Begining to understand patterns

Hello everyone. While sitting for many months not getting this crochet pattern reading thing, I have finally completed my first pattern and more importantly hat. Strange right after I completed the hat I almost immediately began thinking of ways to embellish it. This goes totally against my rules of if you make something great leave it be. I must say I do find that crochet is extremely more forgiving that drawing or painting, both of which I'm very fond of.

Abbreviations:

ch - Chain
sc - single crochet
dec - decrease
hdc - half double crochet
sl st - slip stitch
dc - double crochet

Method:
all sts are worked into back loop of sc, hdc, dc.

Round 1: make 90ch, sl st into first ch. (bigger if you have larger head)
Round 2-3: 2ch (counts as 1st hdc) 1 hdc into each sc until end of round. Sl st into top of first hdc.
Rounds 4-8: repeat round 3, 4 more times.
***this would be the time to chance to second color if you want a stripe, also you can add rows in 4-8 to make hat longer or minus to make shorter.*********
Round 9: 3 ch 1 dc into each hdc, sl st into top of first dc.
Round 10-13: Repeat round 9 5 more times.
Round 14: 6dc, dec 1st (yoh, insert hoop into top of next st, pull yarn through, insert hoot into top of next st, pull yarn through, yoh, pull through first 2sts, yoh, pull throug last 2 sts) *7 dc, dec 1st*. Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first 3ch.
Round 15: 5 dc, dec 1st. *6dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 16: 4 dc, dec 1st. *5dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 17: 3 dc, dec 1st. *4dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 18: 2 dc, dec 1st. *3dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 19: 1 dc, dec 1st. *2dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 20: 1 dc, dec 1st. *1dc, dec 1st* Repeat from *to* to end. Sl st into top of first.
Round 21: 2 dc into each dc to end sl st into top of first ch.

Finishing: With wool sewing needle and 8in (20cm) yarn. Weave in and top of the last row of double crochet around top of hat.
Hold beginning of yarn and pulll together until the hole is closed. Fasten off by making a knot and sew yarn ends in neatly.

Bill: at st 24 dc 36 sts connecting to bottom of beanie.
row 2: sl st first st then 1 dc per dc. sl st st 36.
row 3: sl st first st then 1 dc per dc until last. sl st last.
row 4: same as row 3

Belt: Create 4 chain.
row 2-37: 4 hdc
finish: sl st to hat.

Scarf
213 ch
Row 1: first st 1 dc *skip 3 3 dc into 4 st.* repeat from * to *
Row 2-6: same as row 1 ( if you would like more than one color you can chance colors at any row. I included two rows of white in the middle of the rows of pink)
Finish: sl st around entire scarf totaling 444 sts.