Caramel Chocolate Popcorn

 Doesn't that look good?   It was.   Want some of your own?

Start with a great big bowl of popped popcorn, about 1 c kernels before popping.  We call this bowl "the popcorn bowl" because that's our favorite use for it. 

 Then you get to make the caramel.   Combine 3/4 c salted butter, with 2/3 c white sugar, 1/3 c brown sugar, and 1/3 c light corn syrup.  Cook over medium heat, stirring, until it starts to boil.

 Like this.   Let it boil for about 3 1/2  minutes. 

 Stir in 1t vanilla.  Then pour out over the popcorn.

 Stir it around.  Then spread the popcorn out over two large cookie sheets.

 Now you get to melt the chocolate.  I used milk chocolate and white chocolate chips because they drizzle so nicely, about 1 c of each melted in separate bowls of course.

 Melt in the microwave for one minute, stir, put it back for another minute, stir.  Repeat until the chips have all melted.  Then drizzle over the popcorn.

 Pretty yummy.    You can stir the popcorn a bit if you like or just leave it in the drizzled state.  

Sprinkle on about 3/4 c of roasted salted peanuts.   Let sit until the chocolate sets.   I put mine in the fridge because I couldn't wait.

This makes a great special treat for your family or even a valentine gift for friends and family.   Enjoy.

Padded camera case

I had a friend point out that I had my comments section on the wrong settings and a lot of people were not allowed to post on my blog.  I have since changed that.  If you wanted to post to my giveaway for the little girl skirt, the blog should let you do that now.  I'll leave the contest open until next Wednesday at 10pm MST to allow everyone who wants to play an chance to get in on the fun.

Now for today's project.   I got a Flip camera as a gift for Mother's day last year.  I love it but I needed a cute case.   I finally got around to making one this week:

 Cute huh?   The case is not a beginner project.  It has some more complicated steps and the piping is annoying to sew.   You can leave the piping off if you want to simplify it.   I'll post a simple envelope style bag next week that would be easy for beginning sewists.   Either bag is super cheap to make and uses very little fabric.  You probably have enough scraps laying around to make several.  You will also need to have 1/8" upholstery foam.  I found it in the decor fabric section at Jo-Ann.  It's a high density foam with a knit fabric fused to one side.  You will only need 1/8th of a yard to do a small camera case.  You'll have a ton of leftovers besides.

This technique works for any sized pocket camera.  I'm not going to give measurements for the most part.  Just use this process no matter what brand or type of camera you own. 

To start, wrap a zipper around two sides of the camera, with the zipper closed and the pull at the top edge of one side.   Mark the far edge on the bottom.  The zipper should be as long as two sides of the camera.  Trim the end off.   Next, take a couple of small squares of fabric right sides together and sew them across the ends of the zipper with a 1/4" seam allowance.  If your lining is different from your outside, make sure the outside is on the front of the zipper and the lining is on the back.  Your zipper will look like this:

 To make the pattern, lay the camera down on pattern tracing fabric and trace around each side.  You should make a top, a bottom, a top edge, and a side edge.   Now add 1/8" to one side and one end on each pattern piece.   This extra fabric allows for the camera to fit in easily and makes space for the thickness of the padding.   Draw another line 1/4" out all the way around for seam allowance.

If your camera is like mine, the front will be just a little bit bigger than the back.  A standard sized Flip will have a front piece that's about 1/8" wider than the back.  It is important that you keep track of which piece is the front and which is the back.  Mark them with disappearing ink.  Sew a stitch.  Put them in a different pile.  Whatever you need to do, but you need to know at all times which pieces are which and you won't be able to tell just by looking at them. 

To make the pieces for the zipper sides, fold the side piece in half.  trace it on the pattern fabric.

 Now add 1/4" seam allowance along one edge.   I use my seam gauge.  It has a very handy little hole in one end and I can set the guide 1/4" away from that hole.   I just keep the guide lined up, put the pencil in the hole and draw away.  I do this to add seam allowance for every pattern I make.  It saves a lot of headaches and messing with tape measures.

Do the same thing for the bottom end piece.   If your camera doesn't have a rectangular shaped end, you will need to make a half piece (plus seam allowance) for the each side.   For my Flip camera I made one small zipper end piece that had a curve along one long side and one that had two straight long sides. 

Ok, cut one front, one back, one side, and one bottom from your outside and your lining.  Cut two zipper sides from the outside and lining.  Cut fabric and lining for the ends as well.  Do not forget to keep track of which piece is which.

Now we get to start sewing.  If you are doing piping, sew the piping 1/4" from the edge all the way around the top and bottom outside pieces.  They should look like this:

 I'm keeping my pattern with the fabric pieces to keep track of which is which.

Now sew your side pieces together.  Be sure you get the lining and the fabric sewn opposite of each other.  For your zipper side, sew the long edge together with the bottom edge for each half.

 Now put them together and baste them together in the center for an inch or so on each end.  Press that seam open making sure to also press the un-sewn center down 1/4" as well.  (see next picture.)  Now sew all your side pieces together in a loop.   Sew the sides to the front and back pieces. 

 Just like that.  Be careful when sewing the outside that you get close enough on the corners.  That can be harder to do with piping.

 Next, take your pattern pieces and cut out the foam to the size of the original tracing line.  This is the line you had before you added the seam allowance and the 1/8" extra.    You need one piece for the front, one for the back, one for the bottom, and one for the long side.   Again, keep track of which is the front and which is the back. 

 Carefully tuck the long side piece into the outside camera case.   Then add the front, back, and bottom pieces.  If they do not quite fit, trim them down until the cover is smooth and everything fits properly.  Pin the foam in place.

 Ok, this is where it gets tricky.   Fit the lining into the outside, wrong sides together.   See that open section on the sides?  You're going to fit the zipper along that side between the outside and the lining.  Open the zipper up. Keep the pull at the top.  Take your time to get the front and the lining lined up along the zipper so it's straight and fits how you want it to, pinning it as you go.    Sew the zipper in place. 

No I don't have pictures.  I've told you before zippers hate me.  We won't discuss it.  I'm sure your zippers will be beautiful.  Anyway, when you are done it will be pretty and no one will ever tell you if your zipper wasn't done perfectly.  They won't even notice.   At least no one's ever commented on any of my zippers, and that's saying something.

The construction method can be a bit tricky.  I'm going to make another one and see if I can make this case easier to sew.   In the meantime, please experiment around with this and let me know if you find an easier way.  Drop me a link in the comments so I can see what you are doing.  

Also, this case does not have a strap on it.  It would be pretty easy to add either a simple wrist loop or a flat strap across the back side. 

Play around with the pattern and as always, leave me a link so I can see what you are doing with yours!

Think Bigger: Caps For Good

Caps For Good is a charity that is putting together care packaged for young mothers and their new babies in Asia, Africa, and South America.  They need very small knitted caps for the babies and are asking yarn crafters to make them for the babies.

They do have a time restriction on this one and want the caps mailed to them by February 28th.   You can get a PDF Caps for Good Action Kit on their website.  It has patterns for both crochet and knit and more information about the program, it's plans and goals for how to reach out and help newborns in developing nations.

This one would be very inexpensive and quick to participate in.  It would only take a couple hours of your time to help newborns who needs a little extra care.

Also a lot of Aussie bloggers and bloggers from around the world are getting together to hold a different kind of auction in support of the people who have been affected by the extreme flooding in Australia.   If you would like to get involved or donate to the cause you can find out more information at Make it Perfect.  Toni, the blog author, will be putting together a master list of all the bloggers participating in the fund raising drive and posting it on her blog very soon.   She has details of her auction here and I do know Jodi at Ric Rac has an auction going here.

Pattern Alteration: Simple box pleats and my first Giveaway!

I've said before that I like to alter patterns I already have to get a style I want.  This particular alteration is super simple to pull off.  Today we're adding two box pleats to the front of a basic A-line skirt.

This skirt is my 1st grader's.  She loves to wear it with wild patterned tights.   When I made it, I accidentally cut out two (you know how you are supposed to fold the fabric in half most of the time when you lay out a pattern?  yeah.  Not this one.) oh well.  My loss.  Your gain.   I'm going to sew my extra skirt up for one person who comments on this post.  One entry for commenting.  One extra entry for linking to my blog in your blog.  Let my know in the comments that you've linked.  I'll let my little girl draw a name out of a hat.  My teenage daughter likes hats.  We have several around here these days.

This skirt is a size 4-5 with a finished length of 12 1/4".  I can sew the waist to whatever measurement you wish. 

You need to start with a basic A-line skirt pattern. It's best if the front of the skirt is flat rather than gathered or with an elastic waist.  The back can have the elastic waist though.  This technique works with any sized skirt, for little girls or grown women.  First decide how deep you want the box pleat to be.  For a little girl, like this skirt, a 1" pleat is fine.  I did a box pleat skirt very similar to this for myself with a 3" pleat.

So, how deep is the pleat?  Quadruple that measurement and add that amount to the skirt front.  For this skirt I wanted  1" pleats, so I added 4 inches.  1x4=4.

If the front piece is laid on the fold you'll push the pattern piece back  from the fold half the added amount.  If you are adding 4" to the skirt front you want the pattern edge 2" from the fold.   Be sure to measure both at the top of the pattern piece and the bottom.

If your pattern has a full piece for the skirt front, you'll need to split the pattern down the center.   Evenly spread the pattern pieces apart the amount you want added to the skirt front.  In this case the pieces had a 4" gap between them.  Do be sure you keep the pattern piece lined up with the grain line in the fabric for both front pieces.

Now cut out the skirt front.

The box pleats should be centered over each leg, so you need to mark the fabric piece.   Measure in 5/8" from each edge and mark that with a pin.  Now fold the fabric in half and mark the center with a pin.   Do this at the top and bottom edge of the skirt.   Bring one side over toward the center, lining up the side pin with the center pin at the top and bottom.  Press flat.  Mark that fold with a pin at the top.  Measure down 4 5/8" from the top edge and mark that with a pin.  Do the same thing to the other side.

Sew from the waist to the pin the width of your box pleat.  I wanted a 1" pleat, so my seam here is 1" from the folded edge.  If you were sewing a 3" box pleat on an adult sized skirt you would sew 3" from the folded edge.   By the way, you can sew it down farther.  4" is about 1/3 of the finished length and that's about right for a sewn pleat.  If you were sewing a skirt that was 18" long you might want to sew the pleat 6 5/8" down. The 5/8" is to account for the seam allowance at the waist.  (Yes, if you win this skirt there will not be any white thread.  I plan to pull that out and redo it in the right color.  The white was just to make the seam easy to see.)

Press the pleat flat with the folded edge centered over the seam. 

Now you have a finished front with pleats.  Continue sewing the skirt using the directions that came with your pattern. 

Have fun and be sure to comment if you want a skirt like this one for your daughter/niece/granddaughter/alien  child/next year's Halloween jack o' lantern.  Leave an email or sign into a Google account so I can contact you if you win.  Thanks!

My favorite recipe books

Well this is not the post I intended today.  I was supposed to be posting a video I made with a short tutorial.  I'll see if I can get the bugs worked out and get it posted another day.

Instead, you get to see my must own recipe books.  Excited?  You will be when you see the recipes.

I think every home should have at least one America's Test Kitchen cookbook in it.   I'm going to recommend three of them.  I love ATK recipes.  I was a pretty good cook before I discovered them but they really helped me take my cooking to another level.  Besides helping me be a better cook, they also really focus on taste without completely busting the budget.   If they do recommend an expensive product, they also have some less expensive options that still will taste good.  The vast majority of the recipes have easy to find, not expensive ingredients.  I can cook healthy, fantastic meals for my family without feeling like I need to spend a bundle on food. 


 The ATK Family Cookbook is a great compendium of recipes that just work the first time and every single time.  Their biscuit recipe is fabulous and I feel like I could hold my own at any Southern pot luck now.  Light fluffy and flavorful.  There are so many wonderful recipes that are usually easy to make and a lot of them don't take a lot of time.  It is not as comprehensive as the Better Homes and Gardens or Joy of Cooking, but it's still an essential book to have in the kitchen.  I reach for this one first and only go looking in another book if this one doesn't have the recipe I need.

If you've been trying to cook more healthy foods for your family you can try The ATK Healthy Family Cookbook.  I do not own this one but it is on my wish list.  I am almost positive it's as good as the other ATK books.

If you watch the America's Test Kitchen TV show on PBS, you'll be excited to know that they released a cookbook last year that has every recipe from their first 10 years on TV.  The Complete ATK TV Show Cookbook lives up to it's name. I love this book.  You would not believe the number of 30 minute dinner recipes in this one.  Most of them only use a single skillet.  By the way, they don't depend on convenience foods to manage the 30 minute time limit.  Great tasting, whole foods ingredients, and easy clean up.  What could be better?   We love the chicken and rice skillet meal.

Creamy Mint Risotto

Today's recipe is adapted from Pioneer Woman and America's Test Kitchen.  I combined both their recipes with a few changes of my own.  I'm very happy how this one came out.  We adore risotto in our home even though it doesn't really fit my "dinner must cost less than $5 total" approach to cooking.  I just go really cheap on another night and remember not to serve this one too often.  It's a great treat once in a while though. 

Creamy Mint Risotto

2 c Arborio rice

2 T butter

1/2 sweet onion, like Walla Walla or Vidalia, chopped fine
5 c chicken broth 

3 T finely chopped mint leaves
1/4 c Romano cheese
1/2 c sour cream

Melt the butter over medium heat. Add onion and sprinkle with a dash of salt. Cook until onion is soft. Add rice and cook stirring until edges of rice turn translucent. Begin adding chicken broth. Start with 1 c. and stir until the broth is absorbed into the rice. Add rest of chicken broth 1/2 cup at a time, cooking until broth is absorbed between each addition. Cook until all broth is absorbed and the rice is soft and creamy. Reduce heat to low. Stir in mint and cheese then add sour cream.  Serve.

Risotto can be heavy and rich, but the mint lightens the dish as a background note. It was very good. garnished mine with a mint sprig because I've got plenty, and served it with pork chops. I think it would also be good with chicken flavored with a mild marinade.  It's great with lamb, of course, but you did see the whole $5 dinner part, right?  Lamb does not fit into a $5 dinner.  Ever.

Let me know if you try it and like it.

Ruffle Bag V2.0: The Fat Quarter Bag

Remember the ruffle bag I posted a couple of months ago?   I was challenged by the local fabric store to come up with a version that uses fat quarters.   I succeeded in the challenge and the pattern uses almost every inch of three fat quarters.  The fun thing about a purse like this is the mix of fabrics.  You can choose three fabrics from the same line or you can get really funky and just choose three you love the look of together.  (ETA:  my dd made her own fat quarter ruffle bag.  You can see her fun zebra and purple creation here.)

To make the pattern, start by drawing a 10x10 square.   You're going to draw the curve next along the top edge.  Measure in 1 1/2" from each side and mark that spot.  This is the beginning of the curve.   Next measure 5" from the side and 2 1/2" from the top and mark.  This is the deepest point of your curve.  Now carefully draw in the curve.  Remember this is an oval, not a circle so be sure to not get your ends pointy and keep the sides smooth and even.  This is a good time to pull out your flexible ruler to help you get the curve you want.    Now draw four straight lines across the pattern.  1 1/2" from the bottom and 1 1/4" apart.  These are your ruffle guides.  This is the only pattern piece you need for this purse.  Everything else is just rectangles.

Get the fabric for the outside of the purse ready by laying the selvage edge so it faces you right side of the fabric down.  Now bring the opposite cut edge to the selvage edge folding the fabric in half.   Lay your pattern piece so the little straight sections of the curved top edge are directly on the fold.  Make sure you have the left side as close to the cut edge as you can get it because you will use all but an inch or so of this fabric.

Cut around the pattern.  Be careful with the curve because that's your purse bottom.   (Yeah, I know.  I felt pretty clever.)  When it's cut out, set the oval aside and cut your front and back pieces apart at the fold.   You should now have three purse pieces and a rectangle.

Out of the rectangle, cut two strips 2 1/2" wide and one 1 1/2" wide.  The 2 1/2" strips are a ruffle and the 1 1/2" strip is your strap.   The last piece is scrap.

Now cut the lining out the same way you cut out the outside.

With your contrast piece, fold it the same way you folded the other two pieces.   Now cut four strips 2 1/2" wide. These are two ruffles.  Out of what's left cut two pieces 5 1/4"x10".  These are your interior pockets. 

Take your pocket pieces and hem one long edge with 1/4" handkerchief hem.   Place your pockets over your lining pieces and pin down.  Mark where you want the pockets to be divided and sew a straight seam from the top of the pocket to the bottom.  I like to start that with a little bit of tight zig zag to reinforce that edge.  I also like to be sure I add in a couple of pencil pockets so my pens are easy to find.  Those are usually about 1" wide. 

Now sew up the side seam.   Next sew a basting stitch all the way around the the edge of the bottom.

Fold and mark your bottom and sides.  Like this:

Line up your marks and sew the bottom to the purse.   You may need to ease the bottom piece using the basting stitch.  It depends on the curve you drew on your pattern.  Clip the seam.  If you are going to add a magnetic clasp, now is a good time to attach that to the lining.

Sew the ends of your ruffle strips so you have four loops.   Finish each edge with a 1/4" handkerchief hem.   Sew a basting stitch around the top of each ruffle. (Or you can couch over fishing line to gather the ruffles.)  Mark your quarters and then mark eighths with pins on both the ruffle and the bag.   Gather matching the pins and attach to the bag by sewing along the ruffle guide lines.   Sew on the bottom.  (Ok, this looks a little deceptive.  The four ruffles will be the longest part of this whole project.  They are a pain but worth it.  If you want just a basic bucket bag, you can skip the ruffles and then this purse will only take a little over an hour.  With the ruffles it's a three hour bag.  Just so you know.)

If you want your bag to be a little stiffer, cut out a lining from canvas or denim.  You will need to cut a front/back/bottom piece and one strip 1 1/2"x21.   Sew the sides together and then attach the bottom.

You will now have three complete pieces to put together.  Set the canvas piece on a table and shove the lining in with the right side facing toward the center.  Mush it around until it's lined up pretty well, especially at the side seams.  Now shove in the outside of the bag turned so the right side faces the right side of the lining.  Like this:

Make sure your side seams and top edge all line up nice and pretty.  See how the outside and the lining face each other?  Do that.  Pin the top edge and sew just the curved sections  leaving a 4" space to turn the bag right side out on one side. Do not sew the little flat tabs on the ends.

Lay out the strap pieces so the canvas is on the bottom, then the printed lining face up, then the outside face down.  Sew the long sides together.   Turn right side out and press.  So it looks like this:

See how the straight ends of the top of the bag aren't sewn but the curve is? 

fold the top edge down 1/4".  Fit the end of the strap into that opening.  Pin and sew across.   Do on both sides.

And you're done.   Have fun and if you make one be sure to leave me a link to a picture in the comments section.  I'd love to see it. :)