My mother REALLY liked my last quilt and requested one from me. Of anyone, she is nearly the only one I accept requests from, as she understands the work that goes into them. I told her I would make it but she would have to come get it, lol. Shipping a package like that would be … prohibitive. She was fine with it, an excuse for her to come for a visit . Anyway… another scrappy Irish chain quilt will be in the works soon. Happy quilting!
As I’m the baker in the family, I made my own birthday cake and it came out absolutely perfect. Seriously one of the best vanilla cakes I’ve had or made and the frosting is perfection. Cake recipe is here . Follow the recipe to exact and you cannot go wrong. This one is all in the timing. The frosting is my own:
454g salted butter (I use Irish butter as I’m in Ireland)
100g cream cheese
Tbsp good vanilla (I make my own bourbon vanilla)
3 -3 1/2 cups of powdered sugar. Can add more if you want a stiffer frosting but this makes a very fluffy frosting.
Whip (I use whisk attachment on a stand mixer) the butter and cream cheese together until creamed and starting to fluff. Add all of the sugar and start the mixer slowly until it all starts to incorporate. You will need to scrape the bowl a couple of times during the process. Add in the vanilla and then whip the frosting for a good 5 minimum. You’re looking for it to go nearly white, which it will with patience. It will be light fluffy and spreadable.
The cream cheese isn’t really for flavor here but it adds a little something that would be missing otherwise. You’ll be left with a soft and flavorful vanilla frosting. Delicious 🤤
Its fair day in our little town in Ireland and that brings the caravans toting vintage and antique finds from all over. I got lucky this morning and got a really lovely casserole with the lid in like new condition. We also drove out to an antique/thrift shop that’s inside an old church and I found a 4oz glass baby bottle! I have an 8oz one that I’ve had for ages so finds smaller one was neat. Also got some clear round casserole lids, one of which fit a piece I already had.
Cookies and cream cheesecake with an Oreo crust and topped with milk chocolate ganache and Oreo crumbles. Recipe : here
This one was a definite crowd pleaser. Can be made in an 8 or 9 inch springform, but it needs to be at least 3 inches deep. I go for the 8 because I prefer a thick slice, lol. Delicious recipe
I don’t think there’s anything better than a bed freshly made up with brand new linens and a handmade (new) quilt. A fun and floral take on a single Irish chain quilt, hand quilted on the diagonal, paired with matching pillow shams , hand quilted in an ”orange peel” pattern. I also made a coordinated decorative pillow out of a log cabin block in coordinated fabrics.
JUST put the last stitches in the binding, so this is complete, pre- wash and dry crinkle. Absolutely love the way this came out. Lots of pretty vintage florals and backed with a light and airy muslin. I will post was crinkle pics with the pillow shams, etc. once I make up the bed with it.
Nearly done hand quilting this beauty! I’m thinking another day or so’s worth of quilting and then trim and bind. Looking forward to having this on my bed.
I always have my husband give my his choice for sweets for Father’s Day. He ask for possibly the Dubai cake I made recently or the Dubai chocolate chunk cookies I made a few months ago (he is really enjoying the flavor combination I guess)so I asked if he might want it as cheesecake. He adores cheesecake, but I haven’t made one in years. (My son usually makes them). So here she is, thick and creamy, with a layer of the pistachio cream/kadayif pastry and a layer of dark chocolate ganache with an Oreo crust.
The pistachio cheesecake filling recipe I used is here:
https://www.piesandtacos.com/pistachio-cheesecake/
Super easy, came out perfectly with a light and creamy texture. I used an 8 inch springform pan and lined it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Husband LOVED it.
Just curious how many of you trace/stencil/draw your quilting lines onto your quilts? I have realized it makes all my NON in the ditch or seam echo quilting so much neater especially when I have large background spaces to work in.i thought I could manage this one (all straight lines on the diagonal) without it, but it was getting a touch overwhelming. So off the hoop and onto the table for gridding out the lines. I already feel less overwhelmed looking at the neat straight lines.
P.s. I hand quilt, so some type of quilt mapping is necessary for me.
Made this cake for a friend’s birthday. Chocolate cake with Dubai filling (pistachio cream with kadayif pastry), pistachio buttercream and chopped pistachios. It really turned out delicious. I served it with homemade vanilla malt ice cream. Just wanted to share!
ETA: I’m adding the cake recipe here for those who asked for it. I also wanted to note I used a pistachio butter (similar to peanut butter) for the buttercream, not a pistachio cream. It keeps it from being cloyingly sweet with the powdered sugar.
Eta2: I also add a tablespoon of espresso powder or strong instant coffee to the water/cocoa mix and I use Dutch processed /dark chocolate cocoa. It balances the sugar and keeps everything from being too sweet.
chocolate cake
1 cup Dutch process cocoa
2 cups boiling water
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups superfine sugar
4 large eggs ( I exchange one egg for an equal weight of regular mayo)
2¾ cups all-purpose soft-wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. Vanilla extract (or chocolate if you have it)
Preheat oven to 350°f. Combine cocoa and boiling water in a large heatproof bowl, stirring until blended and smooth; cool completely.
Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; add to butter mixture alternately with cocoa mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla/chocolate extract.
Pour in prepared 8 or 9 inch pans
Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely.
Flimsy is finished, complete with a triple border which puts this quilt at around 114 inches square
Working my way through, trimming my freshly pressed blocks.
Completed the around 230 blocks for my quilt. They still need pressing and trimming, but they are done! Another step done. Not bad progress for a weekend of sewing.