Fair Ivy Finalist!

Wow!  I'm still in shock!

My soap was selected as a finalist by the Soap Queen team for the Fair Ivy Contest.  Check it out here: Soap Queen 

As they say in show business, I'm just honored to be mentioned.... among such an amazing group of crafters.    Wow!

So surprised and happy!

I entered, because I like contests.  I'm a terrible procrastinator, but if I have a very firm goal in mind I will work obsessively until I think it's perfect :P   Contests are a good push for me to try new things and be creative.  I didn't think I would be a finalist!  

I almost missed the deadline for submissions, because I couldn't get my label template to cooperate.  In the end I just used an address stamper to add my name and address to the back of the label, because I couldn't re print the labels again at the last minute (my Dad prints my labels on his fancy (expensive) printer and I trade him labels for soap LOL!) and having name/address on your label was one of the requirements for entry.  It was right down to the wire and I paid extra at the post office just to make sure it would be delivered on time.

Now I wish I had taken a picture of my submission before I sent it off!  

I designed and sewed little clutch type bags that folded like an envelope to hold the soap.  They had ribbons sewn in to tie them closed.  I thought they were really cute :)

I even made my own pattern  - although it isn't that complicated a pattern LOL!  Just the shape of an envelope.  

I don't think that I will win the final contest - there are a lot of REALLY gorgeous entries and mine looks kind of plain by comparison, but there is always next time!  And it was an honor just to know someone liked my soap and my sewing :) 

Prize For Someone

Hello readers

I have a proposition for you.......you could win a prize!

Right now there are 49 people following my blog.

I'm not so crazy about uneven numbers, so I will send a prize to the 50th person that signs up to follow my blog. If there are enough people I'll give a prize to the 55th person too!

Ok so what's the prize?

Cookies!

Coconut white chocolate macaroons

And chocolate chip cookies too!

Just make sure I can contact you, if you win, to get your address and send you your prize.

Wow! I Won!

Yay!

I won most unique interpretation on The Leftover Queen Forum!

I entered my cannoli recipe.

I've already started working on the next months challenge.

If you're not a member join the Leftover Queen Forum!

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A blizzard is forecast for tomorrow, so I'll have plenty of time to cook.

I really want to make some Russian Lace, snowcream and maple whip, but I need some fresh snow!

I Didn't Win

Thanks everyone that voted for me in the Foodie Fights.
Check out the winners here.

If I had known the judges were looking for a breakfast item I would have entered my Pumpkin-Guinness Waffles

and just swapped out the oatmeal flour for the bulghur.

That would have been easy.

Oh, well maybe next time.

October Giveaway

I mailed the prizes from last month's giveaway last week, so everyone should be getting them soon.

Yay!

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to send everyone jars of marmalade and jelly.

I really tried, but they wouldn't fit in the small flat rate boxes.

Sorry.

So, I sent macaroons instead.

I hope you like them!

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Now, on to the October Giveaway.....

I have one box of macaroons left over and hanging out in my freezer.

To win this box:

Post about this giveaway on your blog

and then leave a comment here, telling me that you blogged about it.

The giveaway ends on Sunday at Midnight.

Pumpkin Waffles - Vote For Me!

This month's challenge, on The Leftover Queen's Royal Foodie Joust, is to use orange, black and sugar.

So, Orange: pumpkin or squash - Black: Dark ale or cola - Sugar

I have to be honest, before this recipe I'd never bought beer.

I know nothing about beer.

At first it was a struggle to think of a recipe that used pumpkin, beer and sugar.

But then I thought of pumpkin waffles.

After that, the only thing left to do was to buy the beer.

Whew! Who knew that there were soooo many types of beer?

I stood in front of the cooler for a long time.

Finally, the clerk asked me if I needed help.

"Yes! Do you have any dark beer? Besides Guinness?"

"Ummmm, noooo. Just Guinness."

Ok then. Out of a million types of beer I went home with the only dark beer - Guinness.

Now to the recipe!

Perfect Pumpkin Waffles

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup oatmeal flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1 1/2 cups pumpkin (canned or cooked)
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
6 Tbs. butter, melted
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cup buttermilk (or milk with 1 Tbs lemon juice added)
1/2 cup dark beer

Mix together in a large bowl dry ingredients. Stir in Pumpkin, butter, brown sugar and eggs.
Add milk and beer, mix until thoroughly blended.
Scoop batter into a preheated waffle iron.
Bake until waffles are golden brown.
Serve with butter and warm maple syrup.

I made oat flour by grinding whole oats in my mini food processor.

All of the ingredients.
Look at those bright orange yolks!
Thanks for the eggs Ladies.




I made the buttermilk by adding 1 Tbs. bottle lime juice to 2% milk.
Then let it stand for a few mins. and add the beer.
Why do you even need to use buttermilk?
The acidic buttermilk reacts with the baking soda/baking powder and results in lighter waffles with a higher rise. Have you ever made a baking soda/vinegar volcano? Same idea - poof!



I threw a few chocolate chips into the batter.




Nice and golden.

What do they taste like?

Well, do you like pumpkin bread or cake?

They taste just like that.

However, because there isn't as much flour they don't taste starchy, the spicy pumpkin flavor can really shine through.
Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

And they re-heat well too.

Just follow the same refrig or freezing directions

as I used for the In a Hurry Pancakes.

I served mine with home-made cinnamon butter.

Now, how can you vote for me?

Well, on Nov. 1st The Leftover Queen Forum will start voting on every one's recipes.

Please vote for me!