Sunday, January 27, 2013

Caramelized Apples with Pistachio Cream

Warm spicy apples swimming in a lightly spiced whipped cream topped with pistachios.  Very reminiscent of apple pie, but without the crust.  This is the kind of dessert that feels like a great big hug. A perfect treat to indulge in when the weather outside is too cold for comfort.

There are no rules when it comes to this recipe. I used Golden Delicious apples, but feel free to pick your favorite tart, firm apple.  No pistachios on hand?  You could easily sub any type of nut.  Personally, I think walnuts would be fantastic.  Feel free to adjust the spices to your liking, using more or less.  You really can't mess this up. If you want a healthier dessert go ahead and sub yogurt for the whipped cream.  I'm sure it would be equally delicious.
Caramelized Cardamom Apples with Pistachio Cream
Adapted from Quick & Easy Indian Cooking
by Madhur Jaffrey
Serves 4

For the Cream:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2-3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cardamom


For the Apples:
 6 tablespoons butter
4 medium-sized tart/firm apples
1/2 cup brown sugar
pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon finely ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For Garnish:
2 tablespoons chopped pistachios

In a medium-sized bowl, whip the cream and sugar until you see soft peaks.  Add in the spices and stir.  Place bowl back in refrigerator to chill.

Melt the butter over low heat in a large, nonstick frying pan.  Take the pan off the heat.  Peel, core, and slice the apples thinly dropping the slices into the melted butter as you cut them.  Fold them into the butter as you go so that they do not discolor.  Add the sugar, cardamom, cinnamon, and pinch of salt.  Cook on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, then turn the heat to medium and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring very gently now and then, until the apples are tender and have caramelized lightly. 

Serve on individual plates with a dollop of the cream on top of the apples.  Sprinkle with the chopped pistachios and serve.

Theme: Sweet Endings

Saturday, January 26, 2013

The Week That Wasn't...

Or something like that...I made it in to work...and on time...for the first two days of the week...But Man...it was down hill from there!
I keep saying that I need to just hibernate through January...
I am now on my second round of Antibiotics...Had to actually go in to see the Good Doctor because with my history she wanted to check out my lungs...Well she gave them a listen, and thankfully, they sounded good! So I am home all week... me and the little buddy...


He snuggled in and kept me company...
Don't let the computer fool you...I listened in on a conference call and took a few notes...I think I even agreed to be in charge of something...uh oh...
I have work to get done and have done NONE of it...and I do mean NONE of it...I hope to scramble and get it done by end of business on Monday...
Heavy sigh...


There he is again...different day...
and yes that is, indeed, a Christmas stocking in the background...do not judge...I am actually enjoying it...the tree is lit and candles are too! I like it! 
So there! lol!

And today...

So I will eventually try to get a little done, but apparently not just yet...lol...




All My Favorites in One Place

Ardyth, on her MASKerade blog, challenged us to look at our first blog post and CAS it.  I've been avoiding this all week long as I just wasn't sure that I wanted to see what I was doing in November 2010 - the stamping world seems to change monthly let alone over the course of 2+ years.  And I would certainly hope the my style has matured too!!

As it turns out, I don't hate my first ever blog card.  That's not remotely the same as saying that I love it, but I don't hate it!


But when I got up to work on it this morning, I truly struggled.  Perhaps it's just because I'm not getting as much cardmaking time as usual.  (For those of you that asked, being a full-time college student is kicking my butt!!  It's not particularly hard, but it is much more time-consuming than I had planned on even in the worst case scenario!)  The cards that you saw on my blog this week, I actually made last week - so I haven't been in my craft corner for a week - skills seriously deteriorate in ONE week!!

I really don't have time to struggle, because I also have a paper to write, a chapter to read and a quiz to take!!  So after a number of false starts - I decided to add my own criterion.  What am I using or doing a lot now that I didn't back then?  Unfortunately, the list got long.

1. White space
2. Small square cards
3. Baker's twine - love the lighter, airier look of a little twine vs. a ribbon
4. Buttons
5. Embossing folders and plates
6. Dies/punches that coordinate with stamps
7. Pennants and flags

Guess what?

I put together a CAS card with ALL of the above!!  (Sorry for the dark picture - I could not lighten it up without losing the embossing detail).  I don't see much resemblance between the two cards but what I was going for were the trio of things across the bottom.

For You

I've also just noticed that my photo taking skills have improved (other than the shadow on this one!)

  • Stamps: Stampin' Up Papillon Potpourri, Itty Bitty Banners
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Papertrey Ink Berry Sorbet
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Soft Suede, Papertrey Ink Berry Sorbet
  • Accessories: Papertrey Ink impression plate, kraft buttons, Trendy Twine, Stampin' Up butterfly punch and banner die

Friday, January 25, 2013

Holidays, snow and scheduling

I have a schedule in my head.  It usually works out fine until something or someone messes with it, then I have major issues getting caught up.  The kidlets were off school Monday and so my Tuesday turned in to Monday, which meant that Wednesday was Tuesday and I completely forgot to post to WIP Wednesday...Thursday brought SNOW and with that comes SNOW DAYS and then my days are really flubbed...so here is my attempt to get caught up with sewing and posting...

Wish me luck!!!!



I was so happy with the way this block turned out!!!! It is the  Aurifil 2013 January BOM. It is a free pattern!!!  It is really well done and goes together easily!

The fabric collection I chose to use is Kate Spain Serenade that I purchased at Fat Quarter Shop . I love the colors so much!  I am very excited to see the entire quilt all together in this line!!!!!




I tried to work on the Lucky Stars block but my printer decided otherwise so I went back to the idea of making pillows for my sofa. I was going to use the #scrappytripalong blocks for them but then it got all outta control and I made a quilt,LOL!!!!

Sara sent me this beautiful jelly roll of Valori Wells and I knew what I wanted to do!!!!! Lattice blocks for the HUGE pillows with black pindot background fabric...WOO HOO!!!!



I finished one and am working on the second! I am fighting the urge to make a whole quilt with this too!!!!   The only pic I could get was in the snow,LOL!



Here is what I woke up to yesterday morning...

So I had to make time to do this...I am finding that layers are not a good look on me so am considering a move to Florida,LOL!



The one good thing was this beautiful inspiration out the kitchen window...


So my progress this week...
The Lucky Stars...practice block DONE, need to do Jan block, printer needs to work
Aurifil BOM...DONE!!!!!
Gen X BOM...no progress
Skill Builder BOM ( starting Jan 17)
do. Good stitches Believe Blocks...DONE
Bee a {modern} swapper Jan blocks...no progress
#scrappytripalong quilt top...DONE...now to baste and quilt

and adding to the list...
Lattice sofa pillows because I am crazy!


Linked  

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Eyes for You in Pink and Blue!!

There's a challenge going on over at The Alley Way Stamps (TAWS) with this inspiration photo that includes some lovely pinks.


The set that originally got me all excited about The Alley Way Stamps is called adoraBOWL and includes three fun and funky pairs of glasses.  As a long-time wearer of glasses (with about 6 years in the middle glasses-free due to LASIK) - this set just had to go in my collection.  But I haven't used it yet.  So I decided funky pink glasses would work well.

Eyes for You in Pink
I made this two days ago to meet the deadline for the TAWS blog, then yesterday I sat down to write this post and I realized that the card made no sense.  On the one hand, I was practically giddy that I had made a spontaneous gem purchase that ended up being PERFECT for these glasses.  On the other hand, how does this card get used?  I wouldn't give it to my hubby because...it's pink!!  He wouldn't give a card like this to me because the "I" in "I only have eyes" implies that the glasses are his and...they're pink!!  Had I thought of this in advance, this card could have been saved because there are other "eye" sentiments in the set.
So, although I'm happy with the card, I tried again.  I wear brown glasses with a hint of aqua on the edges (although not cat eyes!)  Nice, masculine colors and perfect for a card!!

Eyes for You in Aqua

Although hard to see - I did add Glossy Accent for the lenses on both cards!

Big news at TAWS - the huge online stamp store, Simon Says Stamp, is now carrying TAWS so you can add them to your cart along with that darn "falling hearts" die that I have been using this week!!  FYI - when I looked this morning - if you use the Manufacturer Search drop down box to find TAWS look for just "Alley Way".  And...as of yesterday they only had 9 sets available but there are many more to come!
  • Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps adoraBOWL, Chatterbox (the sentiment; although there are also great "eye" sentiments in adoraBOWL.)
  • Paper: first card is Stampin' Up Melon Mambo and Pretty in Pink, second card is Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate and Aqua Mist
  • Ink: first card is Memento black and Copics, second card is Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate and Aqua Mist
  • Accessories: first card uses Hobby Lobby brand rhinestones, second card uses Papertrey Ink buttons and twine

Always Praying for You

It's time for another sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch!  I do love these sketches but I have to admit to really struggling with this one.  I tried and discarded a number of ideas.  I kept having to remind myself that it's a "challenge" for a reason!!


The light bulb came on for me when I was organizing some supplies.  I saw this wooden word and realized that the sentiment didn't have to be ON the panel - it could BE the panel!!

Always Praying

I sure would like to see what each of you come up with for this one!

  • Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Always & Forever
  • Paper: Stampin' Up More Mustard, Baja Breeze and Naturals White, Pink Paislee Prairie Hill Hilltop
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Baja Breeze
  • Accessories: Simon Says Stamp alterable wood word, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, misc pearls

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

He loves her!

 I have shared lots of times about the sweet friendship between my eldest and his friend Kate.
I created this layout for Bella Blvd using this special photo that Kate took of the two of them recently. 


Photobucket