sew scary

I took time on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday to work on a quilt for myself.  Maybe a wall hanging is a better statement.  It is similar to the Hallows quilt I made for the Tall Short Person but different.

The quilt is very light but I backed it with a piece of thrifted Christmas flannel.  If I decide to take it off the wall and use it as a blanket, it will be cozy.

It just spoke to me.  I used shadowy tree fabrics and ravens.  The panel is about tailoring.  Why would I not like it?  I did not follow the suggested fabrics or even execution.  And in some ways, I wish I would have changed it even more but that is life.  If the little bit that bothers me continues to bother me, I will make some embroidery bits that I can applique on.  Spiders and webs I think.

I do keep getting teased with it is "sooo scary."  Pun intended.  It just fits.  I have bought some tailoring books that I wish to read and there are tailoring classes I hope to take.  Hours in the day is the biggest issue currently.

cinnamon buns

October 4th is cinnamon bun day in Sweden.  Many of the people I follow on instagram and twitter where talking about cinnamon buns.  It is a contrived holiday created by Sweden's Home Baking counsel in 1999 but it rang a chord in many people so it continues.  It is also something that is eaten frequently at fika (afternoon coffee) in Sweden. 

My heritage is Norwegian but my Dad talks about the women in the small town in North Dakota where he grew up getting together for coffee.  Morning coffee was done in house dresses and aprons, at the kitchen table.  Afternoon coffee with a cake or a bun was a more dressy affair.  It is how he talks about it.  This would be served in the afternoon.

Cinnamon buns are not sticky like American cinnamon rolls.   I loved the flavour and the not so stickiness of these rolls.  Boyos wanted sticky!  These will be for me.  They are similar to my cardamom rolls.  I personally think that the filling without the butter might be very nice rolled into kouign amman.  But I like laminated doughs.

I found a recipe on Call Me Cupcake.  Of course, I modified it to use sourdough.  I did sign up to do a sourdough study.  Life could be interesting.

cinnamon buns

Note:  I adapated Call Me Cupcake recipe for sourdough

sourdough

100 grams flour

100 grams water

150 grams soft butter

90 grams granulated sugar

½ teaspoon salt 

2 teaspoons ground cardamom

500 ml milk

840 grams flour (I used a mixture of all purpose and white whole wheat)

175 grams soft butter

90 grams  sugar

2 tablespoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg, lightly beaten

The night before, mix the sourdough with the 100 grams flour and 100 grams water.  Cover and let sit until bubbly in a warm place.  Remove some for next time.

To the starter, mix in the milk, butter, sugar, salt, and 2 teaspoon cardamom.  Slowly mix in the flour until you have a soft dough.  Turn out and knead until smooth and elastic.  Put in a clean bowl, cover, and let rise until double.

Mix the 175 grams butter, 90 grams sugar, cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon cardamom, and vanilla in a small bowl.  Set aside.  This is your filling so it needs to be soft and spreadable.  Do not put it in the refrigerator.

Cover baking sheets with parchment paper.

When the dough has risen, portion the dough in half.  Roll it out into a large rectangle, about 16 inches by 20 inches.  Spread half the filling mixture on it.  Fold the bottom up and fold the top down.  You want a letter shape.  Cut into strips.  Without unfolding, tie each strip into a knot.  Place on the prepared baking sheet.

Repeat with the other portion of dough.

Cover and let rise until puffy.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Brush each bun with the beaten egg.

Bake for about 15 or 20 minutes.  They should be golden brown.

I thnk they are lovely.  Boyos want more sticky.

They were really good the next day toasted with butter and a cup of tea.  Talk about a bit of heaven.

ginger and turmeric

I was hurting a lot last week.  Then, I took a misstep on Friday and rolled my ankle.  My ankle is fine but I strained muscles far up my leg and into my bum.  I was such a klutz!

I try to not take a lot of ibuprofen or any other anti-inflammatories.  It comes from being on them for much to long when I was working with my rheumatologist.  I do find a pot of ginger tea with a bit of added turmeric works just as well as two ibuprofen most of the time.  It takes the edge of and helps the inflammation to reduce.  Ice works as well!

I put a pot of water on to boil.  Then I peel and slice a fist size piece of ginger into the water.  I then add about a teaspoon of ground turmeric because I do not have any root in the house.  I let it simmer for about fifteen minutes and then start drinking tea.  

The tea is very spicy so I usually use a bit of sweetner to take the edge off.  I drink one pot all day.  Just adding water and bringing it back to a boil.  It does help.  At least as much as pills if not more.  It does get the nickname ginger fire after sitting on the stove for hours.  Be warned.

neutral, kind of

I got another quilt laid out yesterday.  I have been working on market bags for the shop but I decided to work on a quilt yesterday.  Part of the reason is that I knocked my pile of nine squares over.  It means more quilts truly need to be made!  

I was very pleased with this in the pictures I took.  I find that taking the picture gives me a feel for how the quilt will turn out.  An art teacher friend pointed me in that direction.

I will be updating the shop today.  And on Etsy too.

I realized that I have not been posting recipes.  I have been making new things but it has been a lot of throw this and that into a pan and have something incredible come out!  There was a bit of leftover porterhouse in the refrigerator, so I decided to make tacos.  I sliced the meat and marinated it in lime juice.  Oil, smoked salt, black pepper, paprika, a pinch of chipolte, a pinch of ancho, olive oil, and agave hit the skillet.  After it was heated, I added the meat to warm and be seasoned.  On mjurstut with cabbages and Russian dressing.  Oh so good.  It made a horrible mess and all the mess was lovely.

Even my bread has been that way.  I have been making what is best classified as an Italian but I have been dumping water, olive oil, salt, and flour in the bowl with starter.  I add enough flour to make a soft dough and go from there.  Usually there is a bit of whole wheat.  A white whole wheat but it is a whole wheat.  I am going to have to figure that one out because family will want it I know.  

Writing down the recipe is sometimes the hard part.  I use so many of my own recipes and rift on them.  I get teased continuously.  For example, I have realized I like the caesar dressing heavier on the anchovies and less if no vinegar.  I try to make notes.  Even on my own blog but sometimes.  And then I get fussed at that it does not taste like mine.  But the shortbread.  Family and friends think it is just me on that one.

trying mitered corners on quilts

I finished the Halloween quilt for the Tall Short Person.  She wanted a quilt and not a wall hanging so I made sure everything was attached securely.  In the original pattern, the lettering was a banner across the quilt.  Not going to work as a physical hug!  I did put a sleeve across the top in case she does ever wish to hang it as a Halloween decoration.  The Small Bear liked the "bone daddies."

I am also making myself a Halloween quilt but I do not think it will be done in time for Halloween.  That is okay.  It gives me another chance to play with mitered corners.  I did mitered corners on this quilt and, not perfect, but better.  I needed to change how I did the binding which was okay.  I also need to work on my fingers working better on the corners.  That is just practice.

I had an old piece of red flannel in the stash and I used that for the back.  It was going to be pajama bottoms for Koda Bear but his favourite colour is now orange.  I still had a use.  I also backed the banner edging in muslin.  Life is good.

I did get this mailed yesterday so there is hope that it will get to the Tall Short Person by Halloween.  I can hope!