Apricot Streusel Coffee cake, #6

I had an excessive amount of apricot filling left after Christmas so I started googling recipes to get to using some more of it.

Of all of the places, I found this on Almanac.com...

HERE

The recipe called for a 6x10 inch pan, so I decided to use a bread pan.

  

INGREDIENTS

1-1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup shortening, or 4 tablespoons butter

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup stewed apricots or apricot jam

INSTRUCTIONS

Sift the dry ingredients together in a bowl, then cut in the shortening with a pastry blender or 2 knives until the mixture looks like meal. Stir in the egg, milk, and vanilla. Spread half of this mixture in a greased and floured 6” x 10” baking pan. Spread stewed apricots or apricot jam over this layer. Cover with the rest of the batter.

TOPPING

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon melted butter

1/4 cup chopped pecans

INSTRUCTIONS

Sprinkle the topping over all. Bake at 375 degrees F for 25-30 minutes.

FO: Shell Coasters

The same coworker who asked for the Sea Turtles then asked for a few sets of shell coasters for herself. The pattern was easy enough and I see me making some more in the future for some beach loving friends!

Started: 4/22/17

Finished: 4/23/17

Yarn: Lily Sugar n Cream in White, Faded Denim and Natural Ombre

Hook: I

Pattern: Sea Shell Coasters

St Patrick's Day 2017

Yep- I'm this far behind ;) but I had all of these photos loaded so I couldn't let them go to waste!

Q happened to be on Spring Break so we were able to celebrate together. 

I have a 6 qt pressure cooker and I borrowed a 10 qt- we made 3 or 4 roasts. I probably could have gotten them all into the 10 qt but thought they needed room to groove. 

Then I made some homemade rolls. I found the recipe HERE and have made them several times. 

We enjoyed quite the feast! 

FO: Coaster Gift

In March a coworker asked me if I could make a sea turtle gift - she even found me some patterns! 

She was looking for a cup cozy and a coaster.

This was the second sea turtle:

This was the 1st one I came up wit on my own but he was just too big! 

Then a coaster to go with the cup in the form of a sea shell.

FO: Sedge Wash cloth

I feel like cotton yarn as of late is not as absorbent as it used to be. I bought some cotton yarn online from Knit Picks to see if it is any better

Cherry Cheesecake Muffins, 3/12/17

Cherry Cheesecake Muffins, by Joanne Fluke

PC Mac and Cheese #5, #1 PC recipe

This is the first new Pressure Cooker recipe of 2017 I tried. We happened to be watching the infomercial for the Pressure Cooker XL (the one we own) and we watched them make Mac and Cheese in it. So I promptly went out and bought the ingredients. I believe I made this 2/15/17. 

It's a combination of 2 recipes.

This old gal blog is the main recipe and this blog

The main thing I took from the other blog was I used chicken stock vs water.

While I was prepping and cooking the mac and cheese, I put some bacon and chicken in the oven at 350 for about 30 minutes to add protein to the dish.

There is a topping recipe on the blog that I did not use.

Ingredients

Macaroni and Cheese

• 1 pound Cavatappi (or other Pasta)
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 1 Tablespoon Ground Mustard Seed
• 1 teaspoon Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
• 1/2 Tablespoon Kosher Salt (or 1 teaspoon Sea Salt)
• 4 cups Fresh Water
• 12 oz Evaporated Milk (Heavy Cream, Sour Cream or Homemade Greek Yogurt
• 1 1/2 - 2 cups Cheddar Cheese (Sharp, Mild or Extra Sharp
• 1 cup Oaxaca Cheese (Monterey Jack, Gruyère, Smoked Gouda, or combination of melting cheese)

Instructions

1. Add pasta, butter, mustard, hot pepper sauce, salt and water to Pressure Cooker cooking pot.
2. Lock on lid and close Pressure Valve.
3. Cook at High Pressure for 3 minutes.
4. When Beep is heard, allow a 5 minute Natural Pressure Release and then carefully do a Quick Release.
5. Open lid and stir in the the heavy cream or evaporated milk.
6. Turn off Pressure Cooker and then select Saute or Browning and mix in the cheese in three parts, mixing well before adding more. When desired thickness is achieved, turn off Pressure Cooker.

amount of cheese is a personal preference, so start with the lower amount and add more, until desired amount is achieved.

Use any of your favorite kinds of cheese and be creative.
Any pasta shells will work. Rule of thumb is to cook pasta for 1/2 the lesser cook time stated on package and then subtract 2 minutes

My Notes: I didn't add hot sauce and we used a colby jack and mozzarella. After tasting hubby suggested adding some velveeta.  I think I used the heavy cream as well. The pasta was cooked perfect- I really thought that it would be not enough but the 5 minute natural release must help after the only 3 minutes of cooking.

FO: Shell Stitch Blanket

I accidentally deleted the draft of this post! So I wanted to make sure to get this finished. I just used the left over yarn I had from the ripple baby blanket I made in July- See post HERE. It's not for anyone in particular- I just wanted to have something on my hook I could work on when the opportunity presented itself.  

Random March Animals

waiting for brother

Happy Easter!!

#4- Cannoli Cake, with recipe, 2/4/17

Cannoli Cake

Apparently I am seriously out of order with recipes. I really wanted to get those lemon cookies posted though- such a great spring recipe. 

8# Anginetti- Italian Lemon Cookies 3/5/17

Anginetti- Italian Lemon Cookies

I have been reading a series of books by Cleo Coyle called the coffee house mysteries. There are recipes throughout the books and this one caught my attention. I guess these are big at holidays and Easter so I thought I would post them before Easter in case anyone was interested. 

#7 Fried Rice 3/1/17

7th new recipe of 2017! We like hibachi fried rice so I did a google search to find some recipes and techniques. 

Double Chocolate Biscotti, #3

Another recipe from OneHundredDollarsamonth.com- Double Chocolate Biscotti

I made this also in January- 1/28/17. January was a big month for new recipes to try...I don't believe February had quite as many. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Lasagna Soup, 1/28/17

Yes we are still on January recipes haha.

A favorite in dinner rotation- Lasagna Soup made it's first appearance of 2017 already. 2 batches of it. We were going to see the Q at OSU and I wanted to make some for he and the roomies. 

Dutch Oven Crusty Bread

I have made this recipe before and it is also from OneHundredDollarsaMonth.com

No Knead Dutch Oven Crusty Bread

Dinner Rolls, #2

I found this recipe on OneHundredDollarsaMonth.com. Go check out her blog- she posts tons of recipes and tips.

 It was so easy (with my stand mixer) and Hubby and I enjoyed them. I made them to go with the Cheeseburger soup. 

Crockpot Bacon Cheeseburger Soup, #1

In 2016 I think we determined I made about 28 new to us recipes. 

Let's see if I can keep it up in 2017! 

Look at that kitchen...I love it. So much room. 

More February Animals

Huggie toting his ring around

Sister Dog

What a poo poo face- He get's mad when Hubby comes to bed... lol

Valentine's Day

Thank you Hubby xoxo =) 

FO: Pony Tail hat

A coworker asked if I could make her a Pony tail hat...I never really heard of one but I said I would try. When I googled it, it's apparently a big thing this winter. It's also called a Messy Bun hat.

Cookies for Q- again

Apparently I have made these several times for the boy since I last posted.... 

Here is the last post