Tweet! Tweet!

So, the tech-savvy husband is at it again!  Setting up the KitchStitch Blog to automatically post to the KitchStitch Twitter page via Twitterfeed….

 

….ummm, what?  :)

 

Anyhoo, how about some cool “Twitter Themed” Etsy stuff?!  Check out these awesome items, and the shops they’re featured in!

 

Blue Cloud and Bird Jersey Bib Necklace

(found in LoveandDream’s Shop)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bluebird silkscreened microfiber necktie, sky blue on skinny dark brown

(courtesy of toybreaker’s shop)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tweet – Circular Pewter Pendant

(available in ksickle’s shop)

Uno….Dos….Tres Leches Delight

 

I knew this was my husband’s favorite cake of choice, and maybe that’s why I’ve been intimidated all these years to make Tres Leches from my own kitchen.  It just seemed so complicated, there’s cake….the perfect whipped cream on top….and getting the milk to soak just right….perfect ingredients for disaster.  After moving north, and leaving the native Texas soil, (good) Tres Leches became very hard to come by, so I had to step up my game.  My friend passed along this recipe from Relish Magazine just in time for Cinco de Mayo.  My husband didn’t mind being the guinea pig, before I unleashed this sweet & soggy concoction to party goers, but his standard is pretty high especially when it comes to sweets.  Well, I must say this passed his test with flying colors, it was absolutely amazing….I can’t believe that my non-baking hands could create such a delight. 

 

So, of course….I have to pass this fail-safe recipe along, for those of you that have ever wanted to try it (or have already tried it) this recipe is definitely one to make your summer events and turn a few taste buds.  A few tips, I chose to top ours with rasberries which added a nice tartness to the sweet cream topping, and we also discovered that this was actually better the next day….the cake achieved the perfect soggy consistency (and if you don’t like soggy cakes, bread puddings or custards, you may want to pass).

Tres Leches Cake Recipe:

Ingredients

3/4 cup (11/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided 5 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup whole milk
1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened- condensed milk
2 cups heavy cream
1 tablespoon of rum or liqueur
Fresh berries for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
2. Combine butter and 1 cup sugar in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until fluffy. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well.
3. Combine flour, baking powder and cream of tartar. Add to butter mixture slowly and beat well. Spread batter in pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool.
4. Stir together milk, evaporated milk and condensed milk. Pour 3 cups over cake. Reserve remaining milk mixture to serve with cake. Refrigerate cake.
5. Combine heavy cream, remaining ½ cup sugar, remaining ½ teaspoon of vanilla and rum. Beat until thick and spread over cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
6. Pour leftover milk mixture onto dessert plates. Slice chilled cake into squares and place on dessert plates. Garnish with fresh berries, if using. Serves 16.
Recipe by Robin Noelle, a food writer in San Diego, Calif.

All ten fingers and all ten toes….

As soon as I heard my best friend was expecting, I started scheming on what the perfect diaper bag would be.  The hardest part was narrowing the fabric down to one selection to match her colorful personality, and the rest was a cinch.  The original design of this bag is from Amy Butler’s ‘Nappy Bag’ pattern but I’ve rearranged a few pockets since making my first nappy bag a few years ago.  I love that it’s a simple hobo tote on the outside for the hip new mom, but inside is filled to the brim with pockets; 8 total of all sizes, with a single main compartment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The exterior fabric is by one of my favorite textile designers, Joel Dewberry.  It’s a geometric floral that would go well in any season.  Now I just need to fill the pockets and ship it off to the mommy-to-be!

Spring has Sprung in the KitchStitch Studio

The transformation is complete!!  With new paint, trim, a hard clean and brand new table, the new studio is ready for spring orders.  I made the table from the Target closet organization collection (end caps), and the top is out of MDF from Home Depot…..nothing fancy but exactly the spread out space that I need.  It’s also at stand-up height (36”h), but I also have an IKEA barstool for the intense, pattern tracing moments.  On the back wall I installed a peg board to hold thread, bobbins, ribbon, scissors, and all my little knick knacks.  I brought our outdoor chairs in (Pier 1), so on a cool spring morning we can open up our french doors and enjoy some coffee and conversation, but my little Azure gets first pick on the chairs.

Before:

After:

I’ve already started a few cushion and pillow projects to break in the new space.  The cushion is for my sis-in-law’s bedroom bench at the foot of her bed.  She picked the fabric (I love the bold, large pattern) and I accompanied it with a small geometric, silk blend for the backing.  I’ll be able to make plenty of throw pillows with the left overs for the bed.

Ready for Spring

I couldn’t help swinging by the fabric store yesterday knowing full well that spring fabrics had arrived.  I gravitated towards this vintage style floral and soon realized that it was created by one of my favorite textile artists, Sandie Henderson.  My friend turned me on to her blog: portabellopixie.com I love her vibrant colors with a classic, vintage twist….her photography is incredible as well.  I married this floral with a Joel Dewberry pale yellow fabric and had the perfect spring market tote in the making.

I have another fun Indian inspired fabric in store, we shall see what it turns into….a thrifty purse maybe?

Hello 2010, Time for a Facelift

After shelling out many hours for Christmas orders last fall, I’ve decided that it’s time to give my studio a facelift for a new start to the year.  So, I started pulling inspiring photos of other studios that I would like to take parts and pieces from.  Once I get the renovation underway I will post the before/after shots.

 

I have always loved this style of craft table from Pottery Barn.  It’s clean, open and the right height to stand and create or sit and think.  It’s construction is fairly easy, and even the cleanable white laminate would work well for my varied projects.

I like this photo for the color palette and style.  The pockets of orange accents works well with the white furniture pieces.  I am not too keen on the baby blue for my studio, but works well in this setting nonetheless.

I like the way the creator of this table uses fabric for a splash of fun and yet this table also allows for concealed storage to put messes away.  Still a very clean and fun look.

If I was limited on space this would be a likely option, but since I have the whole sunroom to myself I can be a bit more open.  This armoire workspace would also be better for the more organized crafter, where as I like to spread out and create havoc.  Actually looking at how neat this space is organized even stresses me a little.

Here’s another example of a closed craft table with open shelving for fabric.  Very neat, clean and accessible…..dig it.

 

And here’s my studio, so I have my work cut out for me.  It’s not quite sure what it is right now, but I love that it’s so wide open.  I just need to designate a few areas for KitchStitch and kick the picnic table outside for the spring.  Stay tuned…...

Tote-a-licious

Finished up three more totes for a Christmas order, including this vibrant fabric one with red and black flowers, suited for a 17” laptop.  It is by far one of my favorites.  I still don’t have embroidery capabilities but was pleased to find such cute iron-on appliqués. 

 

I also decided to try out a new cake recipe on my husband tonight.  His birthday was last week and he requests the same thing every year……chocolate cake.  Well, while searching for chocolate cake recipes made by other than Ms. Crocker, I stumbled across this Golden Rum Cake recipe that was highly recommended.  I decided to make it this week’s venture.  The glazing is cooling as I type so I hope the wait is well worth it. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup dark rum
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup dark rum

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan. Sprinkle chopped nuts evenly over the bottom of the pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix and pudding mix. Mix in the eggs, 1/2 cup water, oil and 1/2 cup rum. Blend well. Pour batter over chopped nuts in the pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Let sit for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto serving plate. Brush glaze over top and sides. Allow cake to absorb glaze and repeat until all glaze is used.  (or pour half of glaze into pan and put cake back in, pour rest of the glaze on the bottom of cake and let fully absorb.)
4. To make the glaze: in a saucepan, combine butter, 1/4 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat and continue to boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup rum.