Little Girls Sweater & Hat Set

I designed the pattern stitches and crocheted this child’s sweater set a couple of weeks ago.  I have been hanging on to it until I found four matching buttons.  There isn’t one store around here or anywhere on the web that I could find four yellow-7/8 inch buttons.  I couldn’t wait to see how it looked finished. So, for now, I sewing three buttons that matched and one that doesn’t.

It is sized for a 2-3 year old.

I used Caron Soft yarn that I had on hand.

This is an easy and basic crocheted sweater.

Pizzelle Tradition

I haven’t been much into baking lately. I feel bad that I didn’t bake any Christmas cookies, but I did manage to make some pizzella.

Homemade anise pizzella I make every year around Christmas.

Only thing missing this year is my daughter, Carrie,  and two of my grandchildren because they live so far away.   Carrie has made them every years since she was a little girl.  It has become a family tradition.

Once the pizzella is made, then we know that Christmas is near.

Italian Hazelnut and Orange Honey Cake

I came-up with an Italian version of the Greek Honey-Walnut Cake that I made some time ago.

Instead of shortening, I used olive oil and changed the technique with the nuts and added some different flavorings.   This cake was moist and delicious.

Hazelnut and Orange Honey Cake

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup shelled hazelnuts, * toasted and ground
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cups sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup olive oil
1 Tablespoon orange zest (1 large orange)
2 tablespoons orange juice (from the orange that you zested)
1/4 cup milk
Honey Syrup (recipe follows)

1. Grease and flour a square 9x9x2 inch pan.
2. In a food processor or blender, add the cooled hazelnuts, pulse on and off until you have a fine powder. Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Pulse for about 20 seconds. Set aside.
3. In a medium-size bowl; with a hand mixer on high-speed, beat the egg and sugar until thick and pale (about 2 minutes). Add the vanilla, olive oil, orange zest and orange juice and mix just until blended.
4. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix on low-speed until combined then continue mixing on med-high speed for 1 minute, scraping sides of bowl often.
5. Pour into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven until wooden toothpick comes out clean, 25-30 minutes
6. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes. Put cake onto a plate right side-up. Cool for another 15 minutes. Slice the top of cake (1/8 inch deep) into diamond pattern; spoon syrup evenly over top of cake.

*Toasting Hazelnuts

• Preheat oven to 350° F.
• Put hazelnuts in a baking pan and toast in oven for 10 to 15 minutes. They should be lightly colored and the skins should blister. Wrap nuts in a kitchen towel and rub in towel to remove loose skins (don’t worry if some of the skins don’t come off). Cool completely.

Honey Syrup

• ¼ cup sugar
• ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 tablespoon orange juice

Heat sugar, water and honey in a small sauce pan to boiling; reduce heat.
Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
Stir in orange juice.

Crochet Owl Ornaments For Tree

Found a pattern for these cute owl ornaments over at Hopscotch Lane–

They are a happy addition to our little Christmas tree-

Along with the owls, this year, I also crocheted some little stockings–

I think that handmade ornaments add a homey touch to a tree.

I love these cute little owletes…

…and it’s all thanks to talented people around the web who share their little creations.

Christmas Hat Toppers For Canning Jars

My husband, Tom, liked the little canning jar topper I made for Halloween and asked me to make a Santa hat. I like his idea so much that I made a Santa, elf and a ski hat.

A cute little addition to jars filled with candy.

Crocheted Christmas Stockings

I found a cute, little, crochet pattern for Christmas Socks and couldn’t wait to get started making them.

I have whipped up five so far.  I have been working on a couple of different crochet projects and put the socks on hold for now.

Most of us who crochet and or knit probably have a stash of left-over yarn.  These cute socks are a quick way to start using up all the stash that has accumulated.

You can find the pattern over at Le Monde de Ducrette.

Medium-Sized Felted Pouch

Right after I made the small pouches, I crocheted a medium-sized one using the left-over wool from the previous pouch.

On the back of this one, I added a felt embellishment

It is the same size as a cosmetic bag used in a purse.

I was pleased with the outcome of these pouches.

I also made one to fit my Kindle.

How very exciting, huh!

I want to share a quick, easy and delicious supper dish. It is called Beef Short Rib Casserole.  I found the recipe on Mary Ann Esposito Facebook Page.  I improvised her recipe just a little. You can find it here.