Busy Week: Episode Two Podcast

I have created my second podcast! I want to thank all of those people who subscribed this week. I love receiving an email that says I have a new subscriber. It brings a smile to my face. This week I was overwhelmed with projects that did not involve yarn. I spent a great deal of time prepping and teaching a GATE workshop (Painting With Picasso) to third through eighth graders. It was a lot of fun seeing the students create superhero paintings in the cubist style of Picasso. When I wasn't working on the workshop I was busy sewing and creating medium sized project bags and DPN holder project cases. I was able to get some of these posted for sale in my Etsy shop last Friday. Here is a sample:

I would love for you to grab a cup of coffee (or any beverage) and join me for my latest podcast.

As promised, I'm including my show notes here.

Episode Two: 1/25/16 Show Notes

Ravelry: Everything Jenni group
Instagram: everything_jenni
Facebook: Everything Jenni Page
Etsy Shop: Everything Jenni
Website: www.everythingjenni.com

Works In Progress (WIPs)

Coziest Memories Blanket (Junkyarn)

• UPDATE: ordered yarn from XrayAnn on Etsy (set of 8 hand-dyed mini skeins in the autumn sampler color way)
• Are any of you working on this project? If so, please share on Everything Jenni Ravelry group page for the WIPs thread. Tell us if you are you using the same weight of yarn or the same pattern? What size needles are you using? How many squares have you decided to do? We love to see what you are working on.

Whispering Pines Shawl

• Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Alegria
• Colorway: Antigua
• Needles: US 6  or 4.00mm
• Pattern: Whispering Pines (Molly Klatt of A Homespun House)
• Notes: I just started, but using this yarn I can see that I will not see the snowflakes well, but the pine cones and trees will be awesome.

Hiker Socks

• Notes: I’m making the men’s size medium, so I cast on 60 stitches. I’m still working on these, but did not make much progress this week.

Sewing Projects

• Medium size project bags and DPN Holder Project Cases available in my Etsy shop now
• UPDATE: I have been busy stitching away on my sewing projects. I hope to have Valentine project bags available by the end of the week. I’m also in the development stages of a few surprise projects.

Finished Objects (FOs)

Christmas Eve Socks (Little Bobbins Knits)

• Yarn: Madelinetosh Sock
• Colorway: Clematis
• Needles: Karbonz Circular – Size 1
• Pattern: Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes
• Notes: I used the “eye of partridge” heel flap and the rounded wedge toe.

Casting On This Week

Rustling Leaves Beret from Coastal Knits

• Yarn: Woolfolk Tynd
• Colorway: Color No. 3
• Needles: Size 2 and 3 circular 16"
• Pattern: Rustling Leaves Beret (book: Coastal Knits)

New Yarn Purchases

• Yarn/Colorway:  The Lemonade Shop in Harvest Moon
• Yarn/Colorway:  Paca Peds in Mermaids go Walking

Patterns I Would Like to Try

• Pattern/Designer: Cruiser/Cailyn Meyer (dailyskein.wordpress.com)

Art

• Artwork Behind Me
• Artist: Christopher Burgan
• Title: Hanging Onto Time
• Medium: Oil Paint on canvas
• Subject: Early 1900’s era everyday tasks by everyday people
• Website: http://www.chrisburgan.com (artwork coming soon)

Love Notes Postcard Project #lovenotesjb

• www.jenniferbelthoff.com

Recipe

• Recipe:  Loaded Chicken and Potatoes from Tip Hero on FB
• Notes:  Recipe calls for hot sauce, but I used my own seasoning mixture and a white gravy. I omitted the bacon.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you join me for my next podcast.

Hugs,

Jenni

Oh so pretty dutch oven!

As many of you know, I have been looking for a delicious, no fuss, bread recipe. After trial and error, I discovered that I was running low on patience. Every recipe I tried was too dense. I even gave it multiple attempts with slight variations, but I was not satisfied.

One of the owners of the Village Kitchen Shoppe in my quaint downtown recommended the Sullivan Street No Knead Bread recipe. I was so excited to go home and try it. Based on her description, I had all of the ingredients and I was ready to go. However, when I looked up the recipe online I discovered that I needed a 6-7 quart dutch oven. Darn it! Of course that is the one thing I did not have. I began the search for a dutch oven. After countless hours and numerous websites, I found one to order with free shipping. It was even cheaper than going down to the store to get it. The downside to this is that I had to wait a week for it to arrive. Dang, that patience thing was really becoming a bother.

A week passed and the plain brown box arrived on my doorstep. I quickly rushed in and tore it open. I washed it, and then I pulled out the recipe. As I read the recipe over, I discovered that you had to prepare the dough and let it sit for about 12 hours. Okay, more patience. At this point, I mix up my ingredients and then the waiting begins again. After my 12 hours had passed, I went back to reviewing the recipe. A few more steps and then I had to wait again for 1-2 hours for the dough to double in size.

But wait! It says that you are supposed to heat the empty dutch oven for 30 minutes at 450 to 500 degrees prior to adding the dough for baking. However, my instruction booklet for my dutch oven says to "never" heat it empty. What to do! While my dough was rising I began the search for more information on the Internet. I found a few recipes for no knead bread that used a cold dutch oven and a cold oven. Unfortunately, these were recipes with a more dense look to them. Well shoot! I decided to wing it. I did not preheat my oven or my dutch oven. I let my dough finish rising and then I added it to my dutch oven. I turned the heat to 450 degrees and placed it inside with the lid on. I baked it for about 40 minutes, and then I removed the lid and baked it for about 10-15 minutes longer. When I took it out, it looked great and smelled even better. Alas, I was unsure how it would feel and taste.

I waited again for it to cool. This is the proper method. Ugh! Awhile later I decided to dive in. I cut myself a slice and found it to be light and airy with a slightly harder crust. It reminded me of sourdough. I grabbed some of my homemade butter and slathered it on. Oh my goodness! It was delicious. I was so proud that I devoured another slice. When Christopher came home, he smelled the bread and had to taste it. Luckily, he was in full agreement with me. It was the best yet. I will be repeating this recipe every week. It was great alone, as a sandwich bread, and especially, as French toast. I hope you will give bread making a try and let me know how you do.

Hugs,
Jenni

Butter Making With Jenni

Last week I discussed the different tools I have used to make butter. This week I thought I would share my process with you. The following video takes you through my steps of making butter. It is incredibly simple and does not take much time. I hope you will give it a try. See how simple it is by clicking on the video below.

I'd love to hear if you give it a try. If you have any questions about the process, just leave me a comment and I will get back to you.

Hugs,

Jenni

Butter... Different Tools and Methods

I have been making my own butter for years. I recently purchased yet another gadget for my kitchen, a "buttercup." This new gadget promised to make the small batch butter making process even easier. I decided to do a side by side comparison using this tool and following its method and comparing it to my tools and method.

Buttercup:
Tools: "buttercup butter maker," heaving whipping cream, salt
Notes About Method: The heavy whipping cream had to be stored at room temp for 6-8 hours. Shaking process takes 2-3 minutes. The buttermilk was to be strained through the top of the container. Butter was supposed to be collected in the ramekin portion of the gadget and salted to taste.
Result: creamy white coloring with medium flavor

My Tools:
Tools: mason jar, bowl, spoon, heavy whipping cream, salt
Notes About Method: The heavy whipping cream was to be left on counter for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Shaking process takes 3-5 minutes. The excess buttermilk and water is strained out of the butter by using the back of a spoon to squeeze it out. Butter is placed in a bowl to add salt and then into a container for storing.
Result: vibrant yellow coloring with full flavor

This comparison shows me that I don't need a new gadget for something I've been doing for years. My tools and method proved to be just as effective, if not better, than the new one. I'm sure by tweaking the method of this new gadget I will find a way to make it work for me.

Have you made your own butter? What tools and method do you use?

Hugs,
Jenni

It's Recipe Day! Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

It was chilly this evening and I wanted a hot beverage. I pulled out my Peanut Butter and Company cookbook and found the perfect tasty treat.

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 cups light cream
2/3 cup Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter (To 1 cup of smooth natural peanut butter, add 2 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips, gently melted.)
Mini marshmallows, whipped cream, or Marshmallow Fluff, for serving

Process:
1. In a medium saucepan, heat the milk and vanilla until hot. Whisk in the cocoa and sugar and continue stirring until dissolved. Add the cream and peanut butter and let simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

2. Serve in warm mugs with mini marshmallows, a big dollop of whipped cream, or Marshmallow Fluff.

Makes 4 servings
*Recipe compliments of Peanut Butter and Company.

Hugs,
Jenni

Back to School Shake

Christopher started back to school today and I wanted to give him a nice afternoon treat when he got home. Since school now starts in August we are always experiencing extreme heat. What better way to cool off than with a refreshing shake! This Peanut Butter and Jelly Milk Shake hits the spot. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Milk Shake

Makes 1 Serving

3 scoops vanilla ice cream
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons strawberry preserves
1/2 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon vanilla syrup

Put the ice cream in the blender and add peanut butter and preserves. Add milk. Finally add vanilla syrup. Blend on low speed until ingredients are mixed, then on higher speed until mixture becomes smooth and thick. Pour into your favorite shake glass and enjoy!

Hugs,
Jenni