Jelly Shots!

A friend recently made me aware of the awesome Jelly Shot Test Kitchen blog, and I've been wanting to try their "Rainbow Cherry Jigglers". I recieved all of the cherry flavors as a housewarming gift (from someone who probably wants to try these shots too!), and this weekend is the perfect opportunity for some Jello shooting.

Ingredients
2 boxes Knox gelatin
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups vodka (or rum, or whatever you want)
2 cups 7 Up
Vegetable oil
Maraschino cherries
Candy sprinkles

Tools
Silicon ice cube trays
Cookie sheet
Cutting board
Knife
Pan for boiling
Turkey baster

Step 1. Arrange ice cube trays on the cookie sheet so they're level. Lightly grease each cup with vegetable oil, to allow the shots to release more easily later.

Step 2. Add 2 cups pineapple juice to a pan and sprinkle in 2.5 envelopes of Knox gelatin. Stir over low heat until gelatin is dissolved, about 5 minutes.

Step 3. Use the turkey baster to fill each cup 1/3 full with the juice/gelatin mixture. Place cookie sheet in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Step 4. Trim the bottom off of each cherry so that it will stand up. Once the first layer of gelatin has set, add a cherry to each cup.

Step 5. Heat 2 cups of 7 Up (about 1 can), with 5.5 packets of Knox gelatin over low heat. Stir for about 5 minutes, until gelatin has dissolved. Remove from heat, add 2 cups vodka, and cool for 15 minutes.

Step 6. After the gelatin is cool enough not to melt the pineapple layer, use a turkey baster to fill each cup to the top, covering as much of the cherry as possible. Move cookie sheet back to the refrigerator to cool for several hours, preferrably overnight.

Step 7. Carefully peel shots from their silicon molds, arrange on a plate, and dust with candy sprinkles!

October Baking Club

Together with some cousins, I've decided to have a baking club at least once a month. We did our first one last Saturday. We baked for 6 hours! We made:

* Brownie Bites

* Chocolate Scary (cherry) Cupcakes

* Pumpkin Creme Brulee

* German Chocolate Cookies
* Apple Cranberry Tart

* Cut Out Cookies

* Spritz

* Witch's Fingers

Here are the goods:

Sewing Projects!

Two weeks ago, I personally experienced a place that I'd only heard rumors about. It's true, SR Harris Fabric Outlet in Brooklyn Park is as good as they say it is.

I found my first trip there a little overwhelming. It took me about an hour to figure out where everything is, and then another two hours to find exactly what I was looking for. I think that this place would be a great store to shop with a friend, or to come with one project in mind. I was alone, and had a few different ideas swimming in my head.

After a few hours of digging through fabric bolts, I had found everything that I needed. I ended up with some black doubleknit for a 50's dress pattern that I've been wanting to make. Since the fabric is black, I didn't take a picture of it.

Next, I found an upholstery remnant to make myself a reusable grocery shopping bag. The red quilter's cotton was already in my stash at home.

After that I was on to a jacket that I'd wanted to make for awhile, but never found quite the right fabric for. I found the blue outer fabric, then I found the striped Nanette Lepore fabric for the lining. I was satisfied, until I came across the floral cotton that was just so pretty! I decided to line the sleeves with stripes and the body with floral. This way I can have both!

Last was a Vogue suit pattern that I'd been afraid of for about 5 years. I've had the pattern as long as I've known my husband, but never had the guts to cut into some beautiful fabric and chance messing up what will surely be a challenging pattern. I found some great Tahari wool/cashmere to make the jacket only, and decided to use purple knit for the sleeve lining. The next day I decided that it was silly to not have gotten the skirt fabric too. I sent my husband (who works down the street) along with turn by turn directions through the maze of a store, to get another yard and a half. Somehow, amongst 5000 bolts of fabric, he found exactly the right one! Yay!

That day I also got a few other fabrics that I just liked, but not for anything specific. I have a few apron things that I'd like to finish (Probably for gifts since I have about 15 aprons in my kitchen already!), more grocery bags, and a few other creative things!

Hello Blog World!

Since this fabulous blog is new, I should probably begin by introducing myself.

I live in the Midwest with my husband. We don't have any kids yet (although that future milestone is sure to bring on whole new levels of Martha-ness). We bought our first home about 6 months ago, and the bigger space and my natural nesting instincts have increased my crafting, sewing, cooking, decorating, and general domesticity tenfold. I think that there are so many fun things going on at my place that I need somewhere to share them with the world.

Also, I am becoming my mother.