Mocha Frappuccino

Do you ever just need to celebrate coming to the end of a project? That's just what I did today as i finished up the last two triangles for my Pop Stars Quilt!

 Vicki and I have been having a ball on our Sewing Tuesdays as we've stitched  1.5 inch strips onto muslin foundations for the last seven months. We are both going to use our quilts as tablecloths and I need 60 of these large triangles for my 63"x105" quilt. Check that off of my list... Now to get them all stitched together!

 Being a bit addicted to coffee drinks lately, I've been wanting to come up with a way to make my own frappuccinos. I think that I've concocted a pretty good recipe that's quick, easy to fix, and ohhhhh so good! I'll share the recipe just in case you have something to celebrate also!

 Mocha Frappuccino

8 ounces International Delight Mocha Iced Coffee (Find this in the dairy case)

4 ounces milk

1 packet Truvia or any sweetener

1 or 2 drops Vanilla extract

Crushed ice

Makes 20 ounces

 Put all ingredients into a blender, adding the ice last and filling it to approximately the 20 ounce line.

 You probably could use ice cubes if crushed is not available...just takes a bit more blending.

 Now, just push the blend button until you don't hear any more ice breaking up and the drink is blended and frothy.

 This makes a nice big frappuccino for sharing with a friend.

Or, if you have an extra 210 calories to spare, do as I did and drink the whole thing yourself! What do you have to celebrate?

Tree Skirt, Yummy Cookies and a Winner

Twenty years ago, I made this tree skirt. It is the first quilt that I did free motion quilting on. (The quilting is so tight and small that the skirt can almost stand up on it's own!)

 The backing is simple muslin.  I got the fun idea (somewhere) a few years ago, to use the back to trace around the hands of my grandchildren each year.  As they grow, it's been fun to compare their prints from year to year and for the kids to practice printing their names. My grandchildren range in age from 4 months to six years....hope I have enough room for all those hands as the years add up!

 Soft, chewy cookies......love 'em, don't you?  We had a cookie exchange at the modern quilt guild meeting last week.  These are the cookies that I wanted to bring, but didn't because I tried to do too many things that day and the cookies got pushed aside.( Sorry, ladies.)

Saturday, as the wind whipped up outside and snowflakes started to fall, I got out the mixing bowl and stirred up these yummy cookies.

 I thought I would share the recipe just in case you have a cookie exchange coming up and want to make a big impression.  I'm not lying...........these morsels are worth every calorie!!


MACADAMIA NUT WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP GINGER COOKIES
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup shortening
2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup molasses
4 cups flour
5 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. ground ginger
2 tsp. ground cloves
2 tsp. baking soda
12 oz. pkg. white chocolate chips
1/2 to 3/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts
Cream butter and shortening. Work in 2 cups sugar till well mixed. Beat in eggs and molasses. Sift together dry ingredients and add to butter mixture. Add white chocolate chips and nuts, mixing well. Drop by large tablespoon onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. This makes about 6 dozen cookies; enough to share and some to keep for yourself. They freeze well. Be sure to not overcook these if you like soft chewy cookies like I do. (Especially good while still warm from the oven!)

                                                                           Enjoy!
There were 81 entries for the FQ Pack on my 100th post! So many of you have made a disappearing nine patch quilt or are hoping to give it a try in the future.  Thanks to everyone of you for visiting my blog and a special welcome to the new followers. Come visit often.
My personal Random Generator chose the winning entry this morning..............

Number 36, Melissa, said, "My Project Plume runner was in a Disappearing 9 Patch and it was fun!

Congrats on 100 posts! I've sure enjoyed reading them!" Melissa is actually a member of the KC Modern Quilt Guild with me.  Congrats, Melissa!

Blueberry Bars

Mmm.....blueberries.  So good, and so good for you!

I finished this bar quilt yesterday....destined for New Hope Homes.  I've been working on it a while as a Leader/Ender project using scraps from my stash.

The quilting went fast; doing loops in the bars and a squiggle down each white strip. I bound it in an orange stripe that I had in my stash.  Did you notice the few orange slices scattered among the blueberries?

I have a special helper today. We're feeling sorta hungry now for some blueberry dessert!  Here's an easy recipe that you just gotta try...........

BLUEBERRY DUMP CAKE

1 can crushed pineapple (20 oz)

3 cups fresh blueberries

3/4 cup sugar

1 box dry yellow cake mix

1 stick butter, melted

1 cup pecans

1/4 cup sugar

Layer ingredients in order into a 13X9 pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Yummy topped with ice cream or cool whip.....or not!