Success...!!...At last!!

Okay... so I have had a lot of ups and downs the last
few months, searching for a good cookie recipe. I've
been craving a yummy batch of cookies for what seems
like forEVER! I've tried numerous books... word of
mouth... & I've searched online. Nothing satisfied. So,
I finally invested in a book that had amazing reviews on
Amazon.com. Let me tell you...it is a winner!!



They have a special blend of flours, which they
call their Artisan flour blend. It is unique, & far
more evolved than most flour blends I've tried.
They advise that you mix up a 6 or 12 cup batch
of flour, & just store it in the fridge so it's always
on hand. An idea which I think is brilliant.

I whipped up a batch of Peanut Butter Cookies
last night... (it was very simple), & I just added
a half cup of mini chocolate chips to the mix. They
are soft, thick ... & CHEWY! Yes, Actually chewy!!
I can pick one up & walk around with it, & it doesn't
fall apart! That was unheard of in my previous recipe
attempts! Best of all.. they don't taste Gluten-Free!
They are delicious!! :)

I'm not writing out the recipe, but I do recommend
buying the book if you are sensitive to gluten, if only
just for that recipe. I say this because it is the only
recipe I have tried thus far. ;)

I am one happy camper!

------------------------------------------------------------

In other news:

I have just started stitching on Mirabilia's "Cinderella".
I am using a simple but elegant fabric for her, since she
is already in a frantic pose, she really doesn't need to
have much of a pattern behind her. I prefer tame for her,
and I'm not sure why. (It could be that the fabric was
just sitting there being unused...?? lol) Still, I think
she will be lovely. I have quite a number of alterations
planned for her, which will be exciting to work out. :)

Here is a small beginning picture:




That's all for now. Have a great weekend! :)

A day of Flips & Flops

I thought it was about time I updated the followers in
my little world. First off...I am excited to announce
that I have finally finished up the DMC stitches on my
Mirabilia 'South Seas Mermaid'. I got a totally wild
piece of fabric for her... but somehow it works! :)

Have a look:




My new cook book arrived in the mail a couple of days
back. I was out of brown rice flour, so I had to wait
until today to try it out. I decided to grind up my
own, & it turned out great. Except for the flavor! :(
It was older rice, and I didn't realize that it can
turn rancid. Eek! I made soup for dinner, & thought
that a biscuit would be the perfect recipe to try.
(Buttermilk Biscuits sounded so good tonight, since
I've been feeling a little under the weather.) Well..
the powdered buttermilk had turned, the rice was old..
& the combination of the two was just plain nasty. My
dinner was a FLOP!

On days like this, I think a cup of Peppermint Ginger
tea would do a lot to console me. A batch of warm
Chocolate Chip Cookies wouldn't hurt either. :) I
do remember seeing a yummy looking recipe in my new
book. MMmm.. Maybe my brother will bring home some
fresh rice from the store tonight, & my craving can
be quelled. :)

Another fun tidbit: Thanks to Sue from HerBoudoir,
I just won a neat Mirabilia pattern drawing! Can't
wait for it to arrive. :) Sweet!

I am now off to pick out my next Cross stitch start!
This is always the best part! I would love to be a
serial starter, but I have to be practical! hehehe!

I tend to buy my Cross Stitch supplies on a whim, or
when I find them on sale. Patterns are the easiest
to buy, but getting the lovely fabrics is my favorite
part! My problem usually arrises when I go to kit
them up, as I don't often have all the supplies at
once! *lol* Does anyone else share this problem?

Happy, Happy!

Well, happy little me! I have 3 updates to note today.

First of all...due to a bad headache, I took a break from stitching
for a few days. As anyone very well acquainted with me knows,
I'm a rather restless person who can't sit still without something
to keep my hands busy. My solution? I pulled out an old Crochet
project that had been put away since last Summer. I finished it
after just a couple hours, and I am very pleased with it.

First, the pattern:


And now, the finished project!


Well... actually... it's not QUITE finished. I didn't put in the draw-
string or make the pompons yet... but that can wait until later. I
am still very pleased! The color is pretty... a very 'uni' shade, and
the feel is nice and soft. :) I love the look of a cape on a baby.. and
this will be put back for either my little one someday... or maybe
a gift. Not sure yet.
--------

My 2nd update is actually the most exciting of the three...because
I just received a wonderful prize in the mail!!! In the course of the
last year, I have spent many of my spare hours racking up points
online in order to redeem a prize. It was grueling, and it was alot
of hours taken from stitching, but it was very worth it!! I'm very
happy!! My prize is:


Drum roll please!


A KitchenAid Mixer!!!!


Call me excited! :D It is a great, useful tool for my future home.
I'm sure it will come in handy with my current food restrictions.
I doesn't hurt that it cost me all of nothing, either. ;) hehe!

Okay.. moving on!

--------

My 3rd update is the least 'monumental', but it still excites me.
I tried a new recipe for dinner. I was a little apprehensive while
making it, because it didn't seem like it would work... but it was
actually really Good!! :) It is gluten free, & has a little of cheese,
but the cheese could be easily ommited for someone sensitive to
dairy.

Here is the recipe:

"CHEESY BEEFY RICE BAKE"

1/1/2 lbs ground meat
1 clove garlic
1 cup long grain rice
2 Tbls butter or margarine
3 cups water
1 cup shredded carrot
2 tsp instant beef bouillon granules
1 tsp parsley flakes ( fresh if you can)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 cup shredded cheese
12 inch skillet
2 quart casserole dish

Heat oven to 375 degrees - Brown meat and garlic till brown.
Drain, and set meat aside. In same pan cook uncooked rice in
margarine or butter till golden brown, Careful not to burn rice.
Stir in water, carrot, bullion granules, parsley, salt, and basil.
Bring to a boil - Reduce heat - Cover and simmer for 5 min.
Water should be absorbed from mixture - Stir in meat mixture

Put everything into 2 quart Casserole dish - Cover and bake for
45 minutes. Stir once or twice while cooking. After 45 minutes
is up, take off lid. Sprinkle cheese on top - Bake uncovered for
5 minutes

Serve and enjoy

The beginning begins....

Let me start by saying that I am new to the blogging world.
I'm not sure how to manage this site, or how to keep people
interesting in visiting... but I will try my best. :)

I thought I would christen the day with an updated picture
of a Cross Stitch project I have been working on for a few
years now. Also known as a UFO (unfinished object).

"Lady Of Shalott" - by Teresa Wentzler



I started it in either 2001 or 2002, and have been working
off and on ever since. Even to this day I am intimidated
by Teresa Wentzler patterns, so I must have been a fearless
little wipper-snapper. *laughs*
As anyone familiar with TW designs knows, they're crammed
full of half stitches, quarter stitches, and blended threads.
Sometimes I don't think I will ever get done stitching the
boarder...it is so detailed and time-consuming! My goal is
to finish it by the years end.

Come back to find out if I meet my goal. ;)


--------------

Tonight I decided to make pizza for dinner. I tried one
of my Gluten-Free Pizza Crust recipes which I have tried
before and liked. This time, however, I learned a lesson.
I had run out of Potato Starch, so substituted with corn
starch. Typically, not a bad idea. In fact, it's commonly
suggested online. This time though, it was not a winner.
Maybe it's just the kind of food I was trying to make??
I figure it was either the corn starch, or my yeast, that
did not gel right. The crust turned out mushy... did not
rise... and didn't solidify much. :( A big disappointment.
I want a pizza that I can grab a hold of... not have to
use a plate and fork to eat. The only redeeming value
of the pizza were the toppings. *sigh*

I just ordered a new cookbook, but haven't received it
yet. I hope it will have a good pizza crust, because
that is one meal that I cannot live without. I'm also
looking for a yummy, CHEWY Chocolate Chip or Peanut
Butter Cookie. I've only found crumbly ones so far.

Does anyone have a great recipe for:
Gluten Free Pizza Crust
Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

??

Please share!
I'm desperate! lol