Sunday Soup-athon

Crab and Corn Chowder

• 4          Slices Bacon
• 1          Large Sweet Onion, coarsely chopped
• 2          Cloves Garlic, minced
• 6 C       Chicken Broth
• 2 t        Seafood Seasoning
• 6-8       Red-skinned Potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 C       Frozen Whole Kernel Corn
• 8 oz      Refrigerated Pasteurized Lump Crab meat
• 1/2 C     Heavy Cream

1.  Cook the bacon in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat until bacon is crisp.  Remove the bacon with a fork or kitchen tongs and drain on paper towels.  Crumble and set aside.  Pour off all but 2T drippings.  

2.  Reduce the heat to medium.  Add the onion and garlic and cook in the hot bacon drippings until tender.

3.  Stir in the broth, seafood seasoning, potatoes and corn.  Heat to a boil.  Reduce the heat to low.  Cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.  

4.  Add the crab meat and cream.  Cook for 5 minutes.  Divide the chowder among 6 serving bowls.  Top each with about 1 T of the bacon.  

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn

 

Make-A-List Monday

The Week of February 18, 2013

(in review)

1.  Work on the February block for my paper-pieced heart sampler.

This is the second paper pieced heart block I have made for this quilt.  It measures 6 1/2 inches square.  

2.  Make a border striped table runner for a gift.

I was able to finish this project.  Actually, I was able to make two table runners from the

 1 1/2 yds of border fabric that I had on hand.  Sorry, no pictures...it's a gift (Shhhhh!)

3.  Spend a day with little Ryder.

4.  Finish the Strip Club quilt from The Village Quilter that I started last week.

This quilt used both a jelly roll and a border stripe fabric for the sashing.

5.  Work on the January and February blocks from the Skill Builder BOM hosted by Alyssa Lichner of Pile 'O Fabric.

 

There were two blocks each month.  I am using the same black background fabric and a variety of bright batiks for the rest.

6.  Add 21 Hexies to my Bonnie Hunter inspired

 My Christmas Hexie Quilt.

Currently I have 511 Hexies.

7.  Spend a few hours organizing my fabric scraps using the Scrap User's System!

Following Bonnie's Scrap Users System I have drawers for 4 strip sizes and 4 square sizes and 2 brick sizes.  I was able to make a little progress on this project but I have 3 LARGE boxes to cut-up so this should take me awhile. 

8.  Continue to work on my Git-R-Done list.

I added two table runners and the Strip Club quilt to my list this week.  I almost finished a quilt, but not quite.

  In my attempt to update my Git-R-Done page I managed to erase all the additions I made this year.  UGH!!!  I don't quite understand how you can simply push the back space button on a computer and lose a ~500 word blog page.  I will get this glitch fixed; please be patient with me.  HaHa!

9.  Attend the Byrne $5 Quilt class at Byrne Sewing Connection and Strip Club at The Village Quilter.  

This is the quilt we will make with this month's jelly roll at The Village Quilter.  It is small but pretty.  I will post a picture of the block from the Byrne $5 quilt when it is complete.

10.  Work on a few New York Beauty blocks.

I was able to finish 6 blocks this week for a total of 24 blocks finished.  I have 18 more to go for this quilt.  All blocks are paper pieced and involve curved piecing.  I have been working on this project for a few years.  I put it away and didn't work on it for about a year.  I think it is time to "Git-R-Done." 

The Week of February 25, 2013

1.  Work on my Git-R-Done list.  Fix the glitch that occurred while trying to update it and add or subtract any finishes.

2.  Continue to work on my boxes of scraps by adding to my Scrap User's System!

3.  Spend a day with little Ryder.

4.  Add 21 hexies to my Bonnie Hunter inspired Christmas Hexie Quilt.

5.  Attend Quiltfest in Somerset, NJ. 

6.  Complete the January and February blocks of The Sugar Block Club sponsored by Amy Gibson of Stitchery Dickory Dock.

7.  Complete the January and February blocks for the Lucky Stars Block of the Month sponsored by Elizabeth Dackson of don't call me betsy.

8.  Work on a little baby boy quilt for a special Mother-to-Be.

9.  Work on a Sunburst Pillow designed by Laura Sage.

10.  Work on a long time UFO called Roll Roll Cotton Boll by Bonnie Hunter of  Quiltville.   This was a mystery that Bonnie offered in 2010.  It is now available in her newest book:  String Fling. 

Well that is it for this week.  As usual, I have probably over-planned but I like to always know what I will be working on next. 

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn

Sunday Soup-athon

Roasted Asparagus & Shrimp Soup

• 1 lb.      Thin Asparagus Spears, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 2           Large Tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
• 1           Small Sweet Onion, chopped (about 1/2 C)
• 2           Cloves Garlic, chopped
• 2 T        Olive Oil
• 4 C        Chicken Broth
• 1 lb.      Cooked Shrimp, coarsely chopped
• 1 pkg    Frozen Parmesan Texas Toast  

1.  Heat the oven to 425 degrees.  Arrange the asparagus, tomatoes, onion and garlic in a 17 x 11 inch roasting pan.  Pour oil over the vegetables and toss to coat.  Bake for 25 minutes.

2.  Heat the broth in a 3-quart saucepan over high heat to a boil.  Add the roasted vegetables and shrimp.  Cook until the mixture is hot.  Season to taste.

3.  Prepare 4 of the toasts according to the package directions.  Cut the toasts into bite-size pieces.  Divide the soup mixture among 4 serving bowls and top each with the toast pieces.

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn



Make-A-List Monday

The Week of February 11, 2012

(in review)

1.  Work on the February block for my paper-pieced heart sampler.

I did not get to finish this paper-pieced heart block.  Instead I decided to make a Valentine for Ryder.

I'm happy with the way it turned out.  This is how I signed the bottom.

I made some heart-shaped Valentine brownies for his mom and dad.

2.  Add 21 hexies to my Bonnie Hunter inspired Christmas Hexie Quilt.

This is the next section of my hexie quilt.  I have now completed 490 hexies.  It is getting more difficult to photograph the entire quilt as it grows because it is getting so big.  I will continue to photograph each section as it is completed and only photograph the entire quilt occasionally.

3.  Spend 2 days with my DGS Ryder.

Ryder had his first taste of yogurt this past week.

I tried to post a great video of this but for some reason my computer won't let me.  I'll try again another time.

4.  Finish the PQW 2012 Saturday Sampler - Stella colorway.

I finished this quilt top.  Here are a few pictures.

5.  Finish the Byrne Sewing Connection $5 quilt - Repro colorway.

This quilt was challenging for me.  I needed to set it on point and add fussy-cut sashing and mitered borders.

6.  Finish the Byrne Sewing Connection $5 quilt - Batik colorway.

This quilt was not quite as challenging, but beautiful just the same.

7.  Finish the June 2011 PQW Stash Club quilt.

This quilt is a braid with wide sashing.  

 I made it with 1930's repro fabric.

8.  Continue to work on my Git-R-Done list.

I have been very prolific in completing some quilt tops that have been hanging around for a while.    I've completed ten quilt tops so far this year but I have only quilted three.  I am going backwards on my Git-R-Done list.  Oh well, it still feels good to get some of these tops finished.

9.  Make a border striped table runner for a gift.

I have prewashed the fabric but I did not get to work on the table runner.

10.  Work on a Strip Club quilt using a Civil War Repro jelly roll from 
The Village Quilter.

I have made some progress on this top.  I should finish it this week.

11.  Work on the January blocks from the Skill Builder BOM hosted by Alyssa Lichner of Pile O' Fabric.

I did not get to these blocks yet.

12.  Work on a few New York Beauty blocks.

I did not finish any blocks on my New York Beauty quilt this week.

My hubby and I spent a day in My Happy Place...Lancaster, PA this week.
We went FARTing (fabric appreciation road trip) and antiquing.  I was able to get some fabric I will use on my Back to Square One Mystery Quilt sponsored by  Judy Laquidara of Patchwork Times.  I also found some juvenile fabric I need for a future project.  

Here are some pictures of a few antique quilts I saw.

The Week of February 18, 2013


1.  Work on the February block for my paper-pieced heart sampler.

2.  Make a border striped table runner for a gift.

3.  Spend a day with little Ryder.

4.  Finish the Strip Club quilt from The Village Quilter that I started last week.

5.  Work on the January and February blocks from the Skill Builder BOM hosted by Alyssa Lichner of Pile 'O Fabric.

6.  Add 21 Hexies to my Bonnie Hunter inspired Christmas Hexie Quilt.

7.  Spend a few hours organizing my fabric scraps using the Scrap User's System!

8.  Continue to work on my Git-R-Done list.

9.  Attend the Byrne $5 Quilt class at Byrne Sewing Connection and Strip Club at The Village Quilter.  

10.  Work on a few New York Beauty blocks.

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn

Make-A-List Monday

The Week of February 4, 2013

(in review)

1. Work on the first block for Pieceful Nights by Lori Smith sponsored by Jo's Country Junction.

Here is my first block of this quilt along.

This block is called China Doll.

2. Attend Quilts for Kids workshop at PQW.

I am still working on the two pinwheel quilts I started last month.  I just have to add borders and then quilt them.  I'm sorry I don't have any pictures yet.

3. Spend a day with my DGS Ryder.

So Sweet!

4. Piece the backing for my PQW 2012 Saturday Sampler - Stonehenge colorway.

Here is my quilt top folded in half.

I used all my bonus HST to add to the back.  I can now add this quilt to my Git-R-Done list.

5. Continue working on the PQW 2012 Saturday Sampler - Stella colorway.

I was able to finish piecing this quilt top.  Now I have to piece the backing.  Pictures to follow soon.

6. Continue working on the 2011 Byrne $5 quilts - repro and batik colorways

I have made great progress on these two quilts as well.  I should have pictures next week.

7. Work on the June 2011 PQW Stash Club quilt.

This is another quilt that is very close to being added to the Git-R-Done list.  

8. Work on a QAYG braided table runner.

Here is a picture of a small portion of this table runner.  For the most part this is a very easy project.  You can get the pattern HERE. I ran into a little trouble adding the binding.  I had used basting spray to baste the batting to the backing.  Unfortunately it did not adhere well.  I was able to persevere though until I added the binding.  That is when I noticed two puckers.  I was able to take out the puckered areas and fix them but I think next time I will use a different means of basting the batting to the backing. 


The Week of February 11, 2012

1.  Work on the February block for my paper-pieced heart sampler.

2.  Add 21 hexies to my Bonnie Hunter inspired Christmas Hexie Quilt.

3.  Spend 2 days with my DGS Ryder.

4.  Finish the PQW 2012 Saturday Sampler - Stella colorway.

5.  Finish the Byrne Sewing Connection $5 quilt - Repro colorway.

6.  Finish the Byrne Sewing Connection $5 quilt - Batik colorway.

7.  Finish the June 2011 PQW Stash Club quilt.

8.  Continue to work on my Git-R-Done list.

9.  Make a border striped table runner for a gift.

10.  Work on a Strip Club quilt using a Civil War Repro jelly roll from 
The Village Quilter.

11.  Work on the January blocks from the Skill Builder BOM hosted by Alyssa Lichner of Pile O' Fabric.

12.  Work on a few New York Beauty blocks.

I know this looks like a VERY ambitious list and it might be, but many of the projects are very close to being done.  Wish me luck!

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn

Sunday Soup-athon

Hearty Chicken Tortilla Soup

•               Vegetable Cooking Spray
• 1 lb         Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 1/2 C    Chicken Broth
• 1 t.         Ground Cumin
• 1/2 C       Uncooked Regular Long-Grain White Rice
• 1 can       Whole Kernel Corn, with Red & Green Peppers, drained (11oz)
• 1 C          Chunky Salsa
• 1 T.         Chopped Fresh Cilantro Leaves
• 2 T.         Fresh Lime Juice
•               *Crisp Tortilla Chips

1.  Spray a 6-quart sauce pot with cooking spray.  Heat over medium-high heat for 1 minute.  Add the chicken to the sauce pot.  Cook until it's browned, stirring often.

2.  Stir in the broth, cumin and rice.  Heat to a boil.  Reduce the heat to low.  Cover and cook for 20 minutes.

3.  Stir in the corn, salsa, cilantro and lime juice.  Cook until the rice is tender.  Top each serving with *Crisp Tortilla Strips.

*Crisp Tortilla Strips:  Heat the oven to 425 degrees F.  Cut 4 corn tortillas into thin strips and place them on a baking sheet.  Spray with cooking spray.  Bake for 10 minutes or until golden.

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn

Foodie Friday

Pumpkin Pie

•   1        Pastry for 9" pie
•   2        Large Eggs
• 3/4 C    Sugar
• 1 can    Pumpkin (16oz) - not pumpkin pie filling
• 1 can    Evaporated Milk (12oz)
• 1 t.       Cinnamon
• 1/2 t.    Salt
• 1/2 t.    Ground Ginger
• 1/4 t.    Ground Cloves

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place pastry in a glass pie pan.  

2.  Beat eggs slightly with a whisk.  Beat in remaining ingredients.

3.  Pour into prepared pastry.  Cover pastry with an aluminum pie pastry shield or foil.  Bake for 15 minutes on bottom shelf.

4.  Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.  Bake for 45 minutes longer or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

5.  Remove pie from oven and cool.  Refrigerate at least 4 hours.  

Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn