Puff Pastry Sticks

Hum.... food on a sewing blog? What's up with that? You'll see the connection in just a minute...

Just wanted to share a little recipe for Puff Pastry sticks.

You can make these with a sweet twist or a savory twist or really any flavor you want, since it's basically puff pastry dough + sprinkles. For dinner or soups in the winter time I go savory (Mrs. Dash). For this snack one, though, I went sweet (Cinnamon + Sugar).

For the sweet- you'll need cinnamon, sugar and a sheet of puff pastry. Thaw the puff pastry and flatten it out into a square.

Sprinkle about a tablespoon of the sugar and a teaspoon or so of cinnamon on to the entire sheet. Press it lightly with your clean hands so the "flavor" will stick to the dough.

Now this is my FAVORITE part:

It took me a while to figure out why I seemed to like making these sticks for dinner, dessert or parties... Turns out- its like quilting! Its rotary cutting! I kid you not. The next step is to cut the sheet of pastry into 1/2" strips. {{resist the urge to get your ruler!}}

Next twist each 1/2" strip and lay it onto a baking sheet.

Bake them at 400*F for about9-11 minutes. They cool down very quickly & are ready to eat right away.

Next stop- snack happiness!

Puff Pastry Sticks

Recipe Feature!

I have recipes linked over on the sidebar of my blog. You know, its a few things I like to make, a few things that I think you might enjoy... Anyway, ArmchairChef.com was having a call for "Quilt Designers who Cook" type of fall recipes and guess what- My recipe was featured! You can see which one it is HERE. Thanks for the feature, Tink. ~jen~

Recipe Feature!

Seamingly Great Projects

I've had quite a good response to my Seamingly Accurate sewing seam guide tool. I am still researching the possibilities of making it a real product and not just a piece of paper. Keep on the look-out for great things to follow. I did post a link over to the right ---------------> for you, in case you need a paper seam guide in the future.

In other news, I've got a picture for you:

More on that cutie-pie place mat later. Another day, perhaps. Please check back often. Right now, lets talk about that Chocolate Chip Muffin!!!

Chocolate Chip Muffins (dangerously similar to the ones at Dong-A Starbucks in Daegu Korea!)

This recipe is slightly modified from one on "Hey Girls Muffin Maker" at the nickjr.com website.

1 3/4 C of all purpose flour
1 c sugar
1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 c milk
1/2 c butter, melted (this is one stick)
3/4 c chocolate chips (resist the urge to add the whole bag!)

Preheat the oven to 375*F. Line 12 large muffin cups with paper liners. Add all the dry ingredients to the bowl and give it a stir. Now add the wet ingredients and give the whole thing a stir. Add the chocolate chips. Spoon the batter evenly into each paper lined muffin cup. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Cool and gobble them up. Do try to pace yourself, its not like these are all that healthy for you! hee hee. Wash 'em down with an Decaf Ice Mocha and you're in business.

~jen~

edited to add- Seamingly Accurate is no longer available for free download, as of Sept 23rd 2008. It is, however, available for purchase through Quiltwoman.com.

Seamingly Great Projects

Cheese Ball Recipe

I love cheese ball! Its actually one of the foods we have as part of our traditional Christmas Eve foods. (LOTS of cheese ball consumed on that day!) I had a craving for some good ole' cheese ball this week and decided to make up this one for my lady's sew day this week.


I'm all for artsy pictures, but lets face it- we cannot all take artsy pictures all the time. So instead, you get a real picture. This is really how it went down. Cheese ball still elegantly wrapped in Saran and crackers still in the baggy. Please also note the high class china I'm using, its made by Solo. Yes- keepin' it real.

Let me share the recipe with you:

1 8oz brick of 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese (room temp, totally soft)
1 cup finely shredded cheese, I used Mexican blend but you can use any
1 green onion, chopped
4 slices of thin sliced smoked deli ham, chopped
1 tsp Worcestershire
1 tsp Tabasco
2 shakes of garlic powder
2 shakes of seasoned pepper (black pepper is fine)
Chopped nuts, for the outside, if you like.

The trick to making the cheese ball is to put the shredded cheese in a microwave safe bowl and heat it for 15 seconds, just to soften it slightly. Then add in the room temp cream cheese. Now mix in all the other items. Stir and mash it around 'til it is a nice homogeneous mixture. Tear off a big piece of Saran wrap, at least a good sized square. Gently dump out the cheese ball onto the Saran wrap. Use it to shape your lump into a ball or a cheese log. Open the Saran wrap back up. If you're using chopped nuts around the outside, sprinkle them on either side of the cheese and use the Saran wrap to press the nuts into the soft cheese. Once you get it pretty well covered in nuts, wrap it up and keep it in your fridge.

Its absolutely delicious and you can very easily change up the mix-ins, ham and onion, or leave them out all together. I hope you love it! ~jen~

Cheese Ball Recipe

Bean and Ham Salad Recipe

This recipe is based on the one given to me by my friend Leigh. I switched some quantities and mixed up some ingredients, but let me tell you its really yummy!

1 can of chickpeas drained and rinsed
1 can of black eyed peas drained and rinsed
1 package of cubed ham
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1 1/4 Lite Italian dressing
2 tsp cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp galic salt

Basically, you mix it all together in a large bowl and store it in the fridge. Its a cold salad and keeps for a couple days. In the original recipe, there was 2 cans of black eyed peas and cucubmers instead of ham. Both versions were quite tasty and colorful. Enjoy! ~jen~

Bean and Ham Salad Recipe