Finding the Right Guage Can Be Tricky!

For Christmas this year, as many other years, we were a little tight for money.  So I wanted to make some of my christmas gifts, and what better avenue than my new hobbie, crocheting. 
I wanted to make a hat for my neice, Leorah, and I had just recently finished knitting a hat for Gavin, my son.  I first went to my local WalMart and found some yarn that is a mixture of pinks and purple... what better colors for an almost 7 year old girl.  At my next oppurtunity (while Gavin was napping) I set to work.  However, I found that either the yarn that I was using was too small, or the needles were too big.  Either way it wasn't looking "right".  So I went online in search of another hat to crochet.  I knew I wanted to do one with earflaps (cause they are just too darn cute).    Finally I came across this pattern... http://angelscrochet.com/patterns/mountainpat.php   and started to crochet..... 

I must say, as a side note, here that I absolutely love crocheting, I think even more than I love (dare I say it...) scrapbooking and cardmaking (another of my hobbies).  I think it must be that it gets done so fast and at the end you actually have something that you can use.  <3

Here is a picture of the hat when it was almost done:

Now I have to say it took me a while to get this pattern right.  I first started out by making it as the pattern calls to do, but found as I neared Round 11 that it was way too big... way too big for my head in fact.   So, I started thinking of how I can fix it.  This is what I decided.. to take it out and use a smaller crochet hook.  So instead of using a 5.5mm hook I switched to a 3.5mm hook.  To my surprise it actually worked!!

My next challenge with this pattern came when I went to do the tassels.  As the pattern said, loop the strings of yarn through the bottom 3 stiches on the earflaps.  So in my mind I thought to just loop it through a few inches enough to then tie in the loose ends.. Well let me tell you that isn't what that means.. you try hiding 12 loose ends into an earflap! LOL...  So then about a day later, after contimplating on what to do with all these loose ends, the light bulb went off!!!  I was supposed to loop them half way through so that the yarn was in half ....kinda hard to explain...  Finally the finished product was complete. Yes my son is modeling it!  Doesn't he look lovely!!!?

However, about a week before Christmas my mom did help and sewed some white fleece to the inside of the hat.  Sorry no picture of that, but it will make the hat a lot warmer.  I love this pattern and may in the future do it again, maybe this time for myself!!!

So, It's Been A While!!!.....

I know I haven't blogged in a while, but with the hussle and bussle of Christmas and everything else going on (more on that later), I haven't had much time to sit and blog anything!   So I guess you can say that this is my New Years Resolution... to blog something everyday... or at least every other day.. or when I do/make something new and exciting to blog about!!! Ha, ha, ha....I know that is vague, but I guess that is why I never like to make NYRs because I hate disappointing myself.

So on with the blogging...

Why the Change?

So as you can see I have changed the name of my blog... Why?  you may ask!  Well simply because I wanted to blog about more than just the food I bake and cook! 
I am also a Crafty Girl (because my mother imprinted it in me) and because I enjoy making things that come from bits of yarn or scraps of paper.  It gives me great pleasure to complete a project that I started  (or created) and being able to share that joy with the ones that I love (which is why I don't think I would ever make it a buisness). 

So Why "Full of Beans"  Because I am literally full of beans everyday!  One of my many loves (besides my family and friends) is COFFEE!  Just ask my closest friends.. Who was the only one to order coffee every morning of our cruise... ME!!! and I take it with honey..HONEY?  yes honey!!!  (don't dis it till ya try it!  Believe me, you will like it!) 

Getting back on topic..
I also have a saying with Gavin that he is full of beans when he is acting silly and knows it! I say to him.. You are full of beans... jumping beans! And he thinks that is great and I usually get a bigger laugh out of him!  I just love his sense of humor.  He really has always had it and comes by it honestly.  My mother side has a wonderful sense of humor... thanks to my Grandfather (now deceased) who would be the one telling jokes at the dinner table.  I have so many wonderful memories of my Grandfather and with everyone I have a smile on my face! <3

So Welcome to the NEW ...

 "FULL OF BEANS"
(still cookinwithclr.blogspot.com for now)

Cheers!

Cranberry and White Chocolate Shortbread!

AKA... YUMMMM!

This was the best looking recipe that I found in the Robin Hood cookbooklet that came out in the mail last month.  Well there are a few others that I would like to do.. but you can't go wrong with cranberries and white chocolate chips!

Here is the recipe: (and what they will look like!)

So as you may be aware, I have a son, Gavin.  He is two and a half and has gotten the cooking bug.. Must be his father's son!  (My husband was almost a professional baker, if he didn't go into the golf course stuff I am sure he would be one).  Each time I bake something Gavin is right there on the chair ready to help; dumping and stirring!  Here he was putting in the packages of butter.  What a helper!!

The dry ingredients: flour, corn starch and salt.

 I didn't think, when I first read the recipe that I would need my mixer, but it turns out ya do.. or at least ya do if you have one!  This is the butter and icing sugar getting mixed together.

It seemed to come together better once I added the vanilla.  It is amazing what only a teaspoon will do for a mixture!

I found that the mixers I used (the smaller whisk like ones) weren't cutting it.  And my mixture was turning into a crumble mixture instead of a thick one.. So I shut down the mixer and got my child to do the stirring (and he was all for it!)  I think he just needs a baker's hat!!!

See... this is what I mean.. crumbly..

but we fixed that with some good ol' elbow grease!

 After it was looking better I added (as per the recipe) the cranberries and white chocolate chips.

This is my friend.. my Pampered Chef pan sheet.  I absolutely love it!  Although I must say it does heat up quickly and that is one drawback to this bakeware line.  I also have to admit that I don't use it as often as I like (cause it doesn't go in the dishwasher) and therefore I always just use our other pans for cookies.  But I do use this one for all my bar recipes cause of the lip on the sides.

Back to the recipe!!!

After it is all mixed together you press it into the pan.  The recipe says to use floured fingers, but it isn't nesessary!  It also says to then poke holes in the top with a fork, but I found that the fork kept getting stuck in the cranberries and chips.  So I only did a few holes. (You can see a few on the left)

So, What, you, may ask, is the best part of baking???...

Licking the spoon of course!!!

There is one piece of baking ware I can't live without... my mixer.  I got this from my parents last year for Christmas and I love it!  Ok.. I know it isn't the most fancy of the ones that you can now get, but let me tell you.... never again will I mix batter by hand!  My arms may not be toned and flab free.. but that is what your kids are for !! HAHAHA!!

Now I have to warn you that you must put the timer on once it goes in the oven... it is amazing how quickly this pan gets hot!  Ya.. I forgot to put the timer on and it got a bit darker than I would have like it to.. so next time remember... TIMER, TIMER, TIMER!!!

Cutting it into squares was so easy when it was hot!  I chose not to sprinkle the icing sugar on it, cause it is sweet enough, for my liking.. but do as you like!

Have fun with this recipe, if you choose to make it!  and remember.. TIMER!

CHEERS!



HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH

Ok my first post.. finally!  I have been thinking about doing this for a while... so here goes....!!  (Thanks Dale!)


This is a quick and easy recipe for playdough!  It makes up in about 10 mins.  You can even get your older kids to help make it.  My two and a half year old loves helping in the kitchen and this was a great on to make with him. 

Here is what you will need: 

Ok so I will also list the amounts too!
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 cup water (I used warm water)
1 tablespoon cooking oil
food coloring (whatever color you choose)

So first you want to mix all the dry ingredients into a pot (for the stove top). 

Then in another bowl mix together the water, cooking oil and food coloring.  (The original recipe calls to add the food coloring after but this will make it less messy for your hands.. especially if you want to make blue!)
Then mix the wet with the dry.
Put the pot on medium heat.. (not too hot cause it will burn).  And then get a stirrin'!  Constantly... keep stirring!!!  It does get harder to stir when it comes into a ball form.  This is what it looked like when I took it off the heat.  (ok.. who am I kidding.. my arm was getting sore and I couldn't do anymore, hahaha!)

When it is cool, knead it on countertop to adjust color.  You can add more food coloring if it isn't the color you wanted... we wanted orange and it came out pink!

Now get the kids (if they aren't already helping) and get playing!!!

Don't forget to seal it in an airtight container so it doesn't dry out!

Have fun with this recipe!!!
Cheers!