Sweet Treats Saturday: Nutella Thumbprint Cookies

One of the items that I keep stocked in my pantry but doesn't get nearly enough use is Nutella.  Tired of seeing the same jar sitting there unloved, I decided to get creative.  That's where these cookies come in.

They're your standard thumbprint cookies, but add a little Nutella and sea salt, and it's a whole new level of delicious!  The sea salt is optional, but I think it lends a really great flavor to the hazelnut chocolate spread.

Nutella Thumbprint Cookies with Sea Salt
Recipe slightly modified from A Spicy Perspective
Print Friendly
Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients:
4 sticks (1 lb) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 1/4 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Approx 1/2 cup of Nutella
Coarse sea salt for sprinkling

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a couple of cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpats.
2. With an electric mixer, cream the butter, sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth.  Turn the mixer on low and add the flour a little at a time until it is just combined.
3. Roll the dough into 1oz balls (I used a small cookie dough/ice cream scoop).  Place them on the cookie sheets and make a deep indentation in each cookie, with your thumb.
4. Bake for approximately 20 minutes.
4. Place Nutella in a feezer or piping bag.  Microwave for approximately 30 seconds until thin.  Careful as the bag may be hot!  Snip off a corner of the bag and pipe a little Nutella into each cookie center.  Sprinkle cookies with a little sea salt.  Let cool and enjoy!

This post will be participating in the following Linky parties:

Think Pink Sundays * Sundae Scoop * Sunday Showcase Party *Watcha Got Weekend * Family Ever After * Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Making the World Cuter * Home Savvy * Just Something I Whipped Up * Mix It Up Monday * Made by You Mondays *Tuesday Time Out * Sew Cute Tuesday * Talent Tuesday * We Did It Wednesday * Whatcha Baking Wednesday * Anything Goes * Hoo’s Got Talent * Look What I Made * The Trendy Treehouse * It’s a Hodgepodge * Petals to Picots * Spread the Love * Tatertots & Jello 

The ‘Summer Days’ Dress

The Facts

Fabric: 4 yards of cotton print $30, 4 yards of white Kona cotton $12

Pattern: Colette Chantilly ~$12 on sale

Year: Contemporary

Notions: 1 14” invisible zipper $1.50

Time to Complete: Just under 6 hours

First worn: In Hawaii

Wear again: When the weather warms up

Total Price: $55.50

This dress was the fourth garment that I was able to complete in March and was one of the items that I was determined to complete before my trip to Oahu.  I recently purchased the Chantilly pattern on sale; I had put off owning it because it used up so much fabric and I wasn’t looking forward to all of the gathers in the bodice.  I always think gathers are going to be worse than they are and the dress itself came together surprisingly fast considering you basically make two dresses as it’s fully lined.

Ultimately I like the fullness that the fabric gives to the fully lined dress.  The bodice was substantial because of all of the gathers and the skirt ends up fairly full as well.   Luckily I rarely have to make adjustments to Colette’s patterns and this one ended up fitting perfectly.  

I wore the dress to a luau on one of my last night’s on the island.  The weather was perfect - the wind had died down for the evening and we had great views of the beach and nearby mountains.  The luau itself was fun... I’ve only been to one as a kid and one several years ago with my hubby, but for some reason we left early... It was on Kauai and I think it was extremely crowded and hard to see the stage or something... I don’t really remember.  The food was delicious and the dancing was fun the watch.  I did hula for a short while as a kid - and I always enjoy watching it.  I’d love to take it up again but I just don’t have the time with my Irish and Scottish dancing.

Now I write this from my plane back home, where the weather is at least 10 degrees cooler than Hawaii.  But it makes me look forward to the summer and warmer weather.  It was a great trip and a true vacation.  I tried surfing and stand-up paddle boarding, spend tons of time at the beach, snorkeling, swimming and just laying out, all in the company of good friends.  Though I did get some interesting tan lines which were unfortunately very evident in this dress... and which I didn’t realize I had until I was out and about.  

Once I get home it’s time to evaluate what my next projects will be! I’d like to plan a couple in conjunction with upcoming Sew Weekly challenges and continue working on my stash busting - especially since I acquired some new fabric from the meet-up.  I also want to get in an item or two for the Sew Cinematic sewalong and plan my next Sew Colette item.

What projects are on your crafting plates?  Are you following any sew/knit-alongs?

What I Watched: 

Some of Scrubs Season 3

The ‘Flowers in Paradise’ Dress

Aloha!  This week’s creation was lucky enough to be first worn on the island of Oahu while I’m on vacation visiting friends in Hawaii.  It was the perfect summer dress for the gorgeous Hawaii weather.  But what else makes this dress special?  Well, it’s my VIP fabric and pattern. I’ve had Sewaholic’s Lonsdale dress pattern in my stash for several months now but hadn’t found the right fabric to make it.  And I’ve only made one other Sewaholic pattern before and I was a little chicken to bust out of my Simplicity, Colette and Vogue patterns world.  As I started planning for my trip, I decided that I wanted to make a couple of sun dresses so I dusted off the pattern.  I had recently actually looked at the contents and realized that it didn’t look that difficult.  Now I had to find the right fabric for it...

I’ve had this cotton print in my stash for a while too, and while it’s just a simple cotton print, I really liked it and kept putting it aside for the right pattern.  None were good enough for it or I kept thinking ‘I could do better.’  That’s when Lonsdale and the cotton print came together.  As soon as I held the two up side by side I declared ‘that’s it!’

My vacation was quickly approaching and I was worried I wouldn’t have time to put the dress together, but luckily it was one of the fastest projects I’ve made in a long time.  It only took about 4 hours from pattern cutting to finish.  The assembly was ridiculously easy.  The top of the dress is lined, but not the skirt.  I could easily have lined it, but it wasn’t necessary - the fabric is dark and I wanted a lightweight dress.  I love the neck tie and the way it loops around to the back.  

The Facts

Fabric: 4.5 yards Michael Miller floral print cotton, on sale ~$35

Pattern: Sewaholic’s Lonsdale Pattern, on sale ~$15

Year: Contemporary

Notions: 16” zipper, $1.50

Time to Complete: 4 hours

First worn: On vacation in Hawaii

Wear again: Yes!

Total Price: $51.50

The dress fits great and was just right for the Hawaiian weather.  I probably won’t be able to wear it for a few months back home so I just have to get my fill of it now.  

What I Watched: 

Some of Scrubs Season 3

Sew Weekly Swap Meetup

I apologize for the tardiness of this post - I've been busy since I've left for vacation (more on that later) and didn't get a chance to write about the awesome Sew Weekly meet up from two weekends ago.  I was flipping through my photos and realized I hadn't posted anything yet.  And honestly, my blog feed is overflowing at this point! I haven't had time to catch up on my reader and reply to my favorite bloggers posts.  But don't worry friends, I'll be back out in the blogging world soon enough!

On to the meet up.

So, two weekends ago, I went to Mena's (of Sew Weekly) house in San Francisco where she was hosting a little get-together for local Sew Weekly members/sewing enthusiasts.  People were asked to bring fabric and patterns for a good old fashioned swap.  Well, I've never been to a sewing swap before as I'm still fairly new to this and wasn't able to attend her last gathering.  I arrived in a cold, rainy San Francisco with a cluster of patterns and some chamomile tea and honey cupcakes... because arriving anywhere with cupcakes is always a good thing.  I soon realized that this was going to be a big deal.  People were arriving with bags of fabric and patterns.

Mena provided some delicious fresh-baked treats. My chamomile cupcakes are on the right.

Mena has a lovely place in San Francisco that was shortly filled with said oodles of fabric, vintage patterns and lovely sewing ladies.  Seriously, they came prepared!  Mena's dining room table was overflowing with vintage patterns that only seemed to multiply with time!  The connecting room had fabric covering a sofa and two tables.  We took turns introducing ourselves - I recognized a couple of ladies from the Sew Weekly there - and then drew numbers to venture into the fabric/pattern void.  I was lucky enough to get number 2 which meant I didn't have to wait long to pick out some fun finds.

Views of the different areas to peruse during the swap.

It was great to meet so many like-minded people and to see what fantastic patterns and fabrics they were able to find.  I also loved when the person who contributed the item talked about when/where they got it and what they originally planned to make with it.

I couldn't believe how much stuff everyone left with - and how much was still left behind! In the end we were huddled over Mena's dining room table picking out patterns and notions.  I got some great fabrics and left inspired by the many ladies that I met.  Here are some photos of what I left with:

By the way... I forgot my camera for the event (don't you hate it when you leave it on the table at home next to your pile of stuff to bring?) so everything was taken with my iPhone. Thus the lack of pictures and the low quality.

Sweet Treats Saturday: Black Bottom Banana Cupcakes

Another recipe to use up those bananas that you just couldn't get to. At this point, I almost wait for my bananas to ripen just so I can make some of these yummy treats.  It's a way to get fruit in my diet, so at least there's an added bonus.

These cupcakes are soooo good.  They're not your standard cupcakes - there's no dollop of frosting on top.  But they're not necessarily muffins either.  They have a chocolate-y banana base, with a chocolate chip, cream cheese layer on top.  The combination?  Perfect! 

Black Bottom Banana Cupcakes

Recipe from Bakerella
Print Friendly

Makes 18 cupcakes

Cream Cheese Mixture Ingredients:

8oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1 small banana, pureed

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

8 oz. (1 cup) semisweet chocolate chips

Chocolate Mixture Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup cocoa

1 cup sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 large bananas, pureed

1/3 cup oil

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two cupcake pans with 18 liners.

Cream Cheese Mixture Directions:

1. Beat cream cheese and sugar until nice and fluffy.  

2. Add banana, egg and vanilla, and mix together until combined.

3. Stir in chocolate chips and set aside.

Chocolate Mixture Directions:

1. Sift together flour, cocoa, sugar, soda, and salt using a wire whisk.

2. Add bananas, oil and vanilla, and mix together on low until combined.

Baking Directions:

1. Divide the chocolate batter between the 18 liners.  Flatten batter slightly to fill the base of the liners.

2. Then top the chocolate batter with the cream cheese mixture.

3. Bake between 25-30 minutes.  The cream cheese batter will be slightly moist but be careful not to overcook as the cupcake bottoms can burn.

Let cupcakes cool slightly... then enjoy!

Check out Bakerella's blog for more details on her use of different linings.  I used standard cupcake liners which turned out well.

This post will be participating in the following Linky parties:

Think Pink Sundays * Sundae Scoop * Sunday Showcase Party *Watcha Got Weekend * Family Ever After * Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Making the World Cuter * Home Savvy * Just Something I Whipped Up * Mix It Up Monday * Made by You Mondays *Tuesday Time Out * Sew Cute Tuesday * Talent Tuesday * We Did It Wednesday * Whatcha Baking Wednesday * Anything Goes * Hoo’s Got Talent * Look What I Made * The Trendy Treehouse * It’s a Hodgepodge * Petals to Picots * Spread the Love * Tatertots & Jello 

The 'Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Rain Coat'

I've been so busy the last couple of weeks that I haven't been able to get much sewing done.  I always forget how crazy March is because of St. Patrick's Day.  Extra dance practices with the class and on my own suck up a lot of sewing time.  And work has been crazy busy too.  So I'm trying to keep afloat and get some 'me' time in with my sewing.  Oh, and did I mention one of our cars died?  And the hubby had to have surgery to have his tonsils removed? Buuusssyyy! Luckily the hubby dances too so we spent a lot of time together prepping for the shows.  They were a lot of fun, but as with every year - I'm glad they're over!

Hubby and I at one of our rainy shows.  Taken by my amazing friend Deb.

Now, onto my garment for the week.  Or last two weeks.  Because I've been so busy, this project took a while.  But it also was just a slow garment to sew and took a lot of concentration, so I tried to take my time.  But I was excited to do it and to have it done in time for Pantone week at Sew Weekly.  Luckily this week's theme was pushed out one week due to a impromptu green challenge (I know, I can't believe I sat out of that one, but I just didn't have time!).

A few years ago I worked in product development and thus lived and breathed Pantone.  I was constantly referring to Pantone guides for the household goods I would create, as it's the only way to ensure uniformity in products from multiple manufacturers.  I used to love going to the Chicago Housewares show and checking out Pantone's mega displays of colors and color trends.  Now, I've moved on from that life, but I instantly jumped on this week's Sew Weekly challenge.


Not only was the challenge timely to really use the Spring 2012 color trends, but my garment happened to be right on time too.  You see, I decided to make my second rain coat.  Because apparently working with oil cloth once just wasn't enough.  One of the first garments I made when I started sewing clothing in 2012 was a rain coat.  I used the Amy Butler Rainy Days pattern which is pretty straightforward. But what they don't tell you in sewing 101 (or maybe that do... I never really took sewing 101) is that oil cloth, while fairly easy to work with, definitely comes with it's challenges.  The two main ones:


1. The inability to use pins.  Any holes you make in oil cloth stay there.  So swap out the pins for alligator/binder clips.  When cutting your fabric, tape the pattern pieces with little bits of scotch tape.  It makes it so much easier!
2.  It's sticky. On your machine and metal that is.  So either stick some scotch tape on the bottom of your presser foot or use a plastic presser foot.  My new machine came with the latter so I was eager to try it out.
3. You can't iron your oilcloth... or it'll melt. So once you've sewed a bit, but back your seam allowances and finger press your seams.


Even knowing these two things though, the main thing with oil cloth is you can't be a speed demon.  Because it's tacky you have to slow it down a bit or it'll get lumps and bunches while you're sewing.  Or maybe that's just me?  But really, this project was done in slow motion.  Every time I worked on a bit in cotton you could hear me exclaim 'wooooohoooo!!' and then I'd repeat the process in the oil cloth and a groan would come out from the sewing room.  And gathering in oil cloth?  A whole 'nother story.

So, back to my garment and how it meets this week's requirements.  So I used the Prince Charming Dew Drops laminated cotton fabric from Fabric.com.  The fabric happens to have three of the Spring 2012 pantone colors in it: Sodalite Blue, Solar Power and Cockatoo.  The fabric itself looks more green online, but it is in-fact mostly blue, teals and yellow.

The Facts

Fabric: 3 yards Free Spirit Laminated Fabric $45, 3 yards Kona cotton in Canary $15
Pattern: Amy Butler's Rainy Days, 2nd time making $0
Year: Contemporary
Notions:  6 buttons $3
Time to Complete: Approx. 8 hours
First worn: All week!
Wear again: Oh yeah!
Total Price: $63

I omitted the pockets for now as I don't usually use them too much on my previous rain coat.  I did make them so I might add them at some point, but for now, I liked the solid panels of the rain drop fabric in the front.  Oh and this is one of the first times that I've really worked with a directional print.  That was a learning lesson in itself. Luckily I only had one minor mishap where I cut the under-sleeve panel upside down but I quickly realized that I needed to be more conscious when working with this fabric.


Finishing this project was so satisfying! I love rain coats - they're so convenient! Not having to panic if you forgot an umbrella, or if the weather is just iffy, you can wear it just in case.  And I love the rain drops print with the bright yellow inside. It makes me feel very festive for Winter/Spring.

What I Watched: 
More Scrubs! Finished Season 1, now onto Season 2

Featured Friend: Miss Crayola Creepy

We're staying local for this month's Featured Friend, Miss Crayola Creepy!  Erin is another California girl/sewing blogger/kitty mama who is also one of the hosts of the awesome Sew Colette challenge.  Participants are sewing their way through all of the patterns of the Colette handbook.  Between Erin's blog and Sarah from Rhinestones and Telephones, tutorials and project parades are being hosted throughout the year.  It's been a fun challenge so far and I love following along on their two blogs.  So read on for more on Miss Crayola Creepy!

What inspires you?

I don't want to come off as being corny, but all of YOU inspire me! Everyday I can't wait to check out my Google Reader and see what you have all been making. I get inspired by your color combinations, pattern choices, alterations, fabrics, tutorials, etc. I have even made a Pinterest board dedicated to all the sewing inspiration I get from you guys. Not only is everyone so talented, but nice too! We are lucky to "know" each other. When I need help or need inspiration I always turn to the sewing community first.

When I come across fabrics or color combinations from magazines that I like, I put them on my inspiration board above my sewing machine. When I see the fabrics it reminds me of what is in my stash and the color combinations inspire me for future projects.

What is your craft space like?

I try to keep my space organized, for the most part. It's not because I am a neat freak, but because I don't want my cats jumping on my desk and messing things up or worse, hurting themselves! Stella is known to shred papers (RIP Simplicity 2591) and Lebron pulls pins out of the pin cushion and tries to eat them.

My desk top is kept pretty bare other than a small ironing board, lamp, a small jar of buttons (more fashion that function), a candle, and my sewing machine. To the right I have a bookshelf with multiple purposes. The top shelf is used to hold all of my sewing books and mending projects that I keep putting off. The middle shelf holds all my rulers and muslin fabric. The bottom shelf stores lucky neko figures because I am not sure where else to put them at the moment. Technically the room is my husband's room, but he has slowly been moved out as I "need" more space for sewing . Don't feel sorry for him, he has all the room in the world in the garage!

Let us in on your stash... what’s coming, what’s in progress, what are you stumped with?

Last year in an attempt to stay organized I made a page on my blog where I could list all of my past, present, and future projects. When I finish a project I cross it off and add a link to the blog post about it. If there isn't a line through it then it's one I want to make in the future. 

This year I decided that 2012 was going to be "The Year of Colette" and I was going to make one of their patterns each month. I have started with the patterns in the handbook, but also plan on sewing Clovers, Rooibos, Peony, and Macaroon. It's not quite twelve, so I will just have to buy more, darn it ;)

What is your favorite craft to work with? 

Garment sewing has my heart, but I have also been taking quilting classes to learn the basics. What I love about quilting is that the finished product doesn't have to "fit," so quilts make great gifts for friends and family. It's also fun sitting with the ladies in my class every week and talking about books and movies.

Recently my friend inspired me with her amazing embroidery, so I have been trying to learn some simple stitches. My goal is to eventually embellish some of the clothing and quilts that I make with some of Jenny Hart's cute designs.

What is your favorite thing that you’ve created so far?

My favorite thing that I have created so far would have to be a quilt that I made for my mother in law. It was a "mystery quilt" which I started in July 2011 and finished in December 2011, just in time to ship to England for the holidays. The instructor for my class told us to buy dark, medium dark, medium, and light fabric in specific quantities. Each week she would tell us what to cut and sew, but we had no idea what the end product would look like. I chose fabrics with a beachy feel because the first time I met my mother in law was in Maui. Making the quilt was very time consuming, but the end product was totally worth it. I'm working on another one right now and I am hoping to have it finished by summer, fingers crossed!

Where can I read more? 

You can find my blog here: http://misscrayolacreepy.blogspot.com/

I'm also in Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/crayolacreepy/

Sweet Treats Saturday: Cream Cheese Banana Bread

Quote from hubby as I was walking away with him with a slice in hand: 'I don't normally like banana bread, but that stuff was gooood.'

Seriously, I don't think I need to ever try another banana bread recipe after this one.

The combination of cream cheese and four bananas, made this recipe so moist.  The pecans added a nice, nutty flavor to it (though if you really hate nuts in your banana bread, you could omit them... but seriously, you're missing out).  I would say that the brown sugar topping was really what made it, but the fact that every bite was so delicious leads me to say that this is just an awesome recipe.

My bananas were ridiculously ripe.  To the point where I was so grossed out even handling them.  But I'm kind-of a banana wimp.  A few brown spots on them and they're on the verge of being only used for smoothies for me.  I made the hubby peel them instead (Can I help you with anything? Well, actuuuaaallllyyy...).

Cream Cheese Banana Bread with Pecans
Recipe from Bake or Break
Print Friendly

Ingredients for the bread:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed, ripe bananas (about 4 medium)
1 cup toasted pecans, chopped
1/2 tsp vanilla

Ingredients for the topping:
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tbsp butter, melted
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease and flour two 8x4 loaf pans (I did one large, two small)
2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.
3.  Using an electric mixer, beat butter and cream cheese until creamy.  Gradually add the sugar, mixing until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing until just blended.
4. Gradually add the flour mixture, beating at low speed until blended.  Stir in bananas, vanilla, and pecans.
5.  Divide the batter evenly and spoon into prepared loaf pans.
6.  Combine all topping ingredients in a small bowl.  Sprinkle evenly over the batter in the pans.
7.  Bake for approx. 1 hour, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  If necessary, cover the pans loosely with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning.
8. Cool bread in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.  Remove from pans onto the wire racks to cool completely.

This post will be participating in the following Linky parties:

Think Pink Sundays * Sundae Scoop * Sunday Showcase Party *Watcha Got Weekend * Family Ever After * Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Making the World Cuter * Home Savvy * Just Something I Whipped Up * Mix It Up Monday * Made by You Mondays *Tuesday Time Out * Sew Cute Tuesday * Talent Tuesday * We Did It Wednesday * Whatcha Baking Wednesday * Anything Goes * Hoo’s Got Talent * Look What I Made * The Trendy Treehouse * It’s a Hodgepodge * Petals to Picots * Spread the Love * Tatertots & Jello