cupcake in a jar

I may have said this before, but my girls and I are really sensitive to artificial ingredients in food. So I often bring along substitute cake or cupcakes to birthday parties, so we don’t have to pay for it for the next 48 hours. Well, tomorrow is one of those days. So then I thought, “Hey! The current cupcake-in-a-mason-jar craze is perfect for this!!”

I decided upon this cupcake recipe, because it only makes 6. We really don’t need 2 dozen cupcakes sitting around, when we really only need a couple. I didn’t try the frosting recipe, because I already had some left over in the fridge. As utterly delicious as the cupcakes turned out, though, I’ll bet the frosting is good too!

Here’s my 6 little cakes, baked right in the half-pint jars. When they were cool, I turned them out and cut them in half. I put the bottom half back in the jar, squeezed in some frosting, and put the top half in. Then I piped the frosting on top all pretty, and added some pink sprinkles. (I didn’t think about how much grease and crumbs would stick to the side after baking, so if you need them to be really really pretty you’ll want to wash the jars, as in the next photo.)IMG_2881

And here we are! One cupcake ready for traveling, soon as it has a lid. Isn’t it cute?IMG_2884

And for future reference: One half-pint regular mouth jar will fit in a pint single bag along with a Capri Sun and a fork. Just be sure to put the Capri Sun in first.IMG_2893I keep intending to make the 8yo a half-pint 2-jar bag – that would have been perfect for this! She could have brought a drink in a jar too. I really need to do that when I have a minute.

Hey, she knows how to sew now! I’ll just get her to make her own! 😉

 

Muffins in jars

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This morning, I felt like making pumpkin muffins. Now, if you know me, you know that normally I just dump the batter into a 9×13 pan and bake it like a cake. But today I wanted actual muffin-shaped muffins.

So there I was, with a good 3 muffins’ worth of batter left, and no more space in the muffin pan. Looking around for other options, I spied the box of cute little 4 oz jelly jars on the counter, ready for the next batch of jelly. Inspired by all the baked goods in jars on Pinterest, I washed and greased a few right quick and divided the batter between them. It works! I think they’re just too cute. I’m thinking of keeping some jars around just for baking – they’re a lot easier to fit into the dishwasher!

FYI, the muffins in the jars were done a couple minutes sooner than the ones in the pan, so you’ll want to keep an eye on them if you try this.

If you’re interested, the crochet flower hot pad is this pattern. They are really fun to make.

Knitting on the road

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I’ve been sewing so much lately, I’ve been going into knitting withdrawals. So I’ve been looking forward to our Thanksgiving trip for a little knitting project! I chose the Zombie Killer Slouch by Luciana Young, and Lion Brand Tweed Stripes in Caribbean for the yarn. I’m pleased, and looking forward to seeing it all done!

I wanted to share a little trick for knitting away from home. When I print the pattern, I read over it and scan not only for tools I need to bring, but also for measurements I will need. If the measurements are smaller than my paper, I draw them in the margins. See the 10″ mark on the right margin of my paper, there? I’m supposed to knit that far before beginning decreases, and now I don’t even have to dig out my tape measure. I don’t claim to be the first to think of this, but there you go.

I hope everyone had a happy and peaceful holiday, and find yourself inspired to get on to the busy days ahead!

And don’t forget, 10% off patterns, Black Friday through Cyber Monday!

New patterns!

Have you ever had an idea that had to wait… and wait… and wait?  And it feels like it’s gonna burn a hole in your head and your heart until you get it out?  This is one of those.

Even though the “jars” patterns and bags and the embroidered pendants came first, this is the idea that really started the new Etsy shop.  This little bag.  I originally designed it to hold the 7yo’s Leapster Explorer, with all its games and accessories.  (It’s curved at the top to accommodate headphones, and padded to help keep electronics safe.)  But then, I thought, with just the change of a pocket, it could hold the 15yo’s DSi… or a box of crayons… or my sock yarn… or an apple…  it was just such a perfect little size for so many things!  This little bag needed to be a pattern.

And then, I thought, it needs hair and eyes to go with its zipper “mouth”!  Cleaning up is fun when a monster eats your stuff, right?  😉

And now, here it is, out of my head and into the real world!  Finally!  And just in time for your Christmas gift sewing!

There’s also a pattern for the 4-jar Jars to Go bag – I can just see this one used for picnics, or potlucks, or just breakfast and lunch for a long day at work.

And there’s the Jars to Go Single.  Very useful to carry just one jar for a quick lunch.  It would also make a nice gift wrap for your canned goods, I think?

So, three new patterns for your sewing pleasure!  And of course, there’s bundles at a bit of a discount, if you need more than one.  Enjoy!

Just a note about the headphones:  Before I get any concerned comments, these headphones are specifically designed for children.  They do not get loud enough to damage sensitive little ears.  If you choose to allow your child (or yourself) to use earphones or ear buds, please use caution!  Loud music may seem cool, but hearing loss is not!!

Gift bag idea

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Today we have a birthday party for a little friend who’s turning four. I thought his gift needed a little more… gift. So instead of the usual paper gift bag, I whipped up a simple muslin drawstring bag with his name on it. I wish I had time to do a tutorial today, but alas I do not. I’m sure there are plenty of good existing tutorials out there anyway, or you could embellish a purchased bag.

To do the name, I just chose a font I thought suited him, and printed his name in the size I needed. I traced the letters onto paper-backed fusible web, and ironed them onto my chosen fabrics. Then cut out the letters, peeled off the paper, and ironed them on the bag. You could leave it at that, but I zigzagged around them for durability.

Now when that plastic toy inside is long gone, he’ll still have a bag to carry his stuff!

DIY cupcake picks

 

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I run a 100% natural kitchen. I also find myself making a lot of cakes and cupcakes for events. So I’m always on the lookout for decorating ideas that do not use artificial colors and flavors.

Today I’m decorating about 80 cupcakes for a class promotion reception. I was asked a couple of days ago, so I’m scrambling a bit. I decided to try foam stickers to make cupcake picks, and I rather like how they’re turning out. You can use stickers in any shape that’s symmetrical. Peel off the back, stick on a toothpick, and stick the back on again, but flipped over so the slick side is on the outside. They seem to not stick well if you don’t flip it over- that’s why it has to be symmetrical.

Hope that helps someone in a predicament similar to the one I’m in today! 😉

Missed getting a photo of the whole lot; but here’s a photo “in action” on the 7yo’s plate.

modifications

Know where I get some of my best ideas?  From my customers!  Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been asked to make slight modifications to the basic Jars to Go Bag, all of them great and I’m glad I have a plan for the next time it comes up.  But this one?  This one’s going to become a staple in the shop, because I LOVE it.

I was asked to make a Jars to Go bag to hold 4 pint jars instead of 2.  I love the combination of fabrics more and more as I work with them – Amy Butler’s Pressed Flowers and Pat Bravo’s Oval Elements from Hawthorne Threads.  As with any pattern, there’s a little figuring out as I go along – for example, I added another layer to the handles for strength (four jars are pretty heavy!)  But I just adore how it turned out.  I can see this as a picnic basket, or to take to a potluck.  It seems there’s room in the top for some small plates or bowls.  And of course, it needed extra matching napkins!

Enjoy!

So what CAN you carry in a canning jar?

Designing this bag has been an interesting adventure for me.  I was just looking for a good way to send my husband to work with leftover chili, spaghetti or casserole for lunch.  Little did I know that so many other people were trying the same thing, and had come up with such clever ideas!

Here are a few links to get you started:

A good post on Mason Jar Salads;

More salad recipes;

Many wonderful jar lunch ideas;

Adorable little pies in half-pints!

And here are some labels for printing so you know what’s in your jars.  Maybe put your name on it, so no one steals your jar out of the fridge at work?  Or write the cooking method and time?  There are many other fine label designs out there, but these would take less ink than many I saw.  I’d print them on paper, and just insert them between the lid and the ring.

Here’s a really cool thing I discovered:  Did you know that most blenders are designed with the correct size and threading to accept canning jars?  I had no idea!  Imagine the possibilities!  (Smoothies, here we come!)

And another thing I hadn’t considered is regulating portion sizes – the measurements are marked right on the side of many brands of jars.  Very convenient if you’re watching your diet.

 So here’s my contribution:

Once in a while, you might run across a “disposable” plastic container that EXACTLY fits the mouth of a canning jar.  So I thought – perfect way to bring raw veggies with dip!  Here it is all put together:

Here it is with the lid off – see how the lip of the container covers the top of the jar:

And here, all taken apart and ready to enjoy:

I’m sure it’s very obvious how it works, but just pack some veggies into the jar.  Put your dip into the plastic container and pop it into the top of the jar.  Place the lid and ring on, and tighten down as much as you can.  (It won’t go all the way down, because of the lip of the plastic container.)  Once assembled, I tipped it over to check, and saw no signs of leakage.  In case you’re wondering, this plastic container is from a 4-pack of whole kernel corn at Wal-Mart.    I would not recommend washing the plastic in the dishwasher, microwaving, or heating in any way; but I’d be willing to use it for a cold dip.