Sew Loquacious's First Gluttonous Recipe

It's weird.  Whenever I'm on a diet my attention seems to gravitate toward all things FOOD!  The badder the better!  I've been pinning recipes on my Pinterest Recipes board like crazy!  I've also been digging through my recipe collection, as well as my mother's old recipe box.  Not to mention watching my favorite Southern cook, Paula Deen on television!  I've also been a little preoccupied by Christmas crafts, decorating, and baking.  This all leads to the recipe I want to share today.  I've made Beer Bread for the past several years at Christmastime.  I make loafs for my family and I also give them as gifts.  I've used a million different beers to achieve different tastes, but I've never made a sweet loaf until now.  Here is my simple recipe for  Streusel Topped Cinnamon Beer Bread:

Basic Beer Bread Recipe:

3 cups self rising flour

1 can of beer (12 oz can or bottle)

3 tablespoons of sugar (granulated/white)

and these ingredients to make it sweet:

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

Streusel Topping:

1/2 cup flour (regular)

1/4 cup brown sugar (or 2 tablespoons Splenda Brown Sugar, which makes this less gluttonous right?)

1/2 stick of butter

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon milk or water

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 and spray a loaf pan with non stick spray.

Combine the beer bread ingredients and mix.  It will be think and dough like.  Place into loaf pan and bake for about 20 minutes.  Make topping.  Remove from the oven and sprinkle streusel topping crumbles over the top.  Bake another 20 minutes.  Make glaze.  Remove from oven and drizzle with prepared glaze.

This bread is very much like a coffee cake, but a lot heavier. It's also very dense.  I used Bud Light when I made this loaf.  Different beers will affect the flavor as well as the color of the bread.  Adding melted butter to the top of the bread before adding the streusel topping will help to brown up the top.  I think adding fruit, like apples or raisins, to the bread batter would be great.  Also, adding streusel crumbles to the inside of the bread, like a swirl, would also taste yummy and maybe a little lighter.  If you give this recipe a try, let me know.  I'd love to hear your feedback!

In my last post I gave you a little sneak peak at my current quilt project.  Here is an even bigger peak!  Yes, those are six inch blocks I've made using the Vintage Modern Mini Charms I won from Jolly Jabber!  I've got 34 blocks finished and 20 more to go!

You might have noticed I changed up my blog a bit.  I think it looks a little more streamlined.  What do you think?  I'd love to know!  

Tootles!

Pin It

A New Look, Part II

By now you've probably noticed the changes I have been making to my blog.  I've lost count on how many times I've changed the header in the past week!  I've been playing around in Photoshop and I came up with the character in the header as well as along the sidebars.  Please grab my new blog button!  I'm thinking of naming my new little characters.  Any suggestions? 

So why all the changes to my blog?  It's time, I guess.  I really love the vintage images I have used since I started blogging, but I want to try something new, fresh, and a little funky!  I hope you stick with me through these changes.  I am really excited about the new look and new ideas I have regarding posts about sewing, knitting, art, food, books, and more!  Speaking of knitting, I've almost finished the scarf I started a few days ago.  Look for it in my Etsy Shop in a few days!  Unfortunately I haven't been able to get into my sewing studio yet, but I think I'll be able to get to it by the weekend.  Thanks so much for your comments and emails wishing me a speedy recovery!  

Oh, if anyone knows an easy way to add post dividers in Blogger, please let me know!

Tootles!

A New Blog Look

Notice a few changes?  You probably know by now that when I make blog design changes, it usually means I am immobile or otherwise not able to get to my sewing machine easily! The most obvious change is my header.  Usually mannequins creep me out a bit, but I thought these were a little quirky and not at all scary.  You might notice a new profile picture, too.  That's actually me.  Surprised?  I added my "Pages" or Categories under the header.  I need to do a little more tweaking here.  I'm sure there is a way to make the gadgets spaced or aligned better.  There also has to be a way to add images here!  Since I'm pretty much stuck on my butt, I have plenty of time to explore the blogosphere for tips and tricks for more tweaking!  

Thanks to everyone who sent "get well" emails and or left me sweet comments regarding my knee surgery.  My surgery went well and I came home from hospital Saturday afternoon.  All and all my hospital experience was pretty good.  All the nurses and techs were great and treated me really well.  Oh, and my Japanese Fabric Slippers were a huge hit as was my Walker Caddy!  I have a long recovery road ahead, but I feel good and I'm looking forward to a new lease on life with my new knee.  Maybe this is another reason for changing up a few design elements on my blog.  A new knee, a new, positive, outlook on my art, craft, and life in general.  Too cheesey?  Over sentimentalism might be pain pill side effect?  

Besides making changes to the Sew Loquacious blog design, I've made several Yo Yos today.  I convinced my husband to bring me a few bags of fabric scraps, my Yo Yo makers, a pair of scissors, and needle and thread.  Yo Yos are so easy to make, especially with the templates!  I'm hoping to make it into my sewing room soon, but in the meantime, I'm happy making these little circles!  I also have my eye on knitting a few scarves while I on the mend!

Please let me know what you think of my blog design changes.  I really appreciate your feedback!

Tootles!

Fat or Phat Tuesday?

So have I mentioned how I have barely moved from my new "bed," otherwise known as the couch in my living room?  Yes, I feel my butt might become permanently attached to my beautiful sofa.  After my last knee surgery (2008), I recuperated in my spare bedroom, which is on the second floor of my home.  This worked because  there was a television in this room and there was someone always around to bring me drinks and food.  I never really had to tackle the stairs.  This time, however, I have had to be on my own much more and since there is no longer a television in the spare bedroom, I've made the living room my recovery area.  My living room is also only a few steps away from the kitchen, which doesn't help a lot since I'm finding maneuvering on my crutches this time much more difficult!  So, I've pretty much just been laying on my couch watching food shows and drooling over gooey doughnuts, lasagna, and Southern comfort foods like grits and fried chicken!  I have had an epiphany during my recovery:  I must get into better shape before my next knee surgery...the knee replacement!

Seriously, today being Fat Tuesday means the beginning of the Easter season.  To me, this is like a "startover" or a "new beginning" to the year. So, for Lent this year, I pledge to give up sweets.  I also commit to getting fit  while losing 20 pounds!  I plan to blog about my progress as this will help keep me accountable.  Tomorrow (Ash Wednesday) will be Day 1!

I haven't made it into my studio yet, but I have managed to do a lot of web surfing and also make some changes to my blog layout and header.  I made my new header after downloading a freebie "cluster" from Raspberry Road Designs called, Domestic Goddess. I think it brightens up my blog.  What do you think?  In the process of these blog changes, I lost my favicon. I spent hours yesterday trying to redo it, but cannot remember how I did it and can't find any help from Blogger.  I had written myself a bunch of  blogging tricks and tips "cheat sheets," but lost all those documents when my laptop crashed a few months ago.  Any suggestions?  Any and all would be appreciated!  Oh, I added a Flickr Photostream to my blog, too.  I've been adding photos to my new Flickr account, including a few checkbook covers I made before my surgery.

Wow, a long post huh?  Oh, one last thing:  please don't forget to check out the March dresses that have been posted so far.  They are terrific!  I'm hoping to get into my studio by the weekend and start on my March dress!  I'm also behind on my bag for this month's Artful Bag Challenge!  Eek!  Don't tell!

Thanks again for all your well wishes!  I really appreciate them all!

Toodles!

Angela

Swap Time: September ATC "Leaves"

Jan's "Leaves" ATC



Jan's handmade card



Wow!  Only in the midwest can it be sunny and 90 degrees one day and a cold, rainy 62 degrees the next.  I guess it really is fall...I was sort of hoping September would not pass so quickly.  Not because I don't like fall...I just HATE winter!  I mean I HATE winter!  With fall arriving out of nowhere, this just means winter will be here all too soon!  YUK! 

Ok, enough bellyaching..on to the good stuff!  I received my ATC in the mail from my Blissfull ATC Swap partner, Jan, from Fursdonhouse.  The theme for September is Leaves.  Jan did an awesome job.  I just love it.  This is only the second ATC she has made...can you believe it?  Can you see the metal leaves hanging from the bottom of the card? They are beautiful.  Jan sent the ATC inside another card that I believe she handmade.  She is very talented.  Thanks so much, Jan!

Jan should be receiving the card I made for the swap any day.  Be sure to stop by Fursdonhouse and have a look at mine.  I've put a bit of a different spin on the Leaves theme!  Also, be sure to check out all the ATC holders at Blissfull ATC Swap.  All the participants are making holders for their cards.  This contest ends on the 20th!  Here is a sneak peek at mine:

Without giving anything away, this is the beginnings (stress: beginnings) of a dress made from scraps which will be sewn onto my card holder.  I have never made anything like this before.  It has been a lot of fun!  I can't wait to see all the participants' holders and cards!

Oh, what do you think of this header?  I appreciate the comments regarding the last header.  I think I'll keep this one up for a few days and see how this one does.  I really like the frame, but I think the picture looks a bit stretched.  I might play with it some more and see if I can fix it better.  Like the last, this frame is a cluster from Raspberry Road Designs.  Their work is great!

Toodles for now!

Tutorial Posted at Craftaholics Anonymous!

The first step in recovery is admitting you have a problem.  Therefore, I can no longer tread along in denial; I don't mean that river in Africa.  No, I will admit:  I am a Craftaholic!  Thanks to Linda at Craftaholics Anonymous for selecting my Adjustable Fabric Strap Tutorial for Reader's Week on her blog!  I was sew excited when she notified me!  Check out her blog for several great tutorials all week!  I know you'll want to stick around longer because Linda always has cool stuff!

I hope everyone had a great weekend.  I am still recouperating from my trip to Oklahoma!  I had never really been to OK before and I must say, it was more than Okay!  Honestly, I can't thank Stephanie and Matt enough for their hospitality and generosity.  We had a fantastic time and so enjoyed our time with you and all the clan! 

Simplicity 2616

Sew, now that the graduations are over...what's next?  Simplicity 2616 is:

I've already picked up some great fabric.  It is a cream colored linen with a black floral embroidered pattern.  I hope to get started as soon as possible and hopefully write a Pattern Translation as I go.  Sew, stay tuned!

You may have noticed a few changes to my blog design.  As I've posted before, I have a hard time "leaving things alone."  I guess as I am learning about blogging and web design, I want to try to change things up a bit and put my own mark on my blog instead of leaving everything up to Blogger and other template designers.  So, I managed to make my own "button."  However, I haven't figured out how to make the "Grab My Button" part of it.  Anyone out there with some easy (I mean EASY) instructions or tutorials would be sew appreciated!

TTYL

Angela 

New Layout

Good Evening..or good morning. I have been playing around with the blog layout. I still can't figure out how to apply a photo to the header so that it appears the right size and in the right place, but for what I have accomplished at 1:00 in the morning, I'm happy with...for now. I hope you like it. I'm sure the appearance will be ever evolving...until it is just right! Even then, it'll probably change. For now, goodnight.

Angela