ianuk

Well, in the last week we've accomplished a lot. I managed to make it through work and finalize some end of year stuff. I made a scroll which you will get to see and then we had a nice weekend at HOME! with Benton and Mel. TE of Tir Ysgithr had commissioned me way back in September I think to make a scroll for the December event. I figured this wasn't and issue but when its for someone in your painting group and you are queen for a while and then you are gone for most of a month well....December arrives before you know it. It does not help that said recipient kept showing up just when I was going to work on either. Sighs. But I got it done and I didn't have to scramble to get it done. By Thursday night last week it was completed and I'm very pleased with it. I did not have blue ink and ended up using ultramarine paint which I loaded on my pen to do all of the blue. It worked out really well.

I was able to steal Willa for a quickish trip to a local craft fair on Saturday morning and then got home to work on cleaning the house and getting Christmas stuff up. I managed to get the outside lights up but needed one more extension cord and adapter to light up the other cactus. We've gone all LED lights and they are so pretty. Then after Benton was in bed mel and I worked on the family room and got the tree up. I do think I will be looking for a prettier and fuller xmas tree next year. Our little $25 jobber is starting to show her age. Oh, well.

Pictures from Sunday:
December Baronial

Sunday we got up and going and mel left with Ed to set up things at the event and Benton and I followed a bit later. We had a glorius time at the event. Mel marshaled the tourney and I watched Benton and got lunches from the food trucks that were set up near by. We had Twisted Tandoor Indian food and Benton after telling me the food was too spicy had a traditional hot dog from another truck. It was a cool day and the Hrafn cloaks came in very handy. By the end Benton was sooo tired and fell asleep when I got him in the car.

I put him down for a nap and then headed out for shopping before stores closed. We are supporting Operation Warmheart again this year and I needed to pick up items at Costco. Benton was still napping when I was returning and we had a cranky un-hungry boy who then had a screaming bloody murder fit when I gave him a bath. Sighs, the joys of parenthood. He went to bed quickly after that and mel and I got working on cleaning up the front room. Lots of discussion on the plan of attack for "THE GREAT PURGE of 2013" where we clean out every single closet, box and drawer and only keep what we need. Right now the boys bedroom closet is full and I need to hand things off to Candace and Raylee.

Monday was work and then I hit the gym. I had not been since the week before thanksgiving vacation and I need to be training for my 5k on the 21st so I ran 2.5 miles in 31 minutes which I don't think is too shabby. I'm going to try to do the full 5k Wednesday before knit night. With the house being pretty much in order I had to tidy the bathroom and a bit of the kitchen and then I set about making stuff for a cookie exchange at work. I made my standard fudge, some sugar cookies and a new thing this year: brittle.

My fudge recipe is this one: Fudge
Ingredients:

3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 14-oz can condensed milk
1/4 cup (4 tbsp) butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt

Preparation:

1. Prepare an 8x8 pan by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, condensed milk, and butter. Microwave in one-minute increments until melted, about 2-3 minutes.

3. Stir to ensure all the chocolate is melted, then add the vanilla and salt. Stir until the candy is smooth and well-mixed.

4. Pour the fudge into the prepared pan and smooth it into an even layer.

5. Place the fudge in the refrigerator to set for at least 2 hours. Once set, cut into 1-inch squares and serve at room temperature. Store excess fudge in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

The brittle I made was from this recipe Peanut Brittle but I made it with Pecans instead.

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup white Karo
1 dash salt
1 cup shelled raw peanuts ( pecans, walnuts, sunflower seed, etc.)
1 tablespoon butter
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Line baking sheet with wax paper. (or use a Sil-pat)
2. Spray wax paper with Pam.
3. Combine sugar, salt and Karo in a 3 quart microwave safe glass bowl.
4. Stir in peanuts.
5. Microwave on high until light brown (8 to 10 minutes) stirring at least 2 times during cooking.
(I did it in 2 minute increments and stirred after each one.)
6. Remove from microwave and stir in remaining ingredients adding baking soda last (mix will be foamy).
7. Stir quickly and pour onto wax paper.
8. Spread thin for brittle candy. (spray your spatula with PAM too! for ease)

Note: You can use any type nuts you prefer or even sunflower seeds (which is my favorite).

The brittle turned out fabulous!!! OMG! I'm so making more of that for our household Yule.