Parrot Cake Recipe (No Parrots Harmed)

Hi All! So, this blog has turned into more of a sporadic landing place for my crafts and things, and I think I like it that way. Less pressure. Today I bring you my latest Happy Baking Accident - Parrot Cake.

No, not this guy.

 Don't worry, despite my well documented aversion to birds, you won't be spitting feathers. The title comes from my failure to properly enunciate "Pear Cake," and the misunderstanding led to a much more interesting title (as well as many insensitive jokes about bits of crushed beak, the cake having glorious plumage, teaching it to say "HELLO," etc.), and so it was re-christened Parrot Cake. In reality, Parrot Cake is a spiced pear cake that is delicious when served piping hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream as well as cooled with a cup of coffee or tea. I've only made it once, and didn't take photos of the process, but I will be making it again soon and will document it properly. It was too yummy a cake to wait any longer before sharing the recipe with you. So, here it is:

 

Parrot Cake

Prep Time - 30 min
Bake Time - 50 min
Yield - 12-16 servings

Ingredients: 
3 C all purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 C unsalted butter (softened)
1 C granulated sugar
3/4 C light brown sugar
4 eggs (large)
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
6 oz cream cheese
3 Tbsp 2% milk
2 large pears cut into small chunks (approx 2 C)
About 1 Tbsp salted butter

Instructions: 

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Generously smear the salted butter around your bundt pan so it is well greased. Discard remaining salted butter.

In a medium bowl, add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk together (or use a fork) until mixture is evenly combined. Set mixture aside.

With an electric mixer, beat unsalted butter, brown sugar, and sugar together until creamed (light and fluffy). One at a time, add your eggs. Be sure to mix well after each egg. Add vanilla extract and mix. Add cream cheese and milk and mix until evenly combined.

Reduce your mixer to low and add the flour & spices mixture gradually. Mix until evenly combined. With a spatula, fold in your pear chunks until evenly distributed.

Pour the finished batter into the prepared bundt pan. Use your spatula to make sure the batter is evenly spread around the pan.

Bake 50 min, or until a pointy stick comes out clean (I use a chopstick - I think it adds a bit of worldliness to my dish) To remove from pan, I use my super special two plate trick. First, gently take a knife and slide it around the outside edge of the pan to release the cake. Place a large plate on top of your finished cake and flip it over. Then, take a second plate (your serving plate) and put it on top of your cake on a plate. Gently but with firm support, hold the cake between the two plates and flip it over so it ends up on your serving plate, bumpy side up. (Did that make sense? I will post photos eventually.)

Bumpy Side Up.

Serve piping hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or cold with coffee or tea. Or do whatever you want, because this cake is always delicious.

The prettiest picture I have.

Happy Parrot Cake-ing!

What I'm Loving: Baby Camel Yarn

My new love. And my toes.

I've been in the Ann Arbor area for about a year now, and it's taken me this long to get to the local yarn shop, Busy Hands. I haven't really bought what would be considered a fancier yarn since I moved here - I've basically been working through my stash of Cascade 220 and Lion Brand Nature's Choice Organic Cotton, knitting far too many gifts for my friend's babies. Anything new I've bought has been on Amazon, so it goes without saying it had been far too long since I had set foot in an actual yarn shop.

I dragged Scott in not planning to buy anything - Ha! - and I even managed to resist most of the modest selection of soft textures and interesting colorways in the beginning. Then I saw a basket hung on the wall filled with the most beautifully textured camel colored yarn, so of course I had to go up and touch it. When I got close enough to read the label, I saw it said "Handspun Baby Camel." Of course the camel color was so perfect - it was actual camel! Duh. I immediately loved the texture of the Baby Camel yarn, thicker sections mixing with thinner sections...agh. Yarn love. And at $16.50 a skein, it wasn't the most horribly expensive yarn I had ever seen. If it were just some regular old wool yarn, I probably would have walked away. I probably could have even kept moving if it was llama yarn. But yarn made from baby camels? I immediately imagined the adorable faces of the baby camels, and thought how they would be so offended if I didn't buy their super cool hair.

Please buy my yarn! I made it for you with my own hair!

I decided I had to have it, and of course Scott (my enabler) was lovely enough to buy it for me, along with two sets of double pointed needles so I could make some beautiful gloves to go with the lovely coat he just ordered for me. (I'm getting particularly spoiled this week.) I'm not sure if he was happy because it made me so happy, or because I promised when the gloves were done it would be like holding hands with a baby camel. But not, because they have hooves. I've already started knitting one glove, and it's stitching out so nicely. And it's so soft too! Stay tuned for the pattern/tutorial.

If you feel like a medium yarn splurge, or need something to put on your holiday list, this Handspun Baby Camel Yarn from Lotus Yarns is an absolute must have - if only so that you can say you knitted with baby camel hair. Keep in mind when buying it that it does come in the natural color of the camel, so skeins may differ slightly in color. Buy it in person if you can, but you can find it online for a bit more than I paid here. So go and buy some, I'm enabling you. This yarn definitely has the cool factor.

Find me on Ravelry!

Thanksgivukkah/Back in Business

 

So it looks like I've been absent from here for about a year. Yikes. I could go on and on about family issues and personal health, or I could just jump back right where I left off - Chanukah! But, that's not quite as easy as we think it is this year. For those of you who own a calendar, you'll notice that it is, in fact, November. This year is special. So special, that we won't see another year like this for over 70,000 years. This year, we face the holiday shopping ruining, traditional cooking meshing, confusing celebratory anomaly that is:

THANKSGIVUKKAH

Unlike with regular Chanukah/Hannukah/Hanukah/Chanukashdfasdf, I'm definitely sure that's how it should be spelled. So, what does this mean? For many of you who don't celebrate Chanukah, a whole lot of nothing, right? Consider, for a moment, the opportunity you have here. Non Jewish people may not be familiar with the delicious foods of Chanukah, and you may be surprised to see how, by combining many traditional Thanksgiving foods with the holiday food of my people, you can have a downright delicious cultural learning experience. I've gathered a few recipes that combine the All American Thanksgiving foods we hold dear with some of the tastiest of Chanukah treats. So this year, Jewish or no, let your tummies and your kitchen utensils live a little!

Recipes best accompanied by a viewing of Rugrats Chanukah for the full cultural experience.

1. Kosher Pumpkin Donuts - Thanksgivukkah Boston
2. Challah Bread Stuffing - Gothamist
3. Chocolate Cranberry Cake w/Gelt Glaze - What Jew Wanna Eat
4. Potato Latkes Topped w/ Turkey & Cranberry Chutney - The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
5. Sufganiyot Stuffing w/ Bacon - My Name is Yeh
6. Pumpkin Challah - The Shiksa in the Kitchen
7. Latke-Crusted Turkey Stuffing Fritters w/Liquid Cranberry Core & Turkey Schmaltz Gravy - Serious Eats
8. Sweet Potato Noodle Kugel - Rhubarb and Honey
9. Homemade Manichewitz Flavored Marshmallows - Cupcake Project

-Cami

8 Nights of Chanukah - Etsy Menorah Roundup

Because it's nearing the end of Chanukah, and you're probably getting bored with your menorah already, maybe you should get a jump on next year and buy yourself a unique, stand out menorah. Here are six stylish options from Etsy that will certainly make you the Channukiyah trendsetter of 5774.

1. Ceramic Flowers Menorah - orlydesign

2. The Sabra Menorah - JudaicaDesignsUSA

3. Green Ludwig Eco Friendly Menorah - StilNovoDesign

4. Sweet Simple Strong Grey Concrete Menorah - houseofrosenberg

5. Walnut and Brass Re-imagined Menorah - ChicagoManMade

6. Tree of Life Menorah - Nelles

8 Nights of Chanukah - DIY Candles

Leave it to Martha to be the only one with a worthwhile Chanukah candle tutorial out there - and it's from 1996! When in doubt, turn to vintage Martha. I've always liked the idea of dipping candles, but there is something about these beeswax sheets that's charming to me. Plus, the idea of a minimal mess project is always charming to me. 

Hanukkah Candles 

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Living, December/January 1996/1997

"Give your celebration a special glow with these hand-rolled candles, made from sheets of beeswax in the subtlest shades of ivory, butter yellow, and deep olive. Make a set for yourself, and make more to give as holiday gifts that are both pretty and useful; during the eight days of Hanukkah, a total of forty-four candles are lit."

Hanukkah Candles How-To

1. Using a utility knife and ruler, slice wax sheets into 2-by-4 1/2-inch rectangles.

2. Cut wicking into 5 1/2-inch lengths; make a knot close to one end.

3. Warm wax with a blow dryer until just pliable, 10 to 15 seconds.

4. Lay wicking along edge of wax with 3/4 inch of wick hanging beyond wax.

5. Roll wax around wicking; press seam with your finger to smooth and seal.

Washi Wednesday - Christmas Tree Decoration

Week 2 of Washi Wednesday brings us another holiday craft of my own creation! I started off with the vision of making a washi tape ornament, but after playing with it for a bit I came up with something a little more unique. With just two pieces of cardstock and about 20 minutes, I made this lovely little Christmas tree for my shelf. Here are the supplies you'll need to make one for yourself:

• 2 Pieces of 5x7 Cardstock - The size isn't so important, as you can make these in all sizes, just make sure it is a strong paper, since it will need to hold it's own weight upright.
• Red and Green Washi Tapes
• Scissors

Instructions after the jump...

8 Nights of Chanukah - DIY Decor

As far as wintertime holiday decor goes, Chanukah definitely gets the short end of the stick. In fact, the entire selection of Chanukah products at Target - "selection" being a very generous word - was limited to one end cap of one aisle, completely separate from the enormous, exploding Christmas section. So you have three options: 1. Swipe Chanukah decor from your Bubbe's house. 2. Scour the internet. 3. DIY! Here are 8 DIY Chanukah decor projects that will kick Christmas in the butt. Or, the tree.

 

1. Gold Coin Garland - Design Megillah

2. Chanukah Gift Pockets - Design Megillah

3. Chanukah Banner - Better Homes and Gardens

4. Paper Dreidel -  Design Megillah

5. Star-Punched Hurricanes - Martha Stewart

6. Felt Dreidel Bunting - Creative Jewish Mom

7. Star Garland - Alaska, Long Beach

8. Chanukah Coasters - The Purl Bee

9. Starry Stamped Chanukah Table Runner - Martha Stewart  

 

8 Nights of Chanukah - 4 Simple DIY Party Favors

For some reason, people who are unfamiliar with Chanukah seem to think that it's one big holiday with eight nights of socks. Socks for you, socks for me, socks for mom and dad...I've never once gotten socks for Chanukah, and if I did, they were at least festive or particularly fun socks. (Or those fuzzy kind...OK, I have gotten some socks for Chanukah, but it's not like we're tossing out packs of Hanes here.) 

So, if you're having guests over to celebrate Chanukah, Jewish or no, why not send them home with one of these cute favors?

Embroidered Dreidel Game Pouches

The Purl Bee

Your guests will certainly be impressed with these monogrammed, embroidered dreidel pouches. This tutorial from the Purl Bee certainly makes it easy to make something custom and special for each guest. Monogram the initials of your guests, stitch some cute little patterns and fill with a dreidel, gelt, and a rule sheet, and you're good to go!

 

Bundle of Candles

Judaism.com

 What could be more simple than wrapping up a bundle of candles? It is a lovely sentiment, and with some unique candles and an interesting piece of string, you've made a cost effective favor with lovely presentation.

 Chanukah Cootie Catchers

Designs By Tenisha

 Even more simple, just customize and order these cootie catcher designs, print and fold, and you have a fun game for the kids! If you wanted to, you could also incorporate the folding as a party craft, then each person makes his or her own favor. The designer will customize a .pdf file for you to include the Chanukah wishes of your choosing, so get to fortune telling!

 Washi Tape Matchbooks

Creative Jewish Mom

With only matchboxes, silver contact paper, and a few rolls of washi tape, you can make an otherwise boring matchbox look festive and holiday ready. I wouldn't go so far as to tape each individual match though - my guess is that was done for the picture. You could use traditional Chanukah blues, or  you could be creative and use colors that are completely unexpected. You could also combine this with the bundles of candles above if you wanted to make an even larger favor for your guests.

8 Nights of Chanukah - Get Creative With Gelt

One of the best parts about Chanukah is the delicious chocolate coins we know as gelt. Gelt pretty much stays the same for most people.  It's either milk or dark chocolate with silver or gold foil. No one really thinks to get creative with their gelt. Some people don't even use it to play dreidel - it's original purpose - and they just get it to eat. There's no shame in that - I myself am one of those people. So, let's take a look at four ways to spin your gelt into some tasty Chanukah treats!

Apricot Gelt

Martha Stewart

For a fruity, but still not "healthy," option, simply dip dried apricots into melted chocolate and wrap in foil. Now, you can pretend like you're eating a healthy treat, and no one - OK, everyone - would be the wiser. These would also make a lovely Chanukah gift or party favor.

Homemade Gelt

Clinton Kelly

 For a more rustic, homemade feel to your dreidel playing, try making your own gelt from scratch. It's not complicated at all, with only two ingredients, chocolate chips and vanilla extract. Such a simple project can add a great personal touch.

Gelt Cookies

education.com

Who says gelt has to be made out of chocolate? This is a great kitchen craft to do with your kids. All you have to do is bake some break and bake cookies and wrap them in gold foil. You could certainly use your own homemade recipe as well. These could be used as classroom treats to share, or just as fun Chanukah snacks at home.

Gelt Filled Peanut Butter Cookies

Joy Of Kosher

 This is a great project for the baker with leftover Chanukah gelt. After making a peanut butter cookie dough, you scoop it into a mini-muffin tin and bake. When the cookies are hot out of the oven, you place a gelt and peanut butter sandwich right in the middle to make a chocolatey filling. These would make lovely Chanukah party treats.

8 Nights of Chanukah - Dreidel I Shall Eat

I'd like to teach you my new favorite Chanukah song. It goes like this:

"Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel,

I made it out of food,

And when it's good and finished, 

Oh dreidel I shall eat!"

Ok, I'm no Dr. Seuss, but you get to eat the dreidel at the end of the song, so it's automatically better. Here are 5 DIY dreidels (and one to buy) that let you really play with your food.

Links from left to right:

1. Marshmallow Dreidel DIY - Apartment Therapy

2. M n M's Filled Dreidel DIY - Martha Stewart

3. Dreidel Cupcakes DIY - Catch My Party

4. Chocolate Covered Dreidels DIY - Martha Stewart

5. Chocolate Dreidel (to buy) - Chocolate.com

6. Dreidel Cake - Betty Crocker

8 Nights of Chanukah - 6 DIY Menorahs and A Bonus!

 Happy First Night of Chanukah, Everyone! 

Do you have your Menorah ready? No? Quick! Make one of these! All 6 of these Menorahs are made with objects that are easy to find - the hardest thing to locate would be 9 different plastic dinosaurs, but the exciting Menorah you'll end up with will make you forget all about it. In fact, make one for me while you're doing it. Oh, and p.s., the cookie one doesn't have an actual tutorial, but I trust you can figure it out. Chag Sameach, everyone! (Or, happy holiday, to my goyim friends.) Stay tuned for another special Chanukah post for the next seven nights!

1. Vintage Bottles Menorah - via Mr. Kate

2. Plastic Dinosaur Menorah - via Momfluential

3. Cookie Menorah - via Catch My Party

4. Pipe Fittings Menorah - ManMade DIY

5. Wood Blocks Menorah - Creative Jewish Mom

6. Flat Stones Menorah - Easton Place

And, if you don't feel like DIYing it this year, or you feel like a splurge, might I suggest purchasing this puppy:

Jonathan Adler Dachshund Menorah

Gift Guide: 10 Gifts Crafters Will Actually Use!

Don't know what to get a crafty friend? Worried you 'll get them something they won't actually use? Feeling more adventurous than a craft book? Here are 10 fun suggestions for gifts your crafty friend will truly love this holiday season:

1. Orion Constellation Embroidery Kit - Available from Miniature Rhino on Etsy

2. Bookmaking Kit - WeMakeBooks on Etsy

3. The Miniature DIY Farmers' Cheese Kit - Urban Cheesecraft on Etsy

4. Lion Hand-Carved Rubber Stamp - talktothesun on Etsy

5. Dark Washi Tape Organizer - 464 Handmade on Etsy

6. Learn to Knit Kit - Purl Soho

7. Red Simple Modern Ceramic Wheel Thrown Yarn Bowl - NewMoonStudio on Etsy

8. 6 Month Brit Kits Gift Subscription - Brit + Co.

9. Fiskars Fuse Die Cut and Letterpress - Amazon

10. Needle Felting Kit - sweetgorgeousthings on Etsy

And the 2013 Pantone Color of the Year Is...

And so it has been decreed, the color of the year is Emerald Green. So long, Tangerine Tango, It's been real. We had our fun, but it's time to move on. Somehow, every year, Pantone manages to pick a color that makes me go "hmmm... I never really noticed you before, but now that I see you, I really like you." In honor of our new friend, Emerald, here are 12 crafting supplies rounded up from Etsy. So go ahead, try her out. She's pretty good looking.

Links after the jump...

Free Font Friday: Sofia

 

Welcome to the inaugural Free Font Friday!  Every Friday, I'll be posting a free font that catches my eye. This week, it's Sofia. I'm pretty picky about my cursive fonts, but this one has a vintage feel while not being overly loopy. I'll probably incorporate this font into my Project Life layouts, but I like it as a regular headline as well. So get your download here!

Washi Wednesday: Chanukah Card

 

Welcome to the inaugural Washi Wednesday post! Washi Wednesday is our new weekly feature focusing on our favorite, versatile little craft supply, washi tape. 

Each week will include a washi craft tutorial, either of my design or linked from another blog, and a featured washi shop where you can stock up on these addictive treats. So, here is the first tutorial:

Washi Tape Chanukah Card

In my blogosphere travels, I've noticed there is a big shortage on fun Chanukah crafts that are not DIY menorahs for children. So, for you this week, a DIY menorah for adults! (Or children. Let's be honest, this craft is not so complicated.) With a few rolls of washi tape and about ten minutes, you can make a lovely Chanukah card for a friend or family member. Let's take a look at the supplies you'll need:

• 1 Blank sheet of white cardstock, folded in half horizontally - My paper was 6x8 folded in half, but any size you like will work fine, as long as there is room for 9 strips of washi going across the bottom.
• Washi tapes of your choosing, all in the same width - Make sure you have the color or colors you'll want to use for flames, but beyond that you could have 1-9 different candle colors. I used five.
• Scissors
• Writing Utensil

Instructions: 

Using the top photo as a guide, use strips of tape to create a menorah. Whatever order of patterns you choose is fine, but you might like to choose coordinating colors as I have. I ripped each piece to give it a more rugged edge look, but you can certainly cut it straight across if you like.

When you reach the bottom of the card, cut each piece of tape even with the card so that there is no excess on the other side. Be certain that your shamash (center candle) is taller than all of the other candles, and that the candles on either side decrease slightly in size so that there is enough room for the flames. 

To make the flames, take the color of your choosing and cut little trapezoids - or triangles, or whatever random shape you like. I didn't mean for all of mine to end up looking similar, it just happened that way and I liked it. This project is pretty free form, so however your flames end up looking, it's important that you like it.

Write your festive Chanukah message inside, and there you have it! A simple washi tape Chanukah Card, full of handmade goodness.

Featured Washi Shop

All of the washi tapes seen in this project (except for the green one, which is from World Market) came from KitChenKitChenFun on Etsy. This shop sells individual rolls of washi tape for around $3, and sets of 3-5 rolls for $8-$10, with reasonable shipping, especially if you are buying a bunch. They also have wonderful sales from time to time, where you could get fun tapes at a discount. These washi tapes ship from China, so they take about 7-10 business days to arrive, but when you get them, it's worth it!

 

 Don't forget to follow my Wishi Washi board on Pinterest for fun washi finds and crafts every day!

 

Holiday Gift Guide: 16 Fun Craft Books

If you're wondering what to get a crafter for the holidays, you usually have two options. If you really know about their craft or feel super adventurous, you can get them supplies or equipment. If you don't really know about it, there is a pretty big chance you may get them something they can never use or isn't their taste, and they'll politely smile and put your gift in the back of their stash, never to see the light of day. If you want to get them something fun and useful that they'll actually like, you're pretty safe with a craft book. I've gathered 16 books full of knitting projects, paper crafts, home projects and more, so you're sure to find a good addition to your crafter's library.

Links after the jump:

Etsy Royal Baby Gift Guide

With today's news that we are, at long last, expecting the Royal Baby (Henceforth addressed by his or her proper title, HRH Baby), surely people around the world are already choosing fabulous gifts befitting of HRH Baby stature. I think HRH Baby is a baby who would appreciate supporting the independent crafter and, as such, I have rounded up some of the finest Etsy has to offer HRH Baby. I have also sorted them into helpful, orderly categories, because HRH Baby also is a baby who likes orderly categories.

 

As future ruler of the United Kingdom, HRH Baby needs to be very aware of his or her environment, and can learn about his or her subjects, royal family, or area weather whilst spending time in the Royal Crib. The Sheep Baby Mobile by pingvini will teach HRH Baby about the people in the English Countryside as well as local agriculture. The Personalized Baby Mobile of the Wee One's Family by PinkCheeksStudios will allow HRH Baby to learn the complicated Royal Family history, while dreaming happy dreams about Great Granny QE2. And, of course, the Cloud and Raindrops Mobile by ClaireonCloud9 will expose HRH Baby to the elements of London without actually exposing him or her to the elements of London.

 

Certainly HRH Baby will have many, many engagements and appearances where only the finest attire will be acceptable. For black tie occasions, might I suggest the Mini Top Hat and Bow Tie Set by fleurdeleighacc. If the evening requires a display of the crown jewels, HRH Baby might adorn his or her royal noggin with the Baby Gold Lace Crown by bonbonLand, as practice for wearing the heavier headpieces once his or her Royal Soft Spot has hardened. Thirdly, for the more casual but still fancy occasion, we have the lovely plaid Diaper Cover and Matching Bow Tie by thesewingmachine, which is not only stylish, but will teach HRH Baby his or her primary colors.

The Royal Bum is of the utmost security concern for the Palace. It must be pampered and cleaned with precision. To both keep the Royal Bum clean as well as to practice receiving bouquets of flowers from his or her Royal Subjects, HRH Baby most certainly needs the Baby Washcloth Bouquet by YouAreMyEverything. As we already know, HRH Baby likes things to be neat and orderly, and would much appreciate the Yellow Giraffe Diaper Caddy by Creat4usKids. Not only will it help to store the Royal Nappies and Wipies, but the festive giraffe pattern will prepare HRH Baby to follow in the footsteps of his parents many charitable works in Africa. As I mentioned, the Royal Bum is, itself, very important. As such, it must be emblazoned with a crown so that all who encounter it know that they are in the very presence of royalty. For this, HRH Baby needs the Royal Bunz Wool Soaker Diaper Cover by chickadeeandme. Not only is it stylish, but it will keep the Royal Bum toasty at all times in the chilly weather.

HRH Baby must show pride in his or her country. Firstly, we have the Union Jack Mini Baby Onesie by byebyebirdieengland, which shows pride in the flag as well as in the British auto industry. The British Flag Baby Booties by coolarific will show that HRH Baby is British from head to teeny weeny toe. Finally, nothing says national pride like wrapping, or, in this case, swaddling ones self in the flag of your country. Perfect for the job is the British Flag Baby Quilt by HouseofdeVeer.

Finally, no young Royal can reach his or her full potential without cultivating a stiff wooden attitude. So that HRH Baby knows his or her kingdom extends all the way to Australia, I suggest the Kangaroo Wooden Baby Rattle by LRMWoodSculpt. To protect the Royal Gums, the Duchess might wear this stylish Aqua Nursing Rings Necklace by nihamaj so that HRH Baby might teethe in comfort. Lastly, no modern mini-royal can go without a Personalized Baby iPhone5 by 3PrincessesStore to keep abreast of World News and to contact ones nanny for a nappy change or a feeding.

I hope that you all find this guide helpful in presenting HRH Baby with an appropriate welcome gift. We still have a few months to make our final selections, but this guide should get you on your way.