Chocolate Caramel Tart

Video on how to make this : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UplwOR1nUto
This chocolate salted caramel tart is absolutely amazing. A buttery almond crust, gooey salted caramel and bittersweet chocolate ganache, all garnished with salted crystals. Chocolaty, rich and buttery, a perfect treat for any occasion.

Ingredients:

Makes about 6-8 servings

Almond Chocolate Sweet Pastry
1 1/4 cups (160g) flour
1/4 cup (30g) ground almonds
1/4 cup (30g) unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup (50g) sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 stick (110 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small (1/2-inch) cubes
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1-2 tbsp ice water

Caramel
1 1/2 cups (300 g) sugar
1/2 cup (100g) water
1/2 cup (120 g) heavy cream
5 tbsp (70 g) unsalted butter
1 tsp salt

Chocolate Ganache
1/2 cup (120 g) heavy cream
4 oz (120g) bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Garnish
sea salt crystals

Directions

1. Prepare the sweet pastry. In a large bowl mix flour with ground almonds, cocoa powder, sugar and salt.

2. Incorporate butter to the flour mixture, using a pastry blender, a fork or a pastry processor, until crumbs are formed. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix them in. Add water and incorporate into the dough. Wrap it with plastic, knead slowly to form a disc and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

3. On o floured surface or over the plastic wrap roll the dough to a circle with about 1 1/2 inches larger than your tart pan. Lift up the rolled dough and place it on a greased 9 inch tart pan. Remove the edges and refrigerate for 30 minutes before baking.

4. Prick the dough with a fork, line a parchment paper over the dough. Fill with dry beans, rice or pie weights.

5. Bake for 15 minutes in preheated 350 F (180C) oven. Remove the weights and the parchment paper. Return to oven for another 10 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool before removing from the tart pan.

6. Prepare the caramel. Place the sugar and water in a medium heavy bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat, and cook without stirring until sugar dissolves and gets a caramel color.

7. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cream. It will bubble a little bit.

8. Cook for about 1 or 2 minutes stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until smooth. Remove from heat and add butter and salt. Stir well until smooth.

9. Let the caramel cool slightly and pour over the chocolate crust. Refrigerate for about 4-5 hours.

10. Prepare the chocolate ganache. Heat the cream in a small saucepan. When the cream just begins to boil at the edges, remove from heat and pour over the chopped chocolate. Let sit one minute, then stir until smooth.

11. Pour the chocolate ganache over the caramel. Spread it evenly and refrigerate for another 2-3 hours before serving. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes and serve.

My Hole in Won quilt

The inspiration and most of the pattern for this came from a pattern called Beyond Horizon's by RaNae Merrill.  I just changed it up some and have called it "Hole in Won" :).
I'm making this to put in the Tri County 2016 Quilt Show.  I think it will go to the modern category.  My son gets it after the show.  He said he loved it so really that is all that matters to me.
So here is my progress.  I've basted it and am now quilting it.  I did half the quilting today and will finish the quilting tomorrow and maybe put the binding on tomorrow evening while I'm watching the tube.

Here it is after I basted it.

and here is 1/2 quilted.  Quilting it every one inch...wow that takes time!

More mug rug madness :)

You know I told you about my Facebook group...Mug rugs and Potholders swaps Oh My....

Well I've been busy again creating new events.  Here are some of the newest mug rugs I've made for some new events for the group and for an individual trade.

This one is for Deborah OKeefe, I hope she loves it.

This one is Grandma's Garden.

This one is High Fashion

and this one is Sewing Notions

Dresden Plate swap

Wish upon a star

Summer time camping fun

It's a hoot

and here is some other stuff I'm working on.  :)  This one is a swap by another member

called Grand Ole Flag.  I decided to do my husbands country flag. )

And the spooly birds is for me.  Will soon be a quilt, only 4 more appliques to complete and a little more embroidery.  Also there is another camper there for an individual swap.  so much fun!

Customer's paint their benches

I've been thinking of redesigning my bench for what seems like years.  My old bench was designed after I found that weaving benches were extremely expensive to purchase.  Wow I sure could not afford $400 for a bench to sit and weave!  On the other hand weaving in a chair was not the best solution.  Since I already started to make some other weaving tools for the same reason (the cost) I decided to design and make myself a bench.  Well having a bench was great but I found that my design was just to much of a pain to adjust the height so I rarely did.  Well like I was telling you, I've been thinking about resigning my bench to make adjusting the seat quicker.  I looked at several benches and took the best of each one for my new design.  Here it is.  :)  I am so happy with this one.  I started selling this a few months ago on my Etsy Handywoman store.
I'm offering a large and a small version of this new design.

I've sold this bench a few times already so I finally ordered templates so I could easily make the hole and round the tops so that they will all be exactly the same.  I found a company that laser cuts acrylic sheets.  :) The expense was well worth it.

A couple ladies painted their new benches and sent me pictures.  I love seeing pictures of what people do with my weaving tools.  

This one was before I decided to round the tops of my benches.

And this customer rounded the tops for herself....and is the reason I now round the tops of my benches.  Best customer EVER!

Minion Pincushion

This is the cutest pincushion EVER.  You can get the free pattern here.
Here is mine, I made the small one.  I think you should make one too!

Review of the Chevron Quilt pattern from Missouri Star Quilting Company

This is a Missouri Star pattern you can find them on YouTube here.

This is a super easy quilt to make, a seasoned quilter can make this one in a day and a new quilter could probably make it in a week or less.

This pattern is the perfect for the new quilter learning to make their first quilt.

By making this quilt you will learn how to cut fabric, how to piece a block and a quilt,and how to match seams. There are not too many seams in this one so it's a great starter quilt.  This is also a great quilt to learn how to do basic line quilting on a standard sewing machine.  I give this quilt an A+ for anyone wanting to learn to quilt.

I made this quilt using a bunch of left over layer cake strays so it's not the prettiest to look at but I wanted to test this one out to see if my niece could make it for her first large project and feel successful.  I think it fits the bill.  :)

Carrot Cake Low GI version

This recipe is for 4 ramekins or 4 mini bundt cakes.

CAKE
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger (optional)
2 large egg (yolk only)
1/2 cup agave
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 medium carrots
1/3 cup non sweet coconut
1/3 cup chopped walnut
1/3 cup crushed pineapple drained
FROSTING
4 oz. cream cheese
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup Agave

Instructions
The cake
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, nuts, and coconuts. Stir until evenly combined.
Peel the carrot and use a large holed cheese grater to shred it into a separate bowl. Add the egg yolk, agave, drained pineapple, vanilla, and vegetable oil to the shredded carrot. Whisk these ingredients together with a fork until evenly combined.
Pour the bowl of dry ingredients into the bowl of wet ingredients and stir just until evenly combined.
Coat 4 small (6oz.) ramekins or 4 mini bundt pan sections with non-stick spray, then divide the batter between each. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet to make them easier to transport in and out of the oven. Bake the cakes for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

While the cakes are baking, place the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract in a bowl and allow them to come to room temperature. Once room temperature and soft, using a mixer on low mix until smooth. Stir in the agave a little and whip until it is all incorporated and the frosting has slightly thickened.
Very Important: Allow the cakes to cool before spreading the cream cheese frosting over top (otherwise it will melt and slide off). Enjoy!

3 more quilt tops done only 100 or so more to go.....geezeeeeee

The DH went out of town for a few days for work... I do miss him while he's away but I also get so much done with no interruptions or dinner to make!  I did get strep throat the day he left but I didn't let that keep me from my work!  :)
So I worked on my Art Quilt.  I think this one is the one I'll enter for that category in our 2016 quilt show.

Then I made this one using left over charms from charm packs that I robbed when I was doing the boutique.  I used all the charms that I didn't like the fabric for this one.  I was surprised to find I liked the finished quilt.  Sometimes it's amazing how fabric no mater how ugly will go together and become beautiful.  :) or at least I think it turned out beautiful.  

Then this is the last one I made.  It is the disappearing hour glass by Missouri Star Quilt Company.  There is a YouTube video on this one.  I found it fairly easy to do and it was a very fast quilt to make.  I love this one.  :)

So tell me what you've done this week...  I'd love to hear about it if you want to post a link!

Steamed Blueberry Pudding

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup butter or margarine
1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup milk
1½ cups blueberries, fresh or frozen

Grease a 2-liter (quart) pudding mold. A 2-liter heat-proof bowl or casserole dish makes a good substitute. You may also use two well washed 28 oz. stewed tomato cans.
Prepare a large dutch oven or soup pot with 3 or 4 inches of water. The pot should be large enough to hold the pudding with enough space for a pot cover. Place a trivet on the bottom. Bring the water to a simmer while preparing pudding batter.
Remove 1 tablespoon of flour and mix with the fresh berries. Skip this step if using frozen berries as the flour will clump from the moisture.
Mix remaining flour, baking powder and salt together. Lay aside.
Cream butter and brown sugar together. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well until light and fluffy. You may beat the butter mixture with a whisk or use an electric beater.
Add dry ingredients to butter mixture alternately with the milk. Stir in blueberries.
Turn batter into prepared mold or bowl. Cover with wax paper and foil and tie tightly with twine or secure with a sturdy elastic band. Place the prepared pudding into the pot of simmering water. the water should be hot enough to break bubbles. Steam 2 to 2½ hours. Check periodically to make sure there is enough water in the pot. It should be at least 2 inches deep at all times. Use boiling water to replenish the pot.
When pudding is cooked, carefully remove from water. Let pudding set at least 10 minutes. Turn mould or bowl upside down on serving plate. Cut pudding into wedges and serve hot or warm with a Brown Sugar or Lemon Sauce.
Makes 8-10 servings.
*********************
Brown Sugar Sauce
½ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup boiling water
1 tablespoon butter

Combine all ingredients except lemon juice and vanilla. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a gentle boil. Lower heat and continue to cook and occasionally stir for 2 minutes. Add lemon juice and vanilla and mix well. Serve with steamed pudding.

Finished my little sewing case.

This is the cutest design ever.  It's pretty much completely made by hand.  The only think that is sewn in with a machine is one side of the zipper.  It is quite easy to make though.  I think the next one I will use a curved needle as I think that would make the gusset much easier to sew on.  I love how it turned out.  I've ordered some taupe fabrics to use on the next one.  This is one of my favorite styles of applique.  It's very much like Japanese applique that is so popular right now. However this pattern is not done by a Japanese designer.  Here is the link where to get it for yourself.
http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/home-decor/the-muffins-sewing-set-by-mjjenek/136182

Here is my first one. So pleased to share it with you.

More fun...Pot Holders, mug rugs wood working...what the heck else would I do?

Here are a few I finally go the binding on!  :)

These are going to be pot holders for a swap.

 More bindings...yaaaaaaaaaaaa!

So here is my small adjustable weaving bench with the seat at it's lowest level.  It's a customer order, just got it all boxed up and sent her a picture of her new bench.  Hope she loves how easy it is to adjust the seat height.  :)