Monday, August 26, 2013

A Tea Time Feature & a Cookie Recipe

ETA: Funny how most blog comments seem to arrive while I am sleeping.  :)  Thanks for all your interest in the recipe.  You can substitute peanut butter for the almond butter.  I know a stick of butter is about 110 grams.  As far as other metric conversions go, I'll have to check on them and get back to you later.  Or you could try using an online recipe converter.  Enjoy the cookies, if you make them.



Hello, I'm glad you could pop by my blog for "tea time" today!  I have exciting news--my "Donuts" layout was featured on the Needle~Thread~Cloth blog.


The challenge there was to combine the embroidery stitch called "stem stitch" with a tea-themed project.  This was actually my first time doing stem stitch!  I guess I used to think of it solely as the stitch that people use on those pre-printed embroidery designs for tea towels.  I never considered using it for scrapbooking.  But I found out that it works a charm for embroidering curved lines, such as the outline of my heart tag, pictured above.  
 
Here is the entire layout.  For details on its creation, see this post.

It did take me a few tries to get the stitching right.  When I'm using a back stitch or running stitch on paper, I punch all the holes first, then draw the thread through the holes.  This did not work with the stem stitch; I kept getting the spacing wrong.  Three ruined tags later, I realized that I'd have to work it the same way I would on fabric, one stitch at a time.  Now that I know what I'm doing, LOL, I'll be using stem stitch on paper a lot more often in the future!


A few weeks ago, I got a request for my No-Bake cookie recipe (cookies pictured above).  I thought I'd close this post by sharing that recipe.

In a mixing bowl, cream together 1 STICK BUTTER, 4 TABLESPOONS COCOA POWDER, 1 TABLESPOON VANILLA, 2 CUPS SUGAR, & 1 CUP ALMOND BUTTER.  Add 3 CUPS OATS to the creamed mixture.  Chill batter in fridge for about 2 hours.  Place parchment over two cookie sheets.  Form chilled dough into balls (about the size of truffles).  Place balls of dough on cookie sheets, then chill again in refrigerator.  When cookies are firm and hold their shape (after about one more hour in the fridge), transfer cookies to a covered container.  Keep cookies chilled until ready to eat.  Makes 50 cookies.

These little balls of sugary goodness are very rich, almost more like candy than cookies.  If you use gluten free oats, then the cookies will be gluten free.  Bon appétit!

22 comments:

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I missed you last week, Denise. So glad to see this lovely layout. You did a great job with that stem stitch. At first I thought it was a back stitch, but now I see there is a difference.

I'm going to try that cookie recipe. It sounds wonderful, and the fact that I don't have to heat my oven makes it even better.

Thanks for sharing your T tale today, dear.

Marilyn said...

So lovely page Denise!!! and Congrats on the feature! xo

Bridget Larsen said...

Never heard of almond butter, also will have to find out how much weight 1 stick of butter is as we dont sell butter in sticks.
love that stitching, will you show us how to do it next week?
Bridget #1

voodoo vixen said...

Shame about the labels... but I am sure you will find a use for the training mode ones and the stitch really does finish the edge of the heart shape so nicely!
great recipe too... I might have to halve it though because if I had 50 of those little scrummy balls hanging around in my fridge they wouldn't be hanging around very long! LOL

Marianne said...

Tea and Cookies ! My favorite.
I like the layout and your stitching is wonderful.

IrinaR (Irina Rakovets) said...

Прекрасная страница, Денисе! очень понравилось прошитое сердечко! и ажурная бумага. Спасибо за рецепт, правда не поняла - 1 палочка масла, это сколько в граммах? и что такое 1CUP?

roffeycreations said...

Congrats on the publication - your stitching looks so neat... I wont give the cookies a try unfortunately as I am trying to cut down on excess sugars... but they sound very moreish...
Have a great week Mxx

Spyder said...

oohoooo that sounds nice, there is a few things I'm not sure what they are (Us in England do call things by other names!) Happy T for Tuesday!
((Lyn))

Darla said...

Happy T Tuesday. I like the layout of your art and think you did a great job with the stitching on the heart.

Darla

Craftymoose Crafts said...

Would not have thought of embroidering on paper! Congrats on the feature--it is well deserved!

Tracey Holdyk said...

Great layout. I am a huge fan of stitching on my papercraft projects. In fact I bought a sewing machine just so I could sew on my layouts.

Halle said...

Lovely scrapbook page. The stitching really adds some great texture to the heart.
The cookie recipe looks good. I wonder if my kiddos would eat them...picky little buggers.
Happy Tuesday!

Divers and Sundry said...

i notice the snowman mug and am enjoying the out-of-season experience. it's still hot here with highs in the 90s F, and i think i just felt a cool breeze from your post :)

Patricia Roebuck said...

Beautiful page! Love all the details and the "tea time" feel to this!

Krisha said...

Your LO is great and congrats on being featured! Those cookies sound heavenly, may have to give them a try while GD is here, and let her try it. Thanks for sharing!

dawn said...

I love your layout, so pretty! The stitching looks good to me, always fun to add on a layout. Hoping to finally make good use of my sewing machine, I love seeing others use it.
Congrats on being published, awesome!
The recipe sounds yummy, thanks for sharing it.

Angi Barrs said...

Gorgeous page! I love that heart!

Aline Fonseca said...

Beautiful and romantic page! I love the stitching heart! Gorgeous!!!

gracescraps@gmail.com said...

What a beautiful page and your stitching is gorgeous! ~ Blessings, Tracey

Garden of Grace

Cassandra aka Scrap Savvy said...

You already know I thought that layout was fab! Congrats on the feature and TFS that recipe.:)

Cazzy said...

Hi Denise, here it is T for Tuesday again and I am still catching up with the past two weeks!
Thanks for visiting me. Congrats on being featured with your heart, the layout is great!

Cazzy x

Lynette Jacobs said...

Awesome layout...love your stitched heart.