Why Quilt?

Some of my quilting friends do most of their quilting for charity. They donate astounding amounts of quilts to organizations and individuals. Others quilt for competition, winning awards and ribbons at quilt shows. I do some charity donations and I've won some ribbons, but I think the main reason I quilt is to perfect my skills. The quest is a life long one, because there is no way you could perfect every quilting skill in one lifetime. There is always something new to learn, and some skill to get better at. And that's what I really love the most about quilting!

Vegan Cornbread

Cornbread without buttermilk???  without butter???  without sugar???  It seems impossible, but there is a great cornbread recipe in The Happy Herbivore by Lindsay S. Nixon.  The cornbread is good with jam, and also on top of tamale pie (another recipe in the book).  I made some changes in the recipe to make it gluten free for my husband, who has had to avoid wheat all his life.
Here is my version:
Vegan Cornbread
1 cup corn meal (this can also have a couple tablespoons of flax seed meal mixed in)
1 cup corn flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup non-dairy milk
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl.  Then mix the rest together and put it into the dry ingredients.  Pour into 2 small greased loaf pans.  Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes.

Soccer Moms and Grandmas

I watched my grandson make four goals for his team in his soccer match today.  That was exciting.  Several players sustained minor injuries, mostly by tripping over the ball or their own feet, and no injuries were worse than knees covered with grass.  The injured players on each team ran off the field after the injury occurred, straight to their mothers, who hugged them until they were ready to play again.  Watching my grandson make a goal was exciting, but watching him run to his mother after he fell was sweet.

Favorite Plants - Basil

I love the smell of basil, and the taste of it.  This hot summer our basil plants did just fine.  But the heat kept me out of the garden, and the grass took over.  That means re-digging everything this fall.  Guess I will be getting my exercise.

Activities with Grandchildren: The Family Book of World Records

My sister had a great idea.  We want to make a family book of records, like the Guinness book of world records, but just people in our family.  I'm wondering what my record will be?  My niece says her dad has the record for the most sneezes.  My grandson probably has the record for most goals in a soccer game (7).  I can't wait to start compiling the records.  And for the ensuing competition to break them!

Halloween Costumes part two

This cape was made from the same pattern as the Little Red Riding Hood costume I posted earlier.  I love the skull button my grandson chose.  I made two capes, but the smaller one was unavailable to photograph, as we couldn't take it off my younger grandson.  His had a button that looked like a spider in a web.
I tried to take a shortcut by not stay-stitching.  Then the boys wore their cape linings while I worked on the capes.  The linings got stretched out and it was hard to fit the cape to the lining.  Should have stay-stitched!

Vegan Green Salsa

I made some salsa for the tailgate party this weekend that turned out well.  It was a combination of some other recipes.

6 tomatillos
1 anaheim pepper
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
fresh oregano
1 teaspoon cumin
dried cilantro
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Chop the onion, tomatillos, and pepper and saute.  When they are soft, smash garlic and add to it.  Then add oregano, sugar, cilantro, and cumin.  Keep cooking and kind of smash it until it is the consistency you like.  I like mine chunky, so I don't cook it for too long.  If you want it smooth, you can always blend it with an immersion blender.