Author Archives: Cathy

Caramel Apples – an Easy Fall Treat!

They’re not just for Halloween. Caramel apples are fun to make any time of the year. With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, why not try some for your dinner guests? Kids will love helping you out with this recipe!

Ingredients

6 tart apples (granny smith’s are a good choice)

6 wooden craft sticks or Popsicle sticks

1 bag (14 oz) of traditional caramel squares (I used Kraft brand)

1 bag chopped walnuts (optional)

1 bottle of cake sprinkles (optional)

2 paper dinner plates (optional)

1 medium-sized glass mixing bowl

Parchment paper- or aluminum foil-lined cookie sheet

Microwave oven

Directions

1. Unwrap the individual caramel squares and place them in the glass mixing bowl.

(click the thumbnail images to enlarge)

2. Wash and dry the apples.

3. Press a wooden stick into the center of each apple where the stem originates.

4. (optional) Empty the bag of chopped walnuts onto a paper plate.

5. (optional) Empty the bottle of sprinkles onto a paper plate.

6. Place the mixing bowl with the caramels in the microwave. Microwave on High in 30 second intervals, stirring at the end of each interval, until the caramels have completely melted.

***CAUTION the bowl and the caramel will be hot!***

7. Arrange the apples, bowl of melted caramel, optional plates of toppings, and the parchment paper or foil assembly-line style on the counter in that order.

8. Holding the stick, roll each apple through the caramel, maneuvering it to cover as much of the apple surface as possible.

9. (optional) Roll the apple in the toppings.

10. Place the coated apple, with the stick straight up, on the parchment- or foil-lined cookie sheet.

11. Refrigerate the caramel-coated apples for a couple hours and enjoy.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Knit and Crochet for Spring

I can’t believe that spring is here and Easter is just around the corner! (Does it seem earlier this year? I think I say that every year when it sneaks up on me like this so soon after the snow and frost has cleared).

Although the 26 degrees in New England this morning would have you fooled, the dozens of robins on my lawn confirm spring has indeed arrived. And although it feels like I’ve just stopped making holiday items, my mind suddenly jumps to what I can make for the upcoming Easter holiday to decorate the house.

This year, I found inspiration in the April/May issue of Your Knitting Life. As soon as the issue arrived in my mailbox, I fell in love with the bunny placemat on page 68. I had to make it right then, and it just so happened, I had two skeins of leftover pink yarn I’d been dying to find a small project for. So, I got busy. You can see the results at the right.

Although the pattern calls for two skeins of the same pink yarn, I used two pinks of slightly different shades, which gives the bunny a variegated look that I think adds a nice texture to the pattern. I think my whiskers could be longer, but I’m proud of the fact that as a relatively new knitter (5 years compared to my almost 40–gulp-years of crochet) I was able to make the bunny in only one day and with only one minor error (which I caught early on and corrected).

Maybe you can learn from my mistake. Tip #1 If you don’t knit all the time, it’s a good idea to review common increase methods such as M1 (or Make 1) because sometimes what you *think* is the correct way to do the stitch is only halfway correct and halfway correct is another way of saying “wrong.” You can’t really tell by looking at my bunny from this distance, but my first couple of M1′s were not done right. But, that’s how we learn. From our mistakes. Now I know not the “guess” next time.

In the end, my bunny came out great, and I can’t wait to put it on the center of my dining room table for Easter dinner. (I”m going to use it as a hotpad instead of a placemat).

So, what are your craft aspirations for spring?

If you need a little inspiration to get you motivated, here are 9 free Easter-themed patterns at Lion Brand Yarn to get you started (registration for the pattern site is free).

Last year I made the Lion Brand Wee Rabbit Egg Cozy. In fact I made a warren of them! (pictured below) My son wanted one in every color yarn I had, but I stopped at six. This project was also a great way to use up leftover yarn., especially little balls you have lying around. Each bunny takes only a small amount.

We made a center piece with the rabbit cozies by taking a glass bowl, filling it with plastic eggs, fake grass and then placing the bunnies over some of the plastic eggs. It worked out great and definitely became a conversation starter at dinner.

So give one of those free patterns a try and see what springtime creations you can make with your hook or needles. You may surprise yourself with what you can achieve.

Happy Crafting!

Cathy