Monday, March 9, 2009

Italian Food, Funky Llamas, Cards,and Flowers!

Just some things I've been up to...

I'm hooked on crocheting these cute flowers and embellishing cards! "Hooked"... get itlaugh Pictures, Images and Photos...sometimes I crack myself up! Okay, for those that have no idea how to crochet, you use a "crochet hook"...........oooooooooooooh, now, you get it!!

Some are made using my handspun llama fiber,
some are just a cotton thread. Pattern at the end of this post.

This was for the Featured Stamper challenge.
Artful INKables sentiment

This was for the Limited Supply challenge
Gina K Designs

And this one...can you find the crocheted flower?
This one was for the Inspiration Challenge.
Found it yet?
There isn't one! I just love how this one turned out and wanted to show you!
Gina K Designs/Cornish Heritage Farms

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And I made the yummiest dinner tonight! I made my own gnocchi from scratch! Then made this yummy sauce to go over it! I got the recipe for the sauce online from Olive Garden. I took pics along the way and was going to show you the end result...but it tasted 100x better than it photographed!!

I will show you the gnocchi though, it was very easy to make. Recipes will posted at the end. Next time I'll make them a little smaller too.

The sauce recipe calls for white wine, luckily I had this wine I'd bought because...well, read the label! I had to have it!!


  • Gnocchi with Spicy Tomato and Wine Sauce

    servings: 4 easily!
    prep: 30 min(s) cook: 30 min(s)
    Ingredients
    1 lb Gnocchi potato dumplings (make your own...or look in frozen section at your grocer)
    2 Tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
    6 cloves Fresh garlic, minced
    1/2 tsp Chili flakes
    1 cup Dry white drinking wine
    1 cup Chicken broth
    2 14 1/2 oz. cans Tomatoes
    1/2 stick Sweet cream butter, 1 inch cubes chilled
    1/2 cup Freshly grated Parmesan cheese.... I used a mixture of Parmesan/Romano/Asiago
    Freshly chopped basil (to taste)....I had some store bought pesto, added approx 1/2 tsp to sauce
    Salt (to taste)Freshly crushed black pepper (to taste)

    SAUCE PREPARATION
    Place the olive oil, garlic and chili flakes in a cold pan. On medium heat stir and cook the olive oil, garlic, chili flakes until garlic turns slight golden brown.
    To this mixture add the white wine and chicken broth simmer about 10 minutes.
    Reduce the wine and broth by half, add the tomatoes, and continue to simmer for 30 minutes.
    Puree the sauce in blender with the butter and Parmesan cheese.
    Season to taste with salt and pepper.

    TIP: Add Cream to sauce to add richness...I added approx 1/2 cup of half and half
    Add vegetables of choice to sauce

This sauce would be good over pasta too!

  • Gnocchi
    Ingredients:
    2 large potatoes
    2 cups all-purpose flour
    1 egg (I used 2 because I had enough potato to double the recipe!)

    Directions:
    1.Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Peel potatoes and add to pot. Cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and mash with a fork or potato masher.

    2.Combine 1 cup mashed potato, flour and egg in a large bowl. Knead until dough forms a ball. Shape small portions of the dough into long rolls. On a floured surface, cut rolls into half-inch pieces....
    You want a nice dough, not sticky, but you don't want to work in too much flour either! Add the flour a little at a time.

    3.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Drop in gnocchi and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until gnocchi have risen to the top; drain and serve.

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Now for the crocheted flowers.....

Rnd 1: ch 2, 5 sc in 2nd ch from hook. Join with sl st to first sc.
[ (ch 2, 3dc, ch 2, sl st) in the same sc, sl st to the next sc], 5 times, making 5 petals. Cut off
.

I hope I inspired you to do some cooking or pick up that yarn that's been sitting around for too long!! Enjoy!!

Thanks for stopping!


13 comments :

Anita said...

Wow! Your flowers are awesome! What a wonderful meal.

Pinky Roth said...

Dawn, your awesome dinner sounded so yummy! I have not crocheted in years, but I know I can make those if I would just get busy and take the time...thanks for the recipe and directions for the flower...

Keri Lee Sereika said...

You have totally inspired me...now if I could just read that language I may be able to make the little flowers!!! And I love the recipe...I bet Ad would love it too! I will have to try it out next week!

Kristin said...

You are so smart dawn! I've seen crochetd flowers sold in the stores for embellishments but making your own is the way to go. Very Cute...and now I can make some too since you game me the pattern! :)

Anonymous said...

Dawn...you seem to have your hands into everything these days...I am so glad you posted the crochet flowers recipie...I know I am gonna use that one...Love the cards and the dinner menu ;)

Joanne (jojot) said...

Okay, MS........you've made me hungry with the recipe (yum), jealous of the crocheted flowers, and in awe from your coloring (once again)...you sure do pack a lot into one blog post.....

Linda Carson said...

Love your artwork & crocheted flowers! They really add a nice touch! Maybe you could use them as blog candy....hint, hint....

stampqueen said...

You are making me hungry - my DH is cooking tonight so we'll eat a little later than usual...
I love the rabbit card - will have to try that way to layer the opening!!! And love your little crochet flowers too!!!

Amy Sheffer said...

Oh my gosh, Dawn!! Those flowers are amazing! I've crocheted before, but it's been YEARS. If I can even find my hooks, I would love to give this a try. Thanks for the pattern. And the recipe?! Gasp! How does one go about getting an invitation for dinner at your house?

- dlm. said...

Dawn - I love, love, love these flowers! Thanks for sharing the directions with us. I can't wait to try out the recipe. Yummm! ( Tell you what, if you will make this for dinner I'll bring something chocolate-y and oh-so-decadent for dessert (S) ).

Elena said...

Wow! Dawn! You are so TALENTED! Your hooked flowers are amazing!!! Lov ehte cards you created with them! And your cooking recipe is so yummy!

Chris Olsen, Glowbug said...

Dawn these are absolutely beautiful cards. Love the crocheted flowers and the beautiful card without the crocheted flower!! TFS

Judy Rozema said...

That recipe looks and sounds absolutely wonderful. I want to come over! Beautiful cards too -- but I am so dumb - I am staring at that bunny card forever trying to see some tiny little flower!! I GOTTA make some of those!