The week has nearly slipped away and has been busy... We completed the painting of the shop and out-buildings over several days, usually in 4-hour segments. Our muscles ached from the repetitive movements and odd positions required for the lower sections. It looks good! As we painted, we guesstimated that it has been at least 12 years since any painting had been done. That was when we installed the windows in the shop and opened for business.
I am still in a holding pattern as I wait for the border and backing fabric for the memory quilts. As I waited, I filled a few small orders for a customer that requested several therapeutic rice bags and hemmed a tablecloth for her. She is a faithful customer that comes back time and time again for the rice bags. She and her daughter use them on a regular basis in the winter to warm their hands or feet during the winter evenings.
As I delivered them, she sent me home with 5 pairs of jeans for hemming. Hemming pants in not on the top of my favorite jobs list but I don't refuse them either. They are quick jobs that generate a little cash with little trouble. I know some quilters will just refuse to do the job...
With a little extra time on my hands, I have spent time in the kitchen. I had a bag of avocados that needed to be used up before turning bad. They became a dressing and some chocolate pudding. Yes! Chocolate pudding.
About 8 years ago there was a recipe floating around on social media for it... Avocado pudding. Since I had recently made the radical diet change cutting gluten (in addition to many other foods) it was a recipe that a sweet friend shared with me. It took a few years before I was willing to actually try it.
Again, I had two avocados on the verge of being tossed. I pulled the recipe out and figured I would give it a try... if it was terrible I would just toss it away. Well... I was shocked at how it turned out.
It has a beautiful creamy texture and a rich chocolatey taste without being overly sweet. Give it a try! It is rich, so small portions last a long time. Dave likes it best when I turn it into a "mousse" with whipped cream by mixing in equal parts of the pudding and whipped cream. Sprinkle some crumbles from graham crackers or other cookie over the top and you have yourself a fancy dessert.
I also mixed up a layered jar mix that I had made before we went to Red River. The bars are always a hit. You can find the recipes for them (and Sand Art Brownies) here. And the jars are a quick "hostess" gift or perfect for a neighbor that enjoys cooking.
Gluten-free Sourdough bread was baked, as well as some soups and Loaded Chicken and Potatoes. Dave told me last night, "I love cool weather meals! They smell good, taste good and they warm the house as well as my tummy." You can find the No Guilt::Go Quilt recipe here.
I am itching to get back to quilting! TODAY... I will pull out the Little House blocks and get them into a top!
What are some of your favorite "cool weather" meals.
Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you.
Keep Piecing,
Melva
Melva
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For cool weather days, it is soup. . .any kind! If I'm really organized, I'll bake some sourdough bread to have with the soup. I bet the pudding is delicious. Avocados are an amazing food and can be used in so many ways! Thanks for sharing what you've been doing. Mending jeans is even worse, in my book, than hemming them; but, like you, I do it because I know how! --TerryK@OnGoingProjects
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