Back on Track

After a rough start on Monday, I had a better sewing experience on Tuesday. I discovered that the one block I had finished for week 2 I had made too large. Of course I did. I cut my lattice strips a quarter inch too wide, so I had to take the block apart and put new lattices on it. Honestly, Monday just wasn't my day.

The project is still very slow-going. It's week 2 and I have only finished two of the four blocks. Maybe I can get caught up the rest of this week and make a start on Week 3 on Saturday. I have to admit the blocks are super cute. I just need to develop a better system of making them.

Eva and I had a smash success for our Tuesday baking project. (By the way, she told me that Tuesday is her absolute favorite day of the week. Aw.) We made Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies from the Best Bake Sale Cookbook. I firmly believe that my constant failures with chocolate chip cookies stem from leaving the nuts out (Eva's preference). The dough is just too buttery and the cookies spread out into one big mess because nothing is holding the dough together. With the addition of oatmeal, these cookies come out chewy and cakey and exactly right.

We were so proud of these we shared a dozen of them with a neighbor who recently helped Eva fix a flat tire on her bike.

Lastly, here is a recent purchase. How. Cute. Is. That? Owl-o-ween by Urban Chiks. This is the third Halloween collection they have come out with and it may be my favorite. I see a new table runner in my future.

Hope you are all having a splendid week.

Comments

[Erika]

If you leave nuts out of chocolate chip cookie recipes that call for them, add 1-2 Tbsp of flour to compensate. I used to have the same problem and the. Saw this on the bag of chocolate chips I use. Hope it helps!

[Carol]

Chilling the dough might work… I’ve been told that, but I never want to wait for it to chill so I’ve settled for flat cookies! The Fat Quarter Shop’s annual free Halloween quilt uses that fabric— I bought the kit— the backing fabric is just so adorable! Can’t wait to see what you make with it.

[Pamela Dempsey]

I will bake some without nuts and then add nuts to the remaining batter. Everyone is happy, nuts make it better 🥰

[T Holzer]

Your blocks are so worth the effort! How many blocks are you supposed to make a week? 4? They probably take you as long to press them as to sew them!!

[Jan]

Good job making progress on your blocks & getting that pesky one repaired! Eva will always remember her baking Tuesdays! I baked with our friends' daughter during the summers when she was young. Now that she's grown up she bakes all kinds of wonderful cookies & cakes & tells people she learned to bake from me. The truth be told, she's gone far beyond my pay grade & I'm so honored!

[Debbie R.]

So glad you're persevering on those blocks, despite the frustrations and slow pace. They are gorgeous and will be well worth all the time and trouble. And hopefully once you get over this blip, it will actually be fun! Those cookies look delicious!

[Ina]

1) no such thing as too buttery
2) nuts in cookies and brownies always make it better
3) now I want cookies

I love Urban Chicks fabric design. their xmas designs have been among my favorite.

did you see what Jan wrote? now that melted my heart. I baked a few times with a neighbor's granddaughters. They use to come knock on my door because they loved my dog. my dog loved them back. it was pretty cute.

stay cool and don't work too hard...

[Jeanie]

These blocks take a lot of time. I decided to sew all my half square triangles together then chain piece everything. It's going to be a cute quilt which keeps me sewing, although I am already behind :/

[Kathryn Czuprynski]

My Mother’s chocolate chip cookies is the recipe on the back of the Nestle Chocolate Chip package EXCEPT she added 1 more cup of flour. Thick cookies perfect for dunking in milk! My daughter made them in college and still makes them to rave reviews!