a little WIP

I signed up to work on a project that I was very much interested in.  Well...much time has passed now and I am starting to make progress finally:)  My son has been having a lot of fun helping with this too and it has been really a very relaxing project as it is not critical  how things progress or turn out.  I think I am really going to like the end result and I have been enjoying working with paper for a change.  More on this one later.......What are you working on???

Apple Cozy

I have been contemplating getting a subscription to Mollie Makes magazine off and on now for almost a year.  I had forgotten all about it until another swapper from Swap-Bot mentioned it.  When I looked into the price, however, it really made me think.  It is super expensive!!  I did purchase the latest issue off of the magazine racks this month.....so for now I will still keep thinking about it.  Although, I much prefer to hold on to a magazine.....the price reduction of the digital issue is marginally easier to swallow.  We shall see.  Before I picked up the issue that I did purchase......I tried out this cute pattern for a cozy apple jacket from a previous issue.  I am finding that I nearly always need to use a larger hook as my tension must be very.....tense:)  After two do overs with larger hooks.....finally I found one that worked up to the right size!  While it may not be entirely very functional....it certainly is fashionable:)  It almost makes me want to bring an apple to work......

Texas Sheet Cake ...Nice and Easy

There it is....the last piece of a Texas Sheet cake that DH insisted that I make.  The recipe is from one of his favourite cooking shows.  A show that he likes to watch.....and then say...'Why don't you make that??'  I already have a Texas Sheet Cake recipe that I very much like.....but who am I to argue.....Honestly I could have made my usual recipe and he would not know the difference.  But, in the interest of trying a new recipe....I gave it a go.  I can say that I like it equally as much as my previous recipe.  It is very easy to prepare and makes a nice large amount to share.

Cook's Country Texas Sheet Cake
8 oz semi sweet chocolate
4 Tbsp butter
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup cocoa
Melt all above ingredients in a pan over medium heat.  Stir until smooth.....should take 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool a few minutes.

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Mix together all dry ingredients, and pour above chocolate mixture into the dry and whisk together.

2 eggs
2 egg yolks
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup sour cream
Whisk together the above 4 ingredients, and stir into the previously mixed ingredients from above.
Spread batter into a greased cookie sheet with sides.  Bake 18-20 minutes at 350F on the middle rack.

Icing
Prepare frosting while cake is in the oven.
1/2 cup cream
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cu cocoa
1 Tbsp corn syrup or golden syrup
1 Tbsp vanilla
3 cups icing sugar

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts to sprinkle on top if desired.

In a medium pan heat and whisk the first4 ingredients until melted over medium heat.  Remove from heat and add vanilla and whisk in the icing sugar.  Frost cake with icing while the cake and frosting are still warm.  Sprinkle the top of the icing with 1 cup chopped pecans if desired.