Spain’s Quesada Recipe
This is what I would call Spanish "cheesecake", but it is so very different that I hesitate to even mention that to you. It is more dense, browned top, not as sugary-sweet, with an amazing texture and I think about two thousand times better than what you probably know as cheesecake. For me it is one of those comfort foods that if you know is in the fridge you will want to go back to it and take little slivers off here and there hoping no one will notice so that you won't have to share! I usually double the recipe and jut put it in a larger skillet to back and add about 10 minutes. If I don't double it I end up being way too protective of it. Not good.
I baked mine in a cast iron skillet, but you don't have to, I've made it in a baking dish and it turned out just as good. If you do have cast iron though, I think you'll enjoy the convenience of using it for this recipe.
Quesada Recipe
(from The Taste of Spain by Camillia Jessel)
500 ml or 18 fl. oz Cups Milk (2+1/4 cups)
1 Cinnamon Stick
Peel of 1 Lemon
Butter
300 g (11 oz) Sugar (1+1/3 cups approx.)
150 g (5 oz) Flour, sieved with a pinch of salt (1+1/4 cups approx)
150 g (5 oz) Natural Plain Yogurt (1+1/4 cups)
2 Eggs
Powdered Cinnamon
Heat the milk with the cinnamon stick and lemon peel. When it boils remove from heat and keep.
Heat the oven to 350 F (180 C). Grease an appropriately sized tin, ceramic or cast iron mould generously with butter and put it in the oven. The sides should be about 2 inches (5 cm.) height as the quesada rises slightly.
Beat the sugar and flour with the yogurt and eggs in a bowl. Beat in the strained milk little by little. Pour the mixture into the hot mould, sprinkle with powdered cinnamon and bake for 45 minutes.
Strawberry Fields Don’t Last Forever
I guess even the Beatles can be wrong. Strawberries have a very short season only lasting about 2 weeks as far as good pickin' goes. This year with the cooler weather it was drawn out quite a bit longer! I have never picked strawberries the way that I did a couple days back, they were all ripe and I would stay in one spot and just pick and pick...so we ended up with 20 pounds of berries.
To deal with the bounty I snapped up 8 envelops of instant pectin (or sent The Husband to the store for them actually) and started instantly to wash, de-stem, and mash. The recipe is on the back of the pectin, and I don't use anything other than Instant Fruit Pectin (like in this picture) anymore.
Why do I love freezer jam so much better ? because of the lower sugar and MUCH fresher taste. This recipe calls for 4 cups of fruit and 1+1/2 cups of sugar per package, not the 5 cups of fruit to 4 cups of sugar or whatever the atrocity is of canned jam. No comparison on taste either since these berries aren't cooked and boiled- and it is quicker too- so if you have the freezer space you really don't have any reason not to try it, it is as easy as mixing three ingredients together and then putting them in containers.
I love that color, that bright red is beautiful. There is just something about good strawberries.I just bought an amazing food dehydrator at a second hand store and next year I will certainly pick double the berries next year and dry half of them. Stay posted for some dehydrating adventures.
But for now talk to me! Do you have any memories of jam making? What kind of berries do you like best for jam?
Homemade Heat pack or Cold Compress (Rice Socks)
Make your very own slice of heaven in a sock. Oh yeah, I promise that this simple and inexpensive hot/cold sock filled with rice and a couple drops of essential oil is your ticket to a better life. They are great for back aches, stomach cramps, leg tightness, leg pain, or just a relaxation enhancer.
They are especially good for pregnant ladies, because back aches are a biggie- so be sure to make these for all of those peeps in your life that find themselves expecting. I got these at my first baby shower from a friend and it was the one thing that fit me during the whole pregnancy, that I looked forward to more and could use after the baby too! I can't say enough, try it.
Recipe for Homemade Rice Sock Heat pack or Cold Compress:
What you need:
*One pair of (I recommend two so you have a back up when your husband steals yours!) thick men's socks. Just regular tube socks will do, they should be sport or working man thickness though. The bigger the better.
*Rice as needed to fill the socks half full. Get the cheapest you can find.
*Flannel or other fabric to cover your men's sized rice socks.
*Funnel (optional but recommended).
*Essential Oils to your choosing (optional but recommended).
How to work it:
1.) Roll down the top of one of your socks, stick the funnel in and dump cups of rice into the sock until it is full until the half way point.
2.) Add drops of essential oil to the rice inside your sock (picture below). I added vanilla, about 10 drops- but whatever you like to smell would work. Also herbs would work as well, some lavender leaves and flowers or whatever.
3.) Cut fabric, I like flannel because it is warm already to the touch and soft but you could use cotton or fleece. Remember it will need to be washed and it will be microwaved along with the rice sock as well. The size of your sock will mean you need a bigger or shorter fabric slice. I cut mine at 6 inches wide and 18 long. I had the fabric folded so I wouldn't have to sew the bottom of the cover, but I am lazy so it doesn't really matter if you do it that way, it is only about 5 inches to sew.
4.) Sew the top hem first, before you do the sides or bottom. Then turn fabric wrong side out or right sides facing each other and sew up the two long sides and the bottom. Right the fabric and you are done. DONE! Slide (more like wiggle) your rice sock in and you are ready to head to the micro!
That would be right, it means that now you can enjoy. Start up your kettle, grab a good book or a stack of magazines and settle in for a good relaxing time.
Heating and Cooling Instructions:
Heating: As sizes will vary, you'll need to figure out how long your sock needs to be heated in the microwave. It will depend on how big it is and how much rice is in it, and how hot you want it, but mine takes 3-4 minutes- as it has quite a bit of rice in it. I recommend heating one at a time if you have two, it just kind of works better that way. Wash the cover when needed.
Cooling: If you want this for a cold compress- put it in the freezer and let it get cold. Simple right? I would go with at least an hour- but that just depends on how cold you want it.
Live it up, and share with a friend!!
What do you do to relax? What is your TV show or reading material of choice in order to achieve that perfect state of calm? Share it with me- I need to get some relaxin' in!
Make Homemade Butter
Homemade Butter Recipe:
What you need:
1 Ball Jar (any size- I like the quart size but you can use a smaller one if you want to make less)
1 Large pinch of Salt
About 15 minutes of your time
Fill one ball jar half way with Heavy Whipping Cream. Put a lid on it and tighten it. Let sit out at room temperature overnight- or for approximately 12 hours. This is to aid in souring process.
After your patient wait. Grab on to the jar and add a large pinch of salt to the cream. Then with one hand on the top and bottom of the jar shake with decisive churns. Not too quick, think of it as sudden pulses timed at about once every second. (This does not have to be exact- I didn't do exactly that, but I write this to let you know you aren't jiggling it constantly)
When you start to wonder if you should open the lid or you will miss it, don't. Just keep going. It happens really quick- it goes from regular liquid to whipped cream and then to butter surrounded in buttermilk with the jerk of the jar. When you see a conglomerate of light yellow butter in the middle (slightly bumpy and odd looking) you have it! You made butter!!
Butter is forming and swimming in a soft pool of buttermilk
Butter in jar after I emptied out the buttermilk
Empty the liquid (which is buttermilk) into a separate jar using a funnel. Rinse your butter with water making sure all the buttermilk is out, as this will cause spoilage. You can kneed it under the water, I would use cold though so it doesn't make your butter any softer than it already is-this will be slimy, but you could just lick your fingers off!! 
After the water that comes off of the butter runs clear your butter is good to go. Transfer to a butter mold or smaller jar if you choose. Store both butter and buttermilk in the fridge. If you want a soft butter- you can leave part of it out for easy-creamy spreading. Grab your toast and slab on your homemade butter! Or better yet- just grab a spoon! YUM!
Have you made butter before?? Do you have any tips or something I left out?? Be sure and let me know. If you have even considered it you really should- it is SO easy that you'll just want to keep it up!
Year-Round Felt True Love Ornaments
These bright heart-shaped ornaments are not just to bring out at Christmas, but to be admired all year long. I made them because they reminded me of the of the retro embroidered hearts from the seventies or sixties. They aren't difficult to make, some simple embroidery and felt cutting is pretty much it. I did the blanket stitch around the edges and then just other fun stuff on the hearts themselves.
To make these you will need: wool felt, embroidery thread and poly-fill stuffing to pooch them out, and a button for each. They could be made in natural colours too if that is more pleasing to you.
The thing that I really enjoy about felt is that it is a lazy woman's fabric since there is no fraying, washing, ironing or hemming needed. I am guessing that that is why it has become extremely popular as of late. It is beautiful and takes less work- what could be the catch!?
I can't seem to stop cutting these little delights out and sewing them for family! It is like doodling to me to mess with them and do the stitches.
Valentine's Day is coming up, these would be perfect for Valentine's Day or Christmas for that special someone. Personally, I think that these are pretty enough to stay out year round! Enjoy.
Make a Reading Pillow for the Bookaholic(s) in Your Life
I just finished making my first Reading Pillow from a Sew Liberated pattern. It is actually my first time to be faithful to a pattern completely, yes I am just not 'that kind of girl'. However, this first try at actually knowing what it would look like before making it, and sewing it easily not having to take it out and rip seams a million times made me a believer in patterns.
I made this out of some Amy Butler fabric that my sister-in-law bought for the centerpiece tablecloths at her wedding. When I thought of what fabric I could buy this fabric kept coming to my mind and since I am giving them to her mom, my mom and her for Christmas I decided this material would be perfect. I hope that you can be sure and not tell them!! SHHHHH!
I think it turned out pretty good for my first time following a pattern. I wish that I could give you all the deets in this post, but that just wouldn't be right since Sew Liberated is selling the patterns, I bought mine off of her website, it was $11.95 but well worth the accuracy of following someones measurements who had done it before! Can I hear an 'Amen, Sista!'? If only you knew.
At first I thought about doing a solid on the back, but then I thought, 'well, but then it could serve a double purpose when not in use!' and I am so glad that thought crossed my mind. Now when it isn't being used to read, it can be used to adorn a couch or a bed- but never fear it will be fully stocked with glasses and pencils on the other side! Nifty yeah?
What is the first pattern you ever followed when sewing? Did it turn out?
Enjoy a Homemade Christmas with your family too! Get started now.
This is a gift idea that I have shared for my Christmas a la Homemade (a handmade Christmas). I will be posting these up until Christmas to give you ideas for gifts you can make for your friends and family.
Previous Ideas from my Christmas a la Homemade (A Handmade Christmas):
Rosemary Sea Salt Recipe
Bath Salts Soak Recipe
Knit Granny Washcloth (or Dishcloth) Pattern
Make a Reading Pillow for the Bookaholic(s) in Your Life
Knit Granny Washcloth (or Dishcloth) Pattern
My grandma, taught me to make these several times when I was growing up. She is gone now, and I forgot how to make them. But now that I have re-taught myself to knit I really wanted to figure these out again. I did! It is exactly the pattern she taught me, at least it turns out the same. There are probably several ways to do this.
I use Cotton Ease Lion Brand yarn, a medium 4 which is 50% Cotton, 50% Acrylic. I don't think it matters what you use as long as it is cotton. I think I have busted out 5 of these so far, they feel so nice on the skin as a washcloth. And I knit different ones for the dishes as well, that way I can just throw them in the wash.
Granny Dishcloth/Washcloth Knitting Pattern:
*CO 4
*K4 rows (4 rows of the 4 you CO)
*K2, YO1, K remainder of stitches (the YO will add one stitch each row)
repeat for every row until you have 44 stitches on your needle.
*K1, Ktog, YO1, Ktog, knit remainder of row
repeat until you are down to 4 stitches on your needle, then cast off.
enjoy your bath! (or washing your dishes in style)
Knitting Terms:
CO: Cast On
K: Knit (along with number of stitches)
YO: Yarn Over
Ktog: Knit Together
This pattern was first posted on my blog on January 10th 2009. Since last year I have made so many of these, and I love making them because they are brainless, which I can do while I listen to an audiobook or watch a movie. I personally love the one that I kept more than any of my store bought ones. It is really good at getting all the grime off and I love how it exfoliates my skin without being abrasive. I have promised to knit myself some more and put them in MY stocking this year!! I highly recommend knitting some of these and if none of your family wants then, really then you will have lucked out!
Enjoy a Homemade Christmas with your family too! Get started now.
This is a gift idea that I have shared for my Christmas a la Homemade (a handmade Christmas). I will be posting these up until Christmas to give you ideas for gifts you can make for your friends and family.
Previous Ideas from my Christmas a la Homemade (A Handmade Christmas):
Rosemary Sea Salt Recipe
Bath Salts Soak Recipe
Knit Granny Washcloth (or Dishcloth) Pattern
Make a Reading Pillow for the Bookaholic(s) in Your Life
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