Monthly Archives: October 2014

Musings

$1 for You; $1 for Cancer Research

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let someone know they are special

Let’s fight cancer together. Purchase the pattern for Thinking of You Too Hat at Ravelry with coupon code FIGHTCANCER and get $1 off through October 31, 2014. I also contribute $1 to the American Cancer Society.

Thinking of You Too Hat in the cancer awareness edition
Thinking of You Too Hat in the cancer awareness edition

As you knit this hat, be mindful of how Thinking of You Too reinforces the message that the bonds of loving friendship (interlocking hearts) will prevail in the face of the twists and turns of life (wavy eyelet ribbing).

Thinking of You Too incorporates symbolic elements similar to those in the Thinking of You Scarf I designed in 2006 and is still a favorite of knitters.

Whether making the hat and scarf as a coordinating set, or making just the hat by itself, you can let someone know they are special.

Save a Life (maybe your own)
Remember your breast cancer screenings. And remind the women in your life that regular screenings can help find and treat breast cancer sooner – and even save a life.

breast cancer screening resources

There are also things you can do to help lower your risk. Studies have consistently shown that active women are 25% less likely to develop breast cancer. Adding a brisk morning or after-dinner walk to your routine is easy. You can literally take steps to help lower your risk of developing breast cancer every day. Getting to and staying at a healthy weight and limiting your alcohol intake to one drink a day can help, too.

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Cooking

Jackie-O-Lantern Tortilla Pizza Pie

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Looking for a fun and quick fixin’ treat for Halloween? Join me in making pizza with yummy edible jack-o-lantern details.

Have you always dreamed of carving the ‘perfect’ pumpkin? As a kid, I found that harder to do than I thought it would be. Before I even had a chance to approach being an ‘expert’, I moved to Cajun country in the deep south. Believe me, carved pumpkins don’t last long around here in the heat that persists well past Halloween! They wither up quickly and get pretty gross (rotted pumpkin smell is yuck!)

So I’ve come up with some other ways to practice my talents in making jack-o-lanterns. Join me in making a Jackie-O-Lantern Tortilla Pizza Pie.

Slice a piece of Jackie-O-Lantern Tortilla Pizza Pie

INGREDIENTS

  • Plate-sized flour tortilla (i.e. soft taco wrap)
  • Salsa
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Fresh Jalapeno or sweet green pepper (your choice, depending on your taste preferences and availability)
  • Cajun smoked sausage (andouille) or other meat topping that can be ‘carved’ for the facial features (e.g. pepperoni or slice salami)
  • Optional: Red hot sauce

INSTRUCTIONS

Get all the ingredients and cooking tools gathered together and then you are ready to get started on assembly.

Ingredients and cooking tools for Jackie-O-Lantern Tortilla Pizza Pie

Assembly

STEP 1 – Put flour tortilla in pan.

Note that I am planning to use a stove-top non-stick sauté pan for ‘baking’ the pizza.

STEP 2 – Spread some salsa on the tortilla.

I prefer green salsa, but red salsa is good, too. My taste buds have gotten used to hot and spicy here in Cajun country, so the hotter the better.

STEP 3 – Grate cheese and sprinkle amount desired over salsa.

I prefer extra-sharp cheddar, but ya’ know, any cheese is good. I haven’t ever met a real cheese that I didn’t like. I don’t recommend those imitation processed cheeses though.

STEP 4 – Clean and slice pepper in thin strips, reserving top of one half as the ‘stem’ of the pumpkin. Place strips and stem as shown in picture to mimic a pumpkin.

Did you see those sweet green peppers in the picture? Those are from my own plants, still producing peppers in bunches like grapes even now this late in the season!

STEP 5 – Slice sausage and ‘carve’ triangle and small rectangle pieces for eyes, nose and teeth. Place similarly to that shown in picture as a guide, or just be creative with your own facial features and expressions!

Assembled Halloween tortilla pizza

Baking

Cook on stove over medium heat for 7 – 8 minutes, or until cheese is melted well and bottom of tortilla is crispy.

Did I mention it stays hot where I live well past Halloween? Well, no use heating up the house by turning on the oven, and stove-top will work just fine.

Here is the ‘baked’ pizza. Isn’t it cute?

Baked Halloween Pizza

Serving

To amuse the kids (or even grown-ups!), shake some red hot sauce ‘blood’ over the mouth. (or substitute catsup if you don’t like it as spicy as we do here in Cajun country)

Slice in wedges and eat it up ’til gone. 🙂 Let me know how you like it.

Slice a piece of Jackie-O-Lantern Tortilla Pizza Pie

Have fun and bon appetit!

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Promotions at HSFA

Bearfoot Over the Shoulder Shawl KAL

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Join me (Jackie E-S) over at the Mountain Colors Yarn group on Ravelry for a Knit-A-Long (KAL). We’ll be knitting the Bearfoot Over the Shoulder Shawl that I designed for using any of the lovely and colorfully dyed Mountain Colors fingering weight yarn.
Bearfoot Over the Shoulder
 

This easy to wear shawl/cowl combo is a different angle on the one-sided Möbius. It takes just one skein of Mountain Colors Bearfoot or Crazyfoot yarn http://www.247locksmithsnearme.com/residential-locksmith, making it relatively quick to knit. The lace stitch pattern is easy to work and memorize, so you’ll be able to relax while  watching the colors flow off your needles.

How to Participate and have a chance to win the prize from Mountain Colors!

1. Purchase a skein (or use one from your stash) of Mountain Colors Bearfoot or Crazyfoot 2. Get the Bearfoot Over The Shoulder Shawl pattern at Ravelry. 3. Post about your project in the official Mountain Colors Bearfoot KAL thread! 4. Share your progress with other KAL’ers, ask questions, and get tips on knitting this lovely, yet easy lace shawl from Jackie. 5. Post your finished Bearfoot Over the Shoulder Shawl photo in the official Bearfoot KAL thread by November 10, 2014 for a chance to win a great prize from Mountain Colors Yarn. Will you join us? Bearfoot Over Your Shoulders Shawl

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Promotions at HSFA

October Prize Drawing: Luxury Smoke Ring Kit

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I’m giving away a Luxury Smoke Ring Kit at the end of October over at the KnitHeartStrings KAL site. Will the lucky winner be you? You can win luxury yarn in choice of natural gray or natural white, and your choice of either of these 2 patterns to make a beautiful smoke ring.

Flared Lace Smoke Ring
Flared Lace Smoke Ring
Smoke Ring with Lace Edging
Smoke Ring with Lace Edging

What is a smoke ring, you ask? It is a versatile accessory you can wear laid on your shoulders as a dressy cowl neckline, or pulled over your head for light-as-air warmth without messing your hairdo. A smoke ring is also sometimes referred to as a natchaq.

The Luxury Smoke Ring Kit you can win includes —
  • Personally autographed, hard-copy pattern for a smoke ring; your choice of either #A45 Smoke Ring with Lace Edging or #A49 Flared Lace Smoke Ring
  • A continuous skein of luxury yarn (50% baby alpaca, 25% merino, 25% angora) that is enough to complete the smoke ring of your choice in the color of your choice (either natural gray or natural white); the yarn has been washed and skeined, and is ready for you to wind into a ball to knit your smoke ring

To Participate in the October Prize Giveaway

Click on over to the Monthly Prize Giveaway page at the KnitHeartStrings KAL site to see how you can win the October Smoke Ring Kit.

The random drawing will be held right after I tally the entries at close of October 31, 2014. I’ll announce the winner as soon as possible after that. I hope the winner will be YOU! Good luck.

yarn for smoke ringp.s. I hope you will join us at KnitHeartStrings for the Smoke Ring KAL this month. If you are not yet a member of KnitHeartStrings, you can Join Here. 

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