All posts by Jackie E-S

Jackie E-S is the owner of HeartStrings FiberArts, a showcase for her growing roster of original pattern designs. As a certified master knitter and teacher, Jackie continues to share her love of knitting and knowledge through design and publication of skill-building pattern instructions, and conducting workshops, programs and demonstrations. Her interest in the fiber arts extends beyond knitting and spinning to include weaving, dyeing and all needle arts. She also enjoys contract bridge and music.
Cooking

Meatless Monday Tomato Spinach Feta Crustless Quiche

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I tried the recipe Tomato Spinach Feta Crustless Quiche from the Bold Of Delicious blog site tonight and it turned out great. Even John thought so … It was probably a relief to him having a relatively “usual” dish rather than some of the weird stuff I have been trying lately.

Spinach Feta Crustless Quiche
Spinach Feta Crustless Quiche

Here is a link to the recipe site I used: http://www.bowlofdelicious.com/2015/01/05/crustless-spinach-tomato-and-feta-quiche/ I pretty much made the recipe as given except for a couple minor changes (always seems I make changes, lol):

  1. I didn’t have the 8 oz of feta cheese called for (I only had 6 oz because I forgot that John had used some in salad a couple nights ago), so I supplemented with 2 oz of a fresh Kefir cheese I had made last week which is very similar to feta.
  2. I substituted dried thyme for the fresh (since my plants got killed several weeks ago and I won’t be planting again until it warms up somewhat).
  3. I just used sliced Roma tomato I had on hand rather than the cherry tomato halves the recipe called for.
  4. Also, the filling was too much for the quiche pan I have, so I divided it between that and a pie plate. (2 for 1 !)

I particularly liked how light and fluffy this quiche was. I think it is because of using the feta and fresh Kefir cheeses rather than a more traditional heavier cheese like Swiss? There is plenty left for more meals. I probably would re-heat in a pan, but I understand it is also good served cold as a snack. Have you had this before?

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Friends of HeartStrings Gallery

Baby Hats for Pediatric Hospital

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Sharing this from Courtney Arsenault …

I work at a small children’s hospital in DC called HSC Pediatric Center in NE Washington DC. We have three units one of which is an infant floor with many babies coming to us from the NICU. Our biggest need is for hats, we use hats for when children go to clinic apts, discharge to home, as gifts for families having a hard time, and when a child passes away.

We serve roughly 15 to 20 infants at a time, the majority of our patients come from children’s national, they come requiring respiratory support, for feeding intolerance, and for a number of other medical reasons. As a child life specialist my number one role is to provide comfort to these infants especially when their families are unable to be there and to normalize the environment in anyway I can. Last year we received a donation of infants hats and I can’t tell you how many smiles they brought. These hats meant so much to our parents and they were received at such different points in their children’s lives and even given to our children who passed away in our care. It is not often that there is something I can give to our families that is so personal and I would love to be able to keep offering hats, unfortunately we are running low on our supplies.

Thank you so much!
Courtney Arsenault
Child life specialist
HSC Pediatric Center

I’ve added the HSC Pediatric Center to our listing at KnitHeartStrings for “Where Can I Donate Handmade Baby Items”.

Over the past 3 years we have had a Bits of Lace baby charity project featured each year at KnitHeartStrings Learn-and-Knit-Along site. Projects have been

Quick Lace-Edged Baby Socks

Quick Lace-Edged Baby Socks

Seemingly Seamless 2-Needle Preemie Hat

Preemie Hat

Elegantly Simple Baby Blanket

Baby Blanket

To stay in the tradition of a bits of lace project  for charity baby knitting each year, there will be a new baby hat pattern available for one of the monthly KnitHeartStrings KAL’s during the Spring 2015. Stay tuned and be sure you are signed up as KnitHeartStrings member!

Meantime, please keep HSC Pediatric Center in mind if you are looking for a place to which to donate baby hats. You can contact Courtney Arsenault, Child life specialist
HSC Pediatric Center at CArsenault@hospsc.org

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Promotions at HSFA

Win a Bitty Beady Christmas Tree Gift Kit

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In time for gift-giving season, this month’s KAL prize drawing is for HeartStrings’ most popular design for holiday decorating: Bitty Beady Christmas Tree. Bead “ornaments” peek in and out of the trellis lace branches on this tiny traditional-looking Christmas tree. The branch tips are formed with serrated edging, giving a realistic look.

Bitty Beady Christmas Tree knitted in pine green yarn and silver-lined red beads

The prize is a complete kit including hard-copy pattern, yarn and beads to make one bitty tree in your choice of color combos, along with a coordinating greeting card and matching envelope. Knit and give the little tree as a gift (maybe even keep it for yourself?). Or gift the kit to a knitting friend to make for themselves. There are 20 holiday color combos offered. I’ll even string the beads on the yarn for you if you want. Check out the color offerings for Bitty Beady Christmas Tree in the KnitHeartStrings Online Store. h80suppliespaks-1000 The coordinating greeting card with matching envelope makes a nice gift enclosure to go along with either giving the kit itself, or with your completed bitty tree.

Bitty Beady Christmas Trees greeting card and matching envelope
Bitty Beady Christmas Trees greeting card and matching envelope

How to Win

See the Monthly Prize Giveaway page to see how you can win this month’s Bitty Beady Christmas Tree Gift Kit. A random drawing will be held right after I tally the entries following November 30, 2014. I’ll announce the winner as soon as possible after that. I hope the winner will be YOU! Good luck. p.s. You can also purchase Bitty Beady Christmas Tree as a pdf pattern, additional Kits with hard-copy pattern to gift to knitting friends, or Supplies Pak without pattern to make more bitty trees in an assortment of holiday colors.

Bitty Beady Christmas Tree pattern cover page
Bitty Beady Christmas Tree pattern cover page

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Cooking

Quinoa Pudding

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Gluten-free and dairy-free. Healthy. Tasty. Whether you enjoy this quinoa pudding as dessert or for a nutritious breakfast, what’s not to love?

Quinoa Pudding
Quinoa Pudding

Cooking time: 35 minutes + 10 minutes rest time during which most of prep of other ingredients can be done

Yield: 6 servings. Calories per serving: 229.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pre-washed white quinoa seed
  • 2 cups filtered water
  • 1¼ cup unsweetened apple juice
  • ½ cup jumbo golden raisins
  • ½ cup raw whole almonds
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 2-inch cinnamon stick
  • 1½ tsp vanilla extract
  • juice of half a lemon
  • grated rind of one lemon

Directions

  1. Add Quinoa to water in medium saucepan. Bring to boil, then simmer until  water nearly absorbed (18 – 20 minutes). Set aside covered for about 10 minutes.
  2. Toast almonds lightly in small pan to maximize flavor. Cool completely. Chop in mini food processor to medium-fine.
  3. Combine chopped almonds and remaining ingredients with the cooked quinoa.
  4. Cover and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer gently for about 15 minutes.
  5. Remove cinnamon stick. Scoop mixture into 6 individual dessert bowls.
  6. Cover and chill for 1 hour or more. Serve cold.

Serving Suggestions

  • Garnish with fresh pomegranate arils (seeds) for a festive holiday look.

    Quinoa Pudding garnished with pomegranate arils
    Quinoa Pudding garnished with pomegranate arils
  • Pour some almond milk (or other non-fat dairy free milk) over the top and stir for a creamier pudding consistency

Nutrition Facts for Quinoa Pudding

quinoa pudding nutrition information
Quinoa Pudding nutrition information

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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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