Raining Days and Zucchini Abundances

It was a cold and rainy night - er and day...

Every now and then it's nice to get a rainy day.  I always feel justified in staying inside and something besides yard-work ('Weeding') and tidying up ('Weeding' again) outside.
Yesterday, I was working outside ('Weeding') and picked our 2 zucchini barrels.  Today, I have this lovely abundance calling from beside the counter.  *sigh*
Now I know you've probably seen your fair share of zucchini recipes already this year. 'Tis the season...'  Here is yet another one taken from one of my favorite cook books.  It's a compilation of recipes from various Pacific Northwest Bed and Breakfasts called 'Breakfast in Bed Cookbook'.  This collection is by Carol Frieberg and was published by Sasquatch Books of Seattle Washington in 1990.

Zucchini abundance

Among the many fine offerings in this book, I have a favorite that has been used by my family for many years- when the abundance strikes.  Even non-veggie lovers will adore this one.  It comes originally from the Victorian Bed & Breakfast located in Coupeville Washington.

Zucchini Chocolate Bread (makes 2 medium loaves)

Produce and Cookbook - what's brewing?

3 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups sugar

3 cups grated zucchini

2 1/2 (I use 3) cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1/2 cup chocolate chips.

 Preheat oven to 350f degrees.  In a medium bowl, mix together eggs, oil, vanilla extract, sugar and then stir in the zucchini gently.
In a larger bowl mix together flour, cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder.   Stir in the nuts (I like pecans) and chocolate chips.
Add the zucchini mixture to the dry ingredients and stir gently until combined.  Pour into 2 greased 5 x 9" loaf pans then Bake for 45 minutes until the bread tests done.  ( I do this with a toothpick - poke into the middle and keep baking if it comes out with batter stuck to it.)

Ready for the freezer

These freeze beautifully. (Please ignore any endorsement of named products here)

So, we bake up many breads this afternoon when hubby gets back from the store.  Until then I'll be quilting on my next project.  It's for a raffle quilt soon to be unveiled for sale to support the Drumheller Area Health Foundation's efforts to raise money for purchasing Sterilization Equipment for the hospital here in Drumheller.

Stay 'tooned!

Pickles n Mint Jelly

Today I started my vacation.  Not that I don't like doing the work at the hospital - I truly do - but this time allows me to catch up on all those things that weren't done while I was working on the Quilt Show. 

Gloria's plan - all previously quilted by hand in red

I've been madly working away at a lovely quilt done by a friend from the bank, Gloria.  She started her first quilt 16 years ago and then decided to quilt it by hand.  I understand the motivation.  She lost her enthusiasm some time later when she'd done about 1/4 of the thing. (it's a double sized sampler quilt) After carefully stitching away on a frame at home, away it went to sleep in a closet or a drawer until about 4 months ago.  She hasn't done another quilt.  Too bad - she's really good at making quilt tops.

Last year she'd seen work done for one of her co-workers and asked me to help her out.  Well, as all you long-arm quilters probably know, this presents a whole raft of challenges but it's now on the table and things are coming along 'swimmingly'.  


That being said, all those things that were waiting for me to take vacation still wait patiently in the back of my head.
I've started weeding (O M G!!! You can watch them grow!) and had picked all the cucumbers before they became a lovely shade of yellow.  Then some dill, then some mint.  

Last night I pickled my husbands favorite Dill Pickle Slices.  As I was cleaning up the disaster area that always seems to occur in the process of the processing, my DearlyBeloved asked me if I liked doing the pickles.  I thought about it for a moment and (all you fellas with wives can sympathize with him during the 'answer a question with a question' scenario) asked him if he liked the canning results.  He said yes (as I had expected). 

Thinking about it for only a moment, I then told him that it wasn't just about getting the canned produce that was home-made, of course that was great, or using our own things from the garden, again - really great, but it was about making things that my loved one enjoyed.

Yes, I can buy really great pickles from the grocery store.  Yes, I can buy produce from the grocery store or local growers.  But when I see the look of pride in his eyes when he opens a jar - that's what gives me my reward.  (He also tends to horde them and hide them from the kids when they visit - that's how I really know he loves them)

Love that man of mine.  He's such a sweetheart.

That's why I made mint jelly for him this morning.  He loves that stuff!  Now I have to go out and save my garden from the weeds so I can get back to my quilting!
               

The challenges continue.  One thing I'm finding is that each quilt I do provides learning in aces!  But then, I'm sort of liking that!  This quilt top was purchased on EBay from a lovely lady in Florida.  I really couldn't buy the fabric for what it cost me!  A medallion quilt, it has lots of sashing and applique' to challenge me.  What fun!
I learned all about wonky borders and repairing problems this time and, all told, I don't think it turned out too badly!  I used Hobbs 80/20 for the batting and Glide polyester thread so it quilted like a dream.

Brian likes it so it has a place on our bed for the time being.

In The Beginning...

Well, not to get Biblical on you all, but it's time for me to get serious about my communication!  I'm beginning   a new adventure in my quilting career and becoming professional.

Last October I traveled to Portland for the Machine Quilting Expo and test drove all the machines on display.  I chose my new machine (a Gammill) and placed my order.  Oh my!  A little lighter in the pocket book and with high hopes I traveled the long road back to my home in Alberta.

Workshop in progress - September 2012

Meanwhile, back on the ranch, my hubby, Bri, was working on our new Garage/work shop in an effort to get everything buttoned up before snowfall.

To date, we've got everything done except the interior finishing.  Our contractor is busy working on finishing the drywall so we can paint and put flooring in.  It's been a long slog but the shop's looking wonderful and even tho it's cold and snowy outside, remains very cozy with our gas heating.

I am to get delivery of my long-arm machine on January 19th.  I've promised an apple pie to Donita and her husband when they deliver from Montana.  They're the owners of Lakeside Quilt Co. the Gammill dealer for our area.

In the meantime, I work on preparing for the start of business.  Thus, the blog.  Gotta start somewhere, eh?