Step-by-step how to make bacon pesto pasta bake...

Servings Per Recipe: 8
Prep time: 5 min. Cook time: 25 min. Total: 30 min.


INGREDIENTS:

• 14.5 oz. box penne pasta
• 1 (10 oz.) jar basil pesto 
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1 pint grape tomatoes
• 6 oz. applewood smoked bacon

STEP 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a large casserole dish with non-stick spray. Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook pasta according to the directions on the box (boil for about 10 minutes).

STEP 2: While the pasta cooks, chop the bacon into small bits and cook in a skillet over medium/high heat until crispy. Spoon cooked bacon onto paper towel to absorb the extra fat. While the pasta and bacon cook, rinse the tomatoes and cut each in half.



STEP 3: When the pasta is finished cooking, drain it in a colander. Once it is well drained, return it to the pot (removed from heat). Mix in the pesto, bacon, tomatoes and 1 cup of the shredded cheese. Pour the mixture into the casserole dish and spread out. Top with the remaining one cup of cheese.

STEP 4: Put the casserole in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, bubbly and golden brown on top (approximately 20 minutes). EAT!

NOTE: This recipe calls for 6 oz. of bacon (uncooked) which is half of a normal sized package of bacon. If you don't use the rest you can freeze it! The best part is that if you don't use the second half all at once, you can just cut off what you need, cook it and keep the rest frozen. Of course, this is only applicable for recipes where the bacon is used in "bit" sized pieces, not strips. Because the bacon is so fatty, it is fairly soft when frozen making it really easy to cut into. Your other option is to cook up all of the bacon into crispy little bits and then freeze half of the cooked pieces. Then, of course, if you really really like bacon, you can just use the whole package in the recipe and make the dish cost $9.64 and $1.20 per serving.

If you are feeling really adventurous, try making a cheese sauce (like in the sun dried tomato and spinach mac n' cheese) and stir the pesto into that before mixing with the pasta. This method will yield a super creamy pesto pasta dish!

Step-by-step Knitting Little Baby Sweater

Materials:2 skeins of Anzula's Sebastian, 70% Superwash Merino and 30% Sea Cell. These colours are Au Natural and Charcoal. (For a solid color sweater, you'll only need one skein!) 
A US # 3, 20 or 24 inch circular needle.
4 buttons, size 19. (I used the color "Grey".)

The Pattern
Gauge:7 stitches = 1 inch in garter stitch

Finished Size:Newborn - 6 Months
Chest Circumference - 18 1/4 inches
Length from Bottom Hem to Top Shoulder - 9 1/2 inches
Length from bottom Hem to Underarm - 5 1/2 inches

Pattern Note:  For a lot less work at the end, instead of cutting the yarn when you finish a stripe, carry it loosely up the side.

The Body:With Main Color (MC), cast on 124 stitches.
Knit 5 rows.
*With Contrast Color (CC), knit 2 rows.
With MC, knit 6 rows.
Repeat from * seven more times. (Piece measures 5 inches from bottom hem.)
With CC, knit 2 rows.
With MC, knit 5 rows.

Separate for UnderarmsStill with MC (wrong side facing), k15, bind off 31, k31, bind off 31, k14 to end.
(15 stitches for Left Front, 32 stitches for Back, 15 stitches for Right Front)

Right FrontNow working just the 15 stitches of the Right Front and starting where you left off...
*With CC, knit 2 rows.
With MC, knit 6 rows.
Repeat from * two more times. Bind off.

BackNow working just the 32 stitches of the Back...
With right side facing, join CC.
*With CC, knit 2 rows.
With MC, knit 6 rows.
Repeat from * five more times. Bind off.

Left FrontNow working just the 15 stitches of the Left Front...
With right side facing, join CC.
*With CC, knit 2 rows.
With MC, knit 6 rows.
Repeat from * two more times. Bind off, but leave the last stitch on the needle. Cut the CC.

Left Button BandRotate the work and pick up 50 stitches along the button band edge. (51 stitches total)

FOR BOYS:Knit 2 rows.
Next Row: K11, *yo, k2tog, k10, repeat from * two more times, yo, k2tog, k2.
Knit 2 rows and bind off.

FOR GIRLS:Knit 5 rows and bind off.
Right Button Band

With right side facing and with MC, start at bottom corner of Right Front and pick up 51 stitches along the button band edge to the top corner.

FOR BOYS:Knit 5 rows and bind off.

FOR GIRLS:Knit 2 rows.
Next Row: K3, *yo, k2tog, k10, repeat from * three more times.
Knit 2 rows and bind off.

Right Sleeve(When you begin picking up stitches for the Right Sleeve leave a 12 inch tail to use later for sewing.)
With right side facing and MC, start at the bottom right corner of the Back...

...and pick up 24 stitches.


Use a Cable Cast On to cast on 12 stitches.
Making sure the cast on stitches aren't twisted and with the right side facing you, pick up 12 stitches down the Right Front. (48 stitches total)


**Now working back and forth in rows, start by turning the work so the wrong side is facing you.Knit 5 rows.
*With CC, knit 2 rows.
With MC, knit 6 rows.
Repeat from * three more times and bind off, leaving an 18 inch tail.

Left Sleeve(Again, when you begin picking up stitches for the Left Sleeve leave a 12 inch tail to use later for sewing.)
With right side facing and MC, start at the bottom corner of the Left Front...

...and pick up 12 stitches.


Use a Cable Cast On to cast on 12 stitches.

Making sure the cast on stitches aren't twisted and with the right side facing you, pick up 24 stitches down the left Back. (48 stitches total)

Repeat from ** of Right Sleeve.
Sewing the Sleeves

THE LEFT SLEEVE*Thread the Sleeve's bind off tail onto a tapestry needle and, starting at the bound off edge, sew together four ridges of the Sleeve (one MC stripe and one CC stripe).

Fold the underarm in half and insert the needle just under the bound off edge at the half way point.**
Sewing across the back, connect the back of the Sleeve to the Body. Remove the needle from the yarn.
Now threading the needle onto the first tail you left, sew together the front of the Sleeve and the Body.


FOR THE RIGHT SLEEVERepeat from * to ** of the Left Sleeve.
Then, sewing across the front, connect the front of the Sleeve to the Body. Remove the needle from the yarn.
Now threading the needle onto the first tail you left, sew together the back of the Sleeve and the Body.

FinishingSew four buttons onto the button band across from the buttonholes.
Weave in all your ends (click here for our tutorial telling you how!).
Gently block your Little Sweater, and then make a baby nice and cozy!

Acceptable speech....

I.  What is Acceptable Speech? – Anyone? Moms? Teens? Girls? Is it pleasant greetings, manners of please, thank you, you are welcome in your conversation? Is it thoughtfulness in remembering to ask about another’s well being? Is it complimenting another on some new article of clothing? What say you? What sayeth the Lord? Proverbs 31:26 “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Wisdom is the right use of knowledge

A. What is Wisdom from above? – James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

1. Pure – clean, holy - I Peter 1:22 obeying the truth, genuine love of the brethren
2. Peaceable – quietly behaved, comforting – I Timothy 2:2 godliness and honesty
3. Gentle – kind and meek - Titus 3:2 speak evil of no man
4. Easy to be intreated – easy to be persuaded, approached – Ps 119:58
5. Full of mercy - kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them – Matthew 9:13
6. Full of good fruits - that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result – Philippians 1:11
7. Without partiality - undistinguished, unintelligible – I Timothy 5:21
8. Without hypocrisy - unfeigned, undisguised, sincere – I Peter 1:22

B. What is Kindness? – Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”

1. Kindly affectioned - reciprocal tenderness of parents and children
2. With brotherly love – as you love your own family
3. In honour preferring one another - to go before and show the way, to go before and lead, to be an example
4. Tenderhearted – easily moved to love, pity, or sorrow
5. Forgiving – to pardon without penalty - Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

II. What is Unacceptable Speech? – James 1: 26 “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.”

A. What is Evil Speaking? – I Peter 2:1 “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

1. Malice - desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another
2. Guile - akin to Old English wigle divination, witchcraft
3. Hypocrisies - a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially: the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion
4. Envies - painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage

B. What is Backbiting? - to say mean or spiteful things about one not present - Proverbs 25:23, 24

C. What is Whispering? - spreading confidential and especially derogatory reports - II Corinthians 12:20 “For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

D. What is Boasting? – to speak of or assert with excessive pride, to possess and often call attention to - Romans 1:30 “Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,”

E. What isTalebearing? – Proverbs 11:13 “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

F. What is Tattling? – idle talkers

G. What is a Busybody? – given to meddling, inquisitive – I Timothy 5:13 – “And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.”

III. What Causes Unacceptable Speech? - I Timothy 5:13 “And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.”

A. Idleness – vain, inactive, shiftless, lazy, not employed (mothers, work with your daughters, teach them to work, require them to work)
B. Wandering - aimless, slow, or pointless movement (mothers, don’t allow laziness)
C. Hypocrisy – Proverbs 11:9 “An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.”
D. Ignorance – Proverbs 11:12 “He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.” (Mom’s teach your daughters)
E. Foolishness – to talk long and idly, chatter – Proverbs 10:8 “The wise in heart will receive commandments (instruction): but a prating (to talk long and idly) fool shall fall.” Also III John 10 – “Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith,”

IV. What Happens When We Use Unacceptable Speech?

A. We offend – James 3:2 “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body
B. Devilish behavior – Titus 2:3 “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;” [accuser - adjective Diabolos (dee-ab'-ol-os)]
C. Hatred without a cause – Psalms 109:3 “They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.”
D. Deceits – Proverbs 12:20 “Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.”
E. The Devil Controls Us – John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
F. Our Reputation is Ruined – Proverbs 11:22 – “As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.”
G. Our Fellowship is broken – I John 1:6 “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” 

V. What If We Hear Unacceptable Speech? 

A. Conceal It – Proverbs 12:23 “A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
B. Submit to God – James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
C. Resist the devil – James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

VI. What If Someone is Uses Unacceptable Speech About Us? Romans 12:17-21 

A. Return No Evil – “Recompense to no man evil for evil.”
B. Be Honest – “Provide things honest in the sight of all men”
C. Be Peaceable – “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
D. Take No Revenge – “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
E. Don’t Be Taken In By The Devil – “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
F. Examine Your Heart – Psalms 26:2 “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” Just in case in there is some truth to the matter.

VII. Three Kinds of GOSSIPERS – Ultimately, the need to gossip is all about the gossiper’s desires to promote him or her self. If someone is bad or worse than you it makes you better… right? Wisdom from hell – James 3:14-16 – “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

A. Malicious
1. To be consciously and deliberately hurtful
2. Out of Selfishness and Jealousy
3. To break up relationships and destroy friendships

B. Rationalized
1. Self deceptio
2. Doing for the “good” of the other person
3. Out of “personal concern”
4. As a “prayer request”

C. “Innocent” (but indiscrete)
1. Someone truly concerned
2. Unwise and insensitive to other’s feelings
3. Desire to be “helpful”

VIII. The Godly Solution

A. James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

B. Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

C. Psalms 119:165 – “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”

D. Matthew 18:15 “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”

IX. Ask Yourself This Before You Speak: Ephesians 4:29-32 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

A. Is my information pure? Or am I changing it just a bit? (corrupt)
B. Will it help to build up the hearer? (edifying)
C. Does it help the hearer to draw closer to God? (grace)
D. Will this make the Holy Spirit grieve? (sorrowful)
E. Am I bitter, feeling vengeful (wrath), angry?
F. Do I just WANT others to KNOW? (clamour)
G. Will this make me look more spiritual and better than others? (hypocrisy)
H. Would this make the object of the “news” feel hurt?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~OR~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I. Am I being kind to tell this information? (loving this person as myself)
J. Am I being tender hearted? (easily moved to love, pity, or sorrow)
K. Am I being forgiving? (pardoning without exacting a penalty)

Proverbs 10:32 “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: (follow that still small voice) but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.”

Step-by-step How to make Russian Potatoes....

Servings: 8 – 10

Ingredients:

• 10 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 6 to 8 pieces
• 1 garlic clove (optional), pierced in the center with a knife
• bay leaf (optional)
• 3/4 tbsp salt
• 1/2 quart (2 cups) whipping cream
• 1/2 lb mushrooms, sliced (or 10 oz can of mushrooms, drained)
• 1 medium onion, finely diced
• 2 medium carrots, grated
• Olive oil
• 2 Tbsp chopped dill (fresh or frozen) – optional

How to Make: 1. Place potatoes into a medium pot and add enough water to almost cover the potatoes.
2. Add 3/4 tbsp salt, bay leaf and garlic clove

3. Boil 15 minutes, or until you can easily pierce the potato with a knife.4. Discard bay leaf and garlic clove. Drain potatoes well and put them in a large baking dish.

5. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a large skillet. Saute onions over medium-high heat, until they are soft and golden. Remove onions and set aside.

6. Add more oil as necessary and saute carrots over medium-high heat, until soft and golden. Remove carrots and set aside.

7. Saute mushrooms until lightly browned, adding more oil as necessary.

8. Pre-heat the oven Broiler
9. Mix onion, carrots and mushrooms in the same skillet until they are hot. Add dill and whipping cream and bring to a boil.

10. Pour sauce over potatoes.

11. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese


12. Broil for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Easy, Delicious and Yummy!

Butterfly Pillow (knit)

Fair isle pillow with a colourful butterfly shape and design.

MEASUREMENT
Approx 16 x 16 ins [40.5 x 40.5 cm]

MATERIALS
Patons Canadiana (100 g/3.5 oz)
or Patons Décor (100 g/3.5 oz)
Main Color (MC) (Med Blue) 2 balls
Contrast A (Lt Blue) 1 ball
Contrast B (Mauve) 1 ball
Contrast C (Aqua ) 1 ball
Contrast D (Dk Blue) 1 ball
Contrast E (Fuchsia) 1 ball

Size 4 mm (U.S. 6) knitting needles or size needed to obtain tension. Stuffing.

TENSION
21 sts and 27 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] in stocking st.

INSTRUCTIONS
Note: When working from Chart, wind small balls of the colors to be used, one for each separate area of color in the design. Start new colors at appropriate points. To change colors, twist the two colors around each other where they meet, on WS, to avoid a hole.

FRONT
First Wing:With MC, cast on 6 sts.
1st row: (RS). Knit.
2nd row: Cast on 4 sts. Purl to end of row.
First 2 rows for First Wing of Chart are now in position. Cont working Chart in stocking st until row 10 has been worked, reading knit rows from right to left and purl rows from left to right.
Second Wing: With MC, cast on 6 sts.
1st row: (RS). Knit.
2nd row: Cast on 5 sts. Purl to end of row.
First 2 rows for Second Wing of Chart are now in position. Cont working Chart in stocking st until row 10 has been worked, reading knit rows from right to left and purl rows from left to right
Joining row: (RS). Work 11th row of Chart across 29 sts for First Wing. With D, cast on 4 sts. Work 11th row of Chart across 29 sts for Second Wing. 62 sts.
Cont working Chart in stocking st to end of chart noting pieces will be worked separately after row 98. Cast off.

BACK
With MC, work as given for Front omitting all references to color changing on chart.
Sew Back and Front tog, leaving an opening to insert stuffing. Stuff Pillow.
Sew opening closed.
With MC, quilt st around Butterfly’s body as illustrated.

Antennae: (make 2 alike). With B, cast on 7 sts.
Proceed in stocking st until work from beg measures 2 ins [5 cm], ending with RS facing for next row.
Next row: (Inc 1 st in next st) 6 times. K1. 13 sts.
Beg with a purl row, work 7 rows in stocking st.
Next row: (RS). (K2tog) 6 times. K1. 7 sts.
Break yarn and thread through rem sts. Fasten securely.
Sew side seam. Stuff Antennae. Sew bottom closed.
Sew Antennae in position as illustrated.

Our Lord Jesus Is With You...

You may be alone in this world

With no friends around you

‘Cause every word you say is true,

Our Lord Jesus is with you. 

You may feel abandon by your loved ones

Family, relatives, and friends.

Put all your trust to our Lord Jesus,

He will guide you throughout your sorrows. 

You may be judged by your enemies

With their bitterness and tilted lies.

Have faith in Jesus and be merciful,

God Himself will reveal the truth for all. 

Even in your days of success, happiness,

Anger, loneliness, frustration, weariness…

Our Lord Jesus is with you always.

He loves you as His precious ones. 

Somewhere down the endless line

In which they called “Eternal Life,”

Jesus will reward you in Heaven

And no more sufferings and pain. 

- – - written by Alon Calinao Dy 

God is always there for us. He is there in special occasions, holidays, in sorrows, and so on. He is everywhere. We must remember Him all the time. I dedicate this poem to all my friends and loved ones. God Bless!

DISCERNING GOD’S WILL

by Caswell A. Reeves

There are two kinds of God’s will that you need to concern yourself with - His direct will and His indirect will in your life.
FOR DISCERNING GOD’S DIRECT WILL:
Whenever the Scripture speaks to a subject directly, you are able to know God’s direct will because you can see it directly in the Scripture. An example would be the “Ten Commandments.” Exodus 20:14, Thou shalt not commit adultery. God’s will is directly stated and very clear: we are not to commit adultery. 
FOR DISCERNING GOD’S INDIRECT WILL:
Whenever the Scripture does not speak directly to a particular situation, you are able to make your decision based on indirect evidence given by the Scripture. You can ask yourself the following questions when you are trying to discern God’s will on something that is not directly stated in God’s word. These questions, as you answer them, can help you to know God’s will:

• Is what I am about to do in my best interest? “...all things are not expedient (best interest).” (1 Cor. 6:12).

• Is what I am about to do going to control me? “...but I will not be brought under the power (control) of any.” (1 Cor. 6:12). No person or thing should have control over you but Christ.

• Is what I am about to do going to cause my brother to stumble? “...if meat make my brother to off end (stumble), I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to off end.” (1 Cor. 8:13).

• Is what I am about to do going to build me up? “...all things edify not (build up)” (1 Cor. 10:23).

• Is what I am about to do going to glorify God? “...do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31).

• Is what I am about to do able to be done with a clear conscience? “...Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.” (Rom. 14:22).

Crochet Santa Baby Bootees...

Materials: 

• Sport Weight Yarn 1 oz each of Red and White
• Crochet Hook Size E/4 or 3.50 mm
• Tapestry Needle
• 1” x 5” piece of cardboard
• Safety Pin

Pattern Note: Join rnds with a sl st unless otherwise stated.

Pattern Stitch: 2-sc dec: [insert hook in next st, yo, draw up a lp] 3 times, yo, draw through all 4 lps on hook.
Bootie: (make 2):
Sole:
Rnd 1: Beg at heel, with red, ch 12, 2 dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in each of next 7 
chs, 5 dc in last ch; working in rem lps across opposite side of foundation ch, dc in 
each of next 7 sts, 2 dc in last st, join in last ch of foundation ch. (24 dc, counting last 
3 chs of foundation ch as first dc)
Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc throughout), 2 dc in same st as joining, 2 dc in each 
of next 2 dc, dc in each of next 7 dc, 2 dc in each of next 2 dc, 3 dc in next dc, 2 dc in 
each of next 2 dc, dc in each of next 7 dc, 2 dc in each of next 2 dc, join in 3rd ch of 
beg ch-3. (36 dc)
Sides:
Rnd 3: (RS): Ch 1, working in back lps only this rnd, sc in same st as joining, sc in each dc around, join in beg sc. (36 sc)
Rnd 4 to 6: Ch 1, sc in same st as joining and in each rem sc around, join in beg sc, 
fasten off at end of Rnd 6.

Instep:Row 1: With RS facing, attach red with a sl st in 10 sc after joining st, ch 1, sc in 
same sc and in each of next 4 sc, [sc dec, sc in next sc] twice, sc dec, sc in each of 
next 5 sts, ch 1, turn. (15 sts)
Row 2: Sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn. (15 sc)
Row 3: Sc in each fo first 3 sc, sc dec, sc in next sc, 2-sc dec, sc in next sc, sc dec, 
sc in each of last 3 sc, fasten off, leaving end for sewing. (11 sts)
Turn bootie WS out. With RS tog, sew instep seam. Turn bootie RS out.

Upper Bootie:

Note: Do not join rnds unless otherwise stated. Mark first st of each rnd with safety 

pin or other small marker.

Rnd 1: With RS facing, attach red with a sl st in first sc after joining st on rnd 6 of 
sides, ch 1, sc in same st and in each of next 8 sc, work 6 sc evenly sp over row ends 
across instep, sc in each of next 9 sts of rnd 6. (24 sc).
Rnds 2 to 5: Sc in each sc around; at end of rnd 5, join in beg sc. (24 sc).
Rnd 6: Ch 3 (counts as first hdc, ch-1), [sk next sc, hdc in next sc, ch 1] rep around, 
join in 2nd ch of beg ch-3, fasten off. (12 ch-1 sps).

Trim Around Sole:
With sole of bootie facing up, attach red with a sl st in rem lp of rnd 2 of sole at back 
seam, working in rem lps, sl st in each st around, join in beg sl st, fasten off.

Cuff:Rnd 1: With RS facing, attach white with a sl st in ch-1 sp at back seam, ch 1, beg in 
same sp, 2 sc in each sp around, join in back lp only of beg sc. (24 sc)Rnd 2: Working in back lps only this rnd, ch 1, sc in same st as joining and in each 
rem sc around, join in back lp only of beg sc.
Rnd 3: Rep rnd 2, ending with join in front lp only of beg sc.
Rnd 4: Working in front lps only this rnd, ch 3, [sl st in next st, ch 3] rep around, join 
in beg sl st , ch 3, sl st in rem lp of rnd 2 directly below.
Rnd 5: Working in rem lps of rnd 2, ch 3, [sl st in next st, ch 3] rep around, join in 
same st as beg ch-3, ch 3, sl st in rem lp of rnd 1 directly below.
Rnd 6: Working in rem lps of rnd 1, rep rnd 5, join in same st as beg ch-3, fasten off.

Tie: (make 2):With 2 strands white held tog, ch 50, fasten off. Beg at center front, weave tie 
through ch-1 sps on rnd 6 of upper bootie. Tie ch 50 in bow.

Pompom: (make 4):Wrap white yarn 50 times around cardboard. Slip yarn off cardboard, tie piece of 
white yarn around center and knot tightly. Cut open lps at each end. Trim and shape 
to form pompom. Fasten 1 pompom to each end of each tie.

Santa Claus Strawberry Delites.......

Ingredients: 

• 1 tub of strawberries
• 1 package cream cheese, softened
• 3-4 Tablespoons castor sugar (or sugar substitute - to taste)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• Few seeds or tiny pieces of liquorice for eyes 

Instructions:

1. Rinse strawberries and cut around the top of the strawberry. Remove the top, (enough for a hat). Clean out the whole strawberry with a paring knife, if necessary (some of them are hollow already. Prepare all of the strawberries and set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Add cream cheese mix to a piping bag or Ziploc with the corner snipped off. Fill the strawberries with cheesecake mixture.
3. Once strawberries are filled, top with the 'hats.' Decorate according to photo.
4. If not serving immediately, refrigerate until serving time.

Moroccan Donuts/ Ukrianian Ponchiki

These are not your typical donuts, when I tried Moroccan Donuts they were chewy and airy, reminded me a lot of Ukrainian Ponchiki dough. YUMMY

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoon yeast
• 1½ cup lukewarm water
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 cups flour
• Oil for frying
• ½ cup sugar

How to:

1. Stir yeast and sugar into the water. Mix together water, yeast and sugar, let it sit for few minutes until all yeast is dissolved.
2. Combine salt and 1 cup of flour in a mixing bowl, then make a well in the middle and add water mixture. Mix in liquid into the flour, it will turn into thin batter. Cover with cloth and let sit for 30 minutes.
3. I used my Kitchen Aid mixer, gradually stir in remaining flour. Dough should turn out soft. Knead until smooth and elastic.
4. Cover again. Let it sit for about an hour, until doubles in size.
5. Place dough on floured surface, stretch it into a long log. Divide log into 20 even pieces.
6. With your finger, punch out hole in the middle. Shape of the donut doesn’t have to be perfect, they will puff out in the oil.
7. Heat oil until its sizzling, keep heat on medium low so when you drop donut inside it would burn right away. Drop donuts one by one into the oil, cook until golden on each side.
8. Lift them with skewer, drain on paper towels. Toss donuts in sugar when they are still warm.
9. Note: You can serve them with any jam, nutella or fruits. I used canned cherries… YUM!!!

Butterfly Blanket (knit)

Beautiful blanket with a butterfly centerpiece and butterflies and dragonflies along the border.
MEASUREMENTS:
Approx 47 x 55 ins [119.5 x 139.5 cm]

MATERIALS:
Patons Canadiana (100 g/3.5 oz)or Patons Décor (100 g/3.5 oz)
Main Color (MC) (White) 8 balls
Contrast A (Mauve) 2 balls
Contrast B (Med Blue) 2 balls
Contrast C (Dk Blue) 3 balls
Contrast D (Aqua) 2 balls
Contrast E (Fuchsia) 1 ball
Contrast F (Yellow) 1 ball
Contrast G (Lt Blue) 1 ball

Size 4.5 mm (U.S. 7) circular knitting needle and pair of size 4.5 mm (U.S. 7) knitting needlesor size needed to obtain tension.
TENSION:
20 sts and 26 rows = 4 ins [10 cm] in stocking st.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Note: When working in Colour Block technique, wind small balls of the colours to be used, one for each separate area of colour in the design. Start new colours at appropriate points. To change colours, twist the two colours around each other where they meet, on WS, to avoid a hole.
When working in Fair Isle technique, carry yarn not in use loosely across WS of work, but never over more than 5 sts.
When it must pass over more than 5 sts, weave it over and under color in use on next st or at center of sts it passes over.
With circular needle and C, cast on 161 sts. Do not join. Working back and forth across needle, proceed as follows:
Work 3 rows garter st (knit every row), noting 1st row is WS.

Next row: With MC, knit, inc 8 sts evenly across. 169 sts.
Work a further 19 rows in stocking st.

Proceed as follows:
1st row: (RS). With MC, K11. Work 1st row of Chart I, reading row from right to left. With MC, K73. Work 1st row of Chart II, reading row from right to left. With MC, K11.
2nd row: With MC, P11. Work 2nd row of Chart II, reading row from left to right. With MC, P73. Work 2nd row of Chart I, reading row from left to right. With MC, P11.
Charts I and II are now in position.
Cont working Chart I and Chart II to end of charts.
Next row: (RS). With MC, K10. Work 1st row of Chart III for right side, reading row from right to left. Work 1st row of Chart III for left side, reading row from left to right, noting center st is worked only once. With MC, K10.
Next row: With MC, P10. Work 2nd row of Chart III for left side, reading row from right to left. Work 2nd row of Chart III for right side, reading row from left to right. With MC, P10.
Chart III is now in position.
Cont working Chart III to end of chart.
With MC, beg with a purl row, cont in stocking st for 21 rows.
Next row: (RS). With C, knit, dec 8 sts evenly across. 161 sts.
With C, work 2 rows in garter st. Cast off knitwise (WS).
Garter St Side Edging: With RS of work facing, circular needle and C, pick up and knit 192 sts along side of Blanket. Work 2 rows garter st. Cast off knitwise (WS).
Rep for other side.

Side Borders (make 2)With MC, cast on 31 sts.
Work 10 rows in stocking st.
**Next row: (RS). With MC, K4.
Work 1st row of Chart IV, reading row from right to left. With MC, K4.
Next row: With MC, P4. Work 2nd row of Chart IV, reading row from left to right. With MC, P4.
Chart IV is now in position.
Work Chart IV to end of chart.
With MC, beg with a knit row, work 30 rows in stocking st.
Next row: (RS). With MC, K5. Work 1st row of Chart V, reading row from right to left. With MC, K4.
Next row: With MC, P4. Work 2nd row of Chart V, reading row from left to right. With MC, P5.
Chart V is now in position.
Work Chart V to end of chart.
With MC, beg with a knit row, work 30 rows in stocking st.**
Rep from ** to ** once more.
Next row: (RS). With MC, K4. Work 1st row of Chart IV. With MC, K4.
Next row: With MC, P4. Work 2nd row of Chart IV. With MC, P4.
Chart IV is now in position.
Work Chart IV to end of chart.
With MC, beg with a knit row, work 10 rows in stocking st. Cast off.

Top and Bottom Border (make 2)With MC, cast on 31 sts.
Work 20 rows in stocking st.
**Next row: (RS). With MC, K5. Work 1st row of Chart V. With MC, K4.
Next row: With MC, P4. Work 2nd row of Chart V. With MC, P5.
Chart V is now in position.
Work Chart V to end of chart.
With MC, beg with a knit row, work 30 rows in stocking st.
Next row: (RS). With MC, K4. Work 1st row of Chart IV. With MC, K4.
Next row: With MC, P4. Work 2nd row of Chart IV. With MC, P4. Chart IV is now in position.
Work Chart IV to end of chart.
With MC, beg with a knit row, work 30 rows in stocking st.**
Rep from ** to ** once more.
Next row: (RS). With MC, K5. Work 1st row of Chart V. With MC, K4.
Next row: With MC, P4. Work 2nd row of Chart V. With MC, P5.
Chart V is now in position.
Work Chart V to end of chart.
With MC, beg with a knit row, work 20 rows in stocking st. Cast off.

Outer Top and Bottom Edging:

With RS of work facing, circular needle and C, pick up and knit 223 sts across top of Blanket. Work 4 rows garter st. Cast off knitwise (WS).Rep for bottom.
Outer Side Edging: With RS of work facing, circular needle and C, pick up and knit 254 sts along side of Throw.
Work 4 rows garter st. Cast off knitwise (WS).
Rep for other side.
With A, embroider antennae using outline st as illustrated.

His Reflection

I'm a chaser of beauty. I can't help myself sometimes. Sunsets, in particular, call to me. Last night I chased this one down the street, and around a corner, and another corner...


I thought I lost ... for I just couldn't catch up with the dipping sun on the horizon. But then I remembered, the reflection of the SON is who we are... and it is so very beautiful. Are you reflecting Christ's beauty today? May this remind you.

Step-by-step Pirozhnoe “Kartoshka” – Chocolate Sponge Cake Pastries

By olgak7 

In Russia, these pastries, Pirozhnoe “Kartoshka”, are very well known. They are translated literally as Potato Pastry, since they are made into the shape of potatoes. They are sold in almost every pastry shop in Russia and Belarus.

If you go by the recipe, it’s a completely different dessert, which we recreated at home to make it what it really was supposed to taste like. For the crumbs, we used fluffy, delicious sponge cake and make a creamy frosting from butter, condensed milk and melted chocolate. Delicious! It’s a take on cake pops or cake balls that have become all the rage in the past few years in America. I guess Russians came up with the idea a long time ago.


Start by baking a Sponge Cake. You will need two (9-10 inch) round cakes or 1 large rectangular one.

Cut or tear the sponge cake into pieces. 

                                                                                 

Pulse it in the food processor to make crumbs.

                                                                           

Spread the crumbs on a large rimmed baking sheet and bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20 minutes, stirring halfway throughout the baking.

                                                                             

Cool the crumbs. Meanwhile, cream the butter in a large bowl with a paddle attachment on a standing mixer or using a hand mixer until it’s light a fluffy. Add the condensed milk and continue mixing until evenly distributed.

                                                                              

Add the melted chocolate (I melt the chocolate over a double boiler), salt, vanilla and liqueur. Mix to combine.

                                                                              

Mix the frosting with the sponge cake crumbs.

                                                                                

You can use the standing mixer or a large wooden spoon or rubber spatula.

                                                                              

Form the mixture into the shape of a potato and add a few “sprouts” by using walnuts.

                                                                                   

I prefer making these into simple round balls and garnishing with some toasted ground nuts. If you’re shaping them into the traditional shape, you will need to use about 3 Tablespoons of the mixture for each one, or 1 heaping Tablespoon for the smaller round balls. I guess mine are baby new potatoes:)



YIELD: 30-35

PREP: 60 mins
COOK: 40-50 mins
READY IN: 1 hr 40 mins 

Ingredients

• 2 9-10 inch round sponge cakes
• 1 1/2 sticks butter softened 
• 1/2 -3/4 can condensed milk
• 3-4 oz bittersweet or unsweetened chocolate melted and cooled 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 Tablespoon chocolate or hazelnut liqueur optional 

Instructions

1. Bake the sponge cakes. Cool. 
2. Cut or tear the sponge cake into pieces and pulse in the food processor to make crumbs. 
3. Spread the crumbs on a large rimmed baking sheet and bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through baking. Cool. 
4. Meanwhile, make the frosting. Cream the butter in a large bowl with a paddle attachment on a standing mixer or using a hand mixer until it's light a fluffy. 
5. Add the condensed milk and continue mixing until evenly distributed. 
6. Add the melted chocolate (I melt the chocolate over a double boiler), salt, vanilla and liqueur. Mix to combine. 
7. Mix the frosting with the sponge cake crumbs. You can use the standing mixer or a large wooden spoon or rubber spatula. 
8. Form the mixture into the shape of a potato and add a few "sprouts" by using walnuts. I prefer making these into simple round balls and garnishing with some toasted ground nuts. If you're shaping them into the traditional shape, you will need to use about 3 Tablespoons of the mixture for each one, or 1 heaping Tablespoon for the smaller round balls.