Recipe: Make Ahead Christmas Day Brunch

This wonderful, filling but light pie can be made the day ahead and warmed up when ready to serve the next day.  I like to make it on Christmas Eve and refrigerate it until mid morning on Christmas when everyone is a little hungry and can't wait until Christmas dinner is ready to be served later that day.  It's filling yet light enough that it won't stay with you so long that you and your family won't be hungry by the time your Christmas dinner is served.  I love the color combination of the green broccoli in the pie with the red salsa served along side - it really makes for a Christmas-y, festive celebration brunch or luncheon.  This pie is also very, very good when served with Hollandaise sauce drizzled over it but, as you know, this adds a LOT of fat and calories to the otherwise light, healthy luncheon.

Broccoli Rice Pie

1 1/2 C hot cooked rice (if you're making this with left over steamed rice that is cold, simply heat it through in the microwave for about one minute)

10 - 14 oz cooked chopped broccoli, cooled slightly (I prefer the larger amount of broccoli)

3 eggs

1 small can sliced mushrooms, drained

6 oz. grated cheddar cheese (for persons requiring a low sodium diet, substitute with Swiss cheese which has far less than half the amount of sodium that most other cheese has)

1/2 C plus 2 Tbsp. whole (or 2 %) milk

salt, pepper (omit salt for low sodium diets)

Your favorite salsa, hot sauce, or Hollandaise sauce (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Combine rice, one egg (slightly beaten), 1/2 of the cheese, and salt and pepper (if used).  Mix well.

Layer rice mixture in bottom of a 8" deep dish pie pan (or a 9" will do, if you don't have a deep dish 8" pan)

Beat remaining 2 eggs slightly; stir in (cooled) broccoli, the mushrooms, and milk.  Add salt and pepper (if desired).  Mix well and spoon over rice layer in pie dish.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes, until pie is firm in the middle and edges are slightly browned.  Don't over cook because you're going to bake it longer, see next step...

Remove pie from oven and sprinkle remaining cheese evenly over top of pie.  

Bake 10 minutes longer.

Remove pie and allow to stand for 5 minutes, it will continue cooking while standing.

Serve with Hollandaise sauce or salsa, or hot sauce (optional)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Free Pattern: Faux Broomstick Lace Scarf

Faux Broomstick Lace Scarf Pattern

 copyright Oct. 1, 2014 Cynthia J Luciene

(you may share this pattern with a link back to this page.  You may not sell the pattern but, of course, you may sell anything you make using this pattern or stitch pattern.  Most of all, have fun!)

Size "S" Hook (I think it's the biggest one that is made, usually blue plastic as shown below:)

3.5 oz worsted weight 4 yarn (I love Debra Norville)

Stitches you will need to know:

single crochet (sc)

chain stitch  (ch)

3dc cluster stitch (see directions below*)

*y.o., insert hook into indicated stitch, y.o., draw through, y.o., draw thru 2 loops on hook; repeat from * 2 more times; y.o., draw thru all four loops on hook; 3dc cluster made

Begin by ch 15

Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, and in each ch across; ch 2, turn  (14 sc)

Row 2:  *skip 1 sc, work 3dc cluster in next; repeat from * across; ch 1, turn  (7 - 3dc clusters)

Row 3:  work 3 sc in top of each 3dc cluster across; ch 2, turn;  (21 sc)

Row 4:  *skip 2 sc, work 3dc cluster in next; ending with 3dc cluster in last sc; ch 1, turn  (7 clusters)

Row 5 - ? :  Repeat rows 3 & 4 until scarf is desired length; use left over yarn (if there is any) to make fringe, if desired.

Even with the high level of pain in my hands while crocheting, I managed to make this in a half a day.  It would probably take anyone else only a few hours to make but I'm not sure.  Please let me know what you think, and how long it took you to make this scarf, if you make one.  Thanks so much, God's blessings to you and yours.

Embroidery - Beautiful Vintage Lettering Patterns No. 4; Free To Use

Finally, here's the last set of letters matching the others (posted two, four, and six days previous).  I am working on drawing up the letters "I" and "W" because the original patterns did not include those letters for some reason.  I will post those two letters as soon as my drawings match the original versions to my satisfaction and hopefully yours as well.

The remaining letters in the original set are...

Letters  T and U:

 Letters V and X:

Letters Y and Z

 Note: Please see post with "No. 2" in the title and scroll to the Note that explains how to get a clean copy (without the blog gobbly-goop) of the images to your hard drive to make a neat print, if you choose to print the patterns.  I've gone so far as to put a piece of tracing paper on my (not a touch screen!) laptop monitor and trace an embroidery pattern or picture I thought would be nice to embroider.  I don't suggest doing that unless you have a very light-handed touch with a pencil, a strong press on your screen with a pencil could damage it. 

Enjoy!

Don't forget to look for the letters "I" and "W" coming within a few days, or maybe you're great with drawing (I'm sure far better than I!) and can draw your own letters I and W to match the rest of the set.  (Or, if you're lucky, you don't need those letters in the first place.  )  ;-D

Embroidery - Vintage Lettering No. 3; Free To Use

Here are the next set of beautiful vintage letters for embroidery that are free to use, under the Creative Commons copyright.  These patterns are not to be sold but you may distribute them (share them) freely. 
Enjoy!

(Note:  to find the other letters look for the posts by the similar name or type "embroidery" or "lettering" in this blog's search box (upper right hand corner of any post page.)  For instructions on getting a clean copy of the images please see "Embroidery Vintage Lettering No. 2" and scroll past the images to the Note about the subject.

Letters N and O:

Letters P and Q:

Letters R and S:

Three more sets of matching letters (T, U, V, X, Y, Z) will be posted in two days so check back if you're interested in having the patterns for them.

Enjoy!

Embroidery - Vintage Lettering No. 2; Free To Use

Here is the second post containing the embroidery patterns / templates that I promised you.  Included are the letters G, H, J, K, L, and M.  As I stated in a previous post, the letters "I" and "W" are not included in the 'complete' set, I am working on drawing them up and will post them as soon as I have them matching the others to my satisfaction.

Letters G and H

Letters J and K:

Letters L and M

The rest of the letters will be posted within a week or two.  If you have trouble finding the others just type "lettering" or "embroidery" in the search box at the top right corner of any post on THIS blog.  Typing into the Google (or other) search box will not give you results you are looking for here.

Please let me know if you have any questions or ideas, or just something you'd like to say in the comments below.

Note:  In order to print a clean copy of the patterns I suggest you do not try to print this page.  Instead, right click on the pattern image you wish to print, click "save image as..." and save it to a new folder named embroidery or lettering, or ???  It ought to save automatically as a .jpg file, you can use the file names I've used (it'll show in the "save" box automatically) or you may come up with your own file name.  Saving the image to your hard drive is the best way to get a clean print out, some of you may want to sharpen or increase the saturation, etc., depending upon your eyesight requirements using your computer's image editing program.  

Alternatively you can save the photos to a site like Photobucket or any one of the many photo hosting sites, most of which have their own built-in photo editors (in case you see a need for editing)

*****These patterns are protected by the Creative Commons copyright and may be shared freely but never sold.! ******

Embroidery - Beautiful Vintage Lettering: Free To Use

My box of embroidery thread has been beckoning me for a long time and I've ignored it up until now.  There are so many beautiful embroidery templates / patterns / designs / inspirations on the internet I can't help but heed the call of my threads, hoops, and needles.

Here is a set of vintage embroidery patterns (or templates, if you prefer), too beautiful not to share.  There is no letter "I" or letter "W" with this set but it would be easy to make one, I'll get to it asap to match the others.  For now, here are the first few sets of letters...  All of these vintage letters are covered under the Creative Commons and can be shared freely but never sold.  Whatever you make using these patterns can be sold, just not the pattern itself.  I think they're the most beautiful letters I've seen, what do you think about them? 

Note: due to large file sizes I am considering the capacity of your browser's ability to load this page and am only posting three sets of two letters each, at a time.  To find the rest of the upcoming letters, check back  within a week and type "embroidery" or / and "letters" in the search box on the top left of this post (or any post on this blog)

Letters A and B

Letters C and D

Letters E and F

The rest will be posted two, three, or four images at a time in soon to come posts, probably within two weeks.

Great Sites For Crochet Bikini and Cover-ups That'll Make You Want To Start Hooking

Pinterest is a great place to find patterns for crochet as well as photos that may give you lots of inspiration or motivation to crochet.

Here are some of my favorite bikini pattern and inspiring photo links for bikinis and cover-ups for the beach.

Babyblog    This is  a Russian site and if you translate the page you won't, unfortunately, find a pattern for this suit but it's one the best I've seen and could be great inspiration to make a bikini similar or just like it.
 

Crochet Vs Ethnic: The call of the jungle   Not a pattern either but I really like the use of a lacy poncho over a crocheted suit for the beach or desert.  Only thing is, I wonder what my tan would look like if I wore a poncho like this all day.  

Kool Bikini Dot Com This item, the "Hand Crochet Bikini Cover-up" sells on KOOL Bikini site for $28.  Looking at it I am pretty sure anyone who knows how to crochet could probably make this look the same (or darn close to) the one you see below.  If anyone requests, I can try to come up with a very similar pattern (I don't want to infringe on anyone's copyright).  I chose this as a great site because it has tons of inspirational photos for an experienced crocheter to get ideas from.  

I chose this photo in particular because this skirt has lacing up the sides that are not just a fashion statement but they are functional and can be adjusted for nearly any body type.
  ( I also chose it selfishly for myself because it's the perfect cover-up to hide my old age sagging skin when I wear a swim suit, heh heh)

Revolve Clothing   lists the unikini (uni-kini) they call "The Throwback Crochet Swimsuit" for $175 and they are currently out of stock for this item.  Does that motivate you to pick up a hook??  Does me!  In fact I'm modifying a previously posted bikini top to something like the one pictured below but I'm "winging it" and didn't write a pattern for it.  It would be fairly easy for someone with crochet experience to use one of my bikini top patterns (find them by using the search box for this blog at the top right of any post) and then to add the bodice (between panties and top) and attach it to a bottom.  

You could even attach the top-bodice ensemble to a pair of swim suit or bikini bottoms you already own (fabric!) by embroidering a blanket stitch (click here to view tutorial on wikiHow) around the top edge of the bikini bottoms (this makes a loop for you to insert crochet stitches into). Then you are able to attach your crocheting to your fabric bikini bottoms (or a skirted bottom if you prefer) by using any of the smaller common crochet stitches such as a slip stitch or single crochet depending on the look you want to achieve.  A half double crochet might be a bit chunky depending on the size of your yarn or thread but would prove to be more sturdy than the other two stitches I mentioned.

Ok, that's it for now I realize there aren't that many on this list but I'll continue to post similar photos with links and I'll find some great sites or blogs that actually have patterns for you as well.  

I hope you've been charmed or inspired or motivated to begin a bikini or swim suit of your own.

Bye for now, God bless you and yours.

~ Cynthia