Luck and Delicious!

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.
 ~Mark Twain

My body is betraying me. I have been plagued by eyelid twitching.  Those annoying little twitches that most of us get at one time or another.  For most of last week, my left eyelid was affected.  It would twitch for hours and then finally stop for awhile, only to start up again.  The twitching was bad enough that it started to hurt as if the muscle was being over worked.  It is finally calming down some and is only twitching a couple times a day - only to start up in the other eye!  Now my right eyelid is giving me fits.  The right side doesn't seem to be twitching with as much intensity but it still is annoying.  I can put my finger on it to get it to stop only for it to continue once I remove my finger.  What causes this incessant twitching?  According to research too much caffeine, not enough sleep, or needing eye drops.  Well, the first two are out so I guess I better go try the eye drops.  What do you do when this happens to you?

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Four Leaf Clover

The four leaf clover is a universally accepted symbol of good luck with its origin ages old. According to legend, Eve carried a four leaf clover from the Garden of Eden.  The clover also occupied a position in the cultural life of early peoples. White clover (T. repens L.) in particular was held in high esteem by the early Celts of Wales as a charm against evil spirits." Clover Science and Technology". N.L. Taylor, 1985.  Druids held the 4 leaf clover in high esteem and considered them a sign of luck. In 1620, Sir John Melton wrote: "If a man walking in the fields find any four-leaved grass, he shall in a small while after find some good thing.
The mystique of the four leaf clover continues today, since finding a real four leaf clover is still a rare occurrence and omen of good luck.  Do you consider the four leaf clover good luck or just a myth?

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ONE FLOWER WEDNESDAY

Today, as is every Wednesday, is One Flower Wednesday. 

In keeping with good luck and the luck of the Irish I made this hexie to celebrate St. Patrick's Day that happens tomorrow.  Couldn't let the day of celebration pass by without being included in my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.  I have had this fabric (a fat quarter) of four leaf clovers it seems like forever.  Every time I thought about removing it from my stash I would think "You just never know.....".  And guess what?  I was right!  Now I have more than half of that fat quarter left and have no idea what I'll use it for - lol!  If you would like to see more hexagon flowers created by some very talented people, click on the link above to check out the links to their posts.

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WHO WANTS DESSERT?

I did more sewing than what I am showing  you but I decided it's time for a new recipe.  I had this cake down at my SIL's recently and it is absolutely delicious!!  I made it for my DH and me this past weekend.  You have to promise me that you will not turn up your nose when you see one of the ingredients because it will surprise you.
 This recipe is from Tori Ritchie's Tuesday Recipe.  "This one is old-time - it's got a secret ingredient: prunes (or what the fruit marketing people now call "dried plums" to get away from, you  know, the reputation that prunes have).  You don't really taste them; they just add moistness and density to the crumb....oh, and fiber too.  It's the frosting that makes the whole project fun.  But you could eat the cake without the icing; all it needs is a mug of tea or coffee."

MOCHA SPICE CAKE

Cake

1 generous cup dried plums (aka prunes)

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 large eggs, at room temp

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon instant espresso powder (see NOTE)

1 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, allspice

1 cup buttermilk

Frosting

6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon instant espresso powder

1/3 cup half-and-half

1 cup sifted powdered sugar

To make the cake, place prunes in a small saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil; simmer for 5 minutes or until prunes are softened. Drain, let cool slightly, then chop roughly.

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 13X9 inch baking dish; knock out excess flour.

In a bowl with an electric beater, whip butter, sugar, and eggs until light and fluffy.  Sift flour into another bowl with baking soda, baking powder, salt , espresso powder, and spices.  Mix together buttermilk and prunes.  Beat one third of the flour mixture into the butter mixture, then beat in one third of the buttermilk and prunes.  Repeat, alternating dry and wet ingredients, until all is mixed.  Pour batter into prepared baking dish and bake on center rack until a toothpick inserted in the middle of cake comes out clean, about 35 minutes.  Let cake cool in dish for 10 minutes, then, if desired, remove cake by loosening the edges with a knife, then inverting onto a baking sheet, then placing another baking sheet on top of cake and flipping again so cake is right side up.  Cool cake on a rack. Or just cool cake in baking dish on rack and serve from pan (that's what I did).

To make the frosting, melt chocolate, butter, and espresso powder in the top of a double-boiler or in a metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water.  When smooth, remove pan from heat and gradually add half-and-half and powdered sugar, stirring until consistency is right (if frosting is too thick, add more half-and-half by the tablespoonful).  Spread frosting on cooled cake.

NOTES:

1.  Don't use ground espresso that you'd put in your coffee machine; it won't blend in.  Use a commercial instant brand such as Medaglia d'Oro.  None of the big name grocery stores in my area carried powdered espresso.  We finally found it at an Italian deli/specialty store.  It is not expensive unless you have to buy it online.

2.  I must have done something wrong with the frosting because following their recipe I ended up with chocolate soup.  I added quite a bit more powdered sugar to finally bring it up to spreading consistency.

3.  This cake is soooooo good and so moist.  You really don't taste the prunes - at least we don't.  I think they may add a little bit of sweet but never a pruny taste.

4.  Give it a try and let me know if you like it!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I am going to prepare my little chicken candle mat for stitching to work on over the weekend.

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GIVEAWAYS

Quilterie is having a giveaway.  You could win a new copy of Kaffe Fasset's book "Quilt Romance".  This giveaway ends Sunday, March 20 at 9:00 pm Sydney time.

Quilt Hollow is having a giveaway.  You could win a pattern called "Dream Catcher" by Patchalot Patterns.  The winner will be notified this Friday.

Jaybird Quilts is having a Treasures & Tidbits giveaway.  You could win a charm pack of Piece O' Cake Designs that won't be available in the stores until July and one of  the great patterns designed by Julie .  This giveaway will remain open until Thursday, March 17, at midnight EST.

From The Blue Chair is having a giveaway.  Kati has made a charm stack out of some of the beautiful fabrics that she is working with in a QAL.  This giveaway ends Monday, March 21st.

1 Choice 4 Quilting is having a Sunkissed giveaway.  To be able to enter you have to make or have made a star for the Moda Just One Star Challenge.  If you do this and follow the instructions, you will be entered to win 10 yards of Sunkissed fabric!  Amazing!  This giveaway ends Monday, March 21, at 10:00 pm EST.

Jackie's Art Quilts is having a giveaway.  She is giving away 4 very spring like fat quarters.  Jackie will draw the winner on Tuesday, March 22.

One More Quilt is having giveaway #6.  She is giving away a piece of Charles Craft evenweave, 100% cotton, approx 20" x 24", 28 count, rose colored cross stitch fabric.  So those of you who enjoy counted cross stitch like I do here's a chance for you!  This giveaway ends Thursday, March 17 at 10:00 am.

Have you checked out B. Bumble and Company yet?  You could win one of two patterns by entering my sponsored giveaway.

How long has it been since your read a good book?  You could win a copy of The Aloha Quilt by entering A Novel Giveaway.

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FINAL THOUGHT

I am a note/list maker.  I have little sticky notes all over the place.  Reminders of things to do.  Reminders of websites to check out.  Family member's address are stuck to the keyboard drawer so I don't have to look them up.  I have a grocery shopping list and another one I call my Costco/Walmart notepad.  I have stickies stuck to the wall where I will see them when I walk by to remind me of a phone call I have to make.  I have sticky notes stuck to block pieces so I can remember exactly what order they go in.  I used to have a sticky pad with a running total of solitaire wins (back when I had a lot of spare time).  Sticky pads and note pads - I would be lost without them.  The new "computer sticky notes" just don't do it for me.  It has to be pen to paper - guess I'm showing my age.  Are you a note/list maker?

Lists are the butterfly nets that catch my fleeting thoughts...

 ~Betsy Cañas Garmon

Welcome Wednesday with wisdom and wonder.