Peach Bread/Muffins

I've been meaning to share this recipe with you and now I have an even better reason - they're kinda healthy!!!

 I don't have a step by step, but this is an easy recipe. I think you can handle it, but if you have any questions, let me know and I'll help you out.

Peach Bread/Muffins:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 cups fresh peaches, chopped (or you can use canned if not in season)
3 tablespoons frozen OJ concentrate thawed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream butter, gradually add sugar. Mix well.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well.

Mix together next 5 ingredients, add to creamed mixture alternating with peaches. Begin and end with flour mixture.

Stir in OJ concentrate and vanilla.

Pour into 2 greased and floured small loaf pans or 24 muffin tins.

Bake at 350* for 1 hour (about 35 minutes for muffins). Cool in pan 10 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely.

This is really great with a cinnamon sugar glaze drilled over the top or just as is! I hope you like it. Let me know if you try it. I wanted a bread ( I LOVE BREAD) but I was kinda sick of Banana Bread, again. So I found this and it's my new favorite!

I know I post a ton of pictures of Duncan, but I thought Paco deserved a post of his own. This picture below just cracks me up! He's so goofy, but I'm finally able to get some better pictures of him lately (more to come soon!)

 And this was him just waking up from his nest, sleeping on the couch. If that face doesn't say grouchy or crabby, I don't know what does...

And yes that is his quilt. As much as I thought I made it for me and as much as I love it, he really does love it more. What can I say, he's spoiled rotten. but what other 5 pound Chihuahua isn't?

Alright, I've been quilting a ton and I will post more on that later, but I've got my first Roasted Chicken in the oven and it's gonna be done in about 2 minutes, so I have to run. Wish me luck it turned out good!

Red Ribbon...

My beloved Starbox...

 is currently at the Lake Metro Parks Farm Park Quilts 2011 Show and...

It got 2nd place in it's category (General Pieced Small Bed Quilt)!!!! I'm so happy. The show runs from February 11 - March 23 from 9-5 Tuesdays - Saturdays. I hope that is you're in the Northeast Ohio area during that time you will be able to make it to the show and see the other 200+ quilts on display. For more information on the show click here.

I'm still hunting for a healthy dessert, be back for more soon!

Random

So, have you gone and checked out the Progressive Dinner Moda Bake Shop is hosting? So far it's looking quite yummy, I can't wait to get my hands on one of those books! For a complete list of the participating designers and the days they "host" the dinner, head on over to the Moda Bake Shop.

Speaking of which, I just received the fabric for my next Moda Bake Shop project. I'll keep you posted on it's progress! Have you seen the new fabric lines Moda is coming out with? Too many projects and too little time, that's for sure! (You can find the new fabrics by going to unitednotions.com, mouse over Fabric and click on Browse our Products, and then click on Future Groups) The Christmas and Halloween fabrics have just been posted! Start planning now - or completely ignore that last comment, Christmas what?!

It's still winter here and yes it's still snowing. So how do I pass the time? I can assure you not in the snow anymore than I can help! Lately I've picked up rug hooking after my dear friend and my Mom brought me to the "dark side". (Insert Star Wars music here) My friend Donna is the wonderful brain behind Crows on the Ledge Wool Studio. She designs rugs and also hand-dyes the wools that she offers. She teaches classes at Mom's Quilt Shop and they have been trying conspiring to get me into rug hooking for a while now.

 After staring at this partially finished rug for (well, we just won't go there) let's say a while, I was caught in a weak moment and was determined to finish it. Needless to say I'm enjoying it and I think I'm in trouble now. Gosh darn you Donna! Head on over to Donna's website by clicking here. She has some awesome things and she custom dyes wool, much of which I know might find it's way to my house sooner than later.

 Since it's snowing Duncan has been particularly slow outside. He just likes to take his time, investigate whatever he can, and find any other excuse to stay outside a bit longer. I would love to let him play outside more, but it's just too cold out. He's the type that would be shivering out of his bones before he'd quit playing.

And then there's Paco, love this little guy too, but he likes to be indoors as much as Duncan likes to be out. And he wiggles so much this is the best picture I can get of him. I finally figured out how to download the pictures off of my new camera, I think they're pretty good.

That's about it for now, not much else going on, just been working too much. I started a diet (like many people I know) and I'm determined to find a "healthier" dessert to share with all of you that still is full of flavor. I'm on the hunt and once I find it and test it out, I'll share it with you. Got a hot date with my sewing machine, so we'll chat more later!

Couple Things...

Just wanted to pop in and let you know of a couple things... I'm sure you might have heard about the first thing:

This is a brand new adventure for the Moda Bake Shop! I'm so excited, 15 days, 15 designers, 15 blogs and a book! Keep an eye out for this one, it starts the 19th!

Also, I was just over at Miss Camille's blog, and she's having a give away for one of her books, some fabric, and who knows what else. Did you know she's on Amazon's top books of 2010 list? Head over and check it out and the pictures of Nicholas! He's so adorable!

I am so behind on quilting, I gotta run, but I'll be back soon!

Bake Shop Recipes!!!

The latest recipe is up on Moda Bake Shop! Hope on over there by clicking on the link and check it out! If you've never been to my blog before, let me be the first to say "Welcome!"

You'll find I chat a bunch about quilting, cooking, fabric, and all sorts of other things. Take a look around and let me know what you think.

So, I'm dying to know... what did you think of the scarves? Adorable, right?! It's freezing here, literally. I live in the Snow Belt and we have snow, cold, ice, and more snow coming. I need scarves and layers to keep warm so why not make it fashionable? I rarely leave the house without a scarf on from about November to April, and you need to change it up a bit.

This is my little way of including some quilting flair into my winter wardrobe. I hope you like it too and remember to send me pictures of you and your scarves (rubybluequilts (at) gmail (dot) com) and I will post the pictures here! Enjoy and stay warm, or if you're somewhere where it's nice and warm - can I join you?

Have a great day and I can't wait to see your scarves! Come on back, I'm thinking it's time for another cooking/baking tutorial soon. Not sure what will be on the menu, but it'll be good, I promise. Until next time!

I just rock

Did you ever have one of those days that all is right in the world? I've been feeling ecstatic for a couple days now and I know it will only get better because tomorrow is Moda Bake Shop Day!

The radio played all of my favorite songs,

my cooking rocked (if I do say so myself),

I get to live in pjs for a day tomorrow (crossing my fingers),

I get to play in my newly painted sewing room all day,

I got a new camera,

I rock at work,

my Hubbin is precious,

my furry babies are the best snugglers,

and if you didn't catch the theme here... I just rock.

It's great to have a day or three that this happens and you feel awesome. Because I know it won't last forever so I'm going to enjoy it while I can. Don't forget to come back tomorrow and visit the Moda Bake Shop and tell me what you think of the latest recipe! So for now, have a rockin' day!

Just Heard...

Meet me at the Moda Bake Shop this Thursday for my latest recipe! Here's a clue, but can you tell what it is? Can't wait to see you all there. Go ahead and jump on over to the Bake Shop early and check out the other designers and the awesome ideas they come up with! See you Thursday!

Playing in the Snow!!!

So, I needed some snow to take pictures with my cousins when they were home for Christmas and it all melted. And it didn't snow while they were home. A new weather front just moved in an finally we got snow, and the prettiest kind - the fluffy stuff!

 It's not so great to drive in since it is so fluffy it makes everything really slippery, but it's just so gorgeous! And it was the first time this winter there's been just enough snow that Duncan and I could go out and play.

 I mean, with a face like that, how you can you say no to him living it up in the cold snow? Just add another layer, besides I laugh so much that I don't even realize how cold it is, until we come inside. Then it's time for a hot cup of cocoa and my pink slippers.

Here is the sewing room all painted and wonderful. I also rearranged the furniture and it makes the room seem so much larger now. 

This was the room before (right after I finished Starbox, click on the link to learn more about this pattern) and like the rest of our house it was painted builder beige. I really don't have anything against neutrals, but a whole house of beige was starting to get to me. It's incredible how much brighter the room is already with a splash of color.

I'm on the hunt currently for the perfect window treatment and the right light (still) to make this room sparkle! This is the only "girly" room in the house so I'm living it up. Once it gets back in working order I should have another pattern in the works.

But in the meantime I do have another Moda Bake Shop project coming up soon. Once I know the date to expect it I will share it with you here. I'm also working on some other small house projects and planning for the outdoor projects once the snow melts.

Oh, and I almost forgot! The Hubbin and I just booked a stay in Paris!!! I'm so excited I don't even know where to start! I'm sure a quilt or two will be designed from inspiration gathered in France. I will definitely show pictures of that once we return, but we're not leaving for awhile now.

There's so much going on my head keeps spinning trying to keep it all under control! I know I've forgotten to tell you something, but we'll just chat again next time!



Kicking it off...

How are you starting 2011? Well, over here the Hubbin and I have been way too in love with HGTV and DIY Network, and at Christmas got more tools and gift cards to Home Depot than we thought we knew what to do with. hehehe, silly us! Now we've been to the stores just about twice a week, we're going again tomorrow, all because...

We started painting my sewing room! I'm so excited I can't stand it! It's looking wonderful. I promise to show you once we have it back to normal and I'm not covered in paint. Isn't it funny though how one little update gets you looking at a multitude of other things. One of the purchases I plan to make tomorrow is this adorable light to switch out with the one currently in my sewing room. It's one of those mushroomy looking ones that just screams either the 90's or clearance sale at Home Depot. So I'm getting something fun and it will match my new paint scheme and curtains.

Also I will be getting another light to replace the one in our bedroom that happens to be the same mushroomy looking type. A few more updates are in the works and I might try my hand at canning soon. I got a bunch of stuff for it at Christmas too! I can't wait.

Once all is back in order I plan on sewing up a storm and sharing as much as I can with you. I'm not making resolutions this year, just planning on doing my best everyday. Somedays I know I will get more done, others if I get out of my pj's and do the dishes it shall suffice.

Hope you all had a great New Year's Eve and have a great 2011!