Chocolate Velvet Sauce

I am a chocaholic.  There I said it.  That said, any chocolate recipe you get from me will be tried and true, I can guarantee that!  

I got this little gem from a friend and then did some tweeking.  You'll be surprised at how easy it is to make!  It's rich and thick like a good chocolate sauce should be and a little unexpected with the almond extract.

Chocolate Velvet Sauce

12 oz. chocolate chips (1 bag)

1/2 cup sugar

4 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup milk, any kind

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

dash of salt

Place all ingredients except milk into blender container and microwave on high until boiling, stirring occasionally.  Immediately blend chocolate mixture in blender and add milk slowly until sauce is smooth and thick (about 2 minutes).  

Keep refrigerated.  To serve, warm in microwave for 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds.

Yields 3 small jars.  Serve over ice cream, brownies, fresh fruit, or just eat it with a spoon!

Create: The Club!

I've noticed that there are quite a few of us out there who like to be crafty, but who don't find the time to do it.  Back in March I started a craft-of-the-month club that's cooler than it sounds. (Crafts get such a bad rap!)  Here are some of the pictures from the last few months.

Want to join us?  Below is a list of the things we've done in the past and what's on the calendar for the future.  Email me at: tucker.sarah@gmail.com and I'll send you directions.

Date & Creation

Mar 27, 2008- Paci Clips

Apr 17, 2008- Lip Gloss & Purse

May 15, 2008- Polka-Dot Storage Bins

June- Aug Summer Break

Sept. 18, 2008- Glass Magnets

Oct. 9, 2008- Terra-cotta Pot Cupcake Holder or Jack-o-lantern

Nov. 20, 2008- Stationery and Gift Tags

Dec. 18, 2008- Christmas Party

Jan. 15, 2009- Burp Cloths 

Feb. 19, 2009- Planning Meeting

College of Charleston

I made a wonderful discovery in an even more wonderful city.  The College of Charleston.  Don't get me wrong, I've heard of the College before, but I had never visited until yesterday.  What a beautifully inspiring place!  It may even give my beloved Chapel Hill a run for it's money (don't tell anyone I said that though!)  

The College is nestled right in the middle of historical South Carolina single homes with their huge front porches and old wavy glass windows and steps away from massive oaks with their dangling peat moss.  

Can you imagine walking to class with the sound of this fountain in the background?  I think it might inspire me to study just a little harder.  I'm just sayin'!

Leggy limbs no more

I just love weddings!  Although I have to admit that one of my favorite parts of a wedding is the cake.  With my event planning background sometimes I'm a pretty good guess at the cake based on the couple, and I'll sit in the chapel before the ceremony starts just dreaming about what's to come.  Cute and spunky couple?  I'd guess a chocolate chip cake with cookies and cream filling.  Classy couple?  It will definitely be an almond pound cake with french vanilla icing.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it!  

Another favorite part of weddings is the flowers.  I was fortunate enough to inherit a beautiful arrangement of hydrangeas a few weeks ago from a wedding.  The stems were cut short and they were arranged in a short cube-shaped vase.  How do they get those arrangements to stay just so?  My curiosity got the best of me so I took the arrangement apart.

I found a grid like the one above made with clear tape.  Brilliant!  So I tried it out myself on some leggy fake hydrangeas I had.  

Here's the before picture:

And after:

Much better.  Goodbye leggy limbs!

Stylish tummy time!

I made this tummy time blanket for my sweet friend Julie.  It was a fun weekend project and my first quilt ever!  I sewed the squares of felt together with the seams out then trimmed the fringes before washing.  I lined the quilt with batting to give it a little cushion.

After washing and drying the blanket the fringes got really fluffy and soft.
I finished off the blanket with a little ric-rac bow and this mat is ready for some play time.

We'll miss you summer!

Raleigh Girl

Here's a little something I made for my cousin's new daughter, Raleigh.  What a great name, right?!

I had such a blast with my monogramming machine and hope to use it more often.  The machine is perfect for little jobs like this onesie, burp cloth and matching paci clip.  One of these days I'm going to try my hand at a monogrammed paci clip... because what girl doesn't need a monogrammed paci clip!?  I just love the button detail on the snap closure.  These are very easy to make.  Maybe I'll post a tutorial soon so you can make one too.

Texas Caviar

Don't let the final days of summer slip by without making some yummy Texas Caviar!  It's a little bit of a labor of love, but oh so well worth it!   Eat it with chips as a dip, throw it in a plastic bag with some chicken breasts and let it marinade a little while, spread it over grilled chicken, serve it to your wee one as finger food!  (My little one loved it as much as my husband and I did!)  Let me know what other uses you find.

Texas Caviar
1 can black-eyed peas (drained)

1 can white corn (drained)

1 can yellow corn (drained)

1/2 chopped large sweet onion

1 chopped each: green, red and yellow bell peppers

1 can diced tomatoes (drained)

fresh cilantro to taste (start with about 2-3 tsp. chopped fine)

lime juice to taste (start with about 2 Tbsp.)

1/2 bottle Kraft Zesty Italian Light (don't substitute for another brand... you'll thank me!)