Girlhood Tidbit #13 Christmas Time Treat

During the holidays it is fun to remember our friends by giving them a little something special. Nothing say special more than homemade right? I think so that is why I made Candied Citrus Peel candy this year. My friend Laura makes this wonderful Christmas time treat and shares this delectible delight with her friends and family. What a sweet idea. I love sharing recipes with my friends don't you? When I tried her candied orange peel I thought I had died and gone to sugar plum heaven, it was such perfection.

This year we have been eating by the box full, Little Cuties, which are a seedless Tangerines, ooohhh are they good. My children kept leaving their peels around and so I got the idea to actually save them and then use them to make this sweet treat. I had to improvise a bit because Laura just told me how she made it, I didn't really have a recipe. But no biggy because it is super easy. This is my version from my memory. Thanks so much Laura!

Candied Citrus Peels

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1/4 cup orange juice (optional)

Citrus Peels- Orange, Tangerine, Lemon, Grapefruit, Lime you choose. How about a variety? Wouldn't that be wonderful!!

Incorporate together in a sauce pan on the stove.

Slice orange peel in long strips and place in sugar mixture once sugar is dissolved.

Simmer on low until white part of peel starts to turn translucent. Remove your pieces from the syrup and into a shallow dish of plain white sugar. Turn gently and coat each piece and then lay on a cooling rack to dry. Then package in cello bags and fun ribbon. Yum.

I also bottle up the remaining syrup in pretty glass pitchers to use in tea as a sweetner. It is delicious in Double Bergamot tea, which happens to be one of my favorites. This makes a wonderful hostess gift around the hoidays paired together with the Candied Citrus Peels.

Coming In Mid-March E~Patterns

I am really excited. I will be launching a new category on the website- e~patterns! This spring towards the middle of March this category should be up and running with the first e-pattern. I have been hard at work writing, sketching, photographing and of course sewing, cutting and making these fun patterns for you to enjoy at home.

I wanted to give you a sneak peek.... This will be a great addition to my website because it will allow you, my beloved customers, to easily purchase and download patterns and instructions right to you own computer at home~ISN'T THAT COOL? I think so! I love not having to pay for shipping, but even better is getting started right away on that project I am dying to do!

The first series called: The Cottage Posy Patch E-Pattern Series. This series of patterns will give instructions on how to make some really fun cut felt flowers. Each pattern consists of pattern pieces, instruction and lovely photos giving you step-by step examples of the finished project.

I sure hope you will check out the websitehttp://www.thepatchworkheart.com/ and go to E~Pattern category. Once online payment is made you will be emailed a link to access and download PDF file and save to your computer. It is that easy!

Girl Time Tidbit #6- Harvest Time Cider

I wanted to share a harvest season recipe that can be used right through Thanksgiving or until you bring out the Egg Nog. I have given this recipe to my daughters to put into their very own recipe notebooks. What is a recipe notebook you ask? There is an article in the latest Girlhood Home Companion click here to go to The Patchwork Heart, Co. find out more about this. This can be any kind of note book, but of course, we have made ours special by creating a unique cover and then using that theme design throughout the rest of the notebook. We collect recipes, projects and tips that sound wonderful to us and put them into our notebook.

I started these when the girls were around 9 or 10 as they developed an interest in cooking and baking. We started with baking skills since making treats is so much fun especially since you get to lick the beater on the Kitchenaid mixer. We then moved into other cooking, for example, dishes for everyday meals. Now we are into meal preparation. It has been such a joy to watch my youngest, especially, enjoy this skill and learn it well.

From our home to yours here is our wonderful recipe for:

Harvest Time Cider

Apple juice or Apple cider whichever you prefer
Good Earth brand Tea or other cinnamon flavored tea
1 Whole orange- sliced in rings

In a sauce pot combine 1 cup of cider for every person you will be serving and 2 tea bags, for every 4 servings. If you are making 8 servings then use 4 tea bags and so on. Bring to a simmer until tea has seeped 3-5 min. Then slice up your orange into rings and add to your cider and heat through. We like this cider hot but you can also serve it cold. However, you must heat all ingredients together first and then chill and serve. Cuddle up by the fire and enjoy!

Girl Time Tidbit #4

I just enjoyed the most pleasant afternoon with my daughter today! I thought what we did today was a good Mother/Daughter project and so of course, I have put it into the Girl Time Tidbit category!

Today, I taught my daughter to can homemade, sweet, raspberry jam! We picked the berries from our garden this year because we have an abundance of them this season. Then we wash them, and lay them on a cookie sheet and separate them to freeze. We store them in a freezer bag and just keep adding to them until we have enough for jam. We were able to make two batches today! 14 jars of ruby red goodness. We have vowed to have buttered toast with jam for breakfast tomorrow morning!

Here is the recipe~ pretty traditional~ Make sure you follow all canning directions correctly so that your jam will stay fresh and yummy for the months ahead. Here is a great resource for canning and preserving

4 c. crushed berries

6 1/2 c. sugar

1 pkg. of pectin (we use Certo liquid pectin)

This will make 7 cups

This is so yummy and tastes just like summer! Have fun!

Girl Time Tidbit #1

I have two daughters, one has left the nest and is in college, the other still at home :o) The younger one and I enjoy what we call "Girl Time". I don't know how we coined the name. I think it was to deter any brothers from wanting to be in on the action... anyway, I thought I would start sharing some of the things that we do together. I will share "Girl Time Tidbits" and projects too. My hope is that it will encourage you or spark your creativity to start a "Girl Time" in your own home with your daughters.

Building healthy mother/daughter relationships is a heartfelt desire of mine actually, all relationships among women are; in friendship, as mentors, family relations. I also have a great love for the womanly arts of sewing, hand work, crafts, writing, hospitality, cooking and caring for my family. I want to share the things of my heart with my girls so I started spending special time with them, talking, sharing and having tea with them. What fun this has been! The wonderful by-product of this is that my daughters have also grown to love this time and lovingly share their hearts with me!

"Girl Time Tidbit #1"

One of the great things we decided was to make up a special place where we would have "Girl Time". For us this is the living room our nicest room. We sit by the front window at an antique table that I inherited from my paternal grandmother. She is who my younger daughter is named after. This table is extra special for me because there are many wonderful memories associated with it. Recipes I wrote down as my Mimi (my grandmother's nickname) dictated them, heartfelt talks, card games, I would eat fresh raspberries and milk with a sprinkle of sugar on them, that my Papa had picked from his garden that very morning. I even learned to crochet at this table.

This is our "Girl Time" spot

This special spot doesn't have to be fussy make it suit your style and decore! I have created it so that it can stay that way all the time. If you don't have a space to do this in, not a problem you can creat a "Girl Time" box (a plastic tub with lid or wicker basket) and put your special things in it. Then when you want to have "Girl Time" have your daugther get it out and set out your sweet smelling candle and special table cloth, tea cups and devotions or projects. When you are done it can go back in the plastic tub and back into it's storage spot.

We have made our spot inviting and special with candle and special books on poetry, our bibles, devotionals and our Girlhood Home Companion publications and a basket filled with our stitching and handiwork. There are many days that I long to just sit and spend time with my growing girl. The time is short make it count even if it is lots of small times they will add up to big memories and cozy feelings of love. I would love to hear your "Girl Time Tidbits", tales and memories, so please leave a comment.

This is some of our favorite tea!