Amanda's Low Calorie Brownie Muffins

Using a box of devils food cake mix, replace all the wet ingredients with pumpkin puree.  Here is the recipe http://www.hungry-girl.com/show/surprises-shockers-and-swaps-yum-yum-brownie-muffins-recipe.
By Amanda

Sophie's Blanket

     While I was waiting for my wool to come to knit my blanket, I made one for Sophie my cat.

By Betty

Betty's Blanket (The Ladies Circle)

     At last my blanket is finished what a roller coaster that was.  To start off my wool was four days late in coming, then I had visitors for ten days so no knitting got done.  Then the following week my visitors came back for another three days so again no knitting done.  But to top it all when I started sewing it together I kept finding mistakes.  So out it comes "Sorted".  Would you believe it the more I was sewing the more mistakes I was making, I nearly gave up as it was doing my head in.  I think I was making mistakes because I was rushing it as everyone was finished but me, plus I was tired.  But I got there in the end.  So here is my finished blanket, I hope you all like it.  Can't wait for the next project. xxx
By Betty

Aileen's Blanket (The Ladies Circle)

     Here is my blanket, what a mess huh!  I didn't enjoy this project and I don't like it.  I think it's off to the charity shop very soon : )

By Aileen

Christine's Blanket "The Nightmare Blanket" (The Ladies Circle)

Some of my squares.

 A trial run.

My big pile of squares.

Lots to do.

Don't look too closely.

The nightmare blanket.

     Well, it's finished, the blanket that is, almost my life as it took up all my energy, it was stressful and boring all at the same time.  

     I started off with a different pattern and that was sooooo long and tedious, so I gave that up and decided to go with small squares instead.  Some I crocheted which made it a wee bit quicker as crochet is very quick, then it was coming along nicely, but then I knew I needed a million squares and that's when it got to be boring.  But I was excited when I was on my last square.  Yippee!

     Then it came time to sew it all together, ugh, double ugh!  I couldn't quite get into the groove of sewing it together, then I took a look at it and thought if I turn it this way it may be easier and that's exactly what I did and it was very easy.  But that was only going one way, now I had to sew down the way to join it altogether, then I had an idea, maybe I should crochet it, so I did and it gave it another look.

     In the end I was very pleased with it but I won't be in any hurry to make another patchwork blanket I can tell you that.

By Christine

Rose-Ann's Blanket (The Ladies Circle)

     I knitted this baby blanket with love for my new grandchild who will be born at the end of April.  From Grandma xx.

By Rose-Anne

Kathleen's Blanket (The Ladies Circle)

     Here is my patch-work blanket, I am reasonably pleased with the final outcome. But if I'm honest I found it a chore and very difficult to keep up the interest in making it.
By Kathleen

Miniature Blueberry Crumb Muffins

These were the first batch of muffins I ever attempted.  After craving blueberry muffins, I decided to make my own from scratch.  I started with large organic blueberries bursting with flavor, and folded them into the batter to keep from mashing them.  Of course, no muffin would be complete without a crumb topping!  They turned out great, and a little heavy, so they were quite filling as an afternoon snack.  With only 15 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes in the oven, these make a simple sweet treat for any occasion, and the aroma makes the house smell wonderful!

Ingredients:

Batter:
1 1/3 cup of flour
1/3 cup of white sugar
1/3 cup of brown sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 a teaspoon + a pinch of salt
1/2 cup of milk
1/3 cup of vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 cup of blueberries
1 teaspoon vanilla

Crumb Topping:
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup softened butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2.  Mix dry batter ingredients (flour, white sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt).

3.  Add the milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla to the batter.

4.  Gently fold the blueberries into the batter.

5.  In a separate bowl, mix the crumb topping ingredients (flour, brown sugar, softened butter, and ground cinnamon).  The mixture should make small clumps after a while.

6.  Fill greased or lined muffin pans with batter 3/4 full.

7.  Top each muffin batter with crumb topping.

8.  Bake for 15-25 minutes.

9.  Most important step of all: ENJOY!

Best of luck in your baking adventures.
-Jonathan A. Neary