Happy Mothers' Day!

"Happy Mothers' Day, Grandmom... I brought you a stick!"

We "puppy sat" for our grandpuppy this past week. Whew! It's like having a baby in the house! It was a lot of fun (except when he woke up at 4 AM). Cooper LOVES to go out and play with sticks. I'm not kidding- I never saw a dog who likes sticks THIS much! He just picks up sticks and drags them around- or runs around with them. So funny!

"Here's another stick for you, Grandmom."

".... and another one...."
"Ooooo.... here's a REALLY big stick for you, Grandmom!"

We'll see Cooper's parents (our son and daughter-in-law) tomorrow and we're going out to breakfast with our other son this morning. Sadly, his girlfriend has to work today and we won't see her. :-) Also coming along is a young man who is "like a son" to us.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you. Be you mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, aunts, teachers, nurses, sisters, or friends- this is a day to thank those who help others to grow and become the best that they can be. I am thankful to have many women in my life who have nurtured me over the years, and I'm equally thankful to have had the opportunity to nurture others.

My Mothers' Day wish for you is that you have a little time to pick up a stick and prance around with it. OK-- maybe you'd rather whip up a few half square triangles or some cupcakes, or read the paper, watch a movie, or plant a few flowers. Whatever it is that feeds your soul- that is my wish for you today.

Correction to poppy seed bread recipe

There was a typo in this recipe. I corrected it about 24 hrs after I posted it so if you didn't copy it right away, you're fine. The correction is in the second sugar addition. The 2 sugar additions didn't add up to the total amount. The recipe calls for 3 1/3 cups sugar. You use one cup in the glaze and 2 1/3 cups in the batter. I know this sounds like a lot, but it makes 2-3 loaves. Sorry for the typo. I'm a quilter- not a typist. :-)

May Giveaway

The May Giveaway is the Spring Fling pattern by Bella Nonna and 6 batik fat quarters to get you started. To be entered in the giveaway drawing, just reply to this post. If you don't like to reply on blogs, you can send me an email and ask to be entered. On June 1st, I'll draw a winner. Good luck!

Poppy Seed Bread with Orange Glaze

This is one of my favorite recipes. Every time I make it I am asked for the recipe. Now I can just tell everyone that the recipe is on my blog! The photo shows a large loaf. The recipe makes 2 of these. Sometimes, I make 3 or 4 smaller loaves, instead. When you poke the holes in the bread, make sure you poke lots and lots of them. It takes some patience. This is a good job for kits- and then you just have to poke holes where they missed! I got the recipe from the friend of a friend who got it from a magazine, but I'm not sure what magazine it was. Enjoy!


Poppy Seed Bread with Orange Glaze
(makes 2-3 loaves)

3 1/3 cups sugar, divided
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tsp finely grated orange peel

3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 2/3 cups vegetable oil
3 large eggs
2 tsp almond extract
1 2/3 cups whole milk
2 tbsp poppy seeds

Preheat oven to 350 deg. Butter and flour (2) 9x5x3" metal loaf pans (or 3-4 smaller pans). Bring 1 cup sugar, orange juice and orange peel to a boil in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Set orange glaze aside to cool.

Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat remaining 2 1/3 cups sugar, oil eggs and almond extract in large bowl until pale, yellow and thick- about 5 minutes. Beat dry ingredients into sugar mixture in 4 additions alternately with milk in 3 additions. Divide batter between prepared pans.

Bake bread until tester inserted into center comes out clean- about 1 hr. Transfer pans to a cooling rack. Do not remove from pans. Using slender wooden skewer, poke holes in bread. Gradually spoon or brush glaze over warm bread in pans, allowing glaze to be absorbed after eatch addition. Allow bread to cool completely in pans. Remove from pans and slice.

April Giveaway Winner!

Congrats to Rhonda P!!! My DH drew your name from the jar and you are now the proud owner of the Quilters' Desserts Recipe Cards. Send me a private email to sue@alderwoodquilts.com with your mailing address and these yummy recipes will be on their way to you.

I have a collection of happy batiks and a pattern for the May Giveaway. As soon as I take a picture, I'll post it for you.

Now that it's May, I have the April bag almost finished. I think I just need to call it bag number 5 of my "Dozen Bags" project. :-)