Finish-up Friday!

       I am calling this Finish-up Friday because there are so many little odds and ends of things that I need to tell you about.  I do projects and recipes and tell you that I will let you know how things went, and then I don't get back to it.  I feel guilty about this! So I am going to try to bring some of these little issues to a close.  
         First of all, Remember this post, the Count Your Blessings Frame?  I really wanted little wooden leaves to drop into the frame, but couldn't find what I wanted.  Then, I went to Target's One Spot and I found these little wooden stickers! 

They were marked down to half price! So, I bough 2 packages for only $3.00! So, if you want some, you had better hurry!

Some of the leaves were mirror images, so I just stuck them together into a double thickness. Others, I stuck onto a paper towel, which left a paper backing that covered the stickiness. I just ripped the paper off around the edges and smoothed it all down.

A little water on your finger as you smooth the edges cleaned up the little bits.

I think the wooden leaves will blend in really well with the colored ones that are in there all ready, so I just mixed the wooden leaves with the paper ones in my bowl.

Some of the leaves are shiny, so I am simply dropping them in periodically as an accent leaf.

      Next on my list is the owl mold for chocolates that my sister sent me.  I wrote about it in my Ode to Owls post but never showed you what I did with it.  In December I will be selling Cocoa Bombs at theUgly Sweater Express Craft Boutique.  So, we thought it would be fun to have owl shaped stirring sticks made of chocolate. I am making large and small ones, regular chocolate and sugar free.  Or, they can just be eaten like a lollipop!  We are also going to put together some gift kits that will be great for teacher gifts or neighbor gifts, etc. with a mug, bomb, and stirring stick! Also, look at these little owl cupcake molds I found on Amazon! I may need these.  Definitely getting these! Only $1 . 60 and free shipping!

large owls

small owl

Not the actual mug or wrapping, just giving the idea.

      Third/Fourth we are still working on the house.  We have started tearing out the kitchen floor and extending the flooring that we put into the hallway into the kitchen.  Also, I have sewn the curtain tiebacks, and when I purchase the tieback holders and get them installed, I will show you the final results. (So both of these are still not finished-up, but works in progress.)

I have decided that my old jelly cabinet is going to be one of my next projects. It needs some work!

But, the floor is looking great!

Sewing the tiebacks!

     Finally Fifth! After learning about browning butter when making cookies from Lori, I decided to try that technique in a different recipe.  I made a Banana Crumb Cake and browned the butter.  It was so good, especially when warm.  I ate 2 pieces right in a row. I began with a recipe from Neighborhood Food Blog, but changed it to accommodate the browned butter technique. 

I even browned the glaze butter a little bit.

        Browned Butter Banana Crumb Cake

Mash 3 ripe bananas
Brown 1/2 c. butter in a small sauce pan.
Blend 1/2 c. brown sugar and 1 1/2 c. granulated sugar into the bananas.  Pour the hot browned butter over this mixture and blend together well.
Next, beat in 2 eggs and 1 tsp. of vanilla
In a different bowl, blend the dry ingredients: 
  2 c. flour  1 T. baking powder   1 tsp. salt.
You also need 1 c. milk.  Beginning with the milk, alternately add the milk and the dry ingredients.  End with the milk.
Set the batter aside as you make the crumbs.
Mix 1 c. brown sugar, 1 c. flour, 2 tsp. cinnamon and 1/2 tsp. of nutmeg in a bowl.  Cut in one cube, (1/2 c.) cold butter until there are peas sized crumbs.
    Pour 1/2 of the batter into a well greased 9 x 13 pan.  Sprinkle half of the crumbs on top of the batter.  Pour the remaining batter of that and top with the remaining crumbs.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 min.  
       When the cake comes out of the oven, let it cool about 10 min. while you make the glaze.
        Put 2 T. of butter into the small sauce pan again and brown it.  Add about 1 c. powdered sugar and stir into the browned butter quickly.  Add 1 c. milk and 1 tsp. vanilla and mix until smooth.  Pour this over the cake.  Slice and serve! 

         There, that puts my mind at ease about a few things! Now I'm off to work on a few more! Thanks for being patient with my somewhat crazy life!