I love you, a bushel and a peck...

Happy Valentine's Day!  Here are some "drunken" dark chocolate truffles that I made for Dan.  And here is the recipe.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/chocolate-truffles-recipe/index.html

Of course, I tweaked it a bit.  Before mixing in the liqueur, I divided the chocolate into 3 equal portions and then added a tablespoon of different liqueurs to each one (brandy, triple sec/orange, amaretto).  I also melted the 8 oz. of chocolate in my small crock pot instead of using a heating pad and bowl (really, Alton?!).  These turned out pretty good, but I'm more of a milk chocolate fan.  However, these weren't for me anyways and Dan loved them!  Tonight's dinner: heart shaped homemade pizza with my big and little valentine's. :)

orchid flower pens

I can finally post this one!  I made these orchid flower pens for my mom-in-law for Christmas!  We pulled names and a room of the house to inspire our gift.  So, I pulled "Susan" and "Office".  This was perfect because she has a great new job and an office to go with it!  So, with the standard "show-off your grandkids" picture frame, I made her some flower pens that her clients can't steal...although I think they might try because they turned out beautifully!  This craft can turn very country/crafty/crappy really fast if you choose the wrong materials.  For example, if you use a terracotta pot and some giant sunflowers it may look like you stole it from a Kansas DMV.  But, if you choose a pretty vase and simple flowers, it will look nice and classy.  Ok, here's how to make it!

Technique: Cutting, taping
Inspiration: my own brainstorm
Materials:

• 10 pens (with ends that pop off, see pictures)
• Enough silk flowers to cut up and make 10 pens
• Brown floral tape
• Scissors
• Small vase or pot
• Pebbles

Directions (Repeat for each pen)
1. Cut up flowers so that there are a couple inches of stem on each one.

2. Take the caps off pens and pop off the little end caps (I used my teeth).
3. Cut a 12 inch (or so) length of floral tape.
4. Starting at the writing-end of the pen, slowly wrap the tape around pen.  Overlap the tape and stretch slightly as you wrap. 

5. When there are a couple inches left on the pen, place the flower stem next to the pen, and continue wrapping so that the two are wrapped up together. 
6. Next, cut a 6 inch length of floral tape. 
7. Fold the end a bit and stick in the open end of the pen (where you popped the little cap off).  Replace the end cap to hold the tape in. 

8. Tape around the end of the pen to finish it off and continue wrapping down the pen toward the tip.  The tape is very forgiving, so if it doesn't look right you can start over or just wrap more tape around and smooth with your finger.  The first one is challenging and then the subsequent pens look better and better.

                                                                                                                                                                           

9. Repeat with the rest of your pens.  Replace all the caps so your pens don't dry out!

10. Fill a vase with pebbles and stick pens in a pretty arrangement.  I could only fit 5, so the rest will be replacements if the others run out of ink.

cozy plaid scarves

It's almost the new year so I'm changing things up a bit around here!  Welcome to my new site Malorie Makes!  I kept all my old Malorie Cooks! posts, but now I will include all things crafty right along with all things tasty.  Turns out I make a lot of stuff, not just food items, that I'd love to share with you! Check back often for sewing projects, crafts, crocheting (I'm a newbie), and some more fattening desserts and healthy dinners (gotta keep things balanced.)  Also, don't forget to "follow" my blog on the right. Thanks for reading (mom)!

Ok, on to my first crafty post...

Cozy Plaid Scarves

I had the best time going to a homemade gift exchange a couple of  weeks ago.  You get a group of friends together and each person brings handmade gifts for each guest at the party.  After the party you come home with a great variety of gifts to give away or keep for yourself.  I brought home some neat loot! A knitted washcloth, holiday cards, baked goods, magnets, a microwavable heating pad thingy, and an origami gift box.  For my gift, I sewed up 10 plaid flannel scarves in bright, festive colors.  I rolled them up, tied them with a bow and tagged them with a message to "Bundle Up!" I think they were a huge hit!  Here's the directions below if you need to keep your little neck (or a friend's neck) nice and warm this winter.
Technique: Sewing

Inspiration: Martha Stewart Living Magazine though now I can't find which one...Nov or Dec 2010...

Materials:

• 2 yards plaid flannel fabric (or any pattern you like)...this will make 3 scarves, so you can share. (or, you can buy 1 yard, and piece it together to make a longer length of fabric)
• Thread
• Sewing Machine
• Iron
• Scissors
• Ribbon (3 yds) and cardstock (if giving as gifts)

Directions:

1.  Cut fabric in 3 equal parts lengthwise so that you have three 15"x72" pieces.  (Size may vary depending on width of fabric and your preference). 
2. Iron each piece of fabric hot-dog style with right-side in. (Vertically, but I hope you know what hot-dog style is.)
3. Starting in the middle of one of the long sides, stitch 3/8" from edge on sewing machine.  Sew all the way around, but leave a 3 inch opening when you come around to where you started from. 
4. Clip corners with scissors. (Not too close to the stitching!)
5. Turn scarf right side out, and push corners out with a pencil.
6.  Iron scarf.
7.  Sew opening closed very close to edge of scarf.
8.  If giving as gift, roll up and tie with a ribbon and tag.