Sinfully Delicious!

Apple Dumplings

"A delicious & oh, so easy dessert!"

1 cup sugar

1 stick real butter (do not substitute)

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 green granny smith apples

1 can refrigerated Pillsbury crescent rolls

1/2 cup Mountain Dew soft drink

Melt sugar, butter, vanilla and cinnamon together in a saucepan and cook until sugar is dissolved. Peel and quarter 2 apples. Wrap 1 crescent roll dough around each apple piece; dough does not have to cover apple entirely. Place apples in a greased glass pie pan or small glass baking dish. Pour sugar mixture over all. Pour Mountain Dew over all. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until apples are soft and dumplings are a golden brown & crispy. Serve warm with ice cream & drizzle carmel from bottom of dish over the ice cream. Serves 4 people.

Yummy Pork Dish

Pork Chops with Raspberry Sauce

"Fork-tender herbed bonelss pork loin chops paired with a tangy raspberry sauce...heaven on a plate! This is a family favorite dish and is a perfect dish to serve to dinner guests. I always serve with mashed potatoes & julienned steamed carrots. Comfort food at its best!"

1 tsp. dried tyme, crushed

1 tsp. dried sage, crushed

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

4 (4 oz.) boneless pork loin chops

1 T. butter

1 T. olive oil

1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam

2 T. orange juice

2 T. white wine vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a small bowl, combine crushed thyme, sage, salt & pepper. Rub evenly over pork chops.

2. Melt butter and olive oil in skillet. Cook pork chops for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, turning once. Remove from skillet and place on oven-proof dish. Cover with a lid or tin foil & place into oven. Bake for 45 minutes or until done.

3. De-glaze the skillet with white wine vinegar; stirring to loosen brown drippings. Add orange juice & raspberry jam. Bring to a boil, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until sauce is reduced to desired consistency (sauce will thicken as it cools). Place chop on plate and drizzle with sauce.

Look what the UPS man brought!!

The first shipment of the Maywood Studios Woolies Flannel arrived today. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning opening up this big, fat box of fabric. This flannel feels so soft & cuddly...reminds me of the new jammies that we got each year from Santa Claus. This flannel looks like wool and is suited better for doll clothing over the much heavier "real" wool.
The red hounds tooth piece is the fabric that is used on our 2008 Santa (North Woods St. Nick). You will also want to try using this flannel for applique on penny rugs & quilts. To view this collection of fabric, visit our CALICO section of our website.
Happy Stitchin',
Brenda

Christmas Count Down....

Christmas is just 65 days from today! It is time to start stitchin those holiday decorations and gifts. Country Stitches is brimming with new patterns for your holiday stitching. Shown above is our JUST RELEASED Santa pattern for 2008. North Woods St. Nick measures 22" from the tip of his hat to his pointy-toed boots. He is simply dressed in a plain wooly flannel robe, complete with a linen ditty pocket that has charming woodland motifs cross stitched on it. The pocket is then filled with great smelling Sweet Annie & vintage candy canes for added charm & detail.

Be sure to visit our PATTERNS BY OTHERS category on our website as we have some great new stitchery patterns from Kathy Schmitz! We will be adding more patterns to this category in the coming weeks so please do keep an eye on it!

til next time,

Brenda

Jack Frost is coming....

"Holly Jolly Frosty"

My toes were chilly all day in my sandals and I spent the day wishing I had socks & warmer shoes on. There is just something about putting the sandals away....means winter is not far away. Feels like a soup kind of day, so I mixed up a batch of home made chicken noodle soup when I got home from the office and curled up in my comfy chair and stitched, taking in the yummy smell of soup cooking in the kitchen.


I noticed the elderly neighbor lady covering up her flowering plants as I was busy making soup...frost must be in the forecast for tonight. Oh the dilemma...do I cover my flowering plants, bring them in the garage, or let Jack Frost get them???


I have been busy trying to wrap up the next group of pattern designs. Always seems like there is a re-work part of this process. Often times it isn't until a design is complete that I don't like something, then I start ripping out or starting over. My Santa doll is the hold up....he is waiting for a new outfit from a different fabric to be stitched. I am anticipating the new designs will be complete by late next week.

Soon to be released pattern titles:

Holly Jolly Frosty (pictured above)

Winter Berries (punch needle)

North Woods St Nick (cloth Santa doll with cross stitched bag)

Mr. Flurry (punch needle)

& last but not least....a snowman doll that doesn't have a name yet!

Also in the works are 2 wintery cross stitch patterns (St. Nick & Parson Brown) These will be ready in a couple of weeks.

Autumn blessings,

Brenda

Back in stock

For those of you patiently waiting for this fabric, we now have more in stock. Also check out our newly added CALICO category as the reproduction fabrics that we have ordered are now beginning to trickle in. Lots of good prints to back ditty bags, cross stitch pillow backs, pinkeeps etc.

brenda

Sometimes life gets in the way....

We have heavy hearts here at Country Stitches. Bev's (the gal that takes your phone calls) Uncle passed away last week due to complications following a stroke. My family received word from hospice today that my Mother-in-law has 48 hours...

Due to these life matters & being away from work, orders are slightly backed up. I'm not quite sure how my week will unfold. We will get pending order shipped as quickly as we can.

Thanks for understanding,

Brenda

A great pumpkin gadget!

The leaves are just starting to show hints of yellows and reds here in NW Iowa and the fields in the countryside have gone from their pretty shades of green to amber waves of grain. We are enjoying beautiful autumn weather for several weeks now....still no frost!

I stumbled upon these darling hangers that you attach a carved pumpkin onto and hang in your trees at Gardner's Supply....aren't they cute! Well you may know I have a pumpkin fetish and could not resist these...so I ordered 1 set for myself and another set to give away. They are on sale too! It has been a few years since I have actually carved a pumpkin and I'm looking forward to buying 2 basketball sized pumpkins to carve for these hangers. I also like the fact that you can run these hangers through a clay pot for spring/summer time use as well! Very nifty & versatile too!

I am currently working on finishing up the next group of new pattern designs for the Fall Quilt Market. I will be posting a sneak peak in a couple of weeks. There is a mix of punch needle & dolls in this group.

Happy Autumn,

Brenda