UFO Update, Recipe for Butterscotch Peanut Bars, and Random Thoughts

It's Friday already!  Can you believe it?  The weeks are just flying by.

Time for a UFO update.  Not a whole lot accomplished in this department (or any other for that matter).

I finished this block for Henrietta Whiskers (a free BOM from Bunny Hill Designs).  Then, I noticed one of the strings holding up the sign is crooked.  I think I'll take it out and redo it.  Later, after quilting, this will get a button where the scarf ties and a button on each wheel of the cart.  I don't think it would be a good idea to put those on before quilting.  I am also not embroidering her eyes, as the directions say to.  They barely show up when I do.  So, I'm going to use a button or something for eyes, as well.  I think it's turning out cute.  This no longer qualifies as a UFO, because I'm caught up on it.  Now I have to get back to my other UFOs.

Hop on over to Blackberry Creek to see what everyone else is up to on their UFOs.

Tonight I have a Friday Night Sew In with the gals.  I'm trying to decide what to take.  I think I'll take Circle Stars and see if I can make progress on that.  I am going to take a back up project, however, because I think that one may require a lot of thought.  I don't do well working on things I have to think hard at during Friday Sew In.

I had to make something to bring tonight, and I felt like trying a new recipe.

I had picked up this Taste of Home Brownies and Bars Recipe Cards book at the grocery store.  There are a lot of great recipes in here for when you need bars or something to take to an event.  Recomended little cook book.  I thought I'd try a couple of the recipes.  I tried one that's a crust, then cream cheese, and chocolate on top.  It was good.  Really rich.  Not my favorite.

But I also tried the recipe for Butterscotch Peanut Bars, and it was FANTASTIC!

Don't they look fantastic?!  The combination of butterscotch and peanuts is really good!  I'm taking a plate full of these and the chocolage bars to school for a meeting with my graduate students today (last one of the semester), and I'll take the rest to Sew In tonight.

Here's the recipe.

Butterscotch Peanut Bars (Yield 4 dozen)

1/2 C butter, softened

3/4 C packed brown sugar

1-1/2 C all-purpose flour

3 C salted peanuts

TOPPING

1 package (10 to 11 oz) butterscotch chips

1/2 C light corn syrup

2T butter

1T water

1. Line a 15" x 10" x 1" baking pan with aluminum foil.  (I didn't have one and used a 9" x 13" pan and it worked fine.  The layer of peanuts was a little thicker.)  Coat the foil with cooking spray.  Set aside.
2. In a small bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Combine flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
3. Press into prepared pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 6 minutes.  Sprinkle with peanuts.
4. In a large saucepan, combine topping ingredients.  Cook and stir over medium heat until chips and butter are melted.  Spread over hot crust.  Bake for 12-15 minutes longer or until topping is bubbly.  Cool on a wire rack.  Cut into bars.

Give them a try sometime and let me know how you like them!  I'm hooked!

It's a really cold morning here.  I'm ready for warm weather.

We had a beautiful sunrise over the lake behind our house this morning.  It's nice not having the leaves on the trees so we can really see the lake.  It was beautiful.  As I write this, however, it's above the trees to the right in this photo and glaring in my eyes!  LOL.

And Sweet Pea is very excited.  First of all, she gets a pajama day at school because her class did something wonderful yesterday (I can't remember what it was).  So, she is loving that.  Then, her school carnival is tonight.  I'll be taking her to that before I go to my Sew In.  AND her passport came in the mail yesterday!  (Boy, I cannot believe how much those things cost these days!)  She is really excited.  Now, she can come to Canada with us in a couple of weeks for the doll making class.  Very fun.  It's a busy day at the Pea Pod.

Well, have a great weekend.  I'm starting a diet on Monday.  I'll tell you about that on Monday.  What are you working this weekend?  I'll be doing some heaving end-of-the-semester grading.  We'll see if any sewing other than Friday night gets done...

Until next time,

Mama Pea

Comments

[Brooke]

My goodness you are a busy gal!! A passport to go to Canada - oh my! Remember the days when you could just drive across the border no problem??
Love the morning sunrise picture too!
What am I going to work on this weekend - well I am hoping to do lots, but we shall see. I really want to cut into Sugar and Spice.

[Robin Booth]

What a great post! Sounds like you've got a lot to keep you busy and happy. I'm going to have to go check out the squirrel pattern. It looks like fun.

[Susan Ramey Cleveland]

Love your Acorn Lane block. Too cute. And those pecan bars look scrumptious. Good luck on your diet, btw.

[Linda]

Blok is so cute! You could leave the strings. Gives it a whimsy look if you want. Sweet Pea looks excited! I heard it's supposed to be cold next week. I'm so sick of it.

[sisLH]

I like your squirrel. If you'd have had blue where the pink is, it would look like the sign is swinging in the breeze. Buttons sound cute. Course ya know I picked out the raspberry looking bar and not the yucky chocolates. Then I saw the butterscotch -yum,yum. Of course, passports cost more now that we legally need them! S/P looks very cute. Tell her Hi.

[LuAnn]

What a beautiful sunrise; and your trip to Canada should be wonderful. Hope to see photos when you get there. Your block is great!

[Katie (aka Kekibird)]

Oh a doll making class. That sound like fun!

[Mama Pea]

It is going to be fun, Katie! It will be with Colleen Babcock, the Magic Bean (her blog is http://themagicbean.typepad.com/). Shes from the UK but will be visiting her mom in Canada. I cant wait!

Thanks for coming by my blog!

Stephanie

[LMR]

Hong and I agree that the Butterscotch Peanut Bars are wunderbar! Thank you for sharing :)

[Lynn]

Hope you have fun sewing tonight. I'm putting the binding on my 12 by 12 mini quilt swap project tonight. I've got guild meeting tomorrow morning. It's the challenge reveal meeting - always a fun one!

[Deb]

Henrietta is wonderful. I have downloaded all the instructions but haven't even started yet! Maybe I will after lots of spring yard work gets done. I copied the recipe--sounds too delicious...for a diet!! Good luck on yours!

[Allie]

LOVE that block, I really must start that one! Congrats to Sweet Pea on getting her passport!

[Maggie Szafranski]

The bars sound yummy! Hope you got a lot accomplished at your sew-in.