Quick Thanksgiving ideas

Hello beauties!!!

 I'm taking a quick break from my Thanksgiving baking to share with you some last minute ideas. These quick little projects are perfect as hostess gift or to brighten up your own table-scape. They are the perfect handmade touch to add to your holidays. I specially love the acorns. Wouldn't they look lovely scattered around the table, or maybe in a glass vase filled with them so you could see the different colors. The bowls could be very pretty and useful around the table too, don't you think??? (Please click on the photos for more information on the patterns and/or merchandise)

Photo via Etsy -  Astash toys

Photo via Ravelry

Photo via Ravelry

Photo via Etsy - New Moon Crochet

I wish you the most wonderful Thanksgiving. May your table be filled with friends and family and plenty of love for all.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Natalia

Tis the pre-season

Hi beauties!!!

all photos by Lares Domestici please ask before using

If you ask me, Christmas is in the air the moment I see the first poinsettias. They are bright and jolly and I love having them all around the house. Here are a few pictures from this year's trip to the nursery for you to enjoy. 

Lares Domestici

Lares Domestici

Lares Domestici

Lares Domestici

For all you crochet and poinsettia lovers, I found a lovely pattern over at Fable. You can download it straight from their site by clicking here.

photo via - the fabled needle

As for my thanksgiving, I'm brining my turkey tomorrow, and today its off to the grocery store and maybe a little stop over at Punto Reves to pick up a few things for some projects I'm working on.

Thanks for stopping by!!!!!

Natalia

Finally Here

Hey beauties!!!!

 It's finally here, the best meal of the year!!!! And in honor of this most succulent event, it's time to announce the winners of the Punto Reves Thanksgiving cook-off.

We had so much fun the day of the Open House, mostly because we so much wonderful food to share and savor. There was turkey, sweet potato casserole, chicken antipasto, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin brownies, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheese cake, apple pie... you name it, we had it!!!! You were all so wonderful to participate and bring you most cherished Thanksgiving recipes.

It was really a difficult choice. There were sweet and savory deserts. but thankfully the choice was not up to me. After all of your votes were counted, our first prize winner is


Anita Rodriguez and her cranberry almond squares. They were moist, chewy, nutty, and just flat out irresistible. Congratulation Anita, you get a free class!!!!

Second place goes to Millie Bermudez. Who won an ornament kit with her divine pumpkin bread with orange cream cheese spread. She gets special points for her wonderful presentations tooo.

And to round up our top three, we have Maricarmen Lopez with her Gandules Guisados. Our third place winner gets a ball of Anne or Clea 100% mercerized cotton.

 We also have to mention Ana Teresa's Sweet Potato Casserole, gorgeous and yummy!!!!

And so in the spirit of holiday cooking, I have a recipe to share with you.

My unofficial entry for the Holiday cook-off was the heart-warming pumpkin soup. And since I am making it again this Thursday, here is the recipe. Its perfectly vegetarian, and yet no one would know it. For my lactose intolerant son, i just use Earth Balance instead of butter. ITs gluten free, and generally allergen free.

The truth is, it's not really pumpkin, but rather butternut squash.

Thank you so much for stopping by, and congrats to all of our winners!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving cooking to all of you!!


Butternut squash soup

1 butternut squash roasted (recipe follows)
6 cups vegetable stock low sodium
1 strip fresh orange peel
3 thin slices fresh ginger
1 tsp coriander seeds
5 whole black pepper corns
pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
3 tbsp unsalted butter
salt to taste

In  a medium stock pot, add 6 cups vegetable stock, ginger, orange peel, coriander seeds and peppercorns. Brig to a boil, cover and turn off heat. Let the flavors infuse for about 30 min.

Strain the vegetable stock into a clean stockpot, and your butternut squash and puree in batches, or blend in the same pot with an immersion blender (stick blender)

 Once the soup is nice an smooth, add your butter, cayenne pepper and adjust the salt to taste. You can make the soup in advance and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to two days.

Roasted butternut squash

1 small-medium butternut squash, peeled and seeds removed, cut into 1in pieces
1tbsp olive oil
salt
1tbsp brown sugar

Place the butternut squash pieces on a lined baking tray, drizzle with olive oil, salt and sugar, and toss to coat evenly

Place in a 400f oven until fork tender. 20-30 min.

A great big Thank You!!!!!!!!!

Hello beauties!!!

 We all want to thank each and every one of you for making our Casa Abierta a big success. Your recipes were amazing, and we'll be featuring them here on our blog in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. We will also reveal the big winner of our cook-off , so come back soon to see if your name comes up. Now enjoy the pictures, and thanks for all you support!!!!

We have done so much in the past few months since we opened, and with the holidays around the corner, we have much more to do.  But for today, just relax, pick up your needles, and enjoy your afternoon!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!!

I'm working hard on the headband tutorial, hopefully I'll have that ready later this week!!!!

Natalia

One more Kit

Hi beauties!!!

Here he is. Mr. Snowman, complete with his red scarf, two eyes made out of coal, and yes his carrot nose!!!

No snow around here, so we made him a bit more caribbean with a straw hat. What do you think?!?!?!?

 See you tommorow at the Casa Abierta!!!!

Natalia

Getting ready

Hi beauties!

A few weeks ago when we decided it was time to open our doors to the public, we had no idea how much work it would be. We thought, a few invitations, one or two workshops, and some great food. But the more we talked about it, the more ideas we came up with. Great ideas, interesting and new. The thing about the creative process, is the more you do, the more ideas you get.

Our Christmas ornament kits were such a success, we had to have a workshop at the Open House. But our large kits have intricate designs, multiple colors and different beads. We needed a new kit, one you could make in an hour or two with elegant and impressive results. And so we came up with the mini kit. We've made about 30 of these, and we'll have them available for purchase on Friday. Tons of colors to choose from!!!!

Because we're crafters, we're always in need of an apron. But because we are crafters we couldn't go out and buy one, so we made a few. All decked out with ribbons, wool felt, buttons, beads and twine, these aprons are also available on Friday.

Ahhhh, can you smell that???

Sorry guys, but if Emeril and Martha Stewart haven't figured out the smell-a-vision, neither can I. You can stop by on Friday and try these delicious pumpkin chocolate chip bites I just made, and if you really really like them, you can even take them home, ore any of the other delicious treat that will be up for sale.

There you have it everyone, even more reasons to stop by our Open House. You know the address, the date and all the juicy details, so we hope to see you there!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Natalia

Pumpkin soup

Hi beauties!!

Something about cold rainy days just makes us crave comfort. Specially in the fall, when days are shorter, temperatures are generally colder, and the Holidays are just around the corner. I've been struggling to pick a recipe for the big bake-off on Friday. I wanted something sweet, something pumpkin, and something warm. As you all know, the pumpkin pound cake was a big contender. But given he weather, something warm and pumpkin have won over something sweet.



Warm, spicy and comforting pumpkin soup is my official entry. Not cayenne pepper spicy, but gingery spicy, with sage and creme fraiche, its thick and heartwarming. Pumpkin soup is perfect fall comfort food. But because serving soup at an open house is a bit of a logistical challenge, I still have a few quirks to figure out. One thing is for sure, you have to stop by a try it!!!!!

Photo via - Better Health

Photo via - Fresh Net

Know that I've settled have our hearts and bellies warm and content, how about some knitting and crochet to warm our ears?????

Our friend Cuca has prepared a great headband/bandanna workshop to share with us on Friday. It's the perfect knitted and girlier version of a beanie hat. She'll guide you through the pattern and help along the way. You can bring your own materials or you can buy them at the store on Friday. Remember that 10% of all sales will be donated to a great cause, so not only are you helping by attending, but by shopping as well.

Its a win win situation. This year we've decided to help the Fundacion Ninito Jesus. If you are familiar with the cause you know they are in great need of funds to keep their facilities open. You can craft away to you heart's content, fill you bellies with delicious holiday fare, and help those in need all in one afternoon. So please join us on Friday November 12 for our Casa Abierta and have a bit of heartwarming pumpkin soup while we work our needles, and our sequins!!!!!

I'll have a few more goodies for you tomorrow, so stay tuned to see all the behind the scenes craziness as we prepare for Friday!!!!!

Natalia