MUFFULETTA AND PECAN BARS -- MAKE, BAKE, AND TAKE IT

Another make, bake and take it weekend.  Here were my offerings for a church potluck yesterday.

First --

Muffuletta, a sandwich popular in New Orleans originated by Italian immigrants.  What makes it different from the normal American sub sandwich is the olive salad interspersed between the usual meat and cheese layers.

There are probably as many recipes for the olive salad as there are cooks. but here is my simple recipe:

2/3 cup chopped green olives

2/3 cup chopped black olives

1/2 cup chopped pimiento

1 tablespoon capers, drained and rinsed

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 cup olive oil

Mix all ingredients well; store in refrigerator over night to combine flavors before assembling sandwiches.

I also made Easy Pecan Pie Bars -- the recipe I came across on pinterest or facebook -- sorry, I don't remember where.

Easy Pecan Pie Bars

1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent rolls

2 tablespoons melted butter

1/2 cup corn syrup

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg, beaten

3/4 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9x13 pan with foil, with 2-inch overhang on sides.  Separate dough in 2 long rectangles and press over bottom and 1/2 inch up sides to form crust pressing perforations to seal.  Bake 8 minutes.

Combine filling ingredients except pecans mixing well.  Add pecans.  Spread evenly over hot crust.  Bake 22 additional minutes.  Cool for an hour and cut into bars.

If you love pecan pie, this is a yummy alternative.

I came home with two empty plates; I assume a sign of success!

I'm joining the following:
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday

JANUARY INTO FEBRUARY RANDOMNESS

Not much inspiration to post about recently, so I have been blog-negligent.  But, here is some randomness.

#1:  Someone gave this little chest to Bob recently.  I love any kind of box or tool tote that was homemade originally for the workshop, but I commandeered this one for my sewing room.  It joins the other little chest on the right with thread spool knobs.

The new chest didn't come to us with any drawer pulls.  We found a bag of wooden thread spools for a couple of dollars; and by cutting them in half, they became the perfect knobs. 

#2:  I've been holed up in my sewing room recently.  By avoiding the cold, windy, and wet weather, my asthma is kept at bay.  That's a good thing all around, as there is not much that I like better than staying at home and sewing.
I've been working on a new quilt since last September.  It is a sampler quilt of 64 different blocks that I have used in my quilts over the last 35 years.  I've thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of sizing my patterns down to 5" blocks - it has my math brain working overtime.

 I just finished the upper right quadrant (above) of the quilt top,  and it will join the left half of the quilt when I finish up the last 16 blocks.

#3:  It's birthday time again --- grandson, Wyatt, turns 14 this week.  Yes, he is tall at 6 foot already.   A snack for him after school is a meatloaf sandwich, chips, fruit or dessert, and two glasses of something to drink -- then I either send him home for dinner, or if he begs I feed him again -- lots of salad, meat, potatoes, etc!

Working on extra-credit project for history class!

He thinks the middle school has a dance on Valentine's every year to just celebrate his birthday!!

It's always difficult to get a decent picture of this goof-ball.  His sister can only get a silly smile out of him!! 

Happy Birthday, Wyatt!!  And, Happy Valentine's Day to our two special 'heart tuggers'.

#4:  Back to the sewing room.  My mind is full of ideas for when I finish this quilt.  Never at a loss for keeping busy.  This mother is always making something.

I'm joining the following:
Smiling Sally for Blue Monday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday 
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday