Sarchix Finds

After a crazy holiday season, I finally have time to post again on the last day of 2008.  It’s been a nice time spending with family and friends and I hope everyone has enjoyed their time with too.

The season isn’t over yet with this being New Year’s Eve, at least in this time zone and I wish only the best for everyone in 2009.  We’ll be back and going strong with all kinds of great finds.

2009 is going to be the best year yet!

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This is a most useful app. The basic weather feature that comes with the iPhone is OK if you just want basic info, but the Weather Channel app gives you current, hourly, 36 hour and 10 day forecasts.

You can also watch a local weather report, see maps and check on severe weather alerts.

This is another free app that is well worth the effort to install.

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Happy Hanukkah.  Enjoy the time celebrating!

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With the clock ticking for school to let the kids out for the winter break and the crafting time getting shorter and shorter, the need for a quick gift is needed.

I saw this little gift over at Speckled Egg that is just so cute and easy (and quick) to make for when you realized the night before that you forgot something for the teacher’s assistant or the school nurse. (Always give gifts to the school nurse).

These marshmallow snowmen are made of marshmallows, a long lollipop stick and white chocolate and just too cute.  If I had seen this two weeks ago, the kids and I would have been making a whole fleet of these guys.

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I haven’t been to a Starbucks in months if not longer but the word on the net is that for the holiday season, they had a awesome wreath made of glass ornaments and yarn balls.  They did a red/berry and green theme but if you take on this craft any color combo.

There are great directions and materials list here at Inspired Kara’s blog with lots of pictures to help during construction.

I’m thinking if I can find the right colors that this design could be carried into the spring or any season for that matter.  The color combinations are endless!

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My youngest is a HUGE fan on Disney’s “Imagination Movers” and wanted to be warehouse mouse for Halloween.  Unfortunately we could not find a costume that met to his approval (and he became a dinosaur instead).

Lion Brand Yarns just came out with this free pattern for a mouse that happens to look much like the mouse in question.  I can’t wait to surprise the little guy with his very own Warehouse Mouse once I’m done with the pink scarf.

As stated before, you must register to get the pattern but its a free registration and you can even opt in for updates to the site via email.

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Baking is such fun for me and I’m always looking for nifty ways to give them away without having them getting them messed up before they get to the recipient.  Getting a box of decorated cupcakes to school and not have to worry about getting the container back is always an issue in my mind.

If you are thinking that you would like to send some home baked goodies but are afraid that they will arrive as a box full of crumbs or you don’t want the inside of your car decorated with bits of cake a way around that is to bake a cupcake in a jar.

From my research, I have found a few tips that seem to help the baking and removal process.

• Start with a sterilized jar.  It is possible that the cake can last for up to a year if the jars are sterilized and sealed.
• Use a straight side “Bell” style jar – the kind that you use for canning.  The pint is an ideal size and used in the recipes that I have found.
• Only fill the jar half way with batter.  This will give the cake plenty of room to rise when baking.
• Make sure the top and mouth of the jar are clean before baking.  This will make sure you have a good seal on the jar.
• Grease the inside of the jar with either vegetable shortening or a nonstick cooking spray to make removal easier.
• Please be careful removing the jars from the oven and while its cooling.

I have seen mixed results with traditional icing so for right now I’m just going to experiment with some recipes with either no icing or either a crumb topping or glaze.  Because its too late to really start this project for the holidays, I think I’m going to have fun with this when Valentine’s Day comes around.

Decorating the outside of the jar can be just as fun too.

Here are a few links to some yummy-ness:

Cooking With Ellen – Chocolate Cake (Yum)

Country Lore – Georgia Pecan Cake with Apple

Yankee Magazine – Pumpkin Cake (Because I have WAY too much pumpkin left over from the fall taking up room in my freezer).

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I know a recent post said this this blog is all about good thing but I can’t help but post about someone who left a mark on me.

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry died Thursday 18 December 2008 at home from Leukemia.

There were times that I was obsessed with Star Trek and when she guest starred on TNG, it was a highlight to me.  She was funny and strong and sure of herself when she played Deanna Troi’s mom, Lwaxana Troi.  She was the lady to party with or cry on the shoulder on.

When I read of her passing it was like loosing Gene (Roddenberry) all over again.  Much of my teens and early 20′s focused around Star Trek, much to my teachers frustration.

I have confirmed that she will be in the May release of the new Star Trek movie as the familiar and comforting voice of the computer.  If I am to see one movie this May (Star Trek vs. Wolverine), Star Trek is now winning.

My condolences go out to Eugene, her son and the rest of the Roddenberry/Barrett families for their loss.  I will miss that fiery soul and hope she is off having fun with Gene and causing trouble wherever they may be.

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My Aunt Mary(Ann) sent us this yummy drink recipe for Chai Tea that is served by Pat Bruno/Swami Padmanada Pathways Yoga.

These are approximate amounts.  You will have to experiment with the recipe to get the balance you like.  HINT: the combination should remind you of apple pie spices.

Ingredients:

1/2 water (1/2 pot)
1 T cinnamon …(light on cinnamon in the summer)
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cardamon (At least..this pricey spice is not an option…it is the key to great chai. Guruji liked to put 4-6 pods in the pot.  I like the power of powdered!)
4-6 cloves (go easy…these are very potent)
3-4 black pepper corns
1 slice ginger or sprinkle of powdered ginger  – to taste

1/2 pot whole milk (whole is best…low fat won’t give the creamy texture expected in a good chai)
brown sugar to taste, about 1 T (or 3-4 for a sweeter Indian style)
Brown sugar is more syrupy
3-4 bags black tea (or equivalent in loose tea, may use decaf)

Instructions:

1. Begin with a 2 quart pot and fill it half way up with cool water.  Add spices and bring to a boil.  Boil for 5 minutes (doing namokar mantra over the pot!).  Replace water if needed.
2. Then add an equal part whole milk. (Should bring liquid to the top of the pan) Bring milk to another boil and turn off before the milk forms a cap…or boils over!

3. Add black tea bags, let steep for 3-4 minutes and then add lots of brown sugar.  This is a sweet, caffeinated tea!  Adjust for sugar-free, milk free and de-caf.

Hope you enjoy and thanks Aunt Maryann.  See

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This site is supposed to be about “good” stuff so don’t let the name of this site throw you off.  Fail Blog has some of the funniest “oopses” I have seen, both in video and photos.

It is updated several times a day and I get an update emailed to me every morning, when I’m usually in need of a good laugh to get me going.  On thieir site there are filters to keep things G-Rated (or safe for work) or just videos.

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