Saturday, January 22, 2011

Chicken Corn Chowder


After getting 20 or more inches of snow in the past week, ive needed something warm and hearty to chase away the lingering chill. My favorite thing to make in the winter is corn chowder. I buy fresh corn in the summer and freeze it to last through the winter. Since i have such an abundence of it this year, it needs to get used up. So chowder is on the menu, except this time i decided to throw in a little chicken. I roasted a chicken earlier this week, and was left with alot of leftover breast meat. After countless chicken salad sanwiches, we wanted to do something different with the left overs.
My chowder is more chunky and meaty then your average chowder. I enjoy something that will last with you for a few hours, and give you that warm hug in the belly, like moms soups used to. My corn chowder is meant for a meal, not an appetizer!
Chicken Corn Chowder
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbspbutter
1/2 onion, chopped
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tbsp flour
6 cps chicken broth (46 oz)
2 cps half and half
2 cps diced potatoes
3 cps corn
2 cps cooked/chopped chicken
1 cp cooked/chopped turkey bacon
Sautee butter and oil with onion, garlic and bacon in a skillet. Dust with flour, pour into a soup pan. add chicken stock and bring to boil. Once boiling add half and half and potatoes. Boil for 10 mins. Add Corn and chicken, boil for another 10 mins. Check to make sure the potatoes are cooked through, then take off burner and cool.
Soup can be reheated, its recommending using a microwave though. Soup can also be frozen.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

2011 SB Wahm Awards


Jodys Designs has been nominated for best crocheter at the Spotted Box 2011 wahm awards! Its always nice just to be thought of, and i want to thank the person who nominated me as well as the people that are voting for me.
I have participated in the Spotted Box several time, always sending in my famous butterfly samples. Its a neat way to get get your name out there to a large group of Etsy and Hyena Cart shoppers.
Be sure to vote for me on their blog:

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas toffee


When i was a teenager, i worked at a little country resturant called Stoggy Hollow ( in Woodstock CT). i spent a good 8 years waitressing, baking and cooking there. In those 8 years i made some life long friends. My former boss, Carol, is still one of those dear friends. Every year around Christmas, Carol would make tons of this toffee and package it up in attractive tins to sell. Every year i got yelled at for eatting what i was suppose to be packaging. Finally, a few years before the business sold, Carol gave me the recipe. Now i make this toffee every year, and think of her every time.
Christmas Toffee
2 sticks butter
1 cp sugar
1 tbsp light corn syrup
1 tbsp water
1 large bag sliced almonds
1 large Hershey chocolate bar, shredded
Mix first four ingredients over medium heat. stir occasionally. Using a candy thermometer, stirring occasionally, wait for the temp to be just under 300 degrees. This is just below the hard crack level.
while the toffee is cooking, butter a cookie sheet and top with almonds then chocolate. When toffee is done, pour over the almonds and chocolate. Immediatly cover the bare side of toffee with chocolate then almonds. Allow to refridgerate for atleast an hour before cracking into pieces.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Gingerbread cookies


Christmas traditions start with gingerbread cookies. My gingerbread cookie recipe is borrowed from my friend Dawn, who makes the most amazing gingerbread you will eat. Every year she would bake some and bring them into work for us to enjoy. Thankyou Dawn, for giving me a new tradition to share with my kids.
Gingerbread Cookies
3 cps flour
3/4 cp dark brown sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tbsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
12 tbsp softened butter
3/4 cp molasses
2 tbsp buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
combine all dry ingredients in a medium bowl. in your mixer combine butter and sugar til fluffy. add egg and vanilla and mix. add buttermilk and mix well. alternatly add dry mix and molasses. mix til soft dough forms. make two balls out of the dough, wrap in plastic wrap and refridgerate for atleast 4 hours. roll out til 1/4 inch thickness. bake at 350 for 9 mins

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Healthy eats basket


Theres a really great cafe that opened in the center of my little town in Eastford CT. The owners of Corriander, were nice enough to allow me to sell a few of my crochet foods. So i went down with an arm full of doughnuts, cupcakes, and a few dolls. But then i got home and thought, maybe i should create something extra special to display there. So over the past two weeks, in between customs, i created a few new items and threw them all in a very cool basket.
I have featured my carrots, eggplant, and strawberries in my farmers market sets. With this basket i wanted to add a few new items, so i came up with a pear, apple, and a couple large portabella style mushrooms. In my Farmers Market set, theres a half dozen of white eggs, which i didnt want in this set. So i took out them and added the other new items in place of them. All displayed in a cotten crochet basket.
Im really excited about this set, and i think Corrianders people will think its something unique as well.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Big toy stocking November 18th!


getting ready for Christmas shoppers! Im doing a pretty big toy/playfood stocking at my personal cart on November 18th. I have a little of everything, in all colors. I was really inspired by rainbows this stocking.
Be on the lookout for Wonderland Congos Stocking stuffer stocking. The first week of December, me and the other vendors will be stocking small wonderful items. I plan to stock alot of little elephants, and maybe some reindeer poop! Wouldnt be xmas without the reindeer poop! Be on the lookout for that stocking.
lets not forget Black friday is approaching.The ladies of Mainstreet Congo will be stocking crazy sales, auctions, lottos. So make sure you sit by your computer and stalk!]

Monday, November 1, 2010

Home Grown Familie/ Polar Bear Creations


One of my Mainstreet Congo mates, Sue of Polar Bear Creations, was reviewed by the Home Grown Families Blog! Showing my excitement and support for her, as well as entering the blogs giveaway, i am posting a bit to help out!
to check out the giveaway/review, check out the link here:
there are several ways to enter the giveaway. you can fan her page, her blog, etc. i recommend giving it a shot, cause Sues dolls are worth the effort. We own one of Sues mini babies,and have bought a second for my niece. Sue puts alot of love into the dolls, and is dedicated to the homemade toy movement! Sue can be found at
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