The Communique Layout
Popularized by Rhonda Dort, who uses the layout in her classes, the Communique Quilt Layout works for both featuring large fabric and panel pieces, as well as a basis for multiple block designs.
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About Me
Welcome to Mouse in My Pocket! I'm Andrea, a web developer living in rural America with her husband and daughter. I'm excited to share my life with you as I explore some of the great things about living in the middle of nowhere. Be sure to check out the blog below to see a few of the things that are speaking to me right now.
On the Blog
Cinnamon Cookies
These cookies were originally titled “Cinnamon Cardinal Cookies” in the December 2008 Betty Crocker Christmas Cookies publication. I’ve retitled it here, because these cookies look cute decorated as more than just cardinals. Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1…
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Chai Latte Cupcakes
This chai latte cupcake recipe comes from the Spring 2008 Betty Crocker Super Moist Cakes publication. This recipe, as with all the others in the publication, starts off with a box of cake mix. The recipe calls for Chai Latte Tea mix. If you can’t find any at the store, don’t panic – Betty Crocker…
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Chocolate Orange Cake
This recipe is from the Spring 2008 Betty Crocker Super Moist Cakes publication – which means it starts with a boxed cake mix and is super easy. It’s also a great place to garnish with those candied citrus slices from the Martha Stewart’s Pies and Tarts book. Cake Ingredients: 1 box Betty Crocker Supermoist devil’s…
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Petit Pain au Chocolate
My recipe for Petit Pain au Chocolate (read small bread with chocolate) comes from the KitchenAid recipe collection. It makes 8 sweet rolls with chocolate centers. Ingredients: 3 – 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 package (1/4 oz) active dry yeast 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup plus 1 ablespoon milk, divided…
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Pâte Brisée (Tart Dough)
This recipe for tart dough is used in a majority of the recipes in my copy of Martha Stewart’s Pies and Tarts. Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon granulated sugar 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces 1/4 to 1/2 cup ice water Instructions: Put flour, salt, and…
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Crème Pâtissière (or Pastry Cream)
What the heck is crème pâtissière, you ask? It’s a pastry cream used in many of the Martha Stewart’s Pies and Tarts recipes. The recipe makes about 2 1/2 cups of cream. Ingredients: 1 cup milk 1/2 vanilla bean 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar 3 egg yolks 1 tablespoon corn starch 1 tablespoon flour…
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Blueberry Tart
This recipe comes from the 1985 Martha Stewart’s Pies and Tarts cookbook. This recipe can be made with either fresh or frozen blueberries. Ingredients: One 7 1/2 x 11 x 1-inch pâte brisée tart shell, baked and cooled 3/4 cup sour cherry jelly 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 tablespoons grand marnier 2 pints blueberries, washed,…
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Candied Citrus Slices
This recipe for candied citrus slices comes from the 1985 edition of Martha Stewart’s Pies and Tarts. They are super great frozen and set in the rim of your lemonade glass. The book also states that you can use cirtus peels, instead of slices, by using a zester to remove the peels in thin sections.…
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Garlic & Herb Potatoes
These fragrant herb potatoes are perfect the side dish for so many meats, you’ll make them again and again. Ingredients: 1 3/4 lbs small red potatoes, scrubbed 1/2 cup butter, melted 2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme 1 teaspoon seasoned salt…
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Spice-Rubbed London Broil
This lean flank steak gets an Indonesian flair with a coating of brown sugar and spices. Ingredients: 1 /12 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar 2 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 (3…
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Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake
This is my grandmother Ruby’s old-fashioned chocolate cake recipe. My mom and little sister love this recipe. In the past, I’ve been assigned to make this 3-layer cake for their birthdays. When mom was growing up, she shared a birthday with my grampa – and it sometimes fell on Thanksgiving, so grama would make this…
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Fashion Friday – These Boots are Made for Walking
This is a special edition of Fashion Friday. Today, we’re going to talk about boots. Why boots? Because boots aren’t just for keeping out the winter weather, they are for work, fun, and even fashion. I own quite a few pairs of boots myself. Everyday Boots I have a brown pair of riding boots from…
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