February UFO projects...and Etouffee recipe

Wow..February is here already and my Birthday is tomorrow! (I feel so wise these days...umm!!!) And Spring is just around the corner...in the northern hemisphere that is!!! (See told you I was wise now)

My UFO project(s) for February are as follows:

1.  Quilt my January FO for Shop Hop display in March. I bought a brand new Baby Lock Crown Jewel Long Arm in September and I've been practicing...some...it's so intimidating!! I mostly just look at it and talk to it, but now it's time to show it who's boss!! My sister over at Sew Much & More gave me some wonderful rulers/templates for Christmas and I've been practicing with those...they are great!

AND...

2.  I was rummaging through a bin looking for more black and white scraps for my January project and I found some Kaleidoscope blocks that I started about 2, maybe 3 or 4 or 5 years ago...you know what I mean. And...Oh My Goodness...how could I have forgotten about these blocks and how amazing they look!!! I may need to make one or two more depending on the layout...NOT...I have 59...yes...59 of these blocks...WHY?!! Don't know what I was intending to make in that other quilting life...two quilts maybe?!  They are 10 inch blocks...that is a lot of square inch-age! Just this morning when I was making my bed I was thinking about a new quilt for the bed...I think I've found it. I should have enough to even make pillows. So really all I have to do for this February UFO challenge is to add sashing and just sew the blocks together...easy peasy...right? Right! (Well, then sandwich it and quilt it, but I don't count that in current month's finish).

Here is a small sampling of the 59 blocks. Don't look too closely though as this was my first attempt at Kaleidoscopes...or what some call the horrid name of Stack and Whack (I dislike that name tremendously). All Kaleidoscopes are beautiful and unique no matter the fabric and should have a more elegant name...Stack and Whack...come on...really? Okay...here they are....

Aren't they so unique. If I remember correctly, all the blocks came from 8 single repeat design yardage, laid (stacked) on top of each other with design matched up then cut (whacked) using a certain degree ruler. I will need to re-fresh my memory on how these blocks are made! I love all 59 of them and think they will make a beautiful quilt. I find it amazing that all 59 came from the same single fabric design. Need to start thinking of sashing color though..green, brown, steal blue...umm.

When rummaging through that bin I also found  5 of these...I guess they are potholders. They are not that pretty but I really could use them...

And now for the recipe of the day:

Another Southern Louisiana dish. The name sounds like it would be a lot of work, but it's a simple dish.

Crawfish (Shrimp) Etouffee

é·touf·fée

noun, plural é·touf·fées

New Orleans Cookery. a stew of crayfish, vegetables, and seasonings, served over white rice.

Origin: 
 < Louisiana French; French (à l')étouffée  cooked in a closed vessel with little liquid, braised; literally, to smother, suffocate.

Ingredients:

1/4 pound of butter

2 large onions, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium bell pepper, chopped

Salt, red and black pepper to taste

Tabasco sauce to taste

1 - 2 pounds crawfish tails or deveined shrimp

4 tablespoons flour

2 cups water

4 chicken bouillon cubes

Green onion tops to taste (optional)

Parsley to taste (optional)

Cooked rice

Melt butter in heavy skillet; saute onions, celery, garlic and bell pepper in butter over low heat until tender. Season to taste. Add crawfish or shrimp. Saute 1 minute; add flour. Continue cooking about 3 more minutes. Add water, bouillon cubes, green onions and parsley; Simmer for 10 -15 minutes. Serve over cooked rice. Serves 4 - 6.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting. I love to read your comments so please leave one! 

Hope you enjoy the Etouffee and have a grand day!

Happy Living! Happy Quilting!