New Christmas Dinner Napkins Tutorial

Spiritual - "The Name of the Lord cometh from afar...I look from afar, and behold I see the power of God coming...   Go out to meet Him, and say, 'Tell us if You are He who shall rule...'"  Can you imagine the expectation of all who waited for their Savior to come the first time?  His coming was foretold by the prophets and the just longed to see their Messiah.  "The desire of old was sustained solely by hope, but it is now a confident desire, founded on the consoling reality of the Redemption already accomplished."    Each Advent our church (and each one of us) on a daily basis, commemorates this age-old expectation of the Redeemer.  This ritual is meant to arouse in us an "intimate, personal expectation of the renewed coming of Christ to our soul.  This coming is accomplished by grace; to the degree in which grace develops and matures in us, it becomes more copious, more penetrating, until it transforms the soul into an alter Christus"  Happy Advent to all!  Divine Intimacy

Sewing - Believe it or not, I cut these out "last" Christmas and never got to sew them. They are fun and easy to do, so I thought I'd do a tutorial for you.  I made mine semi-circular and really think they will do nicely as a dinner napkin.  I made 14.  You could easily adjust your pattern to make a full circle. 

Note:  It took one package of ric-rac to do three napkins.  These look really cute without trim and the time would be much shorter. Enjoy!  If you make some, please let me know!

1. To do 12-14, you will need 2 yards each of coordinating Christmas fabric, 5 packages of contrasting  ric-rak, one package of Steam-A-Seam2 double stick fusible tape, and matching thread.

 

2.  I made a quarter-round pattern that measured 10"  on each side and a 10" radius.  The pattern was placed on the fold so that I would get a semi-circle.  For each napkin, cut one of each of the two coordinating fabrics on the fold.

 

3.  Baste the ric-rac along the outer curved edge of one of the pieces of fabric.  Note that the sewing line will be  "slightly right" of the center of the ric-rac.

 

 4.  Place the coordinating pieces right sides together. Tug & pull until all sides & corners align well. Pin carefully.  Using your basting seam as a guide, sew a "needle width" to the left of the basting line all around the napkin.  Leave a three inch opening near one end on the straight side. Trim about half of the seam allowance all around the napkin EXCEPT the opening.  Leave the full seam allowance at the opening.  Press the napkin well before turning it right side out. 

5.  Turn the napkins right sides out.  Press extremely well, tugging on the ric-rac.  Make sure all edges are pressed to the seam edge.  Place a strip of the Steam-A-Seam2 in the opening on one of the seam allowances.  Press.  Peel the paper tape off.  Close the opening and press well.

 

 

6. Folding.  Make note that the "center fold" of the napkin is 1" off-center.

Fold left side to "off center" fold.

Turn napkin over.  Bring outside edges together.

Fold right side to meet left edge.

Turn napkin over & adjust if needed.

  

Many of you have asked for Audrie's muffin recipe she entered into the Yambilee Bake-Off.  Here it is!
Isn't she proud?  They are the best when they are still a little warm.  Enjoy!
 

SWEET POTATO SPICE CREAM MUFFINS

WITH BROWN SUGAR CRUMBLE TOPPING!

This recipe makes 12 cupcakes.

Cup Cake Batter:

1 cup sweet potatoes (about 1 pound, boiled and mashed)

1 cup flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon coarse salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

A pinch of finely ground mace

½ cup soften butter

½ cup sugar

        ½ cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Filling:  ***Make ahead.

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

½ cup powdered sugar

A pinch of finely ground mace

½   teaspoon cinnamon

1 ½ teaspoon vanilla

Crumb Topping:

½ cup brown sugar

½ cup white sugar

½ cup all purpose flour

½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1.      Filling:  combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, spices and vanilla in a small bowl and stir until blended and smooth.  Place mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap and shape the mixture into a log about 12 inches long.  Wrap tightly.  Freeze for at least three hours.

2.     Preheat oven to 350*F.  Place paper liners in a muffin pan. 

3.     Make the spice crumb topping.  Using a fork, combine the flour, brown sugar, spice, and melted butter in a small bowl. 

4.     Make the batter.

a.      In a bowl, with an electric mixer, whip together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until fully blended.  Beat in mashed sweet potatoes and vanilla.

b.      In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and mace. 

c.      Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and stir gently with a whisk just until completely combined.

5.     Cut the frozen spice cheese filling into 12 one-inch pieces.  Divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin liners.  Press one piece of the spice cheese filling into the center of each muffin.  Sprinkle each muffin with the crumble topping and gently press the topping into the muffin batter.

6.     Bake the muffins for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.  Cool the muffins in the muffin pan for 5 minutes before removing them to a rack.  Cool completely.  Refrigerate leftovers … if there are any!