Fresh Friday...Winter Comforts

For today's Fresh Friday finds I have something lovely for all of you knitter's

 and a recipe for one of my absolute favorite wintertime comfort foods.

I am excited because here in Central Illinois

 we have the possibility of snow, and lots of it, in our weekend forecast. 

Last winter we seemed to be constantly blanketed in white.

So I had high hopes once I began to see my breath again.

We were off to a good start by setting a record for the first snow

 being the earliest for many, many years,

getting my hopes built sky high. 

 However, since then,I've been doing a lot of watching the sky 

and hearing my grandchildren dreaming of snowmen.

...if only...

Instead… as I wait...

I carry on inside the house doing all the things that one does during this time

when cold winds blow us into the warmth of the snug, coziness of home.

A part of each day for me is always taken up with knitting.

Although that is true year round, it is different during the winter.

During these weeks of near hibernation, 

I love to work on more intricate patterns,

 especially involving lots of cabling.

They often require the use of several stitch markers.

It's best when the stitch markers are slightly different so I know

 exactly what part of the pattern they are marking.

Back in the Fall I found a fantastic Online Shop

 that I have purchased from a few times now.

 I love the gorgeous handmade snag free stitch markers 

and the small tins the sets come in. 

They also have beautiful yarns and patterns.

You can find them at

Twice Sheared Sheep

I love how smoothly the markers glide along

 and the beauty they add to my work in progress.

That fun piece with all the number beads and the 

intricate Swarovski crystal on the end

is a row counter that you attach to your needles

and move along as your're knitting!

There's a video on how to use the row counter right here

The smaller sized markers are perfect for tiny needle knitting with their

reverse tear drop shape. I really love the one with the smaller crystal 

while knitting the thumb stitches, as I find anything too large

 cumbersome, causing it to be in the way in such a small area.

Summing it up, I've made three purchases with this company

 and have been extremely satisfied each time.

 Their product is top quality and they are very personable.

They have excellent customer service and even shipped a birthday gift

with a special note directly to a dear friend for me.

 Let me know if you give them a try!

As for the Recipe...

I'm going to give it to you TWO WAYS.

First the actual way and then the GLUTEN FREE way.

The photo shows them when I baked them last weekend in the GF version.

Cornmeal Drop Buscuits

1 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour

1 Cup Bob's Red Mill Coarse Grind Cornmeal

2 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

2 Teaspoons of Sugar

1 Stick, Cold Unsalted Butter, cut into pieces

1 Cup plus 1 Tablespoon Skim Milk OR Vanilla Soymilk {my preference}

In medium bowl combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt & sugar. 

Whisk.

Cut in butter till it looks like coarse crumbs.

Add milk; stir until just combined.
Line cookie sheet with parchment paper, if desired.
Spray with cooking spray.

Spoon 10 mounds, 1/2 cup each, onto greased sheet 1 inch apart.

Bake 20 minutes.

Cool on wire racks.

Serve warm.

Gluten Free Version

Simply substitute the All Purpose flour for Almond Flour. 

*But use 2 1/2 Cups Almond Flour {or as much needed}.

It takes more Almond Flour than All Purpose.

You can also make this recipe Vegan

by using Earth Balance Vegan Butter

in place of the butter.

However you choose to make these biscuits,

they are easy to mix up and delicious!

My entire family loves them in both versions.

They're delicious with big pots of homemade vegetable soup

or warmed up and drizzled with honey.

The perfect comfort food for a cold winter day!

Wherever you are,

no matter the weather,

may you always have 

the comforts of home

to warm your heart...
I'll be here...
 waiting for snow...

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth,

for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:

it is the time for home."

Edith Sitwell