Aromatherapy rope coaster

Another craft idea that didn’t make the cut. I was playing around with coasters and added the leftover quilt block piece to it to hopefully soak up the essential oil. This idea didn’t work. On another one, I put lavender buds between the fabric and the rope. Again, it didn’t do much to add any aroma to the room.

These are the sorts of things that don’t make it to social media. I thought this could be a great idea at the time and used up bits of rope that were too small to use in the baskets and bannetons that I was creating that year. Now, the coaster works and makes a good barrier between furniture and a hot mug. The aromatherapy idea in the coaster, didn’t work.

But, it also didn’t really matter to me that it was a failed idea, because my best times are always when I’m making something, whether it becomes something or not. I loved those carefree days in my studio, where I could get so absorbed in playing with the materials I had at hand that nothing else mattered.

I still love using cotton rope, but don’t have a space to make big, creative messes yet after my move. Some day!

I’m always looking for extra ways to use my cotton rope coasters and came up with this one morning while I was preparing my cup of tea.

The fabric is a trimming from a quilt top that I finished. After making the rope coaster, I trimmed and stitched the block to the coaster. I put a couple drops of a favorite essential oil on the coaster and enjoy the subtle aromatherapy when I set my warm mug on top.

Subtle aromatherapy rope coaster

I was trying to see if I could make a coaster that would throw aroma when a hot mug was set on it. Seemed like a plausible idea, but didn’t work out as planned!

Cinnamon Swirl Sourdough with Raisins and Whey

I found a multitude of blog post drafts that I started during the time I was my husband’s full time caregiver, and just never got back to finishing them. Here’s one of a particularly tasty sourdough loaf with raisins and whey leftover from making yogurt.

Anne’s Favorite Molasses Crinkle Cookies

This recipe is one I have used for over 30 years. It’s a simple recipe, but if my boys could request only 1 type of cookie, it would be these molasses crinkles.

Ingredients

1 cup butter

1/2 cup blackstrap molasses

2 cups sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 tsp salt

4 tsp baking soda

1 3/4 tsp cinnamon

1 3/4 tsp allspice

1 3/4 tsp ginger

4 cups unbleached flour

**approximately 1/4 cup additional sugar in a shallow bowl to roll cookie dough balls in before baking

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2. Melt butter over low heat just until melted. Remove from heat and pour into mixing bowl.

3. Add molasses and sugar to butter and mix. Then add the eggs, mix to combine.

4. Combine dry ingredients (except the additional sugar) in a medium bowl. Add to the butter and sugar mixture, combine well.

5. Use a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop (or measuring spoon) to scoop the dough out and roll it into a ball. Coat with sugar and arrange on a parchment lined baking sheet, spaced about 2” apart.

6. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until firm to the touch. The dough you see through the crinkles, will look wet just before the cookie is ready to come out of the oven. Cool on a rack.

Anne’s Notes

Regular molasses will work, but the flavor will be milder.

Don’t overbake. Because the dough is so dark to start with, you’ll have to test a batch to get your preferred baking time.

This recipe works really well with whole grain flours.