CCC Blog Hop day 2

I want to start today off with a big thank you for all your wonderful comments on my project. I am so glad you like it so much and that so many of you are going to make it. Today's designer in the hop is the wonderful Sandy Gervais from Pieces From My Heart. She is sharing a free pattern for a table mat and knowing her, you are going to love it. She is probably one of the most creative people I know, creativity just "oooozes" out of her. I would love to hang out with her for a while and see if some of it would spill over into me!! Make sure you go visit and comment on her project. Some of you had questions about the commenting so I just want to clarify: To be eligible for the grand prize you need to comment on each designers project post. You don't have to do it on the exact day that it is posted, just make sure you comment on all the blogs before the hop ends. So if you missed commenting on my project yesterday, just scroll down and post your comment now.

I was very fortunate to be a part of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks from Today's Top Designers, issue that will be on newsstands November 17. Quiltmaker is doing a Blog tour Nov. 9.-13. with all the designers that have a block in the issue and have tons of prizes and stuff going on. To follow the blog tour go to www.quiltmaker.com/quiltypleasures for inspiration, ideas and giveaways galore! My block is called Northern Flair and I used the Glow fabric line to make it. I love how it turned out using the large scale print in the large triangles to tie all the other colors together. If you comment on this post, you have a chance to win a copy of the issue hot off the press, tell me what you think of the block and you can win!

Our theme of the day in the Cross Country Blog hop is special food or cookie made for the holiday and a recipe. Since I didn't get to tell you a holiday memory yesterday, I am combining the two!

In Iceland we start celebrating christmas on Christmas Eve. At 6pm on December 24th, we always eat a delicious meal and after all the cleanup was done, open presents. On Christmas Day we would always go to my Grandma & Grandpa's house for lunch and spend most of the day there with our relatives. My dad has 7 brothers and sisters so there was always a packed house.

I have lots of cousins and out of the grandkids I was the first girl born after 6 boys. (The cutie in the pink shirt is my dad's youngest brother, which is a few months younger than the oldest grandkid!) Yes, all the boys had long hair, don't you love all the matching outfits. I think it was easier to figure out whose kids they were;-) Afther this picture was taken, even 2 more boys were born before another girl came along. As you can see, the boys took real good care of me (I am in my purple dress).....most of the time. These family gatherings were so much fun. We were such a large group of people that we had to eat in rounds. 1s't round of people would fill the dining room and then when they were done, the next round was called.

After the big meal, we would all have sweets that my grandma had made and then my grandpa would give each of us our own bottle of soda.....Spur Cola to be exact. Now this was a big deal back then. We never got our own bottle of soda back then. Maybe a small cup at a birthday party. The Spur Cola was stored in the basement so it wasn't very cold, which made the soda fizz extra extreme. Now....what happens when you have 8 boys...and a girl, fizzing soda bottles, a very competitive bunch of kids and games to come up with? Burping contests!!! The funniest one was who could recite most of the alphabet while burping! Let's just say that we had a very talented group of kids and I totally held my own running with all the boys....and let's leave it at that:-) One of the kids in the picture above even made it to the Olympics a couple of times.....not for burping though!!

One of the sweets that my grandma made were these Coconut Balls "Kókoskúlur". They were these chocolaty, sweet things, covered in shredded coconut that you could just pop in your mouth. MMMMM delish!! (By the way, the cola went nuts in your mouth if you had one of those balls in your mouth and took a sip!! Volcano!!!) We still make these balls every christmas and I love them. So here is the recipe, I hope you enjoy:

Icelandic Coconut Balls

1 stick Butter, softened

1/2 cup Sugar

1-1/2 cup Fine Oats

2 tbsp Cocoa (Use good cocoa)

1/2 tsp Vanilla

2 tbsp Coffee, cold OR milk if you don't want the coffee flavor.

1 cup Coconut (finely shredded)

Mix everything except the coconut, together in a bowl. Mold into bitesize balls and roll in the coconut. (You will get messy) Chill for a couple of hours.....or as long as you can possibly hold out without popping one of these in your mouth!

Remember to comment here for a chance to win the 100 block magazine and then go visit Sandy!!

Comments

[Peggy]

The new magazine sounds great. Congratulations for being asked to participate. I'd love to win a copy.

[Tricia T]

Your project is adorable! I'm enjoying reading about everyone's Christmas memories!!

[Denise]

Yummy , will be making Icelandic Coconut Balls for the holidays.
Denise

[Pat]

Yummy! Thanks for sharing.

[Mary Ellen]

Hi i made the cookies my husband just loved them Mary Ellen

[Mary Ellen]

I am making those cookies tomorrow Mary Ellen

[Anne]

Love the vibrant colors in the block. Yummy cookies!

[Susan]

Yummy! A new cookie recipe with coconut, my family will love making them

Thanks!

[K Brown]

Great recipe...they make my mouth water! I love coconut and quilting!

[Nancy Lock]

Got to make lots of them ! Some for me .. more for me .. and a little for every one else. lol

[Jenny Moore]

I love to hear about your family traditions. Can hardly wait to try your recipe for Icelandic Coconut Balls. Hope I am lucky
Jenny

[Brenda]

The block is absolutely gorgeous and you are right, the fabrics in the right position just make the whole thing pop. In my very humble opinion, this isn't a block -- it's a quilt! I look at it and try to visualise more than one and it's difficult -- so complete by itself.

B.

[maureen livingston]

can't wait to make the coconut balls!

[mary grace]

love this whole idea...
thanks sew much!

[Diane]

I'm lov'n hearing about your holiday traditions!

[Marianne]

Thanks for sharing with us. I will be sure to try your recipe for Christmas.

[Juanita]

Enjoyed your story about Christmas Eve, Spur Cola and Coconut Balls. Am going to make the Coconut Balls.

[Cindy Bassett]

#1) those cocoanut balls didnt even last a day around here, Now Ill have to do these for the Holidaze, And Im going to tuen these blocks into a holiday table topper. I just love everything

[Shelly W]

Your block turned out great. I love your choice of fabric. That always is the hardest part for me. I can't wait to check out the magazine. Thanks for all the giveaways and patterns lately!

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1042751089]

Very pretty block. and the cookies look delis.

[Avon Bingham]

I can't believe it's so close to Christmas.
I would love to have the Book! :D

[Pat Hall]

Sure looks delicious may try the cookies this year for my family
pat hall in ohio

[Ray]

I LOVE your block. My favorite blocks are always block in blocks - but sometimes they look too busy. Yours doesn't!!

[Roselie]

I'm really enjoying this Christmas Hop. Can't wait to try making both the Coconut Balls and your block. Thanks!

[Kathy (Utah)]

I really like your block and the fabric you chose! I am also a big fan of your work! Thanks!

[Kathy]

I love seeing all the family photos & reading everyone's stories. This Christmas themed blog hop was a great idea!!

[Kelly Hanson]

I so enjoyed reading about another great designer, Iceland.... must be alot like growing up in minnesota... LOL thanks for your hard work, it doesn't go unappreciated

[Kaye Bartolotti]

The thing that stands out most about my Childhood Christmas' is my parents would wake us up after "Santa" came so they could see our excitement and then they were able to sleep in the morning. I definately am going to make those yummy cookies and would Love the book. If I don't win it, I will buy it

[Sandy in Florida]

Thank you for the wonderful recipe and the chance to win the grand prize during the Quilty Pleasures blog hop!

[arlette]

Yummy cute cococonut balls :P

[carolyn]

Can't wait to try the coconut choc recipe and can't wait to try your design! Thanks so much for both!

[carol denning]

How fun and Funny about the soda..The cookies look just delightful also!

[Deb Finch]

Thanks for sharing the family tradition. Congratulations on the 1100 blocks Quilt book. I can't wait to purchase it.

[Iva]

Sounds like so much fun...big family gatherings are a blast. I love trying out new recipes and can't wait to make these coconut balls. Thank you for sharing!

[Betty]

I've not been much of a blogger, but this is such fun! Thanks for the time you've put into this and for sharing the memories, block info and recipe.

[Sandy E]

Can't wait to try the cookies!!
Love your block for the magazine especially the colors. I can picture a large quilt using this block.

[gill]

hi so good to hear about other peoples family traditions

[Piecefully, Pam]

Thanks for sharing - your block in the magazine, it's lovely! Plus, your Christmas memories and the Icelandic "cookie" recipe! : D

[Debbie in WA]

What a yummy coconut recipe.
I'm looking forward to all the blocks too.
This Blog Hop is a wonderful idea ~ Hope it will be a Christmas tradition.
Thanks for sharing.

[Judy S.]

Great block and equally great blog! I really enjoyed the pictures of you and your family and have copied the Icelandic Coconut Ball cookie recipe to make this Christmas. Thanks for sharing.

[Sue Goodin]

What an honor to be chosen to be part of a terrific magazine.

[Leslie Schmidt]

Congratulations on being asked to contribute to the block magazine. Yours is a stunner.

[Karen]

Thanks for putting together this blog hop. It's very fun and interesting to read about everyone's traditions. Thanks for the yummy sounding recipe too!

[Peggy]

I am really enjoying this blog hop. Thanks again for the story and the give away.

[Judy]

I love your block. I'm a "star" person anyway but the color combination is WOW! The recipe looks good too. We always made cookies, fudge and divinity each Christmas. Brings back good memories.

[Penny Fraley]

These coconut balls are calling to me!

[Cyndi]

Love the color combo in your block. It would be so beautiful in a whole quilt.

[Cindi]

What a great looking bnd the recipe sounds yummy.

[Jocelyn]

What a very yummy recipe. Love coconut!

[Barbara Henkle]

I have the recipe copied and am ready to get them made for the holidays!
barb