~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a single photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Ginny at small things

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… are all on my mind right now. We’re winding down the formal schooling and in the midst of rehearsals for LoW Player’s summer production of Oklahoma, so our reading is shifting to a lighter more earthy tone: Virginia’s Blue Ridge, The Best in Tent Camping: Southern Appalachian and Smoky Mountains, and Moon’s Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains … since gas prices are so darn high (and everything else of course is going up, wreaking havoc on my budget!), we’re staying close to home this summer and camping … LOTS! We’re half-way through our re-read of The Penderwicks while we await the third in the series to come in the mail: The Penderwicks at Point Mouette. Just so you don’t think I’m going too earthy, I’ve also started reading Pope Benedict’s book, The Great Teachers (which is a VERY good read for us academic types).

On the knitting needles: I’m just finishing up the Cabled Jacket and I need some help: what should I name this thing … it’s a deep green with navy, will be zipped to the start of the v-neck shawl collar, and is filled with cables and coziness. I’ve got about half a sleeve left and then hand-sewing in the zipper and it’s done (I’ve even already tucked in most of the ends so that when I’m done … I’m done!). So what would you name it?

Yesterday, I made some amazing cookies that I don’t want to forget: Fudge-filled Bars from Plain Wisdom. This is an Amish cookie recipe and if you do a google search, you’ll find other slightly different variations, but basically, here’s the recipe I made:

Fudge-Filled Bars
Base ingredients:
3 cups oats
1-1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup pecans, chopped a bit
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup butter, melted

Filling:
2 tbls butter
1-1/2 cups M&Ms, divided
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
Mix together the oats, flour, nuts, brown sugar, baking soda, and melted butter. Reserve 1-1/2 cups of crumbs and press the remaining in a 13×9 greased pan. Bake 10 minutes in the preheated oven. While baking, make the filling.

For the filling: using a large (4 cup) Pyrex bowl (or other microwavable container), melt the butter and ONE cup of the M&Ms in the microwave for about one minute. Stir and return to microwave for another 30sec-1 minute. Stir until the M&Ms are almost all melted … some coating will remain. Add the sweetened condensed milk and stir until completely blended. Pour over the baked layer — leaving about a half-inch all round the edges.

Combine the remaining crumbs and half-cup of M&Ms in a bowl and then sprinkle on top of the filling, covering completely. Press the topping lightly into the filling.

Bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown (be careful not to overcook!).

Cool 30 minutes in the pan and then cut into bars and serve. WOW!