Pots and Pins

Chocolate Cherry Bread ...

Pots and Pins — 2010-02-09T08:03:00-08:00

Chocolate/Valentine recipe #2... Are you all familiar with Great Harvest Bread? Only during February do they produce a wonderfully dense chocolate cherry bread - just in time for Valentine's Day. Every year I have waited for that bread to be made...I bought a few loaves, one to eat and some to freeze, and tried to recreate it at home - so I could have it at other times of the year - but each attempt has failed - miserably - until now!

This bread has a soft, chewy crumb and in between that softness are chunks of bittersweet chocolate ready to melt in your mouth - with bits of cherries that add their own zing of sweet. Eat it for breakfast - start your day with a bang! I know it's hard to believe but this bread, which is so incredibly good at room temperature, can even be more seductive if toasted...the chocolate melts into submission for a bite of instant romance in your mouth. Wow, if I smoked I'd need one now!

This makes two loaves, one to keep, one to give away. Just one word of caution here...because this is so good, and so unique, make sure if you give a loaf or two away that the people you are giving it to are BREAD WORTHY. Seriously. This bread is so delicious that I didn't bother sharing it with the mister - after all, he is a not a fan of chocolate so I couldn't bring myself to waste one piece of this on him! It's dang, dang, dang, dang, dang good folks - yep, 5 dangs worth.

Here's the skinny - start this bread late in the day. After the yeast proofs for ten minutes, everything is mixed in the bowl of an electric mixer, first with the paddle and then with the bread hook. The dough is then set aside to rise for two hours. After that, you punch it down and put it in the refrigerator for overnight or up to TWO days! When you're ready to bake it, you shape it, let it rest for an hour and then pop it into the oven. It couldn't be easier! Just promise me one thing...you'll use good chocolate...no chocolate chips either, they're formulated NOT to melt and using them would be like taking a hot dog to a banquet. So promise me...here and now...only the best chocolate for this bread!

Chocolate Cherry Bread - Adapted from T. Susan Chang and a Godiva Chocolate Recipe

1 1/2 cups warm water, divided (or, if not using espresso powder, 1/2 cup warm water and 1 cup warm coffee)

2/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, divided

2 teaspoons dry yeast

4 1/2 cups bread flour

2/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

2/3 cup cocoa powder, sifted

1 teaspoon instant espresso powder, optional (see above)

2 teaspoons salt

1 large egg, at room temperature

12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

8 ounces good-quality dark chocolate, chopped into 1/2-inch chunks

1 (6 oz.) package Mariani Cherries

Egg Glaze

1 large egg

1 teaspoon water

In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup of the warm water with 1 teaspoon of the sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the water and set the mixture aside for 10 minutes, until foamy.

In the bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer, place the flour, the remaining 2/3 cup of granulated sugar, the light brown sugar, the cocoa, the espresso powder (if using) and the salt. Using the paddle attachment, mix at low speed for 1 minute, until combined. If mixing by hand, use a whisk and combine thoroughly.

Add the remaining 1 cup warm water (or warm coffee, if not using the espresso powder) and the egg to the yeast mixture. Add this to the flour mixture while continuing to mix at low speed. Increase the speed to medium and continue to beat the mixture for 2 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic. At low speed, beat in the softened butter 1 tablespoon at a time, until it is incorporated into the dough. Remove the paddle attachment and replace it with the dough hook. (Alternatively, you can knead by hand. Just make sure the butter is well softened.) Knead the dough at low speed for 2 minutes. Increase the speed to medium and knead the dough for 2 minutes longer.

Add the chocolate chunks and cherries and knead just until incorporated. Transfer the dough to a buttered bowl (the dough will be quite moist). Cover the dough closely with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel and allow to rise in a warm, draft-free place for 2 hours (or until almost doubled in bulk).

After the chocolate dough has risen, punch the dough down and cover again with plastic wrap. Place the dough in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or up to 2 days.

Butter two 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by-2 1/2-inch loaf pans. On a lightly floured work surface, divide the chocolate dough in half. Divide each dough half into 6 equal pieces so that you have 12 equal pieces in all. With lightly floured hands, shape each piece into a smooth, round ball. Place 6 dough balls — two by two, at a diagonal (see above photo) in each prepared pan, pressing them lightly together if necessary. Cover the pans with a tea towel and allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 1 hour.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees.

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water until blended. Using a pastry brush, brush the egg glaze over the tops of the loaves.

Bake the loaves for 10 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 375 degrees and bake the bread for an additional 30 minutes. Cool the bread in the pans set on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Unmold the bread and cool the loaves on the rack completely. (If you can wait until the bread is completely cooled it will slice much better - the aroma will play tricks on your mind and you'll want to tear into it immediately but be strong!)

" Oh, if it be to choose and call thee mine, love, thou art every day my Valentine!" ~Thomas Hood

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One year ago: Tourist Day In Seattle

Two years ago: Fascinating (!) Pictures From My Trip

Chocolate Ganache Pie...

Pots and Pins — 2010-02-07T08:25:54-08:00

This is the first of 5 fabulous desserts for you and your Valentine...all this week I'm going to give you the best of the best...so make sure your Glucose Meters have new batteries - it's going to need 'em!

Before I get to the first recipe, take a gander at the Land O'Lakes picture...when the mister saw this sitting on the counter, it triggered something in the deep recesses of his mind...so off he traipsed down memory lane - all the way back to 7th grade - where he and his buddies would take the Land O'Lakes cardboard butter package and make what they thought was a high-larious toy - for lack of a better word! When folded just the right way, the knees of Pocahontas or whoever she is, become her breasts...and with a twist of the wrist her breasts move up and down...got to love 7th grade mentality! Too bad the mister never out-grew it!

The boy is a chocolate-cream-pie-guy...he can eat an entire pie in one sitting if no one stops him - this is the pie I usually make for the boy - it's easy and contains his three favorite foods, Hershey's Chocolate, Jello Pudding and Oreos. Actually, he'll eat ANY chocolate cream pie without stopping to inhale so I would normally not waste a piece of THIS pie on him...except that he got wind of it - so I tried to impress upon him how different this pie was...it's a sophisticated pie...a pie worthy of savoring each bite...a pie that requires a sigh after each forkful...he said he got it...and after one bite, he gave me an obligatory sigh, and then he scarfed the rest up so fast I'm sure his tongue had whiplash!

The pie crust is tender, flaky chocolate, almost like a chocolate wafer/cookie - it will melt in your mouth...the filling is a thick, chocolate-laden ganache...so rich, so smooth, so decadent...and so incredibly "French" that you'll be tempted to offer up every French word you know...delicieux, amour, fabuleux, je taime, tres magnifique...as a way of thanking the French Pastry Gods who dreamed this one up!

I don't usually make (let alone post) Martha Stewart recipes because I find them to be overly complicated and the results are usually less than desirable...this recipe, however, is an exception...it's a keeper. Make sure to cut small slivers of this pie - it's extremely rich - so little slices go a long way.

Chocolate Ganache Pie - Adapted from Martha Stewart

For the pastry:

cooking spray for pan

1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for surface

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

For the Ganache filling:

10 oz. bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup whole milk

1 large egg, lightly beaten

Whipped topping:

2 cups heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup powdered sugar

chocolate shavings for topping, optional

Make the crust: Coat 9-inch deep dish pie pan with cooking spray. In medium bowl whisk together flour, cocoa and salt. In the bowl of an electric mixer beat butter on medium until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add sugar and beat until pale and fluffy, about 2 more minutes. Reduce speed to low and add vanilla and flour mixture and mix until dough just begins to hold together, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn out dough onto plastic wrap, form a ball without kneading, then wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Press dough into bottom of pie pan and up the sides. Trim excess dough. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 325 debrees. Bake on a rimmed baking sheet until firm, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely on wire rack before filling.

Make the ganache filling: Place chocolate in a bowl. Heat cream and milk in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until almost boiling; pour over chocolate. Let stand for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk until smooth. Let stand 10 minutes more. Stir in egg. Return cooled crust to baking sheet and pour in filling. Bake until just set, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely. Make whipped topping by beating heavy cream with beaters on high until soft peaks form. On low speed add in vanilla and powdered sugar, continue beating on high speed until cream is whipped and holds stiff peaks. Top cooled pie with whipped cream. Top whipped cream with chocolate shavings. Serves 8.

"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." ~ Beverly Sills

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One year ago: Chicken Pot Pie With Biscuits

Two years ago: Valentine's Party

Blessing Quilt for Baby Max's Fiance...

Pots and Pins — 2010-02-06T07:46:26-08:00

Max is not yet two but it's never too early to arrange his marriage, is it? I have found the perfect wife for my Max...Sweet Goldie. She's only a month old, but I feel quite certain she will be totally smitten with Max - and he with her.

Just look at him - he has such style - such panache! How could Sweet Goldie resist? So, with that in mind, I decided it was time to start my campaign to help Baby Max win over Sweet Goldie...and she is sweet - just look at her precious little face and all that hair!!

Bribery is such a good place to start - so I made Sweet Goldie a Blessing Quilt - much like the Blessing Quilt I made Baby Max.

Goldie's is made with dupioni silk and satin - it's very soft, thanks to the Warm and Natural batting and just a bit of quilting.

Embroidered in white cotton around the outer border of the quilt is Goldie's first, middle and last name and her date of birth.

Goldie's Blessing Quilt measures 40-inches square and even though it's made with silk and satin it is completely machine wash and dryable!! No shrinking at all - washing/drying just made it more soft!

So Goldie, I'm thinking sometime in June of 2032...can't push it back farther than that 'cause I actually want to be ALIVE for the nupitals! No need to answer right away...think it over and get back to me, we've got time!

Quilt Group Friday...

Pots and Pins — 2010-02-04T11:16:18-08:00

Wow. It was a banner day - quilts galore - and nary a stinker! One of our former members, Jan, returned for the day and brought some of her fabulous quilts for us to see:

Jan made the red and cream quilt above for American Hero Quilts - it's beautifully quilted, too! I think you can see why we missed Jan and her quilts - she is VERY prolific - she probably made all these quilts last year - along with many others! It's enough to make your bobbin bounce! The quilt pictured at the very top left is an antique - it's just beautiful!

This quilt was really something - beautifully pieced and quilted!

Claudia brought in one of her w.i.p's....her circle tree quilt - loved it! And can you see her machine-quilted circles?!
Claudia's half-square triangles is wonderful - from a distance you can see a different pattern - this one plays tricks on the eye.

Claudia's blue and white Jacob's Ladder is so, so pretty - her final quilt was her sock quilt, which she made after we had all made ours and exchanged fabrics - so her quilt is very different from the rest of them, but not!

Barbara brought in the red, white and blue 9-patch she made for American Hero Quilts - this is like the 10th quilt she's made for them - she is just good to the bone! She also brought in her sweet Valentine quilt - which is in need of some borders so we all voiced our opinions on what she should do...

Ardith brought in the quilt pictured on the left - it's another whole cloth quilt that really shows off the fabric. Above is a little trick Marsha shared with us for making circle quilts. She marked a CD, her template, into quarters. She then folds her square of fabric in half and then half again and places the center fold point in the center of the CD and then, using the quarter lines as guides, cuts the fabric, forming a perfect circle when unfolded. I hope that made sense...the only disadvantage to using the template this way is you can only cut one piece of fabric at a time...as opposed to stacking up 12 pieces of fabric and using your small rotary cutter around the CD - which is what I do...it works great, although it may not be AS precise...but I think I've already explained to you how being precise is over-rated...

Denise brought in an entire BOX of felted flowers! I was so happy to see I was not the ONLY addict in the group! She's not sure what she's going to do with them yet - but they sure are cute! She also brought in her 9-patch quilt all pieced together - another yummy quilt!

Janet brought in her finished Christmas circle quilt and her red and black quilt - and she said she "really wasn't a quilter" when she joined our group...HA!

Stephanie brought in a pieced cloth that her friend gave her - it's from India and it's just incredible - she doesn't know what she's going to do with it yet....and then she showed us this sweet felted picture she made for her giveaway on her blog, Make It A Wonderful Life - her big give has ended now but someone is going to be very happy when they receive this very wonderful picture!

Just take a moment to feast your eyes on this...Stephanie is a frequent shopper at Value Village - so she is ALWAYS the one to find the best things!!! And she found this quilt top there...it was marked $54 dollars and she got it for HALF PRICE!!! She paid $27 for this!!! It's hand pieced - and it's happy and fun and wonderful...WAY TO GO STEPHANIE!!! We were all SO jealous! But Stephanie will give it a good home and she'll love it to pieces!

So that's it - another great meeting followed with great food...we couldn't have asked for anything more!

Red Wool Pomander...

Pots and Pins — 2010-02-02T07:39:38-08:00

First...Happy Groundhog's Day! Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this morning in Pennsylvannia...nor did Sasquatch see his shadow here in the Northwest...which means we've got six more weeks of winter...big sigh. But that's okay by me...I'll just continue to hunker down and play with my wool...I imagine one day I might run out of red wool...perhaps on the 12th of NEVER! I love working with wool...especially love the smell of wool when it's ironed...rarely do I do that as you know but occasionally a wool project needs a little heat. This, however, is not one of those...it's super easy, super fast and super caaa-ute...oh gosh, that sounded like a 20-something who has a kid with a weird name! What is it with that generation and baby names?!? I heard that someone named their kid Hover the other day...Hover! And I know of another baby who was named Tielyer...a girl...pronounced TAYLOR! Reminds me of a kid my brother knew named Shithead...pronounced SHIH-THEED...but, far be it for me to say a thing! Except that these really are exceedingly CAAA-UTE!!

This is from my new best friend, who has turned me into her blog-stalker...Betz White...I seriously need to get over her and get a life! Or not.

Betz recommended using a styrofoam ball as the center/base, but I was fresh out of styrofoam so I wadded up some fabric - an alternative Betz suggested, except that I stuffed mine with lavender...then secured it with yarn to form my base... ...I'm sure you'll want to make them for all your Valentines!

Muesli...

Pots and Pins — 2010-02-01T08:36:48-08:00

Dang Good. 5 Dangs worth. Definitely Coma worthy. It's what for breakfast - alone or with the fam or with company or on a girl's trip...print this one, laminate it and tape it to the inside of your kitchen cabinet (right next to the piece of paper with the mortuary's number on it, like my grandma used to do, you never know when you're going to have to call them!) 'cause you're going to want to make this - and often. That's all I can say.

My friend made this for breakfast - and she started it the night before. She poured oatmeal and golden raisins into a large bowl, then covered them with orange juice, stirred it up and put it in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning she added cream, Greek yogurt, honey, slivered almonds, blueberries and grated apples...she didn't measure anything, just tossed stuff in until it looked "right." I've done my best to get the measurements for you...but basically, you can't mess this up - so if you want more cream, put it in...if you want more honey, help yourself..if you don't like raisins, don't put them in...if you want more apple, by all means go for it - you got it?!

Muesli is an old Swiss recipe...dating back to the early 1900's. It was originally made with just oats, a bit of lemon juice, cream and grated apples...now you can buy packaged muesli and it's considered a "health food." It's meant to be eaten cold and it will fill you up with stick-to-the-ribs goodness! I was instructed to put fresh fruit in the bottom of my bowl and muesli on top...I did what I was told and I suggest you do the same.

Muesli - Adapted from Debra Huish Cabinsky

4 cups oatmeal, not instant

Orange juice to cover oatmeal, about 1 1/2 cups

1/2 cup golden raisins

3 tablespoons honey, or more to taste

1/2 cup cream

1/4 cup Greek yogurt, or more if you like

1/4 cup slivered almonds

1 cup blueberries (fresh is best but you could use frozen)

1/2 large apple, peeled and grated

Fresh fruit for topping, cut into bite-size pieces, optional, but excellent!

In large bowl combine oatmeal, raisins and orange juice. Mix well; cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, stir in honey, cream, yogurt and almonds. Gently fold in blueberries and apple. Place fresh fruit in bottom of bowl, top with muesli. Serves 4 to 6.

"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says,'I'm possible!'" ~ Audrey Hepburn

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One year ago: Buttermilk-Oatmeal Scones

Two years ago: Tea and Toast

Hot Almond Chocolate...

Pots and Pins — 2010-01-31T09:11:00-08:00

The mister came home last night in rare form...happy. He fixed his plate (dinner had been over for an HOUR) and proceeded to the TV...when he turned it on a commercial for Disneyland was showing and the mister turned to me and said, "We should go...what do you think?" I resisted the urge to jump up and down and lick his face like a lap dog, even though Disney, in any form, Land or World, is my favorite place on the planet...instead, I nodded my head slowly, trying to figure out what he was up to. You see, the Mister HATES small children, medium size children and large children...and hates the parents of those children...basically he hates people, crowds of people, crowds of happy people eating ice cream and candy, humming It's a Small, Small World while standing in line waiting for Mr. Toad and his Wild Ride. He's not a fan of Disney, in any form, and never has been. While my heart skips a beat just thinking about the happiest place on Earth, the mister's heart (which is shiny and new since it's never been used) would rather stop mid beat than endure one minute on Space Mountain. I eventually lost my composure and squealed over and over about going to Disneyland but really, I don't know how I'll fit ANOTHER IMAGINARY TRIP into my calendar! This morning, it's much like the Australian Open around here...He served, I vollied, the ball is in his court...M-I-C...K-E-Y...M-O-U-S-E.

My very favorite Hot Chocolate is a weekly treat around here this time of year...it's thick, almost thick enough to hold a spoon! And so rich and chocolaty...it's absolutely perfect and I'd never even thought of tampering with it or sipping any other kind of hot chocolate...until I discovered Coconut Tres Leches Hot Chocolate...which, was worth the coma. And now folks, I've got a new one for you to try...it's quite possibly better than my old stand-by...it's creamy, thick, and with just a hint of almond flavoring, it'll rock your taste buds...like a liquid candy bar...and, as much as it pains me to say it, it too was worth the coma.

Hot Almond Chocolate - Me

1/4 cup sugar

2 1/2 Tablespoons cocoa

pinch of salt

3 1/2 tablespoons hot water

2 cups cold milk

1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

mini-marshmallows for serving, optional

In a small saucepan combine sugar, cocoa, and salt with a whisk. Stir in water. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils. Boil for two minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in cold milk and cornstarch. Continue stirring until milk is combined and mixture has thickened a bit and is heated thoroughly, but do not allow to boil. Remove from heat and stir in almond extract. Makes 2 servings. Top with mini-marshmallows if desired.

"The secret to saying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age." ~ Lucille Ball

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One year ago: Tea and Toast

Two years ago: Fon-Tuna Melts

Crazy Quilt...

Pots and Pins — 2010-01-29T06:58:05-08:00

January has brought a new way of doing things around the manse...as in, I've actually BEEN doing things - getting things done, taking care of loose ends, cleaning out the debris...yep, once a year, whether it needs it or not, the manse gets a once over - from top to bottom, including the cave and the garage. Now most men take umbrage when their wives enter their domain - the garage - but not the mister...he LOVES for me to head out there and organize his mess...unless I move something important, like the power cord to his precious blower...then he goes all caveman on me, thumping his chest and jumping about hysterically until I locate it...kind of funny to watch. After I reclaimed the garage, the linen closet and the cupboards under the sink I made my way to my workroom...fortified with my Morning Mocktail, I was prepared to do a clean sweep...but as usual, I got sidetracked with the first basket I found! Inside the basket were my crazy quilt blocks...In 2004 I belonged to two quilt groups...which was one too many as I had a heck of a time trying to keep up! For two years, one group made crazy quilt blocks. At the end of 2006 I had 12 blocks, each one a work of art by itself, and then I quit that group...I needed to lighten the load on my calendar! These blocks sat for 4 years...last week, after finding them, I decided they had aged quite nicely and it was time to make them into a quilt!

The block on the left above was made by Deborah Jaffe - don't you just love the colors? The "N" in her block is made entirely of teesy-little beads...all done by hand and those little circles are all beaded, too! The women in that group were incredible at hand-work - especially ribbon embroidery. Each block is unique and I love all the different stitches they used!

Each corner of the block is secured to the back of the quilt with a vintage gold button. And bucking tradition, I put batting inside the layers - warm and natural - so this quilt is very heavy! It's warm and soft and I've already given it a test drive - I covered myself up in it while reading the other night...perfect!

Black velvet is on the front and the back with a satin cording edge. The quilt blocks are 12-inch squares. This quilt measure 72x56-inches.

The resin grapes are my latest thrifting find...perfect for Valentine's day! Many of you know about resin grapes and I might have even talked about them before, but, as you know, I have no memory...in the 60's and 70's resin grapes were all the rage - in Utah - in the Mormon community. Mormon women would meet monthly at their homemaking meeting where they would learn about everything from being good mothers, to cooking, family history, and crafts, just to name a few. Someone introduced her homemaking night friends to resin grapes and they spread like wildfire throughout Utah...everyone made themselves grapes using a mold, some wire and a piece of wood. My mom made a green set - or was it purple? In every home I went into, resin grapes were on the coffee table - for years and years. Now they're highly collectible! I paid $20 for this beauty - and happily, too! If you ever come across resin grapes in your travels be sure to snatch them up...if you're not a fan you can always resell them on E-bay!

Felted Red Wool...

Pots and Pins — 2010-01-28T08:18:50-08:00

I'll spare you any more wonder...the thrifted red wool blazers I purchased a few weeks ago have been put to good use - they hang in tatters, but I still have a lot more wool left!! I have loved cutting into them, not being worried about making mistakes because I had so much to use - it was very freeing! And this is what I've made so far:

If you've been paying attention then you know I have a thing (okay, fetish) for needle cases...so I made myself a new one...and then...I made a few more...just need to sew on the charms...you can never have too many needle cases...can you?

Remember the felted wool flowers from Betz White? Well, I got carried away and made several wool flower pins for Valentine gifts...and then, because I couldn't resist, I started making zipper roses...there are a zillion sites with instructions for these EASY roses...but basically you cut the zipper in two, roll it up, stitch in place and call it good! One rose was lucky and got the zipper pull...the other looks kind of naked without one! Now...here's what I really wanted the wool for...

The felted wool rose pillow!! I made it for my mom for Valentine's Day. She has a new red bedroom and I thought it would look great on her bed. I made 33 felted wool flowers and glued them onto a stuffed, wool, heart-shaped pillow with silk cording for trim.

I'm seriously in love with this pillow! I wish my photo's could do it justice...what is it about photographing RED that is so dang hard!?!

It's so soft - I think she'll like it. And there's enough wool left for me to make a few more...some days it's good to be me!

2010 Valentine Quilt...

Pots and Pins — 2010-01-27T08:47:18-08:00

After a year of "aging" it's done...remember Ernest and Julio Gallo's slogan? "We will sell no wine before it's time." Well, for me, quilting is a little like that...unless a quilt top has sat around for AT LEAST a year, it's just not ready to be quilted...it needs to age, ripen, and mature a bit...then when it's finally ready, it's can be quilted!

Last January, 2009, I made the crazy-hearts and appliqued them onto squares of red and white ticking. I had every intention of getting it done by last Valentine's Day...but something was wrong - it was just too white...so I dyed it with coffee...I liked it much better. But, it still needed to age!

Machine quilted into the red polka-dot border it says, Happy Valentine's Day...I tried to get a picture where it could be seen but it's hidden really well...only someone snuggling up in the quilt will be able to find and read it...I love to hide messages in quilts!

It's not a very big quilt, it measures 55x55-inches...just big enough for me and Baby Max to wrap up in! And speaking of Baby Max...could he be any cuter? Seriously!