Tuesday Toppers: Tribute to Grandma Helen

My grandma Helen (also know as muggo :) was one of the sweetest, caring, and giving people I've had the pleasure of knowing. She had a long life, living until 91, but I selfishly wish I could have had a lifetime more with her. It's just not going to be the same without her. One of the things I loved most about her was that she loved us unconditionally. I've always struggled with my weight and she would always tell me how beautiful I was, even if I didn't think it was true. And she never had a lot of money, but the love she showed us was worth more than all of the money in the world.

Growing up she had a lake cottage that we spent our summers at and I will never forget the wonderful memories I have from those summers. Swimming, playing cards, going down to the little junk store that was nearby. I can still picture her, at her first cottage, sitting at the breakfast table without her false teeth in. This was a rare thing because she hated not wearing them , but I remember she would make funny faces for me right before she'd put them in. She also had this cheesy little trick she would do with her thumbs making it seem like she was pulling her thumb apart, but she did it so well it actually looked like she was :) and of course being a little kid I thought it was the coolest thing! Of course I could never forget our endless games of euchre that we would play around the table laughing and joking and having the greatest times just being together.

She was also famous for her crossword puzzles! If she was sitting it was a good bet that she had a crossword puzzle nearby. And knitting, oh she loved to knit. She would make us all knitted dolls and knitted slippers, and she loved her washcloths. She was the one that inspired me to start knitting. So in today's edition of Tuesday Toppers I'm honoring my sweet Grandma Helen and making the things that remind me of her the most. Her knitting, our euchre playing, and her crosswords. Today I'm going to show you how to make the crossword puzzle, and here's what you will need to make one:

-Rolling pin
-2" square cookie cutter
-Black fine tip food marker
-White fondant

-Roll out fondant to 1/8".

-Using a 2" cookie cutter, cut out a square.

-With cookie cutter (or back of knife) make 5 lines equally across.

-Turn and do the same so you have a guide for your marker.

-Using a black food safe marker make lines following the indents.

-Now you can fill in a few squares and add the numbers and a few letters, and it ready to go!

I'll miss you Muggo!