Miss Potter

"There's something delicious about writing those first words of a story.  You can never quite tell where they'll take you.  Mine took me here, where I belong."

- the character Beatrix Potter, in the wonderful movie Miss Potter

Simple Pleasures

I popped in at a food outlet yesterday on the way home from installing curtains for a customer - you can't beat a box of beautiful Clementines from Spain for only $2.29!

Clementines always remind me of a wonderful trip to Spain in December '91/January '92 to visit a college friend....

Broccoli Sprouts

Broccoli sprouts are a nice way to get some fresh greens into your diet without compromising a commitment to local, in-season eating.  It's so easy, and economical, not to mention healthful!

Simply soak 3 T. of broccoli seeds overnight in cool water.  I use a wide-mouth mason jar, fitted with a sprouting lid.  You can also improvise with a piece of cheesecloth and a jar ring.

 Day One:  In the morning, drain and invert jar.  Rinse and drain the seeds/sprouts two times per day until fully developed.



 Day Two



Day Three 

 Day Four
(Switch to a larger screen lid so you can rinse the hulls away.)



Day Five
Store in refrigerator right in the jar.

How cool is that??!! 

I love them on baked potatoes, but often eat a handful of them for breakfast - just because I think it's such a cool thing to be able to participate in growing my own nutritious food in the middle of the winter!

Knitted Dishcloths

I love knitted dishcloths made out of 100% cotton yarn!  In fact, I love knitting them, love looking at them, love using them, and love giving them to kindred spirits who are as in love with them as I am.   

They make wonderful little gifts. 

There's just something soothing about the process of knitting them - the cushy yarn is so comforting.  Maybe because my mom knitted them and gave me the directions??

I often tuck my knitting in my airport carry-on or take it along when riding in the passenger seat of a car.  I have to admit that it is embarrassing when someone asks, "What are you knitting?"  Somehow, the answer "dishcloth" isn't very glamorous or creative, and certainly doesn't dispel the old maid image.  But, I still love knitting them, love looking at them, love using them, and love giving them away.

I just bought a new shade of yarn yesterday.  :)

Here are the instructions:

1 ball Lily Sugar'n Cream yarn (important - must be 100% cotton!)

#8 knitting needles

Cast on 4 stitches.

Knit first row

To begin increasing:

Knit 2 stitches, yarn over, knit rest of row.

Repeat last row to 45-50 stitches.

To begin decreasing:

Knit 1, knit 2 stitches together, yarn over, knit 2 together, knit rest of row.

Repeat until 4 stitches left.

Cast off.

Job Completed!

I just installed these curtains today; it feels good to finish up such a big project!  Actually, the sewing wasn't difficult, but since the window was so big, the cornice board was 96 1/2" long - practically the full length of my living room; it barely fits in a vehicle!  I was eager to get it out of my house so I could have my living room back.  The customer asked me to simply duplicate her existing window treatment in coordinating fabrics to match her new sofa and pillows since she was so happy with the design of the original cornice, swags and jabots.  The burgundy fabric is 100% silk, so I lined it with cotton interlining to give it a bit of body and a soft drape.

Here's the before picture:

It's tricky taking pictures of window treatments, especially in the winter; the sun reflects on the snow and makes it that much more difficult to get enough light inside without the flash washing out the color.  I always try to get a picture so I can refer back to it if necessary.

Vintage Tag

This vintage piece of Tupperware belonged to my Great Aunt Mary Kinsey, thus the initial "K" on the adhesive tape tag.  I'm so glad the tag is still intact; every time I use this it reminds me of her, her legendary cooking, and lovely memories of our family visiting her many times during my childhood.  It also reminds me of my mom (who labeled her dishes that way also!) and the various potlucks and covered dishes that we attended over the years.

I miss those simpler days!

Seeded Flatbread

What a fun bread to bake!  One of my goals for this year is to bake all my breads from scratch.  That way I can eat 100% whole grains and save money at the same time.  I have so much to learn, but I think it's doable.  I was able to conquer Italian bread last summer.  Now, I want to move on to whole grains with the help of Peter Reinhart and some other cooking blogs.  Today I finally got around to baking this flatbread that I had mixed up earlier in the week.  It was such a cool experience!  The dough stretched into place so easily, it was almost as if it knew what it was supposed to do!

I stretched it out on a pizza peel (purchased in November in preparation for this year of bread baking!),

then slid it onto a preheated baking stone in the oven for 7 minutes.

Fun, fun, fun!

(My nephew recently asked me why I use the word fun so much!)

It was yummy on its own as well as with some hummus or dipping oil.

Next time I want to try making it a bit thicker, so I won't stretch it out as far.

Here's the link to the recipe:

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/seeded-flatbread-recipe.html

Rasp Plate

A friend gave me this unique little plate for Christmas.  Made in Spain, it is actually a grater that can also be used as a serving plate  It's ideal for grating a garlic clove, then adding spices and olive oil for dipping oil to use with bread.  I haven't tried using it yet, but am eager to do so!

Great Grains for Breakfast

OK, after eating CRAPP (spelled with 2 P's for emphasis!) for the entire month of December and into January, it is time to get back on track!  It was fun to eat chocolates and cookies and enjoy all the holiday food, but I do believe in and enjoy eating whole foods.  So, I'm ready to eat real food again.  No more white flour and refined sugar every day! 

The January issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine featured an article on whole-grains for breakfast - perfect timing!  I tried the steel-cut oats with pomegranates and pumpkins seeds - wonderful!  I didn't even need to add sugar.  It's beautiful and flavorful, and oh so simple, not to mention inexpensive.  I want to try the quinoa, millet, barley and wheat berries as well.  I had been eating my granola with homemade raw milk yogurt for breakfast, but was ready to try something different.  And, warm oatmeal is comforting on these cold winter mornings.

Give it a try!

Excerpts from The Shack

"The soul is healed by being with children."
- Fyodor Dostoevsky

"Life takes a bit of time and a lot of relationship."

"Do you realize that your imagination of the future, which is almost always dictated by fear of some kind, rarely, if ever, pictures Me there with you?"

"An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children.  He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others."
- A. W. Tozer

Selvage Pincushion

Isn't this a fun pincushion?!  I saw the idea on a quilting blog and was so excited - I had been saving the selvages from my 1930's reproduction fabric collection for years for the simple reason that I hated to throw them away since they contained the name of the various fabric lines; seeing them always brought back pleasant memories of fabric hunting with my friend Denise.

The selvage strips had been sitting in a bowl in my quilting room because I didn't know what to do with them and wasn't ready to part with them.  Apparently they knew they were destined to be made into a pincushion!  :)

This is a view of the back of the pincushion.  I love the Aunt Grace fabric (Aunt Grace is a line of 1930's fabrics) - I had picked up a few yards of it a while ago, thinking it would be perfect for something, but just didn't know what.  It too was waiting to be used!

The buttons are vintage buttons from the local thrift shop.

:)

Snowmen Family

My dear friend Glo made these adorable snowmen candles for me a number of years ago.  Aren't they fun!  They're made out of mason jars (one of my all-time favorite things!), so that makes them even more special.  I always look forward to pulling them out each January to provide some cheer after the Christmas decorations are packed away.  I marvel at Glo's creativity and the details - the little carrot noses, the blush and eyelashes on Mrs. Snowman, their dear hats.  What a wonderful way to celebrate winter!

Welcome January!

"January, the month of new beginnings and cherished memories, beckons.  Come, let winter weave her wondrous spell:  cold, crisp woolen-muffler days, long dark evenings of savory suppers, lively conversations, or solitary joys.  Outside the temperature drops as the snow falls softly.  All of nature is at peace.  We should be, too.  Draw hearthside.  This is the month to dream, to look forward to the year ahead and the journey within."

- Sarah Ban Breathnach, in Simple Abundance, a Daybook of Comfort and Joy

P.S. - I just purchased this dear little girl's mitten and headband set at the gift shop where I work; they were knitted by one of the residents.  I was so drawn to them!!   I thought maybe I could squeeze into them, but no such luck.  They evoke memories of the carefree snowy days of childhood....  :)

Blessings on your January!!

Welcome 2011!

"And now let us welcome the New Year
Full of things that have never been."

- Rainer Maria Rilke, as quoted in Simple Abundance, a Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach

Disturb Us, Lord

I came across this last year; it seems like the perfect New Year's meditation.

"Disturb us, Lord, when

we are too well pleased with ourselves,

when our dreams have come true

because we have dreamed too little,

when we arrived safely

because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when

with the abundance of things we possess

we have lost our thirst

for the waters of life;

having fallen in love with life,

we have ceased to dream of eternity.

And in our efforts to build a new earth,

we have allowed our vision

of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,

to venture on wider seas

where storms will show your mastery;

where losing sight of land,

we shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back

the horizons of our hopes;

and to push into the future

in strength, courage, hope, and love."

attributed - Sir Francis Drake -1577



Book Excerpt

"Just try to remember you're in the middle of a story, not at the end of it."
- So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore

Bread Baking

I'm so excited about these two cookbooks that I got for Christmas!  Peter Reinhart is the expert on bread baking, and the recipes look fabulous.  I'm especially eager to try the 100% whole wheat recipes - breads, pitas, pizza dough, focaccia, even crackers.  He introduces a totally new process that allows you to use 100% whole grains without needing to use white flour.  I had already tried the cracker recipes from the copy I had borrowed from the library, and served them for Christmas dinner.  I want to experiment a bit more, then I'll post it my results!

Christmas Dinner Menu 2010

Appetizers:

Mother's Cheese Ball and Peter Reinhart's Homemade Crackers

Stuffed Mushrooms

Hot Spiced Grape Juice (Delicious, except that I forgot to serve it!!)

Starter:

Chocolate Covered Pomegranates on a bed of pomegranates

Salad Course:

Spring Greens with Roasted Beets and Goat Cheese

Soup Course:

Rosemary White Bean Soup

Main Course:

Roasted Rosemary Chicken

Brown and Wild Rice Pilaf

Apple-Pecan-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Green Beans with Cashews

Dessert:

Sand Tarts and Christmas Cookies

Egg Nog

Tea from Teavana: White Avurvedic Chai & Matevana blend

Pomegranates Galore!

I LOVE pomegranates, so imagine my delight today when a vendor at Root's offered to sell the rest of his case of pomegranates to me for $5.00 (it was cold and windy, and he was eager to close up and go home)!  I couldn't believe my good fortune, especially since I had just paid $2.00 a piece at Giant (on special!) last week!

I never even knew what a pomegranate was before my friend Julia introduced me to them a few years ago, and I've been hooked ever since.  They're wonderful at Christmas - they're so festive and remind me of expensive jewels.  They're great alone, in salads, or even chocolate covered, as my nephew and I discovered this year.  He loves them even more than I do - it's fun sharing a love of them with him!

Pomegranates are in season October through January.  Select them by weight - the heavier the better.

If you're new to pomegranates, you'll need some instruction on how to peel them.  Watch a YouTube video, or follow my directions below:

First, slice off the crown.

Then, cut out the center core just at the top and score the sides, taking care to cut only through the rind and not into the seeds; otherwise, you'll have juice dripping out.

Immerse the pomegranate in a bowl of water, break it into sections and remove the seeds from the white pith.  Be sure to stay under the water; if not you'll end up with:

No matter how careful I am, I always end up with a few splatters!

Simply skim the white pith off the top of the water, then drain the seeds in a colander.
Enjoy!

Golden Gourds

I always hate pitching the fall gourds and pumpkins once December rolls around.  I've even rescued them from ending up in other people's trash cans (thanks, Glo!).  It seems a shame to end their contribution to seasonal decor just because we switch color schemes and holidays, especially if they are still in good shape.  I was happy to discover that a quick spritz with gold paint transforms a fall or Thanksgiving pumpkin into a Christmas decoration.  My nephew did the spray painting for me this year.  He ended up with as much paint on his fingers as on the gourds, but we both were happy with the effect.

Notice the gourd that is transformed into a golden pear!

And, they even perk up a Christmas package!

The only downside - my pumpkins and gourds normally end up on the compost pile, but I don't like to include them once they've been painted.  So, it may not be the best use for them in the long run, but it still feels good to give them a second life!

Chocolate-Covered Pomegranate Seeds

This was my nephew's inspiration!  I thought he'd be thrilled to help me make chocolate candies this year - chocolate-covered pretzels, animal crackers, mini PB Ritz cracker sandwiches - you name it.  Nope - he wanted to do fruit instead!  We tried apples and oranges, then he suggested pomegranates.  I didn't have any on hand, but did give it a try a few days later.  Not bad!  Here's the recipe:

adapted from food.com

2 large pomegranates

1-12 oz. bag semi-sweet chocolate chips or coating chocolate

Peel pomegranates.

Drain seeds in colander and lay them out on paper towel-lined cookie sheets; place in refrigerator overnight to dry completely.  (Important!  Otherwise, the moisture may cause the chocolate to seize.)

Melt chocolate in double boiler or in microwave.  Gently fold in pomegranates seeds.  Spoon small clumps onto wax paper or into paper candy cups.

Store in refrigerator no longer than a few days.

Button Christmas Ornaments

I had so much fun making these button ornaments!

Almost everyone I know has fond memories of their mother's button box, tin or jar. I do too, and have been accumulating quite a collection of buttons and vintage sewing trims over the years: some from my mother, some leftover from my days of sewing clothing for myself, some from friends as they clean out their mother and grandmother's sewing supplies, and others from the thrift shop.



I love buttons!

I first got the inspiration for button ornaments from my sister. She showed me a book on all kinds of button crafts when she was here over Thanksgiving. Then, we saw the cutest button ornaments displayed on a tree at Longwood Gardens last month; they were made by elementary students and were simply adorable. I also looked online for some more ideas. These are my creations:

The gold buttons are left over from my days of clothing sewing in the 90's - gold and pearl buttons were all the rage!  These buttons remind me of blouses, dresses and vests I made for myself and others.  :)  I simply spray painted  2" Styrofoam balls with gold paint, then hot glued the buttons.

This one was made with white buttons from my mother's sewing jar; I used pearlized pins to hold the buttons in place; a corsage pin holds a layer of four buttons on the bottom.

This reminds me of a 1950's boudoir!  I can envision these buttons on a salmon-pink quilted housecoat!  :)  These buttons came from a neighbor who was cleaning out her house before moving.  Even the rick rack is the same salmon-pink!

I scoured the thrift shop button box for these green buttons, and took every last one!  I simply strung the buttons on a green pipe cleaner, then tied on a bow. 

As much as I love these ornaments, our family buttons are too special to be hot glued on an ornament.  I want to preserve them in their special jars so we can enjoy rooting through them from time to time.  :)

Holiday Sewing