We got back not long ago from an afternoon with Scot and Erin at their place in NoVA. I’d say it was worth the trip but as it turned out it only took us just over an hour to get there which is curiously about the same amount of time it takes to drive into DC. I can’t understand how that makes sense but don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, right? My point is that it was hardly a ‘trip’ at all but totally worth it all the same. Erin corned her own beef from this month’s issue of Bon Apetit! It was delicious and tasted just like corned beef but without all the weird red dye and additives that store bought ones have. Plus she served it with all the fixins, cabbage, carrots, parsnips and potatoes. Rye bread, spicy mustard, I should have talked them into sending me home with a sandwich. I’m going to end my description here because I’m kind of getting hungry again just thinking about it. So, what I want to know Erin, is, will you be corning your own beef from here on out? Read the rest of this entry »
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Archive for March, 2008
Food Friends Fun
And Now For an Actual Post
I finished up the project I was working on and shipped it out. I really had a good time working on it and had no idea how enjoyable I would find hand sewing. Now, I feel like poking around my books for more hand sewing projects. It was particularly nice to work in fleece and felt neither of which fray. I took the idea from a book I picked up somewhere along the way called Scrap Crafts from the McCall’s Needlework and Crafts collection. The books provides all of the patterns for the animals which just need to be enlarged to use as well as a pattern for a doll and a tote bag with an applique barn. I opted not to make the doll because it’s a gift for a little boy but primarily because proportionate to the animals the doll was a scary smiley-faced giant. The tote bag was an ok idea but I took some inspiration from the internet and fashioned a soft-sided barn from some foam and fabric I had in my stash. Read the rest of this entry »
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Asparagus Gratin with Parmigiano Cheese
Here’s the thing about making a vegetable side dish ‘recipe.’ It takes time and if you’re using a recipe which means there are ingredients added to the veg. The added ingredients are almost always butter, cheese and/or olive oil which while tasty significantly detract from overall healthfulness. That being said, I bought some nice tender asparagus from Costco and we have enjoyed it for the last two nights.
I’ve been trying to be better about thinking through a week’s worth of dinners to minimize stress during the week. I’ve also been trying to coordinate this effort with using what’s on hand which makes it just that much trickier but this week was pretty successful. I attribute that in large part to a trip to trader joe’s earlier this week. I picked up some frozen items that we can just pop in the oven when needed and that helps to ease anxiety over getting dinner on the table when fatigue sets in. Thursdays are usually long for me and are prime candidates for frozen pizza type dinners. However, I picked up a ham steak at trader joe’s earlier this week so getting dinner on the table only took as long as it took to make mashed potatoes and to prep the asparagus. I prepped the potatoes before I left for class and got the veg ready while they were coming to a boil. Read the rest of this entry »
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Too Tired to Post
Last day before spring break… hardly making it. Thank god for top chef.
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Fierce: The Hot Mess Makeover Show
Thanks Andrea!
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Hand Sewing
These guys are a part of a set that I probably could/should have mailed out today. I reached a little bit of an impasse with their house but think I have managed to work around it. The problem with making things like this for other people is that when you’re done and they look good you really don’t want to part with them. I really don’t want to give these little buddies up and it’s not even like Chase wants them I just want to keep them for myself.
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Tickle Trunkin’
Alternate titles for this post:
Take It Again From the Top People, 5-6-7-And
Chase 3, Kitchen 0
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Happy Friday
Rain makes for a long day. Especially when Chase stands at the door saying dat dat dat and banging on the glass because she wants to go outside. The library was great but the rest of the day was peppered with missed connections that left us scrambling to pass the time. Actually, those two factors compounded by a missed afternoon nap and my inability to decide whether to go on an outing or not left us scrambling to pass the time. Either way, everything post 1pm left something to be desired.
I’m trying to finish up a project and it’s not coming together as quickly as I would like. So to make myself feel better. I’m going to post up some pics of a gift I made for Sarah a few months back. It’s just simple sachets but it was the first time that I tried my hand at ribbon embroidery. Read the rest of this entry »
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Project Runway Finale!
Steamed Vegetables with Warm Prosciutto Vinaigrette
Insalata di Verdure Cotte al Prosciutto
Lidia Bastianich
Lidia is one of my favorites. Maybe my all time favorite tied with Jacques. I’ve had Lidia’s Italian Table for years and don’t think I’ve ever cooked out of it. That made it the perfect target for my first ever ‘true’ roulette. I sent Danielle a message earlier today with the name of the book and she hit me back with a page number, 219. I was disappointed to see that the recipe called for beets but was otherwise happy to give a giant tray of veg a go. I probably could have made this entirely from what I had on hand but since I planned to go out anyway decided to supplement what would otherwise have some from the freezer and cupboard with some fresh goods. Read the rest of this entry »