1.16.2008

hand sewn love




wow! these have to be some of the cutest, most professional looking, handmade clothing i have ever seen. i have been checking and rechecking this cute gals etsy store to see if anything is in stock yet... it isn't and so i sit and drool over these cute little numbers. maybe soon. check it out here!!!!

1.07.2008

hobo quilt




if any of you know me you know that i am really close to my granny sue. my granny is one of the funnest, funniest , um naughtiest and most creative and giving people that i know. one fun little quirk i love about her is that she gets " stuck" on things. for example her love of pirates truly developed about 7 or so years ago... now every year we have a pirate party that includes any and every imaginable pirate thing ever created. well lately she has been stuck on hobos. apparently they have some sort of code that they would scratch into things so that the next hobo to arrive would be wiser to their surroundings. read more here. when i was trying to come up with the perfect christmas present for granny and grandpa it all of a sudden hit me! i needed to make a hobo quilt. what exactly is a hobo quilt you ask? well since hobos were kings of recycling a hobo quilt is also recycled. i used old cord pants, some of james old work shirts, cloth napkins, place mats and anything else that looked good. the next step is to embroider and applique hobo symbols onto the quilt. next step will be to have my ever so generous and kind to offer mother in law quilt it to the soft and cozy flannel backing. then comes the worst part, the hand binding... oh how i hate binding, oh how i hate hand sewing, but i'd do anything for grandma, so i guess it must be done. here is the first step- finding the right layout. more to be added later...

Some yummy new recipes for you to try








Prosciutto wrapped asparagus

1/2 lb prosciutto ( it is way cheaper and yummier at Costco than anywhere else)

1/2 package whipped cream cheese or boursin

12 fresh asparagus spears

preheat oven to 450. spread each slice of prosciutto with cream cheese wrap around 2 or 3 asparagus spears with woody ends trimmed. Bake 15 minutes.


grilled pesto marinated steak with blue cheese fondue-

1 1/2 lbs of skirt steak sliced very thinly

2 cups pesto

salt and pepper

thread meat onto skewers. place in pan and pour pesto to marinate for as long as you want. grill until desired doneness. ( i just put it in with the asparagus and it only took about 5 minutes more) dip into blue cheese fondue


blue cheese fondue-

1 T butter

1T minced garlic

2 cups heavy cream

1/2 lb good blue cheese

pepper

over medium low heat cook garlic in butter until soft. add cream and raise heat to medium bringing cream to a simmer. cook until cream is reduced by 1/3 .lower heat to maintain a slow simmer and stir in cheese until smooth, add pepper and put into fondue pot set on low. serve with meat skewers, bread, apples and pears.can also be used as a pasta sauce or just as a condiment with steak.


garlicky cheese fondue-

if serving children, delete the wine and kirsch and substitute non-alcoholic cider for the white wine.

8 ounces Monterey jack cheese,coarsely grated

8 ounces Muenster, coarsely grated

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup dry white wine

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 tablespoon kirsch

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Optional Dipping Items on Skewers:Boiled baby new potatoes in their skins, or quartered if largeLightly steamed broccoli floretsLightly steamed cauliflower floretsLightly steamed asparagus Button mushrooms, wiped clean and stems removedCubed smoked hamCooked sliced hot sausageLong thick pretzel sticks Lightly toasted cubes French breadIn a bowl or large plastic bag, combine the cheeses and toss with the cornstarch to coat. Set aside until ready to use.In a fondue pot or large heavy saucepan, bring the wine and garlic to a simmer over medium-low heat. Add the cheese a bit at a time, stirring well to prevent from clumping, and cook until melted. Add the kirsch, salt, pepper, and nutmeg, stir well, and cook stirring until the mixture is smooth, 3 to 5 minutes.Adjust the seasoning, to taste. Set the pot over a candle or canned heat and serve hot with assorted dipping items


mexican cheese fondue-

20 ounces monteray jack cheese

3 T flour

1 t cumin

1 t paprika

1 t chili powder

1 1/4 cups beer ( you can buy just 1 can at the gas station)

1 1/2 T lemon juice

2 cans of green chilies or 6-8 fresh chopped chilies

1 medium tomato seeded and chopped

1/2 bell pepper seeded and minced

1 1/2 t salt

optional jalapenos

shred cheese and mix with flour and spices, set aside. heat beer in saucepan or high heat but don't boil. when hot add rest of ingredients stirring until cheese is melted and smooth. serve with chips, meatballs, veggies and rolled tortillas.