Salad Days

Guess what!?!

We actually ate something from our sad little garden!  That lettuce is Black-Seeded Simpson heirloom variety that I lovingly reared.

And by lovingly reared I mean cruelly neglected.  We didn’t put much effort into the garden after all the false starts from weeks and weeks of late Spring frost.  We (and by we I mean Chris) weeded a rectangle in the front yard, stuck the seeds in and let them be.  We didn’t use fertilizer or top soil or food or anything that would have resulted in us having more than some sickly looking shoots sprouting now.

My fantasies of eating fresh, free vegetables all summer are dashed but this greek / fatoosh salad hybrid was still the highlight of my day.  That, and homemade falafel and homemade pita with amazing homemade garlic sauce.  Thug life!

Linkin’ Blogs

It’s been raining constantly here so I’m in the middle of a few small projects.  Unfortunately I have  nothing to show yet but that’s no reason to hoard links and little updates.

• I’ve never been a huge mayonnaise fan.  Again, the tanginess.  Blech.  But I do enjoy potato salad now and then so I picked up Hellman’s with Olive Oil due to it’s non-scary ingredients list.  This stuff is delicious.  It’s so creamy I could almost stir it in to my tea.  Highly recommended.
• My new favourite show is Hung.  O.k., that’s a total lie.  While I do enjoy Jane Adams as a pimp my actual new favourite show is Gossip Girl.  I started watching it when Chris was on nights and I am now obsessed to the point where I have to limit myself to sharing two to three GG related tidbits a day.  Do you know how hard it is to work the fact that Ed Westwick is actually British into a conversation?  Not very, apparently.  I feel like a fifteen year old fan girl.  Except that I tried desperately to convince my sixteen year old sister to watch the show so that I’d have someone to talk to about it and she was having none of it.
• These cinnamon oat pancakes are my new favourite breakfast.  I never want to eat a plain pancake again.  Waste of my time.  They make a ton so I’ve been cooking them all up, freezing them, and heating them up during the week.
• I borrowed a pile of books from the Cannon Public Library, informally known as Erin and Braden’s guest bedroom and I’m plowing my way through them.  I first read Cat’s Cradle, which was good, although none of his other books ever bowl me over like Slaughterhouse 5 did when I read it in university.  Next, I tried Switch Bitch despite concerns that it would crush all of my childhood memories but I totally loved it.  I filled my Amazon Wish List with other Dahl short story books and can’t wait to pick some up.  Now, I’m finally reading The Golden Compass after hearing so much about His Dark Materials for so many years.  I had already seen the movie so I was a bit bored at first but now I’m enjoying it.  Hooray for summer reading!  What are you reading?
• Mashed potatoes are one of my ultimate all time favourite foods.  I thought I was doing an o.k. job whipping them up without a recipe so I let this one languish for months in my recipe bookmarks.  I am totally kicking myself now.  A-mazing.
• My dearest Robyn has a new blog.  Check it!
• I am way behind on this one but if you’re interested in quilting or are a beginner like me you must check out Oh, Fransson’s quilt-along posts.  So very helpful.
• I just found out that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have announced that they will play Born to Run in it’s entirety in Chicago in September.  I wish there some way to be unemployed for the summer and still get paid so I could go lose my mind with a large assembly of WASPy, middle aged, working class heroes.
• And, because I hate a pictureless post, here’s one of the paper banner I made for Chris a few weeks back:

Monday Fun

• This weekend Chris did some crazy landscaping in our ugly front yard while I complained about hang nails and ruining my complexion.  It’s still a work in progress but he did finish an anal retentive fire pit!   I am struggling with wanting to roast marshmallows but not wanting to eat gelatin.  We’ll see who wins.
  

  Bowie is not impressed by fire.

• There was also a sad little fair here this weekend that we spent a good five minutes at.

  

  We both agreed that if it took a carnie twenty minutes to install a ferris wheel we would not be riding it.

• I made butter! It was insanely easy.  The instruction I used were from Bust a couple months back but there are plenty of websites and blogs that give you directions.
• Right after I won Sew What Bags I won a Splityarn bag from Caro!
  

  I really should have bought a lottery ticket that week.

• Pioneer is still benched so I started another pair of socks with Lucy Neatby Celestial Merino Dream in Blue Vesuvius.
  

  They are the Show-off Stranded socks and they're even prettier in real life.

• I leave for my trip in one week today!  As it turns out I will be spending three days in Whistler with my sister-in-law and only one night in Portland.  I’m a little bummed about Portland but really there are worse things in life.
• Neko Case is playing the Winnipeg Folk Festival and I would love to go but it’s three days after I arrive home and I predict all of my pocket money will have already been spent on fabric and gourmet pizza.

Misc. Monday

• I got in to the Cookie A class!  As if there could be more icing on that cake Robyn is also giving me the class as an early birthday gift!!!
• After discussing with Robyn all the places we’re going to shop and eat in Seattle in Portland I am now 100% excited for this trip.  Money be damned I am going to paint the Western coast of this continent red.
• On a sad note, I tried to add a panel to my room slippers and ended up rendering them unwearable.  I really took my time in the repair but it just didn’t take.  Le sigh.
• On the finishing steps I ran out of yarn again on Pioneer.  Le sigh double. Ilovemath saves the day again by sending me more yarn.
• In the meantime I finished another pair of plain purse socks.
• 

  Brought to you by substitute teaching.

  The yarn is the Paca Peds in Fireside that my mom got me in California.  Sixty stitches, twisted rib cuff.

• I read Jane Eyre last week and I really, really loved it.  After an English degree literature can seem like a bit of a slog but I couldn’t believe how the book sucked me in.  Definitely an all time fave.
• I need a recipe for hamburger and hot dog buns.  I am having no luck finding one on my own that rises and doesn’t taste really sweet.
• This Pasta with Cauliflower and Feta is my new go-to weeknight recipe.  Delish.
• I was on a jag of watching movies that I really hated so I switched to documentaries and have landed on some really good ones.
• The new Jarvis Cocker and Yeah Yeah Yeahs albums are amazing.  If you have any other recommendations for me please do tell.
• I shortened the sleeves on my Summer Blouse and I’m a lot happier with it now.  I’m wearing it at this very moment.
• Melina very kindly sent me A Homemade Life and I can’t wait to dive in.  Which is kind of funny because I’ve never read Molly’s blog.
• Erin also sent me a package which included a pack of coloured pencils.  I thought that was so cute.
• I love this format.  Apparently paragraphs intimidate me.

Branching Out

On the stupid snow day we were kind of bored with (luckily) no where to go so we made our own fun and peppermint patties.  I printed this recipe off something like seven years ago and just never got around to making them.  I’m simultaneously kicking myself for neglecting it and thankful that I haven’t been gorging on these for all those years.

First you make the sticky, messy peppermint filling and cut it into rounds.

Mess central

Then you melt some chocolate chips and dip them in.  We were knee deep in melted chocolate so there are no pictures of this step but through the magic of the internets voila!

Mmmmmmm

They are a bit rich and sweet but that’s fine by me because it prevented me from stuffing my face with them.

Also!  Another important food update!  A while back I asked for your best pizza crust recipes.  I got very few responses so I’m guessing you either buy it premade or are on the hunt too.  Hunt no more!  This crust from Pizzaria Bianco is so amazing.  It’s also in this month’s Martha Stewart Living.  Here it is as a tart base with blue cheese, apples and walnuts.  I seem to make the best meals when I have four things left in the fridge.

See how golden?

I also love how it makes four crusts so you pop three in the freezer and have some super quick meals in your future.

In non-food news I’m trying to get back on the sewing train.  I’ve been a bit blocked by the (totally unfounded) feeling that I have no workable fabric and the (completely valid) terror that I will run out of notions when there is no fabric store within two hours of here that I know of.

I started out nice and slow with some easy peasy cafe curtains to block Bowie’s view of our neighbour’s dog taking a crap in our front yard and flying into a fit of excitement.

Look ma no snow!

The fabric is Branching Out by Anna Maria Horner and when I received it I hated it. The colour is just off somehow.  Online it’s very pretty but in real life it’s got a taupiness or something that is a little weird.  Plus, it had a hole right in the middle of my piece.  Fabric.com was very good with replacing it but now I had five yards of this.  Here in smaller doses I don’t totally loathe it, though.

Whole Wheat Potato, Spinach and Feta Tart

The grocery store here is closed on Sundays but yesterday I found myself running a little low on supplies but still needing to make a meal.  As I’ve mentioned before, my self-generated recipes mostly fall neatly in the dud category so I am both intrigued and repelled by the idea of not using a recipe. It would seem, however that I’m on a bit of a roll because this tart was super delicious.

Why yes that is a huge slice

It would be perfect for a holiday brunch.  I know most people don’t have smoked cheddar hanging around their fridge but I had a tiny piece left over from an easter recipe so I threw it on top.  It adds a bacon-y smell and flavour that is totally amazing.  But really if you don’t have it I’m sure this would still be great.  I used a 9 inch round cake pan because I don’t have a tart pan.  If you do have a tart pan you may need to shorten the cooking time a bit.  As always please do let me know if you try it!

Whole Wheat Crust

1 cup all purpose flour

6 tbsp whole wheat flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp sugar

1/4 cup butter

5 tbsp ice water

Combine dry ingredients.  Cut in butter to form course meal.  Mix in water until just combined.  Form a disk and wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough into a circle slightly larger than your pan.  Slide onto pan, form a double crust and crimp edges.  Prick bottom, fill with pie weights (I use dried beans) and bake for 15 minutes.  Allow to cool.

Filling

2 potatoes, sliced into 1 cm. disks

salt to taste

pepper to taste

1 tbsp olive oil

1 cup feta

4 eggs

1 cup milk

1/4 tsp cayenne

dash nutmeg

1 package frozen spinach thawed and drained

1/8 cup smoked cheddar

1/8 cup sharp cheddar

Preheat over to 350 degrees.  Boil potato slices in salted water until just tender.  Drain and toss slices with olive oil, salt and pepper.  Layer on bottom of pre-baked pie crust.  Sprinkle with even layer of feta.  Beat eggs and whisk in milk, additional salt and pepper, cayenne, nutmeg and spinach.  Pour over potatoes in crust.  Bake for 30-40 minutes or until centre is firm.  Remove from oven and sprinkle with smoked and sharp cheddar.  Return to oven and cook until cheeses are melted and slightly brown. Serve with sour cream.

I make

1. I made my first cheesecake.

Carrot Cheesecake From April '09 Martha Stewart Living. I don't like cheesecake that much but this one is pretty good.

2. I made a big Easter meal for two.

Click for copious notes

3.  I made slippers (pair 2 of 3)

Purl Bee Mary Janes. I used scraps. That's why one sole is a different colour.

4.  I made granola and I made yogurt.

Honest to goodness yogurt. A bit tangy but totally edible.

Today I will make zucchini muffins and broccoli salad and tortillas and more slippers.  What will you make today?

Misc. Monday

This would be a good theme for me to continue.  I often have tidbits that don’t deserve a full post.  So here goes:

• Ina Garten’s Lemon Yogurt Cake is amazing.  I didn’t even make the icing and it was so good.
• Chris and I have been doing a little thrifting in the city hoping to find a sewing or dining table.  We haven’t had any table luck but…
  

  Buttonholer: 29 cents, awesome book: $4

• I need a good pizza crust recipe.  I want a golden, light, airy crust not the floury, dense dud I always end up with.
• While we’re at it I would love recommendations for a chunky, spicy, vegetarian tomato sauce.
• I made a vegan blueberry cake this morning.  And then I slathered it with cream cheese frosting.
  

  Recipe from The Green Door Cookbook

• I requested and received the new Toast catalogue and while the clothes aren’t really my style I do want a pair of churidars.  They look lame on their own but under a tunic or dress they look so comfy and stylish.  I don’t have $68 CDN plus shipping to justify spending on leggings, however.
• Can I just take a minute a solicit praise for not having bought any yarn since early November?  The only yarn I’ve bought has been with gift certificates and that was like four skeins.  I also haven’t bought any fabric except a half yard of flannel with some scant Etsy profits.  Thank you, thank you.
• Tonight I’m going to try to copy Mondragon’s Twister wrap for dinner.  Wish me luck.

Food Round Up

I haven’t been so crafty lately – mostly because I still don’t have a table for my sewing machine and the sweetheart socks effed up my wrist and forearm with it’s punishing tight gauge.  We still eat though so here’s some food!

• Over a month ago I was at work and our tv auto tuned to Martha and Chris got sucked in.  An hour later he was jogging to the grocery store to buy ingredients for these.
  

  Boston Cream Cupcakes!

  So delicious.  I would suggest perhaps not putting the filling in unless you’re eating them right away because it tends to get sucked into the cake.

• I have been obsessed with this easy, nutritious weeknight meal.
• I love making my own soup stock but the recipe I had been using from The New Vegetarian Epicure had you chopping up fresh veggies which just seemed like a waste.  A tip from last month’s Martha Stewart Living suggested saving all your vegetable skins and leaves in the freezer until you need them.  Awesome!
  

  Stock Photo

• I never really got biscotti.  If I wanted a dried out cookie I’d buy a bag of Chips A’hoy.  I was wrong.
  

  Tea Break

  These are the fig and walnut biscotti from Smitten and they are amazing.  Seriously.  The mint chocolate cookie was not so impressive so it was whizzed into a tasty pie crust for chocolate tofu pie.

• Another Smitten miracle:
  

  Carrot Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting

  I had to substitute olive oil for the veg oil because I was out and I found the cakes themselves to be a little off but the icing is a big keeper.

• One benefit to living on a reserve is fresh bannock at the grocery store!
  

  Bread + Frying = Yum

  This is only good immediately so we were forced to eat a huge amount on the first day. Poor us.

• Now I’ve made myself hungry and I’m off to work.  Have a great week!

Family Recipe Book

The call that I wanted Stitched in Time for Christmas was heard loud and clear.  I received a copy from Chris and another from Erin.  No worries because Amazon has a generous return policy.

I’ve been wanting to make a recipe book for our favourite recipes like the one I made my mom and when I saw the instructions in the book for a recipe book cover  I knew it would be much neater than my winged version.

Designs traced by taping fabric and print to window

This took me the weekend and the sewing was nothing compared to the embroidery time.  I finally took the time to learn to backstitch properly and I’m so proud of the outcome.

I've since fixed the slouchy top

The outside is muslin.  The embroidery patterns are from this cute Japanese embroidery book.  Lace is from my stash, I think originally from Fabricland.

The lining

The blue fabric is a fat quarter Erin mailed me from Japan when she was still there.  The red fabric is some lovely stuff I bought in Japan almost three years ago today.  I kind of regret using it because you can’t see it at all once you put the binder in.

Cover

After all that effort I spent much of Sunday afternoon going through my three recipe binders and tossing recipes I had never tried and adding extra special ones to this extra special book.  One that will definitely make the cut is this one for fabulous Roast Potatoes.

Unimpressive Leftovers Shot. You have to trust me.

Roast Potatoes

This is a vegetarianized hybrid of a Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson recipe.

1 potato per person plus a couple extra for good measure

A few tablespoons Semolina

3/4 cup butter

Fresh Rosemary

1 bulb garlic

Salt

Pepper

Heat over to 450 degrees.  Put roasting pan in hot oven to preheat.  Meanwhile, slice potatoes into thirds by cutting the ends away at an angle and leaving a triangular centre piece (this is a Nigella trick to mazimize surface area).  Parboil potatoes until the ouside is just soft.    Drain potatoes and dredge with Semolina. Remove roasting pan from oven and add butter.  Return to oven just until butter is melted. Add potatoes, a few sprigs of rosemary with stalks removed and all cloves of garlic, whole.  Roast for approximately one hour or until cripsy and brown, shaking from time to time.  Season with salt and pepper.  Serve with roasted garlic to squeeze onto hot potatoes.